Chapter 1 A Big Beginning

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Squeaky Clean lived a simple life, with a simple family. He never really had any great passions in life...except one. At an early age he found a passion for cleaning and before long got his cutie mark in it. Now finally back from the country, he was heading to Canterlot Castle to try to get a job as a janitor there. As an added bonus, Squeaky was also going to reunite with his foalhood friend, now captain of the guard: Stone Wall.

"Stone Wall is that you?" Squeaky said to his old friend after meeting him just outside the throne room. "I barely recognize you, look at all those muscles."

"Yeah, I've gotten quite a few workouts since the last time we've met," Stone Wall replied. "Hard to believe that was years ago."

“Yeah,” Squeaky agreed as he couldn’t help but think of those days from long ago. “I see you still have the saddle bag that matches your cutie mark I got you.”

“I was about to say the same,” Stone Wall replied.

"So do you really think I'll get this job at the castle?"

"Well it isn't up to me it's up to the princess so make sure you make a good impression," Stone Wall answered. “I did go through all the trouble of arranging this little meeting.”

“Does the princess talk to all the ponies that want to work at the castle?”

“No. It’s quite the rarity actually, but she made an exception for you considering your background. Now remember when you talk to the princess, maintain eye contact and keep it quick, she has a busy day."

"Got it," Squeaky Clean said to his old friend.

"Good," Stone Wall said. "And don't be nervous, she's very friendly." Stone Wall then entered the throne room and Squeaky followed.

Better get ready to make my good impression, Squeaky thought to himself as he was looking at the carpet. Okay Squeaky, remember what Stone Wall said, eye contact. Squeaky Clean then lifted up his head and the second he looked into the eyes of Princess Celestia, it seemed to him that time had stopped. Gazing upon the large white alicorn filled Squeaky with a warm feeling that could only be one thing, love. M-My gosh she's beautiful. The very definition of a fairy tale princess.

"Why isn't he saying anything?" Princess Celestia whispered to Stone Wall who was sitting beside him.

"I think he's nervous," Stone Wall answered but then Squeaky Clean cleared his throat to get back the attention of the princess.

"Um, my name is janitor, and I'd like to be your Squeaky Clean." The princess couldn't help but giggle while Stone Wall put his hoof to his head.

"I see. Well, do you have any past experience as a Squeaky Clean?" Hearing that helped Squeaky Clean snapped out of his love trance.

"Yes, well your majesty I'm very good at cleaning, that's how I got my cutie mark."

"I see, well if cleaning is your special talent, and my own captain of the guard recommended you, then it only makes sense that I hire you. When can you start?"

"Right now."

"Good, Stone Wall, why don't you show your friend where the cleaning supplies are?"

"Yes princess," Stone Wall answered and left the throne room and gestured to Squeaky to follow him once again.

"I think that went pretty well," Squeaky said.

"I think so too janitor," Stone Wall replied.

"Heh you heard that?"

"Of course I heard that! I was standing right next to the princess." Stone Wall then smacked his old friend across his head. “All these years and you’re still a goofball. You got the job, just don't screw it up or you’ll make me look bad. And don’t think just because we’re friends I’m gonna let you goof off."

“Right, I figured as much.” He hasn’t changed all that much either. Stone Wall showed Squeaky Clean where the cleaning equipment was kept and he quickly got to work. For the next few days Squeaky would arrive at the castle, clean, admire the beautiful Princess Celestia whenever he saw her, and go home when he finished his shift.

One day however, would change his life and all of Equestria forever.

"I need you to clean this entire hallway today. Can you do that?" Princess Celestia asked.

"Yes princess," Squeaky replied as he was walking behind the princess.

"Good, and can you get to the windows as well?"

"Yes princess."

"Good, oh and Squeaky one other thing."

"Yes princess."

"If you value your job, stop looking at my royal rump." Squeaky Clean then suddenly walked past her, his head was as red as a cherry.

"Yes princess. Sorry."

“It’s all right,” Princess Celestia said then giggled a bit once again. Squeaky had a way of making her laugh. As Squeaky continued walking, he saw a lavender unicorn approaching.

"Oh my gosh Squeaky Clean is that you?!" The unicorn said. "It's so good to see you again."

"It-It is?" Squeaky asked.

"It's me, Twilight Sparkle, you foal sat for me once, remember?"

"I did?" Squeaky had not remotely remembered such a thing.

"Well I guess I can't blame you. It was quite a long time ago, but still it's great to see you again."

"I didn't know you knew my student Squeaky."

"Neither did I.”

"Oh princess, before I forget I heard some interesting news. An Ursa Major has been spotted near Canterlot."

"It is?" Princess Celestia asked. "How near?"

THUMP

"What in Equestria was that?" The princess asked.

"I think it's an answer to your question," Squeaky Clean said. The three ponies made their way to the window and saw that the Ursa Major was on the verge of entering Canterlot.

“You’ll have to excuse me,” Princess Celestia said as she flew out the window, she informed Stone Wall and a plan was put into action. Princess Celestia took to the sky with pegasus guards. The Wonderbolts were in Canterlot that day, so they were able to help as well. Squeaky, wanting to help as well, gave a few extra spears to the land guards.

"We’re going to need more spears,” Shining Armor called out.

“Squeaky,” Stone Wall called out, getting his attention right away. “Princess Celestia gave you a custodian key correct?”

“On my first day,” Squeaky replied, ready to help his friend.

“It can open almost any door in the castle. Head down to the basement, there’s a storage room for weapons. It’s the last door on the right.”

“Oh it,” Squeaky said before dashing off. Before long he was in the basement, but was having a little trouble remembering if Stone Wall said the last door on the left or the right.

Deciding not to waste time he tried the one on the left, inside was a series of relics carefully preserved. Above the relics was the painting of an elderly stallion with a long beard. “Starswirl the Bearded,” Squeaky said to himself, recognising him right away having read a lot about him when he was a colt. “I wonder if all this stuff belonged to him?” I wonder if he was close to the princess?

Suddenly Squeaky saw a small orb which caught the humble janitor’s attention. The sphere was red and blue with a yellow spot, in that spot was what looked like a majestic stallion. "What is this?" Squeaky Clean asked as he approached it. As he picked it up, he thought perhaps it had magical properties that would allow him to help fight the Ursa Major, he had no idea how right he was. He pressed it against his chest prepared to carry it, but then the sphere spread all over him.

"What the?" Squeaky asked, suddenly realizing his voice was different and that he seemed to be wearing some sort of costume along with a larger build. "What in Equestria is going on?”

THUMP

The Ursa Major! I forgot, I’ll figure this out later, I got to get to that weapon storage, Squeaky thought as he tried to run but to his shock he found that he was flying. He made it to the storage room but couldn’t get to the key with the sphere covering his old clothing. Out of instinct and curiosity he teleported himself into the storage room no problem with enhanced magic. After that he grabbed a box of spears and lifted up no problem, because his strength was enhanced as well.

“You know,” Squeaky said as he placed the box down. “I think there’s a better way I can help.”

***

"Has anypony seen Squeaky Clean?" A guard asked. "I think we could really use those extra spears."

"They'd be little more than toothpicks to that creature anyway," Stone Wall said. "We need to find a way to get it out of here and fast, any ideas?"

"Maybe we could try to get closer to the princess and back her up," Shining Armor suggested.

"That's not a bad idea," Stone Wall said. "You guards go with him and help out the princess, the rest of you help continue the evacuation."

"Yes sir," the guards said as they followed their captain's orders.

"How could a creature this huge get this close to the capital without any pony noticing sooner? And why is it even here? What does it want?" Stone Wall asked himself. "It just doesn't make any sense."

Meanwhile Twilight Sparkle, one of the few ponies that hadn't evacuated, climbed a building in hopes of studying the Ursa Major upclose.

"I can't believe I can observe an Ursa Major this close," Twilight said with glee while writing in a notepad she brought with her. "This is a once in a lifetime opportunity." As she continued talking to herself, Princess Celestia kept trying to push the creature back.

"What does a Ursa Major want in Canterlot anyway?" The princess asked. "They've never come near here before." When it seemed like the Ursa Major was falling back, it suddenly became more violent, and attacked the buildings more, including the one the Twilight was on.

The princess noticed, but she was distracted by it, causing her to get hit by the Ursa Major and was about to slam her into the ground, but she made a bubble around her that protected her from getting hurt. But the Ursa was trying to break the bubble and she had to make sure it didn't.

"HELP! HELP!" Twilight said about to fall off the several story high building she was on. She tried to pull herself up but she lost her grip and started to fall. "SOMEPONY PLEASE HELP!” Twilight screamed at the top of her lungs when suddenly a pony caught her in midair.

"Need a lift," Squeaky Clean said after finding his way out of the castle and flying to where Twilight was. After grabbing her he flew her to a different building away from the Ursa Major. "Sorry to pick you up at the last minute, but I'm still getting the hang of flying." Suddenly The Ursa Major started to attack the places around it even more.

"Yikes, that thing is getting more dangerous by the minute. We should probably get you further away from it." Squeaky picked up Twilight and jumped. To Twilight and his surprise he jumped all the way over Canterlot castle.

"Oh my gosh!" Twilight said.

"I know, I only meant to jump over to the castle entrance but we went clear over the whole thing."

"W-Who are you?" Twilight asked both shocked and amazed.

"Who am I? That's a good question," He responded almost as confused on the matter as Twilight was. Suddenly a great idea popped into the stallion’s head "I'm something great, I'm a pony that can do the impossible, I'm Super Stallion." He lifted off the ground while saying the last part. "Well you should be safe here. I'll see what I can do about that Ursa Major."

Squeaky turned to fly off again. "Wait!" Twilight said before he left. "How are you able to fly if you aren't a pegasus?"

"Faith, trust, and pixie dust," Squeaky Clean answered and then he flew off.

"Did he just quote Pony Pan?"

***

The Wonderbolts who took some damage from some swats by the Ursa Major got a second wind and were flying back to help the princess.

"Let's take that Ursa Major down!" Soarin said.

"Don't get too cocky Soarin!" Spitfire said. "We may still be able to fight, but it's gonna take a lot to deal with that creature." Just then something flew right past the Wonderbolts. Suddenly the Ursa Major was forced back with a push, allowing Princess Celestia to dispel her sphere.

"Wow I barely had to try," Super Stallion said as he noticed Princess Celestia was shocked at what she just saw, a flying earth pony that pushed back the Ursa Major. "Oh hi, you look tired, let me handle this." Suddenly the Ursa Major roared in anger so loudly half of Equestria probably heard it which nearly made Super Stallion’s head split in half. “I also have super hearing now, good to know.” The Ursa Major then attacked Super Stallion furiously, Super Stallion however dodged them easily.

“Who is that stallion?” Princess Celestia asked. The Ursa Major then smacked several buildings but Super Stallion grabbed all the rubble and neatly placed it on the ground.

"If this keeps up this thing is really going to make a mess. Time to see how strong I really am." Super Stallion then flew below the Ursa Major and suddenly it was lifted off the ground. The Wonderbolts and the princess herself literally dropped their jaws seeing this visual of strength. Super Stallion then carried the Ursa Major outside of Canterlot and off the mountain entirely then tossed it. When the Ursa Major got up, it looked around as if confused by where it was and before long left to find its cave.

"I wasn't sure I could do that. I don't know what this suit is exactly but I'm glad I found it," Super Stallion said as he flew back to the princess. "As you can see the Ursa Major is gone and I don't think it's coming back."

"H-How did you lift it all by yourself?" Soarin asked.

"Yeah that was the most amazing thing I ever saw," Spitfire said.

"It wasn't as easy as it looked. That thing was heavy," Super Stallion said. "Well with the Ursa Major problem solved, I guess I better get going." Super Stallion then flew off before the others could ask him anything else.

"Should we try to catch up to him?" Soarin asked.

"No he's way too fast even for us,” Spitfire said.

“Besides we should get to cleaning up the mess the Ursa Major made," Princess Celestia answered. Super Stallion flew until he knew he was out of sight, then flew back to the castle and landed in a spot where nopony was around.

"Wow that was great, but how do I get this off?" Super Stallion tried to pull off the suit but it was like his skin. "Okay think how did I get this on? I'm pretty sure I pressed it against my chest so maybe." Putting his theory to the test, Super Stallion then pressed on his chest and the suit formed back into a sphere. "All right it worked, I'm me again!" Squeaky Clean said with joy.

Now once again a mild mannered janitor, Squeaky Clean went back to where he found the sphere. There he brought the spears to the royal guards; they were so focused on the Ursa Major they didn't even notice how long he was gone. Before long Princess Celestia returned, informing them the Ursa Major was gone.

"Excellent work Princess Celestia,” Stone Wall said.

"Actually it was another pony that handled the problem," Princess Celestia said.

“Who?” Stone Wall asked.

"It was a flying earth pony," Princess Celestia answered.

"Flying earth pony? Like Pony Pan?" Stone Wall asked in confusion.

"Yes. I’ll explain more later, but for now the Ursa Major still did a lot of damage. We should get to cleaning and repairing right away," Princess Celestia said. Stone Wall agreed and assigned the guards and the Wonderbolts to help the princess. Squeaky Clean helped out as well for a while.

"Where should I go next?" Squeaky asked after helping clean and repair an area of Canterlot using his magic for the latter.

"That'll do for now take the rest of the day off," Stone Wall said. "And have a big breakfast because you’re going to need a lot of energy tomorrow."

"No argument here," Squeaky said as he went home.

"Hi Squeaky," Shining Armor said.

"Oh hello..." Squeaky replied but stopped because he didn't know this stallion's name.

"Shining Armor, I'm Twilight Sparkle's big brother."

"Oh."

"Did you hear the bad news?"

"I think we all heard the Ursa Major coming," Squeaky replied again as they started walking together.

"No, not that the Sapphire Shores concert that was going to happen tomorrow was canceled because of all the damage."

"Oh that is too bad, I like her music."

"Me too, I even bought a ticket but at least they said they would give refunds."

"Well that's good."

"So that flying earth pony, what do you think about him?"

"I don't know. I was in the castle getting the guards more spears," Squeaky quickly replied as to avoid suspicion.

"Oh I see, maybe we'll get to actually talk to this pony. We'll just have to wait and see what develops, take care," Shining Armor said as he went a different direction.

"Take care," Squeaky replied. "I wonder how many other ponies will be interested in Super Stallion?"

***

"Faster than the Wonderbolts, more powerful than an Ursa Major, able to leap Canterlot castle in a single bound," A reporter said on the news the next day. "It's Super Stallion, a pony out of a comic book and into Canterlot. With comments from the few ponies that engaged in conversation with him, including not just the princess but her personal student, we still have little to go with. When will we learn more about this mysterious stallion? Only time will tell."

When Squeaky Clean made his way to work Super Stallion was the talk of Canterlot.

"I had a feeling that this Super Stallion would be the talk of Canterlot," Princess Celestia said. "I just didn't think it would be so fast."

"If he's as fast as his rumors are he'll be able to help you out a lot more," Stone Wall said. "That is of course if you can't pick up the pace."

"Is there supposed to be another meaning to that Stone Wall?"

"You could have fought off that Ursa Major yourself but you didn't. You held back."

"Yes I could have done it, but I didn't wish to seriously harm it. As a princess I care for all the creatures in my kingdom big and small."

"That's exactly the problem, you're too soft."

"Maybe you have a point. In the future I'll try to be more assertive. And perhaps you can learn to become a little softer perhaps on the royal guards who nearly train from dawn until dusk." Princess Celestia then used her magic to lift Stone Wall's helmet off him and before he realized it the princess gave him a playful rub until he used his magic to put his helmet back on his head.

"Don't tell me how to do my job!" Stone Wall said in an almost demanding tone.

"Oh, but you can tell me how to do my job," The Princess replied in almost a mocking tone. In response Stone Wall used his magic to remove Celestia's breast plate and tried to blindfold her with it, the two playfully teased one another for a minute or two. Meanwhile Squeaky Clean was on one of his breaks and was looking in town for a place to eat when suddenly he heard screaming.

"STOP THIEF!" A unicorn named Golden Gavel who runs the auction house screamed. A masked unicorn had grabbed the money from the auction.

"I can't believe those ponies spent all these bits on old stuff," The thief said while running and using his magic to carry the bag of bits. Luckily everypony was so focused on the thief nopony noticed Squeaky Clean sneak into an alley and get out a certain sphere. "Easy life here I come."

"I don't think so," Super Stallion said as he blocked the thief's path while hovering in the air by a few inches with his front hooves crossed. Not too long after that, one more criminal would be behind bars.

Chapter 2 Music Hater

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While Super Stallion made short work of the Ursa Major, it still made quite the mess that Princess Celestia wished to get cleaned up as soon as possible.

But not alone.

“Nice work everypony,” the princess said. “You in particular Squeaky.”

“Oh thank you your highness,” Squeaky said with pride but also tried to be humble about it.

“Perhaps you should head home early as a reward for doing such a good job,” Princess Celestia suggested.

“That’s quite a generous offer princess,” Squeaky replied before reaching into his saddle bag. “But I had a different reward in mind.” Squeaky then got out a certain sphere and showed it to the princess. “Do you know what this is?”

The Princess paused for a moment looking and rather studying the sphere. She then picked it up with her magic to get a closer look. “Somewhat? This is 1 of the nearly countless magical artifacts Star Swirl the Bearded came across in his adventures. But it’s just about the only 1 I could never figure out, I don’t have a clue what it is or what it does.”

“Not 1?” Squeaky asked, surprised.

“Not 1. But that does beg the question, how did you get your hooves on it?”

“Well during the attack your majesty I took a wrong turn and came across it. I thought it might help with the Ursa Major and well, long story short I kind of forgot to put it back.”

“Oh, I see.”

“So…Can I have it?” Squeaky asked. Secretly praying she’d say yes.

“You want to keep it? Do you want it as a good luck charm perhaps?”

“Something like that,” Squeaky answered. The princess paused once again to think about Squeaky’s offer. Shortly though she lowered it back into Squeaky’s hoof, to his relief.

“Very well, if you want it you can have it.”

“Thank you Princess Celestia,” Squeaky said as he bowed to her.

“You’re welcome. But promise me 1 thing.”

“Promise?” Squeaky asked, raising his head again.

“If you ever figure out what it does, promise me you’ll use it responsibly.”

“Oh I promise.”

***

With his shift over Squeaky had returned to his home and decided to get his new sphere out. “I’m so glad Princess Celestia said I could keep you,” Squeaky said to himself. “That was a rather big gamble asking her if I could keep you, but I couldn’t just steal you. Right is right after all. So even Princess Celestia doesn’t know much about you or where you came from, I doubt I’ll ever know.”

Squeaky then placed the sphere next to his bed and would train as Super Stallion before his next shift tomorrow. “Well I guess all that matters is that you fell into the hooves of somepony that’s a diehard fanatic of superheroes.”

***

"All done Princess Celestia," Squeaky Clean said after he finished mopping the floor in her chambers. Squeaky had been a janitor at the castle for a while now, but in no time at all showed his skills. "I dare you to find 1 piece of dirt or mud anywhere."

"I think for now I'll just take your word for it," Princess Celestia replied, grateful for his job. "By the way, would you happen to be a fan of Sapphire Shores?"

"Yes actually, I heard she was planning another concert," Squeaky replied. Sapphire Shores, known to many as the Pony of Pop, was getting ready to put on another show. When the Ursa Major attacked the concert she planned was ruined, she refused to disappoint her fans and got to work making another concert asap. "I wanted to get a ticket, but they were already sold out. I guess she's more popular than I thought."

"I see, then, would you like to come with me?" Princess Celestia asked as she got out 2 tickets.

Squeaky almost dropped his mop, as well as his jaw.

"I was going to take Stone Wall, as my way of rewarding him for doing an excellent job as captain, but he said he was too busy. Then I asked Twilight, but she said she had some books to read. I really need to get her away from those dusty old books," Princess Celestia trailed off, shaking her head.

"So you want to take me with you!?" Squeaky asked, surprised. This is like she's asking me out on a date.

"Sure, you're not just good at your job, you're always willing to lend a hoof. Plus I have the extra ticket and I need some pony to take. So if you aren't busy, I would appreciate not having to waste this ticket."

"I'd love to!" Squeaky said, nearly screaming, surprising the princess.

"Good, you have the day off tomorrow. So how about I come pick up when I finish my work?"

"Sounds like a plan," Squeaky Clean said and then got out a notepad and wrote down his address on a piece of paper and gave it to the princess. "I'll see you then!" Squeaky then ran off to get ready for his essential date with Princess Celestia.

"Squeaky wait, you still have more cleaning to do today!" Princess Celestia called out, making him awkwardly come back into the room.

"Oh right, sorry," Squeaky said before walking off with his supplies embarrassed, making the princess laugh again.

***

When Squeaky got home he didn't waste any time trying to decide what to wear for his essential date with the princess. He thought of wearing a tuxedo, but that would be too formal. Then he thought to go casual, but figured he should put in more effort than that. Finally he figured to go down the middle, he combed his mane back a bit and along with a saddle bag he put on a nice red tie he really liked.

"I'm sure the princess will think I look great in this." Just then there was a knock on the door and upon answering it saw it was the pony of the hour. "Wow I was just talking about you."

"You were?" Princess Celestia asked.

"Yes, I was saying how you'd like this tie of mine," Squeaky said using his right hoof to push it up a little for the princess to notice it more.

"I see, it does look pretty good on you."

"I knew you would like it. So I'm all set to go." With that said Squeaky got into the royal carriage with Princess Celestia. To her surprise Squeaky was sitting so close to her she was practically wearing him.

"Um Squeaky, that's a little too close," The Princess mumbled with a sheepish smile.

"Oh, sorry," Squeaky replied before moving. "Um, your mane and coat is really soft."

"Really? Thank you! That's so kind of you to say."

The carriage took off and along the way the 2 got a pretty good view of Canterlot and all the buildings and tourist attractions within it, but Squeaky was more interested in looking at the beautiful princess that sat beside him. He made sure not to stare at her or at least make it look like he was looking at Canterlot but was really looking at her.

Celestia would look at Squeaky once or twice to see how he was doing but was mostly focused on Canterlot or rather the damage caused by the Ursa Major. As Squeaky continued to stare at her he realized that she was starting to look troubled.

"Princess." She quickly snapped out of it and turned her head to him. "Are you okay? You look upset."

"Oh, It's just that, I'm upset at myself," She answered and then lowered her head.

"You are? Why?" He asked and she raised her head again to look at him and give an answer.

"The Ursa Major got so close, I didn't even notice until it was basically breathing right down my neck. On top of that it caused so much damage. I'm a little worried that I can't handle the next crisis."

"Well even if you can't, that's okay." Saying this the princess looked at Squeaky confused. "You aren't alone, you have so many ponies that are willing to help you. Myself included along with Stone Wall and the entire royal guard."

"Thank you, that really helps. I'll have to remember that. No pony is an island and all that," Celestia said, cheered up and no longer confused. Before long, the carriage made it to the concert and Princess Celestia took Squeaky Clean to meet the Pony of Pop herself, Sapphire Shores.

"Wow! Sapphire Shores! I love your music!" Squeaky said as he stuck out his hoof to shake hers.

"Thanks, I get that alot it’s always nice to meet a fan or 2," Sapphire Shores said as she shook his hoof. She wasn't used to ponies being this friendly with her but quickly had to get used to it when her fame rose. She turned to Princess Celestia before she continued. "Especially when 1 of the said fans is royalty."

"I'm sure we can look forward to your performance," The princess said with a smile. Celestia and Squeaky then made it to their seats, while Sapphire Shores went to her dressing room to make some last minute preparations. She examined her outfit and make up to make sure everything was perfect.

She also wanted to take this time to mentally prepare herself despite doing many concerts she still got a little nervous. "All right!" She said finishing with a few touches with her make up and dress. "Time to show Canterlot why I'm the Pony of Pop."

"I don't think so,” A mysterious pony that entered her dressing room said to Sapphire’s shock. "Those concert ponies are going to be in for a massive disappointment.”

***

The concert was about to start any minute and Squeaky was already enjoying his sort of date since he got to sit so close to the princess. He even got a few drinks for him and his sort of date but he finished his drinks rather fast. "Princess, I need to use the bathroom. I'll be right back."

"Okay just don't take too long, the concert is about to start I wouldn't want you to miss it."

"I wouldn’t want to miss it either." Squeaky made his way to the bathroom but on his way out he noticed a backup dancer talking to a stage manager.

"What do you mean you can't find her?" The stage manager asked, clearly stressed. "She's not on stage, she's not backstage, is she sitting in 1 of the seats waiting for her own concert to start or something?!"

"How should I know you're the stage manager? I'm just 1 of the back up dancers?"

"Unbelievable! First the Ursa Major, now this!" The stage manager pony said. "We have to find her and find her right now!" The stage manager then returned backstage to look for the Pony of Pop and Squeaky approached the backup dancer.

"Is there a problem?"

"We can't find Sapphire Shores, it's like she just disappeared, if we don't find her we'll have to cancel the concert," the backup dancer answered. "If you want to help, maybe you could try finding her." The backup dancer then returned backstage.

"I think maybe I can lend a hoof." Squeaky then made his way outside and reached into his saddle bag for a certain good luck charm. After becoming Super Stallion he flew up into the air to locate the Pony of Pop.

Before and after work he would often become Super Stallion to train and figure out his new abilities, such as super strength, enhanced magic, super durability, and super hearing. "All right, let’s see if I can hear Sapphire Shores's voice." Super Stallion then concentrated and started hearing various ponies.

"Then the whole thing went down the toilet along with the lantern."

"Finally, when the butter melted, I realized it was in the closet the whole time."

"Stone Wall is such a jerk! Making me stay so long just for something like that."

"Let me go! Why are you doing this?"

"Found her!" Super Stallion then flew straight in the direction of her voice.

***

"By the time somepony finds you the concert will be over,” the ponynapper said after putting the gag back on Sapphire who managed to get it off. “This is how our relationship will be from now on! Every time you try to have a concert, I'll show up and ruin it, you will never entertain ponies ever again!"

"Well that would be a shame because lots of ponies, royalty included, paid good bits to hear her," Super Stallion said as the 2 ponies in the building noticed him.

"Super Stallion!" The ponynapper said.

"Yes and my oh my, you're something you don't see everyday, what's your deal?" Super Stallion asked.

"I assume you're talking about my metallic limbs. These are my inventions. 1 day they'll be helping ponies who are disabled and will make all of Equestria know who I am. I am…Dr. Arachnid!"

"I see, well in the meantime I'll be taking that Pony of Pop off your hoofs if you don't mind."

"You aren't going to stop my plans again!" Dr. Arachnid said as he jumped at Super Stallion.

"Again?" Super Stallion asked as he grabbed one of the robotic legs and threw Dr. Arachnid over his shoulders. Dr. Arachnid used his robot legs to stop him from hitting the ground.

"Nice reflexes but let's see if you can dodge this!" Super Stallion then flew at the mad scientist ready to punch him. Using the robotic limbs again Dr. Arachnid avoided the attack and Super Stallion’s punch made a hole in the floor. "What the?"

"Stay away from there!" The doctor said, but Super Stallion jumped in anyway and found a secret underground lab. The doctor quickly followed after him. "I said stay away! ARE YOU DEAF!?"

"Keep up the yelling and I might be," Super Stallion replied. "I'm guessing this is your lab."

"Yes, this is my life's work."

"Lucky for you my hoof punched against the ceiling of your life's work. If that Ursa Major did it well, I think you know where I'm going with this."

"That Ursa didn't come anywhere near this place, I made sure of that."

"How could you-" Suddenly Super Stallion remembered what Dr. Arachnid said earlier and put 2 and 2 together. "Wait a minute, you lead the Ursa Major into Canterlot!"

"Well I guess the cat is out of the sack."

"Uh, I think you mean out of the bag."

"IT'S THE SAME THING!"

"How did you do it? Was it some kind of mind control device?"

"I guess you can say that. There are many creatures in this land whose hearing is far greater than our own. I used a device of my own creation to make the creature do as I say by using sound waves."

"You could have killed somepony!"

"I made sure the Ursa got there after the evacuation," Dr. Arachnid said defensively. "Nopony got killed!"

"But they could have! What was so important that you had to bring such a dangerous creature into Canterlot?"

"You wouldn't understand! Nopony ever understood!" Dr. Arachnid charged at Super Stallion and the tip of 1 of his robotic limbs split open and a long knife came out. "Let's see if your blood matches your mane and coat!"

SNAP

The knife broke into pieces the second it was used to try to cut Super Stallion. "What! That's impossible!" Dr. Arachnid said.

"Nothing's impossible," Super Stallion said. Another tip of Dr. Arachnid's robotic limbs opened to reveal a shotgun inside, but upon firing the bullets didn't even scratch him. "My turn!" Super Stallion said as he fired a spell and it pushed Dr. Arachnid to the other side of his lab. "You're outmatched."

"You're right, but I always have a backup plan." Dr. Arachnid then grabbed a device that made a smoke screen fill the lab in seconds. During the distraction, Dr. Arachnid pressed a button that made the wall behind him open. "You haven't seen the last of Dr. Arachnid!" By the time Super Stallion cleared the smoke with a wind gust spell Dr. Arachnid was long gone and the wall moved back into place making him none the wiser.

"He got away." Super Stallion then exited the lab through the entrance he made. "I should have caught him when I had the chance." Super Stallion then noticed Sapphire Shores who hadn't moved from the spot he last saw her. "Well at least you're okay." Super Stallion quickly floated to her before breaking the ropes and taking the gag off. "You are okay aren't you?"

"Yes I'm fine, but I need to get to my concert asap," Sapphire Shores replied.

"No problem." Super Stallion then picked up the Pony of Pop with his front legs and she wrapped her front legs around his neck to make sure she held on. "I'll get you there before you know it."

***

Back at the concert the crowd was starting to get restless. "WE WANT SAPPHIRE SHORES! WE WANT SAPPHIRE SHORES!" The crowd was yelling, not able to stand waiting much longer.

"What do we do?" The stage manager asked.

"Why are you asking me?! I'm just a backup dancer!"

"Well we have to do something." Suddenly the front doors opened catching the attention of everypony as Super Stallion flew in still carrying Sapphire Shores.

"Are you ponies prepared for pop?" Super Stallion asked. And the crowd cheered like crazy.

"Did you just make that up on the spot?" Sapphire Shores asked.

"Yeah, what do you think? Too cheesy?"

"No it was fine," Sapphire Shores answered. Super Stallion then placed Sapphire Shores on her stage and she rewarded her hero with a kiss right on the lips.

"That was more than fine," Super Stallion said with sheer surprise and delight.

"It was the least I could do for my hero. I hope I get to see you again real soon."

"Hopefully it won't be when you're in danger." Super Stallion then flew out and the concert could finally start. Super Stallion then quickly became Squeaky Clean and returned to the princess. "Geez, you wouldn't believe how long the line for the bathroom was, what I miss?"

***

As he said before Dr. Arachnid always came with a backup plan. The secret passage he had installed in his lab led him to the mines beneath Canterlot where he was sure not even Super Stallion would find him. "It's become painfully clear that for my plans to succeed Super Stallion will have to be out of the equation. Good thing I moved most of my things down here already. Now I can stay down here and plan a way to take down Super Stallion once and for all."

"Hope you don't have any long term plans," a mysterious voice said.

"What? Who said that?" Dr. Arachnid asked, waiting for an answer. Upon not getting one, he started to get a little scared. "Ugh, I've been working too hard. I'm hearing voices," he said, trying to rationalize what had happened.

***

"Well that was a fun night," Princess Celestia said after they left the concert she had the carriage return to the castle without her and escorted Squeaky Clean to his home, which like Dr. Arachnid's lair, wasn't all that far from the concert building. The 2 didn't talk much as the princess preferred to simply admire her city, while Squeaky Clean preferred to simply admire the princess.

"We should do this again sometime. Maybe we could do something during the Summer Sun Celebration tomorrow."

"Sorry, but I've already made plans. But we should do this again."

"Really?"

"Of course, I always enjoy taking a break from the whole princess thing. I hope I can see you first thing in the morning in my throne room."

"Count on it." Upon reaching his home the princess flew off into the night sky and Squeaky Clean looked at her until the very moment she was out of sight. "Wow what a great night... I just wished a different mare kissed me on the lips."

Squeaky hadn't been working at the castle all that long, but his affections for the princess were very strong. "Maybe the next time it's just the 2 of us, I should tell her how I feel, just lay my cards on the table. Yeah, I'll tell her during the Summer Sun Celebration, what could possibly go wrong?... Why do I suddenly have a bad feeling?"

Chapter 3 The Summer Sun Celebration

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"The Summer Sun Celebration is here again," Squeaky Clean said as he walked towards the royal chambers. He got up bright and early more than usual and made it to the castle a little after the princess raised the sun. "It's time to tell the princess how I feel." Having finished his morning routine Squeaky was able to take his morning break a little early and made his way to the princess. However, romance would have to wait, for upon reaching the chambers the doors were flung open by a mysterious force.

"I have returned!" A voice Squeaky never heard before said. After he entered he noticed day turning into night and when he looked out the balcony he saw the moon lowering to Equestria. Stopping just before touching anything, the moon suddenly turned into an alicorn just like the princess, but with a dark coat and mane along with a cutie mark of the moon instead of the sun. "And now the night shall last forever! MUWAHAHAHAHA!"

***

Squeaky awoke from his sleep in a fright, not to mention all sweaty. Squeaky looked around and saw he was in his house. "Uh, nightmare, nightmare. Or more like a night terror." Laying back down in his bed Squeaky looked at his clock and saw he had an hour until he needed to be at work. "I doubt I'm gonna get back to sleep."

So with that he got out of bed and prepared for work while also trying to make sense of that crazy dream. Some ponies theorized that some dreams can predict the future and he was worried if that was the case here. Before long he made his way to the castle and got to his usual cleaning routine. "The Summer Sun Celebration is here again," he said to himself.

"Nice work as always, Squeaky," Stone Wall said.

"Oh thanks," he replied rather modestly. "Hey is it okay if I go on my break a little early?"

"Well I suppose you more than earned it," Stone Wall replied.

"Thanks," Squeaky then made his way to the royal chambers of the princess to confess his feelings for her. As he did, he realized how what he was doing was much like his dream and wondered if the alicorn he saw would appear. He also remembered that the princess wasn't in his dream and wondered why that was the case. Would the princess be in some sort of danger? Would that other alicorn attack her?

Squeaky started to walk faster to the royal chambers out of concern, when he made it the doors opened as Princess Celestia walked out before he even knocked.

"Oh good morning Squeaky Clean," Princess Celestia said rather surprised to see him.

"Good morning princess," he replied. "Uh listen, do you have a minute?"

"I suppose, is there something you need?"

"Well I just wanted to tell you that-" Just as Squeaky was about to confess his feelings, upon gazing into the eyes of the princess it was as if he was stunned.

"Yes?" Princess Celestia asked with interest.

"C-Can I have some water?"

"Oh is that all? Well, you do sound dry." She then lifted one of her cups with her magic and used a spell to put water in it. "There you go." When she offered it to him he didn't waste any time drinking it down. "Oh easy now, don't go too fast."

"It's all right I'm fine but that wasn't what I wanted to say. What I wanted to say was......Do you need the royal chambers cleaned?"

"Oh well now that you mention it, yes I could thank you Squeaky."

"Y-Your welcome." The princess walked away and Squeaky entered the chambers and began to clean the floor. "Can I have some water? Do you need the royal chambers cleaned? I acted like a 9 year old!" He said to himself and about himself. "I mean I know I've never been in a relationship before but I had no idea talking about these things could be so hard." Squeaky then started scrubbing the floor faster and harder out of frustration. "Well, what the heck am I going to do?"

***

After cleaning for what felt like hours, but really was about 5 minutes of cleaning, the floor literally started glowing and it was making it hard for him to see. After leaving he saw Princess Celestia returning and she noticed the floor of her room glowing. "I think you did enough cleaning for now."

"Yeah I kind of figured that out as well," Squeaky replied to the princess.

"Has this ever happened to you before?" Princess Celestia asked.

"Sometimes when I scrub and clean super hard, but don't worry it should stop in a minute or two," Squeaky replied.

"Well, do you know what I can do in the meantime?" The princess asked. “It’s kind of hard to stay in a room when the floor glow hurts your eyes.”

Ah geez, quit staring at me with those big beautiful eyes. Wait a second. Squeaky then reached into his saddle bag and got out sunglasses. "Here."

"Oh sunglasses, perfect," The princess said as she placed them on.

Yeah perfect. Now I can talk to her without getting lost in her eyes.

"Thank you very much Squeaky," the princess said.

"Oh it's the least I can do."

"What do you mean?"

"Well I mean all you do is help other ponies, somepony should do something for you for a change."

"Well that's very sweet of you Squeaky."

"Thank you, speaking of other ponies doing things for you, maybe after work I could take you-" Squeaky suddenly stopped. To a restaurant was the rest of his sentence but he just couldn't get those last few words out. Just then Stone Wall came down the hall.

"Princess," he said after taking a small bow and continued. "The guards are ready to take you to Ponyville."

"Oh good I'll just be a minute, we can talk later Squeaky." Princess Celestia then entered her chambers and closed the door.

"Why is the princess going to Ponyville?" Squeaky asked his friend.

"You don't know? She's heading there for the Summer Sun Celebration," Stone Wall answered.

"Oh yeah now I remember now, I guess it must have slipped my mind."

"Well you still have more cleaning to do after your break before the day is done so don't let that slip your mind either."

"Right Stone Wall."

***

"Well another day another spotless floor," Squeaky said, taking pride in a job well done. "I wonder if the princess has returned yet?" He then walked towards the window and saw that it was still night. "I guess not, the sun isn't up yet. I had a bad feeling when I had that crazy dream but nothing bad has happened." Squeaky was about to head out for the day and maybe head to Ponyville. Suddenly Squeaky returned to the window after realizing something. "Wait, what happened to the mare on the moon?"

"Wait, who's on the moon?" Shining Armor who was just walking by asked.

"Look at the moon!" Squeaky said surprised at what he was looking at.

"What's the big deal? I don't see anypony on the moon," Shining replied after looking out the window.

"Exactly!" Squeaky replied. Shining Armor then figured it out and realized what Squeaky realized.

"Wait a minute, I remember hearing about this when I was little. On the longest day of the 1000th year she will return and bring forth eternal night, the mare in the moon, Nightmare Moon."

"Nightmare Moon! Could it really be?"

"Maybe we should ask Stone Wall, I bet he'd know what to do."

"Good idea, Shining. That’s what we’ll do." The 2 stallions wasted no time in getting to the captain of the royal guard. Along the way they realized what time it was and that Princess Celestia should have raised the sun by now which confirmed Shining Armor's theory. Before long the 2 found Stone Wall who himself was noticing something strange was going on.

***

Stone Wall, Squeaky Clean, and Shining Armor were taking a carriage to Ponyville to investigate. Stone Wall agreed something was up but wanted to check things out and make sure there was a problem before bringing more of the royal guard. No point in needlessly scaring them as he put it. "Do you think Princess Celestia is okay?" Squeaky Clean asked.

"I hope so. She's a capable mare but she can't handle everything herself," Stone Wall answered.

"It's still so hard to believe Nightmare Moon might be behind this," Shining Armor said. "I always thought she was just a myth, a fairy tale."

"Funny thing about myths and fairy tales," Stone Wall replied. "There's always a little bit of truth to them."

"If we are looking for Nightmare Moon, where should we look?" Squeaky asked.

"First we stop in Ponyville and ask around," Stone Wall answered. "I want to make sure we have a crisis. This one time the princess had to postpone raising the sun for a little bit because she had to deal with a head cold and needed a little nap."

"So a postponement to raise the sun has happened before?" Shining Armor asked.

"Yeah but it almost never happens," Stone Wall answered. "In fact the only other time it's happened, at least since I've been around, was when she had some salad as a snack a little before she was supposed to raise the sun. Somepony must have left it out in the sun too long or something, because she had the runs and had to raise the sun on the toilet." Hearing that Squeaky Clean and Shining Armor tried to hold it in but suddenly bursted into laughter.

"Well knowing that I can still say I had fun at this year's Summer Sun Celebration," Squeaky said, keeping down the last few chuckles he had left.

"Well it's not the Summer Sun Celebration until it's daylight," Shining Armor added. "At least that's how my family celebrates it anyway."

"Well my family always treated the Summer Sun Celebration and the day before it as the same thing. Kind of like Hearth's Warming and Hearth's Warming Eve."

"My sister Twily looks after a baby dragon she named Spike. On their first Hearth's Warming Eve Spike got so excited to open presents he couldn't wait until tomorrow. And ever since they opened their presents a day early every year."

"Oh that's cute, hey Stone Wall how are your Hearth's Warmings?"

"We're here, come on, we need to find the mayor."

Stone Wall wasted no time upon leaving the carriage when they arrived in Ponyville. He jumped out, made his way to the town hall to talk to the mayor. Shining and Squeaky followed but by the time they made it to town hall Stone Wall was already leaving. Stone Wall told them to follow him as he soon led them to the edge of the Everfree Forest.

"So I'm guessing the princess isn't just on the toilet again?" Squeaky Clean asked.

"No she isn't," Stone Wall answered, annoyed and starting to regret telling Squeaky and Shining that story. "The mayor and a few other ponies explained that Nightmare Moon did indeed appear."

"So what are we doing here?" Shining Armor asked.

"Before Canterlot, Princess Celestia lived in the castle known as the Castle of the 2 Sisters, which is in the middle of this forest. If I was Nightmare Moon where else would I go?" Stone Wall answered.

"Of course!" Squeaky said as if he had an epiphany. "It used to be Nightmare Moon's home as well and after 1000 years away from it I bet she's ready to go back."

"Right, now come on every second we waste here is a second we can be using to rescue the princess."

"Wait Stone Wall," Shining Armor said just as Stone Wall was about to enter the forest. "Maybe Squeaky Clean should stay here. No offense Squeaky but I'm not sure you'll be able to deal with the type of stuff royal guards deal with."

"Non taken," Squeaky replied, understanding what Shining Armor was saying. "But don't worry if we run into any problems I'm sure I can handle it." He told Shining Armor as he subtly tapped his saddle bag.

Being in a group it would be a little harder to slip away, but if push came to shove he was sure they could keep his secret. Stone Wall had been his best friend since they were foals and despite not knowing Shining Armor that long he seemed like somepony he could really trust.

"Squeaky is right he may not be a royal guard, but he's learned a lot of spells over the years, even from me. He can take care of himself, plus he has the both of us." Stone Wall replied quickly to defend his friend. "So the way I see it we just need to stick together, now come on we've wasted enough time already."

After that the trio entered the Everfree Forest and would have to deal with a few obstacles, but it was nothing they couldn't handle. A manticore appeared but one death glare from Stone Wall kept it away. At a river Shining used a barrier spell to make 2 magic walls appear in the water side by side like books on a shelf. The 2 walls then moved away from each other and pushed the water away as well allowing the trio to walk across.Shining Armor then made the walls disappear and got the water to return to normal.

"We could have just teleported across the river," Stone Wall said to Shining Armor in a rather lecturing tone. Because teleporting would take less time and they could have used it to get closer to the castle.

"Yeah but my idea was cooler right?" Shining Armor replied, sensing tension from Stone Wall right away and tried to relieve it with some humor.

"This isn't a game Shining Armor!" Squeaky Clean said surprising Shining Armor and especially Stone Wall because Squeaky snatched the words right out of his mouth. "The princess is in serious danger as well as Equestria! We can't afford to waste anytime, now come on we're almost to the castle."

"Yeah, what Squeaky said," Stone Wall added, the tone in his voice now gone.

"R-Right sorry."

The Castle of the 2 Sisters was in sight, the trio had almost arrived. They soon came to a bridge and right away Squeaky not wishing to waste time grabbed Shining Armor and Stone Wall by the necks. He quickly used a teleportation spell and the 3 stallions were on the other side of the bridge and that much closer to the castle.

Upon entering the castle because of the size of it they weren't sure where to go first. They quickly got their answer however when they heard a pony screaming and ran towards that direction. They quickly got there and noticed that it was finally day when they arrived at where they heard the scream. They were surprised to find that not only was the princess there but also Twilight Sparkle and 6 other ponies one of which was on the floor.

"Twily?" Shining Armor asked surprised his sister was there.

"Shining Armor?" She replied also surprised.

"Stone Wall?" Princess Celestia said surprised too.

"3 ponies that I don't know?" A pink pony said surprised as well.

"What's going on?" Princess Celestia asked. "Why are you all here?"

"That's exactly what I'd like to know," Stone Wall said in a strong but not yet rude tone.

"I see, I'll tell you what you want to know, but first I need to talk to somepony." Princess Celestia then walked towards the pony that was on the ground. "Princess Luna." Saying this caused the pony of the ground to open her eyes. "It has been 1000 years since I have seen you like this, time to put our differences behind us. We were meant to rule together, little sister."

"Sister?" Twilight said surprised once again.

"Weirdest Summer Sun Celebration ever," Squeaky added, still trying to process information.

"Will you accept my friendship?" Princess Celestia asked her sister. Suddenly Princess Luna jumped up to her sister.

"I'm so sorry! I missed you so much, big sister."

"I've missed you too," Celestia replied as she and her sister both had tears streaming down their faces.

"Well isn't that sweet," Stone Wall said. "NOW WHAT IN EQUESTRIA IS GOING ON?" Stone Wall yelled angrily, getting the attention of everypony in the room.

"Geez bring down the whole mood why don't you," Squeaky said to his old friend.

"Shut up!"

***

The ponies quickly made their way out of the Everfree Forest and back to Ponyville. There Princess Celestia after being escorted with her sister to Ponyville talked with Stone Wall about her plan to defeat Nightmare Moon by the use of her student, Twilight Sparkle learning the magic of friendship and connecting to the Elements of Harmony. Stone Wall didn't take it very well.

"YOU PUT ALL OF EQUESTRIA AT RISK TO TRY TO GET YOUR STUDENT TO LEARN SOCIAL SKILLS?" Stone Wall said, screaming at the top of lungs.

"Please don't scream Stone Wall."

"Oh please we're the only 2 ponies in here all the others are outside enjoying the Summer Sun Celebration," Stone Wall replied. Stone Wall and the princess were inside the city hall of Ponyville, while everypony else was as Stone Wall said outside. "This was an extremely huge risk and you know it!"

"Yes but I wouldn't have done it if I knew it would work."

"You couldn't know it would work because I've still yet to see any proof that you can see the future!" Stone Wall said still upset. "I mean geez at least make a contingency plan."

"I did, it was you," Celestia quickly replied back, making Stone Wall give a subtle yet obvious look of surprise.

"What?"

"If my plan didn't work, I knew you would do everything in your power and ability to stop Nightmare Moon and bring me back. Plus you would have the royal guard to help you and I'm sure Super Stallion would be willing to help you as well." She then walked up to her captain and gave him a quick hug "I'm sorry I didn't tell you I just didn't want you to worry. I know you work so hard at keeping me safe, I just wanted to lighten that in a way."

"I guess that's understandable, but next time something like this happens let me know."

"Fair enough," Princess Celestia replied as she gave him another quick hug. The 2 then went outside ready to return to Canterlot. Squeaky Clean and Shining Armor were ready to head back as well, however Twilight Sparkle wasn't as ready as the others as the princess could tell.

"Why so glum my faithful student," The princess asked Twilight with concern. "Are you not happy that your quest is complete and you can return to your studies in Canterlot?"

"That's just it," Twilight said with sadness in her tone. "Just when I learned how wonderful it is to have friends, I have to leave them."

"Spike, take a note please." Hearing this Spike, a young dragon readied a paper and quill to write said note. "I Princess Celestia, hereby decree that the unicorn Twilight Sparkle shall take on a new mission for Equestria. She must continue to study the magic of friendship. She must report to me her findings, from her new home in Ponyville." Hearing this brought joy to not only Twilight but her 5 new friends who gathered around their new friend happy to know she would be staying.

"Oh thank you Princess Celestia! I'll study harder than ever before," Twilight said, grateful to her teacher. However one pony became sad upon hearing this news.

"Wait Twilight did I hear you right you're moving out of Canterlot?" Shining Armor asked his sister as he walked up to her.

"Shining Armor, come on, we need to get back to Canterlot asap," Stone Wall said.

"Captain permission to stay just a little longer to talk with my sister."

"Permission denied!" Stone Wall snapped.

"Stone Wall," Squeaky Clean and Princess Celestia said together. After looking at each other for a split second, surprised that they said the same thing. They returned their gaze to Stone Wall who gave a quick sigh.

"Fine, but make it quick," Stone Wall said after noticing the gaze from his old friend and his boss both non verbally telling him to lighten up. Twilight's friends then moved away to allow Twilight to get closer to her brother.

"You're really moving here?"

"I know this is sudden but friendship is what helped me and the others stop Nightmare Moon and save Equestria. I need to know more about it because it may help save Equestria again."

"That makes sense, but I'm gonna miss you."

"I know I'm gonna miss you too, but we'll still see each other from time to time."

"Yeah that's true," Shining Armor said, starting to lighten up. "I guess I'm just surprised that you're starting to grow up."

"Thanks," Twilight said. She then gave her brother a hug. "Take care, and say hi to mom and dad for me."

"I will." Shining Armor then made his way to Stone Wall, Squeaky Clean, and the princesses. Shining Armor waved goodbye to his sister as his group headed to Canterlot. He wondered just how much friendship would help her grow as a pony.

***

Having returned to Canterlot Princess Celestia escorted her long lost sister to the royal chambers then exited for a brief moment to speak to Stone Wall. She informed him she didn't want to be disturbed for the whole day.

"No problem," Stone Wall replied happy to handle any problem she would have to deal with.

"Thank you now if you'll excuse me, my sister and I have a lot of catching up to do," Celestia said as she walked back into her chambers. Stone Wall then made his way down the hall and gestured to Shining Armor to follow him so he could get to his royal duties.

"Princess," Squeaky called out to Celestia, making her turn around.

"Yes?" Squeaky tried one more time to tell her how he feels but he was still much too nervous. So after only a few seconds he gave up.

"I'm glad you have your sister back."

"Thank you, so am I." And with that Princess Celestia entered her chambers and closed the door.

"Still having some communication problems I see," Stone Wall who had returned and had Shining Armor still by his side said.

"Oh, you're back?"

"Yes I came back because I need you to clean the floor," Stone Wall answered. He then turned his head to Shining Armor who had followed him back. "Why did you come back?"

"Oh, well when you turned back I thought I was supposed to follow you. You know since you're the captain," Shining Armor answered, starting to get a little nervous "You know it was like an instinct."

"Fine whatever," Stone Wall said, turning his attention back to Squeaky Clean. "I know what's going on here."

"W-What are you talking about?" Squeaky said nervously hoping his old friend actually doesn't know about his affections for the princess.

"Don't play dumb, you're trying to kiss up to the big boss," Stone Wall said. Hearing that Squeaky breathed out of sheer relief and decided to play along.

"You're right, I guess I can't get anything past you."

"Well whether or not kissing up to the princess works out for you or not it's not going to work if you can barely talk to her."

"What do you mean?" Squeaky asked.

"You get nervous at times and you can hardly talk to her. Lots of ponies get that way," Stone Wall answered.

"Really? So I'm guessing you've talked to other ponies about this?"

"Yes Squeaky, I tell them all the same thing if you get nervous just do small talk."

"Small talk?"

"Yes, small talk, ask her about her day, ask if she has any plans for the weekend, or just say hi. Try to be her friend is in a sense what I'm saying. When you feel close you won't get so awkward when you talk to her."

"Stone Wall is right, when you get to know her Princess Celestia is really just like any other pony," Shining Armor added. Stone Wall then turned his head towards Shining Armor once again.

"Why are you still here?" Stone Wall asked Shining Armor.

"Oh, uh, I guess I don't know." After Shining Armor answered, Princess Celestia opened the door and was surprised to see the 3 stallions just outside her door.

"What are you 3 still doing here?"

"Oh, just talking I guess," Squeaky answered.

"Well I was leaving to find you Stone Wall, but since you're here it saves me the trouble of finding you. I would like to show Luna around Canterlot tomorrow. Can you help me make a planned route with an escort?" The princess asked, clearly eager to show her sister around.

"Of course Princess Celestia." Stone Wall then followed the princess back into her chambers. "Squeaky the floor I need cleaned is at the end of this hall on the left end side."

"Okay I'll get right on it." Squeaky then made his way to the end of the hall.

"Stone Wall," Shining said, stopping the captain as he just made it through the door. He turned around to face Shining Armor. Squeaky stopped in his tracks and turned around as well, curious what he was going to say. "I was thinking, as potentially dangerous as our little adventure was, it was still kind of fun. Maybe the 3 of us could hang out again sometime, grab a bite to eat after work."

"Familiarity breeds contempt," Stone Wall answered and without another word closed the doors.

"Oh, okay." Shining Armor then walked down the same hall Squeaky was continuing to go with his head down "So much for that."

"Uh, look don't take it personally," Squeaky told Shining Armor who lifted his head up to him. "I know he can seem kinda heartless at times, but he's a real nice guy deep down.” Squeaky then put a hoof to his chest. “He just has a bit of a wall right here.”

"That makes sense, thanks," Shining Armor told him, feeling better. "Though he's not like that with you."

"I want to say it's because we're old friends but I'm pretty sure it's because I'm a janitor not a royal guard. It is his job to keep you guys in line after all."

"Oh, I see," Shining Armor replied as he rubbed the back of his neck with one of his front hooves also thinking that what Squeaky said makes sense. "Listen, what he said about the princess is right. If you just get to know her a little you'll be a lot more relaxed."

"Sounds like a good idea." When they reached the end of the hallway Squeaky saw the floor Stone Wall talked about. He could tell this was it because of signs of stains and dust. Shining Armor went down a separate hallway and they both waved goodbye. Squeaky hoped that the 3 of them would hang out again at some point.

"I should probably tell mom and dad about Twilight moving to Ponyville as soon as I can," Shining Armor said to himself.

"Yeah just small talk," Squeaky said to himself. "I should just try to be Princess Celestia's friend for now and when I don't get nervous or choke up around her I can tell her how I feel."

***

Not much later after the Summer Sun Celebration, Squeaky Clean spent one of his breaks as Super Stallion. He flew around Canterlot to look for any crimes or signs of Dr. Arachnid. Quite a few ponies saw him flying around and he was nice enough to wave back at the ponies that waved at him. "Well it looks like everything is all clear here. I still have a few more minutes until my break is over, I think I'll fly over to Ponyville and see how Twilight is doing." Super Stallion got there in no time and was surprised to see that a mob of ponies was chasing her and her dragon friend Spike. Super Stallion wasted no time and flew down to grab Twilight and Spike and carried them to the top of city hall. "Seems like I'm always sweeping you off your hooves."

"OH MY GOSH, SUPER STALLION!" Spike yelled out of sheer excitement. "IT'S REALLY HIM HE'S RIGHT IN FRONT OF US!" After Spike started bouncing up and down Twilight placed a hoof on him to stop him from doing that.

"Okay Spike calm down," Twilight told him.

"Are you 2 okay?" Super Stallion asked. "Why was that mob chasing you?"

"Oh, well." Twilight took her hoof off Spike and placed it on the back of her head. Super Stallion couldn't help but think like brother like sister. "I got a ticket to the Grand Galloping Gala from Princess Celestia, 2 actually. My friends all want to go and I couldn't decide who to take with me. Then when word accidentally got out to other ponies about my extra ticket, all those ponies wanted it."

"Well just give the extra ticket to one of your friends," Super Stallion suggested.

"I can't decide though," Twilight replied with stress in her voice, she had been thinking about this for a while. "All 5 of my friends have good reasons for going and I don't want to disappoint any of them."

"Well, you're close to the princess right?" Super Stallion asked.

"Yes, I'm her personal student."

"Can't you just ask her for some extra tickets?" Twilight formed a face of sheer shock and quickly face palmed herself saying in body language why didn't she think of that. She would later send a letter to the princess asking for more tickets as well as write a friendship report about the joy of sharing your blessings. Super Stallion then noticed Spike still standing right next to him jumping up and down again, but not as much since his feet were still planted and he had a big grin on his face.

"Can I have your autograph?"

Chapter 4 It Ain't Easy Being Green

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Fancy Pants was hosting a yacht party for Canterlot's elite, including Blueblood (busily mingling with several mares) and Sapphire Shores, who (surprised to get an invitation to this party) quickly learned that it was because Fancy Pants wanted to learn all about her recent encounter with Super Stallion.

"I keep telling you Fancy, he showed up, fought my ponynapper, and flew me back to my concert," Sapphire said to the party host and his supermodel friend, Fleur De Lis. "That's all, we barely even talked."

"Well, that's certainly more dialogue than any other pony here has gotten with him," Fleur said. "Are you sure that you weren't able to get any private information out of him?"

"Like what?" The Pony of Pop asked.

"Perhaps his secret identity?" Fleur asked.

"Sorry no, but I'll be sure to ask him the next time I talk to him." Sapphire, starting to get annoyed, quickly thought of something to change the subject. "By the way, was the captain of the Wonderbolts Spitfire acting as the bouncer for this little party of yours?"

"Yes, yes indeed," Fancy answered.

"How did you get her to do this?"

"Well it's simple really," Fancy Pants answered. "During the Ursa Major attack the race track where the Wonderbolts have their derby was destroyed, so a few ponies such as myself helped the princess to repair the damages by throwing a few extra bits her way."

"That was nice of you," Sapphire replied.

"Well what good is having all those bits if you don't spend it all?" Fancy asked, displaying his generous nature and reminding Sapphire of part of the reasons ponies like him. "When word got to the Wonderbolts about this little party of mine, Spitfire asked to help make sure only invited guests got in. As a way of repaying me."

"Good thing too," Sapphire Shores said. "There was quite a group gathered outside when I got here."

"Yes and it's still there," Fleur said as she looked to where the ponies who weren't invited were still trying to get in.

"For the last time, back off!" Spitfire said to the crowd starting to regret volunteering for this job.

"Come on, let us in!" A pony from the crowd said.

"I'll pay you!"

"I'll pay you double what he's offering!"

"I'll pay triple!"

"I already told you, if you don't have an invitation you aren't getting in!" Spitfire said, making the crowd back off a bit. However, 2 ponies stepped forward both unicorns a male that went by Jet Set and his wife Upper Crust.

"We have special tickets," Jet Set said to Spitfire as he gave her a rather large diamond wrapped in some paper. They then started to walk forward assuming Spitfire would let them in after accepting the diamond.

"Get behind the rope!" Spitfire told the couple in a demanding tone after putting the diamond in her saddle bag.

"But I just gave you a diamond literally bigger than my hoof!" Jet Set replied in a huff.

"Thank you,” Spitfire said with a smile. “Now get behind the rope," she said back to a strict tone. Other ponies there snickered and laughed at the couple.

"Some ponies think they can buy anything," said a strange stallion who was wearing nothing but a white cape. The stallion had just entered the crowd and walked right up to Spitfire. "What do you think?" He asked as he stroked her mane with one hoof.

"I...I..I" was all Spitfire could say as the stallion somehow had her in awe.

"I don't have an invitation," the stallion said as he stopped stroking her then offered her a Blossom.

"Well hey, the more the merrier," Spitfire said as she opened the rope to allow the stallion to enter the party.

"Thanks, hot stuff." The stallion then rewarded Spitfire for her generosity with a kiss right on her lips. Afterwards he entered the party while Spitfire closed the rope and watched him walk away in sheer delight.

"Hey, what's he got that I don't got?" Jet Set asked who as a result got a quick bump from his wife.

"Everything," Spitfire answered, not even turning around. As the stallion quickly made his way to the yacht.

"Who's the green stallion?" Fleur asked.

"I'm not quite sure," Fancy Pants answered.

"I'm not either, but I like his mane," Sapphire Shores answered.

"Well whoever he is there's something about him that I don't like?" Prince Blueblood said who was still in the middle of a small group of mares.

"Perhaps one of us should go talk to him," Fleur suggested. But before anypony had a chance to talk to the stallion, he walked inside the yacht and suddenly several large plant vines appeared from the inside of the yacht. Others appeared from behind the crowd who were quick to flee in terror. The ponies on the yacht had a little more trouble getting away because both the small and the big group of vines were trying to capture them.

"Run for it!" Prince Blueblood told the other ponies. One of the vines grabbed his leg but he was fast enough to use a spell to force it to let go. Fancy and Fleur weren't really the fighting types but they both knew a few spells that made the big group of vines back off with a little help from a few other unicorns that were invited. Spitfire, who stuck around, fought the big group of vines back as well.

"The path's clear, go for it!" Spitfire yelled and most got away. However, several ponies were captured by the vines inside the yacht. Seeing that Spitfire charged the vines and made them release the other ponies who wrapped around her instead. "Run! Get away from her!" Spitfire told the ponies she freed who did as they were told as she was pulled into the yacht by the vines that captured her. "This is the last time I take a job like this."

***

Squeaky Clean was in the personal chambers of the princess cleaning the windows while the princess was sitting by the fireplace enjoying a meal.

"You are doing an excellent job Squeaky," the princess said as she continued to eat.

"Thanks it's what I do," Squeaky replied as he used the reflection of the windows to gaze upon the beautiful princess without her knowing. Squeaky saw her using magic to lift a fork to her mouth. She even looks good when she's chewing. Who looks good when they're chewing? Suddenly a scroll appeared in the room making Squeaky Clean turn his head in surprise.

"Another letter from Twilight," Princess Celestia said.

"Twilight?" Squeaky said as he walked to the scroll. "Oh yeah she's living in Ponyville now and sends you letters about friendship."

"Yes, let's see what she has to report." Princess Celestia was about to get up and stretch her legs while using her magic to lift the letter. But before she could do that Squeaky Clean lifted the letter first.

"It's okay you don't have to get up, I can read it for you," Squeaky said. You look so cute with your legs folded as you sit down I wouldn't want you to stop doing that.

"Oh, thank you, how thoughtful," Princess Celestia said, deciding not to get up and wait until later to stretch because of the nice gesture.

"Dear Princess Celestia," Squeaky said after clearing his throat. "You're not gonna believe what happened in Ponyville." Hearing this they exchanged looks of concern. "Today a friend of Rainbow Dash, a griffon named Gilda, came to town. However, she certainly didn't act like a friend and in the end she left the party cutting ties with Rainbow Dash. I may be new to friendship but based on the limited knowledge I've gathered, it doesn't seem like friends should do that. Why would a friend treat another friend that way?"

"Oh my, this is a tough one," Princess Celestia said as she stood up to think about what to write back.

"So much for my plan to make her stay put," Squeaky whispered.

"What?" Princess Celestia asked, turning her head to Squeaky.

"What?"

"Did you say something?"

"N-no," Squeaky answered. Oh my gosh, did I actually say that out loud? Princess Celestia after taking a moment or two to think, sat by the fireplace and started writing.

"My dearest student," Celestia started but then the ink suddenly vanished. "Oops, wrong ink."

"Wait, you have disappearing ink?" Squeaky asked.

"Yes, does that surprise you?" She asked in a rather mischievous tone.

"Yes."

"Well just because I'm a princess doesn't mean I don't have a sense of humor." Princess Celestia then continued to write. "My dearest student Twilight, sometimes there are those who claim to be your friend but don't have your best interests at heart. There are times when you don't learn that until such times as you are in dire need but they don't help you and leave you in the dust. We must learn the difference between false friends and true friends. Rest assured that a true friend will always be there for you." Upon finishing she used her magic to send it to her student then turned to Squeaky Clean.

"It’s nice to know Twilight is okay, I like her," Squeaky said.

“Yes." Princess Celestia then stood up again. "She's fine, just needed to learn about false friends."

"Have you ever had any of those?"

"I suppose a few times, sometimes ponies try sucking up to me or try to get close to me just to try to be close to royalty when that's all that truly matters to them." She then felt sad as she remembered the few times that happened. "I don't rather care for when they do that, there's more to me than just power and authority."

"I'm sorry that happened," Squeaky said, placing a caring hoof on her shoulder.

"Thank you, I can tell you mean that." Just then the chamber doors opened and Prince Blueblood walked in.

"Auntie, I was attacked by a plant," he said to the princess with a whiny tone.

"A plant?"

"Auntie?" Squeaky then looked at the princess confused at what the pony that just entered had just said.

"Oh that's right, you 2 haven't met. This is Prince Blueblood, he's my great great and so on nephew on my mother's side."

"Your mother?" Squeaky said confused again. "I don't think I've ever heard about your mother from you or history books. What were your parents like? Were they-"

"Uh, who is this pony?" Prince Blueblood asked in a tone that said he didn't care that he interrupted somepony.

"This is Squeaky Clean, a new janitor," Princess Celestia answered. Squeaky then approached the prince and offered him his hoof.

"Hi, nice to meet-"

"Ew a janitor! Keep away from me," Prince Blueblood interrupted again and jumped away to the side to avoid touching Squeaky. "Don't touch me, I've just been groomed." The prince then walked over to the princess who was giving her nephew a stern look. "Auntie, somepony crashed the party I was at, then plants came out of nowhere! We all had to run away. The party was ruined!" He explained to the princess in a tone that was somehow even more whiny than the last one.

"All right calm down," she said while holding a hoof up as a means to tell him to stop. Then she placed the hoof back on the floor. "Did you tell any guards about this?"

"Yes, but when they reported back to me they said that the yacht where the plants came out of was gone," Prince Blueblood answered with the whine in his tone finally gone, but a little bit of panic.

"I see, that is a problem. We should tell everypony to keep a look out for the missing yacht," Princess Celestia replied.

"Okay I believe I can describe the yacht, I wasn't there long, but I do have an eye for detail as you know," Prince Blueblood said with pride.

"Yes," Princess Celestia said, humoring her nephew. "Let's go tell the guards shall we?"

"Yes, though maybe we could get some hors d'oeuvres first?" The 2 royal ponies then walked out of the room, leaving Squeaky Clean to himself.

"Let's see if Super Stallion can find that yacht," Squeaky said to himself. Being in Princess Celestia's chambers, which was in a rather tall tower in the castle, would make it pretty easy for him to slip out of the castle.

***

Super Stallion had taken several circles around Canterlot at a rather high view with a rather high speed. Luckily he ran into Fancy Pants a day or two ago at the store and while they were talking he mentioned a yacht he was going to buy. He showed him an article in a magazine that had a picture of the said yacht and Squeaky always had a good memory. After not seeing it he decided to slow down a bit and take a few more trips around Canterlot but still found no sign of the yacht.

"I don't see it," Super Stallion said as he continued to circle around Canterlot. "Whoever stole it may have left Canterlot, yachts don't exactly fix in a saddle bag." Just as he figured he should head back to the castle he saw a pony out of the corner of his eye. The pony was located just outside Canterlot and was somewhat dangerously close to the edge of the cliff near the waterfall that ran down the mountain Canterlot was built on. Super Stallion flew directly to where the pony was and landed a few feet away from him and got a good look at the pony.

"Hello," the green stallion said.

"Hello," Super Stallion said back.

"Nice day isn't it?" The stallion asked in a pleasant tone but Super Stallion couldn't help but feel an unsettling aura from him.

"You know it’s funny, I don’t think that tree was here before." Super Stallion said.

"You like it?" The green stallion asked as he placed a hoof on the tree. "I planted it myself and even to my surprise it became a full tree in less than a day."

"A day?" Super Stallion said surprised he never heard of any magic that could do that and this stallion was an earth pony. "How did you do that? And who are you?"

"Who am I?" The stallion said as he took his hoof off the tree. "At one time I was known as Briar Hooffield, but now you can call me Pony Ivy!" He then reached into a small saddle bag that his cape was covering and pulled out what looked like a cask. "As for how I did what I did instead of telling you, how about I show you." Pony Ivy then poured the water from the cask and suddenly giant roots appeared from the ground. "I'm so glad that you showed up while I was out here."

"Why?" Super Stallion asked, ready for a fight.

"Because it saves me the trouble of eventually having to track you down," Pony Ivy answered and with that the roots moved to attack Super Stallion. But before they could do anything Super Stallion used a freeze spell stopping them in their tracks.

"You'll have to do better than that!"

"You have to be kidding!" Pony Ivy said in surprise. "Flight capability, super strength, AND magic! What are you? An alicorn that uses a spell to make yourself look like that?"

"Wouldn't you like to know," Super Stallion replied as he charged at Pony Ivy who quickly got more roots to appear. The roots grabbed Super Stallion just before he could reach Pony Ivy.

"Well it looks like the shoe is on the hoof," Pony Ivy said as the roots continued to wrap around Super Stallion.

"Things aren't always as they seem," Super Stallion replied as he flew up in the air. Doing this with the help of his strength broke the roots holding him. "If I stay up in the air it'll be all the more harder for those roots to get me."

"True, but it works both ways," Pony Ivy answered. "While you're up there you can't get to me." Suddenly he dodged another ice spell that Super Stallion casted at him. "Oh right, forgot about that."

"I think this is the part where you give up and return the yacht that you stole."

"I admit, I may have underestimated your abilities and over estimated mine. But with the plan I have cooking, there's no way I can just give up." Pony Ivy then noticed a carriage heading towards Canterlot and summoned a few more roots to attack the carriage.

"NO!" Super Stallion flew to the carriage to get the roots off. By the time he did Pony Ivy was gone.

***

Super Stallion quickly returned to the castle and slipped back in, becoming Squeaky Clean once again. Afterwards he returned to cleaning but he also tried to figure out how Pony Ivy was able to get away so quickly and without being spotted. After about a minute or 2 of cleaning Princess Celestia and Prince Blueblood returned.

"So when will that criminal be caught auntie?" Prince Blueblood asked.

"It's still hard to say at this point," Princess Celestia answered.

"But what if I go to another party and I'm attacked again?" Prince Blueblood asked, worried these attacks would spoil his fun.

"I have an idea," Squeaky replied, getting the attention of the royal ponies. "Princess there are a lot of books about magic here in the castle right?"

"Correct," she answered wanting to see where he was going with this?

"Maybe one of the spells can help locate Pony, er the pony that stole the yacht," Squeaky said. Wow, close one.

"Not a bad idea," the princess replied. "But locator spells can be very difficult to use even for me. If they weren't I would know much more about a certain somepony's social life." The princess then gave her nephew a subtle bump with her front leg.

"I don't know what you're talking about auntie," Prince Blueblood said defensively.

"Oh I'm sure you don't," The princess said playfully. Squeaky Clean continued to finish cleaning the floor.

After work I'm going to search all of Canterlot even harder to find Pony Ivy.

***

It was night time in Canterlot and Super Stallion quickly got to scouring Canterlot after Squeaky's shift ended. "What if he left Canterlot after escaping?" Super Stallion asked himself. Super Stallion then slowed down, losing his passion for finding the plant loving pony. "And if he's still here what are the odds that I'll just see him again like last-" Super Stallion stopped as he saw none other than Pony Ivy standing under what looked like a newly planted tree. "No way."

Pony Ivy started to walk away from the tree and Super Stallion decided to follow him. Since it was night it would be a lot harder for Pony Ivy to see him, Super Stallion on the other hoof could see him just fine thanks to the suit also enhancing his senses. After a while Pony Ivy arrived at the edge of Canterlot and summoned a root that he slid down. Super Stallion waited a minute before following, then flew down to the waterfall where the root ended. Super Stallion then entered the water and just passed the water was a cave entrance.

"So this is how he got away," Super Stallion said, putting the pieces together. "He slid down a root when I was helping the ponies in the carriage. I bet this is where he hid the yacht, too." Super Stallion quickly but carefully explored the cave and came across the yacht. "Called it." Super Stallion entered the yacht to find and take down Pony Ivy but came across a different pony.

"What's good stallion?" A pony hanging from the ceiling because of roots wrapped around her like a cocoon asked. "You're that superhero right? I'm seriously digging that pure aura you got there."

"Yes, I'm Super Stallion. And you are?"

"I'm Treehugger, radical to meet you," she answered. "So listen, could you get me down from here?"

"Oh right, sorry." Super Stallion then pulled the roots off Treehugger and carried her to the floor. "So how did you get yourself stuck up there?"

"Oh, well it all happened when I met this pony who wanted to be a member of the Society of the Preservations of Rare Creatures, such as myself," Treehugger answered. "I talked to him a bit, answered some questions, and he even treated me to dinner. After that he kissed me and," Treehugger stopped to think for a minute. "I can't quite remember what happened next. Between that and me in those roots everything is a blur."

"I see," Super Stallion replied. Suddenly both he and Treehugger felt movement and they could tell that the yacht was moving.

"Oh hey we're going on a trip. I've always wanted to go on one of these," Treehugger said.

"More like a joyride," Super Stallion said. The yacht was rather deep inside the cave but it got out in hardly any time and made its way up the mountain. "Come on Treehugger I need to get you out of here and stop Pony Ivy."

"Oh okay," Super Stallion then picked Treehugger up with his front hooves to carry her. He then proceeded to fly towards the exit of the yacht, but couldn't seem to find it. "Oh no, I think I took a wrong turn."

"Maybe we could ask her for directions," Treehugger said, pointing to another mare trapped in roots who was struggling to get free, to no avail. Unlike Treehugger who was in a cocoon this was more like a root web bound and gagged.

"Wait, I know her! She's Spitfire, captain of the Wonderbolts, what is she doing here?" Super Stallion asked, still carrying Treehugger.

"Maybe we should ask her," Treehugger suggested.

"...Right." Super Stallion then fired beams of magic from his eyes that cut the roots and freed Spitfire.

"Thanks!" Spitfire said happy to be free. "That guy is so getting a beating. I can't believe I thought he was cute!"

"Hi I'm Treehugger, blessings," Treehugger said to Spitfire offering her hoof. Super Stallion then placed Treehugger on the ground as the 3 needed to talk.

"So how did you get yourself involved with Pony Ivy?" Super Stallion asked.

"He crashed a party where I was working as a bouncer, then I was grabbed by roots and pulled me in here. He then explained how he would later be forcing me to spread the things in those barrels around Canterlot." Super Stallion then noticed the barrels Spitfire pointed to and opened them up to reveal the same water that was in Pony Ivy's cask.

"It's the stuff he uses to make the roots appear," Super Stallion realized.

"Deer magic," Treehugger said, shocked.

"What?" Super Stallion and Spitfire said in unison.

"Most ponies don't know this but deer live deep within the Everfree Forest. They've developed their own type of magic which allows trees and plants to grow rapidly," Tree hugger answered. "When he first talked to me about joining the Society for the Preservation of Rare Creatures he asked me a lot of questions about deer magic. I told them that I knew about it quite a lot, but the deer prefer to live in privacy. Before he took me to dinner he kept asking about deer magic and how it worked, at first I thought it was because he was just really interested in it. I mean, who could blame him, magic specifically made to help place life, it's totally groovy if we could get some of the rare creatures my society helps. We could make acres in minutes or -"

"Get on with it!" Super Stallion and Spitfire said in unison again.

"Right, sorry, what was I talking about?"

"THE DEER MAGIC!" Super Stallion and Spitfire yelled in unison.

"Right sorry, I guess during my blur he stole all this deer magic," Treehugger answered.

"Blur?" Spitfire asked, turning to Super Stallion.

"I think he may have hypnotized her," Super Stallion answered.

"That actually makes sense," Spitfire replied. "I was captured by roots and dragged into this yacht but I was able to get free. When I saw that stallion I charged at him and we fought for a bit but he kissed me right on my lips and when I came to my senses I was stuck in those vines you freed me from."

"He's probably planning to dump this over Canterlot or something and was going to make me do it!" Spitfire said, angry at the possibility of being forced to help out in his evil plan.

"Right you are my dear," Pony Ivy said from behind, the 3 ponies turned around and saw the villain. "Since you figured out most of my plan I don't have to worry about explaining it."

"Most but not all," Super Stallion said, ready to fight him again. "What exactly are you going to do? Cover all of Canterlot in roots and vegetation?"

"Exactly!" Pony Ivy said with pride.

"What?" Spitfire, Super Stallion, and Treehugger said in unison.

"Nature does so much, providing all creatures with food and in some cases shelter. How do we repay it? By destroying it to make homes for ourselves," Pony Ivy answered.

"Well of course!" Spitfire retorted. "We make room for ourselves but we leave plenty of places alone and to grow."

"It's not enough! Canterlot is just a start. I'll cover all of Equestria in glorious green and then truly this land will be a paradise," Pony Ivy said with a tone and facial expressions saying he's not bluffing.

"A paradise for who!?" Treehugger asked angrily. "If you spread your green all over Equestria it'll interfere with the life and ecosystems all over it. There has to be a balance, that's what nature is all about. When you came to me, I thought you wanted to help but you're just a." Treehugger suddenly stopped as if she lost her train of thought. "Uh, what's the word I'm looking for?"

"A false friend," Super Stallion said quick to answer. "Somepony who only acts like your friend."

"Yeah, that's it, thank you."

"Well we can work out the kinks afterwards," Pony Ivy answered. Suddenly roots appeared to grab the barrels and carry Pony Ivy to the deck. The trio of ponies quickly followed him to the deck of the yacht that was almost above Canterlot castle.

"We're not going to let you do this," Spitfire said.

"What she said," Super Stallion added.

"I expected as much," Pony Ivy replied and tapped his hoof on the deck several times. "All hooves on deck! All hooves on deck!" He called out and then a dozen or so ponies appeared walking to the deck from the helm. They were walking like zombies and the 3 ponies quickly figured out they were under Pony Ivy's control. "They should keep you 3 off my back, Take them down!" Pony Ivy ordered the hypnotized ponies.

"That's a dirty trick!" Super Stallion.

“There’s nothing wrong with a dirty trick when it’s used for a greater good.” The hypnotized ponies started to attack but just as Super Stallion was thinking what to do, both Spitfire and Treehugger counter attacked some of the ponies.

"I don't really like violence, but times like these are special exceptions," Treehugger said looking at Super Stallion.

"And I didn't become captain of the Wonderbolts without learning a trick or 2 for rumbling. We'll handle these ponies, you stop Ivy," Spitfire said, also looking at Super Stallion.

"Fine with me!" Super Stallion flew and cast a freeze spell breathing out ice and snow until Pony Ivy was completely frozen. "Looks like I stopped you-"

Suddenly Pony Ivy broke free of the ice. "You aren't the only one that found a way to become abnormally strong," Pony Ivy said. Super Stallion then noticed that the roots were on the verge of grabbing the barrels. "The yacht is now completely above Canterlot and when the deer magic pours over the special seeds I planted all over Canterlot-" Pony Ivy stopped when he turned his head to the barrels and noticed they were gone. "What happened to the barrels!?"

***

Princess Celestia was doing some late night work in her chambers and was about ready to finish up and head to bed. But suddenly the doors to her balcony opened and she jumped to her legs ready to fight and call the guards. Super Stallion flew in carrying the barrels with magical aura and placed them next to her.

"Hello," Super Stallion said.

"Hello," Princess Celestia said, still surprised.

"I need you to hold on to these barrels for a little bit."

"Wait, what's in these?"

"I'll explain later." And with that Super Stallion flew out the window before the princess could get another word in. Leaving the princess confused and stunned.

***

Spitfire and Treehugger were still holding their ground against the other ponies but the hypnotized ponies still had some fight in them. "Where did Super Stallion go?" Pony Ivy asked as he was looking around for him. "There's no way he just ran off." Suddenly Super Stallion attacked Pony Ivy out of nowhere and knocked him into at least half of the ponies he hypnotized knocking them out.

"Looking for me?" Super Stallion said, giving Pony Ivy a smug look.

“That was a dirty trick!"

“Now what was that you said about dirty tricks?”

Pony Ivy got up and charged Super Stallion engulfed with rage. Super Stallion however flew out of sight before Pony Ivy could reach him. "Oh no, where did he go now?" He asked, coming back to his senses and looking around. Before he realized it Super Stallion attacked from above and threw him right off the yacht.

"Spitfire!" Super Stallion called out, getting her attention. "There's a cloud right over there- "

"Say no more!" Spitfire flew off and grabbed the cloud and used it to catch Pony Ivy. "Time to make you pay for what you put me through," Spitfire said, staring at Pony Ivy with rage in her eyes.

"Ah come on, let's kiss and make up," Pony Ivy said and he leaped at her, but Spitfire clocked him right in the jaw and knocked him out.

"Kiss that," Spitfire said. With that taken care of, Super Stallion knocked out the remaining hypnotized ponies as gently as possible. He then gave the yacht to the princess and explained everything, Spitfire and Treehugger told their side of the adventure as well. The former hypnotized ponies were returned home after a check up or two, while Fancy Pants finally got his yacht back.

Pony Ivy was arrested by the royal guard and was quickly locked up for multiple ponynapping, theft, and attempt to commit a terrorist act. Finally, with a job well done, Super Stallion returned home for some well deserved rest.

***

The next day, Squeaky Clean was hard at work until he fell asleep as he was resting his head on his mop. Stone Wall eventually found his friend like that and put his mouth right next to his ear. "SQUEAKY!" Hearing that Squeaky quickly woke up then hit Stone Wall on the head with his mop.

"DON'T DO THAT!" Squeaky yelled as he removed the mop and saw the look on his friend's face and quickly came to his senses realizing what he just did.

"Go clean the mess hall Squeaky," Stone Wall said in a calm demeanor.

"Yes captain."

"And after that run around the castle 10 times," He added.

"Yes captain," Squeaky said as he went to the mess hall. Upon getting there he saw that Princess Celestia was there as well.

"Good morning Squeaky," she said with a cheerful smile.

"G-Good morning," He replied. Geez how can she be so gorgeous all the time?

"If you're here to clean I'll be out of your hair in a minute, I'm just getting a snack," she said as she got some food on her plate. "You should have some too, it's good."

"Okay." Squeaky then levitated a plate with his horn and used his magic to place some fruit on his plate and a little dessert.

"Is that all?" The princess asked. "There's some salad here too, why don't you try that?"

"No, I've had my fill of green for a while," Squeaky answered.

"What?"

"Sorry princess, personal joke."

***

Pony Ivy was quickly placed in a prison far away from pony society. It had a small garden there, but he wasn't allowed anywhere near it, so he took to sitting in his cell and walking around the courtyard by the walls. "I wonder just how far away from Canterlot I am?" He asked himself. "They think I'm stuck here, but nature is full of surprises and I'm closer to nature than any other pony. Nature can be put through all sorts of things, but it finds a way, it always does." Pony Ivy then placed his hoof on the ground and a small thin weed appeared from out of the ground. "Nature always finds a way."

Chapter 5 Canterlot Crime Lord

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The city of Canterlot, the capital of Equestria. Home to the royal pony sisters, numerous nobles, and even a superhero. However, there are dangerous ponies there as well. Such as a crime lord that was leading a small but dangerous criminal ring within Canterlot. This crime lord went by the name of Scar Flank.

"Hurry up you 3!" Scar Flank ordered as his group was sneaking into a warehouse. "We don't have all night."

"We're coming," a blue stallion that was carrying in equipment who went by Decepticolt said.

"Are you sure about this?" another stallion that went by Goldcap asked. "It's risky enough that we're doing this under the noses of the princesses and the royal guard, but what about Super Stallion? I hear he lives around here."

"I heard he lives in a large isolated fortress far up north," a female pony that went by Zappityhoof said. "He's right, this is risky."

"This job will be worth the risk," Scar Flank answered. " We may be able to retire after this. Now come on all of you, we're burning the night light."

***

Squeaky Clean as usual was hard at work, at least until he fell asleep at work again. Princess Celestia found Squeaky sleeping with his head on the top of the mop and seeing him like this, she approached him and gently pushed him. "Squeaky. Squeaky wake up," she whispered. When that didn't work she shook him by the neck with her hoof. "Come on, wake up!"

"Huh? What's going on?" Squeaky asked as he woke up and quickly realized that the hoof of Princess Celestia was around his neck. Squeaky looked and saw Princess Celestia’s beautiful smile. "Hello."

"Hello," Princess Celestia replied.

Squeaky then put 2 and 2 together. "I fell asleep again!"

"Again?" The princess asked as Squeaky quickly grabbed the mop and cleaned the rest of the floor in a manner of seconds. "I've seen Wonderbolts move slower." She said impressed.

"I'm so sorry that I fell asleep princess," Squeaky said, hoping that the princess wouldn't be mad.

"It's all right," the princess replied as she approached him. "I myself have been known to rest my eyes on the throne once in a blue moon."

"Really?"

"Yes so I understand, but let's not make this too much of a habit shall we."

"Yes your highness, Also I need to finish mopping the floor."

"You haven't finished?" The princess asked. "You moved so fast and moped so much did you miss a spot?"

"Yes, the one you're standing on," Squeaky answered.

"Oh, sorry." Princess Celestia then used her wings to lift herself up allowing Squeaky to mop the spot she was standing on. She then landed on the opposite side of Squeaky.

"It's okay," Squeaky replied. "It must be really nice being an alicorn, being able to fly and use magic."

"You think so?"

"Plus you have earth pony strength, you're a full package, uh so to speak," Squeaky said with a blush.

"Thank you Squeaky. It does have its advantages."

"Such as being able to fight a dragon," Stone Wall said, getting the attention of Squeaky Clean and Princess Celestia who turned to face him.

"What's this about a dragon?" Squeaky asked. "Also how long have you been there?"

"Long enough, and there's a dragon that's causing smoke to spread rapidly."

"Oh yes I'm aware of that. I've already sent word to my student Twilight Sparkle," the princess explained to her captain.

"Wait, you want Twilight to deal with a dragon, isn't that dangerous?" Squeaky asked.

"You don't have to worry Squeaky, I'm sure that Twilight and her friends will be able to solve this problem."

***

Twilight and her friends were preparing for the rather long journey up the mountain to awaken the dragon and persuade him to rest somewhere else. However, before going, they had a slight problem. Fluttershy, the animal expert, had revealed she was afraid of dragons.

"What?" Twilight asked as the others who heard as well gathered around to listen. "I don't get it, you get along with all kinds of animals, why are you afraid of dragons?"

"Because they're huge, gigantic, terrifying, enormous, teeth smashing, sharp scale having, horn wearing, smoke snoring, could eat a pony in 1 bite monsters."

"HEY! I TAKE OFFENSE TO THAT!"

"Oh, but you're okay Spike," Fluttershy added.

***

"Perhaps," Stone Wall replied. "But perhaps I should get a group of guards together just in case they can't stop the dragon."

"If you feel you should then go ahead, but please wait until Twilight reports back before you do anything," Princess Celestia said, trying to reason with her captain.

"Very well," Stone Wall replied in a stoic yet annoyed tone. "I don't completely agree with what you're doing but I'll put my faith in you."

Hearing that she placed a hoof on his shoulder. "Thank you Stone Wall, that's all I ask." Stone Wall then quickly made his way out of the room.

"You really think Twilight and her friends can handle a dragon?" Squeaky asked with concern for Twilight. "They can be really nasty."

"Yes, yes they can," the princess replied. "But I've known Twilight for many years so I'd like to think I have a pretty good idea of what she's capable of."

"I see, well I have more cleaning to do." Squeaky then left the room to clean a different floor but he continued to worry about Twilight. He hardly knew Twilight but he liked her.

***

"If the princess thinks Twilight should be okay I'm sure she is. I'll just fly by and see if she needs Super Stallion's help,” Super Stallion said as he was flying towards Ponyville after Squeaky got his break.

"HELP! HELP!" A pony known as Moon Dancer called out as if right on cue. Super Stallion quickly flew down to see what was the matter. "Oh, Super Stallion, thanks Celestia. I was going to take some bits out of the bank but a couple ponies are robbing the bank."

"Bank robbery, how clique can you get?" Quick to act, Super Stallion flew in the bank and upon entering, stomped his hooves, getting the attention of the 4 ponies robbing the bank.

"Well, well Super Stallion what an honor," Scar Flank said, dropping the bag of bits he was carrying with his magic. "To think you would take time out of your day to stop humble bank robbers."

"Oh you know, never forget the little thugs. What are you, a crazy fan that just did this to get my attention?"

"No, I'm somepony that's going to finally get his fair dues." Scar Flank then moved his back leg to signal the other 3 ponies to continue the job.

"Fair dues?" Super Stallion asked.

"Yes, my fair dues!" Scar Flank said, almost screaming. "It's about time I got them even if I have to take them."

"If you take it from somepony else, how is it fair dues?"

"Oh really, then explain something to me. I doubt those powers of yours like flying without wings are natural abilities. How did you come across them, because I doubt you just bought them at a store or something?"

"Well I didn't steal them," Super Stallion said.

"Well good for you," Scar Flank retorted. "Why don't you try this on for size!" Scar Flank then charged up his horn and attacked Super Stallion with a series of spells. However, Super Stallion barely had any trouble deflecting the spells one after another. Scar Flank continued to use spell after spell but eventually he tired out his horn by using too many spells at once.

"I'll admit you have skills for a unicorn," Super Stallion added. "It's a good thing I got here before the royal guard did."

"HA! Yeah right," Scar Flank said.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"The royal guard isn't going to show up long after we're gone, Princess Celestial doesn't care about regular ponies. She made the royal guard to protect her and her alone; she'll only send them here to save appearances."

"You don't know what you're talking about.The princess is the most compassionate pony in Equestria, she does everything she can to help her subjects!"

"Then why didn't she defeat Nightmare Moon? You read or heard about it, didn't you? That Twilight Sparkle and her friends did that instead. She just sends other ponies to do her dirty work."

“You're wrong!" Super Stallion jumped at Scar Flank ready to attack. But as he jumped, Scar Flank lit up his horn making a flare spell blinding Super Stallion and forcing him to hit the floor. By the time his eyesight returned, Scar Flank was gone.

***

Super Stallion wasted no time leaving the bank. He still had to check on Twilight. Super Stallion followed the trail of smoke and to his surprise, he found that there were rocks falling where Twilight and her friends were.

"Oh no help!" Twilight said as Applejack pushed her out of the way of a boulder. Quick to act Super Stallion used magic on all the falling rocks stopping them in their place and allowing the mane 6 to get to safety. Without questioning it they ran past the rocks and Super Stallion unfroze them and flew towards them.

"We've got to stop meeting like this," Super Stallion said to Twilight.

"Super Stallion! Thank you so much," Twilight said.

"It's what I do. So what happened to make those rocks fall?"

"Ask her!" Rainbow Dash said, pointing to Fluttershy, clearly mad. "Figures, the 1 time you aren't quiet."

"Rainbow!"

"Don't Rainbow me Applejack, she almost got us killed."

"How many times have ah heard y'all say almost only counts in horseshoes?"

"Oh, so I’m only allowed to get mad at her if one of us does get killed?!"

"Would you like some help?" Super Stallion asked getting the attention of the mane 6 causing Applejack and Rainbow Dash to stop arguing.

"No thank you," Twilight answered right away.

"Twilight, what are you doing? It's Super Stallion," Rarity said, trying to reason with her friend.

"H-He could probably stop the dragon all by himself," Fluttershy added.

"He probably could but the princess asked us to do something about that dragon so it has to be us," Twilight responded to her friends.

"Are you sure? I can help, it's no problem," Super Stallion said almost with a tone saying he insisted on helping Twilight.

"I'm sure, I have faith in the princess that she knows what my friends and I can do."

"Well, all right then." And with that Super Stallion flew off. "I just hope you know what you're doing." Super Stallion quickly made it back to the castle and became Squeaky Clean again. With 1 or 2 minutes of his break left he tried to think where Scar Flank would appear next. However as he was thinking, Stone Wall came into the room and was surprised to see Squeaky Clean was in there.

"Squeaky? What are you doing in here?"

"Nothing, I'm on my break."

"Well it's just about over and I'm taking these supplies somewhere that need cleaning so why don't you come with me?"

"Okay." Squeaky Clean followed his old friend and couldn't help but notice that he was even quieter than usual. "Something on your mind old buddy?"

"Just trying to deal with this new crime wave. There have been numerous robberies in Canterlot lately and now a bank was robbed."

"Yeah I know about the bank already."

"Wait the bank was robbed today, how did you know it was robbed?"

Thinking quickly Squeaky blurted out. "You just told me."

After a brief pause Stone Wall retorted. "I'm not in the mood for your jokes, Squeaky. It's bad enough that Princess Celestia wouldn't let me go and look for them."

"So how many bits were taken from the bank?"

"I don't know the exact number but it was a lot, along with an old drill."

"A drill?"

"Yeah for some reason the owner of the bank was using it as a display but it was still in working order. Strong but easy to carry. When the warehouse was investigated it looked like there was digging recently done there but there were no tunnels to be found."

"Wow weird," Squeaky replied, trying to process all that Stone Wall informed him. Squeaky Clean and Super Stallion quickly made their way to the lower levels of the castle, there Stone Wall dropped the supplies.

"All right, that's probably enough spears for the training exercise tomorrow."

"Uh, Stone Wall, didn't you give the royal guard a rather serious training exercise just yesterday?"

"What's your point?" Before Squeaky Clean could respond he and Stone Wall heard a strange noise coming a floor or 2 below. "What in Equestria is that? It sounds like...A drill?" Squeaky and Stone Wall saying the last part in unison. They followed the sound and saw a hole was being made in the floor by the drill and eventually Scar Flank and his 3 goons crawled out.

"I don't think I've been to this part of the castle before," Squeaky whispered as he and Stone Wall continued to watch.

"It’s where the royal treasury is," Stone Wall answered, also in a whisper. "It's where the tax bits are collected and later used to pay the guards and help rebuild or repair things. They must plan on robbing the treasury and escaping through the tunnel."

"What do we do?"

"The treasury is protected by a powerful spell so It'll take them a while to get through it. I'll stay here and keep an eye on them. You go find the royal guards and bring them here to back me up."

"No problem," Squeaky replied. And I might turn into Super Stallion to back them up. But before he could run off he and Stone Wall were encased by a magical aura and were teleported to the floor that Scar Flank and the others were on.

"Thought I heard whispering," Scar Flank said. "I always did have sharp hearing."

"Wait Scar Flank I know that pony!" Zappityhoof said with fear in her voice. "That's Stone Wall, he's the captain of the royal guard!"

"Captain!" Goldcap said just as scared as Zappityhoof. "You said we might have to take a guard or 2 down but not the captain."

"If he's the captain then I know which one to take down first." Scar Flank then blasted Stone Wall into a box of spears with a magic beam. "1 down, 1 to go." Squeaky suddenly started laughing, confusing Scar Flank. "What's so funny?"

"That you think 1 attack is enough to take down Stone Wall." Suddenly Scar Flank was hit by a powerful spell that knocked him to the ground and made him roll a couple times before he got back up.

"I'm surprised that you can get back up after taking a hit like that," Stone Wall said.

"I could say the same thing for you," Scar Flank replied.

"How could you possibly take a direct hit from the boss and then just get right back up like it was nothing?" Decepticolt asked.

"Now you know why they call me Stone Wall."

"Oh yeah," Decepticolt replied as charged his horn. "I have a spell that'll make sure even you don't get back up." Suddenly Decepticolt found himself surrounded with Stone Wall's magical aura and he was pulled over to Stone Wall who gave him a mean left hook, knocking him out cold.

"If you have a spell you can use, don't blah, blah, blah, just use it."

"Impressive you're strong magically and physically," Scar Flank said. Scar Flank then noticed Zappityhoof got behind Stone Wall and was slowly making her way to the spears on the ground. "Tell you what why don't you join our side?" Asking that nearly made every other pony drop their jaw, Zappityhoof even stopped in her tracks for a minute. "Help us get into that treasury and get a share of the profits."

"Not interested," Stone Wall answered quickly and bluntly as he made a quick glance at Squeaky Clean, both of them seemingly not noticing Zappityhoof was getting closer and closer to the spears.

"Oh come now you could make in a day what you probably make in a year," Scar Flank said, still trying to reason with Stone Wall. "You could help all of us deal a serious blow to that overgrown, do nothing, lazy, blowhard, Celestia."

There was silence for a second before Stone Wall stomped his hoof making Zappityhoof who was just about to grab a spear stop again for a second and gave Scar Flank a look that said he wanted to bite his head off.

Scar Flank even backed up a bit.

"I was holding back on you and your stooges but no pony, NO PONY insults Princess Celestia in front of me and gets away with it!"

"All right then if that's how you feel about," Scar Flank said which was his way of signaling Zappityhoof. She grabbed a spear but right before she could hit Stone Wall he blocked her attack, flipped up, and pinned her to the ground.

"WHAT!" Zappityhoof said, shocked and confused. "When did you- "

"Whole time," Stone Wall answered. "Squeaky now!" Stone Wall then did a sideways flip off Zappityhoof allowing Squeaky to hit her with a paralysis spell that Stone Wall taught him in their younger days to make sure she would stay put. When Stone Wall landed on all 4 feet he hit Decepticolt with the same spell holding them both in place.

"What the? But how?" Scar Flank asked.

"We've been friends for so long sometimes we don't even to speak to one another to know what the other is saying," Squeaky answered.

"Well let's see how your friend handles this!" Scar Flank then fired a spell twice as big as his last one. Stone Wall was hit dead on and blasted into a rather large box. "HA! I dare you to get right back up after- " Scar Flank was cut off when Stone Wall jumped out and landed right on Scar Flank. The second he landed Stone Wall began pummeling him.

"Be careful what you wish for," Stone Wall said after he stopped attacking. "You might get it."

"Duly...Noted," Scar Flank manages to spit out.

"Still conscience huh? You had enough?"

"Yeah I think I'll cut my losses and move on." Scar Flank then used the flash spell from before to blind Stone Wall. Squeaky tried to run over and help but he had trouble seeing as well. When their sight returned there was no sign of Scar Flank or the drill.

"He must have jumped back in the hole he made." Squeaky and Stone Wall were quick to jump in and go after him. However, when they jumped down they were surprised to find a series of tunnels that connected to the one that led to the castle. "He could have taken any one of these," Squeaky said.

"There's no way we'll be able to figure out which one he took," Stone Wall added. "Plus if we follow one of these we might run into a trap."

"So there's nothing we can do?"

"He may be able to run, he may be able to hide, but we will meet again," Stone Wall said with sheer certainty in his voice.

"O-okay," Squeaky said, not sure what else to say. "We should probably tell the princess about all this."

"Yes Squeaky, we should do that," Stone Wall replied, whose serious tone was replaced with a rather sarcastic tone.

***

Squeaky Clean and Stone Wall were quick to get the princess and explain what happened. Having learned what almost happened she brought numerous guards to the hole just outside the treasury to follow Stone Wall and investigate. No sign of Scar Flank, Just several hideouts, the bank, and several other places in Canterlot Scar Flank was most likely going to rob next. Decepticolt, Goldcap, and Zappityhoof were taken into custody to await questioning from Stone Wall. Meanwhile, Princess Celestia was checking the treasury making sure nothing was taken and Squeaky Clean was helping her.

"Well it seems nothing was taken," Princess Celestia said.

"And now the floor of it is spotless," Squeaky added.

"Huh?" Princess Celestia then looked down and saw how clean the floor was. "I didn't even ask you to do that."

"Just doing my job."

"I'm impressed we weren't even in here long but you cleaned the whole floor, you work fast."

"Well, not the entire floor," Squeaky replied as he looked below the princess. Princess Celestia flapped her wings and hovered above the area Squeaky needed to clean. The princess then flew behind Squeaky after seeing that part of the floor was dry.

"Deja vu,” the princess said.

"What?" Squeaky asked.

"It means a feeling of having already experienced the present situation," Stone Wall said, answering Squeaky's question and making him jump a little.

"Seriously, how do you do that? I didn't even hear you."

"Did you just get back from investigating the tunnels?" Princess Celestia asked.

"Yes and we were able to find and collect the stolen bits that will be quickly returned to the bank."

"Wow that was lucky huh Stone Wall?" Squeaky Clean asked.

"Luck had nothing to do with it," Stone Wall replied. "Before we investigated the tunnels I interrogated those 3 stooges we took down."

"We?" The princess asked.

"Squeaky lent a hoof in taking them down," Stone Wall answered.

"Well I really didn't do all that much Stone Wall did most of the work," Squeaky replied in a modest tone.

"Is that true?" Princess Celestia asked as she approached her captain of the royal guard. Stone Wall who was quick to put 2 and 2 together, tried to back away then run out of the treasury. But the princess was too fast and grabbed him by the neck then pulled him in for a kiss right on the cheek. "My hero."

"Ugh!" Stone Wall said as he rubbed his hoof on the cheek that the princess kissed. "Don't do that!"

What are you complaining about? Squeaky thought to himself who would trade places with his old friend in an instant.

"You said you interrogated the ponies taken into custody?" Princess Celestia asked.

"Yes, I could tell from the start they weren't really hardened criminals, just weak minded ponies that were recruited by somepony that wanted expendable cronies. When I told them they would get immunity from prosecution in exchange for where the stolen bits were, they sang like canaries."

"And the leader?"

"He flew the coop."

"I see."

"But it's like I told Squeaky, we will meet again. Sooner or later a criminal always makes a mistake."

"Then I guess it's a good thing you stayed at the castle after all is it?"

"Hold on a minute, did you know this would happen?" Squeaky asked.

"Not quite, I suspected it would happen. After I heard about the stolen drill I had a strong feeling the criminals would target the treasury," Princess Celestia answered.

"So that's why you didn't let Stone Wall leave the castle," Squeaky said, getting a clear idea of the princess's plan. "If he left and they showed up he wouldn't have taken them down like he did."

"Exactly."

"Well I guess you called this one right huh princess," Stone Wall replied who was surprised that the princess was able to predict Scar Flank's plan.

"Yes I guess I did, which reminds me I received a letter from Twilight she and her friends were able to get the dragon to sleep somewhere else."

"Wow! Really that's great!" Squeaky said happy to know that Twilight and her friends were all right.

"How in Equestria was she able to do that?"

"The magic of friendship, Stone Wall, It's an amazing source of power."

"I guess that makes her 2 for 2 huh Stone Wall?"

"Yeah I guess she is," Stone Wall said.

"I'll admit that some of my choices of late have been a little strange but now you see the full picture of things," Princess Celestia said. "Sometimes I and other ponies for that matter ask others to do things that may not make sense but in the long run it's all for best as you've seen today. It's important to have faith in others now if you'll excuse me. I have a few other things to take care of." Princess Celestia then made her way out of the treasury.

"I hate it when she gets all preachy," Stone Wall said. "I get it she was right I was wrong, but she doesn't have to rub my face in it."

***

Back in Ponyville the mane 6 returned having accomplished their mission.

"Hey Fluttershy," Rainbow Dash said to her old friend. "I'm sorry for giving you so much of a hard time earlier. You were really great, amazing actually."

"It's okay Rainbow Dash," Fluttershy responded. "I did slow everypony down for pretty much the whole trip. I was surprised that I was brave enough to stand up to that dragon. And thank you, I've decided I shouldn't be so afraid all the time, I'm going to be a much braver pony from now on." Suddenly a leaf landed on top of Fluttershy making her so scared she flipped and landed on her back. "Starting tomorrow."

Chapter 6 The Emotional Chapter

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This is Brush Stroke, a rather unusual pony who as you can see has an unusual habit of walking with just his hind legs. A habit he picked up when he was very young. Other ponies can't help but stare, but he pays them no mind. Brush Stroke had made his way to yet another social gathering in Canterlot which like most, had a pony or two making sure only the invited came in. This time it was a royal guard who saw Brush Stroke approach and blocked his way.

"Sorry bud this party is invitation only."

"I might have an invitation, you didn't even ask if I did," Brush Stroke said to the royal guard making a rather good point.

"I don't have to," the guard retorted. "No pony would invite a weirdo like you, now beat it."

"Now that's not very nice, that makes me mad."

"And just what are you going to do about it weirdo?"

"I'm gonna make you mad." Brush Stroke then grabbed one of the orbs around his waist and hit the guard with it before he could do anything about it. Suddenly a strange red smoke appeared around the guard who became absolutely engulfed with rage.

"ARGH!" The guard screamed as he attacked the party, sending the ponies there in a panic. "I HATE WATCHING OVER THESE STUPID PARTIES!" The guard screamed in anger as he attacked everything in sight. "I WANT TO DO SOME REAL GUARD WORK!"

"I was planning on making the party ponies here go mad but this works just as well," Brush Stroke said while leaving the party without being noticed. "Soon they'll all know what Brush Stroke or rather the Emo Pony is capable of."

***

Squeaky as usual was hard at work at the castle making the floors spotless. It was rather quiet but soon Princess Celestia entered the hallway that Squeaky was working in. Here she comes the most beautiful mare in all of Equestria, Squeaky thought to himself. "Okay don't be nervous just be casual."

"Good morning Squeaky, happy Thursday."

"Happy Thursday your highness," Squeaky replied as she walked past him. Nailed it, "So princess," Squeaky said, trying to talk to the princess more.

"Yes?" She asked, stopping in her place and turning around.

"What exactly about today is so happy?"

"Well I just think that everyday is something to appreciate, each one can bring new surprises," she answered.

"That makes sense. I really like your positive attitude."

"Thank you Squeaky, by the way are you having any more trouble sleeping on the job?"

"Well, not really. Just a power nap once in a while."

"Is that what you call it now?" Stone Wall asked who yet again seemed to appear out of nowhere.

"Stone Wall!" Squeaky said surprised that his old friend snuck up on him yet again. "I-I was just-"

"Taking an unofficial break?" Stone Wall interrupted. "Get back to work!"

"Right away." Squeaky soaked his mop and got back to cleaning.

"Stone Wall we were just having a friendly conversation."

"Well now we're having a rather serious conversation, there's been an attack at a party."

"There was by who?" Princess Celestia asked.

"One of the royal guards."

"WHAT?" Princess Celestia and Squeaky Clean yelled in unison.

"Squeaky go clean a different hallway, this is private," Stone Wall ordered him.

"Stone Wall, he still needs to clean this hallway," Princess Celestia said. "You can stay Squeaky."

"Thank you princess."

"Now why would a royal guard attack a party instead of defending it?"

"When he was brought back for questioning he explained that he was somehow overcome with rage."

"Did one of the party ponies say something rude?" Squeaky asked.

"I doubt it and if one of them did it's no excuse."

"Does the guard remember how and why he got so mad?" Princess Celestia asked.

"He said he was talking to a weird pony and everything else is an emotional blur."

"Weird like how?"

"Squeaky please focus on your cleaning," Princess Celestia said. "I'll handle this, weird like how?"

"He said he doesn't quite remember," Stone Wall answered.

"Wow not much to go on huh Stone Wall?"

"No Squeaky it isn't," Stone Wall replied a little annoyed. "But I knew that part already."

"Well I recognize that tone, let's see what other hallways need cleaning." And with that Squeaky cleaned the last few dirty parts of the hallway and made his way to a new hallway. And later let's see if Super Stallion can find out more.

"Perhaps we should have multiple guards in those positions for a while," Princess Celestia suggested.

"Perhaps I'll see what guards are up for the task."

"Anything else I can do at the moment?"

"Yes there is actually, don't contradict me when I'm giving orders."

"Oh Stone Wall, honestly."

***

After getting his lunch break and eating, Squeaky Clean slipped out as Super Stallion to see if he could find out who the weird pony was. Thanks to a conversation or 2 he overheard while cleaning, he knew where the party that was ruined was. Super Stallion quickly flew over to the party which was now empty and there were no clues to be found. "So much for finding anything to help me figure out who did this."

Suddenly a rather large explosion from a nearby building caught the attention of Super Stallion. "Then again." Super Stallion quickly flew over to the building and saw not only was the smoke an unusual color, pink, but all the ponies inside were either locking lips or hugging one another.

"What in Equestria is going on?" Super Stallion asked.

"Isn't it obvious?" Brush Stroke who was just outside the building asked. "Love is in the air."

"Love? The smoke!" Super Stallion then used super breath to blow the pink smoke away. Seeing that, the Emo Pony decided to leave and avoid a fight with Super Stallion for now. "All right, that should do it," Super Stallion said. After coughing a little from inhaling what was left of the pink smoke, Super Stallion flew back to the castle. "No clue there either. Hopefully I'll have better luck next time this "weird pony" does something.”

***

Back at the castle Squeaky Clean returned to cleaning the floors and was having a little trouble getting rid of the cough he had. As he was just about finished cleaning the floor Princess Celestia walked by who showed a friendly smile to him. As she continued down the hall Squeaky wanted to talk to her again but instead he wolf whistled at her. That caught the princess's attention and she turned her head to stare right at Squeaky who in a panic began to whistle some more. " J-Just practicing my whistling."

"Well, be sure to practice more, you sound really off key."

"Will do!" Princess Celestia then continued down the hallway and Squeaky continued cleaning. "Whew safe, what in Canterlot happened? It's like my love for her possessed me for a second. What a minute, love, just like those other ponies." With the floor cleaned Squeaky made his way outside to clear his head. "Okay maybe it's all out of my system now."

"All right, listen up!" Stone Wall said to a small group of guards. "I need somepony to-" Stone Wall stopped when he noticed that Squeaky Clean was outside. "Squeaky what are you doing? It's not your break yet, you aren't getting paid to sit on your rump you're getting paid to clean! Now get to it!" Stone Wall ordered rather upset.

"You know what Stone Wall?" Squeaky asked as he approached and stood face to face with Stone Wall.

"What?" Stone Wall asked, still upset.

"You, are my best friend. Bring it in." Squeaky then gave Stone Wall a hug, shocking not only him but also the guards.

"Get off me!" Stone Wall ordered pushing Squeaky off and feeling a little freaked out. "Just, just get to cleaning okay."

"Okay," Squeaky said and he left with his cleaning supplies leaving Stone Wall very confused. "Okay, maybe now it's out of my system."

After Squeaky left, Stone Wall returned his focus to the royal guards who were still surprised at what happened. "WHAT!? SOMETHING YOU WANT TO SAY?!" Stone Wall yelled, getting the guards back to paying attention to him. After a deep breath or 2 Stone Wall calmed down. "As I was saying there's going to be another party today and I need 1 guard to be there to look out for the "strange" pony that ruined the one that was going on earlier today. Any volunteers?"

The guards looked at each other and were awkwardly silent, to Stone’s Wall annoyance.

"Oh what, are you babies scared? Fine! I'll pick for you, eenie meenie miney, Shining Armor."

"What?" Shining asked as he approached the captain. "Why am I the one that has to do it?" Stone Wall answered by hitting him on the head with the back of his spear. Not too hard, but it helped get his point across.

"That's why! Now get going and keep an eye out for anything strange. The rest of you back to your regular duties." The guards then followed their orders and scattered.

"Better Shining Armor than me," another guard said to a fellow guard walking beside him. Stone Wall then hit him with a minor spell that hit him right on the flank. The guard then groaned in pain and limped a bit.

"Learn to toughen up! I'll have no cowards on my guard!" Stone Wall said to the guard.

"Yes sir."

***

"Okay so far so good," Shining Armor said to himself as he was watching the party. "This isn't so bad. I just wish I knew which pony to be on the lookout for. Keeping a lookout for anything "strange" isn't much to go on." Suddenly Emo Pony appeared and started to approach the party. "Never mind." Shining quickly took a defensive position and approached the Emo Pony, stopping him in his tracks.

"Can I help you?" Emo Pony asked.

"May I please see your invitation please?"

"You said please twice."

Shining Armor paused for a split second when he realized that and tried to cover for himself. "Well that shows you how much I want to see your invitation."

"You seem nervous, are you new to the royal guard?"

"W-What no I'm not."

"Not nervous or not new?"

"Yes," Shining answered without thinking.

"Yes, nervous, very nervous but let's go for extreme nervousness." The Emo Pony grabbed an orange sphere and blasted not only Shining but made a wind spell to spread to guests at the party. "And perhaps from nervousness fear will bloom."

"I don't think so," Super Stallion said as he flew down to meet the Emo Pony. "So you're the "unusual" pony that's been doing this."

"Unusual? This coming from the flying earth pony."

"Okay fair point, but I doubt you have a fair point to what you've been doing. Why are you doing this?"

"You know, I don't really feel like telling you." The Emo pony then blasted Super Stallion with a pink sphere and vanished in the confusion. Suddenly to the surprise of everypony there, Princess Celestia herself arrived and quickly dispersed the smoke from the party with a stronger gust spell.

"Is everypony all right?" The princess asked.

"I'm more than all right," Super Stallion said, getting the princess's attention. "And needless to say you are just fine."

"Oh Super Stallion, I've been hearing quite a lot about you."

"Let's not talk about me, let's talk about you and how you are the most beautiful mare ever to come into this world."

"Oh, well thank you but now isn't really the time, we have a problem to deal with."

"The problem is I don't have you as my very special somepony," Super Stallion retorted. He then approached the princess who was slowly backing up but he simply continued to approach the princess. "And the time to fix that is now."

"While I appreciate that -" Princess Celestia stopped when she unknowingly bumped into a table behind as she was still backing up. Princess Celestia quickly lost her balance but Super Stallion noticed this quickly and grabbed her before she could fall.

"Kiss me!" Super Stallion said, in response Princess Celestia teleported off the superhero and appeared a dozen or so feet above Super Stallion.

"I-I need to take care of some royal duties back at the castle plus I'm going to visit Ponyville tomorrow so I'll see you later." The princess then teleported away.

"What a mare," Super Stallion said as he saw the princess leave. "What a mare."

***

"So let me get this straight, you couldn't stop this stallion because you were nervous?" Stone Wall asked Shining Armor when he got back to the castle.

"I'm sorry captain I don't know what got over me please don't be mad I'm not fired am I?" Shining Armor said back rather quickly and obviously still under the effect of what the Emo Pony did to him.

"First the Ursa Major, then that Dr. Arachnid Sapphire Shores reported after her concert, Nightmare Moon, Scar Flank, and now this guy. What is with this city lately, the water? Wait, am I forgetting one of them?"

"Oh I think you are Stone Wall, that green one that's locked up," Shining replied but couldn't remember the name. "Uh I can't remember, I'm sorry don't be mad just give me a minute to figure it out."

"Hey Shining," Princess Cadance said upon seeing her very special somepony.

"Hi Cadance!" Shining replied as seeing her seemed to have snapped him out of his nervous/fearful personality.

"Hello Stone Wall," Cadance said as she pulled both of them into a hug. “Are my favorite stallions getting long.”

“Something like that,” Stone Wall said.

“So Shining, are you ready for that special date you've promised me today?" Cadance then placed her front legs around one of Shining's front legs making it very clear she was in the mood to be romantic.

"Almost, captain, remember when I asked if I could get off guard duty a little early today?"

"No," Stone Wall quickly answered to the surprise of the couple.

"Oh that's right, I forgot to ask.”

"Plus with your failure at catching the latest trouble maker I was thinking to have you do some extra exercises to help toughen you up a bit." Upon hearing that Shining was overwhelmed with a sense of fear even bigger than the one he had before.

"But captain," Shining tried to speak but fear started choking him up after the first 2 words.

"Go on your date," Stone Wall said, giving the couple a smirk. Those 4 little words filled the couple with pure joy. "But be here all the more earlier tomorrow to make up for the time off."

"Yes captain." Hearing that, Shining Armor approached Stone Wall.

"Hug me and I change my mind."

"Right, okay captain."

"Thank you Stone Wall," Princess Cadance said as she and Shining Armor went off together.

"Well that was very nice of you," Princess Celestia who recently entered the courtyard said.

"I'm tough but fair. Besides when he thought he wasn't going on his date he looked like he was going to have a nervous breakdown."

"He kind of did, didn't he?" Princess Celestia asked who couldn't help but laugh at the captain's comment. Just then Squeaky Clean also entered the courtyard with a huge smile on his face.

I almost kissed the princess and I held her in my hooves.

"Was Shining Armor able to get a good look at the pony that's causing trouble?"

"He said his memory was a little foggy, but he was able to give me a decent description."

"That's good, that'll help us find this pony."

"By the way, Shining Armor also said that Super Stallion appeared before you did."

"That's right, Stone Wall," Princess Celestia said.

"What was he like despite the stallion being around for a while is still quite the enigma?"

"I didn't talk to him all that much, he did most of the talking," the princess answered, recalling the recent awkward situation. "I wanted to get out of there because he almost scared me."

"HE DID?" Squeaky asked, shocking both Stone Wall and the princess and somewhat forgetting he was Super Stallion in the heat of the moment. "What did he do?!" Squeaky asked as he was snapped out of the smoke's effect on him.

"He simply came on to me insanely strong. Looking back it most likely must have been an effect of that strange smoke." The princess then placed a hoof on Squeaky's back. "I do appreciate your concern for me Squeaky, but there's no need to overreact. I'm all right it's not like he tried to hurt me."

"You can leave the concern for the princess’s safety to me, so get back to making the floor shine," Stone Wall ordered.

"Right, right away." Squeaky, who had already finished the cleaning for the courtyard, made his way to the next part of the castle to clean. There he was alone with his thoughts.

"I came on insanely strong? How could I not have noticed that?" Squeaky asked himself as he continued mopping. "Was I so caught up in expressing my emotions I couldn't read hers?" Squeaky became more and more angry at himself. "I can't believe I didn't notice something that should have been so obvious!"

SNAP

Squeaky was mopping so hard he broke his own mop by mistake. "Oh my gosh! I guess I don't know my own strength." Squeaky quickly used a spell that was able to put the mop back in one piece. "That was a close one, for a second I thought Stone Wall was gonna take this out of my paycheck." Squeaky then returned to cleaning the floor and before long his shift was over. "I need to stop that trouble maker before he starts doing real harm."

Squeaky made his way to his home and quickly hit the hay. He made sure to get up early and made his quick change into Super Stallion then took to the sky to scour Canterlot for the Emo Pony. He figured it would most likely take a while, but to his surprise after only a minute or 2 of searching he spotted a large blue smoke cloud below him. Super Stallion quickly removed the cloud by blowing it away with some super breath.

"I think Super Stallion is here," Emo Pony said as Super Stallion landed in front of him.

"What was your first clue? By the way what do you call yourself, the emotional spectrum?"

"Close, I'm the Emo Pony."

"Wait, how is that close?"

"I didn't want to hurt your FEELINGS!" Emo Pony then threw several spheres at Super Stallion but Super Stallion was more than fast enough to dodge all of them.

"I'm afraid that trick is worn out."

"You aren't afraid yet, but you will be." Emo Pony reached for the fear sphere but found that his entire body was being frozen as a result of Super Stallion's ice spell.

"Looks like you finally learned to cool- " Before Super Stallion could finish that sentence Emo Pony used a powerful spell to free himself from his ice prison.

"That was a close one," Emo Pony said. "You're just full of surprises aren't you?"

"Yes I am, my next trick will be to stop whatever you're trying to do."

"What I'm trying to do. That's right I haven't told you or anypony really what I'm trying to do have I? I guess I got so caught up in proving my point I forgot to say what point I was proving. How ironic that I got caught up in my emotions."

"Well out of curiosity, what is your point?" Before the Emo Pony could answer he was blasted from behind by a spell that caused him to fall down in pain. When Super Stallion looked to see who blasted the Emo Pony to his surprise it was none other than Stone Wall himself.

"Super Stallion we meet at last."

"You're Stone Wall, the captain of the royal guard," Super Stallion said, pretending not to know his old friend. "How were you able to get here so fast?"

"I lent a hoof," Princess Celestia answered who flew down to stand right next to Stone Wall.

"I told you to stay back, it might be dangerous."

"I've seen how effective your spells can be, besides even if he gets back up I have you and the stallion of tomorrow to protect me."

"The stallion of tomorrow?" Super Stallion asked.

"It's a nickname the media made for you."

"So Emo Pony or should I say Brush Stroke you were about to say why you were doing this," Stone Wall said to him who was trying to stand again.

"So you've done your homework on me huh?"

"When Shining Armor was able to give a description of you, after some quick research with a hoof full or two of royal guards we were able to identify you. Brush Stroke, a former psychologist that started experimenting with spells that make ponies feel emotions against their will. He tried to get a grant to help further develop his research, but he was turned down and even thrown out because they found what he was trying to do to be unethical."

"From what we've seen they weren't wrong," Super Stallion added.

"They just didn't understand, none of you do. These spheres I was able to invent all on my own force ponies to feel whatever emotions they try to hide or lock up deep inside themselves."

"Well now you're going to get locked up deep inside a prison." Stone Wall then placed a magic chain collar around Emo Pony's neck.

“Even if you lock me up it’s still too late.”

"What are you talking about?"

"My thoughts exactly princess," Stone Wall said.

"To put it simply, what I've been doing so far were simply small experiments compared to what I have in store for Canterlot. Within the mines beneath Canterlot I placed a large sphere that's set to go off any minute and every single pony in Canterlot will be affected as a result."

"WHAT?!" Princess Celestia, Stone Wall, Super Stallion said in unison.

"So many ponies try to bury what’s inside their hearts not knowing the damage that can do to you over time. After it goes off, ponies will see how necessary my research is."

"I don't think so," Stone Wall said as he grabbed Brush Stroke by the throat. "You're taking us to it right now, Super Stallion carry him." Super Stallion grabbed the Emo Pony as Stone Wall tossed him over to him while still making sure his magic restraint was still on him. Princess Celestia then bent down to allow Stone Wall to get on her back. After he did the group took to the sky and before long the mines.

"I'm surprised you know about these mines," Princess Celestia said to the Emo Pony. "Very few ponies do."

"Well it makes me feel special to know," The Emo Pony replied.

"I'm warning you, no funny stuff or that spell I got you is gonna feel like a massage compared to the next one."

"Was this really the best way for you to prove your point?" The princess asked. "You could have just worked on your ideas more, maybe take some constructive criticism and rework your projects a bit. Over time you probably could have made something that could truly benefit Equestria."

"You think I didn't try that? I did, but how was I supposed to do all that on my own? I tried to reach out but nopony that could help would."

"That shouldn't have stopped you," Stone Wall replied to Emo Pony. "If you could plan all this on your own you could have found another way."

"They're right," Super Stallion added. "Your creations could actually do good."

“I already know they can but nopony would listen to me when I tried to explain that.”

“I understand your frustration,” Princess Celestia said. “But there had to be another way. I’m sure you could have tried to get ponies to listen.”

“Oh easy for you to say,” Emo Pony replied in a huff. “You’re the princess, everypony has to listen to you. None of you know what it's like to be ignored or looked over because your ideas seem crazy or you’re a weirdo.”

“I’m sorry you felt that way,” Super Stallion said.

“As do I,” Princess Celestia added. “I truly feel for you as I do with all my subjects.”

“I don't suppose that you could give me the grant to help with my experiments?"

Hearing that Princess Celestia gave him a rather friendly smirk. "I'm afraid not."

"How appropriate." The Emo Pony then dropped a yellow sphere releasing smoke of the same color. Instantly and rather instinctively Princess Celestia got in front of it and used her wings to blow the smoke away, but she was still caught in it. With Stone Wall distracted Emo Pony broke the magic bind on him and he ran off in the confusion.

"PRINCESS CELESTIA!" Super Stallion and Stone Wall yelled in unison.

"I'm fine, stop Emo Pony, go!" Quick to follow orders Stone Wall ran off to catch Emo Pony and Super Stallion trusted her and flew off to help his friend. The princess collapsed as a result of the smoke but quickly got back on her legs taking deep breaths, but soon, she noticed a strange shadow flying around the walls of the mines.

"Did you miss me Celestia? I've missed you," the shadow said. "It's rather lonely being imprisoned in stone but you wouldn't know that would you because I don't turn ponies into stone."

"You…You're not real, you're just a product of the smoke," Princess Celestia said to the shadow trying to sound brave.

"That much is true but I'm just a prologue to what's to come," the shadow answered as it stopped flying to look at Celestia and seemingly stared into her soul.

"What are you talking about?" She replied, trying to hide her fear.

"My inevitable return of course, what else?"

"You were defeated long ago, you're never coming back!" Celestia yelled at the shadow as she firmly stood her ground with it.

"Oh please, do you honestly think you can maintain harmony in Equestria forever? You'll slip up eventually and when you do." The shadow then snapped its fingers and the princess found herself surrounded by complete chaos. "What do you think I'm planning on remodeling all of Equestria like this?"

"NO! This isn't real, none of it is!" Princess Celestia said, closing her eyes and covering her ears to all the chaos around her. "It's not real, it's not real!" Princess Celestia then took several deep breaths to help clear her mind. She then took a moment to think of just flexibility, love, and trust. Of her sister Luna, Stone Wall, Cadance, and Twilight. As a result the effects of the smoke faded and the chaos around her vanished. Then the shadow from bottom to the top started vanishing as well. '”Now what smart guy?" She asked happily to mock the shadow.

"If you're so smart why didn't you figure it out sooner?"

"My mind was clouded but no more like the real one. You have no power over this land or me."

"Maybe not now, but things change Celestia," the shadow said as the last of it vanished. "Things change." With the shadow gone and her mind clear she flew after the others who were able to catch up to Emo Pony. As Emo Pony was in range Stone Wall blasted him with a spell so hard he was flung 10 feet from where he was before landing face first on the ground.

"I warned you now didn't I?" Stone Wall said as he approached Emo Pony. "That hurt a lot worse than the last one didn't it?"

"You have quite the temper don't you? Let's see how bad it really is." Emo Pony got up and threw a red sphere directly at Stone Wall and he was hit dead on. But to the surprise of both Emo Pony and Super Stallion, Stone Wall didn't act angry one bit. Before Emo Pony could react Stone Wall punched him right in the face and got knocked to the ground for the 3rd time. "There's no way you could resist it, what's going on?"

"You said earlier that your spheres bring out emotions. Ponies try to hide or bottle up but I can already control my temper.”

“Oh yeah, controlling your anger is one thing. But how about your sadness.” Emo Pony got up and hit Stone Wall with a blue sphere but he still wasn’t affected.

“I cry in private,” Stone Wall answered and punched Emo Pony to the ground.

“But what do you fear,” Emo Pony said as he got up and blasted Stone Wall with a yellow sphere.

“My only fear is fear itself,” Stone Wall answered as he punched Emo Pony to the ground.

“Uh, disgust?” Emo Pony through a green sphere and Stone Wall didn’t even reply this time before punching to the ground.

"I'll give you this, you can take a beating." Emo Pony then cast a spell that Stone Wall dodged effortlessly. "Missed."

"I was aiming at something else." Hearing that Super Stallion and Stone Wall turned around and saw the huge sphere they were looking for, it had a rainbow of colors in it and now a crack slowly becoming bigger and bigger. "You may be able to keep your emotions in check, but I doubt everypony in Canterlot can." Suddenly Stone Wall punched Emo Pony in the face again, this time hard enough to knock out cold.

"I don't know about you but I had enough of his fat mouth," Stone Wall said. “Now what do we do about that sphere?"

“I have an idea,” Princess Celestia said as she flew over to the giant sphere and used her magic to create a powerful gust of wind. As the sphere broke she created a multi-layered barrier that contained the smoke as well as the gust which continued to blow until the rainbow colored smoke was completely blown away.

"Wow nice work princess!" Super Stallion said as Princess Celestia removed the barrier and stopped the wind. “I had a feeling that would work, eh they can’t all be winners.”

"Thank you, that's why they gave me the wings and horn."

"All right another disaster averted let's get this trouble maker- " Stone Wall stopped when he noticed Emo Pony was gone. "What, where'd he go?" Princess Celestia and Super Stallion looked around and saw no sign of him.

"He got away?" Super Stallion said in disbelief.

"But how? I knocked him out cold?"

"I guess we'll have to remember to ask him that when he pokes his head out again,” Princess Celestia said.

"I guess we might as well head back to the castle now princess," Stone Wall said.

"Ah before you do that," Super Stallion said, getting Stone Wall and Princess Celestia to turn their heads to him. "About how I acted earlier, I'm really sorry about how I acted and if I made you feel uncomfortable."

"Oh that's quite all right Super Stallion, I don't think you were quite yourself. In fact I think we've all learned something about keeping our emotions getting the best of us."

"Ah not me, again I can keep them under control," Stone Wall said.

"Right well, thanks for your help Super Stallion and truth be told I actually was a little flattered by your compliments."

"Really?!" Super Stallion said, getting a big smile on his face.

"Yes, I was but- "

"Oh no." Super Stallion then dropped down back on the ground.

"I don't feel I'm ready for any kind of romantic relationship at the moment, but I would be very happy to call you a friend." Princess Celestia then offered her hoof to Super Stallion and he shook it, glad that she at least liked him. The trio then made their way out of the caves.

“By the way,” Stone Wall said. “Where were you when Emo Pony threw sphere after sphere at me?”

“I don’t know, you were on a roll, I didn’t want to stop the ball so to speak.” Super Stallion’s answer made the princess laugh a bit.

"See you soon sun butt," A mysterious voice said, catching the attention of Princess Celestia who seemed to have a chill running up her spine.

"What?” Princess Celestia turned back, getting Stone Wall and Super Stallion’s attention. “Did- did either of you hear that?”

“Here what?” Super Stallion asked.

“Maybe that smoke from earlier is still affecting you, when we get back to the castle, you should lie down,” Stone Wall said.

“Uh, yeah, that’s it, just the smoke,” Princess Celestia said as she looked around for shadows of any kind. There were none. “Just the smoke.”

***

Emo Pony despite getting knocked out cold was able to regain his consciousness for a few seconds. When his plan had failed he decided to escape and used a spell that teleported him away before he blacked out again. Later he got a rude awakening by another pony within the caves with several kicks to the back.

"Huh." Emo Pony got back to his hooves, still rather sore from Stone Wall's attacks. Back to his senses he saw the pony that kicked him awake. "Who the heck are you and what are you doing down in these caves?"

"I was about to ask you the same thing," Scar Flank answered while carrying the drill he stole on his back.

"Yes, that seems to be a popular question." Both Scar Flank and Emo Pony looked up and saw Dr. Arachnid crawling on the ceiling before jumping off and landing next to the other 2 ponies.

"Okay that was cool," Emo Pony said.

"Thank you, it's nice to be recognized for my own talents."

"Well maybe you can get them recognized outside," Scar Flank said.

"Excuse me?"

"Get out of my mines you spider pony hybrid."

"Your mines? Give me a break!"

"My family worked in these mines for years so if anypony has a right to them, it's me."

"I moved nearly all my equipment and supplies where am I supposed to take them?"

"That's not my problem!"

"Well I like it here, and it’s not like I have anywhere else to go," Emo Pony added and the 3 villains bickered among themselves for a while.

"QUIET!" The voice from before said.

"Who said that?" Emo Pony and Scar Flank asked in union.

"Wait, you can hear it too, thank goodness I thought I was going nuts," Dr. Arachnid said happy that it wasn't a voice in his head.

"Who are you?" Emo Pony asked.

"Someone that can help you, but you need to help me first I'll even help you help yourselves to help me."

"What?" Scar Flank asked.

"Just listen up, I've got big plans for Equestria and you 3 have roles to play to move them forward."

***

Meanwhile in Ponyville, Princess Celestia was visiting there and to her surprise found small creatures being led out of Ponyville. "What is this?"

"It's a long story," Twilight answered.

"Oh I see any chance you can give me a quick summary?"

"Maybe later but right now I am exhausted."

"I see well I certainly know a thing or 2 about that." Princess Celestia then explained that she couldn't stay as she had to deal with an infestation problem in Fillydelphia. She asked Twilight if she learned anything new on the magic of friendship, and she in fact did.

"I've learned that sometimes the solutions to your problems can come from where you least expect it. It's a good idea to stop and listen to your friends' ideas and perspectives, even if they don't make sense."

"I'm so proud of you Twilight Sparkle and I'm very impressed with your friends as well, it sounds like you're all learning so much from each other." And with that she returned to Canterlot to get what she needed to help with the infestation problem. After the princess left Twilight was grateful to her friend Pinkie Pie for getting the parasprites out of Ponyville. While she would admit Pinkie was rather strange, she was just about the best friend a pony can ask for.

"So you just went to Ponyville to tell Twilight you had to cancel?" Stone Wall asked the princess when she returned to the castle. "You could have just sent her a letter."

"Yes but I felt like I should tell her that in equine."

"Any excuse so see her now that she's finally out of the castle?"

"Oh Stone Wall stop it." While the princess and her captain were talking Squeaky Clean was hard at work mopping the floor.

This is twice now in a row that the bad guy got away. And twice now that Stone Wall did most of the work fighting the bad guy plus with Dr. Arachnid that makes 3 villains on the loose, Squeaky thought to himself as he cleaned and cleaned. I need to take this superhero thing more serious from now on. As he continued cleaning he remembered how last time he cleaned when he was mad he broke the mop, to avoid doing that again he stared at the princess for a few seconds to calm himself down. And upon gazing on the beautiful face of Princess Celestia he felt his anger melt away. "Humina humina."

"What'd you say, Squeaky?" The princess asked and when our hero realized he said that out loud getting the attention of the princess as well as Stone Wall he was filled with embarrassment and had to think fast.

"Uh just a little something in my throat I'm gonna get some water I'll leave you to princess and captain things." And with that he nearly ran out the door.

"Princess and captain things?" The princess said while turning to Stone Wall and couldn't help but giggle a bit while saying it.

"I think all these long hours are screwing with his head."

Chapter 7 2 Threats are Worse Than 1

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Squeaky Clean had been busy as of late, searching for 3 certain troublemakers as Super Stallion. But in the meantime, he still made time to enjoy himself. Such as going to Ponyville’s annual Running of the Leaves, he even came in 4th place, right ahead of Twilight. He'd also gotten more casual with Princess Celestia. One day Princess Celestia called him into her chambers for scrubbing and mopping and before long he and the princess started talking.

"So wait, you and Luna banished King Sombra all the way to the icy north? Or more north than where he already was?" Squeaky asked.

"Yes but with his final act of evil, the entire Crystal Empire vanished, without a single trace." Princess Celestia answered who was resting comfortably on her bed.

"Wow! So what happened to it?"

"I don't know it's been more than 1000 years and neither it or any of the Crystal Ponies have appeared. It's funny, these days very few ponies recall its existence at all. I'm surprised you know about it at all."

"My grandfather used to tell me all the time about the Crystal Empire from the bits he already knew. I used to just think it was all only make believe, but I bet a lot of ponies used to say the same about Nightmare Moon."

"That's true," Princess Celestia said, who gave out a chuckle.

"You were also telling me about another bad guy. What was his name?" Squeaky paused trying to remember. "Tunic?"

"Tirek," Princess Celestia corrected.

"Right right! So what was his problem again?"

"He wanted to steal the magic from Equestria but since his brother warned Luna and I, we were able to stop him before he did any harm and imprison him in Tartarus."

"Wait, I thought it was pronounced Tartaros?"

"Either or." As Squeaky nearly finished when suddenly his mop slipped out of his hoof. Squeaky and Princess Celestia reached for it at the same time and their hooves touched. When that happened they looked up and into each other's eyes.

"Wow," Squeaky said.

"What?" The princess asked.

"It's just, I never noticed how your eyes are like rose quartz."

"Really?" The princess chuckled again. "It's funny most ponies that compliment my eyes say pink diamonds."

"Same thing," Squeaky who gave a shrug said.

"Are you sure about that?"

"Oh yeah trust me, rose quartz, pink diamond, same thing."

"Well I'll take your word for it." Princess Celestia then grabbed the mop and gave it back to Squeaky.

"Thank you," Squeaky said, taking the mop.

"Your welcome, listen Squeaky the Grand Galloping Gala is coming up and I was wondering- " Before the princess could finish her thought a royal guard bursted through the doors.

"Your highness there's been another robbery!"

"What already?" She asked standing up. "Sorry Squeaky we'll have to finish another time." Princess Celestia then exited her chambers with the guard.

"W-Wait," Squeaky said, chasing after her a bit but stopping out in the hall. "What was she going to ask me? She mentioned the Grand Galloping Gala. Was she gonna ask me to go with her? Like a date!" Squeaky was suddenly overwhelmed with joy. "Me and the princess, at the Grand Galloping Gala, that's like something out of a fairy tale." Squeaky started dancing with his mop like it was the princess.

"What are you doing?" Stone Wall asked, snapping his friend out of his fantasy.

"Well-"

"Never mind I don't care, I need to talk to the princess."

"You just missed her, a guard came in talking about a robbery."

"What robbery?"

"He didn't say, just that there was another one."

"Another one?" Stone Wall paused for a second to think. "It must be him again."

"Him who?"

"Some criminal that goes by the name Gentleman Thief has been running around committing robberies without a trace except his calling card. Yesterday he made off with some jewels at a museum."

"If the guard from before was talking about him then that means he's stolen twice in as many days."

"Yes, he's only done this about half a dozen times but he's quickly made a name for himself."

"Why haven't I heard about this before?" Squeaky asked as the princess was returning.

"Do you listen to or read the news?"

"Not really."

"Well there you go."

"I guess I can just ask the princess when she gets back."

"Squeaky."

"AUGH!" Squeaky jumped as the princess said his name. He turned around fast with his hoof on his chest and taking deep breaths.

"DON'T DO THAT! You're worse than Stone Wall." Just then Stone Wall grabbed Squeaky by the back of the neck and pulled him in close.

"Don't. Ever. Yell at the princess." Before Squeaky could respond Princess Celestia grabbed Squeaky by his neck and pulled him closer to her.

"Settle down Stone Wall," Princess Celestia said, now sitting with her hoof still around Squeaky. She then placed her other hoof on Squeaky's chest. "Are you okay Squeaky? I'm sorry I frightened you."

Oh my gosh her hooves feel so great on me, Squeaky thought to himself. "Yeah I'm all right," he answered. "I guess I'm just tired of getting snuck up on."

"If you don't like it just keep your guard up," Stone Wall said.

"How do I do that?"

"Be aware of your surroundings, heighten your senses, and adapt to surprises in your situation."

"That's what he tells us," the guard from before said who returned with the princess and a newspaper. "I came to show the princess what was in the newspaper."

"Why didn't you just bring her the paper?" Stone Wall asked.

"That's what I asked," the princess said.

“I guess I got a little excited,” the guard answered.

"Can I see the paper?" The guard gave Squeaky the paper and read on the front page of the robbery made by none other than the Gentleman Thief.

"Looks like your hunch was right, Stone Wall."

"Is that why you're here?" Princess Celestia asked.

"No Princess Celestia, I came to help prepare for your next visit to Ponyville in a week or so."

"Ah yes I'll help you with that now." Stone Wall and Princess Celestia entered her chambers to discuss it while Squeaky and the guard went their separate ways and back to work.

"I think she really was going to ask me out on a date," Squeaky said to himself. "She was practically wrapped around me. She couldn't take her hooves off me." Suddenly he hugged his mop in a romantic gesture. "Me and the princess at the Grand Galloping Gala."

***

In the quiet of the night an owner of a small jewelry store in Manehattan had locked up and headed home. Completely unaware of the late night shopper that entered his store.

"My, my such a rich collection of minerals, how to choose which ones to take. Perhaps the best selection should be decided on the ones of highest value." The Gentleman Thief quickly made his way around the store grabbing the jewels he found worthy of stealing. "I'll have to remember to acquire a larger bag for these future withdrawals." With the selected jewels acquired he left his calling card before vanishing into the night.

The next morning the owner called the police and some royal guards came, as well including Stone Wall.

"Unbelievable 7 robberies and not a single clue," Stone Wall said in obvious annoyance.

"Well actually captain- "

"I meant besides that stupid calling card of his."

"Oh right," Spear Head replied.

"Keep searching everypony," Stone Wall said to the guards.

"I just don't get it," Shining Armor said to Stone Wall. "From what we could tell, this place had some seriously tight security. How could this guy get in without setting off a single alarm?"

"That's what I want to figure out, Shining Armor and I'm not leaving this place until I do."

"Really?"

"No not really, maybe just for another hour. But I still want us to find something."

"Well maybe I can lend a hoof," Super Stallion said as he flew into the store catching the attention of every single pony there.

"Wow! Super Stallion oh my gosh!" Shining Armor said barely able to contain himself, even jumping up and down like a young colt. "Can I please have your autograph?"

"Shining Armor, didn't I ask you to search this place?"

"But captain, when am I gonna get a chance like this again?"

"You can get it later."

"But- "

"Later." Shining Armor then reluctantly did as his captain told him. "Listen, do you think maybe you can come by the castle later today and give him an autograph?"

"Sure no problem but first I thought I'd help you with this crime scene."

"Much appreciated. Are you going to use super speed to search the crime scene in seconds? Or maybe you can look at things at a microscopic level?"

Super Stallion paused. "I thought I'd just look for hoof prints.”

"I see," Stone Wall said. “Suppose I’ve been reading too many comic books.” Everypony worked together to try and find anything that could help them find the criminal. As Super Stallion was searching around, Shining Armor moved a piece of paper on the ground closer to him.

"So if you could make it out to Shining Armor and say something cool like- "

"SHINING!"

"Sorry captain!" Shining Armor moved to the other side of the store and continued looking for clues. But after about 30 minutes Stone Wall decided everypony should head out. Super Stallion especially was disappointed they found nothing.

"Now on top of finding 3 troublemakers, I have to keep an eye out for this new guy." Super Stallion then started flying back to Canterlot when he suddenly noticed Cloudsdale tied in a knot.

“How’s that for not good enough!?” A pegasus mare called out quickly getting Super Stallion’s attention.

"This is going to be one of those days isn't it?" Super Stallion asked himself as he flew over to the said mare.

“Well well, Super Stallion.” The mare said. “I’d love to stay and chat but, actually I don’t want to chat. I think my actions speak for themselves,” the mare said as she guessed to Cloudsdale.

“You think it’s okay to utterly wreck a city? Who do you think you are?” Super Stallion asked. “Or after I take you down and stop whatever plan you have, should I just call you the washout.”

“How about you just call me the Weather Warper.” And with that, a tornado appeared out of nowhere that made Super Stallion spin out of control. When he got control of himself the tornado disappeared and the Weather Warper was gone.

“Another crazy running around, yep gonna be one of those days.” Super Stallion quickly flew over to help the ponies in need who were more than grateful.

"I thought this was going to be a rather bad day but I get to meet Super Stallion himself!" Soarin said with excitement as he shook Super Stallion’s hoof.

"Thanks for helping, we really needed the extra hoof," Spitfire said.

“No problem, but what was that mare’s deal?”

“You mean the Weather Warper?” Spitfire asked. “No idea. She just showed up out of nowhere and did what she did.”

“She yelled a few other things, but it was hard to hear her over the screams of the other ponies,” Soarin added.

"What's with that staff she was holding?" Super Stallion asked.

"We're not sure but from what I saw it might be the source of her unusual powers," Fleetfoot answered.

"Well with any luck it'll make her stick out even more, I'm off." Super Stallion then flew straight towards Canterlot as Soarin decided to double check to see if anypony in Cloudsdale needed help.

"You were right, Captain, Super Stallion is super sexy."

"Fleetfoot, now is not the time! But yes he is a mega cutie."

***

Super Stallion returned to Canterlot because Squeaky Clean's break was almost over. On top of 5 abnormal criminals on the loose, he didn't need Stone Wall breathing down his neck. "Well time to make the floors sparkle and shine again." Suddenly the door of the closet Squeaky sneaked into opened by Stone Wall.

"Squeaky what are you doing in here?" Stone Wall asked confused to find his friend in a closet of all places.

"Just relaxing," Squeaky quickly answered to cover for himself.

"You spend your break relaxing in a small cramped room filled with stuff you use on your job?"

"It's my quiet time."

"Well your quiet time is over so get to the kitchen, a couple of the guards took the term mess hall a bit too literally." Squeaky then grabbed his supplies and passed Stone Wall.

"Well that settles it, all these long hours are screwing with his head," Stone Wall said.

Squeaky entered the kitchen and found his beautiful boss Princess Celestia was also there.

"Hello Squeaky, how are you today?"

"Fine now that you're here." Did I honestly say that out loud?

Hearing that Princess Celestia giggled a bit. "Thank you, it's nice to see you too."

"Right that's what I meant." Did I say that out loud too?! "So I heard you're making another trip to Ponyville?" Squeaky asked eager to change the subject.

"Yes, rather a casual visit really. Philomena even wants to come."

"I bet you're going to see Twilight again. If you do tell I said hi please," Squeaky asked while also moving his mop with his horn. This let him talk to the princess and do his job at the same time.

"Sure thing Squeaky." After talking to the princess for a few minutes Squeaky noticed Stone Wall was standing not too far behind him.

"Oh hey Stone Wall, guess I've already gotten better at keeping my guard up huh?"

"Yes, I see you've also cleaned the kitchen floor quite well."

"Well it's not quite finished yet."

"It'll do for now but there's a few other places to get to on the next floor."

"Oh, okay." Squeaky grabbed his supplies and went out the door. On his next break he would make sure to slip out again to become Super Stallion and give Stone Wall the autograph to give to Shining Armor who would be very grateful.

"It's not like you to let somepony go when they aren't completely finished."

"Well this time I made an exception, we need to talk about Squeaky."

***

Later that night, the Gentleman Thief had found a new target. An art gallery in Canterlot. "These paintings are a bit too modern and drab for my taste. I'm a thief but I still have standards. Perhaps there'll be more classical art deeper into the gallery." After sneaking further in the gallery the Gentleman Thief bumped into another late night trespasser. Or at least he would have if the other intruder wasn’t an expert on observing her surroundings.

"Who are you!?" Weather Warper asked, surprised.

"Who am I? I believe the question is who are you my dear?" Gentleman Thief asked.

"I'm the Weather Warper and I'm going to put you in the center of a thunderstorm if you don't answer my questions!" The Weather Warper snapped back, starting to get angry.

"Weather Warper? I think I can safely assume from your name alone that you do not work here."

"Oh no haven't you heard, this colorful costume of mine are the new security uniforms," Weather Warper responded sarcastically.

"Amusing, I am the Gentleman Thief and I have come to plunder and pillage, so to speak."

"Gentleman Thief, wait a minute I've heard of you. You steal from places and leave a card so everyone knows it was you."

"Correct my dear. Now why are you here?"

"I was just looking for a place to find for the night and when I flew into the city this seemed the easiest to slip in and hide from security until morning."

"Rather a profound theory, the security in this location is severely lacking."

"You talk funny.”

"If I might inquire, have you come to rob this place as well?" Gentleman Thief asked.

"What? No, I'm just hiding here until morning so I can show off what this staff can do."

"And what can your staff do?"

"You and all of Canterlot will know soon enough."

"I see, so from that I can take you on putting on a rather large show. Perhaps I can help, perhaps we can help each other."

"What do you have in mind?"

***

The next day Weather Warper made a giant cloud in Canterlot getting the attention of every single pony there. Squeaky Clean quickly changed into Super Stallion and flew straight into the cloud that was already shooting lightning at some of the buildings and spitting out hail, snow, and rain all at the same time.

"Of course this happens on one of my days off." Super Stallion made it into the giant cloud and looked around for Weather Warper but the cloud was so dense he could barely see past his own muzzle. "I know how to clear things up." Super Stallion then released a giant burst of magic that cleared away the entire cloud but when the sky became open and clear the Weather Warper was nowhere to be found. "Where'd she go, can she disappear and reappear at will or something?"

After becoming Squeaky Clean again, he made his way towards the closet jewelry store to buy the princess a gift. But when he got to the store to his surprise as well as the owner, it was recently robbed. The owner explained that he stepped outside to get a closer look at the cloud causing the strange weather and saw his store like this upon his return. After hearing this, Squeaky went to the castle to tell Stone Wall all about it.

"This doesn't make sense," Stone Wall said while still looking through the crime scene. "From the other reports I've read about him he always robs in the middle of the night, not the day."

"He's right," Shining Armor added. "You're right, captain, this doesn't make sense."

"And no clues or signs of forced entry. I was hoping there'd be more change in his pattern than just the time." Stone Wall searched the store, but once again found no clues. "Come on, we're going back to the castle."

"Captain, can I buy this pink necklace first?" Shining Armor asked.

"Why?"

"A gift for Cadance."

"Fine but be quick about it."

"Yes sir. Thank you sir, Cadance will love this."

After the guards left Squeaky bought a hoof bracelet for the princess. The owner was happy to still make bits after getting robbed.

Elsewhere in Canterlot, one of the less populated areas Equestria's latest trouble-making duo had come back together.

"So how did you do?" Weather Warper asked.

"I was able to grab about half the stuff in the store," Gentleman Thief answered. "I would have gotten the other half but your distraction wasn't distracting for very long."

"I wanted to make it last longer as well as make it spell out my name, but Super Stallion showed up. Luckily it was dense enough for me to slip away without him noticing me."

"Yes, fortunate indeed, in the long run half a haul is better than no haul. I think we'll make a great team."

"Yeah this was a good idea, by the way how are you able to get in and out of places so quickly?"

"You aren't the only one who has a staff possessing abnormal magical properties." Gentleman Thief then flew right through a solid wall shocking Weather Warper.

"Wow, where'd you go?!" Gentleman Thief then flew through a different wall and landed in front of Weather Warper.

"My staff allows me to walk through solid material. With this in my hooves I can rob places with even the tightest of security."

"Now that is cool. By the way, my cut."

"Yes of course, as per our deal, you provide distractions for my robberies and I give you a small cut of precious stolen items."

"Uh yeah that's pretty much what you said when you offered this partnership. Don't know why you repeated yourself."

"I guess I just like the sound of my own voice." The Gentleman Thief then gave Weather Warper a hoof full of jewels.

"So now what?"

"Now we head for Las Pegasus and follow the same plan but to a more profitable degree.”

The following days had involved the duo repeating their plan. It didn’t take long for Squeaky to figure out they must be working together. Super Stallion tried to stop them but their pattern was hard to predict and they were never anywhere long. So eventually Squeaky figured if Super Stallion couldn’t get to Weather Warper and Gentleman Thief, maybe he could get Gentleman Thief and Weather Warper to come to Super Stallion. With a little help from Princess Celestia.

"So that's my plan," Super Stallion said to Princess Celestia and Stone Wall in the royal chambers.

"Not a bad plan really," Stone Wall said. "We can catch 2 criminals at once.”

“And you’re sure they’re working together?” Princess Celestia asked Super Stallion.

“Everywhere the Weather Warper goes, Gentleman Thief robs. It’s too coincidental.”

"I'd rather not risk spoiling my visit to Ponyville but those 2 have to be stopped. All right let's go along with it. But remember it might not work, so don't be too on guard for something that might not happen."

"I'll stick by the princess either way but where will you be Super Stallion?"

"Oh I have my ways, I’ll be hiding in plain sight."

***

"My plundering has been most fruitful since our partnership."

"Yeah and I've helped you get a lot more stuff too." Weather Warper and Gentleman Thief were in a small abandoned home in Manehattan. Gentleman Thief was looking over his stolen fortune while Weather Warper read the paper for the stuff about her. As Weather Warper was about to toss the paper away, she noticed something that might grab her partner's attention. "Hey GT look at this," she said, getting Gentleman Thief to look at an article in the paper.

"Let's see, it says here that the princess is planning on donating some gems to a museum after she makes a visit to Ponyville," Gentleman Thief said as he saw a picture in the article showing a large gem and several black crystals. "It appears we've located the place for our next heist. But perhaps robbing from royalty may prove to be our undoing."

"Oh don't tell me you're scared?" Weather Warper said. "As long as we have our staffs, we have nothing, absolutely nothing to worry about. Besides, I love a challenge!"

"Very well as long as we are quick and decisive we should be able to pull this off. Besides from what I could tell from the picture, these gems are a must have for my collection.”

"That's what I wanted to hear, so do we go with the same routine?"

"No, I think this certain job of ours will require a new method of distraction."

"What do you have in mind?"

"Something that will get the attention of all of Ponyville right off the bat."

"I'm loving it already."

***

Princess Celestia was enjoying herself at Sugarcane Corner, though the ponies that ran it were a little too quick to refill her tea cup. So much that she decided to have a little fun with her by tricking them into refilling it when it was already filled. "Gotcha."

"All right you 2 knock it off, give the princess some space," Stone Wall told the Cakes who decided to go back into the kitchen.

"Thank you, Stone Wall," the Princess said, relieved.

"No problem."

"Hopefully it's all the trouble I'll have today." Princess Celestia then turned her attention to Fluttershy who was by one of the edges of the table the princess was at.

"Well you look like you're okay here I'm going out for some air." Princess Celestia found it unusual that her captain of the guard would step out, but she allowed it. Stone Wall stepped out to look for any signs of Gentleman Thief and Weather Warper. After finding no signs he returned but then was told that Princess Celestia's pet phoenix Philomena, had gone missing.

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!" Stone Wall said to the guards. "I LEAVE YOU ALONE FOR 5 MINUTES AND THIS HAPPENS!?"

"Calm down Stone Wall," Princess Celestia said while placing her hoof on his shoulder. "We'll find Philomena. I doubt she could have gotten far in her current condition."

"Fine you 2 get out and look for her."

"Yes, and go look for my student Twilight. She might be able to help us." The 2 guards did as the princess asked and left but saw Ponyville was wrapped in a fog so thick that the ponies in it could hardly see past their own muzzles. One look out the window and Stone Wall could tell that it wasn't a normal fog.

"Perhaps those 2 took the bait after all," Stone Wall said as the fog started to seep into Sugarcube Corner.

"I don't think so," Super Stallion said. Squeaky Clean had a day off and made his way towards Ponyville. The fog provided him cover as well making it very easy to become Super Stallion who used Super breathe to remove the fog.

"Wow, he works fast," Weather Warper said, who was hiding behind one of the buildings. "We may be in over our heads this time, but I never back down from a challenge." While she was keeping an eye on Super Stallion, Gentleman Thief had already entered Sugarcube Corner while the others left to search for the rogues and a certain phoenix.

"The mist has already vanished, no doubt due to Super Stallion's involvement. Such amazing abilities, but I’ve already made my way in. Now for the gems." Gentleman Thief then approached the chest ready to make a quick retreat afterwards.

SPLAT

***

When Super Stallion made his plan known to Stone Wall and Princess Celestia the former wished to take some precautions. So he had some guards fetch a chest to place the huge gems inside it. Stone Wall also placed a large adhesive type glue inside the chest that would spring out when opened.

"So basically it's a glue bomb," Super Stallion said after Stone Wall explained his plan. Hearing that Princess Celestia couldn't help but chuckle.

"That's a rather silly way of putting it but yeah." Princess Celestia couldn't help but laugh a little more. "But what if a guard opens it?"

"Don't worry I'll tell the guards about this plan too so if we hear it open, we'll know it's the Gentleman Thief."

"Pretty smart Stone Wall," Super Stallion said, moments later Shining Armor entered the room to say the guards were ready.

"Oh my gosh Super Stallion! Again! Sweet, can I have your autograph?"

"Um, I already gave you one, remember?"

"Yeah, but I want to give the second one to Princess Cadance. See she's my girlfriend and she likes superheroes cause she reads comic, not as much as me, hardly at all really but she's still a fan and so- "

"Wow this is all very interesting Shining Armor," Stone Wall interrupted with sarcasm in his tone yet again. "But we have to prepare an escort in case you forgot."

"Oh right, is this the case for you’ll be using your highness?"

"Correct."

"It's kind of large, don't you think your highness?"

"That's the idea," Princess Celestia answered Shining Armor. "To catch our prey we need the right bait so to speak."

"Speaking of "the bait," I saw the photo of the gems you were gonna donate. What's with the pieces of coal?" Super Stallion asked.

"It's not coal, they're black crystals. Legends say that when King Sombra came to power the leader of the Crystal Empire, Princess Amore, was turned into a statue. The statue then scattered into pieces and spread to parts unknown. Some ponies believe that if all the pieces come back together, she can be restored to life. Wow."

"Yeah, that is a lot to take in," Super Stallion said.

"No, not that," Princess Celestia replied. "I don't usually open up about things like that. You're so easy to talk to Super Stallion."

"Well," Super Stallion paused. "You're very easy to listen to." Princess Celestia laughed a bit. Stone Wall was a bit uncomfortable to be in the middle of this, but wouldn't have to for long. As suddenly the 3 of them noticed Shining Armor getting dangerously close to the case.

"DON'T OPEN THAT!" Princess Celestia, Stone Wall, and Super Stallion all yelled in unison.

Shining Armor froze in place.

***

Gentleman Thief was on the ground stuck. Hearing the insanely loud splat, Super Stallion flew into Sugarcube Corner via the front door. "Wow, that is a lot of glue. I guess Stone Wall wanted to make sure that you'd stick around. HA! That wasn't even on purpose."

"I find nothing humorous about my current situation," Gentleman Thief said after clearing his throat a bit of the glue.

"Well let's get you washed up and maybe we can talk about all the stuff you stole."

"I believe that would not benefit me very well so I'll have to decline." Gentleman Thief then used his wings, which being stucked under his cloak earlier weren’t touched by the glue, and flew right through the wall to Super Stallion's surprise. "WEATHER WARPER MAKE IT RAIN!" Hearing that, Weather Warper quickly flew into a huge cloud above Ponyville. Since the cloud was rather large and thick the rain was insanely rough and was able to wash the glue right off.

"How were you able to fly through the wall like that?" Super Stallion who made it back outside asked.

"These days there are numerous ponies with unique abilities, yourself included. I haven't acquired that gem but with you here I think it's time for a retreat, until next time." Gentleman Thief then flew towards a house to try and fly through it and other houses to throw Super Stallion off his trail.

"I don't think so!" Super Stallion, determined not to let another villain get away, blasted the wall before Gentleman Thief could get to it. The wall broke and numerous scattered pieces hit Gentleman Thief and he fell back on the ground, out like a light. "1 down, 1 to go. Now to do something about this rain."

Just as he said that the rain stopped because Princess Celestia flew into the sky and cleared the cloud. Afterwards she landed on a small cloud and saw, Super Stallion was using another spell to magically restrain Gentleman Thief. Just as she was going to for Weather Warper, Weather Warper found her. Weather Warper, who was hiding in a small cloud, snuck up on Princess Celestia and covered her mouth with her hoof.

"Don't try anything or I'll use this staff to make you feel what it's like to be inside a lightning bolt. So what you're gonna do is hoof over the gems and tell stupid stallion to release my partner or I'll make it rain lightning.”

Suddenly, Weather Warper was grabbed from behind and pulled off the princess by Super Stallion. "That's no way to treat a lady."

"I'm also lady too idiot!"

"Why don’t you act like one then?"

"Why don’t you play dead? Matter of fact let me help you." Weather Warper then used her staff to create fog around Super Stallion and suddenly he was attacked left and right.

Using the fog to hide her attacks, she must be an experienced flier to see through this fog. Super Stallion tried to clear the fog but the attacks from Weather Warper were so often he hardly had a minute to think. If I could just land 1 clean hit. But how do I do that when she keeps sneaking up on me?

Be aware of your surroundings, heightened your senses, and adapt to surprises in your situation, Stone Wall said again in Super Stallion’s mind.

Remembering his friends advice, Super Stallion readied for another attack choosing to rely on his super hearing. Which was exactly what he needed as Weather Warper tried to attack from behind, this time leveling up with a lightning strike. Hearing her flap her wings and charge the lightning, Super Stallion turned around and blocked the lightning and countered with a lightning spell of his own.Weather Warper was hit dead on and fell out of the sky. Weather Warper tried to shake it off but before she could she hit Sugarcube Corner and landed next to her partner in crime.

"For 2 ponies that took so long to catch, they didn't put up much of a fight." Suddenly the fog was cleared by Princess Celestia herself who saw Weather Warper on the ground as she flew over to Super Stallion.

"I'm surprised that you were able to beat the Weather Warper in the time it took me to fly over to the fog Weather Warper made and clear it. Though I guess I shouldn't be that surprised seeing how quickly you reacted when she grabbed me.”

"Yeah I saw her grab you while I finished restraining her partner she didn't hurt you did she?" Super Stallion asked the princess while holding her hoof with two of his.

The princess laughed a bit from his clear romantic gestures towards her. She found it funny how rather straightforward he was, but she also found it rather charming. "Yes I'm quite all right she didn't hurt me. But we should make sure that Weather Warper is okay as well."

"Right." Weather Warper was out cold like her partner taken away by the royal guards. That just left the matter of Philomena and as it turned out, the pony Fluttershy had taken her. Super Stallion with his hearing was able to help Stone Wall and Princess Celestia find her at a public fountain but to Fluttershy's grief Philomena had turned into ash.

"What is going on here? Twilight."

"Okay, but you can't be mad."

"Twilight, what happened?" Princess Celestia asked again more firmly.

"I'm not going to tell you you didn't promise yet." Stone Wall was about to approach Twilight but Princess Celestia stopped him and took a breath.

"Fine, I promise not to be mad, now what happened." After a minute of several ponies saying whose fault it was, Fluttershy explained she took Philomena to help her get better and she would give her right back. Princess Celestia then explained that her pet was a phoenix and that Philomena decided to have fun on Fluttershy's behave.

"Say your sorry young lady." Philomena did as she was told and apologized to sweet Fluttershy.

"So you're not going to banish me or lock me in a dungeon or banish me and lock me in the dungeon in the place you banished me to?" Super Stallion and Stone Wall looked at one another in sheer confusion after hearing that.

"Of course not my little pony, where in Equestria would you get an idea like that?"

"I guess I have some imagination."

"And I guess my work here is done until next time." Super Stallion then flew off into the sky at near lightning speed.

"Wow with that speed he should try out for the Wonderbolts, and seriously though isn't it so cool to have an actual superhero in Equestria?" Rainbow Dash said who would later get Philomena to get the guards restraining Weather Warper and Gentleman Thief to lighten up.

"I wouldn't try that if I were you," Stone Wall said when Philomena was about to do the same to him.

***

The next day Squeaky Clean made it back to the castle happy to have finally put a stop to the 2 latest trouble makers. Having got to cleaning as usual he eventually ran into Princess Celestia.

"Good morning Squeaky."

"Good morning princess." Having finally stopped Weather Warper and Gentleman Thief Squeaky finally felt the time was right to ask the princess about the Gala. "So princess." Princess Celestia who had already walked away from Squeaky turned around to face him. "About the Grand Galloping Gala."

"Oh that's right, I didn't get back to you on that, I'm sorry."

"It's okay so what did you want to ask me?"

"Well, the Grand Galloping Gala is coming up and I was wondering if you'd like to join me."

Yes I knew it! She wants me to go to the Gala with her, this is amazing, me and her at the Grand Galloping Gala! That's one of the most romantic things I can think of to do with her. There's marrying her but that's going a bit far at this point.

"Squeaky?"

"Huh?"

"You didn't answer."

"Oh, sorry. Yes, I'd love to go to the Gala with you."

"That's good to hear. I'm sure the 3 of us will have a great time."

"Wait, 3?"

"Oh yes, a while back I invited my student Twilight Sparkle and her friends to the Gala as well. When that happens, I'd like her to be with me the whole night. But I’d still like to spend time with you, I figured it would make the Gala all the more special to be with 2 close friends rather than 1."

"Friend?"

"Yes, you’ve only been here a while but I think of you as a friend and I hope the 3 of us have the best night ever."

"I-I can hardly wait," Squeaky said, doing well at hiding his disappointment.

"Me neither. Well I'll see you then Squeaky." The princess then walked away leaving Squeaky alone with his thoughts.

"I'm only her friend? I thought for sure that she was asking me out." Squeaky then recalled what the pegasus Fluttershy said to the princess in Ponyville. "I guess that's what I get for jumping to conclusions. In fact that was the same as guessing where Weather Warper and Gentleman Thief would go next if I did a better job at that I might have been able to stop them sooner."

Squeaky then stopped mopping for a moment and looked out the window. "Still, being at the Grand Galloping Gala with Princess Celestia." Thinking that brought a smile to Squeaky's face once more. "She thinks of me as a friend, but maybe I can tell her I want to be more. Yeah a romantic setting like that would be perfect. I'll confess my love for her at the Gala. Nothing can go wrong with that plan, why do I have that bad feeling again?"

Chapter 8 The Return of Dr. Arachnid

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Sapphire Shores was in her dressing room getting ready for yet another concert and as usual, tried to make it so everything was perfect. As she was putting on the last of her make up there was a knock on the door. "Come in!"

"Um Sapphire, somepony came to see you."

"Excuse me?" Sapphire said, turning to face the stage manager that entered her room.

"Somepony wants to talk to you."

"Who in their right mind thinks they can just show up right when I'm about due to go on stage to talk with me?"

"The one that stopped your last concert from being a complete disaster."

"Let him in,” Sapphire said after a pause.

Super Stallion entered the room and the stage manager then closed the door despite other ponies wishing to talk to Super Stallion as well. When they were alone, Sapphire Shores kissed Super Stallion right on the lips to his surprise.

"What was that for?" Super Stallion asked shocked about getting kissed but still rather enjoyed it. However like the last time he still wished it was the lips of another mare.

"I can't thank you enough for saving me from that crazy pony."

"It's funny you mentioned that, because I want to talk to you about Dr. Arachnid."

"What do you mean?" Suddenly the pony of pop's face went from excited and happy to worried and afraid.

"Do you think it's a good idea to put on another concert as well as starting a tour with him still on the loose?"

"Oh that, well you don't need to worry about that, I've beefed up security ever since last time. Besides, even if he does show up you can stop him."

"Yes I probably could, but I can't be here every time."

"I know that. Listen I really appreciate you checking up on me but I can take care of myself. Last time he caught me but if he shows up again, I'll show him a thing or 2." Sapphire Shores then punched the air several times with her front hooves to look tough in front of her super crush.

"All right if you think you'll be okay."

"Though if you really want to make sure I'm alright, you could always stick around." Sapphire Shores started to rub the tip of her hoof on Super Stallion's chest. She tried to kiss him again but this time, Super Stallion gently pushed her back to stop her. "Is something wrong?"

"I'm flattered really, but I'm interested in somepony else."

"Oh, really?" Sapphire asked, disappointed.

"Yes, I hope you aren't too upset."

"No I'm all right, if it's okay to ask who is the lucky mare?"

"Princess Celestia." Hearing that Sapphire laughed nearly so loud ponies from outside the room could hear her.

"I should have figured, just about every stallion in Canterlot heck all of Equestria has a crush on Princess Celestia."

"Ms. Shores 2 minute warning!" The stage manager yelled after knocking on the door.

"OKAY BE RIGHT THERE HONEY! I have to get ready so I can't really talk any more." Super Stallion then quickly made his way out as Sapphire Shores made her way to the mirror to put the last few touches on her makeup. "I honestly expected him to show up at this point. I'm glad nothing's happened to ruin my tour but it's only a matter of time before he shows up again."

***

Super Stallion after failing yet again to find the 3 abnormal trouble makers headed for the castle for another day of cleaning. Squeaky headed for a room that got rather messy at the end of his last shift. But when he got there, the room was near spotless. "What happened? This place looks spotless?"

"Thank you," a voice right behind Squeaky that he didn't recognize said.

"Who are you? And what happened to that broom?"

"I'm Swift Sweep, nice to meet you. And I have no idea. I think a student for Celestia's school for Gifted Unicorns did that or something."

"Well Swift Sweep I see you've already met Squeaky Clean and vice versa," Stone Wall who recently entered the room said.

"Um Stone Wall, who exactly is this pony?"

"I already told you, I'm Swift Sweep, nice to meet you." Swift Sweep then offered his hoof and Squeaky shook it.

"He's our new janitor."

"Huh?"

"A while back I had a talk with Princess Celestia about you. I explained to her that all these long hours were screwing with your head."

"Screwing with my head?!" Squeaky replied, almost offended. Stone Wall gave Squeaky, a somewhat light tap on his head.

"Don't interrupt. Princess Celestia and I noticed it and I figured it would help if you had a few shorter working hours. She was thinking about hiring another janitor anyway so here he is." Stone Wall then turned his head to Swift Sweep and Squeaky did as well.

"Hi I'm Swift Sweep." Swift Sweep then offered his hoof again to Squeaky Clean.

"You already said that," Squeaky replied confused as to why he was repeating himself.

"Yeah but you forgot my name earlier so I figured it would help if I said it again. Hi I'm Swift Sweep." Swift Sweep then stretched out his hoof a little more.

"Just shake it already Squeaky." Squeaky did as Stone Wall said and then Swift Sweep got back on all 4 hooves.

"Well see you 2 later I'm off to do more sweeping." Swift Sweep then flew down the hallway a few feet in the air but still low enough for the broom that he's holding to sweep the floor.

"He's gonna help out with the cleaning but don't think that means you get to slack off." Stone Wall then ordered Squeaky to clean a different part of the castle.

"So I have a little trouble balancing my regular life with being a superhero, everypony would. But that doesn't mean Stone Wall had to get another janitor. We already have enough.” Squeaky then made his way to Princess Celestia’s chambers to clean their as well. However when he got there, he found that Swift Sweep had beaten him there and was chatting it up with the princess.

"Oh hello Squeaky have you met Swift Sweep?"

"Yeah we've met," Squeaky answered rather bluntly.

"Here to clean?" The princess asked.

"Yes I'll get right on it."

"Oh no it's alright Swift Sweep took care of it, so if you don't have anything else to clean why not go on your break early?"

"Can I go on my break too princess?"

"Of course you can Swift Sweep, you did an excellent job." Princess Celestia then patted Swift Sweep on the head a little. Seeing that made Squeaky hold his mop a bit more tighter.

She never patted my head. Swift Sweep and Squeaky Clean then made their way out of the royal chambers when the princess said she was going to take a nap.

"Have you been working here for long?" Swift Sweep asked.

"Yeah a while, why?"

"When you first met Princess Celestia did you think it was just wind at first too?"

"Excuse me?"

"That thing with her hair. What's the deal it's like it's alive, is it?"

"I…don't know. I never really asked her about that. I just kind of figured it was alicorn magic or something."

"Oh, I guess that makes sense, since she's an alicorn. Wanna take our breaks together?”

"Maybe next time," Squeaky answered rather coldly.

"Oh, alright then. Oh wait,” Swift Sweep said as he stopped out of nowhere. “I forgot to clean the outside of the castle as well,” Swift Sweep then flew out the window to do just that. Squeaky then made his way to the break room.

"That is a strange pony. There's no way I'm letting that weirdo do a better job than me. When my break is over I'm cleaning this whole castle from top to bottom." When his break was finished Squeaky went straight to work determined not to be outshined.

"So you finished already," Stone Wall said looking after the floor Squeaky finished in record time. Squeaky was actually really proud to have cleaned it so quickly until Stone Wall said. "not your best work."

"Huh?" Squeaky then saw several spots that weren't quite as clean as they usually were when he finished cleaning a room. But since he was going so fast he didn't notice and the pride he was feeling before all but vanished. "Oh, I'll get those spots right now."

"No it's fine, I'll have Swift Sweep get it, he said he finished early so he's not really doing anything at the moment. You have other places that need cleaning." Squeaky still wanted to clean but knew enough not to argue with Stone Wall and left. Soon his shift came to an end and so with nothing else to do he decided to become Super Stallion and look for any problem that requires his attention.

"This hasn't been my best day. I really hope one of the troublemakers finally shows up again with something that needs smashing." Super Stallion looked around and spotted Sapphire Shores in the shopping area of Canterlot and saw several bodyguards to stop her fans from crowding her as he flew past her.

"Those outfits Rarity made for me and my backup dancers were just perfect. I just have to find something for her to show my gratitude." Sapphire Shores rapidly looked through a line of clothes trying to find something to give to Rarity. "Wait, maybe I'm thinking this all wrong. Why send a fashion designer clothing? Maybe I can thank her by giving her more things to make for me. That should also help her get more attention in the fashion community, it’s a win win."

"Well isn't that kind hearted of you." Sapphire Shores quickly turned around and to her fear, saw none other than Dr. Arachnid. Her bodyguards quickly tried to rush the villain but one of his metallic legs opened its tip, releasing knockout gas. He then used the same gas to cause Sapphire Shores to pass out. "I think it's time that the 2 of us finally got some alone time don't you?" Dr. Arachnid then picked up the unconscious pop singer and carried her to the top of the building she was in.

"OH MY GOSH WHAT IS THAT A PONY SPIDER HYBRID?!?" A pony part of the small crowd outside said when they saw Dr. Arachnid climbing up with his metal legs.

"WHATEVER IT WAS, IT TOKE SAPPHIRE SHORES!"

"WE HAVE TO HELP HER SOMEHOW."

"Now that I have you all to myself I can finally get my long postponed revenge!"

"I don't think so." Dr. Arachnid quickly turned around and to his fear, saw none other than Super Stallion.

"Super Stallion, but how could you have found me so quickly after just putting my plan into action?"

"WHY DID THAT HYBRID THING TAKE SAPPHIRE SHORES TO THE TOP OF THE BUILDING THAT'S IN THE CENTER OF THE SHOPPING AREA OF CANTERLOT?"

"ARE THEY STILL UP THERE WE NEED TO CALL SOMEPONY."

"SOMEPONY DO SOMETHING!"

"Never mind," Dr. Arachnid said.

"You know doc if you want her autograph so badly I think she'd give it if you just ask nicely."

"ME!? BE NICE!? TO HER!? If you only knew!" Dr. Arachnid then gave Super Stallion one of the angriest stares he ever saw.

"If I only knew what?" Super Stallion asked as he flew a little closer to try and talk to the mad scientist. However, seeing the super pony get closer caused him to panic and so he dropped Sapphire but still held on to her head as he got out a small bottle.

"Not so fast, take 1 step closer and she gets a taste of this. This is a special concentrated drink I made just for her, 1 slip and she'll have laryngitis for a month." Super Stallion stopped in his tracks.

"You were gonna give that to her anyway weren't you?"

"Yeah I was. And you know what I did go through all the trouble of making it I might as well let her have it." Dr. Arachnid then bit off the cork on the bottle and was about to force it down Sapphire's throat when suddenly, Super Stallion fired a spell from his horn that blasted the bottle off of Dr. Arachnid's hoof. Super Stallion then charged at Dr. Arachnid and gave him an uppercut so hard that it sent him straight to another building roof 3 buildings away. Dr. Arachnid used his metal legs to land safely without getting hurt, seeing that Super Stallion charged right at him to get him.

"Time to finally squash this spider!"

"Wow, that was actually a really clever line. OH MY GOSH!" Dr. Arachnid jumped away using the extra legs to boost his jump to dodge Super Stallion's attack. As a result Super Stallion's attack missed and his punch broke a hole in the roof. Super Stallion then saw the hole he made and the shock of the ponies inside.

"Aw geez, I'm sorry don't worry I can fix this." Super Stallion then quickly used his magic to put the pieces of the roof quickly back together. However in the few seconds he took, Dr. Arachnid was nowhere in sight. "Where'd he go?" Super Stallion flew around in a desperate attempt to find the mad scientist, but he was gone. "How could he have gotten away so quickly?" Super Stallion then flew over to the still unconscious Sapphire Shores.

"Well at least you're still here." Super Stallion then picked her up to take her back to the ground. Super Stallion then flew up and brought down a small cloud then made it rain right on top of her and before long she woke up. Sapphire Shores and her bodyguards who had also been woken up by Super Stallion then got away from the crowd.

"This makes it twice that you saved me from that psychotic pony."

"Yeah about that, Dr. Arachnid seriously has a grudge against you. What did you do, break his favorite beaker or something?"

"What do you mean?" Sapphire asked, starting to get a little nervous.

"What I mean is that he clearly doesn't like you. I know this may be a little personal but do you 2 have history?"

"No!" Sapphire answered bluntly with a little panic in her tone. Before he could say anything, Sapphire headed off and her bodyguards quickly followed. "Well I need to get going, thanks for the 2nd rescue your the best bye!" Sapphire said quickly leaving Super Stallion by himself.

Or at least he would be if he wasn’t surrounded by numerous ponies with pens and notepads.

***

I hope Dr. Arachnid doesn't hide as long as he did last time, Squeaky thought to himself while he was back at the castle cleaning. Sapphire Shores knows something about him for sure but I don't want to force her to tell me. But if she doesn't tell me I won't understand just how much he wants to ruin her life. So should I try to get her to tell me or not? I need to really think about this, I need to put all my focus into this.

"Good morning Squeaky."

"Good morning Princess Celestia!" Squeaky immediately perked up and forgot about what he was just thinking when he heard the princess's voice. He was so perked up in fact that the princess was rather surprised.

"My, you're certainly in a good mood this morning."

"I'm always in a good mood when I'm with you." Did I actually say that?

"Well it's certainly nice to see you too." Princess Celestia patted Squeaky's head. "Be sure you have a good day Squeaky."

"I will!" Princess Celestia then made her way down the hall. Suddenly a scroll appeared in front of the princess and she was quick to read it.

"Oh my." Hearing that made Squeaky who was still within hearing distance turn around and ran up to the princess to see what was the matter.

"What's wrong princess?"

"Well, have you met my student Twilight Sparkle?"

"Yes I even foal sat for her once."

"You did?"

"Apparently."

"...Well she has an assistant, a baby dragon named Spike. He just sent me a letter saying that last night he accidentally burnt Twilight's Astronomical astronomer's almanac to all things astronomy."

"Wow, try saying that 5 times fast."

"His note says that too, anyway he says he was still able to find the complete name because he didn't burn the cover and he's asking for a spare so Twilight won't be mad. Actually I do have a spare I could give him. It's in one of the castle archives though I can't quite remember where it was. Plus I have a few important issues that I need to fix."

"I could get for you princess."

"Oh you don't have to do that."

"It's no problem I can find it in no time." Squeaky then ran off to find that book even asking a couple of the guards which archive would have it and where said archive was. It took longer than he thought but he finally found that book and Princess Celestia was just outside the archive. "Princess, great timing here you go."

"Thank you Squeaky but I already got a copy of the book."

"Huh?"

"After you left I ran into Swift Sweep and he managed to find it right away and gave it to me as I was wrapping up those issues from before."

"What?"

"Yes it was quite a strange coincidence but fortunate.”

"I see." That was all Squeaky could say after hearing that as he started holding the book much tighter. I spent all this time looking for this stupid book to help Princess Celestia and Swift Sweep thinks he can just swoop in just like that?

"Um Squeaky-"

"Squeaky!" Princess Celestia and Squeaky Clean turned around when they heard Stone Wall calling out and from the tone he was rather upset.

"You called,” Squeaky said.

"Come with me." Squeaky then followed the captain "Look at this." Squeaky looked at a hallway he had recently cleaned as he made his way to the archives and upon looking at it again noticed quite a lot of spots he missed.

"It's a hallway I cleaned earlier Stone Wall."

"You call this clean? I want this entire hallway and the others around here cleaned again."

"But there are other places I'm supposed to clean." Namely Princess Celestia's royal chamber that she's usually in while I'm cleaning.

"Well Swift Sweep finished ahead of time. I think he could clean for you. I doubt he'll mind."

"But- "

"No buts! I said to clean again and I mean now."

"But Stone Wall- "

"Now!" Squeaky then got straight to cleaning. Stone Wall soon made his way to another part of the castle leaving Squeaky alone. "Swift Sweep this Swift Sweep that Swift Sweep Swift Sweep Swift Sweep! I'm sick of that guy and I'm sick of him muscling in on my job! I was here first and I've been doing a fine, good job at cleaning around here!"

SNAP

"Aw geez not again." Squeaky Clean then used his magic to repair his mop again. "I gotta be more careful, otherwise I'm gonna break this thing for good." After a while Squeaky finished cleaning the hallways again. "Uh, my legs are starting to get sore."

"Hello my fellow cleaning pony." Squeaky turned around and saw that it was Swift Sweep.

Uh of all ponies right now.

"You know what's amazing?"

"What?"

"No matter how many times we clean this place it still gets dirty again, but no matter how many times it gets dirty we can always clean it right back up again."

"Okay," Squeaky replied rather coldly, not really wanting to pay Swift Sweep any attention.

"It's just something I realized a long time ago when I came upon my talent for cleaning."

"All right then."

"So you're more of a mop guy than a broom guy. Why is that if I may ask?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"Why do you like cleaning with a mop?"

"I-I don't know."

"I have this theory that the things ponies use or wear say a lot about them. Except I don't have any experiments behind it, or anything really I really need to get to working on that theory of mine."

I need to get away from this guy before he drives me crazy. Squeaky slowly made his way away from Swift Sweep as he continued talking.

"Actually I did have this idea that ponies that wear hats are more likely to become successful. Or that ponies that wear shoes or boots or whatever will probably travel more than the ones that don't. And there was this one about….where'd you go? Why do ponies never listen to this theory of mine?" After sneaking away Squeaky quickly found Stone Wall.

"I finished cleaning those hallways again, captain."

"I'll be the judge of that. But in the meantime, I suppose you've earned a break."

"Okay I'll see you later then." Squeaky then went on his break and before long, his shift came to an end. He was just about to go out the door when suddenly.

"Hold up Squeaky," Stone Wall said. "The princess is having a rather large get together in an hour or so and I'll need you along with the other janitors for clean up duty.

"Will Swift Sweep be there?"

"Excuse me?" Stone Wall asked, confused.

"Never mind, I'll be there or rather here or rather here but later. Bye." Squeaky then quickly made his way out of the door.

"What the heck is going on with that stallion? Is something else screwing with his head now?" Now outside the castle Squeaky Clean quickly changed into Super Stallion to search and see if Dr. Arachnid was still lurking about Canterlot trying to ponynap the pony of pop.

"At least this is one thing Swift Sweep can't steal my thunder on. What's his problem anyway, always getting in my way. But anyway, If I was a vengeance crazed pony, where would I be right now?" Super Stallion then started searching but along the way thought more about Swift Sweep. “Maybe I've been hard on him for no reason. He hasn't really done anything mean spirited towards me or anything. He wasn't trying to out show me by finding that book for the princess he was just trying to- "

"HELP!" Sapphire Shores screamed as Dr. Arachnid tied up and carried her into what was most likely, a stolen helicopter.

"Just as planned, a clean getaway."

"Spoke too soon Arachnid." Dr. Arachnid looked up and saw Super Stallion hovering in the air.

"You again!"

"Me again."

"Don't get in my way this time! This is between me and her."

"No, I’m between you and her."

"No you aren't." Dr. Arachnid then quickly threw a smoke bomb on the ground and before he knew it Super Stallion couldn't see past his own muzzle.

"That's not going to work this time." Super Stallion quickly removed the smoke with a powerful gust spell and saw the helicopter that had already taken off. "Sorry doc, your flight has been canceled." Super Stallion caught in no time and forced one of the doors to open. “This is your stop."

"I don't think so." Dr. Arachnid then hit Super Stallion right on the chest with a taser that came out of one of his metal limbs. Super Stallion fell but he quickly regained himself.

"You never know what's going to come out of those metal legs." Super Stallion caught up with the helicopter which was making its way to Ponyville of all places and was just upon the Everfree Forest. "You're landing this thing whether you want to or not!" Super Stallion said as he caught up and used an ice spell on the blades causing them to stop.

"No, nothing's working!" The helicopter then started to fall but Super Stallion quickly flew below it and grabbed it.

"Now let's find a safe place for us to land." As Super Stallion searched, he saw of all things a dragon seemingly going crazy. On top of that he heard screaming in the Everfree Forest. "Who in their right mind would be in that crazy forest in the middle of the night?" Super Stallion quickly flew to the forest following the voices and before long found Spike and Twilight running away from a dragon. "These 2 again?!"

"Don't ignore me, Super Stallion!" Dr. Arachnid then opened the door and made several weapons come out of the metal legs including the taser. "I don't care how strong you are, I'm sick of you always getting in the middle of my revenge. I'm going all out against you- " Suddenly Dr. Arachnid was bound by magic rings Super Stallion conjured and flung back into the helicopter.

"Will you shut up!" Super Stallion then flew down and stomped on the dragon's head stunning him. He then quickly placed the helicopter on the ground and turned to Spike and Twilight. "Hurry, get in!" The 2 of them along with an owl did just that and Super Stallion flew them all out of the Everfree Forest.

"Oh my gosh Sapphire Shores the pony of pop!" Spike said excited after getting away from the other dragon while untying up.

"What were you 2 doing in that crazy forest in the middle of the night?"

"I was looking for Spike, I was so worried about you, why did you run away?"

"What do you care, you don't need me anymore you have Owlowiscious now."

"Oh Spike, sure I was disappointed but you're my number 1 assistant and friend and you always will be."

"R-Really?" Spike asked with hope replacing anger in his voice.

"Of course it's just sometimes I need help at night and I can't ask you to stay up late you're a baby dragon and you need sleep. Owls are nocturnal."

"Yeah and they're the natural predator of bats," Sapphire said. Twilight and Spike stared at the pony of pop rather strangely. "Just a fun fact about owls, sorry."

"So, yeah he can help me at night but he's not going to replace you, no one can ever replace you Spike even if you are acting like a jealous numbskull." Spike then hugged Twilight who enjoyed it very much.

"I'm sorry Twilight I never should have been so jealous."

Jealous, Super Stallion thought to himself.

"I'm sorry too Spike, I should have been more sensitive." As they were making up, Super Stallion noticed Dr. Arachnid tried to sneak away like a worm but he quickly pulled him back with magic.

"You may have stopped me again but no matter how many times you interfere, I'll keep going after her for my revenge."

"But no matter how many times you go after her for revenge I'll interfere."

"W-What, that doesn't make any sense, you just rearranged what I said."

"Goodnight."

"What?" Super Stallion then decked Dr. Arachnid in the face knocking him out cold. "All right let's get you home." Super Stallion then put Arachnid in the helicopter and lifted it up after Sapphire Shores jumped in. Twilight and Spike then returned to the library and Twilight saw a copy of the book Spike burnt.

"What, but how? You burnt this?"

"I sent a letter to the princess asking for a new copy. I was going to show you and then explain what happened."

"What? You didn't tell me that, Spike."

"Of course not! You didn't let me explain."

"Oh Spike I'm so sorry," Twilight said feeling very guilty. "I guess I messed up more than I thought." Twilight then pulled the baby dragon into a hug. “Tell you what, I'll get you the biggest sapphire I can find tomorrow.”

"Well, that’s a start.”

***

After dropping off Dr. Arachnid and the helicopter to the guard, Super Stallion dropped Sapphire Shores by one of the places soon to be the host of her next concert. "With that mad scientist soon to be behind bars, he won't be bugging you for a while."

"Thanks again honey." Sapphire then reached into her pocket and gave Super Stallion 2 concert tickets. "Here, for you and a friend."

"Do you always carry extra concert tickets?"

"Sometimes."

"One other thing you and Arachnid differently have history." Hearing that Sapphire Shores got nervous and looked like she was trying to think of a way to change the subject. "But I don’t want to force you to say anything you don’t want to. You can tell me when you're ready." And with that he flew off as he needed to get to the castle for late night cleaning.

"Thank you," Sapphire said with a smile as she looked out into the night sky.

"Spike was jealous of that owl to a point where he tried to run away. And Arachnid, perhaps jealousy is his thing too. In either case jealousy can be dangerous, the next time I see Swift Sweep I should apologize to him for the way I've been treating him. Maybe even give him something as a peace offering." Super Stallion made it to the castle and quickly returned to being Squeaky Clean and reported back to Stone Wall who sent him to a large dining hall and there Squeaky saw possibly the biggest mess he ever saw.

"What the heck happened here?"

"I know right." Squeaky turned and saw Swift Sweep. "Hey."

"Hey." The 2 janitors then quickly started cleaning the huge mess and then to start a conversation Swift Sweep grabbed a bowl and wore it like a hat.

"Look at me, I'm a bowl head."

"What's a bowl head?"

"...It's what I am." Squeaky couldn't help but laugh at that and soon the 2 started chatting it up. They talked about all kinds of things and it seemed like they were done in no time. "Well looks like we're all done."

"No, not quite."

"Huh?"

"You missed a few spots." Swift Sweep then looked around and saw the few spots he missed. Squeaky then helped Swift Sweep get those spots he missed.

"How could I have missed those?"

"Well this happened to me recently. Sometimes when you go so fast you miss these little spots and when you make a habit of that, these spots you miss can get dirtier and dirtier. Just remember when you're cleaning you want it done right, not fast."

"Thanks, good advice."

"Listen Swift Sweep thanks for being my pal considering."

"Considering what?"

"Well you know, for the way I’ve been treating you.”

"Huh?"

"I'm talking about the way I've been acting towards you. Coldly and distantly."

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

He doesn't? Is he playing a joke or did he really not notice? I wanted to apologize to him but he probably wouldn't get why? But I still want to make it up to him. Squeaky then reached into his pockets and offered Swift Sweep the tickets.

"Do you like Sapphire Shores?"

"Yes!"

"Well here are 2 tickets to her next concert." Swift Sweep then grabbed them and was beyond excited.

"Really? But why?"

"No reason I guess." Swift Sweep then pulled Squeaky Clean into a hug.

"Thanks Squeaky, you're my best friend." Just then Princess Celestia and Stone Wall came in and were impressed by how spotless the room was. Stone Wall then gave the 2 janitors their paychecks.

"There's a little something extra in there for the both of you for working so hard," Princess Celestia said.

"Well if there's nothing else to clean I guess I'll be going."

"Not just yet Squeaky," Stone Wall said. "Would you be fine with just cleaning during the day shifts?"

"What do you mean?"

"Swift Sweep said he might want to only work during the night shifts,” Stone Wall answered.

“I have this idea that if I clean a lot during the night, you won’t have to clean that much during the day, and vice versa,” Swift Sweep said.

"Sure I'd like to clean during the day." Mostly because I doubt I'd run into Princess Celestia that much at night.

"All right then, Swift Sweep will be working at night for a while to see if he likes it," Stone Wall said.

“I guess that means we won’t be seeing each other for a bit,” Squeaky said. “Or a while if you decide to work nights.”

“No, I guess not, and just when we got so close.”

"We can still hang out on days off right?"

"Sure!" Swift Sweep said as he hugged Squeaky and flew out the door.

“Speaking of hanging out,” Stone Wall added. “We haven’t really done that since you started working here. How about we head to the donut store when our shifts are over, my treat.”

“Sure, I’d love to,” Squeaky Clean answered. Stone Wall then made his way out of the room leaving Squeaky alone with the princess.

"Well I see you and Swift Sweep aren't having any trouble, and here I was all ready to ask you about it."

"I beg your pardon princess."

"You were jealous of Swift Sweep weren't you?"

"What? No I was- okay yeah, maybe a little.”

"Out of curiosity how did you get over it?"

"Well I have this new hobby that has a bit of quiet time to it. That can help me think clearer, it made me realize that I was being unfair to him. I also recently realized that jealousy can make us do stupid things.”

"Well Squeaky, that's very mature of you,” Princess Celestia said. If only I was more mature about Luna’s jealousy 1000 years ago. “I'm glad you were able to deal with your emotions but if you feel you can't, I'm always here.”

“Wow, thank you Princess Celestia.”

“You're welcome. I'll be seeing you at the Gala soon, Squeaky." Princess Celestia then made her way out the door.

The following night after hanging out and eating donuts with Squeaky, Stone Wall made his way back to the castle. “Those donuts were delicious, too bad they don’t have much protein or I’d go there more often.” As Stone Wall continued walking, he came across Swift Sweep who was flying while cleaning at a rather fast rate.

“Hello Swift Sweep, how are you?"

"I'm in Heaven because I fell in love with an angel!"

"What?" Swift Sweep didn't answer as he continued to fly and clean across the hall. "Is every pony around here losing their minds?!"

Chapter 9 The Grand Galloping Gala

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"Tonight's the big night," Squeaky said as he put on a tuxedo he bought. "Me, and Princess Celestia, and Twilight but I'm not as excited about that." Squeaky then combed his mane to put the finishing touches on his look for the Gala. "There we go. Tonight's the night I finally tell her how I feel, and maybe, just maybe she'll feel the same." Squeaky wasted no time at all getting out the door and made his way to the castle.

Many other ponies were making their way to the Gala as well, including Twilight and her friends who like Squeaky were very excited that their night at the Gala was finally here. Squeaky wasted no time and made his way to the entrance of the castle where he soon ran into Twilight and Princess Celestia who was welcoming other guests.

"Hi Squeaky!"

"Hello Twilight, wow that is a beautiful dress." Of course it's nothing compared to Princess Celestia herself.

"Thank you, my friend Rarity made it for me."

"Well I hope you and your friends have a great time at the Gala."

"Oh we will, it's already off to a great start Princess Celestia said she wants me by her side the whole night."

The whole night?! Are you kidding me!? It’s going to be a little difficult to have some alone time with the princess if that's the case. Oh well, I'm sure I'll get the princess to myself at some point. I just need to play it cool.

"Hello Squeaky welcome to the Gala," Princess Celestia said, who to Squeaky, looked even more beautiful than usual.

"HELLO!" Squeaky yelled, getting the attention of multiple other guests nearby as well as shocking Twilight and the princess.That's not playing it cool you idiot! "I mean hello and thank you, very excited to be here."

"I wouldn't have guessed," The princess replied with a smirk. "Well glad to have you here, why don't you stand next to Twilight?"

"You don't have to tell me twice." Squeaky then stood by the Princess’s side opposite of Twilight. Both of them tried to speak to the princess but both barely got a word in edgewise as the princess had to welcome every single pony coming up the stairs. "How many ponies did the princess invite to this thing?" Squeaky whispered to Twilight after going over to her side.

"I know right," Twilight replied. "I didn't come here to just stand by the princess. It looks like talking to her is going to be a magic trick in itself."

"Wait here I've got an idea." Squeaky then made his way to the entrance where the guests were coming and saw there were still quite a few coming in. At the end of the hall he saw Stone Wall looking over the guest list. "Hi Stone Wall."

"Not now Squeaky, I'm looking over the guest list."

"Yeah, about that, see there are a lot of ponies coming in and I'm sure the princess doesn't want to stand around greeting the guests all night. Any chance you could speed things up a bit?"

"Not a chance. Every guest has to get through me or one of the other guards here to make sure only invited guests get in. On a night like this I especially need to make sure thieves, or pony nappers, or whatever don't get in. As for the princess, if she wants to waste time welcoming every single pony that got an invitation to this over-blotted party that's her problem."

"So there's nothing you can do to speed this up?"

"Nope," Stone Wall answered rather bluntly. "Believe me I'd much rather be doing anything else right now, but the guards and I have to check everypony here is on the guest list."

"Um there's probably an obvious explanation to this but, can't you just get a few more guards to help you with this?"

Stone Wall paused.

Squeaky was then sent to get a couple more guards to help him out their captain resulting in the guests getting in much faster.

"I can't believe I never thought of this before," Stone Wall said.

"Well sometimes it really helps to get an outside opinion," Squeaky said and in what felt like no time at all all the guests made it into the castle.

"Thanks for the idea Squeaky."

"No problem, Stone Wall. And since all the guests are in you can finally enjoy the party."

"Not a chance!" Squeaky nearly jumped back from the captain's answer. "I can't stand these fancy parties. If you want to give it a try go ahead but I'm sticking to a patrol."

"Oh, well if that's what you want to do."

"It is, trust me it is," Stone Wall said as he and the other guards went off.

“He really needs to learn how to lighten up,” Squeaky Clean said with a groan. Squeaky returned to Princess Celestia and found she and Twilight had finished greeting the last of the guests.

"I think that was the last guest princess.”

"I believe you're right Twilight, and something tells me we have Squeaky Clean to thank for that."

"Oh it was nothing," Squeaky said while rubbing the back of his head. "I just gave Stone Wall an outside opinion."

"Well I think I'll get some fresh air." Princess Celestia then made her way to the court yard but planned to go through the grand hall first.

"Thanks so much for this Squeaky, now I can spend all night with the princess."

"Well, maybe not the whole night," Squeaky replied but Twilight had already left. “Hey, wait for me," Squeaky said as ran to catch up.

"Oh look princess, it's my friend Rarity."

"I see and she appears to be with my nephew Prince Blueblood. Would you like to say hello?"

"Sure princess!" The 2 of them as well as Squeaky Clean who caught up made their way to Rarity and her date.

"Oh hello auntie I'd thought I wouldn't see you until much later."

"I thought so too until they started coming in a lot faster."

"Well I'm having a wonderful time auntie." As he said that Squeaky noticed that the mare by his side Rarity was somewhat forcing herself to smile for the princess. When the princess continued her way outside and Twilight followed, Squeaky stayed with the spoiled price. "Can I help you with something?"

"Yes actually," Squeaky replied. "I'd like to talk to you in private for just a minute." Prince Blueblood then reluctantly followed Squeaky a few feet away from his date.

"Well out with it and don't touch me who knows where your hooves have been, I just got myself groomed," Blueblood said in an orderly tone.

"Well I don't want to waste anytime so I'll just get straight to the blackmail." Saying that whipped the smug look off of the prince's face. Squeaky pulled out a photo from his tuxedo and showed it to Blueblood whose face was filled with fear.

"Where did you get that?!" The photo was Prince Blueblood sneaking back into the castle at a very late hour that Squeaky had taken a while back.

"I took this when I saw you sneaking around the castle one night looking for an entrance. I found a camera in no time and took this figuring it might come in handy."

"H-How would a harmless photo like that come in handy?" Blueblood asked, trying but failing to hide his fear.

"Harmless for me maybe, but you that's another story. I worked here long enough to know for a fact that Princess Celestia doesn't like it when you come but from the castle that late. Maybe she should see this."

"No!" The prince said, almost getting into a pleading position. "No please don't show her that, if auntie saw that she'd kill me."

"You just be on your best behavior tonight with that nice mare over there that I could tell from just looking that you've been, well you, and I'll make sure "auntie" never sees this."

"My best behavior, how dare you! She should feel privileged that I'm allowing her to bask in my presence."

"Oh well so much for that. Princess Celestia!"

"Okay! Okay! I'll be on my best behavior." Prince Blueblood then made his way back to Rarity but then turned his head back to Squeaky. "Unless you follow me around all night you won't be sure if I "behave" myself or not."

"Do you really want to take that chance?" Prince Blueblood then walked back to Rarity and offered her a drink and hor'dourves. "Guess not." Squeaky then quickly made his way outside to catch up to the princess. Now if I can just get the princess to myself.

Finally outside Squeaky found Princess Celestia who was sitting on a bench with Twilight. Squeaky then saw some food and drink being served outside so he grabbed a plate, a hoof full of snacks and a tall glass of water and approached the bench. "Hungry princess."

"Actually I am thank you Squeaky." The princess then took the plate and offered some to Twilight who ate a little. "Would you like to sit down."

"Yes I would actually." Mostly because I can sit next to you. Squeaky sat down next to the princess and the 3 talked about various things for a few minutes. Before long the food Squeaky brought was all gone.

"I'll be right back, I need to get some more food."

"I'll get it for you princess!" Squeaky said as he stood up surprising both the princess and Twilight who was about to do the same.

"Oh you don't need to do that."

"It's okay I don't mind really."

"Well if you're getting more could you get me some please?"

"Sure Twilight." Twilight then noticed that the place where Squeaky got the food last time was all out.

"Uh oh, it looks like you'll have to head back into the grand hall and back."

"Actually Twilight I believe there's another place outside serving food, you can get there by short cutting through the garden." Hearing that from the princess, Squeaky headed through the garden to find her something else to eat.

Wait a minute, if I just waited a minute Twilight probably would have left to find the food, Squeaky thought as he went through the garden. Shoot! I could have let her and then I would have been alone with the princess! As Squeaky continued walking through the garden he noticed a pegasus that went by the name Fluttershy all alone and looking troubled. "Hey are you alright?"

"Huh?"

"Are you lost or something?"

"Oh no, see I'm trying to befriend all the lovely creatures in here but none of them will come out at least not for very long."

"Oh I see, I'm Squeaky Clean by the way."

"My name is Fluttershy." Squeaky then offered his hoof and she awkwardly shook then turned around to look for any nearby animals. "I only came to this Gala for the animals, oh I really wish something in this garden would at least come out and say hi to me."

"Hi!" Swift Sweep said coming out of nowhere and scaring the pants off Fluttershy who jumped a few feet in the air.

"Swift Sweep? What are you doing here?"

"Oh hi there Squeaky I heard her saying she wanted something to say hi so I said hi. Happy to help."

"Actually I meant the animals in here," Fluttershy said after taking in a few deep breaths from getting spooked.

"Oh, that probably makes more sense." Swift Sweep rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment while Squeaky was rather deep in thought.

"Actually Fluttershy I think I can help you," Squeaky said. "Swift Sweep, can you find a big bag of food for the animals and bring it here?"

"No problem." Swift Sweep flew off and in no time at all came back with the bag. Squeaky then opened it with his magic and poured it on the ground then pulled Fluttershy and Swift Sweep to the side along with the bag. After a minute numerous animals came out to eat and Fluttershy was about to fly straight at them but Fluttershy was stopped by Squeaky Clean and Swift Sweep each grabbing a front hoof.

"What are you doing?"

"What are we doing, what are you doing?" Squeaky asked Fluttershy as he and Swift Sweep let go of her.

"I want to go see the animals and make friends."

"If that's how you've been doing it, no wonder you haven't befriended them yet," Swift Sweep nodded in agreement.

"What do you mean?"

"Well how would you feel if some creature came charging at you?" Swift Sweep asked.

"Oh, I didn't think of it that way," Fluttershy answered. "I can't believe it, I was so focused on making new friends I forgot the right way to approach animals."

"Plus the animals here are abnormally shy," Swift Sweep added. "I haven't been working here that long but it doesn't take long to figure out." Squeaky Clean then used his magic to get some more food from the bag and offered it to Fluttershy who held it in her hooves.

"The night is still young so try again to make some friends. But it might take a while and if you don't there's always next time."

"Thanks Squeaky, I'll remember that." Fluttershy then placed the food on the ground and then a rabbit slowly came over to her to eat the food next to her. Seeing that Squeaky Clean and Swift Sweep left her alone with the animals. After leaving the garden the 2 janitors split up and Squeaky saw where the food was being served.

"There it is, and plenty of it." Squeaky headed over to the food and got plenty for him, Twilight, and of course, Princess Celestia. As he was about to return he noticed a pegasus just outside a room with quite a few ponies. She was eating with a frustrating look on her face and Squeaky couldn't help but wonder why she looked troubled. He figured it was a habit made from being a superhero. "Hi there."

"Hey," The pegasus responded with anger in her tone.

"What's the matter?" The pegasus got up and whipped the food crumbs off her muzzle.

"I came to the Grand Galloping Gala to hang out with the Wonderbolts, but I can barely get a word in edgewise with them because tons of other ponies keep talking to them, and pulling them away from me when I think I can finally say something to them."

"Edgewise huh, I know how that feels."

"Did you want to talk to the Wonderbolts too?"

"No but- I know who you are, you're Rainbow Dash you won the Young Flyers Competition didn't you?"

"Yeah I did," Rainbow answered with pride. "Did you see it?"

"I wasn't there but it's still hard not to notice something like that. You also saved several ponies from what the princess said."

"Yeah I did, my friend Rarity and several of the Wonderbolts who are here tonight."

"Huh you'd think they want to hang out a bit with the pony that rescued them." Squeaky then saw the Wonderbolts on the other side of the glass and that numerous ponies were pretty much crowding them. So to help them get some space and help Rainbow Dash, Squeaky used a spell that teleported the Wonderbolts outside next to Rainbow Dash. But rather far to the side so the ponies on the other side of the glass couldn't see them.

"What the?" Soarin said, understandably confused.

"What's going on?" Spitfire asked while looking around a bit.

"Just thought you ponies could use some space you looked like you hardly had enough space to breathe," Squeaky answered.

"They were kind of getting all up in our faces," Soarin said, who then noticed Rainbow Dash. "Oh hey Rainbow Dash we were looking for you."

"You were?"

"Yeah we really wanted to hang out with you, then all those other ponies wanted to talk to us too and we couldn't ignore them. Even if we tried."

"We tried to only chat with them for a minute or 2 but they kept dragging the conversations on," Fleetfoot added. "And when we finally finished with one of them there was another ready to pick up where the other left off."

"But since we're out here because of I'm assuming that unicorn over there," Fleet Foot said pointing at Squeaky. "I guess we can hang out with you."

"Really?!" Rainbow Dash said as a big smile appeared on her face.

"I agree with Fleet Foot Spitfire, we should hang out with the pony that saved our lives."

Thank you, Squeaky thought.

"They got me there, we'd love to hang out with you Rainbow Dash. But don't expect to hog us all night; a couple more other ponies would like to talk to us as well."

"Well I guess I can live with that," Rainbow Dash said since it was better than nothing.

"I know an entrance back in," Soarin said. "But let's take the long way."

"Heh, fine with me," Fleet Foot said.

"Same here," Spitfire said.

"Definitely fine with me!" Rainbow Dash excited. The Wonderbolts made their way to a different part of the castle with Rainbow Dash who quickly flew over to Squeaky giving a hoof bump of gratitude.

"Thanks, uh-"

"Squeaky Clean."

"Right, thanks Squeaky." Rainbow Dash then flew back to the Wonderbolts to chat it up.

"Maybe I should just teleport the princess away from Twilight and see how that goes." Squeaky then quickly made his way across the garden and made it back to the princess and Twilight.

"Oh wow you got a lot," Twilight said.

"Yeah, I wanted to make sure you had enough to eat princess, a-and you Twilight."

"Your very considerate Squeaky," Princess Celestia said as she took a bit of the food with her magic and ate it. Squeaky then sat down next to her and tried to talk to her more, but while she did engage him in conversation she was more focused on talking to Twilight who still had a lot to say to her teacher. Squeaky figured he should just wait for the right time to grab the princess's attention but before he realized it all the food was gone and the princess wanted to head back to the grand hall.

So much for having a pleasant conversation with Princess Celestia on the bench.

The 3 were on their way back inside the castle when Twilight noticed her friend Applejack and went over to say hello and Princess Celestia and Squeaky Clean followed.

"Hi Applejack, how are the sales going?"

"Not so well I'm afraid, Twi."

"What? With all these ponies here?"

"Well I'm afraid they're not interested, so much for raising money for mah family." Hearing that Squeaky suddenly thought up a plan to help yet another pony in need.

"Hey Princess Celestia," Squeaky said in a rather loud voice, getting the attention of nearby ponies while paying for an apple fritter and offering it to the princess. "How would you like to try this amazing apple fritter?"

"Actually I'm rather full -" Squeaky winked at the princess as she then noticed other ponies looking at her and she quickly figured out what he was planning. "Yes I would." She grabbed the apple fritter and quickly ate it. "My, how utterly delicious, anypony who truly enjoys quality food should definitely get something to eat here while they have the chance." Suddenly the ponies listening formed a line to get some of the food the princess advertised.

"Now this is more like it!" Applejack nearly shouted with glee.

"Actually princess, I'm still a little hungry. I think I'll get something to eat from Applejack." Twilight then noticed the line was getting rather long and quickly got in it before it got any longer. "I'll meet you in the grand hall."

"Okay Twilight would you like to eat something too Squeaky?"

"No thank you."

"All right then let's get to the grand hall."

Yes! I'm finally alone with the princess! As the 2 of them made their way to the grand hall Squeaky was about to say something to the princess but noticed an unusual smile on her face as she was staring at him.

"What?"

"That was a very crafty plan of yours, using me to market food to the other ponies."

"I just wanted to help that pony."

"Yes, though you're not the only pony that wanted my help with similar stuff."

"What do you mean?"

"Well every once in a while, somepony comes to me asking to put my face on a food product or household item or whatever."

"Oh yeah, I remember this one pony wanted to put your face on his brand of fertilizer."

"He did?"

"Yeah it really took me by surprise too."

"So why hasn't he come to me about this yet?"

"Well he actually came to the castle about that and told Stone Wall about his plan. I overheard the 2 talking, but then he said, and I’m quoting him here, “That blow heart can stand to do something besides sit on her rump all ordering us all around.”

“Oh my, I’m guessing Stone Wall didn’t care for that comment.”

“No, that’s when he threw the stallion out the window."

"Oh my gosh!"

"Don't worry he didn't get hurt. Stone Wall teleported the bags of fertilizer outside to cushion the fall. But, he threw the stallion so he'd land head first and…he was a unicorn, so when he landed-" Princess Celestia bursted into laughter.

"Ha, ha ha t-that's not funny." Princess Celestia then started laughing even harder. It was the kind of laughter that hurt a little, but she got them all out just before making it into the grand hall. "Oh, oh my I haven't laughed that hard in years."

"So, princess." Remember now, play it cool. "Since we're back here would you like to dance?"

"Oh no thank you, I'm on my feet all day, I think I'll just sit down again."

"Oh, all right then." So much for that, now what? Squeaky looked around to see if there was something he could do or get to help put the princess in the mood for romance. But all that got his attention was a pink pony trying to liven up the party. Stone Wall who was patrolling the area at the time was approached by one of the ponies invited to the Gala. A mare with a light purple coat, blonde tail and mane, and a harp for a cutie mark.

"Will you please do something about her?"

"What do you mean?"

"You're a royal guard aren't you? It's your job to help ponies."

"She's not really attacking you or harassing you or anything."

"But can't you see she's ruining the Gala?"

"By what? Actually having fun?"

"Well, I never!"

"That would explain why this party is always a snore fest." Stone Wall then continued his patrol leaving the pony upset and somewhat offended. The princess quickly sat down and Squeaky joined her.

"Thanks for inviting me to the Grand Galloping Gala again princess."

"You're welcome Squeaky I'm really glad you decided to come."

"Me too." Okay just because she doesn't want to dance doesn't mean this night can't be romantic. But I better hurry Twilight could come back at any minute.

"Squeaky you look rather worried, is something on your mind?"

Maybe I should just tell her right now.

"Well princess, I've wanted to, to." Come on keep it together, try opening with a joke. Squeaky then cleared his throat. "So is this gala grand enough for you?"

"Well it is better than many of the ones before, I'm actually enjoying myself."

"What do you mean?"

"Well to tell you the truth Squeaky the Grand Galloping Gala has always been awful."

"Awful?" Squeaky was pretty surprised the princess used that word.

"Yes I invited Twilight and her friends as well as you in hopes that you'd all help make the Gala more pleasant."

"Did we?"

"Well you did what you could, perhaps next year we could talk about improvements to this party."

"I'd really like that princess. The more time with you the better." Princess Celestia then gave Squeaky a warm smile and he took that as a sign to try again. "Princess, there is something I want to tell you."

"Yes."

"Well I want to tell you that- "

"There you are Princess Celestia!" Twilight said as she quickly made her way to the table.

OH OF COURSE SHE COMES BACK NOW! Twilight then sat down next to the princess and started to chat it up with the princess. And just when Squeaky thought he'd have to wait for a while Princess Celestia raised her hoof gesturing to Twilight to stop talking for a while.

"Could you wait just a minute? Squeaky wanted to tell me something." Squeaky suddenly perked up hearing that as the princess turned her head to him. "You were saying Squeaky."

Well to continue," Squeaky started grateful to the princess and kind of downright forgetting Twilight was there. "Princess Celestia I-"

"Hi there Twilight!" Pinkie Pie said as she hopped over to the table.

AH COME ON!

"Hi there Pinkie Pie."

"Twilight, can you help me with something?"

"What's the matter?" Twilight asked, looking concerned.

"The Grand Galloping Gala is boring!" After a minute Twilight replied.

"Is that all?"

"Twilight! A party should never ever be boring, we have to do something."

"This kind of thing happened to me once in high school." The 3 other ponies then turned their heads to Squeaky.

"Really? You came to a big fancy party all excited that you'd have the time of your life but quickly realized you aren't having any fun and even when you tried to make the party super fun none of the other ponies were interested and you wanted to ask your friend what you should do to do something about it?" Pinkie asked.

"No-o I was invited to a party in high school once and came with Stone Wall and a few other friends. We quickly got bored so we left and had our own party at the donut shop.”

"Hey that does sound great, how about we find the others and ask them if they want to join Twilight."

"Would you like to come too Princess Celestia?"

"I'd like to but we'd have to talk to Stone Wall first. Though I'm sure he'll be fine with it."

"All right!" Pinkie Pie jumped from excitement. "Let's go find our friends Twilight."

"So Squeaky, what was that thing you wanted to tell me?"

"You know it can wait until another time." I’ll probably just get interrupted again anyway.

"I see, well then would you like to come with us Squeaky?"

"I think I'll meet you there princess, I'm really in the mood for a donut or 2 right now." Because I deserve something today. Squeaky then made his way to the Donut Joe's shop where the others went the other direction. When Squeaky made it there he chatted it up with Donut Joe for a while until Princess Celestia showed up along with Twilight and her friends.

"Hello Squeaky."

"Oh hi princess," Squeaky said as he turned around to face her. Twilight and her friends sat down together to talk a bit more about their night as the princess approached Squeaky.

"I hope we didn't keep you waiting, it took a little longer than I thought to find all of Twilight's friends and get them here."

"It's fine."

"Oh, by the way, on my way here your name was brought up quite a lot. It seems you've helped not just Twilight and I, but all of her friends."

"Well I wouldn't want their big night to be ruined." Squeaky then got off his seat and looked away from the princess so she wouldn't see the disappointment of his face. Like how mine was. I tried so hard to be with the princess and tell her how I love her. But I hardly talked to her, I've had to run all over the place, and I still can't even tell her about my affection. This has to be without a doubt bar none one of the-

...Best nights of my life, Squeaky finished as he put his hoof on the cheek the princess kissed and a huge smile appeared on his face.

"Thanks for helping us all out." The princess then sat down and Squeaky quickly sat down next to her and the 2 talked for a while. But before long, Princess Celestia had to call it a night. Squeaky wanted her to stay a little but figured it best he left good enough alone. He also decided to offer his last donut to Princess Celestia since he wasn't all that hungry anymore.

"For you princess." Princess Celestia wasted no time in eating it as Squeaky figured she would.

"Thank you very much Squeaky," Princess Celestia said with some donut in her mouth.

"You're welcome." With her sweet tooth satisfied for now, Princess Celestia made her way out and Squeaky did the same after paying for his food.

“Well this was a small victory, but a victory nonetheless,” Squeaky said as he was heading for home. “I guess tonight wasn’t the right night to tell her how I feel. Oh well, there’s always tomorrow.”

***

In the mines beneath Canterlot a voice was echoing through the caves to itself. "My my, Twilight and her friends had a rather fun night after all. I wish I could have ruined the whole thing, but all in good time. It won't be long now, I’m going to need some more chaos though." Suddenly the voice’s echo reached to where Scar Flank and Emo Pony who had developed a rather close partnership since their time hiding in the caves were playing cards. "Scar Flank! Emo Pony!"

"Yes?" They replied at the same time as they jumped up and made the cards fly everywhere.

"Are you 2 in the mood to cause some chaos?"

Chapter 10 A Bizarre Reunion

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“You win again,” Stone Wall again. Squeaky had invited Stone Wall over to his house just to hang out and Stone Wall agreed. “This card game is more complicated than I remember.”

“You always did have trouble dealing with piercing damage,” Squeaky added.

“Yeah, but honestly it’s just nice to be hanging out with you again. It’s been forever since we did that.”

“True, I figured we were overdue for it,” Squeaky said as he shuffled the decks again to start a new game.

“Yeah, I’m sorry I haven’t hung out with you that much since you got here. I’ve just been so busy.”

“I understand, being captain of the guard can’t be easy.”

“No, it isn’t. But I love the job. Are you still enjoying your job?”

“Very, it’s so nice just to be back in Canterlot. Though speaking of my job, something I’ve been meaning to ask. Are Swift Sweep and I the only janitors in the castle?”

“Not exactly, there are a few others but not much. The guards mostly do the cleaning but it’s more of a discipline thing. There are a few more, but they have different shifts so it’s no surprise you’ve never seen them. Except Swift Sweep, but we were still working him in.”

“So you’re okay working at the castle for the rest of your life?”

“Absolutely,” Stone Wall said as he tributed 2 monsters that before long won him the duel. “I win.”

“Nicely handled.”

“Thank you.”

“Wanna play again?” Squeaky asked.

“Sure,” Stone Wall answered as he was the one that shuffled the decks this time.

"By the way," Squeaky said. "I haven't seen much of Princess Celestia."

"She's been spending a lot of time with Princess Luna," Stone Wall answered.

"Makes sense, they were separated for 1000 years. Of course she'd want to make up for lost time."

"She wants to make up for more that," Stone Wall said before pausing.

"What do you mean?" Squeaky asked with concern.

"Recently I told her she might have been spending too much time with Princess Luna, because I just thought she was getting distracted. But she told me she wanted to spend time with Luna to not just make up for lost time, but to show she cares about her."

"Huh?"

"Basically, when Princess Luna became Nightmare Moon, Princess Celestia blamed herself. If she talked things out with her sister, she could have prevented it. As far as she's concerned, the birth of Nightmare Moon was her fault just as much as it was her sister's, maybe even more."

"Wow, that's a lot to take in," Squeaky said after a rather long pause.

"I'm sorry, I guess I wanted to talk it out with somepony because I don't understand why she would blame herself for the actions of somepony else."

"It's okay. I guess she's trying to take responsibility."

"What do you mean?" Stone Wall asked.

"Even though she was in the right, she thinks she could have handled the situation better."

“I suppose that makes sense. Back to jobs though," Stone Wall said wanting to change the subject. "What about you? Where do you see yourself in 8 years?”

“Don’t ponies usually say 10?”

“I don’t know, 8 felt right.”

“I’d kind of like to be retired by them, but I’ll probably still be working at the castle. It’s kind of hard to imagine anything really changing around here.”

“Yeah that’s true,” Stone Wall agreed. “But change is probably right around the corner. Who knows what’ll happen in the next 8 years.”

“Well I know 1 thing for sure,” Squeaky said. “You and I will still be friends.”

Stone Wall smiled.

***

The next day Squeaky Clean and Stone Wall were going around Canterlot. Squeaky had the day off but Stone Wall was escorting Princess Cadance through the market. But he could still chat, unfortunately he wouldn’t be able to as mysterious colored smoke appeared around the area. It quickly sent nearly everypony there into a panic.

“Colored smoke?” Squeaky said out loud. “So he’s at it again,” he said a little quieter. Squeaky was about to reach into his saddle back to have Super Stallion jump in and help. But Stone Wall beat him to it.

“Squeaky, stay back!” Stone Wall said as he ran over to Princess Cadance to make sure she would be okay. Numerous ponies were being affected by the smoke including some guards, but Stone Wall kept a level head. He got several ponies out of danger and away from the smoke causing the effects to be weakened.

Wow, look at him go, Squeaky thought to himself as he decided to keep a certain sphere in his saddle bag. “He’s so awesome.”

Stone Wall cleared most of the area when suddenly he saw Princess Cadance frozen from fear, most likely a result of the smoke. On top of that a recently formed mob was coming right at here. “RUN CADANCE!” Stone Wall yelled but she was frozen in place. “FLY! TELEPORT!” Cadance still didn’t move.

“CADANCE!” Shining Armor called out as he made his way to her, but still she wouldn’t move.

Stone Wall however made it to her first and slapped Cadance right in the face, this snapped her out of her frozen in fear trance. “MOVE!” Cadence did just that and cleared the area as Stone Wall brought the mob to a stop.

“Cadance, are you alright?”

“Yes, Shining Armor,” she answered. After that Stone Wall made his way to Princess Cadance as he also wanted to make sure she was alright.

“I’m okay Stone Wall,” she said as he looked her over.

“What if I hadn’t gotten to you in time!?” Stone Wall suddenly said when he finished looking her over. “If that mob reached you, you could have…When I tell you to move, you move. Never freeze like that! EVER!”

“I-I’m sorry,” Cadance replied.

Stone Wall took several deep breaths allowing the anger within him to flow. “Shining Armor!”

“Yes captain.”

“Take Princess Cadance to her chambers.”

“Yes sir!” Shining Armor said as he grabbed Cadance and started escorting her back to the castle.

“And come right back,” Stone Wall ordered, stopping the guard in his tracks.

“Yes sir.”

“The rest of you, start cleaning up this mess.”

“Okay,” Squeaky said, making his old friend turn around rather confused.

“You don’t work today. Remember?”

“I don’t mind, it is my specialty afterall.”

“Very well.”

***

Back at the castle Shining Armor did as he was told but when he arrived at the chambers he was looking at her cheek. He even went so far as to get an ice pack for her.

“Shining, I keep telling you, I’m okay.”

“I just can’t believe he slapped you,” Shining Armor said.

“He only did it to snap me out of my trace, it didn’t even hurt that much.”

“I’d just have to hate to rough up my boss for hurting my mare,” Shining Armor said trying to act macho.

“Come on Shining, he already beat you up once.”

“Y-You know about that?” Shining Armor asked embarrassed.

“The whole castle was talking about that.”

“Well, that was a long time ago and I've gotten a lot stronger. Besides, he only won because of a lucky punch.”

“Yeah, all 20 of them,” Cadance replied making Shining Armor puff his face a bit. “Oh come now I’m only teasing. But seriously you should head back before Stone Wall gets mad.”

“Oh let him get mad,” Shining replied, trying to sound macho again. “I’m not scared of him, he’s just a stallion and-”

“SHINING ARMOR!” Stone Wall called out from just outside the chambers making a chill run up and down his spine. “FRONT AND CENTER!” Shining did as he was told and was face to face with the captain. “I thought I told you to come right back, when I give you an order I expect it to be followed. You want to be captain of the royal guard 1 day, right?”

“Yes sir,” Shining Armor answered rather sheepishly.

“Well how can you do that if you can’t even do as you're told? Now report back to where the mob was.”

“Yes sir.” Shining Armor left as Stone Wall locked as Princess Cadance.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes Stone Wall,” Cadance answered with a smile.

“Okay then.”

***

The next day, Squeaky Clean was hard at work thinking about the Grand Galloping Gala. As well as how he tried to confess his feelings to the beautiful Princess Celestia and that perhaps he shouldn’t have called it quits the way he did.

"Maybe I should have tried harder to tell her," Squeaky said to himself as he was mopping the floor. "I can't keep making excuses for myself, if I don’t tell her how I feel, I’ll go insane." With the floor cleaned he went down the hall to get to Princess Celestia's chamber. "That's exactly what I'm gonna do, enough is enough, no more beating around the bush. I'm gonna go knock on her chamber doors, walk right up to her, look her right in the eye and say- "

As Squeaky turned around Princess Celestia herself was there.

"Oh hello Squeaky," she said to him politely but Squeaky just stood there for a minute confusing the princess. "Uh Squeaky?"

"Hello." Say more than that. "Nice day isn't it?"

“Yes it is," Princess Celestia said. "I’d love to stay and chat but I have yet another meeting to get to."

"Okay." Squeaky then showed an abnormally big smile to the princess who gave him an awkward smile in return.

"Squeaky you're in my way."

"I am?"

"You are." Squeaky then moved, and Princess Celestia was on her way.

"Thank you Squeaky."

"No problem Princess Celestia." When the princess was out of sight Squeaky breathed a sigh of relief and of shame. "That was pathetic, why can't I just tell her?" Squeaky thought maybe he should run after her but decided against it. "No bad idea, I think I've filled my awkward quota for the day."

"Awkward quota?" Squeaky turned around and saw Princess Cadance behind him. Squeaky, having seen her around the castle several times, talked with her quite a bit and was well acquainted with her.

"Oh hello Princess, Cadance!" Squeaky said with an unusual tone of excitement at the end. "The princess of love."

"Hi Squeaky," Princess Cadance said, giving a little wave and somewhat weirded out. Suddenly Squeaky pulled Princess Cadance into a nearby room he knew was empty.

"Okay don't freak out I just need your help with something."

"You want love advice," Cadance quickly replied.

"How'd you know?"

"It's usually what happens when ponies pull me into an empty room."

"Okay, well see I have the biggest crush on this mare."

"Is it Princess Celestia?"

"Are you psychic?!" Squeaky nearly yelled and sounded like he was about to burst.

"No, It's just every stallion and a few mares have a crush on Princess Celestia. Well except my Shining Armor of course."

"Oh right, yeah." Squeaky then calmed down as he recalled Sapphire Shores saying almost the same thing to Super Stallion. "I want to tell her how I feel but it's like somepony tries to choke me everytime I try to say it."

"That's a rather common problem, maybe you could try practicing saying it when you're alone."

"That might work. What else?"

"Well maybe you can try just being her friend first."

"I've already done that Shining Armor kind of gave me that advice. Well him and Stone Wall."

"He did, did he?" Cadance asked. "Well it's nice to know he can give love advice too. Well maybe what you can do is next time you want to tell her to close your eyes, take a deep breath and say it. And even if it doesn't want to come out, force it out."

"I think that might work." Squeaky then hugged Princess Cadance out of gratitude but then pulled away after figuring that was a bit much. "Sorry."

"It's quite alright." Princess Cadance then gave Squeaky a return hug. “Why can’t you be that bold with Princess Celestia?”

“I know right! Oh 1 other thing- "

"Don't worry your secret's safe with me." Princess Cadance then walked out the door. Maybe I am psychic.

Squeaky Clean made his way out thinking about the advice he was recently given. When suddenly Shining Armor came into his part of the castle and looked like Tartarus. Squeaky went to see what happened but once again, Stone Wall beat him to it.

“Don’t tell me Shining Armor I can guess. Scar Flank and Emo Pony?”

Shining Armor nodded and Squeaky Clean approached his friend.

“Wait? Scar Flank and Emo Pony? Together?”

“Yes,” Stone Wall answered. “They’ve been working together recently and causing all sorts of problems.”

“But why would those 2 of all ponies be working together?” Squeaky asked.

“I don’t know,” Stone Wall answered. “But I have a feeling in my bones that something terrible is just beyond the horizon.”

***

“We made quite the mess and escaped back down here, just like you asked,” Emo Pony said.

“Ye-s,” the voice echoed across the mines. “I can feel it all the way down here. I can feel my powers are slowly returning, the spell the princesses cast on me eons ago is breaking. 1 more push should do it.”

“You want us to cause more trouble?” Scar Flank asked.

“No, something different. I want you to look into strange magic near Canterlot."

"What do you mean strange magic?" Scar Flank asked.

"I can sense obscure magic and very recently bits of it have been centering around a small spot just outside of Canterlot. I want you 2 to go see what it is and if it can benefit me in any way."

"How can you be benefited exactly?" Emo Pony asked.

"I want you to see if whatever is the cause of the obscure magic can be used for anything chaotic. If that’s the case, this should be the last push I need to be free."

"You really think so?" Scar Flank asked.

"Well it won't be 3 school fillies that are fighting right in front of me after petty arguments over trivial matters, but it should do."

"Oddly specific," Emo Pony couldn't help but notice.

“And once I get free, I’ll make all those who wronged you suffer. As well as what you want out of life.”

“Well, I rather like the latter of that,” Emo Pony said. “But isn’t suffering a bit much?

“If it gets us what we want, I don’t care,” Scar Flank said. “I was once part of an aristocratic family that practically ran Canterlot. I swore that I would restore my family name to its former rank and glory no matter what. If ponies have to suffer for that to happen, so be it.”

“I’m surprised you aren’t as eager as Scar Flank, Emo Pony,” the voice said. “After what ponies did to you.” Suddenly several crystals within the mines started to show an image of a certain building Emo Pony knew well.

The image then showed Emo Pony getting thrown out into the streets of Canterlot. “Wait a minute,” the Emo Pony from the image cried out. “Just give me 1 more minute.”

“We’ve heard enough,” one of the ponies that threw him out said. “We’re not remotely interested in your unethical ideas.”

“Yeah,” another said. “Now get out of here you public menace.”

Emo Pony continued to stare at his past self, remembering the pain he felt that day.

“Do you remember what you said to yourself that day?” The voice asked.

“Yes…I do,” Emo Pony answered. “Menace am I?” Both past and present Emo Pony said at the same time. “I only wanted to help, now they’ll see just how much of a menace I can be.” The images from the crystals vanished. “Where is the exact spot exactly?”

***

“We’re getting pretty close to the spot where the voice sensed the magic,” Emo Pony said. “How exactly do you think we can use it to free the voice?”

“Even if that voice doesn’t get free, this is going to be very fortunate for me.”

"What makes you so sure that whatever we're looking for is going to help you out?"

"This!" Scar Flank answered by showing Emo Pony a large and very old journal.

"An insanely overdue library book?" Scar Flank then smacked Emo Pony on the head with the journal. "Ow!"

"This isn't a library book stupid, this is a journal that belonged to my great grandfather. And in one of his entries it explains that he came face to face with Star Swirl the Bearded."

"Star Swirl!?" Emo Pony said with disbelief. "But that's impossible, he died eons ago."

"Nothing is impossible, the entry explains that Star Swirl got to that point in time by the use of a time traveling spell he was perfecting."

"Time travel? That makes sense, if anypony could do that, it would be him."

"The last part of the entry explains that Star Swirl told him that he was going to go 50 years into the future from that day. That entry was written 50 years ago today. I knew the time but I could never figure out the place. But now, thanks to that voice, I have."

"This is amazing." Emo Pony could hardly believe what he heard. There was a very high chance that he'd be meeting one of, if not the most famous pony in Equestrian history. "So what are we going to do? I mean assuming that we really are going to meet him, what do we do then?"

"Did you bring our little combined project with you?"

"Of course I did," Emo Pony said as he quickly got out a sphere whose colors inside were a mixture of yellow and red.

While in the caves beneath Canterlot he and Scar Flank experimented on some of Emo Pony's spheres. A mixture of an obedience spell used for pets and a sphere that can make a pony calm and quick to help. Before long they created a sphere that would put a pony under the control of Emo Pony and Scar Flank.

"Then I trust you can see where I'm going with this."

“Right. By the way, I had this idea that if we run into Super Stallion. Maybe you could fight him for a second, then I'd throw several spheres as a distraction and in that brief second you teleport him and spheres somewhere else. Somewhere with other ponies can be affected by the spheres, including him."

"Pretty clever, even if it doesn't work on him, it could still work as a distraction." Suddenly a large flash of light appeared out of nowhere. When it cleared an elderly stallion bearing a hat and cloak stood before the 2 criminals.

"Oh, hello there. Didn't expect to meet ponies right from the get go."

"Star Swirl the Bearded," Emo Pony and Scar Flank said together. Scar Flank had always believed the journal of his great grandfather, but it was still an amazing feat to see a pony of legend leap through time.

"Well it's good to know even in this day and age, my name still hasn't been lost to the sands of time," Star Swirl said with a smile. "Judging from what I saw on my last trip through time, this is the city of Canterlot."

Okay so how do we get the sphere to hit him, Scar Flank thought. Should I offer it as a gift and smash it when I get close enough? Or maybe tell him it's a new discovered fruit and have the smoke get him when he takes a bite.

"Catch!" Emo Pony then threw the sphere straight at Star Swirl and the smoke quickly surrounded him.

Or, Emo Pony could just do that.

"What's the meaning of this?" Star Swirl asked as the smoke swirled around him.

"Quick to the trigger much?" Scar Flank asked as he turned to Emo Pony.

"What? It worked didn't it?"

"What worked?" Star Swirl asked, getting both of their attention. "What are you 2 talking about?"

"Stand on your head." Suddenly to his shock Star Swirl did exactly that. "Stand on your hooves again." Star Swirl then again did as he was told. “I’m talking about that.”

"HA HA! It works, it really works," Scar Flank said and then danced around a bit in excitement.

"Why are you acting surprised?"

"Never mind that," Scar Flank replied, stopping his dancing and turning to Star Swirl.

Who the heck are these stooges? Star Swirl thought.

"Star Swirl!" Scar Flank said with command. "I am Scar Flank and this is the Emo Pony you are under our command. I seek to restore my family to its glory once again, to do that I require advanced spells, among other things. I know for a fact that numerous powerful spells are in Canterlot Castle. So you're going to help us sneak into the castle, get what we want, and sneak out."

"Okay," Star Swirl answered and he slowly walked towards the castle and the 2 criminals would soon follow.

"He took that pretty well," Emo Pony couldn't help but mention.

***

"I love you Princess Celestia," Squeaky said to his own reflection but it came out rather poorly. "I love you! Princess Celestia. IloveyouPrincessCelestia. I guess either of them will do just as long as I finally say it." Squeaky grabbed his saddle bag and headed down the hallway to look for Princess Celestia. "Today's the day, I'm finally gonna do it! I hope."

As Squeaky prepared to talk to the princess, Star Swirl his group into the castle into a tower that held many scrolls of spells. While Star Swirl was out of the loop for literal centuries, he had no problem sneaking past the guards and as he quickly figured out their patrol patterns. Thanks to Star Swirl the criminal duo made it to the Star Swirl the Bearded Wing after Scar Flank picked the lock.

"An entire wing dedicated to me, how flattering."

"And I'm sure I'll find something in here to help me get my family name back on top."

"Like what?" Emo Pony asked.

"Well I don't know in particular, but there has to be something. Like maybe a spell that can turn air into gold."

"Turn air into gold?" Star Swirl couldn't help but comment. "Imagine casting that while taking a deep breath. Talk about choking on your wealth."

"Choking on your wealth?" Emo Pony commented this time.

"You know the old saying," Star Swirl replied. "Is it not an old saying anymore?"

"Sadly some things are just lost to the winds of time."

"Yes, unfortunately. You're quite poetic. Even if it's pretty similar to what I said earlier."

"Oh, really? Thank you," Emo Pony said flattered to be complemented by such a great stallion.

"Emo Pony, quit standing around and help me look through these scrolls!" Scar Flank said who was already looking through them. "Star Swirl you too!" The 3 then quickly looked through the scrolls eventually, Princess Luna and several guards who were dragging a rather large and somewhat broken cage entered the wing. Star Swirl was ordered to hide and be quiet with Scar Flank and Emo Pony when Scar Flank heard them coming.

"Why are we here again, your highness?" A guard asked.

"One of the trouble-making creatures in Tartarus somehow broke a few of the bars and managed to get out. After that it managed to escape under Cerberus's nose, or noses. This cage needs to be repaired and then returned to Tartarus."

"Okay, but why did we have to take it all the way to this wing of the library?" Another guard asked.

"Because the repair spell is in one of these scrolls."

"Ah geez it's going to take us forever to find it," The 3rd guard said.

"No I'll look for it, you 3 can go back to patrol," Princess Luna told them grateful they helped her and believed they had done enough.

"Oh thanks Your highness," The 1st guard said very happily. "Stone Wall said if I skipped another patrol he'd make me run around Canterlot."

"What should I do with these magic canceling collars Princess Luna? I can’t remember where we usually put them." The 2nd guard asked.

"Just put them down there, I'll figure out what to do with them later." The 3 guards then made their way out of the wing after the 2nd guard left behind the 2 callers. The 3rd guard stopped just before leaving the wing.

"Are you sure you don't want our help Princess Luna?" The 3rd guard asked.

"Yes I'm sure." And with that the 3rd guard left.

"Luna?" Star Swirl said almost unable to believe his ears. Scar Flank and Emo Pony almost popped out of their skin when their cover was busted and Luna quickly turned her head to the direction of where the voice came from.

"Who's there?" Luna called out and made her horn glow.

"Has it been so long, you don’t even recognize my voice.” Star Swirl then showed himself. “Somepony who is happy to see you again."

Luna's jaw almost hit the floor.

"I thought I told him to hide and be quiet," Scar Flank whispered.

"You didn't say for how long," Emo Pony whispered back.

Luna pulled Star Swirl into a hug who returned it.

"I can't believe it, how are you-" Luna stopped in mid sentence and pulled away from the hug. "Wait a minute. This has to be some kind of trick, you can't be the real Star Swirl the Bearded."

"If you don't believe it, ask me anything." Princess Luna paused to think.

"What was my favorite bedtime story as a filly?"

"Nightie Night Moon."

"Uh, too easy, what's my sister's favorite dessert?"

"All of them." Princess Luna couldn't help but laugh at that comment but quickly regained her senses.

"O-Okay not quite the answer I was expecting, but still rather pretty on the dot. Okay, if you're really Star Swirl, tell me something only you would know."

"One time your sister ate every cookie in my cookie jar, so I told her she couldn't have any dessert for a month since she'd eaten a month's worth that day." Hearing that Luna went back to hugging Star Swirl who again returned the hug.

"It is you! I have to find Celestia," Princess Luna said when she broke her hug. "She'll be so excited to see you again! Wait here, I'll be right back." Princess Luna flew out the door then Scar Flank and Emo Pony came out.

"Ah geez that was a close one," Scar Flank said finally at ease.

"No kidding, if she found us instead of him, we'd be in very deep water right now," Emo Pony added.

"By the way," Scar Flank said. "What's a canceler collar?"

“The name kind of makes it obvious,” Star Swirl said to himself.

"They're made from iron, a special metal that can cancel out magical properties. When it's placed on a unicorn's neck, it stops them from using magic," Emo Pony answered. “They’re used to restrain trouble making unicorns.”

"Wait, could it be used on an alicorn as well?" Scar Flank asked.

"I would imagine so.”

"Star Swirl, Princess Luna mentioned something about a spell that could repair this cage. Did you find it?" Scar Flank asked.

"Actually yes."

"And there are 2 collars over there correct?" Scar Flank asked.

"Yes," Star Swirl answered and suddenly put 2 and 2 together. "Oh, you better not be thinking what I think you're thinking."

***

"I love you," Squeaky said to himself for about the umpteenth time. "Maybe I should open with a compliment. Princess Celestia, you are beauty incarnate, and that's why I love you. Perfect!" Just then Princess Celestia ran by him and nearly ran him over. "Where's the fire?"

"Oh I'm sorry, Squeaky." Princess Celestia turned around and walked up to him, dropping a small saddle bag next to Squeaky's. “Are you hurt?”

"No, but since you're here I'd like to tell you something."

"Oh I'm sorry Squeaky, I can't stop and chat right now."

"But I-"

"Luna told me somepony very special arrived and I've got to meet him and patch things up."

“Wait, patch?”

“It’s a long story.” Princess Celestia then grabbed a saddle bag and ran off.

"B-But I love you," Squeaky said but she was already out of sight. He then grabbed the other saddle bag as he wondered who Princess Celestia could be meeting today. "The way the princess acts, you'd think somepony came back from the grave."

"Who's back from the grave?" Swift Sweep who was doing a rare day job asked.

"Oh hi Swift Sweep, it's just that Princess Celestia was acting super excited about meeting somepony."

"Her too?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"Princess Luna was also super excited to meet somepony as I saw her flying around."

"Did she say who it was?"

"No, but from the way she was acting, you'd think somepony from the distant past she thought would never see again somehow traveled through time and arrived at this current point in time."

"Yeah," Squeaky replied after pausing for a minute to take in all that Swift Sweep said.

"What are you 2 doing?" Stone Wall asked. "I mean besides just standing around not doing your jobs."

"Stone Wall, who are the princesses meeting?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"Princess Celestia said she was meeting somepony important and Swift Sweep told me Princess Luna said the same thing. So who are they meeting?"

"I wasn't told they were meeting anypony today," Stone Wall replied, starting to get concerned.

"Do you think whoever they are just appeared at the castle out of nowhere?" Swift Sweep asked.

"There's something strange going on here and I don't like it. Come on, we're getting to the bottom of this." The 2 janitors followed Stone Wall's instructions and then looked around the castle for the princesses.

***

Princess Celestia had made it to the Starswirl the Bearded wing and upon seeing him, she picked him up and hugged him tightly. Swinging him back and forth as she was hugging him.

"It's you, it's really you! This is a miracle. I can't believe I'm seeing you again!"

"I can't breathe," Star Swirl said. Hearing that Princess Celestia placed the old stallion down. "Thank you, that's better."

"Sorry about that."

"It's okay Celestia. I'm really happy to see you again too." Celestia then hugged Star Swirl again but not quite as rough as before. "Which is why I'm very sorry for this."

"Huh?" Suddenly Star Swirl placed the collar on Celestia's neck. "What are you doing?"

"Unfortunately I'm being forced to capture you against my will."

"What are you talking about?"

"If you get in the cage I'll explain it all," Star Swirl said as he pointed to the cage Luna had the castle guards bring in earlier. The cage had been repaired as well as enforced with magic.

"I don't know if this is some strange joke or if you've finally lost your marbles, but there's no way I'm getting- " Suddenly Star Swirl started to give Princess Celestia a hard stare. "Are you kidding me?” She said with a laugh. “That stare may have worked on Luna and I when we were fillies but-" Celestia tried to finish her sentence but Star Swirl's intense stare made her throat dry.

“What’s the matter?” Star Swirl asked as he continued his hard stare. “Uncomfortable?”

"S-stop it! Cut it out, I'm serious." Princess Celestia then backed up a bit but Star Swirl walked up to her more and somehow made his stare even more intimidating. She felt hot and sweaty, she wanted to look away but she couldn’t. "Okay, okay I'll do it, just stop! Stop!" Princess Celestia pleaded as she got into the cage.

"I guess there are some things you just don't grow out of huh?"

"Apparently not," Princess Celestia said as she was trying to make herself comfortable in the cage. Shortly thereafter Princess Luna returned and was still so excited that Star Swirl had come back, she didn't notice her sister was in a cage. Luna flew over to Star Swirl to give him another hug. "Lu- '' Celestia wanted to warn her sister but Star Swirl quickly used magic to summon a purple cloth with yellow and light blue stars around her muzzle to stop her from speaking.

"Don't ruin the moment," Star Swirl said.

"What?" Luna then turned around and saw her sister. "Why is my sister gagged and locked in a cage?"

"Too late," Star Swirl said after giving a brief sigh. With her back still turned, Star Swirl placed the second collar on Luna. "I'm sorry about this." Star Swirl then grabbed Luna by the ear and forced her to the cage.

"What's going on? Why are you doing this?"

"I'm sorry but I'm being forced to do this by the 2 trouble makers hiding over there." Suddenly as if on cue, Scar Flank and Emo Pony came out of hiding. After seeing them Princess Luna removed the gag on her sister who looked at the dastardly duo.

"I remember you, you're that pony that tried to set off an emotion bomb in the mines. As for you, this is just a guess but I'll bet you were the one that tried to rob my treasury."

"Guilty as charged my dear," Scar Flank said, showing a lot of ego in his tone. "And I'm willing to bet the guards will use all the bits in said treasury to cover the ransom of the both of you."

"Yeah, but how are we going to get them out of here?"

"That's what Star Swirl can figure out," Scar Flank answered and would then order the old stallion to come up with an escape plan. Meanwhile Stone Wall, Squeaky Clean, and Swift Sweep were able to figure out where the Princesses went and were observing things from the hall having just got there.

"I can't believe this," Squeaky asked as the 3 backed away so they wouldn't get overheard. "The princesses, captured and locked up."

"All this under my muzzle too," Stone Wall added. "We need a carefully thought out plan-”

"I'LL SAVE YOU PRINCESS LUNA!" Swift Sweep got the door to the wing open then tried to get the cage open.

"I don't get paid enough for this job. Squeaky try to make a distraction so, Squeaky? Are you kidding me?" Stone Wall turned to the wing door and saw Squeaky going in after Swift Sweep. "All right fine nuts to strategy!" Stone Wall then entered the wing as well.

"Are you okay Princess Luna?"

"Are you okay Princess Celestia?"

"Yes we're fine," They answered in unison. Star Swirl had his eyes on the 2 janitors which worked to Stone Wall's advantage, allowing him to sneak behind Star Swirl. He quickly charged his horn for an attack, however before he could cast it.

"Star Swirl watch out!" Star Swirl quickly noticed Stone Wall and summoned a barrier that blocked his spell.

"What in Equestria are you doing?!?" Stone Wall asked Princess Celestia.

"Don't hurt him, he's being forced to do this!"

"By who?" Squeaky asked.

"And how?" Stone Wall added.

"Is there any food here?" Everypony looked at Swift Sweep after he just asked that. "What? I'm hungry?"

"2 other ponies placed me under some sort of spell and now I'm forced to do as they say," Star Swirl explained. Scar Flank who had remained hidden was about to sneak up on Stone Wall, but before he could attack, Stone Wall back punched him.

"Not in a million years pal." Emo Pony was about to attack with a couple spheres, but Squeaky saw him just in time. Acting quickly Squeaky grabbed the spheres with magic a split second after Emo Pony threw them and gently teleported them to the floor.

"A day late and a bit short pal." Stone Wall then picked up Emo Pony with magic and threw him at Scar Flank just as he was getting up.

"Scar Flank and the Emo Pony,” Stone Wall said. “Getting into trouble yet again I see.”

"Not you again," Scar Flank and Emo Pony said in unison, both remembering the brutal beating they got from the captain of the guard.

"Do you have a problem with me slapping these 2 silly?" Stone Wall asked.

"No, but try not to cause any permanent damage," Princess Celestia answered.

"No promises. Squeaky, Swift, get the princesses out of the cage."

"Star Swirl h-" Before Scar Flank could even finish, Stone Wall charged him and already had him on the ground and started pummeling him. Scar Flank was about to use a flash spell again but Stone Wall pressed his hoof against his horn.

"That's not going to work this time!"

"Hit him with a sphere!"

"I can't they won't work on him," Emo Pony who was somewhat frozen with fear watching Scar Flank get beat up. "But I have an idea." Suddenly Emo Pony was blasted by a spell from Stone Wall.

"You know I can hear you right?"

Emo Pony quickly got back on his hooves. "Remember my idea from earlier?" Emo Pony then threw several spheres and Scar Flank caught the spheres with magic. In the brief second Stone Wall was confused he was lifted up by magic and teleported away along with the spheres.

"Star Swirl, get those 2 out of here," Scar Flank said, barely conscious. Squeaky Clean and Swift Sweep were still having trouble getting the cage open and Star Swirl was still forced to do their bidding.

"Uh any chance you could let us get the cage open first," Squeaky said right before Star Swirl forced them out of the wing with a magic teleportation.

"Sorry, I wish I could."

I think it's time Super Stallion had a say in this.

"What are we going to do Squeaky?"

"We should split up. You go that way and find Stone Wall. I'll…do something else in the other direction."

"Sounds like a well thought out plan to me." And with that Swift Sweep flew away.

Squeaky went around the hall into a closet to make the change, but when he opened the saddle bag, he found stuff he didn't recognize. "What the? Royal documents?” Squeaky suddenly remembered running into the princess earlier. "Ah geez, Princess Celestia must have grabbed my saddle bag by mistake. Which means I can't become Super Stallion. Now what do I do?" Squeaky then left the closet and came across Swift Sweep who was somewhat out of breath.

"Squeaky we got a problem!" Swift Sweep.

"What is it, Swift Sweep?"

"I went to find Stone Wall and I did, but he was dealing with several guards who were acting very weird."

"Weird how?"

"Well one was in the corner crying about a relative that recently passed away. And another wouldn't stop punching the wall screaming about not getting a raise."

"I get it when Stone Wall was teleported with the spheres, they must have broken and affected the guards. Stone Wall is okay though right?

"He's fine, but quite a few of the guards are going nuts. I’m gonna try and find some guards that aren’t doing that.” Sweep Swift then flew off, leaving Squeaky to think of a plan.

"I gotta get my Super Stallion sphere. It shouldn't be too hard. I just might have to fight Scar Flank and Emo Pony. And outsmart possibly the smartest stallion that ever lived. While also making sure neither of the princesses figure out what I'm doing, ah geez."

Back at the Star Swirl the Bearded Wing, Emo Pony threw several more spheres out the window to cause more of a distraction. Scar Flank and Emo Pony also made another special sphere. The same they used on Star Swirl, who on top of creating a barrier to the wing preventing entrance, was working on an escape plan. Since the princesses were in a cage from Tartarus, they couldn't just teleport.

WhileStarswirl was putting a plan together, Squeaky already got one, sneak into the wing real quick, grab his saddle bag, sneak out, and become Super Stallion to rescue Celestia and Luna. Fashioning a grappling hook with a mop and some rope, Squeaky went outside and got to a window that led to the wing. He used magic to quietly place the mop on the inner edge of the window and quickly started climbing.

"All right almost there, this was easy. I'm smarter than I give myself credit for."

"Hello," Star Swirl said who poked his head out the window and was an inch away from Squeaky.

"H-Hi."

"What are you doing?"

"Just hanging around." Hearing that Star Swirl gave out a chuckle.

"That's a good one, here's another knock knock."

"Who's there?"

"Gravitational."

"Gravitational who?"

"Gravitational pull?" Star Swirl then untied the rope causing Squeaky to fall but Star Swirl used magic to summon a bubble to cushion his fall.

"Was that one of those janitors from before?" Emo Pony asked.

"Yes.”

"Well hopefully he learned his lesson now," Scar Flank said. Star Swirl then walked over to the princesses.

"He's not giving up is he?"

"No," Princess Celestia answered. "He…kind of has a crush on me."

"And do you return his affection?"

"N-No!"

"That didn't sound very convincing," Princess Luna said in a mocking tone towards her sister.

"Shut up Luna!"

"So do you like him or not?"

"He's. He's a close friend and I care about him a lot but I don't have time for romance with a nation to run."

"Oh really? I wonder what would have happened if you had the same attitude about him."

“You don't need to bring that up."

"Oh what too soon? Over 1000 years later and still too soon?" Star Swirl then laughed at his own joke but stopped when he saw the depressed look on Celestia's face. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay," Celestia said, still a little hurt. "Our friendship was never the same after that. I know what I did was stupid but please believe me when I say I never wanted you to hate me."

"I don't hate you!" Star Swirl said shocked to hear that. "But you're right, things were never quite the same between us and I guess that was my fault as much as it was yours. I'm sorry."

"It's okay," Celestia said, starting to feel better. "Even if it is in such a messed up way, I'm really glad I got to see you again."

"Me too." Star Swirl and Princess Celestia then hugged each other during which Celestia reached for the key to her collar. She was on the verge of grabbing it but Star Swirl slapped her hoof and it pulled away. "Not even 1000 years later."

"Well I had to try," Celestia said as she was rubbing her hoof.

"Star Swirl, stop wasting time and get back to that escape plan!" Scar Flank said. Star Swirl then looked at the wing entrance and saw that Stone Wall had returned. Seeing him, Star Swirl gave a wink. "Star Swirl, did you hear me?"

"Yes I heard you, but I'm done taking your orders."

"What?"

"Oh no! It must have worn off!" Emo Pony said.

"Well, use another one!" Emo Pony quickly threw it at Star Swirl the Bearded but he threw a book making it break and the smoke went over to him and Scar Flank. However they managed to jump out of the way and dodged it.

"I don't fall for the same trick twice."

"Oh that does it, you are dead!" Scar Flank said angrily.

"Will that make you feel good about yourself? Beating up a fragile old stallion."

"Oh please I can tell from the spells you've cast here alone that you can take care of yourself," Emo Pony retorted.

"Yeah but I figured he'd want to take you 2 down more than I do." Scar Flank and Emo Pony then noticed Stone Wall was back. "By the way I undid the spell preventing him from getting in."

Stone Wall cracked his neck. "I'm going to pound you both silly and love every second of it." Stone Wall made short work of Scar Flank and Emo Pony and got the princesses out of the cage. "That felt so good."

"Yes but perhaps you were a bit too brutal," Princess Luna said.

"No kidding, I had no idea pony legs could bend like that," Star Swirl said. "Now there's just the matter of that spell."

"Spell what spell?" Stone Wall asked. Stone Wall walked towards the window and cast a spell that spread across the whole castle. "What did you do?!"

"I undid the effects that the spheres the gray stallion threw."

"What?" Emo Pony said, now locked in the cage with Scar Flank "How could you possibly figure out how to do that?”

"Give me a break, I'm Star Swirl the flipping Bearded!"

***

Stone Wall ordered a search of the whole castle to make sure the guards were okay.

"PRINCESS LUNA YOU'RE OKAY!" Swift Sweep said, giving her the biggest hug he could.

“My, aren’t you friendly,” Star Swirl said, who found some cookies to eat. Upon seeing Star Swirl, he put himself in front of Princess Luna in a protective manner.

"Get back Princess Luna he might try to imprison you again."

"No need to worry young stallion, I'm free of the control of those 2."

"After all that's happened you can't expect me to trust you right away can you?"

"Are you hungry?"

"Huh? Actually yes I am, I haven't eaten since breakfast."

"Well why don't you have my cookies, I'm not as hungry as I thought I was." Star Swirl then offered the bag of cookies to Swift Sweep who swiftly took it.

"Cookies! Thanks, you're alright after all." Swift Sweep then ate some cookies out of the bag.

"Oh he's much more than alright," Princess Luna said to him who gave a smile saying he appreciated the compliment.

"Try this princess Luna, they're great." Swift Sweep then put several cookies in her mouth who enjoyed them very much. Suddenly Stone Wall used magic to pull Swift Sweep off her and towards him.

"When we want to talk to the princesses, we approach them in a respectful manner. We do not jump on them and hug them like a 5 year old, and we don't shove cookies in their mouth!"

"It's quite alright," Princess Luna said. “I enjoyed the hug and the cookies quite a bit.”

"No it's not, you don't see anypony else behaving in such a manner?"

"STAR SWIRL THE BEARDED!" Every pony in the room turned around and saw it was Twilight Sparkle who was visiting Canterlot for a bit. She came to the castle and heard a bit of the crisis, but mostly that Star Swirl the Bearded had arrived and came to where she was told he was to see for herself. "Oh my gosh oh my gosh it is you! I'm such a huge fan, I'm Twilight Sparkle!"

"Wait, you're Twilight Sparkle?" Star Swirl then looked at the side of Twilight's stomach for a second. "Interesting, a possible metamorphosis maybe."

"What?" Twilight asked.

"Nothing, nice to meet you."

"Star Swirl, this is Twilight Sparkle, she's my personal student."

"Really? You must be very talented for her to want to be your teacher." Twilight almost fainted at such a compliment.

"Well I try to always study and work hard and figure if I keep that up, I can be as perfect as her 1 day." Hearing that made Princess Celestia blush a little, but Twilight didn't even notice. Because saying what she said caused Star Swirl to burst into laughter.

"You honestly think she's perfect, you have no idea what she was like when she was young."

"I take it she was quite the hoof full," Stone Wall said.

"She was a little Tartarus spawn, always getting into trouble."

"Well Star Swirl no need to get into that," Princess Celestia said now feeling embarrassed.

"Sometimes after I grounded her I had her grounded again right after the first one was over."

"Okay that's enough about the good old days." Princess Celestia tried to quickly change the subject.

"But it is nice to see that even after 1000 years, she and her sister are still working together."

"Well," Twilight said before stopping and looking away.

"What?" Starswirl asked. "You hesitated there. Did something happen?" Starswirl then suddenly turned to Princess Celestia. "What did you do?"

"What? Why you assume it's my fault?"

"Is it?"

Princess Celestia looked at Princess Luna before turning back to Starswirl. "Yes." Luna was shocked at that answer. Suddenly Squeaky clean came in and upon seeing Princess Celestia, he rushed over and hugged her to her surprise and to Stone Wall annoyance.

"Princess, you're safe."

"Yes I am, thank you for noticing."

"Squeaky I'm glad you're here."

"You are Stone Wall?"

"Yes, save me the trouble of finding you later. I want to give you and Swift Sweep something."

"Really?" Swift Sweep walked over and stood by Squeaky. "Is it more cookies?"

BONK

Stone Wall grabbed their heads and made them hit each other.

"What did you do that for?" They asked in unison while also running their heads.

"That was for rushing in without thinking earlier. Being careless like that won't help in a crisis."

"Sorry Stone Wall," Squeaky said, still rubbing his head.

"Sorry captain."

"Now that that's settled Swift Sweep, go with the other guards and help them clean the messes caused when the guards got "emotional". Squeaky you stay here and clean the wing then help Swift Sweep."

"Okay," The janitors said in unison. Swift Sweep and the guards including Stone Wall made their way out of the wing.

"By the way princess, here's your saddle bag back."

"Huh?" Princess Celestia saw Squeaky holding up a saddle bag and that it was indeed hers.

"We grabbed each other's saddle bags by mistake."

"Oh my I was in more of a hurry to see Star Swirl than I thought." Princess Celestia then looked for Squeaky's saddle bag.

"Looking for this?" Star Swirl asked as he was holding up Squeaky's saddle bag.

"Star Swirl, why do you have my saddle bag?"

"Luna Celestia, cover your ears." The princesses were surprised by the sudden request but quickly did as they were told. "I was looking through this bag earlier to slow down writing the escape plan for the crime bozos. And when I did I came across something truly interesting and of my design as well." Star Swirl then pulled out the sphere Squeaky uses to become Super Stallion.

"Star Swirl wait." Squeaky gestured his head a bit to Twilight Sparkle who was reading a journal that Star Swirl himself wrote and was allowing her to read.

"No need to worry, watch. Twilight Squeaky Clean is Super Stallion." Squeaky almost screamed from the sheer shock of what Star Swirl just said.

"Okay." Squeaky then calmed down upon seeing Twilight not surprised at all she didn't even bat an eye.

"Also I'm not really a pony, I'm a 2000 foot dragon made of chocolate that vomits gold."

"Sounds good,” Twilight replied. She was so caught up in reading, she wasn't really listening.

"Okay that's a relief, but how could you know I'm Super Stallion or know about Super Stallion in general?"

"Oh I've been around for a while I've seen a few things, learned some tricks and I went through all the trouble of inventing this so that helps."

"YOU INVENTED IT!" Squeaky couldn't believe his ears. "But how and why?" Star Swirl then got out a journal which would answer his questions and a ton more. Celestia slowly uncovered her ears as she was getting curious to what Squeaky and Star Swirl were talking about.

"KEEP THOSE EARS COVERED!" Star Swirl ordered and Celestia re-covered her ears in a flash. Luna couldn't help but giggle at her sister getting yelled at to her annoyance.

"Anyway that journal should tell you everything you want to know about the sphere but if it gets too complicated, Twilight over there should be more than capable of understanding it. I haven't known her long but I can already tell she's very special."

"But I can't tell her I'm Super Stallion."

"Have you told anypony?"

"No."

"Well you might want to change that. Not even I did everything on my own." Star Swirl then gave Squeaky the journal and signaled the princesses they could uncover their ears and Twilight, having finished the book, offered it to Star Swirl who placed it back in his saddle.

"That was amazing. I always knew your ideas were ahead of their time but they're ahead of my time too."

"Well Star Swirl, would you like to tour the castle or something?" Luna asked.

"I'd love to Luna but I think my time is up." Star Swirl was then surrounded by a light green energy. "I figured as much, you might want to stand back. I don't want to burn anypony."

"Wait, Star Swirl, don't go!" Celestia begged. “I can’t lose you again!”

"Yeah there're 100 questions I still want to ask." Celestia then gave her student a rather strict look. "What?"

"Isn't there some way you can stay?"

"Not now, but I can guarantee we'll meet again." Star Swirl then gave a subtle glare to Squeaky. "You've overcome numerous obstacles, but they're nothing compared to what you'll be facing next."

"What? Wait what do you mean? What do you mean?" Before Star Swirl could answer, the energy surrounded him and he was literally gone in a flash. "What was he talking about Princess Celestia?"

"You're guess is as good as mine. He always had a way of seeing things way before they happened."

"I still can't believe he let me read something he wrote," Twilight said in utter bliss. "Well I think I should help clean up." Twilight then left the wing and Princess Luna followed, also wishing to help. As Squeaky was about to clean Princess Celestia turned to him.

"Squeaky." Hearing his name he turned his head to the princess. "While I didn't agree completely with how he handled it, Stone Wall still had a point. You were rather careless like he said, but you also tried to sneak in. Even if you got in you'd have 3 stallions to deal with. What were you thinking?"

Tell her how you feel now! Squeaky thought to himself. It's perfect you 2 are alone and it'll cover for you trying to get the sphere to become Super Stallion! Come tell her, don't chicken out.

"I-I. Princess Celestia. I just wanted to help you out, I mean that's what friends are for, right?" You chicken.

"I see," Princess Celestia replied. "Well I think I can handle cleaning in here. How about you go clean the other parts of the castle?"

"Okay. That's probably a good idea. I saw how the guards were acting, the whole castle pretty much went into chaos." Squeaky then saw Princess Celestia shiver. "Are you cold princess?"

"No, I just don't like that word."

"Chaos?" Princess Celestia then shivered more.

"Yes, please stop saying that."

"Sorry."

"It's alright." Squeaky then made his way out of the wing and got to cleaning. Princess Cadance even decided to help out. As well as try to help Celestia, who was rather depressed that somepony important to her came back into her life and left just as quickly.

"I can only imagine how hard it is to lose somepony again," Cadance said while helping Stone Wall finish with the clean up. "Why couldn't he just say something meaningful before he left?"

"Sometimes...It's hard for stallions to say what's in their hearts," Stone Wall answered. Suddenly he pulled Cadance into a hug. "Come on, I'm taking you shopping."

"But I-"

"No buts Cadance now move it," Stone Wall said as he pushed Cadance from the behind.

Cadance sighed. He must still feel bad about the slap. "Alright Stone Wall."

As Stone Wall kept pushing Cadance they passed Shining Armor. "Shining Armor."

"Yes captain?"

"If I ever see you doing something similar with Cadance, there will be, big trouble."

By the time Squeaky finished, the sun had come down and was looking at the night sky as heheaded for home. Along the way saw a shooting star run across the night sky. Squeaky remembered how ponies say if you make a wish on a shooting star the wish will come true. "I wish I could confess my feelings to the princess."

On his way home, a brief but surprisingly cold wind blew past him.

"Where in Equestria did that come from, the frozen north? Was that some sort of bad omen? No, I'm overthinking this." Squeaky shook his head. "Whatever future problems are coming, I can handle it no problem. Or rather, Super Stallion can handle it."

***

At the bottom of the mines beneath Canterlot a strange statue had cracks all over it and more of them were appearing. A voice was echoing all across the mines with laughter. "Those 2 did even better than I had hoped," the voice said. "Now at last I can be rid of this stone prison. I'm so happy, I feel like singing."

Chapter 11 Chaos the Musical Part 1

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It seemed like a pleasant morning in the castle as Princess Celestia had just finished up a meeting and was being escorted to her breakfast by Stone Wall. Suddenly, Squeaky Clean came running down the hall and grabbed her leg and tried to pull into the room she just left.

"I need to talk to you right now!" Squeaky said, continuing to pull her.

"Squeaky I'm about to go to breakfast maybe you could wait until after that to-"

"Now!" Squeaky then pulled harder which got the princess into the room. Stone Wall then placed his hoof on the hoof Squeaky was using to pull Princess Celestia.

"Take it off or I'll take it off for you."

"Back off! We have a crisis on our hooves!" Stone Wall was shocked as Squeaky finished pulling in the princess and made sure they were the only 3 ponies in the room.

"You're hurting my leg." Hearing that Squeaky let go and Princess Celestia rubbed the leg he was pulling.

"I'm sorry."

"It's all right, now what's this crisis?" Princess Celestia asked in a calm tone.

"And it better be good," Stone Wall added, annoyed at his friend's behavior.

"Last night I possibly had the worst nightmare ever."

"You brought the princess in here because you had a bad dream?"

"It's more than that. The night before the Summer Sun Celebration I had a dream that I was going to the castle when suddenly day became night and the moon fell stopping just before touching anything and became an alicorn."

"Nightmare Moon," Princess Celestia said, having put the pieces together.

"Yes and that's what I figured out when she showed up."

"You had a premonition," Stone Wall said, also putting the pieces together. "So I take it you had another one."

"Yes," Squeaky replied. "And this one was even worse. I dreamt that I was in the castle and then all of a sudden I was surrounded by utter randomness. I couldn't even describe half the stuff I was seeing. Eventually I simply yelled out that none of this makes sense and then I heard from above and I quote, "Make sense oh what fun is there is making sense?"

"And who says that in your dream?" Stone Wall asked.

"It was this weird looking creature," Squeaky answered. "After that, I woke up."

"What do you mean weird looking?"

"Just weird looking Stone Wall, I never saw any creature like it. It had the head of a goat but body parts composed of all sorts of other animals." Suddenly Princess Celestia got in Squeaky's face with panic all over her face.

"Did the creature have a deer antler, a goat leg, a bat wing, and a snake tail?!" Princess Celestia asked with panic in her tone as well.

"How'd you know?" Princess Celestia then turned to Stone Wall with fear still in her voice and all over her face.

"Stone Wall, find a hoof full of guards and join them in an escort for Twilight Sparkle and her friends here."

"What? Why do you need-"

"NOW!" Stone Wall then headed out the door deciding it was best to ask questions later. As he left Squeaky was shocked to see Princess Celestia shake. Almost as if the temperature in the room was in single digit territory.

My gosh, she's trembling, Princess Celestia is trembling. She's kept a level head no matter what crisis I've seen her in. What could she be afraid of? "Princess are you okay? Do you know the creature from my dream?"

"Yes unfortunately," Princess Celestia answered, ceasing her trembling and starting to calm down, the fear in her voice and face gone. "Come with me and I'll explain." Squeaky followed the princess to the main hall where her throne was as well as many glass windows, quite a few of which had a picture placed on it.

"So why are we here?"

"Twilight and her friends will be here shortly and I'll be meeting them here. In the meantime I can tell you about the creature in your dream. Before I do though Squeaky tell me, have you had something from your past come back that you wished stayed in your past?"

"I'm not sure I get what you mean."

"There are some things that I believed should stay buried in the past forever such as the creature from your dreams." Suddenly the Princess used her magic to change one of the big glass windows. "But I suppose no matter how horrible or how much you wish it would, some things simply can't stay buried. A long time ago ponies in Equestria lived in a state of unrest and unhappiness under the rule of Discord, spirit of chaos and disharmony." Princess Celestia then finished the spell on the window revealing the creature from Squeaky's dream.

"You mentioned a bunch of other trouble makers and villains you've defeated in the past, but you never mentioned him. He's the worst one of all isn't he?"

“I’ll never forget the day Luna and I first met him, I’ll never forget because it was a day that scarred me for the rest of my life.” Princess Celestia then used a spell that changed the whole room showing Squeaky a day from long ago. Everything was random looking as Celestia and her sister landed down to investigate.

"I saw this whole area change from the sky, Luna, the source of all this must be coming from here," Celestia said.

"Oh so I take it you've noticed my chaos, rather hard to miss actually," Discord said while pigging out on sweets.

"So you're the one that's been," Celestia stopped when Discord held out his finger as he was in the middle of eating and had to swallow. After doing that he stood up and approached the sisters who were rather shocked and stepped back.

"What?" Discord asked.

"Nothing, it's just that we didn't expect you to have such a…unique appearance," Celestia said.

"Says the pony with abnormally long everything," Discord said as he got a little closer to the princesses. "By the way I don't know much about pony fashion but what's with the belts around your necks."

"They're not belts, these are the breastplates of wise and mighty leaders," Luna answered rather offended.

"Do they know you're wearing them?" Discord asked.

"What? Of all the….just who in Equestria do you think you are?!" Luna asked.

"Discord, spirit of chaos and disharmony at your service, whether you like it or not."

"Well Discord you've had your fun but it's about time for you to undo all of this and go back to wherever you came from."

"Well look here princess whatever your name is-"

"It's Celestia."

"Don't care, my chaos is here and here it's going to stay."

"Is that all you can say? What about all of the ponies living in misery as the result of your chaos?" Luna asked.

"I think I can live with that," Discord answered.

Luna looked at Celestia and she already knew what her sister was thinking. The sisters then charged their horns together and attacked Discord who blocked it effortlessly with a bubble to the princesses' shock.

"It-it didn't even hurt him," Celestia said.

"But, but that was our strongest spell," Luna said as Discord put his paw and claw together and cracked his fingers.

"My turn," Discord said as he made short work of Celestia and Luna.

***

Twilight and her friends arrived and talked for a minute about strange things in Ponyville like clouds made of cotton candy that rain chocolate milk.

"Wow that is just plain weird," Squeaky couldn't help but comment.

"Yeah we thought the same, princess, do you know what's going on?"

"Yes Twilight, I do. I was even explaining some of this to Squeaky Clean."

"So what can we do about it?" Rarity asked. Before Princess Celestia could answer Princess Cadance and Prince Blueblood entered the hall.

Twilight gasped. "Cadance!" Twilight said with bliss as she ran over and hugged the alicorn.

"Oh my goodness Twilight is that you what a pleasant surprise," Princess Cadance said as she returned the hug. “Look how much you’ve grown.”

“You-you remember me?”

“Of course I do. How could I forget the filly I loved to sit for the most?”

"What are you doing here?" Twilight asked her. Princess Luna then entered the hallway as well.

"Luna you too?" Celestia asked.

"What do you mean-" Luna stopped when she saw that Princess Cadance and Prince Blueblood were in the hallway as well. "What are you 2 doing in here?"

"I don't know about Cadance, but I'm because I have a problem auntie needs to fix," Prince Blueblood answered. "Auntie I was having a pleasant get together with a few other ponies but suddenly it started to rain."

"Uh Blueblood, a weather problem doesn't qualify as an emergency," Princess Celestia said to her nephew.

"It is when it's raining chocolate milk from a cotton candy cloud," Blueblood retorted. "On top of that we were having a nice relaxing game of croquet and suddenly the hammers and balls somehow came to life and attacked us. It was complete chaos."

"That's the general idea," A voice that echoed throughout the entire hallway said.

"Who said that?" Prince Blueblood asked, a little frightened and wishing that he could see who was talking.

"I did."

"W-Who are you? Where are you?"

"Look up." Hearing that every single pony in the hallway looked up and saw who was talking. The creature known as Discord who after being spotted flew around the halls changing the windows that had pictures engraved on them into other pictures. "That was the answer to your 2nd question, the 1st is Discord."

"What is?" The prince asked.

"My name, Discord, spirit of chaos and disharmony. At your service, whether you like it or not."

"Discord! I figured it twas thou, but I had hoped not."

"Do you know him, Princess Luna?"

"Yes, Twilight in days long past he ruled over these lands with a heart as cold as stone. But my sister and I were able to imprison him in stone with the Elements of Harmony. He was the greatest threat Equestria ever faced."

"After Luna and I stopped him I hid him deep within the mines beneath Canterlot and I did all I could to remove him from history and the memories of ponies. Most of all mine." Celestia lowered her head a little and closed her eyes to try and hide her frustration. "I wanted so badly to forget, but no matter how hard I tried I could never forget that disgusting monster's face."

"Flattery will get you nowhere." Discord then lowered himself to Princess Celestia's throne and sat on it. "Long time no see sun butt." Suddenly Pinkie Pie bursted out into laughter.

"HAHAHA! Sun butt! HAHAHA!" Princess Celestia opened her eyes and lowered her head more to give Pinkie Pie a cold stare at her eye level. "HAHAHA-That's not funny."

"Whatever you have planned Discord I'll stop you like Luna and I did before!"

"And how do you plan to do that? You 2 are no longer the bearers of the Elements of Harmony."

"How could you know that?" Suddenly Discord leaned up in the princess's face.

"Being turned to stone doesn't keep me from hearing every word you say, though I have to admit it makes rolling my eyes a challenge." Discord then actually removed the eyes from his sockets and gave them a quick shake before tossing them on the floor. Upon their landing Discord had appeared on the floor and with his eyes back in place he peeled himself off the floor.

"Okay that was kind of cool," Squeaky couldn't help but mention.

"If you like that, have a look at this," Discord used his paw and claw to remove the various other parts of his body and began to juggle them. After a few more seconds he stopped juggling and literally put himself back together. "Ta da!"

"This guy's the greatest threat Equestria's ever faced?" Twilight asked as she leaned towards Princess Celestia.

"Don't be fooled by his humorous demeanor Twilight, Believe me he's very dangerous."

"How right you are sun butt." Pinkie Pie giggled. "A lot has changed since I've been gone. New capital, new royals, a new alicorn, even new bearers of the Elements of Harmony." Suddenly Discord was sitting on a bench with a 3 way mirror. "But I'm back, I'm tan," the bench and mirror turned into a bed that Discord was in. "I'm rested," Discord then jumped out of the bed and into the air. "and I'm ready to give Equestria a wedgie again."

"Not on my watch pal!" Rainbow Dash then charged right at Discord but with the snap of his fingers he summoned a brick wall that Rainbow Dashed crashed right into.

"Twilight, I was planning on explaining a little more but I don't think I'll have time. You and your friends must use the Elements of Harmony to stop Discord and save Equestria again." Princess Celestia then used her magic to open the door that contained the elements. But when she used her magic to bring the case over to her Discord grabbed it causing the magical aura around it to vanish.

"I don't think so sun butt."

"Discord, you're going to give me that case!" Princess Celestia then grabbed the case and tried to pull it away but Discord was pulling as well.

"Oh no you won't."

"Oh yes I will."

"Oh no you won't."

"Oh yes I will."

"Oh yes you will."

"Oh no I won't."

"Uh, princess."

"Not now Squeaky! You take it now or I'll shove it down your throat!" Discord then took the case from Celestia and began walking out the hallway.

"Well alright you big bully if that's how you're gonna be."

"All right, Twilight now that he has the case, you and your friends-" The princess stopped in her tracks. She quickly turned around and began to chase after him but he disappeared right after throwing the case. Before any pony could catch it Discord reappeared and caught it.

"Keep away!" Discord then tossed the case back and forth to himself as he disappeared and reappeared throughout the hallway. Princess Celestia tried to grab the case but Discord was too fast, even when all the other ponies tried to help. Pinkie Pie was rather enjoying it and eventually was able to grab the case but when she did, she threw it back to Discord who waved his paw and claw repetitively while looking at her.

"PINKIE!" Every other pony yelled.

"I'm sorry, he was open." As Discord continued his game to the every pony's annoyance Squeaky Clean was able to grab the case.

"I got it Princess Celestia!" He said while on the floor and his front hooves were wrapped around the case.

"Hurry and open it!" Princess Celestia cried out. Squeaky quickly did as she asked. But when he opened the case to everypony's shock and dismay, the case was empty. Seconds later Discord bursted into laughter.

"I wish you all could have seen the looks on your faces when the case opened. It was priceless. Oh wait, you can see them.” Discord then snapped his fingers and summoned ghosts of the ponies from only moments ago. “You didn’t think it would be that easy, did you?"

"But how?" Princess Celestia asked, still in disbelief. "The elements were placed behind a door protected by a spell only I can break. This-this doesn't make any sense."

"Makes sense? Oh what fun is there in making sense? On top of that you try so hard to maintain harmony or at least get others to do that for you, but what's so great about harmony?" Suddenly music started to play out of nowhere getting the attention of everypony. "Harmony is great they say, ha yeah right." Discord waved his claw while continuing to sing. "Time to get it out of the way. See harmony and order just doesn't work for me, so I'm spreading chaos far enough for everypony to see."

"Not if we have anything to say about it!" Princess Celestia said as her sister Princess Luna stood right beside her.

"Don't worry you don't." Discord then trapped the royal pony sisters in magic bubbles and lifted them off the ground then flew around the hallway. "So you don't like cotton candy clouds with chocolate rain, too bad. Or you resent a constant chaotic bane, oh well. This harmony thing just doesn't work for me so instead I'm spreading around enough chaos for everypony to see. Chaos is better, nopony to tell me how things should be, chaos is better, keep that randomness flying free. So listen up before you start fighting you can't beat me so don't bother trying. I do what I do cause I gotta be me. I'm spreading the chaos for all to see."

"Auntie now would be a good time to break out of that ball and stop him."

"Maybe I can get them out of there," Cadance said right before flying at Discord who quickly trapped her in a sphere as well. "Blueblood do something!" Seeing her cousin trapped as well Prince Blueblood ran the opposite direction. "Blueblood you coward!" Despite running as fast as he could, Blueblood didn't get far because Discord trapped him in a sphere too.

"Haha! A complete set!" Discord then made the floor spin out of control and soon Squeaky and the mane 6 crashed into each other. "Afraid there's nothing you can do, a chaotic life is gonna be the way for you. We spirits of disharmony have to be who we are, a randomly chaotic super star. If you don't like it sucks to be you so don't bother there's nothing you can do. Chaos is better no one to tell you how things should be chaos is better keep that randomness flying free. So listen up before you start fighting you can't beat me so don't bother trying. I do what I do cause I gotta be me. I'm spreading the chaos for all to se-e. Chaos forever!"

Having finally finished his song Pinkie Pie couldn't but applaud, to Discord's dilate as he repetitively bowed. "Thank you thank you, enjoy your eternal chaos."

"You won't have your way Discord!" Squeaky nearly yelled.

"Oh you're still here, you really blend into the background don't you?"

"See if this blends into the background!" Squeaky then tried to blast Discord with a spell but he summoned a huge shield to block it.

"That's your best comeback, pretty pathetic Mr. Clean." Discord then made the shield fly at Squeaky and slammed him into the wall.

"Don't call him pathetic," Twilight said quickly to defend Squeaky. "You didn't have your way last time and you won't have it now!"

"Oh really and just who is gonna see to that? Apple smack?" Suddenly Discord slapped Applejack with his lion's paw and she flew into the wall. Rainbow Dash was about to fly at Discord for hurting her friend but Discord grabbed her and slammed her into the floor. "Rainbow crash? Hairity?" Discord grabbed Rarity by her mane and made it longer to swing her around before throwing her and made a big bag of manure land of Pinkie. "Stinky Pie?" He then flew over to Fluttershy who was frozen with fear. "Boo!"

"HELP ME!" Fluttershy then flew off and hid in the corner.

"Shutter cry or-" Discord stopped and put his claw to chin to think for a minute. "I got nothing, Twilight Sparkle, I mean seriously I can't even work with that."

"Let the royal ponies go and tell us what happened to the Elements of Harmony!"

"How about I meet you in the middle and only do one of those things?" Discord then split his head in order to dodge another spell from Squeaky. "Still here huh, let's do something about that." With a snap of his fingers Squeaky was teleported out of the hallway and to a different part of the castle. "Now about those Elements of Harmony."

***

Squeaky found himself in the guard's barracks where Stone Wall had gathered quite a few guards in an attempt to figure out the strange activities. "Squeaky, how did you get in here?"

"Stone Wall we got a really big problem on our hooves." After explaining what had just happened Stone Wall rounded up all the guards to stop the chaotic rampage of Discord. However even with the guards all together they weren't able to locate the spirit of chaos.

"Well where the heck is this guy Squeaky?"

"I don't know Stone Wall, it's like this guy just disappeared into thin air."

"Maybe this guy's just been inhaling the cleaning chemicals too much captain," said one of the guards in the search party.

"And I suppose that also explains all the strangeness around the castle and Canterlot?" Stone Wall replied to the guard.

"Well it makes more sense than some goat dragon deer bat thing who somehow is also powerful enough to capture the royal ponies is behind all this."

"I'm sorry, were you looking for me?" The guards and Squeaky turned around to find Discord sitting on a floating throne and the royal ponies still trapped in the spheres around him. "Do you like the remodeling I've done around here?" Hearing that Squeaky got to the front of the group to give Discord his 2 bits.

"No we-"

"Too bad because I'm going to remodel all of Equestria like this."

"LET PRINCESS CELESTIA AND THE OTHER ROYAL PONIES GO NOW!" Stone Wall ordered getting in front of Squeaky.

"I don't think I'll do that." Suddenly Discord leaned to the right to dodge a spell beam Stone Wall cast that made a hole in the throne and keep going, making more holes in the castle along the way. "That's powerful and concentrated magic you got there."

"Let them go now or the next one goes through your head!"

"Well then I guess this is the part where I do-o this." With a snap of his fingers, Discord summoned a giant bullseye that he was holding with his paw and claw. "You may fire when ready gridley." Discord's taunting caused Stone Wall to be nearly possessed with rage and cast several spells straight to the center of the bullseye. The spells however went different directions when they were on the verge of hitting their target.

"Huh?" Stone said in confusion, having calmed down a bit. Discord then got off his throne and moved a little closer to Stone Wall who tried again to blast him but the beams went in different directions. Discord then moved a little closer every 2 or 3 times Stone Walls beams were fired and missed the bullseye. Soon Discord's bullseye was literally right in front of Stone Wall who was ready to literally blast him away but his spell hit the floor. Discord then placed a pair of sunglasses on Stone Wall's muzzle and a sign around his neck with “blind” written on it.

"What the?" Stone Wall said in confusion. Discord then walked away with his paw and claw behind his back shaking his head.

"Too bad too bad." Discord then made his way back up to his throne and left with the royal ponies. "Well now that that's out of the way let's remake Canterlot, the castle, and while we're at it the mountain itself." Discord then changed the buildings of Canterlot into surreal shapes and made the mountain extend and bend making it crooked. "That's more like it."

"What the hey are you doing?" Discord turned around and saw Swift Sweep.

"I believe the proper term would be remodeling," Discord answered.

"Y-You can't just run around doing whatever you want there are rules." Discord then got up in Swift Sweep's face after hearing that.

"You know the most powerful rule right? The one with the most power-'' Discord pointed to himself. "Make the rules." Discord started slightly poking Swift Sweep. "And I say I can do whatever I want, whenever I want, wherever I want, however I want, to whoever I want, whyever I want, and you can't do anything about it."

"But, but the royal ponies work hard to maintain order and harmony throughout Equestria you can't just be a monkey wrench that throws itself in that."

"Oh I'm not a monkey wrench, this is a monkey wrench." Discord then summoned a monkey holding a wrench and before Swift Sweep could even respond the monkey hit him over the head with the wrench.

"Swift Sweep no!" Luna cried as the pegasus fell down. Squeaky Clean who saw Swift Sweep get hit ran over to where he landed and found him on the ground. Squeaky gently picked him up a little and shook him a little to get him to wake up.

"Swift Sweep! Swift Sweep, are you okay? Say something."

Swift Sweep slowly opened his eyes. "Where's the leak ma'am?" Swift Sweep then managed to get back up but had trouble keeping balance. The guards from earlier who weren't far behind Squeaky and Stone Wall as well as a few other guards arrived including Shining Armor who was shocked to see his mare friend encased in a giant magic bubble.

"HEY LET MY SPECIAL SOMEPONY GO!" Shining Armor screamed at Discord.

“You want her? Come and get her,” Discord taunted, holding Cadance’s sphere above himself.

“Gladly!”

"Shining Armor no," Princess Celestia tried to warn the gung ho guard. "Don't challenge his power."

Despite Celestia’s warning, Shining Armor fired a spell that Discord deflected right away. Shining Armor then tried the same spell but Discord deflected it again. “Yes, cause that worked so well the 1st time.” Discord lowered Cadance’s sphere to speak eye to eye. “I’m guessing you don’t like him for his intelligence.”

Discord then summoned a catapult right where Shining Armor was standing and it launched him away before he could attack again.

"Attack!" Stone Wall ordered and the guards tried to swarm him but Discord lifted the ground and forced it back doing the same with the guards. A few guards were able to jump off and charged at Discord but he summoned a bowling ball and after walking on his tippy toes, threw the bowling ball knocking the guards down. A big red x appeared in the air and Discord repeated his bowling technique but first spun the ball in the air.

"What are you-"

"More momentum," Discord interrupted Luna and set the ball loose. It went up a rock that acted as a small ramp in this situation and hit Swift Sweep dead on who was still walking funny.

"SWIFT SWEEP!" Luna cried as he was hit so hard he was hit through a wall and another red x appeared. "SWIFT SWEEP SAY SOMETHING PLEASE!"

"FINLAND," he cried out. Shining Armor, Stone Wall, and Squeaky Clean got together around the hole while getting away from Discord's chaos.

"This is getting out of control," Squeaky said.

"That's the general idea! Why haven't you figured that out yet?" Discord replied.

"We need to make a plan and we need to make one now," Stone Wall said.

We can't beat this guy, but Super Stallion can. "Are you crazy?!" Squeaky said in a fake but convincing panicking tone. "We can't stop that monster, I'm running for my life." Squeaky then ran off to find a place to turn into Super Stallion. Shining Armor tried to run after but Stone Wall stopped him.

"Let him go, something tells me he'll come to his senses and be back to help soon."

"I’ve got to remember to change into Super Stallion sooner and save other ponies from the drama of stuff like this," Super Stallion said as he flew to where Discord was. "Time to put a stop to all this insanity."

"Well it looks like I'm finished remodeling here, time to get back to work with the rest of Equestria," Discord said, having made short work of the guards.

"You'll never get away with this Discord!"

"Seriously? I mean I know you're literally over 1000 years old but that's still cliche."

"You know we have a word for creatures like you where I come from!" Suddenly Discord moved the spheres so that the one containing Princess Cadance was facing him.

"I'm comfortable being called a monster, you like there's a different name that's going to hurt my feelings?" Princess Cadence didn't respond and Discord spun the sphere.

"Yeah, think before you talk smack."

"How about instead of talking smack we just settle straight for a smackdown?" Super Stallion said having arrived.

"Look, it's Super Stallion!" A guard cried out.

"Super Stallion will save us!" Another guard cried out.

"That remains to be seen. A lot has changed in Equestria indeed, now it has a superhero."

"You got that right and this superhero is gonna put a stop to all your chaos."

"Will you now?"

"Yes and-" Before Super Stallion could finish Discord lifted off as he prepared to remodel the rest of Equestria more. "Hey!" Super Stallion flew up to Discord in a matter of seconds. "I wasn't done talking to you!"

"But I’m finished listening."

"Let the royal ponies go right now and reset Equestria!"

“No.”

“Listen you goat dragon snake bat thing-"

"I'm a Draconequus."

"In a minute you're going to be a living room rug!" Super Stallion prepared to punch Discord but he dodged and gave Super Stallion a hard smack that hurled him into the castle.

"For all that talk he sure went down fast huh?"

Super Stallion then rubbed off the rubble that got on him. “Okay, stronger than he looks. I’m literally down, but I’m not out.” Super Stallion flew back to Discord ready for round 2. "You're going to have to try harder to take me down."

"I'm way ahead of you." Discord then got out an abnormally large mallet.

"Oh please if you think that'll be enough to stop me I'm more than fast enough to dodge it before-" Super Stallion was cut off again when the mallet opened up and Super Stallion was hit dead on by a boxing glove.

"Is your name Super Stallion, or did you change it to sir blabs a lot?"

"Okay tough guy try this on for size, a massive fire spell!" Super Stallion ignited a huge fire from his horn but Discord quickly countered by summoning a fire house that sprayed water right through the fire and forced Super Stallion to part of the castle walls.

"Oh geez, I wonder what could have prepared me for that attack of yours. I mean it couldn't have been you announcing it right?" Super Stallion picked himself up and flew at Discord to punch him as hard as he could but the spirit of chaos caught his hoof with his claw.

H-He just caught my attack without any trouble at all. Discord then lifted Super Stallion up so that the 2 of them would be at eye level and smiled a crooked smile.

"My turn." Discord then punched Super Stallion in the stomach with his paw sending him flying once again in the opposite direction. This time however was harder and forced Super Stallion into the heart of the castle. "Now we wait."

"Wait for what?" Princess Luna asked.

"To see if he flies away or if he feels like being ragdolled again." Super Stallion momentarily lost his conscience but quickly got back up. As he looked around he noticed he was in the Star Swirl the Bearded wing.

"You've overcome numerous obstacles but they're all nothing compared to what you'll be facing next."

"Is this what he meant by that?" Super Stallion asked as he picked himself up. "I've fought all sorts of baddies but this guy, he's on a whole other level. So what am I supposed to do?" Super Stallion asked himself as he tried to get up.

“Guess he’s down, but I have a feeling we’ll play again,” Discord said.

“And I have a feeling you’re gonna feel,” Shining Armor called out but then paused. “My hoof, when it hits your face,” Shining Armor finished this trying to sound macho.

“So I’m guessing you don’t like him for conversational skills,” Discord said, looking at Cadance.

“Hey! Don’t ignore me!” Shining Armor then used a shield spell to try to force Discord right out of Canterlot. But Discord used his claw arm to flick the shield back and knock him down.

“You make it hard,” Discord said as Shining Armor he got back up

“I’m not giving up until you free Cadance.”

Discord then made Cadance’s bubble disappear along with her wings and horn. “You want her, there she goes.” Cadence started to fall and Shining Armor ran over to catch her but Discord beat him to it with his tail. Causing Shining Armor to land on his face.

“So I’m guessing you don’t like him for his foresight,” Discord said to Cadance. Shining Armor then repeatedly tried to grab Cadance, but Discord or rather his tail was too fast. “Not quite, too slow, keep trying, come on she’s 2 feet in front of you for crying out loud.”

“SHUT UP!”

“No,” Discord teleported to a nearby wall and made a door appear. “Catch you later, I have a deal to complete.” After Discord walked through the door, Shining Armor ran and forced it open only to see another door.

“What the?” Shining Armor then forced that door open but another was there as Discord summoned numerous doors and a big surprise right behind the last one.

***

Far away from decent society there's a prison that currently houses half a dozen abnormally dangerous criminals who had actually gotten to know each other rather well. "A disembodied voice? Give me a break," Weather Warper said as she and the other 5 prisoners were all sitting around together.

"It's the truth I'm telling you!" Dr. Arachnid replied with Scar Flank and Emo Pony backing him up.

"So this whatever it's supposed to be said if you made things chaotic he'd return the favor or something?"

"Pretty much," Emo Pony answered Weather Warper.

"Well I'd like to see that." Suddenly the prison wall was pulled off seemingly on its own. The 6 turned around to see Discord had moved the wall and flew in with the royal ponies still trapped in bubbles. "What is that thing?"

"What's it doing here?" Gentlemen Thief asked.

"I believe the technical term is a jailbreak," Discord answered.

"Wait a second I recognize that voice," Scar Flank said. "It's the voice, he does have a body, a very weird one."

"I have a name too, Discord, the spirit of chaos and disharmony.”

“Discord?” Gentleman Thief said in disbelief.

“You know him?” Dr. Arachnid asked.

“I know of him. He’s an ancient creature that ruled this land long ago until the royal pony sisters stopped him. I read about him in storybooks and ancient fables.”

“I thought I had all those burnt,” Princess Celestia said.

“You 3 were able to help me get free, well you all helped out in some way so to repay you consider this an early parole." The prison guards showed up in an attempt to stop Discord who snapped his fingers and made a baseball bat appear.

"What the heck is he doing auntie?" Discord then picked up the baseball bat and practice swung with it a couple times as he approached the spheres. "Oh no he's not."

"Batter up!" Discord hit each of the spheres and they went flying, knocking into the guards and breaking the prison even more. "My name is Discord and I am here to say, with a big smile I'll be brightening up your day. You don't need to ask why or how it's just what I love to do and in return you can help me make my dream come true. See I love to make chaos chaos chaos oh yes I do, spread it here to there to even the places with a seance."

"What?" Dr. Arachnid couldn't help but comment.

"Look sometimes the rhyming works better than others buddy, you want to get out of prison or not?"

"Don’t interrupt the song!" Scar Flank said as he and the other villains turned to face Dr. Arachnid.

"Sorry, please continue."

"All I need's some chaos, chaos, chaos all around. First I make it and quickly make it gleam, perhaps rather simple but that is my dream. But if I see some harmony that's gonna make me frown, so I'll use my magic to turn it upside down. Cause I love to make chaos chaos chaos oh yes I do, seeing it all around me just makes me grin grin grin."

"Wait a minute, chaos doesn't rhyme with grin," A prisoner commented.

"What did I literally just say?"

"Well I just think you can make the extra effort I mean not taking the time to fix that just seems lazy on the part of whoever is-" The prisoner was cut off by an anvil landing right on him.

"Rather old fashioned but got my point across." Discord then cleared his throat. "For so long my days were dark and gloomy and yes that's rather sad, but now that I'm free it isn't nearly so bad. The 1 thing that makes me happy and makes my life worthwhile is the beauty and glory of chaos." Discord then stopped to see if anyone was going to interrupt him again but they saw the look in eyes and kept quiet.

"I truly am so happy and fills me with utter glee, spreading and spreading chaos for all to see. Cause I love to make it bloom, bloom, bloom quite frankly what more do I have to do to make you see. It makes me happy chaos chaos chaos it always makes my day come on everypony chaos chaos chaos fills my heart with utter sunshine sunshine. All I really need is chaos chaos chaos oh potential minions of mine. Come on, everypony chaos chaos chaos fills my heart with utter sunshine, sunshine. All I really need is chaos chaos chaos oh potential minions of mine, yes the perfect gift for me is chaos wider than a mile. Makes me happy as can be, chaos chaos, let's spread some chaos, let's spread some chaos."

"His singing quality is something to be desired but at the same time I admire the passion behind it," Gentleman Thief commented.

"Plus we can escape now," Weather Warper said.

"I'm starting to wonder why I spend so much time with you."

"Well wonder later pal, let's get out of here before that guy changes his mind." The prisoners quickly ran off as the chaos kept the guards from stopping them.

"How could you just let all those prisoners run off?" Princess Cadance asked.

"With a song in my heart, weren't you listening?"

"I'm sick of being forced to watch you do all these horrible things, if I could just get out of this bubble!" With a snap of Discord’s Cadance was out of the bubble and Discord quickly got in her face.

"You were saying?" Discord asked, causing Cadance to tremble and shake.

"W-Well I'm really more of a lover than a fighter, I mean I'm sure if we could just open a dialect or something we can work out our problems, don't you think?" Cadance then laughed very nervously.

"Yeah, who's the coward now?" Prince Blueblood asked as he crossed his front legs and made a smug expression.

"No I don't." Discord then snapped his fingers again and placed her back in the sphere. Discord then made his way out of the prison and came across a certain 6 ponies. They and other former prisoners stopped shortly after escaping, surprised by the sheer randomness they were seeing. Others however didn't really care at all about the chaos and continued to run off.

"This is just, wow."

"Took the words right out of my mouth, Weather Warper," Gentleman Thief added.

"Admiring my work." The 6 turned around and despite seeing what he did at the prison, were still surprised by what they just heard.

"You did all this?" Pony Ivy asked who was perhaps the most shocked of all.

"Quite some unique visuals you thought up," Emo Pony said.

"Thanks I'm planning on remodeling all of Equestria like this."

"A-All of Equestria?" Dr. Arachnid asked.

"Yes I think I'll get back to that."

"Hold on a minute!" Scar Flank said, stopping Discord before flying off. "We got you out of whatever prison you were in so aren't we entitled to some kind of reward?"

"You mean besides getting out of prison?"

"He presents a fine point to you, my potential comrade."

"Shut it pal!" Scar Flank nearly snarled at Gentleman Thief.

"Well I suppose you deserve a little something, extra for all the help." With the snap of his fingers Discord made a small hill of bits appear below Scar Flank who was overcome with joy. Discord then the Gentleman Thief’s staff as well as numerous black crystals. Emo Pony got a large bag of his spheres while Weather Warper got her staff back as well as her suit. Dr. Arachnid saw a pony sized bird cage appear in front of him with a bound and gagged Sapphire Shores inside it. She was very frightened as to what was going on.

"It's like Hearts Warming on my birthday," Dr. Arachnid said.

"And that just leaves you nature boy." Discord then made a forest appear around the prison. "Happy?"

"Uh, yeah, I guess."

"Good, then I’m off." Discord then flew off and Super Stallion wasn't far behind. He was looking for the spirit of chaos in the air and saw a forest suddenly appear. Super Stallion used his magic to make a large boulder appear.

"I'm going to hit him so hard with this, he’ll get a lump long enough to go to the moon." Discord saw Super Stallion and got back to the ground to make a hole to go in right before Super Stallion could hit him with the boulder. "What the? Where did he go?" Suddenly more holes appeared around Super Stallion.

"Whack me!" Instinctively Super Stallion picked up the boulder and tried again, but missed again. "Whack me! Whack me! Whack me!" Every time Super Stallion tried to hit Discord with the boulder he would go down one of the holes and pop out another. Super Stallion kept at it, but quickly tried himself out by going too fast. Discord then came out a hole right behind Super Stallion and bonked him so hard, his whole body fell into the ground. "Well hope you had fun with your little workout. I need to check on something in the chaos capital." And with that, Discord vanished. Just as Super Stallion crawled out.

"The chaos capital?" Discord's head then appeared on its own.

"Ponyville." The head then vanished.

***

"Fine with friends like you who needs, enemies?" Twilight then turned gray like her friends after a failed attempt to return Discord to stone.

"No Twilight, don't give up!" Princess Celestia cried out in vain since she and the other royal ponies were placed so high up, Twilight couldn't hear her.

"Sister, we have to do something," Luna said.

"I fear there's nothing we can do," Cadance said.

"This is awful," Celestia said.

"Don't talk like that auntie, we can't give up hope," Blueblood pleaded.

"Why not? That sounds good to me?" Discord asked. Discord then conjured a flute, used it once, then made it disappear. "Eons of boring harmony, and without a chaotic holiday, but now that I am back and it's time for me to play. Now at last hope is running out and is being left out in the cold, which is good because this love and friendship nonsense has long gotten old."

"Um auntie, didn't he just finish a song?"

"The time has come to welcome chaos and all things weird and random, and that's certainly saying a lot when you talk about this crazy fandom. No pony is coming to help, there's nothing any of them can do, and if you think otherwise I'm afraid you don't have a clue. Harmony wrap up harmony wrap up, you can no longer keep me at bay. Harmony wrap up harmony wrap up, and now chaos is here to stay here to stay."

"Auntie, I want to go home!"

"Finally brought back from so long ago that's where my job began, clearing all the boring order to let the chaos in, removing harmony to show a chaotic glow from cotton candy clouds to some rainbow snow. Harmony wrap up harmony wrap up, you can no longer keep me at bay, harmony wrap up harmony wrap up, and now chaos is here to stay here to stay. Under Canterlot I practically hibernated in the crystal and rocks now that I'm finally free let me tell you it feels nice. Now that I'm finally no longer trapped down below I can do whatever I want and watch my chaos grow."

"That one part didn't rhyme," Cadance commented.

"You try it some time, it’s harder than it looks. Now where was I? Eh, I'll just do the catchy part again. Harmony wrap up harmony wrap up, you can no longer keep me at bay. Harmony wrap up harmony wrap up, cause now chaos is here to stay, harmony wrap up harmony wrap up, cause chaos is here to stay, cause chaos is here to stay. Now that I'm finally off the ground and planting my chaotic seeds creating various things, quite a few of which I feed. Cotton candy clouds, chocolate rain, ice cream homes too. I've already done so much but I still have a lot to do. Harmony wrap up harmony wrap up, you can no longer keep me at bay, harmony wrap up harmony wrap up, and now chaos is here to stay here to stay, and now chaos is here to st-ay."

"Celestia he can't be right can he?"

"No he isn't Luna, somepony will find a way to stop him."

"Don't bet on it, sun butt. You should know there's nothing you can do. Your ponies have been put in your place and with my chaotic heart, there's nothing you ponies can do I can't face. It's about time that I finally got my way, so let's see what more chaos I can do today, do today. Harmony wrap up harmony wrap up, you can no longer keep me at bay. Harmony wrap up harmony wrap up, cause chaos is here to stay. Harmony wrap up harmony wrap up, cause chaos is here to stay, cause chaos is here to stay, cause chaos is here to st-ay."

"Not on my watch!" Super Stallion said arriving.

"You again, this is getting old."

"I'll fight you 1000 times if I have to!"

"Well aren't you determined, but come on it's now so bad making everything chaotic is it?"

"It is when you make everypony in Equestria miserable in the process."

“Ah it’s not so bad. Tell you what, do you like pie?"

"I guess." Suddenly Super Stallion was hit smack in the face by a banana cream pie. "Ugh! How did I not see that coming?"

"I don't know," Discord answered as he started laughing. Suddenly Super Stallion was hit all over by several other pies.

"That's not funny!"

"It doesn't have to be funny to be a classic." Super Stallion then charged Discord who quickly whacked him with his tail. "Don't you get it pal, you're outmatched!"

"I am Super Stallion, I am the beacon of hope that shines all throughout Equestria, I am not meant to lose or be defeated, I fight for truth, justice, and all things love and friendship."

"Well somepony certainly has a high opinion of himself." Super Stallion then sucker punched Discord forcing his head to the right. Discord looked at Super Stallion and gave him a death glare. "Okay, now I'm mad." Discord then stretched out his paw to punch Super Stallion in the gut and Super Stallion flew back after the assault.

"That hurt, but that’s not enough.” Super Stallion then charged straight at Discord ready to punch him and use the extra momentum to make it hurt all the more. Discord however was able to effortlessly catch it.

"Because this worked so well the first time right?" Super Stallion was assaulted with a series of punches, kicks, and tail whacks on not just his stomach but his head, legs, and back. Super Stallion, who hardly had any energy to fly, was still in the air because Discord was holding his cape.

"G-Give up yet?"

"Optimistic aren't we? But that's not going to get you through this. You've had your fun playing superhero, but now it's time for chaos to have its day. So why don't you get lost and stay that way!" With 1 last punch to the face Super Stallion was hurled down to the ground and created a small crater upon impact. Super Stallion tried to get up but was barely able to move at all.

"Princess Celestia, I'll save you, somehow," Super Stallion said right before he lost consciousness.

"Well now that that's all done and taken care of, on with the chaos."

Chapter 12 Chaos the Musical part 2

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"You mentioned a bunch of other trouble makers and villains you've defeated in the past, but you never mentioned him. He's the worst one of all isn't he?"

"The others, for as bad as they were, at least had a reason or a rhyme to what they were doing."

"What do you mean Princess Celestia?"

"Tirek had a lust for power and Chrysalis, queen of changelings, has troubled mine and other kingdoms to provide food for her subjects. They had some motivation for what they were doing."

"But, Discord doesn't?"

"No, he does it just because he enjoys making other creatures miserable. There's only 1 word to describe a creature like that. A monster."

***

Super Stallion regained his consciousness and tried to get up, or even move. "This creature is more powerful than anything I've ever fought. But there has to be a way to defeat him," Super Stallion said as he slowly got back up. He was sore all over because of his recent full body beating from the spirit of chaos.

"Super Stallion! Super Stallion!" Spike called out as he ran towards Super Stallion.

"Spike?"

"When I heard the crash of something landing here I came to investigate, what happened?"

"Discord happened."

"What? You can beat that guy, he's a pushover."

"No he isn't I-I can’t beat him. I've tried several times and I haven't even slowed him down."

"Don't talk like that, it's horrible enough Twilight ran away but now you're about to give up too."

"Wait, Twilight ran away?"

"I don't know what happened. She came in, packed some stuff, and headed out the door. I tried to stop her but she wouldn't listen. I was thinking up ways to get the sense back into her not too long after that I heard the crash."

"Twilight, the Elements of Harmony, hop on my back Spike we need to find Twilight and fast." Spike did as Super Stallion asked and he flew off. Twilight and her friends can use the Elements of Harmony which can defeat Discord. Discord must have brainwashed her or something so they wouldn't use them. While still pretty hurt, Super Stallion was able to quickly fly and saw Twilight just outside Ponyville.

"Twilight wait," Spike said after Super Stallion got to where she was.

"You finally decided to join me in the move?"

"No, we need you to get your friends together and use the Elements of Harmony to put Discord in stone again," Super Stallion said.

"I already tried that but my so-called friends and I couldn't do it."

Spike jumped off Super Stallion and went towards Twilight. "Uh yeah, because you tried it without Rainbow Dash. I mean I know I'm a really good assistant but that doesn't mean you can just make me the new element of loyalty."

"Well it doesn't matter, my friends couldn't stay together to help me stop Discord so what good are they?"

"Stop feeling sorry for yourself Twilight," Spike said. "If you or Super Stallion don't stop Discord, who will?"

"He's right, hope is all we have at this point so we can't give that up," Super Stallion said.

"Twilight please come back to the library with me. We can figure out how to stop Discord together."

"Twilight, are you really fine with living in Equestria while it's in a state like this?" As the 2 continued Twilight's color slowly returned. "Discord knows you can stop him, that's why he did whatever he did to you."

"Besides Twilight don't you remember all the great times we've had with all our friends?" Spike asked. "You can't let Discord stop us from making other great times with them." Suddenly Twilight's color fully returned and she came to her senses.

"You're right we can't give up if we don't stop Discord, who will?" Twilight then pulled Spike and Super Stallion into a hug, very grateful that the 2 snapped her out of Discord's spell. "Super Stallion, can you fly around and see if you can find Rainbow Dash somewhere? She's a pegasus with a sky blue coat and her mane and tail are rainbow."

"I'll get right on it." Super Stallion then flew off while Twilight prepared to find the rest of the mane 6 and get them to remember who they really are just as Super Stallion and Spike did for her.

***

Discord was making his way back to Canterlot on a canoe he was sailing in the sky with an oar. "Oh my wonderful, oh my wonderful, oh my wonderful chaos, this song's in the public domain so I don't have to worry about copyright."
"Enjoy your fun while it lasts Discord because it won't be forever."

"Am I gonna have to gag you sun butt? Actually I might do that anyway."

"Auntie maybe you shouldn't antagonize the creature that treats reality like it's nonessential." Discord then made the canoe go down as he was directly above the castle.

"All right back here I think I can actually do a little more here."

"Thou hath done enough thine swill!"

"Other auntie!"

“You won’t get away with this,” Cadance said.

“And how do you figure that exactly?” Discord asked.

“Well,” Cadance paused.

“I’m listening,” Discord said.

“Super Stallion or Twilight will find a way. And if they team up with Shining Armor then you’ll really be in trouble.”

“Seriously, what do you see in that stallion?”

“He has all sorts of good traits,” Cadence answered with gusto.

“Oh yeah like what?”

“He never gives up.”

“Yeah, speaking of which. Do you think he was stubborn enough to open every single one of those doors that I-”

Suddenly a rather loud explosion came from Canterlot and Discord got his answer.

Below, at the castle Stone Wall finally managed to make his way to Shining Armor who was on the ground as a result of opening the last door.

“A bomb that releases chocolate milk,” Stone Wall said in disbelief. “We’re dealing with a tyrannical stallion colt.”

“That’s reality altering tyrannical stallion colt,” Discord said as he lowered down

"You got some nerve coming back here after what you did," Shining Armor said who managed to get back up.

"Thirsty for more? Get it, thirsty?”

"The royal guard doesn't give up that easily." Shining Armor then blasted a spell that was so fast it actually hit Discord right in the face and knocked him down. "Hey I got him, don't worry Cadance, I'll get you out of there in just a minute." Discord then got right back up and hit Shining Armor so hard that the poor stallion went through a window.

"Now that was rude, your sister at least had manners." Hearing that Shining Armor got right back up ready to fire at Discord again.

"Twily? What did you do with my sister!?"

"Let's just say she's a horse of a different color now," Discord answered who flew through the window. Shining Armor then fired another spell but this time Discord was ready for him and dodged it. Before Shining Armor could fire another spell Discord summoned a long saw and started cutting the floor around Shining Armor.

"What are you Do-" Shining Armor suddenly fell to the floor below as Discord finished cutting a hole around him with the saw.

"Hey ugly!" Stone Wall called out to Discord who didn't even turn his head. He did however summon a barrier that, while cracked, managed to block his spell.

"My my, you clearly have magical powers far beyond that of normal unicorns," Discord said, finally turning around.

"That much you at least got right." Stone Wall then fired yet another spell that Discord blocked with a stronger barrier.

"Did you ever learn the definition of insanity? Insanity is doing the exact-" Discord stopped when he noticed the barrier started to crack. "Huh? Still?" Stone Wall's spell was able to break through the barrier this time and launched Discord back into the wall. "These ponies are strong."

"Shining Armor! Anytime you want to get back up here and back me up is all right with me!" Shining Armor was able to do just that and turned to the captain of the guard.

"I landed on my spine, give me a break!"

"I'll give you one when we deal with this guy."

"You're going to need a lot more lucky shots to "deal" with me," Discord said, who despite getting hit dead on, was able to get right back up almost as if it was nothing."

"Shining you thinking what I'm thinking?" Shining Armor didn't even have to respond because he knew he was. Stone Wall and Shining Armor put their horns together and combined their spells to make them all the more stronger and launched them at Discord.

"Uh, yeah no." Discord then made his claw arm so big it could almost fill up the nearby hallway. He then used the super big claw to block the combined spell of the 2 guard ponies.

"Give it more power, Shining!"

"I'm on it captain!" Shining Armor and Stone Wall tried harder but stopping a spirit of chaos and disharmony was a little bit out of their range of expertise. Discord's large claw arm reached out and grabbed the 2 stallions who were forced to stop their magic.

"Chaos's glow is warming the streets and everywhere else in fact isn't it sweet?"

"Is this guy singing?" Stone Wall asked.

"Yeah he does that a lot," Prince Blueblood answered.

"And I don't like being interrupted!" Discord then tossed the guards to the floor and continued yet another one of his songs. "Everything changed so much there's no longer meaning, you can't stop me, what good is intervening?"

"Is that so!?" Stone Wall charged at Discord, ready to blast him up close who simply made a hole on the floor right below him. Thinking quickly Stone Wall fired at the hole to give him a boost and not fall. "You ponies love harmony so much it's practically a holiday but it's so much better to have it out of the way."

"For who?" Shining Armor called out but before he could even think of an attack Discord made a saw cut around Shining Armor causing him to fall.

"What is it with you ponies interrupting my songs? Anyway, say goodbye to harmony with my magic I've all but erased it." Stone Wall and Shining Armor when he got back up tried to blast him with spells but he either blocked or dodged them. "That is the truth, says me, so you'll just have to face it. It's as I've literally just said and I find it quite lovely it's time to say goodbye to harmony." Discord then stretched out his limbs and tail which bounced off the wall several times and hitting Stone Wall and Shining Armor a dozen times.

"Go ahead and try that again!" Shining Armor conjured his barrier around him only for Discord to break it when all his limbs and his tail hit the barrier at once and forced him into the wall.

"Goodbye harmony you've had your run, goodbye harmony, it's over you're done! Having finally been set free I've made it a chaotic celebration. It's 1 giant party, here are the invitations." Discord gave the 2 guards an invitation only for them to literally blow up in their faces.

"I think I'm starting to hate him," Stone Wall said.

"The only holiday on the calendar will be Chaos Appreciation Day and believe me my power is up to the test. It's finally time and it's still lovely, say goodbye to harmony. I've gotten rid of it so quickly it's funny. Soon even its memory will fade away with Equestria's overnight transformation, no more will ponies say harmony is great after today, after today." Discord then countered both the guards' spells at once. "That'll be enough of that," Discord said and then he quickly hurled the 2 guards away before they could cast another spell at him. Stone Wall however used magic to get him and Shining Armor surrounded my magical auras and placed them not too far from where Discord was.

"Nice work captain," Shining said.

"It's too early for compliments, Shining Armor."

"Yeah you're right, come on captain round 2!"

"No," Stone Wall replied bluntly.

"No? What are you talking about?"

"We aren't enough to stop that thing Shining Armor."

"But he still has Cadance! A-And the other royal ponies too. You aren't suggesting we just give up are you?"

"Of course not, that's the last thing I would suggest. But what we're doing clearly isn't working and us repeating that process won't get the royal ponies free. Here's what we're going to do: we're going to search the library and the armory for any and all things that might be able to help us. And round us the guards as well."

"Okay but." Shining stopped not wanting to finish his thought.

"But?"

"But what if that doesn't work either captain?"

"Then I'll go straight after Discord with everything I got. Because I don't care how powerful he is, I'm not going to let anything make me feel like I can't do anything. Now come on with all this chaos, staying in 1 place too long is a bad idea." Stone Wall then walked off and Shining Armor quickly followed who was rather moved by the words of his captain.

"We're coming Cadance," Shining Armor said to himself.

"Well that was a little frustrating but with any luck that will be the last of the resistance I get from you ponies," Discord said.

"Don't bet on it," Princess Celestia said to herself.

"Um Mr. Discord?" Prince Blueblood said.

"Mr?" Discord couldn't help but comment.

"Are you going to let us go now, I mean aren't you bored of luging us around?" Blueblood asked, hoping to reason for his freedom and the freedom of the other royal ponies.

"You actually make a good point."

"I do? I mean, of course I do."

"I wasn't planning on pulling you 4 around forever, just for a little while. And while the playful banter we've had was enjoyable, it's run its course. Or at least it will."

"So when can you let me, I mean us go?" Discord then caused the spheres to shrink dramatically and put all 4 together right next to one another.

"Hmm, have to think about that one." Discord then lifted Celestia's sphere on the far left and let go. This caused Luna's sphere on the far right to move up and quickly went back to its original position. Celestia’s sphere moved again and the process continued as Discord sat next to the royal ponies. "Have to think about it indeed."

***

Super Stallion, having located Rainbow Dash, brought her to Twilight library by force. There Twilight was able to return her back to normal as she did with the same with the rest of the mane 6. "Uh, what happened? Did we defeat Discord?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Not yet, but now that we're all back together we can get right on that," Twilight answered and then used her magic to place the Element of Loyalty on Rainbow's neck. "Now let's go get rid of all this chaos and save Equestria."

"Yeah go get him girls!" Spike said rather loudly but filled with cheer.

"Don't get too excited Spike," Twilight said. "It still may take us a while to stop Discord. First of all we don't even know where he is." Suddenly a large chaotic boom happened not very far away from the library. "Though I have a pretty good idea." The mane 6 headed out and Super Stallion flew out the window to back them up.

"It won't be long now Princess Celestia." Discord, who moved his throne to Ponyville said. He then summoned a glass with chocolate milk in it but drank the glass and threw the chocolate milk which exploded.

"Just how much chocolate milk are you going to blow up Discord?"

"As much as I want to sun butt, chaos is a wonderful thing."

"Not as wonderful as friendship."

"Wow, you honestly said that? Oh and look, you brought the "superhero" good for you. So the gang's all back together."

"That's right you couldn't separate our friendship for long." Suddenly Applejack tried to punch Discord but was lifted into the air and came towards Discord who was using his chaos magic to lift her by her element.

"Oh so suddenly you're the smart pony huh? Well, let's see how much your rump knows about flying." Discord then flung Applejack, but luckily Super Stallion was able to catch her before she got too far.

"Are you okay?"

"Yea, thanks to y'all." Super Stallion then brought Applejack back with the others. Discord then made large rocks appear separating the group, Super Stallion acted again though and smashed the rocks into pieces.

"You'll have to do better than that!"

"I intend to," Discord replied and with the snap of his fingers made a very large ball of water appear in the air.

"What in the world is that supposed to do?" Applejack asked but then suddenly the giant water ball dropped that briefly flooded the area and scattered the mane 6.

"Well I guess they're all, ah you know what forget it that's too cheesy even for me."

"I'll cheese you!" Super Stallion called out after getting the mane 6 out of the water with help from Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash. The ponies there including the royal ones as well as Discord gave Super Stallion a rather bizarre stare. "I don't know, it's been a long day okay. I’m tired."

"Technically it's been about a month with the sun and moon going up and down a lot," Discord commented.

"Whatever, I'm sick of your chaos and it's time to put an end to it." Super Stallion then flew straight at Discord.

"You're honestly trying this again?" Super Stallion fired a beam at Discord who reflected it back at him by summoning a mirror in front of him. Super Stallion quickly dodged his own spell and punched the mirror to get to Discord but he managed to dodge. "That's 7 years of bad luck stupid stallion."

"Meeting you has given me 7 years worth of bad luck rolled into 1 day, or month, or whatever."

"Well you know I try." Discord then summoned a giant boxing glove and had it hit Super Stallion who was somewhat able to catch it but before he could throw it back it popped like a balloon.

"I can't take much more of this nonsense." Super Stallion flew over to Discord who suddenly disappeared and popped out of the ground. Half of his body stretched out and rammed Super Stallion right in the gut. “Keep it up, I can take everything you throw at me,” Super Stallion said, fighting the pain.

“Well half of me believe you,” Discord said as his tail quietly popped out of the ground and quietly made its way to Super Stallion. “But the other half, that’s another story.” Discord’s tail then grabbed Super Stallion and slammed him into the ground.

"That really looked like it hurt Twilight. Do you think he's okay?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"I'm not sure, all the more reason to get the group back together again." Super Stallion flew up, ready to keep fighting as Discord came out of the ground to do the same.

"While you were prepared to do your best, and thought you could handle any test. There's nothing you can do against my tricks. You are utterly unprepared for my tricks. While beating ponies that went bad was a breeze, I can take you down with ease." Discord then swatted Super Stallion with his tail. Super Stallion got back up quickly and tried to hit Discord with all his legs only for him to block all of them and quickly grabbed all of them. "Got you."

"Not quite!" Super Stallion hit Discord with a powerful freeze spell trapping him in a big block of ice. "Looks like the lord of chaos finally chilled-" Discord then broke free of the ice before Super Stallion could finish his joke. "1 day."

"I can take you down with complete and utter bliss, face the fact you aren't prepared for this." Discord then delivered yet another pummeling to Super Stallion "You will fail I'm a test you will not pass, that much is sure. It matters not if you have a mind that's sharp, literal superpowers, or a heart that's pure. You've done what you could to maintain harmony, but now there's not a chunk of it to see. Oh no you weren't, oh no you weren't, oh no you weren't prepared for me-e." After finishing the pummeling as well as the song Super Stallion still charged right at Discord.

Discord grabbed Super Stallion with his tail. “What are you, a glutton for punishment?”

Discord was grabbed by Super Stallion and slammed into the ground and pinned "Now you're going to get some punishment!" Super Stallion was about to blast Discord with a spell at point blank range but Discord wrapped his tail around Super Stallion's neck. After choking him a little to get him to lose concentration, he flung Super Stallion.

"That was actually kind of a close one but once again I came out on top." Discord then stretched his tail out to grab Super Stallion and forced him to hit the ground a dozen times before bringing his tail back over to himself with Super Stallion still wrapped around it. "Has it gotten through that very abnormally thick skull head of yours? You aren't going to win no matter how many times you try."

"I don't have to win," Super Stallion said as he saw the mane 6 get together from the corner of his eye. "I just have to make sure that you lose."

"Oh you mean how you tried to distract me long enough so Twilight and friends could blast me back to stone when they got back together?" Super Stallion dropped his jaw and it nearly hit the ground. "That's right I knew all along." Discord snapped his fingers and the mane 6 were trapped in small cages and were lifted off the ground. The cages circled around Discord, but not as close as the royal ponies were as a means to keep them separated.

"Hey let us out now!" Rainbow Dash demanded.

"I'm surprised it took you so long to get back together yet again, I mean I know I almost drowned you but what were you doing tip hoofing?"

"It didn't take us that long," Applejack pointed out.

"I had time to do another song."

"How could you have figured out my plan was to distract you?”

"Oh please, I’ve heard you ponies talk and live your lives for centuries. I'm the master of the pony mind. I know what you're all thinking even now."

"Yeah right," Pinkie Pie said. "No pony can guess what I'm thinking." With yet another snap of his fingers Discord made an ice cream sundae that was taller than Pinkie Pie appear. The sundae contained bits of cookies, cake, ice cream cake, soda, and toast within it and the second she saw it, Pinkie gobbled the whole thing up. "Oh wow, that was delicious."

"Are you going to finish that?" Discord asked.

"What do you mean, I did finish it."

"Not quite." Discord then made the container of the sundae appear in his paw and he gobbled it up. "Oh now that hits the spot. Now let me see where was I? Ah yes, you 6 have found the Elements of Harmony well I can't have you using them. So instead of hiding them again perhaps I'll just store you all away in different isolated areas where you'll never be able to escape.

"What?! No! You can't do that," Rarity cried out.

"Yeah you're right if I do that you can't enjoy my chaos, plus I'll probably be constantly checking said places to make sure you're still there. What to do, what to do, you might want to go for a quick fly Super Stallion, this might take a while." Discord then made his tail like a catapult and launched him far into the sky. Once again, Super Stallion made a small crater this time however he didn't black out and got right back up.

"You've got to be kidding me," Super Stallion said to himself. "Why can't we just beat this guy? I'm not ready for this kind of threat. I can't handle this." Super Stallion was on the verge of crying but took a few deep breaths and came to his senses. "I can't give up, I have to keep fighting, but I can't just fly back over there. I am so sick of getting beat up by that guy."

"Now on top of the royal ponies, I have to rescue Twilight’s group too. Maybe there's some other form of Equestrian magic that can beat him. Star Swirl's journal might have something about that in it. But I can't waste time reading it for something it only might have while that lunatic runs free. Maybe I should try to free the bearers, but I'm going to need a distraction and not just any distraction, something to really get his attention."

"Well maybe we can do that for you." Super Stallion turned around and was surprised to see Dr. Arachnid who was joined by Pony Ivy, Weather Warper, Gentleman Thief, Emo Pony, and Scar Flank.

"What are you all doing here?"

"We were freed from prison by Discord but shortly after, we saw the state he put our land in," Dr. Arachnid answered.

"All these bits and nothing to spend it on," Scar Flank mentioned.

"I'm a great flier but even me showing off can't compare to the chaos," Weather Warper said.

"On top of that the chaos makes it nearly impossible for my thrill seeking ventures of locating valuable possessions," Gentleman Thief said.

"Yeah, plus I don't think all this nonsense is good for the environment," Pony Ivy mentioned.

"And who has time to freak out because of my spheres when they're freaking out because of the chaos," Emo Pony said.

"In one way or another, none of us wished Equestria to be in such a terrible fate, though he did give me a bound and gagged Sapphire Shores in a cage, so you know that was really nice," Dr. Arachnid mentioned.

"Is there going to be a point to any of this?"

"I was getting to that!" Dr. Arachnid snapped before calming down. "We thought we might reason with him but quickly figured that wouldn't work in the slightest so we decided to look for you."

"Me?" Super Stallion asked very confused but also relieved he most likely wouldn't have to fight the 6 villains in front of him.

At least for now.

"Yes you, and my incredible brain figured you would be fighting Discord with you being a superhero and all. When we saw the giant water ball we arrived in Ponyville just in time to see Discord launch you out of the town, again that was fun but I'm kind of burying the lead here."

"Ya think?" Super Stallion noted.

"We want to help you stop Discord and return harmony to our land."

"But don't get used to our help, this is just a temporary truce."

"Scar Flank is right, as soon as Discord is defeated we go back to being enemies," Weather Warper said.

"I can deal with that, for now let's find Discord." Super Stallion quickly took to the sky and the villain 6 followed. Weather Warper was carrying Scar Flank who used magic to carry Dr. Arachnid while Gentleman Thief did the same for Emo Pony you did the same for Pony Ivy.

Super Stallion led the way on the hunt for Discord to finally stop him once and for all.

***

After beating Super Stallion again, Discord brought all of his hostages to Canterlot just outside the castle. Discord freed Twilight Sparkle by making her cage disappear. "What are you doing? Why are you freeing only me?"
"Well I was thinking I could hide the Elements of Harmony again but really when you think about it I only need to hide 1."

"Do you really think I'm just going to give you my element?"

"Do you really think your compliance is a factor?"

"Why are you doing all this, there isn't a point to any of the stuff?"

"I feel like I've been here before, have I been here before?"

"Please you can stop all of this right now if you wanted to," Twilight pleaded.

"Yeah that's true too bad I don't want to, too bad for you that is, not for me."

"Discord, I don't think you're evil," Twilight said to everypony’s surprise, including Discord.

"Well do you now, but you know the thing about chaos you don't need to be evil to cause or make it. But then there's the matter I was talking about that little element on your head." Discord then poked Twilight gently on the head. "So how about you just give me that and we make this a lot easier for the both of us, especially you."

"No I won't do it and you can't make me," Twilight said holding her ground suddenly Discord made a series of weapons appear in the air to Twilight's shock.

"Well I don't know about that." Twilight then slowly backed away as Discord grabbed a sword and a mace. "Well I guess it's gonna be the hard way. Last chance."

"N-no, I won't do it, I don't care what you do."

"All right then."

"NO!" Princess Celestia yelled. "Don't hurt her!"

"Oh how sweet, what to protect the pony that does all your dirty work. Too bad there’s nothing you can do."

"Not her, but I can do something!" Super Stallion said as he appeared from the sky.

"Maybe if I stop setting up cues for this guy he'll stop showing up."

"You're going down Discord," Super Stallion said ready to fight again but Discord just laughed hearing that.

"You talk like you actually have a chance at stopping me."

"As long as there's breath in my lungs-"

"Oh please stop will you," Discord interrupted. "It's getting old, actually it got old in the last chapter."

"What?"

"No we're not bringing back that joke from the first story if you can even call it the 1st story if it's just a continuation of another writer's idea."

"What?" Super Stallion asked again, even more confused.

"What did I just say?"

"This guy's crazy, Super Stallion said out loud.

"You're just figuring that out now?" Twilight asked. While they were talking, the mean 6 got behind Discord sneaking to the cages holding the rest of the mane 6. Before arriving there Super Stallion told them about a plan he had. He would keep Discord busy while they would free the mane 6 so they can use their Elements of Harmony.

"Have you at least got any new tricks?" Discord asked.

"Well I was working on this new spell and now's as good a time as any to give it a field test." Super Stallion then ignited a huge light from his horn in Discord's direction and charged at him. With Discord temporarily blinded, Super Stallion was going to punch him as hard as he could. However Discord, who was wearing sunglasses, caught his hoof.

"How half baked can you get?" Discord grabbed Super Stallion's neck with his tail and used a series of kicks to send him to the ground and close to where Twilight was. Discord then sat in mid air and was now wearing a tank top and had a black mohawk. "Did I ever tell you the very definition of insanity? Insanity is doing the exact same thing over and over, thinking this time it's going to be different."

"What? That can't be right," Super Stallion said.

"Actually it is, repeating the same action but expecting different results. I think he's trying to tell you something." After Twilight finished Discord made the mohawk and tang top disappear.

"Right you are Twilight now back to my insanity point." Discord snapped his fingers making the mean 6 who weren't able to free anypony appear in front of him. "Trying to keep my attention while waiting for others to do something to help you, you tried that already remember?”

"Well then maybe we can lend a helping hoof in his operation," Stone Wall said with Shining Armor standing next to him and numerous members of the royal guard.

"Well well somepony has been busy," Discord said not at all intimidated by the reinforcements.

"Guards attack!" The royal guards charged at Discord, but he merely summoned a giant fly swatter and hit them all at once. Shining Armor, Stone Wall, and a few others managed to dodge however. The ones that dodged charged their horns but Discord simply put Princess Celestia's bubble in the line of fire causing the guards to stop.

"Discord you coward! How dare you use me as a shield while you do nothing!"

"Rather big talk for somepony that makes her student do all her dirty work, don't you think sun butt." Pinkie snickered to herself hearing the nickname for Princess Celestia again.

"My sister and I are no longer connected to the Elements of Harmony. I needed to rely on her and her friends to do things for the good of Equestria."

"And now what I'm doing is for the good of chaos." Discord then sent the spheres and cages around to attack the guards and then turned to the mean 6 "Now what about you 6?"

"Listen Discord buddy pal," Emo Pony said after standing up. "I feel we've become fast pals so why don't you be a pal and undo some of this chaos."

"No."

"Wow, he didn't even think about your question?"

"Yes Pony Ivy I noticed," Emo Pony replied.

"Such betrayal, and after all I did for you."

"Look I'm the last one to be an ingrate," Dr. Arachnid said. "But this is too much for everypony else, can't we agree on a middle ground?"

"Okay how about this, I make an island just outside of Equestria and send you 6 there to do however you want?"

"No way!" Scar Flank nearly yelled. "I can't run a criminal empire from an island."

"And I still need to show Equestria how great I am," Dr. Arachnid said.

"Plus the green here needs me now more than ever,” Pony Ivy said.

"Okay okay I get it, you don't think it's a good idea. How about this instead, I make the island and you 6 go there anyway for now?" Before the mean 6 could respond, Discord snapped his fingers and they vanished. He then turned to face the guards, Twilight, and Super Stallion. "All right you all, let's make this quick." Suddenly music began to start out of nowhere.

"Oh no not again," Super Stallion said in fear knowing what was coming.

"Yes, Super Stallion again. What's with you ponies all so annoyingly stubborn, you've had your fun running the land but know it's my turn. Royal guards and those who this land they used to rule, a literal superhero and his gallery of rogues." The mean 6 then arrived using the method of traveling together they did before to get off the island and back to Canterlot. "Rules, rouges, kind of rhymes."

"What we miss?" Pony Ivy asked but then got bombarded by a series of chaos magic as well as every other pony trying to fight Discord.

"Oh time to finally face the fact I'm the king of Equestria, simple as that. None of you can beat the tricks up my sleeve. I wanted to get here sooner but now I'm never gonna leave. Yes, and I'm putting chaos on everything."

"Wait, was that it?" Super Stallion asked.

"Not a long one but I think it got my point across." Discord then used even more chaos magic on everypony not locked in the cages or spheres. After that, the ponies were scattered and Discord finally decided to free all his prisoners, except Celestia. The others quickly fell to the ground and made a big pile of the ground. "Now's as good a time to finally set them free.”

“But why keep me trapped?”

"Let my aunt go!" Princess Cadance demanded only for Discord to wrap his tail around her stomach and lifted her off the ground.

"Or what?"

"Don't touch my marefriend!" Shining Armor called out getting the spirit of disharmony's attention.

"Oh really and what are you going to do to stop me?" Discord then repetitively poked Cadance with his paw finger. "Touch, touch, touch, touch, touch, touch." Discord's constant taunting made Shining Armor so angry he charged at Discord. Discord teleported above him and dropped Cadance making her wings and horn disappear again.

“NO!” Shining Armor then ran to catch Cadance. “I’m coming for you Ca-” Shining Armor was cut off when he fell into a hole Discord who caught Cadance before he hit the ground made.

"Idiot," Stone Wall said, who was helping Super Stallion get up. Shining Armor then teleported out of the hole.

“Wow you must want to rescue her a whole lot,” Discord said and then laughed. Shining Armor then aimed a huge spell straight at Discord only for him to send it right back and blast him through the wall.

“I seriously don’t know what you see in that stallion,” Discord said to Cadance.

“Welcome to my world,” Stone Wall said to Super Stallion.

Discord then put Cadance down and gave her wing and horns back. He then teleported away with Princess Celestia and Twilight. The 3 reappeared in the gardens near the castle.

“Now that we’re alone, give me the Element of Magic.”

“Why not just take it from me?”

"I want you to give it to me willingly, to admit that I've won."

"Never!"

"Have it your way."

"NO!" Princess Celestia called out. "Twilight, give him your element."

"What?"

"Then find your friends and get them to help everypony go somewhere his chaos isn't."

"What! No! I can't just leave you."

"It's okay Twilight, you did your best, thanks for trying." Neither Celestia or Twilight could hold back their tears.

"Ah how touching, if only I remotely cared."

"How can you be so uncaring towards others?" Twilight called out.

"Like this." Discord made a spring appear above Twilight that launched her in the air.

“TWILIGHT!” Celestia cried out.

“Oh relax,” Discord said as he made a mattress where Twilight would land. But before she could land Super Stallion, who heard her screaming, flew over and caught her.

"I guess old habits die hard huh?"

"Super Stallion! thank you!"

"No problem, I only wish fighting Discord was this easy." Down below Princess Celestia was on the verge of having a mental breakdown.

“NO! TWILIGHT!”

“Uh, I made the mattress-”

"I HATE YOU!" Celestia said. "WHY COULDN'T YOU JUST STAY UNDER THE MINES SO EVERYPONY COULD JUST FORGET ABOUT YOU?" She continued to scream this time using the royal Canterlot voice as Discord starred with a stoic look on his face.

"Because life doesn't always go the way you want it to, and in your case especially. You've lost, sunbutt, now I want you to admit it, admit that I have won, that chaos has at long last prevailed."

"No! Even if you have, I'm not giving you the satisfaction you monster!"

"Well, that is too bad." Suddenly black roots came out of the ground and grabbed Princess Celestia by her limbs as well as her wings and horn. "You can just stay here for a bit then. Don't worry, I'll take good care of Equestria, and by that I mean I'll make it even crazier."

Suddenly Super Stallion punched Discord right in the face, knocking him to the ground.

"If you even touch Princess Celestia, I'll kill you!" Super Stallion then a death glare at Discord who was getting back up and wasn't at all intimidated. Super Stallion then fired a spell from his horn to cut the roots and freed the princess. "I grabbed Twilight and put her down right outside the garden. Go to her and give her this." Super Stallion then gave her the Element of Magic that he grabbed from Discord when he punched him. "Give that to her and help her get to her friends."

"But what about you? You would be able to-" Princess Celestia was cut off when Super Stallion pressed his lips against hers. She briefly closed her eyes and was able to relax in the bliss of the moment before Super Stallion pulled away.

"I'll be fine now, get out of here." Princess Celestia then flew off to get to her student Discord then stood tall having finally shook off the sucker punch and he and Super Stallion stared each other down.

"What makes you think this is going to be any different from the numerous times I've effortlessly slapped you silly?"

"Because this time I'm going at you with every fiber of my being. I won't stop unless I'm dead."

"Suit yourself." Discord and Super Stallion then charged each other and grabbed each other by the shoulders. "Give up already, you can't defeat chaos."

"I'm not going to defeat chaos, I'm going to defeat you!"

"You fool, I am chaos!" Discord then forced Super Stallion back but he simply charged at him again and managed to punch him several times and forced him back.

"He wasn't kidding before, but he still can't beat me." Discord then turned the fur on his tail into the drill and made it dig underground and grabbed Super Stallion wrapping around his waist. Discord then forced him through the small tunnel his tail made and brought him to where Discord was and punched and kicked him like crazy. Super Stallion used a burst of magic to free himself and delivered another powerful punch to Discord's face before he could even react.

"That had to hurt even for you."

"He wasn't this strong or fast before, did he drink a potion or something?" Discord asked himself unable to understand his opponent was powered by love, for he wished to protect the princess at any cost. Discord and Super Stallion continued to duke it out delivering powerful blows to each other. Discord used various chaos magic while Super Stallion used a mix of spells and physical attacks.

Discord slowly but surely got the upper hand, but Super Stallion was still getting in some good hits.

"Try this on for size!" Super Stallion then fired a spell straight at Discord who dodged it but Super Stallion counted on that. Super Stallion rushed him as Discord dodged and landed another powerful punch to his face.

"The face, why's it always got to be the face?"

"Let me punch it a few more times and I'll rearrange it so that it's just mildly ugly."

“Oh now that’s just rude.” Discord said as he managed to pin Super Stallion to the floor. “Just give up, everypony else has.” Suddenly Discord was hit in the wing by Stone Wall.

"Better check again freak."

"And we're not giving up either dip cord," Rainbow Dash said, flying to where he was and threw a cotton candy cloud at him. But Discord simply dismissed it and threw Super Stallion at her and he landed right on her. Super Stallion got back up angry that he was used as a projectile and suddenly a red aura surrounded him.

"Wow he's so angry, it's literally glowing," Rainbow Dash said, getting back up as well.

“That’s not anger,” Twilight said and suddenly had an idea. “Everypony, give your elements to Super Stallion,” Twilight called out and her friends did as she asked.

"I don't care who wears them, nopony is turning me back to stone." Discord charged Super Stallion then put his claw around his neck as he tried to remove the elements. Suddenly Discord's claw turned to stone causing him to scream in shock and pull his claw back as it slowly turned back to normal. "What is this magic?" Suddenly a rainbow aura surrounded Super Stallion as others looked just as unsure what was going on as Discord was.

"What in rhubarb pie is going on?"

"I think maybe Super Stallion somehow absorbed the magic from each of our elements and has now become an embodiment of harmony which can allow him to turn Discord to stone and finally at long last beat him." Having said that everypony there stared at Pinkie for somehow being able to sum up what was going on. "What? It was just a hunch."

"A deus ex machina if ever I experienced one, but you definitely won't hear me complain. It's time to finally take this monster down."

"A monster am I? Perhaps you'd like to see how truly monstrous I can be." Discord then transformed into a giant more monstrous somewhat dragon looking version of himself.

"It's time to end this." Super Stallion flew straight at the giant Discord then dodged his claw and gave him a powerful uppercut that sent him right out of Canterlot. Discord tried to stop himself from spinning in the air but he landed on the ground before he could. Super Stallion then flew at him to land another hit but Discord was the one that landed the hit.

"Suck on that stupid stallion." Discord's punch sent him directly to the mountain and made a big, but not too deep crater on the side of the mountain.

"Uh how many craters have I been in lately?" Suddenly Discord punched Super Stallion several times while he was still in the crater. Super Stallion fell out of the crater then flew straight at his giant opponent and blasted him straight between the eyes. The spirit of chaos screamed in pain and then Super Stallion flew under his chin and delivered a powerful series of punches. They didn't seem to do much at first but quickly made Discord's head go higher and higher and 1 blow landed so hard it made Discord flip and the entire ground shook on his impact with the ground.

"Wow that had to hurt," Pinkie Pie said, having gotten off the mountain to get a much closer look at the fight. Super Stallion then flew over to Discord and grabbed his tail as he was getting up. He wrapped the tail around Discord's paw, claw, and feet and then swung him around and around for a couple of seconds and then released him, sending him flying. Discord made another painful landing on the ground that also shook it. Discord rose up in the air and rolled right back to where Super Stallion was and hit him like a giant bowling ball.

"Strike!" Discord called out as he untied himself.

"Now's as good a time as ever to test out this new magic." Super Stallion then fired a beam that had the same rainbow color of his new aura. When Discord was hit he cried out as he slowly started to shrink.

"You're doing it Super Stallion! He's losing power," Princess Celestia cried out as she too was watching the battle after getting everypony fighting earlier off the mountain in case Super Stallion needed help. Rainbow Dash seeing Pinkie Pie quickly flew to her friend who had some popcorn and sat next to her.

"What I miss?"

"I've waited over 1000 years for this land to be under my rule and nopony is going to take that away from me! This land is mine!"

"This land belongs to no 1 pony!" Super Stallion then flew at Discord and each tried to punch each other but they canceled each other out. Super Stallion however nearly broke his leg in the process and grabbed it with his other foreleg. "Ow! Bad idea, bad idea, bad idea!" Super Stallion was then grabbed by Discord's tail and it brought him closer to Discord's head.

"I've had enough of this game."

"I've had enough of it when it started." Super Stallion then started to spin and made Discord spin as well out of control. Before long Discord got dizzy and loosened his grip and Super Stallion flew up and double bucked him on his head with his back legs. Super Stallion then blasted Discord with a harmony beam making Discord shrink back into the size he was before.

"Hey he got him back to his regular size," Pinkie Pie said as Discord laid motionless on the ground.

"Nothing about that guy is regular," Rainbow Dash added.

"HE DID IT SUPER STALLION WON!" Fluttershy yelled as she literally jumped for joy. "TAKE THAT YOU BIG DUMB MEANIE!" Fluttershy was in such bliss she didn't notice that Discord had gotten back up and was standing right next to her. The moment she did realize she stopped jumping in midair and out of panic, punched him in the nose.

Discord paused. "Wanna see me tick off an entire fanbase?" Discord then grabbed Fluttershy by the tail and hit her against the mountain and the ground several times before letting go of her. "Oh yes I feel the hatred and anger of the bronies and pegasisters, please feel free to leave hateful comments towards me." Discord then grabbed Super Stallion with a net he made and forced him to the ground.

"He still has some fight left in him. Guards, get out of here now and help the others get to safety as well." The guards quickly did as they were told. Stone Wall however stood right next to the princess. "Stone Wall, that includes you."

"I'm not going anywhere."

"That's not a request, it's an order."

"So court martial me! I refuse to leave you here alone."

"Or me!" Shining Armor called out.

"Or us," Pinkie said. "This is amazing."

"Shining, help me get this net off Super Stallion." As the 2 guards were about to do that Discord was about to attack. Stone Wall and Shining Armor each put barriers around them and Discord started to wail on them.

"He's too strong!"

"Captain, I'm using up all my magic just to stop my barrier from breaking." Princess Celestia was about to charge Discord and hopefully catch him off guard but Discord bound and gagged her with chaos magic rings.

"I'll deal with you later," Discord said.

"No you won't," Super Stallion said, setting himself free from the net with a small fire spell. "I just needed a minute to recharge. I'm finishing this." Shining Armor and Stone Wall then dispelled the barriers and Super Stallion charged at Discord and slammed him into rather far away rock.

"Would you say you're a hero? Glorious and brave, if you-"

"NO MORE SINGING!" Super Stallion then blasted Discord making his hands, feet, and tail tip stone. "Even we have our limits with songs."

"Do not order me around! I am the spirit of chaos and disharmony. I am the living embodiment of an ancient force and it is my will that is the will of chaos!"

"Well somepony certainly has a high opinion of himself."

"Don't you cruel irony me!" Discord, no longer partly stone, lifted the entire mountain that held Canterlot into the air with the sheer will of his magic.

"Even after all this he has the power to do that?" Discord threw the mountain at Super Stallion who caught it but it was pushing him back. "I need to break free and head towards Discord and stop him before he does anything else." But then out of the corner of his eye he saw the mountain was heading for Princess Celestia along with Shining Armor, Stone Wall, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and Twilight Sparkle who was trying to free the binds of her teacher.

"I'll get you free soon, just a minute."

"Princess Celestia. And all of the others too if I can't stop this mountain they'll all be crushed." Super Stallion then pushed himself even harder and stopped the mountain in mid air and used it to swing at Discord.

"Oh no." After hitting him with the mountain, Super Stallion put it down and charged once again at Discord to finally stop his chaos. After giving him a series of hits Discord grabbed his front right leg and broke it with an abnormally large mallet and used it to launch Super Stallion into the air with it. Super Stallion was so focused on defeating Discord he didn't cry out in pain from either attack.

"1 last big shot." Discord flew up and was about to pound Super Stallion with the mallet.

"My thoughts exactly." Super Stallion charged a beam that had the same color of his aura. It hit Discord head on and all over his body making the mallet disappear and was slowly turning him into stone. "Elements of Harmony for love, friendship, and for all of Equestria, help me strike down this creature of chaos!"

"You won't be rid of me! Chaos never really dies, it just goes away for a little while! Did you like the songs?" Discord then became a statue once more and after falling the statue scattered into pieces upon landing.

"I did it, I won!" Suddenly Super Stallion started to fall rather quickly to the ground himself. He suspected that perhaps he was dying and expected to see his life flash before his eyes but all he saw was Princess Celestia. "Maybe she really is an angel like I've suspected."

***

Squeaky Clean woke up and found himself in the library of Twilight Sparkle. "Hey Twilight, he's finally awake."
"He is!" Twilight upon hearing what Spike said ran to the basement of the library where Squeaky is.

"What am I doing here?"

"After you defeated Discord we found you in a crater near Ponyville and brought you here."

"W-what I didn't beat Discord. Super Stallion did."

"It's okay we won't tell anypony," Spike said as he picked up the sphere which symbol now had a broken right foreleg on it now. "By the way could this turn me into a superhero too? That would impress Rarity for sure."

"That's just a lucky ball I carry around, it's nothing really."

"That's not what the book Starswirl gave me says." Twilight then showed him several pages of the book that had illustrations of the sphere and how it can be used. "But it's like Spike said, your secret is safe with us." Squeaky then relaxed as he believed both of them could be trusted to keep his secret.

"How were you able to find me after the fight?"

"Oh I'm so glad you asked," Twilight said excitedly as she got a book about tracking out but before she could say anything.

"Basically she read a book about tracking and because she saw you fall she was able to predict where you landed."

"Uh yeah that." Squeaky then tried to get the sphere back but his fore leg started to hurt and he pulled it back. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah I think I just pulled a muscle."

"Will you still be able to make it to Canterlot castle?" Spike asked.

"Huh?" Twilight and Spike quickly explained that after the defeat of Discord and everything returning to normal, Princess Celestia wished for Super Stallion to arrive at the castle for a special ceremony to thank him for defeating the spirit of chaos. Hearing that a plan was formed between Twilight and Squeaky Clean, first Twilight would tell Princess Celestia through a letter that she met Super Stallion and informed him of the ceremony. It was all put together tomorrow morning and Super Stallion quickly arrived with a cast he made for his broken hoof that the princess couldn't help but notice.

"Oh my."

"It's fine, it just needs time to heal."

"Well that's good then.” Princess Celestia cleared her throat. “We are gathered here today to honor the bravery and determination of Super Stallion who was able to defeat Discord and saved Equestria from eternal chaos." After everypony in the crowd cheered, Princess Celestia presented Super Stallion with a medal of honor and revealed a newly decorated window of himself defeating Discord. "Thank you Super Stallion, for all your help but I believe we will need your help in the future as well." Princess Celestia then also revealed a rather large spot light that had 2 capital Ss on it.

"What's that the Super Stallion signal or something?"

"Yes. I plan on having it installed on top of the castle and light it when I am in need of your help."

"It sounds fine to me."

"I'm certainly glad you feel that way, and I'm proud to call you a friend."

"Thanks but feel free to call me more than that." Super Stallion then kissed Princess Celestia to her surprise but also to her enjoyment as she closed her eyes and returned the kiss. Stone Wall however did not like it and pushed Super Stallion back with a small burst of magic between them.

"Let's not get too friendly shall we."

"Oh honestly Stone Wall, what are you my match maker now?"

"Well all the same your highness, I need to get going to rest my leg and a few other things. So until next time." Super Stallion then flew off and once out of the castle made a fast u turn so he could make it in as Squeaky Clean and run to the ceremony. "Princess Celestia!" He called as she as well as the crowd was leaving the hallway. "I'm here, I overslept. Don't know how that happened, so when is Super Stallion going to arrive?"

"Actually, he just left."

"What? Are you serious? I can't believe this! Oh well maybe next time."

"That's the spirit, but you can still see the window I made for him. Now if you'll excuse me I need to install something to the roof of the castle." Princess Celestia then left with Stone Wall by her side as Squeaky entered the empty hall and gazed upon the window symbolizing his victory.

His wish had come true. He was a hero in the eyes of the princess, but then suddenly a realization came over him. Squeaky Clean wasn't the hero, Super Stallion was, but it didn't upset him that much for he knew he and Super Stallion were one and the same and if Super Stallion could confess his feelings so could he. But that would have to wait for now he was running behind on his cleaning.

Later that night as Squeaky was finishing his cleaning and saw Princess Luna talking with Swift Sweep.

“Are you sure you’re okay, you can take some time off if you want,” Princess Luna said with concern.

“Sure I’m sure,” Swift Sweep said.

“But you suffered major strikes to your cranium.”

“Ah shucks, I get hit on the head all the time.”

That explains a lot, Squeaky thought as he passed them. On his way out he made sure to say goodbye to Stone Wall and invite him over to his house again.

“Can’t,” Stone Wall answered. “Love to but can’t. I’m going to be busy helping everything get back to normal after everything that happened.”

“Some other time perhaps.” Squeaky then said goodbye to Stone Wall and Shining Armor who was with his friend and made his way home.

“So,” Shining Armor said as he faced Stone Wall.

“So?” Stone Wall asked.

“Isn’t this the part where you tell me how great I was? I mean, not to toot my own horn, but you gotta admit I did pretty good out there.”

Stone Wall didn’t reply at first, but instead gave a rather cold look. “You’re reckless, careless, hard headed, and you let your emotions cloud your judgment. If you ever put Cadance in danger again, I will personally throw you out of the guard. I don’t care who you’re dating or who your sister is. Am I clear?”

“Yes sir,” Shining Armor answered with his bravado gone. Stone Wall then made his way down the hall when suddenly he stopped.

“Oh, and 1 other thing,” Stone Wall said.

“Yes?”

Stone Wall turned around and faced Shining Armor with a smile. “You did good.”

“Thank you sir.”

***

Several days later Twilight Sparkle had driven Ponyville into chaos from a want it need it spell gone horribly bad. So bad in fact that Princess Celestia herself had to come and stop the spell herself and then went to the library to talk to her student.
"Twilight, what in Equestria could have possessed you to do such a thing?"

"I'm so sorry I'm so sorry," Twilight answered in tears and explained she was trying to solve a friendship problem so she could send her a letter as she had done every week since moving to Ponyville. "I just wanted to be a good student. The last thing I ever want is to disappoint you."

"Twilight, you are the best student I could ask for. I don't need to get a letter every week to know that."

"You don't?"

"Of course not." Hearing that Twilight began to cry again.

"I'm sorry I should have figured that out on my own. How could I be so stupid?!" Princess Celestia then hugged her student as she literally took her under her wing and they both laid down together. Twilight's friends came into the library to talk to Princess Celestia about what happened but Spike stopped them as Princess Celestia had it under control. So they would wait until Twilight had calmed down.

"It's okay Twilight it's okay," Princess Celestia told her student. "Everything is going to be fine."

In the outskirts between Ponyville and Canterlot tiny pieces of stone slowly gathered together and combined with each other. And soon became Discord who had been made flesh once more.

"Well that's 1 way to pull yourself together." After laughing at his own joke he vanished like a phantom in the night to plot and plant chaos another day.

Chapter 13 A Traitor in Our Midst

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Several days had passed since Super Stallion’s victory over Discord, the spirit of chaos and disharmony. For the most part, everything had returned to normal. Squeaky Clean, with his leg better, had been visiting Twilight Sparkle and her dragon assistant Spike. Both of whom recently learned Squeaky Clean was Super Stallion. The former of which had been doing a lot of research.

"How could you have done this much research in a few days?" Squeaky asked shocked yet also amazed.

"Trust me, it's what she does," Spike said as he moved some of the books Twilight got out on the table.

"First, let's start with your foreleg, the sphere that makes you Super Stallion is showing the injury you got when you fought Discord. But it seems fine now seeing how you don't have a problem standing or anything."

"Well, as Super Stallion it's broken but as Squeaky Clean it's just a pulled muscle."

"Interesting you and the sphere have some sort of connection."

"Interesting yeah, but how did I do that thing with the elements?"

"Funny you mention that,” Twilight said. “Perhaps that sphere and the Elements of Harmony have a connection as well.”

“You think so?” Squeaky asked.

“Yes Star Swirl didn’t write much about the sphere,” Twilight answered.

“What did he write?”

“Oh I'm so glad you asked," Twilight then got out the journal that Star Swirl the Bearded had given her.

"Here we go," Spike said, resting his hand on his cheek while his arm was on the table.

"First of all, Star Swirl had originally made the sphere for Celestia and Luna should Discord ever come to Equestria. Turns out Discord came from a far off land and he wanted to take precautions should he ever come here.”

"Really?"

"Yes, Star Swirl explains that while the sphere grants its user powerful abilities it was deemed a failure as the sphere provides no specific defense against chaos magic."

"Now he tells me," Squeaky said as he recalled his brutal beatings from Discord.

“I don’t know how you were able to do what you did,” Twilight said. “The journal didn’t say anything, and with Star Swirl gone, we can’t ask him.”

“But he did say “we’ll meet again”, maybe we can ask him then,” Squeaky said.

“In the meantime,” Spike said. “Can I ride on Super Stallion’s back?

***

A few days later Squeaky had managed to rid himself of the pulled muscle and therefore Super Stallion's broken foreleg. Without the pulled muscle he was able to clean like he used to.

"Is that leg all better?" Stone Wall who was passing by asked.

"Yes it is," Squeaky replied.

"Good to hear, but try not to push yourself."

"Don't worry I won't." Stone Wall then made his way down the hall and before long it was time for Squeaky's break. He made his way to the royal chambers. "All right no more putting this off," Squeaky said to himself as he was nearly there. He had wanted to confess his feelings to the princess for what to him felt like the longest time and didn't want to wait a second longer. Upon getting to the chambers he took a deep breath and knocked on the doors.

"Come in," Princess Celestia replied and Squeaky entered the royal chambers. "Oh Squeaky what a nice surprise, though I don't think there's much that needs cleaning in here."

"Actually I'm not here for cleaning."

"Oh."

"Princess Celestia I've wanted to tell you that-'' Squeaky was about to finish his sentence but unfortunately his throat choked up again. Come on, come on, say it! "I need to-" Tell her! "Princess Celestia I. Come on will you just tell her already!"

"What?"

"Oh sorry I meant to think that not to say that."

"Squeaky do you need help with something?" Princess Celestia asked as she approached him.

"Yes, I do. Maybe this will help." Squeaky then held Princess Celestia's hoof with his own hoof and the two gazed into each other's eyes. In that 1 moment time seemed to have stopped as the 2 continued to gaze into each other's eyes.

"Princess Celestia, we have a problem!" Spearhead bursted into chambers, breaking the moment between Princess Celestia and Squeaky. The former of which approached Spearhead.

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?" Princess Celestia and Spearhead then turned to Squeaky as a result of his outburst. "Sorry, thought I thought that too."

"What's the matter?"

"You see your highness, we've recently had reason to believe that there's a changeling somewhere in Canterlot. Maybe even in the castle." Hearing that Squeaky remembered Princess Celestia’s stories about them and how they took the form of somepony you love and fed off that love.

"I see that's serious isn't it?" Princess Celestia said.

"What should we do about it, your highness?" Squeaky asked as he approached the princess when suddenly Spearhead blocked him. "What are you doing?"

"I'm sorry but until we find this changeling we shouldn't let anypony get near the princess." Spearhead then escorted Squeaky against his will.

"Hey, quit it! Let me go! I'm serious! This is so unfair."

***

After receiving the news of a changeling threat, Stone Wall gathered numerous guards and a few other ponies that worked in the castle for quick interrogations. Stone Wall decided to start with Squeaky after Spearhead explained he found him in the chambers of the princess and was acting rather strangely. "Why were you in the royal chambers anyway, Squeaky?"

"Cleaning!" Squeaky answered loudly and to the point, not wanting to say the real reason for fear of dying of embarrassment.

"That totally sounded like a lie," one of the guards in the back said.

"But he is the janitor," another replied.

"But it still sounds like he's lying."

"What if he is?"

"He is, he's the changeling!"

"Shut up!" Stone Wall then walked up to Squeaky and looked him right in the eye making him a bit nervous. "How did I get my cutie mark?" Squeaky then whispered the answer into Stone Wall's ear. "Okay he's not the changeling."

“Rather fitting you asked that question as a test considering,” Squeaky said.

"Wait, what did he tell you?" Shining Armor asked.

"The answer. Now it's your turn." Stone Wall continued to interrogate and came to the conclusion that none of the ponies in there were the changeling. He would continue to investigate and until further notice no pony would be left alone. That way the changeling would have a much harder time attacking somepony and replacing them.

"This sucks," Squeaky Clean said while finishing a particularly dirty floor.

"Oh come on it's not so bad," Shining Armor who was ordered to stay by Squeaky said to him.

Not what I meant, Shining Armor. I was so close to telling Princess Celestia how I felt but something got in the way, something always gets in the way.

"I'm sure Stone Wall will find the changeling soon. In the meantime I'm sure I won't annoy you too much."

"Well miracles do happen everyday."

"Oh ha ha ha,” Shining laughed sarcastically. “But at least you're cheering up."

"Yeah, though I can't help but wonder what a changeling is doing here in the capital?"

"You got me. I guess when it gets captured we can ask it." After a while Squeaky Clean and Shining Armor made their way to a different part of the castle and Squeaky did his cleaning there while chatting it up a bit with Shining Armor who much like his sister had taken a liking to Squeaky Clean rather fast.

"So you and Princess Cadance have been dating since high school?"

"Yeah I gotta tell you, she's my soulmate.”

"Have you told her that?"

"Once or twice yeah. Or 50."

"Must be nice to be able to tell the one you love how you feel about her."

"Oh it's wonderful," Shining Armor said, filled with glee to talk about his very special somepony. Before long, Stone Wall appeared and once again he did it seemingly out of nowhere.

"Seriously you have got to teach me how to do that," Squeaky said.

"Come with me, both of you," Stone Wall ordered and the 2 followed him down the hall.

"Have you found the changeling?" Squeaky asked.

"Not yet, but I believe we'll be able to locate it very soon."

"So where are we going captain?" Shining Armor asked as the 3 continued to walk down the hall.

"There are a couple guards that I rounded up. They all said they were rather close with you so I want you to ask them some questions that only you'd know the answer to."

"Oh like when you asked Squeaky how you got your cutie mark?"

"Exactly."

"How did you get your cutie mark anyhow?"

"If I wanted you to know Squeaky would have said it out loud."

"So you 2 go way back huh Squeaky?"

"Oh yeah we've been friends since we were colts."

"We're here so get in there," Stone Wall said when they finally arrived. “Now go in there and make 100 percent sure none of them is a changeling."

"Yes sir." Shining Armor quickly entered the room and Stone Wall closed the door and continued to walk while gesturing to Squeaky to follow him.

"Seems like only yesterday when you and I met for the first time."

"Yes, memories are like that."

"Yeah, hey Stone Wall remember that time the 2 of us-"

"Squeaky. I didn't come get you to reminisce about the good old days," Stone Wall interrupted while slightly annoyed.

"Then why did you get me?" Squeaky asked.

"To clean, what else?" Stone Wall then pointed to a room that he wanted to be cleaned. "That's your job isn't it?" Stone Wall asked no longer annoyed. "And don't worry about being alone, there are several guards around the area. If the changeling somehow gets in here just call for help and they'll be in here as quick as a flash sentry."

"What?"

"I don't know, it's something I heard a long time ago and it stuck, but only kind of really."

"Definitely only kind of, because that's the first time I've heard you say it."

"Just get to cleaning."

"Right." Squeaky made his way to the room and Stone Wall went on his way. "What else am I good for?" Squeaky then got to cleaning and as his usual self, made it so it was extra clean by the time he was finished. "I wonder if that changeling has been caught by now?" Squeaky then left the room to find Stone Wall and ask how the search was going.

"Hi there Squeaky," Swift Sweep said. "How in Equestria are you?"

"Swift Sweep, what are you doing here?"

"This is one of my rare day shifts," Swift Sweep quickly answered as he swept beside Squeaky. Squeaky then thought maybe Swift Sweep was the changeling and not any of the guards. So he figured to do what Stone Wall did and ask him a question only he would know the answer to.

"So Swift Sweep," Squeaky stopped when he realized he didn't really know a whole lot about Swift Sweep who was facing Squeaky when he started talking. "What's your favorite color?" Squeaky nearly smacked himself after asking such a simple question.

"My favorite color is blue," Swift Sweep answered. "It used to be light blue but as of recently it's dark blue." Swift Sweep answered again with a look that said he was in utter bliss. "What's your favorite color?"

"Oh, I've never really thought about it honestly."

"Thinking is overrated. Trust me, I hardly ever think."

"You don't say," Squeaky said, not very surprised.

"It's not that hard, trust me just go with your gut if you're stumped on something."

"Really? Well if that's the case my favorite color is a tie between white and aurora."

"There you go. What did I tell you? Well I'm off I got sweeping to do so take care." Swift Sweep then flew off while still keeping his broom to the ground so he could still keep up his cleaning.

"Yeah, that's Swift Sweep all right," Squeaky said to himself while chuckling a bit.

"Squeaky!" Spearhead called out as he was running down the hallway and quickly got to him.

"Did you spill something or…something?" Squeaky asked.

"No. Princess Celestia ordered everypony to the royal garden as quickly as possible," Spearhead answered Squeaky's question sounding as if he was somehow in a panic.

"She did but why? What about the changeling?"

"I don't know but she said that it was important so we need to get there and get there now. So come on," Spearhead then took off the direction he came from a second ago but turned and stopped when he saw Squeaky wasn't following him. "Why aren't you coming with me?"

"Because the garden is that way." Squeaky then pointed in the opposite direction.

"Oh."

***

"What are we all doing here, Stone Wall?" Shining Armor asked while standing beside him as the ponies gathered in the garden.

"I'm not entirely sure, but I guess we'll find out soon enough." Princess Celestia then flew down from a tower and landed not too far away from the ponies that had gathered on her orders.

She looks so majestic when she flies down from above, like an angel, Squeaky thought admiring the princess yet again.

"Thank you all for gathering here on such short notice. I've requested you all here to inform you that the changeling is no longer here in the castle." Hearing that the guards there breathed a sigh of relief, except for Stone Wall who had a rather distrusting look on his face. "However even though it has fled I still believe that it's a dangerous threat. And so the reason I've gathered you all is to form a massive search party to locate, capture and bring the changeling back here for questioning. I need you all to head out so that changeling won't be able to get far from here."

Stone Wall then quickly approached Princess Celestia with an especially cold look in his eyes. The royal guards as well as the princess were wondering just what he was up to. "What's he doing?" A guard asked.

"Stone Wall, what are you doing?" Princess Celestia asked.

"Drop the act," Stone Wall quickly replied with a very cold tone to match his stare. "Make it easier for all of us and show us who you really are."

"Stone Wall I'm not sure what you're talking about, maybe the stress of today has gotten to you. I know, why don't you take the rest of the day off?"

"Want to do it the hard way huh? All right, then fine with me."

"What?" Suddenly to everypony's shock, Stone Wall punched Princess Celestia right in the face, knocking her to the ground. Squeaky's jaw almost hit the floor when he saw his best friend clock the mare he loved right in the jaw.

"He just hit the princess!" A guard yelled out.

"Has he lost his mind?"

"That qualifies as a capital punishment doesn't it?"

"Wow, he is really strong."

"SHUT UP!" Stone Wall yelled, stopping the guards from going into a panic again as Princess Celestia got up. "That's not Princess Celestia. If it was, she would have easily blocked my attack with her magic."

"Stone Wall, what are you talking about that was too quick even for me?"

"Oh really then let's see if this is too fast for you!" Stone Wall then fired a spell at Princess Celestia and she instinctively countered with a spell of her own. The 2 spells quickly clashed but that was exactly what Stone Wall wanted for all the other ponies saw the princess's spell was green. Stone Wall then stopped his spell and quickly dodged the princess's spell. "There's all the evidence you need stallions and mares, the color of Princess's Celestia's magic is yellow."

"It is?" A guard asked, causing Stone Wall to give an annoyed glare right at him. "Oh I mean it is!"

Suddenly, the princess was surrounded by a green flame that turned her into a changeling with big purple eyes.

"Well I guess a few of you ponies are smarter than you look," The changeling said who sounded like he was itching for a fight. "Though I have to ask, how did you see through me right from the start?"

"I've been at this guard job a long time and being by Princess Celestia's side, I've learned many things about her down to the smallest detail. When it comes to her gestures and the way she chooses to talk to other ponies in various situations. She wouldn't call us to the garden, she would call us to the main hall, plus if she wanted to send a search party it would have a lot less ponies. A huge one would attract too much attention. And besides, when I learned of a possible changeling problem I went to her first and made sure she was who she was and ordered her to stay in her chambers until I took care of everything."

"Wait, you ordered the princess to stay in her room? You can do that?" The said guard from before asked.

"You're new aren't you?"

"Y-Yes sir," The guard answered, fearing he said something stupid again.

"The royal guard rule book clearly states that during an emergency situation involving the princess's safety, the captain of the royal guard, that’s me, can temporarily outrank the princess until such time as the said emergency situation has been resolved."

"Uh."

"That means when things get super dangerous I'm in charge. Got it?!"

"Yes sir!" The guard answered a little afraid and not wishing to upset Stone Wall any further.

"Anyway, now that you've been exposed, why don't you tell everypony here why you came to the castle uninvited before I decide to beat the information out of you."

"You may have seen through my disguise, but taking me down physically won't be nearly as easy," The purple eyed changeling answered, sounding very cocky. Stone Wall upon hearing that approached the changeling and threw his helmet on the ground so he could crack his neck.

"Fine, have it your way. I guess you didn’t learn your lesson all those years ago.”

“Huh?” The changeling asked.

“Have you forgotten the beating I gave you all those years ago?”

“What are you talking about? I’ve never met you before in my life.”

“You haven’t?” Stone Wall asked not sensing deception from the changeling. “Huh, must have been another purple eyed changeling. Anyway, I've been in a bad mood all day so I'm going to enjoy this."

"Uh, when is he not in a bad mood?" The guard from before whispered to Spearhead who laughed a little.

“Is there something funny?” Stone Wall asked as he turned to face the guard again. Suddenly the changeling charged at Stone Wall ready to give him a powerful sucker punch. But Stone Wall blocked his attack effortlessly and gave a sucker punch of his own. "Thought I dropped my guard didn't you?"

"That was a lucky hit."

"No, what was lucky was that you went this far without getting located. But now that you've so carelessly brought yourself out in the open, you, my insect pony hybrid thing, are plum out of luck."

"Oh yeah!" Stone Wall then hit the changeling head on with a very powerful spell that knocked him to the ground.

"Yeah, some of you guards get over here and throw this thing into the dungeon." A few guards were about to do just that when suddenly, a smokescreen appeared out of nowhere.

"Come on I threw the smokescreen ball, let's get out of here," A voice Stone Wall didn't recognize said.

"You won't get away so easily!" Stone Wall then cleared the smoke screen away with a powerful wind spell, but by the time he did, they were gone.

"I guess they will get away that easily," Squeaky Clean said.

"Spread out in groups and find them!" Stone Wall quickly ordered. "Don't disband from your groups and search the entire castle."

***

After searching the entire castle as well as Canterlot, no traces of the changeling were found and the search was called off. And so the guards had returned to their regular posts, but Stone Wall was not satisfied in the least and was talking about it with Princess Celestia. "I don't like it, I don't like it 1 bit!" Stone Wall said angrily as he paced back and forth in the private chambers of Princess Celestia. "I finally find that changeling and suddenly he escapes!"

"I understand Stone Wall," Princess Celestia said as she placed her hoof on Stone Wall to get him to stop pacing and calm him down.

"If those changelings got away, what in Equestria is gonna stop them from trying this again? Am I gonna have to constantly keep an eye out for them or something?"

"Well perhaps you should rest for a while and once you can think clearly I'll help with whatever you think is best."

"All right, fine." Stone Wall took a deep breath to calm himself down and then walked out of the chambers. As he left the chambers Stone Wall had passed Squeaky Clean who noticed he was still rather upset. "I had that changeling practically on the verge of begging for mercy and suddenly he gets away just because of a puff of smoke," Stone Wall said to himself while continuing to walk.

"Poor Stone Wall," Squeaky said as he recalled the first time he met Dr. Arachnid and how he also got away using a smoke screen. He knew how Stone Wall felt.

But Squeaky then put it out of his mind and faced the royal chamber doors. He closed his eyes as he took a deep breath. "Alright, no more distractions, it's time to finally tell her. If I can stop the spirit of chaos, I can tell Princess Celestia how I feel I can say-" Suddenly, Princess Celestia opened the door and was surprised to see Squeaky right in front of her. "I love you."

"What?" Hearing her speak, Squeaky instantly opened his eyes and saw the beautiful Princess Celestia standing right in front of him. "What did you say?"

"I said I love you." I did it! I finally did it, don't stop now, keep going! "I love you Princess Celestia." I said it again! "I've loved you ever since I first saw you and looked into your rose eyes and I've wanted to tell you that for what has felt like the longest time. And now I've finally said it." Squeaky was out of breath as he finally finished and Princess Celestia was silent for a moment until.

"I was beginning to think that you were never going to tell me," Princess Celestia said to Squeaky’s shock.

"What” Y-You mean?"

"You honestly thought I didn't know how you felt about me? I believe you've made your affections quite clear through your actions."

"Right heh heh." Squeaky then rubbed the back of his head. "So now what?"

"Now, you go home because your swift is about up I imagine. And it's been a rather long day for us all," Princess Celestia said to Squeaky in a more caring tone than her usual one.

"Right it has. But 1 other thing," Squeaky said.

“What?”

Squeaky gestured the princess to get down to his level, which she did by getting on her knees. Then Squeaky kissed her. Princess Celestia returned the kiss and Squeaky wrapped his forelegs around here and stroked her soft flowing mane while she also wrapped her forelegs around Squeaky. As they continued to kiss, once again, time seemed to have stopped.

***

The 2 changelings made it out of Canterlot and they made it to their queen who had been waiting for them to return to report to her. "There you 2 are, what happened? You should have been here earlier, were you exposed?"

"Yes, but I was able to get Pharynx out of there, your highness."

"I didn't need your help Thorax, I had him right where I wanted him."

"What happened?" Queen Chrysalis asked and Thorax quickly explained everything to the changeling queen. "I see well where you able to learn of a good time for my army to invade?"

"No your highness," Pharynx answered, disappointed he didn't complete his mission.

"I see, well then I guess I'll have to rethink my plans a little. Perhaps an opportune moment to invade will eventually reveal itself; we should head back to the hive for now."

"Yes your majesty," Thorax said as he saw his brother was still upset with what happened between him and Stone Wall.

"When we eventually do invade Canterlot, I'm gonna settle the score with that pony."

"Well in the meantime Pharynx, is there something I can do to cheer you up?"

"Actually yes." Pharynx then grabbed his brother's foreleg. "Why ya hitting yourself? Stop hitting yourself."

"Ah come on, not this again Pharynx."

***

Meanwhile in Ponyville Rainbow Dash had been brought to the finish line of a pet race with the help of a tortoise to be named Tank. While she was happy that she finally found a pet she felt bad for all the pets that went through all that work for nothing. "Hey now you guys don't feel bad tell you what, since you all did great in your own way I'm gonna help you all find owners as well." The animals suddenly swarmed around Rainbow Dash out of gratitude and overwhelmed her. "Wait not all at once, maybe one at a time or something like that, ah geez." Rainbow Dash would have her hooves full for quite a while.

Chapter 14 How We'll Get Him

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In the corner of a restaurant in one of the shadier parts of Canterlot, 6 recently freed criminals had gathered there. They did so under the suggestion of Dr. Arachnid. "So what the heck are we doing here exactly?" Weather Warper asked while waiting for her order.

"Well I’ve gathered us all together for a very important reason. While we are very different in various ways, we all have 1 thing in common. We've all had our plans foiled by that self-righteous airhead, Super Stallion." Dr. Arachnid then got out a piece of newspaper that had a picture of Super Stallion flying around.

"Well actually, my plans were foiled by Celestia's royal attack dog," Scar Flank said.

"He's done his fair share of foiling on my plans as well," Emo Pony said once again recalling the unpleasant beatings he got.

"Well he would have eventually!" Dr. Arachnid snapped. "The point is if we want to get away with anything, he needs to be out of the picture."

"If it weren't for him helping the guards, me and sir talking too much over there, all of Equestria would probably know who I am by now," Weather Warper as she raised a mug to Gentleman Thief while still waiting for her food to arrive already.

"And I'd have covered all of Canterlot with wonderfully beautiful plants if it weren't for him," Pony Ivy said.

"Wait what?" Dr. Arachnid asked, turning his head to Pony Ivy.

"Now that you mention it doc, it is rather annoying seeing him fly around." Scar Flank then stabbed the picture of Super Stallion with a knife he had in his pocket.

"Yes Scar Flank, he may have stopped us individually for the most part, but if we all go at him together. He won't stand a chance."

"So you sincerely believe we'd be able to accomplish this rather difficult goal?" Gentleman Thief asked while placing his forelegs under his face and resting his elbows on the table.

"Yes, however it's going to take a while for us to build it."

"Build what?"

"I'm so glad you asked Emo Pony." Dr. Arachnid then pulled the knife off the table, placed it down, and got out a blueprint that he rolled on the table for the others to see. "I would have got you all together earlier, but it took me a while to get the details of this just right.”

"Are one of us supposed to inquire as to what you have presented us with?"

"It's a large pony robot that we're going to build. With all of us working together it will take a lot less time to finish it. And the sooner we make it, the sooner we can use it to take down Super Stallion. That's how we'll get him."

"Won't work," Weather Warper bluntly blurted out.

"EXCUSE ME!?" Dr. Arachnid yelled enraged at Weather Warper. "Do you know how much detail I put into this? It's going to be as tall as a 2 story house, it'll have the power lift half of Canterlot castle."

"That's impressive, but like I said, it won't work. Have you forgotten what we saw when he made it back to Canterlot after leaving the island Discord made?"

"Did anypony else think it was weird that he made the island in the sky that was like right above Canterlot by like 1000 feet?"

"We all thought it was weird, Pony Ivy," Emo Pony said. "He said he'd send us to an island just outside Equestria and I guess since it was so high in his opinion it counted as out of Equestria."

"Yeah but why didn't he just make an island for us in the middle of the ocean wouldn't that make more sense? I think I just answered my own question."

"Well since you did, can I get back to my point, Scar Flank? Anyway when we got back you all may have missed it, but I saw Super Stallion hit Discord with a mountain right before catching the said mountain. That thing won't even slow him down," Weather Warper said, tapping on the blueprints.

"But I worked so hard," Dr. Arachnid then grabbed the blueprints and out of rage ripped it in half while also holding back his tears. "At least let me build it first before ruining my plans, Super Stallion."

"Hey now don't feel bad," Emo Pony said, trying to cheer up the disgruntled doctor. "I'm sure if we all put our heads together we can figure out some way to get him." Suddenly the waiter came by and delivered all the food and drinks that the villain 6 had ordered.

"Finally!" Weather Warper said who was so hungry she grabbed the food right off the plate and gobbled it up. "Keep em coming, all this waiting has made me more hungry." The waiter then headed back into the kitchen to get Weather Warper more food. "Well while I'm waiting, what other plans are there to take down stupid stallion?"

"Heh stupid stallion, I like that," Emo Pony said while eating a bit of the food that he ordered. "If we eat a little more I'm sure we'll be able to think of something."

"Yeah can't think on an empty stomach, gotta have calories," Pony Ivy said.

"Well no offense, but I seriously doubt any of you can make a plan as good as mine."

"Is that so? Well try this plan on for size," Scar Flank said causing the others to actually lean in to hear his plan better. "First we need to get a small army of ponies to back us up, then we wait until night and launch an attack on Canterlot Castle and capture Princess Celestia and Princess Luna."

"Didn't you try that already?" Dr. Arachnid asked.

"He's right we did. And it didn't work the first time around," Emo Pony said.

"Yes but if the 2 of us can get back into the castle-"

"No way! I'm not going near that castle until Stone Wall retires. I still have bruises from the last time he beat me up. One of my teeth almost fell out."

"But that's my plan, we get to Stone Wall and you use your orbs to make him go crazy then-"

"I tried that already. They don't work on him. I think I may have told you that already didn't I?"

"Well you stop interrupting me and listen to my plan!?" Scar Flank asked as he raised himself up, placing his forelegs on the table and shook one of them a bit at Emo Pony. Scar Flank then slowly returned to his seating position. "Now look if we can get a distraction crazy enough, we can capture the royal pony sisters and force the guards to give us all the money in the treasury for their return."

"Okay but how will that help us defeat Super Stallion?"

"Easy Emo, we'll also demand that he reveal his secret identity to us in exchange for their safe return. When we know who he is we can go after his alter ego. And that's how we'll get him."

"But what guarantee is there that he won't find them before we can make the demands?" Dr. Arachnid asked.

"We'll have plenty of time to make the demands before he can do anything about it."

"I tried to ponynap Sapphire Shores twice in the past and Super Stallion showed up in both cases. What makes you think he can't do the same with your plan?"

"You also must keep in mind the major fact that the royal sisters would be most difficult to properly contain in the time period for your plan to take place."

"Gentleman Thief has a good point. There are some thrills and risks too much even for me," Weather Warper said.

"Yeah what if he manages to get the princesses free then we'd have all 3 of them to worry about?" Pony Ivy asked.

"And Stone Wall probably won't be far behind either," Emo Pony added as he rubbed some of his bruises.

"Oh come on he didn't beat us up that badly."

"You may be able to take a punch but I'm a bleeder."

"Well I guess my plan isn't going to work then. But can we at least rob the treasury together?"

"I'm. Not. Going. Near. That. Castle."

"Okay Emo Pony we get it. Stone Wall is tough, you don't need to bring him up every 2 seconds."

"Right, sorry doc I guess unpleasant memories like to make you talk about them a lot."

"Maybe what we can do is force Super Stallion to come to us," Weather Warper said.

"Explain yourself, Weather Warper."

"It's simple, Gentleman Thief. We cause a huge commotion right outside the badlands where there's hardly anypony around. So that way we don't have to worry about other ponies showing up to back him up. And when he gets there we jump him all at once. He can't take on all 6 of us at once and that's how we'll get him."

"That might actually work," Emo Pony said as he and the others were just finishing up the last of their food except Gentleman Thief and Weather Warper because the waiter had just dropped off more food for her. "So what's the battle plan?"

"Battle plan?"

"Yeah. How do we take him down?"

"I already told you we just attack him all at once."

"That's it?" Dr. Arachnid asked.

"Yeah that's it. What's with you stallions? Am I speaking old ponish or something?"

"If we just blindly attack him at once what's stopping us from hitting each by mistake," Scar Flank asked.

"I-I don't know," Weather Warper answered, finally getting the point of what the other ponies were saying. "I know. First I hit him with a lightning bolt and then when he's stunned you 5 swarm him."

"I believe that is simply the same problem but with 1 less digit," Gentleman Thief said while finishing his food and ready to get to his drink.

"Okay I get him with lightning, Scar Flank uses a spell or 2 on him, Emo Pony uses a sphere to confuse him in case he's still able to fight then Dr. Arachnid will use some kind of science-like weapon-"

"Science-like weapon?"

"Yeah doc, a science-like weapon, then Pony Ivy wraps him in vines or plant roots and Gentleman Thief hits him right on the head with his staff to knock him out."

"But that only works if he gets hit by the lightning. What if he dodges it?" Emo Pony asked.

"Dodges it? He can't dodge it, it's lightning."

"Actually in the first sighting of Super Stallion ponies saw him fly faster than the Wonderbolts and some of them are capable of flying faster than lightning, so it's a fair assumption he’s than capable of moving out of the way and probably even attack one of us in the process of dodging."

"Yeah and if I'm supposed to wrap him in "vines or roots" how am I supposed to do that when we're located near or in the badlands? There's no plant life there. Well barely any and there's also these giant worm like things. I forget what they're called but they're very dangerous."

"Okay we move our location and I wait until Super Stallion isn't looking and hit him with lightning. That could work right?"

"At the moment, I believe there are too many variables so we'll have to scrap your plan like all the others so far unfortunately."

"Well it's still a heck of a lot better than your plan doc!” Weather Warper snapped.

"What was that nimbus brain!?" Dr. Arachnid snapped back

"What?"

"Nimbus, it's a type of cloud. I thought weather was your thing."

"Oh yeah, well what's your thing? What's the deal with the robot spider legs?"

"You want to know, fine nimbus brain." Dr. Arachnid then stood up and removed his lab coat and showed that the metal legs were attached to a flat metal pad on his back. "At first I made it for ponies who had trouble walking. But there was an accident and now, this thing is fused to my back."

"I was wondering why you still had that in prison," Pony Ivy said, also a little glad he finished his lunch before Dr. Arachnid showed the pad.

"Yes, originally they wanted it removed since letting me keep it would clearly make it much easier to escape. But they quickly found they couldn't remove it without killing me." Dr. Arachnid then put his coat back on and sat back down. "So anyway, your plan won't work. Who else has a plan?"

"I do!" Pony Ivy said quickly, getting the attention of the others. "Here's what we do: I make a green area even more green, pushing ponies out of the area to get Super Stallion's attention and wait for him to arrive. When he arrives we stay hidden making sure he doesn't see us at first."

"Okay," Emo Pony said, somewhat liking where Pony Ivy was going with his idea.

“Liking it so far,” Dr. Arachnid said.

"And when he gets into the right position, I can hit him with a special little thing I've been working on."

"And what might that be exactly?" Weather Warper asked with her forelegs behind her head while her back legs were on the table.

"It's a little something I've been developing ever since I got out of prison. It's a small but powerful poison sample that when contacted will leave Super Stallion bedridden for months."

"Months you say? That would leave us plenty of time for us to complete our plans. Well at least me, I'm not too sure about the rest of you, but at least me for sure."

"Very encouraging doc," Emo Pony replied. "You probably didn't damage anypony's self esteem."

"Well back to my plan once the poison kicks in we can do what we want with hardly a care. As well as take that time to learn his secret identity and in the end that's how we'll really get him."

"Wait, kicks in?" Scar Flank asked.

"Well yeah, it'll take a while to kick in."

"How long is a while?" Weather Warper asked.

"About 2 or 3 days."

"So the plan is to poison him and give him plenty of time to take it out on us and torture how to make an antidote out of you?" Dr. Arachnid asked and his question was followed by a rather awkward silence. During that silence Pony Ivy had put the pieces together. He also remembered what Ma Hooffield used to tell him. While he was a talented smart young stallion, he had rare moments where he was greatly lacking in intelligence.

"So my plan is scrapped too?"

"Unfortunately yes," Dr. Arachnid said and then looked at the menu to take a look and see if he wanted to eat anything else.

"Well then I guess it's my turn then," Emo Pony said and got out a sphere that had red swirls in it.

"That looks new," Scar Flank replied.

"Yes, and it's similar to the one used on Star Swirl the Bearded-"

"Wait Star Swirl the Bearded!" Dr. Arachnid interrupted.

"Oh yeah. I never mentioned that, Scar Flank and I met Star Swirl the Bearded because of a time spell he used."

"Why did you never mention this before?" Dr. Arachnid asked, nearly hysterical.

"You never asked," Emo Pony bluntly answered.

"You never mentioned meeting the greatest pony to ever live because I didn't ask? You never thought maybe I might be interested?!"

"Who the hey is Star Swirl the Bearded?" Weather Warper asked as the waiter showed up again and dropped off more food. "That will do for now, thanks." The waiter then headed back to the kitchen meanwhile, Weather Warper turned to Dr. Arachnid who looked like he was ready to pounce on her.

"W-Who's Star Swirl the Bearded!?! Don't they teach you ponies anything in school today? Have you ever even read a book?" Dr. Arachnid started looking like he was going to have a heart attack making Weather Warper as well as the others uncomfortable. Dr. Arachnid calmed down after a couple deep breaths. "He was a great and powerful unicorn that helped mold Equestria to what it is now and created all sorts of spells."

"Well, he sounds pretty important."

"Yeah, he was." Dr. Arachnid rolled his eyes. "You were saying, Emo Pony."

"Oh right, the sphere will completely hypnotize whoever it hits. This will put Super Stallion completely under our control."

"Really?" Scar Flank said.

"Yeah, they won't have any will power during the time period they're hypnotized."

"It would prove quite fortunate for us to have a literal superhero providing for us," Gentleman Thief said.

"And that is how we'll get him, make him do our work for us and most likely ruin his reputation while we're at it. So you know, that's a really nice bonus."

"And it'll affect him right away?"

"Right doc, that second it hits him he'll be under my control."

"I think your plan is going to-" Dr. Arachnid stopped when a couple other questions came to mind.

"Is there something wrong Dr. Arachnid?" Emo Pony asked.

"How many of those do you have?" Dr. Arachnid replied.

"1, why?"

"Is there a time limit to how long the sphere will keep him hypnotized?"

"About 45 minutes to an hour, oh that's not very long is it?"

"No and when it wears off he's going to be very angry," Pony Ivy said.

"Yeah and I'd hate to see what the stallion that can lift a mountain would do to us when he's mad," Weather Warper said.

"I can't believe this, the 6 of us can't think of 1 plan to get rid of Super Stallion," Dr. Arachnid said then suddenly realized something. "Gentleman Thief, you've been rather quiet about this particular topic."

"Yeah he's right," Scar Flank added. "He's hardly said anything since we got there."

"Do you have an idea?" Weather Warper asked.

"No," Gentleman Thief strangely bluntly as he finished his drink. "At least not a complete one."

"What do you mean?" Pony Ivy asked.

"Yeah, what do you mean?" Emo Pony asked.

"It's merely bits and pieces at this point, but I think overtime the bits and pieces of ideas I've collected will allow me to complete a most excellent plan.

"Well you've got our attention, what are the bits and pieces you have?" Weather Warper asked getting out of her relaxed pose and leaned closer to Gentleman Thief.

I'll happily discuss it, but it's getting rather late and the restaurant here is almost closed. So we should pay the check and discuss this elsewhere." Following the well spoken stallion's advice the villain 6 paid the check and left.

***

Meanwhile in Ponyville, Super Stallion had been visiting Ponyville rather often. Not to talk to Twilight, but that was part of the reason. But because Ponyville had been dealing with a lot of problems lately such as a dam breaking and construction building falling apart. However Super Stallion was able to handle it while also dealing with a rather meddling Rainbow Dash, who recently earned the reputation of a hero in Ponyville. "I don't get it, Super Stallion, why don't you ever stick around afterwards?" Rainbow Dashed asked after 1 occasion where he solved another problem.

"What do you mean?"

"You're a superhero, don't you want to hear the ponies celebrate how cool you are?"

"Well that is nice, but I still have other parts of Equestria to check on as well. So I don't really have the time. Besides I helped out, that's reward enough for me. Later." Super Stallion then took off so fast even Rainbow Dash couldn't catch up.

"What does he mean?"

"I believe what he means is while it's great to celebrate your accomplishments it's important to act with grace and humility," Twilight answered who was rather close to Rainbow Dash who quickly got what she meant.

"Oh I think I get it now and it's also important to act with grace and humility when other ponies like Super Stallion outshine me."

"Yeah you got it and I think you also have a letter to send to the princess."

"You got that right, but I might want Spike to proofread it first."

Chapter 15 Organized Chaos

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Super Stallion as usual, was flying around Canterlot looking for anypony that might be up to no good. Namely 6 certain villains that had gotten out of prison thanks to Discord. While he did capture numerous other escaped prisoners, those 6 haven’t committed any crimes since.

"Well I guess that will do for now," Super Stallion said to himself as he continued flying. He was on the verge of flying back to the castle to change back into his alter ego, but suddenly saw the Super Stallion signal. "I guess not." Super Stallion flew straight to the castle and upon getting there, he found Princess Celestia was the one that signaled him.

"My that was fast," she said as she shut off the signal.

"Well I was in the general area, plus, I don't like to keep a lady waiting. So what's the emergency, another escaped prisoner causing trouble again?"

"No not that it's, perhaps it would be better, for the both of us if I showed you." Super Stallion couldn't help but notice the strange tone in the princess's voice and really wondered what could be the matter. Princess Celestia then led Super Stallion into the castle as he stayed in the air with his forelegs crossed. On their way to the throne room Super Stallion was quickly swarmed by members of the royal guard, who were very grateful to him for defeating Discord and wanted his autograph.

"GET BACK TO YOUR POSTS!" Stone Wall screamed and right away the guards did as they were told. "You're members of the royal guard, not a Super Stallion fan club."

"Well actually captain, some of us started a Super Stallion fan club. Since it's so awesome having an actual superhero around, so technically we’re both." Stone Wall then turned his head to face a green coated male guard and gave him a stare that sent a chill straight down his spine. "T-Though I completely see the point of what you are saying sir. So, I'll just shut up right now."

"Good." Princess Celestia and Super Stallion then continued their way down the hall.

"So captain," the guard from before continued. "We've been thinking of inviting you to join the Super Stallion fan club. We have meetings at the castle and at our houses on days off." Stone Wall stared at the guard again. Not as hard as before, but still hard enough to make the guard feel uncomfortable. "So um, do you want to join?"

"No thank you," Stone Wall answered as he turned away and walked down the hall.

"So what is the problem exactly? Have a bunch of escaped prisoners gotten together and you've learned they're going to attack the castle?" Super Stallion asked as he was in the throne room with the princess.

"No it's not that Super Stallion," Princess Celestia answered. "Though I wish it was.”

"Well what the heck is it? It can't be as bad as you're starting to make it out to be.”

"Well now, I wouldn't say that," A voice from behind Super Stallion said, which immediately sent a chill straight up and down his spine. He turned around fast and saw a certain creature standing against the door. "Hello Super Stallion. How have you been?"

"DISCORD!" Super Stallion in a panic quickly flew over to Princess Celestia and picked her up into his forelegs.

"W-What are you-"

"We need to get you out of here!" Super Stallion interrupted as he flew out of the castle and brought the princess to the outskirts of Canterlot.

"Okay we need to make a plan before he figures out where we are," Super Stallion said, trying not to panic.

"Too late," Discord replied who was right next to Super Stallion seeing him there Super Stallion flew off again. This time he brought the princess all the way to Dodge Junction and flew into a bar still holding the princess in his forelegs.

"Um Super Stallion-"

"Just a second let me look around to make sure he didn't find us again!" Discord, who was holding half a dozen playing cards to his face, placed them down on the table he was sitting at and waved.

“Hi again.”

"Oh come on!"

"Super Stallion wait!" Super Stallion then flew out of the bar and flew all over Equestria in an attempt to throw Discord off his trail so he could make a plan. After flying around and a little exhausted he stopped at a beach but still holding the princess.

"Did you lose him?" Discord asked who was making a sand castle while splashing the water a bit with his tail.

"Yeah. It took a while, but I managed to- You've got to be kidding me!" Super Stallion then prepared to fly off again but suddenly.

"SUPER STALLION STOP!" Princess Celestia yelled, getting his attention. "Please put me down."

"B-But Discord."

"I know I know, put me down and I'll explain everything." Super Stallion then did as the princess requested and placed the princess down but also got between her and Discord and looked him right in the eye.

"Don't even think about hurting her or you're answering to me," Super Stallion said trying to intimidate Discord.

"Oh I'm so afraid of the big strong 2 and a half foot tall superhero pony," Discord replied sarcastically.

"Have you forgotten the massive beating I gave you?" Super Stallion asked as the 2 literally got in each other's faces.

"My 1 against your 5, or what it more than that?"

"How are you even here didn't I turn you back into a stone statue that got smashed into a 1000 pieces?"

"You can thank dear old Twilight Sparkle for that."

"What?" Suddenly Princess Celestia got between Super Stallion and Discord.

"Cut it out, both of you. Now Super Stallion, as I was trying to say before, Discord is here because of my student, Twilight."

"Huh?"

"It's actually a rather interesting story," Discord chimed in. "It all started when I had a sudden craving for some particular delicious apple cider."

***

Not too long ago Applejack and her family were preparing for cider season. Twilight was rather excited, but her good mood was spoiled as Applejack came running to her with the rest of the mane 6 saying there was a problem at Sweet Apple Acres. "What's the problem Applejack, do you need help bucking the trees again?"

"No Twilight it's worse than that!" Fluttershy said in a panic.

"Thirsty?"

"Oh thank you," Fluttershy said as she took the mug filled with fizzy apple cider and drank from it. "This is delicious." Fluttershy drank from the mug a little more and it calmed her down. But suddenly recognized the voice of who offered her the drink and faced Discord hovering in the air.

"Hello." Fluttershy then screeched and hid behind Applejack who was standing her ground but was shaking quite a bit.

"Discord?" Twilight said as he made a mug of apple cider for himself and started to drink from it. "How are you here after-" Twilight stopped when Discord raised his finger from his claw signaling for Twilight to wait until he finished his drink. Twilight decided to wait as her friends didn't have the Elements of Harmony and she did not wish to enrage the spirit of chaos.

"Wow that is good," Discord said after finishing his drink and eating the mug as well.

"Ain't you worried about getting a splinter in yer jaw?" Pinkie asked.

"What are you doing here?" Twilight asked. "Are you planning on taking over Equestria again?"

"Eventually, but for now I'm here for you."

"He's gonna capture y'all like he did with the princesses. And that 1 prince," Applejack said while getting in-between Twilight and Discord. "Run Twilight, I'll try to hold him o-ff." Applejack was then grabbed by a black vine that lifted her into the air by one of her back legs.

"Well that plan of your's failed, Apple smack. So anyway I was plotting on how to take over Equestria, but then I remembered something you said to me. That you don't think I'm a bad guy for some reason."

"Y-Yeah I did say that. And I wasn't just saying that to distract you or anything I meant it. I think that if you gave it a chance we could become friends." That last part was what caught Discord's attention.

"You…want to be my friend?" Discord asked rather surprised.

"Yeah, I actually kinda do."

"Huh. I….never really had a friend before."

"What a shock," Applejack whispered to Fluttershy who was trying to get Applejack down.

"It would be nice if he was our friend instead of you know trying to take over all Equestria and enslaving everypony to eternal chaos," Fluttershy replied.

***

"And after that Twilight brought me to meet sun butt here."

"And I took it as well as you did. Somewhat worse in fact."

"So, you want to reform Discord?"

"I know I know, it sounds downright insane, but if Discord could be reformed his magic could have many uses for the greater good of Equestria."

"Well that is true, what with him being able to bend reality to his every whim and all that."

"It is quite handy oh I mean hoovesy or however you ponies say it."

"Though at risk of stating the obvious, what if he tries to do what he did that last time?"

"I'm well aware of that possibility and I've set up the necessary precautions but I'll need your help with that of course. That way if Discord tries anything you can stop him like you did before."

"Standing right here," Discord said, wondering why they were talking like he wasn't in the room. Super Stallion after a while met with Princess Celestia in Ponyville along with the mane 6 who were briefly told of Twilight's plan.

"You can't possibly think this could remotely be a good idea, Twilight," Rainbow Dash said. "This guy is a complete psycho."

"Again standing right here, what did I suddenly become invisible or something? Hm, that's not a bad idea actually." Discord then made a notepad appear.

"Don't even think about what you're thinking Discord," Super Stallion said, facing Discord again.

"Don't worry my little ponies, I've brought the Elements of Harmony and I've cast a spell so Discord can't hide them again." Princess Celestia then showed the case, but when she opened it, to every pony's shock, it was empty. Celestia then immediately turned to Discord who revealed that he was holding the Elements of Harmony and was hiding them behind his back.

"You never learn do you?" Discord asked as Celestia grabbed the elements out of Discord's paw and claw then placed each of them on the bearers.

"Keep a very close eye on him," Princess Celestia whispered to Super Stallion as she started to leave.

"I will, oh believe me I will." Princess Celestia then got on her carriage.

"Good luck Twilight."

"So long sun butt." Pinkie Pie then burst into a short but rather loud laughter.

"Sun butt that's hilarious."

"Pinkie Pie are you seriously going to ignore the fact that we have to foalsit one of the worst, scratch that, the worst threat we've ever faced. I mean Twilight what could possess you to think that this guy has a remote chance of-" Rainbow Dash was stopped from her rant when Discord made a cloth appear around her muzzle.

"Discord!" Twilight said rather upset to the spirit of chaos.

"Oh what, just because something suddenly appeared out of nowhere you instantly think it's me?"

"Discord!"

"Hey she was going on and on without taking a break, she's lucky she didn't pass out without breathing in. The way I see it I did her a favor."

"Discord!"

"Why don't you see how many times you're gonna have to say my own name to me before I do what you want me to do. I hope you love to wait." Super Stallion suddenly flew straight into Discord's face.

"Get that cloth off her right now." Super Stallion pointed to Rainbow Dash who had been trying desperately to get the gag off but it was on good and tight.

"Are you gonna make me?"

"You get it off Rainbow Dash or you go back to being stone,” Twilight said.

"Oh you wouldn't dare turn me into stone and risk disappointing your precious princess." Super Stallion was about to punch Discord but he dodged and hit Super Stallion right in the chest, forcing him into a nearby hill.

"Oh that's it, you're toast!" Super Stallion said angered and flew at him ready for a fight but Twilight got it his way. "Huh? What are you doing?"

"If we have to return you to stone, I'm sure we can convince Princess Celestia it was for a good reason."

"I suppose that's correct," Discord replied with a roll of his eyes and so with a snap of his fingers the gag disappeared.

"Ah finally," Rainbow Dash said, happy to talk again.

"This is off to a great start," Super Stallion said to Twilight.

"Well it can only go up from here on in."

"1 can only hope."

***

Discord was taken to the Ponyville library by Twilight who wanted to talk to him while she got out several books she needed. "Rather risky of you to be alone with me don't you think?"

Well I wanted to talk to you while I'm looking for a spell. Why don't you tell me about yourself."

"You mean like my origins? My parents? My childhood?"

"Yeah, all that stuff sounds like it would be incredible to know."

"Well why spoil the mystery now? Let me just sum it up for you, no one cares about me except me." Hearing that Twilight stopped looking through the books and placed them down. She turned around to face the creature of chaos.

"What?"

"You heard me none of you ponies ever cared about me, so I don't care about any of you ponies."

"I see," Twilight replied, taken back by how sad Discord's comment was. "Well even if that is true now, it doesn't mean it will stay like that, we could become friends."

"You're really dead set on this aren't you?" Discord said hovering with his claw on his chin. "How exactly am I going to be friends with anypony after the whole nearly taking over your land thing?"

"Maybe you should try being nice for a change, like seeing what you can do for some of the ponies around here."

"I suppose I can give it a try." Discord then left the library with a rather large bowl of paper in his claw.

"What's that you have?" Super Stallion asked who was watching from the window of the library.

"Oh just some light snacks," Discord replied as he ate out of the bowl.

"A-Are you eating paper?"

"Am I? Huh how odd of me?" Discord then continued to eat the paper from the bowl.

"What in the heck is he up to?" Super Stallion then flew into the library to talk to Twilight. "I still think this is a really bad idea, Twilight."

"I can understand he isn't exactly your favorite, creature but, well it's like this Squeaky-"

"SHH! Discord might hear you!" Super Stallion interrupted.

"Oh geez right right sorry."

"Twilight that's a rookie mistake," Spike said as he continued to read from a comic book.

“Seriously, what made you think this was a good idea, Twilight?”

“You did,” Twilight answered.

“Me?!” Super Stallion answered with shock. Spike found Twilight’s answer strange as well. Twilight then suddenly made a bubble appear around her, Super Stallion, and Spike who put the comic down and approached Twilight.

“Bubble of silence,” Twilight said. “This way we can have a private conversation.”

“Okay,” Super Stallion said a little weirded out.

“The reason I want to give Discord a chance is because of what you told me that night you foalsat me.”

Seriously, why can’t I remember that, Super Stallion thought.

“I bet if Discord had just 1 friend, he wouldn't be so bad. But before we get to that, since you're here, check out what I made."

"Oh yeah, I was wondering when you were finally gonna tell him about that," Spike said.

"What is it?" Twilight then popped the bubble then got out a small device that Super Stallion couldn't make heads or tails. "What is that?"

"Well I've been thinking that being a superhero can be very stressful at times."

"Well yeah, it's definitely not for everypony."

"Well Spike and I thought we'd help out a little, this emits a high pitched sound that only certain animals can hear but I think maybe you'll be able to hear it too." Twilight then pressed it and Super Stallion heard a rather strange noise "Did you hear something?" Twilight asked after taking her hoof off the button.

"Yes. It kind of sounded like a mix between a beep and a buzz.”

"Well that's good, at least we know it works."

"See Twilight figured we could keep an eye on Ponyville for you, and if there's trouble she'd use that to call you for help."

"So how about you fly off to Canterlot and see if you'll be able to hear it from there and then maybe the edge of Equestria."

"Well on any other day I'd be happy to test it out, but I should really keep an eye on Discord and I've probably taken a break from it long enough as it is." Super Stallion then flew out to look for Discord who was nowhere in sight. "Time to put my super hearing to the test." Super Stallion then flew up to concentrate on his hearing which allowed him to locate Discord in a matter of seconds.

"And that's how you bake a cake with cupcakes on top of it."

"Well that is interesting Pinkie, but I think you got food on your Element of Harmony."

"Huh? Oh my gosh you're right when did that happen?"

"You know I could clean that right up for you so you can get to the other cakes you need to bake."

"Oh thanks Discord, that's nice of you." Pinkie then took off her element and was about to offer it to Discord, but before he could grab it Pinkie quickly pulled her element back. "Wa-it a minute!"

"Ah you got me!"

"I figured what you were gonna do."

"I was close though."

"Oh yes you were."

***

The next day since Squeaky had the day off he made it back to Ponyville as Super Stallion rather early in the morning. After getting there he quickly noticed there was a particularly long line at Sweet Apple Acres. The Apple family was selling fresh apple cider and everypony wanted to drink it, especially Rainbow Dash. Pinkie Pie to Rainbow Dash's annoyance was walking off with many mugs that contained delicious apple cider.

"Pinkie you're getting cider on your element."

"Huh? Oh my gosh Discord you're right, you don't think it'll get a stain do you?"

"Well in case it does I can hold it for you." Discord then offered his paw to Pinkie and she placed the mugs down to take off her element.

"Oh thanks Discord that be, wait a minute." Pinkie then quickly placed her element right back around her neck.

"Ah you got me again."

"You can't pull the wool over my eyes, because if you did it would be easy to spot."

"I'm gonna trick you into giving it to me through."

"I bet you will, I bet you will." Pinkie then picked up the mugs and then continued to walk while carrying them.

"I wonder if I could convince that pony to cross over to the chaos side."

"Don't bet on it Discord," Super Stallion said hovering right behind him.

"Were you just hovering behind me waiting to spit out a comeback?"

"Maybe I was, maybe I wasn't."

"You so were."

"Just because Twilight is willing to give you a chance doesn't mean I'm cutting you any slack for now."

"I think we both know you've made that perfectly clear."

"Hey Discord," Twilight called out as she waved while standing in the line with Spike.

"Oh hello Twilight." Discord then flew a bit over to Twilight. Frightening the other ponies around her. "I see you and just about all of Ponyville are in the mood for apple cider."

"Yeah, the apple family is making their super special apple cider. It's the best."

"I just wish they could make it faster," Rarity added while waiting and several ponies as well as Spike agreed with what she said.

"Well while we're waiting Discord, would you like to hear an idea I have that you could try?"

"What might that be?"

"I'm rather curious myself," Super Stallion added, still keeping a very close eye on Discord.

"Maybe you could try doing something really nice for the ponies here. You know to show that you aren't such a bad guy. Some sort of grand gesture for everypony."

"Something like chocolate rain?"

"Uh I think only Pinkie Pie would like that, but you might be on the right track."

"Okay so making it rain, chocolate and whipped cream."

"No, not quite. Like maybe you could help the Apples make the cider quicker."

"Well I guess it couldn't hurt." Discord then flew over to where the cider was being made and Super Stallion was about to follow him.

"Super Stallion wait," Twilight called out to him before he could fly off. "Look, I know you want to make sure Discord behaves himself, but I think you should give him some space."

"What? Are you kidding me? Do you want to give Discord a golden opportunity?"

"We're all keeping an eye on him okay, so you don't have to stress yourself over it."

"Well….alright. But since I'm here, I guess I'll get some cider too." As Super Stallion got in the back of the line Discord was hovering above the Apple family.

"Twilight says I should try to help ponies, but the thought of that alone is rather sickening to me. But I suppose it couldn't hurt too much to just give it a try." Discord then lifted several apples from various trees and apple cider then summoned a mug to put it in.

"What the hey are y’all doing Discord?" Applejack asked.

"Making some more cider obviously," Discord somewhat bluntly replied not understanding why Applejack even had to ask.

"You can't just mash a bunch of apples together to make quality cider."

"Oh really well let's let a friend of yours decide." Discord then went to the line and offered the cider to Twilight who, having always been a curious pony, didn't hesitate to drink from it.

"Wow this is delicious," Twilight said and then offered some to Spike who found it equally delicious.

"You weren't kidding Twilight."

"Discord ya can't just pass out cider on your own."

"Why the heck not all these ponies are waiting for this special cider of yours I'm just making it easier for everypony." Discord then made more cider and offered it to Super Stallion. "Bottoms up."

"Uh no thank you, I'll wait until I get to the front of the line," Super Stallion replied, not quite ready to trust Discord.

"Well hey if you don't want it," The pony in front of Super Stallion said and then he grabbed the mug and drank all the cider in it before either Super Stallion or Discord could blink. "Wow this is even better than how the Apples make them." Other ponies in the line immediately took interest in what that pony had said. Soon they started asking Discord if he could make cider for them.

"Well I suppose that can be done, or maybe I could make it rain apple cider." Saying that made everypony in the line except Twilight and Spike cheer. While normally they wouldn't go for it, they were dying for cider.

"What's with that guy and making it rain food?" Spike whispered to Twilight.

"Hold on just a sec here everypony!" Applejack called out getting the attention from Discord to her. "You can't let Discord make the cider. Sure, he may have made some good cider but can it really compete with cider made by ponies that specialize in anything apples?"

"You tell me." Discord then made some cider for Applejack and nearly shoved it down her throat.

"Okay, that was actually really good. But you should still let us do it. You can help a bit if you want but not too much."

"Wait a minute, why not let him make some?" Rainbow Dash asked. "You think we have nothing better to do than wait in line all day?"

"Yeah and besides you always run out before the line ends," A pony by the name of Caramel said and then a couple other ponies agreed.

"We've done our best to improve supply this year."

"You say that every year," Caramel replied.

"And it’s always true, But Apple family cider is made with love and integrity, and only the highest quality apples in Equestria. Discord may have made good cider but if he just picks them at random he could easily make rotten cider."

"Really? Well let's put that to the test then shall we?" With the snap of his fingers Discord made mugs filled with apple cider appear beside everypony in the line. They were about to drink from the mugs when they suddenly lifted themselves up so the ponies couldn’t grab them. Discord then made the box for the bits move to the 1st pony in the line. "Bits first. Twilight, Spike, and the pony in front of Super Stallion double because they already drank." The ponies quickly paid up as the box soon made its way to the back of the line and they all drank.

However little more than half of the ponies in the line immediately spat out their cider including Super Stallion and Rainbow Dash.

"What's the big idea?" Super Stallion asked, flying up a bit ready to physically give him a piece of his mind.

"I call it cider roulette."

"What?"

"I picked the apples at random and made them into cider. Will it taste great or will it make you puke? All the fun of the game." Discord then made even more cider and placed them in the mugs he lifted back into the air. "Care to try again?"

"Okay Discord that there's enough, so can you clear on out of here so we can get back to work?"

"Wait a minute," Rainbow Dash said. "Maybe it wasn't all good but he made cider way faster than your entire family has ever been able to do." Several ponies agreed, even the others that had terrible cider.

"If he took the time like we do to make sure he only used the best apples he would have taken longer."

"Perhaps, but I bet I can still make it a lot faster than you and your multiple fruit family."

"Multiple?" Apple Bloom said after overhearing.

"Give it time and you'll know what I mean."

"You bet huh, well what do you say to putting yer bits where your mouth is?" Applejack said.

"What do you have in mind?" Suddenly a pair of stallions stopped by and dropped from a strange device.

"Well lookie what we got here brother of- " the 2 brothers were cut off from their song when Discord grabbed them by their throats and lifted them up to his eye level.

"Beat it!" Discord said with a vicious stare and then dropped them.

"Next town?"

"Next town." And with that the 2 brothers drove off and Discord turned to Applejack.

"You were saying?"

"A contest to see that my family and I can make better quality cider than you can."

"Well I bet I can make cider faster than you can."

"All right but if we win you have to leave and let us deal with all the cider making."

"Okay, but if I win I get Sweet Apple Acres." Discord's comment suddenly shocked everypony there for very understandable reasons.

"What?! Are y'all out of yer cotton picking mind? Why would you want our family farm?"

"Well you see Apple smack, if I have it you won't, which of course will make you miserable, and that will bring me untold amounts of joy."

"All right, fine!" Applejack said after thinking for a second. "We have nothing to fear, there's no way you'll beat us."

"We'll see."

***

Pretty much all of Ponyville got together to see Discord go against the Apple family who were all prepped and ready to go while Discord was on the grass with his claw resting on his head.

"All right, let's get this contest started." Applejack called out.

"Um, are you sure this is a good idea, Applejack?" Mayor Mare asked.

"You bet we are! Right Apples!"

"I am!" Apple Bloom called out.

"Bring it on!" Granny Smith said eager to beat Discord.

"Eeyup," Big Macintosh replied.

"All right then, go!" Mayor Mare called out as she started the timer and the Apples got to work. The crowd cheered as they started making barrels of cider while Discord continued to lay down. Twilight however thought it was odd that Discord wasn't doing anything.

"I think he's asleep?"

"Asleep?" Super Stallion said who was standing close to Twilight. "Why would Discord fall asleep right before a contest that he's in?"

"Because it's Discord," Twilight answered.

"Well, I can't really argue with that." After a while, Twilight jumped the fence to gently shake Discord as a means to wake him up. Discord then looked around, having a little trouble remembering where he was and what he was doing. Discord then stood up after remembering and saw that the timer was about to go out and right before that, he snapped his fingers and made twice as many barrels of cider appear on his side.

"Well, looks like I won," Discord said. "I wonder if I'll suddenly develop an accent?"

"How could you make that much cider so quickly?"

"Oh wow it's almost like I can bend reality to my every whim."

"Oh yeah, well how do we even know that those barrels are full of cider each and every one of them could be empty for all we know." Suddenly Applejack had a barrel raised over her and the cider from inside it was spilled all over her. Discord then lifted the lids of all the barrels he made appear showing they were all filled with cider.

"Convinced?"

"Yes, but from the look of things it appears the quality of your cider isn't much to talk about," Applejack said with a smirk on her face as the mayor went to examine the cider.

"She's right I don't think any of this cider is drinkable."

"What are you talking about?" Discord then picked up one of the barrels and drank the whole thing before placing the barrel down. "Ah, now that really hit the spot."

"Well it may be fine for you, but I doubt I can say the same for ponies. So I guess that means Discord forfeits due to the rather poor quality of the cider which means that the winner is-"

"Actually," Discord interrupted. "The contest was whoever made the most apple cider wins."

"Oh wait, that was the rules so, Discord wins," Mayor Mare said reluctantly.

"WHAT?!" The entire Apple family yelled out and suddenly Rainbow Dash flew up to Discord, clearly very upset.

"This is a load of crud! You make terrible cider and you win!"

"What do you care? You didn't care about the quality of the cider, just the speed." Rainbow Dash then backed up realizing what Discord said was true.

"And now to claim my prize."

"B-But this ain't fair."

"A deal is a deal Apple smack, and Sweet Apple Acres belongs to me." Discord then lifted the entire farm land with the exception of the area where Discord and the ponies were. Discord then teleported himself and the ponies off the remaining land of the farm and he lifted it up to join the rest of Sweet Apple Acres.

"This can't be happening," Applejack said.

"Oh don't look so down here just to show you I'm a good sport here." Discord then gave Applejack a small apple seed that he placed in her hoof.

"What the hey am I supposed to do with this?"

"Use it for your next farm." Discord then shrunk Sweet Apple Acres so he could hold it in his paw or claw and flew off. Super Stallion quickly flew off in order to get to Discord.

"Discord, you give that farm back right now!"

"How about I give you a sucker smack instead." Super Stallion then punched him, but Discord smacked him with his tail and sent him back to the ground.

"Wow this could have gotten way better," Pinkie Pie replied.

"I-I'm sorry everypony. I just wanted to show everypony that we knew what he were doing," Applejack said, almost crying if it weren't for the fact that she cries on the inside. "Now my family and I don't even have a home anymore."

"Where are we gonna live Granny?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Well I guess we'll have to move in with some of our fellow Apples."

"Eeyup."

"Wait, does that mean you'll have to leave Ponyville?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"I'm afraid so, Rainbow Dash," Applejack answered.

"No you don't have to go, you can all stay at my house."

"None of us are pegasus."

"Well come on y'all let's go pack. Oh right he took the house too," Granny Smith said. Applejack then looked at the seed that Discord gave to her then dug a small hole in the ground.

"Might as well." Applejack then dropped the seed into the ground and buried it. Suddenly the ground started to shake like crazy.

"Oh great now what?" Super Stallion asked as the ground continued to shake when suddenly large thick roots came out of where Applejack planted the seed. The roots then placed themselves on the ground and started to change the land that was once Sweet Apple Acres. The roots continued to change the land until they fully became a complete replica of Sweet Apple Acres. Down to the barn with everything in it and the grass and trees that used to be around and under the ponies there.

"What in the hey just happened?" Applejack asked as she and just about everypony else there was shocked at what the seed had done.

"Did Discord's seed really do all this?"

"Eeyup," Big Mac said to answer Apple Bloom's question. After a minute the ponies looked around and the Apple family with the help of Rainbow Dash and Super Stallion who both looked around and found that the new Sweet Apple Acres was exactly like the old one.

"So Discord took the farm and then gave AJ a seed that makes a new one which is exactly like the old one?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"I guess he did," Super Stallion answered.

"So what does this mean Applejack?" Caramel asked.

"I know what it means," Applejack said as she faced the crowd while standing next to barrels of good cider. "It means that cider season is back on." Hearing that, the crowd cheered and quickly formed a line to get back to the cider.

***

Twilight and Spike made it back to the library after getting some cider and saying goodbye to Super Stallion who agreed to test out that invention of hers later. "Well that was definitely worth the wait wasn't it Spike?"

"Well I'd really prefer a nice bowl of gemstones, but that cider was a pretty good substitute."

"Too bad they ran out before they could give some to everypony," Twilight added.

"True, but you didn't hear any of them complain."

"Quite right Spike," Discord said relaxing on Twilight's bed as Spike and Twilight looked up and saw that he was there. "I think it's going to be a safe bet that ponies won't be complaining about the time it takes to make cider anymore." Hearing that Twilight quickly put 2 and 2 together.

"I get it now, this was your plan all along. You made it seem like you took the farm and made everypony think there'd be no more cider, but now they've learned to appreciate what they have."

"Well you really are the smart one after all Twilight." Discord then flew down and rubbed Twilight's mane in a playful manner.

"So you were actually being the good guy the whole time, in a way," Spike said.

"Yes, you know Twilight like just about everypony else, I had my doubts about this whole reform me thing. But I think this might be for the best."

"You really think so?"

"Of course. Messing with ponies for their own good, this is gonna be the best.”

“Well Discord, that’s not-

Too late, that’s the lesson in this chapter. Until next time." Discord then vanished leaving Spike and Twilight alone in the library once again.

"Oh well, baby steps I suppose."

***

Princess Celestia was reading a report Twilight sent her as Squeaky Clean was mopping the royal chambers. "Is that another friendship letter princess?" He asked.

"No, I got a friendship lesson from Applejack a second ago. This is from Twilight, she sent me a letter explaining that Discord actually somewhat helped the Apple family."

"Wow, that's pretty hard to believe." Even if I was right there when it happened.

"I agree, as hard as it seems, Discord may be a valuable asset to Equestria. Though I'm leaving the elements with Twilight just in case."

“Probably a good idea,” Squeaky said. Suddenly he stopped mopping and faced the princess. “So.”

“So?” Princess Celestia asked as she looked back.

“About the kiss.”

“Yes, I was wondering when you were gonna bring that up.”

“I did that because I like you. I really like you and I’ve been trying to think of the right way to say this. But I think I’ll just come and ask…Princess Celestia, will you go out with me?" Squeaky bluntly blurted out.

"Okay."

"Yeah I figured as much but I figured I should have…wait what?

Chapter 16 Royal Romance

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"Hearts and Hooves Day, the most romantic day of the year. And I'm spending it with Princess Celestia. The most beautiful creature in the world," Squeaky Clean as he was fantasizing about their date.

"Well somepony is certainly in a good mood today," Stone Wall said as Squeaky passed him in the hallway.

"Trust me Stone Wall, I have a very good reason to be in a good mood, but don't ask why, it's a secret," Squeaky answered.

"I see." While Stone Wall found his answer rather suspicious he decided not to press him on it. Normally he would have, but Squeaky was a close friend and he knew he could trust him.

Squeaky made his way to the royal chambers of the lovely Princess Celestia and knocked on the door.

"Is that you Squeaky?"

"Yes it's me."

"Come on in." Squeaky then came into the chambers and closed the door behind him and as he approached the princess, he once again planted his lips against hers. She was about to say something but Squeaky cut her off and she had to wait a minute for him to finish. "Are you going to kiss me every time you see me?"

"Probably. I really really like to do it."

“I expected you to show up early and you didn't disappoint there. Though I have 1 or 2 more things I need to take care of before we can go on our date though."

"Oh, they won't take long will they?"

"No they won't but would you mind cleaning the hallway while you wait?"

"No problem, it is my job after all." Squeaky then made his way out of the chambers and noticed Swift Sweep. "Hey there Swift Sweep," Squeaky called out and Swift Sweep wrapped him in a very surprising hug.

"Hello Squeaky, it's such a great, grand, glorious day isn't it? What with it being Hearts and Hooves Day."

"You're certainly in a happy mood."

"I am, believe you me I am," Swift Sweep answered as he released Squeaky. "Too bad I can't tell you why." And before Squeaky could say anything Swift Sweep flew off with his broom down the hall.

"That is 1 weird pony."

"You can certainly say that again," Shining Armor who had recently entered the hallway said having met Swift Sweep several times before. "I bet I know the reason he's excited."

"You do?"

"Yeah, he's got a hot date."

"Oh of course, Hearts and Hooves Day, probably should have figured it out sooner."

"I certainly do." Just then Princess Cadance walked by and stopped right next to Shining Armor and they kissed each other on the lips.

"Hi honey, are you ready for our super special date?"

"Oh you better believe it. I'll catch up with you in a minute. I just have to tell Squeaky here a thing or 2."

"All right, just don't keep me waiting." Princess Cadance then made her way down the hallway with a big smile on her face.

"Hey Squeaky, can you keep a secret?"

"Oh I can, believe you me I can." Hearing that Shining Armor got out a small box and opened it showing Squeaky a ring.

"I just had to tell somepony, I'm going to ask Cadance to marry me. We've been dating since high school and today's no better day to finally pop the question."

"Wow," Squeaky said, amazed by the romantic gesture Shining Armor had planned. "I hope she says yes."

"So do I," Shining Armor said, giving a laugh. "Wish me luck." Shining Armor then headed down the hallway to catch up with what hopefully would be his future fiancé. Squeaky then felt a tap on his shoulder and when he turned around Princess Celestia kissed him.

"This time I wanted to be on the giving end of a surprise kiss."

"That's fine with me. So I take it that you finished up the last few things that need finishing up?"

“Yes,” she answered.

"So where do you want to go?" Squeaky asked very excitedly to take her anywhere.

"It won't be anything over the top. Just a simple trip to Ponyville.”

"Wait, you want to go to Ponyville?"

"Yes, why is that a problem?"

"Well it's just that, you're going to stick out like a sore thumb."

"Oh don't worry about that, I have something special to help with that," Princess Celestia answered as she removed her breast plate and put on a golden necklace. Princess Celestia suddenly transformed into a smaller pegasus pony with a rather pale coat and a golden tail and mane that both had a rather long pigtail plus the mane had a bit of blue on 1 side.

"What the?" Squeaky said, understandably shocked.

"This is just a little something that I put on when I decide to look over Equestria as not myself."

"What do you mean?"

"Sometimes ponies don't quite act like themselves around me. When ponies don't know it's me, it allows them to speak freely as they truly are."

"Oh I see. So you have an alter ego."

"I never thought about it that way but yes." Princess Celestia then made her way to the window prepared to fly off.

"That's 1 thing I never thought we'd have in common," Squeaky said to himself.

"What?" Princess Celestia asked, turning her head around.

"Nothing."

"All right then get on my back and I'll fly us there." Squeaky did as she asked and in no time at all they made it to Ponyville.

"So what do you want to do first?" Squeaky asked when they arrived in Ponyville.

"Well if it's all right I'd actually like to have a nice pleasant walk around the town."

"That's okay with me. Just as long as I’m with you." Squeaky then grabbed Princess Celestia's hoof as they walked around, Squeaky came across Twilight Sparkle who had gotten a book about Hearts and Hooves Day to celebrate the holiday in her own way.

"Oh hello there Squeaky what a nice surprise."

"Hey there Twilight got any big plans today?"

"Just gonna curl up with yet another good book, what about you?" Twilight asked before noticing that Squeaky was holding hooves with a mare. "Oh, who's your mare friend?"

"Oh, this is…” Come on, come on, think of a name. “Sunny. Sunny Starscout, this is a friend of mine, Twilight Sparkle."

"Nice to meet you," she replied as she and Twilight shook hooves. "Twilight Sparkle, aren't you the student of Princess Celestia?"

"Yes I am actually."

"I imagine that could be quite difficult at times."

"Well at times yes, but it's nothing I can't deal with. Besides, it's more than worth it. I've always looked up to Princess Celestia ever since I was a young filly. I hope 1 day I can be just like her." Twilight then waved goodbye as she made her way back to the library.

"I'm sure you will be Twilight." Squeaky Clean and Princess Celestia then continued their walk around Ponyville for a short while and afterwards stopped to sit together at a bench. "That was quick thinking back there, thinking up a name on the spot."

"Well it was either that or Solar Flare.”

“Solar Flare?”

"Well it's just that 1 day I was thinking about how your sister Princess Luna became Nightmare Moon. I then wondered if the opposite happened, what would you be called?"

"And that was the name you thought I'd use?"

"Yeah, it's just, you know, boom. Popped right into my mind.”

"You'd think I'd call myself Solar Flare?"

"What? It fits?"

"I think I'd do better than that."

"What could be better than Solar Flare?" Princess Celestia then thought for a moment.

"I think I'd be called Daybreaker."

"Daybreaker? Why the heck would you choose that over Solar Flare?"

"Well what exactly makes Solar Flare so appealing?" Princess Celestia asked in a rather sassy tone.

"Well the name just says it all solar as in sun flare as in a flare of light. With Daybreaker, what the heck does that even mean? My name makes much more sense."

"Well then I'll have to remember that if I ever become evil," Princess Celestia said with a chuckle. "I never thought I would actually have a pleasant conversation that involved Nightmare Moon. You really are easy to talk to Squeaky, have you ever been told that you have a way with words?"

"No I haven't, but it's certainly good to know." Princess Celestia and Squeaky Clean then shared another kiss. They then placed their fore hooves around each other as the kiss started to deepen. But suddenly Squeaky pulled away.

"Is something the matter Squeaky?"

"Well it's just, Sunny’s coat and mane isn't nearly as soft as Princess Celestia’s."

"Oh I see, I imagine that’s rather confusing. It would be like if I was kissing you while you were somehow in an entirely different form. Can you imagine that?"

"N-No," Squeaky answered after a short pause. "Do you want to get something sweet?" Squeaky asked, wanting to change the subject.

"Sure." The couple then headed to Sugar Cube Corner where Mrs. Cake was minding the store.

"Well hello there you 2 must be new in town."

"Yes but we aren't staying, we're just here for the day," Princess Celestia answered.

"Well you've both picked a lucky day to come here because we have a special sweet of Hearts and Hooves Day." Mrs. Cake then got out a cake that was shaped like the symbol of love and had crimson red frosting all over it.

"Oh my it looks so delicious," Princess Celestia said, ready to shallow it in 1 big gulp.

"It almost looks too pretty to eat," Squeaky added.

"Speak for yourself."

"Well I take it you 2 are interested in buying 1?" Squeaky Clean and Princess Celestia both nodded in unison and both paid for the cake. They then found a nice spot under a tree and used their magic to cut up the cake and feed it to each other.

"That tasted as well as it looked," Squeaky said as they finished up the cake.

"Yes it did," Princess Celestia added as she cleaned the pieces of cake off of her muzzle with a napkin.

"So what do you want to do now?"

"I'm not sure. Was there something you wanted to do?"

"In all honesty not a whole lot outside of this." Squeaky then kissed Princess Celestia right on her lips and gently lowered her to the ground. The couple then slowly started to roll around a bit but not too much and Princess Celestia put her forelegs on his chest and then around his neck, but shortly after that pushed Squeaky off of her.

"Wow," Princess Celestia said after a few deep breaths. "That was getting rather intense."

"Yes it was, so why did you stop?" Squeaky asked as the 2 got back up and sat next to one another.

"Well, while I was enjoying it, very much in fact it was also kind of scaring me."

"Scaring you?" Princess Celestia then made a rather large sigh and then held Squeaky's hoof.

"I should have told you this earlier. But the thing is-"

"You're already married!"

"What!? No! What?! Why would I be dating you if I was married?"

"Sorry, I jumped to the worst possible conclusion, continue."

"No I'm not married, but I almost was."

"You were?"

"Yes, It was a long time ago and I've been thinking about it more and more lately. It's a long story and I'd rather not get fully into it. Or go into it at all. I like you Squeaky I really do, but I've been hurt by love before."

"Y-you have?" Squeaky asked, rather shocked by the princess's statement. Princess Celestia had to fight the urge to cry before continuing.

"It was about 1000 years ago but the pain can still feel as fresh as ever."

“If that’s the case, why did you say yes when I asked you out?”

“You’re such a nice stallion that had a hard time revealing your crush on me, I felt that I should at least give you a chance.”

"Oh, I see," Squeaky replied, not sure what else he should say. "Maybe we should stop now.”

"Well, I think I can stay for 1 more thing here in Ponyville with you." Hearing that Squeaky quickly got an idea on something to share with the princess.

"Well in that case come with me." The 2 then cleaned up then Squeaky grabbed Princess Celestia's hoof making her get up and took her to Sweet Apple Acres. "A while back these farm ponies made quite a lot of apple cider. We should try some."

"Oh, that does sound rather delicious. It could also help wash down the cake." Squeaky and Princess Celestia went to see the Apple family and ran into Applejack who made both of them a cup. "You know I actually helped make this farm," Princess Celestia said as she and Squeaky were leaving the farm.

"Really?" Squeaky asked rather amazed.

"Yes, interesting story. A few generations back I came across some traveling earth ponies and I suggested that they stay in an untapped area not too far from Canterlot. Actually that was how Ponyville was founded."

"Wow, the Apple family helped make Ponyville actually exist. Kind of makes me wish I didn't sleep through history class."

"Well at any rate it's about time, for me," Princess Celestia stopped mid sentence as it seemed she was staring off in the distance.

"Is something the matter?"

"For a second I thought I saw my sister poking her head out the barn."

"Princess Luna, what could she be doing here in Ponyville?"

"I'm not sure, I'm not even sure it's her, but I'm gonna find out." Princess Celestia then to Squeaky's surprise started sprinting to the barn.

"Hey, hey wait for me!" Squeaky called out as he chased after his date. The 2 quickly made it to the barn and Princess Celestia was waiting just outside of the edge of the barn. "Well what are we waiting for?"

"Well I was so gung-ho on getting over here, that I didn't give myself enough time to figure out what I was going to say."

“How about busted?"

"But I don't know what or even if I'm busting her."

"Yeah, but it would be pretty funny just to yell it out loud."

"You're right,” Princess Celestia snickered. “That would be pretty funny. All right I'll do it." Princess Celestia then jumped into the barn and was so surprised to see Princess Luna making out with Swift Sweep while she was laying on top of him on a large pile of hay.

"Busted?" Squeaky said, poking his head into the barn.

"What are you doing here?" Princess Luna asked her sister knowing it was her because she had known about the amulet she was currently using.

"I would ask you the same thing, but I think I can put 2 and 2 together on that."

"Um, Princess Luna I didn't mind it so much when we were kissing because…we were kissing, but this hey is really starting to itch." Princess Luna then flew off her date and landed next to her sister allowing Swift Sweep to stand. "Ah that is much better," Swift Sweep said after he quickly finished scratching himself. "So just who is that pony?"

"It's my sister. My pain in the rump can't mind her own business sister."

"Princess Celestia? Hm I didn't quite recognize you, there's something different about you. Did you do something with your mane?"

"I guess you can say that," Princess Celestia answered as Squeaky then walked into the barn until he was standing next to his date. "So how long have you 2 been dating?"

"Well not that it's any of your business, but a while now," Princess Luna answered.

"Best while of my life," Swift Sweep added as he hugged Princess Luna with both his forelegs bringing a small but pleasant smile to Princess Luna's face.

"Luna, why haven't you told me that you were dating somepony?"

"Perhaps the same reason why you haven't told me the same thing Celestia," Princess Luna then looked over at Squeaky Clean.

"That's a rather good point sister. Though 1 other question: why were you 2 in the barn?"

"Well Swift Sweep, who can let go of me now," Swift Sweep did just that. "Wanted us to come here because he heard about a new cake that the town had."

"Oh you had it too," Celestia said happy for her sister.

"Not the best cake I've had."

"At least it was cool that the cake was in the shape of the heart symbol, right Luna?" Swift Sweep asked.

"Eh," She replied. "Anyway after he got the cake for me we came here to the barn."

"Okay but, why did you come in here in the barn?" Squeaky asked, feeling that Princess Luna was ignoring her sister's question.

"Because sneaking around is fun," Princess Luna answered with a smile. "Now if you mind we'd like to get back to our date."

"Oh, right sure," Squeaky said as he placed his leg around Princess Celestia's neck and they walked outside. After leaving they once again made their way off of Sweet Apple Acres.

"Well it's certainly nice to know that my sister is well adapted to Equestria since having come back after 1000 years."

"I couldn't help but notice that you 2 are kind of, if you'll pardon the expression, sun and moon."

"Would you be surprised if I told you you aren't the first one to tell me that?"

"Honestly, I'd be shocked otherwise."

"Well this has been really fun but I really need to get going." After looking around to make sure nopony else was in the area she removed the necklace and was returned to her true form.

"It's time to report back to the castle. I also have to make a trip to Saddle Arabia. Can you be sure to return this necklace of mine to my chambers?"

"Sure no problem." Princess Celestia then gave the necklace to Squeaky and he placed it in his pocket.

"Thank you for the wonderful time."

"Wait," Squeaky said just as Princess Celestia was about to take off. Squeaky then briefly kissed Princess Celestia on her lips one last time for the date. "Wanted to do that to the real you." And with that Princess Celestia took to the sky and before long she was out of sight.

***

Back at the castle Squeaky along with Swift Sweep were called in for a particular sloppy mess. Squeaky found it quite convenient since he could also clean the chambers and drop off the necklace along the way.

"Hi there Squeaky," Swift Sweep said as he flew right next to Squeaky.

"Oh hello Swift Sweep did you have a great time with Prin-"

"YES! Yes I had a great time hanging out with her. You know, maybe we could have a double date sometime."

"Swift Sweep, Squeaky Clean, glad to see you're both here we need you to head to the mess hall right away," Stone Wall said when he saw them.

"Right away captain," Swift Sweep answered.

Shoot, I was planning on heading to the royal chambers first so I could return the necklace. I could just return it later, but I'd really like to return it as soon as possible.

“Something the matter Squeaky?” Stone Wall asked.

"Well." Squeaky then got out the necklace he got from Princess Celestia. "Can you bring this to Princess Celestia's royal chambers?" Stone Wall then took the necklace from Squeaky's hoof to look at it. “I think it's Princess Celestia's."

"What makes you think it's hers? It could belong to her sister and we have quite a few female guards who sometimes bring such belongings to the castle? Even though I've told them multiple times not to." Stone Wall took a closer look at the necklace. "Hm, you may be right. I think I've seen this in her chambers while talking to her. I'll make sure it gets there no problem, so you can just worry about the giant mess."

"Wait did you say giant mess?"

"Yes, maybe I should show you before I return the necklace." Stone Wall then went to the mess hall as Squeaky followed behind. When he arrived at the mess hall he found what looked like a large chocolate cake that almost covered the entire floor of the mess hall.

"What in Equestria happened?" Squeaky asked.

"I know right?" Swift Sweep commented while cleaning. "Total waste of what still kind of looks like a rather delicious cake."

"What in the heck happened?" Squeaky asked.

"Ask Spearhead," Stone Wall said as he pointed to the guard he just mentioned.

"Well see we wanted to surprise Princess Celestia for all the stuff she's done over the years, and what better way to do it then make her a huge chocolate cake for Hearts and Hooves Day. However we aren't exactly talented in cooking and well 1 thing led to another and well, this happened."

"It's going to take a while to clean this up," Squeaky said.

"I figured as much so I'm sure the guards here will be more than willing to lend a hoof seeing how it's their fault this happened."

"Well actually Stone Wall I got this art project I've been meaning to get to for a while and I think I'll be able to finish it today if I leave early. Please," Spear Head said smiling at the end, hoping to head out.

"Well I guess you and your art have something in common now, neither of you are going anywhere." Spearhead then lowered his head and the guards there got to work cleaning. Before long, Princess Celestia came along having come back from her trip from Saddle Arabia rather early and was told by Spearhead what had happened.

"I see such a waste of what looks like such a delicious cake."

"I know right," Swift Sweep added.

"We just wanted to show you how much we appreciate you, your highness."

"Well thank you Spearhead, it's the thought that counts," Princess Celestia said, touched by the guard's gesture.

"Too bad the thought can't clean up the mess it caused," Stone Wall said before getting out the necklace he got from Squeaky. "By the way, is this yours?"

"Why yes, yes it is." Princess Celestia then gave a subtle look towards Squeaky before continuing. "How did you come across it?"

"Squeaky found it earlier and gave it to me so I could return it."

"Ah I see." Princess Celestia then took the necklace and placed it in her saddle bag as Squeaky walked by still cleaning when she placed a hoof on his back stopping him and then kissed his cheek in front of everypony in the room. "Thank you very much Squeaky Clean."

Spearhead then walked up to the princess and removed his helmet then repeatedly tapped his cheek with his hoof. But instead Stone Wall lightly bonked him right on the head with the spear he presently had on him.

"Get back to work!"

"Yes sir." Spearhead then put his helmet right back on and continued cleaning.

"How much longer do you think it'll take until he can clean this whole thing up?" One of the guards asked.

"All I know is next time we should make a smaller cake. A much smaller cake," another guard answered.

"Well now I wouldn't go that far my little ponies."

"There she goes thinking with her sweet tooth again," Stone Wall thought as he was helping with a spare mop. I'm actually kind of curious what this cake would have tasted like myself. After a while the whole cake was eventually cleaned up and the ponies were able to rest.

"Geez Stone Wall you weren't kidding, that was a major mess," Squeaky said while he was resting on a chair. Suddenly Shining Armor came into the room along with his mare friend Princess Cadance who was very happy after her day with him.

"Shining Armor today has just been wonderful."

"Yes you are." Shining Armor then looked at the other ponies in the room. "Um Cadance, there's something I want to show you in the other room."

"Really? Is it another gift?"

"Sort of." Cadance then followed Shining Armor into the room and Squeaky, having quickly figured out what exactly he was planning, got up to go by the door.

"Squeaky, what are you doing?" Princess Celestia asked.

"Shining Armor is going to propose."

"What?!" Stone Wall said.

"He is!" Spearhead, who was a friend of Shining Armor, said interested. The other guards were interested as well and followed Squeaky to listen in as well.

"Well where's my gift Shining Armor?"

"Well you see Cadance, it's, well."

"He's choking up," Spearhead said. Suddenly Squeaky walked into the room to every pony's shock.

"Sure Stone Wall I'll clean in here no problem," Squeaky said.

“What I-” before Stone Wall could finish, Squeaky Clean then got right behind Shining Armor to his confusion.

"What in Equestria are you doing?"

"Just repeat what I say," Squeaky whispered as he looked right at Princess Celestia. "Ever since I've met you I've wanted to get closer to you."

"Ever since I've met you I've wanted to get closer to you," Shining Armor repeated.

"You make me a better pony by just letting me be near you."

"You make me a better pony by just letting me be near you." Cadence and Celestia’s hearts were melting.

"Oh Shining, that's so sweet," Cadance said, putting one of her forelegs to her chest.

"Spending time with you is the greatest thing I can think of."

"Wow Shining Armor really has a way with words," Swift Sweep commented. "I'd like to be like that 1 day."

"You are the best part of my day," Squeaky continued as he also continued to look directly at Princess Celestia who knew what he was doing.

"You are the best part of my day."

"I think you can get the ring out now."

"What?" Cadance asked and then Squeaky elbowed Shining Armor in the stomach.

"Sorry," Shining Armor whispered. "I'll take it from here," Shining Armor said as he got out of the ring. Squeaky walked out of the room and stopped by Princess Celestia who placed her hoof on his back.

"It's just so romantic," Princess Celestia said to Stone Wall.

"Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, will you marry me?" Princess Cadance was shocked as were the ponies by the side waiting to hear what her answer was going to be.

"Oh Shining, I-I'm not sure I love you very much, but I may not be ready. But I might be, I'm not sure."

"You know,” Shining Armor said. “If you decide to marry me, you won't just be getting a husband, you'll be getting a pretty great sister too."

"You're right,” Cadence said as she remembered all the great times with Twilight. “Yes, I will marry you." Hearing that the guards almost charged in like a miniature stampede to congratulate their friend.

“I don’t believe this,” Stone Wall said. Princess Celestia tapped his side with her wing as she, her captain, and the janitors entered the room.

"Stone Wall I'm getting married," Princess Cadance said as she showed him the ring.

"I heard," he stoically answered.

"Would you give me away at the ceremony?"

“No. I hate weddings.” Cadance suddenly pushed out her bottom lip and gave the captain puppy dog eyes. "Fine."

“Thank you!” Cadance hugged him and Stone Wall smiled.

"Holy cow he smiled," a guard said.

"I didn't know he could do that," another said.

"Is there a place either of you would prefer to have the wedding take place?" Princess Celestia asked.

"Shining?"

"Um no not really, as long you want to marry me I don't really care where."

"All right then let's have it right here at the castle."

"Out of the question," Stone Wall blurted out. "If we have the wedding here it'll invite all sorts of crazies to the castle thinking the guards will be too focused on the wedding to notice them stealing from the treasury or even abduct you."

"Ah come on, watching the castle and overseeing the wedding won't be a problem for you, please." Cadance pleaded.

"You won't be alone. I'm sure I'll be able to stop any trouble makers that show up at the wedding,” Princess Celestia said.

"Yeah and we can help out with anything too captain," Spearhead said as the other guards including Shining Armor backed him up.

"All right fine," Stone Wall said after a groan. "But for now all of you get back to work."

"But captain if you recall my art project and with the cake all cleaned up-" Spearhead was interrupted when Stone Wall grabbed him by the back of the neck and pulled him in.

"Get back, to work!" Stone Wall answered. Spearhead and the other guards quickly made it out of the room except for Shining Armor who stopped by Stone Wall.

"Should I use my spell to protect all of Canterlot during my wedding?"

"No, that spell is too much of a strain for you. Only use it if you absolutely have to."

“Well, with all due respect,” Cadence said. “Will you even be able to tell him what to do anymore,” Cadance added teasing the captain.

“Oh, that’s right,” Shining Armor getting Cadance’s point. “When I marry Cadance, I’m going to be a prince. Which will make me your boss.”

“Don’t count your chickens before they hatch,” Stone Wall replied. “You aren’t married yet. I still call the shots around here.”

“Well in that case you’re fired,” Shining Armor said.

“Nice try, but only Princess Celestia can do that.”

“But he’s still gonna be royalty,” Cadance said. “And the royal guard works for royalty.”

“Yeah,” Shining Armor said. “So you have to do what I say.” Shining then playfully poked Stone Wall who smacked his hoof away.

“Not yet I do,” Stone Wall said, starting to get annoyed. “And with that attitude, you’re on your way to be a very pathetic prince.”

Shining Armor then left with Cadance and the others left as well. With the exception of Princess Celestia and Squeaky Clean.

"I need you to clean something for me," Princess Celestia said before she led Squeaky to her chambers.

"What do you need me to clean?" Princess Celestia then kissed Squeaky right his lips to once again his utter enjoyment. "Never mind."

"That was so romantic what you did back there.”

“Thank you,” Squeaky replied. “I can understand not wanting to love again after being hurt by it. But these feelings I have for you are more than just a crush. I think we owe it to ourselves to explore these feelings and see where they go.”

“You make a good point. I should at least give this a chance, we should both really try to make this work," Princess Celestia replied.

"Well I'm glad you see it that way, really I do. So what should we do now?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well should we stick to what we've been doing? Should we stick with what we did today? Or should we do something new?"

"Well I still don't like sneaking around but it's not the worst thing in the world, though I did really like today to get out in the open just the 2 of us. Problem is I can't make too much of a habit of that so perhaps a balance between the 2.”

"Well, I’m sure we’ll find a way. In the meantime, do you want to tell Stone Wall we're dating?"

"Uh no, at least not for now."

Chapter 17 Time Trouble

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1 morning the royal pony sisters were having an indoor picnic in Celestia’s chambers with 2 certain janitors.

"This was a great idea, Princess Celestia," Swift Sweep said. "Even better than your idea of lowering capital taxes as a means to provide extra cash to the local charities." The other 3 ponies couldn't quite help but stare at Swift Sweep. "What?"

I am never going to understand that pony, Squeaky thought to himself.

"T-Thank you Swift Sweep," Princess Celestia responded, still rather weirded out that he knew about stuff like that.

"Oh by the way I forgot to ask earlier, what's with the rainbow of trash outside?" Squeaky asked.

"I beg your pardon?" Princess Celestia asked when suddenly there was a rather heavy pound on the chamber doors.

"Princess! There's something you need to see!" Stone Wall called out on the other side of the door. Princess Celestia then placed her hoof to her mouth real quick telling Squeaky and Swift to be quiet while she got up to answer her captain's call.

"Coming," she said as she walked towards the door and opened it only enough for her head to show. "Yes?"

"Somepony vandalized the royal garden."

"What? Who?"

"That's what we're trying to find out."

"I'll be out in a second and meet you in the garden." Princess Celestia then closed the door and approached the others.

"So I take it the double date is off," Princess Luna replied.

"I'm afraid so, Luna."

"Ah I never even got to have a make out session," Swift Sweep said. Hearing that Princess Luna tapped her date slightly on the shoulder.

"I'm sure, no actually I'm quite positive that we'll have one of those later. But until then I should probably get back to sleep."

"Yeah me too, I gotta get some sleep now because my next shift is later tonight." Hearing that Luna turned around to face Swift.

"Well then Swift, if that's the case would you like to share my chambers." Swift Sweep then jumped at Princess Luna and snuggled her. "I'll take that as a yes." Princess Luna then flew out the window and Swift Sweep quickly followed right behind.

"I'll just see myself out, your highness."

"Thank you Squeaky, but you can just call me Celestia when we're alone."

"I know but I still like to call you that or princess or your majesty. Your titles are also kind of cute nicknames when you think about it."

"I suppose you have a point there," Princess Celestia responded as she used her magic to put her shoes and breast plate on herself. "Well we can't keep Stone Wall waiting.”

"Wait we?" Suddenly Squeaky was teleported to the royal gardens. Before long Princess Celestia arrived with Stone Wall not too far behind as well as a couple guards who also wanted to know what was going on.

Wow, Squeaky wasn't kidding. A rainbow of trash," Princess Celestia thought to herself.

"Who could have done this, and without anypony here noticing it a thing?" Stone Wall asked.

"I have a pretty good idea, I need to pay a visit to Twilight."

***

Princess Celestia with a small group of guards quickly got to Ponyville and informed Twilight of what was happening. She quickly gathered her friends and gave them the Elements of Harmony and they used them to summon Discord who was taking a bath.

Discord then let out a fake high pitch scream.

"Didn't we agree on giving me a heads up before that spell is used?"

"Don't act like you don't know why we brought you here," Rainbow Dash replied. "Why was he brought here again?"

"Somepony has gone to great lengths to fill my royal gardens with trash."

"Is that true? Well then perhaps I should have a look at that for myself sun butt." Discord then snapped his fingers and he, along with Princess Celestia and her guards were teleported away leaving the element welders alone and rather confused.

"Hee hee sun butt."

"It's not that funny Pinkie Pie."

"Yes it is Twilight."

***

Discord appeared with the ponies he brought with him and quickly had a look around the gardens. "I must admit I think I got my hopes up when I came here."

"I'd like to give you the benefit of the doubt Discord-”

“No you wouldn’t,” Discord interrupted.

“But can you prove to me that you didn't do this?" Princess Celestia finished.

"Oh please, if I did this, don't you think I'd go completely out of my way to show you that it was me?" Discord asked.

"Well if you didn't do it then who did?" Stone Wall asked about getting between Princess Celestia and Discord in case he would have to protect her from the master of chaos.

"Sometimes in order to solve a problem, all you have to do is look at it from an entirely different angle." Discord then snapped his fingers and suddenly everypony there was lifted up into the air by an invisible platform which allowed them to see that the trash spelled THE PRANK MASTER. "See what I mean?"

“Yes Discord,” Princess Celestia said. Discord then lowered the platform putting the group down.

"So I trust that was the only reason you wanted to see me?"

"Yes Discord."

"Well then until next time sun butt." Discord then vanished.

"So the Prank Master?" A guard asked.

"Discord figured this out pretty quick; he most likely knows quite a few things about this "Prank Master.”

"I'm more than sure you're right, Stone Wall, but even if I asked I seriously doubt that I'd get a straight answer,” Princess Celestia replied. “Him and his riddles."

"Why don't you just get Twilight and her friends to threaten to turn him back to stone if he doesn't tell you everything?"

"Rather tempting but no. I believe it best if we don't antagonize him."

"Yeah no kidding, last time he let loose it was a literal living nightmare," another guard said.

"Yes I know, I was there," Stone Wall replied to the guard's comment. "So what do you think we should do then your highness?"

"For now, I think we should just wait. See what develops." The next few days were surprisingly quiet, well for most ponies.

Twilight had gone through several rather stressful days. She had been trying to stop some sort of disaster that somehow her future self warned her about. She even returned Cerberus to the gates of Tartarus with the help of Super Stallion who as it turns out was able to hear the caller bracelet Twilight made. Super Stallion had also spent several days looking for any signs of this Prank Master, but had no luck.

"Nothing today either," Super Stallion said to himself as he was flying over Los Pegasus. "I don't get it, somepony makes that weird message and nothing else happens. Was it just some weird prank?" Super Stallion then made his way to Canterlot Castle as Squeaky had a night shift with Swift.

"Nothing today either," Stone Wall said while in the hall with the 2 janitors.

Tell me about it, Squeaky thought.

"I don't like this one bit, it's like the calm before the storm. I wish this "Prank Master" would just show up all ready."

"My advice captain, just don't think about it," Swift Sweep said to Stone Wall.

"No offense but I think not thinking comes a little easier to you than it would to me."

"Uh okay, I know you said no offense but you basically and rather bluntly called me stupid so how am I not supposed to take offense?"

"Hm good point, I'm sorry this whole thing is just really bugging me."

"Apology accepted."

"Oh my gosh."

"What?" Stone Wall asked as he turned to face Squeaky.

"You actually apologized,” Squeaky replied.

"Yeah, and?"

"I don't think you've ever done that before." Stone Wall then smacked Squeaky on the head as Squeaky let out a playful chuckle.

"I forgot how much of a smart aleck you can be sometimes." As Stone Wall, Squeaky Clean, and Swift Sweep continued together they quickly came across Twilight Sparkle who had a strange black suit and a new mane style and was trying to get into the Star Swirl the Bearded wing.

"Oh hi Stone Wall-"

"I don't even want to know," Stone Wall said as he unlocked the gate allowing Twilight to get in and the 3 stallions continued along the hallway.

"I think Princess Celestia makes her study too hard sometimes. Makes her go nuts sometimes. I actually kind of worry about her sometimes."

"Really? Maybe she just felt like dressing differently."

"You really try to be optimistic, don't you Swift Sweep?"

"I figure somepony should captain and it might as well be me."

"Well spoken Swift," Squeaky added.

***

The next morning Super Stallion was patrolling Equestria rather early and while he had stopped a couple minor criminals and a few almost wanna be disasters, there was no sign of the Prank Master. "Maybe it was just a prank,” Super Stallion said.

"OH MY FLIPPING GOODNESS!" A guard at Canterlot Castle that Super Stallion could hear all the way from Ponyville. Super Stallion flew over to the castle and to his shock, tons of books and scrolls that used to be safely inside the Starswirl the Bearded wing were tossed and thrown all over the place. And on top of the tower all capitalized in red paint, THE PRANK MASTER.

"Something tells me I spoke too soon." The guards quickly got to work on cleaning up the books and scrolls and Super Stallion cleaned the paint off the tower.

"Well we can now rule out this being some harmless jokester Princess Celestia, this is vandalism."

"Yes, Stone Wall. I don't like this 1 bit. Even if this still is somepony's idea of a joke it's in very terrible taste."

"Kind of makes me glad I don't have a sense of humor."

"Oh you do too, you just never seem to bring it out."

"Well either way this isn't funny and we need to put a stop to these mean spirited pranks. As well figure out how they manage to keep sneaking into and out of the castle without being noticed."

"Yes, that is rather concerning." Princess Celestia then helped a bit with the scrolls and books and put them all back in the wing when they all came together.

"Way to go, your highness."

"Thank you Shining Armor, but I think I missed a scroll or 2."

"Really?" Shining Armor asked. “You don’t suppose they were taken, do you?”

“I hope not, those scrolls contain powerful magic. In the wrong hooves, they can be dangerous.”

***

Super Stallion was flying around extra determined to find the so-called Prank Master. "There has to be some way to figure out where this Prank Master is hiding. Maybe I could do something to lure them out somehow." Suddenly, Super Stallion saw a large strange light just outside of Canterlot. "Or maybe they'll do something that will cause them to stick out like a signal flare." Super Stallion flew straight to where he saw the light and when he got there he found not 1 but 2 ponies there, 1 he knew and 1 he didn't.

"Well it seems I took a great time to take a relaxing jog to the outskirts of Canterlot," Stone Wall said as he noticed Super Stallion had joined him.

"The Prank Master I presume," Super Stallion said as the pony in front of him got out some sort of gun.

"Heads up!" Stone Wall said to Super Stallion as they both readied for a fight, but the supposed gun shot out red paint and was used to write Prank Master on the wall behind the strange mare.

"Does that answer your question?"

"Yes, but now I have one. How did you get into the castle twice without getting noticed?" Stone Wall asked.

"I had to get my hooves on this here scroll right here," Prank Master said as she showed the scroll she had in her hoof. "Wait, did you say why I got in or how I got in?"

"How."

"Doesn't matter," Prank Master snapped back almost immediately. "I have the scroll now. I had to throw around pretty much everything else in that wing before I found it."

"Wait, if you were after the scroll, why didn't you take it the first time?" Super Stallion asked.

"I forgot what I was doing when I got to the castle," Prank Master answered as she rubbed the back of her head with an embarrassed smile. "So I just kinda trashed the garden and when I finally remembered what I wanted to do I was tired so I just left. Wait, how did you know I was there twice?" She asked with a change in her mood.

"Discord pointed it out," Stone Wall answered.

"Discord! That guy is still around?" Prank Master asked, sounding afraid.

This mare's personality is all over the place, Stone Wall thought.

"This mare's personality is all over the place," Super Stallion whispered to Stone Wall.

"You read my mind, now let's take this mad mare down."

"Sorry stallions but this mare's gotta fly! See you again, in time!" A portal suddenly appeared behind the Prank Master.

"That's the strange light I saw before," Super Stallion said as Prank Master got out the scroll and began to use a spell that made the portal bigger she then made the magic collars around her attack Super Stallion and Stone Wall, but they both shot them down with spells. "I better put a stop to this." Super Stallion then grabbed the scroll out of Prank Master's hoof.

"Wait no I was still reading that," Prank Master called out as the portal started to shake and bounce. "I don't think it's supposed to do that." Prank Master used her magic to incase herself in a bubble shield as the portal started to shoot off sparks. She tried to use her magic on the portal again while keeping the shield up, but the portal started to act more unstable.

“Super Stallion, get down and get her away from that portal!" Stone Wall called out, but before Super Stallion could do that, several sparks from the portal shot out and landed right on Stone Wall.

He was forced to the ground instantly.

"STONE WALL!" Super Stallion yelled out as more sparks shot out, some hit Stone Wall more. Super Stallion then flew over to Stone Wall and summoned a bubble barrier of his own to protect Stone Wall. Before long, the portal became so unstable the whole thing blew up and when the smoke cleared, Prank Master was gone.

***

Super Stallion brought Stone Wall to Princess Celestia immediately and explained everything. Stone Wall was then put into intensive care to Super Stallion's shock as it turned out the damage was deeper than he thought. The next day Super Stallion was doing his usual thing of patrolling, but Stone Wall was almost all he could think about.

"Look up in the sky!" A pony called out from the ground.

"I know Super Stallion, so cool," another one replied.

"No, the other pony swinging on some sort of rope," the pony from before said.

"Rope?" Super Stallion then saw the Prank Master herself in the sky not too far. Super Stallion flew closer to the Prank Master and saw that the said rope that was keeping her in the air was actually coming from her horn and the other end was wrapped around a nearby skyscraper. "What are you doing?"

"Hanging around," Prank Master answered. "You know what with my special rope spell that I made up here." Prank Master then swung in a circle surprisingly quickly and Super Stallion was caught off guard and got kicked in the back. "Gotta!"

"And now you're about to get it!" Super Stallion said as he turned around.

"You'll have to catch me first," Prank Master said as she undid the rope spell causing her to fall but used it again to wrap around a smaller building to slow down her fall and safely land. Prank Master looked around and noticed the ponies noticing her and gathered. "Oh good, an audience." Super Stallion then got to where Prank Master was getting the attention of even more ponies.

"Your mean spirited mischief stops now."

"Oh I don't think so." Prank Master then got out about half dozen balls and made them go all around her in a magical circle. "Catch them if you can." Suddenly the balls were all launched off each in a different direction, Super Stallion flew off and managed to catch every single one.

"It's going to take more than that to stop, wait a minute are these going to explode?"

"Something like that." The balls then exploded covering Super Stallion with red paint. "Gotta again!" Prank Master then laughed and laughed but then screamed as she jumped away dodging Super Stallion's punch that made a hoof sized hole on the sidewalk.

"I am going to slap you silly. Actually, I think it might be a little too late for that." Super Stallion then cast a water spell above himself so it would come down and wash the paint off. Prank Master got out a rod but before she could use it Super Stallion used a gust spell to knock her off her hooves and the rod flew out of her foreleg.

"Is that the best you can do?" Prank Master asked.

"You wish," Super Stallion answered as he pulled his hoof out of the hole he made.

"Well then how about I just give these boys a spin again." And with that Prank Master got out the spinning collars from before and threw them at Super Stallion. But he used either fire spells to quickly burn them or stopped them in midair with a freeze spell.

"You pulled your last prank."

"I don't think so." Prank Master then grabbed the rod and Super Stallion charged at her but she made a magic bubble appear. When Super Stallion was bounced away and then Prank Master aimed the rod at him. It fired a pink ooze that stuck to Super Stallion as he just stopped himself in the air after he bounced.

"Ah come on I literally just cleaned myself!"

"From the sound of things you aren't too fond of my goo gun."

"Isn't that a rod, not a gun?"

"Yeah but goo gun sounds catchier." Prank Master then fired at Super Stallion again but this time he dodged and fired a spell, knocking the goo gun out of Prank Master's hoof again. Then he used another water spell to clean the ooze off. "Well I'll say this about you super duper, you know how to put on a good show." Super Stallion then noticed quite a few ponies were around him and Prank Master watching the 2 duke it out.

"Is this all just a game to you?" Super Stallion asked, starting to get upset.

"Of course, now let's make the game a bit more challenging shall we?"

"Uh let's not." Prank Master then used her magic to bring the goo gun back to her hoof and summoned the magic bubble again. She then used magic to launch herself in the air. Super Stallion tried to fly up and stop her but she had already fired more ooze after making a small hole in the bubble and aimed the goo gun right at him.

Super Stallion dodged it so Prank Master fired several rounds of the goo gun, getting some buildings and some ponies. The bubble hit the ground and bounced Prank Master right back up in the air. "Try again stupid stallion?"

"This mare is starting to remind me of Discord. I need to stop her quickly before she makes a mess of all of Manehattan." Suddenly Super Stallion got a brilliant idea and flew directly above Prank Master.

"Wait, what are you doing?" Super Stallion then hit the bubble sending Prank Master to the ground. "Ha that won't work I'll just bounce back," Prank Master said as she bounced back like she said but Super Stallion struck the bubble again and again causing Prank Master to go and down at a very fast rate.

"I always did like Volleyball," Super Stallion said as he continued.

"Stop, you're making it go too fast! It's too fast, I'm gonna throw up!” Prank Master then dispelled her bubble and used her rope spell to grab onto a nearby skyscraper. "Ha, didn't plan on me doing-" Prank Master stopped when Super Stallion then kicked Prank Master in the back making her spin around out of control.

"1 good kick deserves another," Super Stallion said as Prank Master removed the rope spell and made a new one to stop her momentum and climbed to the top of the building.

"What's the big deal are you trying to make me get whiplash or something?"

"Highly temping at this point." Super Stallion then fired several spells but Prank Master dodged and teleported to the ground. "It's time to put an end to her fun and games." Super Stallion flew down to Prank Master.

"Uh, I don't want to fight you anymore, let's pick this up tomorrow."

"Oh I don't think so. After the crud you've pulled you're not just getting away."

"I beg to differ," Prank Master then threw another ball this time on the ground making a big smokescreen.

"Oh no you don't!" Super Stallion used a gust spell to remove the smoke, but Prank Master was already gone. "Where'd she go?" Super Stallion looked around desperate to find her. "WHERE'D SHE GO?" He yelled as he looked at one of the ponies watching who shrugged. "Ah you've got to be kidding me the bad guy got away again. I might as well go home."

"Uh Super Stallion," one of the ponies watching said. Super Stallion then noticed the said pony was stuck in the pink ooze fired earlier. He then looked around and saw several ponies were stuck in it and some of it was just splattered across several buildings. "Right, I should probably clean that all up. And me without a mop, how ironic.”

***

The next day Squeaky Clean was at the castle bright and early, but quite tired after searching for Prank Master. "Come on Squeaky, try to stay awake. At least until your next break."

"All right guards fall in line," Stone Wall said from across the hallway. Hearing his woke up Squeaky and he ran across the room to see him who as usual was giving orders to the guards. "Shining Armor!"

"Yes captain!"

"I thought I told you to clear up the mess hall!'

"You did, it's just that I still have a couple things to plan for my wedding."

"You can do those later."

"Excuse me," Shining Armor said back a little upset. "I think my wedding is a bit more important."

Suddenly Stone Wall grabbed Shining Armor and violently shook him while also choking him a little. "YOU DON'T TALK TO ME LIKE THAT!" Stone Wall then let him go of Shining Armor and he fell on the floor, practically gasping for air as he slowly got back up and left. Stone Wall then noticed Squeaky Clean was watching, shocked at his friend's behavior. "Squeaky, what did you see?"

Uh oh, think fast here Squeaky, he thought. "Enough to know I'm getting a raise." Stone Wall then rolled his eyes and walked off. "Ah geez, that was close." Princess Celestia then walked by her coltfriend.

"Squeaky hello, have you seen Stone Wall? I need to talk to him about a few things."

"Uh, I'd wait a little while before talking to him. He's in one of his bad moods."

"Oh I see. Are you all right?"

"Yes, why?"

"You just look a little tired. Trouble sleeping last night?"

"No, but yesterday was rather exhausting, I might be asking a lot but is it okay if I take a nap in your chambers? I need to recharge." Princess Celestia gave a smile and suddenly Squeaky was teleported to the royal chamber. "I guess that’s a yes."

***

The next day Super Stallion was flying around Manehattan looking for any sign of the Prank Master, but was having no luck whatsoever. "This was a long shot anyway," Super Stallion said to himself as he made his way to other cities in Equestria. "What was with her personality? First it's all over the place then she'd dead focused on messing with me? Was she just pretending to be crazy the first time I ran into her?" Suddenly as he was flying over Fillydelphia he saw familiar pink ooze by the buildings and streets.

"I hope he gets here soon, there's only so much goo the goo gun can have stored in it," Prank Master said as Super Stallion flew down. "Oh good you're here, why don't you stick around?" Prank Master then fired ooze at Super Stallion but he dodged and after only several shots the goo gun shot out little to no more of the ooze. "Ah geez my goo gun is running on empty."

"Well then it matches the pony that's using it. Is there a point to you making a mess of everything?"

"You ruined my plans so now I'm returning the favor by ruining your plans."

"Plans? What plans?"

"Plans to protect Equestria of course you're a superhero. What better way to get back at you than to pop in and out just to mess with you and make you look like a moron."

"Okay seriously, what is your deal?"

"My deal? What do you mean?"

"I mean are you stealing stuff while doing this somehow? Are you trying to protect the environment in some way? Do you just want revenge on somepony?"

"Well yeah, you."

"But what about before, why did you steal that scroll? What was the portal for?"

"What difference does that make now? I can't open it now because of you and that other pony who I should also get back to while I'm at it, but first things first." Prank Master then used her rope spell to lift herself up in the air and threw several more of those strange collars at Super Stallion who flew off to dodge them.

"How many of those things does she have? I need to stop her before she really makes a mess." Super Stallion flew to Prank Master and grabbed the spell she was using with her dangling just a few feet below. "Well I will say this about you, this is a pretty interesting spell."

"You like it, I made it myself, I could teach you how to do it sometime if you want."

"Really?"

"Yeah, I've always wanted to be a teacher."

"But instead you're running around in a costume making a mess of things."

"Life doesn't always go the way you want it." Prank Master then undid the spell causing her to fall. "Time to really show this guy what I can do." Prank Master then cast another spell which caused her to be surrounded in a large glowing aura.

"Is she doing the bubble spell again? No, this is different," Super Stallion said as he flew down to get to her as the aura grew big and morphed into the shape of a star.

"I got something really special for you now. This is my most powerful spell."

"Ah yeah no." Super Stallion then flew straight into the spell.

"Wait, what are you doing?"

"Putting a stop to you and whatever this spell does," Super Stallion answered as he pushed through the spell aura and grabbed Prank Master. He then pushed through the other side still holding on to Prank Master causing the magic made star to fade.

"Let go of me. I mean I've always wanted a stallion to sweep me off my hooves, but not like this. Now put me down!"

"Okay," Super Stallion answered as he let go of Prank Master she fell and then landed on the top of a building.

"Oh that wasn't funny," Prank Master said, a little in pain from her fall.

"It's pretty funny from where I'm standing, or rather floating."

"Oh yeah, well see how funny this is." Prank Master tried an attack spell that would hit Super Stallion right in the face but he quickly countered with his own spell. His spell overpowered Prank Master's and she got hit in the face instead.

"You're right."

"I am?" Prank Master said on the ground.

"That was rather funny," Super Stallion said with a cocky smile.

"Now you've done it, you've made me not want to fight anymore, we'll pick this up tomorrow."

"Oh I don't think so, I'm taking care of you now."

"I had a feeling you might feel that way. That's why I kept on to this little trinket." Prank Master then got out a toy monkey with a big smile and was holding a symbol in each hand. "Oh wait sorry, wrong one, here it is!" Prank Master then held what looked like a bouncy ball.

"A bouncy ball?"

"It only looks like a bouncy ball but actually it's a bomb."

"A bomb!" Prank Master then teleported it off the building causing the said bomb to fall. Super Stallion quickly flew after it and caught it.

"Okay I have it now, what do I do with it? Should I just throw it in the air and wait for it to blow up?" Super Stallion then looked closely and didn't notice any wires or anything metallic or even a timer. He then poked it with his horn causing it to deflate. "THIS REALLY IS JUST A BALL!"

Super Stallion flew back to the building, but once again, Prank Master was gone.

***

Squeaky Clean was cleaning at the castle more angry than tired. While he tried not to think about it, the mind has a bad and strange habit of not doing what you want it to do. "Next time Prank Master is going down, she’s going way down.”

"Psst." Squeaky then stopped talking to himself to see several royal guards hiding in a nearby closet. "Is the coast clear Squeaky?"

"The coast?"

"Stone Wall is out of control; he's become a complete tyrant."

"I think you 3 might be overreacting, Stone Wall has always been tough but fair."

"Not anymore. I don't know what's happened to him, but he has to be stopped. So we're going to talk to the princess about it and we're avoiding him the whole way to the royal chambers. So can you please look around to make sure he isn't around?" But before Squeaky could even consider the offer, Stone Wall ripped the door clean off its hinges and threw across the hallway, utterly shocking everypony.

"So this is where you 3 have been hiding."

"Uh no he found us!"

"Pray for us all!"

"I don't want to die!"

"S-Stone Wall, don't you think that was a bit much. Who's going to fix that door?" Squeaky asked rather scared but majorly concerned for his friend.

"Maybe I can make these 3 fix it after I'm done knocking some sense into them." The 3 guards cowered together in fear as Stone Wall looked like he was about to rip their heads off. Out of panic one of the guards socked Stone Wall in the jaw but he barely moved from the hit. Stone Wall then gave a death glare to all 3 of the guards and then used his horn to blast all three of them through the wall.

"Stone Wall what the heck has gotten into you?"

"Get away from me Squeaky," Stone Wall answered as he jumped through the hole he made with his magic attack. "My head feels like it's going to crack open like a coconut!"

"His head?" One of the guards replied as the 3 helped each other up. "Let's get out of here before he really goes crazy."

"Stone Wall calm down, what are you doing?" Squeaky asked as he also jumped through the hole to see what was going on with his friend.

"I told you to get away from me!" Squeaky was then pushed back by some of Stone Wall's magic into the wall.

"He's acting crazy. Like Prank Master," Squeaky said. "Stone Wall calm down."

"WHY DON'T YOU LISTEN WHEN I SAY TO GET AWAY!" Stone Wall screamed as he let out a burst of magic that burst through the walls and even broke the floor. Stone Wall landed on his legs but Squeaky's reflexes weren't as good. A dozen guards gathered around as Stone Wall continued to burst magic.

"What's the captain doing, he's going to wreck the place?" A female guard asked as Stone Wall's magic continued to make a mess of things.

"Stop him!" The guards then swarmed their captain, but he quickly pushed them all back with his magic. A few got through and 1 grabbed him from behind to try and put him in a hold, but he quickly got free and flipped the guard.

"Try stun spells!" A guard called out and several guards aided him in his idea but Stone Wall summons a shield that the spells don't even crack.

"You call those spells?" Stone Wall then blasted the guards that tried to stun him and nearly forced them through the wall like he did to the 3 earlier. "Those are spells." Half a dozen guards then teleported on top of him to dog pile him.

"We got him, we finally got him!" But just as that guard said that, they were all lifted up by Stone Wall who wasn't even using magic.

"Are you kidding me?"

"How is he this strong?" Suddenly they were all scattered as Stone Wall got back on all 4 legs.

"We're gonna need backup! Lots of backup!" Several guards ran off to get help as Stone Wall continued his rampage throughout the castle.

"Why is Stone Wall doing this?" Squeaky asked as he watched from the sidelines. "He really is acting like Prank Master. No reason or rhyme, just acting crazy. What am I going to do?" Shining Armor led another group of guards to where Stone Wall was after being told what was going on.

"Stone Wall, why are you doing this?" Shining Armor asked.

"Everything I do, I do for you guards and the princess."

"Right now it's really hard to believe that."

"There you go again questioning me."

"Well sometimes it's a good thing to question authority."

"True, but questioning it isn't enough sometimes to need the muscle and the magic to back it up."

"Well lucky for me I have both." Shining Armor then blasted several spells that Stone Wall effortlessly dodged.

"My turn." Shining Armor quickly summoned a barrier around him preparing for Stone Wall's counter attack.

"Give it your best shot, this is a concentrated version of my barrier spell that could protect all of Canterlot. It could hold back an entire army-" Shining was cut off when Stone Wall managed to blast through the barrier and knocked Shining Armor flat on his rump.

"You sure like to hear yourself talk, don't you?" Stone Wall then noticed he was surrounded by guards and he took them down left and right.

"We have to get the princesses out of here before he brings down the entire castle."

"He might actually be strong enough to do that," Squeaky said, still watching Stone Wall slap the other guards silly. "There's no other choice," Squeaky said with utter sadness in his voice and sneaked away while a small group went to Princess Celestia's chambers.

After she was informed of what was going on she insisted on seeing him instead of evacuating from the castle. She stayed close to the guards as she went to where Stone Wall was.

"Okay I'm back up," Shining Armor said. "If magic won't work then maybe brunt force will." Shining Armor then saw Stone Wall take down another half dozen guards. "On second thought." Princess Celestia then arrived on scene and saw what her beloved captain was doing.

"Stone Wall?" Princess Celestia said shocked and sad.

"Princess Celestia? You try to get her out of the castle and bring her to where I am? How many guards does it take to think up a plan that's actually good?"

"Stone Wall, why are you doing this?" Princess Celestia asked as she slowly got closer.

"Stay back!" He ordered. "I'm angry, but I don't know why. My brain feels like it's going to split in half. I think I've finally gone crazy."

"He thinks?!"

"Shut up! You want him to attack again."

"Stone Wall, please, just calm down and I can help you get through this."

"Get away! I don't want to hurt you, actually I didn't want to hurt anypony here but you most of all. Okay maybe Shining Armor."

"Stone Wall just calm down and I can help you."

"No, I don't think even you can." Stone Wall then grabbed his head with his forelegs and another burst of magic went across the room. Princess Celestia then tried to fly over to him and hug him in an attempt to calm him down, but even she was having trouble getting through his magic. The magic was then cut off when Super Stallion flew in and used his own magic to cut it off.

"I think you've made enough of a mess here."

"Well well you're here too. Honestly I've always wanted to test my abilities against you."

"I'd rather talk this out but I got a feeling that's not going to work."

"I think you're right," Stone Wall then jumped at Super Stallion and the 2 started to duke it out though Super Stallion was holding back not wanting to hurt his old friend.

"KILL HIM SUPER STALLION! MURDER HIM!" One of the guards that was knocked through the wall yelled out.

"You took down the spirit of chaos and disharmony, you can do better than this." Hearing that Super Stallion charged his horn and fired a spell that Stone Wall countered with his own. He managed to keep Super Stallion's spell at bay for a few seconds but after a while he couldn't hold it back any more and it almost flew at him. As a result he was flung back and knocked through a wall and was knocked out on the floor.

"YEAH HOW DO YOU LIKE IT!" The guard from earlier yelled, causing all the others to stare at him including Super Stallion and Princess Celestia. “What? It hurt when he attacked.”

***

After the whole fiasco, Stone Wall was taken away to a mental hospital. Super Stallion meanwhile was scouring Equestria for the Prank Master convinced there was some sort of connection between her and what happened to Stone Wall. Super Stallion searched far and wide for any sign of the trouble making unicorn and just as he was about to give up, he saw fireworks.

"I hope Super Stallion doesn't notice these right away. I'd like to empty the whole box in fact," Prank Master said to herself as she used her magic to light up the fireworks. Suddenly Super Stallion appeared. "So much for that plan, then again." Prank Master then aimed what was left of the fireworks and lit them all at once. Super Stallion however simply charged through and grabbed Prank Master by the throat then forced her against the wall.

"What did you do to Stone Wall?!"

"Who?" Prank Master asked while also having a little trouble breathing.

"The pony that was with me when you made that strange portal appear."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Prank Master said trying to get free.

"Your portal, it did something to him. Made him go on a crazy rampage at the castle; he nearly wrecked the whole place. You better answer me right now before I really get mad!" Suddenly Super Stallion calmed himself down as he had an epiphany. "It screwed with your head too, didn't it?"

"My head?" Suddenly Prank Master stared out in space. "I fell in, falling and falling through the hole, the costume store, my cutie mark." Suddenly she snapped back into reality and lifted a ball with her magic. "Let go or I'll detonate this bomb."

"I'm not falling for that again-" Super Stallion was cut off when the ball exploded from the result of a burst of magic that Prank Master put inside it.

"Little something I thought up so it's a distraction whether you fall for it or not. And another thing, that portal gave me some problems too."

"So it did mess with you," Super Stallion said as he got back up. "How do you reverse it?"

"Reversing it is what I was trying to do."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm through talking about it, it's giving me two headaches at once. I'm out of here." Prank Master then opened a portal with her magic and jumped through it and Super Stallion followed. After going through he looked around and it looked to be a rather large shack filled with all sorts of gizmos and strange objects.

"Spatial magic, so that's how you were able to get away all those times."

"Oh right, I'm supposed to distract you first then jump in my spatial portal. Guess I forgot."

"Well how unfortunate, for you anyway, definitely not me." Prank Master then reached for some of her gadgets but Super Stallion quickly used an ice spell on her stopping her in her tracks.

"Ah geez not cool, well actually very cool, but you know what I mean." Within seconds she was completely encased in a block of ice.

"Well looks like she finally learned to-" Super Stallion stopped somewhat expecting her to break free, she didn’t. "Chill out. Finally!" Super Stallion picked up the block of ice and brought it to Princess Celestia and explained everything as best he could.

Prank Master was brought to a mental hospital to hopefully get the help she needed as well.

"We'll do all we can to help her," a unicorn doctor said to Super Stallion and Princess Celestia.

"You might want to wait until you get her into a room before unfreezing her," Super Stallion added.

"Noted. Also your highness since you're here, we have some bad news. Stone Wall escaped."

"What? But how I thought you said you placed a magic canceling collar on him and placed him in a specially secure room."

"We did and we did, but he still got out. From the little time we studied him we don't think he's going to head back to the castle."

"So what is he gonna do?"

"We aren't sure."

***

Stone Wall after escaping the mental hospital somehow made it all the way to the Badlands. "I have to go away, far away, where they can't find me. So I can’t hurt anypony." As he continued traveling he came across a small shack and seeing nopony was there decided to stay there for now.

Back in Canterlot Princess Celestia had called Twilight and her friends to once again call forth a certain spirit of chaos. Who was once again taking a bath.

“Oh you gotta be kidding me,” Discord said as he dried up and got out. “Seriously, how hard is it to send me a letter? What, you need to find another dragon to burp them out. Actually how does that work?”

“Discord.”

“Do you just teleport the letter into his stomach, why has nopony questioned this before?”

“Discord.”

“I mean if you can put in a creature’s digestive system, you can teleport it into a mailbox.”

“DISCORD!” Princess Celestia yelled in nearly in royal Canterlot voice.

“Yes, sunbutt.”

“I need you to find Stone Wall? Something happened to him and I don’t know why but I’m really worried.”

“That’s going to be a problem, he’s already left Equestria.”

“What? How do you know?” Twilight asked.

“Was visiting the Badlands earlier and saw him running across. So I guess he’s in Equestria, where’s the border exactly? Or is it the whole continent?

“Why didn’t you stop him?” Princess Celestia asked. “And it’s the whole continent, until you get to the Frozen North.”

“Oh yeah, that used to be the Crystal Empire’s territory.”

“Crystal Empire?!” Rarity said with interest.

“It was a thing,” Discord replied.

“Also there’s Yakyakistan,” Princess Celestia said. “But I’ve been meaning to make a relationship of friendship between us and them- you know what we’re kind of burying the lead. I need you to get Stone Wall and bring him home.”

“Did you ever think that maybe he doesn’t want to be found?” Discord asked. “Even if you get him back, what’s stopping him from just running off again?”

“A cage?” Rainbow Dash asked. Princess Celestia turned to Rainbow Dash with a stern look. “I’m just spitballing.”

“Why not just give him his space and wait for him to come on his own?”

“What? Let him run around past the Badlands all on his own? Are you insane!?”

“Do you really have to ask?” Discord asked Princess Celestia.

“He’s got you there,” Twilight said.

“Just find him and bring him back!” Princess Celestia ordered.

“You know I’m getting pretty sick of you and your bad attitude,” Discord replied.

“MY BAD ATTITUDE!” Princess Celestia said this time using her royal Canterlot voice. Shocking the others.

“Yes,” Discord said while waving his claw finger in her face. “You think you’re better than everypony. You talk about friendship and the importance of friendship, but you only call me when you want something.”

“That’s-” Princess Celestia said before stopping and reflecting.

“Yeah,” Discord said. “Have fun doing something yourself for once, sun butt.” And with that, Discord vanished as Super Stallion leaned over to Princess Celestia.

“Well that could've gone better,” Applejack said.

“I don’t like that guy,” Stallion whispered.

“He’s not my favorite pony either,” Princess Celestia whispered back.

“Well, what are we gonna do?” Fluttershy asked.

“I’ll continue to search for him, but with the wedding coming up, I have something else to do.” Princess Celestia then turned and saw Pinkie holding in a lot of laughs. Princess Celestia sighed. “Go ahead Pinkie.”

Pinkie Pie suddenly burst into laughter. “Sun butt!” She continued laughing. “That’s never going to get old.”

***

With Stone Wall gone, Princess Celestia had to find a new captain of the royal guard with Princess Luna helping the screening process. Shining Armor along with several others volunteered thinking he could fill the role. Others just wanted more authority and a bigger paycheck. In the end the sisters only picked 2 guards for the main screening, not including Shining Armor.

"Um Princess Celestia, I need to tell you something." Squeaky said when he heard the news.

"Whatever it is Squeaky, it'll have to wait."

"No it can't!" Squeaky said with more authority. He then walked over to the princess and whispered something in her ear after jesting her to lower her head.

"I see. Shining Armor, you've been added to the main screening test." After the screening, Shining Armor was picked as the new captain of the royal guard and would in the days to come help make his new armor for the role. After the screening Shining Armor ran into Squeaky and quickly approached him.

"Hey Squeaky did you hear!?"

"Yeah I did, congratulations Shining Armor."

"So what did you say to the princess to get her to pick me?"

"Sorry, but that's a secret."

"Ah come on you've got to tell me."

"You can lecture me all day but I'm not saying a peep."

"Well now that I'm captain of the guard I outrank you. So as captain I order you to tell me."

"Not so fast Shining Armor," Princess Celestia said as she was approaching the 2 stallions. "You may be right, but I outrank you. So I order you to leave him alone about it."

"Ah geez. Fine, keep your secret," Shining Armor said, starting to pout.

"Oh come now Shining Armor don't pout like a little foal. You're captain of the royal guard now, you need to set an example," Princess Celestia said.

"Yeah you're right, I'm sorry. It's still so hard to believe I'm the captain now, it's something I've dreamed about since I was small. And I'm going to be even better at it than Stone Wall was."

"Tall order," Squeaky replied.

"Oh you think so huh? Well I'm gonna prove it starting with looking over my own wedding. And you can mark my words, everything is going to be perfect."

Chapter 18 Wedding Plans

View Online

The day of the royal wedding had come and nearly all of Canterlot was ablaze for the big day, however there were a couple problems right off the bat. First off, Cadance was rather upset that Stone Wall had gone crazy and ran off so he wouldn't be able to give her away. On top of that several days ago, a threat was made against Canterlot so while originally against Stone Wall's wishes Shining Armor had put a barrier around Canterlot.

But with it still being a wedding the ponies tried to keep all things happy and positive. The guards while still on high alert also still tried to enjoy themselves, especially the guards that were rather close to Shining Armor.

Squeaky Clean however was having trouble enjoying himself because he was still depressed about the disappearance of his dear friend. "Why did it have to be this way?" Squeaky asked himself as he was all by himself in a broom closet.

"Are you feeling better Squeaky?" Princess Celestia asked who found him.

"No, If anything I feel worse."

"I know how you feel," Princess Celestia said as she wrapped her coltfriend in a soft yet caring hug. "I miss him too, more than you could imagine. But this is a special day and we can't let this get the better of us, for Cadance and for Shining Armor." Princess Celestia then led Squeaky out of the closet.

"Um about that, Cadance hasn't really been herself lately, have you noticed?"

"She's probably coping with what happened with Stone Wall."

"Who's coping with what?" Princess Cadance herself appeared as if out of nowhere and approached the 2 other ponies.

"Oh hello Cadance. I was just trying to cheer up Squeaky."

"Well perhaps you need a hand with that," Discord said, his voice coming out of nowhere. "Or a paw or a claw or maybe all three." Discord then appeared in front of Squeaky a few feet in the air causing Squeaky to protectively get in front of the princess. "Ah how cute, still protecting sun butt."

"What do you want Discord?" Squeaky asked, trying to sound intimidating to Discord's amusement.

"I'm here to help with the wedding preparations of course."

“You are?” Squeaky asked, shocked.

“Yes, this whole thing has rather caught my attention. So I figured I might as well help out as I watch the whole thing.”

"Uh, no thank you Discord, I'm going to be asking Twilight and her friends to help with all wedding preparations. Your service will not be required. Not even remotely."

"Oh come now it's a royal wedding. When am I going to get a chance to mess up, I mean help out with something like this?"

"As I said Discord, your service will not be required," Princess Celestia said this time with a more strict and rather upset tone.

"I see, well does that mean you don't want my help stopping this threat that's been made."

"I'm sure I can handle that as well."

"I? As in you? As in just you?" Discord then started to laugh almost hysterically while doing backflips in the air.

"What in Equestria is so darn funny?"

"You are sun butt."

"My name isn't-"

"Do you honestly think you can prevent anything?"

"And what is that supposed to mean?"

"With all due respect, when have you ever prevented anything?" Princess Celestia was immediately offended by Discord's remark but managed to shallow her anger.

"I managed to stop my sister when she became Nightmare Moon."

"Something you could have prevented if you just paid more attention to your sister's feelings. I was a statue at the bottom of a mountain and even I knew what was happening there. Come on now, I’m offering you help. You said if I could be “reformed” my magic could be used for good, but then when I offer, you turn it down. You’re more random than I am."

“She said she’s not interested,” Squeaky said.

“Yeah, and that’s pretty stupid,” Discord then started poking her head. “Just because you’re a princess doesn’t mean you can be a royal blockhead.”

"Don’t talk to her like that you loudmouth-" Squeaky was cut off when Discord picked him up with his tail and started ringing his neck.

"Oh stop with the bodyguard routine already."

"PUT HIM DOWN!" Princess Celestia said in her royal Canterlot voice and Discord decided to humor her and let him go. "I will not stand here and allow you to disrespect me in my own castle! Get out of my sight and I forbid you to interfere in this wedding whatsoever. If you do so help me I’ll have you turned back to stone! I am fully capable of protecting this wedding from anything that might happen and you can ask Princess Mi Amore Cadenza about it herself. Got it!?"

Discord then turned to Princess Cadance then made a very strange smile "This wedding may be more interesting than I thought." And with that, he vanished. Princess Celestia then took a breath and helped Squeaky up.

"You're really quite lovely when you're mad, and a few seconds ago, you were down right gorgeous."

"Thank you," she said with a bit of a chuckle. She then looked to her adopted niece with concern who still hadn't said anything.

"Are you alright Princess Mi Amore Cadenza?"

"Y-Yes. I need to go," Princess Mi Amore Cadenza said and then she flew off.

"Mi Amore Cadenza?"

"It's her full name she doesn't really go by it but I guess she feels like being fancy. After all, it is her special day."

"Well I guess that makes sense."

"She may also be trying to keep a strong face with Stone Wall gone, they were actually really close."

"I suppose," Squeaky Clean replied, having a rather bad feeling that he wasn't sure where it was coming from.

***

Twilight and her friends arrived in Canterlot and Twilight quickly made her way to the soon to be groom. "Hi there BBBFF I was on the train entering Canterlot and it turns out there's a giant bubble around it. What's up with that?"

Shining Armor explained the reason why, as well as why she was told to bring the Elements of Harmony that would be placed in the vault. Shining Armor also told his little sister that he deeply wished she would be the best mare.

"Really you want me to be the best mare?"

"Of course Twily, I'd be honored." Twilight naturally agreed, however as she looked over the wedding preparations she, much like Squeaky noticed Cadance was not acting like herself. While overlooking the last few things she ran into Squeaky as he was doing the last of his cleaning.

"Oh hey Twilight."

"Squeaky hello there, how have you been?"

"I'm okay doing quite a bit more cleaning than usual but it's nothing I can't handle."

"Actually I mean, well since Stone Wall, you know."

"Yeah I do, and I'm doing okay thanks.”

"Hey Twilight!" A guard from across the hall called out as he was walking with 2 other guards. "Isn't your brother the best?"

"Yes he is."

"You got that right," a different guard said. "He gave us all raises and extinctions in our vacation days."

"He just started as captain of the royal guard and already he's better than Stone Wall," the third guard said. The guard trio then walked off as Twilight looked at Squeaky with concern.

"I've heard quite a few guards talk like that, and it hasn't been easy. I get that they like your brother. He's a nice guy, but Stone Wall was like my brother."

"Well, I'm sorry I don't really know what to say."

"It's fine, sometimes it's helpful enough just to have somepony to talk to. You know, let it all out."

"Janitor, were you told you could stop cleaning?" Princess Mi Amore Cadenza asked him as she approached from behind.

"My name isn't janitor and I'm just resting for a second."

"You can just later for now I want this entire castle swept and mopped so hop to it." She then looked at Twilight. "And if you have nothing to do, why don't you help him and make sure he does it right." Princess Mi Amore Cadenza then quickly left as she used her magic to give Twilight a mop.

"Right away Princess Demandi Pants," Twilight said.

"I know right, she's been acting like that all day," Squeaky added.

"Well I'm not cleaning, I'm going to see just how much my friends dislike her." Twilight then left, but when she talked to her friends. "How can you not agree she's the worst bride to be ever?"

"Who me?" Spike asked, holding a miniature version of Cadance and speaking in a different voice. Twilight tried to get her friends to see reason about the bride to be but they were strangely defensive of her. They then thought Twilight was simply defensive of her brother and was just taking it out on her.

“I am not being possessive, and I am not taking it out on Cadance. You’re all just too caught up in your wedding planning to realize there probably should even be a wedding.” Twilight then stormed off not knowing Discord was watching from above.

“More than you know Twilight, more than you know.”

***

Squeaky Clean was in the royal chambers with his royal mare friend who was rubbing his back and his legs. "Oh you poor thing, you must be exhausted."

"You got that right I don't think I can even stand up. With all this extra cleaning I deserve a raise."

"You just got a raise."

"Your point being?" Before Princess Celestia could respond there were loud poundings on the chamber doors.

"Princess Celestia! Princess Celestia! Open up, hurry, Shining Armor's in danger!" Princess Celestia then quickly opened the door and Twilight ran right in. Squeaky then summoned his strength to grab his mop that was by the bed to make it look like he was cleaning but was equally as concerned about Twilight. "Cadance is evil, she's brainwashing Shining Armor!"

"Twilight Twilight calm down," Princess Celestia said as she placed her hoof on her shoulder. "What are you talking about?"

"Cadance used a spell that made my brother's eyes go all." Twilight then made a strange face.

"Twilight, she's not evil," Princess Celestia said in a comforting tone. "Your brother Shining Armor has been getting headaches since he's put that barrier up, Cadance has been healing him."

"W-What?"

"Yes, so your brother is all right, but I need to get back to watching over Canterlot."

"No please listen to me, she's been horrible to my friends and she's clearly done something horrible to her bridesmaids. I tried to tell this to my friends but they wouldn't listen to me, so you have to," Twilight said, starting to sound hysterical.

"Twilight, if something horrible was happening in the castle, don't you think I would know about it?"

"No, because you're waiting for it to happen on the outside," Twilight said, now sounding like she had an epiphany. "A threat just suddenly gets made and while you're waiting for something on the outside, the threat manipulates things on the inside."

"That actually does make sense if you think about it, your highness," Squeaky Clean added as Twilight just now noticed that he was in the room.

"Squeaky? What are you doing in here?"

"Cleaning, what else?"

"Oh right, but what if Cadance is the ring leader behind this whole thing?"

"Twilight, do you understand what you're saying? Cadance used to be your foalsitter for crying out loud."

"She’s an imposter!”

“What?” Princess Celestia and Squeaky asked.

“I get it now, Cadance gets replaced by whoever made the threat and is going to attack the castle somehow.”

“That would explain her recent attitude,” Squeaky said.

"No," Celestia said rather strictly. "Twilight please leave, I need to monitor."

"What? But princess, I need your help."

"No you don't, because nothing is wrong. Now it's time for you to go." Princess Celestia then politely but firmly started pushing her out of the royal chambers with her wings.

"What are you doing? We need to do something about Cadance!"

"No, we don't now put this to rest and make sure the wedding goes off perfectly." Twilight was then shoved out the door. She turned around and tried to reason with her teacher but she closed the doors right in her face. Twilight tried to open them but Celestia wouldn't let her in; she pounded the doors with her forelegs in an act of rage.

"YOU'LL BE SORRY!" Twilight then ran down the hall but quickly stopped running as her depression seemed to have sucked out her energy. Tears poured down her face. "W-Why won’t anypony listen to me? Why won't they help?"

Back at the royal chambers Squeaky was rather shocked at the princess's behavior. "Don't you think that was out of line?"

"Oh don't you start with me now," Celestia snapped at Squeaky to his surprise. After a minute she calmed down and took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, it's just been a rather long night."

"Maybe you should go to bed now."

"That's actually a pretty good idea," Princess Luna, who had just flown in said. “You should rest now sister, as always I shall guard the night."

"I'm perfectly capable of watching over Canterlot at night as well as day Luna."

"I meant no insult sister, I merely meant that if you can rest now."

"I'll rest later for now. I'd like to monitor a little longer."

"I see, well then I'll come by later." Princess Luna then made her way out of the chambers.

"And I guess I'll see what any more cleaning I can do now that my energy is back," Squeaky added as he followed Luna outside while Celestia looked through the telescope. When they were outside the royal chambers Luna stood next to Squeaky.

"Has my sister been acting rather defensive lately?"

"Yes she has, so you've noticed."

"It's rather hard not to. Do you have any idea why she's acting like this, because I don't think it's this unknown threat?"

"Well, Discord showed up earlier and he-"

"Wait Discord?" Luna asked, rather shocked.

"Yes."

"That alone explains it. He always had a way of crawling under my sister's skin. Well kind of everypony in general, but my sister especially."

"Do you think maybe he sent the threat just to mess with her?"

"Hard to say I wouldn't put it past him. I have a very bad feeling about all this and we need to be on our hooves."

"I think you may be right." But if things get too rough, Super Stallion can help out.

***

During the rehearsal, all the ponies were in place except for Twilight who busted in and tried to convince everypony the bride to be was evil. She brought up various points and got in Princess Mi Amore Cadenza's face. "But if I'm wrong about any of this, I'd love to hear your side of things," Twilight said.

"Why are you doing this to me?" Princess Mi Amore Cadenza asked and then proceeded to run out the main hall crying.

"Because you're evil, and an imposter. Evil imposter, and if I don't stop you you'll make my brother's life miserable," Twilight answered as she tried to chase her to get some answers out of her. But her brother got in her way and was very clearly upset. He then made counter points to the things that Twilight brought up barely letting Twilight get a word in edgewise.

"It's important to her that this wedding be perfect. Something that obviously wasn't important to you."

“Woe now,” Swift Sweep said, who was brought on a day shift to clean for the wedding.

"Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go, and comfort my bride," Shining Armor said as he was leaving the grand hall. "And you can forget about being my best mare.

“Ouch,” Squeaky said.

“In fact if I were you, I wouldn't show up at the wedding at all." Squeaky and Swift gasped at the same time as Shining Armor then left, leaving Twilight utterly depressed.

"I-I really screwed up," Twilight said as she turned to her friends.

"Ya sure did," Applejack said, who wasn't showing any signs of sympathy whatsoever to Twilight's surprise. "What? It's the truth if y'all can't handle it, too bad!"

"Applejack," Twilight said, clearly hurt.

"Come on y'all let's go check on the princess," Applejack said and the other 4 ponies walked out with her without even looking at Twilight. "W-wait," Twilight pleaded as her friend left her behind. Princess Celestia then started to walk out the door as well.

"I was just trying-"

"You have a lot to think about."

"Princess, wait!"

"Wait for what? For you to screw up even more than you already have?" Twilight's jaw almost hit the floor as did Squeaky's and Swift Sweep’s. "I told you before Cadance was healing your brother, but my word wasn't enough, you needed Shining Armor to tell you too."

"I just tried to-"

"I don't want to hear it. I'm going to run damage control. You just sit here for a while and think about how much you screwed up today."

"Princess don't you understand I was just-"

"I don't care! I don't care about understanding. I don't care if you get to be in this wedding or not, and right now, I don't care if I ever see you again." Twilight's jaw dropped after that last part and Twilight then lowered her head in defeat as Squeaky and Swift approached her.

"Twilight," he said, not sure where to start. "Sometimes we think-"

"Squeaky! Swift Sweep! Come with me now!"

"But princess-"

"NOW!" She yelled with the royal Canterlot voice and the janitors decided it would be best to do what the princess wanted. So they left the room while giving Twilight a sympathetic look. "Though you were right about 1 thing, Twilight. I am sorry, sorry I ever made you my student."

Princess Celestia slammed the doors as hard as she could and Twilight started to cry again.

"Princess!" Squeaky said.

"What! You think I don't have a right to be angry at her right now?"

"Even if you do, what you and the others said was out of line," Squeaky replied.

“Yeah, Twilight made some mistakes but she-”

"Well who asked you 2 anyway?" Princess Celestia said, interrupting Swift Sweep. Squeaky was shocked by that last comment and then got angry himself.

"All right, that does it! Royalty or not I'm not taking this, find some other pony to be your verbal punching bag." Squeaky then decided to teleport away.

“Yeah, you’re a royal jerk.” Swift Sweep flew off. Leaving Princess Celestia all by herself who finally realized too late that she was out of line. She looked back at the doors she recently slammed as she started taking deep breaths.

“I’ll apologize to her later. And Squeaky and Swift.”

***

Not too long after her friends left her all alone, Twilight found herself even more alone in the caves beneath Canterlot as a result of the very pony that they were defending.

"Help somepony please help me!"

"It's no use nopony can hear you and nopony will be able to find you all the way down here," Princess Mi Amore Cadenza said while in the crystals.

"Oh yeah, that's what you think," Twilight thought as she pressed her special bracelet inconspicuously and prayed that Squeaky changed or would change into Super Stallion soon.

"Down here you won't be able to interfere at all with my plans."

"Plans? What plans?"

"The plans I have for you're brother of course."

"You leave my brother alone!" Twilight suddenly snapped.

"Only way to stop me is to catch me." Twilight then blasted away at the crystals as Princess Mi Amore Cadenza laughed at her attempts.

"It may take me an hour, it may take me a week, it may take me 20 years, but when I get out of here, I'm going to make you suffer for everything you put me through. And that's a promise!" Twilight then blasted a wall down and a certain princess was revealed.

“What the?” Twilight said surprised.

“Twilight? Oh thank goodness, listen to have to believe me. The Cadance who put you down here is-”

“An imposter,” Twilight finished and suddenly hugged Cadance who hugged her back. “I knew it,” Twilight said crying. “I knew she couldn’t be you. I knew something wasn’t right despite what they all said.”

“What?” Cadance asked. Suddenly Super Stallion arrived.

"Well it's certainly a good thing that I decided to cool off by going for a fly."

"Super Stallion!" Both Cadance and Twilight said as they approached him and he wrapped a foreleg around each of them.

"Let's get you 2 out of here. But this time I'm taking the scenic route, don’t want you 2 to hit your heads." Super Stallion took off while Cadance explained she was replaced by a changeling. She even sang a song while Super Stallion got her and Twilight back to the castle and fought off the brainwashed former bridesmaids.

"Super Stallion hurry, the wedding has already started," Cadance said, desperate to save her husband to be.

"Don't worry I wasn't even using half of my full speed."

"Really?" Twilight asked. "What's your maximum speed? How were you able to measure your speed? Do you think you can do a sonic rainboom?"

"Uh Twilight," Cadance said.

"Right, sorry now isn't the right time."

"Super Stallion, how quickly do you think you can get us to the ceremony?"

"We're already there." Suddenly Super Stallion arrived just outside the room where the wedding was and dropped the 2 mares.

"By the power invested in me I now pronounce you-"

"I object!" Super Stallion said as he burst into the hall with Twilight by his side.

"Oh great now she's gotten Super Stallion involved somehow," Rainbow Dash said, not really caring at the moment that Twilight most likely heard it.

"Super Stallion, what is the meaning of this?" Princess Celestia asked.

"Why does everypony want to ruin my special day?"

"Because it's not your special day, it's my special day," The real Cadance said as she entered the room to everypony's shock. She quickly explained to the ponies there what she explained to Super Stallion and Twilight. Afterwards the fake transformed into her true form, the changeling queen Chrysalis, who explained how she had brainwashed Shining Armor and how her army was on the verge of destroying his barrier.

"This sounds like this is going to be 1 stressful wedding," Super Stallion said to himself.

Chrysalis then explained how Shining Armor was completely under her control and that he wouldn't be able to reuse his protection barrier since his power had been drained. "He may not be my husband but he's under my complete control. You may have exposed me, but my army and I, Queen Chrysalis, shall still take over and drain all the love in Equestria."

"No you won't, you may have stopped Shining Armor from using his protection spell. But now that you have foolishly revealed yourself. I can protect my subject, from you!" Princess Celestia then tried to take down Chrysalis, but to every creature's surprise including Chrysalis, she overpowered Celestia. As she fell onto the ground Discord suddenly appeared in front of Celestia and was laughing his head off.

"Oh my flipping gosh, that couldn't have been funnier if I planned it!"

“Discord? Where did you come from?” Twilight asked.

“The other regions of your mind.”

"D-Discord," Celestia said, happy to see him for once. "I'm so glad to see you."

"Wow really?"

"Yes I know, we can discuss the irony of it later. But listen, a changeling army is invading so I need to use your chaos magic-"

"Okay see I'm gonna have to stop you right there," Discord interrupted. "See I've been given direct orders from the princess, who is a total pain in the royal rump by the way, that I'm not allowed to interfere in the wedding whatsoever. I was even threatened to be turned back into stone, imagine that."

"No Discord please," Celestia pleaded while also trying to stand. "I need your-"

"Sounds great, I'm gonna do absolutely nothing and see just how much damage these changelings can do." Discord then floated over to the front of the hall to enjoy the show. "Proceed."

"R-Really?" Chrysalis asked.

"Well of course,” Discord answered as he made a recliner appear.

“Discord, you can’t just sit there,” Twilight said.

“You’re right.” Discord then snapped his fingers and made a plate of cheesecake appear.

“The capital is being invaded and you’re eating cheesecake?!”

“Pinkie Pie, is there ever a bad time for cheesecake.” Discord leaned in. “Is there?”

“So seriously, you aren’t going to stop me?” Chrysalis asked.

“I didn't stop you last time I saw you. Why should I stop now?"

"Wait a minute," Super Stallion said as he flew over to Discord. "You knew all along she was an imposter didn't you?!"

"You are correct, my non-winged flying friend."

"And now you're going to help the changelings take over aren't you?!"

"You are not correct."

"That's what I…Wait what?"

"I’m not gonna stop her, but I won’t help her either. I'm not really interested in seeing the changelings take over as I still kind of sort of maybe still want to retake Equestria myself. I guess you can say I want to see how all this is going to play out." Super Stallion didn't quite know what to say, but knew he still had a crisis to deal with so he decided to focus on that.

"Okay fine, first things first. Cadance, how long do you think the barrier will last?" Suddenly the entirety of the barrier was shattered and the changelings invaded Canterlot. "Never mind."

"The Elements of Harmony. You must get them, and use their power to defeat the queen," Princess Celestia said as the mane 6 gathered around her. The 6 then ran off to get to the Elements of Harmony while avoiding the changeling army.

"Don't worry Twilight, help is on the way!" Super Stallion said.

"Not so fast, stay right where you are," Chrysalis called out to Super Stallion, stopping him in his tracks.

"I don't think you're in a position to stop me from doing anything."

"Oh I believe I am," Chrysalis said as she flew over to where Princess Celestia was still on the floor. "I've been around for a long time and I've learned to pick up a few things. I can sense that you have feelings for this pony, love is not only an excellent source of energy, but it's perfect for getting others to do what I wish."

"So stupid stallion has the hots for sun butt, interesting," Discord said as he continued watching. Chrysalis then placed her hoof on Celestia's neck and pressed not too hard but enough to make her groan from the pain.

"I'm sure you wouldn't want anything bad to happen to her would you?" Super Stallion then lowered back down to the floor. Chrysalis had him right where she wanted him.

"Sorry Twilight, but you're on your own."

"Good, good, and for good measure." Chrysalis then sucked out Super Stallion's love for the princess which drained him of his energy causing him to fall to the ground. "Oh my that love's power was on par with Shining Armor's."

Before long Swift Sweep flew in. “Princess Celestia, there’s an army of changelings-” Swift stopped when he saw Princess Celestia hanging from the ceiling as well as Princess Cadance stuck to the floor right next to her brainwashed husband to be. “Oh, I guess you already know.”

“Things look bad for you ponies,” Discord said as he continued to snack on cheesecake.

“Are you gonna share those?” Swift Sweep asked.

"You won't get away with this, Twilight and her friends will-" Cadance was cut off when the changelings brought in the mane 6 back against their will.

"You were saying?"

"Super Stallion?" Rainbow Dash called out. "Not you too!"

"Yeah there's nothing I can do. Other than to say that this sucks," he replied, trying to remain optimistic, but that was getting harder and harder by the second.

“Sucks to be you right now,” Discord said.

As the mane 6 was brought back several guards were trying to force back a large group of changelings. Said group fired spell beams all together that a guard managed to counter with a shield spell. Unfortunately the spells bounced to where the others were and hit the ceiling causing it to break and the rubble to fall directly on the bride to be.

Cadance screamed in absolute fear as the rubble was about to fall on her when suddenly, the rubble was turned into large bubbles. “You, you saved me?” Cadance asked, surprised as she looked at the 1 creature that could have done that.

“If you die I can’t bother you anymore,” Discord answered.

Queen Chrysalis then ordered the changelings who brought the mane 6 back to go out and feed and they were more than happy to do so. "It's funny really, Twilight was suspicious of me all along. Too bad the rest of you were too concerned with your wedding planning to realize her suspicions were correct." Applejack then approached Twilight.

"Sorry Twi, we shoulda listened to you."

"Yeah you should have! How does it feel to know this whole thing is your fault?"

"W-What?"

"What, it's the truth, if y'all can't handle it too bad!" Twilight said.

"Cruel ironies are fun aren't they Twilight?" Discord asked who had suddenly appeared on the opposite end of Twilight.

"Discord you can stop all this," Applejack pleaded.

"Yeah, yeah, if only I wanted to. And I don't."

"Why not!" Super Stallion called out as he also tried to stand. Suddenly Discord picked him up by his cape.

"Is it petty to say I'm still upset about you costing me ruling over all Equestria?"

"Yes!" Discord then dropped Super Stallion and walked over to Chrysalis.

"Well too bad, cause I am."

"It's also funny," Chrysalis said. "When you first appeared I thought you were going to blow the whistle on me. But now I've quite impressively taken control of Canterlot and soon Equestria wouldn't you agree?"

"Eh," Discord replied.

"Eh?" Chrysalis replied rather offended. "What in the world is eh supposed to mean?!"

"Look, the mane 6 are still able to fight back. You could have drained stupid stallion of his energy a little more, and you've hardly done any damage to the capital, even though you have an entire army." Discord then flew over to the cocoon holding Princess Celestia. "Plus, sun butt should be in a position where you can playfully banter with her." With the snap of his fingers Princess Celestia’s face and nothing else was sticking out. "Like so, quite the sticky situation you've got yourself into huh?"

"Discord, why are you just letting this happen?”

"Some creature has to keep you in check sun butt, otherwise you'd just spread harmony and balance all over."

"IT'S. MY. JOB!"

"You wouldn't have a job if it weren't for me. Do I need to get out the chart explaining our symbiotic relationship again?" Discord then floated down to where Chrysalis was and put his claw arm around her. "Let me show you a few other things about your invasion plan."

"Uh, okay," Chrysalis replied as she and Discord walked over to the window during which Twilight slowly crawled over to where her old foalsitter was. Halfway there, Discord turned his head and Twilight froze while her heart jumped. Discord simply looked out the window more and Twilight quickly got to Cadance and removed the slime holding her.

"Quick, go to him while you still have the chance." Quickly following Twilight's advice Cadance went over to her beloved Shining Armor and was able to remove Chrysalis's brainwashing spell. Shining Armor then quickly regained his senses.

"W-What happened, is the wedding over?" Suddenly Chrysalis jumped in front of him while Discord slowly walked away from the windows.

"It's all over!"

"Your spell! Perform your spell!" Twilight said.

"What good would that do, my minions already foam free?"

Shining Armor tried to perform the spell but he had little to no energy. Luckily Cadance was there to offer her love to give him strength and the 2 of them were able to perform a spell that not only repelled Chrysalis, but her entire army. As the changelings were expelled from Canterlot Twilight ran straight to the window.

"AND DON'T COME BACK!" Twilight yelled out hoping somehow Chrysalis would hear her. Thanks to the spell the slime all changelings created were removed as well including the slime holding Princess Celestia. She was on the verge of hitting the floor but Super Stallion, who had regained his energy quickly flew over to catch her.

"Are you alright, your highness?"

"Yes,” she answered. Super Stallion placed her down as Twilight ran over.

“Don't worry about me, I'm fine. You-" Celestia stopped when suddenly Twilight ran right past her and instead ran over to Discord. Surprising him with a hug.

“You could have sold me out to Chrysalis, but you didn’t. Thank you.”

“No problem,” Discord said as he returned the hug. Twilight smiled warmly as she hugged tighter. She turned her head and when she saw Princess Celestia her face suddenly turned cold.

“Oh yeah, no problem for you,” Super Stallion said. “You didn’t have to do anything.”

“Like a politician,” Swift Sweep.

“You didn’t want to do anything,” Super Stallion added as Discord looked rather stoically.

“Do you want to know something funny?” Discord asked. “I actually was going to help, after teaching a certain blockhead,” Discord bonked Princess Celestia on the head. “A lesson in humility. But then I saw how selfish everypony acted and changed my mind.”

“Selfish?” Cadance asked. “What’s he talking about?”

“Oh don’t listen to him,” Princess Celestia said. “We may not have been on our best behavior, but we weren’t selfish.”

“Oh,” Discord said. And with the snap of his fingers, Discord made numerous phantoms of the ponies past selves that mistreated Twilight. Princess Celestia’s jaw nearly hit the floor as she saw her past self treat Twilight so badly, driving her to tears as she was forced out of the chambers. Twilight once again cried after seeing how badly she was treated.

“I, I didn’t mean to make you cry,” Princess Celestia said as she approached Twilight. She reached out her hoof to wipe the tears away, but Twilight smacked it away and ran out of the hall. Shining Armor was about to run after her but Cadance summoned a magic wall stopping him.

"Wait," Cadance said. "Let's give her time to cool off, in the meantime I think you need to tell me what happened," Cadance said rather strictly as she approached her husband to be.

"Don't give me that look."

"What look?"

"That Shining Armor did something stupid look."

"Well what happened?"

"I had a very good reason for yelling at my sister."

"Well what was the "very good reason?"

"She. Accused the fake you of being an imposter." Cadance then gave Shining Armor a rather stoic glare.

"I see," Cadance replied with a tone that matches her glare.

"Oh come on it's more complicated than that, none of us knew it wasn't really you," Shining Armor said defensively.

"So Twilight just randomly accused "me" of being fake out of nowhere? That is rather strange."

"Well actually Princess Mi Amore Cadenza," Applejack said as she approached the princess.

"Princess Cadance is fine."

"Well actually Princess Cadance Twilight came to all of us saying that something was off with "you."

"And what did you all do?"

"We. Didn't. Listen to her." Applejack then lowered her head downright ashamed of the way she treated her friend. "Yer not gonna be on our side about this are ya?"

"I don't think you're even on your side," Cadance replied as she made her way towards the exit.

"Cadance, where are you going?" Celestia asked.

"I think I've heard enough of your side so now I'm going to talk to Twilight."

"Well we can help you with that," Fluttershy said as the mane 5 prepared to follow.

"I think you all helped enough," Cadance said rather coldly stopping Twilight's so called friends in their tracks as she left.

Elsewhere, on a small piece of grass under the bridge leading into Canterlot, Twilight was lying down crying and crying. "Twilight."

"Huh?" Twilight looked up and saw her old foalsitter standing in front of her. "How, how did you know I was here?"

"You always came here when you were sad," Cadance answered as she placed her hoof on Twilight 's head in a comforting way.

"All my friends didn't listen to anything I said Princess Celestia didn't even listen to me. I just wanted to do the right thing but every pony a. a." Twilight started to cry again as Cadance hugged her to calm her down before she got hysterical and helped her sit down while she placed her wing around Twilight and placed her head on her shoulder.

"Ssh ssh, it's okay Twilight. Now, tell me everything."

***

Discord teleported away and Super Stallion had decided to take off so Squeaky Clean could show up. Swift Sweep decided to catch Squeaky up on everything that happened. “And then Twilight ran off crying,” Swift Sweep finished.

“Wow, that is a lot to take in,” Squeaky answered. Even if I was already there.

“Poor Twilight, she must have felt so horrible for her to run off crying like that,” Swift Sweep said.

“I didn’t mean to make you cry,” Princess Celestia said in the corner of the room, trying not to cry herself.

“I didn’t mean to make you cry either, Twily,” Shining Armor said.

“No, you just wanted her to not come to your wedding,” Squeaky said. Shining Armor shot him an angry glare but he wasn’t intimidated.

Before long Cadance had returned with a foreleg on Twilight’s back. “Twilight!” Princess Celestia nearly charged at her to hug her but Twilight wouldn’t let her. She backed up and Princess Celestia stopped, surprised at Twilight’s actions.

"Well I heard both sides and I was able to convince her to come back and talk things out." Hearing that Twilight's friends practically rushed over to her.

"That's great Twilight, that means you forgive us and we can get on with the wedding at last!" Rainbow Dash said excitedly.

“Right now?” Twilight said.

“Of course darling,” Rarity answered. “I can’t wait to get back in that bridesmaid dress.”

“Can’t we take a break first? I’m really tired.”

“Tired?” Pinkie Pie asked. “From what?”

“I didn’t get any sleep last night, I was up all night trying to figure out what to do.”

“So your best plan was to accuse the fake out of nowhere?” Pinkie asked.

“I have trouble thinking clearly when I’m stressed. Plus fighting an army of changelings took a lot out of me too.”

“She was trying to get through more than the rest of us,” Pinkie Pie. “I mean for what good it did.”

“Like you did any better,” Twilight said to Pinkie.

“I mean, I guess putting the wedding off for a little while isn’t so unreasonable,” Squeaky said, who was still a little tired from getting his love drained.

“No way!” Shining Armor said. “We can’t just sit around. All of Canterlot is expecting this wedding. We can’t let him down, this wedding has to be perfect.”

“I think this ship has sailed,” Swift Sweep said.

“I could use some spare time to take a bath,” Cadance said. “I think I stepped on something in the mines.”

“Nonsense, we can relax and bathe later, come on Twilight,” Princess Celestia said as she approached her. “We have a wedding to get to, if you won’t help maybe you should just leave.” Squeaky and Swift were shocked to hear the princess say that. “Stop being selfish.”

“Selfish?! I’M SELFISH!?” Twilight screamed, shocking the others. “Where do you get off talking to me like that?! I came to you for help and you didn’t believe me or cared enough to listen. And even after realizing I was right, you still don’t!”

“Oh snap,” Swift Sweep whispered to Squeaky who nodded.

Twilight's friends didn't know what to say as Twilight continued. "I begged and pleaded with all of you but did you listen, no! Did any of you care, no!"

"T-Twilight," Spike said and then she turned to him.

"And you, I welcomed you into my home. I treated you like a son! And what were you doing when I was going through a mental collapsing crisis?" Twilight then used her magic to pick up the figures of Princess Cadance and Shining Armor that Spike was still holding. "PLAYING WITH TOYS!" Twilight then threw the figures towards the wall causing them to break on impact.

"I-I'm sorry, don't be mad." Spike then tried to put his claw on Twilight but she backed up. Princess Celestia then approached her student, shocked by the way she was acting.

"Twilight, that's no way to talk to your friends."

"You let them do it!" Twilight snapped back to the princess. "All those things they said to me, mostly my own brother."

"That was different," Celestia said, not really thinking before she spoke.

"Different? Oh I see, so when you think he's right he can yell and scream and say whatever he wants and that's okay. But when you know I'm right and I decide to give them a taste of their own medicine to see how it feels, I'm somehow out of line?"

"Oh come on Twilight it all worked out," Princess Celestia replied trying to get her to see reason.

"No thanks to you." Twilight's comment shocked Celestia and she actually backed up a bit not sure what to say. “You still only care about the wedding, you haven’t learned a thing,” Twilight continued. Twilight then turned around and started to walk away. “Well if you want this wedding to happen so badly, you can have it, without me.” Twilight then started to walk off.

“Squeaky can’t you talk-” Princess Celestia stopped when Squeaky shook his head while raising his forelegs. Squeaky then teleported away while Swift Sweep flew off after finishing his cheese cake.

"Twilight, wait! We can't do this without you," Fluttershy said.

"You almost did."

"But Twilight," Applejack said.

"Why don't you go check on the princess? That's all you care about!" And with that Twilight made her way to the door.

"Twily wait! Please!" Shining Armor ran over to his sister until he was in front of her. "Please I can't have this wedding without my best mare."

"I can forget about being the best mare, remember? In fact if I were you I wouldn't show up to the wedding at all. Weren't those your exact words?!" Twilight then walked around her brother.

"Were those his exact words?" Cadance asked Squeaky and he simply shook his head to her shock. "Shining, how could you say something like that to your own sister?"

"I thought the fake you was the real you remember?"

"I don't care, some things you never say, no matter how angry you get."

"Well maybe if you have a problem with me getting mad at ponies that hurt the ponies I love or the ponies I think I love, maybe you just don't understand me as much as I thought!" Cadance stepped back shocked at her fiancé's last comment and then she pulled out her engagement ring and put it on the floor.

"No, I guess I don't."

"Cadance w-why are you?" Before Shining Armor could finish Cadance flew off and Shining Armor was brought to his knees as a result.

***

Princess Celestia made her to the train station to try and get Twilight to return.

"Twilight please come back, you said you wanted to hear your friends out."

"I did and they blew it! You most of all! You acted like you were the only one trying, that only you cared. Discord was right, you think you’re better than everypony.”

"Twilight, don't you care about second chances?"

"I don't care about second chances, I don't care about this wedding, and right now I don't care if I ever see you again!" Princess Celestia was so taken back by Twilight's cruel irony she could just watch as Twilight boarded the train and left Canterlot.

"Don't go," Celestia whispered. "I'm sorry Twilight, please come back." Princess Celestia lowered her head and cried a little. “What have I done?”

Squeaky Clean and Swift Sweep who actually wanted to talk to Twilight saw what happened and realized they were too late. “Well, she got what she wanted,” Squeaky said.

“Yeah, but she lost what she had,” Swift Sweep added.

"Twilight left," Rainbow Dash said as she and the others caught up.

"I guess we only have ourselves to blame," Fluttershy said.

"Well that might not be right to say," Applejack said.

"But it is darling,” Rarity said. “Twilight asked for our help but we ignored her."

"I guess we might as well go home as well," Pinkie said, her mane now straight and no longer bouncy.

***

With Twilight and Cadance gone, the wedding was canceled leaving nearly all of Canterlot in utter depression. Except for 1 creature. Discord while at the Castle of the 2 Sisters having taken that as his home and was laughing his head off. "Now I know why ponies are so happy at weddings." Discord then laughed his head off more. "I should have known friendship wasn't as strong as they made it out to be." Back at the castle a dozen or so guards were cleaning up the mess the changelings made in their attack.

"None of this would have happened if Stone Wall was still captain," one of the 3 guards from before said while with the other 2 and cleaning up some rubble made from the changeling invasion.

"Yeah he probably would have taken half the changelings down himself."

"He may have been hard on us at times, but he always knew what he was doing." Squeaky Clean was hard at work cleaning the halls and hearing the guards talk good about his friend brought a smile to his face. Just then Princess Celestia showed up and noticed Squeaky.

"Oh hello Squeaky would you-"

"Well then gotta clean somewhere else." Squeaky then made his way down the opposite direction Celestia wanted to go after him but stopped, thinking it would be best to leave him be for now. After a while Squeaky ran into Swift as the former's shift was ending and the latter's shift was starting and they both came across Princess Cadance.

"Hello Princess Cadance, wait you are the real one aren't you?" Swift asked.

"Yes Swift, I'm the real one."

"Good enough for me," Swift replied. "So how Shining Armor?"

"I haven't really talked to him that much. Or at all really."

"So are you 2 still a thing?" Squeaky asked.

"Yes, but I refuse to marry him until Twilight agrees to be the best mare again."

"Couldn't you just make her want to be the best mare again?" Swift asked. "Isn't that your thing spreading love and happiness?"

"No, if I use my magic to stop a couple from arguing over something trivial, that's 1 thing. But if I use my magic to force Twilight to just get over something really upsetting her, that's practically brainwashing. I'd be no better than Chrysalis."

"I see," Swift answered.

"Well I'm going home, sorry your wedding turned out to be so horrible."

"Thank you Squeaky," Cadance answered as the 3 ponies went in different directions and Cadance reflected on yesterday. "I can't believe my wedding, something I dreamed since I was small turned into such an awful day. On top of that I can't get over this feeling that I forgot something really important."

Meanwhile beneath Canterlot 3 very lost bridesmaids were still wandering around the mines."Hello?" Minuette called out. "Is anypony there? How the heck do we get out of here?"

Chapter 19 The Road to Redemption

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Princess Celestia was normally a beacon of happiness, but not lately. Nearly a week had passed since the almost wedding and a rift was made between Twilight and Celestia. The latter of whom was trying to sleep but was tossing and turning.

“Twilight,” she said in her sleep. “Please come back, I’m sorry.” In her dream she was chasing after Twilight but no matter how fast she went, she couldn’t get to her. “Please Twilight come back.” When she was about to finally reach her she vanished.

“How could you do that to me, I thought you were my friend?” Celestia tried to reach her but Twilight started to fall and once again, she couldn’t reach her. “Why didn’t you help me?” Twilight continued to fall until she disappeared again. As Celestia looked up she saw a yellow coated unicorn with a fiery mane and tail appeared.

“Why didn’t you help me, Princess Celestia?” She asked.

“I-I’m sorry.” Celestia tried to get to her student when suddenly her legs were stuck in some sort of sticky substance. Suddenly she noticed the rest of the mane 6 were stuck there as well, all of them were looking up pleading for help.

But Twilight looked down and whispered. "No." Celestia was tearing up. "Next time you'll all think twice before ignoring me, or wait, there won't be a next time."

“Too bad for you sunbutt,” Discord said from above. Celestia looked up to see Discord with Twilight.

“Twilight, get away from him.”

“You had your chance, she’s my student now,” Discord said.

“No Twilight you can’t,” Celestia pleaded.

“I can, if he really wants me to be his,” Twilight said.

“Certainly,” Discord replied as he rubbed her mane. Discord then surrounded Twilight in a pink bubble. Celestia broke free of the sticky substance and tried to reach Twilight but Discord wrapped himself around her to stop her. “You’re too late,” he taunted. “Now I’m gonna make you watch. As you lose her forever.”

Suddenly Celestia was forced to watch Twilight as she slowly transformed into a draconequus. When fully transformed she broke free and laughed wickedly at Celestia and readied to attack.

Princess Celestia awoke from her nightmare and breathed heavily to calm down. “I’m so sorry Twilight. Oh Twilight, I am so sorry,” she said as tears poured down her muzzle. After a while Celestia finally got out of bed and tried to pull herself together. “Come on now Celestia, feeling sorry for yourself won’t solve this. Maybe if I can just stop thinking about it for just a minute.”

Suddenly a knock came at the door and Princess Celestia opened it to find Swift Sweep. “Oh, hello Swift Sweep.” Swift Sweep didn’t respond, but simply entered the chambers and started sweeping. “Um, I said hello Swift Sweep,” Princess Celestia said confused.

Swift Sweep then turned to face Princess Celestia. “I’m not talking to you,” he said. “But if I was talking to you, I’d tell you that I’m not talking to you because you acted like a jerk at the almost wedding. To me, to Squeaky, and especially to sweet little Twilight. That’s why I’m not talking to you.”

“Oh, I see,” Princess Celestia answered. “I’m very sorry Swift Sweep.”

"Well, if I was talking to you I'd say I'm still a little mad at you. But I forgive you. After all, compared to Twilight I got off easy." Swift Sweep then finished cleaning and made his way out. Afterwards Celestia put yourself in the corner as the reason why flashed through her mind.

"How could you treat your own sister like that?" Star Swirl the Bearded from many moons ago asked a young and rather bratty Celestia. "Luna is in her room crying her eyes out because of what you said to her."

"I didn't mean to make her cry," Celestia said many moons ago. "I was just angry."

"Oh you were angry, well then I guess that makes it okay," Star Swirl said sarcastically.

"Don't you think you're taking this too far. It's not like I punched or kicked her."

"Words can hurt more than any physical injury, so you need to be careful how you use them. Until then." Star Swirl then used magic to place a stool in the corner of the room and pointed to it.

"You have got to be kidding me," Celestia said.

"Kidding. A rather fitting choice of words. Because if your gonna act like a brat, you're gonna get punished like one. Now move your rump."

"I am not, going, to sit there. And there's nothing you can-" Celestia's throat went dry when Star Swirl starting giving her a hard stare. To make it stop she sat on the stool. "You know one of these days, that stare isn't going to work anymore."

"Yeah, that'll be the day."

***

Morning came, and Princess Celestia was walking through the castle and found Squeaky Clean. He immediately turned around to walk in the other direction. "Squeaky wait, please don't go, I want to talk."

Squeaky then turned around and reluctantly approached the princess. "May I be of some service, your highness?"

"I just wanted to say that I'm very sorry for the way I treated you, and I hope you forgive me." Squeaky waited a minute before responding.

"I appreciate that, and in the long run you really weren't all that rude to me, so I forgive you."

"Thank you Squeaky."

"It's no big deal compared to Twilight. I got off easy.” Squeaky then saw the look on Celestia’s face and realized he may have put his hoof in his mouth. “So how is Twilight?"

"I wrote her several letters but she never responded. I've tried to give her some space, but maybe it's time for me to see her in equine."

***

In Ponyville Twilight was by a local restaurant sitting by a table and eating a daffodil and daisy sandwich. It suddenly started to rain, but not around Twilight. "Huh?"

"Hi there, the greatest best friend forever in the world I’ve ever, ever had," Rainbow Dash said. Twilight however paid her no mind and continued to eat her sandwich. "Uh, Twilight did you hear me? I said that you're my best ever friend in the, no, the greatest world friend, no you're the greatest friend ever in the ever uh ever. Okay I can't remember what I said you were but you are whatever it was. Twilight aren't you going to say thank you?"

Twilight said nothing.

"Okay fine Twilight, if that's how you want to be!" Rainbow Dash then closed up the hole causing Twilight to get rained on, but she paid it no mind. Rainbow Dash then felt like an idiot and wanted to open it up again and apologize, but the rain was letting up anyway. She then decided to fly off before she did something else that was stupid.

"Twilight darling, whatever are you doing sitting there in the rain?" Rarity asked as she was passing by with an umbrella. "Well it's not really anymore, I believe that's known as a squall. Come with me before you catch a cold." Rarity was about to take Twilight to Carousel Boutique but Twilight pulled her hoof away when Rarity grabbed it. After finishing her sandwich and leaving some bits on the table Twilight left, but she was cut off by Applejack who was pulling a wagon full of apple baked treats.

"Howdy there best friend. I'm just on my way to drop these off at the library. I got all sorts of sweets for ya." Twilight then teleported to the other side of her friend and continued walking. Applejack tried getting back in front to talk to Twilight but she just kept teleporting. Before long Applejack quickly got the idea despite her stubborn nature.

"It was a nice gesture darling."

"Thanks Rarity. When is she going to get over this?”

“We really hurt her feelings, Applejack." When Twilight finally got to the library she was surprised to find that Fluttershy and a large group of animals were cleaning. Spike was even helping out a bit as well.

"Oh hello Twilight we were all just doing a little spring cleaning for you. Because you know you're my very best friend." Twilight once again didn't say anything to her friend but simply shot her a very unpleasant glare. "You'd like me to leave, wouldn't you?" Twilight then pointed to the door and Fluttershy quickly walked to the door and had all her animal friends follow her.

"Surprise!" Pinkie Pie almost yelled out shocking Twilight and startling Fluttershy. Suddenly Twilight was lifted up into the air by half a dozen other ponies that Pinkie brought. "Twilight is my best friend whoopie whoopie, the smartest kindest sweetest all around greatest pony pony, but I broke her heart and I very sorry sorry, so I figured if I threw a super deluxe party party, she'd find it in her heart to forgive me." Twilight then teleported back onto the ground then entered the library and closed the door after making sure Fluttershy and her friends were outside.

"I thought it was a nice gesture Pinkie." Back in the library Twilight had walked past Spike and went upstairs to get on her bed. The sheet was used a bit as a towel since Twilight was still quite wet from the rain but then suddenly a burst of hot wind shot from a giant blow dryer that vanished as quickly as it came.

"Wouldn't want you to get a cold now do we?"

"Discord?!"

"The one and only, in this universe anyway."

"What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to see how you were doing and by the looks of things the answer is not so good."

"She's doing just fine and doesn't need you bugging her!" Spike said as he sped up the staircase and got between Twilight and the spirit of chaos with his arms spread out.

"Spike what did I tell you when I teleported your bed downstairs?" Hearing that Spike turned around shocked and very confused.

"What? But Twilight it's Discord, he's the-"

"What did I tell you?" Twilight asked again but with a more strict tone. Spike then lowered his arms as well as his head.

"Until further notice I stay downstairs." Spike then slowly made his way back down the stairs.

"As I was saying, you could really use a friend."

"What is it with every…creature today? I'm not in the mood for "friends" today."

"Oh come now don't be like that. Tell you what, do you like pie?"

"I guess." Discord then snapped his fingers and a rather large chocolate pie appeared right in front of her. Twilight then decided to take a bite. "Wow this is actually really good."

"I knew you’d love it, I always knew you were the understanding one. Not like those nasty friends of yours.”

“My friends aren’t nasty,” Twilight replied with her mouth full.

“Well of course you’d say that, it just goes to show how understanding you are. I’m just glad none of them showed up. I mean except Pinkie and Fluttershy, but you pushed them away.”

“There aren’t so bad, Discord.”

“Not so bad, please, there a bunch of losers.”

“Come on now,” Twilight said as she finished the pie. “I get they screwed up but losers might be a bit strong.”

“After the way they treated you, I’d say losers isn’t strong enough.”

"Well, it was pretty rude."

"Pretty rude," Discord said. "It was down right despicable."

Twilight paused but part of her couldn’t help but agree. “It was, wasn't it?!”

“If I were you, I wouldn’t speak to them ever again.”

"Don't listen to him Twilight he's-" Spike was cut off when he suddenly disappeared at the snap of Discord's finger yet again. Twilight gasped.

"Don't worry he's fine, I just teleported him to the other side of town."

"What exactly do you want Discord?" Discord then got up and started to walk around Twilight a bit.

"Suppose I should get to the point, don't want the plot to drag on too long now do we? I can't help but feel sorry for you after what happened. You know what you need, you need a friend. A real friend."

"And you think you can be that real friend?"

"But of course," Discord said as music came out of nowhere.

"Should have seen this coming," Twilight said.

"I'm the friend that you need. When you're lost and don't know what to do. I'm your pal, your amigo, creative and very resourceful too." Before Discord could continue, there was a knock at the door. "He's back already, wow he moves fast on those little legs doesn't he?" Discord then used his magic to open the door but to his and Twilight's surprise it wasn't Spike, it was Princess Celestia.

"Twilight? Where are you?" Suddenly she saw Discord next to Twilight. "What are you doing here!?"

"I could ask you the exact same question. At least I could, if I cared at all, which I don’t."

“I came to talk things out with Twilight and put this whole thing behind us.”

“Maybe later,” Discord said. “She’s spending time with her real friend.”

“What?”

“Yes, she doesn’t need to talk things out with you. You said enough when you chewed her out in the last chapter. Or 5 days ago, depending on how you see things.”

"Please Twilight, I just came to say, that I'm sorry."

"Is that all?" Twilight asked.

"Um, yes."

"I see, well thank you for that."

"Your welcome," Celestia said with a smile. "So you forgive me and we can put this all behind us?"

"No," Twilight bluntly answered.

"Huh?"

"I don't forgive you," Twilight said, shocking Celestia.

"Twilight," Princess Celestia said. "When somepony says they're sorry, you have to forgive them."

"What that's a law now?"

"As a real friend, I have to agree with Twilight. She can't just say she's sorry and think that should be enough. Especially after what she did to you."

"Twilight, don't listen to him. Whatever he said to get on your good side, he can't be trusted. He’s a deceitful creature, you can't listen to a word he says."

"So you didn't ignore me when I came to you for help?" Twilight asked. Celestia didn’t know how to respond yet again. "So you didn't treat me like garbage? How could you do that to me, I thought you were my friend?"

“Yeah, you’d think you’d learn your lesson after you screw up with the last one,” Discord asked.

“How do you know about…That’s none of your business. I made a mistake, Twilight. We've known each other for a long time and I've done a lot of things right. It's not fair for you to be so harsh on me when I do 1 thing wrong."

"So it's only fair when you do that to me?" Celestia once again didn't know what to say. "Why didn't you help me?"

"Okay, that's a fair point but-"

"Whatever it is, I don't want to hear it and I'm tired, so just leave me alone."

“But Twilight-”

“Discord, do you really want to be a true friend?”

“Of course,” he answered.

“Would you mind showing the princess the door?”

“I’d be happy to.” Discord then appeared right in front of the princess. “You heard my friend beat it.” Princess Celestia then reluctantly turned around and walked to the door.

"Do you want to know something funny?" Twilight asked.

"Yes Twilight, I would love to!" Celestia answered as she turned away from the door excited that maybe she could end her visit on a good note.

"When you made me your student, it was a dream come true. I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but I worked hard to prove myself and make you proud of me. I pushed myself but to see you smile at my accomplishments made it all worth it. The last thing I ever wanted was to disappoint you, I never would have imagined that you would disappoint me." Hearing that Discord couldn't help but laugh his head off.

"You're right," Discord said while still laughing. "That actually is, pretty funny."

***

Back at the castle Celestia was once again up in the royal chambers and once again depressed. She looked at her bed and another memory flashed before her eyes. A rather young Celestia was in bed ready to go to sleep with Star Swirl sitting on the side of the bed.

"I don't understand Star Swirl," Celestia said. "I told Luna I was sorry but she's still mad at me."

"Well I'm glad that you shallowed your pride and said you were sorry. But sometimes saying sorry isn't enough, sometimes we need to say we're sorry with our actions, not just our words."

"But how do I do that?"

"Well maybe an answer will come to you in your sleep." Star Swirl then gave Celestia a gentle kiss on the cheek and tucked her into bed. Squeaky after a while made his way to her chambers to see if she was feeling better. "I'm guessing the visit didn't go so well."

“No." Squeaky then sat on the bed and started to lightly stroke Princess Celestia's mane.

"Twilight's just angry, she'll calm down."

"I-I'm scared Squeaky."

"Scared?"

"1000 years ago I was forced to banish my own sister to the moon because she was all but consumed by her jealousy. What if Twilight goes through something similar she runs away like Sun-"

"Hey hey calm down, that's not going to happen, I know it won't. Twilight has some of the best character I've ever seen." Princess Celestia smiled and then wrapped her wing around Squeaky and pulled him right next to her.

"Thank you Squeaky, I really needed to hear that. Twilight does have amazing character. She's smart, kind, hardworking, organized, and a true, true friend. I'm so lucky to have her in my life. And I'm lucky to have you in my life too."

"Thank you princess, I feel the exact same way." Squeaky then rolled on top of Princess Celestia as he gave her a passionate kiss that the princess enjoyed very very much. After getting back to cleaning Squeaky came across Swift Sweep.

"Hi there Squeaky."

"Hello there Swift Sweep, didn't know it was one of your day shifts today." Suddenly several rather loud crashes were heard outside followed by screams.

"What's all that noise?"

"I don't suppose it's a harmless parade."

"Oh you really think so? I love parades, especially the ones that toss candy to the crowds. And the ones that have balloons. Red ones." Squeaky then made his way to the windows and saw that Canterlot was suddenly overrun with a rather small army of giant cockatrice.

"No wonder there's screaming."

"So not a parade."

"No, unfortunately not dear Swift Sweep." Swift Sweep and Squeaky Clean turned and saw none other than the spirit of chaos.

"Finally something exciting is happening in this chapter and we only had to wait a little over 2500 words and 100 paragraphs for it."

"Discord! Are you the one behind this?" Squeaky asked ready to make a quick change into Super Stallion if he needed too.

"It definitely looks like something I'd do, doesn't it? But nope, didn't have a paw, or a claw in this."

"No? Then what are you doing here?"

"Well other than trying to move the plot forward and 4th wall jokes not much."

"I gotta tell the princess!" And make sure she gets some super backup. Squeaky then ran out to do just that while Discord noticed Swift seemed a little sad.

"I really wanted a red balloon." Discord then snapped his fingers giving him just that and Swift jumped for joy. "I think this is going to be a really good day."

***

After informing Princess Celestia about the major infestation, Squeaky quickly became Super Stallion to help out. It was rather tricky because 1 wrong look and he'd be a super statue. But he dealt with them with a lot of long range spells. Plus, he wasn't alone in fighting them: the royal pony sisters, the royal guard, and even Spike helped out.

"Yeah suck on that you chicken lizard things!" Spike called as he continued fighting, breathing rather heavy doses of fire. Before long every single giant cockatrice was forced out of Canterlot and the ponies and 1 dragon gathered together to see if they were all okay and to help one another fix the messes that were recently made. Super Stallion volunteered to clean up everything and the guards helped ponies that were hiding when the cocktrices attacked and Princess Celestia saw to Spike's injuries who got roughed a bit.

"You are a very brave baby dragon, you know that?"

"I'm not a baby anymore," Spike responded with pride. "After today, I am a stallion, so to speak." Celestia then chuckled as she placed her hoof on Spike's head and rubbed it just a little bit.

"Yes I do, and you'll be getting a metal for your particular bravery. Did Twilight come here with you?"

"No, she isn't here, she went to stop the changelings."

"Excuse me?"

"Long story short, the changelings were pretending to be just about everypony in Ponyville. Twilight and the gang took them down.

***

After the changelings were defeated they were properly restrained. "Yeah, how do you like being restrained?" Rainbow Dash asked the changelings after she and her friends freed all of the ponies that were stuck in pods. "How does it feel to be taken down twice by us, totally awesome ponies? One of which in particular is particularly awesome."

"Excuse me miss particularly awesome, do you think you can free the others stuck in slime?"

"Right, sorry Twilight." As Rainbow Dash did that, a crystal sphere appeared showing Queen Chrysalis. She explained she was holding the real CMC and where she was holding them. On top of that she told Twilight to arrive there in 3 days or something bad would happen to them.

"Wait why 3 days, is there a specific reason or do you just like the number 3?" Before Chrysalis could answer Pinkie's question, she vanished from the crystal ball leaving a map on it. "Does anypony feel like she could have answered my question but just didn't want to? I mean she went through the trouble of talking to us through her own version of the mystical orb of fate and destinies but she can't answer a simple-"

"Pinkie! Will you please be quiet so I can think for 2 seconds?"

"Oops, sorry Twilight, you go right ahead and think. It's what you do best, I know sometimes you're called an egghead, but when you think about it it's a compliment because you-"

"PINKIE PIE!"

"Sorry, I'll just do something not here." Pinkie then gave Twilight some space so she could study the map. After that Twilight got a few supplies for the journey to rescue the CMC and if necessary fight Chrysalis, but just as she was about to head off the rest of the mane 6 as well as Spike caught up to her.

"Darling you can't honestly think that going to rescue my sister and her friends all alone is a good idea."

"Yeah why didn't you come to us for help?" Fluttershy asked.

"The last time I asked you for help you all ignored me."

"Well we won't ignore you ya now sugar cube we're ready to help out, kick flank and save the day once again."

"All right, get whatever you think you'll need for a 3 day mission and get back here asap."

"Twilight, why don't you send a letter to the princess so she can help us out too?" Spike asked as the others ran off.

"We tried that, remember? Something is interfering.”

"I could try going to Canterlot myself and tell the princesses myself."

"Okay Spike, do whatever you think is best," Twilight told him. “But wait until tomorrow to head to Canterlot. The sun is about to set and it can be dangerous to head there by yourself at night."

***

"So after that I went to bed early and came here first thing in the morning. Well I meant to, but I slept in somehow but I did come here right when I woke up, after breakfast."

"Wow, that is a lot to take in," Princess Celestia said.

"Sorry I tried to keep it short but there was a lot to go over.” Eventually the guards, Super Stallion, and Princess Luna arrived. Celestia had a bit of explaining to do.

***

Twilight was wandering around a maze and couldn't find the way out and just got more and more frustrated along the way. Suddenly she saw a bright light above her and it descended and took the form of the princess of the night. "Princess Luna? What are you doing here?”

“Spike told my sister what you were doing and she told me. So I came to visit you.”

“Well I’m doing alright.”

“I’m worried about you, Twilight. We all are.”

Now isn’t really the time, I have a lot on my mind.”

"Twilight, I probably know better than anypony about how bad it is to bottle up your emotions and I understand being angry at my sister for 1 reason or another. Talking about these things may seem unpleasant but-"

"Okay stop all right just stop I don't want to talk about this anymore," Twilight interrupted started to get annoyed but mostly mad.

"Twilight-

"I don't want to hear it okay. I'm sick of everypony, dragon, and draconequus telling me what to feel and how to act. I don't want to argue with you okay, so will you please just leave me alone." Twilight asked Princess Luna.

"Very well Twilight, but 1 other thing Super Stallion is trying to find you so you should lend a hoof. I suggest using a flare spell."

“Okay, thank you.”

“You're welcome,” Princess Luna said. “When you’re ready to talk, I’ll be ready.”

***

After waking up Twilight used her new device allowing Super Stallion to get to her right away "We meet again Twilight, maybe it's time I made you my sidekick."

"Thanks but no thanks, I think Spike would be far more interested in that role."

"Well that fire breath of his would be quite useful in a couple situations. But for now I need to tell Princess Celestia where you are."

"No!" Twilight said somewhat surprising Super Stallion. "If she really wants to come, tell her to wait until a bit after the sun rises so that the others will be awake."

"Okay that's understandable, back in a flash." Super Stallion made his way to Canterlot and went to Princess Celestia’s chambers and found her sleeping peacefully in her bed. "Oh she looks so adorable. Do I really have to wake her up? What am I talking about? Of course I do, but she's so pretty I just can't." Super Stallion then repeatedly but lightly smacked himself on his head.

"Come on Squeaky, get it together you're acting like you did when you first met her, wait a minute, Squeaky needs to get back to his job." Super Stallion then decided to wake the princess up and Squeaky. "All right just look away from the adorable sexy princess and that will help you wake her up." Squeaky then began to rub Princess Celestia's neck until she woke up.

"Huh?"

"Good morning sweetheart, well eventually anyway."

"I'm going to assume that there's a very good reason that you woke me up so early. Wait a minute you aren't due back to the castle yet why are you even-"

"Super Stallion found Twilight," Squeaky interrupted, hoping to get the princess to forget what she was just asking and it did.

"He did!" Princess Celestia was so excited that she jumped right out of bed but she was also rather worried. "Is she all right?"

"He wanted to tell you that she's okay but she'd like you to wait until daybreak for you to go help her. You know, no sense waking them all up in the middle of the night."

"I suppose that makes sense but why didn't Super Stallion tell me this in equine?"

Crud think fast Squeaky! "Oh you know superheroes always flying off from 1 spot to another." Please buy it please buy it please buy it!

"Well I suppose that's understandable.”

Whew. Celestia postponed her duties and talked with Shining Armor to send a group of royal guards if she didn't return within a specific amount of time.

"Wouldn't it make more sense for us to come with you right at the start?" Shining Armor asked.

"No, too many ponies would get the changeling's attention. Taking them by surprise could really help us win. But I want to have you and a big team of guards on standby just in case."

"Uh princess," Squeaky said, getting the attention of Princess Celestia and Shining Armor. "I made 2 dozen sandwiches for you and the other ponies. Since who knows how long you’ll be gone."

"Oh Squeaky that's so thoughtful thank you so much." Princess Celestia then kissed Squeaky on his cheek and flew off into the night leaving Squeaky Clean and Shining Armor confused.

"Uh should I get a Pegasus guard-"

"Give her a minute." Squeaky and Shining then continued to stand by wait but after a few seconds the quiet got awkward. "So how's the whole captain of the royal guard going?"

"Fine, I've made a couple mistakes along the way but all in all I gotta say I'm doing a pretty good job. A lot better than Stone Wall anyway."

"Well that might be taking it a bit too far." Suddenly Princess Celestia used her magic to raise the sun. “Oh there we go.”

***

As the mane 6 woke up they wasted no time heading out. Suddenly Princess Celestia arrived to everypony's surprise.

"Why Princess Celestia, what in Equestria are you doing in this dangerous part of the woods?" Rarity asked.

"I came to help you, my little ponies."

"But how did you get here so fast?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"With a little super help," Super Stallion said as he flew down to join the others. "I quickly caught up to her and got her here in no time at all."

"Super Stallion too. Ah yeah, now we're cooking," Rainbow Dash.

"Twilight, why in the world would you come here without telling me?" Princess Celestia asked with a surprisingly angry tone.

"There was some sort of interference. I couldn't send a letter at all and we really needed to get going as soon as possible."

"Well where are the Elements of Harmony? Did you bring them at least?"

"They're still in Canterlot, remember?"

"Well you've had almost a week to come and get them, why didn't you?"

"Well I guess I didn't feel like visiting you!"

"That's no excuse Twilight you should have gotten them in case there was some sort of emergency! You just didn't think, did you? You're old enough to know you shouldn't let your emotions cloud your judgment!"

"That's enough!" Super Stallion said getting between the princess and her student. "Princess Celestia, I need to talk to you right now."

"But-"

"Right now!" Super Stallion then grabbed the princess's leg and pulled her up until she used her wings to fly up with him. "That was no way to talk to Twilight." Celestia wanted to respond but Super Stallion stopped her. "You wait around for days on end trying to figure out what's the best way to talk to Twilight and when you finally do, you lecture her."

"I suppose you are right, I've just been so stressed- Wait, how did you know I've been trying to-"

"Don't change the subject!" Super Stallion cut her off. "She may be a full grown mare but she's still your student. If all you do is lecture her whenever she makes a mistake, she's just going to be too frightened to come to you when she needs your help."

"You're right, you're absolutely right, Super Stallion. I acted like a fool, I'm sorry."

"I'm not the one you need to tell that to." The 2 ponies then went back down to the ground and Princess Celestia approached Twilight.

"Twilight, I'm sorry for talking to you like that."

"Again," Twilight added.

"Yes again, I was very worried about you and I just didn't think straight."

"So I'm too old to let my emotions cloud my judgment, but you aren't? How does that work?"

"I'm sorry Twilight."

"Well whatever, we can talk about it later. Just give us the Elements of Harmony so we can use them to stop the changelings."

"I beg your pardon Twilight."

"You did bring the elements didn't you?"

"Well, no."

"Are you kidding me!? After all that stuff you said to me." Twilight then took a breath to calm down. "Well what did you bring?"

"Sandwiches," Princess Celestia answered.

A short but highly awkward pause passed.

"Unbelievable." Twilight then turned away from her teacher and began to head out. "Let's just go."

"Would you like some Twilight?" Celestia asked as she caught up to her student. "Squeaky made them himself."

"I'm not hungry."

"Yeah, she's probably still full from the pie I gave her earlier," Discord said and then appeared out of thin air yet again.

"Discord?" Super Stallion said. "What are you doing here?"

"Why I'm here to help my friend of course," Discord answered.

"We don't need your help," Super Stallion said ready for a fight. Princess Celestia then pulled him back a little, even though she was thinking the same thing.

"I wasn't talking about you," Discord replied right before wrapping himself Twilight.

"What can I do to help you my dear Twilight?"

"You can wrap around me a little less tightly for one." Discord did as she asked and she was able to breathe better. "Thank you."

"What are real friends for?"

"You know Discord," Princess Celestia said. "Maybe it would be best if you went to Canterlot to make sure another attack won't happen."

"No princess, Discord should stay and help us out," Applejack said. "It's the least he can do since what happened at the wedding is all his fault."

"Oh I can't wait to hear this," Discord said as he made a chair appear that he sat in which hovered over Applejack.

"You knew what was going on but didn't do anything about it," Applejack said with the rest of the mane 6 except Twilight supporting her.

"I got news for you apple smack. I didn't make you ignore your friend when she asked for your help. I didn't drag any of you out of the room when Twilight got yelled at. And I'm not making you ignore how you really feel."

"I-I don't know what you're talking about."

"Leave her alone," Princess Celestia ordered. "She was doing the best she could."

“She did the bare minimum,” Discord taunted.

“That’s still more than you can say!” Princess Celestia as she tried to get in Discord’s face. At least until Super Stallion stopped her. “You didn’t get what you wanted so you stood by and let the invasion happen.”

Get what I wanted?” Discord asked, annoyed. “All I wanted was to help you,” Discord said as he approached the princess. “I ONLY WANTED TO HELP! And what did you say to me?” Discord then made a phantom of past Celestia.

“I forbid you to interfere in this wedding whatsoever. If you do so help me I’ll have you turned back to stone! I am fully capable of protecting this wedding from anything that might happen and you can ask Princess Mi Amore Cadenza about it herself. Got it!?"

“But the sad thing is that’s still nothing compared to how you all treated Twilight,” Discord said when he turned to Twilight’s friends.

“We weren’t that bad,” Applejack said.

Discord then appeared next to Twilight as she snapped his fingers again showing how Twilight’s friends walked out on her. “Element of Loyalty, first one out of the room. Element of Generosity, only thought about herself and how great she’d look in a dress. Element of Laughter, didn’t do anything to cheer you up. Element of Kindness, gave you the meanest look of the bunch on the way out. And the Element of Honesty-” Discord appeared in front of Applejack and tapped her muzzle. “Couldn’t see the truth right in front of her face.”

“Oh that’s it!” Fluttershy said as she flew over to Discord. “You think you can mess with our hearts and minds and get away with it?”

“Yeah,” Discord bluntly answered.

“You better watch yourself mister or I’ll give you, the stare!”

“The stare? Oh no not that, anything but your disapproving eyeballs.” Discord then bursted into laughter so Fluttershy did indeed give Discord the stare and he started to chock up. “Oh no stop, I can’t take anymore.” Fluttershy’s stare intensified. “I’ll do whatever you say because,” Discord suddenly bursted into laughter. “You’re hilarious.”

“That hard stare didn’t even bother him?” Princess Celestia said shocked.

“You peabrain,” Discord said to the princess. “You think a stare is going to bother me?” Suddenly Princess Celestia shrunk to the size of a Breezey and Discord hovered over to her and grabbed her by her wings. “There now, your body matches your brain.”

“Hey! Make her her normal size-” Super Stallion was cut off when Discord wrapped his tail around his neck.

“Stay out of this!”

"Heads up everypony!" Pinkie Pie called out as a swarm of changelings appeared and were on the verge of attacking.

"Here something you can do," Discord said as he threw Super Stallion at the changelings then started to make short work of them.

"Hey why should he have all the fun?" Rainbow Dash said as she joined in with the fighting. Just as the other ponies were about to join in, the ground below started to crack and glow a green aura and it shattered into pieces.

"Oh no," Rarity said as most of the group fell.

"Looks like those changelings thought ahead and made a trap," Discord said as he was hovering above the trap while holding Twilight with his tail.

"Thank you Discord," Twilight said as Discord place right on the edge of the sunken ground.

"Of course," Discord said as he patted her head. "I'm not like those fair-weather friends of yours, you can believe in me."

"No you can't," Celestia who was still super small said as she flew over. "Don't listen to him Twilight, he's just trying to drive a rift between you and your friends."

"Seems to me they already made a rift," Discord said. "Besides why would I do a thing like that?"

"So they can't unite and use the Elements of Harmony against you."

"I never thought of that."

"You big liar."

"Now whose the liar, anypony can clearly see I'm not big at all," Discord said as he shrunk to Celestia's size and was resting on Twilight's shoulder.

"Uh Fluttershy, why didn't you just use your wings?" Pinkie Pie asked as she and her Pegasus friend where stuck in some green goo.

"I was so scared that I forgot." After fighting off the changelings with Super Stallion's help Rainbow Dash flew down to help Applejack get free. However she just got stuck with her.

"Twilight your friends are stuck down there, you should help them," Princess Celestia said.

"Right like how they helped you at the almost wedding," Discord retorted.

"Just because they ignored your pleads for help doesn't mean you should ignore theirs."

"They didn't care about you, how should you care about them?"

"Twilight help us," Applejack called us. "Rainbow is stuck to my body, it's really awkward." Twilight stood and did nothing. "I said hussle over here and help us!"

"How can you just selfishly stand there?" Rainbow asked as the others joined in supporting her.

"I'm selfish!?" Twilight said. "I'M SELFISH!?" Twilight yelled shocking everypony and draconequus there. "Where do you get off calling me selfish after the way you all treated me at the almost wedding?! I came to you for help but you all ignored me, then when I agreed to talk out my feelings you still only cared about the wedding.

Twilight's friends didn't know what to say.

"Twilight I know how you feel," Princess Celestia said.

"No you don't," Twilight said back. "You don't know what it feels like to be ignored, that your thoughts and feelings don’t matter. You don’t know what it feels like to run off and cry. Because ponies you think are your friends really aren’t.” Twilight started crying again. “You got yourself into that mess, you can get yourself out!”

“No Twilight, don’t be like that,” Celestia pleaded. “Discord, you said you know what ponies think. Maybe you can talk some sense into her.”

“Yeah, now you respect me, because you need my help again. That’s what friendship is to her, a means to control or get you to do what they want.” Discord then became his normal size again.

“Well, you aren’t like that,” Twilight said as she kept crying. “Discord, will…will you help me fight the changelings?”

“Certainly,” Discord said as he wiped Twilight’s tears. “Let’s get going.” With that Twilight ran off with Discord to Celestia’s despair. But not before Twilight whispered something in Discord's ear. Suddenly Celestia returned to her normal size and a set of stairs which would allow Twilight’s friends to get back up.

"Thank you Twilight," Celestia said. Princess Celestia and Super Stallion help the others up and out.

“How could she run off with Discord, he didn't do anything to help us, this is all his fault," Applejack said as she ran up the stairs but tripped and fell when she got to the top. As she picked herself up Applejack who usually cries on the inside, had tears pouring down. "No, it wasn’t Discord’s fault, it was mine. Twilight needed me and I wasn’t there for her. This is all my fault.”

“We’re all responsible for what happened darling,” Rarity said.

“Yeah,” Fluttershy said. “We’re a team.”

“No we ain’t, not without Twi. And after today, she may never come back.

Suddenly Celestia was overwhelmed with fear. Hearing what Applejack said made her realize a horrible dream she recently had, while not entirely how it happened in the dream, was coming true.

Now I’m gonna make you watch, as you lose her forever.

"I won’t let that happen, I won’t lose you Twilight. I can’t lose you Twilight."

***

Elsewhere not too far away Twilight was brought face to face with Queen Chrysalis thanks to Discord.

"Discord, make sure that the other changelings don't get involve. I'll handle Chrysalis."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, she's mine." Discord then disappeared then Twilight and Chrysalis alone.

"Big mistake Twilight Sparkle, especially since my power boost arrived." The changeling queen then turned her head above and Twilight saw in the sky a bright comet soaring through the sky.

"Of course the Secretariat Comet, that's why you wanted us here in 3 days, that comet has been known to boost magical properties."

"Correct and with it providing a boost to my already powerful magic, I'm going to be using that said boost to make you pay for costing me my victory at Canterlot."

"Well guess what? On our way here we've dealt with a cave troll, a giant spider, pony eating plants, vampiric jackalopes, and a chupacabra. So right now I'm not too terrified of an overgrown stink bug."

"Is that a fact?" Chrysalis said. She then fired a blast that hit Twilight dead on. "That was for your stink bug comment." Chrysalis then hit Twilight with several more spells. "This is for not staying in the mines, this is for bringing that princess out with you, and this is for never knowing when to give up."

"Super Stallion, keep the other changelings away. Twilight needs help!" Princess Celestia said as they caught up with Twilight. Super Stallion flew off and would end up helping Discord while Princess Celestia and company got to Twilight and forced Chrysalis back.

"You meddlesome ponies!" Chrysalis then blasted all 6 of them at once before they could even attack again. Chrysalis was ready to let them have it but suddenly, a large magic blast hit Chrysalis and nearly forced her through a stone wall.

"If you hurt my friends, I'll kill you!" Twilight said shooting a death glare that actually scared Chrysalis. "You aren't the only one that gets a boost from that comet," Twilight said as she teleported to where she blasted Chrysalis.

"Lucky shot!" Chrysalis then fired again at Twilight but she blocked it with a barrier that surrounded her.

"Do you remember what I said to you in the mines beneath Canterlot? It may take me an hour, it may take me a week, it may take me 20 years, but when I get out of here I'm going to make you suffer for everything you put me through! And that's a promise!" Twilight then delivered a series of counter attacks on the changeling queen.

"This is for almost ruining my brother's wedding, this is for hurting Princess Celestia, this is for letting your minions tear up Canterlot!" After the spells Twilight punched Chrysalis several times on both cheeks and followed up with grabbing her by the neck to pull her in while she charged a spell.

"Let go of me or so help me I'll impale you with-"

"And this is for making my friends think less of me!" Chrysalis was then blasted so hard, she was forced through a stone wall. Chrysalis was knocked out cold but Twilight jumped on her and continued to punch her. "Oh no you don't wake up I'm not done."

"Twilight it's okay you can stop now," Princess Celestia said but Twilight continued. "Twilight stop! That's enough Twilight, that's enough!" Princess Celestia then had to pull Twilight off Chrysalis and brought her into a hug, wings included as she started crying. "Ssh, It's okay Twilight, it's okay."

Chrysalis, while originally knocked out, woke up because of Twilight's beatings and aimed a magic beam right at Twilight. When Twilight saw this she broke out of the hug and pushed Princess Celestia out of the way. Twilight was hit dead on and was forced off a nearby ledge.

Chrysalis was bonked on the head with a large mallet and once again was knocked out. “That’ll put an end to that,” Discord said with Super Stallion beside him.

“I hate to admit it, but we made a good team,” Super Stallion said.

“Yeah, wanna work together to take over Equestria?”

An awkward silence passed between them.

“You just had to ruin it did you?”

“Yeah.”

Princess Celestia made her way down to where Twilight fell and the others fell. When they got to Twilight they saw her on the ground, quiet and still. “No,” Celestia whispered. Princess Celestia walked over to Twilight until she was standing over her.

Now I’m gonna make you watch, as you lose her forever.

“Get up Twilight, get up.” Twilight didn’t move and so Princess Celesita in tears yet again gently placed her head on Twilight’s stomach.

“This is all my fault, if I just listened to you when you came to me for help none of this would have happened. How could I have been so selfish? You’re my best friend and how did I repay you? By ignoring you and kicking you when you were down. You always had faith in me no matter what task I asked you to do, but the 1 time you needed me to faith in you I did nothing. I’m so sorry Twilight, oh Twilight I am so sorry.”

Everypony gathered around and the second she saw Discord, Princess Celestia stood up. “Discord, please help Twilight! You can do that, can you?! Please, I'm begging you!”

“You’re…begging me?” Discord asked.

Princess Celestia then got in a begging position. “Please,” she continued. “I’ll do anything. I’ll give you the Elements of Harmony, I’ll make you king of Equestria, I’ll bake you a cake. PLEASE! I DON’T WANT TO LOSE HER!”

Another awkward silence passed.

“I don’t want to lose you either,” a faint voice called out. Princess Celestia got up and turned around to see Twilight trying to stand but failing to do so.

“Twilight?” Celestia said with a smile but still crying a little. “But I thought you-”

“Doesn’t anypony know how to check a pulse?” Twilight tried harder to stand but fell. “Princess.”

“I’m here, I’m here,” Princess Celestia said as everypony gathered around her.

“Why didn’t you say anything before?” Applejack asked.

“That attack and the fall took a lot out of me.” Princess Celestia then gently picked up Twilight and after a pause gave her to Discord.

“Discord, please take her to my chambers. I know I’ve been asking a lot of you lately-”

“If it’s for Twilight I suppose I can do it,” Discord answered.

Discord then suddenly disappeared and Princess Celestia turned when she heard Pinkie Pie laughing. “I know it’s probably not the right time but.” Pinkie Pie then got into a pleading position. “I’m Princess Celestia. Please Discord, help me. I mean, overreact much your majesty?”

Princess Celestia tried to hide her blush but was failing to do so.

***

After helping Super Stallion get everypony home, Princess Celestia returned to her castle. There Twilight was placed in her bed who would spend the next few days nursing her back to health. She drew a bath for her and treated to the best cheesecake the royal chefs could offer.

“No,” Twilight said with her mouthful. “Please, I couldn’t eat another bite.”

“Are you sure?” Celestia asked as she was sitting by her bed that Twilight in.

“If I have 1 more piece of cheesecake, I’m gonna puke.”

“Alright, I just want to show how grateful I am. As well as how sorry I am for everything that happened. Not just with my words, but my actions.”

“You kind of did that when you begged Discord to help me.”

“Oh.” Celestia blushed again. “You heard that?”

“Yes.” Twilight then looked at Princess Celestia very seriously. “That stuff you said, about me being your best friend. Did you mean that?”

“Yes, I meant every word. And Twilight, I know I already said this, but I am so sorry.”

Twilight paused “It’s okay,” Twilight said and suddenly Celestia placed her hoof on Twilight cheek.

“No Twilight, it’s not okay. I almost lost you today. I nearly never got the chance to tell you how proud I was of you at the almost wedding."

"You were?"

"Yes, you persisted in the face of doubt and your actions lead to bringing the real Princess Cadance back to us. Learning to trust your instincts is a valuable lesson to learn. On top of that, you were so angry with me and your friends. But time and time again you put that anger away to help us. But we can talk about this later, you need rest."

“Princess," Twilight said. "Would you, sing me a lullaby? I know that sounds silly but I’ve had trouble sleeping and-” Twilight was cut off when her mentor placed another blanket on her.

“Fate has been cruel and order unkind, how could I have pushed you away. The blame was my own, the punishment yours. And now I will your company keep,” Celestia said as the surprisingly somber melody helped Twilight fall asleep. As Twilight fell asleep Celestia continued. “Twilight you’re loved so much more than you know. May trouble be far from your mind, and forgive me for being so blind,” Celestia continued to sing as she gently stroked Twilight’s mane who drifted off to sleep and found herself with Princess Luna within the dream realm once again.

"Princess Luna, I'm so glad I ran into you."

"Oh."

"Yes I wanted to say that I was sorry for the way I acted."

"It's quite alright Twilight, I forgive you. I understand how hard it can be to let your feelings out or release them. However, are there any other things troubling you?"

"Well a couple."

"I thought as much."

***

The next day Squeaky Clean was once again hard at work cleaning and also found the time to surprise Princess Celestia with a bouquet and saw Twilight off at the train. "I appreciate you coming just to say bye Squeaky. I know we don't talk all that much, but you're a good friend."

"Thanks Twilight, I feel the same way.” Twilight then hopped aboard the train and to Squeaky's surprise, he found Princess Celestia was seeing her off as well.

"My my Squeaky, you are quite diligent today. Cleaning, my flowers, and talking to Twilight. You're doing your job and extra, I think somepony is getting a raise soon."

"But I just got a raise."

"Your point being?"

Chapter 20 Villains United Part 1

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Discord was sitting in the middle of the Castle of the 2 Sisters watching Twilight and Princess Celestia through a portal.

"Are you kidding me?!" Twilight yelled at the princess after returning from the Crystal Empire. "You tell me that I and I alone have to be the one to restore the heart and all that, but when I tell you that it was Spike it's no big deal!"

"Well why is that a problem? It all worked out didn't it?"

"That's not the point! You tell me I have to rescue a whole kingdom like it's no big deal, do you have any idea how much pressure that is on my psyche?"

"Well first I don't have enough faith in you, now I have too much faith in you, what the heck do you want from me?"

"I want you to listen to me."

"I listen, Twilight."

"You didn’t when I had questions about this whole kingdom thing. You just shoved me out the door!" Discord then closed the portal as that was all he wanted to see for now.

"Twilight used to look up to her all the time because she was her hero. But now that has faded and she has seen more and more of her flaws. Is that what friendship is? A bond that slowly fades over time? Well perhaps there's more to it, some bonds seem to fade right away."

Discord then opened another portal showing how the CMC were being bullied by Apple Bloom's cousin Babs Seed. Babs had smashed the giant pumpkin the CMC were gonna use for a parade, taken their clubhouse, and was in the middle of kicking Apple Bloom out of her own bed.

"You can't do that, it's mah bed."

"Well it's mine now cutie mark crybaby," Babs retorted with tons of sass in her tone.

"Don't call me that, Babs!" Apple Bloom said.

"What are you gonna do about it, cutie mark crybaby?" Babs then started to push Apple Bloom. She tried to push her into the corner but Apple Bloom refused to back up.

"Cut it out right now!"

"What are you gonna do about it? Oh wait I already know, nothing, because you're just a cutie mark cryba-" Babs was suddenly cut off when Apple Bloom punched her. Babs then checked her face and saw that her nose was bleeding. Discord then closed the portal.

"Is there more to friendship than I think? If so then just what in Equestria am I missing?"

***

Super Stallion was flying around Equestria looking for 6 certain trouble makers. "Those 6 have got to be around here somewhere. They didn't just vanish into thin air, though if they did, it would certainly make my job a lot easier."
"HELP HELP!" A pony cried out that Super Stallion heard.

"WHAT IS THAT THING?" Another pony called out.

"Sounds like the ponies over there need a superhero." Super Stallion flew over to where he heard the screams which was in the middle of Manehattan. There he saw a large mechanical pony. "I bet I know who's in there controlling that mechanical monstrosity." Super Stallion then charged the robot to rip off the head but the robot dodged and fired a laser, Super Stallion was dead and forced through a building.

"If I'm gonna beat this thing, I better beat it fast." Super Stallion then flew straight at the giant robot pony and tore open the metal chest. He was a little surprised to see nopony inside controlling it, but at least he managed to stop the mad machine.

"Look, everypony Super Stallion stopped that thing," a pony that saw the superhero in action said. A small crowd then gathered and surrounded Super Stallion. Some prepared to ask for an autograph but suddenly the large pony robot started to move again.

"This isn't over Super Stallion,” the robot said. “It's just getting started, but if you think you can stop it now, come try to find me at the Badlands." The robot's head then fell to the ground and stopped functioning all together. While it sounded a little different coming out of the robot, Super Stallion still knew it was Dr. Arachnid. While his knowledge of all things comics told him this was a trap, he was sure he could handle any trap that the mad pony doctor had waiting for him.

***

Super Stallion arrived at the Badlands and saw a large area of plant life. “That’s new,” Super Stallion said as he landed near the plant life.

"All right mad doctor!" Super Stallion called out. "Come on out, I can handle anything that you can throw at me!"

"We'll see about that now won't we?" Dr. Arachnid out. But before Super Stallion could figure out where he was with his super hearing, he was attacked by plant roots that wrapped all around him. But he was able to quickly escape the roots with a mix of an ice spell and his super strength.

“Almost got him,” Pony Ivy said as he stepped into the open with Dr. Arachnid.

"When I saw the plant life all the way out here, I figured you were involved in 1 way or another Pony Ivy."

"Well aren't we the super detective," Dr. Arachnid said right before firing a laser gun. Super Stallion however was more than fast enough to dodge it but when he did he was struck by a lightning bolt that hit him dead on and made him fall to the ground.

"All right! Did you guys see that? I hit him dead on with the lightning bolt?" Weather Warper asked.

"Yes it was pretty hard not to notice," Dr. Arachnid said. Dr. Arachnid then fired his laser gun at Super Stallion several times but he still managed to get back up again. "I guess I shouldn't be surprised, 1 shot from my stun blaster would put a normal stallion down for about an hour. But if there's 1 thing you aren't, it's normal."

"You got that right. You 3 may have caught me off guard but that's not going to happen again." Super Stallion then flew at the 3 rouges, but the stun blaster slowed him down and they managed to dodge.

"Let's really let him have it now!" Weather Warper called out as she sent out another lightning bolt at Super Stallion while Pony Ivy summoned several large plant roots to whack at him while Dr. Arachnid fired his stun blaster. But this time Super Stallion blocked all the attacks with a barrier he summoned.

"My turn," Super Stallion said as he hit the plant area with a fire spell. It wasn't very strong but he knew it would distract Pony Ivy who quickly got to work putting it out. Super Stallion then flew straight at Dr. Arachnid and used a gust spell on Weather Warper to keep her at bay. He quickly grabbed the doc and pinned him against the edge of the closet cliff "Is this the part where Scar Flank, Emo Pony, and Gentleman Thief pop out to help you?"

"Not a bad idea, but we can't make our plan to finally take you down too obvious now can we?"

"Oh is that it? No plans on getting a bunch of bits or once again showing your beef with a pop singer of all ponies?" Super Stallion then used an ice spell to force Dr. Arachnid to stick to the cliff. "I think I'll take care of the other 2 while you stay here and cool off."

"Oh real clever. Must have taken you all of 2 seconds to come up with that one."

"What can I say? I love puns." Super Stallion then made his way back to the other 2.

"You aren't getting rid of me that easily my abnormal enemy." Dr. Arachnid then used a tiny but powerful flamethrower from 1 of his metal legs to get free.

Meanwhile Super Stallion grabbed Weather Warper who just got her balance back and threw her at Pony Ivy who finished putting out the fire. They nearly knocked each other out but managed to help each other up. Super Stallion charged at them but was hit again by the stun blaster and fell.

"He's adapted to this surprise of ours faster than I thought he would,” Dr. Arachnid said as he caught up to the others. “I think we should cut to the end of this plan," Dr. Arachnid said.

"Ahhg, I wanted to mess around with him more."

"Quit whining Weather Warper, you knew this was a possibility now let's get to it."

"Fine doc no need to get all bossy again."

"What do you mean again?!"

"Guys he's coming," Pony Ivy informed the other 2 as he charged at them but this time stomped on the ground to knock them down with a shockwave. The 3 all landed on their faces.

"Here's dirt in your eye," Super Stallion said.

"And here's smoke in yours," Dr. Arachnid yelled back as he threw a smoke bomb. Before he could get rid of it with a gust spell he felt something hit him right in the neck. "This is all for now Super Stallion, but we have much more in store for you." When the dust and smoke was cleared with a gust spell the 3 bad guys were gone.

***

After the fight Super Stallion made his way to the library in Ponyville to meet with the pony that lived there. "So why exactly did you tell me all this?" Twilight asked.

“Well, I wanted to talk to somepony. You and Spike are the only ones that know my secret, so I figure one of you would be a good choice. If all 6 are working together, it could spell trouble.”

“I see, well if I notice anything unusual, I’ll give you a call.”

"Thanks Twilight." Super Stallion then flew out and after he left Discord suddenly appeared in the library causing Twilight to let out a scream.

"Discord! Would it kill you to just use the door?"

"Maybe, I'm not going to stay long, I'm just here to give you a little gift."

"A gift? I don't suppose-"

"No it's not a book." Discord then bent down to and offered his paw and suddenly a small magic particle appeared hovering just over it.

"What is it?"

"It's magic, my magic. A small piece of the wonder that is chaos magic. You see I was wondering more about friendship and started asking myself, is friendship just 2 or more ponies getting closer to one another because of something interesting? Would Twilight have formed a closer bond with me if she was more interested in chaos magic? And how could she not be more interested in chaos magic I mean it's chaos magic for crying out loud!? So then I thought hmm, actually that might work if I gave you some of my chaos magic that might help us get closer."

"Okay, but what am I supposed to do with it?"

"Whatever you want."

"Okay but what if I don't want it?"

"Too bad." Discord then put his paw on Twilight's head and the small burst of chaos magic went through her body like static electricity. "Try it out and see if you like it, I'm sure you will." And with that Discord vanished to continue to wonder about the subtle nuances of friendship.

***

The next day Super Stallion was on patrol when yet again he heard screaming from Manehattan. And once again saw a large pony robot attacking the city. "How could Arachnid repair that thing so fast?" Super Stallion then charged, planning to take it down like he did last time. However the robot horse fired a beam from its mouth that hit Super Stallion dead on and made him drop like a rock. "That's a new trick," Super Stallion said as he tried to get back up but had trouble doing so.
"Oh no Super Stallion is down," a pony called out.

Suddenly the robot horse stomped on Super Stallion and continued to do so until Super Stallion was able to move again and forced it off of him. "I took you down once I can do it again." Super Stallion then flew straight at the metal horse dodging the beams it shot out and gave it the mother of all uppercuts making it flip a whopping 5 times before even hitting the ground. When it did Super Stallion didn't even give it a chance to counter attack and stomp right on its back then tore off all its limbs and the head. "Well that wasn't so hard, in fact it might have even been easier than last time."

"Way to go Super Stallion," one of the ponies that watched him defeat the robot called out. Just then Super Stallion then heard other screams not too far and flew over there to see what was the matter. When he got there he saw several ponies running all over the place. If they weren't attacking places they were attacking other ponies. So Super Stallion got straight to work rounding them up and encased them in a magic bubble so they wouldn't cause more damage. Suddenly several spheres flew in Super Stallion's direction but he prevented all of them from hitting him by surrounding himself in a magic bubble as well.

"Well it seems your abilities have not dwindled," Gentleman Thief said as he flew through a building. On top of the building he flew through was Emo Pony.

"I had a feeling that you were the one behind this Emo Pony," Super Stallion said as he faced his 2 foes.

"Some special spheres of mine I've been working on. Too bad I couldn't land a hit on you though." Suddenly Scar Flank teleported on the roof as well.

"Another 3 members of my rogues gallery working together. Were you 3 stooges, the ones that put that metal horse back together?"

"Wouldn't you like to know," Scar Flank responded.

"Yeah that's why I asked."

"Well we can't make what we're planning too obvious now can we?"

"All right then Scar Flank. If you don't want to talk I'll just make you talk." Super Stallion then hit the 3 with a blizzard spell that put snow all over the rooftop, planning on freezing the 3 villains on the spot. Gentleman Thief though was able to get away from the cold by going through the roof.

"Super Stallion's cutting to the chase with a cold spell I must attempt to counteract that to the best of my abilities." Gentleman Thief then flew through the building walls and then around the snow quickly collecting it and transforming it into a large cloud that he pushed into the air.

"So much for literally stopping those 3 cold." Super Stallion then flew around the rooftop much to the confusion of the 3 villains.

"What in Equestria is he doing now?" Emo Pony asked as he got back up.

"I don't know but after almost getting turned into a pony sized popsicle, I'm almost afraid to think about his next plan," Scar Flank answered.

"Fear not, my comrades. Stick to the battle plan and in due time we will be victorious," Gentleman Thief said to Scar Flank and Emo Pony, acting ready for anything our hero can cook up.

"You don’t think he’s gonna try a fire spell now do you?” Emo Pony asked when suddenly the 3 were quickly pulled up as it turned out that Super Stallion was making a small yet strong tornado. "Never mind."

"Geez he's really going all out from the start isn't he?"

"I would wager that's a safe gamble my comrade."

"Guys I'm not really one for thinking on my hooves, what do we do, what do we do?"

"Maybe you'd be better at it if you stood on all 4 like everypony else," Scar Flank retorted. Suddenly Emo Pony concentrated his magic and suddenly let out a large burst of magic that actually managed to break the tornado. Not only that, the burst forced Super Stallion back and allowed the 3 to get back on the rooftop.

"I guess I'm better at adapting than I thought."

"He's stronger than I remember," Scar Flank said.

"Ah actually I don't think any of us have fought this guy before, at least not directly."

"We will most likely need to collect reinforcements if we wish to be victorious."

"Don't worry I already got back up, in fact it's already here." As Super Stallion had finally shaken off the dizzy feeling, Scar Flank fired a spell straight up and suddenly Super Stallion was hit by a dozen spells from all around him.

Scar Flank had gathered a large group of ponies that wanted to join the villains and placed them around the area a while before Super Stallion arrived to lay in wait. The surprise attack worked like a charm but Super Stallion surrounded himself in a barrier once again and he looked in all the directions the spells were coming from. After a minute Super Stallion removed the barrier and quick as a flash launched powerful stun spells at all the goons and hit every one of them.

"That takes care of your back up," Super Stallion said before he turned to blast Emo Pony, Scar Flank, and Gentleman Thief.

"There's no way you got every single one of them," Scar Flank said before summoning a barrier around him and his 2 comrades. However Super Stallion was able to blast through it with ease and managed to stun all three of them.

"Way.” Super Stallion was set to wrap them all up and take them to the closet authorities when suddenly.

"HELP! HELP!" Super Stallion heard a call for help. He wanted to wait until he fully restrained the villains but it sounded like somepony was in dire peril.

"Those stun spells should last for a good while." Super Stallion then took off to find who was calling for help and found and found it was the pony that had seen him fight the robot horse both times trapped under rubble.

"What happened?"

"HELP ME I'M GETTING CRUSHED!" Super Stallion then used magic to teleport all of the rubble off the pony as well as a healing spell. However for some reason the pony didn't have a single injury. "Thank you. Did you stop all those bad guys that were attacking you."

"I actually need to get to finishing that. You luckily don't have any injuries so you can go home if you want." Super Stallion then flew to where he left the villains but they were nowhere to be found. "What the, where are they? The spells couldn't have worn off already?" Super Stallion then looked at all the places where the other ponies were but they were gone too.

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME! THIS HAPPENED AGAIN? It's like somepony is…messing with me." Super Stallion then flew off and headed for Ponyville.

***

Twilight was at the library peacefully reading one of the many books and had just finished a sandwich when suddenly Super Stallion flew straight into the library and utterly terrifying her. "WHERE IS HE?"

"Where's who?" Twilight asked as she was behind a barrier that she instinctively put around her "Super Stallion, what are you trying to do scare me into a coma or something?"

"Sorry Twilight I guess I got a little ahead of myself."

"You guess? A little? I finally finished reading all the new books that I got from Princess Celestia and decided to relax with a good book and you barge in like a maniac."

"Wait, you read a book when you finish reading a bunch of books?"

"I like books," Twilight said as she dispelled the barrier.

"Okay, let me try again. I'm looking for Discord."

"Why? Also why do you think that I know where he is?"

"Honestly I think he's kind of obsessed with you."

"What in Equestria makes you think that?"

"Yeah," Discord mentioned as he was getting some food out of a refrigerator that vanished when he closed it. "I mean just because I'm always spying on her and gave her some of my chaos magic-"

"Wait, he gave you chaos magic?!"

"Yeah but it was only a little bit of it. By the way, I made you a sandwich." Discord then placed the sandwich right next to Twilight who actually took a bite from it right away as it looked very delicious.

"Twilight what are you doing? That could be poisonous!" Super Stallion then took the sandwich but Twilight had already finished shallowing the bite she took.

"Well I don't feel poisoned."

"Oh please, why in Equestria would I try to poison Twilight Sparkle?"

"Well if she dies then the Elements of Harmony can't be used to stop you."

"Unless you do that annoying deus ex machina thing where you absorb their magic."

"Oh right, that's actually a good point."

"So what are you doing here exactly?"

"I finally figured out what you've been doing!" Super Stallion answered as he floated over to Discord face to face.

"Making sandwiches?"

"No, you're the one that's been helping the villains!"

"I have?"

"Super Stallion, what are you talking about?" Twilight asked.

"Remember when I told you how those 3 bad guys I was fighting in the Badlands just disappeared without a trace?"

"Yes."

"Well something similar happened today and I finally figured out how they did it!"

"I helped them?" Super Stallion then got more in Discord's face.

"You admit it!"

"I admit to being a good guesser," Discord said he forced Super Stallion to back off with a brick wall that appeared between them. "Besides I helped those villains, the ones I'm assuming you're talking about, when I was finally free from my uncomfortable stone prison and how did they thank me? They betrayed me too, helped the flying pretty boy here."

"You were gonna fill Equestria with nonstop chaos nopony would go along with that," Twilight said, having finished the sandwich when suddenly Discord lifted her up with his tail.

"Not helping Twilight," Discord said. "We need to talk a few things out Super Stallion so you're gonna have to figure out what's going on with your rogues gallery on your own."

Suddenly Discord teleported to the Castle of the 2 Sisters and brought Twilight with him. "Discord when you want to make friends with ponies generally, you do not, ponynap them!"

"Well I'll just add that to the list of all the other things that I don't understand about friendship."

"Why did you bring me here, to tell you more about friendship?"

"Not quite, you see Twilight I feel like perhaps I haven't been forward enough with you."

"What are you talking about?"

"The fact that you don't know is kind of my point. You see Twilight. I want an apprentice, somepony to show the glorious beauty that is chaos magic. I want a student."

"Me?"

"No Pinkie Pie of course you!"

"Well, the thing is, I already have a teacher."

"Oh please, what exactly can sunbutt teach you that I can't?" Discord asked as he began to sit in midair.

"Friendship," Twilight answered rather bluntly.

"Seems like you're the one that has the high ground on that now."

"She's made a few mistakes-"

"That seem to be stockpiling rather quickly." Twilight then let out a huff not wanting to get mad so she decided to settle for what she figured was the easy way out.

"Okay look, I'll get to the chaos magic you gave me later."

"I suppose that will do for now."

"Okay but first can you take me back to the library, Super Stallion may need help.”

"Oh please I'm sure he can handle whatever those 6 have planned. Or is it 7 I lost count, anyway if you really want to talk to him just catch him on his next shift at the castle."

"Wait what?" Discord snapped his fingers and brought her back to the library and there Super Stallion was nowhere in sight. "Did Discord just, 1 problem at a time."

***

Super Stallion flew around Canterlot and was shocked to see a troublesome foe yet again, Dr. Arachnid's robot. "You have got to be kidding me!" Elsewhere in Canterlot Sapphire Shores had just finished helping out with a charity event and had heard of a large metal pony attacking the other side of the city.

"This has his name all over it," Sapphire Shores said to herself. "Is he gonna use that thing to come after me? He can't keep doing this, he has to get on with his li-" Sapphire was cut off when she was bound and gagged once again by Dr. Arachnid.

"I don't need my invention to come after you, I can do that all on my own." Meanwhile Super Stallion had just finished defeating the robot yet again and flew straight up into the air carrying the robot.

"This time when I brake you stay broken!" Super Stallion then spun around and tossed the giant robot right into the sun. "That should take care of it once and for all, I mean unless he builds another one but one problem at a time." Super Stallion then lowered himself down starting to feel rather tired and a bit uneasy. "Wow I guess throwing a giant robot all the way into the sun took more out of me then I thought it would."

Super Stallion then made his way to the castle to talk to Princess Celestia about where Discord might have taken Twilight, but she was having problems of her own with large plant roots crawling on the castle.

"Princess Celestia the roots are beginning to spread all over the castle," a member of the royal guard said to her who, while trying not to panic, was on the verge of panicking.

"Don't worry I know just the pony I can call." Princess Celestia then made her way to the Super Stallion Signal and to her surprise the second she turned it on, Super Stallion showed up. "My my that's fast even for you."

"I was actually on my way to see you because Twilight might be in danger."

"What? What happened?" Princess Celestia asked.

"She was ponynapped by Discord."

"Oh," Princess Celestia said, not as worried as she was before.

"Oh? Is that all you can say?"

"While Discord still gets under my skin, he’s made an effort to redeem himself. So I don't think he's going to do anything too bad to her. Plus between you and me I think he's obsessed with her. But in the meantime, my castle seems to be having a serious weed problem.

Super Stallion noticed the giant roots and wondered why he didn't see them before. "Well it looks like Pony Ivy is up to his old tricks again, trying to make an overgrown garden." Super Stallion then flew off to deal with the roots but Princess Celestia would have to deal with a couple other issues real soon.

***

Super Stallion made short work of the roots almost as if the roots were barely trying and the guards managed to help out as well. "Well that takes care of that.” Suddenly Super Stallion fell to the ground as if he was completely drained of his energy. Several guards saw what happened and went over there to help him up.
"Super Stallion, are you okay?"

"Yeah I'm alright, I guess I've been pushing myself a little too hard then I should," Super Stallion answered as he was able to get himself up.

"The princesses are gone!" Another guard running to Super Stallion said.

"What?" Super Stallion asked shocked as much as the guards that were with him.

"Both Princess Celestia and Princess Luna were captured by a small group of ponies that managed to break into the castle. We tried to rescue them, but they were too tough. When we were pushed back they told us they'd exchange the princesses' freedom for all the bits in the royal treasury." The guard then stopped to take a breath that he desperately needed. "Super Stallion, you have to do something."

"Don't worry I will." Super Stallion then flew up to find the princesses and the ones that took them.

***

"Don't you think we could have asked for more than all the bits in the royal treasury since we managed to grab both the princesses?" Scar Flank asked as he was sitting around with Emo Pony, Gentleman Thief, and Weather Warper.
"It should be more than enough for me," Emo Pony said as he was organizing some of his spheres. "With the ransom I can finally get the bits I need to extend my research."

"Hey watch it Emo," Weather Warper said as he almost dropped a sphere right in her lap. "Who knows what'll happen to me if your balls fall on me."

Scar Flank laughed.

"Sorry," Emo Pony said.

"With the entirety of the treasury in our possession it will be most beneficial for all of us."

"Yeah, though, are you sure we won't have to worry about the princesses getting free?" Weather Warper asked.

"Yes you do!" Super Stallion said as he bursted in. "I've put up with a ton of stuff from you 6, especially lately, but now you've gone too far. Let the princesses go, we can do this the easy way or-"

"Hard way!" Weather Warper interrupted as she hit Super Stallion spot on with a bolt of lightning. Super Stallion tried to dodge it but it felt like he had lead straps all over.

"I figured you'd say that but I wanted to give you the choice anyway," Super Stallion said as he got up. Pony Ivy, Weather Warper, Scar Flank then joined in. Pony Ivy tossed him around and hit against the floor and walls with more giant roots as well as slapped him around with them. Weather Warper blasted him with forces of nature while Scar Flank blasted him with a variety of spells.

"All right, you 3 gangway!" Emo Pony called out and the others moved and Super Stallion was hit with a special sphere. "All right, got him! Now Super Stallion you are under my control, surrender!"

"Not happening. I heard about the sphere you used to control Star Swirl the Bearded and I took precautions in case you got me with one of those. I managed to find a special spell that can protect my mind from how do I put it? Outside influences."

"What? Wait then why did you dodge the other ones I threw at you before?"

"Instinctive," Super Stallion answered.

"Oh that makes sense."

"Try some more of those spheres, maybe then it'll work!" Weather Warper called out.

"I can't, that was the last one I had to use all the others on the guards."

"Then we just restrain him ourselves," Weather Warper said as she charged over to Super Stallion. Pony Ivy and Scar Flank prepared to back her up but Super Stallion anticipated this and hit all 3 of them in the gut before they even knew what hit them.

"3 down 3 to go." Super Stallion then made his way over to Emo Pony but before he could hit him Super Stallion fell down. "Why am I having these energy crashes lately?"

"Well it appears the germ warfare section of our major operation has been successful after all."

"Meaning what exactly?"

"You’ve been poisoned," Dr. Arachnid explained after arriving and placing Sapphire Shores in the corner.

"Lucky me!" Emo Pony cried out.

"What are you talking about poison?" Super Stallion asked, finding it harder than before to get up.

"Back when I was helping Arachnid and Warper fight you in the Badlands I got you in the neck with something before we escaped," Pony Ivy said as he along with Scar Flank and Emo Pony got back up thanks to Scar Flank healing spell "A small piece of concentrated poison. Looks like it finally took effect.”

"I'm not down yet!" Super Stallion used all his energy to pick himself up and attack but before he could a familiar looking aura wrapped around Super Stallion. Suddenly he was spun around and was slammed into the floor so hard it broke. He was then pulled up and slammed into a wall and the aura was released forcing him to roll on the floor.

"Oh by the way have you met our new member," Dr. Arachnid said as Prank Master then jumped down, stood on her right foreleg and did a flip landing on all four legs.

"Howdy howdy howdy!"

"Ah geez, not this nut ball too."

"Yes this nut ball too," Dr. Arachnid said. "The poison doesn't seem to be kicking in that much so let's give it a little help." Super Stallion was then hit by stun spells from 20 unicorns that recently entered the room. But Super Stallion shielded himself and then quickly made the shield into a small magic explosion causing it to hit nearly everypony in the room. Sapphire Shores was saved from getting it but the 20 surprise attackers were not.

"You can't take me down that easily," Super Stallion said.

"Help me help me please!" Super Stallion then looked up and saw the same pony that he got out of the rubble was on the next floor and on the ground seemingly hurt.

"You again," Super Stallion said when he flew through the recently made hole. "What are you doing here?"

"I was forced to come here because of that pony." Super Stallion turned around expecting yet another pony to fight but suddenly was blasted in the back. The pony he tried to help flew Super Stallion to the villains who gathered together.

"Introducing," Prank Master said before taking a small pause. "The royal party of this here get together, crystal ballis."

"My name is Chrysalis," she said as she transformed, showing her real form.

"I know that's just a nickname I made for you just like arachnophobia over there."

"Never call me that again," Dr. Arachnid said. "Pony Ivy I think now's the time to wrap things up." Pony Ivy then followed Arachnid's order and Super Stallion was wrapped in the giant roots and couldn't break free because of the poison and the beatdown. "Good and don't even think about trying to escape. We wouldn't want anything bad to happen to the pony of pop now do we?" Sapphire Shores then strangled to get the gag off and after a while she did.

"Don't listen to him Super Stallion fight, he's bluffing!"

"No pony asked you!" Dr. Arachnid said as he approached her to tie the gag back on.

"He wouldn't hurt his own," Sapphire stopped for a second and so did Arachnid wondering if she was going to finish and just when he was sure she'd keep quiet. "Sister."

Chapter 21 Villains United Part 2

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"What did she just say?" Scar Flank said just as surprised as anypony else in the room with the exception of Dr. Arachnid. "She's your sister?!"

"Yes. My twin sister," Dr. Arachnid answered rather coldly.

"Huh, you know those 2 actually do look a lot alike," Prank Master said.

"I just kinda figured that you were an obsessive fan or somepony she used to date until she dumped you," Weather Warper said. "So this really begs the question why in Equestria do you want revenge on your own sister?"

"All right fine you want to know I'll let you. We were very young and around the same age-"

"Uh your twins so isn't it already implied that you're around the same age?" Pony Ivy asked.

"LET ME FINISH!" Dr. Arachnid yelled.

"He doesn't like to be interrupted," Emo Pony said.

"Or corrected," Sapphire Shores whispered to herself remembering that was a habit he had way back when she and him were very young.

"As I was saying when we were both young around the same age or rather time I guess is a better word when we got our cutie marks. Her talent became singing and music in general while I found my talent in inventing things."

"Makes sense," Weather Warper whispered to Gentleman Thief.

"I was one of the smartest ponies around but no matter what I did she always got the attention. No matter how hard I tried I could never get ponies to notice me, not when she was involved. She always had the spotlight. Even our parents always treated her like the golden child."

"That wasn't true," Sapphire said, trying to reason with her brother.

"Oh no, Ruby don't stay in your room all day go outside and play like Sapphire. Ruby, why can't you make friends at school like Sapphire. Ruby why can't you just be more like your sister SAPPHIRE!"

His name is Ruby, Super Stallion thought to himself.

"I devoted just about all I was to proving myself through scientific study. That's where I got the idea for these metallic spider legs, so I could work much faster as well as give it to the disabled. But 1 night, I was working insanely hard, pushing myself in a small lab that I managed to set up in an abandoned warehouse. I was working with a dangerously explosive chemical and I hadn’t slept in days and was getting sloppy. So I screwed up resulting in a big explosion, that's why this metal thing is stuck on my back. And despite my long hospital stay I never got any visitors because during that time a certain somepony started another musical tour. Coincidence, I think bot!"

"Ruby please-"

"Don't call me that!" Dr. Arachnid said as he approached his sister who was still struggling to get free in the corner. "Even before my accident you and I were never close. You barely talked to me after you discovered your talent. 1 time when we were teens you pulled a knife on me after you broke an invention in front of your friends. I was working on it for weeks." Dr. Arachnid then made a knife come out of one of his metallic legs. "You swung it around like it was a toy."

"I wasn't really going to use it," Sapphire said. "I broke your invention by mistake. I just wanted to move it off the table and it slipped out of my hooves. I tried to explain but you were screaming at me and embarrassing me in front of my friends. I pulled it out to get you to back off. I wasn't really going to use it. You were acting like such a brat I just wanted to scare you." Dr. Arachnid then lunged the knife at his sister, making her scream and shocking everypony in the room. But he stabbed next to her.

"It worked!" Dr. Arachnid then pulled back the knife very satisfied with giving her a taste of her own medicine and then
placed the gag back on. "This gag stays on, got it." Sapphire then nodded her head and Dr. Arachnid approached Super Stallion. "And now the moment we've all been waiting for, the true identity of Super Stallion." All the villains gathered but when Dr. Arachnid tried to pull off what he thought was his mask nothing happened.

"Ow! Ow! What are you trying to do? Pull my face off? Well I got news for you you can't it's on too tight."

"It's not coming off," Scar Flank said, shocked.

"It's not a mask?" Dr. Arachnid said as he backed up confused. "This can't be, it has to be a mask." The villains couldn't believe it.

Thank goodness they don't know how the sphere works, but I need to figure out how to get these roots off me and stop them before they really start making trouble.

"I know maybe there's a zipper on his back or something like it's a whole costume," Prank Master said.

"Oh yeah right like it's something he just puts on and suddenly it makes him a superhero how is that anyway realistic?" Dr. Arachnid asked.

"About as realistic as a flying earth pony." After Prank Master made her good point Gentleman Thief approached them.

"Now now my fellow comrades, it would be best not to battle among ourselves. We still have several matters to deal with at the moment."

"He's right, we need to make sure the royal guard can't break through before we get our ransom. Eyes on the bits everypony!"

"Are you sure the princesses won't be able to escape?" Emo Pony asked Prank Master who was the one that managed to capture both of them.

"Oh yeah don't worry I used the best equipment and magic to make sure those 2 stay put." Princess Celestia who was not too far away was on the next floor struggling to get free but it was no use. Prank Master snuck up on her and hit her with a strange black liquid twice. The 1st hit got her wings and forelegs while the 2nd got her back legs. Prank Master then jumped on the princess to put on a magic canceling collar and a gag then teleported her away.

"You're absolutely sure about it?" Pony Ivy asked.

"Trust me, Orchard Blossom. That magic canceling collar and my special rubber glue will make extra sure she stays put." Not too far away Princess Celestia was able to overhear.

Rubber? Of course, no wonder I can't get free when I try to break this black goo, it just stretches out. At least Luna isn't in an uncomfortable position as I am. Princess Celestia then looked over to her sister who was still sleeping. Prank Master made her way to Princess Luna first who was still taking a nap so she cast a spell on her to make sure she would stay asleep. For good measure she also put a sound proof bubble around her bed and teleported the whole thing to where the other villains were. With my sister and I as well as Super Stallion unable to help I can only hope that you are able to somehow learn about all this and help us, Twilight.

The large group Scar Flank had brought over were doing an excellent job making sure that no guards were able to slip by and try to rescue the princesses. Emo Pony was keeping an eye on Super Stallion while also making a couple more of his spheres in case he'd have to use them. "A couple more of these and I think we can put anypony that tries to come at us at bay. Though that would be a lot easier if my special sphere worked on you."

"Oh boo hoo for you," Super Stallion said, still unable to get free. "I feel so sorry for the stallion that tried to brainwash me."

"Well it's nice to know that you still have your sense of humor even in an utterly hopeless situation," Emo Pony said.

"Utterly hopeless? Now who's the one with the sense of humor? I've beaten you all before and I can do it again."

"As I recall you only stopped me with help from Princess Celestia and Captain Stone Wall, now the former is our prisoner and the latter is gone. You also needed help to stop Pony Ivy from what he told us as.”

“Plus you never actually stopped me,” Scar Flank said. “You just stopped my robbery at the bank.”

"You may have stopped us on our own, but together we’ve managed to stand our ground. Face the fact, you failed."

"If I can take down the spirit of chaos and disharmony I can stop little more than half a dozen ponies and 1 changeling."

"That's the queen of the changelings to you!" Chrysalis said as she flew right in Super Stallion's face. "And once my business here is done I shall be returning to my hive and I'll be getting back at the ponies that wronged me." Chrysalis then made her way to a nearby window to look for any guards getting too close.

"I guess I can understand Prank Master because she's a hoof full all on her own, but why did you get her involved?"

"She's a changeling, you can't see how that could help us out in a few scenarios?" Emo Pony asked.

"That's not what I mean. What do you think she's going to do when she's done helping you?"

"Well, I guess she's going to return to all the other changelings back wherever they live like she said she would."

"Yeah, where she'll probably plan another invasion on Equestria. What exactly is stopping her from doing that again when she returns?" Emo Pony said nothing but made his way over to the others.

"Hey uh Super Stallion just made a good point that I feel like I should share. When Queen Chrysalis returns to the other changelings, what if she leads another attack? It'll kind of be our fault since we were the ones that got her out of prison."

"So what?" Scar Flank asked. "Since when did you start caring about Equestria?"

"Well it's just that I mean, we kinda helped Discord get free and he almost made Equestria a land of utter randomness. So if the changelings succeed or almost succeed in taking over that's kinda going to be on us as well."

"Well if you ask me Equestria could learn to toughen up a little more," Scar Flank responded again. "Actually a lot more and if it has to deal with an invasion or a chaos makeover once in a while fine. It makes no difference to me."

"Though it would be quite the thrill to help fight off an entire invading army," Weather Warper said as she was relaxing on a small cloud she made while they were waiting for the guards to empty out the treasury.

"HEY CHRYSALIS DO CHANGELINGS EAT PLANTS!" Pony Ivy yelled out.

"No, we feed off the emotions of other creatures."

"An invasion is fine by me," Pony Ivy said as he walked off to spread a couple more giant roots.

"Ah my comrades, perhaps we are having trouble visualizing the full picture of a most likely circumstance to come."

"Oh please Gentleman Thief Equestria doesn't care about us so why should we care about it?" Dr. Arachnid asked.

"Uh what do you think Prank Master?" Emo Pony asked.

"Pudding," she quickly answered.

"I beg your pardon."

"I think about pudding. Like a lot I've got pudding on the head I'm like that one pony whose name I can't quite recall."

"Okay," Emo Pony awkwardly replied.

"Yeah I don't know what fried her brain but whatever it was it fried it real good," Super Stallion said. "Listen you all may have some issues with Equestria but it's still your home. Your country."

"For most of us anyway," Queen Chrysalis whispered to herself.

"Oh so you're saying that we should respect our surroundings," Pony Ivy jumped in. "That's coming from the Super Stallion that tried to burn down all the wonderful plants I made in the Badlands."

"It was just a little fire. I only wanted to distract you. I didn't want to burn them, I actually thought they looked nice."

"You did?" Pony Ivy asked, touched.

"Yes I can tell you worked really hard making all those."

"Ah geez thanks I do take pride in my work even before my…environmental makeover I cared a lot about the environment."

"Speaking of which I've been wondering what the whole deal with that is," Super Stallion said.

"Oh well actually it's kind of a funny story, I was experimenting with plants trying to help them grow faster and I made a formula that I thought could not only help plants but ponies as well and when I tried it on myself well, this happened."

"And the cape?" Super Stallion asked.

"When I transformed I became more plant-like and made that cape to help me absorb sunlight better. Have you ever felt like making something?"

"WILL YOU STOP HAVING A CASUAL CONVERSATION WITH THE ENEMY!" Dr. Arachnid yelled out.

"You know you've been getting really bossy ever since we all started working together," Weather Warper said after coming off her cloud.

"Somepony has to make sure you all don't screw up."

"And what makes you think you're the most qualified to lead us," Scar Flank said, getting in Dr. Arachnid's face. "This entire thing wasn't all your plan!"

"It wasn't all your idea either!" Dr. Arachnid retorted, pushing Scar Flank back a little.

"Yeah it was Gentleman Thief, he's the mastermind," Pony Ivy said, starting to get in the fight as well.

"Not exactly my plant loving comrade you all thought excellent plans with minor flaws. I simply suggested that we combined all of yours as a means of formulating a plan that would lead to defeating Super Stallion, and as you can all see it went swimmingly."

"I guess he's right in the end we won and that's all that matters," Weather Warper said. "That and deciding to put me in charge."

"You!" Dr. Arachnid said, almost laughing. "Just what makes you think that you can lead us!"

"He's right you're easily the most reckless out of all of us," Emo Pony joined in. "Except maybe Prank Master."

"Don't worry I found the pudding." Weather Warper then got in Emo Pony's face making him fall down from the surprise.

"How about I shove those spheres right down your throat!?"

"QUIET!" Chrysalis said, getting the attention of the others as she stomped down right in front of all of them. "If you all don't cease your worthless bickering so help me-"

"Um in all fairness not all of us were participating in such behavior so-"

"I said QUIET!" Chrysalis interrupted Gentleman Thief. "If you want to fight among yourselves, save it for later. Until then knock it off so I can hear myself think." Chrysalis then went back to the window as she rubbed her head a little bit.

These bad guys sure get distracted easily, Super Stallion thought to himself. That gives me an idea.

***

"We can't really just give all these bits to those criminals can we Captain Armor?" A guard asked as they were emptying the royal treasury.

"I don't think we have a choice.”

"I don't know captain," the 2nd guard there said. "I mean if Stone Wall was here-"

"Stone Wall isn't here!" Shining Armor interrupted angrily.

"I wish your hot sister was here she could think of something," the 3rd guard said

"What?"

"Your smart sister! She's so smart she could think up a plan because she's so smart!" The 3rd guard quickly responded rather embarrassedly.

"Right, well sad to say but I doubt even Twily can think up what to do about all this."

"Don't count me out just yet," Twilight said, getting the attention of all the guards.

"Twily! What are you doing here?" Shining Armor asked surprised and concerned at the same time.

“I came to visit the princess and heard about everything.”

"You gotta get out of here, it's dangerous."

"Not just yet, I have an idea. And if you all help it'll be all the more guaranteed to work."

"Really!" The 3 guards behind Shining Armor said in unison but Shining Armor himself said nothing.

"Twily this is serious, this isn't just some test that you can retake if you fail."

"I did play a major part in saving the Crystal Empire and your almost wedding, give me some credit. Speaking of which, weren't you and Cadance put in charge there, why are you here?"

"Well Princess Celestia wants me to stay here until she can find another new captain of the royal guard."

"So what exactly is your plan, Twilight?" The 2nd guard.

"I'll explain on the way, follow me," Twilight answered and then ran off with her brother close behind.

"Twilight don't run off!" Shining Armor ordered as he quickly ran behind with the 3 guards right behind him.

His sister is so hot, the 2nd guard thought as he kept running.

***

Queen Chrysalis was still looking out the window when suddenly Prank Master approached her and tapped her shoulder. When she looked at Prank Master she was surprised to see that she had the tiny crown Chrysalis always wore. "When did you?" Chrysalis stopped when she felt her head and the crown was still there.

"When is a rather appropriate word, why don't you ask her?" Prank Master pointed to Prank Master which utterly shocked Chrysalis.

"Are you one of my changelings?"

"Nope, go on and ask me what I'm doing." Chrysalis then approached the other Prank Master who was tinkering with something.

"Um, what are you doing?"

"I'm working on a time portal, a portable time portal, a portable portal."

"Did you just say a time portal?"

"Yes, do you think you can help me with something?"

"I think I may have already done just that." By this time the other bad guys had noticed that there were 2 Prank Masters and greatly wondered how in Equestria they did not notice such a thing before.

"Did she duplicate herself?" Weather Warper asked.

"Uh, is that a thing unicorns can do?" Dr. Arachnid asked, turning towards Scar Flank.

"Not usually," he retorted. "I mean it's been done but not just every unicorn can do that."

"Though there is this legend I heard a while ago about a magic pool that can create copies of those that say this special chant," Emo Pony said.

"Can I borrow that cute little crown of yours? If this goes well you'll get it back before you even give it to me." Chrysalis then gave Prank Master the tiny crown and she backed up a bit to get ready to use her latest toy. "I really hope this works."

"Don't worry it will," Prank Master said to Prank Master.

"Oh that's good to know thanks," Prank Master said back to Prank Master.

"You're welcome now hurry up and quit talking to yourself." After both Prank Masters laughed, the past one prepared to leap through time but not too far.

"I can't wait to tell myself that one," Prank Master said as she suddenly disappeared and the villains as well as Super Stallion and Sapphire Shores were greatly surprised.

"Wait, where did she go?" Weather Warper asked.

"Right here! I made it through time. I was a little nervous but I was able to let myself know it would go great."

"You can go back in time! Unbelievable, can you bring others with you?" Scar Flank asked, already thinking about the possibilities he could do with something like that.

"How were you able to make something like that?" Dr. Arachnid asked and soon the others gathered around Prank Master who rather liked the attention wanting to know more and more about what recently happened.

All right time they’re distracted, time to get a move on, Super Stallion thought as he summoned up some energy to make a big blizzard spell.

"Did it get colder in here?" Prank Master asked. Suddenly the other villains noticed it was getting much colder as well and before they knew it it felt like they were in subzero temperature. "Yeah I'm pretty sure it got colder in here."

"It's Super Stallion!" Pony Ivy called out. "Weather Warper quick, do something he's trying to freeze my roots and get free!"

"More than that, hey Prank Master, how are you on riddles?"

"Uh, not very good but I'll try to solve it. What ya got?"

"I do, what happens when you freeze rubber?"

"Oh wait I know this one though that's not much of a riddle. When rubber is frozen, it loses…its flexibility…uh oh."

With the general temperature lowered the rubber glue that kept Princess Celestia trapped froze stiff and she was able to finally break free. After removing the magic canceling collar right off she flew straight at all the villains who conveniently gathered together while charging up her magic for a spell.

"Uh oh, again," Prank Master said before she and the other rogues were blasted by a powerful beam of magic that shattered them around the room.

"Wow you sent them flying in different directions, nice work."

"Ah whs gumma sm te ang." Princess Celestia then realized she forgot to remove her gag. "I was gonna say the same thing to you. That was clever thinking using that spell to free us both."

"Unfortunately that was all I could do to help me. I've been poisoned." Before Princess Celestia could respond the villains all got back up and some of the goons showed up as well thinking they should help. Suddenly Sapphire Shores, still bound and gagged and Princess Luna still asleep in her bed, were teleported right next to Princess Celestia. "Get them out of here while you can then they won't have any hostages."

"What about you?"

"Somepony has to make sure they don't cause any more trouble at the castle. I'll hold them off with what little energy I have left."

"I'm not leaving you behind," Princess Celestia responded sternly.

"Well isn't that noble," Scar Flank said in a mocking tone. "Just makes it easy for us to capture all of you before any of you are able to escape."

"Don't count me out just yet and don't count my sister out either." Princess Celestia then popped the sound proof magic bubble around Princess Luna's bed.

"Don't bother," Prank Master called out. "I used a special spell that makes sure she'll stay asleep."

"Oh really?" Princess Celestia asked as she quickly performed a spell that was able to make her sister wake up right away.

"What in Equestria but how? That spell is one of my best?" Princess Luna was quickly able to come to her senses when she felt how cold it was.

"What time is it? Why is it so cold? Why is there snow in the castle? Why is my bed not in my chambers? Celestia, did you ponynap a pop star again? What are they all doing here?"

"ATTACK!" Dr. Arachnid ordered and the villains charged. Super Stallion attacked quickly again using all the current energy he had to make a force field around him, Sapphire Shores, and the princesses. Scar Flank however was quickly able to break through the shield easily. After that, Weather Warper spun around to get rid of all the snow and ice that Super Stallion brought into the room.

With the snow and ice gone Pony Ivy summoned more roots that wrapped around the room but Princess Luna used her magic beams to cut the roots. Princess Celestia was keeping the villains at bay while also protecting Sapphire Shores and Super Stallion.

"Surround them and attack from all sides," Dr. Arachnid ordered. "Prank Master trap them again."

"Okay here's rubber glue in your everything." Prank Master then tried to recapture Princess Celestia but she countered with a barrier.

"You can't catch me again that easily. I'm not just a pretty princess that needs rescuing all the time."

"You could have fooled me," Chrysalis said.

"I'm actually glad these troublemakers went through the trouble of bringing you on board with their plan. You and I have a score to settle."

"Oh my, are you trying to be intimidating? Because it's not working." Queen Chrysalis then fired a magic beam at Princess Celestia who countered with one of her own. "That's not going to be enough to stop me."

"I was just going to say the exact same thing to you, stink bug." Chrysalis became enraged and quickly tried to push her beam forward. Meanwhile Weather Warper tried to outfly Princess Luna and blast her with her staff but she was surprisingly able to match Weather Warper's flying skills.

"Stand still already!"

"Oh right, I think I'll do just that. Sounds like a great strategy." Luna then used a flash spell blinding Weather Warper and made her crash into a wall. "I'd imagine that is quite embarrassing."

"It was," Weather Warper said as she got herself off the wall. Princess Luna then flew over to her sister who knew exactly what she was planning. The royal pony sisters placed their horns together for a combo spell that pushed back Chrysalis.

"NO!" Scar Flank yelled as he blasted spell after spell that the princesses effortlessly blocked with barriers. "Circle them and surround them!"

"No we should charge them all from the same spot," Dr. Arachnid said to Scar Flank's annoyance.

"Who cares where we attack, just keep at it and wear them down," Weather Warper said.

"Use a lot of different types of attacks to confuse them and catch them off guard," Queen Chrysalis said, who managed to get up.

"Does anypony want some of my pudding? I'm pretty full?" Prank Master asked but all she got in response was angry glares. "What?"

"Emo Pony, why don't you hit one of the princesses with those emotion balls?" Pony Ivy asked.

"What do you think I've been trying to do? They either block it with some kind of spell or they just dodge it. Why aren't you getting more giant roots to help us?"

"Most are being used to keep the guards at bay. I was only able to plant so many special seeds around the castle when we started this whole big combo plan of ours."

"Perhaps we eliminate this matter by tackling and restraining the targets 1 by 1," Gentleman Thief said.

"Ya mean just go at them one at a time? But who do we go after first?"

"Who do you think, Weather Warper!?" Scar Flank snapped. "The one that hardly has a leg to stand on."

"Try to separate the royal pony sisters too," Dr. Arachnid added. "Divine and conquer."

"Stop contradicting me!" Scar Flank snapped.

"I'm not contradicting you, I'm adding!" Dr. Arachnid snapped back. "And somepony grab Sapphire, the more hostages the better!"

"Since I'm right next to you I've been wondering why she is here exactly?" Princess Luna asked.

"She was another hostage and she's the sister of the pony with the metal spider legs," Super Stallion answered.

"Your own sister? Well I suppose in all fairness I shouldn't be too harsh on him for that."

"Uh yes sister, but no need to go into that." Suddenly the sisters were attacked on just about all sides but they were more than capable of defending themselves. However they found out too late that they were just being distracted while Pony Ivy used a plant root to grab Super Stallion and Sapphire Shores.

"2 hostages are better than 1!" Pony Ivy called out very happy.

"Put them down!" Princess Celestia ordered.

"We call the shots princess," Pony Ivy said. "Surrender now or they both get it."

"No, don't!" Super Stallion called out. "I'll get us free, I just need a minute." Super Stallion struggled to do what he said but it was no use, the poison was too strong. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna were just about to surrender when suddenly a large smoke cloud appeared in the room, shocking everpony.

"What's going on?" Emo Pony asked.

"Nothing I can't handle," Weather Warper said. But when she tried to clear the smoke she was hit by a stun spell. Weather Warper fell but managed to land safely. Afterwards a group of royal guards attacked from out of the cloud surprising the villains and raising the hopes of the princesses. Sapphires Shores and Super Stallion were cut free from the roots in the distraction by a purple beam and the unicorn that fired it ran straight towards them.

"Twilight?"

"Drink this." Twilight then inconspicuously gave Super Stallion a drink that she put within a vile and he drank it right away. But afterward Twilight was grabbed by a plant root.

"All right now we have 3 hostages," Pony Ivy said. When suddenly Twilight was freed when the plant root was hit by an ice spell and then shattered.

"I don't think so, Pony Ivy." Super Stallion grabbed Twilight mid fall and placed her next to Sapphire Shores who he quickly freed as well. "All right, good to finally be back at 100% at last."

"What? But that can't be, the poison couldn't have worn off yet."

"I guess my immune system is super as well." Super Stallion then charged at Pony Ivy who was nowhere near fast or strong enough to do something before he was slammed into the wall and knocked out.

"No no not this now," Scar Flank said, getting more and more frustrated. "Now we have to deal with this, do something!"

"Uh who exactly are you talking to?" Prank Master asked.

"Anypony!"

"Okay." Prank Master then used a series of spells and a gadget or 2 to stop most of the royal guards that managed to get in with Twilight. "How's that?"

"Very good," Scar Flank said, surprised. "Keep the good work."

"Not on my watch," Shining Armor said as he attacked Prank Master but Scar Flank decided to get in the way.

"I think the first thing we need to do is get rid of the guards."

"Don't think I'll go down as easy as the others. I'm the captain of the royal guard." Shining Armor then gave Scar Flank a mean left hook who gave Shining Armor a left hook of his own that knocked him down.

"The old captain hit much harder."

"Oa! It is so great to finally be able to talk and move again," Sapphire Shores said as she kicked her legs to stretch them a bit.

"Right now let's get you out of here," Super Stallion said after slamming Pony Ivy to the wall.

"No!" Sapphire Shores said to Super Stallion's major surprise. "Let me try to reason with Ruby."

"Uh, I think that ship may have sailed."

"Please Super Stallion! Please let me try!" Super Stallion saw the giant amount of determination in her eyes.

"All right but stay close to me."

"You got it super hunk." Super Stallion then picked up the pony of pop and flew over to where Dr. Arachnid was who had defeated several royal guards.

"Keep it up there's not that many guards left then we can deal with the major problems," Dr. Arachnid called out.

"Couldn't we just take the guards as hostages?" Emo Pony asked.

"There's still too many ponies not on our side running around that could rescue them, especially the literal superhero," Weather Warper answered. She then tried to summon a powerful storm cloud but Princess Luna got rid of it. Meanwhile Princess Celestia was fighting with Chrysalis. While she was doing that Twilight had made her way to Emo Pony who was trying to wake Pony Ivy but he was out like a light.

"This isn't good without him, the plant roots aren't going to keep more guards from getting here. Come on, come on, wake up." Emo Pony then noticed Twilight was about to attack and countered a spell of hers. "Wow, that was a close one."

"Not bad but try to counter these." Twilight then unleashed a series of powerful spells Emo Pony tried his best to counter and block but Twilight was clearly the more talented when it came to magic. Before long Twilight had him pinned into a corner and blasted Emo Pony right through a wall knocking him out cold. "Whoops went a little too far, guess I don't know my own power."

"Been there done that Twilight," Super Stallion said. Super Stallion made short work of a group of unicorns that tried to grab Sapphire and she was prepared to approach her brother. She was very nervous but this was something she had to do.

"Please, Ruby."

"I told you not to call me that! Don't act like you suddenly care about me, you never did."

"That's not true, I love you even after all the things that you've recently done. But you can't keep doing this, it's insanity you are going to get locked up for the rest of your life. Do you really want that? I know you don't."

"You don't know what I want! You barely know me at all and now you're just trying to make yourself look good by doing whatever this is."

"I was afraid of this," Super Stallion said.

"Ruby please just stop it, this has gotten far out of hoof."

"Well it wouldn't have happened if ponies just noticed me as much as they did you!" Dr. Arachnid then lunged at Sapphire Shores with weapons coming out of each of his metallic legs. Super Stallion was about to stop the doctor but surprisingly Princess Luna beat him to it. She grabbed Dr. Arachnid and flew him all the way towards the gardens and dropped him there so she could take a turn trying to reason with him. "What, I suppose you want to try and talk sense to me now?"

"I know a thing-"

"I DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT!" Dr. Arachnid interrupted Princess Luna and fired rather big metal chunks out of a leg that Princess Luna dodged by flying but he chased after her and kept up thanks to his metallic legs and kept firing. "I couldn't stand her always showing me up, the constant comparison from my parents. Do you have any idea what it's like to constantly live in some other pony's shadow!?" Princess Luna then dodged several metal chunks and fired a magic beam that hit a nearby statue of Princess Celestia causing it to fall on Dr. Arachnid. It wasn't all that big but it was enough to knock the doctor out.

Luna landed next to him and made sure he wasn't that injured. "Actually I can relate."

***

Princess Celestia was keeping Chrysalis busy and Shining Armor was fighting Scar Flank. Super Stallion made quick work of most of the backup Scar Flank brought as well as Gentleman Thief. Weather Warper tried to get some of the guards but Twilight stopped her from attacking them after dealing with the last of the backup.
"Suck on some lightning!" Weather Warper said as she was about to cast lightning straight at Twilight but she shot the staff out of her hooves before she could.

"Too slow," Twilight said, rather cocky. Weather Warper grabbed her staff before it even hit the ground and then charged at Twilight to use fire attacks but Twilight summoned a shield to block it.

"Too slow!" Weather Warper said, clearly angry. "My speed is number 1 in all of Equestria," Weather Warper said as she continued to use fire based attacks though none could break the shield.

"I know a pony that’s faster." Twilight then fired through her own shield and hit Weather Warper dead on and fell down unconscious.

"No! No! No!" Scar Flank called out, noticing that the ponies on his side were dropping like flies while he was fighting Shining Armor. "This was supposed to be our victory. How could this have gone wrong?"

"I guess you messed with the wrong ponies," Shining Armor answered before he hit Scar Flank with several spells as well as hits to the face and stomach which made Scar Flank fall to the ground "Well that's takes care of him huh Twily?" Shining said to his sister, but he was too focused on his sister to see that Scar Flank was getting back up ready to attack him. Luckily Twilight noticed and hit him with a stun spell that made sure he stayed put.

"Now that takes care of him."

"You’ve to stop saving my rump like this, it's starting to get embarrassing."

"For who?" Twilight asked a little coldly. Chrysalis then saw that the only rouges left were her and Prank Master who was eating pudding. Chrysalis decided to cut her loses and blasted the floor causing it to collapse. In the distraction Chrysalis grabbed Prank Master and teleported away while Princess Celestia used her magic to catch all the ponies so they wouldn't get hurt.

***

After the battle, the villains were rounded up by the royal guard who would later take them all to a highly secure prison. "No this can't be all those bits! We were so close!" Scar Flank said as he tried to get free. "We were so close! My family, our glory, our honor!"

"Honor? What honor?" Sapphire Shores asked still at the castle. Suddenly Princess Celestia approached the pony of pop to see if she was alright.

"Are you alright Ms. Shores?"

"Oh, Princess Celestia, yes I'm all right and please call me Sapphire."

"That's good to know and I appreciate your casual nature. Luna is kind of like that."

"Let me ask you something. Do you and your sister get along?"

"Well she and I have our differences at times but overall our bond is very close. You wish you could have something like that with your brother don’t you? I couldn't help but overhear what Dr. A- what Ruby was talking about."

"I know it's not really fair for him to blame me for everything that happened in the past but, I just can't help but feel that if I was just nicer to him there'd be 1 less supervillain running around. That’s probably hard to understand." Princess Celestia then wrapped her wing in a comforting way to Sapphire Shores.

"Actually, I can relate." After the criminals were finally taken away, Shining Armor called in both Squeaky Clean and Swift Sweep to clean up the mess made from fighting the villains.

"Did I really have to come?" Swift Sweep asked. "Squeaky is pretty good on his own. Could this so-called giant mess be that giant that it needs OH MY GOSH!"

"No kidding," Squeaky added. "We should get straight to work."

"What the heck happened to the ceiling were some ponies playing with jack hammers?" Swift Sweep asked. Swift Sweep and Squeaky Clean quickly got to work cleaning the mess made from defeating the rogues and Shining Armor decided to help out with the cleaning as well.

"Thanks for helping us out, Shining Armor. I mean Captain Shining Armor."

"No problem Squeaky. Plus in all honesty I kind of feel like this was my fault."

"What do you mean?"

"Well Swift Sweep I'm captain of the guard now and I should be able to know what to do when stuff like this happens."

"Well don't be too hard on yourself, you're still new to the job, you just need time to adapt to the role so to speak." Trust me I know a thing or 2 about adapting to a difficult role.

"I guess you're right I mean I doubt even Stone Wall could have done better."

"Well, I wouldn't go quite that far."

"What do you mean Squeaky?"

"Well from what I saw, from the picture in my head that I made when I heard about everything. Stone Wall would never give up right at the start; he would look for a way to rescue the hostages and attack the castle invaders especially if Princess Celestia was involved. Plus if he beats somepony down he makes sure they stay down."

"What, you think you can do my job all of a sudden?" Shining Armor asked, suddenly angry to Squeaky's surprise.

"What? No, I was just answering your question."

"Well maybe next time I'll just keep my questions to myself!" Shining Armor then walked off in a huff.

"Yeah maybe you should!" Squeaky retorted, angry himself. "Stone Wall wouldn't have lost his temper so easily either!"

"What's his problem?" Swift Sweep asked as he flew over to Squeaky.

"Maybe it's just the stress of the job. He probably just needs a little space."

"If he talks to me like that I'll give him more than a little."

***

Far away from Canterlot, Chrysalis and Prank Master were resting in a small dank cave. "Wow that was a blast," Prank Master said. "But how come you only got me out of there?"

"By the time I realized our side couldn't win, you were the only one still active. Besides, you're the most capable of helping me get my revenge."

"Really?"

"Yes and it will be a revenge that most could only ever dream on." Chrysalis then showed Prank Master a very evil grin.

"Want the rest of my pudding?"

Chapter 22 Bonds

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"If I was a changeling queen with a grudge and whatever the right words are to describe Prank Master, where would I be?" Super Stallion asked himself. "They got to be around here somewhere, maybe Twilight has an idea."

***

"So no luck finding those 2?" Twilight asked.

"No I was hoping maybe you had an idea of where I can look for them or maybe you knew a spell that could help me."

"Sorry no," Twilight answered. "Though maybe you should take it easy, you were poisoned only yesterday."

"That reminds me I wanted to thank you for really helping me out with all that. Thanks a lot."

"Oh no problem," Twilight said as she gave a little wave with her hoof. "Honestly Discord deserves to be thanked just as much as me."

"Discord? What does he have to do with all this?"

"Well that time you talked to me before the rouges captured you and the princesses I tried to tell you that I think you were poisoned. I went to the Badlands to investigate and found a small dart. I quickly connected that with the "thing" that hit your neck so I took it home with me and found a form of poison. After you left Discord gave me a little bit of his chaos magic. Which I used to make the perfect antidote."

"So why exactly did he give you a sample of his magic again?"

"He wants me to become his student."

"Wow, just just wow," was all Super Stallion could say.

"Yeah. But it was thanks to that chaos magic that I was able to get the antidote ready. When I learned you were in danger I made a plan to simply cause a distraction and give it to you."

"You'd make a very good sidekick."

"Thanks, but for now I'm sticking with the books. So you don't have any idea on how to find those 2?"

"Well there's one other idea. It's kind of a stretch but it's worth looking into."

"Really what is it?"

"You didn't overhear that Dr. Arachnid is Sapphire's brother. Also his name is Ruby. Maybe she overheard one of the rogues mention a place they could run off and hide in if the plan didn't go so well."

“Kind of long shot, don’t you think? Also her brother?”

“I know, but it’s worth a shot. And yeah, it was shocking for all of us.”

***

"Sorry honey I didn't overhear anything like that."

"You're sure that you didn't hear anything useful?"

"Yes I'm sure. Also, while it's great to have a superhero for a friend if you keep flying into my dressing room, ponies might start to think that I'm super close to Equestria's superhero. You can just come see me as Squeaky Clean."

"What?" Suddenly a chill of sheer shock was sent down Super Stallion's spine at the mention of his real name. "I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about."

"Oh please just because I'm gorgeous doesn't mean I'm stupid. I gave Super Stallion 2 tickets to a concert of mine that was all but sold out and suddenly Princess Luna and Swift Sweep, 2 ponies I never met before somehow got in because 2 tickets were given to them by Squeaky Clean. Don't worry I haven't told anypony and I don't plan on telling anypony your secret is safe with me, I promise." Super Stallion breathed a sigh of relief.

"That is very good to know. I can't believe somepony figured out my secret for something as small as a gift to a friend." Super Stallion then rubbed the back of his head feeling rather embarrassed.

"Out of curiosity does anypony else know?"

"2."

"Oh good, we should try to keep it a small number. By the way if it's not too much I'd like to meet Squeaky Clean."

"Well, I guess that's okay." Super Stallion then removed the sphere, shocking Sapphire Shores.

"So that's how you turn into Super Stallion. I must say even without the super look you're still pretty handsome."

"Oh, thank you," Squeaky said, actually blushing a little.

"Oh by the way a while back you told me you had the hots for Princess Celestia does she know that too?"

"Now Sapphire, I think we've figured out enough secrets for today." Sapphire then chuckled a bit at Squeaky's comment.

"All right I suppose that's fair."

"Thanks Sapphire." Squeaky then quickly changed back into Super Stallion and flew off to see Princess Celestia for reasons romantic in nature.

***

As she was lying on her bed Princess Celestia was looking at a picture of Stone Wall when he first became the captain of her royal guard. "If you were still here would I have been taken down and captured? You'd probably be ashamed of me for getting captured so easily and in my own home twice over."

"Princess!" Squeaky called out as he knocked on the door of the royal chambers.

"Come in Squeaky." Squeaky entered the room then noticed that Squeaky was looking at her framed picture of Stone Wall and her. "You miss him too?"

"Yeah I do." Princess Celestia then grabbed Squeaky and pulled him on her bed and right beside her while hugging him a bit.

"I try to put on a strong face but I can't stop thinking about him or where he is or if he's okay."

"I'm sure he's okay, it is Stone Wall after all I mean nothing could ever take him down."

"I suppose you're right about that," Princess Celestia said after chuckling. "I've been working on making a search team to find him and I even asked Super Stallion to keep a look out for him. I just hope he comes back real soon."

"Yeah, so do I." The 2 ponies then got even closer together and started to cuddle as they continued to think about the pony that they missed.

"Do you think he'd be ashamed of me?" Squeaky became rather shocked at Princess Celestia's question but when she explained about her recent captures he understood.

"Oh I see. Well Stone Wall was always the more rescue first lecture later kind of stallion. Besides I don't think you should be too hard on yourself, even Super Stallion got captured." Squeaky had actually thought about what his old friend might say if he saw how he was captured as Super Stallion. "The way I see it, you can't change the past we, uh that is you will just have to learn from our, I mean your mistakes so you won't repeat them."

"I suppose you're right," Princess Celestia said, starting to feel a little better as she put the photo away.

“By the way, I always wondered, you adopted Stone Wall, didn't you?”

“Yes.”

“How exactly did that happen?

“Well, I was treating myself to the donut shop. It was a dark and stormy night, little did I know that my life was about to change forever.” Elsewhere in the castle Shining Armor was approaching his bride to eventually be.

"I'm not in the mood to talk Shining Armor," Cadance said.

"Then just listened," Shining Armor pleaded. "Look Twilight still doesn't want to talk to me, so I doubt I can convince her to be my best mare again. But maybe we can convince her together.

"Well...I guess if all 3 of us sat down and talked it could work. But I don't know."

"How about we talk it over at our favorite restaurant?" Shining Armor asked as he playfully elbowed Princess Cadance.

"Alright," Cadance said with a smile. "I'm sure if we work together we can figure out a plan."

***

Chrysalis and Prank Master who managed to sneak into Canterlot and were keeping an eye out for anypony that might blow their cover. Or rather Chrysalis was, Prank Master was doing front flips. "Are you trying to get us spotted?!" Chrysalis asked who took the form of a unicorn with a light green coat & a brown mane.

"What, I have trouble doing back flips?"

"Just stop acting like a nut long enough for us to get in, grab the stuff, and get out. Are we close?"

"Yeah it's just like an opportunity," Prank Master answered and who stopped doing flips.

"What?"

"It's right around the corner." Prank Master then entered a store. Chrysalis decided to stay outside as a sort of look out. After a minute Prank Master came out and the 2 rouges made their way out of Canterlot with hardly any pony the wiser.

"All right we made it but let's wait until we get a little further away."

"Okay with me I've been meaning to exercise more, a lot more actually I've found I have trouble saying no to sweets." Before long the 2 made their way into the wilderness and Chrysalis took her true form ready to get the plan in motion.

"All right, let's get to work, what did you get exactly?"

"Well I mostly bought protein bars. These come in chocolate flavor but it's healthy. Can you believe that? Healthy chocolate, what will they think of next?"

"How is that going to help us exactly?"

"Well I told you I have a problem with sweets and I figured these could be more than a great substitute. But you already have a good figure."

"No you brain fried pony! How will those help me with my revenge?"

"Revenge? We don't need any of these for your plan." Chrysalis in a near blind rage picked up Prank Master and started to choke her.

"You mean we sneaked into the capital of enemy territory just so you could get something to eat!" Chrysalis then threw Prank Master on the ground who took long breaths as she got herself back up.

"Well excuse me if I get a craving for chocolate once in a while." Prank Master then got out a staff and used it to shoot out her rubber glue that covered her horn. "That'll learn ya."

Chrysalis tried to use her magic to remove the rubber glue but could not. “What’s going on? Why won’t it come off?”

“Oh so I didn’t need the collar,” Prank Master said.

“What?”

“Well, when I captured Princess Celestia with the rubber glue, I wasn’t sure if it would cancel out her magic so I used the collar. I made the rubber glue from the sample of this blob I once met that could also cancel out magic. What was his name again? The Booze? The Gooze? The Splooge?”

How can this pony be so intelligent and so stupid at the same time?

"Did you get all that?" Prank Master asked.

"Yes I did, so can you take me back into the past now?"

"Not yet I need to go back to Canterlot."

"You're not getting more chocolate protein bars!"

"No, I need something from the library. But can we get some chocolate protein bars along the way?"

"No!"

***

“After that I said he could stay at the castle and wait for his sister to show up. In no time at all I came to love him as my own son and the rest as they say is history.”

“Wow, that was a good story. Rather short, but still fun and emotional.”

“Yes, well you should probably get back to your cleaning.”

“Yeah, I suppose you’re right, but first.” Squeaky kissed Celestia then got back to his job. After a while he came across Shining Armor who was training several other royal guards. "Good morning Captain Armor, how are you?" Squeaky said.

"Good morning, I just helped these guards finish a pretty intense workout."
"Well it was nothing we couldn't handle," a light brown colored stallion guard said who wasn't even out of breath.

"Yeah, Stone Wall pushed us much harder," a female guard said.

"That was because he made us train and work out until we blacked out. We need to focus more on our job and less on getting stronger," Shining Armor said as he turned to the female guard.

"Well I don't know, you all seemed to do a good job balancing training with your jobs."

"I agree with Squeaky, maybe we should train some more. I wouldn't mind," the third guard said, who was a white coated stallion.

"What you're all gonna take the janitor's point of view." Shining Armor said as he turned his head to Squeaky. "What exactly would you know about balancing your job with training yourself to protect Equestria when you needed to?"

"More than you might think," Squeaky replied and Shining Armor started to get annoyed.

"Oh is that it? Or are you just saying that because Stone Wall was your best friend? Face it Squeaky he pushed us too hard."

"Well maybe he had a good reason for that," Squeaky replied, starting to get mad. "I don't want to argue with you, Shining Armor but I would appreciate it if you would stop being hard on my old friend and your old captain. Well actually our old captain but you know what I mean."

"You do seem a little too quick to criticize him quite a bit, Captain Armor," the female guard said.

"Oh like he never criticized us," Shining Armor said to the guards.

"Well maybe you should try seeing things from Stone Wall’s point of view," Squeaky said once again getting upset at Shining Armor for talking bad about his childhood friend.

"His point of view? What point of view was that? The view that didn't have to work out like crazy day in day out?!"

"All right that does it!" Squeaky almost shouted getting the attention of the guards and especially Shining Armor. "I wasn't going to say this because Stone Wall told me not to but you need something to help me get through that thick head of yours! Before Stone Wall took…a leap of absence I had a conversation with him during my break."

***

"All right, listen up!" Stone Wall said to a rather large group of guards. "Recently it's come to my attention that the large bullseyes we've been using for spear throwing practice have been falling apart. So I've taken the liberty of getting new bullseyes and I've been told that these new bullseyes are much more durable."

"All right thanks captain," one of the guards said. And then several other guards thanked Stone Wall as Squeaky came out to rest in the open.

"I'm not finished," Stone Wall continued in a tone that wasn't assertive but got the attention of the guards. "I need somepony to test out the new bullseyes so we can make sure they’re more durable. So who wants to test out 1 of the new bullseye?" None of the guards answered Stone Wall to his annoyance. "Oh so that's how it's going to be huh? All right, fine here's what we'e gonna do, the next one of you that says something stupid has to do it."

"Um, how stupid does it have to be captain?"

"Congratulations Shining Armor you just signed up!" Shining Armor then smacked himself on the head while a couple of the guards around him laughed.

"Me and my big fat mouth."

"Shining Armor come with me and the rest of you get back to your usual duties." The other guards ran off while Stone Wall walked over to an open grass area using magic to carry a bullseye while Shining Armor walked behind him with his head down. "Raise your head, royal guards walk with pride."

"Yes captain," Shining Armor said quickly following his captain's order. Squeaky Clean had sat on a bench and Stone Wall placed the bullseye not too far away.

"All right throw your spear and use magic to bring it back to you so you can throw it again. Do this about 100 times and if it doesn't break then we'll know it's more endurable."

"Couldn't I just blast it with my magic?"

"You could, I suppose, but then you couldn't train yourself to bring your spear to you with magic. It doesn't take much magic and in the right situation it can save your life."

"Okay, but do I have to do it 100 times? Can't it just be 50?" Stone Wall then hit Shining Armor on the head with his own spear.

"No, now get to work! Then maybe later I can teach you how to block. Honestly I might do that anyway. We need to make up for lost time, considering how many times you've shown up late to your shifts."

"My alarm clock broke and I haven't gotten a new one yet," Shining Armor said.

"Always with the excuses," Stone Wall said before making his way to the bench where Squeaky was.

"Hi Stone Wall, how's it going?"

"Oh you know the stress of being captain of the royal guard but it's nothing I can't handle."

"Would you like to share my sandwich? I'm not as hungry as I thought?"

"No thank you I still have work to do," Stone Wall answered as he sat next to Squeaky and got several papers out of his saddle bag. "Princess Celestia wanted me to take a look at these forms."

"Well since you're here there's something I've been meaning to ask you."

"What?"

"Well it's just, you really push the guards to their limits, why are you so hard on them?" Hearing that Stone Wall place the papers down and gave Squeaky a blank but serious look.

"You want to know why? All right fine, I suppose it all started when I was a young colt in Canterlot. It was a little before I got my cutie mark Princess Celestia had me join a class that taught young colts how to fight and defend themselves. I wasn’t too fond of it but after." Stone Wall stopped to look around making sure nopony was listening. "Getting my cutie mark I pretty much used everything I learned in that class. At first I thought Princess Celestia was torturing me but she was actually helping me reach the potential she knew I had in me."

"Well that part I already knew."

"Yes, so you see that's why I'm always hard on the royal guards, to toughen them up. So that when things get tough they can all push back. I want to help them find the potential they have deep down like how Princess Celestia did for me. It's not easy to do that for so many ponies and some potential is deeper than others. But I think I'm proud of just about every single one of them, most of all Shining Armor."

"Really Shining Armor most of all?"

"Yeah he has powerful magical abilities just like his sister. I think when I retire he'd be the best candidate out of all the other royal guards to take my place as captain. If he ever stops acting like an arrogant brat." Just then Shining Armor threw his spear and not only hit the bullseye, but also used magic to pull it back and catch it. He even did an impressive spin attack with the spear.

"Wow I'm really getting the hang of this," Shining Armor said feeling a little excited. Stone Wall suddenly hit him in the shoulder.

"Don't you dare tell him that I said that," Stone Wall told his friend. "The guards don't need to learn about my soft side. I got a reputation after all."

"All right geez," Squeaky replied as he rubbed his shoulder a little. "You don't need to hit me."

"It was a little test. You need to sharpen your reflexes a bit just like a certain potential future replacement."

***

After hearing all that, the guards were stunned, especially Shining Armor. "Stone Wall really said that about us? About me?"
"Yeah he did," Squeaky answered, still upset at Shining Armor.

"So the reason I got my shot, that thing you whispered to Princess Celestia."

"Yeah, that’s what I told her. That's how you got your chance to become captain of the royal guard. Though from what I've seen lately maybe I should have kept it to myself."

"Well, maybe if he lightened up once in a while I would have seen his nicer side myself.

"Oh my gosh," Squeaky said frustrated. "You think you're so grown up, but you have a lot to learn." Squeaky then walked away and the guards were left in silence.

"I don't think Stone Wall would be proud of us right now, captain," the female guard said. Meanwhile elsewhere in the castle Prank Master and Chrysalis made their way into the castle without hardly being noticed.

"This had better be worth it!"

"Well you keep going on and on about how much this revenge thing means to you and doing this will get me the things that will help you get that said revenge, so this will most likely be worth it, Prank Master who was wearing a guard uniform Chrysalis managed to swipe for her. “Wow, that was a long sentence. I think I almost forgot to breathe, has that ever happened to you?"

"Focus!"

"All right all right fine but side note have you tried those protein bars I got? They are delicious."

"No, changelings only feed off the emotions of other creatures."

"Really that's it. What do emotions taste like?"

"I-I'm not sure because I don't have anything to compare it to." Prank Master then got out a protein bar and offered it to Chrysalis.

"Well now you do, go ahead give it a try."

"Will you take that 1 track mind or rather utterly random mind of yours off food."

"Well what about you? You invaded Canterlot trying to feed off the many forms of love within Equestria so you think about food a lot too don't you?" Chrysalis was stunned. "Come on, what we need is this way."

Unbelievable, outwitted by a nut ball. Not too far away Squeaky Clean was cleaning the floor covering for Swift Sweep a little understandably tired.

"Excuse me," Prank Master said. "Can you help us we're new here and we're also a little lost."

"Oh that makes sense this is a really big castle," Squeaky replied.

"I know right, why can't they just make us little maps so we can find our way around."

"That would be a really good idea actually."

"Oh thanks sometimes I just say what I think and more often than not there's a good idea in there somewhere." Chrysalis tapped her from the back. "Ah anyway, we're looking for the Star Swirl the Bearded wing. I left a book there. Do you know where it is?"

"Oh yes I do, it's just down that hall on your right you can't miss it."

"Chocolate sweetness thanks." Prank Master and Chrysalis then went off in the direction that Squeaky pointed to.

"Chocolate sweetness? What a completely random thing to say." Squeaky then got back to his cleaning but then suddenly stopped. "Random. Wait a minute didn't that new guard look a lot like…Prank Master!"

"Here it is!" Prank Master said as she found the Star Swirl the Bearded wing and managed to open the gate with nothing but a bobby pin. "And here is this, I had a feeling I'd find it here." Chrysalis then got a look at the book that Prank Master grabbed.

"The complete and unfinished spells of Clover the Clever?"

"Eeyup this is just what I needed to help you with your whole great revenge whatever."

"So was this all you needed?"

"Yes, all I needed. All I needed was this. Needed all was this."

"Do you think maybe you can not be utterly random for 5 minutes?"

"I don't know, I haven't tried since I got here."

"Well we're here let's go." Chrysalis then grabbed on to Prank Master and then the 2 suddenly disappeared.

Super Stallion flew into the wing just before they disappeared.

"No! I should have been faster! What would Stone Wall do? What would Twilight do? Wait Twilight, she might have an idea." Squeaky made a quick change into his alter ego Super Stallion and made it to the Ponyville Library as quick as a flash.

***

"And then they disappeared?" Twilight asked as Super Stallion finished explaining the story to Twilight.

"Yes, so is there anything I can do or we can do to find them?"

"I don't think so sorry, but we're just gonna have to wait until they strike again."

"Well what should I do in the meantime?"

"Well in the meantime you can listen to what I have to say," Discord as a disembodied voice said. As Super Stallion looked around for where he could pop up he nearly had a heart attack when Discord appeared right behind him.

"What are you trying to do give the superhero a super heart attack?" Super Stallion asked, taking several deep breaths.

"Maybe, but I wanted to show a couple things to Twilight."

"Me?" Twilight asked in confusion. "What?" Discord made a portal appear with the snap of his fingers and Twilight and Super Stallion saw Apple Bloom with Babs Seed.

"Babs why didn't ya tell me that y'all were being teased out the yin yang about being a blank flank?"

"I was just embarrassed I guess."

"Ya guess? I get teased by bullies too about being a blank flank but I don't take it out on other ponies."

"I know I was just so worried that I would get teased again that I started acting like one of the bullies so they wouldn't pick on me. I-I was scared, but that's no excuse. I'm sorry, Apple Bloom."

"Oh it's all right. I'm sorry I broke your nose."

"You did not break my nose," Babs said, getting a little defensive. "You just gave me a nosebleed."

"Well that still means ah got a mean left hook," Apple Bloom said putting her left hoof in the air and giving her cousin a look of sheer smugness which made Babs laugh out loud.

"Yeah," Babs said while still laughing a bit. "I guess it does. Listen I know we didn't get off on the right hoof, well we kinda did but I messed up. I'd still like to be a Cutie Mark Crusader like you and your friends."

"Sure thing Babs no problem but if y'all step outta line again." Apple Bloom then stuck her hoof out again and Babs playfully acted scared.

"Woah easy now put that thing down." The 2 apple cousins then started to laugh and Discord closed the portal.

"Something that happened a while back that I felt like sharing. These 2 little ponies had a little…quarrel, is that the right word? But now they make jokes about it, I don't get it."

"Well Discord sometimes things that aren't funny become funny later. I think that's where the phrase timing is everything comes from," Twilight said.

"Oh I think I get it." Discord then made an anvil fall on Super Stallion who struggled for a second to lift it off his head. "So will that be funny later too? Though honestly it's pretty funny now."

"You big jerk!" Super Stallion then threw the anvil that Discord dodged and the anvil broke through the wall. "Oh no!" Super Stallion then fell through the hole that the anvil made wanting to catch it before it broke something or somepony.

"So is that "hole" thing going to be funny now or later?"

Super Stallion managed to grab the anvil right before it landed on Granny Smith and laughed an embarrassed chuckle before placing the anvil beside her. "Here, have a free anvil." Super Stallion then made his way back to the library as Granny Smith looked at the quality of the anvil.

"Uh, how am I supposed to carry this?" Back at the library Super Stallion was ready to throw Discord out but stopped when he saw another portal showing Sapphire Shores visiting her brother in prison.

"You're just in time, this is something I found a bit more recently."

"I was surprised to hear that you came to see me of all ponies," Ruby said.

"I was worried you wouldn't even come," Sapphire said.

"What exactly do you want?"

"I want to tell you my side of the story."

"Excuse me?"

"You were right. We were close when we were young but once I got my cutie mark I was so focused on expanding my talent that I almost forgot about you. And when I heard the accident I wanted to visit you but I was already on the other side of the Equestria. By the time I got there you were already gone. I looked for you but I didn't see you again until you first filly napped me no matter how hard I tried."

"You, looked for me?"

"Of course I did, you're my brother. Despite the fact that I barely treated you like it. Ruby, I was jealous of you," Dr. Arachnid as well as the pony watching were shocked.

"You. Were jealous. Of me?" Dr. Arachnid asked, still in shock.

"Yeah you were always better at me when it came to grades and school. Plus when my music career got started it was stressful and I took it out on you. I'm sorry Ruby, I'm truly deeply sorry and I hope that you can find it in your heart to forgive me." For a while Dr. Arachnid didn't say anything.

"You actually want to try and be friends again even knowing I'll be in here for who knows how long for several pony nappings and that business at the castle."

"Actually I never pressed charges." Dr. Arachnid and the ponies watching were shocked once again.

"You, you didn't? Why not?"

"I treated you so badly you tried to ruin my career. Maybe we can call it even." Dr. Arachnid then placed his hoof on the glass and his sister did the same thing.

"Maybe there is a change for us to-" Suddenly the portal closed.

"Well it kind of goes a bit on from there but you get the point," Discord said.

"Did you want to show me this because it was a touching moment between 2 ponies that were once close but drifted apart and now have a chance to become close again?" Twilight asked.

"Actually seeing this for the first time made me think that you ponies are rather too forgiving for your own good. But I suppose I can't complain about that too bad it got me another chance after all."

"I think he may be on to something about over forgiving," Super Stallion said to Twilight. "I think I'll go see how the pony of pop is feeling."

"Actually before you go we kind of have a problem. Discord knows." Super Stallion didn't respond for a while as he didn't quite understand.

"He knows what?"

"I know what's under the metaphorical hood Squeaky Clean." Super Stallion's jaw nearly hit the ground. "Quite the shocked expression you got there. I wonder how shocked everypony would be if I made newspapers with your secret on the front cover all over Equestria."

"No! Discord you can't!" Twilight said. "Please, please you have to keep this a secret!"

"Oh really I have to?"

"Yes friends keep secrets."

"Ah yes, friendship. Something I still have trouble understanding. I suppose I can keep it to just myself if." Discord paused as he raised his eyebrows several times while leaning closer to Twilight.

"Okay okay. If you swear to keep his secret I'll keep testing out your chaos magic. I was thinking of testing it out anyway, for research purposes."

"Good until next time my to be a student very soon." Discord then pet Twilight a little and teleported away.

"And Super Stallion before I forget, maybe you should tell Princess Celestia about the book that was stolen."

"Right," Super Stallion said and left soon after that. Not too long after that there was a knock at Twilight's door and Twilight's friends were all there to her surprise.

"Hi Twilight, can we come in?" Applejack said.

"Um okay," the mane 5 then entered their friend's home. "I haven't seen any of you in a while."

"Yeah, we wanted to give y'all some space after you recovered," Applejack said. "After that adventure we talked things out and after giving you said space we all wanted to say sorry for...everything."

The others joined in on saying sorry.

"We also wanted to say thanks for stoping the changeling queen all on your own."

"You really gave that there changeling queen a mighty beatin Twi," Applejack said.

"Yeah I really did, didn't I?"

"Yeah you really came to our rescue, you deserve a party."

"You saved us darling, again."

"Well I didn't do it all alone. You 5 really had my back too. Not just with Chrysalis, but throughout the whole journey."

"It was short of the least we could do, we let you down at the almost wedding Twilight. We were super uncool, unawesome, and unradical."

"And we acted like big meanies."

Applejack then approached Twilight taking off her hat after Fluttershy's comment. "We really let you down but I hope you know that when you really really need us we'll always be there for you." That comment nearly made Twilight cry tears of joy.

"I forgive you." Twilight's friends then ran up and gave her a group hug.

"WHAT!" Suddenly Discord appeared after saying his comment.

"I thought you left," Twilight said.

"Doesn't mean I'm not watching over you. But more importantly, you forgive them? After the way they treated you?"

"The ponies that are closest to you can be the ones to hurt you the most. Forgiveness is a very important part of friendship. I realized that now."

"I see, clearly there's more to friendship than I thought."

***

The next day Squeaky told the princess about the stolen book then he got back to his cleaning and ran into Swift Sweep. He wanted to cover Squeaky's shift to return the favor now that he was feeling better. "Oh that's so nice of you Swift Sweep thank you but you don't need to do that."

"It's no problem I was brought here for an early shift anyway so we can help each other twice the cleaning in half the time.” The 2 janitors got to work cleaning but when Squeaky decided to do a super patrol on his break Swift Sweep came across Princess Cadance.

"Oh hello Swift Sweep, how are you?"

"I'm feeling better. What are you doing here?”

"Well I came here to visit my aunt, Princess Celestia to tell her how the Crystal Empire is doing but I also wanted to see Shining Armor real quick. He made reservations at a really fancy restaurant for the 2 of us but something came up and I'll have to cancel. I just wish I knew where he was right now so I can tell him."

"I could find him and tell him for you," Swift Sweep said, still in the mood to help other ponies.

"You would do that for me?"

"Sure it's no problem," Swift Sweep answered with a smile.

"Thank you, that is so nice. Knowing him, he'd probably wait around for me all night." Swift Sweep then flew around the castle looking for Shining Armor but also remembering to clean. After a while he finally came across Shining Armor who had his hooves full training a group of royal guards.

"Hey Shining Armor," Swift Sweep said as he approached Shining Armor.

"Hey," Shining Armor replied, trying to focus on training the guards. He couldn't forget what Squeaky told him the other day and decided to push the guards a little harder to make Stone Wall proud of him if he ever returned.

"Princess Cadance-"

"Look if you want to offer me advice I've had far too many ponies as is giving me their 2 bits about it. So I'd appreciate it if you just kept it to yourself," Shining Armor interrupted.

"But captain-"

"Look I get it some ponies think they're real love experts and great with advice but I've heard too much of it already," Shining Armor interrupted again starting to get mad.

"I just want to say that-"

"Look I know you're a little on the stupid side but can't you see I'm busy with something?"

“But-"

"I DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT! Do you have any idea how hard it is to do anything with you babbling like the idiot that you are? But if it'll shut you up just say it and let me get on with my life. Now what? What is so important?"

"..........Never mind.”

Chapter 23 The Past is Now

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Ever since the return of the Crystal Empire, Shining Armor had been going back and forth from there to Canterlot because of his job. Recently he had invited his sister Twilight Sparkle over. When she got there, she heard rumors of strange occurrences and Twilight quickly came to the conclusion it was some monster within the castle.

"Twilight you're scaring the staff," Shining Armor replied to his sister's idea. After that she quickly sent her off so he could talk to the staff there.

"Who does Shining Armor think he is brushing me off like that? If it weren't for me he'd be married to that overgrown stink bug," Twilight said as she walked down the hall.

"Good, let your anger flow through you," a disembodied voice said.

"Discord come out, that's not funny! No that wasn't Discord. This voice was different." Twilight looked around and saw the shadow of a large creature that was sneaking off. Seeing this as a golden opportunity, Twilight quickly but quietly followed the strange creature as it opened a secret entrance to a secret cave. Rather than follow it deep into its lair Twilight decided to act now. "Hold it right there monster!"

"Huh?" Suddenly Twilight teleported in front of the monster ready to fight but to her surprise the monster started to cry and even got in a bit of a begging stance.

"Please don't take me back to King Sombra," the monster begged.

"Sombra? He's gone." Hearing that the monster got up and whipped its tears.

"R-Really?" The monster then explained it was a Crystal Bard and how he was captured by Sombra and treated like a pet. But he escaped and had been sneaking around to avoid getting captured. Twilight quickly broke the news to the staff of the Crystal Empire and the Bard was welcome in open hooves. "Thank you so much for welcoming me, and thank you Twilight."

"Oh it's no problem. So you only took all those books because you like to read."

"Oh yeah I just love to read," the Bard said and Twilight then placed her hoof on the gentle soul.

"Well, maybe you can start a book club here in the castle."

"Oh that would be great!" Shining Armor said as he approached Twilight.

"Yeah she just loved books ever since she was just a filly," Shining Armor said as he placed his hoof around his sister's neck to her annoyance. "You did a good job Twily."

"Yeah and all on my own, but with you involved I guess I should be used to that."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"You actually have to ask. I came to you with the solution but you cared more about the staff not getting scared."

The others quickly left the room.

“What’s that supposed to mean!" Shining Armor said getting mad.

"You never listen to me. I came here to help you and Cadance, well mostly Cadance, stop Sombra, but when I suggested he hid the Crystal Heart in his own castle you thought it was ridiculous. Ever since your almost wedding you've been acting like such a jerk!"

"Oh give me a break! My wife has been replaced by a shape shifting monster. The evil shadow king hid the 1 thing that can stop him in his castle. A strange monster has been sneaking around the castle to steal books of all things. Cut me some slack, those all sound like really far fetched theories."

"And yet I'm right on all 3 occasions, ironic huh?"

"Well what the heck do you want from me!"

"You actually have to ask!" Twilight said, almost screaming. "How hard is it to listen to me when I'm trying to pull your rump out of the fire?"

"I can take care of myself!"

"Oh well you could have fooled me! The only reason I try to help you so much is because I care about you and don't want anything bad to happen to you. But if you don't like that, fine! I'll stay out of your life!" Twilight then ran off in a fit of rage and depression all the way to her room. When she made it she locked herself in and after she finished crying, she looked at an old photo of her and her brother.

"I guess Shining Armor and I just aren’t as close as we used to be," Twilight said with a broken heart as she started to pack her things ready to head home.

"Twily wait!" Shining Armor called out when he made it to Twilight's room. "You're not going to leave are you?"

"Why not? It's clear I'm not wanted here. Big brothers aren't supposed to treat their little sisters like that."

"Oh give me a break I got a lot on my hooves! Trying to fill Stone Wall's shoes, trying to help Cadance run an entire empire, trying to prove to her that I'm still the pony she fell in love with. And you know it's not all that easy to be the big brother. Sometimes I wish mom and dad brought home a puppy instead." Shining Armor almost clamped his mouth shut as Twilight turned around showing her brother a face of shock and rage. "Twily-” was all Shining Armor could say before she teleported away.

The next morning Princess Cadance, who had looked forward to Twilight's visit, was very upset. "What do you mean she already left? What did you do to Twilight?" She asked.

"Why do you always take her side!?"

“Since you’ve been up her case all the time.”

“Because she keeps pushing my buttons! Why can’t she just give me a break?”

“Because you don’t deserve one, not after the way you’ve been acting.” Suddenly Shining Armor grabbed Cadance and started to shake her.

"YOU DON'T TALK TO ME LIKE THAT!" Shining Armor then pushed Cadance harder than he meant to and Cadance hit the wall. Cadance looked at Shining Armor who couldn't believe what he just did with fear. "O-Oh my gosh Cadance I'm so sorry!"

"Get away from me!" Cadance got up and ran away from Shining Armor who chased after her.

"Cadance please stop." Princess Cadence ran to an open window and flew away. "No Cadance, please come back, I'm sorry." Shining Armor then started to cry as he chased away the 2 most important mares in his life.

***

Chrysalis with the help of the Prank Master was at long last ready to exact her revenge on Equestria. After they got what Prank Master needed, Chrysalis at long last returned to her kingdom; the changelings sang praise at the long awaited return of their queen. "Yes my subjects, I have returned to you at last with great news. I shall take my long awaited revenge on the ponies that wronged me and finally drain the love from Equestria for all of us to feed!" All but 1 changeling cried out in happiness.
"Wow, that is a tall order. But then again she is around the height of Princess Celestia." Prank Master then laughed at her own joke as she was standing next to Thorax. "Get it? Because she's tall?"

"Uh yeah funny," Thorax said, giving Prank Master a few fake laughs. Chrysalis then led her army out of their kingdom so Prank Master could do the spell.

"All right Prank Master we're far enough, open the time portal so my army can attack Equestria in the past!" The changeling army once again cried out in sheer joy.

"Uh, they can't come." Suddenly the changelings stopped cheering.

"What did you just say?" Chrysalis asked.

"I said uh they can't come. My portal can't take an entire army into the past."

"Why didn't you tell me this before I brought out my whole army?!" Chrysalis asked.

"I thought you were leading some sort of changeling parade."

"WHY WOULD I LEAD A PARADE!"

"Parades are fun." Chrysalis had to fight the urge to hit her head because she didn't want to damage her brain anymore than it already was.

"Just alter the spell so an army can go with you," Pharynx said.

"That's not how spells work." Pharynx then grabbed Prank Master and started to shake her.

"Well then make it how it works!"

"That's not how making things work work," Prank Master said as she was being shaken. Chrysalis pulled Pharynx off.

"Oh geez that's too bad, well I guess we'll all just have to head back home."

"SHUT UP THORAX!" Pharynx yelled out. "How many of us can go with you?"

"Well counting me and Chrysalis, about 6." Chrysalis calmed down and selected 4 other changelings and sent the others back to the hive. Pharynx, proud to be one of the 4, was ready to get on with the mission and flew over to Prank Master again.

"All right Prank Master let's get going," Pharynx said.

"Do you know when you want to go?" Chrysalis then whispered the answer to Prank Master and she got to work working that into the spell.

"Is it set?" Chrysalis asked.

"Eeyup. All right here we go, insert time pun here," Prank Master then opened the portal and grabbed Chrysalis's leg to her surprise. "Ready buddy?"

"Get off me!"

***

Squeaky Clean and Swift Sweep were working together in another joint shift when Suddenly Swift Sweep took Squeaky by the leg and pulled. "Hurry this way!"
"What is it?"

"I just saw Shining Armor and I really don't want to talk to that stallion."

"Oh he's not exactly your favorite pony right now too?" Squeaky asked as he walked with Swift Sweep a little faster. They went around the corner where he couldn't see them.

"Wait, you don't like him either?"

"Well I like him, but I don't like the way he's been acting lately."

"Did he yell at you a lot too? I mean Stone Wall yelled at me too but only when I deserved it . I miss Stone Wall. He was a much better boss."

"Yeah I miss Stone Wall too, he and I were…are best friends.”

"You know what else I liked about Stone Wall?"

"What?"

"He didn't call me stupid as much as other ponies do."

Suddenly Swift Sweep was grabbed from behind by a tail and pulled away. "What the?" Squeaky chased after the tail and came across Discord who was holding Swift Sweep up in the air with his tail.

"Shoot, wrong janitor."

"Discord! I thought that tail looked familiar, let Swift Sweep go!"

"Fine with me you're the one I'm after."

"What?" Discord then dropped Swift Sweep and picked up Squeaky Clean and removed his horn so he couldn’t use magic to escape. "Put me down, I have a job to do!"

"Not anymore," Discord said who was about to teleport when he was suddenly tackled by Shining Armor. Resulting in Shining Armor teleporting along with Squeaky Clean, Discord, and even Swift Sweep who grabbed on to Discord's foot as he tried to stand back up when Discord dropped him.

"What the? Where did you take us?" Shining Armor asked as he was now on top of Discord and ready to blast a spell right in his face. But not even slightly intimidated Discord picked him up with his tail and threw him at a nearby wall.

"I think it's the Castle of the 2 Sisters," Swift Sweep answered now standing.

"How did you know that?" Squeaky asked who was now free from Discord's grip thanks to Shining Armor tackling him.

"Princess Luna kind of likes to tell me a lot about it but I don't remember her telling me about a whirly twirly portal thingy. Maybe she didn't get to that part yet." Squeaky and Shining Armor noticed the portal in midair.

"Discord what's with the portal?"

"Not sure Squeaky, it appeared in the castle all of a sudden and this flew out of it," Discord said while showing a small piece of paper that simply said “It will make sense later, a friend.” written on it. "So I wanted to bring you here because something told me dealing with something like this would be your department."

"You want him to clean it?" Swift Sweep asked.

"No Swift Sweep I-" Before Discord could finish the portal started to wiggle and shake and looked like it was going to break. "Well, no time to act, come on let's get going." Discord then picked up Squeaky Clean and charged into the portal and Swift Sweep and Shining Armor charged in after them just before the portal closed. The 3 ponies and spirit of chaos suddenly arrived in a large open field.

"Now where did we go?" Shining Armor asked as he looked around and saw 2 small alicorns. A white one with a sun cutie mark and a dark one with a crescent moon cutie mark. "Are those the princesses?"

"But that can't be," Squeaky said. “They’re full grown mares.”

"Even more than full grown really," Swift Sweep added, which Discord couldn't help but chuckle at.

"Do you know any ponies that resemble them?" After Discord's question it suddenly hit Squeaky like the anvil Discord dropped on Super Stallion recently.

"We've gone, back in time." Suddenly the ponies heard a dramatic piano music and they turned to see Discord made a piano appear.

"What are you doing?" Swift Sweep asked.

"Just adding a little drama." Shining Armor then got in front of the 2 janitors to talk with Discord.

"Why did you bring us here?"

"I didn't do this, even my magic can't directly interfere with time. If it did I would have helped myself defeat Stupid Stallion once and for all."

"But then Equestria would be all chaos," Swift Sweep said.

"So?"

"Well then everypony would be miserable."

"And your point is?"

"Is it me or is he not getting the point?" Swift Sweep was then pulled in by Shining Armor's magic as well as Squeaky until the 2 janitors were right beside him on each side.

"All right we need a plan." Before Shining Armor could continue Swift Sweep pulled away in anger.

"I'm not listening to you!" Swift Sweep, still upset with how Shining Armor treated him a while back.

"I'm the captain, you have to listen to me. And you don't have any right to be mad with me after that stunt you pulled!"

"I tried to tell you Princess Cadance couldn't make it but you didn't want to listen.”

"Well you should have tried harder. Cadance and Twilight would have forgiven me by now if it weren’t for you. I hate you Swift Sweep.”

“I hate you more.”

“I’d hate you no matter what.”

“Yeah well I’d hate you even if I didn’t hate you.”

Shining Armor paused. “I’d hate you if that made sense.”

“I’d hate you even if you were me, that’s how much I hate you.”

"Knock it off, both of you!” Squeaky said as Discord was about to drop buckets of water on the 2 of them. "Save your argument for later. We have stuff to figure out. We were probably sent to this time for a reason so we need to figure out what that is and fast."

"Maybe they can help us," Swift Sweep said as he pointed to a group of changelings on the other side of the field who were watching the princesses with a pony Squeaky instantly recognized.

Prank Master! Was she the one that sent us here? To give us a chance to stop whatever she's planning, honestly I wouldn't put it past her, Squeaky thought. I've got to let Shining and Swift know about her but how can I do that without telling them my secret?

"Hey I recognize that pony," Shining Armor called out. "She was busted out of a mental hospital and was one of the rogues that attacked the castle."

Oh that'll work. On the other side Chrysalis had ordered the other changelings to take the forms of ponies in case guards were nearby so they could grab the princesses easier. "Those other ponies must be working with her and I bet they're gonna try to grab Celestia and Luna. Discord you gotta stop them."

"Me, help Sun butt?"

"Why not what did she ever do to you?" Swift Sweep asked.

"She turned me into stone and put me in the mines beneath Canterlot for over 1000 years."

"Oh, right, well she's just a filly now so technically she didn't do it yet."

"Well technically too bad Swift Sweep."

"Discord please whatever problem you have or will have with the princesses, they're just fillies." Discord then sighed out of frustration.

I must be getting soft." Discord then snapped his fingers and his group was teleported right on top of the other group. In the confusion both parties struggled to get up.

"I have a mare on top of me," Swift Sweep said.

"I have a stallion under me," Prank Master said.

"Goodnight everypony," Discord said.

Shining Armor got up and tried to blast the others, but his magic wasn’t working. “What the? What’s going on?” As Shining Armor tried to figure things out Squeaky Clean and Swift Sweep blasted the group who came more out in the open. Shining Armor then got a good look at a certain changeling.

"Chrysalis!"

"Shining Armor!"

"Squeaky Clean!" The others stared at Swift Sweep. "What I thought we were just saying names for no reason."

"I like this stallion," Prank Master said. 2 of the changelings charged at Swift Sweep who fittingly gave both of them a swift kick in the face with his back legs.

“How’d you do that?” Prank Master asked.

"My dad was a professional fighter."

"Well you're just full of surprises, why don’t you, stick around." Prank Master got out her staff and fired rubber glue but Swift Sweep flew up to dodge then flew at Prank Master and kicked the staff out of her hoof.

"Youch!" Prank Master said as she shook her hoof.

"Thought I'd just stand still and get gooed, I may be stupid but I'm not dumb." Squeaky then forced 2 changelings into a tree with a spell after Shining Armor failed to do so.

"Something I learned from Stone Wall." Squeaky then saw Prank Master using several spells and pulled a few other gadgets. So he went to help Swift Sweep while Shining Armor faced Chrysalis.

"You're gonna pay for ruining my wedding!" Shining Armor said as he tried to fire a spell.

"From what I heard you ruined it yourself," Chrysalis said as she blasted Shining Armor.

"I don't know what it is but something about you is annoyingly familiar," Prank Master said.

"I've never met you before in my life," Swift Sweep said.

"I meant the other stallion."

"But you were looking at me."

"I was?"

"Prank Master let's go!" Chrysalis said as the other changelings joined her. "We'll try another time."

"Ha! Time my sense of humor is rubbing off on you." Prank Master then picked up her staff, jumped over to Chrysalis, and they all teleported away.

“Where did they go?" Shining Armor asked.

"Where did Discord go?" Swift Sweep asked, causing the other stallions to notice as well. Swift Sweep flew around for a bit before coming back. “I couldn't find Discord but I did see that Celestia and Luna left with Star Swirl."

"Ah geez in the heat of the moment I forget we should have made sure that they got out of here before we started fighting," Squeaky said.

"Oh yeah we should have done that," Swift Sweep said. "Stone Wall said royal guards should make sure innocent bystanders get cleared before fighting. Or was it something like protecting bystanders is a higher priority than battling the enemy. Actually I think he said stop standing around and get back to work, my memory gets a little fuzzy sometimes."

“Did anypony else notice what was up with my magic?” Shining Armor asked. “I couldn’t do any kind of spell.”

“Not even an aging spell?”

Shining Armor paused. “That’s for the highest level unicorns Swift Sweep.”

“That’s weird,” Squeaky said. “My magic was fine.”

“Maybe it’s a metamorphosis,” Swift Sweep said. Squeaky and Shining Armor stared.

“What?” They asked.

“It’s where a conflict of the mind expresses itself as an ailment of the body.”

“That might be the wrong word, but I have heard of that,” Squeaky said. “You have been through a lot lately. Maybe all the stress is affecting your magic.”

“You think?” Shining asked.

"Perhaps but worry about improving yourself later, we need to find Discord," Squeaky said.

"What do we need to do that for exactly? I'm still not convinced he isn't involved in this." Suddenly Discord appeared, shocking the stallions.

"Oh sure, blame the spirit of chaos and disharmony for all your problems."

"And where have you been exactly?" Shining Armor asked.

"Oh just tracking the troublemakers you let get away."

"How did you do that?" Swift Sweep asked.

"When I teleported you 3 I took a bird's eye view of the whole thing because I figured there was a good chance that you 3 could stop them."

"Wait what if we couldn't handle-"

"Don't interrupt Squeaky, anyway when they escaped I was able to see where they went and overheard, well just look and listen for yourself." Discord made phantoms of the group.

"This is bogus, we had the princesses right where we wanted them, where did those other ponies come from?" Pharynx asked, frustrated.

"And how come that one could kick so hard?"

"At least you weren't blasted into a tree. I'll be picking bark out of my back for a week."

"Will you quit complaining you're worse than Thorax!"

"Prank Master, what were they doing here? Did you bring them?" Chrysalis asked.

"Why would I bring ponies here in the past just so they could stop our plans?"

"Why do you do any of the utterly random stuff that you do!?"

"Maybe they have a time travel spell of their own, your highness."

"Well if that's the case we need to get going before they find us again," Chrysalis ordered.

"When do you want to go now?" Prank Master asked.

"Take us to when Princess Celestia didn't have that annoying Twilight Sparkle as a student and before her sister returned. Also I've heard that her former captain of the royal guard was a formidable warrior."

Are you kidding me even the changelings talk about Stone Wall, Shining Armor thought frustrated.

"He wasn't all that tough," Pharynx added.

"So you want me to take you to a point in history where he wasn't captain?"

"Take us to when he wasn't even a royal guard."

"All right then, I met him once and I'm pretty good at guessing ages so let's go." Prank Master made another portal and they jumped in.

"Why didn't you just restrain them?" Squeaky asked.

"What, and rob you all of a great time adventure?”

Squeaky rolled his eyes.

"Well how exactly are we supposed to follow them if they already left?" Shining Armor asked. Discord teleported his group and they saw the time portal was still there with disembodied claws holding the portal.

"Something I put on the portal to make sure it would stay put."

"So we can follow them, good thinking Discord," Squeaky Clean said as he jumped through the portal and the others followed.

***

The portal brought the group to an alleyway in Canterlot. "Discord you'd better turn invisible or something. I'm pretty sure you're still trapped in stone right now." Discord then shuttered at Squeaky's comment.
"Uh don't remind me. But a good point." Discord then vanished and the stallions left the alleyway and looked around trying to find where Prank Master and Chrysalis went off.

"Hey look!" Swift pointed out to a nearby store.

"A store?"

"Not just any store Squeaky, it was my favorite store of sweets before it closed down." Swift Sweep then reached into his saddle bag and got out a ton of bits. "Good thing I got paid before we went back in time."

"Wait Swift Sweep we need to focus-"

"Focus later, candy now!" Swift Sweep flew straight to the store before Shining Armor could finish.

"Well they don't call him Swift Sweep for nothing," Squeaky said.

"Well what are we gonna do Chrysalis and Prank Master?"

"Well from what we saw their new plan is to grab Princess Celestia." Just as Squeaky finished, Swift Sweep returned with loads of candy and a newspaper.

"Uh, why did you get a newspaper?"

"The store had a strange deal for free chocolate for every newspaper you buy. I remember them doing other strange things like that to try to stay in business. Sadly it didn't work. Squeaky, can I borrow some bits so I can buy a few more sweets?"

"Fine but make it-" Swift Sweep then quickly flew back into the store as soon as Squeaky gave him a few more bits. "quick." Squeaky then noticed the newspaper Swift Sweep dropped and saw the date. Earlier not too far away the rogues were about ready to get the next plan in action.

"Wow, that is such a beautiful sunset isn't it?"

"Focus Prank Master we need to get going with our plans," Chrysalis barked.

"You're right," Prank Master said as she got herself up and offered Chrysalis a drink. "Here take this."

"What is this some sort of invisibility potion?" Chrysalis asked as she took a sip.

"No, it's chocolate milk."

"What's it supposed to do?"

"It's supposed to taste good, what do you think?"

"I suppose it's not all bad, in fact it actually tastes like love."

"Sounds right to me." Chrysalis then finished the drink and ordered Pharynx to lead the other changelings to sneak into the royal chambers of Princess Celestia.

"Once she's properly restrained, bring her back here. Prank Master, get to work making a portal so we can make a clean escape. I'll stay here to make sure nothing distracts her or stops her."

Back at Canterlot Shining Armor was trying to put a plan into action. "We need to figure out something, the changelings and that 1 wacko pony are going after the princess. And we can't exactly go up and tell the guards."

"I wouldn't worry too much," Squeaky said.

"Why are you so calm?" Swift asked.

"When you dropped that newspaper I saw the date. Tonight's the night that Stone Wall got his cutie mark."

"How did he get his cutie mark?"

"I can't say."

"Uh come on, I gotta know now." Swift Sweep said.

"Yeah if you know something that might help us you need to tell us," Shining Armor said.

"Sorry guys, I playground promised."

"Oh I get it, never mind then."

"What? Just like that?" Shining Armor asked surprised.

"Hey, the playground promise is a solemn oath that should not and cannot be broken especially when made by the closest and bestest of friends."

"Yeah, well said Swift Sweep."

***

At the castle Princess Celestia was alone in her chambers staring at the mare in the moon. She was a strong beautiful mare but there were times where even she needed to cry. But before she could get her emotions in order she was suddenly attacked. With her guard down she was suddenly wrestled to the ground and felt a very sharp pain under her wing that made her weak.

"Hold her, hold her!" Pharynx barked.

"We're holding, we're holding," another changeling said. In mere moments the princess was bound by slime. Her wings were bound together along with her back legs while her forelegs were bound to her chest.

Lastly a magic canceling collar was placed on her but despite that, she desperately tried to get free. "Don't bother, you aren't going anywhere except with us."

"Princess?" The changelings turned around fast and saw a confused colt who quickly got angry. "Get away from her!"

“Stone Wall no,” Princess Celestia said right before she was gagged. “Qlik rm abay.”

"Oh it's just a brat, I was actually worried for a second," Pharynx said. "You 3 wait here, I'll take care of him in 2 seconds flat." Pharynx then charged but as he was about to tackle Stone Wall, he flipped the gung-ho changeling.

"Well you were right about 1 thing, that was 2 seconds flat." Stone Wall then suddenly fired a spell at another changeling who was slammed against the wall.

"Not again," the changeling said before passing out.

"I'm going to bite your head clean off your neck!" Pharynx said as he got back and grabbed Stone Wall.

"Oh you want some more huh?" Stone Wall then summoned a barrier that pushed Pharynx and the other 2 changelings who tried to help back. In the confusion, Stone Wall used magic to force the other 2 changelings to head butt each other as hard as he could. Stone Wall then went to free Princess Celestia but before he could get to her, Pharynx forced him into the wall and started beating on him.

“How do you like that!” Pharynx said as he kept beating on Stone Wall.

“Get off!” Stone Wall then forced Pharynx off with magic again. Stone Wall, while hurt, managed to stand back up. “Why don’t you call it quits like the others?”

"No! You are not getting the best of me again!"

"Again?" Stone Wall tilted his head very confused. “I’ve never met you before in my life.” Pharynx grabbed Stone Wall again and put his hoof on his horn.

"Oh no you don't, how about I break your horn right off?"

"How about I bite your hoof off!" Stone Wall then did just that then kicked Pharynx in the face as hard as he could forcing the changeling to let him go. Stone Wall then blasted him with the strongest spell he could muster.

"Try that on for size you whatever you are!" Pharynx was nearly blasted through the wall and when he got back up he could barely stand or stay awake. Reluctantly he picked up the other changelings for a tactical retreat.

"This isn't over you hear me, far from it. 1 way or another I'm going to settle the score with you," Pharynx said right before leaving with the other changelings.

"Are you all right?" Stone Wall asked after he freed the princess.

"Am I all right?! Look what they, well the 1 really, did to you!"

"It's nothing I can't handle besides it was my own fault for letting my guard down. I’ll be sure not to do that again. From now on I’m noticing everything around me.”

"I see, well here's something you didn't notice." Princess Celestia then pointed to Stone Wall's flank.

"Huh I have my cutie mark, how about that?"

"You don't sound that excited."

"I have more important things to do, such as helping you up."

"I've been trying to but I can't. I think I've been poisoned can you-"

"On it." Stone Wall then went to get a medic member of the castle staff.

***

Pharynx barely managed to get back to Chrysalis and Prank Master, the former of whom was shocked to see them the way they were.
"What happened?"

"We failed your majesty."

"But how?! Prank Master even gave you a poison that strangely I didn't ask her to make for you to use. How could you have possibly-"

"We just did alright! Um, your highness," Pharynx said.

"Well now what do we do?"

"Try this," Prank Master said, offering some food to Chrysalis who decided to eat it.

"What is it, some kind of power drug?"

"No, it's black licorice. Do you like it?"

"It tastes like disgust."

"As in you're so disgusted by it or it actually tastes like the emotion of disgust?"

"Both." Suddenly the group was suddenly hit by stun spells. Shining Armor decided the group should split up to cover more ground then regroup. Squeaky took that chance to change into Super Stallion who listened for the voices of the bad guys and when he found them he took them down.

"Looks like Stone Wall did most of the work for me. Thanks buddy, that's another one I owe you." Super Stallion then flew down, became Squeaky Clean and magically restrained the rouges. After that he teleported himself and the out cold rouges back to the alley way when the others returned and were surprised to say the least.

"Squeaky how did you manage this all on your own?" Shining asked.

"A perfect mix between a sneak attack and stun spells. Swift Sweep isn't the only 1 that’s surprisingly good in a fight."

"Well nice work Squeaky now that these troublemakers are caught, we can go back to the present. Just as soon as we figure out which spell they used to go into the past," Shining Armor said.

"Well while I was waiting for you guys, I looked through Prank Master's saddle bag and found this spell book with a book marker on a page about time travel."

"What else does she have in here?" Swift Sweep asked as he looked through it but suddenly jumped back and let out a scream.

"What is it?" Shining Armor asked.

"Black licorice, I hate black licorice!" Shining Armor then smacked Swift Sweep in the back of the head then grabbed the spell book. However the spell was pretty complicated and would take a while to figure out. Morning came and Squeaky made his way to a park where 2 certain colts were.

"Wow! You saved-"

"Ssh keep your voice down Squeaky!"

"You saved Princess Celestia all by yourself?" A young Squeaky Clean said in a whisper.

"Yes and that's how I got my cutie mark. It turns out my special talent is protecting others."

"Wow, that's so much cooler than cleaning."

"Princess Celestia was so impressed with me she wanted to give me a medal and have a reporter put me on the front page, but I turned it down."

"You did, why?!"

"I don't want anypony to know how close the princess came to getting stolen away; it might encourage other troublemakers to do the same. I wanted to tell you because you're my best friend but you have to swear not to tell anypony else no matter what."

"Okay I promise."

"I'm serious, I want you to give me the playground oath."

"Wow, you are serious." Squeaky then made the playground oath as his older self left to join the others.

"Is something wrong?" Swift Sweep asked when Squeaky got back.

"I was watching a younger me talking with Stone Wall and well It hasn't been easy with him gone." Squeaky fought the urge to cry a little. "I don't want to believe he'll never come back but what if that is the case? I think the last thing I said to him was enough to know I'm getting a raise." Swift Sweep then placed a hoof on his shoulder as an act of empathy.

"It's times like this I wish I was smarter so I'd know what to say to make you feel better." Squeaky then put his hoof around Swift Sweep as sort of a half hug.

"Well having somepony to talk to actually does help, thanks Swift Sweep."

"Oh, I'm more helpful than I thought I was."

Sheesh Stone Wall this Stone Wall that, this should have been called the Stone Wall chapter, Discord thought.

Squeaky then finally put the spell into action. "It finally took me forever to get this thing to pop up. How in the wide world of Equestria were you able to make this thing appear?" Squeaky asked the Prank Master.

"If you think this is bad, this 1 time I tried to make a pudding cake but with this special pudding that you had to make just right or woah Nelly."

"Well anyway come on everypony, and the spirit of chaos back to the future! I mean present," Shining Armor said.

"Huh I feel like the when we wanted is the when not within this when that we are in. Does that make sense?" Swift Sweep asked.

"No, even for me," Discord said. Suddenly Shining Armor looked out of the alley and saw a younger version of himself who saw some ponies running around with young fillies and colts and he became rather sad.

"I wish I had a younger brother or sister." The present Shining remembered saying that quite well because it was the day his mother told him she was pregnant with Twilight. It was a rather fond memory because Shining Armor felt his wish came true. But he quickly became sad as he also remembered how he had recently treated Twilight.

"Squeaky, you feel bad about how Stone Wall left. At least you ended your last conversation on a somewhat good note. At least you didn't all but push her away."

“Her?” Discord asked.

“We were so close, we were the best of friends. Twilight even called me her big brother best friend forever.”

“Ah that’s cute,” Swift Sweep said.

“But ever since she moved to Ponyville we started seeing each other less and less, getting farther and farther away. And then I became captain of the royal guard and I let it all go to my head.” Shining Armor started to cry. "No wonder Twilight doesn't want me in her life and Cadance doesn't want to marry me I'm annoying and selfish-"

"And mean spirited," Swift Sweep added.

"And mean spirited," Shining Armor said.

"And incredibly rude."

"And you kick ponies when they're down."

"I think he gets the idea, Swift Sweep. Look Shining Armor nopony or whatever Discord is will deny that you've made some mistakes. But that doesn't mean you can't make up for them."

“No,” Shining Armor said. “It’s too late. Twilight hates me.”

“Wait Twilight said that?” Swift Sweep asked.

“Well…No.”

“Then you don’t know for sure do you?” Swift Sweep asked.

“...No.”

“Look,” Squeaky Clean said. “I have a sister too. Sure we don’t always get along and sure she drives me crazy. But I know when we sit down and talk we can always work it out. That’s what you need to do for Twilight.”

"He does have a point, Shining Armor," Discord said. "And even if Twilight still doesn't want anything to do with you, I can cheer her up and make her want to be my student even more. It's a win win."

“Ignore him,” Squeaky said. “Though that’s probably hard to do.”

“Yeah, especially when I do stuff like this.” Discord then summoned a pie that he was going to hit Squeaky with. But Shining Armor instinctively blocked it with a magic shield that actually managed to appear. “Huh, how about that.”

“I guess that little emotional moment helped you unlock your magic,” Squeaky said.

“Yeah,” Shining Armor said. “But not a whole lot. I meant to make that a bigger barrier. But it’s better than nothing.”

Squeaky then opened the time portal again. However as they were going through the portal Prank Master reached into her pocket and a flash bomb went off that also allowed the magic binds to come off.

"Why didn't you use that earlier?" Chrysalis asked after finally being able to get the gag off.

"A battle move is like comedy, timing is everything." All of a sudden every creature arrived in the present.

"Scatter!" Chrysalis ordered and the other changelings quickly followed their queen's order.

"Don't let them get away!" Shining Armor said Discord managed to grab 3 of the changelings with ropes he was able to conjure. When the ropes pulled them down Discord made a rather large mallet appear and used it to knock them out.

"I suppose I could use my ever so powerful chaos magic to capture the others too, but I shouldn't take all the glory for myself. Oh yes, how humble of me."

Shining Armor, Swift Sweep, and Squeaky went after them and after a while Shining Armor caught up to Chrysalis and Prank Master who decided to stay close to Chrysalis.

"Hold it right there!” Shining Armor called out. “Both of you are going back to prison."

"Actually I was sent to a mental hospital."

"Whatever!" Shining Armor managed to fire a stun spell but Prank Master blocked it.

"Chrysalis, get out of here I'll hold him off."

"What? Why would you do that for me?"

"Because you’re my friend." Chrysalis flew off feeling somewhat touched from Prank Master's action.

"Oh no you don't!" Shining Armor fired another stun spell at Chrysalis but Prank Master countered it by hitting his spell with one of hers.

"Oh yes she does," Prank Master retorted happily to mock Shining Armor. Shining Armor then cast several spells at Prank Master who dodged them with no problem at all.

"Is that the best you can do, sheesh they'll make anypony captain of the royal guard these days." Shining Armor then blindly fired spells that Prank Master continued to dodge. After a minute Shining Armor stopped as firing that many spells tired him out a little. "Wow that's the best you can do gotta say I'm really disappointed."

"I need to figure out how to outsmart this lunatic." Shining took some deep breaths to calm himself down.

"Try this on for size! Pun intended as you'll see in a minute." Prank Master then got out what seemed like a toothpick but she used a grow spell to show it was a spear she shrunk earlier. Prank Master threw it at Shining Armor who quickly got an idea. Shining Armor grabbed the spear midair and threw it back.

"That won't work either," Prank Master said after she dodged again. She then noticed his horn was glowing and was ready to dodge spells again but suddenly she was hit in the back of the head by her own spear. Shining Armor used his magic to pull the spear back to him and hit Prank Master along the way.

Shining Armor then grabbed the spear and used a spin attack to force her to the ground. "Feel like surrendering?"

"...Okay."

***

Swift Sweep and Squeaky Clean caught up to Pharynx and Squeaky saw another alleyway and got an idea. "Swift Sweep, try to hold him off for a second. I think I saw another changeling run into that alley."

"All right I think I can handle him."

"Don't underestimate me!" Pharynx said as he charged at Swift Sweep but suddenly Super Stallion punched Pharynx and knocked him out.

"Thought you needed a hoof, well take care." Super Stallion then flew off leaving Swift Sweep in awe and suddenly Squeaky showed up again.

"Okay I'm back there was no changeling what I miss?"

"What did you miss?! Super Stallion suddenly showed up and took down the changeling then flew off."

"He did? Wow, I wish I could have seen that."

***

Chrysalis quickly turned into Twilight to make her way to the train station and escape unnoticed. But before she could get there she ran across the real Twilight who put 2 and 2 together.

"Chrysalis!" Chrysalis then ran off as Twilight chased after.

"Running into the pony I turned into, what beastly luck." Chrysalis then blasted a hole in a building and ran in. Twilight quickly followed and was surprised to find wax figures everywhere.

"A changeling in a wax museum, wonderful." Twilight slowly made her way into the building and made sure to stay on her guard. Any of the wax figures could be Chrysalis in disguise. While looking she came across wax versions of the almost married royal couple that the owner made before the almost wedding "Cadance, too obvious." Twilight then made her down a hallway but out of the corner of her eye via reflection of a nearby mirror, she saw the wax Shining Armor move and dodge a spell just in time. Twilight charged Chrysalis still in Shining Armor's form and decked her right in the jaw.

"That felt so good." Chrysalis then lunged at Twilight and after they hit each other for a while Chrysalis found a way to pin Twilight to the ground.

"You have a lust for knowledge don't you?" Chrysalis bent down and ignited her horn after placing the tip on Twilight's head. "Did you know if I focus hard enough with my magic on a creature I can give them brain damage!" Suddenly Chrysalis was knocked off Twilight by a spell from Shining Armor who saw the magic beams from earlier when Twilight chased Chrysalis.

"Step away from my sister!"

This wasn't supposed to happen! I was so close and you got in the way!" Chrysalis said before hiding behind wax figures. Twilight and Shining Armor then went back to back to make sure Chrysalis didn’t sneak up on them.

“Twily since you’re here, I’m sorry for what happened at the Crystal Empire-”

“Now isn’t a really good time Shining Armor.”

“I didn’t mean to push you away.”

“You are honestly doing this right now.” Chrysalis fired while still hiding but Twilight blocked it.

“Please, how can I make you forgive me.”

“You can’t, not after the way you acted. You need to learn there are consequences to your actions.”

“I’m sorry, I couldn’t help myself-”

“I don’t want to hear your excuses!” Chrysalis fired more but Twilight and Shining Armor managed to block them.

“But it’s true, no matter how hard I try to do things on my own I can’t. I always need somepony to help me. I-I’m useless on my own.” Shining Armor nearly teared up. “I’ve screwed up so much lately. I wish I could do it all on my own like Stone Wall, or you.”

“You’re wrong!” Twilight nearly yelled. “After your almost wedding, I fell apart. I could barely eat or sleep.”

“What?” Shining Armor asked shocked. “But what about all that stuff you did afterwards? Saving the Crystal Heart. Defeating the changeling queen.”

“She just got lucky!” Chrysalis said as she fired beam after beam. Twilight summoned a barrier around her and Shining Armor.

“Yeah, but I didn’t do those things alone. No pony is an island, I needed help with those things and I’m sure I’ll need help in the future. It’s not easy and I have a lot on my mind, but I knew I couldn’t let it consume me.”

Chrysalis fired more beams but the shield endured.

“I struggled to stay in control and managed to solve the problems at hoof and worked things out with everypony, almost everypony.” As Chrysalis continued firing the barrier started to crack. “I’ve been avoiding you.”

“Me? Why me?”

“Because there’s been something I’ve been meaning to ask you, but I’m scared of what the answer might be. What if I was wrong?”

“Twily, what are you talking about?”

“What if I was wrong about Cadance, what if that was the real one I made run off crying?” The barrier cracked more and more as Twilight suddenly turned to face her brother who to his surprise was in tears. “Would you hate me?”

Without hesitating Shining Armor pulled Twilight into a hug and tears poured down his muzzle. “Twily, oh Twily, I could never hate you!” Suddenly Shining Armor’s horn lit up as a powerful barrier forced Chrysalis through a wall.

"This isn’t over,” Chrysalis said as she flew back in and finally managed to blast Twilight and Shining Armor. “I'm gonna make you braindead!" Chrysalis fired her spell thinking quickly Twilight magically grabbed the nearby mirror and pulled it in front of her.

"Reflect on your actions!" Twilight said as the spell bounced off the mirror and hit Chrysalis dead on. After screaming in pain the spell finally stopped and Chrysalis fell down. Twilight ran over to Chrysalis ready to keep fighting.

"Twilight wait!" Shining Armor said.

"You want some more Chrysalis, get back up!" Chrysalis then did just that with a blank expression on her face and moaning. "Well don't stand there, put up your dukes." Chrysalis then raised her front hooves still moaning and still with a blank expression. "Chrysalis, stand on your head." Chrysalis did just that and stayed until the royal guards arrived.

***

After catching Pharynx, Swift Sweep and Squeaky went straight to the castle telling several guards right away what was going on and Princess Celestia and Luna overheard and decided to go too. When they all got there, they were surprised to find the problem already solved and the guards helped restrain Chrysalis who didn't try to escape at all.

"Wait Swift Sweep you said 4 changelings and Prank Master, where are the others?" Suddenly 3 changelings dropped right on Princess Celestia's head.

"Your welcome sun butt," Discord said waving up in the air and then teleported. Princess Celestia then rubbed her head and groaned not from pain but from annoyance.

"There they are! That was super helpful of Discord wasn't it."

"Oh yeah he's a real saint," Princess Celestia said.

"I guess this whole thing means my trip home is postponed again," Prank Master said as she sat up. As Princess Celestia looked right at Prank Master, her jaw almost dropped. She then approached Prank Master and used magic to pull off her small mask and still remained shocked.

"Clover? Clover the Clever?" Suddenly everypony there was shocked.

"Who?" Prank Master asked.

"Clover, it's me, Celestia don't you remember me?" Prank Master then stared at Princess Celestia for a minute.

"You're the one that raises the moon right?"

"What no, well I did but my sister's back, look at me don't you recognize me?" Prank Master then stared at Princess Celestia for a while as if she was focusing but suddenly she just licked her. After that Celestia let her get taken away.

"Did I hear you right, Clover the Clever, the personal student of Star Swirl the Bearded?" Twilight asked.

"But how can that be, sister. She lived 1000 years ago?"

"Yes but remember Luna, Star Swirl found a way into the present as well. After you left 1 day Clover just disappeared, much like Star Swirl."

"I guess it is possible," Squeaky said. "But why would she become somepony like Prank Master?"

"There are quite a few questions that need answering," Discord said, reappearing next to Squeaky and surprising everypony. "Even I don't know what to make of all this yet but I'm sure answers will come-"

"Don't say it," Squeaky interrupted.

"In time." Discord then disappeared as Squeaky put his hoof to his face.

Back at Celestia's royal chambers after the rogues were taken away Squeaky Clean and Swift Sweep told the princesses about their insane time travel adventure.

"Wow that was quite a story," Princess Celestia said.

"Yeah I don't know about you but I could go for good old fashion cleaning for quite a while," Squeaky said.

"Here here," Swift Sweep added.

Elsewhere in the castle Shining Armor tucked his sister into bed.

“This isn’t really necessary, Shining Armor.”

“Of course it is,” Shining Armor replied. “You got hurt.”

“So did you.”

“Yeah but, I just want to make sure you’re okay. And.”

“And?”

"Twily I'm sorry, I'm sorry for everything. I never wished that mom and dad brought home a puppy you're better than any puppy. I’m sorry for all the fights we’ve had, can you ever forgive me. If I have to, I'll spend the rest of my life making it up to you.”

"Well, I suppose I can forgive you if you do something for me." Shining Armor nearly smiled from ear to ear when he heard that. Twilight then made a piece of paper appear with a quill with some ink then placed them on a nearby table.

Shining figured out what she wanted him to do then got the quill to draw with his horn. "I promise to always listen to Twilight whether I ask for it or she offers it to me." Twilight then flipped the paper. "No exceptions! all letters capitalized underline underline underline!"

"So this is some special thing you're gonna use on me 1 time?" Shining Armor asked.

"1 time?" Twilight then laughed as she grabbed the paper with her magic then rolled it up and put it in her saddle bag. "You're going to be a grandfather by the time you're done making this up to me." Twilight then hugged her brother.

***

The next day Shining Armor and Twilight made it to the Crystal Empire where he embraced Cadance the very second he saw her and gave her the most passionate kiss he ever gave her.

"Cadance oh my beautiful Cadance I'm so sorry for what I did."

"It's okay, I wasn't hurt. I was just more shocked than scared and overreacted."

"Well I still deserved it. I've been acting like such a jerk to you to Twily and a few others. It's time I set everything right and it starts with you. Cadance I need your love to fill me otherwise I'm just an empty husk. You make me happy in so many ways and help me do what's right. I may be your Shining Armor but you're my shining star.”

"Oh Shining, that was beautiful." Shining Armor then held her front hooves with his.

"Cadance, please be my wife."

".....No," Cadance answered bluntly, shocking her almost husband. "As touching as that was I told you before that I won't marry you until Twilight agrees-"

"Oh right she does, she agreed to be the best mare again!" Shining interrupted and Princess Cadance then looked to Twilight who nodded.

"I kinda figured as much but honestly I couldn't resist, that look on your face was priceless."

"I guess I kind of deserved that.”

***

With the wedding finally being continued at last, Cadance and Shining Armor decided to have their wedding at the Crystal Empire. As it was underway Shining Armor, Squeaky Clean, and Swift Sweep with a little help from Twilight were able to create 1 last time portal and Squeaky made a note to go with it.

“This should make everything go full circle so to speak,” Squeaky said.

“Feels kind of weird to send a time portal back in time,” Shining Armor said. “I kind of think we shouldn’t do this.”

“Yeah but we have to,” Swift Sweep said. “Because we already did, time travel is funny that way.” With that the portal was sent to the beginning of their adventure.

“And that’s the end of that, or the beginning depending on how you look at it,” Squeaky said.

““I really appreciate all your help. Especially you Swift Sweep after the way I treated you,” Shining Armor said somberly. “I’m sorry, can you ever forgive me?”

“.......Okay.”

“Really? Just like that?”

“Oh please, nothing but love,” Swift Sweep said as he pounded his chest a little.

“Thank you. I’m also sorry for the way I acted to you, Squeaky. Ever since my wedding got postponed I’ve been blaming others for my mistakes. But I realize now you can’t escape bad decisions by putting them on others.”

“It’s alright, we’re cool. What about you and Twilight?”

“We finally talked it out. Between that and our time travel ordeal I realized it’s nice to have a big day about you, but the ponies you love are what really matters. I guess I had to learn that the hard way.”

“Well better late than never,” Squeaky said.

Elsewhere Discord was using his chaos magic to prepare the entire Crystal Empire for the wedding. “Wow, everything looks amazing,” Cadance said. “Thank you Discord.”

“No problem, and besides this way you can’t say I never do anything nice for you ponies.”

“True, which reminds me.” Cadance then gestured Discord to come down to her level and when he did she kissed his cheek to his utter shock. “I..never thanked you, for saving my life.”

“Oh that. You're welcome,” Discord said with a smile. Not too long after that the wedding went off with no problems whatsoever and there was so much love, the Crystal Empire would glow for days.

“Twily,” Shining Armor said right before he entered his honeymoon carriage. “I didn’t get the chance to tell you this at Canterlot. None of this would have been possible without you little sis, love ya Twily.”

“Love you too BBBFF,” Twilight said before she and her brother hugged and he went off to his long overdue honeymoon. “Now this was a great wedding.”

Chapter 24 Adventures in Other Universes Part 1

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"For she's a jolly good fellow for she's a jolly good fellow for she's a jolly good fell-ow, that nopony can deny," Swift Sweep sang as he lightly shook Twilight who recently became an alicorn and had come to the Crystal Empire with her Ponyville friends.

"Heh thank you Swift Sweep," Twilight said rather sheepishly. "But let's try not to make too big a deal about the whole me becoming a princess."

"Oops too late I already did," Sweep Swift as he let go of Twilight.

"It's alright." Twilight then gave Swift Sweep a little pat on the head. Twilight’s group then met up with Cadance and Shining Armor.

"Oh Twily, I'm so proud of you!" Shining Armor said as he and his wife hugged Twilight.

"I can tell from all that “liquid pride” of yours." After talking with his sister Shining Armor then led Squeaky and Swift inside the crystal castle and the 2 janitors found a room filled with their favorite foods.

"What's all this?" Squeaky asked.

"I still felt a little bad so when I heard you 2 were coming I gathered your favorite foods. My sister isn't the only one who knows how to do some research you know."

"Well Shining I appreciate you wanting to make up for a way too rotten attitude but this might be a bit much," Squeaky said.

"No it isn't! Geronimare!" Swift Sweep replied as he nearly jumped right into the food. After that Shining Armor.

"Should I bring in some more food?” A guard by the name of Flash Century asked.

“No, I think we’re good,” Shining Armor answered as he saw the 2 janitors eating.

"Alright. By the way, did you notice the new alicorn that came here today? She's got a nice little body on her doesn't she?"

"That's my little sister," Shining Armor answered.

"Oh, this is awkward. Is she single?"

***

Morning came or rather it would as Squeaky, upon Princess Celestia’s orders came in to wake her up. Squeaky gently kissed the sleeping princess until she woke up and returned the kiss. “Thank you Squeaky.”

“For you anytime,” Squeaky said. He then placed another kiss that the princess returned.

I guess the sun can wait just a little longer. After raising the sun Squeaky surprised Celestia by setting up a picnic in her room. "My my what a pleasant surprise."

"Glad you like it." Squeaky then got out a bottle of Champagne and poured the princess a drink then offered it to her before pouring himself one. "To me, and the lucky star I was born under, that helped me win your heart.”

“How romantic,” Celestia said as they toasted and drank. “What’s the occasion?”

“Well after everything Shining Armor went through and told us before he got married. It made me realize how important you are to me.” Squeaky then snuggled next to Celestia.

“You’re important to me too Squeaky,” Celestia said as she pulled Squeaky in closer to her.

“I love you. No matter what happens I always want you to be part of my life.”

“That’s a nice thought, but how do you know we won’t drift in the future?”

“I don’t, but maybe that’s a part of love. Not knowing and hoping for the best

“Yeah, maybe you're right. And I love you too.”

After the picnic Squeaky and Princess Celestia went around the Crystal Empire seeing in the sights until returning to the castle. After a while Squeaky made his way back into the kitchen and saw Twilight there.

"Oh hello Twilight I thought who'd be asleep by now."

"I wanted to but I was rather hungry so I decided to get a snack." The 2 ponies then chatted for a little bit and Twilight also mentioned a couple of her adventures.

"And Trixie actually made a couple fireworks to add to my show, needless to say Princess Celestia and her guests really enjoyed that."

"Wow, you were thrown out of your own home and your friends had to deal with a street magician tyrant. It's a shame Super Stallion wasn't around to help you with that. How the heck did I even not notice a giant magic dome around a whole town?”

"Well it's kind of good he didn't help," Twilight replied. "I knew Trixie wasn't bad, she was just misguided and was being corrupted by a dangerous artifact. If Super Stallion got involved, that might have interfered with Trixie getting back to her senses.”

"Yeah you got a point," Squeaky said. After that Twilight went to bed while Squeaky finished his snack. “With all the trouble makers finally locked away or semi reformed, it’ll be nice for things to be peaceful for a while. There’s that bad feeling again.”

***

After trying to get comfortable Twilight was asleep in her bed. Twilight had a lot on her mind such as what if she’ll have to lead a kingdom like Princess Cadance, but soon she would have something else to worry about. A hooded figure crept into her bedroom and reached into a saddle bag.

"What th-'' Twilight was cut off when she was gagged and bound with rope. A magic canceling collar was placed on her neck as the ropes tied her back legs together, her forelegs to her chest, and her wings to her sides preventing her from moving. But it didn't stop her from trying. What's going on? Who is this pony?!

"Time to take you somewhere where we can't be bothered," the hooded figure said as she put Twilight on her back and walked towards the door.

There has to be something I can do to get these ropes off, wait a minute Spike! I have to get his attention. Twilight forced herself to fall off the pony carrying her and bumped into Spike's bed. This caused Spike to suddenly wake up.

"Twilight!?" The hooded figure picked Twilight up again with magic and placed her on her back again but started to run this time. Spike then quickly chased after in an attempt to rescue her. "HELP! WAKE UP TWILIGHT'S GETTING PONYNAPPED!" Spike called out as he continued running after the hooded figure.

"Twilight's being what?!" Rainbow Dash called out as the others woke up.

"Spikey Wikey! Be careful," Rarity called out who was the first to get to Spike first as the 5 ponies quickly chased after the hooded pony.

Rainbow Dash flew in front of the hooded pony who simply teleported out of the way leaving her hood, revealing the pony napper to be a mare with a fiery mane and tail along with a rather sunny coat. The mare then quickly jumped through a mirror and vanished along with Twilight.

"Twilight!" Spike was about to run after the strange mare but Rarity stopped him.

"Spike no, it could be dangerous. Who knows what could happen if you go in there."

"She's right, sugar cube we need to tell the princesses."

***

"Oh Sunset Shimmer, why have you done this," Princess Celestia said very disappointed. The others then gathered as she explained that Sunset Shimmer was once a student of hers until she disappeared and not too long after she did Twilight became her new student.

"But why would she want to take Twilight? Is it some kind of revenge?" Fluttershy asked.

"I'm afraid your guess is as good as mine. I always kept this mirror in case she would return to ask for my guidance once again. But that is clearly not the case here."

"Unless she, wait no not even then," Swift Sweep said, stopping himself.

"Well come on we have to get an army or something to save Twilight!"

"I understand your feelings Spike, but that mirror leads to a whole other world and sending too many there could very likely upset the delicate balance of said world."

"Well then what are we supposed to do?" Spike asked.

"It's a shame Super Stallion isn't here," Swift Sweep said.

"Did some pony call my name?" Super Stallion said as he flew into the room.

"Yeah I did.” While Princess Celestia was explaining, Squeaky excused himself from the room unnoticed and made his change into Super Stallion. "You gotta rescue Twilight. She was taken by a shimmering sun pony to a mirror world. Or something like that."

"Not Shimmering Sun Swift Sweep, Sunset Shimmer," Princess Celestia corrected.

"Wow, say that 10 times fast," Super Stallion said. Princess Celestia quickly explained things to Super Stallion as well as that the mirror only opens to the other world every 30 moons and will close in 2 days.

"Wait so if Twilight isn't rescued in 2 days we'll have to wait another 30 moons?!" Spike asked, sounding like he was on the verge of having a heart attack.

"I'm afraid so Spike," Princess Celestia answered rather calmly but was still just as worried if not more worried about Twilight.

"Don't worry your highness, I'll have her back in 30 seconds." Super Stallion then flew right through the portal and Spike ran through with him.

"Spike what are you doing?" Swift Sweep asked as he flew over to stop Spike from running into the mirror but as a result he went into the mirror with Spike. And as they went through the mirror their bodies transformed.

"I feel funny. I don't mean funny ha ha, or oh my gosh that's hilarious I'm about to bust a gut I mean funny weird,” Swift Sweep said.

"I think I'm a dog," Spike said.

"And I think Swift Sweep and I are I don't know what."

"Spike, can you confirm something for me? I think my wings are gone, are my wings gone?"

"Yes and I'm definitely a dog and this is definitely weird."

"Super Stallion, can we rescue Princess Twilight and go home now? I'm having trouble standing on 2 legs."

"I think we're gonna be here longer than I thought at first," Super Stallion said.

"My mom always used to say things always take longer than you think they will," Swift Sweep said. "She also always used to tell me Swift Sweep for the last time, stop using your head as a hammer."

"Well then I guess I'll have to try something else. Maybe she's somewhere in that building, let's go take a look."

"WE'RE COMING TWILIGHT!" Spike yelled as he ran over to the building Super Stallion pointed out and Super Stallion flew close behind. Swift Sweep tried to follow but was having trouble walking resulting in him falling down and landing head first. Super Stallion ran after Spike getting the attention of many of the creatures he and Swift Sweep looked like.

"This place is bigger on the inside," Super Stallion said. Swift Sweep entered the building then hit his head on a locker still having trouble walking and crawled to Spike and Super Stallion. "I think I should stick to traveling like this for now."

"Excuse me, can I help you people with something?" A female creature that resembled Princess Celestia a bit asked.

"What's a people?" Swift Sweep asked.

"Celestia?" Super Stallion asked.

"Yes, I'm Principal Celestia. Is there something I can help you with?"

"We're looking for somepony. I mean somebody.”

"Well this is a high school and you can't come in here if you aren't a student. I'm going to have to ask you to leave." Not wanting to cause any problems the trio decided to head out. Once they made it outside Spike stopped not too far away from the mirror.

"Spike what are you doing?" Super Stallion asked.

"We're not doing this right."

"What do you mean?" Swift Sweep asked as he crawled over to Spike.

"Well see I've read quite a few comics and they've done the parallel world thing a lot. It's like the 2nd most common thing in comics."

"What's the first?" Super Stallion asked.

"Killing off characters just to bring them back to life," Spike answered.

"Oh right," Super Stallion said.

"Though they handled that rather well in Vindicators Final Game," Swift Sweep said to which Spike and Super Stallion agreed both having enjoyed that movie very much.

"But back to the topic at, paw. In those comics they always had to try to blend in; Otherwise the people in the parallel world will think we're total weirdos and that's not going to help us save Twilight. I was so worried about her I forgot that."

"It probably wouldn't hurt if we did blend in a little better,” Swift Sweep said. “If Principal Celestia is anything like Princess Celestia she's the one in charge and she can help."

After a while Principal Celestia returned to her office and was surprised to see the trio in her office. Then was shocked to see Super Stallion hovering in the air. “You can fly?” She asked.

"I can do all sorts of things."

"I can fly too, least I could when I had my wings," Swift Sweep said as tried to stand and hit a file cabinet. "Ow! How many times am I going to hit my head today?”

“Maybe we should get him a helmet,” Spike said.

"Did that dog just talk?!"

"That's not so strange he talked when he was still a dragon too," Swift Sweep said.

"A dragon?!"

"Okay quick run down, we're from an alternate world where he and I are ponies and the dog is a dragon. 1 of our princesses was taken here and we need to find her in 2 days or we'll be stuck here for a long time," Super Stallion explained rather rapidly.

"Wow, that is a lot to take in. And you're some kind of superhero?"

"Yeah he is, how did you know?" Swift Sweep asked.

"Lucky guess. How exactly can I help you 3?"

"Can you tell us where to find Sunset Shimmer? She's the one that took Twilight," Spike said.

"Sunset Shimmer!" Principal Celestia said once again in shock. "That just might be the strangest thing I've heard yet."

"What do you mean?"

"Sunset Shimmer is a model student. I admit she had trouble fitting in and acted like a bully at the start of her freshman year, but she's changed a lot since then and she even helps me and my sister from time to time. Are you sure it was her?"

"I saw her take Twilight and when I described her our Celestia figured out it was her right away."

"Your Celestia? You know what, nevermind this is insane enough as it is.” Principal Celestia then sighed as she rubbed her head a little. "And to think the most stressful thing I was dealing with a second ago was getting all my papers in order." Principal Celestia then turned around and to her surprise all her papers were properly organized. "What the?"

"Oh I saw your papers were all over the place and organized them out of habit," Swift Sweep said on his feet again. "I'm a janitor in my world so I specialize in cleaning and cleaning is a type of organizing.” Principal Celestia then got an idea, she could hire Swift Sweep as a janitor for Canterlot High so he could work and search for Princess Twilight at the same time. Super Stallion then figured she could also hire him as well.

"Well I suppose but you're gonna have to wear something that's gonna attract less attention."

"Don't worry Principal Celestia, I have just the spell.” Super Stallion turned around and removed his sphere.

"Wow, you actually look pretty cute," Principal Celestia said.

"You know that transformation spell kinda makes you look like..my uncle Lou," Swift Sweep said.

***

Swift Sweep and Squeaky Clean got to work cleaning the school while searching for Twilight, but they wouldn't be able to find her because she was already gone. After school came to a close a young man by the name of Flash Century was about to head home after leaving the building when he saw Sunset Shimmer come out of the nearby woods.

"What was she doing in there?" Flash then went into the woods and before long saw an abandoned shake. He opened the door and to his surprise he found a girl bound and gagged in the corner. "Oh my gosh are you all right?" Flash asked as he freed her.

"No, I don't know where I am, I'm being held against my will and something strange happened to my body," Twilight answered.

"Oh well that's common at our age but for now let's get you out of here." Flash then tried to help Twilight up but like Swift Sweep she was having trouble standing on just 2 legs. So Flash picked Twilight up and carried her, who turned her head away from Flash so she wouldn't see her blushing. Flash himself was also avoiding eye contact as he was blushing as well.

Flash brought Twilight home and put her on the sofa. Luckily his parents were out of town for a while so he didn't have to explain to them why he carried a girl over. "Thank you so much for doing all this Flash," Twilight said, having learned his name while she was being carried to his house.

"It's no problem at all Twilight. I didn't make it to the gym today so I need a workout somewhere," Flash answered as he grabbed a blanket and pillow for Twilight to use. "Though it hardly counted as a workout you were very light."

"I usually weigh a lot lighter," Twilight said to herself as Flash gave her the pillow and blanket. "Thank you."

The following morning Twilight spent time with Flash who treated her to breakfast and helped her get to school. There Twilight noticed a group of girls to her surprise looked a lot like her friends and after saying hello found they have the same names as well.

"Hey girls, how’s it going?” Sunset Shimmer said as she entered the gym to see her friends and saw Twilight there as well. "Oh hello there you must be new here." Twilight saw Sunset Shimmer and recognized her hair and realized it looked just like the mane of the mare that ponynapped her. In a panic Twilight ran off to the confusion of all the other girls, Sunset Shimmer most of all. "Was it something I said?"

"I don't think so, you hardly said anything," Pinkie Pie said as she seemingly teleported right beside Sunset.

"Maybe she's just abnormally shy," Fluttershy said which as a result made all the other girls stare at her. "What?" Twilight ran into the hallway trying to find Flash again, meanwhile not too far away Swift Sweep was cleaning the hallway.

"This is not good time is almost up and we haven't found a trace of-" Swift Sweep was cut off when Twilight crashed right into Swift Sweep and they both fell down. "Twilight."

"Yes?"

"Huh?"

"How do you know my name? Swift Sweep, is that you?" Twilight then got herself up and helped Swift Sweep up as well. "I'm so sorry."

"It's okay at least I didn't hit my head again."

"How did you get here?"

"Same as you, only willingly. Somewhat. But now that you’re here we can go home now.” Suddenly a large boom happened from the other side of the school causing many of the students and quite a few of the teachers too. "Then again something tells we might be here a little longer."

"Swift Sweep look out!" Twilight called out as she noticed cracks from the ceiling and some parts even fell. But they all missed Swift Sweep.

"Hey looks like things might not be so bad after-" Swift Sweep was cut off when another piece of the ceiling fell and landed on his head. "Nevermind."

Squeaky Clean and Spike ran to see what was going on and to his shock found a raging she-demon in front of the school firing randomly.

"Wow the things you see in an entirely different universe." Squeaky then dodged another blast of magic and ran into the corner. "I think it's time Super Stallion made his appearance again."

As Squeaky changed, Swift Sweep ran out with Twilight. "Hey Super Stallion look who I found or rather look who found me."

"Twilight!" Spike called out then ran over to jump up at Twilight who grabbed him knowing it was Spike because of his voice.

"Swift Sweep, get Princess Twilight out of here. I'll handle this."

"No problem, come on Princess Twilight." Swift Sweep grabbed Twilight by the hand and he ran off and Spike followed. "Hey on the bright side I think I'm finally getting used to running and walking with just 2-" Swift Sweep tripped and once again landed flat on his head. "Never mind. Again."

"Let go of me!" Fluttershy cried out that Twilight heard and ran over to help and Swift Sweep ran over as well when he got up. Twilight ran into the gym and saw that a rather big group of brainwashed students had grabbed onto half a dozen girls and were trying to drag them somewhere.

"Swift Sweep Spike we have to help them!"

"Okay." Swift Sweep then grabbed a nearby fire extinguisher and used it to distract the brainwashed students so the not brainwashed students could get free. Once free the trio got the girls into the closest classroom and Swift Sweep locked the door the second they were in.

"Thanks y'all."

"I was about to start some serious butt kicking but you did pretty good for a surprise attack."

"You're the very best kind of darlings."

"Yeah, it makes me want to throw you 2 and the dog some kind of party!"

"That was so very brave of you, and I know a thing or 2 about being brave." Fluttershy's friends then stared at her once again. "What?" Twilight then saw Flash being dragged to the she-demon.

"Swift Sweep, we need to help Flash before he gets brainwashed too."

"Okay your highness," Swift Sweep said as he unlocked the door. "Who's Flash?"

Meanwhile Super Stallion rescued Principal Celestia from the she-demon and placed her on the roof. "That was a close one, are you alright?"

"Yes, thanks to you," Principal Celestia answered, very grateful.

"Good, wait here while I take care of that thing." Super Stallion then flew over to the she-demon.

"Who are you?!"

"You can call me Super Stallion."

"Super Stallion! The superhero from Equestria?”

"The very one. Now it's time for you to stop everything, Sunset Shimmer."

"I don't think so!" Sunset replied with a large cocky smile. "I'm going to brainwash everyone at this school and when I do that I'll move on to other places until I have the whole world under my control and then I'll have an army of armies to help me invade and conquer Equestria."

"Not if I have anything to say about it and believe me I do!" Super Stallion and Sunset Shimmer then exchanged a series of magic attacks against one another. Twilight arrived with the others instinctively wanting to help somehow.

"Now's as good a time as any to get rid of you!" Sunset Shimmer then blasted at Twilight and in the split second before the spell hit her, a shield appeared that blocked it and then a spell hit Sunset Shimmer dead on knocking her down. Twilight turned around and to her surprise, saw that the one that fired the spell was Sunset Shimmer.

"What the?" Swift Sweep then looked back and forth between Sunset Shimmer and the she-demon as he thought they were one and the same. "Oh I get it she must be the Sunset Shimmer of this world."

"Not quite, that would be her over there causing all the trouble." She-demon Sunset Shimmer then got back up but Super Stallion knocked her back down with a head on spell. It was then Super Stallion noticed the 2nd Sunset Shimmer and was confused but still focused on the she-demon enough to counter her next spell and blast her down again. "Super Stallion! Grab the crown and we can use it to stop her!"

"You need the other Elements of Harmony for it to work."

"Trust me!" Super Stallion then grabbed the element and tossed it to the human Sunset Shimmer and when she grabbed it the girls that Twilight, Swift Sweep, and Spike rescued a while back arrived.

"What are you all doing here?" Twilight asked.

"Well you helped us even though you don't even know us and we wanted to return the favor," Rainbow Dash answered.

"Well actually I kind of know you all but it's hard to explain."

"Your from an alternate world and we remind you of friends you have in said world because we look and sound like them and that flying dude is also from your world and came to rescue you but has to defeat the raging she-demon which got her power from a magical element from your world that also powers other magical elements so you can go home," Pinkie Pie said.

"Y-Yeah how did you know?"

"Just a hunch."

"Speaking of hunches Pinkie I've got one of my own," Sunset Shimmer said as she showed the others Twilight's Element of Harmony and asked that they all hold on to it.

"Why?" Twilight asked.

"That Sunset Shimmer used your element to get all that magic power so this Sunset Shimmer is going to use your element to take it away." Twilight and the others then all placed their hands on the crown and suddenly a rainbow shot out and hit the she-demon focusing her to turn back into a human.

"Wow, did we do that?"

"Yes, Rainbow Dash we did," Sunset Shimmer answered as the other Sunset got back up she simply ran off.

"Well perhaps a bit too anticlimactic for my taste, but you won't hear me complain," Super Stallion said as he floated over to Twilight. "Now we can finally take you back to Equestria your highness."

"Yeah we can finally go back Twilight!" Spike said.

"Did that dog just talk?!" One of the no longer brainwashed students asked.

"Seriously, the talking dog is the weird thing about all this?" Suddenly Spike was picked up by Rarity who pet him.

"I for one think you're adorable," she said as she scratched his ears.

"Oh yeah right there."

"Hey listen Super Stallion before you head out do you think you can do something about all the damage the other me did to the school."

"Well, we have some time before the portal closes so okay."

"Twilight!" Flash called out. "Thanks for helping me, that was really brave of you."

"Oh no problem."

"Listen I know this is about as last minute as you can get but there's this dance here tonight called the Fall Formal and maybe you and I could dance around for just a minute before you leave."

"Well, I guess that might be fun but I don't really have a dress or anything."

"Oh you can leave that to me darling and maybe I can also find a tux for your date," Rarity said. The party went on as if nothing bad even happened as Super Stallion was able to use his magic to fix just about all the damage made earlier from the evil Sunset Shimmer while the good Sunset Shimmer was elected Princess of the Fall Formal. Before long Twilight's group had to head back to Equestria.

"Sunset. before we go I wanted to thank you for your help from 1 princess to another, you did a good job."

"Thanks," Sunset replied. "That means a lot coming from you." Twilight's group went to the mirror and right before they were about to leave Flash Century approached.

"Twilight wait!"

"Is something wrong Flash?"

"Well with you leaving I won't, well the 2 of us, there's something about you-"

"We're running out of time," Super Stallion interrupted, pointing to a metaphorical watch on his wrist.

"Right, sorry. I'll just get to the point." Flash then grabbed Twilight's face with both hands and pulled her in for a passionate kiss. "That was kind of all I wanted to say."

***

"We have to do something!" Rainbow Dash said. "Now none of the princesses are here.”
"And Super Stallion, Swift Sweep, and Spike all have less time than a, then a, I'm too stressed to make a countryism right now." Suddenly Super Stallion and his group appeared again and suddenly Rarity gasped out of sheer joy.

"You've finally returned!" Rarity called out. Twilight expected a hug but unexpectedly, Rarity actually ran right past her and hugged Spike. "Oh Spikey Wikey, why did you run off like that? Do you have any idea how worried I was?"

“I’m sorry. I didn’t want to scare you, Rarity.”

"Super Stallion, we're so glad you're back!" Pinkie Pie said.

"Oh no need to thank me it's in a day's work."

"No! Well I mean we are grateful but now the other princesses have been taken."

"What!" Twilight, Swift Sweep, Spike, and Super Stallion all said together.

"It happened about a day after Twilight was taken. They were grabbed and pulled into another magic mirror before we could do anything about it," Fluttershy said. "We wanted to go after but we also wanted to wait for you and, well, just did nothing because we didn't know what to do." Super Stallion then placed both forelegs on his face in frustration.

"Well, here we go again."

Chapter 25 Adventures in Other Universes Part 2

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The mane 5 led Twilight, Spike, Swift Sweep, and Super Stallion to the other magic mirror . "Does this one have a time limit like the other?" Super Stallion asked.

"We don't know darling."

"Well in that case we should get to rescuing as soon as possible," Spike said. Spike walked to the mirror but Rarity grabbed him with both forelegs.

"You aren't going anywhere Spikey Wikey." Rarity then held her beloved dragon rather tightly but Spike didn't complain 1 bit.

“Spike does have a point though,” Super Stallion said. “We should go.”

"I'll come too," Twilight said. But her friends got in the way except for Rarity who was still holding onto Spike but she felt the same as the others.

"No way Twilight!"

"Rainbow's right. We just got ya back sugar cube, we ain't gonna let ya go through another one of those."

"Plus you need to help me with an un-traumatized party stat."

"Don't worry Princess Twilight I'll get the other princesses back but you should stay here in case I get stuck somewhere. Equestria needs somepony to lead."

"Can I come Super Stallion?" Swift Sweep asked. "I can’t just stand around while Luna might be in danger."

"This might seem like a bad idea but something tells me even if I say no you're gonna pull a Spike and go in anyway," Super Stallion said.

"He might," Spike said and to his surprise and delight Rarity held him all the more tighter.

Super Stallion then recalled his recent time travel adventure and that Swift Sweep was rather helpful. "All right you can come, but you gotta take orders."

"Yes sir but 1 other thing." Swift Sweep then flew off and came back with a crystal guard helmet. "Just in case." Swift Sweep and Super Stallion then flew through the mirror together as Flash Century ran into the room.

"Uh did anypony see the pegasus that took my helmet? He said it was for an emergency." After he finished he couldn't help but notice that Princess Twilight was looking at him. "Is something the matter your highness?"

"Oh, no it's just that you, well-"

"Totally reminds you of a guy that rescued you and brought you to his house for a little while where you bonded rather quickly and he took you to a dance right before you came home," Pinkie Pie finished for Twilight.

"Y-Yes how did you know that?"

"Just a hunch."

***

Super Stallion and Swift Sweep appeared on the other side of the mirror and to their surprise, they were in a different version of Equestria. "So if you were a ponynapped princess where would you be?" Swift Sweep asked.

"Probably in a dungeon or at the highest room in the tallest tower of a castle. They could also be asleep in the woods somewhere under a spelling death spell."

"You're right, we have a lot of ground to cover.” Swift Sweep and Super Stallion traveled around and couldn’t help but notice the gloomy aura of this Equestria. "I know I shouldn't judge by appearance but this seems like a rather unpleasant place don't you think?"

"It's rather hard to disagree with you on that Swift Sweep." Suddenly Super Stallion noticed something that almost made his jaw hit the ground. A statue of Discord, but this Discord had a superhero costume and below him written on the stone was "Our Hero". "This is indeed a bizarre universe."

"We need to find somepony, maybe we can get some answers. Like where the princesses are or if there's a really good restaurant nearby."

"A restaurant?"

"What, all this parallel universe adventures really works up an appetite."

"Wait here Swift Sweep I'll be right back." Super Stallion then took to the sky and looked around the place. As he did that he noticed other strange things but also saw something similar, such as a castle where the princesses of this universe would most likely be living. Super Stallion quickly flew back to Swift Sweep who was pretending to fight with his trusty broom.

"Don't worry Princess Luna, I shall protect you with my life! What's that you wish to confess your undying love for me, ditto. You want to make out as well, you don't have to tell me twice." Swift Sweep pretended to kiss Princess Luna and saw that Super Stallion had returned and immediately stopped his gestures.

"Uh, how long have you been standing? I mean hovering there?"

"Long enough."

"Oh, find anything?"

"There's a castle not too far away from here.” The 2 stallions took to the sky and arrived at the castle.

"Who goes there!?" A tall black unicorn stallion dressed in royal clothing asked as he approached the balcony that Super Stallion and Swift Sweep landed on.

"Who are you?" Swift Sweep asked.

"You 2 come to my castle unexpectedly and without my permission or sending proper notice, I insist that you tell me first. Also is your friend a flying earth pony?"

"I'm Swift Sweep and this is Super Stallion, he's a superhero. So are you one of the princesses?"

"Uh he's a stallion Swift Sweep."

"Yeah but he could be a parallel version of Princess Luna even if he isn't the same gender. I saw something like that in a comic, it wasn't good but not for that reason."

"Swift Sweep that doesn't make any sense."

"And just how many things have been making sense lately?!"

"Okay you got me there," Super Stallion answered.

"Wait, did you say Princess Luna? You know Princess Luna? And did you say your friend is a superhero?"

"Yes yes and yes," Swift Sweep answered.

"And you are?"

"I am King Sombra, the ruler of this version of Equestria. I am aware there are other versions of this land." King Sombra then invited Super Stallion and Swift Sweep into his castle and along the way Super Stallion noticed some strange things. Such as a stained glass window of the changeling queen Chrysalis with the word love under her. A few other stained glass windows were right next to it but for him that one stuck out the most.

"This place is getting stranger and stranger by the minute."

"So are Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, and Princess Cadance somewhere in this castle? Also I'm hungry. Do you have something that I can eat, we've kind of been adventuring a lot and that was a way of burning calories?" As they went into the castle a little more, King Sombra offered Swift Sweep some food that he nearly wolfed down, shocking the king. "What? I told you I was hungry."

"Indeed. Before we continue, how did you 2 find yourselves the means to travel to different versions of your reality?"

"That's kind of hard to answer," Super Stallion said. “Honestly it kind of found us. Twice now actually."

"And have there been any strange happenings in your Equestria?" King Sombra asked.

"You mean besides finding portals to other worlds?" Super Stallion asked back.

"Well I mean it's just this has all happened before. It happened a millennia ago," King Sombra said and suddenly looked to the ground with a rather somber look.

"How so glum chum?" Swift Sweep asked, finally done eating.

"Never mind. It happened a long time ago, it's not important. What's important is the here and now," Sombra answered. "And now I know where your princesses are."

"You do?" Swift Sweep and Super Stallion asked at the same time. Then suddenly Princess Celestia and Princess Luna flew into the room to their surprise.

"Well Sombra, have you had enough time to think about our offer?" Princess Celestia asked at first Super Stallion was excited to see Princess Celestia but his excitement quickly faded when he noticed they had an entirely different aura to them.

"You will address me as King Sombra here!"

"Oh my look how he tries to act bold sister," Luna said and she walked around King Sombra.

"Oh yes sister, he tries so hard to keep up appearances," Celestia said as she also started to walk around the king. The sisters tried to mock Sombra but he refused to let them push his buttons.

"I've said it before and I'll say it again you and your sister will not have your way."

"Oh and look at this sister it seems he's decided to spend time with the last of his staff and one thinks dressing like a superhero is going to help out somehow," Luna said as she stopped walking around King Sombra and walked over to Super Stallion and Swift Sweep.

"Very well Sombra at this point your stubbornness is doing more harm than good," Celestia said. "After all, not only is your world at stake but another as well." Celestia then opened a portal showing the 3 princesses, each bound and gagged by black magic rings. On top of that special collars were put around their necks.

"You can't say no forever Sombra. Time is not on your side and when you want to turn over control to us you know where to find us." Princess Celestia then closed her portal and took off with her sister.

"Well she was right about 1 thing, time is not on my side. I know this is short notice but I need you 2 to listen up. My world wasn't always like this. It was a wondrous land at 1 time, but things have changed and with your princesses captured I fear it may soon leak to your world as well. So we have to act now. I can lead you to where your princesses are being held but you cannot fight the Celestia and Luna you just saw."

"We can't?" Super Stallion asked. "Why not?"

"I saw them fighting earlier before they were captured and somehow the parallel versions of your Luna and Celestia and mine are connected. So if you damage the corrupt sisters, you damage the good sisters. I tried to help but I couldn't get to them in time and they were captured."

"I see," Super Stallion said.

Deep within the lair of the corrupt royal pony sisters the 3 alicorns sadly continued to sit still in a small dungeon cell unable to get free.

Why did this have to happen? Princess Celestia asked herself. Starswirl, I'm so sorry, why oh why didn't I listen to you? All of this could have been avoided if my common sense wasn't blinded by my emotions.

***

Long ago Princess Celestia and her sister were raised and taught under the wise and powerful Starswirl the Bearded. He taught them many things, for Celestia he showed her how to travel to other worlds. Celestia and Star Swirl would go on many adventures to many worlds, one of which was King Sombra who they quickly befriended. "My my it's incredible how much our worlds have in common," Star Swirl said.

"Yes, thanks so much for showing us around King sexy, I mean King Sombra." Celestia then face palmed herself.

"It's uh, it's no problem," King Sombra said back.

"Well I think I'm going to look more into this thing called coffee Celestia, why don't you stay here with King sexy," Star Swirl said. While he was a great teacher and father, he was not above teasing.

"Star Swirl!" Celestia said clearly annoyed.

"I know I know I'm hilarious, but you can tell me later." He then teleported away and King Sombra placed his hoof on the elbow of the frustrated princess.

"So can I take it from your little slip of the tongue that you find me attractive. I feel the same towards you."

"You do?"

"I trust you can't think it's that far fetched, surely there are quite a few stallions from your world that seek to win your heart."

"Well more than a few honestly though none of them hold a candle to you. I have to admit I've grown quite fond of you in the little time we've had together. It's like something out of a fairy tale."

"Well to tell you the truth I've always been rather fond of fairy tales myself." After that Princess Celestia and King Sombra talked for hours. It was like they were on a first date after Star Swirl returned he and Princess Celestia left and returned to their world.

"Quite a fun little adventure wasn't it?" Star Swirl asked when they returned home.

"More than that. I think I'm in love," Celestia said, overwhelmed by her emotions surprising Star Swirl.

"My my, It looks like my not so little princess is growing up," Star Swirl said with a warm smile.

"I can't wait to see him again," Princess Celestia said excitedly. "I'll wake early and go see him again right after breakfast and then we'll-"

"No you won't," Star Swirl interrupted, his warm smile now replaced with a very serious look.

"But-"

"No buts," Star Swirl interrupted again. "Our 2 universes may be connected but that doesn't mean the connection isn't unstable. If we cross over too many times, it can cause major consequences for both universes."

"So we can't ever go back?!" Celestia asked.

"No I didn't say that," Star Swirl answered, starting to lighten up. "Calm down before you give yourself a heart attack. We can go back and visit your possible future husband. But we have to limit our travel so the connection doesn't cause any of the numerous problems misusing the portal could provide."

"Oh that's good to hear though my future husband might be going a bit too far."

"Oh come now I'm not getting any younger I want to have some grandfoals that I can spoil rotten."

As the days went on Princess Celestia would travel back and forth between worlds with Star Swirl and found things the other world had to offer. Such as that world's version of Princess Luna. And of course she was spending much time with King Sombra. From simple picnics to tango dancing.

"You dance so divinely my beautiful princess," King Sombra said as they finished dancing and found a peaceful spot to rest.

"I was just about to say that to you my handsome king," Princess Celestia said back. The 2 ponies then shared one of many passionate kisses they had together. "I love you so much."

"I was just about to say that to you." They then kissed each other once again as they laid on the ground gently holding each other as well. "Do you have to go soon?"

"I wish I didn't have to truly. But I have my own kingdom to run and Star Swirl might miss me." Speaking of Star Swirl I should get back before he notices I'm gone. Princess Celestia then made her way home and entered the study in darkness but was shocked when the lights came on via Star Swirl's horn.

"I was wondering where you were but I was hoping it wasn't where I thought you were."

"Star Swirl please, it's not what you think."

"Oh it's not is it?" Star Swirl then gave Princess Celestia his infamous hard stare. "How long have you been doing this?"

"I-I've b-been doing this for a month or 2 now."

"I told you traveling too much could be dangerous. Why in the wide world of Equestria would you do this?" Princess Celestia didn't answer but she cried a little and from her look alone Star Swirl got his answer. "I see that is unfortunate, it just makes what I have to do all the more harder."

"What?" Suddenly Star Swirl faced the mirror and cast a spell upon it. When Celestia ran to the mirror her fear was confirmed, the portal was closed. "NO! HOW COULD YOU DO THIS?"

"I had to do this to ensure the stability of his and our world.” Celestia then grabbed Starswirl by the shoulders.

"Bring it back! Please!"

"It's for your own good Celestia."

"No he is for my own good!"

"I'm not going to argue about this with you. I'm well aware that you care deeply for him but some things are just more important. Making decisions you don't want to make is part of being a ruler."

"This wasn't my decision!"

"Yes I had to make it for you."

"No you didn't, we could have worked something out if you didn't act so gung-ho! HOW COULD YOU BE SO SELFISH!"

"I'm selfish, you're the one that was risking the connection of the worlds! And don't you dare take that royal Canterlot voice with me, young mare!"

"DON'T TALK TO ME LIKE A FILLY!"

"DON'T ACT LIKE ONE!"

"I CAN ACT HOWEVER I WANT AND YOU CAN'T TELL ME OTHERWISE YOU AREN'T MY FATHER!" Princess Celestia then flew off in complete rage and Star Swirl lowered his head rather depressed.

"So much for her growing up."

***

Oh Star Swirl why oh why didn't I listen to you? Celestia asked herself as she cried. She also thought about Squeaky Clean and what if she never saw him again. Which made her cry even more.

Meanwhile King Sombra was leading Swift Sweep and Super Stallion to where their princesses were being kept. "My land wasn't always this way. It was once a peaceful beautiful land, but the princesses have turned it upside down with their magic."

"Wow all by themselves?" Swift Sweep asked. “How’d they do that?”

"A little bit at a time. Destroying things with their magic, making pegasus cities lie in ruin stopping them from making it rain so the crops can't grow, and they even forced away the earth ponies from the castle so nothing can grow in the capital.”

“Wow, that must be a lot to handle,” Super Stallion said.

“After that they came to me to offer me a deal. After taking your princesses and said they were willing to release them in exchange for the spell that would allow them to cross over to your world. To be honest it's quite tempting, but I can't allow another world to fall victim to their evil."

"Right, so what are we going to do?"

"Well Super Stallion I think that's where you come in and perhaps solve the whole thing."

"Really how do I do that?"

"Well you're a superhero and if you're half as good as the one we already have you can rescue the 3 princesses no problem. I'd ask Sir Discord but he and lady Chrysalis, but they said they were dealing with some sort of anomaly.”

"Why can't you go rescue them?" Swift Sweep asked.

"My magic is mostly defensive in nature. I wouldn't be much help. I know we just met but I desperately want my sweet Celestia rescued as fast as possible. A-and the other princesses too I mean."

"Your sweet Celestia?" Super Stallion asked, feeling a little jealous.

"Oh did I not mention that before?"

"No, I'm pretty sure I would have remembered that."

"Were you 2 seeing each other through some kind of inter dimensional dating service?"

"Uh Swift Sweep, how would that even work? A stallion gets dumped by his marefriend so he searches for a parallel version of her to date her instead? Actually that might work for some ponies,” Super Stallion said.

"Uh no we didn't meet each other through an inter dimensional, we didn't meet each other that way. It was a long time ago when she and her close friend Star Swirl the Bearded found a way to my world."

***

"Hurry up, we finally have her!" A guard dressed in a black armor ordered as several other guards were swarming the princess like bees trying to restrain her.

"What's going on here?" Star Swirl asked as he returned after looking at some plant life. "Celestia, did you insult their helmets or something?"

"Why would I insult their helmets?"

"Well they are kind of stupid." Suddenly one of the guards got in front of Star Swirl but in a protective manner.

"Stand back this alicorn is very dangerous. She's been causing trouble for years now."

"Oh that's what this is about?" Star Swirl asked as he laughed a bit afterwards. "I see what the problem is, she's not your Celestia, she and I are actually from an alternate universe so she's not who you think she is." The guard then stared at Star Swirl as if he had lost his mind. "What?"

"Okay grandpa I think it's time we got you back home." The guard then grabbed Star Swirl by one of his legs and tried to get him out of there but Star Swirl was stronger than the guard had given him credit for.

"You will kindly remove your hoof young stallion," Star Swirl said. "I said remove it," Star Swirl repeated with a tone more demanding than the last one. The guard then started to chuckle a bit as he was a little amused at the old stallion trying to act tough.

"Oh really, what are you gonna do, gramps? Bop me one?" Suddenly Star Swirl gave the guard a mean left hook that knocked the guard flat on his rump.

"That'll teach you to disrespect your elders." Star Swirl then went over to the other guards and stopped them with stun spells. Princess Celestia was shocked at how easily he managed to take down the guards. "What? There's still plenty of strength left in these old bones.”

The 2 then made sure the guards were alright and came across King Sombra who could tell right away Star Swirl was a talented unicorn. King Sombra was also smitten with this Celestia and brought the 2 of them to talk. It didn't take long for him and Princess Celestia to confess their feelings to one another. While he fell in love with Princess Celestia he also greatly admired Star Swirl the Bearded for his vast intelligence.

"And that's how your guards can improve their fighting methods as well as protecting the castle," Star Swirl said as he handed the king several pages that he drew from a sketch book he had on him. King Sombra looked over them more than impressed.

"You were able to think up all this in the short amount of time between the last time we talked."

"That's why I got the beard." Star Swirl would also ask King Sombra about his world but always made sure not to take up a lot of his time. Star Swirl didn't need to be as smart as he is to figure out King Sombra and Princess Celestia wanted to spend as much time alone as they could. They longed to see each other so badly that Princess Celestia even found a way to get to him when Star Swirl closed the portal.

"You came back so soon Celestia? Not that I'm complaining."

"I wanted to see you so badly and I just couldn't wait any longer." Celestia then embraced her lover that he was more than happy to get as well as return. "But I feel so bad for going behind Star Swirl's back. He's my only friend."

"Shh don't dwell on it," Sombra said, trying to comfort her.

"I can't help but dwell on it. He's done so much for me, practically raised me and taught me what it meant to be a ruler."

"If he cared about you so much he would understand what you're doing."

"I suppose you have a point." Princess Celestia then kissed her beloved king while also trying to fight the urge to cry over the guilt of sneaking around Star Swirl's back.

***

"Sombra," Swift Sweep said to the king who had looked back at Swift Sweep as if he somehow broke him out of a trance.
"Y-Yes what is it?"

"You said that you and Princess Celestia were a thing but then you stopped talking all of a sudden while you stared out into the sky."

"Oh. Sorry I guess I just got a little lost in my own memories. So as I was saying we knew each other romantically but that's not the thing now. We were all but controlled by our affections for one another that they practically blinded us. But that’s the past, let’s focus on the present. If you can rescue the princesses my Celestia and Luna will have no leverage."

"And then they won't be able to negotiate," Super Stallion said, getting to where King Sombra was going.

"Exactly," Sombra said with a smile. "And who knows perhaps after all this Celestia and I can find a way to be together at last perhaps. A blessing may come from this tragedy." Sombra then looked to the sky again this time with a smile while Super Stallion started to sulk a little but tried not to show it as he had a job to do.

"Well it's about time I get going then isn't it." Super Stallion then made his way to where the alicorns were being kept at a slow pace to get in and out without being noticed. Swift Sweep came along as he wanted to rescue Princess Luna as much as Super Stallion wanted to rescue Princess Celestia.

"This is a pretty unusual adventure isn't it?" Swift Sweep asked.

"Yes and the sooner it's over all the better."

"Is something bothering you?"

"Well it's just that, well how do I put it." How do I tell him how I'm feeling right now without giving away my secret identity? "I overhear a couple things once in a while with my super hearing.”

"Okay so?"

"Well I've overheard a thing or 2 about the social lives of others. Isn't Princess Celestia dating somepony already?"

"Oh yeah Squeaky Clean! He's my best friend and from what I can tell he's absolutely crazy about Princess Celestia." Swift Sweep's smile then vanished as he remembered what King Sombra said. "Oh when all this is over King Sombra might try to get back together with Princess Celestia and if that's the case she'll have to break up Squeaky, but I don't think that's going to happen."

"You don't?"

"I mean sure King Sombra may be smart, handsome, charming, and have a romantic history with Princess Celestia but. Actually I have no idea where I was going with all this. But she probably won't break up with Squeaky."

"Oh I see, well we're almost there so get ready for whatever might happen."

"Right, don't worry Luna we're coming! And Celestia and Cadance, I remembered. So what's the plan? Do you want to bust through a wall or something?"

"Yes actually."

"Really?"

"Yes. I bust in and get their attention while you get our royals free."

"No problem, I can search the place in no time."

Super Stallion then flew straight at the castle and as he said, he busted right through a solid wall. "Is it weird I don't do this more often?" Super Stallion then flew around breaking a few more walls.

"My my an earth pony superhero, the multiverse is just full of surprises isn't it sister?" The parallel Celestia asked as she and her Luna watched via a crystal ball.

"Yes sister, but thanks to my spell we already knew about it,” the parallel Luna said. She had a spell that turns her into a shadow. When she and her sister left Sombra’s castle, Luna used the spell to eavesdrop and learned of their plan. "So how do you want to handle this?"

"You go and make sure Swift Sweep doesn't rescue those 3 while I keep Super Stallion at bay. Once you take care of him we can take down Super Stallion together."

"Fine with me," the parallel Luna said before the sisters split up.

"Don't worry Luna, Celestia, and Cadance,” Swift Sweep said when he saw somepony. "Princess Luna?"

"Swift Sweep it that you? Thank goodness, I need your help. I was able to escape but I was hit by powerful spells along the way."

"What about Princess Cadance and Princesses Celestia?"

"She," Luna stopped to fake a cough so she could think up a lie. "They're still captured. Swift Sweep, give me your hoof please." So I can pull you in and blast as up close as I can. The Luna that Swift Sweep was looking for was watching from the crystal ball.

No Swift Sweep it's the trap, hurry fly away! Luna then fell on the ground and had to fight the urge to cry while Celestia looked at her with sympathy and guilt as she felt responsible for all of this.

"So Princess Celestia and Princess Cadance are still captured?"

"Yes I didn't have time to rescue them, I had to escape. Please help me."

"I see, you aren't Princess Luna. At least not my Princess Luna."

"What?" The evil Luna asked as the captured princess were rather shocked.

"Princess Luna would never just run away to save herself. She cares about everypony and that's what I love about her the most." Hearing that Luna blushed a little. “Also, that was the fakest cough I ever heard.”

"Fine, it doesn't matter 1 bit if you figured it out. You're still MINE!" The evil Luna then charged right at Swift Sweep ready to take him down. As she charged at him a memory flashed through Swift Sweep's mind.

***

Back when Stone Wall was still captain of the guard and Swift Sweep had been hired so that Squeaky wouldn't have such a hard time cleaning all the time, Swift Sweep walked by Stone Wall who was doing a little paperwork. "Hey Stone Wall you fought a lot before right?"

"Yeah what of it?"

"Well what if you're gonna fight something you know is stronger than you how do you beat them?"

"Stronger than me huh? Tall order but there’s all sorts of ways to beat something stronger than you. Like finding a way to put said pony or creature in a headlock. That would make my opponent lose consciousness. Why did you ask?"

"No reason, just curious." Swift Sweep then walked off to do some cleaning.

***

Swift Sweep moved right before Luna could tackle him and then wrapped his forelegs around her neck in a powerful grip. "Nap time!"

"Wha-" Before Luna could react, Swift Sweep knocked her out right away which made her drop to the ground. This caused the good Luna too. Swift Sweep flew around and managed to find the princesses and got the cell open by jimmying the lock. But then noticed they were bound with magic.

"That’s gonna be a problem. I can't untie magic.” Princess Celestia then jerked her head towards Princess Cadance trying to get Swift Sweep to notice the magic canceling collar but Swift Sweep didn't seem to clue in. "I don't get it hang on let me get those magic collars off all of you so you can use your magic to free yourselves then you can tell me."

"Nice work Swift Sweep not just on rescuing us but also on figuring out that Luna was a fake. But there's still the matter of the other me."

"I might have an idea on that," Swift Sweep said as he picked up one of the magic canceling collars. "One of these should come in handy."

Not too far away Super Stallion was flying around outside the castle keeping the evil Princess Celestia busy. She tried and tried to blast him but Super Stallion was far too quick for her.

"You can't dodge forever!"

"You can't fight forever," Super Stallion quickly retorted. While dodging he was trying to figure out how to either knock her out and restrain her without hurting her. However when he saw something out of the corner of his eye he quickly figured out how to do just that.

"Will you just stand still already!"

"Okay," Super Stallion said as he stopped moving around and stood perfectly still in midair.

"Really?"

"Yes not that it matters you won't really have time to do anything."

"What in my Equestria is that supposed to mean?" Suddenly the good Princess Celestia placed the magic canceling collar on her parallel self. With her magic gone, Super Stallion then blasted the evil Princess Celestia with a spell that restrained her legs and wings. Super Stallion then caught her and placed her on the ground.

***

Back at Sombra's castle the evil royal pony sisters were taken into his custody and the 3 princesses explained when Super Stallion, Swift Sweep, and Spike left Princess Celestia sensed something else was off. Celestia looked at another mirror that was also brought to the Crystal Empire. Luna and Cadance followed along and suddenly the alicorns were pulled into it before the others could help.

As it turns out the evil sisters found a way to reopen the portal, but not by much. They couldn't go through but they could pull ponies on the other side if they got close enough. "So what's going to happen to your Celestia and Luna King Sombra?" Princess Cadance asked.

"Well a long time ago my Celestia and Luna were good but were corrupted by a powerful evil. But with them here I should be able to remove the evil from them."

"Is that going to be difficult?" Super Stallion asked.

"If I did it all at once it would be pulled into me and then I would be corrupted but by doing it in chunks at a time that won't be an issue."

"Well I guess we can finally take you all home now," Swift Sweep said.

"You all don't have to go," King Sombra said as he approached Princess Celestia and gently picked up her hoof. "Princess Celestia I never forgot about you even after all these years and perhaps now this is our chance to be together." King Sombra then gave Princess Celestia a gentle kiss. "We can forget about the mistakes of the past and make a future together.”

***

Even after Star Swirl had closed the portal Princess Celestia found a way to return to the one she loved. But even then she couldn't stop feeling bad. On top of that, more and more problems were happening with the worlds connecting and knew she needed his help. "Um Star Swirl," she said rather sheepishly.

"Yes?" He responded as he was working in his chambers.

"You know how you closed the portal to protect the balance of the worlds?" Suddenly Star Swirl turned around and gave her a rather cold stare.

"What did you do?" Princess Celestia then explained everything to him and he simply shook his head and walked to the portal. "You're kind of an anomaly princess," Star Swirl said.

"Huh?"

"You're smart, gifted, and have a heart as golden as the sun you raise." Princess Celestia then blushed a little. "Yet, you often tend to act LIKE A LITTLE TARTARUS SPAWN!" Princess Celestia jumped back. "All right, here's the thing from what I can tell, the portal has become stronger from the world's abnormal connection and now it needs to be closed on both sides."

"It does?"

"Yes." Star Swirl then wrote down the spell and gave it to the princess.

"You, you want me to do it?"

"Yes this way you can say goodbye to him," Star Swirl answered as he gave her a look of sympathy. When Celestia told Sombra what she had to do he was as heart broken as she was.

"Please don't do this, there must be another way."

"I wish there was, from the bottom of my heart I wish there was. But there isn't. I have to do this to protect both our worlds." Princess Celestia then started to cry and King Sombra did as well but in the end knew they both had to do what was best for their worlds.

"Will I ever see you again?"

"No I don't think you will but I'll never forget you." As Princess Celestia began to cast the spell on Sombra's side the 2 of them stared at one another until she jumped through the portal right before finishing the spell.

***

"Did that sound like a marriage proposal to you?" Swift Sweep whispered to Princess Luna.
"Yeah a little bit," Princess Luna whispered back.

"Sombra, here’s the thing. We leave parts of our lives in the past for a reason. As much as I enjoyed our time together, that part of our life it's over now and it's just best that we move on." Princess Celestia then gently kissed Sombra's forehead.

"The funny thing is, I had a feeling you were going to say something like that." Sombra then hugged his former lover. "Farewell my sweet Celestia."

Super Stallion and Swift Sweep brought the princesses home. Shining Armor hugged Cadance on the spot and Twilight did the same for Celestia. After that Princess Celestia then asked Super Stallion to escort her resting chambers.

“Princess, can I ask you something personal?”

“Okay, you did rescue me afterall.”

"I was half expecting you to take that king up on his offer. Why didn’t you?”

"Well, when Sombra made that offer. I thought a little about my past but when he kissed me all I could think about was Squeaky Clean. When I was young I thought I was so in love, but now I know I'm in love and that's why I wanted you to come with me."

"I beg your pardon, your highness."

"I want you to use your super hearing to find him and bring him here so I can tell him to his face just how much I love him. He always thought he was lucky to win my heart, but I think it's the other way around. He makes me feel like the luckiest mare in the multiverse. I may not know everything about him, but I want to and that I want him by side for everything, the good and the bad. So please find him so I can tell him myself.”

Super Stallion smiled. "You already have." Super Stallion then removed his sphere, revealing his secret identity and utterly shocking Princess Celestia.

"I have, so many questions," Princess Celestia said after a solid minute of silence.

"I'd imagine so."

Chapter 26 The Nature of the Magic of Friendship

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After revealing his secret identity to Princess Celestia she sat down with him and talked with him through the night.

“So it was made by Star Swirl?”

“Yeah, I was pretty shocked when I heard it too.”

“And you figured out what the sphere could do, but you asked me if you could have it?”

“Well if I didn’t, that would be stealing.”

“How noble, just one of the many things I love about you,” Princess Celestia said as she kissed Squeaky. “This whole thing with Sombra has gotten me thinking about us.”

“What do you mean?”

"I'd like us to keep dating until the annual Sunset Festival and if you and I are still in love by then. Will you marry me?" Squeaky was now the one utterly shocked and it was Princess Celestia's turn to wait for a response.

"Y-Yes! A billion times yes!" Squeaky started to jump up and down in excitement until Celestia stopped him.

"Don't get too excited, we're not getting married just yet."

"Right, it's kind of weird though, I always thought the stallion was supposed to ask the mare."

"Well in this case I beat you to it. I hope you don't mind."

"Not 1 bit. Though if we do make it that far, am I really worthy, I'm no king."

"You are to me Squeaky," Celestia answered as she placed her hoof on his cheek. Squeaky then gave his princess the most passionate kiss he could and she embraced him and kissed back. But suddenly Twilight opened the door and walked right in on them.

"Princess are you all OH MY GOSH!" Squeaky and Celestia then separated. "Sorry! Never mind, I'll come back later!" Twilight then walked out and closed the door kicking herself for not knocking first.

"Well that was awkward, now were we?" Squeaky then tried to embrace his princess but she put her hoof on his chest.

"I'm not in the mood anymore."

"Too bad," Squeaky replied as he found a way to get her on the ground and kissed her neck.

"Squeaky stop it I'm not in the mo-," Princess Celestia then started to laugh and laugh. "S-stop tickling me."

After some quality time Princess Celesia went to talk with Twilight.

"You and Squeaky, wow it's kind of like something out of a fairy tale," Twilight said.

"Well don't get too excited, Squeaky and I aren't there yet. Though I might make the days a little shorter so we can get there faster." Twilight and Celestia sat and talked for a while but when morning came she and Princess Luna were nowhere to be found. Twilight went straight to Squeaky.

"They're missing!? Are you kidding me I just rescued them?!"

"And on top of all that I got a letter from Ponyville and it appears that the Everfree Forest is invading."

"Huh, I wonder if the 2 are connected." Squeaky then made sure Super Stallion got Princess Twilight and Spike to Ponyville as Twilight was still getting used to her new wings. There she reunited with her friends and used the Elements of Harmony to call forth the spirit of chaos and disharmony.

"Well well Twilight, want to learn more chaos magic already. Not that I blame you."

"What!" Twilight's friends all said together including Spike.

"Oh," Twilight blushed as she turned to face the others. "Did I forget to mention that?"

"Yes!" Twilight's friends answered.

"Twilight darling, why in the wide wide world of Equestria would you want to learn his type of magic?"

"Yeah I mean I know you're an egghead and like you're super addicted to books and all that but you actually want to learn that?"

"Did he teach you how to make chocolate the size of boulders appear?" The rest of Twilight's Ponyville pals stared at Pinkie Pie. "What? That would be great."

"Twi learning Discord's magic makes about as much sense as, well, Discord."

"Oh I see, wanted to surprise them after you learned enough to make a grand epic chaos themed party," Discord said.

"Oh that might be really fun. I've never done a chaos party. Can I help?"

"Why of course you can Pinkie Pie,” Discord said. “You know Pinkie, you're quite the bottle of chaos yourself. Maybe after Twilight you'd be interested in learning a thing or 2.”

“No way,” Super Stallion said as he got in-between Discord and Pinkie. "You having chaos magic is enough."

"Oh it's not so bad once you give it a chance."

"Like the time you turned all the water in a lake into chocolate milk?"

"There was also the time I used it to help you during that whole time travel adventure." Super Stallion wanted to retort but that was a good point and Twilight got in-between him and Discord.

"Enough already! We need to do something about the Everfree Forest, remember?"

"Yeah, so call it off Discord!" Rainbow Dash said.

"What makes you think I'm behind it?"

"Uh duh because you're you. This has your cloven hoof prints all over it."

"I'll have you know I only have 1 cloven hoof." Suddenly Discord's cloven hoof leg kicked Rainbow Dash right in the rear. After a while and Discord almost getting blasted back to stone, Twilight with the help of Zecora learned about the Tree of Harmony. Super Stallion found the tree and was able to bring the group there and Twilight figured out right away what to do.

"We have to give the tree the Elements of Harmony," Twilight said.

"What but that can't be right," Applejack said.

"The tree is where the Elements came from and now it needs them back."

"Twilight we can't just give up the Elements, they're the thing that keeps us connected."

"No Applejack, the magic of friendship is what has kept us connected despite everything that's happened to us."

"But Twilight, what if there's another major problem that we need to deal with but we don't have the elements." Twilight then groaned out of frustration.

"Here we go again."

"What's that supposed to mean Twi?"

"You always want to go against my idea first no matter how many times that backfires."

"Well what if this plan of yours doesn't work? What do we do then little miss I know everything?" Applejack asked, a little upset.

"Then you can push me off my high horse for a change." Twilight then gave smirk and Applejack couldn't help but chuckle. The mane 6 gave the Elements of Harmony to the tree resulting in the black roots disappearing and the princesses were rescued. After they were freed Twilight hugged her fellow princesses.

"We know how difficult it must have been to give up the elements. It took great courage to relinquish them," Princess Celestia said as she continued to hug her former student.

"I don't care about that, I'm just glad you 2 aren't hurt." After that they all made their way out of the Everfree Forest

"Well look who's back sunbutt if you and your sister keep getting captured like this we're gonna have to start putting bells around you," Discord said. "Wait a minute something's missing. Could it be you misplaced your precious elements?"

"We had to give them to the Tree of Harmony so they're gone," Twilight answered.

"Gone?” Discord asked. “Gone,” he said as a sinister smile suddenly appeared that Super Stallion noticed right away.

"You can stop right there, I can always borrow the magic of that tree and beat your butt again."

"Interesting theory, maybe you and I should test that out sometime," Discord said.

"Come on you 2. Can't you get along for 1 minute?" Twilight asked.

"Though 1 thing I don't get," Applejack said. "Why did all this happen now?"

"Oh yeah now I remember," Discord said.

"Remember what?" Super Stallion asked.

Discord explained before he was imprisoned he planted Plunder Seeds in the ground. They would drain the tree of its magic and trap Luna and Celestia. But the magic of the tree was so powerful, it stopped the seeds from growing for over 1000 years.

"So you're behind this whole thing!?" Super Stallion asked, ready for a fight.

"Well past Discord was anyway."

"You realize this is information we could have used hours ago?" Twilight said.

"Oh you mean that would have been nice? Like it would have been nice if you asked me for help when you brought me here or at the very least sent a letter like sun butt actually said you should?” Rainbow Dash then got in Discord's face ready for a fight even more than Super Stallion was.

"Why I oughta-" Rainbow was suddenly off when Discord stretched his neck out and forced Rainbow Dash to the ground, spooking the usually brave blue pegasus.

"You oughta what? Your precious elements are gone now, remember? So if I were you I'd start playing nice or you might find yourself with cheese wings." Discord said while also poking Rainbow Dash with his claw a little bit. "Actually I might do that anyway."

"Hey back off!" Super Stallion said ready to pull Discord off Rainbow Dash.

"You back off!" Discord then pushed Super Stallion with his paw that almost sent him half across Ponyville. "I've had enough "friendship" for today so I'll see you later, much later."

Twilight then brought the royal pony sisters back to Canterlot. "Do you think the tree is making a new set of elements in that chest?" Celestia asked.

"We can only hope so," Luna answered. “With the elements gone it could be that much harder to protect Equestria from a new threat or an old one that might have a chaotic relapse."

“How true,” Celestia said. “We should also try to tighten security, now makes a total of 3 recent royal abductions.”

"Well at least this ponynapping was in our own universe," Luna responded.

"Was that supposed to cheer me up Luna?"

"I suppose a little bit of Swift Sweep's impression.”

"You're quite fond of him aren't you?"

"Yes," Luna answered as she blushed a little. "It's thanks to him that I sleep much better."

"I beg your pardon Luna," Celestia said, rather shocked by what she just heard.

"Oh perhaps I should explain a little better."

***

Ponyville was having a spring festival and Princess Luna had decided to join despite it being during the day. "Thy princess lacks a partner who shall step forth and-" Princess Luna stopped when she realized Swift Sweep had already run off and grabbed one of her forelegs with both of his. "My my quite excited to help thy princess of the night are we? Let us partake in glorious fun."

"Okay." Swift Sweep and Luna then got all sorts of games from 7 legged racing to tug a war to pie eating and even a scavenger hunt. Swift Sweep enjoyed every single second of it because he got to spend all that time with Princess Luna.

"This day has been a complete blast," Swift Sweep said with absolute excitement when the 2 of them were on the ferrous wheel.

"Indeed most fun," Luna said as she moved a little bit closer to Swift Sweep. "I have noticed thou among the night ponies."

"You have?"

"Tis quite difficult not to. You quite fancy me do you not?"

"Huh?"

"Well that is to say you are quite sweet on me."

"You want me to get you a candy bar?"

"No," Luna tried to figure out how to talk to Swift Sweep in a way he'd understand. "You wanna smooch me don't you?"

"Okay!"

"Wait, that was a question not a-" Luna was cut off him Swift Sweep swiftly planted a firm yet soft kiss on her lips. "You are a most passionate romantic."

"I think you're a good smoocher too." Princess Luna then chuckled a bit as she couldn't help but find Swift Sweep's personality humorous.

"Out of curiosity, what does thou find so charming about me?"

"You mean besides your rocking bod?"

"Uh yes, besides that."

"Well you're smart because you know just about every constellation in the night sky and you can travel through dreams which alone is super cool but you also use that to help ponies figure things out which is noble. Also that shirt doesn't hurt all that much."

"Yes I found it at a store and just said to myself that I had to have it."

"Plus even though you have the title of princess you actually show up at a festival like a casual pony. Basically your highness you're perfect."

"Oh Swift, that's sweet of you to say. Insanely sweet actually, but I'm far from perfect."

"Oh yeah based on what?"

"Well there is the incident where I became Nightmare Moon and tried to make night last forever."

"Oh for crying out loud, that was like 1000 years ago that's getting old." Hearing that Princess Luna suddenly bursted into laughing, surprising Swift Sweep. "What's so funny?"

"You are Swift Sweep," Luna answered when she managed to stop laughing.

"I am?"

"Yes very." Princess Luna then got even closer to Swift Sweep almost sitting right on his lap. "I really like a stallion that can make me laugh." Princess Luna then kissed Swift Sweep quite passionately and Swift Sweep returned the passionate kiss with one as equally passionate and the 2 ponies held each other tightly yet gently.

After the festival Luna returned to the castle feeling better about herself than she did in a long time. When she made it to her chambers she quickly hopped on her bed and as she found herself in the realm of dreams she approached a small moving black ball.

"I hate to tell you this at the last minute but I don't think your service will be required any longer." Luna then absorbed the small thing that she called the Tantabus into herself.

***

Luna then explained that Tantabus was something made to give herself nightmares. "Luna, why in Equestria would you do that to yourself?"

"You forgave me but I hadn’t forgiven myself. But after that night with Swift Sweep, I was finally able to. He’s very special to me.”

"Perhaps we should go on a double date sometime?"

"I think I'd like that very much, Celestia."

Time passed in Equestria as it usually does and the ponies went about their lives. Meanwhile deep within the Everfree Forest Discord was still trying to figure out the magic of friendship.

"Discord are you here?" Twilight asked as she arrived for a visit.

"Yes right here," Discord answered as he teleported right in front of her. Twilight then got out a lamp and offered it to him.

"It's a lamp modeled after you. I got it at the Traders Exchange."

"Oh I know, I saw the whole thing." Discord then snapped his fingers and a portal appeared behind him showing Twilight overseeing a trial.

"So let me get this straight, you basically sold off your own friend in non paying servitude to get a book. Way to show that element of loyalty Rainbow Dash."

"Oh come on Twilight I said it was a mistake now I need you to do something about it." Discord then closed the portal.

"Yet another wonderful moment brought on by the magic of friendship."

"Discord we've had this talk before," Twilight said knowing where this was going.

"And we're going to have it again."

"Haven't you said all there was to be said about this by now?"

"You talk about how precious your friendship is but I can't help but notice it comes with quite a bit of drama wouldn't it be better to just get rid of it all together? End the drama?"

"Of course not friendship isn't always easy but there's no doubt it's worth fighting for. It's like I told my friends when we were leaving the Everfree Forest, there would be times where our friendship would be tested, but it won't ever be destroyed."

"Perhaps I would understand it more if I actually got involved in some of it."

"Oh you mean you want to hang out? That would be fun I mean if you kept the chaos on the down low."

"So none of this?" Discord then a small army of dancing cupcakes appear.

"Yeah nopony would really go for that, except for Pinkie Pie.”

***

The Equestria Games had finally arrived at the Crystal Empire and the princesses sat next to one another when suddenly a 5th throne appeared with Discord on it.

"Well this is nice isn't it, the 5 cornerstones of Equestria sun, moon, love, friendship, and chaos."

"Discord, what are you doing here?" Celestia asked.

"Oh I invited him," Twilight answered and Celestia gave Twilight an upset look.

"Twilight, can I talk to you in private?"

“Uh, okay?” Twilight then followed her teacher somewhere private.

"Twilight what were you thinking?"

"Oh come on it couldn't hurt to let him watch the games with us could it?"

"No Twilight! No no no no no! My sister and I came here to relax, that's going to be very difficult for all of us to do with him here."

"Princess I know that you 2 have a rather long history but you got to let you of all that."

"Let go, after all he’s done."

"He's making an effort to change and has actually done a good job once or twice. I think it's time you 2 try to start a new relationship." Princess Celestia then took a deep breath from hearing all that.

"Twilight you're right. I know you're right I've let him get the worst of me for too long."

"That's the spirit, listen we can talk about this later. The games are going to start soon and I want to see Spike light the fire. For now just try to be nice to Discord."

Twilight and Celestia then made their way back to their thrones.

"Back already I guess your head isn't as hard to get through as usual today huh sun butt?"

"No I guess not," Celestia replied a little annoyed. "So Discord, that's a nice beard you have there."

"Uh, thanks I grew it myself."

Meanwhile Spike was getting ready to light the fire to officially start the Equestria Games but he was having some trouble and it was about to get worse. He was a little nervous but once he got up the ladder and saw the many ponies that had come to see the games, his nervousness soon became fear.

"Mr. The dragon, are we having a problem?" Ms. Harshwinnie asked but he wouldn't be able to answer her as suddenly Spike fell to the ground shocking her and especially Twilight who saw Spike fall to her complete and utter horror.

"SPIKE!" Twilight suddenly leapt off her throne and flew straight to Spike in seconds. Rainbow Dash would have been impressed if she wasn't shocked as well. "OH MY GOSH HE'S NOT BREATHING! DISCORD GET OVER HERE! DISCORD DIS-" Twilight was cut off when Discord used his claw arm to grab Twilight's lips.

"I heard you, in fact I think the ponies still in Canterlot heard you."

"Help Spike use your chaos magic. Do something!" Discord then made a doctor costume appear on him as he picked up Spike to look at him.

"Well let's see what we can do here or rather what I can do." After Discord looked at Spike a little he handed Twilight a small rubber ducky.

"Why did you give me this?"

"Because I'm a quack," Discord answered and then proceeded to laugh at his own joke. "Seriously, get him to a real doctor."

***

Spike was taken to a real doctor in no time at all since Discord could teleport him. As it turned out Spike's heart stopped and the doctor couldn't figure out why. Twilight's friends along with her brother, sister in law, Discord, and the royal pony sisters were all waiting together while Twilight was pacing back and forth just outside the emergency room worrying more and more about Spike with each passing second.

"What's taking them so long it can't be that serious can it but it has to be if it's taking this long so is that why it's taking so long?"

"Twilight please you have to calm down," Princess Celestia said to Twilight, starting to worry about her as well as Spike.

"Calm down how in the name of all this is sane and reasonable do you expect me to calm down at a time like this?"

"I know it's not easy but you aren't going to help him if you give yourself a panic attack." Celestia then wrapped her wing around Twilight and gently pulled her away from the door. "Besides, you'll wear out the floor if you keep pacing like that. You need to sit down, who knows how long it'll take before the doctor finally comes out." Just then the emergency room doors opened as one of the doctors came out and Discord couldn't help but laugh.

"Oh what none of you found the timing of that whole thing funny? I know you at least had to Pinkie Pie."

"Give it to me straight doctor how is he? How serious is it? How long will Spike have to stay here?" Twilight wanted to ask more questions but Discord cut her off by making a gag appear on her muzzle.

"Thank you Discord." Princess Celestia then stopped out of sheer shock. "Did I honestly just say that?"

"Well he seems to be doing better now but he's suffered heart failure." Hearing that shocked everypony and even Discord.

"But how could that have happened? The adorable little dear is just a baby dragon?" Rarity asked.

"Well that's what we're having a lot of trouble figuring out. He's on life support now but I'm not sure when he’ll get better."

"Discord can't you do something with your chaos magic?" Rainbow Dash asked as she flew over to him. "Look I know I haven't been your biggest fan, like at all. I still think you’re completely obnoxious and it’s really creepy that you spy on Twilight all the time-” Rainbow Dash was cut off when Applejack put her hoof in her mouth.

"What I think she's trying to say is maybe you can help him somehow."

"Yes if there's anything you can do to help my beloved Spikey Wikey then you must do it you must! I adore that adorable little dragon."

"Okay," Discord said. He then teleported to Spike and after Discord put his paw on Spike's chest for a moment or 2, he woke up. Wasting no time the ponies, especially Twilight, Rarity, and Celestia went to see Spike.

"Where, where am I? What happened, why are there tubes in my nose?"

"Your heart stopped out of nowhere Spike," Twilight answered.

"It, it stopped, how the heck does that even happen?"

"A curse," Discord answered. "When I came to see you I could sense it. So it was just a matter of removing it or rather what was left of it there was hardly any of it left."

"But why would anypony want to curse me?" Spike said, understandably scared.

"That does seem to be the million bit question but I don't think we're gonna get an answer in this chapter."

"What?"

“What?” Discord closed his eyes out of frustration. Dang it.

“Well if it's gone now does that mean I can take this tube out?" Spike asked.

After the drama, Spike finally started the fire to begin the Equestria Games. While he was still a little scared, nearly dying made hundreds and hundreds of ponies staring seem like nothing.

"Are you okay Twilight?" Cadance asked her as Discord and the other alicorns returned to their thrones.

"I am now that Spike is. I was so worried that I thought I was gonna have a heart attack too."

"I should thank you as well Discord." I've actually said that to him twice in 1 day, unbelievable. "I've grown quite fond of Spike as well. In a way I think we all actually have."

"Happy to help out sun butt. I mean Celestia." A little longer Spike decided he wanted to do more to help out in the games. So he decided that he would sing the Ponyville anthem but since the Wonderbolts won he was supposed to sing the Cloudsdale anthem, something he didn't know. Thinking quickly Celestia whispered in Discord's ear and with the snap of his fingers, a piece of paper appeared in Spike's claw.

After the games Twilight met up with Flash Sentry who offered to show Twilight around the Crystal Empire which she gladly took him up on.

"And where do you think you're going, soldier?" Shining Armor asked as he saw the 2 of them leaving together.

"Oh Prince Armor!" Flash Sentry quickly saluted upon seeing the prince. "Just thought I’d show the Princess of Friendship around the empire."

"Is that so?" Shining Armor asked, his big brother instincts taking over.

"It's fine Shining Armor."

"You might think so but it would probably be best if I went with you 2 to make sure the princess is all right."

"I'm more than sure that isn't necessary Shining," Twilight said a little annoyed Flash wanted to agree but he didn't want to upset his superior.

"Well you can't be too sure about that Twily now can you?" Before Shining Armor could continue Twilight got out a piece of paper that she knew he would recognize. "You actually brought that?"

"Just in case I needed it."

"Look, I think this might be an exception." Twilight then flipped the paper around which literally said no exceptions written right on it. "Fine," Shining sighed in defeat.

As the day came to a close Princess Celestia came across Discord who was gobbling up loads of sweets in a candy shop.

"Discord what are you doing?"

"Eating my body weight in sugar I figured you'd understand that."

"I hope you're paying for all that." Discord then made a pile of bits appear on the ground.

"I trust that will do?"

"Y-Yes," the crystal pony that was running the shop answered as he was hiding behind the counter in fear.

"It seems that pony is rather intimidated by you. Perhaps I could help you show them that you aren't so bad."

"I don't know, I kind of like it. Reminds me of the good old days."

"You mean when you tried to drown Equestria in your chaos?"

"Of course," Discord said as he sighed. "It's sad how the memories fade over the years."

"Well since I ran into you I wanted to thank you again for helping out Spike."

"Yes this has been quite a day hasn't it? Me saving the adorable little mascot and he in return saving the Crystal Empire from another ice age."

"Yes perhaps I could trust you a little more with helping out in this and other lands. But for now maybe we should just relax. I think we've had enough drama for a while."

***

"Discord you're most likely wondering what the reason is for me calling you here," Celestia said as she was sitting on her throne.
"Do you want me to make it rain chocolate again?"

"No."

"You want to officially make me a prince of chaos."

"No I-"

"You're breaking up with Squeaky and you want me to tell him for you."

"Excuse me!"

"You want me to remodel the castle."

"Discord!"

"Oh relax sun butt I'm just teasing you."

"Yes, well." Princess Celestia then sighed several times to calm herself down. "There is a dangerous centaur named Tirek who is stealing the magic of the ponies and I need to find and capture him. I believe you would be the best one to do this because you'll be able to sense unusual magic."

"That I can, I'll have him captured by the end of the chapter."

"What?" Discord then disappeared before he could answer the princess's question, making her sigh once again. "Sometimes I wish he was still trapped in stone." Discord then made his way to a different part of Equestria that he had tracked Tirek down to.

"If only I could get stronger at a faster rate, but at least it's better than continuing to rot away in Tartarus." Tirek then made his way to another pony only to be surprised that it was Discord.

"Tirek I presume. Fancy meeting you here."

"Discord? You're free?"

"As a bird." Discord then took the shape of a bird as he said that. After that Discord attempted to capture Tirek who could barely fight back.

“I should have known you’d want to have Equestria all to yourself.”

“Well actually I’m doing this for my friends. Just between the 2 of us, it’s mostly for Twilight.”

"Twilight? Don't tell me you have actually resorted to making friends with these ponies. Can't you see it's just another form of imprisonment? Forcing you to meet their standards just to stay in their good graces?"

"And what would you know about that?"

"Because oh great spirit of chaos I've seen this all before from my so called brother Scorpan. But he was always weak minded, not me though. Not us, perhaps fate has led us to meet this day, if we join forces we can bring this entire continent to its knees. I would rob the ponies of their magic and you could flip their whole world upside down."

"That does sound quite tempting."

"Then join forces with me. I can grant you something far greater than friendship, freedom. Unless of course pony errand boy is the role you wish to play."

After that Tirek, thanks to Discord, was able to gather magic at a much faster rate and that news quickly made its way to Princess Celestia. Who had to explain this to Twilight.

"But why would he do this? I thought we were friends. I thought he had changed."

"Yes I suppose I put too much trust in the effect that friendship would have on him." Princess Celestia then explained that in order to protect the alicorn magic from falling into the hands of Tirek, they would have to transfer their magic to Twilight.

"What? That's a terrible idea. What if he comes after you and tries to hurt you, you'll be completely unable to defend yourself."

“I know I ask a lot from you Twilight, but that’s because I need you.” Twilight then agreed while a certain janitor overheard the whole thing.

"When I find that spirit of chaos I'm gonna turn him into stone and throw him to the edge of the universe." Squeaky Clean changed into Super Stallion and traveled to the Tree of Harmony. Super Stallion then placed his forelegs on the tree hoping to borrow its magic, but it didn't seem to work. "It's not working, not good. Maybe that book Star Swirl gave Twilight has something that can help me."

Super Stallion then made his way up to Ponyville but Tirek and Discord were already there and the latter had captured Twilight's friends for the former.

"Soon it won't be long, all the magic in this land will be mine at last! This whole land will be under my rule." Tirek was suddenly bucked right on his head and fell to the ground.

"Not on my watch," Super Stallion when suddenly Discord's tail wrapped around almost his entire body.

"Was wondering when you would show up," Discord said as he threw Super Stallion with his tail. "Sheesh Tirek I fly off for a minute and you already need rescuing."

"He just took me by surprise, that's all. Who was that anyway, another alicorn you didn't tell me about?"

"No, just a superhero, don't worry I can handle him." Discord then teleported to where he threw Super Stallion.

"Discord, why are you doing this?"

"Why not?"

"Why not!" Super Stallion said as he flew up madder than ever. "You've betrayed the ponies that actually extended their friendship to you despite all the chaotic things you've put them through! Doesn't that make you feel bad in the least?"

"Would it make you feel better if I said it would all be better by the end of the chapter?"

"What?" Super Stallion wasn't sure how to respond to that and then noticed Discord had a new necklace that he noticed Super Stallion was staring at. "Oh you like it, this was a gift from Tirek, a sign of his gratitude and loyalty."

"So you care more about helping him than us. For crying out loud Princess Celestia personally put you in charge of this despite everything. How do you think you've made her feel?"

"I think right now she has other problems to worry about. Tirek trapped her along with Luna and Cadance in Tartarus."

"What?!" Super Stallion then flew off leaving Discord rather confused. "I guess he loves sun butt more than he hates me."

Before long Super Stallion rescued the 3 princesses.

"Thanks a lot Super Stallion," Princess Cadance said.

"Indeed we are most thankful," Princess Luna added.

Super Stallion then led them out of the Tartarus while Princess Celestia thought about Discord’s betrayal. "Just when I thought there was a chance he and I could actually become friends."

"And without the elements I can't use their magic to turn him back to stone but maybe you know a way to get the Tree of Harmony to help me."

"I'm sorry Super Stallion, but there's very little I know about that tree. Perhaps it would be best if you went to see Twilight. She may be able to help you with that." Suddenly the alicorns and Super Stallion saw Tirek who wasn't exactly hard to miss as he had become a giant.

"Oh geez this day just keeps getting worse. Do you 3 think you'll be okay on your own for a while? I think I may need to deal with that."

"We’ll be fine," Princess Celestia said. Super Stallion quickly flew off to see what he could do about Tirek who on top of taking away the chaotic magic of Discord had forced Twilight to surrender all the alicorn magic she had.

"Um, quick question. How come when Tirek took all of the alicorn magic he becomes a literal giant, but when he took the magic of the essential god over here he hardly grew?"

"You know Pinkie now that I think about it, that is a really good question," Discord responded while laying on the ground seemingly carefree. "Perhaps it's because he absorbs the raw energy of the individuals and alicorns have a bunch of those."

"Oh that makes sense."

"Yes yes! All the power that I've waited for so long at last nothing can stop me now." Suddenly Tirek was cut off when Super Stallion flew straight at him and bucked him in the jaw and he fell down again.

Discord bursted into laughter on the spot.

"Oh my gosh that couldn't have been funnier if Super Stallion had actually planned that."

"Actually yeah, that was pretty funny Discord," Pinkie said. Suddenly Rainbow Dash got in Discord's face as angry as she could get.

"Is that all you can say? You stab us in the back just to get stabbed again and you don't even care about that!"

"Come now Rainbow Crash, this is a time for graduations. My chaotic student Twilight cared about us so much that she gave up all her magic. Necklaces off to you Twilight." Discord then tossed the necklace Tirek gave him to Twilight. Suddenly the necklace reflected a rainbow and Twilight put the pieces together and she along with the others ran to the Tree of Harmony while Super Stallion kept Tirek busy.

"I'll admit you're powerful for a pony but you still won't stop me," Tirek said as he tried to blast Super Stallion who countered with a blast of his own. Suddenly the mane 6 appeared and with their newly required rainbow power, they not only imprisoned Tirek, but returned all the magic that he stole.

"Well that’s new," Super Stallion said as he went to meet the mane 6. "What happened? How did you all do that?"

"They opened the chest that the seed sapping tree spit out and used the magic inside it to defeat Tirek."

"So in other words you're the only 1 left to deal with." Super Stallion asked, ready to fight but Twilight got in the way.

"Wait, Super Stallion, I think Discord planned all this."

"What?" Everypony else and Spike asked.

"She's right. I knew all along that Tirek was just trying to trick me by saying friendship wasn't as great as ponies made it out to be. So I played along and used him instead to help Twilight and her friends open the chest and apparently a new castle." Super Stallion turned around and saw the new castle made from the chest that came from the Tree of Harmony.

"How the heck did I miss that?"

"Maybe you should pay attention instead of doing your one liners," Discord said.

"Wait Discord, how did you know that Tirek was just trying to trick you?" Super Stallion asked.

"Excellent question, perhaps he should hear it too." With a snap of his fingers Tirek was teleported out of Tartarus and in front of the spirit of chaos who was so shocked he fell down. "Hey buddy you don't look so good. Too bad I'm no longer of any use to or I might lend you a claw."

"Now Discord when, when I said that I didn't actually mean-" Discord then wrapped his tail around Tirek and pulled him in.

"I guess pony errand boy doesn't look so bad now huh? You tried to trick me into thinking you could offer me something greater than friendship, but nothing could be greater. There was a time not so long ago, chapter 19 actually, that like you I thought friendship wasn't worth much. But over time these ponies and that markedly adorable dragon proved me wrong."

"When did we do that?" Super Stallion asked.

"In a way all the time. I've seen friendship make you act in all sorts of different ways, such as helping others forget or at the very least not feel bad about their mistakes from the past. Sometimes friends can tease friends about certain mistakes to help get a point across. Or when you feel bad because a friend is in danger you feel like that because you care about them that much. Friendship can hurt, it can mend, it can teach, it can help you learn. Friendship can do sorts of things, it’s kind of chaotic.”

“He kind of has a point,” Twilight said.

“I think I can grow to like it a lot, but first." Discord then leaned closer to Tirek who was starting to get scared. "I'm going to teach a certain centaur what happens when he thinks he can just throw me away like an empty candy bag." Discord then dragged Tirek away while he grabbed at the dirt desperately trying to get free leaving the others in a rather awkward silence.

"Wanna explore the castle with us, Super Stallion?" Twilight asked.

"Okay."

Chapter 27 To Love a Siren

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Canterlot High, a seemingly normal high school, has been having a few supernatural issues, most recently the entire school was almost brainwashed by a trio of attention grabbing sirens. But their plan was foiled by a high school band and 2 former students of Princess Celestia. Sunset Shimmer with her journal was able to get Twilight to come help who in return reworked the mirror so she could come and go as she pleases. "Sunset with the whole drama of the Dazzlings finally done and over with there's something I wanted to ask you."

"Yeah what's that?"

"Don't you want to come back to Equestria? Maybe say hi to Princess Celestia. I mean there's gotta be a couple things you want to say to her."

"To be honest, I've thought about that a little, more than a little actually," Sunset answered while looking at the ground.

"Oh geez Sunset I'm sorry I didn't mean to upset you."

"No Twilight it's okay. A while after I left, I wanted to return to her. But by the time I did, she had already replaced me."

"Oh, I see," Twilight replied rather awkwardly.

"I'm sure that I'll come back to Equestria someday. But for now, I think that it's best I stay here and learn a little bit more about friendship."

"I think that might be a pretty good idea."

"You know Twilight we were thinking of maybe getting some pizza and ice cream to celebrate stopping the Dazzlings you want to come?"

"Well, I guess there isn't exactly a rush this time around, sure." As Twilight went to celebrate with her friends she came across the Flash Sentry of this world.

"Twilight! It's nice to see you again. Listen, I'm sorry I acted like a jerk earlier."

"It's nice to see you too Flash and it's okay, you weren't exactly yourself."

"I'd still like to make it up to you, maybe I could buy you a sundae."

"I think I could go for a little more ice cream." Flash then grabbed Twilight's hand and she knew where this was going. "Listen Flash, I know we kind of had a thing before but I'm kind of seeing someone, somepony else."

"You are? Who?"

"You. Or rather the Flash Sentury from my world."

"Oh, I guess that shouldn't come as that much of a surprise.”

"If I'm being completely honest, I don't think this thing had much of a chance in the first place. What with us literally being from different worlds."

Faraway, the Dazzlings had run off after their defeat by the hands of the Rainbooms.

"This is unbelievable not only are we still stuck here and still not being adored, but now we've lost what little magic we had left," Aria complained. "Nice work Adagio."

"Excuse me!" Adagio said back. "Are you implying that this whole thing is my fault?"

"I'm not implying it, I'm flat out saying it!" Aria shot back.

"How was I supposed to know we could lose our magic? You think I actually wanted this to happen?"

"Well maybe if you let us think of something or put in some input for a chance things would have gone differently!"

"Maybe if 1 of you grew a brain you'd be worth listening too!"

"Do you guys think it'll rain?"

"SHUT UP SONATA!" Aria and Adagio said at the same time before they got into each other's faces.

"What makes you think you were ever good enough to lead us anyway, Adagio?"

"Well if you think you can do a better job on your own I'm not going to stop you!"

"Oh yeah well fine I think I'll do just that." And with that Aria stormed off to Adagio’s surprise but she wasn't interested in stopping her.

"All right fine," Adagio said in a huff. "The 2 of us will be just fine on our own, won't we Sonata?" Suddenly Adagio noticed Sonata wasn't anywhere to be seen. "Oh where the heck is she? Did she see a butterfly and chase after it or something?" Adagio then ran around for a while looking for Sonata but was having no luck and to make things worse it started to rain.

"Wow you were right Lyra it was going to rain."

"Yeah but we can save the I told you so for later, let's head for the parlor." As it started to pour down heavier and heavier, Adagio tried to get out of the rain. But as she was running she tripped on her own ankle and fell into a mud puddle.

"OW!" Adagio tried to stand up but her leg was really in pain. As she got under a tree the rain came down even harder. "This is just great, Aria left, Sonata's gone, and now I'm stuck here in the literal pouring rain with no magic whatsoever…all alone." Adagio had to fight the urge to cry.

"Are you okay?" Adagio looked up and saw a teenage boy with dark gray hair with light gray stripes and light violet gray skin. He was carrying an umbrella and a case for an electric piano. He leaned in a little and placed the umbrella above Adagio.

"No, but at least I'm a little dryer now."

"You shouldn't stay out here, you'll catch a cold."

"Probably, but I don't have anywhere to go and even if I did my ankle feels like it's been stabbed so I can hardly even walk."

"Oh, I see, maybe I can help you with both of those, I mean if you like."

"How would you do that exactly?"

"See that large apartment building over there?" Adagio then looked to her right and saw what the boy was pointing to.

"It'd be pretty hard not to notice it even with all the rain."

"I live in one of the apartments I could take you there and you'd be out of the rain."

"Okay then but it might be hard for me to get there. Seriously, my ankle feels like it's been stabbed."

"I can help you with that too if you'll hold my umbrella." Adagio then took the umbrella as she figured she really didn't have anything to lose.

"Is this supposed to fly me to where you live or something?" To her surprise Adagio was lifted up as the boy started to carry her in his arms, 1 arm holding her back and the other holding her legs while still carrying the case. "Wow, I've never been swept off my feet before."

"Oh by the way my name is Ringo."

"My name is Adagio." Ringo brought Adagio to the top floor of the apartment building and he gently placed her beside the door to his apartment. "My my aren't you strong. You managed to carry me and that case of yours all the way up here no problem."

"Oh, I exercise a lot and actually have a gym membership so it wasn't all that hard, plus you're pretty light." Ringo then opened the door and picked up Adagio again to carry her in and placed her on the couch in the living room and even placed a pillow under her head. "Are you comfortable, Adagio?"

"Compared to just a little while ago I feel great."

"Is there anything I can get you, maybe a soda?"

"That would probably be nice, thank you?" Ringo then went into the kitchen to get her something to drink. "Did I actually say thank you?" Ringo returned with not just a soda but also a blanket that he put over her. On top of that he also got an ice pack that caught her attention. "What's that for?"

"It's for your ankle you said it hurt well this can help with that." He then placed his hand very gently on her ankle that kind of made Adagio feel a little tingly. "Is this the one that hurts?" Adagio nodded and Ringo gently placed the ice pack on that ankle. "This should help you out with the pain and I think you'll feel much better in the morning."

"Are you sure this is an apartment building and not some 5 star hotel because this is quite the quality service?"

"Thank you, I just wanted to make sure you'd be all right until I called your parents."

"Excuse me?"

"Well they're probably worried about you, is your house far from here?"

"It's like I said I have nowhere to go for almost as far back as I can remember it was just me, Aria, and Sonata. But now that's not even the case anymore."

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know and I don't care!" Adagio then crossed her arms and looked away from Ringo.

"Oh did your band split up?" Ringo asking that made Adagio look back at him.

"How did you know we were in a band?"

"Well you were a part of the Battle of the Bands right? And you came in 2nd place behind the Rainbooms after your 2 bands went head to head. I think you did anyway for some reason that whole thing is kind of a blur which is weird cause I was part of it."

"I see."

"Though 1 thing I remember for sure was this time in the cafeteria a little before the Battle of the Bands started 3 girls came in and started singing. At first I wasn't really paying attention until a girl started walking on the table right up to me and looked me right in the eye. She only did it for a second but that was all I needed to know that I was looking at the most beautiful girl on the planet and-" Ringo stopped as he blushed. "Well goodnight the tv remote is on the table." Ringo then walked off to his room.

"Beautiful?" Adagio asked as she blushed a little as well.

***

"How's your ankle?" Ringo asked the next morning as he got up to check on Adagio who was also up.

"Better but it still hurts. So how did your parents take it when you told them about me?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"Your parents, the ones that raised you, how did they take it when you told them you brought a strange girl here?"

"Oh I didn't tell them anything, they aren't here it's just me, and now you. My parents actually travel a lot so they went through the trouble of getting me my own apartment building so I could stay in 1 place."

"My quite the resourceful one aren't we? So much to yourself." Adagio tried to stand but her ankle still hurt. "I don't suppose you have another ice pack, the first one melted."

"Well actually I figured your ankle would still be hurting so I drew you a warm bath that might help too. Would…you like me to carry you again?"

"Well I suppose it would save me from actually having to walk." Ringo then once again gently picked up Adagio and carried her to the bathroom.

"There's a bathrobe next to the bathtub for you to wear when you get out."

"Do you not like what I'm wearing right now?"

"No you look great I just thought maybe since your clothes are all muddy I could do some laundry and I could add your clothes to it."

"I see." Ringo left her alone and she wasted no time in getting in to soak her hurting ankle. "That boy is head over heels in love with me. Not that I can hardly blame him," Adagio said as she stopped to admire her own reflection in the bath water and moved her hair around a little. "No I can't blame him 1 bit after all I am the most beautiful thing in this or any other world." After a long relaxing bath Adagio left the tub wearing the bathrobe Ringo left in there to see him working on his electric piano.

"Feel better?" Ringo asked as she sat next to him on the couch.

"Starting to."

"I looked it up and there's something else you can do to help with a hurt ankle: keep it elevated. It's where you put the hurting foot above the others."

"Oh I see." Adagio then placed her hurt foot above the other on the edge of the couch after doing that she laid down and placed her head right on Ringo's lap. "Huh this couch isn't as long as I thought it was. I can get off if you want." Adagio then started to raise her head but Ringo stopped her by placing his hand on her shoulder.

"No! It's quite alright, I don't mind." Adagio then placed her head back on his lap.

Why in the world did I offer to move just for his sake? Adagio thought as she never did something like that before. It was probably nothing, Adagio tried to tell herself as Ringo was playing on his electric piano and suddenly started to laugh. "What's so funny?"

"I just realized that I was trying to work on an adagio while I have one on my lap."

"An adagio?"

"Yeah your name Adagio, it's a musical term that means a slow passage. My parents taught me a lot about music. They both love it a lot, that's how I got my name."

"Oh, is Ringo a musical term too?"

"No it was the name of a guy in an old band that they're both huge fans of. They made a song about a walrus, they made more but that's the only 1 I remember. My parents always wanted to make music just like that band and I guess I inherited their dream. It was about a year ago when they finally decided to set out and do that."

"Really, what made them do that?" Adagio asked, actually taking interest in the story.

"I did, When they told me it was their dream and I told them to go out and do it. At first they didn't want to because they had to take care of me but after a while I proved to them I was old enough to take care of myself. But they still send money every month to help me pay the bills and they call often. Ah geez I'm boring you aren't I?" Ringo asked.

"No, not at all, By all means continue."

***

As the weekend went by, Adagio spent a lot of time with Ringo and even helped him with a song for his band. When her ankle was back to 100% Ringo taught Adagio to dance to an Adagio that he wrote for her. After the weekend Ringo prepared to show his new song to his band. "Well come on Adagio let's get going?"

"Going?"

"Well yeah to school."

"You actually want to go there?"

"Well nobody wants to go to school but it's the law."

"Well I was planning on watching more tv with you but to be honest I am a little curious what your friends will think of that song." Adagio then got up and headed out the door with Ringo. I actually care what others think. What has gotten into me lately? As Adagio and Ringo met up with his band, they were big fans of the song.

Meanwhile not too far only Aria was hiding under the bleachers just sitting and hugging her legs.

"I don't need either of them," she said to herself trying to convince herself that it was true. "I can get by all by myself, I bet if I put my mind to it I could even find a way to get my magic back that would really show Adagio. With her magic gone I wonder if I could make her do what I want for once?" Aria then chuckled to herself when suddenly someone came under the bleachers "Oh, it's you, what do you want?"

After school Ringo took Adagio to the ice cream parlor to treat her to something sweet. "So what are these called again?"

"It's an ice cream soda, Adagio. Are you honestly telling me that you've never had one of these before?"

"Not until recently I was mainly feeding on something else entirely, but I think this can be a good substitute."

"Well you might want to find something a bit more healthy now. Do you mind waiting here for a second? I need to step out and get something."

"Well that sounds like quite the labor but I think somehow I'll be able to manage." Ringo then stepped out of the store but not before giving her a few more bucks for her to get a little more to eat. Around the time she finished Ringo returned and surprised Adagio with a bouquet of flowers. "What are those for?"

"They're for you."

"For me?"

"I didn't know what kind of flower was your favorite so I got a dozen different flowers and put them all together for a bouquet.”

Adagio then grabbed the flowers and couldn't help but notice a strong warm feeling in her heart. “Thank you.”

"You're welcome. I know that we haven't known each other for long, but I can't help but feel this way. Adagio, I love you."

"You, love me?" Adagio said, still in shock after hearing that.

"Yes I do," Ringo answered, getting the attention of quite a few people that were in the ice cream parlor with them. Adagio wasn't sure what to say and started to breathe heavily. She told Ringo that she wasn't feeling very well so he took her back to the apartment.

Afterwards Ringo left to work a little on his music and after he left Adagio found herself walking back and forth.

"He loves me, someone actually loves me. I've used Equestrian magic to make others do what I wanted, but they never told me that they loved me. Is it even possible for someone to love me, is it even possible for me to love someone?" Adagio then sat down on the couch. "Why is this bothering me so much?!"

Adagio decided to go for a walk thinking that would help clear her head. Adagio eventually returned to the apartment but to her surprise she found the door was open. "Did I leave the door open by mistake?" Adagio simply shrugged it off then entered the apartment building wishing to take a nap and that's exactly what she got. A rag covered her mouth that had a strange smell to it and in seconds she was unconscious.

***

Adagio awoke and tried to get up and look around but couldn't do either as her wrists and ankles were tied together. Before long she was able to sit up and saw she was in some kind of shack and she was joined by Aria and Sonata who, like her, were bound by rope and had cloths around their mouths which prevented either of them from making the slightest sound. Adagio wanted to ask what happened but she was gagged as well.

"Well looks like you finally woke up." Adagio turned to see Sunset Shimmer and her eyes nearly popped out of her head. "You just had to stay on the very top of that apartment building didn't you?"

"What are you doing Sunset Shimmer?" Adagio asked when she finally managed to get the gag off. "It's not enough that you and your friends stopped our plans and robbed our magic but now you kidnapped us."

"So close yet so far. I'm not the Sunset Shimmer that you're talking about, but I still know what you're talking about and I know how it feels to lose your magic. I only had it for a little while until the other Sunset and her friends took it back. But that's where you 3 come in."

"What are you talking about?" Adagio said as she also tried to get the ropes untied from her ankles and wrists but it was no use, they were too tight.

"You were able to use magic in this world and from what I saw during the Battle of the Bands a lot of it. So you're going to tell me how I can do that and for your sake you better be able to say something useful, unlike your friends."

"They aren't my," Adagio stopped herself for some reason. "Untie me right now!"

"You lost your magic remember? You're no longer the one that's giving orders, you listen to me. When I lost my magic I tried to do everything I could to get it back but-"

"I'm pretty sure I know where this is going. It's like I said before, our magic is gone. And even if we still had it, we wouldn't share it with someone that kidnapped us."

"You may have lost your magic but you were still able to use it in this world tell me how you were able to do that!" Sunset then got in Adagio's face and even grabbed her by the throat a little.

"It," Adagio stopped as she was having a little trouble breathing. "It came with us when we were banished from Equestria." Sunset then released Adagio who started to breathe heavily.

"I see. I was hoping you'd give me a different answer than those 2 bozos but I guess you 3 all share 1 brain.”

"Adagio!" Ringo called out not too far away. "Adagio are you here?"

"Oh isn't that sweet your little knight in not so shining armor has come looking for you," Sunset said as she put Adagio’s gag back on. Adagio got on the ground and crawled to the door making Sunset laugh as stomped on Adagio's back making her almost cry out in pain.

"Adagio," Ringo called out again a little closer.

"Oh what don't tell me that you actually care about him? I know all about your little stay with him. I've been keeping a close eye on you 3 after you were defeated. I was actually there when he confessed his love for you." Sunset then picked up Adagio planning on hiding the Sirens somewhere else in case Ringo came in to look for Adagio.

"Adagio can you hear me?" Adagio struggled to get free, to Sunset’s annoyance.

"Do you really think that he'd still love you if he knew what you really were?" Suddenly Adagio stopped moving but just when Sunset was gonna head out the door Adagio hit Sunset in the nose with the back of her head forcing her to drop her. When Adagio fell she rubbed her face against the ground to get the gag off. "What do you think you're doing you idiot?!"

"ADAGIO IF YOU'RE HERE PLEASE ANSWER!" Ringo screamed at nearly the top of his lungs still looking for Adagio around the school but just about ready to give up.

"I'M OVER HERE!" Adagio responded like Ringo nearly at the top of her lungs.

"STOP!" Sunset yelled.

"WHERE ARE YOU?"

"FOLLOW MY VOICE-" Sunset put the gag back on as Ringo broke through the door with a powerful kick.

"No!"

"Sunset?" Ringo asked in surprise. "No, you're that other Sunset aren't you?"

"I was the original, I'm the one from this world! Why is the imposter from the world of ponies the one that becomes more accepted here?!"

"Well for 1 thing she doesn't go around kidnapping people or breaking into other people's apartments." The human Sunset suddenly charged Ringo but he grabbed her then flipped her making her land hard on the ground. "I saw that on television once and I've always wanted to do that," Ringo said to Adagio as he turned to face her.

"If I had my magic I'd make you my slave and force you to do all sorts of things," Sunset Shimmer said as she got back up.

"But you don't so you aren't gonna are you?" Adagio laughed or at least tried to. Sunset charged again and this time Ringo grabbed both her hands with his.

"You won't take this away from me!"

"Wanna bet?" While not really a fighter Ringo was still able to wrestle Sunset to the ground. After a minute Sunset got free thanks to a well shot hit to Ringo's stomach by her elbow.

"Fine they don't have their magic anymore so this was probably a lost cause anyway," Sunset said when she got back on her feet. "If you want to fall in love with a monster so badly, go for it." Sunset then ran off and Ringo went over to Adagio.

"Are you alright Adagio?" Adagio nodded her head. "Oh good that's very good, would you like me to untie you?" Adagio raised an eyebrow. "Right dumb question. I may need to get a knife or something. Wait here I’ll be right back.” Ringo ran off leaving the sirens alone in awkward silence.

You have got to be kidding me, Adagio thought. What did I ever do to deserve this?... Well this still sucks.

***

Once the sirens were freed and brought to Ringo’s apartment, Sonata and Aria, mostly Sonata, were wolfing down rather vast quantities of food. "I know we haven't been away from one another for that long but have you 2 always had such bad eating manners?"

"What I haven't eaten since I got kidnapped," Sonata replied.

"Neither have I," Aria added.

"Well I got kidnapped first."

"How did you 2 get grabbed anyway?"

"Well while you and Aria had that fight I saw a butterfly and chased it a little and that's when I got grabbed."

"Called it," Adagio said to herself.

"What?" Aria asked.

"Nothing."

"Well anyway I got grabbed when I was under the bleachers at school. So what's the deal with this guy? Is he still somehow under the effect of our magic or something?"

"No, he just loves me." Sonata and Aria turned their heads shocked by what they just heard. "Yeah I had more or less the same reaction."

"So what did you tell him?"

"I haven't told him yet but I'm going to and I’d like your help with that."

"Can you believe this Sonata we just got back together and already she gets back to bossing us around."

"Aria, I know we parted on bad terms and, I'm sorry about that, about everything."

"What?" Sonata said.

"Did I just hear right?" Aria added.

"Yes Aria you did. I've had a bit of thinking and I don't want us to split up again. We may have lost our magic and have no hope of returning to Equestria but we can survive in this world easier if we stick together."

"If we do, it would make it much harder to get kidnapped again."

"For once in your life you're actually making sense, Sonata. Fine we stick together but you better start listening to my ideas."

Ringo came back after going to the police station and talking about the kidnapping. He would have just called as he didn't want to leave Adagio but she insisted on him going so she could talk to Aria and Sonata in private. When he returned he hugged Adagio on the spot.

"Are you okay Adagio?"

"Yes I'm all right you weren't gone all that long."

"Well I still missed you. The police want to talk to you about what happened to you 3."

"Okay. After all that is settled though, I'd like it if you and I went on a date."

"Really?!"

"Yes and not just a date I want to make it a very special date."

"Fine with me."

The sirens told the police what they could, making sure to keep certain information to themselves. After that the Sirens made their way back to the apartment building and Adagio decided it might be for the best if they got their own apartment.

"So do you think you can help us with that?" Adagio asked Ringo.

"Yes but why do you want to move out?"

"It just that with 4 people instead of 2 it might get cramped here." Ringo agreed and he talked to the landlady who gave the sirens the room next to Ringo's and even rent free for a while if Sonata agreed to let the landlady introduce her to her grandson.

After all that Adagio got ready for her special date with Ringo and she asked Aria and Sonata to help her with that because she wanted to look absolutely perfect.

"You're really going all out with this date huh Adagio?"

"Yeah I've never seen you act this way since, ever."

"Why is that exactly?" Aria asked.

"Yeah why is that?"

"It's because I'm going to tell him everything at the end of it. About what we really are about where we came from, everything."

"Uh he might not like everything he hears," Aria said.

"Yes, but I have to tell him the truth, because I love him too and he deserves to know the truth. If he doesn't like it I want to at least have 1 great night with him." Adagio then put on the last of her lipstick and turned around facing Aria and Sonata. "Well, how do I look?"

"Wow, you look pretty sexy, Adagio."

"Yeah I'd even go out with you.” Aria and Adagio stared at Sonata "What?"

Adagio made her way to Ringo who was wearing a tuxedo while she was wearing as Ringo put it, a Jessica Rabbit dress but golden instead of red and white gloves instead of purple. Ringo and Adagio went to just about the fanciest restaurant in town and after some dinner and dancing Ringo paid the check and Adagio took him outside.

"It's a beautiful night out. Is this the reason you wanted to come outside to talk?"

"No, I wanted to tell you something and made sure it was private." Adagio then proceeded to tell Ringo everything like she said she would.

"So the reason that the other Sunset Shimmer took you and your friends is-"

"She wanted to take our magic but we don't have any," Adagio finished, which reminded her of something she wanted to ask him. "By the way, how were you able to find me when I got taken?"

"Oh actually I wasn't all that sure myself when I saw that the door was open and you weren't there I panicked and I ran out to look for you without even calling the police. After I ran out I felt something in my heart that told me to look for you at the school. It was almost like my love for you was pulling me towards you."

"That doesn't make any sense." Ringo then put 1 hand on Adagio's shoulder and the other under her chin to make her look at him.

"Since when has love ever made sense?" Ringo then kissed Adagio slowly and passionately.

"I suppose you have a point there. So I take it this means that you still want to be with me?"

"Well on 1 hand you did try to kind of enslave the world. But on the other hand you're still insanely hot."

"Yes I am aren't I?" Adagio said as she flipped her hair. "I know I'm not exactly the angel you probably make me out to be but I still want to make this work between us." Adagio then put her hand right on Ringo's chest to feel his heart beat and Ringo in return put his hand right over Adagio's.

"Me too and honestly I kind of want to learn more about this alternate world you came from."

"It's been so long since we've been there. But I can tell you a bit." Ringo then stood up and helped Adagio stand as well. "I have to admit you're taking this much better than I thought you would. Not that I'm complaining."

"Well you said you did what you did because you want to be adored as a somewhat struggling musician I can kind of relate. And with your magic gone it's sort of like you have a second chance.” Ringo slowly stroked Adagio’s hair. “Maybe you don’t need the whole world to adore you. Maybe you just need 1 person." Ringo and Adagio then kissed under the night sky. Both not sure where this would end but both wishing to make the best of it.

***

Years later Ringo and Adagio were spending time in a small romantic cottage in a ski lodge. Adagio was sitting peacefully on a chair by the fireplace while knitting and Ringo surprised her by bringing a cup of hot cocoa. "Thank you sweetheart."
"Anytime honey." The 2 then shared a kiss. Afterwards Ringo looked at the booties Adagio was working on.

"You really took to knitting in no time didn't you?"

"Yes, I figured it would be harder at first so I got to work right when we got the news so I could make some in time."

"Well I'm gonna go skiing, see you in a little while." Ringo kissed Adagio goodbye and Adagio then gently rubbed her stomach.

"I should have them done along with a matching hat well before you get here.”

Chapter 28 Prison Break

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Far away from Canterlot Princess Celestia was in a prison nearly outside the equestrian border. With over half a dozen abnormal trouble makers that lead an attack on the castle she ordered tighter security after all captured and defeated. She was there to see if the upgrades were satisfactory and to her surprise Twilight came along with her. "Twilight I still don't get why you wanted to come along with me."

"Why not it's a great way to see new places and meet new ponies," Twilight answered with gusto.

"Well I don't think you want to get too close to some of the ponies here."

"Princesses please stand back!" One of the nearby guards said as he gathered close to quite a few other guards.

"Is something the matter?" Twilight asked.

"No we're just doing a prisoner transport and this is one of the more troubling ones," the guard answered as a rather large gate opened, revealing Chrysalis. 1 guard was walking in front of Chrysalis while holding a chain that had its other end connected to a collar around her neck 2 guards were beside her and another 2 were right behind her.

"Come on, get a move on your highness," one of the guards in the back said and tapped one of her legs, getting her to move faster. Chrysalis started walking but suddenly she stopped.

"What is she doing?" Another guard asked and suddenly she turned her head to where the 2 alicorns were and had a seriously angry look.

"Twilight Sparkle!" Chrysalis said with a growl surprising the guards as that was the only thing she said since she got locked up. Twilight and Celestia got ready if she was going to try something but 1 of the guards hit her with a taser that nearly dropped her.

"Don't get any ideas changeling now get up and get going!" Chrysalis was then forced up and was taken down the hall to her cell. Celestia then took Twilight down a different hall and they stopped in a break room.

"Well that was a bit scary wasn't it?" Princess Celestia asked.

"Maybe a little, but I know how to handle that overgrown stink bug."

"Perhaps but she isn't the only one that might be a problem. Are you sure you want to stay here?"

"Of course!" Twilight once again answered with gusto causing Celestia to be rather suspicious.

"Twilight, is there something you aren't telling me?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Twilight if you want to get something off your chest I'm all ears."

"No, there's nothing on my mind." Hearing that Celestia sighed.

"Twilight, you get mad at me when I don't listen to you and now when I offer to listen to whatever is bothering you, you don't want to tell me." Hearing that made Twilight lower her head rather ashamed.

"You're right, I'm sorry Celestia. The thing is, I know it's silly but I've been avoiding that castle."

"You mean the one that appeared in Ponyville?"

"Don't get me wrong, that castle is amazing but it just doesn't feel like home."

"You really liked that old library didn't you?"

"Yes. It was so awful how it got destroyed by Tirek." Twilight then felt so bad she actually dropped to the floor and Princess Celestia dropped beside her putting her wing on top of Twilight.

"Oh Twilight don't be sad I know change can be hard, when I moved from the castle Luna and I grew up into the one that was made in Canterlot I didn't like it 1 bit. But over time I gave it a chance and realized it wasn't that bad at all."

"Also maybe you could remodel it," a voice from behind said, causing both alicorns to stand up and turn around. When they did they saw it was Prank Master or as Celestia pointed out a while back Clover the Clever. Before either Twilight or Celestia could do anything several guards came in and grabbed her by her forelegs.

"We're sorry your highnesses, she slipped away for a second."

"One of your friends is a fashion designer isn't she?"

"Well yes but how did you know that?" Twilight asked.

"Oh Celestia told me she talks about you a lot and sometimes mentions your friends."

"Well yes," Celestia said after a little cough. "I may have mentioned Twilight once or twice to you as I've come to visit you here."

"Are you kidding me?" Clover then looked towards Twilight. "She brags about you all the time, you're her pride and joy.”

“Well I wouldn’t go that far.”

“But didn’t you say last time we talked that you couldn’t love Twilight anymore if she was your own daugh-"

"OKAY!" Celestia interrupted nearly using the royal canterlot voice and walked over to her old friend and guided her out of the room with the guards. "TwilightI'llberightbackjustwaitrightthereokaybye!" Celestia then left the room asap as she didn't want Twilight to see her face was red as a cherry. "Well it's nice to see your original personality is coming back along with your memories, but why did you have to remember that?"

"Because the core of comedy is timing."

"Well as embarrassing as that was, it shows just how much progress you've made."

"Oh yeah there's this new treatment they've been using on me and let me tell you I feel better YOU FEEL WORSE!" That last part almost made the guards back off.

"That magic canceling collar is on good and tight right?" One guard whispered to another who nodded his head. “Good.”

"So I see you still have a way to go before you can get out of here." Clover opened her mouth but Celestia held out her hoof. "Not counting the several times you've escaped. I wished you could have stayed in that mental hospital, but you kept escaping there too. You’re kind of the main reason I wanted more security here.”

"Well it's nice I motivate you, I WANNA SHOVE PUDDING DOWN MY JAMMIES!"

"I think it's time you went back to your cell," Princess Celestia said.

"Agreed," the guards said in unison. After Clover was taken off Celestia was about to make her way back to Twilight but stopped in her tracks.

"Maybe I should check on a few other things real quick, it would give Twilight more time to forget what Clover was talking about." Celestia made her way around via wings but made sure not to get too close to any of the prisoners who were out of their cells and in the courtyard. There Scar Flank was playing an intense game of cards and seemed to be on the verge of losing.

"I'm not sure how you got all those bits here Scar Flank but I know what I'm going to be using them for," the prisoner Scar Flank was playing said.

"Don't count your chickens before they hatch. This duel isn't over just yet."

"Oh please none of your monsters are strong enough to take mine down."

"Not on their own but all 3 of them can make way for another that can."

"Wait all 3, you don’t mean-"

"That's right!" Princess Celestia didn't know the game they were playing but from what she saw Scar Flank made quite the comeback. "Ah yeah come to poppa," Scar Flank said after winning. Elsewhere Emo Pony and Dr. Arachnid or as they've been going by again Brush Stroke and Ruby Shores were in a group session.

"Well I'm certainly glad that you 2 decided to come back. It certainly helps morale here when the "supervillains" decide to come to these," a criminal psychiatrist with the group said. "If you want to redeem yourselves it really starts to set an example."

"Well hopefully we won't be known as those for long," Brush Stroke said.

"I think it's going to be much easier for you than it will be for me," Ruby said. "Half the prisoners here adore my sister."

"Well maybe we can talk about that a little. You were very angry at your sister for a while weren't you?"

"Angry is too pleasant of a word really."

"Then what word would you go for?"

"Well I'm not too proud of this so it's not all that easy to talk about it." Suddenly Ruby was hit by a sphere that would make him more honest.

"Brush Stroke what have I told you about using those emotional spheres on other prisoners?"

"What? It'll help him talk about his feelings."

"What have I told you?"

Brush Stroke then gave an annoyed huff. "To not to."

Celestia then made her way back to Twilight as she wished not to keep her waiting while in a prison of all places. As she made her way back she rather desperately hoped that Twilight wasn't going to bring up anything Clover brought up.

"Okay Twilight I'm back."

"That was faster than I thought."

"I was?"

"Yes, I thought that you'd want to talk to Clover the Clever a little more."

"Well I can do that later, besides I didn't want to keep you waiting."

"Oh I'm fine I brought a few books to keep me company." After reuniting with Twilight Celestia continued to look over the prison with her. Before long they made their way back to the courtyard where Twilight caught a glimpse of a certain pegasus on a bench press.

"Come on, come on, lift lift lift!" The pegasus tried to push up but the barbell was hardly moving and the pony with her was about to help her lift it. "Don't you dare!" The pegasus then lifted it enough to put it in place. "Yes, a new personal best, I'll have it beat by tomorrow."

"Perhaps it would be quite wise if you didn't push your body in a reckless manner."

"I'm the best Gentleman Thief and the best push themselves so that they can stay the best. Don't forget it."

"I shall attempt to remember that valuable information in the future. At any rate is this all you wish to proceed with in our little free time?"

"Well if you could figure out how we can get out of here we can do all sorts of things."

"Yes, that has proved quite difficult even for my intellect. But perhaps we can get some insight from the individual that has escaped from this facility on several occasions now."

"You think I didn't try that already but whenever I try talking to Prank Master I can barely make any sense of what the heck she's talking about."

"From what I've listened to, those 2 haven't quite made much improvement in terms of turning over a new leaf, most of all the female pegasus," Celestia mentioned.

"Speaking of leaves, I can't seem to find Pony Ivy." Suddenly an alarm started nearly making the princesses jump. "What's going on?" Before Celestia could answer, several guards ran over to where they were.

"Princess Celestia Princess Twilight we need to get you 2 out of here and we need to do it right now!" A guard said.

"What's going on?!" Twilight asked.

"A fire broke out and somepony has screwed with the controls so now the doors won't close." Twilight and Celestia were escorted to a safe area where quite a few other guards were going as well to quickly form a plan. But before anypony could get there giant plant roots appeared and ripped the area apart.

"Uh Celestia."

"Yeah Twilight."

"I think I figured out where Pony Ivy is."

The plant roots spread out more grabbing and separating the guards but Twilight and Celestia managed to stay together. Pony Ivy then appeared from below the roots. "Hello my royal beauties."

"What do you think you're doing?" Celestia asked while protectively putting one of her fore legs in front of Twilight.

"Well I would explain that but this wasn't even my idea." Suddenly the plant roots broke the floor below. Both Celestia and Twilight instinctively used their wings but Pony Ivy jumped over to Celestia and before she could do anything, kissed her right on the lips.

"What are you doing!?" Twilight asked, shocked and a little horrified.

"I planted one right on her lips, pun you better believe was intended. Now your precious princess is under my control."

"And you think I'm just going to let you control her?"

"Oh don't you worry about that. You're going to be joining her." Pony Ivy jumped at Twilight but she summoned a barrier around her stopping the green menace and forcing him to fall.

"Catch me!" Celestia then swooped down and grabbed him and he safely jumped off her when she got low enough to the ground. "Good now capture the other alicorn and bring her to me." Celestia then looked up to Twilight and flew straight at her. Twilight got out of the way and dodged several stun spells as well. Twilight tried to reason with her former teacher but it was no use.

"This isn't over Pony Ivy. I'll be back and I'll rescue her and stop you." And with that Twilight teleported from Pony Ivy's sight.

"Perhaps I should have put her under my control first. Oh well no matter 1 alicorn should be enough for the next part of the plan. What was that again? Oh yeah getting the others together and out of here." While Pony Ivy walked off with the brainwashed Princess Celestia, Twilight flew into an empty cell and cast an invisibility spell on herself in case somepony came in.

"Okay things went from okay to utterly horrible in seconds, but there's no need to panic. I just need some back up, some super backup." Twilight was about to call Super Stallion when suddenly the floor below started to break forcing her to fly again. Another giant plant root appeared and managed to grab her foreleg. While she managed to get away the root had grabbed her bracelet and broke it.

"Pony Ivy! Do you really need to spread those things all over, there's hardly any room to breathe?" Scar Flank called out not too far away from where Twilight was hiding.

"What are you complaining about? These things are keeping the guards at bay," Pony Ivy called out right back. Twilight teleported away and found a place where half a dozen guards were already together and planning a counter attack. Twilight overheard that the guards used water spells to put out the fire. Shortly after that they ran out to find more guards and do something about the roots.

"Darn it they left before I could talk to them," Twilight said as she undid the invisibility spell believing it was a safe enough place. "Why did that plant root have to break my bracelet? Now I'm stuck here and I don't even have Celestia to help me! None of my friends are here. I've never read a book on something like this I don't even-" Twilight stopped as she was beginning to mumble and even cry a little.

"My my you are quite afraid aren't you?"

"Who said that?" Twilight turned to a mirror and to her shock and horror she saw not her own reflection, but the shadow pony that nearly took back control of the Crystal Empire King Sombra.

"Sombra!?! No it can't be you were defeated when Spike and I found the Crystal Heart."

"Yes that was quite the close one wasn't it but with my remaining magic I cast a spell that allowed me to place a small piece of me deep within you."

Suddenly a realization hit her. "Wait a minute, Spike! That was you wasn't it?! You were the one that gave him that curse from the Equestria Games and made his heart stop."

"My my you are a clever one aren't you? Yes I was the one that stopped his heart. When I was pushed back from the Crystal Empire, my essence still remained just outside it. There I traveled to the train you eventually left in and placed myself in you and a little bit in your little pet."

"He's not my pet!"

"Whatever. When I placed myself in you I laid dormant waiting to grow stronger."

"Stronger? What are you talking about?"

"My so many questions, such a curious little filly you are, I suppose that's why you have such a lust for learning and knowledge. I planned to grow strong, feeding off the darkness in your heart. Your anger, your hatred, your sadness, your fear. At first I thought that it would take a while to get strong but you got in quite the argument with your teacher when you returned that sped my recovery up quite a bit."

Good thing he wasn't around during my brother's almost wedding and afterwards. "If you feed off anger and fear when you make Spike's heart stop you did it to make me scared so you could get stronger faster."

"Clever clever clever no wonder you became an alicorn. Such great potential imagine what you could do if you studied under-"

"Yeah I'm gonna stop you right there because I know exactly where you're going with this and no. I'm not interested in being your student. I already got involved with Discord."

"But imagine the power you could do with the combined power of the spirit of chaos and the shadow ponies." Sombra then showed a warped version of Twilight as a shadow pony helping him take over Equestria.

"No! Now leave me alone!" Twilight then created a magic burst that made most of Sombra and all of his vision vanish. The only remaining part of Sombra in the mirror was half of his face on the rest of Twilight's reflections.

"Well done, but I am not without my talents. That may have pushed me back but I'll be back, a large quantity of anger or fear should do it. And with the environment you are in I imagine that won’t be long." And with that Sombra vanished.

"Okay that's 1 problem out of the way for now, but 1 I really really need to take care of later. But for now I need to get out of here so what can I do?" Twilight then went off to find the guards.

Meanwhile, Pony Ivy with the help of the brainwashed Princess Celestia had no problem whatsoever getting the rest of the rogues and their stuff together. "Now we just need to find Emo Pony and Dr. Arachnid."

"Nuts to those guys Ivy, we need to get out of here before the riot ends," Weather Warper snapped.

"That wasn't part of the plan and besides my roots will keep anypony who wants to stop us at bay for quite a while."

"All the same, we should still get a move on before a certain flying earth pony shows up," Scar Flank said, who noticed that the motionless Princess Celestia was starting to shake her head a little and her blank stare was becoming less blank. "Hey she's starting to snap out of it, give her another shot." Pony Ivy then kissed her, putting her back under his control.

"All right let's get going I'll race you ready set go!" Weather Warper then suddenly flew right off annoying Scar Flank.

"Get back here you idiot we need to stick together!"

"She'll be fine, just put the pudding with the paddle and pond and the pea pod will plush pulse pretty patty penguins," Clover said clearly off the treatment.

Back to Twilight she did a good job getting a lot of the guards together and helping them push back and restrain quite a few of the prisoners. The roots tried to get in the way but Twilight was able to handle them as well. "Nice work Princess Twilight," one of the guards said.

"Nice? I'd say more like excellent," another guard said.

"Yeah thanks to her we've taken back about half of the prison already," a third guard said. Suddenly several prisoners jumped from above to try and grab her but before they could they were each tasered from behind by Ruby knocking them out cold. After restraining them he followed Twilight's group from above who came across a prisoner that had a guard in a choke hold and was holding a knife to his throat.

"Stop right there, all of you!" The prisoner called out. "Come in closer and I'll paint this whole prison crimson with this guard's blood."

"Not on my watch," Brush Stroke said who hit the prisoner from behind with a fear sphere causing him to let go of the guard and act crazy before Ruby jumped down and tasered him.

"Are you okay?" Twilight asked.

"Yeah I'll manage your highness. I did a little recon when I got grabbed by that loon. There's a large group of prisoners making a serious mess and pushing back quite a few other guards." The guard then turned to Brush Stroke. “By the way, thanks.”

“No problem,” Brush Stroke answered.

“Emo Pony, those spheres of yours mess with emotions that could help stop the rioting prisoners," Twilight said.

"Well they would, except there's a lot of them and I have very little supplies. At least I do now."

"What do you mean?"

"Well you see Princess Twilight because of my good behavior the staff eventually trusted me enough to let me make more of special items under supervision. They helped quite a few ponies here deal with their internal problems and before long I even made more potent items to further help ponies."

"Get to the point, Brush Stroke! There's a riot literally right around the corner," Ruby said.

"Well excuse me for having a little pride in doing a job well done Ruby. Anyway I had a lot more but Prank Master thought it would be funny to throw it down a ventilation shaft."

"That's all?" Twilight asked. "Couldn't you just go after it?"

"I would, but the said vent went all the way to the tunnels, where Chrysalis is."

"Chrysalis?!"

"There's numerous tunnels under the prison and it wasn't long before the guards put her down there for safety reasons,” Ruby said. “They only bring her up for sessions to help get her brain fixed. Otherwise they just toss fruit and vegetables down there every day or 2 and leave her alone."

"Yeah, who's not getting to the point now?"

"Touché. Point is the plan of yours won't work, princess."

"Because Chrysalis broke all those supplies."

"Well, no actually at least I mean we don't know for sure," Ruby answered.

"Then there's a chance. How do I get down there?"

"You can't be serious princess," Brush Stroke said. "What about Chrysalis!?"

"She won't be a problem now. How do I get down there? We don't have much time." The guards then showed Twilight to the elevator. Some of the guards wanted to come down and back here up but she believed it best if she went alone.

"Princess are you sure?" One of the guards asked.

"Yes you all need to hold things down while I go down. I shouldn't be too long."

"All right but be careful, Chrysalis is dangerous and I still have the bite marks to prove it. Those teeth are sharp as knives." Twilight made it down and quickly and quietly looked for the supplies while also keeping on guard in case Chrysalis popped up.

"All right not too many vent drops to check I'll be out of here before that overgrown stink bug even knows I'm-" Twilight was suddenly grabbed by Chrysalis who bit Twilight's leg which made her scream in pain. "HE WASN'T KIDDING!" Twilight got free by hitting Chrysalis in the eye and flying off in her confusion. "I need to stop the bleeding before I pass out."

"Feeling scared again are we?" Looked up around as she used a spell to heal the bite and saw various flaming red eyes.

"Sombra?"

"Yes, I rather like these tunnels. Perhaps when I return I'll build another castle right here."

"I'm not scared of Chrysalis Sombra!"

"Maybe not but I'm sensing quite a bit of fear and panic from the ponies above trying to prevent the chaos. Discord would be rather proud right now. It's enough to make me stronger and fill the caves with your deepest darkness fears."

"You set a trap in your castle that tried something similar and that didn't work either."

"But I bet it's more than capable of preventing you from reaching your previous supplies that you honestly think haven't been destroyed by Chrysalis yet." Just as Sombra said that, Twilight saw it was exactly what she was looking for.

"Well look what we have here." Twilight then picked up the bag of supplies and held it up high. "There's always hope." Just then Twilight was attacked again by Chrysalis who pinned her to the group as Sombra watched from the cave wall.

"Well it seems you have your hoofs full I'll check back later," Sombra said before disappearing.

"Twilight Sparkle! You broke my brain, now me break you!"

"Hit the books Chrysalis!" Twilight reached into her saddle bag and whacked the changeling queen in the face with the biggest book she had. It knocked on the ground and before she could get up, a plant root broke through the top of the tunnel grabbing Chrysalis and pulled her up. Twilight made it back up and gave Brush Stroke his supplies.

"Wow these are almost mint condition nice work," Brush Stroke said.

"And just in time I might add because that riot is coming our way," Ruby Shores said.

"Okay but there's 1 more problem. Just because I have these doesn't guarantee that they'll make contact with the numerous targets coming our way."

"You can leave that to me," Ruby then drew calculations and figured out how he, Brush, Princess Twilight, and the guards could the upper hoof. Such as forcing rioting prisoners into 1 spot so 1 sphere could be used on them all. Twilight also used her magic to pull guards out of the line of fire. Thanks to Brush's supplies and Ruby's plans the guards subdued almost all of the prisoners and the few remaining made their way back where the riot started.

That's where Chrysalis was pulled and with Prank Master, Pony Ivy, Weather Warper, Gentleman Thief, the still brainwashed Princess Celestia, and Scar Flank.

"How the heck are the guards taking back the prison so quickly?!" Scar Flank asked.

"It's no problem we got all our stuff back and all of us combined can beat everypony here," Weather Warper said.

"Well if you want to put bits on that bet let's take down the guards," Scar Flank said clearly ready for action.

"Perhaps it be best to not provoke our enforcer adversaries and-"

"Let's get pudding!" Prank Master interrupted.

"Did we really have to bring her?" Prank Master then got a pudding cup out of nowhere and shared it with Chrysalis who licked the cup like a dog. "And for that matter her as well?"

"The master planner guy that planned this whole thing wanted all those that played a big part in the attack on Canterlot Castle Weather Warper."

"Well who is this guy exactly, Pony Ivy?"

"Once we find Emo Pony and Dr. Arachnid and get out of here you can meet him, Scar Flank." Just then Ruby and Brush made their way through the last few rioting prisoners. "Well speak of the devil it's you 2 hurry up let's get out of here!"

"Yeah how about no."

"What? Did you hit your head or something Arachnid we're about to escape. Now come on you too Emo Pony."

"That didn't work out for us last time, here ponies have actually finally started to listen to me and it's Brush Stroke."

"And my name is Ruby Shores, sister of the pony of pop Sapphire Shores."

"Well whatever you want to be called now, we need to get going." Pony Ivy then made 2 roots reach out to grab them but Twilight cut them with her magic before they could reach them.

"I think the whole lot of you have caused enough trouble, it's-"

BLAM

Twilight was cut off when she was shot right in the head by a magic beam from a rioting unicorn prisoner that was so strong it slammed her into the wall.

"Princess Twilight!"

"Are you okay Princess Twilight?"

"Who shot her?"

"We have to get to her!"

"We're coming Princess Twilight!"

"Huh Twilight?" The various guards calling out snapped Celestia out of Pony Ivy's mind control and when she saw her former student on the ground and even bleeding her jaw nearly hit the floor. "TWILIGHT!" Celestia then started flying to get to Twilight but Pony Ivy had a root carry him to where she was.

"Maybe a kiss will help you both feel better," Pony Ivy said before jumping down but this time Princess Celestia countered with a right hook that sent him to the wall knocking him out and causing the giant roots to stop in their tracks.

"Hey guards, the roots have stopped now's your chance!" Ruby called out.

"Yeah, do any of you know some strong stun spells?" Brush asked.

"No, not really, do you," the guard closest to Brush Stroke asked.

"Yeah actually." The guard then got out a key that removed the magic canceling collar and Brush Stroke didn't hesitate to try and blast her former comrades.

"All right it's to get out of here now!" Weather Warper then placed her staff on the ground creating a giant fog and when it cleared the rogues were gone.

And so was Twilight.

"Twilight! Twilight! No no no! Guards spread out! Form several parties, find Princess Twilight! Find her now!"

***

Twilight who managed to get out of the prison woke up and found herself in a strange room she didn't recognize and when she tried to sit up she was stopped by the pain of her pounding head. "Oh I see that you've awakened she'll be happy to see that."

"Who are you and for that matter, who am I?"

"You don't know who you are?"

"No, I can't remember who I am."

"That's quite a problem but I bet she can help." Before Twilight could ask the pony was gone who returned with a mare.

"So I heard you've lost your memory, that is too bad but I can help you. In more ways than 1 actually."

"Who are you?" Twilight asked as the mare stepped into the light of the room from the window.

"Oh, you can call me Starlight Glimmer.”

Chapter 29 Journey for the Spark

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When word got out that Twilight was missing, numerous ponies went around looking for her. The royal pony sisters formed several search parties as well as joined in for the search. "Between all of us looking, somepony is bound to find her sooner or later," Super Stallion said as he was flying around in the sky.

In Canterlot Princess Celestia was in her chambers pacing back and forth as her sister entered. “Any luck?”

“We’ve searched everywhere,” Luna replied. “We haven’t found any sign of her.”

“Well keep searching.”

“But sister, I just got back. Can’t I rest for a while?”

“I said keep searching!” Luna was stunned by her sister’s answer and made her way to the door. “Luna, wait! I’m sorry, I-”

“It’s okay,” Luna replied. “I’m worried about her too.”

Princess Luna took off leaving Celestia alone with her thoughts. “What if something happened to her? If it did, it's all my fault, I never should have let her come to the prison with me. Why do I hurt those closest to me? Sunset, Twilight, Luna,...Starswirl.” Celestia then looked up at the sky as she remembered a not so pleasant time in her life.

***

Star Swirl the Bearded was packing up for a journey and was making his way out. But before leaving he went to check on her student/daughter. “I’m heading out now.”

“Okay,” Celestia replied white laying down and not even looking at him. Recently she was forced to end a deep relationship with a king from another world.

“I might be a while, so I expect you and your sister to manage things here.”

“Yes sir.”

“Starswirl gave a sad huff. “I’m sorry for what you had to do. I’m sure things will be alright, just try not to think about it.” Star Swirl then left believing it was wise to give the princess her space.

“Try not to think about it?” Celestia said to herself. She then flew through the entrance of the castle where Star Swirl had already passed and was making his way down the path. “TRY NOT TO THINK ABOUT IT!” Celestia yelled as her teacher/father stopped in his tracks after hearing that. “THAT’S ALL YOU CAN SAY!”

“I know you’re upset,” Star Swirl said. “But time heals all wounds, I’m sure things will turn out for the better.”

“Oh yeah and maybe I’ll fall in love with a flying earth pony.”

“Well I have been working on something like that,” Star Swirl said to himself.

“What?” Celestia called out.

“Nothing. Listen if you want to talk about what happened we can talk it out later. But for now I have something I have to deal with.” Star Swirl then continued down the path.

“OKAY FINE!” Celestia yelled again. “JUST GO ON YOUR LITTLE ADVENTURE! HAVE ALL THE FUN YOU WANT! JUST FORGET ABOUT ME!.....I HOPE I NEVER SEE YOU AGAIN!”

Star Swirl stopped again but this time turned around giving Celestia a stoic yet cold stare. “Be careful what you wish for, you might get it.” Star Swirl then walked off until he was out of sight as Celestia couldn’t believe what she just said.

That was the last time she ever talked to Star Swirl until he showed up in Canterlot thanks to his time travel spell.

***

Elsewhere the mane 5 and Spike were searching together and along the way came across a small village that none of them have ever seen. "Wow look at all those smiles," Fluttershy said thinking perhaps this was a very nice village. "I think it's lovely."

"I don't like it! I don't like it 1 bit!" Pinkie Pie said in a rare serious tone. "I know smiles and those smiles they're just not right."

"Wait a minute," Spike said. "Look at the cutie marks."

"Spikey Wikey you're right they all look the same."

"Okay that's weird." The group made their way to the village and were received with various welcomes from the ponies there. A pony by the name of Double Diamond invited them to meet the village founder Starlight Glimmer but the group was traveling for quite a while and they wanted to stop and brake for a meal while trying to figure out what to do next.

"I really hope that somepony here knows something about Twilight," Fluttershy said.

"Well we gotta run into somepony that knows sooner or later we've been traveling to the end of Equestria fer cryin out loud," Applejack said.

"If we were at the end of Equestria we'd be standing on a big A hee hee get it?”

"Oh please Miss Pie this is no time for jokes," Rarity said.

"Miss Pie?" Spike said.

"What?"

"Well it's just that I've never heard you, heard anypony really call Pinkie that."

"Whatever Spike it's not important," Rainbow Dash chimed in. "We need to see what these weird ponies know about Twilight and then get going the sooner the better if you ask me."

"Here here, have you seen what they're wearing?"

"Is that really yer main focus Rarity?" Applejack asked.

"Really girls they may do things a bit differently than we're used to but that's no reason to be rude," Fluttershy said.

"No, the reason to be rude is that they all keep staring at us," Rainbow Dash said. As the group continued to talk a mare walked out to take the group's order. She wanted to talk but the group was arguing and she couldn't get a word in edgewise for a while.

"Look, can we stop arguing for now we need to find our friend," Rarity said.

"I can tell she's close. I feel it in my scales."

"Uh excuse me would you like something to eat? We have..muffins."

"Okay we'll take 6," Spike answered to the waitress.

"Make that 12!" Pinkie called out. "What? I'm hungry!" The waitress then walked back inside to get the order for the group.

"Sugar Belle! 12 orders of muffins."

"Okay I'll get right on that, thanks Twilight."

"You're welcome."

"TWILIGHT!" The group shouted in unison and ran inside to see Twilight staring strangely at them. Twilight had her mane in a bun with a waitress apron and a bandage around her forehead. On top of that her coat was paler than usual and she even had a different cutie mark that matched those of the other ponies in the village.

"Twilight! It is you!" Spike said as he ran right at her and hugged her.

"Hey let me go of me!" Twilight said as she pushed Spike off and got behind the counter in a protective manner. "Wh-What do you all want?"

"Twilight, don't you know who we are?" Spike asked sadly.

"No. Who are you?"

"Twilight it's me, it's us. Spike, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie don't you remember us?"

"No." It was then the excitement wore off and the group noticed the changes in Twilight's usual appearance, most of all the bandage around her head.

"Twilight darling, did you hit your head?"

"I don't remember but I think I did." It was around this time that Sugar Belle had walked over to Twilight.

"Twilight these ponies really seem to know you, they must have met you before you lost your memory."

"Lost her memory?" Spike said, almost tearing up.

"Yes it's horrible our friend Twilight was found not too far off away from our village by Double Diamond and our village founder Starlight Glimmer aided in her recovery." After that Rainbow Dash flew off to tell the others looking for Twilight she’d been found.

"Rarity please tell me you know a memory recovery spell."

"Oh I'm sorry my little Spikey Wikey but that's far beyond my area of expertise." Rarity then pulled her favorite dragon into a hug. "Don't worry I'm sure we can get her memory back in no time at all." After a while Twilight's family arrived along with her superhero friend and the royal pony sisters as well.

"Twilight my baby, my sweet little baby," Twilight Velvet said as she charged at her daughter who stopped her in her tracks by putting a magical barrier around her.

"Will all you strange ponies and dragons please stop trying to touch me."

"Oh my gosh it's true Night Light our baby has amnesia!"

"Don't you recognize them Twily?" Shining Armor asked as he approached her.

"My name is Twilight not Twily."

"I know that, that's my little nickname for you. I call you Twily and you call me BBBFF."

"Huh?"

"Yeah huh?" Starlight asked.

"It means big brother best friend forever." Hearing that Twilight bursted out laughing and Starlight nearly did the same.

"Oh my gosh that's so ridiculous there's no way I actually say that."

"But you do, you really do, it's me, your big brother Shining Armor."

"It's not ringing any bells."

Celestia and Luna then came to the front. "Do you know who we are Twilight?" Celestia asked.

"Well of course I know who you are, you're the royal pony sisters."

"Well it's a start Celestia," Luna said, trying to be positive.

Super Stallion then flew over to Twilight and that caught her attention so much she dispelled the barrier to get a closer look.

"Oh my gosh you can fly but you don't have any wings are you Pony Pan!?"

"My my a callback all the way from the 1st chapter," Discord said as he appeared out of thin air as he usually does and nearly made Twilight pop out of her gourd.

"What in the wide wide world of Equestria is that thing?!"

"Oh my dear little Twilight you don't remember your precious teacher?" Hearing that Celestia flew right in Discord's face.

"I'm her teacher!"

"Not anymore sun butt." As Celestia and Discord argued for a while the group approached Twilight and Spike handed Twilight a rather large book.

"Wow, that is a big book," Twilight said, amazed.

"Well I can tell her natural curiosity and love of books hasn't gone away," Super Stallion said to himself.

"You wrote this book Twilight," Spike said.

"I did?"

"Well Celestia and Luna wrote it at first then you and your friends decided to write a few things in this journal as well." Twilight then looked through the journal and in no time at all she read faster and faster as if she was addicted to reading. Even more than she already was.

"I think I remember something, Spike you and I found this at the Castle of the 2 Sisters." Hearing that the ponies nearly cheered as a piece of her memory came back.

"Twilight if we take you to Ponyville I bet we can restore your memory in no time at all," Rainbow Dash said.

"But I live here, in fact the other ponies have almost finished my cottage."

"Wait then where have you been sleeping Twily?"

"The village leader Starlight Glimmer lets me stay in her home. She's so generous." Spike then placed his claw on Twilight's leg in a gentle manner as not to spook Twilight.

"Please Twilight." Twilight looked into the eyes of the adorable little dragon and something told her she could trust him.

"Well okay but I'll need to pack some things if I'm going to-"

"No need," Discord interrupted and with a snap of his fingers sent the mane 6 and Spike all the way back to Ponyville.

"Hold on a second I want to help her get her memory back too," Shining Armor said.

"Don't worry we will," Cadance said as she teleported herself and Shining Armor to Ponyville as well.

"Wait a minute, Discord can't you use your chaos magic to restore Twilight's memory?" Celestia asked.

"What and ruin the plot?"

***

Twilight and the gang arrived in the castle that appeared in Ponyville after Tirek's defeat.
"Where are we?"

"It's your castle Twilight," Spike answered.

"I have a castle!" Twilight then looked around the castle with her friends not too far behind and her brother and sister in law when they appeared as well. Spike helped Twilight make her way to her room and looked at quite a few things, mostly the books and around that time Cadance and Shining Armor caught up to the others.

"How's it going?"

"I think she's starting to remember," Spike said. "Isn't that great?"

"Yes indeed Spikey Wikey I know you've been worried the most out of all of us since she went missing. But we can put that all behind us as soon as she remembers everything."

"And when she remembers everything we can throw her a great big congrats on getting all your memories back party! I've always wanted to throw one of those. I have just the cake for that."

"We should probably show her around town as well and have her stop back at Sweet Apple Acres for some apple cider that'll jog her memory lickity split."

"Oh! Oh! I could go for some apple cider too!"

"I agree with Rainbow Dash. And Applejack and Pinkie Pie and Rarity and Spike and maybe Shining Armor and Princess Cadence too."

"Uh Fluttershy we didn't say any-"

"What's this?" Twilight asked cutting off Cadance by mistake as she got out a piece of paper.

"Uh that's not important Twily," Shining Armor said recognizing the piece of paper that she picked up.

Twilight read it out loud then turned the paper. "No exceptions," she read some more. Twilight then turned to Shining Armor. "What is this?"

"Like I said, it's not all that important."

"Shining," Cadance who could tell right from the start her husband wasn't telling the truth said in a strict tone.

"Okay okay I wrote that for you at your request."

"Wow, we must have gotten into a terrible fight."

"Well it wasn't all that bad really looking back."

"Shining!"

"All right all right we got into a big fight because I was acting like a complete jerk and me writing that was how I made it up to you. Do me a favor when you get your memories back, try not to remember any of that stuff okay."

"Shi-" Shining Armor then placed his hoof right on his wife's muzzle, cutting her off. Twilight then made her way to a very large table that had 6 chairs around it each with a different symbol on them.

"What is this a meeting room?"

"We…aren't sure actually. This castle arrived only recently," Spike answered. Twilight then sat on the chair that shared the symbol of her old cutie mark.

"Oh I see. It at least looks nice though." The rest of the mane 6 then also sat on the chairs that matched their cutie marks and to the surprise of everypony and Spike, a map of Equestria appeared on the table. Soon after Twilight's former cutie mark and the cutie marks of her friends appeared not to Starlight’s village. Before long they all figured out they should return to the village as the map most likely wants them there to serve some sort of higher purpose.

Rainbow Dash whined. “We just left there.”

"If it means going back to Starlight's village sooner that's fine," Twilight said. "Besides, this castle feels rather empty to me."

"Okay I just hope it doesn't make us go back to some place we just left again." Cadance then used her alicorn magic to teleport everypony and Spike back.

***

Back at the village the others Discord teleported had left except for Princess Celestia. "Starlight was it?" Celestia asked.

"Yes Starlight Glimmer Princess Celestia," Starlight answered with a bow. "Is there any way I can be of service to you?"

"As a matter of fact there is. I want you to tell me what you did to my former faithful student's cutie mark."

"Oh, would the great Princess Celestia be interested in joining our town as well?"

"No I'm not interested in that. In fact I think you should just return her cutie mark."

"Oh I can’t do that. She went through all the trouble to be like the rest of us after all." Starlight then explained that all the ponies who joined her village had their cutie marks removed by a magical artifact known as the Staff of Sameness, an artifact of Mage Meadowbrooks. Celestia knew right from the start that was a lie as she actually knew Meadowbrooks.

"Mage Meadowbrooks you say," Princess Celestia said, deciding to play along. "Now where were you able to get your hooves on that?"

"It found me really," Starlight answered and once again Celestia could tell she was lying. "Once it's used I can then store them in the vault but for now Twilight Sparkle's cutie mark is in a jar."

"A cutie mark in a jar that's rather hard to believe."

"Then by all means Princess Celestia allow me to show you." Before they continued this was around the time Twilight's group arrived back in the village.

"Starlight I'm back!"

"Twilight so nice to have you back again and I see that you've brought your friends."

"Hey, since we're back can we get those muffins now? What? I'm still hungry and we didn't stop for snacks when we were back in Ponyville."

"Sugar Belle should have them done by now let's go see." Twilight then led her friends to Sugar Belle while Starlight took the royal trio inside her house and as Starlight said the princess of friendship's cutie mark was indeed inside a jar.

"In all my years I've seen nothing stranger than this," Celestia said.

"That is definitely something you don't see every day," Shining Armor said, who couldn't help but be somewhat interested in what he was looking at.

"Well it won't be here forever, eventually it'll be out of there and joined with all the others," Starlight said.

"Well perhaps instead it would be best if I took this off your hooves," Princess Celestia said.

"I beg your pardon, your highness," Starlight said, sounding a bit offended.

"You tricked Twilight into giving you something that she shouldn't give. She was in no condition to be making sound decisions and you took advantage of that."

"I don't care what you’re implying, your highness. You don't even know the way of this quiet little town and yet you're already judging things about it."

"Don't play innocent," Shining Armor butted in. "All those ponies are walking around with no cutie marks and grinning like they're insane!"

"I'm surprised that you won't want your sister to be a part of this."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"My village is a rather isolated area but we still get news here. Such as the horror fiasco of the changelings almost invading Equestria and your sister was very angry with how you and her so-called friends treated her."

"What does that have to do with any of this?" Shining asked, upset.

"Your sister lost her memory and now she's in a place where she won't have to worry about the pressures of being a princess anymore. If she gets her memory back she'll also remember those horrible times as well won't she?"

"What are you talking about?" Shining asked not liking where this was going. "What's your point or do you not have one?"

"My point is your sister is happy, do you really want to take that away from her?" Shining Armor was rather dumbstruck by Starlight's question which quickly caught the attention of her wife and aunt in law.

"Shining Armor you can't honestly agree with what she's saying," Cadance said.

"I, I need to be alone for a second to think." Shining Armor then walked away but Cadance wasn't too far behind.

"Shining wait!"

"Perhaps it is best that we go so I'll just be taking that cutie mark and be on my way." Celestia then reached for the jar but Starlight grabbed it.

"I don't think so. Twilight may not have given this to me under unsound conditions or whatever you call it but she still gave it to me willingly. If you take it back by force, that's stealing. I don't think Twilight would like to see that, don't you? Haven't you done enough bad things to the ponies that you love?" Hearing that now Celestia was dumbfounded but suddenly Cadance came back in and asked Celestia to come out.

"I think we should head out for now," Cadance said. She explained to Celestia that this tree castle map thing wanted the mane 6 to come to this village so perhaps it would be best if they handled this whole thing instead.

"Cadance, what are you talking about?"

"I think this might be one of those times like when they turned Nightmare Moon back into Princess Luna. But we should find things to help Twilight remember things."

“We should also take Spike,” Princess Celestia said. “He probably knows her the best.”

After the princesses left with Spike, the mane 6 talked with several ponies in the village who wanted their cutie marks back. "Why would you want them back aren't you all happy?" Twilight asked.

"Well it's just that I used to be such a great baker, after I gave mine up all I make now are those disgusting muffins," Sugar Belle answered.

"You're telling me I've accidentally eaten cardboard taster than that," Pinkie Pie said.

"So what exactly happened to all those cutie marks that got taken."

"They're up in the mountains," Twilight answered. "Starlight takes any ponies that want to join up to the mountain where the cutie vault is located."

"Ya don't say," Applejack said. "Perhaps it'd help whatever reason we were brought here after we left after we came here. Wow, that's a bigger mouthful than a jug of cider."

"So you want to get rid of your cutie marks and join us too!"

"Not yet Twi but I reckon it might be worth looking into."

"Uh I'm not so sure about that darling perhaps we should learn a little bit more about this place before we go."

"Oh come on Rar what's the worst that could happen anyway?"

***

"What's the worst that could happen anyway," Rarity said somewhat mimicking Rainbow Dash’s voice. After going to the cave the 5 were ambushed and their cutie marks were forcibly removed and placed in the vault with the rest of them. After that the 5 ponies were put into a small house together and weren't allowed out until they agreed to join the village.
"Oh come on Rarity how was she supposed to know this would go bad as a, uh as a, shoot I can't even make countryisms no more." Meanwhile Twilight was with Starlight as the village prepared to have the 5 ponies come out to see who would like to join the village like Twilight did.

"Starlight, don't you think this is going a bit too far? I mean I didn't go through with this when I joined."

"Not everypony is accepting as you are unfortunately,” Starlight said. “But they'll come around in time just like all the others." The mane 5 were soon brought out to see if any of them liked to join them. "Good morning I trust you had a pleasant night."

"How can we there's no bed in here?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Come on, give it a try," Twilight said. "Once you join the village does this thing where they all help build you a cottage-"

"Not happening!" Rainbow Dash interrupted. "You may have them now but we're going to get our cutie marks back!"

"Y'all can't force ponies to be friends, it don't work like that."

"Please join us."

"We love new friends."

"It's alright everypony we'll try again tomorrow," Starlight said.

"Twi, don't them do this to us!" Applejack called out. "This ain't right and we need your help. Don't you remember all the times we helped each other? Nightmare Moon, Discord, the Crystal Empire. Remember please." Twilight then rubbed her head a little as those words actually sounded very familiar.

"Are you okay Twilight?" Starlight asked.

"I'm just not so sure this is a good idea."

"Don't worry 1 bit Twilight I've done this before and eventually they all find the way. Now come on Twilight the villagers need a little more time before you can move into your cottage."

"Okay then," Twilight said, still having some doubts. Before they went back to the cottage Starlight went to the vault to collect the cutie marks of her friends and like Twilight's placed them in jars and returned to the cottage.

"Thank you for your help Twilight you're going to give Double Diamond a run for his bits as my number 2 around here."

"You're welcome but why go through all this trouble?"

"Oh I just want to make sure that they'll be all right your's in particular seeing how you used to be a princess after all." And with you joining us it won't be long before all Equestria sees what I'm trying to do.

"But what does it matter what I used to be, what my friends used to be?"

"I'm just making sure nothing goes wrong."

In the other cottage, Twilight’s friends were trying to think up a plan. “Come on, there's gotta be something we can do,” Rainbow Dash said.

“What would Twilight do if she was here?” Pinkie Pie asked. “And had her memory back.”

The next day Starlight had the mane 5 come out to see if they wanted to join. "If we didn't want to join yesterday, what makes you think we'd want to join today?!" Rainbow Dash asked. "None of us are even remotely interested in joining!"

"I kind of am," Fluttershy said to the shock of all her friends. "I mean yeah the whole locking us in there and forcing us to give up our special talents wasn't so great. But this still seems like a nice place.” Before long Fluttershy joined the village.

But unknown to Starlight this was a plan Twilight’s friends had set into motion to see just what was going on in this village. Morning came yet again who pretended to consider joining and asked if they could join but keep their cutie marks.

"Out of the question, having a pony here with a cutie mark would destroy our entire philosophy. We are all equal here," Starlight answered.

“Then how do you explain this?” Fluttershy asked as she dropped a bucket of water near Starlight. Who didn’t notice the water washed off some of her fake cutie mark, revealing a little of her real one. Twilight, who couldn't help but notice, took off her apron and used it to whip off the rest of the fake mark.

"No stop, get away!" The other ponies noticed as well and were utterly shocked. "What are you all looking at? They're the problem, not me."

"You said cutie marks were evil! That special talents lead to pain and heartache!" Twilight said, starting to get angry. Starlight tried to explain but nopony was listening.

"Why even use your magic, what about the staff!" Double Diamond asked.

"The staff is a piece of wood that I found in the desert. It's my magic that made all this possible. You'd all be living your miserable lives thinking you're better than everypony else if it weren't for me. So what if I lied? I brought you all happiness, quality, and harmony!"

"But it was based on a lie!" Twilight said, starting to get in Starlight's face nearly engulfed with rage. "Do you honestly think that's how friendship works? Friends are ponies you're supposed to trust to rely on-" Twilight was about to continue but stopped because she started to feel like she was having a heart attack.

Suddenly Discord appeared. “Are you lot still hanging out, wow, what’s going on with Twilight?”

Twilight was surrounded by darkness that came out of nowhere scaring just about everypony there. Super Stallion who just happened to be flying by as luck would have it saw the shadows and flew down right away.

"Discord what did you do?!"

"Me? Oh sure, it’s always Discord. You’re giving me a complex."

“Well then what happened?!”

"My escape," Sombra said with a mix of Twilight's voice. "And this will be the perfect host to do that until I can claim my body anew."

"Not on my watch pal!" Super Stallion said as he used magic to force Sombra out of Twilight who gathered the shadows around him and vanished and when the shadows cleared Starlight was gone.

As the ponies went to the mountains to get their cutie marks back, Starlight ran off with the cutie marks of the mane 6. She made it to the mountains until a certain earth pony cut her off. "Do those belong to you?"

"I'm pretty sure that question was rhetorical," Twilight said, having been taken there by Super Stallion at her request. Twilight then smashed the jars with a spell that freed the cutie marks.

"What were you planning to do? Hide in those caves with nothing but those cutie marks to keep you company?" Starlight was so mad she tried to blast Twilight but she blocked it with another shield.

"I studied that spell for years how could you-"

"I studied magic for years too but studying can only take you so far. Each of my friends taught me something different about myself. It was their unique gifts, passions, and personalities that helped bring out the magic inside of me. I never would have learned I represented the element of magic without those 5 and I wouldn't have stopped you."

"Spare me your sentimental nonsense, I gave those ponies real friendship they never would have had otherwise."

"Yeah from the tiny bit I saw I really doubt it," Super Stallion said. Then suddenly a large burst of magic appeared around Starlight and when it cleared she was gone, again. Twilight and Super Stallion returned to the village and the mane 6's cutie marks started to glow.

"Uh did our cutie marks always do that?" Twilight asked.

***

After getting their cutie marks back Twilight thought it best to go back to Ponyville while the other ponies stayed and decided to rebuild and get to know each other better. Before returning to the castle Twilight stayed at the hospital for a while to have her head looked at. While she was gone her friends decided to decorate the castle a bit so Twilight would like it better. It was difficult at first but they got it done. "Wow this place looks really different," Twilight said when she got back.
"Twilight!" Spike said as he ran over to Twilight but stopped as he didn't want to upset her again but to his delightful surprise she hugged him. "Does this mean you have your memory back?"

"Somewhat. I still need to fill in some blanks."

"Well maybe we can help with that," Shining Armor said, who was with his wife Cadance.

"I want to help you as well."

"Um, who are you?"

"Don't you remember me Princess Twilight, I'm Flash Sentry," Flash said as he approached Twilight and held her hoof in a romantic gesture. "We've sort of been dating for a while."

"You mean I have a coltfriend?"

"Yes, and last time we met I convinced you to let me-" Flash was cut off when Shining Armor pulled him away from his sister towards him and his face that had a very angry stare. "Take her out to dinner."

"I think the Crystal Empire is calling you back."

"Actually going out to dinner sounds really good," Twilight said as he approached Flash and made her brother let go of him.

"Twily you shouldn't go out with a guy you don't even remember."

"I don't know, he has a nice face."

"Twily you can't let that be the only reason."

"Well then it's a good thing that I have another reason." Twilight then got a paper that was all too familiar with Shining Armor.

"Are you kidding me? You can’t just keep using that paper you know.

“Oh I think I can. Said it before, say it again you're going to be a grandfather by the time you're none making it up to me. Besides, I don’t think you have the right to complain since you said you were willing to do anything to make up for what you did."

Shining Armor groaned. "Why did you have to remember that?”

Before long the Pinkie’s party went underway as a few others showed up to join in. Such as Twilight and Shining Armor’s parents, Squeaky Clean, Swift Sweep, the royal pony sisters, and a few that just felt like joining. The party was rather small but fun nonetheless. Shining Armor however was in the corner and saw his wife as well as Luna and Swift Sweep approach him.

“Is something the matter honey?" Cadence asked Shining Armor.

"Not really, it's just." Shining Armor looked at his sister who was enjoying herself.

"Is this about what Starlight said at her village?" Cadence asked.

"Yeah," he admitted. "You probably think that was pretty stupid of me to actually want to go through with her idea?"

"Yes," Cadence admitted. "But I also think it's rather sweet. It shows how much you care about her."

"Wait I'm confused," Swift Sweep said. "Is this about all that..."business" from your almost wedding? I thought you and Twilight put that all behind you."

"We did, but I'm afraid that she's always going to have what happened back then in the back of her mind," Shining Armor answered. Cadance and Luna were rather sad.

"And that's fine," Swift Sweep said. His response surprised the others. "Bad memories never go away, but they can make us stronger. That's how we grow as ponies." Swift then saw Pinkie bringing in dessert and brought Luna over to it.

"Hey, Cadance?"

"Yeah, Shining Armor?"

"You ever think maybe, just maybe-"

"Swift Sweep is a lot smarter than we give him credit for? Yeah."

Chapter 30 Payback part 1 Super Stallion's Inferno

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"So Celestia, have you seen Twilight recently?" Squeaky asked as they were having another indoor picnic in her chambers.

"Not really I wanted to but it can be really hard to balance a social life when you have my job. Or really just having a social life with this job, honestly Squeaky you should feel super lucky just to be here with me."

"I do oh believe me I do." Squeaky then planted his lips right on hers to her surprise and delight.

"Thanks I needed that."

"I had a feeling you did."

"Well, back to Twilight, do you think “Super Stallion” could figure out how to help her with her memory?"

"Well I suppose I can go over to her castle later and see if I can help her remember anything."

"No Squeaky, not you Super Stallion, remember?"

"Oh actually Twilight already knows I'm Super Stallion. At least she used to."

"She does, did? For how long?"

"Ever since I defeated Discord."

"Does anypony else know?"

"Well unfortunately Discord figured it out that's why Twilight is learning to use chaos magic like him so he won't blab. Really dodged the bullet on that."

"I see, my former student is even more noble than I thought. That's a tall order by the way."

"Plus there's Star Swirl the Bearded."

"Well that makes sense Luna and I could never keep him from figuring out anything."

"Also Spike knows but he figured that out at the same time as Twilight and lastly Sapphire Shores."

"Sapphire Shores?! The pop star, how did she find out?"

"It's kind of a long story."

"Well another time then, for now I should probably be thinking of other ways to get Twilight's memory back."

"I know Celestia, maybe you could get her favorite book. Actually what is her favorite book?"

"All of them," Celestia answered who couldn't help but laugh at her own joke and Squeaky joined in as well. "By the way, something I was wondering," Princess Celestia said when she stopped laughing. "How did Starlight Glimmer get away?"

"She got away by running into the nearby mountains. I tried to find her but there were way more tunnels than I thought. That wasn't the 1st time the bad guy got away and it probably won't be the last." Princess Celestia then kissed Squeaky as she felt now he was the one that needed it.

"We all fail from time to time but what's important is that we take the time to learn from it. In the meantime I should focus on getting Twilight’s memory back. After all, she got hurt during the prison riot when I should have been protecting her."

"But princess, you told me you were brainwashed. What happened wasn't your fault."

“I know that in my mind but I don’t know it in my heart, or maybe it’s the other way around. Sometimes it’s a little hard to tell.”

"Well all the same it's about time for Super Stallion to make sure everything is alright."

"Oh Squeaky can't you stay a little longer? What about the cheesecake don't you want anymore?"

"Maybe next time, I'm stuffed and need to burn off the extra calories. Besides, those escaped rouges aren't going to capture themselves. Though if they did it would sure make my job a heck of a lot easier." Squeaky then kissed his precious princess goodbye and flew off after becoming his alter ego.

"HELP HELP!" A pony cried out that Super Stallion picked up with his super hearing.

"That sounds like Twilight," Super Stallion said and flew to the castle so fast he almost made a sonic rainboom. "What's the matter Princess Twilight?"

"Oh Super Stallion thank goodness I've been robbed."

"Somepony stole from the princess of friendship, what did they steal?"

"I…don’t know?"

"Huh?" Twilight then brought Super Stallion into the castle and showed him around a bit while explaining that she lost her memory and Super Stallion decided to play along. Eventually she brought him into the room where she believed the robbery took place.

"I'm pretty sure that something in here was taken."

"Uh there's nothing in her except for a pedestal."

"Exactly there's supposed to be something on that pedestal otherwise why even have it here in the 1st place?"

"Well I guess that makes sense I'll try to get back what might have been stolen. Though that's going to be pretty difficult even for me because I don't know what I'm looking for."

"I know what you're looking for," Spike said. "Twilight I got your book." Twilight then went over to get the book and left after Spike insisted on taking it from here.

"It was chaos magic that was stolen."

"Chaos magic!" Super Stallion's jaw nearly hit the floor. "You mean like Discord?"

"Yeah a little before Twilight lost her memory Discord dropped off a ton of chaos magic and Twilight put it there."

"Why would somepony want to steal that? Actually that’s not hard to figure out."

"Yeah if I could use chaos magic I'd make a mountain of delicious gems then I'd make a flying golden carriage to take Rarity to a romantic island in the sky designed to be the ultimate romantic area so Rarity and I can….Uh anyway, chaos magic would be very useful for all sorts of things."

"Yeah, like transforming the cosmos so that everything is icing," Pinkie Pie said.

"Pinkie? How long have you been standing there?" Spike asked rather nervously.

"I came in on uh." Spike subtly gave a sigh of relief.

"Don't mind me, I'm just here to give Super Stallion this letter. Actually it's more of a note because it is a note, a ransom note." Hearing that Super Stallion grabbed the note that explained the mayor had been ponynapped and was being held for ransom which was to be dropped off in Ghastly Gorge.

***

Mayor Mare, having been taken against her will was placed in a cage that was pony sized with Scar Flank and Pony Ivy standing close by. "You fiends won't get away with this!"

"We already have," Pony Ivy replied to the imprisoned mayor.

"Uh no we haven't," Scar Flank corrected.

"I know I just always wanted to say that. By the way I know the grand plan calls for a bunch of bits but if there's anything left over do you think I can use that to get my hooves on stuff that will make plants go faster and stronger?"

"Not all of your plans have to be plant based you know."

"Oh I get it, think outside the garden wall."

"Will you 2 stop chatting away and pay attention," a hooded figure said. "We have to keep our wits about us and be ready to head out once we take all those bits."

"The only thing you 3 stooges are taking is a beating," Super Stallion said as he was on top of the gorge holding the cage that imprisoned the mayor and freed her by breaking it wide open.

"Thank you so much Super Stallion, I've been stuck in a cage like that 2 times too many."

"No problem, just all part of the superhero package including taking down those who don't seem to learn from their mistakes."

"Well well this is unfortunate but was still expected," the hooded figure said. "I was hoping we could get this ponynapping over with before we crossed paths, but I suppose not even the perfect plan guarantees a flawless execution."

"And just who are you supposed to be, the new ringleader?" Super Stallion asked not recognizing the voice of the hooded mare.

"Something like that," the hooded figure answered as she threw her hooded robe off and swirls of fire danced somewhat around her.

"I better get going," Mayor Mare said who then ran off.

"Call me Inferno." Inferno then shot out a rather large beam of fire right at Super Stallion who couldn't dodge in time.

"Hot! Hot! Hot!" Super Stallion rolled on the ground a little as he was quite hurt from the fire.

"And there's plenty more where that came from." Inferno then shot a fire beam directly under herself to get her to fly up to the top of Ghastly Gorge where Super Stallion was. "Time to share the warmth."

"Uh no thanks you can keep it." Super Stallion then dodged the various fire balls that Inferno launched at him then flew directly around Inferno and bonked her on her head with his right elbow. Inferno then made a sphere of fire surround her forcing Super Stallion to back away. "Stop, drop, and roll stop, drop, and roll! Why does that fire hurt so much?"

"Well come on let's not let a mare do all the work," Pony Ivy said as he was able to manipulate the little plant life in Ghastly Gorge enough to summon a giant root to pick him up.

"I don't think you 2 would be the best in a fight against Super Stallion," Scar Flank said.

"Why not?" Pony Ivy had the root lift him to the top of the gorge but some of the fire from Inferno's spells got on the root and quickly burned it forcing it to drop Pony Ivy.

"Well that is rather a major factor."

"Is that all you can do is fly away like an annoying little bug?" Inferno said, trying to egg Super Stallion on.

"You wish," Super Stallion said as charged right at Inferno. She tried to use fire to defend herself but Super Stallion flew through it and blasted her with a spell that literally sent her from one edge of the gorge all the way to the other. Super Stallion then flew over ready to keep fighting. "I'm not scared of a little fire."

"A little? I'm just getting warmed up." Inferno then summoned a fire dragon that lunged at Super Stallion but he dodged it only to get blasted when the fire dragon shot out fire that forced him out to the bottom of the gorge.

"A dragon made of fire breathing fire, how redundant can you get?" Super Stallion asked as he picked himself up and the fire dragon flew down to the gorge to continue the fight and Inferno slid down to join it.

"Things are heating up for you Super Stallion," Inferno said.

"You know the only things that hurt more than the 3rd degree burns are your cheesy one-liners."

"I wasn't going to say anything but she really is laying it on thick with the puns," Pony Ivy said that Scar Flank couldn't help but nod in agreement.

"And besides that Inferno," Scar Flank said. "We have other things to do than to watch you show off."

"I suppose I did get a little carried away. We do have bigger fish to fry so we can settle this next time Super Stallion."

"We're settling this right now." Super Stallion then used a water spell to put out the fire dragon and also managed to slam Inferno against the wall of Ghastly Gorge. But that was a costly mistake. The vibration made from Inferno's impact caused several quarray eels to come out of the caves and try to gobble up Super Stallion.

"Now there's an idea," Inferno said. She then cast another fire spell that formed into a fist that punched the other side of Ghastly Gorge which made even more eels come out. Before long Super Stallion had his hooves full stopping the eels but it was hardly a problem for him. However when he fought off the eels and forced them back into their caves Inferno along with Scar Flank and Pony Ivy had vanished, like a puff of smoke.

***

Super Stallion quickly flew off trying to figure things out. "Ponynapping for bits doesn't really fit the MO of Pony Ivy or Scar Flank. Well maybe Scar Flank. And where did this new chick come from and what's her deal? On top of that I still need to figure out what happened to the chaos magic taken from Twilight's…Chaos magic of course! That's why Inferno's fire power was so strong. Chaos magic gives me a run for my bits. The question is did she already know that when she stole the chaos magic?"

"HELP BUGBEAR!"

"Was that from Ponyville again? This is going to be another one of those long days isn't it?" Super Stallion flew down as the ponies were somewhat in a panic but were mostly focusing on the wedding between Cranky and Matilda.

"Twilight, don't panic, this is nothing we can't handle," Rainbow Dash said.

"Are you sure?" Suddenly the bugbear fell to the ground, knocked out cold. "Wow you weren't kidding."

"Uh I don't think we did that, did we do that?" Fluttershy asked.

"No you didn't," Super Stallion said in the air. He flew down and hit the bugbear on the head with his back legs knocking it out on the spot. "It's nice to know that some of my problems can still be handled no problem."

"Wow Super Stallion thanks again!"

"No problem Princess Twilight."

"No! This is awful!"

"The horror, the horror!" Super Stallion flew over to the mares in distress to see what was the matter and found 3 on the ground.

"Our precious flowers have a stem out of place."

"Uh are these 3 always like this?" Super Stallion asked the mane 6 who followed him.

"Yes unfortunately darling," Rarity answered. "It's so ridiculous to see full grown mares act so dramatic over something so trivial." Rarity then noticed that her friends were staring at her, even Twilight. "What?"

***

Some time later in Manehattan Scar Flank, Pony Ivy, and Inferno made their way to a rather large bank in the dead of night. "So what are we doing here again?" Pony Ivy asked.

"I already told you," Inferno responded.

"No you didn't."

"I didn't?"

"No, that's why I asked."

"Okay well the whole mayor ransom plan didn't work out so we need to find another way to get our hooves on a rump load of bits. So plan b is going for the classic bank robbery."

"Okay and why do we need the bits again?"

"Our master planner's master plan," Inferno said. "Now we're here so let's grab the bits before captain goody goody shows up." Suddenly Pony Ivy looked around as if he lost something.

"Is something the matter, big green?" Inferno asked.

"Oh it's just I was expecting Super Stallion to show up right when you said that."

"Does he usually do that?"

"If he didn't I'd have put me and my family name back on top by now," Scar Flank said.

"Well it's good to be effective at my job." The 3 rouges then looked up and saw none other than Super Stallion.

"I knew it, I knew it!" Pony Ivy called out.

"I guess we'll have to put our plan on hold until we take care of you once and for all. Oh wait, we can do both."

"Oh really? I overheard your plan of robbing a bank. Your fire isn't going to melt the walls so easily."

"Oh we have something else to help us get into the bank." Suddenly Super Stallion heard a wall being broken and Super Stallion saw that it was the bugbear that he defeated back in Ponyville who was breaking into the bank. Super Stallion was then blasted right in the chest by Inferno's fire so hard it made him fall on the ground.

Ouch! Right in the chest, that's what I get for not paying attention. Super Stallion then flew up ready to fight again and saw the bugbear emptying the bank.

"I should thank you for taking this big guy down in Ponyville," Inferno said. “It saved us the trouble of doing it. We just had to grab it as a group of guards were trying to take it to Tartarus. All right, big guy, show Super Stallion how tough you really are!"

The bugbear then stopped emptying out the bank and flew right over to Super Stallion who noticed it had little to know facial expressions like it was brainwashed.

"What did they do to this poor thing?" The bugbear then attacked Super Stallion while Pony Ivy and Scar Flank took out the last of the bits ready to make a run for it.

"All right," Scar Flank said with excitement. "Finally after all this time a plan that's going to work."

"Not on my watch pal," Super Stallion grabbed the bugbear and gave it a big toss making it land right on Pony Ivy and Scar Flank stopping them in their tracks and knocking the bugbear out. "2 down or rather 3 and 1 to go."

"Don't act like you've already won!" Inferno then summoned her fire dragon once again. But Super Stallion then used magic to make a sea serpent out of water appear.

"Hey! You ripped off my spell!"

"imitation is the greatest form of flattery." Super Stallion's spell flew at Inferno's and they canceled each other out creating so much steam Inferno couldn't see past her muzzle.

"Where'd you go plagiarizer?!" Super Stallion then flew right through the steam and punched her right in the face which sent her flying right out of the steam and nearly knocked her out.

"Did that give you a good enough idea?"

"How dare you sucker punch me!"

"My dad always told me never to strike a mare but in your case I'm making an exception!"

"I'll show you an exception!" Inferno then made a fire tornado that pushed Super Stallion back and then she blasted him head on with almost a dozen fireballs. After making him back off she noticed that the bugbear was being lifted up in the air by Pony Ivy's roots allowing him and Scar Flank to get up. "Well are 2 just going to do nothing while I do all the work?"

"That didn't seem to bother you last time," Scar Flank said, picking himself up.

"Time to fight fire with fire." Super Stallion then made a ball of fire of his own and threw it at Inferno who countered it by summoning fire around her to protect herself and as a result the 2 fires canceled each other out.

"Ha you can't beat me with fire, where did you go?" Inferno searched but Super Stallion was nowhere in sight as he flew over to Pony Ivy and Scar Flank to pick up all the bags filled with bits and put them back in the bank then used his magic to repair the damage to the wall made by the bugbear.

"What are you doing!" Scar Flank nearly yelled out.

"I believe the official term would be stopping an attempted robbery."

"You haven't stopped us yet mr. high and mighty," Pony Ivy said. He then summoned a few more large roots and had them attack Super Stallion. But Super Stallion dodged the attacks with no problem as he cast several fires at not only the roots attacking him but also the ones holding up the still unconscious bugbear.

"Inferno isn't the only one that knows who to use fire spells, you know." Super Stallion then flew out of the way moments before the fire burned the roots and made the bugbear fall on Scar Flank and Pony Ivy again. Super Stallion then got back to fighting Inferno who was going crazy with all the fire while Scar Flank and Pony Ivy crawled out from under this time.

"I'm really beginning to hate that guy," Scar Flank said.

"I'm really beginning to hate getting flatten by this thing," Pony Ivy added. Just then several police ponies arrived. "Well this just went from bad to worse."

"You think?" Suddenly the bugbear awoke and attacked Scar Flank and Pony Ivy. They tried to tell it to stop but it didn't work. "Now this thing isn't taking orders I thought it was supposed to listen to us."

"That's what he told us. I guess when Super Stallion knocked it out it must have returned to its senses." The bugbear then started to attack the buildings around it as if it was engulfed with rage. Super Stallion saw the bugbear about to attack the police but he lifted them up with magic and dropped them on a nearby roof.

"Wow, that was a close one thanks, Super Stallion," a police officer said.

"No problem but I think you all should stay here while I handle this mess." Super Stallion then flew back at the bugbear and socked it right in the jaw knocking it out for the 3rd time now. "I'm actually starting to feel sorry for this thing." Super Stallion then dodged a fire attack from behind and turned around to once again face Inferno. "I'm also getting tired of your sneak attacks."

"All right then here's something new, I always did like to show off." Inferno then made a huge ball of fire and threw it right at Super Stallion who made a shield all around him but it broke and he was engulfed in flames forcing him to the ground. When he got there Inferno hit with more and more fireballs.

After that Pony Ivy got a root to stretch out and grabbed Super Stallion by his back legs then slammed him against several buildings before pounding him into the ground and Scar Flank blasted him in the back with the strongest spells he could muster.

"All right you stallions let's really let him have it."

"Fine with me," Scar Flank said.

"Here here." Pony Ivy then got the root to lift Super Stallion up again but this time he grabbed onto the root and pulled it until the whole thing came out of the ground and then he threw it at Inferno who cut through it with a large fire knife.

"Oh there's an idea." Inferno then summoned a dozen large fire knives and threw them all at Super Stallion. "Let's see what you can do about those."

"I'll give it a whirl." Super Stallion spun around so fast he made a tornado that all the fire knives got caught in it and Super Stallion flew out of it. "That just came to me right now if you can believe it."

"And you thought my puns were cheesy?"

"Comedy can be very hit or miss." Super Stallion then dodged several spells that were cast at him by Scar Flank and then hit him with a stun spell. "Speaking of hit and miss." Super Stallion then charged at Pony Ivy who tried to whack him with several roots but he managed to dodge all of them and flew right at Pony Ivy.

"Oh no," Pony Ivy said right before Super Stallion punched him into the bank wall, nearly knocking him out. Inferno then summoned several large fire arms that tried to grab Super Stallion but he summoned a tidal wave with a water spell that put all the arms out and pushed back Inferno.

"Surf's up."

"You can't put me out that easily!" Inferno then shot fireball after fireball at Super Stallion who dodge then no problem. Inferno used fireballs that turned around after Super Stallion dodged them But Super Stallion used a water whip that put them out. Inferno summoned a huge fireball again and launched right out Super Stallion who blew a gust of wind straight through the giant fireball which disrupted it and blew it out from within.

"It's time you learned not to play with fire!" Super Stallion charged at Inferno who was exhausted and could barely light a flame. "Looks like you're all burnt out." Super Stallion gave Inferno a mean right hook, ironically knocking her out cold. Super Stallion then took her over to the bugbear and tossed her beside it and suddenly he was attacked from behind by Scar Flank who recently got free of the stun spell.

"This isn't over yet I can still finish you off!" Scar Flank then began to wail on Super Stallion with his forelegs and spells but Super Stallion soon forced him off with a punch and he landed on the ground.

"It's time for you to call it quits," Super Stallion said after getting back up in the air.

"I'll never quit! Go ahead and take me back to prison. I'll keep escaping as many times as it takes." Super Stallion then lifted him up similar to Inferno.

"And I'll keep stopping you and making sure you go back as many times as it takes." Super Stallion then knocked him out cold similar to Inferno. After that he brought him to Inferno and the bugbear but when he flew over to get Pony Ivy he was gone. "Well I guess this is another mistake I'll have to learn from, when you try to knock somepony out make sure they get knocked out."

Super Stallion then helped the police restrain the rogues as a mysterious pony far away watched with a pair of binoculars.

Chapter 31 Payback part 2 Anything You Can Do I Can Do It Too

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Super Stallion had been looking for Pony Ivy and other escaped rouges for days on end but was having no luck whatsoever. He was starting to become worried because he was starting to think they were planning something dangerous. But despite all the constant searching he still managed to balance it with Squeaky Clean's job. Such as helping out with the Grand Equestrian Pony Summit.

“Cadance is even go to dedicate a beautiful friendship statue made of gemstones from each of the home cities of those who came here," Celestia explained.

"That is impressive,” Squeaky said. Princess Celestia then wrapped her wing around Squeaky and they made their way to the other princesses who were welcoming the visitors from all over Equestria.

Not too long after that though Twilight who went 3 whole days without sleeping was taken to a tower where she could sleep and Spike was put in charge of making sure she was not disturbed. However, that would be quite difficult as several ponies showed up to ask the princess of friendship for help. Such as a pegasus known as Fluffy Clouds who was upset a friend of his took his seat at the don't spend all your bits speech.

"He took your seat, that's all? I think you should just-"

"No offense but I don't need some random dragon's opinion, I wanna hear what princess Twilight thinks."

"Thinks about what?" Twilight asked as she opened the door. Fluffy Clouds explained. "That's the reason why you're so upset? Spike, why didn't just tell him to forgive his friend?"

"I tried to but he didn't want to hear the opinion of a "random dragon" like me."

"Is that true?" Twilight asked as she gave Fluffy Clouds a hard stare.

"Um, yes." Twilight then walked up to Fluffy Clouds who backed a little.

"Let me make something perfectly clear, this isn't just some random dragon, he's my number 1 assistant, and you don't ever disrespect him like that, understand?"

"Y-Yes Princess Twilight please accept my apology I'm very sorry Spike."

"It's okay," Spike said. "I forgive you and speaking of forgiveness you should forgive your friend he probably didn't know he took your seat."

"Your right of course it all makes sense now thank you so much." Fluffy Clouds then flew off to forgive his friend.

"Now if you'll all excuse me I'm exhausted if you have any other problems Spike can help you." Hearing that Spike followed Twilight as she got ready to get back in bed.

"Twilight are you sure about that? I mean that might be a bit much?"

"Sure I'm sure I may not remember everything just yet but I do remember you always being by my side. And if you're unsure about anything just go to one of the other princesses for a little back up."

"Oh that might work thanks Twilight and hey maybe I could even handle some things on your list." Spike was about to grab Twilight's list of things to do after she got some sleep but Twilight brought it to her with magic.

"Uh no thanks Twilight I think it would be best if I got to those things myself."

"Oh all right then thanks for standing up for me."

"It's the least I could do for not doing something about the crowd interrupting you earlier when the statue was presented. Though to be fair I was half asleep or more like 3/4th asleep."

***

The summit was going rather well and while there were a few mishaps Spike did what he could to help with those. Meanwhile Squeaky was having a blast spending his day off with Princess Celestia. She kissed Squeaky before going to compare notes with Luna. After that several guards approached Squeaky.

"Oh my gosh it's true!"

"You are dating Princess Celestia!"

"Does she usually use the tongue?" The other guards and Squeaky starred in almost disbelief at the question. "Oh what neither of you have wondered about that?"

"Not enough to ask out loud."

"Yeah no kidding."

"Well whether she does or doesn't is between the 2 of us."

"Well between us guys my dad always told me that a mare will go wild for the best tongue-"

"Changing the subject, this summit seems to be going just fine doesn't it." Not too far away 1 of the Canterlot nobles Fancy Pants was walking around and noticed a small green ball on the ground.

"I say what is this doing here, did somepony drop it?" Suddenly the ball exploded, trapping several dozen ponies in green slime. Suddenly 4 other explosions each in a different color blue, red, yellow, and purple trapped more ponies in slime.

"What's going on?" one of the guards with Squeaky asked.

"Apparently I spoke too soon. I sort of have a bad habit of doing that." The guards then left to see what they could do. "I think it's time for Super Stallion to…find a place to change." Squeaky then ran off while trying to get through the crowd that was starting to panic.

"Get this off!"

"This is so gross!"

"Why did I have to be trapped in slime that's my least favorite color?"

"Where did all this slime even come from? And who would want to attack the summit of all things?" Squeaky asked. Suddenly a unicorn teleported in the room and made several fireworks go off, causing ponies to panic more.

"Time to rhyme about a crime that involves slime."

Prank Master should have known.

"Clover, what is the meaning of this?" Celestia asked.

"Clover? I'm not a plant."

"Whatever you hoped to do here I'm putting a stop to, you're coming with me right now."

"Even if you take me, will you take me?" Suddenly another Prank Master teleported into the room and lit several fireworks as well.

"There's 2 of them now," Squeaky said in disbelief.

"1 2 what will you do," the 1st Prank Master said.

"2 1 let's have some fun," the 2nd Prank Master said. They ran off in different directions Celestia and Squeaky looked at each other for just a second, but it was enough for them to tell each other a plan.

Celestia went after the 1st Prank Master while Squeaky ran after the 2nd. Squeaky soon caught up with the Prank Master he was chasing who was swinging around on the chandeliers.

"Come down here you trouble maker," Squeaky called out.

"Why don't you come up here? The view is much better anyway?"

"If you won't come down I'll make you come down."

"And how are you going to do that exactly?"

"Like this." Squeaky then used magic to remove the screws holding the chandelier causing it to fall, but also used magic to stop it from smashing onto the floor. When the chandelier was lowered down to the ground gently, a group of guards wasted no time and jumped on there to restrain the bizarre trouble maker.

"We got her now!" One of the guards called out but suddenly they were all forced off Prank Master and when they all got back up she was gone.

"Where'd she go?"

"Did she teleport away or something?"

"If she did, how are we supposed to find out where she went?"

"Spread out! Spread out and find her!" The guards wasted no time and ran off to find Prank Master leaving Squeaky alone to put the chandelier back. And make a change.

***

Princess Celestia was hot on the trail of Prank Master and before long she caught up to her and cut her off before she was able to run down a hall.

"That's enough Clover, what do you think you're doing here anyway?"

"I'm racing myself to see if I can beat myself to the Super Stallion Signal."

"Why do you want to go there?"

"I don't but I do. That is not me but me just so there's no misunderstanding."

"Wait, you mean the other Prank Master?"

"Yeah you got it you always were a smart cookie kind of like your student."

"Well your fun stops here." Celestia then grabbed Clover by her neck ready to make sure she didn't run off.

"Knock knock," Clover said to Celestia's surprise.

"Who's there?"

"Orange."

"Orange who?" Suddenly Princess Celestia was encased in orange slime when Prank Master threw a ball right in her face and backed off right before she got encased too.

"Orange you glad I kept 1 of the slime spheres? Probably not." Prank Master ran off while Celestia tried to get free but she couldn't perform any magic. Thankfully this slime wasn't as strong as the rubber glue and she got free as Squeaky Clean who saw the slime explosion after he put the chandelier back ran over.

"I'm definitely going to need a bath when this is over."

"So I take it your Prank Master got away too?"

"Yeah."

"I bet Super Stallion could help clean up this mess much faster than even I can."

"Tall order by the way," Celestia said as she found a place for him to change.

"Ah now that's more like it,” Super Stallion said. “Now I just need to figure out where the Prank Masters went."

"The one I tried to catch said something about getting to your signal. I didn't ask why but I have a feeling even if I did the answer wouldn't make much sense."

"Well let's put that royal theory to the test." Super Stallion then made his way to the signal and as he did the 2 Prank Masters got there already.

"Are you sure this is going to get his attention?" The 2nd Prank Master asked.

"How should I know I never used this before and this is all part of that guy's plan not mine and I want to get some pudding," The 1st answered as she switched it on.

"Well lucky me 2 Prank Masters in 1 spot," Super Stallion said, arriving just as his signal was turned on.

"Wow this thing is fast," the 1st Prank Master said. "Hey I wonder if we can rework it to get pizzas, or pudding, or pizza and pudding!"

"Yeah you do that," the 2nd Prank Master said. "Time for me to have my fun." The 2nd Prank Master then jumped on Super Stallion and as he threw her off he used a spell to summon a snow bank where she would land and then used an ice spell on the 1st one.

"This seems familiar," the 1st Prank Master said before getting frozen solid.

"1 down 1 to go," Super Stallion said as he flew over to the 2nd Prank Master who got out of the snow. "So what's the deal are you Chrysalis? Actually the more I think about it, that's gotta be it."

"You're close but you didn't quite hit the nail on the head." The 2nd Prank Master, seeing she was by the training area for the royal guards, jumped over to the chin-up bar. And suddenly Prank Master was briefly surrounded by a green aura.

"Another new trouble maker or is this another trick Chrysalis?"

"Nope, not Chrysalis, you can call me Mimicry."

"Mimicry, I get it, like copy."

"Right you are thought it up myself. Well I had a little help."

"So what? Did you crawl out of whatever spot Inferno popped out of?"

"Inferno you say," Mimicry said as she let go, dropping down landing on 4 strange metal claws she was wearing. "By any chance did she look anything like this?" Mimicry then transformed into Inferno and surprised Super Stallion further by blasting him with fire that hurt as much as the original Inferno. Super Stallion, quick to respond, flew up avoiding another fire attack.

"I think it's time to put you on ice." Super Stallion then made an ice spell that caused snow to appear all over the training area. Suddenly a claw shot out of the snow grabbing onto a nearby wall and the rest of Mimicry was pulled out of the snow and the rope between the claw and the metallic hoof connected.

"Be honest, did you use that same line on Inferno?"

"Surprisingly no actually, she was the one shooting out the one liners."

"Yeah that makes sense my sister was always one to show off."

"Your sister?"

"Yes, my sister but she was always rather reckless on top of that. I guess that's why she got caught even though she was told to do whatever she could to avoid that by, oops I gotta watch this mouth of mine before I give too much away." Mimicry then changed into Pony Ivy and summoned plant roots around the snow and had them attack Super Stallion. But Super Stallion was able to dodge them no problem and cut them with magic beams.

"You'll have to do better than that."

"I suppose you're right I did go to all the trouble of getting your attention, I should do something to really impress you. I was going to practice this a little more but perhaps recklessness comes in the family."

"That and a need to go into crime." Mimicry then surprised Super Stallion once again by transforming into him. Super Stallion then got socked right in the jaw and was sent to the other side of the castle.

"Wowie wow I figured he was strong but I felt like I could break a whole mountain just now." Mimicry then used super breath to blow away all the snow Super Stallion summoned.

"All right you can give a punch now let's see if you can take one." Super Stallion then charged and returned his sock to the jaw with a sock of his own nearly sending Mimicry to the edge of Canterlot but she quickly came back and the 2 Super Stallions attacked each other.

"You're pretty tough but now I'm pretty tough too. I wonder how fast I am." Mimicry then flew at Super Stallion as fast as she could and he caught her just barely able to stop her from forcing him through the castle. Super Stallion then threw off Mimicry and punched her several times before slamming her into the ground.

"Too bad you blew away all that snow, it would have made a nice pillow for you."

"You got me there but with a body like this I hardly felt a thing. All this power, it's incredible you could do all sorts of things and nopony could stop you."

"Don't underestimate our kind, we ponies are strong."

"But not at this level and now I'm at that level too. We could do whatever we wanted and nopony could stop us. We could take over all of Equestria."

"Discord might have a problem with that and his chaos magic is a problem even for me."

"You don't say." Mimicry then blasted Super Stallion with a strong spell that he suspected had a bit of chaos magic in it. "I think it's time for me to get going, but don't worry we'll meet again. And with my changeling-like powers you'll never really know when it's coming." Mimicry then flew over to grab Prank Master before disappearing into a not too far away crowd.

Super Stallion tried to find her but she had already changed. “She could be anywhere, she could be any pony.”

***

Super Stallion returned to Squeaky and was told the unfortunate news that on top of the summit being canceled, the gem statue was stolen.

“Cadance is just heartbroken about it,” Celestia finished explaining.

"I see, well I can't say I blame her. She worked so hard on that statue and I heard Twilight was even going to do a presentation about every piece of it. I was really looking forward to that."

"You and me both," Celestia said as she poured herself a drink in a fancy glass and poured one for Squeaky as well. "She always had such a way with words ever since she was a filly. As for the statue, if it can't be found we'll just make a new one even if I have to do the whole thing myself."

"Here here," Squeaky said admiring his marefriend's ambition and they had a toast and drank from the fancy glasses. "I'd be more than happy to help you with that."

"You would? How generous though it's not all that surprising."

"Oh it's not actually generosity, I'm up for any reason to be alone with you." Celestia let out a laugh.

"Like to hog me all to yourself do you? Well, I don't have a problem with that to be honest." Princess Celestia and Squeaky then kissed each other passionately, but it was run short as Princess Luna and Swift Sweep entered the room.

"I told you we should have knocked," Swift Sweep said.

"Yes you were correct in this matter Swift Sweep," Princess Luna said. "I must remember that next time this is most embarrassing for me."

"For you sister?! Is there something you need help with?"

"Well, I was thinking that since the summit was unexpectedly ruined perhaps we should do something to lift everypony's spirits."

"And how do you plan to do that?"

"Well I was thinking that perhaps you could move up your royal garden opening."

"The one with the Wonderbolts kicking things off?"

"Yes Squeaky. I realize this might be somewhat difficult to move up but-"

"Actually Luna, that is a good idea but I'll need help."

"No worries Princess Celestia, me and my trusty broom are ready, willing, and able."

"Uh, thank you Swift Sweep but that's not the kind of help I was talking about."

***

"Nice work Gentleman Thief, they didn't even see you," Weather Warper said as the rouges gathered together.
"Naturally but the credit cannot be claimed by simply myself as Prank Master provided the necessary item for which to pull off the operation."

"Yeah and my shrinking powder helped you steal the statue too," Prank Master soaking her back legs in a small tub of hot water with a blanket around her. She then let out a giant sneeze that made her eye mask fly right off. "Ugh, why does he always trap me in ice? Next time I see him I'll hit him with so many slime balls he'll feel like he's been swallowed by the, uh."

"Something wrong?" Weather Warper said as she was reading the newspaper reading about the accomplishments of her and her fellow rouges.

"I can never remember that creature's name. The loose, the fuse, the gooze, the splooge, that's probably not it."

"Okay," Weather Warper replied as she took a sip of her coffee and continued to read from the newspaper. But suddenly she spit out the coffee when she read an article.

"Something the matter?" Mimicry asked.

"It says here that Wind Rider is coming out of retirement to join in a Wonderbolt show in Princess Celestia's garden opening ceremony!"

"Oh no not Wind Rider!" Prank Master said as she stood up taking off the towel and getting her back legs out of the little tub and started to run around like a loon. "Please oh please not Wind Rider, why did it have to be Wind Rider, Wind Rider why must you always plague us with our presence-"

"You have no idea whatsoever who he is, do you?" Mimicry asked.

"Uh no I do not," Prank Master answered calmly, ceasing to run around.

"Well I do and we're going to put a stop to that little Wonderbolt show," Weather Warper said as she ripped the newspaper into pieces and threw them on the ground.

"Hey I was gonna read that," Prank Master said. "Or make a hat out of it."

"So what's the big deal about this guy anyway?" Mimicry asked.

"He stabbed me in the back and him coming out of retirement is going to be the perfect chance for me to finally get my revenge. Though if I had some help it would be much easier and maybe even grander."

"I do quite enjoy the thrill of not getting caught and this would most likely provide such a thrill," Gentleman Thief said. "Besides, I've grown rather fond of working together with you."

"We were told to stay put but if we do this Super Stallion will most likely show up at some point and try to stop us and truth be told I'd really like to mess with him," Mimicry said. "So count me in too."

"I wanted to make more slime balls but I can always do that later," Prank Master said.

***

The Wonderbolts were working hard for the show and Rainbow Dash while still just in the reserves was excited for the show. Squeaky Clean even decided to go take a look at their practice. Suddenly a large cloud appeared on top of where the Wonderbolts were training. "Well those odd clouds weren't in the forecast," Squeaky said.

"The forecast is whatever I want it to be!" Weather Warper called out.

"That voice," Wind Rider said to himself knowing very well who was talking. Mimicry who used a spell to walk on the large cloud jumped down and turned into Spitfire which naturally freaked her out.

"What in the wide world of Equestria?!"

"How fast are you ponies?" Mimicry asked. "I bet none of you are as fast as Super Stallion."

"What do these ponies even do?" Prank Master asked. "Just fly around all day? Doesn't exactly sound like a fulfilling career."

"Hey you take that back!" Rainbow Dash said, getting in Prank Master's face. "The Wonderbolts are awesome."

"Well they don't sound like it."

"Isn't that one of the ponies that attacked the castle a while back?" Soarin asked.

"And she made a mess at Cloudsdale before that too," Fleetfoot added.

"I'm the Weather Warper and I'm here to put a stop to this little practice of yours."

"Oh I don't think so," Spitfire said. "Rainbow Dash what do you say we show this wanna be what we're, Rainbow Dash? Rainbow Dash, where are you?"

"The Wonderbolts are the very definition of awesome!"

"Well excuse me for having a different opinion."

"Rainbow Dash!" Spitfire said getting her attention and as she did Weather Warper made the cloud rain like crazy but the Wonderbolts weren't fazed and all of them including Rainbow Dash and Wind Wider flew around the cloud, breaking it into pieces in no time at all.

"Okay I take it back, that was pretty cool," Prank Master said.

"Wait until you see what I can do," Super Stallion said, shocking Prank Master so much she jumped back.

"You!"

"Me!"

"Suck on slime super stink!" Prank Master fired slime ball after slime ball at Super Stallion who dodged them until she ran out. "Don't freeze me again!" Prank Master ran off. Super Stallion wanted to chase her but before he could he was grabbed by himself.

"Oh leave her alone she's got enough problems," Mimicry said as she threw him to the other side of the training area. Mimicry and Super Stallion then duked it out while the Wonderbolts tried to stop Weather Warper but only Rainbow Dash could really keep up with her.

"Wow you got some serious speed," Weather Warper complemented. "Your talent is wasted with these ponies. How about you join somepony that really knows how to use their skills."

"As if. I've always wanted to join the Wonderbolts. I'm not about to give that up for you."

"Think about it," Weather Warper said as she and Rainbow Dash flew around each other fighting a bit. "We could make our own team and do our own thing. And while we're at it we can leave the Wonderbolts out in the dust."

"As if I'd join a known criminal!"

"So what if I'm a criminal sometimes you gotta play dirty to be the best."

"That's not what Wonderbolts are all about, we stick together and push ourselves in the right direction." Rainbow Dash then forced Weather Warper into Soarin and Spitfire who nearly grabbed her but she dodged them. While that was going on Super Stallion and Mimicry were matching one another blow for blow.

"I may not have had this medallion for long but I'm quite fond of it already."

"Medallion?"

"Oops there I go again, oh well it doesn't matter. You can't beat me."

"I don't have to, I just need to wait you out until I get back up?"

"What?"

"We're evenly matched so if we keep fighting it'll be a stalemate but if it's me and the Wonderbolts you're going down."

"That would only work if I came here myself. I have back up, you know."

"Where? Prank Master ran off and Weather Warper is getting cornered by the Wonderbolts." Mimicry dropped her guard as Super Stallion made his point which also allowed him to land a solid blow sending her through a wall. As Mimicry got up she saw that the Wonderbolts were cornering Weather Warper.

"I don't think this plan was thought through," Mimicry said.

"Too bad you couldn't copy my brain power."

"Fine we'll call this one a draw but next time I'll make double sure you're going down." Mimicry then summoned a giant fog with a spell and by the time Super Stallion cleared it, the rogues got away yet again.

***

"Are you okay my little fireball?"

"I'm fine mom," Spitfire said.

"It's a good thing Super Stallion showed up," Rainbow Dash said. "I mean we probably had it handled on our own but thanks all the same."

"No problem. But what I don't get is what was their plan anyway. I looked around and nothing was missing."

"I think the plan might have been revenge," Wind Wider said to everypony's surprise. "At least that was Weather Warper's plan anyway."

"But how could you know that darling?" Rarity asked.

"I know a lot about her actually, her real name is Lightning Dust. A long time ago before I retired, the Wonderbolts did this program where they'd take junior flyers who entered this contest to learn from us on how to become a Wonderbolt 1 day."

"Oh yeah I remember that," Rainbow Dash said.

"Lightning Dust was assigned to me. I saw so much potential in her and pushed her to be the best. But she was too reckless for her own good and even put other flyers in danger. The captain was so mad he kicked her out and forbade her to ever join the Wonderbolts. I tried to talk the captain out of it but it was no use. I never forgot about that and always thought maybe if I stood by her she could have been something great and not what she is now."

"Uh I'm not as much of a farmer as a friend of mine is," Rainbow Dash interrupted again. "But I think that apple went rotten all on its own."

"You may be right," Wind Rider said, still feeling depressed. "You may be a reserve but I think you're already a great Wonderbolt.

"Really!?" Rainbow Dash said flattered.

"Yeah I heard the stuff you said to Weather, to Lightning Dust. It made me realize I'm not all that different from her." Wind Wider then got out a letter and tossed it to Spitfire. "I was going to send that to you saying your mother was sick so you'd fly off to grab a cure and frame Rainbow Dash for it."

"Frame me but why? It is because I ate that last piece of the broccoli at dinner and you really really wanted it?"

"No, it's because I was afraid you'd beat my record and that was all I cared about." Wind Wider removed his jacket and threw it on the floor. "I don't deserve to be a Wonderbolt." Wind Wider was about to fly away but Super Stallion got in his way.

"You may have planned something bad but you realized it and stopped before you even started it. Running off to feel sorry for yourself won't solve anything, if you want to feel good helping out the routine might help with that."

"I guess you got me a point there," Wind Rider said.

"So does that mean you'll stay in the show?" Soarin asked.

"No," Wind Wider said he then flew over to grab his jacket and put it on Rainbow Dash who was shocked but in a good way. "Because I think somepony else deserves the spot."

"Well actually," Rarity said. "Perhaps we could move things around a bit to put on a really spectacular show that will really lift ponies spirits and forget what happened at the summit."

***

Princess Celestia along with Super Stallion were together and on the verge of entering a small restaurant near the edge of Canterlot. "I can see her in there, let's get her!" Super Stallion said determined not to let her slip away again.

"Wait," Princess Celestia said. "Let me handle this please." She then entered the restaurant and Super Stallion followed. Princess Celestia then sat down next to Prank Master who was eating a plate of spaghetti and meatballs with some pudding on the side. "Clover, you're off your medication again aren't you?"

"I only take them if I feel like it," Prank Master said with half a mouth full.

"You know that's not how it works, you aren't well."

"I'm fine, you want to play some pool?"

"No," Celestia answered with a little huff. "Clover, you're wearing the suit again."

"I am." Prank Master then looked at her own suit, surprised that it was on. "Huh how about that?"

"Listen, if you can tell me where to find the other rogues and go back to the prison I'll visit you and bring you a whole tub of chocolate pudding." Hearing that made Prank Master perk up right away.

"Okay they're all going to the Crystal Empire for something big."

"Thank you Clover."

"Hey do I have to go back right now? Can I finish my dinner and stay out a little longer?"

"Well I suppose if you promise to behave," Celestia answered. And Prank Master did just that and before being brought back to prison was treated to a new summit with a new statue and at the end of the day had the Wonderbolts do a show to celebrate it and the garden opening. It had a new formation with the additions of a retiree, a special reserve, and Equestria's only superhero that later signed autographs after the show.

Chapter 32 Payback part 3 Return of an Old Friend

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The rogues gathered together ready for the final phase of the plan. "So we're all here, or what's left of us," a pony said to the rest of the rogues. "So you all know what to do?" The others nodded. "And no more reckless running to do your own thing that wasn't part of my plans whatsoever got it?!" The hooded figure stared right at Weather Warper who was more than aware of what he was talking about.

"Yeah yeah," She responded, shrugging it off. Suddenly to everypony's shock the pony tackled Weather Warper to the ground and proceeded to lightly strangle her.

"Don't yeah yeah me! Your carelessness cost us Prank Master who'd have been very helpful for this part of the plan. On top of that she told Princess Celestia where the final stage of my master plan would be so that's also on you." The pony then let go of Weather Warper and stood up while she was still on the ground gasping for air.

"Prank Master wasn't my fault," Weather Warper said, still gasping. "Gentleman Thief was supposed to aid whoever needed backup."

"As I have previously mentioned I attempted to retrieve Prank Master but she ran off too quickly for me and upon my return you and Mimicry had already flown the coop and I thought it best to do the same."

"Uh by the way bro," Mimicry said. "With the Crystal Empire on the lookout for all of us and Inferno locked up, maybe we should put this off."

"This changes nothing, it's time to finally make Super Stallion pay for what he did to me." The hooded figure then turned to a stallion quiet and motionless in the corner. "You stay by me, I want to see the look his face when he sees you."

***

The Crystal Empire was in the middle of a crystal fair; some of the ponies that were on the lookout for the rogues were even getting into it, when the rouges attacked. Pony Ivy summoned plant roots nearly as tall as the nearby mountains and started wrapping them around the castle and a few of the nearby buildings causing a panic. Weather Warper used the clouds to make rain, hail, snow, and even hit several buildings with lightning while Mimicry took the form of her sister Inferno and lit a couple places on fire. During all this Gentleman Thief as he usually did quickly and quietly made his way to the Crystal Heart.

"Such an astonishing artifact," Gentleman Thief said. Then he did what he did best and stayed out of sight while making his way below the castle to meet up with the new rogue leader. While that was going on Squeaky Clean who came to the Crystal Empire made his change into Super Stallion and flew to the castle.

"I think the plant life around here needs to take it down a bit." Before Super Stallion could get to the plants though he was grabbed by Mimicry that once again took his form.

"Wouldn't you rather play with me instead?"

"In all honesty, no not really."

"Too bad." Mimicry then flung Super Stallion then hit him in the jaw, the gut, double kicked him in the head, and slammed him into the ground.

"Why did that hurt so much?" Super Stallion asked picking himself up. "I feel like I did the first couple of times I fought, Discord!"

"Well from the sound of things you figured it out, after our last fight the master planner that is my brother gave me a boost of chaos magic that was poured into my Mimic Medallion. So now I can do whatever you can with a chaotic bonus. I'm about to go beyond plus ultra!" Mimicry then attacked Super Stallion with a barrage of punches with chaos magic coming out of her front hooves.

Suddenly the changeling army arrived at the Crystal Empire with Chrysalis leading them along with a large group of strange thugs that got off a train. The royal pony sisters who had put out the fires and helped the crystal ponies get to safety noticed as well and would have to focus on them next. On top of that Shining Armor who went to try and get to his wife who was still in the castle was pushed back and knocked out by a large black cloud that soon took the form of none other than King Sombra.

***

Below the castle Gentleman Thief met up with his new leader who to his surprise was with a mare that he never saw before. "Who might this young mare be?"

"Somepony that I set this whole plan in motion just to help her. Did you get the Crystal Heart?"

"Naturally." Gentleman Thief offered it to him and in return he gave it to the mare that was known as Radiant Hope. Shortly afterwards she entered a small room where she found her old friend King Sombra. When Sombra escaped from Twilight's body he made it all the way to his old kingdom to lay in wait to recover in a rather secret room. Radiant Hope, an old friend of King Sombra and by use of a spell, brought him back to his physical form.

"My curiosity rather requires me to ask what will such actions accomplish by leaving her alone in that rather mysterious room?"

"You see Gentleman Thief. I came across this mare a while ago and she shared such interesting stories with me. Stories that provided what I found to be very useful information."

***

"How does something go from okay to bad and then from bad to utterly horrible in such a short amount of time?" Super Stallion asked, still busy with Mimicry.

"That just shows you the massive genius of my brother Payback, oh geez I did it again."

"Did what again?"

"Talking too much he specially ordered none of us to mention his name to you because he wanted to do that himself." Suddenly Super Stallion was blasted in the chest by Mimicry whose magic beam had a fair amount of chaos magic. “Not that it matters.”

“Why not?”

"Because I'm going to beat you so senseless you won't be able to do anything." Super Stallion was then punched so hard he landed on the other side of the Crystal Empire. There Princess Luna was fighting off the changelings and Swift Sweep was backing her up. Super Stallion managed to get back up and Mimicry appeared right behind.

"Super Stallion! You have a twin?" Wow you think you know a pony."

"That's not my twin Swift Sweep, that's Mimicry, she's a rogue that can take the form of anypony and copy their powers and abilities."

"Now with a chaos magic bonus," Mimicry added.

"Oh," Swift Sweep said. "Well I don't want to rush you but do you think you can beat her up now so you can help with all the other things going on?"

"I'd love to but how do I beat somepony that copies everything I can do?"

"Oh come on don't let that stop you. Think of it this way: she's live action Tiger Prince, your animated Tiger Prince. Sure she's made more bits but you'll always be the immortal classic that may or may not have ripped off The Albino Panther. Honestly it's kind of up in the air. They said it was an original story but even the head writer said it was an adaptation of Lot's of Ham which in itself was also an adaptation of another story. But it kind of doesn't matter since The Albino Panther's creator admitted to taking a lot of influence from Bumbi the Dearest Deer so ultimately it goes full circle and…...what were we talking about?"

"I think I got your point," Super Stallion said as he flew up ready to fight Mimicry and she followed.

"Wow I had no idea that you were so passionate about movies," Princess Luna said.

"Well Tiger Prince is one of the all time greats. It's like the most profitable movie the company ever made."

"Well actually didn't Insanely Cold bring in a lot more bits?"

"Insanely Cold is an over bloated chick flick!"

"Well this has been fun, only it hasn't," Super Stallion said. "But it's like Swift Sweep said I need to take you down to help with all the other stuff."

"And you think it's going to be that easy?"

"Yes." Super Stallion then charged at Mimicry who tried to uppercut him but he dodged it and gave her a double spin kick with his back legs. Mimicry then shot out several chaos blasts but Super Stallion flew past all of them and socked Mimicry so hard she went through the castle and this time she was the one that landed on the other side of the Crystal Empire. Mimicry got up but right then Super Stallion grabbed her and threw up and blasted her dead on with several spells.

"You'll have to do better than that!" Mimicry said.

"Fine with me, I haven't even brought my A game yet."

"Oh yeah!"

"Yeah!" Super Stallion flew up and dodged all of Mimicry's spells and hit her so hard she nearly went past the atmosphere.

"When I get my or rather your hooves on you," Mimicry said to herself but stopped when she couldn't see Super Stallion. This was because Super Stallion flew higher than Mimicry was and did it so quickly she didn't even notice. "Where'd you go?"

"Look up," Super Stallion answered. Mimicry flew up to Super Stallion with a huge grin and socked him in the chest with an especially chaos powered punch. But her grin vanished when he not only hardly moved, but it also seemed unfazed by the attack as well. "Discord hits harder, much harder." Super Stallion blasted Mimicry pointblank, forcing Mimicry all the way to the ground in seconds.

"That does it," Mimicry said, getting herself up. "Now I'm gonna get serious!" Super Stallion and Mimicry flew straight at each other and hit one another as hard as they could. Their clash created a shockwave that nearly shattered the Crystal Empire. Mimicry and Super Stallion then wailed on each other and despite Mimicry's chaos magic Super Stallion was still holding his advantage.

"If I was you and we both know I am, I'd throw in the towel," Super Stallion said.

"I don't understand, I can copy all your powers. How are you winning?"

"Because I'm animated Tiger Prince and your live action Tiger Prince.”

Super Stallion then charged Mimicry who didn't even have time to block and the 2 of them flew to the other side of the world once there Super Stallion blasted Mimicry as hard as he could. After that he started flying in the opposite direction and going all the way around the world to attack Mimicry more with all the momentum he got from flying.

"You won't win," Mimicry said, mostly trying to convince herself.

"Oh I think I will," Super Stallion said as the 2 were already back to the Crystal Empire. Mimicry was blasted to the ground. When she hit the ground Mimicry reverted back into her original form.

“You may have all my powers but I fought with the drive to protect others. That was something even you couldn’t copy.”

"You won't, beat me, I can, still fight," Mimicry said struggling to get up.

"I don't think so." Super Stallion ripped the Mimic Medallion right off Mimicry's neck.

"No! It's mine!" Mimicry said, trying to turn back into Super Stallion but only did it for a couple seconds. "Payback gave it to me saying that I was the heart of his master plan. Let me have it!"

"What?"

"I said let me have it, let me have it right now!" Super Stallion socked Mimicry, finally knocking her out.

"You asked for it," Super Stallion said, who then broke the Mimic Medallion and let the pieces fall on Mimicry. "1 less rouge to worry about," he said just as Rainbow Dash came down carrying a knocked out Weather Warper and her staff. "Make that 2."

“She thought she could best me at what I’m best at but I bested her,” Rainbow Dash said.

“I know what you mean,” Super Stallion replied. Super Stallion and Rainbow Dash then tossed the rouges in a cell. Super Stallion got ready to fight the thugs and changelings when suddenly another army appeared, an army shadow ponies. "You've got to be kidding me."

"What in the wide world of Equestria are those things? Are they here to help us?" Pony Ivy asked himself as even he was shocked to see the shadow ponies flying around. Having already gotten into the castle and restrained numerous crystal guards along with their princess, he ran off deeper into the castle. "I think I better ask that master planner pony what he knows."

Meanwhile Princess Celestia was fighting Chrysalis who had a series of strange scars across her body that Celestia couldn't help but notice.

"What has happened to you?" Celestia asked.

"Used me," Chrysalis answered.

"What?"

"He used me now, have scars."

"Who used you?"

"The one that promised me my revenge and now after long time can finally have it, started with you." Chrysalis who struggled just to form a proper sentence attacked Celestia who despite feeling sorry for her didn't hesitate to defend herself. After exchanging several hits the queen and the princess exchanged beams.

"Chrysalis stop this, I can help fix your brain."

"Your student was one that broke it in the first place, you expect me trust you?"

"By reflecting the spell you cast at her she was protecting herself," Celestia retorted. Chrysalis pushed her spell further but Celestia was able to overpower it and took her down making land where the heart was taken then used a stun spell to make sure she stayed down.

"Now let's see what I can do about all the other changelings."

"I think you've done enough," Sombra said, sneaking up on Celestia who tried to take down Sombra too but she was too tired from taking down Chrysalis. She was turned into stone, after that Princess Luna as well as Swift Sweep who took down more changelings and thugs arrived and saw what had become of Princess Celestia.

"Sister! What sinister sin have you sown upon my sweet sister Sombra?"

"Wow, say that 5 times fast," Swift Sweep added.

"This," Sombra answered as he did to Luna what he did to Celestia.

"No!" Swift Sweep cried out at the sight of Princess Luna getting turned to stone. He tried to attack Sombra but he was pinned down by the thugs and the changelings and forced into a cage where he found Shining Armor, Spike, and the mane 6 with the exception of Twilight. While they all put up a rather good fight except, they were taken down and imprisoned. "Ah geez how the heck are we going to get out of this one?"

"Don't worry Swift Sweep," Spike said. "As long as Twilight and Super Stallion are still out there fighting we have nothing to worry about."

Meanwhile, Super Stallion was up in the air and tricked nearly all of the remaining changelings into 1 spot near the castle. Once he got there he used a burst of magic that hit all the changelings that chased him and were knocked out.

"Wow nice work Super Stallion," Twilight said who took down a few of the pony goons.

"Thanks," Super Stallion said as he nearly collapsed. "Frankly, I'm just happy to make a difference."

"Are you okay?" Twilight asked as she ran over to Super Stallion who she noticed was quite out of breath.

"Yeah that was just quite a lot of magic, plus I had to use a lot of energy to take down Mimicry not too long ago." Super Stallion then managed to get back up again but struggled a bit to do so.

"Well don't worry, I think we got this attack just about handled," Twilight said. "The guards that didn't get trapped in the castle are being lead by Flash Sentry and they're fighting the last remaining trouble makers."

"What about those things?" Super Stallion asked, referring to the Umbrum, aka the shadow ponies.

"They haven't really attacked yet, probably waiting for something. I think I can help Flash deal with them. I say we split up. I help him out here and you go in the castle and help anypony that needs it there."

"Sounds good to me." Super Stallion then flew into the castle using the entrance he made from his fight with Mimicry unknowingly leaving Twilight alone with Sombra.

"Well, it looks like it's just you and me."

"Who are you?" Twilight asked as she turned around to face the newly returned King Sombra.

"You don't remember me? How can that be when we've been so close to one another?" Sombra then noticed the bandage that was on Twilight's head. "Oh I see you must have had a rather serious loss of your precious memories. Well by all means please allow me to help you recover them." Suddenly Sombra rushed at Twilight and entered her mind as a means to take control of her.

"Stop it!" Twilight said as she struggled but soon found her inside her own head. A seemingly endless black abyss that was shined up by still pictures of moments from Twilight's life. As she looked at them she saw Sombra with her who was also looking at the pictures and saw some were broken or burnt.

"Oh my, perhaps this is a bit more serious than I thought. But I suppose we can always take a much deeper look." Sombra then used his magic to repair some of the memories that Twilight was still trying to remember and as he did that they popped right into Twilight's head. "You've had quite a few adventures haven't you?"

"Yeah I suppose I have."

"Said it before, say it again. You would make a great student for me."

"I may still have trouble remembering everything but I do remember giving you a giant no on the offer."

"Why not? You have darkness in you, Twilight. I know you do." Sombra then made certain moments in Twilight's life appear in front of them. The time she exploded at her friends at the almost wedding, the time she fought Chrysalis and knocked her out cold but still attacked her when she lost consciousness, and the time that screamed her head off at Starlight Glimmer.

"Stop making me remember things I don't want to remember!" Twilight said.

"It's not just those moments there are quite a few others as well."

"Everypony makes mistakes but they don't define us."

"Mistakes show us our true nature!"

"No they don't! Yes I've done things I'm not proud of, but I've done a lot more things that I am proud of." Sombra then made more and more memories fly by trying to do what he could to corrupt the princess of friendship.

"No matter how powerful the light in you shines it will always make some form of shadow and when the light fades as it always does, all it once touched will belong to the darkness."

"Why are you so obsessed with the darkness in ponies anyway?"

"Why? Because that's what I am, an Umbrum, a pony of darkness."

"You were born that way?" Sombra then used his magic to make the pictures of memories appear around him and Twilight.

"No, I was created by my own kind and even though I didn't know that for a long time it was still the truth."

"Wait if you didn't know that for a long time wasn't there something else you wanted to be?"

"No, well yes but it doesn't matter because I was created to be a monster and that's all I can ever be." The memories started to change and change even faster but neither of them really seemed to notice.

"No that's not right, wasn't there somepony that wanted to help you?"

"Stop asking me all these questions, what does it matter?"

"It does matter! There had to be somepony that didn't see you as a monster, who were they?" Suddenly a huge flash appeared and when it cleared Twilight and King Sombra found themselves back in the Crystal Empire but something was different about it that both of them noticed.

Suddenly King Sombra saw a small black coated colt running off with a crystal pony the same size as him. "It can't be," Sombra said as he rushed after the 2 little ponies and Twilight ran after.

"What can't be?"

"That's me when I was just a colt and that's my best friend Radiant Hope."

"You did have a friend!" Twilight said and being the clever pony that she was put 2 and 2 together. "I get it now, this is your memory."

"My memory? But how? I went inside your head? I was looking through your memories?"

"I guess you tried so hard to get into my head I kind of got into your's."

"Radiant Hope don't be so fast, Sombra can't run as fast as you can."

"Oh come on you were doing a rather good job," Hope replied and before long they made it to the Crystal Heart where a tall unicorn approached them.

"Who's that?" Twilight asked. "She's beautiful."

"That's Princess Amore, she was the princess of the Crystal Empire."

"So what happened to her?" I don't remember her coming back with the rest of the Crystal Empire."

"That's because she couldn't." Suddenly everything started to speed up around Twilight and Sombra and when it stopped it showed Sombra trying to take the Crystal Heart and when Princess Amore tried to stop him.

"Even now, it's not too late for you, Sombra. You can return the heart and walk away."

"Princess Amore! What are you doing here?"

"Somepony needed my help so I came."

"She told me that I didn't have to be one of those monsters, that I had the potential to be better. But I didn't listen and in my anger." The Sombra from the memories blasted the princess turning her into a statue and the statue shattered into pieces.

"You killed her?!?"

"No I didn't kill her, I trapped her in stone that scattered all over. Not too long after that Celestia and Luna arrived at the Crystal Empire and the rest as they say is history." Twilight then saw the memory Sombra get banished to the frozen north while the entire Crystal Empire vanished, leaving Twilight and Sombra in the middle of a snowy wasteland. "There were ponies that tried to reach out to me but in the end I betrayed them. Because I'm a monster and that's all I can ever be." Sombra then used a spell that made him and Twilight leave their memories.

"Discord," Twilight said, getting the attention of Sombra and snapping him out of his rather depressive state.

"What?"

"Discord, the spirit of chaos and disharmony he tried to take over Equestria but now is trying to be friends with ponies and actually help us out from time to time."

"What? That's not true, you're making that up."

"No she isn't," Discord who appeared right out of nowhere above them said. He then disappeared before either of them could say anything.

"Wait, if he helps ponies why didn't he stay to help just now?"

"Well, he helps in his own way. My point is he made a change and so can you. Sure ponies have darkness in them but they have light too. You are who you choose to be Sombra." Just then Radiant Hope managed to get out from under the castle and looked like she had been seriously hurt.

"Sombra," Hope said before she fell to the ground. Sombra in shock ran over to her and sat next to her lifting her head and back with his forelegs.

"Hope, what happened to you?" Twilight was shocked to hear that name. Hope, his friend before the Crystal Empire disappeared 1000 years ago.

"I wanted to help you, help your kind, but I was betrayed."

"Betrayed?" But before Hope could answer she passed out and upon closer inspection Sombra and Twilight saw a blast mark suggesting that she was hit by quite a nasty spell.

***

Once Super Stallion got inside the castle he cut more and more of the plant roots to freeing the guards and eventually Cadance while trying not to use too much magic. "Thanks Super Stallion, you always lend a big helping hoof."

"Thanks, glad to know that but where the heck is Pony Ivy Princess Cadance?"

"I'm not sure, I couldn't see all that much up there. But he may have gone below." Super Stallion then made his way below the castle while Cadance freed the others.

"It's time to take down the last of the rogues," Super Stallion said to himself as he found Pony Ivy in no time and right in the jaw sending into a crystal wall.

"What's the big deal hitting me out of nowhere?"

"The word karma comes to mind for what you've been doing here."

"All I do, I do for the glorious green. And by the way I learned a new trick." Pony Ivy then made plant roots surround him and when many of them gathered they took the form of a large green snake. "What do you think of my new trick, Super Stallion?" Pony Ivy asked through the roots.

"What do you think of mine?" Super Stallion asked casting a fire spell that made fire surround himself and then he charged at the plant snake as a fire spear.

"No don't!" Super Stallion then pierced through while the fire stayed and spread. Pony Ivy tried to put the fire out but it was too fast for him to stop it and his root snake fell into pieces causing him to fall out.

"Don't worry I'll put out the fire," Super Stallion said, casting a frost spell that put out the fire and freezing the plants as well. He then forced Pony Ivy into the wall. "Do you really care about the green?"

"Huh? Of course I do."

"Then why do you never actually help it?! Why do you have to be a criminal when you can just use your powers to help a forest regrow after a fire or something like that. You could actually do a lot to help the environment but you never actually do it do you?"

“You…Actually have a point.”

“Well food for thought,” Super Stallion said before knocking him out and restrained him with magic. Super Stallion then flew off not noticing the Gentleman Thief above him.

"It appears all I was led to believe from my childhood days were correct after all," Gentleman Thief said as he followed Super Stallion. Super Stallion made his way further down the castle and came across the new rogue mastermind.

"Super Stallion at long last we meet again."

"Payback I presume."

"Who told you? Oh who am I kidding it was Mimicry wasn't it? I swear that sister of mine has the biggest mouth."

"So what's your story you want power, bits, or just revenge?"

"Actually all 3."

"So what do I have to do with your plans?"

"You don't remember me do you?"

"Should I?"

"Let me help jog your memory, it all started when Canterlot was attacked by an Ursa Major. Some thought it would destroy all of Canterlot but a miracle appeared in the form of an actual superhero of all things. After he saved the city a simple thief figured it would be the perfect time to grab a big bag of bits. He had big plans to come from those bits but as fate would have it he was stopped by the very same superhero."

"It's you, you're the very first thug I took down," Super Stallion said, putting the pieces together.

"Yes and ever since then I've been plotting my revenge against you."

"Wow, that's just sad."

"Excuse me," Payback said, clearly enraged by Super Stallion's comment.

"You were only locked up for petty theft, you couldn't just get on with your life?"

"I had no life to go back to," Payback said, confusing Super Stallion. "My sisters and I grew up on the streets with no bits to our names. Even when I was young I was determined to get the best of life, the bits were part of a much larger plan." Payback then blasted Super Stallion through a crystal wall with a magic beam.

"I see you have your share of chaos magic like your sisters," Super Stallion said on the ground. Payback then jumped on top of Super Stallion and blasted him up close with an even bigger beam of chaos magic causing him to scream from the sheer pain.

"Quite powerful isn't it? I sent Inferno and Mimicry after you first while they tried to help the other rogues get the bits I needed while also giving you a hard time. All building up to me finally taking you down while all the others had their fun wearing you down." Super Stallion then pushed Payback off but Payback made himself levitate and blasted Super Stallion again.

"Why not just make them all attack me at once?" Super Stallion asked rather struggling to get up.

"I have my reasons." Payback then fired another beam but this time Super Stallion countered with one of his own that actually managed to push his back and nearly forced Payback through a crystal wall.

"All your planning and your chaos magic and I'll still beat you."

"You can probably beat me but can you beat us?" Suddenly Super Stallion was blasted from the back.

"I'm getting sick of these sneak attacks!" Super Stallion then got up ready to attack but when he turned around he was shocked to see his attacker. "Stone Wall?!?" Super Stallion was then blasted again by a chaos magic beam.

"Poor stallion, he was wandering the desert in such a bad state. It took a while to get him on my side."

"He would never help somepony like you, from what I've heard about him."

"Not at first so he needed a little push. See this little doodad around my neck, it's a portable brainwashing device." Payback and Stone Wall then blasted Super Stallion at the same time. Super Stallion flew and tried to blast Payback and stun Stone Wall but they dodged his attacks. "The bag of bits I tried to steal were going to be used to pay for the research I needed to complete this but only after we sold that stolen statue was I able to finally do that."

"And you thought Mimicry was a blabbermouth?"

"I've worked on this thing for years," Payback said. "It was more than effective at getting Stone Wall on my side and a couple of desperate thugs. When he joined me he shared certain secrets with me, secrets that are mine alone to know, Squeaky Clean."

Super Stallion was so shocked he froze which allowed Payback to blast him again and force him to the ground. “Ow.”

"When I was first told I could hardly believe it, some nopony that just luckily came across some powerful magical relic."

"That's the reason isn't it?" Super Stallion said less worried about the fact his secret identity was exposed because he figured out what Payback was planning. "You want to take it for yourself and become Super Stallion. That's why you had me attacked in small groups to fight me when I'm tired and take it for yourself."

"You figured it out, give the pony a prize." Payback and Stone Wall blasted him in unison once again. "Once I figured out how to use it for myself, Super Stallion will save the entire Crystal Empire once he uses the Crystal Heart to take out the Umbrum."

"Wait what?" Super Stallion asked with hardly a leg to stand on. "You went through all the trouble of making those things get here and now you want to be rid of them?"

"I figure you'd have defeated most or all the other rouges before getting to me so I needed something villainous to defeat to maintain the image of you. I planned to make a disaster or 2 after taking your power, but this works much better. And don't worry too much about your friend once you're out of the picture. I'll just wipe his mind and toss him in prison with the other rogues."

"What? Didn't you help them break out?"

"I'd like to imagine so since I pretended to be a guard for a while just to put the escape in action, but now I don't need them anymore. Super Stallion is gonna have other things to focus on."

"What about your sisters when all this is taken care of will you just let Mimicry get taken away and leave her and Inferno in prison?"

"Yes it's sad really, but I can't risk Super Stallion being seen working with criminals. I wonder how long they'll all rot in prison before they realize nopony is coming to their rescue?"

"Not long," Gentleman Thief answered as he snuck up behind Payback and hit him with his staff. He then reached into his jacket and grabbed the Crystal Heart. Stone Wall was about to attack but he was imprisoned in a shadow cage that came out of nowhere.

"What's going on now?" Super Stallion asked.

"I guess you can call it back up," Sombra said as he appeared on top of the cage.

"Sombra? What are you doing here?"

"Making a choice. Put the Crystal Heart back in place, it will banish the Umbrum."

"But aren't you one of those things? What will happen to you?" Super Stallion asked.

"Like I said I made a choice." Super Stallion then flew at Payback who was getting back up and forced him against the wall. Payback counted with another beam and suddenly Umbrum came out through the walls and Stone Wall broke free of his cage. Stone Wall was ready to attack but Sombra teleported the 2 of them somewhere else.

"Gentleman Thief, do you think you can put the heart back on your own?"

"Naturally."

"Then go, I'll handle Payback." Gentleman Thief flew off, Payback tried to blast him but Super Stallion blocked it with a shield.

"You won't ruin my plans!" Payback said as he blasted Super Stallion again then removed his portable brainwashing device. But before he could use it Super Stallion blasted it and sent it all the way to another wall next to a wall.

"I think I will," Super Stallion said, who hit Payback back with a beam of his own.

"Even if you stop the Umbrum I'll still win as long as I get your powers. Come to think of it, I'm sure I still can. You've gotten so pathetic that you're relying on enemies to help you."

"I'm not ashamed to ask for help when I need it, and besides that's rather hypocritical coming from the pony that's been making the other rogues do his dirty work." They then clashed beams and Super Stallion summoned a burst of energy and won the clash. He then hit Payback several times but he was so tired and beat up they hardly hurt.

"Well looks like you hardly have any energy left, my vengeance ends now!" Payback then blasted Super Stallion so hard he was flung all the way into a corner. "You can barely move anymore can you? Perfect." Payback then prepared to grab the chest to pull him up but that caused his sphere to come off.

"NO!"

"So that’s how it comes off. Time to finally pass on your torch." Payback was about to put it on but Squeaky grabbed his sphere and they struggled over it.

"You don't deserve it."

"Don't get all high and mighty, you found that thing by accident. You aren't some great chosen one."

"Maybe it was dumb luck, but I used this to help ponies and make the world better and that's what the important part is. Heroes are chosen because they're worthy of being heroes." Payback and Squeaky struggled while hitting one another with spells and Payback was about to blast Squeaky up close to force him to let go. As Squeaky prepared to endure the spell he noticed something out of the corner of his eye.

"Payback, wait stop!" Payback blasted Squeaky and it sent him forward with the sphere, a costly mistake. His head bumped into his own brainwashing device and Payback started to scream in pain. Squeaky grabbed a crystal rock to break the device resulting in a broken device, and a broken rogue.

***

Gentleman Thief restored the heart and as a result, a giant flash of magic appeared that forced away all of the Umbrum. Super Stallion picked up the braindead Payback and flew up and saw not only were the Umbrum gone, but the brainwashed thugs were rounded up. And a now normal Sombra was with Radiant Hope.

"Princesses, I'm truly sorry for all the things I have done," Sombra said as he bowed to the princesses to their surprise. "Most of all to you Princess Twilight and offer you my deepest gratitude as well."

"Well it wasn't all bad, helping you see the light made all of my memories return at last. And you did go down there to help Super Stallion so I think I speak for all the princesses when I say helping save the Crystal Empire makes up for what you did."

"Not quite," Sombra said. "But I have an idea on how I can."

"Gentleman Thief helped out as well. He was the one that put the heart back," Super Stallion said.

"He did?" Celestia asked. "But where is he?" The ponies looked around but he was nowhere in sight.

"He never was one for the spotlight," Super Stallion said and laughed. "Another rogue got away yet again all things considered, 1 out of a ton is pretty good.

"By the way, who's that pony you're carrying?" Princess Luna asked.

"The pony that set all this in motion." Super Stallion explained everything & Hope filled in a few things. Such as her plan to round up ponies for a distraction so she could help her friend Sombra and he in return could help his fellow Umbrum. That was how she came across Payback. The Umbrum were the reason Hope was able to stay around for so long but they were deceiving her the whole time and were just using her as a means to an end like how Payback was going to do with them.

"Wow so he betrayed the prison guards to help the rogues, he betrayed the rogues to help the Umbrem, and he was going to betray the Umbrem to help himself," Cadance said.

"That’s what I call 1 serious messed up stallion," Twilight said.

The last of the troublemaking ponies were rounded up including Stone Wall to Celestia's surprise. Sombra explained how he was brainwashed by Payback and the Crystal Heart's magic reversed that. Nopony was quite sure how that happened but just figured magic is as magic does.

“Well that’s just lazy writing,” Discord said to himself as he was relaxing by the castle.

"Payback!" Mimicry called out to her brother. "What did you do to him?"

"He did it to himself." Shortly after that the rogues were all taken away.

***

Sombra and Hope headed off to collect the pieces of Princess Amore to bring her back 1 day. Along their way out they came across a certain pegasus.

"Who are you?" Sombra asked.

"Somepony who like you, seeks redemption," Gentleman Thief answered. "I overheard your goals and I have come to believe it best for me to help you along the way in any way I can be of service." Sombra and Hope weren't sure what to think at first but then he showed the 2 a black crystal shard.

“Where did you get that?” Hope asked.

“I have acquired it in my adventures. This and much more like it.”

Sombra and Hope agreed he would most likely come in handy and the 3 journeyed off to the adventure just beyond the horizon.

Chapter 33 Starlight's Revenge

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After the siege of the Crystal Empire things finally settled down. Pony Ivy taking what Super Stallion said to him to heart, starting making a turnaround even joined Dr. Arachnid and Emo Pony in their little but growing reform group. He also got to visit his old home after his and another family finally stopped their rivalry to make all the plants and trees grow back.

On top of that, Prank Master had also been making progress while still having her crazy moments. She was clearly making an effort to be better and also helped Chrysalis with her problems. Having spent a little time with Payback she learned a bit of how his device worked, not enough to make one but enough to make something similar.

"All right this should do it and the proof is in the peanut butter."

"Don't you mean in the pudding?" One of the guards escorting her asked.

"No thank you I still have a whole tub I'm saving for later. You can't have sweets all the time."

Other prisoners however were still making trouble. Weather Warper tried to escape several times and Scar Flank had a large group of prisoners riot for one of his escape plans.

"Come on, you dolts push harder and we can all taste freedom!" However the riot was pushed back when Scar Flank was knocked out by 1 mean punch from Stone Wall who ended the riot all by himself.

"All right now that that's all settled it's time for you all to go back to your patrols."

"Uh you don't work here," one of the guards mentioned.

"Then how is it I'm doing your job better than you are?!"

***

Twilight with all her memories back could finally go back to her normal life, but as she returned to the castle in Ponyville she came across an unpleasant surprise. "Hello Twilight."

"Starlight Glimmer!? What are you doing here?"

"That's what I'd like to know," Spike said as he protectively put himself in front of Twilight but before Spike could do anything about it he and Twilight were sucked into a strange portal that brought them back in time to when Rainbow Dash first got her cutie mark. Starlight then prevented Rainbow Dash from winning the race and then Twilight and Spike were then sucked into another portal and found themselves in an entirely different Ponyville.

"What's going on? What happened?"

"This isn't good. Twilight. Starlight must have changed history and that caused a butterfly effect throughout the timeline."

"Uh, how do you know that Spike?"

"Super Stallion and I are comic book fanatics. He and I exchanged quite a few of them with each other and he lent me a mini series a while back. It involved quite a bit of time travel and while it was confusing it was entertaining."

"I don't suppose the comic said how to fix something like this."

"Yes actually we just have to go back in time again and undo what Starlight did to undo what she did."

"That makes sense, I think."

"Don't worry Twilight we'll have this fixed in no time at all, heh did you see what I did there?"

***

"Of course I could be wrong."

"What?"

"Oh I was just thinking about how I said this time travel thing wouldn't take long but that's clearly not the case so I added to my previous comment."

"Why would you do that now of all times, Spike?"

"Well it's just that this reminds me of comics where they say 1 thing and then it skips to a later part to make a joke for the readers-"

"Excuse me," Nightmare Moon interrupted. "But would it trouble you to pay attention to me when you're in my throne room? Now what's this about traveling through time you mentioned?" Spike and Twilight didn't say anything. "Oh, don't feel like talking do you?"

"Huh what the?" Spike said as he was lifted up by Nightmare Moon's magic and chains were wrapped around him.

"How about now?" Nightmare Moon asked.

"Don't tell her anything Twilight if she learns how to tbl-" Spike was cut off when Nightmare Moon gagged him.

"I'm aware that dragons are capable of breathing fire but I suggest you keep that on." Nightmare Moon then picked up a rather large dagger and held the tip dangerously close to Spike's throat. "Otherwise, I'll have to resort to other measures of keeping you quiet."

"NO!" Twilight tried to run over to stop her but the guards grabbed her before she got too close. "Please don't hurt him, I'll do whatever you want."

"That's what I like to hear." Twilight reluctantly brought Nightmare Moon to where she could find the magic of time travel and Nightmare Moon and her guards dealt with the Timber wolves. In that moment Twilight grabbed Spike and teleported over to the map and went back in time once again.

"That was definitely a close huh Spike?" Twilight asked as she was holding Spike in her forelegs as they arrived in the past once again. "Maybe we can try to just sit Starlight down and talk this whole thing-" Twilight was cut off when she was blasted by Starlight's spell forcing her to let go of Spike making him fall.

"TWILIGHT HELP!" Spike yelled out after he burnt through his gag and Twilight quickly flew down and grabbed him while removing the chains.

"Don't worry I've got you,"Twilight said. Suddenly the 2 were sent back in time once again and seeing what the future turned into time after time made Twilight madder and madder. After coming back to the past again Starlight was ready to stop them once again.

"Bring it on," Starlight said with an overconfident tone that vanished the moment she saw Twilight fly straight at her with a face of sheer rage. Starlight tried to run away but Twilight grabbed her and proceeded to strangle her while Spike watched in horror.

"Twilight stop! You're going to kill her!" Twilight then let go of Starlight who gasped for air.

"I'm sorry! I got so mad and lost control." Twilight then tried to help Starlight up but she slapped her hoof away and got up on her own.

"You won't stop me from changing the past as many times as it takes."

"And you can't stop me from coming back as many times as it takes. We could do this for all eternity. Are you actually willing to do that?"

"If that's what it takes to stop your friends from coming together then fine."

"It's more than that you have no idea what you're doing to the future."

"Oh please next you'll be telling me that all of Equestria hangs in the balance."

"It does."

"Spare me your giant ego," Starlight said as she stopped the past Rainbow Dash from winning the race once again. Twilight then thought she could reason with Starlight if she showed her what she created so she grabbed her as she and Spike were pulled through time once again. "Where are we?"

"This is Equestria or rather what's become of it?"

'What? But how?"

"It's like I was saying changing the past can alter the future in all sorts of ways."

"No! I don't believe you, this is some kind of trick!"

"How do you know?" Spike asked. "Where were you when we were going through all the other alternate futures?"

"How do I know this isn't some kind of trick?!"

"Because I'm not like you," Twilight said. "I don't rely on tricks and lies to get what I want!"

"Don't look down your royal muzzle at me, you ruined everything I built, you took away my village."

“You did that yourself! You lied to those ponies and manipulated them like you did with me! You had to know that what you were doing wasn't right. Why would you even make a place like that?"

"You want to know why! I'll show you!" Starlight then used her magic on the map to take the 3 of them somewhere else. It was Sire's Hollow, the place where Starlight grew up with her friend Sunburst. She showed that they were the closest of friends until the day he got his cutie mark and was sent away to further his magical talents.

"Are you kidding me!?" Spike said surprise Twilight and Starlight. "That's why you did what you did?!"

"Spike-" Twilight was cut off when Spike put his claw in the air.

"No Twilight let me handle this. You talk about cutie marks ruining everything but it's not the cutie mark's fault you lost your friend, it's yours!"

"My fault?!?" Starlight said shocked.

"Did cutie marks stop you from writing letters to your friend to stay in touch? Did cutie marks stop you from making other friends so you wouldn't be lonely?”

“That’s not what this is about,” Starlight said.

No,” Spike replied. “This is about a stubborn selfish unicorn that blames everypony else for her problems!”

“Yikes,” Twilight said.

“And now you're risking the future of everything we love just so you can have your revenge because you only care about yourself! What do you think that Starlight would think about what you're doing?"

"She'd say it's worth it just to have my revenge." The 3 were then taken into the past where Starlight grabbed the Time Scroll from Twilight ready to destroy it.

"No you can't!" Twilight said. "You saw what happened to Equestria."

"I don't know what I saw that could have been a trick."

"Are you honestly so selfish that you'd risk erasing everything just to have revenge!?"

Starlight stopped as she was actually starting to question her actions. "No! It was a trick, no group of friends is that important!" Starlight then ripped the scroll in half and stopped Rainbow Dash from winning the race once again.

A mistake that would haunt her for the rest of her life.

"NO!" Twilight and Spike said at the same time as they reached out to grab the scroll and once again they were sucked through time.

"Enjoy your future without your friends!" The 3 appeared in the same wasteland they were in before. "What the? Did you pull the same trick?" Suddenly out of nowhere Starlight was blasted by a beam of magic that nearly broke her spine as she wailed in pain.

"Huh, who did that? Who could have done that?" Twilight and Spike turned around and nearly wet themselves when she saw the attacker. "M-Me?" A Twilight Sparkle with longer legs and horn with a mane and tail that moved on their own staring down at them. But what caught their attention the most were the other Twilight's eyes, no pupils, just blank soulless eyes.

"What's going on?" Starlight asked as she got up and also saw the other Twilight who attacked again making her scream in pain. The other Twilight grinned as Starlight's screams filled her with joy.

"Stop!" Twilight said as her other self turned around.

"Go home," the other Twilight said in an echoing chilly voice.

"What?"

"Go home and set this right and after all this time I can know peace."

"What are you talking about?" Spike asked and the other Twilight looked at him with a strangely kind smile. Starlight tried to get away but she stomped right on her head and pressed against her horn stopping her from using magic.

"I could not convince her and after an eternity I found the means to come here. Go back," she said as she looked at Twilight. "You and I don't have anything in common anymore. But she stays here." The other Twilight then blasted Starlight causing her to scream in pain once again.

"No! I won't let you! She needs help."

"Go home and live your life." The other Twilight then used magic to repair the time scroll causing a portal to appear and it pulled Twilight and Spike in it. "Now where were we?" Before the other Twilight could continue Starlight was teleported away by Twilight.

"Twilight?" Starlight asked confused and in shock.

"NO!" The other Twilight then flew to try and grab Starlight but the portal closed before she could reach her and the trio arrived once again in Cloudsdale.

"Y-You saved me," Starlight said, rather unable to believe what she just said. "After everything I did, you saved me from, you."

"Well you may have manipulated me when I lost my memory, and tried to steal my and my friend's cutie marks, and were willing to ruin Equestria just to have your revenge. But you probably still didn't deserve whatever "I" was going to do."

Starlight then bowed in front of Twilight. "Thank you so much I thought she was going to kill me. I owe you my life." The 3 finally returned to an unaltered present.

Twilight then took Starlight to the hospital to have her injuries looked at. Spike wanted to call the guard and have Starlight arrested but Twilight had a different idea. Starlight was released the next day and Twilight gave her a shocking request.

"You want me to be your student?!?"

"I couldn't believe it either," Spike said with his arms crossed.

"You have a lot of magical potential and it would be a shame to see it all go to waste. I think you need somepony to help guide you down the right path."

"Wow you're really okay with me being your student, no strings attached."

"Actually there is 1 condition."

“Condition?”

"Sweet Celestia, that felt great.”

Chapter 34 Rogue from Another Realm

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The girls from Canterlot High were having a nice relaxing picnic by a certain mirror when suddenly Princess Twilight appeared. "I'm so sorry I didn't get here sooner, I didn't get your messages until just now because I was caught in this time travel loop and honestly, it was the strangest thing that's ever happened to me." Twilight was then shocked to see a girl that looked exactly like her who tried to make this less strange by giving her a friendly little wave. "Make that the 2nd strangest."

"So," SciTwi said, trying to make things less awkward as well. "You're me and I'm you."

"Uh yeah, you're my counterpart."

"Counterpart," SciTwi replied excitedly. "Like parallel versions from an entirely alternate dimension?"

"Yes actually."

"Wow, that is so amazing. Are there alternate versions of the others? Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Spike? What about Sunset?"

"Actually I'm from there," Sunset said. The 2 Twilights then sat next to each other and compared notes after Sunset informed Princess Twilight that the problems she was writing about had been taken care of. The Twilights wrote several notes about their theories of parallel universes and perhaps if the magic of friendship connects to it.

"Man those 2 are getting along really well," Rainbow Dash said.

"Well it makes sense if you think about it," Pinkie Pie said. "They're kind of the same person I bet I'd get along with me really well too."

"Have you been to other alternate worlds?" SciTwi asked.

"No but Super Stallion has," Princess Twilight answered.

"Super Stallion, who is that? Is he like the guardian of your realm?"

"Something like that. He’s a superhero."

"What really? You have an actual superhero in your world? Does he guard other universes as well? Are there more superheroes like a league or society? Are his powers the result of some meta gene or X gene?" Suddenly Pinkie Pie put a cupcake in SciTwi’s mouth.

"Go easy on Twilight Twilight, you're making it hard for even me to keep up."

"Pinkie's right darling it's not like she's going anywhere there's no rush," Rarity said as she was playing with Spike who enjoyed it very much. "But you shouldn't hog her all to yourself after all she's our friend as well."

"Right sorry I guess I got excited." After a while of hanging out and helping the SciTwi with some of her notes Twilight headed home. After she left SciTwi continued to work on some notes involving the device she made when she participated in the Friendship Games. While it turned her into Midnight Sparkle it also gave Sunset the power to stop her and SciTwi thought she should make a new one in case Sunset needed the power once again.

"I don't think we have to worry about that Twilight," Sunset said as SciTwi talked to her about this.

"What do you mean Sunset?"

"I think we can rely on other means to stop any other she-demons, sirens, and whatever other thing that'll pop up. As long as we stick together we got nothing to worry about."

"I suppose that's true but do you mind if I try to make one anyway? You never know when it'll come in handy?"

"Well whatever you think is best." SciTwi then walked off to look after the notes when suddenly a hand was placed over her mouth and another around her stomach. She tried to get free but the person that grabbed her wouldn't let go and forced her into the forest.

***

The next morning Twilight decided to get to work and head to the balcony and on the way ran into Starlight who decided to make her mane look different. "Hi Starlight, I love how your mane looks."
"Oh thank you I decided to get a new style since I'm turning over a new leaf.”

“You’re up rather early, what’s the occasion?”

“Oh, I just couldn’t sleep….Nightmares.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah, what are you up to?"

"Oh, just going to have a friendly chat with somepony." Twilight made her way to the balcony & used a special new bracelet.

"It's nice to hear that high pitch signal noise again after all this time."

"Super Stallion," Twilight said excitedly. She then ran a bit over to him to give him a hug and he happily returned the hug.

"So have all of your memories come back?"

"Yes every single one of them," Twilight answered with a wink. "Squeaky," She whispered.

"Well good to know you're all right and at 100% at last. So word through the grapevine is that Starlight Glimmer is here and you decided to take her under your wing as your student. Did you call me here because she's already causing trouble again?"

"Yes she is and I know it sounds strange but I think if I can give her a push in the right direction she could probably do as much good as me 1 day."

"So there isn't an emergency you just wanted to say hi or something?"

"Well not quite I wanted to make sure this new bracelet worked.”

"New bracelet, meaning that something happened to the old one, that would explain a few things."

"Yes my original one got broken during the prison riot but I made this one out of titanium alloy so I don't have to worry about that anymore. I hope this wasn't too inconvenient for you?"

"Oh no it's all right but maybe next time you can just send a letter or something." Suddenly one of the books in the room started to move all on its own, getting Super Stallion's attention right away. "Well that's something you don't see every day, even in my line of work." Twilight turned around and saw the book that caught Super Stallion's attention.

"Oh, speaking of letters." Twilight then went over to the book and when she read it her carefree smile vanished.

"What's wrong?"

"It's Sunset."

***

Sunset was at school rather worried about her new friend Twilight who she tried to call when she got home yesterday but she didn't answer. She met up with some of her friends and Fluttershy had Spike who asked Twilight to bring him over to her house for a doggie playdate. She explained she tried to return Spike but she wasn't home. "That doesn't say good at all," Sunset said, really starting to worry.
"Don't worry I'll find her," Spike said as he started to sniff around right away. Having spent so much time with Twilight he could smell her a mile away. Spike led the others to an old shake and inside was Twilight bound and gagged.

"Don't worry Twilight we'll get you out," Sunset said as she untied her. "What happened? Who did this to you?"

"It was you," she answered to everyone's shock. "At least that's what she said she called herself Sunset but I knew she wasn't really you. I haven't known you long but I knew it wasn't you. She had my spectrometer and wanted me to tell her how it worked and when I did she just left me here." Suddenly Principal Celestia came in and was shocked to see a student tied up.

"What in the world is going on here?"

"Twilight was kidnapped," Sunset answered.

"What by who?"

"By Sunset Shimmer."

"Wait "you" kidnapped her?" Celestia asked, quick to put the pieces together.

"Yes "I" kidnapped her. Twilight do you have any idea where "I" went?"

"She said something about going to the mirror in the front of the school but-"

"Okay Principal Celestia, can you help Twilight? The rest of us need to stop myself."

"Sure."

"But Sunset-"

"No time to lose, come on everyone!" Sunset then ran off with her friends but Spike stayed behind to stay with Principal Celestia who got to work untying Twilight.

"I really need to tear down this old shack," Celestia said as she was freeing Twilight.

Sunset and the others made it to mirror where the human Sunset was as if she was waiting for them.

"Looks like you're up to your old tricks again," Sunset said to Sunset.

"Oh it's more than that I have something big planned and this time you won't stop me."

"You wanna bet because we've learned a few tricks." Sunset and her friends then powered up but when they did their magic was somehow sucked right out of them and were pulled in the spectrometer human Sunset stole from SciTwi.

"Thanks that's exactly what I wanted you to do," Before Sunset and the others could do anything she opened it and like SciTwi not too long ago transformed and flew into the mirror. Sunset wanted to go after her counterpart but she couldn't go through the mirror as her counterpart took the magic from there as well.

"I think this is what Twilight was trying to warn me about. I shouldn't have acted so reckless.

"So what do we do now?" Fluttershy asked.

"I need to tell Twilight about this."

"Uh I think she already knows Sunset."

"The other Twilight Rainbow," Sunset answered, annoyed.

***

"Super Stallion, you're gonna want to take a look at this."
"What, did the butler do it?" Super Stallion then grabbed the book and gave it a quick reading learning all the things Twilight learned a minute ago. "I see so evil Sunset or parallel Sunset or, what's a good villain name for her?"

"I think we can just call her evil Sunset for now," Twilight answered.

"Kinda bland but okay, so it looks like evil Sunset is up to her old tricks again. Nothing I can't handle."

"Uh Super Stallion it's not that I doubt your abilities but don't you think you should take this a little more seriously?"

"No worries Princess Twilight she may have been the hoof full back in her universe but now I have the home field advantage." Super Stallion then took to the sky and began his search for the rogue from another realm. "Now if I was a rogue bent on multi global domination from another universe where would I be? Wow, that was probably the strangest sentence I ever said."

Elsewhere all the way in Dodge Junction evil Sunset Shimmer now a pony was getting used to her new body and powers.

"It's not as big as my old body but I have magic again, and this time I'm going to keep it. I may have managed to sneak out of the castle last night, but it's only a matter of time before the truth to my scheme gets out and Super Stallion comes looking for me. If I'm going to keep him off my back I'm going to need help."

"So, Sheriff Silverstar, what do you think about that big prison located in the Badlands south of here?"

"What do you mean Braeburn?"

"Well it's just that their prison has had several breakouts from quite a few abnormal and dangerous ponies that took the capital once and nearly took over the Crystal Empire. If they got out again they could do all sorts of damage."

“I wouldn’t worry too much about it Braeburn, with all that security that would need somepony pretty powerful to get them out.”

***

"It's nice to see the prisoners are behaving much better," one guard said to another while they were walking down the hall together."
"Yes, yes it is," the second guard answered. "Around half of the abnormal trouble makers have even seen the light."

"Yeah Pony Ivy even made a large apple tree grow out of the floor for us to have a snack whenever we feel like it."

"Yeah though that was without permission, but it was still a pleasant surprise." Suddenly a large magical explosion that got the attention of just about everypony and every changeling in the entire prison.

"What was that?!" The 1st guard asked and got in a position to fight.

"I'm going to go out on a limb and say a not so pleasant surprise." The guards wasted no time and surrounded the area where the explosion happened ready for the worst. However surprisingly there wasn't anything coming into the prison from the other side ready to attack but this wasn't helping the guards settle down.

"I don't like this," a guard said, still looking and still ready for anything. "I don't like this 1 bit. Who would cause a big mess like this just to do nothing about it right afterwards?"

"Someone that wants to get all of your attention far away from me so I can sneak in here all the more easier," Sunset said to herself as she grabbed a spare guard uniform to blend right in. Afterwards she made her way around the prison while also using a lock pick she brought with her from her original universe to get some of the prisoners out and cause even more of a distraction.

"What's up with this, early release or something?" A prisoner asked when Sunset got him out.

"Something like that," Sunset answered as she also decided to ask this prisoner where she could find some of the toughest prisoners there. Before long Sunset found the rogues and got them out. "So what are all of your specialities?"

"I like pudding!" Prank Master nearly yelled.

"What's it to you?" Inferno said trying to get her magic canceling collar around her neck off.

"That's not coming off Inferno," Mimicry told her.

"Come on we have to try something when you hear that noise out there it's the best time to try and get this off and make a break for it."

"We can't just rush recklessly out there, we need a plan," Scar Flank said.

"Well I can help with both of those if you're all willing to return the favor," Sunset said, showing the lock pick that Inferno and the others could use to get their collars off.

"I doubt that's going to be enough to get these annoying collars off," Chrysalis answered and then let out a rather large amount of coughs.

"Yeah these things can be a real bother to get off," Prank Master said as she was swinging around the collar that was put on her with her hoof. "What?"

"Can you do that for the rest of us?" Weather Warper asked.

"Do what?"

"Look, let's focus here," Mimicry said. "Whoever this pony is, she's here to help and I for one am not going to look a gift pony in the mouth. So let's get these off and head out while the heading out is good."

Meanwhile Super Stallion arrived and used his magic to repair all the damage made from the explosion as if it never happened in the first place.

"Looks like Super Stallion showed up sooner than I'd hoped," Sunset said while hiding with the other rogues. "Actually I was hoping that he wouldn't show up at all but he still doesn't know that I'm here and that can help us."

"Yeah we can attack him out of nowhere when he least suspects it and take him down."

"Don't be such a hot head Mimicry," Inferno said. "And yes I realize the irony in me saying that. I want revenge on him too but we can't beat him with all those guards here to back him up.

"So what do we do?" Weather Warper asked the most eager of the group to get out and stretch.

"Just follow me." Sunset said when suddenly Super Stallion appeared after spotting all the rouges together.

"Well well well it looks like I found the dimension hopping duplicate," Super Stallion. "Question is what are you doing here of all places evil Sunset. Or alternate Sunset or, stallion oh stallion we need to think up a better name for you." Sunset then removed the guard uniform.

"You can just call me the Mad Alicorn." The newly named Mad Alicorn then fired at Super Stallion forcing him into a wall and then she blasted all the guards in the area. On top of that she used her newly acquired magic to rip the very doors of the cells from the walls. "Oh it's so wonderful at long last to have this power back once again. Oh this wonderful power."
"And just what are you going to do with all your new power?" Super Stallion asked while getting out of the wall and cleaning himself up by whipping off the dirt and bits of rumble still on him. "Ugh I've been slammed into walls so many times."

"What am I going to do with this power? Whatever I want to do of course and no one from nowhere is going to take it away from me this time."

"I wouldn't be so sure about that Mad Alicorn, but for the record that is a good name for you. I've taken down tougher rogues than you."

"Is that so? Well then why don't you put your money where your mouth is." The Mad Alicorn shot out another blast of magic but this time Super Stallion was able to block it with a shield that surrounded his entire body and then countered with a magic beam of his own that forced her into a wall.

"Yeah, how do you like it?"

"I don't, so I think I'll just make my way out of here with my new minions."

"Minions?" Scar Flank said rather insulted.

"Yeah I don't think so," Weather Warper added.

"And how do you think you're going to get out of here with all these guards and me right here?" Mad Alicorn then used magic to make the prisoners as well as some of the guards her brainwashed army. Super Stallion got to work freeing them from the magic mind control and the guards that weren't hit helped. While they were all busy Mad Alicorn then opened a portal that led out of the prison.

"Time to get going, minions."

"Fine but don't call us that," Scar Flank said as he and Weather Warper jumped in. Prank Master was about to go through the portal when she saw Chrysalis being pinned by guards. After getting them off she helped Chrysalis through the portal with the others.

"The bad guys managed to get away yet again," Super Stallion said as the portal closed. "It's not even worth complaining about anymore. At least I unbrainwashed everypony. I might as well go."

"Uh before you do that do you think you can help us out here," one of the guards asked. "I mean with all the damage that needs to be fixed like the cell doors and putting all the prisoners back in them?"

"Sure."

***

"Ah the good smell of freedom is ours to sniff once again," Prank Master said as she danced around the open field the rogues found themselves in thanks to the Mad Alicorn.
"Yes and now my newly found minions-"

"Seriously, don't call us that!" Scar Flank said.

"Find newly found henchmen, we can begin my plan to take over this world and my own."

"My don't we have big plans," Weather Warper said starting to get excited. "But it sounds epic to me so count me in. I'm always up for a challenge. How do we do it?"

"Well first I need to get rid of all those that can stand in my way of taking over. Most of all Super Stallion, so how do we stop him?"

"I can tell you how to do that!" Mimicry said as she raised her hoof. "He's weak to chaos magic."

"Chaos magic? Now that does sound quite powerful but are you quite sure that it can stop him?"

"Oh yeah if we get our hooves on some chaos magic he won't stand a chance against us and I know just where we can find some, the castle in Ponyville."

Elsewhere Super Stallion had looked for the rogues but after failing to spot them made his way to the castle on time to get to his shift as Squeaky Clean the janitor. There he cleaned the castle from nearly top to bottom as per usual and made his way to the private chambers of his soon to be wife Princess Celestia. Upon seeing her laying by the fireplace legs tucked in working on a few royal documents he walked over and put his head on the side of her stomach.

"Rough day?" Princess Celestia asked.

"That would be putting it mildly, you remember when Twilight was taken to another world?"

"That would be pretty hard to forget what of it?"

"The Sunset of that world came here and calls herself the Mad Alicorn now because she found a way to make herself into one." Hearing that Celestia dropped her pen and turned to look at Squeaky.

"That does sound like serious trouble. I imagine all that newly acquired power would go to some pony's head. I mean suddenly getting so much power, who wouldn't that drive nuts?"

"Well I didn't let being Super Stallion go to my head, and Twilight didn't let becoming an alicorn go to her head."

"Good point, it's good to know power doesn't corrupt those who are responsible enough to handle it. But it sounds like this "Mad Alicorn" isn’t."

"Yeah it gets worse from there, she broke into the prison and got away with a hoof full of rogues.”

"Oh my poor sweet Squeaky you've had such a hard day," Princess Celestia said as she grabbed Squeaky with her front leg and pulled him under her. Once she was literally right on top of him she began to kiss him and began to press her body on him, but once she did that Squeaky gently got Celestia to roll over so her back was on the floor and Squeaky was the one on top of her. "Oh my, do you prefer being on top?"

"Not really I'm just kind of afraid you're going to crush me." Celestia then laughed.

"No matter how tough a day I have, just knowing I can come back to you makes it better." Squeaky then started to kiss Princess Celestia while he stroked her large flowing mane with 1 hoof and held the back of her neck with the other. "We should go on a date soon."

"We should? Don't you like these little moments we share in my chamber?"

"Of course I do but I want to take you somewhere romantic and make you feel special."

"Oh my what a romantic gesture, how in Equestria can I refuse?"

"I guess you can't."

"Yeah you're right I can't."

***

Meanwhile in Ponyville Twilight was to no pony's surprise reading a book. Spike was on his way to see Twilight when suddenly he was grabbed from behind and pinned to the ground then bound with chains.
"Hold him, hold him!" Scar Flank said as he was putting on the chains.

"I am holding him," Weather Warper said. "Now hurry up and don't make noise."

"Make noise? Okay." Prank Master then got several horns and put them on her hoofs and proceeded to run around.

"What are you doing stop!?" Mad Alicorn called out but when she saw the chains were successfully bound on Spike she decided it didn't really matter. She picked him up and followed Prank Master figuring that she'd get Twilight's attention and she was right.

"Pinkie, I told you I don't want to help form a shoe horn conga line." Twilight was then shocked to see the Mad Alicorn holding Spike and behind her were the other rogues including Prank Master.

"We'll make this quick," Mad Alicorn said. "Fork over the chaos magic and the precious baby dragon goes free."

"Oh you want some chaos magic I'll give you chaos magic." Twilight then made a hole appear under the rogues forcing them to fall even the ones with wings and in the confusion she teleported Spike away from them without the chains.

"Wow, way to think on your hooves."

"Thanks Spike, something Discord taught me recently." Suddenly Starlight came out to see what was going on and saw the large hole.

"Pinkie for the last time I'm not going to make a portable hole for you to play with." The rogues then made their way back up to Starlight's surprise who ran over to Twilight and Spike. "Twilight what's with the alicorn, the changeling, and others that don't stand out as much as them?"

"They want chaos magic but I figured somepony would try to take it again so from now on I take in all the samples Discord drops off so nopony can steal them. But I'm happy to dish out free samples!" Twilight then made several dozen rocks appear and launched them at the rogues forcing them to scatter. Chrysalis was about to get ready to fight back but another coughing fit forced her to her knees and Prank Master came to her aid and gave her a cup of water that seemingly came out of nowhere.

"You seem rather green around the gills. Is there something I can do to help?"

"If I feed on love I could grow stronger."

"Oh well I can help you with that." Prank Master then hugged Chrysalis who was too weak to push her off. Scar Flank and Weather Warper rushed into a corner where Spike managed to sneak up on them and breathed fire right on their rumps making Weather Warper fly around in confusion before stopping to drop and roll while Scar Flank jumped straight up while letting out a large ouch.

"That’s for making me a damsel in distress." Suddenly Inferno jumped down, stopping Spike from going after them some more.

"You want to try some of that with me, my little dragon?" Inferno then casted fire at Spike but he jumped right through it and bit and clawed at Inferno who forced him off after a few seconds.

"I'm a dragon you dolt as in fireproof." Spike and Inferno then exchanged fire blasts while Starlight was fighting Mimicry and Twilight was fighting Mad Alicorn. Both of them were holding their ground but Mimicry got the upper hoof when she fired her metal claw at Starlight. It missed but it distracted her for a few seconds which allowed Mimicry to sucker punch her when her claw grabbed the wall and pulled Mimicry in towards Starlight before she noticed it causing Starlight to fall right to the ground.

"Wow I wish she was that easy to take down when we fought," Twilight said.

"I'm okay thanks for asking," Starlight said, upset at her teacher.

"Oops heh heh, was that out loud?" Twilight was about to get attacked by Mad Alicorn but she blocked it with a barrier and then they clashed beams and Twilight was able to push hers through forcing Mad Alicorn into a wall. When Twilight's blast hit her dead on, she fell to the ground and got up only to get sucker punched by Super Stallion who appeared out of nowhere. "Got me call?"

"Yes." Super Stallion answered and suddenly the rogues were wrapped up in chains that came out of nowhere and forced them all into each other.

"Looks like I picked a good time to come visit," Discord said, appearing next to Twilight and Super Stallion who joined Spike and Starlight who were ready to continue fighting but the rogues didn't see much point in continuing to fight since they wouldn't be able to get what they came for.

"We need to get out of here," Scar Flank said. "Hey Mad Alicorn, make a portal."

"Okay, but I need a portal to somewhere we can hide and rest."

"Hey I know where we can hide," Prank Master said.

"And I'm desperate enough to believe you," Weather Warper responded.

Prank Master whispered something into the Mad Alicorn's ear who in turn made a portal that her whole group jumped into allowing them to get away once again.

“Yeah,” Discord said. “They came, we came, and we kicked serious rump.”

“But they got away,” Super Stallion said. “It’s worth complaining about again.”

***

The rogues found themselves in an area surrounded by nature that none of them seemed to recognize.

"Where are we?" Scar Flank asked.

"I don't know but I bet Pony Ivy would like it," Weather Warper said.

"Well wherever we are it has a nice soft looking pile of leaves over there," Chrysalis said as she walked over to it. "I'm taking a nap and probably a long one."

"We're in the Undiscovered West," Prank Master answered. "A part of Equestria that hardly anypony has traveled to.

"So in other words it's the perfect spot to hide in," Mad Alicorn said as she walked around. Suddenly she lifted her front right hoof as she felt a small stabbing pain. She checked her hoof and saw she stepped on a small crystal of all things. "What the? How did this of all things get here?"

Wow lucky you, you found a rare crystal that can be found here." Prank Master grabbed it to examine the crystal. "These things contain all sorts of different magical properties. Some of which Star Swirl used to make the source of Super Stallion's power." Suddenly every rogue turned to Prank Master except for Chrysalis who was already asleep. Mad Alicorn's attention flew right in Prank Master's face.

"It is?! How are these things the source? Could it be duplicated? Tell me everything you know about these crystals in great detail!" Prank Master then got a small green piece of food and offered it to Mad Alicorn.

"Pickle?"

Chapter 35 Super Stallion's Wacko New Rogue

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Twilight brought Starlight to a large table with plates and silverware to it. "First lesson of the day, we very carefully set the table without using magic so that YIP!" Twilight then ducked as Starlight used her magic to move all the plates and silverware and set them on the table perfectly and smiled at Twilight who in turn gave her an angry stare.

"What?" Starlight was then hit on the head by a mallet that Twilight summed with her chaos magic that she was getting more and more used to using. "Ow! What was that for?!"

"I said without using magic, pay attention when the teacher is talking!" Twilight then put all the plates and silverware back on the tray. "Now let's try this again shall we?"

"Okay, you didn't have to bonk me on my head with that mallet. Though I guess it's better than getting socked right in the kisser."

"Starlight we both agreed that you more than had that coming."

"You still knocked a tooth right out."

"Which my dentist friend Minuette was more than able to put back in, besides even if it didn't go back in it's still nothing compared to what that other me tried to do to you."

Starlight then shook like she walked through the arctic. "Ugh! Please don't mention her! I still have nightmares."

“I know,” Twilight said. “Spike said he had to change your sheets again. But let's just focus on setting this table without using magic. We have a lot to do before dinner starts."

"We do?"

"Yes we do," Twilight answered as she explained that Princess Celestia herself will be dropping by to see how Starlight's lessons are going. Twilight also explained that Starlight would have to bring a friend of her own.

"New friends? Hey! Maybe I'll just force friendships by magically enslaving the entire population of Ponyville!" Twilight then glared at her student. "Kidding, heh heh," Starlight said with a smile.

"I really worry about you sometimes."

***

The rogues still staying in the Undiscovered West had gotten to work collecting various strange crystals that seemed to project unusual magical properties. Prank Master had managed to make a device that can track other crystals even though the rogues had no idea how she did that.

"So what's with this place?" Weather Warper asked.

"What do you mean?" Scar Flank asked who was collecting things with her.

"I mean why is the Undiscovered West so undiscovered? I mean no one lives here."

"When Equestria was made and the ponies were spreading far across the land the princesses decided that 1 place should remain the way it was," Scar Flank answered. "So that's why this area became known as the Undiscovered West as it's been untouched by ponies for centuries."

"How do you know so much?"

"Knowledge is power and I like power, I like it very much."

"But it hasn't always been untouched," Prank Master said once again, showing up out of nowhere. "Star Swirl the Bearded could never leave the unknown unknown. He traveled deep into the Undiscovered West and found many strange things."

"And those said things will make the same thing that gave Super Stallion all of his powers right?" Weather Warper turned around when she didn't get an answer to her question. "Right Prank Master?" Weather Warper then saw the strange rogue roll down a rather large rock just to climb back up it so she can start all over.

"Roll down the rock, roll down the rock, roll down the rock." While those 3 were together Mimicry, Inferno, and Chrysalis were also together but the changeling queen kept falling behind because every time she found her strength it wasn't that long before she lost it all over again.

"Do you think you can be useful today and get a move on?" Inferno said sick of Chrysalis falling behind while the group looked around while also trying not to get lost. "Geez I'm sick of all these trees in our way just let me burn down a few of them."

"No!" Mimicry ordered. "All it'll take is 1 fire spell of yours to start a giant fire sure to get ponies attention and spoil the absolute perfect giant hiding place for all of us. So I don't want to see so much as a spark. Got it?"

"All right, all right sheesh, you didn't have to bite my head off." Mimicry then turned her head to look at Chrysalis who still hadn't caught up. "Come on, my muzzle runs faster. We don't have all day.”

"Actually sis I think we kind of do."

"DON'T ORDER ME AROUND! EITHER OF YOU!" Chrysalis snarled.

"I think you're hot headed nature is rubbing off on her," Mimicry whispered.

"What's your problem changeling!" Inferno called out to Chrysalis.

"Your brother is!"

"What did you say about our brother?!" Inferno and Mimicry said at the same time ready for a fight.

"He did this to me! All these scars around my body, he used me for countless experiments just so you could transform like a changeling in hopes of better controlling that medalion that got broken anyway." Chrysalis stopped only to cough some more and it sounded like a lung was going to come out. "He put things in me and took blood out of me just to play with and fulfill his sick curiosity."

"My brother wasn't sick, he was brilliant and he still is," Mimicry said.

"Yeah," Inferno added.

"He was gonna take us from the bottom to the top. He figured out how he was gonna take Super Stallion's power and make it his own."

"Yeah!"

"After that he was going to get Princess Celestia to fall in love with the new and improved Super Stallion so they'd get married and he and the 2 of us would become the rulers of all Equestria!"

"Ye- Wow really?"

"Yes he explained his whole plan to me and said I was the heart of the whole plan, and now we have the chance to get the same powers of Super Stallion and pick up where our brother left off."

"Yeah! Nuts to Chrysalis let's leave her behind and get what we need ourselves."

"Sounds good to me." Inferno and Mimicry then took off leaving Chrysalis in the dust who simply went back to where the rogues planned to gather when they were done.

"By the way can you still turn into other ponies?" Mimicry then took the form of her sister.

"Does this answer your question? And don't say yeah."

Mad Alicorn and Prank Master returned to their regroup spot, the latter of which noticed Chrysalis was under the weather and helped her to the soft spot of grass she liked. Mad Alicorn on the other hand or rather hoof paid the changeling queen no mind and waited for the other rogues who returned before long.

"Were you able to find them?" Mad Alicorn asked and the other rogues showed that they each found 1 or 2 of the unique crystals and brought them in the center of the area.

"Oh look Scar Flank, Prank Master did find her way back here."

"Yeah that's just wonderful," Scar Flank answered sarcastically. "I was really hoping that the little fruit loop wasn't lost around here somewhere."

"It's thanks to this fruit loop that we're gonna be a group of Super Stallions all on our own.” Mad Alicorn then gathered the crystals together in the center of the area preparing to use the spell Prank Master told her to forge them something that will rival Super Stallion's sphere. Resulting in a huge explosion that forced them all back.

Except Chrysalis who was already far away resting and Prank Master who was with her.

"What the heck happened?" Mad Alicorn said who still managed to stay in the air.

"All the stuff that we collected almost blew up in our faces. What were you reading a magazine while wearing ear muffs or something?" Scar Flank asked.

"This doesn't make sense, we did everything right, what could have happened?" Inferno asked.

"Oh yeah now I remember," Prank Master said. Suddenly Inferno teleported in front of Prank Master and grabbed her by the throat with flames coming out of different parts of her body.

"Remember what?" But before Inferno got her answer she was blasted back and slammed into a tree as a result of a spell from Chrysalis.

"Hey! You can't do that to my sister!" Mimicry then turned into Chrysalis and she and the real one clashed beams. At first it seemed even but after Prank Master cheered for Chrysalis she was able to push her beam forward and slam Mimicry into the same tree.

"With your brother no longer around to cause trouble you 2 are going to have to deal with my wrath for him."

"That does it you're going down!" Inferno then charged at Chrysalis but Prank Master grabbed her before she could reach Chrysalis and put her in a wrestling pin.

"I just remembered I could do this." Inferno then made fire appear around her forming a kind of sphere but Prank Master dumped a lot of water on her with her magic. Mimicry back to her normal form charged at Chrysalis trying to claw at her and Chrysalis in return tried to bite her.

"I got 5 bits on the changeling and the messed up unicorn," Weather Warper whispered.

"I'll cover that bet," Scar Flank said.

"Are you 2 just going to stand there?" Inferno asked, turning to Weather Warper and Scar Flank while still fighting Prank Master. "Aren't you going to help?"

"And why would we do that exactly?" Scar Flank asked.

"He insulted our brother, the stallion that helped you escape."

"Only to get locked up yet again and even before his overall plan failed so that was a new one," Weather Warper said.

"Yeah, some mastermind he turned out to be," Scar Flank said. Inferno then charged at those 2 ready to attack them as well. Only for Prank Master to sneak attack her and pile drive her into the ground while Chrysalis managed to bind Mimicry despite her ability to transform. "Never thought I'd be happy to lose a bet."

"And once again I win and love it." Weather Warper then offered her hoof and gestured for the 5 bits which Scar Flank gave.

"Have you all gotten that out of your system?" Mad Alicorn asked as she freed Mimicry and pulled Inferno out of the ground and brought them all around where the explosion happened. "We can't stop Super Stallion if we fight amongst ourselves. Now Prank Master, what did you remember?"

"My wrestling moves, you wanna see more?"

"No, before that."

"Oh well when Star Swirl created the Super Stallion power source or whatever he never really gave it a name. He realized that while these various crystals can bring unusual powers, they couldn't mix since they were so different. So he needed to make something that would allow all of them to come together and become something new all together."

"And how did he do that?" Mad Alicorn asked.

"I…do not know. I tried to help but in the end he figured it out all on his own."

"SO YOU DON'T HAVE A CLUE ON WHAT SHE SHOULD DO NEXT!" Inferno was about to blast her with fire but a snarl from Chrysalis made her back off.

"Well I do have an idea it's something that could make them all stay together so maybe if we got some glue, like a whole lot of glue and maybe some tape."

"That's not going to work!" Mimicry said starting to get mad as well but like her sister backed off when Chrysalis snarled.

"Not even if I put glue on the tape?"

"No Prank Master," Chrysalis said. "Don't you have any idea what Star Swirl did to make whatever it is he made?"

"Well, maybe it was some sort of crystal nexus. Something already infused with magical properties that could be used magically to connect them all into a singular object."

“What about my medallion?" Mimicry then got out the pieces of her medallion that Super Stallion broke in their last battle. "Maybe it can somehow be used to connect all the things we need to connect."

"You still have that, couldn't you just use your magic to fix it?" Inferno asked her sister.

"You think I haven't tried that?" Mad Alicorn then tried to see if she could fix the medallion and she was able to effortlessly put the pieces back together to Mimicry's utter joy. "Oh yeah baby, bring me back the Super Stallion stat!" Mimicry grabbed it and turned into Super Stallion but in just a few seconds she changed back. "What no!"

"Yeah that'll happen," Prank Master said.

"What will happen?" Weather Warper asked.

"Objects that hold powerful magic that get broken even when restored no longer have the magic they once had. Kind of like relationships."

"But she was able to turn for a second," Scar Flank said.

"Only a little of the magic remained," Prank Master added. Suddenly Mad Alicorn used her magic to take the medallion and grab on to it.

"But you were able to turn into him for a second or 3 so perhaps this can be used as a nexus." Mad Alicorn then put the medallion with all the magical crystals and all the other rogues got out of the way and like last time a rather large blast happened but this one was bigger and had strange blue bits of smoke and when the smoke cleared all the rogues looked at the center.

"What in Equestria," Mimicry said as they all got closer. "What the heck happened?"
"I think we created life," Weather Warper.

"And what a life," Prank Master said as she was the first to get right next to the creature born from the blast. "Check out this guy's wacko mane."

"Wacko," the strange stallion said as it crawled out of the small pit and stood on all 4 legs.

"Would you like some pudding big blue?" Prank Master then got out a tub & offered it to the stallion. "I always try to have some on me whenever I go somewhere you never know when you're in dire need of a delicious snack." The stallion then grabbed and ate the entire thing and proceeded to rub his stomach showing he enjoyed it.

"Well, what the heck are we going to do now?" Chrysalis asked.

"Can we get me some more snacks, changeling buddy?"

***

Back at Ponyville Starlight had succeeded in finding a friend by the name of Trixie who preferred the Great and Powerful Trixie. Trixie had come to Ponyville to start the humble and penitent Equestrian apology tour, it’s a working title. Starlight had gotten along with Trixie; she agreed to be the assistant in a daring act in her magic show. The crowd went wild but not everypony was happy as Starlight chose this over the dinner Twilight had been planning as was quite upset at Starlight.

"Twilight please don't be angry at Trixie."

"I'm not," Twilight answered right away.

"Oh, good because, well I have a good explanation."

"For your sake I hope you do."

"See Trixie needed my help with this dangerous act so I couldn't just leave her alone therefore I couldn't go to that dinner with you. I know you worked hard on that dinner but Trixie really needed my help. I didn't want to skip it but there was nothing else I could do."

"Why didn't you just ask me to postpone the dinner so you could help Trixie and then go to it afterwards?" Twilight's question left Starlight speechless.

"Oh, yeah that would have fixed everything wouldn't it?"

"Yes it would."

Starlight then let out an uncomfortable laugh as she tried to figure out how to ease the insanely clear tension between her and Twilight. "Want to see some new tricks Trixie is working on?"

"No. Now come on let's go back to the castle," Twilight ordered and Starlight decided it was best not to argue but they did bring Trixie and salvaged what was left of the dinner. Afterwards Trixie stepped out with Princess Celestia to discuss the chance of doing part of her tour in the castle and this left Starlight to try and lighten the mood.

"Twilight I know you're mad but can't you let it go, I mean it's not that big a deal is it?"

"Well in a way I think it is. You had a problem that you could have so easily fixed. It may have been for a good reason but you still made the same mistake of letting your emotions cloud your judgment and stopping you from seeing what should be a very clear truth."

"Oh come on I still made it to dinner so it kind of worked out."

"And you're still making excuses for yourself. Do you think it was easy for me to convince the others to let you stay here?"

"Huh?"

"After all the things you did. Locking us up, trying to brainwash us, and almost permanently changing history. Which of course most likely created that other me.” Starlight shook again. “Point is, do you think it was easy to get my friends to be okay with letting you stay at the Castle of Friendship?"

"N-No."

"No it wasn't, but I convinced them to give you a chance." Twilight then put her hoof on Starlight’s heart. "You have talent and intelligence Starlight, but that does make you who you are. It's right here what defines you. You are who you choose to be and it would be a shame if you choose to throw all your potential away." Twilight then walked away to leave Starlight alone with her thoughts.

***

The rogues had gotten to know the blue stallion they accidentally created. While he was very clearly not in the slightest an intelligent individual he proved to make up with it in the brawn section. As well as have a few other powers that Super Stallion had and even some that he doesn't.

"Well what are we going to do now?"

"You already asked that, Chrysalis," Scar Flank pointed out.

"And we still don't have an answer. We've just been seeing what that thing can do while we twiddle our hooves."

"That thing has a name Chrysalis," Prank Master said. "Isn't that right Wacko?"

"Prank Master, we're not calling him Wacko."

"Well what do you want to call him Weather Warper?"

"I don't know but it's gotta be better than that."

"Well whatever we call him it's about time we do something. Let's see how quickly he can rob a bank," Scar Flank said, who like Chrysalis was also tired of just lying around.

"Perhaps we can see just how well he does against his do good counterpart," Mad Alicorn, who had a smile that said she already had a plan in action.

***

The next day in Ponyville Trixie was already packing up her wagon to get going as she was actually able to convince the princess that she could do her humble and penitent Equestrian apology tour at the castle. She was hoping to think of a better title for her tour when she got to the castle and Starlight was helping her new best friend pack so she could take off.
"The strong and endurable Trixie is more than capable of doing this herself but Trixie appreciates the help Starlight."

Suddenly the cargo she tied to the top of the wagon was about to fall on her but Starlight stopped it with her magic and secured it back on top of the wagon.

"Happy to help Trixie. Say I was wondering, do you think Twilight would be okay if I asked her if I can go with you to help you with your tour in Canterlot? So you can do your great act in front of Princess Celestia."

"As if you have to ask, Trixie says if it would be a crime not for you to come and make my act the best that it can be."

"So you think Twilight will say yes?"

"I'm not sure she's kind of hard to figure out," Trixie answered.

"Well I guess there's only 1 way to find out." Starlight was about to make her way to the castle but to her and Trixie's shock the Castle of Friendship was lifted right off the ground. Wacko was ordered by the Mad Alicorn to take the castle that had the mirror she used to get to Equestria and bring it to the Undiscovered West so she and the other rogues could use it as a base. As well as see if there are other things of magical properties she could use to give herself even more power.

"Wacko find crystal castle," Wacko said, happy that he was able to do what he was told.

"Yes we can see that Wacko," Inferno said, who was ordered along with her sister Mimicry to go with Wacko as backup. "Now quit wasting time and start carrying it back where we came from."

Wacko then completely lifted the castle off of the ground. Twilight grabbed Spike and flew out of the castle and pressed on her bracelet again and again and again until Super Stallion arrived moments later to grab her hoof, stopping it from pressing the signal button.

"Yeah I'm gonna ask you to not do that. It's like when somepony repetitively knocks on a door much more than when they need to."

"Sorry Super Stallion it's just that my castle-"

"Yeah I saw on my way here, I’m on it." Super Stallion then let go of Twilight and flew to the castle. He grabbed it then put it back on the ground.

"Hey you no supposed to take shiny house, me supposed to take shiny house," Wacko said, flying over to Super Stallion who was quite shocked to see him.

"Who is this wacko?"

"Yes. I Wacko."

"Well you said it not me, actually we both said it. Now that the castle's back you can go back to where you came from. Where did you come from exactly?"

"Me from spot where shiny house going," Wacko answered as he walked over to the castle to pick it up again but Super Stallion stopped him from doing that and was surprised that he was strong enough to push him a little. Super Stallion tried to push back but Wacko just threw him up in the air also to Super Stallion's surprise.

"All right, here comes the boom." Super Stallion then stopped Wacko from picking up the castle yet again and threw him up in the air. "Yeah, how do you like it?" Wacko then landed on the ground face first and was rather slow to pick himself up.

"That no nice me mad now. Me pummel you good." Wacko then shot out a beam of magic out of his mouth that Super Stallion dodged by flying up and Wacko went up after him. Wacko hit him so hard he flew up until he was almost in space. Super Stallion recovered and flew straight down to where Wacko was and hit him so hard he landed on the ground and made a crater right in the middle of Ponyville. Wacko flew out of it seconds later and spit out quite a bit of dirt. "Dirt no taste good."

"How about you get the taste out of your mouth with a knuckle sandwich?" Super Stallion flew at Wacko and his hoof went right in Wacko's mouth. When it went in, Super Stallion couldn't seem to get it out so he had to put his back legs on Wacko's chest just so he could pull it out.

"Me not like sam witch."

"It's sandwich."

"Sam witch."

"No, sand, what am I doing this isn't important." Super Stallion and Wacko then continued to fight while Inferno and Mimicry watched.

"Looks like Wacko is having a little trouble beating Super Stallion, but that's not a huge surprise if I couldn't beat him, a warped clone of him doesn't have a chance," Mimicry said.

"So what do we do sis?" Inferno asked.

"Mad Alicorn said to see how powerful he compares to Super Stallion if they came into contact with each other."

"Too bad we can't get our hooves on some chaos magic then he could turn the fight around."

"Yes but we couldn't get anymore so we're just gonna have to find another way to help Wacko win."

"How are we going to do that?" Super Stallion and Wacko then clashed at each other causing a shockwave that broke more than a couple windows and even forced Inferno and Mimicry off of their legs. "On 2nd thought I think we'd just get in the way."

"Well I'm not just going to stand around and do nothing, if Wacko needs help he's gonna get it." Mimicry then saw something out of the corner of her eye. "I have a plan, follow me." Mimicry then led her sister to Trixie's wagon.

"A wagon?"

"Not just any wagon, a magician's wagon, remember we saw quite a few of these when we were young. And many magicians had fireworks in their act." Mimicry then used her magic to bring a ton of them out. "Bingo! We can use these to make a distraction, not to mention a few fires. When Super Stallion goes to put them out, Wacko can take the castle and use it to get us out of here."

"I love it, it's the perfect plan." Suddenly the fireworks disappeared.

"I don't think so," Starlight said, who teleported the fireworks away from the rogues. "It's you 2 again."

"Starlight, who are these 2?"

"For now let's just say they're trouble makers. And I've kind of got a score to settle with the one with the metal claws."

"Oh is this about the sucker punch I gave you the last time we met?"

"Yeah and unfortunately for you I have a bad habit of trying to get even." Starlight then fired a series of spells that Mimicry danced around as she took the form of a famous ballet pony from Canterlot.

"You'll have to do better than that, you darling."

"Oh I plan to." Starlight then attacked more as Mimicry changed into a bird to continue to dodge and tease her attacker. Trixie wanted to help but was cut off by a wall of fire.

"My sister doesn't need to worry about 2 unicorns going after her." Inferno then cast a series of fire spells at Trixie who dodged rather cowardly. That is until Inferno hit Trixie's cart by mistake. Trixie acted right away and used a water spell she learned a long time ago to put it out.

"Nopony touches my wagon, now you will feel the wrath of the great and powerful Trixie!"

"Oh I'm so afraid."

"You should be." Trixie then hit Inferno dead on and shot her up in the air which bumped her into her own sister that was about to attack Starlight.

"Wow Trixie you got both of them at the same time," Starlight said very impressed as she ran over and hugged her.

"Uh, yes exactly as Trixie planned." After that Mimicry forced Inferno off who quickly reacted and shot a huge fireball at Trixie and Starlight who blocked it with a barrier. Soon after that Wacko was forced to the ground very close to where they were.

"Mimicry I half suspected you weren't too far behind this warped version of me."

"You won again! How is it no matter what obstacle you face you always come out on top even when you fight something or somepony that can do whatever you can and more?"

"Sis I think this mission is a bust."

"No kidding Inferno, Wacko can you get up?"

"Wacko okay," he answered as he stood up ready to keep fighting.

"Fine, then forget the castle and take us home." Wacko then picked up Mimicry and Inferno and flew off.

Super Stallion tried to give chase but Inferno made a fire dragon appear and go after Trixie and Starlight so he had to fly back and put it out with a couple water spells. By the time the fog cleared the rogues were gone yet again. While Super Stallion was upset that the rogues got away for umpteenth he still considered it a victory that he stopped Wacko from taking the castle and nopony got hurt.

"Well now that that is all settled, I'm off to Canterlot to continue my glorious yet modest repenting tour, I know I still need to work on the title."

"Twilight, do you think it would be okay if I went with Trixie to Canterlot to help her act out a little?"

"Fine, just don't be gone too long." Starlight then began to help Trixie pull the wagon and head for Canterlot.

"By the way, Trixie, I noticed the water spell you used to save your wagon that looked pretty advanced. Where did you learn it?"

"Let's just say that Trixie has had to put out quite a few fires before." Upon getting to Canterlot Trixie put on quite a show for the royal pony sisters and their special someponies. Trixie even brought Celestia into her act with the old saw a pony in half routine.

"My my I must admit Trixie you put on quite the show."

"Oh thank you very much Princess Celestia, that means so much coming from you."

"So are you going to be staying in Canterlot for a while?" Squeaky asked.

"Sadly no Trixie must continue her penitent and apologetic Equestria tour."

"That's quite a lot to remember," Princess Celestia said.

"I know I know it's a working title. I just can't seem to find a title that fits."

"How about the tour of forgiveness," Squeaky suggested just at the top of his head.

"Actually Trixie likes that a lot."

***

"So even that warped Super Stallion couldn't beat Super Stallion," Mad Alicorn said.

"Well if you guys couldn't get the castle do you think you can get him to steal a house or something? I didn't mind sleeping out in the woods last night but I think that's something that can get real old real fast," Prank Master said.

"What a surprise, another plan ending in failure," Chrysalis said, immediately getting attention from the others.

"I didn't hear you offer any grand plans oh great queen of the changelings," Mimicry said.

"What would that matter? When do any of you try something that actually works?”

"If you don't like it here, why don't you just leave," Mad Alicorn suggested.

"Fine," Chrysalis said as she brought Prank Master over to her with magic. "We're leaving."

"We are?"

"Yes Prank Master we are."

"Okay then see you all later." And with that Chrysalis and Prank Master were suddenly teleported away.

***

Back at the Castle of Friendship Twilight's friends came by after the attempted theft of her castle to see if she was okay. "Why would they want to take your castle of all things?" Applejack asked.

"Did the rogues want to throw a big party and needed a place to throw it in?"

"I'm not sure Applejack and I kind of doubt it Pinkie Pie thankfully Super Stallion showed up and stopped them from doing the whole thing."

"Well they're lucky that I was in Wonderbolt practice when all that was going on," Rainbow Dash said as she was showing off the muscles of her front legs. "I would have mopped the floor with all of them."

"I think that might have been a tall order even for you Rainbow," Twilight said admiring how her friend could toot her own horn. But suddenly to the shock of the mane 6 and Spike Chrysalis and Prank Master appeared in the room.

"Hi everypony, how's it going? Quick question: do you have any pudding?"

"It's an attack!" Spike said getting in front of Twilight and Rarity ready to defend them.

"Looks like I get to mop the floor after all." Rainbow Dash then suddenly flew at Chrysalis and decked her right in the mouth. Chrysalis fell down and as she was trying to get back up a rather large amount of green stuff came out of her mouth. "See that, 1 hit and she's already on the ground puking."

"That's blood you idiot," Chrysalis replied as she got back up on her legs and suddenly said something that shocked everypony and dragon in the room. "I'm dying."

Chapter 36 Redemption

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"You're dying?" Twilight asked, shocked as the others in the room.

"Yes I literally just said that."

"Did you come just to tell us that?" Rainbow Dash said still somewhat to fight.

"No, I came here because I want to be good." Hearing that shocked the others even more as Chrysalis walked over to Twilight. Spike got in front of Twilight in case Chrysalis was up to something but Twilight who could sense her sincerity and gestured Spike to step aside. "When Payback helped me escape he did all these experiments to me messing with my system. I can feel it, it's going to be any day now and I just couldn't do it."

"Couldn't do what?" Fluttershy asked.

"I couldn't die with a guilty conscience when I knew my time was coming. I remembered all the horrible things I've done and I want to find a way to make up somehow with the time I have left. And that was why I came to you Princess Twilight."

"It is?" Twilight asked, surprised that Chrysalis called her princess.

"Yes, I may have wronged you before but you and I have a lot in common. Intelligence, talent, and a lot of determination to get what we want. So if anypony can help me see the light it's you."

"Ah geez," Rainbow Dash said as she approached Chrysalis. "Now I feel bad about attacking you. Is there something I can do to help you feel better?"

"As a matter of fact there is," Chrysalis said with a smile. Rainbow Dash was suddenly struck by Chrysalis and was flung to the other side of the room. "I feel better now."

After that Twilight took Chrysalis to see Princess Celestia and Luna via train to ask what would be the best way of helping Chrysalis see the light and the magic of friendship. Prank Master came along as well because she as usual was the most concerned about Chrysalis.

"By the Chrysalis," Twilight asked. "Where have you and the other rogues been hiding?"

"I'm not sure, I’ve been sleeping a lot. It has a lot of trees but Prank Master knows where the place is."

"I do?"

"Yes you were the one that told Mad Alicorn where to take us."

"I did?"

"How could you not remember?!"

"Sorry Chrysalis, my memory has been tricky for quite a while. Sometimes I remember something out of the blue only to forget it just as fast. And when I try to remember something too hard, usually my mind just…hey when did we get on a train?"

"So much for finding the other rogues," Twilight said.

When they arrived in Canterlot Chrysalis was taken to the castle doctor to get checked out. "Well I don't know much about changeling biology but there is most certainly something wrong," the doctor said.

"Can you fix whatever it is?" Prank Master asked.

"No I don't think I can, the damage has already been done and even magic has its limits. I doubt the royal pony sisters could do anything about it. I'd say you have about a month left Chrysalis."

"I see, honestly I was expecting less time than that."

"Well it seems her desire to repent seems most sincere. What do you think, sister?" Princess Luna asked Celestia.

"I trust Twilight's judgment so I'm fine with whatever she thinks is best to do." After that Shining Armor and Princess Cadance, who came to discuss ways to help the Crystal Empire connect more with Equestria, heard that Chrysalis herself was taken to the medical wing of the castle and had to see for themselves.

"So she really is here, I can hardly believe it," Cadance said as Shining Armor protectively stood next to her similar to how Spike acted earlier.

"Stay sharp Cadance this could be another trick."

"I don't blame you for thinking that Shining Armor after all the horrible things I've done."

"Like brainwashing me? Or pretending to be Cadance during our wedding and leading your army on the capital?"

"Yes. I've seen the error of my ways although it took longer than it should have. I wouldn't blame you if you didn't but please accept my apologies." Shining Armor was rather reluctant to accept her apology but once again Chrysalis surprised everypony and dragon in the room by getting off the bed and on the floor to bow her head.

"Oh, well I guess that's all in the past. What's done is done and all that stuff," Shining said.

"So what's the plan Twilight?" Spike asked.

"Well I want to help Chrysalis but I'm not quite sure where to start."

"I do!" Prank Master shocking the others.

"You do?" Chrysalis asked.

"Yeah you just need somepony to teach you how to be good. After that you'll be ready to make up for your past sins. And I'm just the pony to help you be good."

"Uh Clover no offense but I don't think you're quite the pony for this job," Celestia said.

"She's had my back on more than 1 occasion," Chrysalis added. "I think that could motivate her to be the best pony to help me, be good as she would put it."

"Perhaps," Luna said. "But she should have some other pony helping her out with this."

"And maybe they should all stay at Twilight's Castle so she and the others can help out if need be," Spike said.

"You know Spike that's actually a really good idea," Twilight said as she rubbed his head.

"So you're on board with my idea?!"

"Yes Clover but you'll still need some other pony helping you, and you need to start retaking your medication," Celestia said.

Suddenly Swift Sweep flew by doing his cleaning. "Hi everypony, how's it going?"

Suddenly Prank Master ran over to Swift Sweep. "Hi how ya doing, wanna help me teach a changeling queen how to be good?"

"Okay but it'll have to wait until my break."

"Prank Master, you can't just pick somepony at random."

"Actually Twilight Swift Sweep can bring out the best in ponies, myself being a good example," Luna said recalling the pleasant time she spent with him at the festival. After they explained the situation, Swift Sweep agreed to take some time off his job so he can help Prank Master help Chrysalis find her redemption.

"Just 1 more thing," Clover said as she got her a strange collar and a remote and put the collar on Chrysalis.

"What's this, a magic canceling collar that's supposed to keep me in check?"

"Something like that, this is an advanced shock collar you can still use magic but if you ever get out of hoof or just need discipline all somepony needs to do is press the button from my remote and you'll be painfully shocked." Suddenly Chrysalis screamed in pain as the collar indeed gave her a painful shock.

"Just testing," Cadance said having taking the remote from Clover.

"Why you!" Chrysalis was about to charge at Cadance but she held out the remote showing she was willing to use it again and Chrysalis backed off.

***

After things were settled Clover, Swift Sweep, and Chrysalis were brought to the Castle of Friendship. "All right Chrysalis, are you ready for your first day of goodness class?" Clover asked.

"I suppose I'm as ready as I'll ever be," Chrysalis said as she tried to get the shock collar off.

"Don't worry we'll start you off with something simple: Swift Sweep, get out your wallet." Swift Sweep did as Clover asked. "Okay Chrysalis what do you do if you see somepony drop their wallet?...Swift Sweep drop your wallet."

"Okay," Swift Sweep said as he dropped his wallet on the floor and Chrysalis picked it up with her magic.

"Pardon me my good stallion but I believe that you have dropped your wallet."

"Doesn't look familiar."

"What? You literally just dropped it here, take it."

"No thanks, it's not mine." Chrysalis then got mad but managed to shallow her anger after a few seconds.

"I am trying to do the right thing and be good by returning this wallet to its rightful owner," Chrysalis said through her teeth with a forced smile.

"Return what to who?" Chrysalis then smacked herself in the face out of annoyance and tried to think of what else she could try. She then used her magic to open the wallet and pull out an ID card.

"Are you Swift Sweep?"

"Yes," Swift Sweep answered right away.

"Then this is your ID?"

"Yes."

"Well, I found this ID inside this wallet and if that's the case, this must be your wallet."

"That makes sense to me," Swift Sweep answered but just stood there.

"Then take it," Chrysalis said, annoyed.

"It's not my wallet."

Chrysalis roared in absolute rage. "TAKE BACK YOUR WALLET BEFORE I RIP YOUR LEG OFF AND BEAT YOU WITH IT!" Suddenly Chrysalis was shocked as she screamed in pain.

"Uh-wrong," Clover said. "Good ponies don't rip off other pony's legs and beat them with it." Clover then grabbed the wallet and gave it to Swift Sweep who took it back right away then gestured to him to grab a nearby box. "Okay Chrysalis goodness lesson number 2 what do you do if you see somepony trying to pull up a rather large box." Clover then pointed to Swift Sweep who was trying to lift a box.

"Hello there," Chrysalis said after she made her way over to Swift Sweep. "I couldn't help but notice OW!" Swift Sweep accidentally dropped the box right on Chrysalis's head.

"Oops sorry keep going." Swift Sweep then picked up the box and Chrysalis tried to stay calm and continue where she left off.

"But notice that you're having some OUCH!" Swift Sweep had dropped it on her head again.

"Sorry keep going," Swift Sweep said as he picked up the box yet again.

"Some trouble," Chrysalis paused to once again shallow her anger. "With that box, would you like some help?"

"Yes I would thank you," Swift Sweep answered but as he did he once again dropped the box right on Chrysalis's head.

"OW! You clumsy fool! What's in that box anyhow?"

"My wallets." Chrysalis suddenly screamed as she was engulfed with rage and jumped right on Swift Sweep pummeling him. "Ah, Clover, shock her, shock her," Swift Sweep said in-between Chrysalis's punches. Clover pressed the button not once but several times.

"It shocks but it's worth it," Chrysalis said and continued to attack Swift Sweep. Reluctantly, Clover increased the voltage to max and this time when she pressed the button Chrysalis roared in pain and fell over finally stopping her assault on Swift Sweep.

"Okay, this isn't as easy as I was hoping for but we can reach our goal if we keep trying, right Swift Sweep?"

"I can't feel my face." Swift Sweep was put in half a body cast and later Chrysalis woke up.

"Okay well, what should we do next?" Clover asked when suddenly Swift Sweep grabbed the remote.

"I have an idea," Swift Sweep said as he increased the voltage to max. "I'm thinking of a number between 1 and infinity, what is it?"

"Um,” Chrysalis gulped. “221?"

"...Darn," Swift Swift said as he gave the remote back to Clover. "I never was good at this game."

"Well at least you won that so 1 out of 3, I guess, ugh this is going terrible."

"You're right," Chrysalis said as she lowered her head. "Maybe I was just fooling myself into thinking I could be good. I should just forget the whole thing and crawl into some hole and just wait to die."

"You can't just give up, what good will that do?" Clover asked, trying to encourage her friends to keep trying.

"Yeah, Clover is right," Swift Sweep added. "You might not be good at being good and at the rate you're going you probably won't ever be. But if you never try to be more than what you are, you'll only be what you are now."

"Well, I suppose you have a point, I think," Chrysalis said, like others having a little trouble understanding Swift Sweep.

"Maybe we should just call it a day for now and try to pick it up tomorrow."

"You may be right, Swift Sweep. What do you think, Chrysalis?"

"Well as much as I'd like to change my ways, the constant electro shock therapy has somewhat slowed down my enthusiasm. But there is 1 thing I'd like to do before calling it a day." Chrysalis then flew over to Swift Sweep and used her magic to heal the injuries she gave him. "Feel better?"

"Actually, yeah a lot better, maybe you're good at being good after all."

"Thank you Swift Sweep, so should we pick this up at the same time tomorrow."

"Well actually I think we should postpone it a little longer after all Hearts Warming is coming up."

"Hearths Warming, what's that?" Suddenly Swift Sweep and Clover the Clever looked at Chrysalis shocked.

"You don't know what Hearth's Warming is?" Swift and Clover asked at the exact same time.

"No," Chrysalis answered and suddenly Clover and Swift went up to her and each grabbed one of her fore legs. They had a lot to tell her.

***

Chrysalis got to experience her very first Hearth's Warming. She got to help set the tree and drink hot coco and Twilight even read her the story of Snowfall Frost, a pony that tried to get rid of the holiday all together.

"Snowfall doesn't like Hearth Warming so she decides to cast a spell to get rid of it all together?" Starlight asked who was also being told the story along with Chrysalis. "That seems a little extreme."

"Well you'd certainly know all about that wouldn't you?" Twilight asked Starlight who decided to remain quiet and let Twilight finish the story that Chrysalis rather enjoyed, especially the ending.

"So Snowfall hated the holiday at first but in the end she became famous for knowing how to keep it in her heart?"

"Yes Chrysalis, that's exactly how it ends."

"Can ponies keep other important things in their hearts?"

"What do you mean?"

"Can you ponies put other things in your heart, like how to make up for what you've done or how to be good? Or both?"

"Oh I see," Twilight said, getting what Chrysalis was trying to say. "That's not quite how it works but maybe I can explain how it works while you help me decorate the tree a little more."

"Okay." Chrysalis then went with Twilight but before they got to the tree they helped pass out some presents and Chrysalis even made presents of her own.

"Here Prank, here Clover I got you something." Clover the Clever then opened her present and found several tubs of chocolate deluxe pudding.

"Pudding, I love pudding! How did you know?"

"Lucky guess I suppose. Pinkie Pie made them for me."

"Well you hit the jackpot, thanks a lot." Clover then hugged her friend who returned it and then grabbed a present and offered it to her. "I got you something too." Chrysalis opened the present and found a strange long red paper she didn't recognize. "It's a bow."

"A what?"

"It's something you put around your mane to make you look prettier here I'll put it on for you." Clover then put the bow she got for her changeling friend and placed it on her head.

"How do I look?" Chrysalis asked who had some trouble seeing it since it was on her own head.

"Kind of like that 1 little farm pony since she was a bow just like that, Diamond something. Wanna go sing carols with the other ponies?"

"Okay how many times do I have to say carols?"

"Uh that's not quite how it works." As Chrysalis helped Clover look for the perfect place to have a little sample of her present Twilight was exchanging presents with Squeaky Clean. Squeaky was given several comics that Twilight had to look around for and Twilight was given a book that Squeaky had to look around for as well.

"Thanks Twilight these comics will fit right into my collection."

"You're welcome and thanks for this book, this will fit in perfectly in the library."

"You're welcome," Squeaky said as he glanced at Chrysalis and Clover the Clever or as he better knew her Prank Master.

"So those 2 are staying in the castle aren't they? Between them and Starlight are you eventually going to turn this castle into a rogue reform center or something?" Hearing that Twilight couldn't help but laugh.

"You never know it may come to that but for now it's just them and Starlight." While Twilight and Squeaky talked a little more Chrysalis made her way to Swift Sweep.

"Swift Sweep. I know this probably doesn't make up for it but I'd like to say I'm sorry for, well, beating you up."

"Oh water under the bridge, you did heal me after all plus I kind of get hurt a lot usually on the head. Besides Hearth Warming is a time for forgiving so I guess that's my gift to you. That and this." Swift Sweep then got out a present and gave it to Chrysalis.

"It's…a rock?" Chrysalis said, confused.

"Not just a rock, a geo. It looks like a plain old rock but on the inside it's filled with pretty crystals."

"Oh I see thank you," Chrysalis said as she thought that perhaps Swift Sweep gave this to her as a metaphor. After giving Chrysalis her present, Swift Sweep made his way to Princess Luna who came to the party with her sister.

"Here's to getting to share another year with the ponies we love," Celestia said.

"This year and many more," Squeaky added and kissed his beautiful princess. While that was going on Chrysalis was helping Twilight finish adding the decorations who was explaining the end of the story to Chrysalis to help her understand it a little better.

"So she didn't act like it was Hearth Warming all year but the feeling of the holiday stayed with her all year."

"I see a feeling can be so powerful that it stays with a pony all the time?"

"Yes Chrysalis you're getting it. I was kind of like her before I came to live in Ponyville. I thought making friends wasn't all that important but now I see it's one of the most important things in life. My friends and I have been through so much and we've helped each other learn and grow and as a result we've created a bond strong enough to deal with anything."

"So does that mean friends can be in your heart as well?"

"Yes, even if they aren't around you, if you remember them they're still with you." After the party Chrysalis spent more time with the ponies and learned more about friendship and love.

As the days went on she also did better with the goodness lessons and Chrysalis's wings started to sparkle as a result of her trying to reform and she learned of a changeling up in the Crystal Empire who went by the name of Thorax. Twilight, Starlight, and Spike went up to the Crystal Empire to visit Twilight's family most of all her favorite niece Flurry Heart and learned that a changeling was wandering around.

"A changeling, what's a changeling doing here of all places?" Twilight asked.

"We think they want to come after Flurry Heart," Sunburst answered. "She has so much love around her. The Crystal Empire has been filled with love ever since her crystaling."

"He's right," Shining Armor answered. "We've been on high alert ever since."

"This might be a bit much, Chrysalis wants to learn how to be good, maybe this changeling wants to do the same," Twilight answered.

"Even if Chrysalis is and honestly I still have my doubts about that it doesn't mean this changeling wants the same."

"Then perhaps we should find this changeling and see for ourselves." The royal guards would do just that and Spike helped them search per the guard's request and it was Spike himself that came across Thorax.

They became rather fast friends and Spike agreed to help him make friends with the Crystal Empire. It was touch and go for a little while but after a rather lovely song by the brave and glorious dragon, Thorax got the friends he wanted and not too long after that Twilight brought over Chrysalis to talk to him.

"Well well well, Thorax I had a feeling it was you," Chrysalis said when he reunited with Thorax who was rather nervous to be in the presence of his former queen. "You were always different from the other changelings and now I realize that it's a good thing you were."

"You have?" Thorax said shocked.

"Yes, I also wish to change my ways. Perhaps we can help each other with that."

"Oh that would be great then maybe 1 day we can take that knowledge back to the changelings. If we learn how to create love on our own then we wouldn't have to take it from others."

"You know Thorax, I've been thinking the exact same thing myself." Chrysalis then talked to Twilight as well as Cadance and Shining Armor about allowing Chrysalis go to the prison to get the changelings still in there released. "I've wanted to ask this of you for quite some time but I hesitated because I wasn't quite sure how to ask."

"Well I'd probably have to talk to Princess Celestia and Luna about it and they might say yes but I don't know Chrysalis, that's kind of a lot to ask."

"I'm aware of that but I can get them in line, they always follow my orders."

"Well okay then, I'll go ask Celestia and Luna."

"Twily wait, don't you want to think about this a bit longer?"

"No Shining Armor, I'm going to honor Chrysalis's request."

"But Twily-" Shining Armor was cut off when Twilight got out the piece of paper he wrote for her. "I knew you were going to pull that out but I kept going."

***

A portal was opened right inside the prison located in the badlands and the group of escaped rogues appeared. Mad Alicorn wanted to build up an army and the prison would be the place to find ponies eager to join.

"Seriously another prison break-in?" A guard asked. "What is Equestria coming to?"

"It's all gonna come to me when I take it over as well as the lands beyond," Mad Alicorn answered. "Anypony that wants to help me take over step forward," Mad Alicorn called out but to her surprise nopony not even the prisoners, stepped forward. "Oh nopony wants to join me, too bad." Mad Alicorn then used her magic to force the ponies to join her like the last time she came to the prison and before long Super Stallion showed up.

"What kind of rogue keeps breaking into prison?" Super Stallion asked.

"Thank you," the guard from before said.

"I'm here for an army and you aren't going to stop me. Keep him busy Wacko." Wacko attacked Super Stallion who was quick to counter and even reverse brainwashed several ponies that Mad Alicorn got to. "Seems Wacko is gonna need some help." Mad Alicorn then made her way over to Super Stallion and blasted him with a beam that left him valuable to an attack from Wacko who slammed him to the ground.

"Well it's not another wall."

"Wacko get him Wacko get him good!" Super Stallion then got back up ready to keep fighting the both of them.

"Yeah you did get me well, but 2 heads aren't always better than 1." Super Stallion then flew to Wacko and grabbed his cape then tossed him into Mad Alicorn.

"Wacko mad!" Wacko then flew ready to attack and Mad Alicorn got up with him.

"Wanna wack me Wacko try your luck with your strongest spell," Super Stallion said as he flew around the prison to undo more of Mad Alicorn's brainwashing.

"Don't just float there blast him you idiot," Mad Alicorn ordered as she tried to hit Super Stallion. Super Stallion then flew right in front of Mad Alicorn.

"Right here Wacko give me your best spell I dare you." Hearing that Wacko charged up a powerful spell.

"Wacko hold on stop no! No!" Wacko fired his spell and Super Stallion flew out of the way, making the spell hit Mad Alicorn instead.

While that was going on the guards and even quite a few of the prisoners helped out in restraining the ponies still brainwashed. The escaped rogues tried to help out but were pushed back by the reformed rogues, Pony Ivy restrained Weather Warper and Scar Flank, Mimicry was clashing with Arachnid while Emo Pony kept Inferno back with a strangely wide variety of water spells.

"Why do you know so many water spells?"

"I used to work for a traveling water work show." Emo Pony then forced Inferno back while Arachnid did the same with Mimicry.

"Where did you get those claws?"

"I made them myself. I kind of wanted to be in a circus or carnival act when I was a filly. Where did you get those metallic spider legs?"

"I also made these myself a project to help disabled ponies move about easier."

"Really I don't suppose you'd let me use yours I think they'd really help me out."

"They probably would, but I'm rather stuck with these." Mimicry then tried to blast and claw Dr. Arachnid but his metal legs helped him dodge both and push Mimicry back with a hard kick to the chest. After that Mad Alicorn landed near Mimicry after taking a massive hit from Super Stallion. "Boss, this isn't going well."

"It'll get better when I make all the other ponies here part of my army."

"Oh really now?" Chrysalis asked, getting the attention of not only the rogues but also Super Stallion.

"Chrysalis, what are you doing here?" Super Stallion asked while keeping Wacko at bay.

"Perhaps it would be best if I explained afterwards." Chrysalis then made her way to the other changelings and Clover and Twilight made sure she got there without getting attacked. Once Chrysalis made it there Twilight ordered their freedom and Chrysalis ordered them to help restrain the brainwashed ponies and while confused as to why the changelings did just that. Mad Alicorn was so angry she attacked Chrysalis and she did it so fast Twilight and Clover couldn't protect her.

"What are you doing!?" Mad Alicorn asked as she gave Chrysalis several nasty blasts.

"Trying to find my redemption," Chrysalis answered as she used a spell to force Mad Alicorn back.

"Boss this isn't good," Mimicry said. "We're getting pushed back more and more and even if you get ponies under your control." Mimicry stopped as a small group of brainwashed ponies tackled Pony Ivy which broke his concentration allowing Weather Warper and Scar Flank to escape but Super Stallion freed them of their control with his spell. "Super Stallion just does that."

"It seems you are right, we'll have to focus on getting rid of him and his allies before we can build our forces." Mad Alicorn then teleported all the rogues right next to her and opened another portal which her group jumped into. "This isn't over Super Stallion, it's just the beginning," Mad Alicorn said right before she went through her portal causing it to disappear.

"As long as Mad Alicorn keeps doing that portal thing catching those rogues is going to be very tricky," Super Stallion said.

"And what's stopping her from coming back?" A guard asked. "You may have to check in here quite a bit."

"Actually, I believe I can help with that," Chrysalis said. Far away, within the ever changing hive of the changelings was the queen's throne. A large black throne that canceled out magic except changeling magic, Chrysalis made her way back to the hive and ordered her army to take the throne with her. "The throne can also be broken into pieces and those pieces will still possess magic canceling properties."

"Well it might be a little tricky to run this place without magic but thank you," a guard said and suddenly Chrysalis fell to the ground.

"Chrysalis, are you okay?" Clover asked as she ran to her friend's aid.

"No, it makes sense I took a nasty hit or 2 from fighting Mad Alicorn and that was quite a long exhausting trip delivering the throne here." Chrysalis coughed like crazy and for a minute acted like she lost her mind again scaring the ponies and changelings around her.

"We have to do something," Thorax called out.

"Thorax," Chrysalis called out when she managed to regain your senses. "You're in charge of the changelings now, we took love for too long, try to give love from now on okay?"

"O-Okay," Thorax said as he couldn't help but cry a bit sensing what was coming next.

"Clover, help them learn how to be good, but without the shock collar." A group of ponies came by ready to take Chrysalis to the medical part of the prison.

"Well sure," Clover said. "But you can help them too, you'll be fine after a while," Clover said, trying to make her friend feel better. Chrysalis then placed her hoof right on Clover's chest.

"I'll be right here, thank you for being my friend even though I wasn't always one back." Chrysalis then lost her senses again as she was taken off and Clover began to shed a tear as well.

"Don't you changelings worry she'll be just fine, you'll see. Chrysalis and I will have all sorts of adventures to come, you’ll see."

***

Chrysalis passed away the next morning in her sleep. The changelings thought it fitting to bury her just outside the hive and Thorax who was the new leader convinced nearly all the changelings to accept love and this got them to change, figuratively and literally. Some ponies came as well such as the alicorns, Starlight, Clover, and Squeaky.

"It's so weird that she's gone," Starlight said. "But at least she turned around in the end. That's nice isn't it Twilight?"

"Yes it is Starlight if she can do it so can you."

"I beg your pardon Twilight?"

"I know you're having some doubts about making up for your past sins."

"You do? Well I guess I can't get much past you?" Twilight then got out a picture and showed it to Starlight who saw it was Twilight sitting at a table with several other ponies while reading a book.

"This was taken when I still lived in Canterlot. I had friends there that I didn't treat like friends. When I called Minuette to put your tooth back in I also realized that I needed to talk to them and apologize for the way I treated them. Most of them were quick to forgive but there was 1 pony I really needed to make up to. It wasn't easy but I pulled it off."

"So even the Princess of Friendship has trouble with friends at times?"

"Yes. Now look I know you think I'm being hard on you and maybe I am, friendship isn't always easy and neither is making up for past mistakes. But if Chrysalis and I can do it you certainly can."

"Thanks Twilight," Starlight said as she cried a bit. "I needed that a little." Starlight then gave her teacher a hug. "Actually I think I needed that a lot."

"It's kind of weird isn't it Shining Armor?"

"What do you mean Cadance?"

"I mean it feels kind of weird to be standing over the grave of a former enemy and actually feel sorry for her."

"Well it shouldn't be too weird she found her redemption in the end. She saw the error of her ways and in the end became a better pony er changeling."

"That is a nice way to put it I suppose perhaps 1 day those other rogues that keep causing trouble will try to seek their redemption soon."

"Yeah maybe I could lend them a hoof on that."

"You?" Cadance asked, confused at what her husband just said.

"Yeah I know a thing or 2 about making up for past mistakes, I almost lost 2 of the most important mares in my life because I couldn't control my emotions but now I'm in complete control of them."

"Oh I see," Cadance said now understanding what her husband was talking about. "But are you sure you know how to keep your emotions under control?"

"Sure I'm sure Cadance." Suddenly Shining Armor noticed that Swift Sweep who came with Princess Luna to pay respect had dropped his wallet. Shining Armor, quick to act, picked up the wallet with his magic and offered it to Swift Sweep.

"Swift Sweep, you dropped your wallet."

"Doesn't look familiar."

"What? I just saw you drop it, here take it."

"No thanks, it's not mine."

"Yes it is."

"No it's not."

"Yes it is!"

"No it's not."

"YES IT IS NOW TAKE IT BEFORE I SHOVE IT DOWN YOUR THROAT!"

"Way to keep your temper in check, Shining," Cadance said.

"Well I guess it's still a bit of a work in progress," Shining replied and several ponies started to laugh. "And just like that I'm the butt of the joke again."

"Don't feel bad Shining Armor," Swift Sweep said. "We're laughing at you not with you, wait a minute."

"Sounds right to me Swift Sweep," Squeaky said to his fellow janitor. While Squeaky enjoyed this little moment he couldn't help but feel that something terrible was on its way.

Before long he would learn he was right.

Chapter 37 The 2nd Sphere

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95% of changelings had accepted love and Clover took it upon herself to teach the changelings how to be good to honor Chrysalis's memory. They started by breaking their late queen’s throne into pieces and scattering them around the Badlands prison to stop the rogues from sneaking in via magic portals.

"This seems like a good way to start getting on good terms with ponies, don’t you think Clover?" Thorax asked Clover as she was riding on his back.

She was about to answer when she saw her cabin in the Badlands had been broken in so she had Thorax fly right over there faster and she went inside. Clover was running around cleaning the mess and a few changelings came in to help as well. "So Thorax before I forget to ask you later since you are the leader now I was hoping you could approve an idea of mine."

"What kind of idea?"

"I was thinking of leading a class of sorts where I bring other changelings together and we all talk about our emotions and our problems. I think I'll call it a feelings forum."

"Actually that sounds like a great idea, you should definitely do it."

"Oh I'm so glad you agree." Suddenly the 2 changelings stopped when they saw a small red present in the cabin and Thorax held up the note that was attached to the present.

"Warning do not open, splut inside," Thorax read. "What's a splut?" The other changelings shrugged so Thorax opened the present and was suddenly hit in the face with a rather large banana cream pie that had a spring under it. "So that’s a splut." Thorax then started to clean the pie off of his face and heard Clover laughing at him.

"Ah thanks Thorax I needed a laugh right now but now I need to get to Canterlot and talk to Celestia right away."

***

In Canterlot, Princess Celestia was having a meeting with one of the ponies that runs the prison in the Badlands. "So are things going well in the prison?" She asked, hoping to hear good news.

"Yes actually, prisoner morale is up and quite a few prisoners are turning themselves around and the changelings setting up the throne pieces has made it even more secure. But speaking of prisoners there is a problem I felt you should know, when the rogues broke in and caused yet another riot 1 prisoner was able to escape."

"Just 1. That's pretty good considering who is the prisoner in question?"

"CELESTIA!" Clover said as she appeared right beside the princess, shocking her so much she screamed and flew up in the air a little bit and the pony she was talking to jumped back quite a bit and almost screamed himself.

"Clover, what are you doing just teleporting right into my throne room all of a sudden?" Before Clover could answer, Super Stallion flew into the throne room and was ready to fight all out.

"I heard the princess scream what's going on?"

"Somepony has taken my ball," Clover said.

"Excuse me?" Princess Celestia asked, speaking for everypony in the room.

"My ball is gone, somepony got in my cabin and took it."

"You're upset that your ball is gone?" Super Stallion asked as he flew next to Princess Celestia. "That's weird even for you."

"I rather have to agree," Princess Celestia said. "Have you been forgetting to take your medicine again?"

"No!" Clover answered right away as she reached inside her pocket to look into her medicine capsule and make sure that she did indeed take her daily medication. "No I didn't forget we need to get my ball back at all cost."

"Is this like a special ball?" Super Stallion asked. "Like a gift you got from Star Swirl the Bearded?"

"Yes, actually something I'm sure you are quite familiar with," Clover answered, which rather surprised Super Stallion. Clover then made a bubble of silence appear around her and Super Stallion so they could talk in private. "I've been taking those pills and as a result I've been getting my memories back, half and half anyway. I don't know who you really are but I know what makes you Super Stallion, you found Star Swirl's sphere didn't you?" Hearing that Super Stallion was shocked and wasn't sure what to say.

"Is this ball another special sphere?" Super Stallion asked, deciding to somewhat trust Clover.

"Star Swirl made 2 of them since he was going to give them to the royal pony sisters. You had the one that was going to give to Celestia and I had the one that he was gonna give to Luna but I didn't remember it until I lost it. It's funny isn't it, you don't realize you don't have something until the moment you don't have it, like a relationship sometimes you don't know what you have until it's gone."

"Prank, I mean Clover focus!"

"Right, sorry. I had the ball in my cabin in the Badlands, somepony broke in and that was the only thing that was taken like they knew exactly what it was."

"So there could be somepony out there with all the powers I have, great I really wanted to have an all out battle."

"Actually the sphere taken from the cabin was a bit more developed; it even had a bit of the Tree of Harmony making it better suited to fight chaos magic. Too bad it also came with such a horrible side effect. Well that's all on my end I'm heading back and taking the changelings to the Crystal Empire. Ta ta for now."

"Wait hold on what?" Clover then teleported away and popped the bubble of silence.

"So what did she tell you that was so secretive?" The guards asked.

"If I told you it wouldn't be a secret now would it?"

"But was Clover okay?" Princess Celestia asked.

"Well Prank Master she was not. But let's just say that she still needs to be taking those pills." Soon after that Princess Celestia went upstairs as she had to go lower the sun. Super Stallion came along with her as he wanted to change back into Squeaky Clean while also explaining what Clover explained to him.

"That sounds like it could be very troublesome."

"Yeah no kidding especially if it fell into the hooves of somepony like Mimicry or Mad Alicorn or Wacko though would it work on him?"

"Well between you and me I'm still hoping that Clover just misplaced it."

"Well between you and me that's very possible considering who we're talking about."

"Now Squeaky."

"What the 1st time I met her she was trying to make a time portal of all things you never know what the heck that pony is going to do."

"Well the 1st time I met her she helped me lower the sun and my sister raise the moon allowing us both to get our cutie marks so give her a bit of the benefit of the doubt. You don't know her like I know her."

"When I first met her I didn't want to know her anymore than I already did."

"Is that how you're going to treat all of my old friends?"

"Just the ones that act utterly crazy."

"Well I'd like to see you act normal after going through, whatever it is she went through to make her go crazy," Celestia said with a rather stern look but Squeaky couldn't help but laugh a bit which rather confused Princess Celestia. "What could be so funny at a time like this Squeaky?"

"Listen to us argue like an old married couple," Squeaky answered and Princess Celesta found herself laughing as well.

"I suppose you're right and what makes it even funnier is that we aren't far off from that are we?" Celesta asked as she recalled the question she asked about a year ago. "How the time flies." Suddenly to her surprise Squeaky literally swept her off her feet carrying her in his fore legs and walking over to her bed with his back legs. "Oh my somepony has been hitting the gym quite a bit haven't we?"

"Yes I have. All for this moment, that and Super Stallion gets stronger when I get stronger." Squeaky then placed Princess Celestia on the side of her bed and he held her right foreleg with both of his while she was sitting. He then got on 1 knee and got a small box out showing a small golden ring which made Celestia put her other foreleg on her heart.

"What are you doing, Squeaky?"

"I know we already agreed, but I still want to do this." Squeaky then took a deep breath as he began to stroke Celestia's hoof a little. "Princess Celestia you are and will always be the most beautiful mare in this or any land and by you returned my affection and made me feel like the luckiest stallion in Equestria. We've had so many wonderful moments together even before we were in a relationship. You make me happy just by being in your radiant presence. The time we've spent together I wouldn't trade for anything." Hearing that Princess Celestia couldn't help but cry tears of pure joy.

"Oh Squeaky."

"I want you to make me the happiest stallion ever, Princess Celestia, will you marry me?" Princess Celestia then picked up her soon to be husband and gave him the passionate kiss to end all passionate kisses.

"As if you have to ask of course I'll marry you, you'll make me the happiest mare ever." Squeaky then took the ring out of the box and placed it on Celestia's long elegant horn. "I'll send a letter to Twilight in the morning telling her I want her to organize our wedding with her friends helping." Squeaky then kissed his soon to be wife with a passionate kiss that rivaled the one she gave him moments ago.

"Well I should probably get to cleaning what with it being my job after all. Then I'll go home and get a few things we'll need for our wedding. Sleep well my beautiful princess."

"Rest easy my handsome prince." Squeaky then made his way out the door to clean a bit and head for home while Celestia took off her ring to admire it. "Life just doesn't get any better than this." Suddenly she was struck from behind with a powerful stun spell that forced her to the ground and was just as suddenly knocked out.

"3 alicorns down and 1 to go."

***

Squeaky was carrying a box about half his size on his back to the castle but when he got to her chambers and knocked there was no answer. "Did she fall asleep already?" Squeaky then placed the box by the door and opened up and saw she wasn't there but her ring was on the floor and his jaw nearly hit the floor. "There's no way she would just leave this on the floor." Squeaky searched all over but Princess Celestia was nowhere so he turned into Super Stallion hoping to hear her but instead heard Twilight's special signal and flew over hoping Celestia was with her.

"Super Stallion!" Starlight said in a loud whisper as she gestured to Super Stallion to come down.

"What's going on?" Super Stallion asked while standing next to the mares and Spike, who he didn't see earlier because he was behind Trixie's wagon.

"My friends have been taken by changelings and they came in after me," Twilight answered.

"What, but I thought they were good now."

"Not all of them, Super Stallion," Twilight continued. "They tried to grab Spike, Starlight, and I but I was able to get us out."

"How did this happen?"

"My castle was attacked by a small group of changelings and before we snuck out I saw that they had captured my friends and figured right away that they were after us. So I got us out of there and started calling you."

"This isn't good, this is out of my league," Trixie said starting to panic and was breathing very hard and fast. "I'm just a performer, this is princess and or superhero level stuff. Actually there's a princess and a superhero here, what do we do?"

"First Super Stallion I need you to get us all out of here and take us to Canterlot that way Luna and Celestia can help us out."

"Not gonna work Twilight, Princess Celestia is missing and if that's the case Luna and her probably got grabbed as well."

"So what do we do, Twilight?" Spike asked.

"I have an idea," Starlight said. "Maybe Super Stallion could take us to the Crystal Empire so Cadance and Shining Armor can help."

"They won't," Thorax said who came out of the trees helping Clover the Clever walk and the group could see they were rather beat up.

"Thorax are you okay?" Starlight asked, having recognized Thorax by his voice, suddenly Starlight charged her horn ready to attack. "How do we know you're the real Thorax and Clover the Clever?"

"That's right they could be the changelings that grabbed Rarity, and the others," Spike said. Thorax then set Clover down and turned into Twilight mimicking what she said when Spike showed the others that he was good.

"Okay now that that's settled what were you talking about?" Super Stallion asked.

"We were in the Crystal Empire and some changelings and a pony I didn't recognize captured Cadance, Shining Armor, and Flurry Heart. Me and the other reformed changelings tried to stop them but the pony was too strong."

"On the bright side I finally know where the 2nd sphere I got from Star Swirl ended up," Clover said.

"This pony that attacked the Crystal Empire and helped the group of changelings pony nap the princesses and Twilight's friends took it?"

"Yes Super Stallion and he's a lot better at kicking some hindquarters than even you are. That's a tall order by the way for those of you that didn't know. Which was probably every pony and dragon and draconequus beside me."

"So somepony did notice me, you'd think that I'd stand out more even in the dark," Discord said, who was laying on top of Trixie's wagon for quite a while.

"You know now that I think about it you probably kicked his hindquarters too huh Super Stallion?"

"Yes I have though how do we know you're really Discord?" Discord snapped his fingers and all of a sudden Super Stallion was completely bombarded by pie. "Yeah it's the real Discord," Super Stallion said, shaking the pies off.

"Excuse me, can we get out of here before the changelings and the pony that can kick hindquarters more than Super Stallion show up," Trixie said, still freaking out.

"No worries," Discord said. He then pointed up and the others saw that Discord had made a bubble and saw that the changelings were looking around for Twilight, Starlight, and Spike. "We can see and hear them but they can't see or hear us."

"Are you sure?" Spike asked.

"Where'd they go?" Pharynx asked while flying right above the bubble that Discord made. "It's not like they just vanished into thin air."

"Pretty sure," Discord answered. They then saw that another changeling flew over to Pharynx.

"Hey Pharynx, listen up."

"What do you want? I'm looking for the 4th alicorn."

"I was looking for her too wise guy but the boss says we gotta get back to the hive so he can store the new prisoners with the others." The changelings then flew off and eventually teleported to the hive.

"The hive?" Spike asked. "Where Thorax and the other changelings used to live?"

"Yes it's nice that a different character says stuff that helps get the plot moving on," Discord said.

"Well then I'll fly right there and get everypony out."

"Super Stallion wait!" Twilight said. "You heard Clover, whoever that pony is he can, uh kick hindquarters better than you can."

"You're gonna go by her. She ran around doing whatever crazy things that popped into her head for the longest time. No offense Clover."

"None taken but seriously there's a very high chance you're gonna get pummeled."

"You only fought that guy for 2 seconds," Thorax said.

"It was all I needed."

"If that's true we're gonna need a plan. Spike go to Canterlot and round up the royal guards and wait for me to contact you later."

"No way Twilight I'm staying with you, we have to save Rarity, and the others."

"Well whatever we do we need to do it quickly. Maybe I could fly over there first and the rest of you could go around getting whatever backup you can find and meet me there," Super Stallion suggested.

"But how would we be able to get there fast enough?" Spike asked.

"Oh I could do something like this." Discord snapped his fingers and the group found themselves in the former throne room where the ponynapped ponies were stored in green cocoons on the ceiling.

"Thanks Discord now let's get to freeing everypony and getting out of here then we can get to stopping whoever did this," Super Stallion said.

"I don't think so," a pony said as he stepped out of the shadows.

"Stone Wall?!?!" Super Stallion said his jaw nearly hit the floor.

"Yes, it's me."

"What are you doing here?" Super Stallion asked his old friend, still in major disbelief that he was even there.

"My job, protecting Equestria and the royal ponies. And now that you're all here I can complete the final part of my mission by putting the last few needed to complete the collection, and a few extras."

"But that doesn't make any sense," Twilight said. "How is what you're doing here protecting any of them?"

"By placing them here nothing will ever happen to them or get to them they'll be in bliss especially Princess Celestia. She won't have to worry about running the country of Equestria in its entirety or stopping forces that threaten it ever again. Here she can just stay here and sleep in peace for all eternity as well as the other royal ponies and you can all join them."

"Yeah I'm not really a nap kind of pony," Starlight said.

"Too bad you don't have a choice, if I let you all go you'll tell others about where the royals are being kept."

"Even if you do make us go up there with them, eventually the other changelings from the Crystal Empire will come looking for me and they'll come here," Thorax said.

"Then once you're all put up there I'll just teleport them all somewhere else where no creature will ever be able to find them," Stone Wall answered.

"Oh, that's a good plan."

"Ha the great and powerful Trixie isn't afraid of you. Do you really believe you can take on the lord of chaos, the princess of friendship, Super Stallion, the others, and of course me the great and powerful Trixie all by yourself."

"Yes I do," Stone Wall answered as he got out the 2nd sphere and put it on.

Suddenly the group was attacked several times and none of them were able to block, dodge or counter, not even Discord.

"Wow he's better at the whole beating creatures up than you are," Discord said. Stone Wall then fired powerful stun spells at the group this time Discord was able to dodge by teleporting away. Twilight used a barrier that was barely able to block the spell and Super Stallion flew around Stone Wall and tried to stop him with a stun spell of his own. But Stone Wall reacted before Super Stallion could even charge his horn and blasted him through several walls. Super Stallion charged through the holes and grabbed Stone Wall, forcing him through several walls as well.

"Stone Wall, stop this, you were the captain of the royal guard once. Snap out of it," Super Stallion said, trying to reason with his friend.

"I'm doing this for the good of the royals, and a few extras," Stone Wall answered as got Super Stallion off of him and threw him up so far up he was forced through the ceiling of the hive and almost out of the atmosphere. He then flew straight up and grabbed Super Stallion only to blast him up close forcing to land on the ground outside the hive making a crater.

"This is probably the largest crater I've made," Super Stallion said to himself as he got himself up. Stone Wall then flew down and attacked Super Stallion several times then pushed back to the hive nearly forcing him through it again. Super Stallion tried to counter but he wasn't fast enough and even though he got in a couple hits they didn't even slow Stone Wall down. "This isn't good. He's faster, stronger, and tougher. But maybe I can reason with him somehow." Super Stallion then charged ready to continue fighting his old friend, meanwhile Twilight was with Discord in the former throne room.

"Discord we gotta help Super Stallion before he really gets hurt." Suddenly Super Stallion was forced through another wall and landed near Discord and Twilight.

"I think the ship may have sailed on that one Twilight."

"Super Stallion can you still stand?" Twilight asked.

"Yeah," Super Stallion asked as he got up. "But I don't think I will be for long, he always was the better fighter."

"Perhaps you can try reasoning with him," Discord said.

"Tried it already. It's like banging my head against a, well you know."

Stone Wall showed up again and the changelings that helped Stone Wall take the royal ponies and in-prison them heard the commotion and came into the former throne room.

"Hey boss, what's with all the noise we've been hearing?" One of the changelings asked.

"And when did they all get here?" Pharynx asked.

"They came to try and rescue the others but that's not going to happen," Stone Wall answered. "Circe around the group that I managed to stun and trap them in cocoons."

"Uh, usually I'm okay with all that," Pharynx said. "But one of them is my brother and I know we never really got along all that well-"

"I said trap them in cocoons!" Stone Wall repeated with more anger in his tone which shut Pharynx up right away.

"We better do what he says," one of the other changelings said.

"I guess we're gonna have to fight now and rescue the others later," Twilight said.

"Fine with me Twilight," Discord said as he cracked his knuckles and hit Super Stallion on the head with another pie.

"I meant with Stone Wall and the changelings!"

"Sorry, force of habit."

"I'm beginning to notice that," Super Stallion said as Stone Wall charged at him ready to continue fighting. But when he planted his feet he slipped on the pie and fell on his face.

"But you can't say I'm not helpful," Discord said while Twilight tried to keep the changelings away from the others. Deciding to take advantage of his friend's confusion, Super Stallion raised his hoof and whacked Stone Wall right in his face.

"Nothing personal," Super Stallion said as his punch was so strong he forced Stone Wall through several floors. "Wow that attack looked really strong, maybe I should try to attack from an upper angle more often." Stone Wall then flew up and uppercutted Super Stallion and he landed outside the hive.

"Discord I think you should go help him," Twilight said.

"Why don't you both help him out," Stone Wall said as he grabbed both of them at the same time and he teleported himself, Twilight, and Discord outside where Super Stallion was and tossed them not so gently over to where he was.

"Now that all three of you are out here with me I can keep you busy while the changelings restrain the others in peace. So that's 5 down and 3 to go and then I'll be finished and you'll all be safe."

"Stone Wall you can't honestly think that what you're doing is good for anypony. How will what you're doing help Equestria in any way," Twilight said, trying to reason with him.

"The royal ponies are what bring danger to Equestria in the 1st place," Stone Wall said. "You're a magnet for all sorts of dangerous things. 1 royal pony sister nearly making ever lasting night just because she was jealous of the other, A centaur from a far away land that wanted to gobble up the powerful raw energy of alicorn magic, and what about Discord would he even have become this close to ponies if it weren't for you?"

"He actually has a point there Twilight," Discord said. "The other points were rather good too sun butt and Lulu just can't seem to keep themselves out of trouble can they?"

"After today they will and from now on until the end of time."

"I'm not going to let that happen," Super Stallion said. "And besides, what about the others?"

"Twilight's friends have a connection to the Elements of Harmony so I saw fit to take them as well. Discord here is far too dangerous and unstable to be left alone. And then there's you. Can you even remember how many weirdos and abnormally dangerous troublemakers appeared when you came along?"

"They were already coming along before I showed up. It was just luck that I showed up first so that I could stop them."

"But now you can stop doing that, you can just go to sleep and never have to worry about anything ever again."

"I'm not just going to take a nap when I still have rogues to fight and ponies to save."

"Then I guess we fight." Stone Wall charged at the trio. Discord managed to teleport away but Twilight wasn't as fast and was pinned to the ground but Super Stallion got him off Twilight before he could blast her. But Stone Wall was quick to counter and forced him to let go and managed to blast Twilight before she got back up and dodged several things Discord tried to drop on his head.

"You're quite the fighter Stone Wall but my chaos magic and the chaos magic I've been giving to Twilight will break right through your powers," Discord said as he sent a barrage of concentrated chaos blasts and Twilight fired several blasts of her own but Stone Wall managed to dodge every single one of them.

"Your powers won't help you if they aren't fast enough to hit the target and speaking of hitting the target." Stone Wall then flew right at Discord and punched him right in the face and sent him so far away the others almost couldn't see him.

“Ow,” Discord said when he landed.

"That was for making the castle 1 big chaotic mess, and there's plenty more where that came from." Stone Wall attacked Discord more, landing several powerful hits until Super Stallion showed up to block his attacks with Twilight’s help.

"I can't believe I'm protecting you of all creatures," Super Stallion said.

Stone Wall forced through the defenses and blasted them all with a powerful spell. "I imagine by now the changelings I recruited have secured the others so that will just leave you 3, and you're all just about finished." Stone Wall then turned around and smacked a spell with just his hoof that Starlight tried to hit Stone Wall with. "I stand corrected."

"Starlight, what are you doing here?" Twilight asked.

"When we were stunned Trixie was able to use a bit of her magic to break the stun spell on me and then she teleported me away. I tried to get back in but by the time I did the others were already trapped. So I tried to get out of there before they found me. After that I made my way outside to help stop this guy."

"I admire you for your sneak attack from the feel of it from my hoof it was quite a powerful stun spell. But unfortunately for you I learned a long time ago to never let my guard down."

"Oh way well I know quite a thing or 2 about magic and I'm not gonna go down as easy as last time." Stone Wall flew down at Starlight so fast she didn't even see him move and then he bucked her so hard she landed next to the others. “You’re right, that was even easier than last time.” The 4 were then blasted by another one of Stone Wall's spells and Discord found that he couldn't stand up.

"What's going on? I feel like I'm getting turned back into my insanely uncomfortable stone prison."

"Clover said his sphere had a bit of the Elements of Harmony within them so I imagine that is what allows his magic to deal more damage to you than I can,” Super Stallion answered. “She also said it had a nasty side effect but that doesn't seem to be true.”

"Any idea how to beat him?" Starlight asked.

"No but maybe there's some way I can get through to him the way Princess Celestia was able to get through to Prank Master." Just then Stone Wall charged straight at the group.

"Well you better do it fast," Starlight said. Super Stallion flew straight up, actually managing to land a solid hit and throw him rather far away.

"Well come on we can't let Super Stallion do all the fighting," Twilight said.

"You're right Twilight," Starlight said. "But maybe I should just stay here for a second." Twilight then made her way to where Stone Wall and Super Stallion went. "Uh Discord do you think you can move?"

"Yeah I feel better now I'm more than quite sure that I can stand up and get back to fighting right now."

"So why don't you go back up Twilight?"

"You know if she needs me she can come get me."

Elsewhere Super Stallion had landed several more hits against his old and very dear friend but was still having trouble fighting having taken quite a beating earlier.

"Stone Wall stop doing this, this isn't you do you really think Celestia would be okay with what you've done?"

"No she wouldn't because too often she puts others' needs before hers. My job was to protect her and I'm protecting her from herself."

"You're right that was your job at 1 point protecting her meant the world to you. That's how you got your cutie mark, remember?"

"I told you never to tell anypony that!" Saying that out loud made Stone Wall stop right in his tracks. "Wait I never told you that, the only pony that I ever told that was." Stone Wall stopped and Super Stallion removed his sphere. “Squeaky Clean.”

"Yeah it's me, Stone Wall." Stone Wall then removed his sphere as well but then suddenly collapsed to the ground. Shocked, Squeaky went over to his old friend and discovered he had torn muscles all over and several broken bones. "My gosh you've been torn to pieces using that sphere. You were being ripped apart and you just kept fighting like nothing was wrong. My gosh even when you're doing something terrible you're amazing about it."

"My body is wrecked. I couldn't have fought much longer. I'm surprised you lasted this long." Just when it seemed to all be over suddenly a portal close to the changeling hive opened and the rogues came out.

"Oh you gotta be kidding me! What are they doing here?" Squeaky put his sphere back on. "Stone Wall, you stay here while I take care of this."

"I don't think I could move even if I wanted to, so okay," Stone Wall replied. And with that Super Stallion flew over but had a little trouble doing so.

"This isn't good, Stone Wall isn't a problem anymore but I'm in no condition to fight and those rogues aren't gonna go easy on me." Super Stallion made his way to where the rogues were; they made quick work of the changelings and saw all the trapped ponies.

"Well well look at this," Scar Flank said. "It's a giant collection of valuable ponies to hold for ransom."

"And a changeling and former team member for some reason," Weather Warper added.

"Somepony must have gone through a lot of trouble to do this," Mad Alicorn said. "That might have been the magic I sensed."

"Well then let's take all his or her hard work for ourselves and get out of here," Scar Flank said.

"Sounds good to me," Mad Alicorn said but before any of the rogues could get to them Super Stallion showed up.

"I don't think so."

"Super Stallion, what are you doing here of all places?" Mimicry asked.

"My job, making sure you rogues don't do anything you aren't supposed to and taking ponies against their will is on the top of that list."

"Uh, is it technically against their will if they're asleep?" Weather Warper asked.

"How about we just skip the whole me beating the tar out of you and you all just give up."

"Oh somepony has been through a tough fight," Mimicry said, noticing his bruises. "Let me guess you fought off whoever did all this and now you can hardly even stand. Am I right or am I right!" Mimicry said as she shot out a spell that forced him into the wall. "Oh I'm gonna enjoy this very much."

"Why should you get all the fun sister?" Inferno asked as she hit Super Stallion with a fire spell.

"I guess those 2 can take the role of keeping Super Stallion at bay the rest of you can get those pods down while I make the portal." Weather Warper, Scar Flank, and Wacko then got to work getting the cocoons Scar Flank most of all.

"With all the bits we're gonna get I can finally set my family name back on top where it belongs."

"Not on my watch," Super Stallion said about to fly over and stop them, but Inferno and Mimicry stopped him by jumping on him and blasted him at the same time.

"Sorry stupid stallion but it's time we got our long awaited victory," Inferno said.

"And our revenge on our brother," Mimicry added.

"He didn't care about you 2."

"What was that!?" Mimicry said.

"He didn't care about you or the rogues that he got to work for him. He was gonna let you all rot away in a prison while he tried to make himself king of Equestria."

"You're lying!"

"I figured you wouldn’t believe me, guess I felt like mentioning it anyway.” Super Stallion then summoned a burst of magic that forced the sisters off of him and allowed him to fly over to the others. He tried to get over to Mad Alicorn to stop her from making the portal but Wacko got in his way and forced him to the ground. "This isn't good, I'm not strong enough to force Wacko off."

"I am!" Suddenly Wacko was forced off Super Stallion thanks to Discord who had Twilight and Starlight behind him.

"Uh crud, what's he doing here?" Scar Flank said who backed up quite a bit and Weather Warper did as well.

"Was he the one that Super Stallion was fighting?" Weather Warper asked as Scar Flank stood by her and they were both ready to fight.

"Not quite," Discord answered.

"What in the world is this creature?" Mad Alicorn asked.

"Discord he's the spirit of chaos and disharmony," Super Stallion. "And I suppose right now he's my back up."

"Yes, I got beat up quite a bit but I have quite a fair share of magic left." Discord then summoned a large mallet. "So you're the warped Super Stallion I've heard about, does that mean you don't mix well with chaos magic?" Discord then whacked Wacko several times with the mallet that he could tell hurt a lot. "Thought so."

"Wacko no feel well."

"Wacko's about to feel a lot worse." Discord continued to wail on Wacko while Twilight kept the Mad Alicorn at bay and stopped her from opening a portal. Starlight stopped Scar Flank and Weather Warper from getting the cocoons while Super Stallion stopped Mimicry and Inferno from getting in the way. However, fighting Stone Wall took a lot out of a lot of them. After forcing Twilight to a wall, Mad Alicorn bound her with magic.

"All right all of you stand down or I blast her head right off!" Mad Alicorn ordered.

"Not on my watch," Stone Wall punched Mad Alicorn with the strongest right hook he could muster.

"Stone Wall what are you doing, take that off before it breaks your body completely!" Super Stallion said.

"If you're so worried let's make this quick." Super Stallion and Stone Wall flew around and attacked the rogues, sending them all over the place and the others freed the trapped ponies.

"No, our ransoms!" Scar Flank said, utterly irritated.

"I think we're gonna have to retreat again," Mimicry said.

"Pretty pretty," Wacko said as he stared at the waking Princess Celestia.

"You aren't getting away this time, you've all done enough of that already," Super Stallion said when suddenly the changeling hive started to crack and crumble. All the fighting made it too unstable. Stone Wall quickly stopped a large piece of it from falling on the knocked out changelings. In the confusion Mad Alicorn made another portal and Super Stallion couldn't stop them as he had to help the others.

"One of these days I'm gonna be the one that forces you to run away with your tail between your legs," Mad Alicorn said as she and the other rogues got away yet again. After that the floor started to crumble and Stone Wall fell through. Super Stallion flew down to get him and Twilight and Starlight went down as well until they got to him.

"Leave me to die," Stone Wall said to the others.

"Stone Wall, what are you talking about?" Super Stallion asked.

"I don't deserve to go on after what I did just leave and let this place be my tomb."

"What kind of talk is that," Starlight said. "So what if you've done bad things you can still go down a better path if you really want to, trust me I know. Our mistakes don't define us, we can learn from them and try to be better ponies."

"Pretty nice speech kid it actually makes me want to help, but I can't move and besides you need to rescue the others."

"That's where you can redeem yourselves and help. All of us actually, I have an idea." Super Stallion flew up and carried Stone Wall while Twilight did the same with Starlight and when they got back to the others they all used their magic to teleport themselves and the others out of the hive half of which collapsed within itself. After they all got out safely Super Stallion set Stone Wall down and collapsed.

"I haven't been this exhausted since my all out fight with Discord."

"Stone Wall," Cadance said in a considering tone as she approached him while holding Flurry Heart with her foreleg. "Are you okay?"

"No Cadance I'm not, I betrayed the royal ponies along with their friends and everything I believe with it."

"It's all right Stone Wall you weren't yourself," Princess Celestia said as she rubbed the head of her former captain of the guard and the closest thing she had to a son. "But don't worry we're going to get you all the help we need just like what we did for Clover."

"But what are we gonna do with these changelings?" Shining Armor asked.

"Hey we didn't want to do what we did, that stallion forced us," one of the changelings said. "And believe me he is very persuasive." Shining Armor couldn't help but agree, remembering Stone Wall when he called the shots as captain.

"Well maybe you can come with us," Thorax said. "Or rather you stay here while I bring the changelings back here. I've rather missed the hive and it could use a good fixer upper right now something all changelings could do. So what do you say?" The other changelings got together and talked it over.

"Fine we'll do it but we're still not getting all lovey dovey," Pharynx said.

"In that case I might need a little help with teaching them to be good," Clover said.

"I guess I could help with that," Starlight said.

"You?" Twilight said surprised.

"I know it sounds strange but I want to help them reform the way you helped me. So I'm thinking maybe I could stay here for a bit but go back to the castle whenever it's time for another lesson."

"Actually Starlight, I don't think there's much left to teach you."

"What?" Starlight asked this time the one surprised. "Really?"

"Yes, despite how scared I could tell you were, you still did all you could to help and you even showed Stone Wall compassion after all he did or tried to do. I think you can teach the changelings a lot, so consider this your graduation."

"Wow, thank you Twilight. But before I help the changelings maybe we should help Stone Wall."

"I'm on it," Discord said as he teleported Stone Wall away but not the sphere.

"Discord, what did you do with him?" Celestia asked, shocked.

"Relax sun butt I teleported him to the medical ward of the prison he escaped from."

"You could have healed him," Super Stallion said, still on the ground.

"Yes but in his mental condition it might be best to make sure he doesn't get back on his hooves for a while." Discord then smashed the sphere with his hammer, leaving only several crystals that he gave to Twilight knowing she'd want to look at them. "One of those things is more than enough."

"Wait, what was that thing?" Shining Armor asked. "Was that what made Stone Wall even stronger than he already was?" The others were about to discuss that as well as a few other things Princess Celestia cleared her throat and got their attention.

"Well we have a lot to discuss and figure out but for now I have a very important announcement, well mostly for you Twilight."

***

Princess Celestia returned to her castle after telling every creature she was getting married. Princess Celestia asked Twilight to be in charge of it and she was all too happy to. In about a week Twilight organized the picture perfect wedding Squeaky's only nitpick was that Stone Wall wouldn't be there. He kind of wished he could be the best stallion but he was never really much for weddings anyway. So instead he asked Swift Sweep to fill the role of the best stallion who was more than happy to fill the role in a wedding that was a long time coming.

"Now you're finally a literal prince not just a metaphorical one."

"Good to know, now can we gobble up some giant chocolate cake?"

"You read my mind." Swift Sweep wasn't too far behind the royal couple and was so grateful that Squeaky allowed him to be the best stallion that the next day.

Squeaky got to return the favor.

"Sheesh who knew the royal pony sisters had a thing for janitors," one of the royal guards said to the other. Princess Luna told her sister after her wedding that she was going to have her's the next day so she put off her honeymoon to help her with the wedding. She asked Twilight if she could plan this wedding as well and she agreed. After that the royal pony sisters went on their honeymoons, leaving Twilight to oversee Equestria while they were gone.

"So Princess Twilight what's the first thing on your agenda?" Flash Sentry asked.

"Thought my friends and I would go to my castle real quick and get some supplies then maybe you could escort me to a nice little restaurant?"

"Oh it would be an honor princess."

***

"Well it's been a crazy couple days hasn't it?" Princess Celestia asked when she and Squeaky arrived at their honeymoon suite.

"Yeah but now we can forget about it and finally start living happily ever after."

"You know what Squeaky?"

"What?"

"That sounds just perfect to me."

Chapter 38 Brother of Mind

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Deep in the Undiscovered West the rogues were once again trying to make a plan. While they were trying to think something up the rogues had built several houses for themselves as well as trained with each other quite a bit. "Those are quite a few spells you have Scar Flank," Weather Warper complemented.

"If you think I'm good you should have met my grandfather. He said he could fire a spell right through a mountain."

"Could he?"

"Probably, he was the toughest stallion around."

Mad Alicorn then flew down to where the others were. "As powerful as he might have been, I doubt he could have defeated Super Stallion. None of us can and even if we gang up on him somehow he always has backup so maybe we should get some as well."

"What do you mean?" Mimicry asked.

"We need to start building an army and not just expendable thugs, individuals that can hold their ground against Super Stallion and his friends."

"Where do we start from?" Scar Flank asked.

"I know let's make an army of Wacko's," Weather Warper suggested.

"Only Prank Master knew how to get to put the crystals together right and besides, 1 Wacko is more than enough," Mad Alicorn said as she looked at Wacko who was trying to sit on his own head. "For all we know we could make something even more… defective."

"Good point, too bad Discord isn't on our side. He could probably take down Super Stallion by himself in fact I think he did that a couple times," Weather Warper said.

"But then he'd make the entire continent into absolute madness and we'd have to fight him instead," Scar Flank said.

"Oh right, wait I remember a while back this creature broke out of Tartarus."

"Yeah we heard about that too," Inferno said. "Tirek while Mimicry, Payback, and I were putting things in motion we saw him a bit while we were hiding in Ponyville. He stole the magic of ponies and even managed to steal Discord's magic until Super Stallion came along and defeated him."

"You don't say?" Mad Alicorn asked as she approached Inferno and Mimicry. "What happened to him?"

"I told you Super Stallion defeated him."

"After that!"

"He broke out of Tartarus so I imagined that after he was beaten he was taken back," Mimicry said.

"And what is Tartarus?"

"A place where all sorts of dangerous creatures are locked up."

"Is that so? Well well it seems I'm about to start another prison break."

"Uh not quite," Mimicry said. "Tartarus is locked up good and tight & there's a giant 3 headed dog guarding it."

"But there is a way we can get in," Inferno said, getting everypony's attention, even Wacko. "There's this artifact, some sort of crystal key that can open the gates of Tartarus. Our brother was looking for it to use so he could get another army to help with the attack on the Crystal Empire."

"So do you think he might know where we could find it?"

"Probably, but you won't be getting any information out of him."

***

Princess Celestia and Princess Luna would be returning from their honeymoons with their husbands Prince Squeaky Clean and Prince Swift Sweep with them. Princess Twilight wanted to make sure the castle was in perfect condition by the time they got back. "It looks like everything is perfect."
"That's how I feel whenever I check you out Princess Twilight," Flash Sentry said whose line was so corny the princess couldn't help but laugh.

"Flash, do you think you can tone down those cheesy 1 liners for later?"

"No promises." Flash Sentry and Princess Twilight afterwards welcomed the return of the royal pony sisters with the entire royal guard.

"Twilight, did you do all that just for us?" Princess Celestia asked.

"Of course this is your home and I wanted to make sure you felt welcomed back."

"Thank you very much Twilight." Princess Luna said. "This gesture is most thoughtful so have you managed to run things smoothly while my sister and I were gone?"

"Oh of course it's nothing that I couldn't handle."

"Especially since she had me around to make sure she didn't screw up," Flash Sentry said.

"Don't flatter yourself, Flash, there was nothing I couldn't handle."

"Oh was that what you called almost breaking that thing the other princesses gave you that lowers and raises the sun and moon?"

"Well excuse me if I'm not used to moving celestial bodies on literally a daily basis."

"Don't worry Twilight, you get used to it." Princess Celestia and Princess Luna then made their way into the castle with their husbands. Soon after doing that Celestia and Luna made their way to Celestia's chambers so they could catch up and while they did that Squeaky and Swift decided to do the exact same thing.

"Swift Sweep, how have you been?"

"I've been on a honeymoon so I've been doing really well. It's a shame that Luna probably won't be wearing that wedding dress anymore because she looked kicking."

"Yeah so did Celestia but between you and me I couldn't wait to get out of that tuxedo."

"I know what you mean, Squeaky that thing was really itchy."

"Yeah, that's what I meant."

"Well now that we're princes are we still gonna be able to clean? I really like doing that?"

"I feel the same way, no worries. I checked with Celestia. It's still our job among a few other things." Before long the royal pony sisters thanked Twilight for filling in and relieved her of new duties.

"Well Princess Twilight since you don't have to run the entire country anymore, maybe the 2 of us could go do something together."

"What do you have in mind Flash?"

"Well I was thinking that we'd go on a short zeppelin ride."

"A zeppelin ride? That's quite a surprise coming from you.."

"It is? I guess I never told you about that part of me, the kind that likes things that can fly. I've even been saving up to fly a helicopter."

"Don't you need a license for that?" Flash then showed that he indeed has a license. "I guess that's another thing I didn't know about you. Maybe going with you on that zeppelin will help learn even more about you, and it could help you learn more about me."

"I don't know, I've learned quite a bit, I'm not sure there's anything left."

"Oh yeah I bet you had no idea that I first met Spike my number 1 assistant-"

"When you hatched his egg trying to get into Celestia's school for Gifted Unicorns."

"Oh, but I bet you didn't know that the pony I look up to as much as Princess Celestia is-"

"Star Swirl the Bearded."

"Oh right, I told you about that last week. Well how about this I have this secret fear of-"

"Ladybugs because when you were young a bunch of them swarmed into your house and your brother Shining Armor said the black dots on them were extra eyes always watching you."

"I told you that too? How could I have forgotten that?"

"You got me."

***

"Ah this is the life," Super Stallion said as he was flying around Equestria. "While I'm glad Super Stallion didn't need to pop up during Squeaky Clean's honeymoon, it's nice to just fly around. Besides, the sooner I lock up the loose rogues, the better. The fact that they haven't done anything during my honeymoon makes me rather nervous."

Suddenly Super Stallion saw the Super Stallion Signal flashing in the sky and flew straight to Canterlot and saw Princess Luna was the one that turned it on. "Princess Luna, it's new to see you turn the signal on what's up?"

"A series of disturbed dreams."

"You're having trouble with numerous nightmares?"

"No, not disturbing dreams, disturbed dreams. Somepony besides myself has found a way to enter the realm of dreams."

"I'm gonna go out on a limb and guess that you didn't teach them."

"Correct and I believe their motive behind this will prove to be quite sinister."

"Well normally I'd get right on it but I don't know how to get to the dream realm."

"No worries Super Stallion, I am more than capable of taking you." Princess Luna then opened a portal to the realm of dreams and Super Stallion then flew in and Princess Luna followed close behind. When Super Stallion arrived in the realm of dreams he was rather amazed over what he saw, many spheres that looked like stars.

"What are those?"

"The dreams of all who sleep get close enough and you can see and even enter a dream."

"Oh now that I gotta see."

"Perhaps later remember we need to do something about those who came here on their own."

"Right, sorry."

"Quite all right." Luna then flew around the dream spheres and Super Stallion was not too far behind.

"So do you know the ponies that managed to get in here?"

"Yes a group that you are all too familiar with those who have endangered Equestria many times."

"The rogues."

"Yes indeed, the Mad Alicorn most likely trained herself to get her magic to work similar to mine."

"It's bad enough she tried to take over Equestria and broke the other rogues out of prison now she's invading dreams. There's invading privacy and then there's that."

"Actually that's the part I can't quite figure out, they've only been invading the dreams of 1 pony."

"1? Who is this 1 pony?"

"I'm not internally sure I saw them enter a dream a while back luckily they didn't see me so I stayed hidden until they left and then entered the dream they went into. When I entered it, well you're about to find out for yourself." Princess Luna and Super Stallion entered a dream sphere and found themselves in a labyrinth.

"What's with the maze?” Super Stallion asked.

"This pony's mind is very convoluted to say the least,” Luna answered. “But I have yet to find the root of the reason why." Super Stallion then gestured to Luna to be quiet as his super hearing had picked up other voices far away but not too far away.

"How much longer is this going to take?" Mad Alicorn asked her voice, starting to be heard a bit by Princess Luna.

"You're the one with the wings, use them to get a bird's eye view oh fearless leader of ours," Inferno said to Mad Alicorn rather upset.

"I already told you there's nothing I see up there that I don't see down here, I mean besides all the various angles of this giant mindscape maze."

"We'll keep searching as long as it takes, it'll all be worth it in the end," Mimicry said. "He has to be here somewhere, this is his mind after all."

"Hey look at that Mimicry!" Inferno called out the 3 rogues then rushed over to whatever got Inferno's attention. Super Stallion and Princess Luna looked around the corner and saw a strange bright light.

"All right we're getting closer, let's move it big time!" The 3 rogues then ran off while Super Stallion and Princess Luna then went over to where the light was.

"Mad Alicorn, Inferno, and Mimicry those 3 make a bad combination. Any idea what that light was?"

"Yes actually," Princess Luna answered as she walked towards where the light came from and Super Stallion and Princess Luna found themselves in Canterlot but a rather shady part of it.

"How did we get to Canterlot?" Super Stallion asked as he looked around and out of the corner of his eye saw 3 young ponies sitting very close to one another within a small alleyway.

"This is a memory," Luna answered as they got closer to the 3 young ponies.

"Can anypony spare us some food?" A small purple filly asked.

"They can but they don't want to," A young colt answered. "They think nothing of us because we are nothing. At least we are now but 1 day we're gonna be running everything around here."

"How are we gonna do that bro?" A red filly asked.

"I'm not sure, at least not yet but 1 day I'm going to find a way to become king of Equestria!"

"Do you know that colt?" Luna asked, noticing Super Stallion was focusing on the young colt.

"He was a rogue by the name of Payback. He did a lot of bad things, one of them was creating a brainwashing device that he accidentally used on himself."

"I see I get it now, that maze is a result of the damage done to his brain." Luna then led Super Stallion out of the memory and back into the said maze. "Those 3 rogues must be traveling further and further into the maze to find the true Payback that possibly remains in the maze trying to escape out of his damaged psyche."

"If they do manage to get him out of here that would be bad news for us. He's dangerous and he didn't care about who he had to hurt to get what he wanted."

"If that's the case we need to stop those rogues in their tracks."

"Don't worry your highness, it's what I do best." Super Stallion then took to the air and like Mad Alicorn couldn't really see anything else other than the angles of the maze. But he was searching for the rogues and when he saw them further in the maze he flew straight down and Princess Luna wasn't far behind. "Hold it right there you 3!"

"No way," Mimicry said in sheer disbelief. "There's no way that was, it can't be it just can't be-"

"Super Stallion!" Mad Alicorn said as he came down with Princess Luna right behind him.

"How in the world are you here? Not even you could have followed us here this time!" Inferno said.

"I had a little help." The 3 rogues then noticed Princess Luna was right beside him.

"Oh that makes sense," Inferno said as she put the pieces together. "But that's not going to be nearly enough this time." Inferno then lit up her entire body forcing all of the others to get back. "Mimicry you and Mad Alicorn go, I'll hold them off!" Mimicry hesitated at first but knew when to let her sister do her own thing and took off with Mad Alicorn.

"You've had a bad idea here and there but fighting the 2 of us all by yourself is possibly the top of the list."

"I think I'd have to agree with Super Stallion on that," Princess Luna said.

Inferno made even more fire around her body and it started to spread. "Don't underestimate me. Mimicry and I are on a mission to rescue our brother and let him continue with his master plan that you ruined. My passion to defeat you is now stronger than it ever was before and now-" Inferno was cut off when all of her fire was put out right away by a large sum of water that came right out of nowhere.

"Thought that would shut you up I mean sheesh blah blah blah you're Mimicry and Payback's sister all right," Super Stallion said.

"How, how did you do that I didn't even see you gesture a spell or whatever you do to make magic despite not having a unicorn horn?" Inferno asked.

"We're in a dream, remember you can do anything in a dream," Super Stallion answered.

"You're right, this is a dream, that's very good to KNOW!" Inferno then made the entire area of the maze they were in utterly filled with fire. Luna and Super Stallion were almost engulfed by the flames but Super Stallion got the 2 of them out of way just in time.

"Okay Super Stallion don't give the bad guy an idea," Super Stallion told himself as he bonked himself on the head.

"Super Stallion I think I should go on ahead. Do you think you can defeat Inferno all on your own?" The fire Inferno summoned only moments ago was then all collected into a giant ball of flames and it started to grow larger and larger. Super Stallion made snow appear and froze the fire ball completely and it landed on Inferno.

"Yeah I'm pretty sure I can handle this on my own but don't get too reckless fighting the others."

"Noted. I’ll be careful."

"You'll be toast," Inferno, who burnt through the ice sphere said. Inferno then made a series of fire beasts and used them to surround Princess Luna as they turned into fire rings but Super Stallion then opened a door within the fire allowing her to escape.

"Your fight is with me Inferno now let's fight fire with fire," Super Stallion said as he and Inferno shot powerful beams of fire at each other. "Impressive yours was on the same par as mine."

"What'd you expect?" Inferno asked who appeared behind Super Stallion with a pair of wings she made. "Fire was always my specialty." Super Stallion then got hit up close by fire but he endured it.

"And defeating ponies that make too much of a habit of causing trouble is mine." Super Stallion then forced Inferno to the ground and then threw her through several walls of the maze. Inferno made herself into a giant and tried to hit Super Stallion with fire balls but they all missed. During all the dodging Super Stallion flew straight at Inferno and prepared one of his meanest left hooks. "The bigger they are, the harder they fall!" Super Stallion uppercutted Inferno sending her flying and as a result Inferno had a very unpleasant landing.

"No it won't end like this again," Inferno said as she shrunk down to her original form.

"You can't beat me."

"I don't have to, I just need to run out the clock so Mimicry can save our brother." Inferno then made several fire tornadoes appear. "Though if I beat you and give Mimicry enough time to save him that's fine too." Super Stallion countered by making water tornado. "STOP RIPPING OFF MY ATTACKS!"

"STOP DOING BAD THINGS!" Super Stallion flew towards Inferno who launched herself at Super Stallion as well surrounding herself with fire ready to hit Super Stallion like a torpedo. They clashed and Super Stallion while he received quite a bit of nasty burns managed to push Inferno back who tried to counter but Super Stallion wouldn't let her and he hit her making her land in the maze again.

"I'm gonna beat you if it's the last thing I do!" Inferno got ready to attack but Super Stallion stopped her when he flew down to her and blasted her through another wall.

"Not even in your dreams.”

***

Princess Luna made her way to where Mimicry and Mad Alicorn ran off, determined to stop them in their tracks. Suddenly a magical beam was fired at Princess Luna who was able to summon a magical barrier around her to block it just in the nick of time. "Well it seems I've caught up to them."

"I'm surprised you were able to block that," Mad Alicorn said as she flew up to meet Princess Luna. Mimicry went on ahead while Mad Alicorn stayed behind this time. "But let's see how you do against all of these." Mad Alicorn then fired spell after spell at Luna who tried to block them all but the overwhelming numbers of the firing spells forced the barrier to break.

Luna was forced to the ground by the remaining spells but she was able to get back up only moments later. "It's going to take more than that if you want to take me down."

"Well then it's a good thing I'm just getting warmed up." Mad Alicorn cast another spell beam and Luna fired a beam of her own and they clashed and canceled each other out.

"Even after all those spells you fired, you still had enough energy to fire a spell that powerful," Princess Luna commented who couldn't help but be impressed.

"I've been training myself since my last failure to raise my endurance, speed, and power." Mad Alicorn then flew right over to Princess Luna and decked her right in the face as hard as she could. Luna was then forced back to the ground once again. "Looks like all the long hours were worth it if that's all it took to take down one of the royal pony sisters."

"This fight is far from over." Princess Luna flew back up and charged straight at Mad Alicorn and managed to hit her dead on with a spell that nearly forced Mad Alicorn straight out of the dream. "I am the Princess of the Night, the guardian of the realm of dreams. I will not let you have your way in here or the waking world."

"I didn't ask your permission," Mad Alicorn said as they charged beams once again but this time Luna was able to push hers back and hit Mad Alicorn. But after that Luna was forced to get back on the ground as she started to breathe heavily. "Well, it looks like you're almost at your very limit."

"I have not yet begun to fight."

"Oh please, who do you think you are?"

"Your worst nightmare!" Luna turned herself into Nightmare Moon then flew at Mad Alicorn, giving her the meanest right hook she could give.

"Is that all you got?" Mad Alicorn asked. Though at this point even she knew it was just bravado.

"No I also have these," Luna answered as she attacked physically and magically and there was hardly anything Mad Alicorn could do about it. Luna then turned back into her original form and almost fell to the ground once again. "Well looks like I managed to defeat her just in time but I may have to leave the rest of this mission to Super Stallion."

***

Mimicry had nearly made it to the very center of the maze.
"There has to be an exit around here somewhere, so why can't I find it already no matter what I do I always find myself back in the center of the maze," a voice not too far away from Mimicry said.

Hearing that Mimicry transformed into Rainbow Dash and flew to where the center was in no time at all. Once she got there she at long last found her brother and was so excited that she did a backflip.

"PAYBACK!" Mimicry cried out as she turned into her original form and jumped right at her brother who was insanely shocked to see his sister. Mimicry actually cried tears of joy.

"Mimicry? What are you doing here?"

"I came to rescue you. I'm from the waking world and I came to get you out of here. Or fix your head or whatever I'm too excited to think straight."

"You did all that for me?"

"Of course. We're family.”

"Oh that's fantastic I always knew you'd find a way to rescue me."

"Really?"

"Of course I always knew that you would always be there for me. You were always loyal to me, that's how I know you would always have my back." Just don't expect me to return the favor. "Now will you get off of me?"

"Oh right sorry." Mimicry then got off of her brother and once again took the form of Rainbow Dash and lifted her brother out of the maze.

Not too far behind Super Stallion who was helping Princess Luna fly. He was also using magic to carry a restrained Inferno and Mad Alicorn were making their way to where they figured Mimicry went.

“Thank you for helping,” Princess Luna said.

"No problem,” Super Stallion said. “I just hope Mimicry hasn’t managed to find her brother. That guy is trouble, hate to say it but it might be in the best interest of all Equestria if that guy never gets better."

"My my you must really not like this stallion, what did he do or rather I should ask what was he going to do?"

"He was the mastermind behind the attack at the Crystal Empire, the whole attack was a plan for him to become the new Super Stallion and use the power for himself. He didn't care who he stabbed in the back to get what he wanted; he was willing to let his own sisters rot in prison. "

"That does sound bad." Luna then saw a twisted version of Canterlot Castle in the sky and that the maze below her and Super Stallion was slowly starting to fall apart.

"Finally," Payback said as he was standing inside the castle that he made. "Now that I finally got out of that maze I can think much more clearly."

"Now all we have to do is wait for the others to show up and we can get out of here," Mimicry said, happy that a mission finally had gone the way that she wanted. "And with this castle in the sky you made, they can spot it from the very end of the maze."

"Why even wait for them, let's just get out of here right now."

"What? We can't do that Payback."

"Of course we can, they can get out on their own and catch up with us." Or at the very least slow down Super Stallion enough for me to get as far away from that mind maze as I can.

"No we literally can't, Mad Alicorn is the only one that can take us out of the dream realm."

"Mad Alicorn?"

"Oh yeah she's an alicorn that joined us and she's been leading the group ever since you got locked up."

"An alicorn you say." I wonder if she knows how to make me an alicorn too? Suddenly Super Stallion and Princess Luna appeared, having recently noticed the castle in the sky.

"Super Stallion even in my dreams you haunt me, so I guess that makes this a nightmare."

“Meeting you again isn’t exactly pleasant for me either,” Super Stallion said as he dropped Inferno and Mad Alicorn.

"Well at least he brought Inferno and Mad Alicorn," Mimicry said. "So we're practically out of here already bro."

"And in the meantime I can make this golden pretty colt pay for what he did to me." Payback then made his castle shift and shake and several stone hooves came right out of the walls and grabbed onto Super Stallion as well as Princess Luna.

"You did it to yourself. I tried to warn you that you were gonna land on your own brainwashing device but you didn't listen."

"Yeah well tell you what when my head clears up and I remember how to build it I'll use it on to rewrite your brain then you can remember it however you want."

"Yes now we can make Super Stallion pay for breaking apart our family," Mimicry said as she used her magic to teleport Mad Alicorn and her sister over to where she was and proceeded to wake them up.

"Your family was already broken, even more than you know," Super Stallion said.

"From what I've heard I'd have to agree," Luna said. "Your brother was willing to make his family even more broken to get what he wants. "

"Oh please now you're believing his lies too," Mimicry said.

"Yeah our brother always looked out for us and did so much for us especially when we started his plan to get his revenge on you," Inferno said as she and Mad Alicorn woke up but with little energy.

"Then perhaps we should see things from his point of view," Princess Luna said. “I am the Princess of the Night, I can find the memories of those whose dreams I enter.” Princess Luna then showed the time Payback fought Super Stallion at the Crystal Empire and was willing to abandon all who worked under him, even his own sisters to their utter shock.

"No don't listen to him, er me I was just, wanted to make him think I was gonna do that, so he'd think I'd-" Payback was then cut off when Super Stallion who got himself free along with Princess Luna attacked him and sent him through the floor.

"I think you better quit while you're behind." Payback then tried to counter attack in whatever way he could but nothing stopped Super Stallion. "Not so strong on your own are you? That's why you hide in the shadows while all the others do all the real effort."

"Not everypony is lucky enough to be a literal superhero." Payback then started to counterattack with a spell but Super Stallion deflected it effortlessly.

"Maybe you'd get a better idea on how to fight if you have some fresh air." Super Stallion then blasted a hole in a wall and threw Payback out of it only for Mimicry to grab him.

"Mimicry oh thank Celestia quick pull me up," Payback begged but she simply held onto her brother and gave him the coldest stare she could. Standing next to Mimicry was Inferno who also gave Payback the coldest stare she could. "What are you doing, help me!" Suddenly Mimicry's grip was starting to loosen up. "What are you doing stop don't if I fall in the maze I'll never get out."

"Yes, that's really too bad. I wonder how long you'll wander around the labyrinth of your own head before you realize nopony is going to rescue you." Mimicry then realized her brother and Payback fell into the maze which completely rebuilt itself trapping Payback once again within its walls.

"What are you doing?" Mad Alicorn asked as she arrived but with Princess Luna not too far behind. "He was the whole reason we came in here!"

"Everything we ever fought for was a lie," Inferno said. "There's no reason to fight anymore." Inferno and Mimicry then got into a surrender position.

"What are you doing? We can't give up now!"

"They already have," Princess Luna said. "You should do the same, your allies have given up your outnumbered and exhausted."

"I have enough energy to do this!" Mad Alicorn made the castle collapse and Super Stallion had to get Princess Luna and the rogue sisters out of there. When the castle collapsed Mad Alicorn was gone.

"She got away," Luna said.

"Well 2 out of 3 isn't bad."

"You saved us?" Inferno said shocked. "After everything we put you through."

"Why?" Mimicry asked.

"You have to ask? It's because I'm a superhero."

"Yes and you've done well, Super Stallion. I think we got out of here."

"Fine with me." Princess Luna then opened a portal and Super Stallion followed her out carrying the rogue sisters in each foreleg.

"No!" Payback called out in vain. "Come back please I promise I'll be more loyal don't leave me in here, please! Don’t leave me in this maze.” Payback then ran around once again in vain as he wasn’t able to find an exit and would continue to wander for quite some time.

***

After his adventure in the dream realm Super Stallion dropped off Inferno and Mimicry to the royal guard who took them into custody and soon after he made his change into Squeaky Clean and got to cleaning the floors but also helped his wife oversee a few royal issues. But he was having trouble staying awake during both of those events.

"Squeaky!" Celestia barked at her husband. "I'm aware this isn't exactly the most exciting part of being royalty but this is important."

"Oh go easy on him sister," Princess Luna said. "He had a rough night." Luna then gave Squeaky a wink that made him realize he'd have to have a talk with her later.

Chapter 39 The Slab of Stone

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Super Stallion found the gates of Tartarus were wide open and as a result many monsters that were locked were on their way out ready to once again wreck havoc. But Super Stallion had restrained several of them and was just warming up. "Well If I can take down some of the foulest creatures in Equestria without even breaking a sweat then I've gotten even stronger than I thought."

"I'll break more than your sweat," a tiger head from a chimera called out. But when she charged right at Super Stallion she was hit dead on by Super Stallion's stun spell which he made quite the habit of using. But he didn't have time to mock the chimera as an all too familiar bugbear jumped down.

"I remember you," Super Stallion said as the bugbear charged at him. “And I guess you remember me.” Super Stallion then forced the bugbear almost right back into Tartarus with a single punch. "But I guess you didn't remember how badly outmatched you were." Super Stallion then got to the rest of the monsters that didn't want to fight and simply ran off.

"So much for getting back to the fire swamp," the snake head of the chimera said.

"We probably could have gotten there if we just ran for it," the goat head of the chimera said. "But no you wanted to get "that pony over there for a snack along the way." and it just happened to be Super Stallion of all ponies."

"All right I get your point, get off of my back already!"

"Some days I wish I could."

"And here I was worried at first that this was going to be a problem like that time that Tirek-" Super Stallion stopped himself as he remembered that the very fellow he was talking about was nowhere in sight.

"What's going on?" The snakehead asked. "Why did Super Stallion stop talking all of a sudden?" Super Stallion then flew straight into Tartarus as he also wondered where Cerberus was and he found him bound by powerful magic rings. Super Stallion broke Cerberus free and they got the monsters back into their cells but neither of them were able to find Tirek.

"Where did he go? Where could he have gone?" On his way out with all but 1 of the prisoners locked up again and Cerberus back in his guardian position Super Stallion got to closing the gates but saw some strange crystal that was placed inside the gate. "This has Mad Alicorn written all over it another one of her evil plans: she must have freed Tirek and escaped with him with the portal thing she does over and over again. And we still have no idea where she's hiding."

***

"All right you rogues gather round," Mad Alicorn announced. "Meet the newest member of our group, Tirek."

"That's Lord Tirek," Tirek who was in his 2nd form as Mad Alicorn gave him a little of her magic to help him move faster. "And it's nice to be near several ponies who from what I can tell have quite a lot of abnormally powerful magic." Suddenly Tirek received a swift but not too hard smack to the back of his head.

"Don't even think about it, “Lord Tirek." You won't be taking the power of your teammates here," Mad Alicorn ordered. "That's the least you can do for the alicorn that got you free. Stick with us and you'll find other ponies to feed on soon enough."

"Fine," Tirek reluctantly said with his arms crossed.

"He new fire pony or new copy pony?" Wacko asked as he flew right in Tirek's face and Tirek had to really fight the urge to absorb his magic.

"I believe he's asking if this guy is replacing Inferno or Mimicry," Scar Flank corrected Wacko so that the others could understand.

"Who?" Tirek asked.

"Members of our group that quit," Scar Flank answered.

"Oh really why is that?"

"Who cares?" Weather Warper replied. "If they're just gonna give up for whatever reason then who needs them?"

"Yes," Mad Alicorn replied. "That's where you come in. We lost 2 members but now we gained 1 and we'll be getting another before too long." Suddenly Mad Alicorn opened a portal. "But before I get to that I need to get my hooves on a certain object that will also prove to be very useful to us." Mad Alicorn then went through the portal and disappeared leaving the other rogues to themselves.

"Wanna play seek and hide?" Wacko asked Tirek.

"No," Tirek replied.

***

"Good morning Thorax," Starlight said shortly after waking up.

"Oh good morning Starlight," Thorax replied as he suddenly noticed that Starlight was having trouble keeping her eyes open as well as keeping her head up. "Rough night?"

"Yeah."

"The nightmares again?"

"Yeah," Starlight said with a shiver. "They're getting worse, this time I could feel her breathing right on me I could just feel the murderous intent coming off her. But even after all that, the worst are still those eyes. Those cold blank soulless eyes." Starlight then shivered once again and this time nearly fell over but Thorax was able to fly over and catch her.

"Maybe you could try to take a nap that might help. This sleep problem is getting really serious it's really starting to affect you, it's even starting to affect your cutie mark."

"Huh?"

"See for yourself." Starlight then looked at her own flank and saw that her cutie mark was glowing.

"Oh Thorax, that's not the result of a sleep problem."

"It's not then what does it mean?"

"It means I need to pay Twilight another visit.” After a nap and some breakfast Starlight made her way to Ponyville. "Twilight my cutie mark is-"

"I know, I am the one with the map after all Starlight."

"Well where does it want me to go?"

"See for yourself." Starlight then went to the map and her jaw nearly dropped when she saw the map wanted her to go to none other than Canterlot Castle. "I know," Twilight said, sensing how shocked Starlight was. "I was quite shocked myself when I first saw it."

"Wow, my first map mission and I'm supposed to go there of all places."

"Yes but if the map thinks you can handle it then-"

"Can you come with me?" Starlight asked which puzzled Twilight quite a bit.

"Excuse me?"

"Come with me. So you can help me out and make sure that I do it right."

"Uh Starlight if the map wanted me to come with you then my cutie mark would be up there on it with yours." Starlight then got down on her back legs and in a pleading position once again puzzling Twilight.

"Please Twilight please come with me. I want to make absolutely sure that I don't screw this up especially if I have to help the royal sisters."

"Starlight." Starlight then gave Twilight the puppy dog look and Twilight agreed to go.

"Really Twilight!"

"If you want me to go that badly I'll go but I'm only going to help you out a little."

"Thank you Twilight." After leaving Spike in charge of the castle who would just locked it up once Twilight and Starlight left and go over to spend time with Rarity the 2 made it to Canterlot and said hello to Princess Celestia and Princess Luna and well as their husbands Prince Squeaky Clean and Prince Swift Sweep.

"It's so nice to see you again Twilight," Celestia said as she surprised Twilight with not just a hug but a very strong hug that almost squeezed her. "I care about you so much Twilight I hope you know that.”

"I can't breathe," Twilight said with her muzzle right in Celestia's chest. Celestia let go of Twilight who collapsed and Celestia helped her back up while she gasped for air.

"I'm so sorry Twilight I didn't mean to cut off your oxygen supply. I would never want to do anything to hurt you. You know that, right?" Celestia asked as she was going to pull Twilight into another hug but Twilight got away fearing the 2nd hug would be even worse than the 1st. Squeaky then went over to Celestia who had teared up a bit and separated her from Twilight.

"I'm so sorry about that Twilight, Celestia has been so emotional lately, don't know why."

"Yes Twilight but I meant it when I said how much I care about you." Celestia then started to get closer to Twilight who ran all the way to where Princess Luna and Prince Swift Sweep were.

"I'm just gonna sit here with these 2 for a while."

"If that's the case would you like some of Luna's chocolate cake?" Swift Sweep asked as Twilight noticed that she was eating a whole cake by herself. "She's been eating a lot like that lately, don’t have a clue as to why."

"So good," Luna said with her muzzle full of the best chocolate cake she could find in Canterlot.

I think she got more of it on her than in her, Twilight thought to herself. "So anyway, the map sent Starlight here on a friendship mission."

"It did?" Celestia asked.

"Yes princess," Starlight answered as she gave a bow.

"Well there's nothing wrong here, is there Squeaky?"

"Besides you working on a death grip I suppose not."

"Right sister?"

"No everything's perfect as usual sister," Luna answered while still eating her chocolate cake. While Luna said that everything was fine the others even Swift Sweep could tell that she didn't quite mean it. After the royal sisters left to deal with royal duties Squeaky, Swift, Twilight, and Starlight got together to talk about it.

"As much as I hoped this wouldn't be the case I think the ones that have the friendship problem are Celestia and Luna," Twilight said.

"I know," Starlight said. "Can you say passive aggressive?"

"Passive Aggressive," Swift Sweep said right away. "That was nothing here's a real hard one, grandma Moses makes munchie meatloaf most Monday mornings."

"Uh, anyway maybe we can talk to them about this at some point while we're here."

"Well Starlight I'm sure you can talk about them like that."

"Or, we can each talk to them on our own," Starlight suggested as she gave her former teacher a big smile.

"Starlight I know you're nervous but it can't be that hard to just talk to them over the things that are upsetting them."

"I guess you're right," Starlight answered. The next morning Princess Celestia made several pancake breakfasts and Squeaky helped out while he wasn't exactly a master chef; pancakes were always his specialty. They made 1 for each other, 1 for Twilight, 1 for Starlight, 1 for Swift Sweep, and 1 for Luna.

"This is really good Princess Celestia thank you," Starlight said.

"Oh I can't take all the credit, Squeaky helped and besides it's just my way of showing that I care." Suddenly Princess Luna came in and didn't even touch her beautiful pancake breakfast and simply took a pineapple and walked off. Swift Sweep would later come and take the pancake breakfast to her after finishing his but Celestia still wished she sat down and ate with her and the others.

Later that night Princess Luna who was more awake put some very nice flowers across the halls but Celestia was so busy talking with several ponies to even notice them. "Those flowers you placed are really nice Luna," Swift Sweep said as he was cleaning the hallway that she was walking by.

"Thank you Swift Sweep, it's nice to know that somepony around here appreciates what I do to make these halls prettier."

"She actually does this every night you know," Swift Sweep whispered to Starlight.

"Wow that's really nice of you Princess Luna." Starlight then figured out the things the royal pony sisters needed to talk about. So the next day Starlight waited for Luna to show up at the breakfast table and had her and Celestia talk about how they were unknowingly hurting the others feelings but things quickly got out of hoof.

"Excuse me for not noticing how you put faces on pancakes. You may be a morning pony but I'm half asleep. Swift Sweep brings me those pancakes of yours when I'm more awake isn't that enough?"

"My pancakes are an act of love," Celestia said as she started to tear up a bit. "I'm sorry it's not a bunch of pretty pretty flowers you put in the hallways."

"Those flowers help ponies when they sleep because of their scent and are a great decoration for those hallways. If you cared to simply look up you'd know that! Or are you just too busy looking down on everypony?"

"Was that a tall joke?!"

"Why did it go over your head? I doubt it, that was a tall joke."

"You know you're abnormally tall too Luna!"

"Not as much as you, is that why you don't see the great things I do? You think just because I'm only 1/2 your height that I only deserve 1/2 of your respect?"

"I treat everypony with the respect that they deserve and I listen to the needs of all ponies!"

"Is that why Twilight stormed off after the changelings were fought off or why you 2 fought all day after you sent her to stop Sombra?"

"How dare you!" Celestia said, ready to rip Luna's head off. "And Twilight and I did not argue all day!"

"You had to postpone all the meetings you had scheduled for that day and you scheduled a lot of meetings that day!"

"You knew about that?"

"Everypony in Canterlot knows about that!"

"Uh Twilight this is getting serious maybe we should separate them and have them talk to each other when they've calmed, Twilight?" Starlight had turned around and saw that not only was Twilight gone but Swift Sweep and Squeaky Clean were as well.

Twilight left because she saw that Celestia was getting emotional and might pull her into another death hug. Squeaky left a little before they started fighting, feeling it was about time Super Stallion went to see if he could catch any more rogues. And Swift Sweep left right when the sisters started arguing because as much as he loved Luna his father left him with a great wisdom besides his head is not battering ram, always stand by your wife but never get in the middle when mares are arguing.

"You think it's easy being me! I've made mistakes!"

"Oh poor Celestia getting adored by ponies all over Equestria while I'm forced to simply work in the shadows."

"Oh yes Luna you have it so hard giving ponies lovely dreams. Too bad you can't bring that loveliness with you when you wake up long enough to have breakfast with me."

"ENOUGH!" Starlight then cast a spell and Luna and Celestia were shocked to see that their cutie marks had been switched. The royal pony sisters were not happy 1 bit with Starlight. "Heh heh, they say you don't understand a pony until you walk a mile in their hooves so I figured, well you know."

***

"YOU DID WHAT?!" Twilight asked.

"Look Twilight I know it seems like a bad idea but this will help the princesses see things from the other's point of view. I mean in the long run this was a good idea wasn't it?" Starlight gave Twilight a big smile who in return simply gave her a stare. "You're going to hit me on the head again aren't you?"

BONK

Twilight summoned a mallet with her chaos magic that gave Starlight a rather nasty headache. "Yes I am."

"Wait a minute Twilight that's it!" Starlight said excitedly. "Your chaos magic you can use that to reverse my spell."

"I could, but I'm not going to."

"What?"

"Time and time again I've told you that you can't solve all your problems with magic and time and time again you ignore me. If you're going to continue to repeat the same mistake over and over like an arrogant filly then you need to accept the responsibility that comes with all that. If this comes back to bite you on the rump, that's your mess to clean up."

"But Twilight-" Twilight then teleported away before Starlight could finish leaving her alone with her thoughts. "I'm sorry Twilight."

Twilight after teleporting away walked over to a balcony to clear her head. "Oh that Starlight sometimes," Twilight said to herself as she rubbed her head.

"Is everything okay Twilight?" Squeaky asked who had recently returned and Twilight filled him in on everything that happened with Starlight and the royal pony sisters. "Wow, a lot can happen in such a short time around here."

Any luck finding the rogues?"

"Mad Alicorn attacked a museum right here in Canterlot."

"What!?" Twilight asked to go see the museum and Squeaky took her there.

"This is where most of the fighting took place," Squeaky said when they went into the museum "I tried to stop the museum from getting hit but you know Mad Alicorn."

"This is so horrible I remember going on tour after tour when I was a filly. The ponies that worked here started to know me by name."

"I actually got my first job as a janitor here, my older sister set it up for me too. But all things considered it wasn't all that bad she only took 1 thing then escaped through that portal of hers for the umpteenth time." Twilight then walked over to the casing that Mad Alicorn broke into earlier.

"The Slab of Stone," Twilight said.

"The Slab of Stone? Did that replace the round sphere or something? Or maybe the politician that lies."

"A long time ago a pony mage corrupted by her longing for power created an artifact that would copy the ability of a cockatrice and turn ponies blasted by its magic into stone. She then named the artifact she created the Slab of Stone, she wasn't very creative. Star Swirl the Bearded caught wind of this and defeated her easily. As well as remove the artifact's magic and eventually it found its way here.

"If it doesn't have its power anymore then what's even the point of taking it? Do you think she's gonna try to bring the magic back to the artifact."

"I'd say you hit the nail right on the head but that would be rather difficult so hopefully we have some time on our hooves."

"Well I think it's time that Super Stallion took another shot at rogue hunting." Squeaky Clean would soon excuse himself out of the museum and change into Super Stallion once he found a good hiding spot.

***

Deep in the Undiscovered West Mad Alicorn had brought back the Slab of Stone and informed the others of what she took. "So I'm guessing you already figured out how to get that slab's magic back?" Tirek asked.

"Yes, a master plan is in motion," Mad Alicorn answered. "Super Stallion has defeated us time and time again but that will be coming to an end very soon. And it starts with this and continues when the next one to join us."

"So is this pony anyway?" Weather Warper asked.

"Does he like playing seek and hide?"

"You'll find out soon enough and no."

"Does this pony want to make some sort of grand entrance to this little party of ours?" Tirek asked.

"Something like that," Mad Alicorn answered.

"By the way something that's been bugging me for a bit," Scar Flank said. "We're still hiding in the Undiscovered West."

"I think the rest of us already knew that," Weather Warper added.

"What I mean is since we started hiding here we've lost 4 members but none of them have ratted out our hiding place."

"I guess that they still respected us enough not to rat us out." Before Scar Flank could question that Mad Alicorn flew off to continue her master plan to defeat Super Stallion once and for all. After she left Wacko flew over to where Tirek was.

"You wanna seek and hide?"

"I don't want to seek and hide," Tirek answered angrily. "What is it with you and that stupid game? And it's called hide and seek!"

"Oh, you want to play that instead?"

"No!"

***

Back at the castle while Starlight's idea was off to a bad start, it helped the royal pony sisters see things from each other's point of view as well as the challenges that each other faces on a daily or nightly basis. After they made up and their marks switched back, Starlight caught up with Twilight. "Well Twilight it may have been off to a bad start but I guess going with my gut worked out in the long run huh?"

"That still doesn't change the fact that it was still an insanely risky move that could just have easily backfired."

"Well whatever it worked didn't it?!" Starlight said angrily but also clearly rather defensive. "Besides this was my mission the map sent me and me alone, who even said that you should come here?!"

"You did," Twilight answered, leaving Starlight utterly embarrassed. "You have a lot of talent, Starlight but you're too reckless for your own good. You can do great things with your magic if you think. Things. Through." Starlight then went back into the castle deciding to keep her mouth shut for a while before she said something really stupid. After Starlight left Twilight saw that Squeaky Clean had returned. "Any luck this time?"

"No," Squeaky answered but then suddenly a portal opened in the sky not too far away from the castle and Mad Alicorn came out of it holding the Slab of Stone in her forelegs. "I mean yes.” Squeaky left to change while the Mad Alicorn flew towards Twilight.

"I got a new toy,” Mad Alicorn said as she made the slab fire a beam that Twilight dodged.

"Getting turned to stone once is more than enough for me thank you very much."

"What?"

"Don't go into the Everfree Forest by yourself in the middle of the night."

"What?"

"It's a long story." Suddenly Super Stallion appeared ready to rumble and Mad Alicorn flew into the castle and Super Stallion, while surprised, gave chase right away. While Super Stallion was faster, Mad Alicorn attacked the castle as well as the ponies in there.

"What the heck is that crazy pony planning this time?" Super Stallion asked as he got ponies out of danger. Before long the royal pony sisters became aware of the rogue that was attacking the castle and Starlight and Twilight were not too far behind.

"There you are!" Mad Alicorn yelled out as she aimed the Slab of Stone right at Princess Luna and fired another beam of magic straight at her. Starlight saw the beam coming right at Luna and pushed her out of the way but as a result she was hit by the beam.

"STARLIGHT NO!"

"I could have just teleported Luna out of the line of fire with a spell," Starlight said as she was becoming stone. "You were right Twilight, I'm too careless for my own good." Starlight was then completely turned into stone and Mad Alicorn escaped via her portal spell.

“Why would she leave after hitting 1 pony?” Super Stallion asked.

Twilight stared at Starlight as Celestia came by and put her hoof on her shoulder. "Don't worry Twilight, we'll find some way to free her," Celestia said.

"I just feel like there was something I could have done to prevent it."

"I understand but no good is going to come from dwelling on what you could have done. Believe me, I know.” Soon after Starlight’s statue was out somewhere safe while Celestia and Luna thought they should tell the changelings about Starlight’s condition.

They didn’t take it well.

“Oh poor Starlight,” Thorax said. He and the other changelings grew rather fond of Starlight.

“I feel sick," Celestia said.

"I know this is horrible."

"No I, I gotta go." Celestia then teleported to her private chambers to go put her head in her toilet as she had been dealing with a rather upset stomach. Something that Celestia had been dealing with for about a month now usually in the form of morning sickness.

It would be another month before Celestia learned she was pregnant.

Chapter 40 The Scepter of Strength

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Tirek missed being as big as a mountain, so he was doing all he could to make himself stronger by using a bench press Mad Alicorn went to the trouble of making for him. He wasn't the only rogue making himself stronger; Weather Warper was training with Scar Flank while Mad Alicorn was trying with Wacko. Mad Alicorn had also been working with a pony that would be joining the rogues soon who's identity she had been keeping a secret.

"Nice work Wacko,” Mad Alicorn said. “You've gotten much better at fighting and thinking on your hooves," Mad Alicorn complemented who was also proud that she was able to hold her ground against the rogue Super Stallion.

"Wacko do good?"

"Yes Wacko do good, Wacko do great even."

"Hooray, Wacko do good and great," Wacko said as he began to jump up and down like a colt going to an amusement park. "Wacko do good and great! Wacko do good and great!"

"Yes Wacko we're aware," Tirek said as he stopped using the bench press to take a breather. "So when are we gonna finally stop training and finally get to putting whatever the plan is into action?"

"What are you complaining about?" Scar Flank asked. "We're the ones that are actually pushing ourselves and sparing against each other, you just use that bench press."

"I stick to the bench press because none of you want to spare with me," Tirek said back to Scar Flank.

"Because if we did you'd drain us of our powers and then hit the road."

"Now Scar Flank, that's hardly fair," Mad Alicorn said. "At the moment we have an old number of members and on top of that there's a gap of powers within our ranks.”

"But when I get my hands on more magic of the ponies I'm going to be stronger than all of you combined."

"But for now you need to work with us," Mad Alicorn said to Tirek. "I think that's all the training we need to do for now. The rest of you can train more if you want, but I need to collect another artifact that's going to help us in stopping Super Stallion once and for all." Mad Alicorn then opened her portal and flew through it, leaving the other rogues to do what they wanted.

"Well I for one would actually like to train some more," Scar Flank said.

"That's what I'm talking about," Weather Warper said. "We need to get as strong as we can get if we want to finally take down Super Stallion."

Soon after Wacko flew over to Tirek who was just about to start another session on the bench press.

"Tirek play seek and hide with Wacko?" Wacko asked Tirek.

"I DON'T WANT TO PLAY SEEK AND, HIDE AND SEEK! QUIT ASKING THAT!"

***

Super Stallion decided to pay Princess Twilight a visit but when he dropped by he only found Spike, who he noticed was wearing the special bracelet Twilight made so she could call Super Stallion. "Oh hey there Super Stallion how's it going? I didn't hear you come in."

“Hello Spike. Just thought I’d drop in and see how Twilight was doing. You know, considering.”

"Yeah," Spike answered. "Twilight has been looking through book after book but had no luck, she'd been rather stressed with not just that but also the things she usually has to deal with being the Princess of Friendship. That's why she's not here. I told her she was working way too hard and she needed some time off so she could relax. So I convinced her to go on vacation."

"She didn't take you?"

"She wanted to but I told it was fine if I stayed here so somepony or rather some dragon could handle the paperwork and all that. And since I was staying she decided to let me hold on to this bracelet," Spike said.

"I noticed," Super Stallion said. Spike then got closer to Super Stallion and put one of his claws to the side of his mouth. "Besides if Twilight isn't here there's nothing to get in the way if I happen to invite a certain fashionista pony over to the castle."

"Oh, planning on inviting a potential very special somepony over to the castle?" Super Stallion asked.

"Oh yeah the most beautiful creature in the world, my sweet Rarity," Spike answered as he put both his claws on his cheeks. Super Stallion then remembered Rarity as she came to Canterlot a while back and Princess Celestia in her generous nature allowed her to stay in a special suite within the castle.

"Isn't she a little too old for you though?"

"Isn't Princess Celestia a little too old for you?"

"Touché."

"In fact you or rather Squeaky Clean as well as Swift Sweep marrying Princess Celestia and Princess Luna is the very thing that's inspiring me to make these moves on Rarity. If 2 janitors of all ponies, no offense."

"None taken."

"Can win the hearts of the royal pony sisters then I should have a chance of winning Rarity's.”

"Well good luck to you," Super Stallion said as he rubbed the head of the adorable little dragon.

"Thanks. I invited her here a while ago so she should be here any minute and if it was just the 2 of us here in this big and easy to make look romantic castle-"

"Already gone," Super Stallion said as he flew right out of Spike's sight before he could blink. Several seconds later Spike heard a knock on the castle doors.

"Come in!" Spike called out and Rarity came in.

"I'm here Spikey Wikey," Rarity said as she approached her favorite dragon.

"Thanks for coming over Rarity."

"Oh but of course my dear Spike it was no problem whatsoever for me to come over and visit you. Besides you have been so kind to come over to my boutique and help me with all my fashion orders."

"Well then may I offer you some food I made recently?" Spike then led Rarity to the kitchen and offered a plate of things he had baked recently and even pulled out the chair for Rarity before she sat.

"Spike, how kind of you," Rarity said.

"Oh it's nothing, besides you've been stressed for a while now I just thought this could help you relax." Rarity then noticed that Spike had put a flower vase with fresh new flowers recently put in them and it wasn't very hard for Rarity to see what her adorable dragon friend was trying to do.

"Spike I appreciate all that you've done here but-" Rarity stopped as Spike started to rub her shoulders gently but firmly to Rarity's delight. "Oh my, that feels wonderful darling." Spike then lowered his claws and used them to start scratching her back.

"Does this feel good too Rarity?"

"Yes it does, but Spike, don't let those claws of yours get too low now." Spike then put his claws back Rarity's shoulders and continued to massage them. "Oh that's much better my adorably precious Spikey Wikey."

***

Super Stallion was heading back to the castle to clean and kiss his wife. Along the way though he saw Thorax, the new leader of the changelings flying not too far away. "Thorax?" Super Stallion said when he was close enough for Thorax to hear him.

"Oh hello Super Stallion I can't stay and chat. I'm on my way to the Castle of the 2 Sisters to talk to Discord."

"Oh all right then," Super Stallion said as he flew off but before long stopped himself right in the air and flew back over to Thorax. "Did you say you were going to talk to Discord?"

"Yes."

"Why do you want to talk to him out of all the creatures in Equestria?!"

"Something tells me he's not your favorite creature is he?"

"Let's just say my 1st through 5th or 6th impressions of him weren't all that good."

"Oh yeah when he tried to drown all of Equestria in chaos, even we noticed that."

"Yeah, that chaos magic of his," Super Stallion said recalling all the brutal beatings he got from Discord.

"Yes his chaos magic that's the very reason I'm going to see him," Thorax said.

"Don't tell me you want him to make it rain chocolate at the hive."

"No, but do you think he'll do that? The reason I'm going to see him is because I think he can help Starlight. That powerful chaos magic of his could be just what we need to free her."

"That, is actually a pretty good plan." Super Stallion decided to go with Thorax as they made their way to the Castle of the 2 Sisters and found it had several cotton candy tentacles coming out of it. "You know, it's not too late for us to go back."

"No!" Thorax said strangely assertively to Super Stallion's surprise. "I came here to help Starlight and that's exactly what I'm going to do." They then made their way into the castle where Discord had also made a chocolate river going down a staircase. "Where do you think he is?"

"Well he can't be all that far."

"Yes I do tend to leave quite the unique trail to follow don't I?" Discord asked as Super Stallion and Thorax found that he was in the air not too far above them.

"Discord, what are you doing up there?" Super Stallion asked. "Doing your impression of the ugliest kite on the entire planet?"

"No," Discord answered, showing no sign that he was offended by Super Stallion insult. "I'm just making sure that I don't get caught up in the current."

"Current? What current?" Suddenly Super Stallion and Thorax were pulled back by a large sum of water that came out of nowhere and forced the 2 of them all the way to the end of the room.

"Still more focused on your little jokes and insults than paying attention to any changes in your surroundings huh Super Stallion?" Super Stallion got ready to charge the spirit of chaos but Thorax got in front of him.

"We didn't come here for a fight," Thorax said, calming Super Stallion down.

"What do you 2 want as I'm sure you can see I'm somewhat busy remodeling my castle."

"Well you see Mr. Discord-"

"Please Mr. Discord was my father's name," Discord interrupted. "Well actually his name was, you know what it's not really important or essential to the plot just call me Discord."

"Well Discord it's about a pony friend of mine, Starlight Glimmer."

"Oh Starlight, how is she doing, rock solid I imagine," Discord replied. This time Thorax was the one that wanted to charge at Discord while Super Stallion was the one that held him back.

"That's where, I was going, with this," Thorax said as he took deep slow breaths to calm himself down. "I figured with your reality altering on a whim magic you could undo the magic on her and free her from her stone prison."

"You of all creatures should know how uncomfortable that is," Super Stallion mentioned.

"I see and yes I know all too well what that's like."

"So do you think you can free her?"

"Well I most likely could, but I'm not gonna."

"What?" Super Stallion and Thorax asked together. "Why not?" They again asked together.

"Because, and I think about half the fandom will agree with me on this, nuts to Starlight!" Discord then let out a big laugh as he did several backflips while he continued to laugh.

"You think this is funny?" Thorax asked, getting mad again.

"A little, more than a little actually. Besides, she's been troubling my student Twilight for quite some time. Frustrating her as well as distracting her from using her chaos magic. So with her on the rocks so to speak Twilight won't have to worry about that."

"So you're just going to leave her in the state she's in?" Super Stallion asked, also getting mad again.

"Uh, yeah. Was that not clear? Besides perhaps this will finally teach Dimlight Glitter not too be so reckless." Super Stallion then flew right into Discord's face.

"Listen Discord, Thorax came here to you for help and you won't even try? That's not happening, you owe Equestria and beyond considering the stuff you tried to pull in the past and on top of that you owe me quite a bit as well."

"I don't owe you a jar of jelly on Hearts and Hooves Day," Discord answered to the confusion of Super Stallion and Thorax. Thorax then got in Discord's face as well right next to Super Stallion.

"Listen candy always on the brain, you're going to help Starlight like it or not and we're not leaving until we make sure that's just what you're going to do," Super Stallion said ready for a fight.

"Yeah so are you gonna help or are we gonna make you?" Thorax asked as he and Super Stallion grit their teeth at the spirit of chaos who bared a rather mischievous grin at the 2.

***

Twilight Sparkle was enjoying her time on the zeppelin with her family as well as Flash Sentry. Despite having trouble balancing that with all the princess activity she had to do with other ponies on the cruise with her. Such as Star Tracker who had won a raffle earlier and got the prize of getting to spend all day with Princess Twilight as a member of her honorary family. And he was enjoying every second of it who along with Flash Sentry and her chaos magic did what they could to help her get from spot to spot. "Well this has been quite a bit of a stressful vacation but I've still managed to pull off some fun," Twilight said as she was traveling with Flash and Star.

"I'm just happy to be here with you," Star Tracker said to Princess Twilight but he rather whispered it. He was a huge fan of Princess Twilight but was rather shy by nature. "Especially when it's twilight because your name is Twilight which is also my favorite time of day."

"I've gotten rather fond of Twilight lately myself," Flash Sentry said as he gave his very special somepony a playful little bump with his foreleg.

"You think you're so funny don't you Flash, I'm kind of surprised you and my brother don't get along better."

"Yeah he's still in his protective older big brother mode. Or at least he would be if he wasn't so insanely airsick."

"I am not airsick," Shining Armor said as he was walking behind the 3 ponies, his entire head a shade of light green. "I just, I just ate something that didn't agree with me." Shining Armor had to stop talking as he had to fight the urge to throw up.

"Whatever it was you ate it looks like it's trying to kill you," Flash said.

"Yeah he looks like he's going to croak like a frog," Star Tracker whispered in Twilight's ear and a bit closer to her than he needed to be.

"It's not that bad, and I'm not going to croak like a dog."

"I said frog."

"That either."

"Shining," Cadance called out while carrying her beloved baby Flurry Heart with one of her forelegs. "What are you doing out of the room? I told you to get some rest."

"Cadance I keep telling you I'm-" Shining Armor couldn't finished as once again he had to fight the urge to throw up. Cadance then wrapped her wing around her husband and helped him walk back to the room so he could get the rest he really needed.

“Star Tracker, would you mind helping him get to his room?” Flash asked. Star Tracker then did just that. He might have said something but neither Flash or Twilight heard.

“Did he really need to help my brother? I think Cadance can handle it.”

“Yeah, but I just wanted to have you all to myself for a little while.” Flash then pulled Twilight in for an intense kiss. 1 that Shining Armor noticed despite being dragged away and airsick.

“Hey, cut that out! Don’t make me come over there cause I will. Oh my gosh, listen to me. I’m turning into Stone Wall.

***

Stone Wall was resting in a bed at the hospital wing of the Badland prison. While quite hurt he was making a rather speedy recovery and out of nowhere put his hoof to his chest. “I don’t know why, but suddenly I’m filled with, pride.”

***

"So uh princess,” Star Tracker said after meeting backup with Twilight and Flash. "Is it true that you're really close with Super Stallion? Because I've heard quite a few things."

"I'm a bit curious about that as well," Flash Sentry said.

"Well our paths have crossed quite a few times but it's not like he always shows up where I am or something."

Suddenly Discord appeared with Super Stallion and Thorax bound and gagged by magic rings. The 2 landed right on the hard wooden floor and Discord brushed his hands together getting the dirt off of them.

"Hello and goodbye," Discord said as he simply waved to Twilight and disappeared.

"Hey look it's Super Stallion," one of the nearby ponies called out and also hoped to get his autograph after she got Princess Twilight's.

"Yeah and, some other guy," another pony nearby also wanting Twilight's autograph said. Twilight then approached Thorax and Super Stallion and freed them using her own chaos magic to make scissors that could cut the rings.

"Thank you," Thorax said.

"Yeah thanks Princess Twilight," Super Stallion said as a group of ponies got around Super Stallion and wanted pictures and autographs as well as answers to a bombardment of questions they had for him. "Time to go," Super Stallion said as he used his magic to pick up Twilight, Thorax, Star Tracker, and Flash Sentry and flew up to the other side of the zeppelin.

"Wow!" Star Tracker said when Super Stallion put the group down. "Getting to spend all my zeppelin time with a princess and a magic ride from a superhero. Best vacation ever, I'm totally writing about this whole thing tonight in my journal!"

"Uh who is this guy?" Super Stallion asked Twilight.

"It's kind of a long story," Twilight answered. "But the better question by far though would have to be why the heck did Discord drop you and Thorax off her of all places?"

"We went to see him because I wanted to ask him for help," Thorax answered.

"And I'm gonna guess that he wasn't exactly onboard with that."

"No," Super Stallion said. "And before long we got into a bit of an argument and well you saw what he did."

"And all I wanted was for him to help free Starlight," Thorax said as he looked down to the wooden floor of the zeppelin feeling depressed.

"Starlight?" Star Tracker asked. "Who's she?"

"She's my student but now she's trapped in a stone prison. Me and the other princesses have tried to free her but it's powerful magic not even my own chaos magic was enough. I've kind of been out of practice on that though." Before long Super Stallion and Thorax headed off and Twilight continued her vacation and while it was stressful she did what she could to balance out the fun.

"Twilight those comets you wanted to see have arrived," Flash said to Twilight when she finally finished signing autographs. Twilight, Flash, and Star made their way to where the rest of her family was but the stars were all but gone at this point.

This was one of the few times Twilight was very thankful that Discord taught her chaos magic and it to make the stars come back and have them do an instant replay to the utter delight of the other ponies. It did however take quite a bit out of her as it was more difficult to do than she thought as she was out of practice causing her to get dizzy and back up a bit and stomp on one of Star Tracker's hooves.

"OW! My hoof!" Star Tracker called out as he had to fight the urge to cry.

"Well maybe that wouldn't have happened if you didn't practically stand on her tail all the time," Flash Sentry said.

Not too long after that their vacation came to an end and Shining Armor's stomach finally recovered. And the 1st thing he wanted to do was talk to Twilight since he was alone with Flash Sentry for a while. But when he saw them again they were shaking hooves and followed with a hug, something they hadn't done before.

"Despite this I'm still glad I got to know you Flash."

"That goes double for me Princess Twilight," Flash replied as he and Twilight walked off in different directions.

"Twily," Shining Armor said in concern. "Is something wrong?"

"Oh it's nothing, it's just, Flash and I broke up." Shining Armor was rather shocked to hear that and so were the rest of his family.

"Oh Twilight, I'm so sorry to hear that, are you all right?" Shining Armor asked.

"Yeah I'm all right," Twilight answered rather bittersweetly. "It was something that we both agreed on. We were kind of too different and wanted different things."

"Are you going to be alright sweetheart," Night Light Twilight and Shining Armor's father asked while their mother Twilight Velvet was right behind them.

"Yeah I'm okay," Twilight answered as she walked off with her family but was stopped when Star Tracker once again popped up out of nowhere.

H,Hey Princess Twilight," Star Tracker said rather awkwardly as he usually did.

"Oh hello Star Tracker."

"I'm sorry about your break up with Flash Sentry," Star Tracker said to Twilight's surprise as well as her family.

"How did you know that?" Twilight asked.

"Oh well it's just that everypony is talking about it. And well I just want to tell you that you shouldn't let it get you down. It's like the old saying there's plenty of fish in the sea," Star Tracker said as he was blushing quite a bit.

"Oh well thank you very much Star Tracker," Twilight said. "That's very sweet of you to say though I'm feeling alright so-" Twilight was suddenly cut off as Star Tracker planted his lips right on Twilight's to everypony’s shock. When Star Tracker took his lips off he tried to think of something to say but just ran off. "Well, that was, unexpected."

***

The Mad Alicorn found her way to where the Scepter of Strength was and soon entered the land of dreams with it. Mad Alicorn then made her way into a dream that she had become quite familiar with and met up with a stallion that she had gotten to know for quite a bit.

The cunning yet heartless rogue known as Payback.

"Well well well Mad Alicorn I was expecting you rather later you've rather impressed me with your diligence I must say," Payback said once Mad Alicorn had located him within the maze inside his head that he was still trapped in.

"I suppose you can say that I'm even more determined to finally defeat Super Stallion than even you are."

"That may be a tall order but you just might be." Payback then took the scepter and with its power destroyed the maze in its entirety allowing his mind to become much more clear. Not too long after that Mad Alicorn returned to the Undiscovered West to greet the rest of the rogues.

"Huh I was expecting you to bring this mysterious other rogue with you when you were going to show up," Scar Flank said.

"Not just yet he's going to need a while to get here and during that we can get in more training."

"Are you kidding me that's all we've done for days," Scar Flank complained.

"That's fine with me," Weather Warper said. "What's the matter, Scar Flank scared you can't go as far as I can?"

"I can go just as far as you can Weather Warper!"

"Good to know," she said with a smirk. Meanwhile Wacko flew over to Tirek a bit.

"Tirek play seek and hide with Wacko before Wacko train?"

"I don't want to…..Actually yes I think I will play, you hide first."

Chapter 41 The Master Plan

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The Apple Family were hard working ponies and somewhat pillars of the community since their family was the reason Ponyville was founded. However 1 member of the family Applejack had gone missing and the others were looking for her. Big Mac searched the place he last saw her while Apple Bloom went into town and Granny Smith stayed at the farm in case she came back. "Any luck?" Granny asked.

"Nope," Big Mac answered.

"Ah don't like this 1 bit," Apple Bloom said, getting hysterical.

"Calm down now sweetheart," Granny Smith said as she walked over to Apple Bloom and patted her on the head. "We'll find Applejack, we just need to keep looking."

Suddenly Apple Bloom had a great idea. "I know, I'll see if Rainbow Dash can help. She's a Wonderbolt now she might be able to bring in the other Wonder-"

"Hey!" Spitfire called out interrupting Apple Bloom as she was hovering a dozen or so feet above the Apples along with Soarin and Fleetfoot. "Have any of you seen Rainbow Crash, she was supposed to report for practice."

"Never mind."

"We haven't seen her," Granny Smith answered.

"This was the last part of Ponyville we checked if she's not here where is she?" Fleetfoot asked.

"If this is her idea of a joke it's not funny," Spitfire said. "First she gets herself on probation and now she does something like this." Suddenly Spike ran up to the others & got their attention.

"Granny, Apple Bloom, Big Mac, Wonderbolts? Have any of you seen Rarity?"

"Don't tell me she's missing too?" Granny Smith asked and Spike explained that like Rainbow and Applejack she was nowhere to be found.

"3 missing mares, something is going on here and I don't like it," Soarin said. "Not 1 bit."

"Eeyup," Big Mac added.

"We have to find her, we have a date." The others looked at Spike rather shocked at what they had just heard. "We do!"

The group went into town looking for the missing ponies but they were nowhere to be found. Spike and the Apple family went to see Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie but they were missing as well.

"What the hay is going on?" Apple Bloom said. "This is getting serious, are there other missing ponies?" Hearing that Spike ran straight to the castle as fast as he could which impressed even the Wonderbolts as he kicked the doors open which surprised Twilight as Spike ran right over to her to hug her happy that she was still there.

"Spike is something the matter?" Twilight asked as she tried to get him to let go a little after the hug lasted longer than she thought it should.

"Rarity is missing along with Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack!" Spike answered as he let go. "Nopony has any clue where they are."

"Well let's hope Super Stallion knows how to find them," Twilight answered as she pressed her special bracelet but after a while figured she'd have to go to Canterlot to get his help. "I just hope Princess Celestia isn't in the mood to give out another death hug."

"A what?"

"I'll explain on the way, Spike."

***

Squeaky Clean was spending time with his beautiful wife Princess Celestia who was starting to develop quite the belly. It made certain things difficult for her such as keeping her emotions in check especially when she got into an argument with her sister. She also found it rather difficult to get out of bed in the morning and make breakfast but Squeaky had taken care of that by making it for her. "Oh Celestia my sweet Celestia," Squeaky said as he kissed her neck and gently caressed her stomach.

"Yes my wonderful Squeaky," Celestia replied as she was clearly enjoying the romantic gestures from her husband.

"There's something about waking up with you right beside me that just makes me fall in love with you all over again." Squeaky then moved closer to Celestia and started to kiss her right on the lips who returned the kiss slowly but passionately and took hold of her husband as she rolled on top of him. Squeaky to Celestia's surprise took a bit of control and rolled Celestia so she would be the one with her back on the bed.

"Oh my, is that your favorite position or something?"

"No, I was just a little scared you were going to crush me." Hearing that Celestia could help but laugh quite a bit before kissing Squeaky. Mere moment later there was a knock at the door which made the royal couple part lips and let go of each other.

"Come in," Princess Celestia said, trying to get out of bed and Squeaky helping her with that. Princess Luna then opened the door and walked over to her sister and brother-in-law with somewhat of a serious look on her face.

"Please forgive the interruption of something I'm quite sure that you didn't want to be interrupted. But I have something quite important that I need to tell you."

"Did Swift Sweep hit his head and get amnesia again?"

"No Squeaky, it's that I recently found out that like you I'm-"

"Princess Celestia! Prince Squeaky Clean! Oh and Princess Luna!" A guard interrupted Princess Luna as he ran into the room. "Princess Twilight and Spike have arrived with bad news," the guard continued and hearing this caught the attention of all 3 royal ponies.

"What's the matter?" Squeaky asked.

"The former bearers of the Elements of Harmony have vanished without a trace." Hearing that Celestia and Squeaky went to see Twilight while Luna went to inform her husband.

"Twilight you poor dear," Celestia said almost in tears when she arrived at the throne room. "First your own student gets turned to stone and now your friends have vanished." Celestia ran over to Twilight who screamed in fear and ran off and Celestia gave chase after but it wasn't long until Celestia's legs got rather tired and she stopped.

"I'm doing okay Celestia really," Twilight said as she breathed a little heavy. "But we need to figure out what happened to all of my friends and if somepony is behind all this?"

"And I may have an idea who the somepony behind all this might be," Squeaky whispered to himself.

***

"Well I must say," Payback said, getting the attention of all the other rogues. "The 1st part of my plan has been completed with flying colors."

"It may have been your plan but Wacko and I were the ones that pulled this part of it off," Mad Alicorn said.

"Though was it really necessary to take those 5?" Scar Flank asked. "After all the Elements of Harmony were used to free the Tree of Harmony, was it even worth it?" Scar Flank also asked, remembering hearing about the mess in Ponyville with the long black roots when he was still in prison.

"Seeing how I got to take the magic of those 5 I'd say it was well worth it," Tirek said, happy to have become that much stronger.

"Besides those 5 have helped Princess Twilight in the past with them gone, it's 1 or rather 5 less things for us to worry about," Payback answered.

"Speaking of Princess Twilight couldn’t those 2 have simply taken her as well? An alicorn's magic would have definitely made me and therefore the group much stronger?" Tirek asked.

"No, she would have been a lot harder to capture than her friends," Payback answered.

"Yeah not only could she match me but her chaos magic would have been hard for Wacko to deal with," Mad Alicorn answered. "But we'll get her soon enough as well as Super Stallion.”

"And with him out of the way we can take over all of Equestria," Scar Flank said, liking the idea very much.

"Who says we have to stop at just Equestria, there's a world to conquer," Payback said and Scar Flank liked that idea even more.

"Plus there's not just this world," Mad Alicorn said. "I came from a whole new world entirely. When we take control of this one we can go and take over that one as well."

"Wow, taking over 2 worlds," Weather Warper said. "That's quite a lot to take over and when we do, who's going to stay where and rule over what?"

"I'm staying in Equestria and rule on top of it like my family nearly did so long ago," Scar Flank said.

"Well then I'm going anywhere you're going Scar Flank," Weather Warper said.

"Let's not count your chickens before they hatch. We still have quite a few ponies to take down," Payback said. "Next stop, the Crystal Empire."

***

Spike was over at Rarity's boutique while she had not been missing for long; he greatly wished for her to come back soon. While at the boutique he found a necklace with a ruby in the shape of a heart in the center of it.

"Oh Rarity, please come back you mean so much to me," Spike said to himself as he grabbed the necklace and held it to his chest so that the ruby heart would be right next to his. A tear ran down one of Spike's eyes as he recalled the last time he was with the mare that he cared for so much.

***

Spike had just finished helping Rarity with a rather large order. "Oh Spike I can't thank you enough for your help with that dreadfully large order," Rarity said with utter gratitude.

"Anything for you Rarity," Spike said as he walked behind. Rarity then sat down and tried to rub her own neck as it was starting to irritate her. Seeing this Spike then put his claws on her neck and once again gently massaged her neck with his claws. Rarity then turned around and she got Spike to let go of her and she sat down once she faced her favorite dragon.

"Spike I should have told you this the last time you invited me over to the castle, I know what you're doing and while I do care for you, we're so different. I mean I'm a pony and you're a dragon plus there is kind of a big gag in our age Spike."

"I know that," Spike said as he put his claw to Rarity's cheek. "I know we're different but look at Celestia and Luna the immortal princesses that married mortal stallions that were different but they didn't care because their love was that strong."

"Yes but Spike, do you even know what love is?"

"Yes I do," Spike answered to Rarity's surprise. "I know what it is everytime I look at you. When I first met you I fell in love, then I fell in love more as I’ve gotten to know you. You're generous, smart, organized, a bit of a drama queen but you have a lot to deal with at times and in the end that never truly outshines your caring nature. I know I'm still just a baby dragon but when ever I look to those eyes of your Rarity I know I'm in love." To Rarity's surprise Spike then started to lean in and press his lips forward and also to her surprise she started to lean in as well.

"Spike," Rarity whispered as their eyes nearly closed and their lips nearly touched. But Rarity placed her hoof on Spike's chest and pushed him a little. "No Spike, I'm afraid we can't do this."

"Why not?" Spike asked, a little heart broken.

"It's a rule of mine, I never kiss on the 1st date so I'm not going to kiss before it."

"Wait!? Are…are you saying that?"

"I'm not promising anything Spike but I've decided that you at least deserve a chance, come pick me up tomorrow morning and don't keep me waiting."

"I won't! I'm gonna go get ready right now!" Spike then ran out the door to get ready for his date with Rarity, unaware of how long he'd have to wait.

***

The Crystal Empire, a literal shining utopia with ponies there to match that was doing a good of adapting to the new world they were in. This was not one of those days as the rogues attacked and it didn't take long for them to take control.

Mad Alicorn brainwashed any crystal ponies that got in between the rogues on their way to the castle. Tirek stole the magic of nearly every member of the royal guard as well as the royals, even Flurry Heart.

This gave him enough power to grow back into his 3rd form which he enjoyed very much. "Yes, this power, this glorious power, how I've longed to see it returned," Tirek said. "With just a little more I'll obtain my next form." Tirek then turned his head to the other rogues.

"Don't even think about it," Scar Flank said in a demanding tone. "Remember if it weren't for us you'd still be in Tartarus or did your father not teach you to show gratitude?"

"Don't talk about my father!" Tirek said angrily as he approached Scar Flank ready to throw him through a window.

"Knock it off all of you. We're not anywhere near done with my master plan so stick together for now and duke it out later," Payback said. Tirek then calmed down and walked off to the window and Payback walked over to join Mad Alicorn. "I do miss giving orders and getting others to do what I want."

"And I've missed using my magic to force other ponies to do what I want," Mad Alicorn replied as she watched her army stop other crystal ponies from getting to the castle.

"Yes, why do you not do that more often again?" Payback asked as they both saw a certain pony flying through the air.

"That's why," Mad Alicorn answered. Super Stallion felt like he should go on his patrol earlier than usual to look for Twilight's missing friends and he was glad he did as he heard all the crystal ponies screaming for help from the Crystal Empire to help out. Mad Alicorn got the attention of the other rogues that Super Stallion was on his way.

"What?" Weather Warper asked. "It's hardly even past 8, doesn't that guy have to eat breakfast or something first?"

"Not to worry we made a plan in case he showed up earlier than we thought or rather hoped he would," Payback said. "Wacko, you know what to do."

"Wacko do what Wacko know to do!" Wacko then flew through the wall and rammed into Super Stallion before he could even do something about it. Super Stallion grabbed Wacko and threw him off then forced him into the ground but Wacko flew straight back up and rammed Super Stallion again.

"I can't believe you were able to do that twice," Super Stallion said to himself. "But you're going to regret that." Super Stallion then grabbed Wacko by the waist and flew to the ground, only when they were several feet from the ground did Super Stallion let go and the remaining momentum slammed Wacko back to the same spot he was slammed even harder than before.

"Wacko have big owie."

"Yes that was the plan, I imagine even you are gonna need a minute to get up after tha-" Super Stallion was then cut off as Wacko flew up and hit Super Stallion dead in the chest with an energy beam from his mouth. Super Stallion was then knocked through several houses and hit the ground. "It looks like somepony has been getting in a lot of training the last time we fought."

"Yeah Wacko fight lots," Wacko answered, floating above Super Stallion and giving him a nasty pile driver making him scream in pain and he threw up in the air. "Wacko gonna win Wacko gonna win." Wacko then flew up and both he and Super Stallion hit each other with a mean right hook causing a shock wave. At first it seemed like it was a stalemate but Super Stallion was able to push his hook a little harder and make Wacko fall but this time he was able to fly before hitting the ground.

"If Wacko wants to win he's gonna have to try better than that!"

"Wacko no need to win so he can win," Wacko replied to Super Stallion who was of course confused.

"Did you learn to be cryptic while you were hiding away because that sounded weird even for you?"

"Wacko no have to beat you Wacko just have to fight you."

"So that way I can't stop the other rogues because I'm too busy fighting you," Super Stallion said, putting the pieces together.

"Oh, maybe Wacko shouldn't have said that." Super Stallion then flew to the castle and Wacko tried to ram him again but he dodged and blasted Wacko when he passed him. That allowed him to get to the castle but there was no sign of the rogues.

"Super Stallion," a crystal guard called out but barely as his magic was taken from him by Tirek. Super Stallion quickly flew over to him and tried to help him up. "The…the castle was attacked by a small group. Our magic was stolen from us by one and another used her magic to force others to do what she wanted.

"Tirek and Mad Alicorn," Super Stallion said, quickly figuring it all out. "Where are they now?"

"The one called Mad Alicorn, I'm assuming anyway that it was her because she was the only alicorn in her group, used her magic to open a portal and escape when they saw you coming."

"It's as I thought, wait here." Super Stallion then flew out the window to find Wacko and hopefully get more information out of him.

"I don't really have much of a choice here," the guard said. Super Stallion looked around for Wacko but like the other rogues was nowhere to be seen.

"He's gone." Super Stallion then saw there were crystal ponies still under Mad Alicorn's control and quickly undid her control.

"Somepony help!" A pony all the way in Canterlot cried out that Super Stallion heard perfectly and flew off.

***

After their business in the Crystal Empire the rogues wasted no time and did the same with Canterlot. Mad Alicorn brainwashed the royal guards while Tirek took the magic from a handful of guards that managed to avoid Mad Alicorn's brainwashing spell.

"That's enough magic for now, Tirek," Mad Alicorn said.

"Excuse me, you can literally see how much more powerful I have become," Tirek replied.

"Exactly you're so big I can hardly make a portal large enough for you to fit through. So unless you want to get left behind when we make our next getaway you'll hold off for now."

"Fine whatever," Tirek said with a huff. Before long the rogues made their way to the royal chambers where the princesses were about to be escorted out of the castle by royal guards but were cut off by brainwashed guards. The rogues showed up and turned the tables before they could do anything about it.

"Did you see how fast I was?" Weather Warper asked.

"No I was too busy making sure the guards stayed off you," Scar Flank replied.

"Oh please, as if you'd be fast enough to do that."

"Well clearly I am because you're still standing now aren't you?"

"If anypony is going to pull somepony's rump out of the fire it's going to be me."

"If you 2 are done adding more to your romantic tension we have a master plan to complete," Payback said as he approached the sisters.

"Luna, you have to get us out of here and now."

"Me?!"

"Well I can't fight, I'm pregnant!"

"Uh yeah about that, Remember how there was something I wanted to tell you this morning?"

***

Super Stallion arrived at the castle in Canterlot and like the Crystal Empire freed the ponies under Mad Alicorn's control but there was no sign of the royal pony sisters. They were taken to the Undiscovered West like the others. There Princess Celestia and Luna saw Cadance, Shining Armor, and Flurry Heart trapped in magic bubbles being watched over by Wacko.
"Celestia? Luna?" Cadance said with not enough strength to stand.

"You drained them of their magic didn't you, Tirek?"

"Yes Celestia and now I'm going to do the same to you and your sister."

"No not yet Tirek," Payback ordered.

"What?"

"You take their magic now and Super Stallion will be able to see you from space so for now you'll have to wait but we still don't want them to try and escape. Wacko can you make 2 large magic bubbles?"

"Wacko make bubbles good," Wacko answered as he made 2 bubbles right away.

"You can take their magic but for the time being you must store it in those bubbles."

"But-"

"No buts I've made a master plan to end master plans and I'm not going to let you ruin it because you have a bottomless hunger for magic. You'll get it soon enough but for now you'll take it out of them and put the bubbles, got it?!"

"Fine, for now." Tirek answered after several seconds of silence then followed Payback's orders.

"What about those 3?" Weather Warper asked.

"Oh them, we can take care of them now," Mad Alicorn answered as she popped the bubbles containing them and then blasted all of them with the Slab of Stone making them all statues like she did to Starlight Glimmer, shocking the royal pony sisters. "Now it's your turn," Mad Alicorn said as she turned towards the royal pony sisters.

"What?! N-No you can't," Celestia pleaded. "Please we're with child."

"Then you and your children can spend time with all the others here for the rest of eternity and see who can gather moss the fastest." Mad Alicorn then blasted them into stone. "3 targets left."

***

Super Stallion searched and searched for Princess Celestia and the others but had no luck. Determined not to give up he made his way to the Castle of Friendship. There he informed Twilight of what happened and hoped she and Spike could help him make a plan. "I knew it was only a matter of time before those trouble makers would be back but what are they up to?" Twilight asked when Super Stallion told her everything.

"I might know, I think they're trying to cut off his backup."

"What do you mean Spike?" Twilight asked.

"Super Stallion does a great job fighting all the bad guys but even he can't do everything on his own."

"He's right, like the time you helped me out when the rogues took over the castle and captured me."

"I get what you mean Spike they are after Super Stallion but they want to take down all of those that could back him up. Meaning they'll most likely come after me before they go after you," Twilight said.

"Then come on Twilight we gotta get you out of here," Super Stallion said as he was about to pick her up but she backed up.

"No, I think it would be best if I stay here."

"What?" Super Stallion and Spike said at the exact same time and equally shocked at Twilight's comment.

"Hear me out."

"NO!" Spike yelled as he tried to push Twilight out the door but Twilight teleported out of the way and back to where she originally was. Once she teleported back to where she was she lifted her foreleg, the one that she always had her special unbreakable bracelet.

"Oh I get it. If you get taken as well then you use your bracelet and I can track down the rogues. But it's still risky."

"Yeah Twilight," Spike said. "What if they knock you out after they take you away or worse?"

"I'm afraid it's a risk we're just gonna have to take."

"But Twilight-" Spike was cut off when Twilight put her hoof to Spike's mouth.

"I'll be fine, we've stopped those rogues before and we can do it again."

"But of course a little help from the lord of chaos could help," Discord said as he appeared out of thin air.

"Discord, what are you doing here," Spike said. Discord then teleported next to Twilight and started to rub her head.

"I'm here to look over my chaos student but since you're here Super Stallion I can give you some interesting information. I've been keeping a rather watchful eye over 1 or 2-"

"Twilight," Sunset Shimmer called out, interrupting Discord.

"Sunset Shimmer what are you doing here? How were you able to get back to Equestria?"

"I came here to tell you, but maybe we should talk in private."

"Why?"

"I may know why she wants to be alone with you and it's not for shipping reasons." Discord then dropped a giant anvil on Sunset Shimmer but she blocked it with a powerful barrier spell and in doing so turned into Mad Alicorn as making the barrier super strong distracted from her disguise. "Just as I thought it's not Sunset Shimmer, well it is but, you know what I mean."

"How did you know it was me?"

"I bluffed, that anvil was filled with water." Mad Alicorn then turned back and saw that the anvil was indeed an overgrown water balloon.

"Very clever but it still won't stop us."

"Us?" Spike asked and suddenly the other rogues showed up. Weather Warper and Wacko flew up while Tirek forced his way through the door and Scar Flank and Payback teleported in.

"Payback?!” Super Stallion said. “But how, you scrambled your brain?"

"Let's just say the enemy of my enemy is my friend. And she found a scepter that I used to escape the maze of my mind.”

“After I failed the first time, I just went back again and found him,” Mad Alicorn said. “We were able to put a plan together. He told me about 2 very useful artifacts. 1 of which need to be useful.”

That’s why she ran off after just getting Starlight, Super Stallion thought.

“And she in return gave me an artifact that helped me regain almost all of my memories as well," Payback said.

Almost? Does that mean he doesn't remember I'm Squeaky Clean?

"We were planning on grabbing you 3 1 at a time but I suppose taking all of you down right now will be just as good," Payback said.

"There are 4 of us," Spike said, ready to fight and protect Twilight if need be.

"He was talking to the others, nopony cares about an overgrown lizard like you," Scar Flank said.

"Oh yeah, say that to my face!"

"Get them!" Payback ordered and the rogues charged. Tirek uses his newly acquired vast power to force Discord to stand still in the air before he could use any chaos magic but Spike ran over to Tirek and set his tail on fire forcing him to let go.

"Meddlesome dragon!" Twilight then tried to blast Tirek back but it hardly bothered him. Super Stallion tried to help but he was fighting Mad Alicorn and Wacko. Weather Warper flew down and grabbed Spike and then threw him against the wall knocking him out. Twilight was helping Discord fight and they all dodged spells from Payback and Scar Flank. When suddenly Super Stallion was blasted in the back by a powerful chaos beam that slammed him into a wall.

"What the?" Super Stallion turned around and saw it was Payback holding a strange scepter. "I see you're still letting others do most of the work so you can work in your cheap shots."

"Yes and this was quite the effective one. While I didn't get much chaos magic, the Scepter of Strength boosts the magical abilities of whoever holds it." Before Super Stallion could get up Wacko jumped on his back to keep him down and Mad Alicorn placed magic rings on his legs and neck.

"Keep it up, I can take it all day!" Tirek cried out as Twilight and Discord blasted him.

"You always were a glutton for punishment Tirek," Discord said and was suddenly struck by lightning made by Weather Warper. Scar Flank teleported behind Twilight and put her in a hold while Tirek grabbed Discord. "These rogues have become quite the problem huh Super Stallion, some of them are anyway," Discord said and then suddenly his magic was drained away by Tirek who grabbed Twilight with his other hand and held her tight along with Discord.

"Try to escape and I'll squeeze the life right out of both of you."

"When this is all over Twilight we'll need to go on vacation, maybe in Dodge Junction. Who knows, we might run into some familiar faces," Discord said. Super Stallion then broke free and forced Wacko off his back. He then flew around the room attacking all of the rogues except for Payback who instinctively put up a chaos magic barrier when Super Stallion got himself back up.

"Too little too late I'm afraid," Payback answered as he forced Super Stallion back by expanding the barrier that got so big it almost hit the other rogues. He was then attacked by Mad Alicorn and Wacko.

"Looks like we finally have the drop on you," Mad Alicorn said.

"You may have defeated all of us in the past but nopony is coming to help you out this time," Weather Warper said.

"You see while we were hiding we developed a master plan and the teamwork to pull it off," Scar Flank said.

"It was my plan," Payback said. "Before we went after you we captured all those that-"

"Could provide backup, yeah Spike figured that out," Super Stallion interrupted. "And now that they've all been captured it's time for the final fight with me?"

"No, not yet, tomorrow," Payback answered.

"What?"

"Time and time again you've ruined our plans so our grand defeat of you will be the grandest of defeats. You will meet us tomorrow and there we will not just fight you, we're going to pummel you into the dirt and only when you beg for it to end will you join the others and be forgotten," Payback explained. "We could finish you off now but I'm not taking the chance you'll figure out how to escape with those 2."

"And what makes you think I won't bring an army with me?"

"And who are you going to bring?" Mad Alicorn asked. "The Wonderbolts?"

"I can out fly them any day," Weather Warper said.

"Royal guards?" she asked again.

"More magic for me to steal," Tirek said.

"Or what about the royal sisters' new husbands? They may be royals now but they're still just useless janitors," Payback said. "Face it you're outmatched and you have nopony to help you. Let that sink in, realize that you don't have the smallest bit of hope and meet us tomorrow we'll be with Tirek who will be the size of a mountain, you can't miss him."

"If you don't come say farewell to Princess Twilight," Tirek said and with that the rogues left via a portal that Mad Alicorn made. Not too long after that Spike woke up and Super Stallion explained what happened.

"So they left just to beat you up later and do it once and for all? Sweet Celestia that is beyond cruel." Suddenly Super Stallion heard the signal from Twilight who took a while to reach her bracelet but managed to do it allowing Super Stallion to figure out she was in the Undiscovered West.

"So that's where they've been hiding all this time," Super Stallion said as he looked off where the sound was coming from.

"Wait, if you know where they are you could sneak attack them!" Spike said as he quickly figured out what Super Stallion was doing.

"Yes but that won't be enough to win. Half of them will be trouble enough for me to fight alone but I'll be fighting all of them."

"Not if I come with you, yeah I know I'm not exactly Discord or Rainbow Dash but I gotta be better than nothing."

"Discord," Super Stallion said as he remembered the weird things he said. "Spike, wait here, I'll be right back."

"Wait you mean you're letting me, and you're gone," Spike said as Super Stallion flew all the way to Dodge Junction and landed getting the attention of pretty much the whole town including a group sitting by a nearby table.

"What are you 3 doing here?"

***

"What a glorious day. Super Stallion's defeat is so close I can almost taste it," Payback said. "And it's all thanks to, heck even I can't take all the credit for this."

"Good to know," Mad Alicorn said who was right next to them.

"Yes you've certainly pulled your weight on this, such as this great hiding spot. But it does beg the question, why didn't my sisters tell somepony about it when they turned themselves in?"

Mad Alicorn leaned in close. "I put a spell on the others when they were sleeping so that they couldn't remember where we've been hiding in case they ran off like Prank Master or got captured."

"Smart, very smart, I must admit," Payback said. "You're probably as good at manipulating others as I am. Perhaps when Super Stallion is defeated and this world is conquered I help you conquer the world that you came from." Suddenly Super Stallion came down right on Payback hitting him on the head with his elbow.

"Huh I thought that would have knocked you out I guess I held back too much because I didn't want to completely squash your head, no matter how tempting that is."

"How in the world were you able to find us?" Mad Alicorn asked as she healed Payback right away.

"Oh a superhero has his ways."

"Fine we'll beat it out of you," Payback said as the rogues got together and Tirek absorbed all the alicorn magic including Twilight's making him a giant once again and better at fighting Super Stallion.

"Don't bet on it this time you're gonna take a beating," Spike said as he got off Super Stallion and put up his dukes.

"I was almost certain you'd come alone but I guess we forgot 1 friend," Payback said.

"Don't underestimate me!" Spike said ready to charge but Super Stallion stopped him.

"Yes you got quite a lot of my friends, but you didn't get my enemies." Suddenly a small group attacked the rogues. Prank Master threw a pie in Mad Alicorn's face while Brush Stroke threw several spheres at Payback making him emotionally confused and Pony Ivy grabbed Weather Warper and Scar Flank with large plant and tree roots.

"I like this place," Pony Ivy said.

Spike even got in the action as he shot fire at Wacko while it didn't hurt it did distract him. With the other rogues, Super Stallion flew right up to Tirek and gave him the meanest uppercut he could give him.

"How were you able to get those ponies here, weren't they locked up?" Tirek asked as he remembered the stories of the former rogues in-between training.

"I convinced Prince Squeaky Clean to write a letter approving their temporary release to give me a little back up," Super Stallion answered. I may still be a janitor but being a prince does have its advantages. "You rogues may have gotten in some wins by banding together but despite all your ponynapping, I still found a band of my own so to speak. Now we can have an all out brawl but this time, it's winner take all." Super Stallion then continued to attack Tirek who despite his massive size and strength was too slow to counter attack.

"One of you get up here and help me!" Tirek ordered but the others were quite preoccupied. Wacko was about to fly up but a rope made out of magic wrapped around his chest. He could have flown up easily but what stopped him was seeing who was bidding him.

"Prank Master! Have you come back to play a game Wacko loves games." Hearing that Prank Master got a rather brilliant idea.

"Yeah that's what we'll do, let's play tag, come catch me!" Wacko then broke free and chased after Prank Master.

"Super Stallion may have surprised all of us by bringing former rogues but he still won't be able to win," Mad Alicorn said.

"Quite a bold and most likely true statement," Gentleman Thief said, appearing behind Mad Alicorn. "Perhaps you shall require further aid from another individual."

"Who are you?"

"I am the Gentleman Thief and I wish to offer my services to you madam."

"You do?"

"Don't listen to him," Payback called out who KO'd Brush Stroke with help from the scepter. "He was with us before you arrived. He stabbed me in the back and ran off."

"You'd know all about that wouldn't you?" Mimicry turned around sitting in a tree with Inferno behind Payback.

"Hello brother," Inferno said when Payback turned around then they jumped together and gave their brother a double face punch.

"I've seen my errors and wish to stay on the side sure to obtain victory."

"Tempting to get another comrade, but I can't take any chances." Mad Alicorn was about to blast Gentleman Thief with the Slab of Stone but she couldn't find it.

"How tragic so quickly to betray and so easily, but luckily I had already planned to beat you to it," Gentleman Thief said as pulled out the Slab of Stone that he grabbed from Mad Alicorn and blasted her, turning her into stone. "1 down 5 to go."

Meanwhile Weather Warper and Scar Flank were able to get free but Pony Ivy had them on the ropes as he had a lot to work with.

"This isn't working at this rate, we're going to tire out before we can even get to him," Scar Flank said. "We need a plan."

"Well then it's a good thing I already have one."

"You do?"

"Yeah," Weather Warper replied. "You hit him low and I'll hit him high."

"Why do I even bother?" Scar Flank asked when suddenly Weather Warper took to the sky confusing Scar Flank and Pony Ivy only for her to come down and attack several times with lightning and fire which quickly spread or at least it would if Pony Ivy didn't stop the fire from spreading.

"No! Not here at this place, there should be some places where nature should be left alone!" Pony Ivy used his powers to get the roots to put out the fire but this left him vulnerable which Scar Flank noticed. With nothing in his way Scar Flank hit him with a powerful spell knocking him out.

"See, my plan worked."

"So you actually can think of a good idea, and here I was thinking I'd have to do the thinking for the both of us."

"Don't get too cocky you haven't won yet," former king Sombra said as he appeared along with Radiant Hope.

"Let's show them what a real duo can do shall we Sombra?"

"Right behind you as always, Hope." Radiant Hope lunged at Weather Warper while Sombra blasted at Scar Flank. At 1 point their beams clashed and while Scar Flank held his ground he was eventually pushed back. Weather Warper tried to fly over and help him but Hope wouldn't let her get near him as she blasted spell after spell trying to hit her but she was too fast.

"You'll have to do better than that if you want to take me down. A lot better."

"Oh well if that's all I have to then I'll get right on it." Weather Warper fired fireball after fireball at Hope who summoned a force field to stop them but Weather Warper broke through it by spinning and surrounding herself with lightning. Hope was barely able to dodge. Scar Flank who got pushed back, pushed Sombra back next as well as gave him several nasty hooks.

"We've worked too hard and too long for you all to come out of nowhere and help Super Stallion ruin everything!" Scar Flank said. "You failed to control the Crystal Empire but we're gonna take over everything."

"I may have found my redemption but I still have my dark side," Sombra replied as he surrounded himself with a black aura. Sombra then used his dark magic on Scar Flank's horn preventing him from using magic. Weather Warper saw Scar Flank was in danger and tried to help but Hope caught her in a magical aura and they both got knocked out with powerful spells.

Spike and another reformed rogue got all the prisoners together so Gentleman Thief could free them. Payback saw this and knew he had to stop them. So first he hit Inferno with a point blank spell knocking her out then when Mimicry tried to attack he used Inferno as a shield then hit Mimicry also at point blank range.

"How could you do this to your own family?" Mimicry asked as she was on the verge of passing out.

"Because I'm not going to let anything get in my way of getting everything that I've worked so hard to get. Even if it's you and Inferno." Hearing that Mimicry couldn't help but cry a little.

"What could I have done to deserve a brother as cruel as you?" Mimicry asked before she passed out.

"Not exactly brother of the year are you?" Dr. Arachnid asked who stopped moving the statue ponies when he saw Payback's sisters needed back up. "Unfortunately I can relate."

"How many ponies did Super Stallion bring? Who are you and what's with the metal legs on your back?

"I went by Dr. Arachnid for a while but now I prefer my old name Ruby Shores and I guess you can say I was the first leader of the rogues."

"Well whoever you are, you won't stop me either."

"I beg to differ," Ruby then shot out a power taser that hit Payback dead on and knocked him out. He tried to summon a barrier but he wasn't able to and didn't understand why. "Looks like my theory is correct that scepter boosted your magic from what I saw but by using it too much it can tire out your magical energy. You wanted to win so badly it blinded you to how obvious it was you were going to lose, again I unfortunately relate."

"Well it looks like the other rogues have been taken care of," Super Stallion said as he looked below. "You're the only 1 left to deal with Tirek."

"It's not over yet when I defeat you the others won't stand a chance," Tirek retorted. "Besides I've yet to see Wacko get defeated if he and I combine our powers you won't stand a chance." Suddenly Tirek was punched in the face by Wacko himself. Tirek was hit so hard he had to put his hand on the ground to stop himself from falling completely.

"Hi Super Stallion, how is it going?" Clover the Clever asked using her magic to lift herself up to where Super Stallion was.

"Clover? Was that Wacko, why is he helping me?"

"Well you see when you got Squeaky Clean to help you get the former rogues together to help you I felt bad that I left Wacko behind because he isn't really bad he was just being manipulated. So I explained to him that what he thought was good was bad and told him by helping you he could actually do good."

"And when he didn’t understand that, what did you do next?"

"I said I'd give him a bag of candy if he punched Tirek." Suddenly Tirek got back up and tried to blast Wacko and Super Stallion who grabbed Clover and him then got both of them out of the way.

"Super Stallion save Wacko and Prank Master," Wacko said surprised. "Super Stallion good and real good."

"Now I have to deal with 2 superheroes? Well I guess I'm going to need a boost." Tirek then took the magic from those on the ground, even those on his side and took their magic, even Mad Alicorn somehow. "Like you said Super Stallion, winner takes all." Tirek then launched a giant beam that hit Super Stallion dead on and slammed him into the ground just outside the Undiscovered West.

"I think we may have a problem here Wacko," Clover said and suddenly her magic was taken by Tirek as well causing her to fall. Wacko was able to catch her and put her safely on the ground and then Tirek grabbed Wacko.

"I imagine you have quite a lot of magic for me to take."

"Prank Master right, Tirek bad, Tirek never play seek and hide and 1 time Tirek played Tirek stink at finding."

"I wasn't even trying to find you at all you annoying little, oh what's the point you're just a worthless soon to be powerless bug." Tirek was about to take Wacko's magic but Super Stallion blasted him and made him let go. Super Stallion was then smacked down by Tirek and he was slammed into the ground again Tirek then tried to blast him again but Wacko flew in the way and used himself as a shield.

"Wacko!" Clover called out as she couldn't even stand.

"Wacko okay, Wacko think."

"Time to finish you off Super Stallion," Tirek said as he fired another blast at him and Wacko who both countered with beams of their own. At first it seemed even but Tirek's magic quickly pushed forward. "Yes this is it this is the day you finally fall. You almost had us all but in the end it wasn't enough, we've finally won."

"Not as long as I'm still breathing!"

"Wacko not give up either!"

"Oh please spare me your blabber look at me look at how powerful I've become you can't stop me."

"I think those 2 need a boost," Ruby said. "Super Stallion catch!" Ruby then tossed him the Scepter of Strength and he caught it.

"Boosts the magical abilities of whoever holds it." Super Stallion shared the scepter with Wacko and they pushed their magic back and it hit Tirek so hard he was blasted off the Undiscovered West and all the way into the ocean. Wacko and Super Stallion flew to Tirek who swam back to land. "Looks like he's the one on the verge of defeat. Let's take him down together."

"Wacko help Super Stallion." Wacko and Super Stallion then joined one of their forelegs together ready to pummel Tirek who looked up after hearing them talk.

"Uh no."

***

After Tirek's defeat and Super Stallion's trip to the Tree of Harmony to borrow its power to force Tirek to relinquish his stolen magic, the ponies and Discord turned to stone were freed from their prison by reversing the Slab of Stone's magic. Those who were freed were told everything.

"Well I must say this has been quite the adventure, much more for some than it was for others," Ruby said as he looked at Super Stallion.

"So I take it, you figured out my hints?" Discord asked while stretching after getting out of yet another stone prison.

"Yes I found Hope, Sombra, and Gentleman Thief and put the pieces together. I can't believe I'm saying this but I really owe you one."

"Yes you do, rather utterly hilarious don't you think? And the most hilarious part of all is I may not even call it in. Because I just love saying Super Stallion owes me a favor."

"Can Wacko get candy now?"

"So what is this guy's story exactly?" Ruby asked as he looked at Wacko.

"Wacko here was made when we tried to make another Super Stallion," Clover answered, which got Ruby's attention right away.

"What? His power can be duplicated. How does it work? Tell me everything about the process!" Ruby asked, getting right in Clover's muzzle.

"Pickle?" Clover asked.

"Well I think it's time we all got back to where we came from," Luna said. "That includes taking the rogues and the former rogues. But I have a feeling you'll all be getting a parole hearing very soon."

"That reminds me, how were you able to get all of us for this Super Stallion?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Well…when I explained to Prince Squeaky Clean that I had a plan to free all those who were taken he couldn't write the decree fast enough. He knew it was risky but as a prince he knew he had to protect ponies in Equestria plus Princess Celestia was taken and he would do anything for her.”

"Makes sense, I would do anything for Squeaky too. Speaking of which Super Stallion could you take me back to Canterlot I want to see him again as soon as possible."

"Sure thing." Super Stallion then picked up Princess Celestia. "Discord would you mind-"

"Yeah yeah just let me finish stretching."

"Yeah, let's go home. I still need to find a pie Rainbow Dash likes!"

***

"My my, you've certainly been through a lot lately," Princess Celestia said to Squeaky as they were in bed together. It had been several days since the rogues were defeated and they had become inseparable.

"Yeah it was really intense for a while but now all the rogues are finally locked up. Well the none redeemed ones anyway. Hopefully things will settle down for quite a while."

"I imagine they will," Celestia said as she rolled on top of her husband and started to kiss him. "Afraid I'll crush you?"

"I'll take my chances." The prince and princess then locked lips and embraced each other but then suddenly there was a knock at the door.

"Sister, I have to talk to you right now!" Luna said almost out of breath.

"NOT NOW LUNA!"

"Please, it's important!"

"UNLESS IT INVOLVES STAR SWIRL COMING BACK FROM THE DEAD IT CAN WAIT A WHILE!"

"Well actually."

Chapter 42 Back In Time Part 1

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Several days had passed since the rogues had at long last been captured and sent to Tartarus. All but 1, Wacko who Clover the Clever decided to teach how to be truly good like a friend she made not too long ago. Swift Sweep even donated some of his time to help Clover in reforming Wacko.

"Wacko give wallet back, Wacko good," Wacko said, grabbing the wallet before it even hit the ground.

"Doesn't look familiar," Swift Sweep said.

"Familiar?" Wacko asked, saying the word very slowly.

"You know, it's when you remember something or somepony because you've seen it before and so, oh wait this is my wallet. Thank you Wacko."

"Hooray Wacko do good!" Wacko then jumped up and down out of joy, while that was going on Twilight was finally able to free Starlight. She made her way to the changeling hive where her statue was carefully preserved by Thorax and reversed the Slab of Stone's magic, freeing her to Thorax's utter delight.

"STARLIGHT!" Thorax called out as he tackled her to the ground and gave her a big hug.

"Hey Thorax," Starlight said, still on the ground. "It's nice to see you again too." Thorax then helped her up and gave her another hug that she returned.

"I'm so glad to see you Starlight, let's celebrate!" Thorax said as he let go of Starlight.

"Oh I know we can have a party," Twilight said. "I can get Pinkie Pie here in no time."

"Well actually I was thinking I could take Starlight to a lake not too far away and maybe we could have a picnic there."

"Oh my," Starlight said as she blushed a little as she put the pieces together. "Thorax, are you asking me out on a date?"

"Y-Yeah I guess I am," Thorax replied as he blushed a little as well. "So, so what do you say Starlight?"

***

Sunburst, a talented wizard in the Crystal Empire recently found a journal that belonged to a legendary unicorn from long ago. The journal explained how not only he but all the other pillars disappeared after imprisoning The Pony of Shadows. Twilight believed it would be best for Equestria to free them. After a few days of research and a little help from Swift Sweep who as a big surprise to everypony could read ancient languages the mane 6 got to work finding certain artifacts then traveled to Pone Henge where the imprisoning happened.

"This is going to be so exciting," Twilight said excited to see Star Swirl again but it wasn't going to be a pleasant reunion.

"Yes at long last I am free," the Pony of Shadows said as he made himself known.

"How exactly can you say at long last when time doesn't exactly or even at all pass in Limbo?" Somnambula asked.

"Twilight I don't think we had a plan for this," Spike asked.

"Actually I made just the contingency plan for this," Twilight replied as she pressed her special bracelet and Super Stallion arrived at Pone Hedge in no time at all ready for a fight.

"Now that is quite something you don't see everyday," Somnambula said.

"Oh my gosh, earth ponies can fly now!?" Flash Magnus said.

"You again?" The Pony of Shadows said surprised to see him again.

"Again?" Super Stallion said but then decided to dismiss it and attack. Super Stallion didn't hold back but the Pony of Shadows was able to hold his ground.

"You'll need to do better than that," the Pony of Shadows said. As Super Stallion continued to fight he started to glow as a rainbow-like aura began to surround him quite a bit.

"What the hey is that?" Applejack asked.

"Looks like the writer is going for another Deus ex machina," Pinkie Pie answered and just as she did Super Stallion was knocked to the ground and the aura disappeared. "Oh looks like he wants this one to be explained first."

"You are quite powerful for a pony that isn't an alicorn but once I return to my full power none will be able to stand in my way." And with that the Pony of Shadows left so quickly even Super Stallion couldn't stop him.

"Stygian, wait come back!" Star Swirl called out.

"Stygian?" Twilight asked.

"Perhaps it's best I or rather we explained myself," Star Swirl said.

"Well I know where we can go," Twilight said. They made their way to the Castle of Friendship which Star Swirl not only figured out was a product of the Tree of Harmony but also explained how the pillars created the tree.

"Wow that is amazing," Super Stallion. "But that still doesn't explain why you called that giant walking shadow Stygian."

"It's a rather long story but I'll try to be quick as time may not be on our side. Stygian brought us together to stop dangerous creatures known as the sirens. He wasn't talented like we are but he was strategic and helped us make plans to win, but it wasn't enough. He wanted to be a hero just like us and used items that belonged to us for a ritual to make himself like us. But we stopped him and cast him out because we unfairly assumed that he was going to steal our powers."

"Woah I bet he wasn't too happy about that."

"No he wasn't Super Stallion, by the time we realized what we had done, it was too late. We looked for him to apologize, but when we did he was consumed by darkness and we had no choice but to imprison him. We only meant for him to be imprisoned in Limbo for just a little while until we figured out how to separate him from the darkness but when we sent him in there he sucked us in there with him. Until now that is," Star Swirl finished.

"So I think I'll just go right out on a limb and say that you don't just want me to pound the living crud out of Stygian?"

"No Super Stallion, I don't want you to do that," Star Swirl answered. “We're beyond long overdue to make what we should have long ago," Star Swirl said as he raised his head. "No time like the present as they say."

"Yeah that's the spirit," Rainbow Dash said, ready to help the pillars.

"We'd be honored to help you Star Swirl," Twilight said. "And it won't just be us, there's my brother and my sister in law who's also an alicorn too, Celestia and Luna, oh and even Clover the Clever."

"I beg your pardon?" Star Swirl asked.

"Clover the Clever she's here too and she can help you out."

"Is that a fact? Well it seems that time just might be on our side after all."

***

The mane 6, Spike, Super Stallion, and the pillars made their way to Canterlot Castle where Celestia and Luna were able to greet their teacher and father figure. They were so excited to see him again they hugged him right on the spot.

"It's so unbelievable," Celestia said with tears streaming down her face. "When I first heard from Luna that your journal was found and that there was a chance to bring you back it was like a miracle."

"Yes," Luna added with tears also streaming down her face. "It's so wonderful to finally see you again. I thought that wouldn't happen until, well you know."

"Yes but I had a feeling we would meet again," Star Swirl said.

"Star Swirl listen," Celestia said. "About what I said when you-" Celestia was cut off when Star Swirl placed a hoof on her muzzle.

"I forgave you long ago." Star Swirl then wiped the tears from the eyes of his daughter. As he backed up his jaw nearly hit the floor when he saw the size of their stomachs. "I'M GONNA BE A GRANDPA!" Star Swirl then actually jumped like a young stallion but stopped when his back hurt. "I'm okay I'm okay, somethings I forget I'm not as young as I used to be."

"Wait a minute Star Swirl was your dad!?" Swift Sweep asked.

"Not quite," Luna corrected. "We never knew our actual parents. Star Swirl found us when we were babies and he took care of us."

"Yes and a certain somepony made raising the 2 quite difficult didn't they?" Star Swirl asked as he looked right at Celestia who blushed.

"Yes, well no need to get into that," Celestia said.

"Yes you probably don't want to relive how you acted like such a menace when you were young," Star Swirl said as he reached up to rub her mane a little. "But you were my little menace." Suddenly Star Swirl got depressed again. "I just wish I was as good a friend to Stygian as I was a father to you and Luna. I screwed up and my pride blinded me to that until it was too late. How could I have done something so stupid?"

"Don't be so hard on yourself Star Swirl," Celestia said as she looked at Twilight for a few seconds. "I know how you feel but if you still have time to fix it you should fix it and let those close to you know how much you care about them. Twilight, can you come here? I want to let you know how precious you are to me."

"NO!" Twilight then ran for the hills to Star Swirl's confusion but decided to look into it later as he had been distracted long enough and went to get Clover the Clever. She was at the castle as well and was even more excited to see Star Swirl again than Celestia and Luna.

"Star Swirl Star Swirl Star Swirl!" Clover said as she grabbed his fore legs and danced with him a little.

"I see you haven't lost your excitement Clover."

"Oh it's so good to see you again Star Swirl," Clover said as she pulled him into a hug and Wacko joined in.

"My my who do we have here?"

"Oh Wacko? It's kind of a long story."

"You tried to recreate my sphere with the gems of magical properties in the Undiscovered West and he's the result of that isn't he?"

"Wow, you're good." Wacko then flew Star Swirl and Clover to where her cabin was as she still kept many of her things including her old Prank Master uniform. "Uh Clover, what is this?"

Clover used her magic to take the uniform out of Star Swirl's hooves and into hers. "Let's just say that I went through a phase when I got to this time."

"When you fell through the portal I made to get Twilight and Squeaky home before it was finished the unstable energy of the portal scrambled your brain causing you to act like a crazy and random rogue didn't it?"

"Wow you have got to teach me how you do that?"

"Perhaps after we help Stygian," Star Swirl answered as he looked through the various items in the cabin.

"What are we doing here again?"

"I explained on the way here."

"I know but my mind isn't what it used to be."

"Before you fell into the portal you were working on a spell that could project a pony forward into time. When you were gone I had to continue your research with the few notes left over. I didn't have a lot to work on, though I was able to send myself into the future a couple times."

"Really? How did that go?"

"It was okay, the last one wasn't exactly a joyride into the future but it had its nice parts."

"Well I don't know where the heck I put that journal of mine who knows how long this will take."

"Found it."

"Really? Oh I get it you must have done that thing where you figured it out right away. How'd you do this time?"

"I was looking for your journal and I saw a book that has theories on a time spell written on it."

"Oh, go figure,"

"Yeah, go figure."

***

With the journal found the 3 ponies made their way back to the castle and asked for Twilight and Squeaky to come to join them while the others searched for possible places that Stygian could be hiding. As Twilight and Squeaky arrived they arrived at Canterlot castle they found a circle drawn on the floor by Clover and Star Swirl. Wacko wanted to help but he didn't know how to write yet so he just watched.

"So why have we been brought here when we need to stop the Pony of Shadows?" Squeaky asked as he and Twilight were standing in the center of the circle as per Star Swirl's instructions.

"By going back in time you'll be at or at least very near the point when Stygian fell into darkness. By figuring out the reason that he did such a thing it will help me get through to him," Star Swirl answered.

"Couldn't you try to do that now and save us a possible unnecessary trip through time?" Squeaky asked.

"Yeah Star Swirl don't get me wrong you're a genius but this might not be the best plan to stop the Pony of Shadows and help your friend."

"You may be right Princess Twilight but you have to go anyway," Star Swirl said.

"Why?" Squeaky asked, a little confused.

"Because you already did, time travel is funny that way," Star Swirl answered.

"Is there something that we need to know before we're sent to…before?" Twilight asked.

"A couple things actually while we've met before Twilight you'll be meeting me for the 1st time and while the present me and Clover have found a way to send you 2 to the past it'll be up to the past me and Clover to send you to the future."

"Huh, ironic," Squeaky said to himself.

"Ironic?" Wacko asked once again saying the word very slowly.

"It means funny," Clover answered.

"Oh, HA HA HA HA HA HA HA, I don't get it."

"I'll explain later," Clover said.

"Once you get to the past and learn why Stygian turned to darkness, Clover and I can get you 2 back home. Other than that just try not to do anything that will disturb the space time continuum."

"Got it we won't let you down Star Swirl," Twilight said.

"I know you won't Twilight."

"Wait, was that a time travel joke?" Before Star Swirl could answer his question Squeaky and Twilight were hurled through time and Twilight and Squeaky found themselves in Equestria over 1000 years ago.

"Wow it's so amazing time travel is just such an amazing thing," Twilight said in awe.

"Didn't you actually already go through time?"

"Yeah but I was so focused on stopping Starlight that I could enjoy it."

"That makes sense like the time I traveled to parallel worlds but I was so focused on rescuing you then Princess Celestia and Princess Luna that I couldn't just take the time to say we're in a flipping alternate dimension. We really gotta take the time to stop and realize just how awesome our lives are."

"Yeah, but not now we gotta get going."

"Right time's a wastin," After Twilight gave Squeaky a pity laugh the 2 set out to find Stygian. "Twilight wait!"

"What is it Squeaky? Is something the matter?"

"Star Swirl said not to do anything to alter the course of history."

"Yeah."

"Well we better make sure that nopony else sees another alicorn running around." Twilight then looked at her wings and saw Squeaky's point.

"You're right we got to do something to hide my wings." Twilight then used her magic to make a black hood and robe appear and then put it on while leaving the hood down. "There, that should do it now let's get going. We need to find Stygian so we can help Star Swirl and the other pillars but mostly Star Swirl. Not that I have anything against them, it's just that Star Swirl is my hero, he's just so cool."

"Yes he is, I was never one for history but even I know how much of an impact he had on Equestria. Such as making a certain sphere I brought along." After making sure that no other ponies were around Squeaky Clean made his change into Super Stallion and flew up and used his super hearing to find Stygian. "All right Stygian where are you?"

"Somnambula is so beautiful. Perhaps if I ask her super kindly she'll say yes to being my bride."

"I get those 2 ponies that can raise the sun and moon should get their own castle but why are they making it in that forest? I think it would look better up on the mountain."

"The poor guy just died right out of nowhere it was so shocking none of us saw it coming, I'm really gonna miss that wacko."

"You ever think that maybe we're just products of a being's imagination but despite that we're still beings as imagination is the beginning of all things."

"All I wanted was to be a hero but they just wanted to hog all the glory to themselves. I wanted to shine in the light with them but perhaps it would be best if I just fell into darkness."

"Yeah that's gotta be him." Super Stallion flew in the direction of Stygian's voice and he could sense all the darkness from the air. "And that is some powerful darkness down there." Super Stallion then dived after making sure no other ponies were around and when he landed a tower of shadows appeared from underground.

"Yes the darkness has made me so powerful the darkness makes me feels like I belong the darkness make me feel complete!" The Pony of Shadows then made its way out of an underground cave and made another shadow tower appear out of its sheer essence. “I am the darkness and the darkness shall spread across the world."

"Yeah I definitely found the Pony of Shadows," Super Stallion said to himself, getting the attention of the Pony of Shadows right away.

"Who are you?"

"I'm somepony that wants to help you come back into the light Stygian."

"My name is not Stygian, not anymore. Now I am the Pony of Shadows."

"But why? Why are you doing this?"

"Why should I even answer that? You wouldn't understand."

"Try me."

"Why should I try to explain myself to you!" The Pony of Shadows nearly yelled out as he pushed Super Stallion back and into a large boulder that he was forced through halfway.

"You are the 1st to suffer and once I gather even more power to get me to my full potential I'll make those who cast me aside suffer no matter how long it takes. I thought they were my friends but they turned their backs on me just because I wanted to be like them. They betrayed me and in time they will suffer like they never suffered before." The Pony of Shadows then disappeared and Super Stallion got out of the boulder and once again found himself unable to locate or track the Pony of Shadows.

"Well at least I found the reason why he turned to darkness," Super Stallion said as he picked himself up a bit then made his way back to where Twilight was. After he made his way down and changed back into Squeaky Clean and walked over to Twilight who was working quite diligently on a book she brought with her into the past.

"Oh hey Squeaky you're back," Twilight said as she got back up. "Find anything?”

"Yeah, what are you doing? Making a drawing?"

"Well while I was waiting for you to get back I felt like working on this book of mine that I brought with us. I actually had enough time to draw the whole circle in the book right when you got back." Squeaky then looked and saw that she indeed drew the whole circle in her book.

"I wasn't gone that long. How were you able to do that?"

"I didn't get these wings for nothing," Twilight answered with a rather big smile taking a little pride in her abilities.

"Well I figured out what Star Swirl wanted us to figure out so let's get to Star Swirl so we can see Star Swirl." Twilight and Squeaky then made their way to the Castle of the 2 Sisters seeing various ponies walking around the place that would become the Everfree Forest in time.

"Wow," Squeaky said as they were walking.

"What is it, Squeaky?" Twilight asked.

"It's just kind of amazing how much things have changed over the years hasn't it?"

"Yeah time certainly has a way of changing things. It took me so long to get used to going from a unicorn to an alicorn. I always thought I'd be somepony like Star Swirl who would advise Princess Celestia but now I'm like her. Change can be so random and difficult at times."

"Yeah you're talking to just the right pony about that. I was just a mild mannered janitor that was content with living a simple life but then I came across a magical ball that made me into something I thought I could never even dream of becoming. On top of that I fell in love and married a beautiful princess."

"We've both gone through quite a bit of change haven't we?"

"Yeah no doubt about that, what new and greater changes that are going to come our way nopony can really say."

"True," Twilight replied as they were nearly at the castle. "But for now we should focus on the present, in the past." Before long, they came across Star Swirl the Bearded himself.

Wow that was fast, Squeaky thought to himself.

"I don't recognize you 2," Star Swirl said. "You must be new here, that or you felt like sneaking into the castle to meet the princesses. Or perhaps me."

"Well," Twilight replied. "You aren't off."

"I knew it, all right I'll sign autographs but I won’t go to your child's birthday party."

"That's fine with me," Squeaky said. "I don't have any kids, well at least not yet."

"Well in the meantime if you want autographs perhaps you can do something to help me. You look like you could help out in the library."

"I would love to," Twilight said with excitement as she would love to look at classic books from 1000 years ago.

"And you look like you'd be great at cleaning some of the floors in the castle."

"I can mop and clean with the best of them," Squeaky said.

"Good to hear," Star Swirl said as he led them into the castle. Twilight organized as well as read half the books in the library and Squeaky nearly made the castle floors shine and along the way came across Princess Celestia and Clover the Clever.

"Oh hello there," Celestia said to Squeaky who said hi back. Celestia then whispered something in Clover's ear.

"You're in luck pal Princess Celestia thinks you're pretty cute." Suddenly Clover got smacked in the side by one of Celestia's wings rather hard.

"Clover oh my gosh!" Celestia then ran off with her face almost as red as a cherry.

"Honestly Clover, did you really think she wanted you to say something out loud if she whispered it in your ear first?" Star Swirl asked.

"Oh come on she should say what's in her heart more openly anyway. Plus you gotta admit it was a pretty funny joke wasn't it?"

"Yes Clover you're a real Prank Master." Just then Twilight came out of the library and joined the others.

"Clover, would you excuse us? I need to help these 2." Clover the Clever then left the hallway and Star Swirl then turned to Twilight and Squeaky. "Well since it's just the 3 of us, perhaps now would be a good time to explain to me why one of you is an alicorn." Squeaky and Twilight were so shocked.

"Wow I knew you were brilliant but how could you have figured it out so quickly?"

"Oh I've been around, I've learned a few things. So what do you call yourselves?"

"My name is Twilight Sparkle and this is Squeaky Clean." Twilight then took the robe off showing her wings. They then explained to Star Swirl how they were sent back in time by him to help in the future.

"My word I've been experimenting and working on a few possible spells but I still wasn't sure that time travel was actually possible."

"Oh I know I actually visited myself from the future once, it was so cool." After a while Star Swirl found Clover and the 2 got to work on helping Twilight and Squeaky get home. They went with Clover outside the castle to the Smoky Mountains west of the Everfree Forest via teleportation.

"Why did we come here again with our time travel notes?" Clover asked.

"We need to help our future friends get back to their time and we're gonna need a lot of open space which these mountains have plenty of."

"Couldn't we have simply gone to that large mountain not too far away from the castle?"

"We also want privacy and that mountain has ponies coming from all over to go into its mines for gems. Besides, I'm planning on doing a little exploring in that large forest to the west of these mountains after we help them out." Clover and Star Swirl after being told how far in the future they were from got to work making a portal that will take them back. When the spell was complete a portal the size of a small lake appeared below the 4 ponies.

"This should be able to take you to your present moments after you left. We just need to wait a while for the portal to finish the link otherwise you'll end up in your own past."

"Wow this is so cool," Clover said. Suddenly the portal started to act unstable and shot out lightning and in the surprise of it all Clover lost her balance and fell in. Star Swirl wanted to help her but Squeaky and Twilight stopped him.

"Don't if you get closer you'll fall in too!" Twilight said.

"Besides we have to do something about that portal," Squeaky said and after seeing it get more unstable Star Swirl used his magic to make it stable once again.

"That should do it, but Clover."

"Can't you go in there and bring her back?" Twilight asked.

"I'm afraid the portal is only 1 way," Star Swirl answered sadly. "Clover."

"Don't worry she'll be okay, sooner or later," Squeaky said.

"What?"

"It's kind of a long story, Star Swirl."

"Well all right, the portal should be ready now you should jump in before it gets unstable again."

"Don't have to tell me twice, come on Twilight." Twilight and Squeaky jumped in the portal that closed the moment they did. Star Swirl then found himself alone on the mountains and slowly walked down to explore the Undiscovered West for another project he was working on. "Poor Clover, though if ponies coming from the future are coming here because of me perhaps that means that everything will work out, in time." Star Swirl couldn't help but laugh out loud at his own joke but stopped when he remembered he was the only one there. "Ah stallion, I wish the others were still here, that was hilarious."

***

Twilight and Squeaky were flying through time once again when suddenly the vortex became a bit unstable again. Twilight was about to put a barrier around them but she was pulled forward while Squeaky stayed behind. Twilight threw her journal at Squeaky believing it would help him and she vanished while Squeaky found himself in Canterlot but could tell there was something off.

"She's not coming!?" A young purple unicorn filly cried out to her parents as they were walking with her.

"I'm sorry Twilight sweetie but Cadance got a bit of a cold and she doesn't want to come over because she's worried you'll catch it too," Night Light said to her daughter.

"What do we do?" Twilight Velvet asked . "I don't want to cancel our date but where are we going to find a foalsitter on such short notice." Hearing that Squeaky's memory of first meeting Twilight at the castle came to him in a flash as well as an idea.

"No wonder I didn't remember," Squeaky said as he approached the family, getting their attention. "Excuse me I couldn't help but overhear, I could foalsit your daughter. I was hoping to look at this journal about possible time travel spells but I can save it for later."

"Time travel spells?" Twilight said.

I was hoping that would get your attention, Squeaky thought. "Yes, some of them were made by Star Swirl the Bearded himself with help from Clover the Clever.

"Star Swirl the Bearded! Clover the Clever!" Twilight then ran over to Squeaky and jumped up trying to grab the book. "Let me see! Let me see!"

"Easy now Twilight," Night Light said as he pulled his daughter back. He then pulled his wife back a bit.

"What do you think he might be a good sitter? I think Twilight already likes him?"

"I don't know," Velvet said. "We don't even know him."

"Yeah, but I'm not getting a bad vibe from him." Suddenly Shining Armor and Stone Wall made their way to the other ponies.

"Squeaky Clean as I live and breathe," Stone Wall said.

"Captain Stone Wall," Twilight Velvet said, surprised to see him. "You know this stallion."

"Yes, he's my best friend. How strange I run into him while your son and I go pick up some things in town for the princess."

"Stone Wall!" Squeaky said more than happy to see his old friend again and in sound mind and body. He jumped right at him to give him a hug that Stone Wall blocked with a magic barrier. "Right you aren't a huger," Squeaky said with his face pressed against the barrier."

"If you forgot that we've been apart longer than I thought."

"So Captain, do you trust this stallion?" Night Light asked.

"I trust he won't try to hug me again, but in all seriousness, yes. He's always been helpful and caring towards others, even complete strangers, something I always admired about him." Stone Wall then dispelled his barrier and Squeaky fell to the ground and also touched at his friend's comment.

"Well I think that settles it," Night Light said. "If the captain of Princess Celestia's royal guard trusts him I think he'll make a wonderful foalsitter."

"Foalsitter?" Shining Armor asked. "Right Cadance's cold I could fill in for her after all- '' Shining Armor was cut off when Stone Wall grabbed him by the neck.

"You've been putting off basic training enough as is with your dates, now come along." Stone Wall and Shining Armor headed off and later that night Squeaky showed up at Twilight's house. They had a great time and as Squeaky hoped Twilight with her brilliant mind even at a young age helped him understand how the "hypothetical" spell would work. Before long her parents returned and he took off after he was paid.

"Can you foalsit again Squeaky?" Twilight asked.

"Sorry but I'm gonna be out of town for quite a while so you'll have to find somepony else."

"Oh," Twilight said, disappointed. "Will I ever see you again?"

"You just might Twilight, you just might," Squeaky answered as he rubbed her head a little. After leaving he found a quiet spot to perform the spell and jumped back to his present.

***

Twilight after leaving the past found herself back where she started. "Star Swirl we have a problem Squeaky-" Twilight was suddenly cut off when Squeaky appeared right beside him. "Never mind."

"Oh alright then were you able to figure out why Stygian did what he did?"

"We did Star Swirl. He felt betrayed by you and the other pillars." Star Swirl remained silent for a few seconds to Twilight and Squeaky's surprise.

"I figured that was the reason, but I was hoping it was something else. In my younger days I was starting to develop quite the ego but when I became a parent to Luna and Celestia it helped me learn humility because no parent is always right. But it appears that a part of that ego stayed with me, so much that I sent 2 ponies on a somewhat dangerous journey through time just so they could tell me what I already knew. But at least now I can finally set things right."

"We're right behind you, Star Swirl," Twilight said.

The Pony of Shadows was located thanks to the magic map in the Castle of Friendship so Twilight and her friends along with the pillars, Super Stallion, Wacko, Clover, and even Starlight arrived where he was. With their combined power they were able to restrain the Pony of Shadows along with the Elements of Harmony Star Swirl got back from the Tree of Harmony. Once he was restrained Super Stallion tried to pull Stygian out but the shadows were still holding him.

"Let go of me, the darkness is my only friend!"

"No we're your friends," Star Swirl called out. "I just wished I acted like it. We're sorry Stygian." The other pillars chimed in saying sorry as well which helped Stygian come to his senses.

"You're, sorry?"

"Yes Stygian," Star Swirl replied with great humility which got through to Stygian who helped himself get free of the Pony of Shadows that was resealed in Limbo.

"Wow that was easy, almost too easy," Super Stallion said.

"Works for me," Clover said. "But I wish Wacko could have helped out more. I even went through the trouble of bringing the Scepter of Strength in case we needed it."

"Yeah I'm ready for a challenge," Starlight said.

"Starlight you just got freed from your stone prison don't you think you should take it easy?" Twilight asked.

"No way Twilight, if anything I need to make up for lost time. What danger is next to face I'm ready," Starlight said with gusto. "Whatever it is, bring it on, I'm not scared of anything!" Suddenly to the shock of everypony, the portal to Limbo appeared and was forced open by not the Pony of Shadows but by Paradox Twilight.

"STARLIGHT GLIMMER!" Paradox Twilight screamed at the top of her lungs which made Starlight run off screaming. Paradox Twilight then let out a giant amount of magical energy that caused the cave to crumble. Wacko and Super Stallion got everypony out in time and when they did Paradox Twilight broke through the rubble and made it raise up ready to use it to attack when suddenly she saw the Scepter of Strength and grabbed it.

"The Scepter no I must have dropped it in the cave," Clover said. "Give that back we need it to beat you, it doubles the magical powers of whoever holds it….I should not have told her that." Paradox Twilight then looked at the scepter and swallowed it whole. "Oh that's a relief whatever that thing is it's not smart because that's not how the scepter-" Clover was cut off when Paradox Twilight released a giant shadowy aura that was cracking the land. "I stand corrected."

"Great now, whatever this creature is, it's twice as powerful," Star Swirl said.

"It doesn't matter how strong it is because we have it outnumbered," Super Stallion said. "Now let's get it!" Super Stallion charged when suddenly he was grabbed from behind.

“DO NOT TOUCH THAT!” The strange creature said and then turned around aiming his staff at Paradox Twilight and blasted it with a beam of magic. "Back! back you giant anomaly! Crawl back into the nothingness that spat you out!" Suddenly Paradox Twilight was forced back by the beam and vanished.

"You've defeated it great warrior," Rockhoof said.

"For now, but it will return."

"Well in the meantime can somepony explain why whatever that was looked like Twilight?" Super Stallion asked.

"I can," Twilight answered. "But it's kind of a long story and honestly I'm not 100% sure how she got here. She shouldn't exist anymore."

"Exist?" Star Swirl asked.

"Like I said, it's a long story."

"I can explain everything," the creature that fought off Paradox Twilight answered as he pointed a finger towards Starlight Glimmer. "IT’S ALL HER FAULT!”

Chapter 43 Back in Time Part 2

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"Me?!” Starlight said. “I'm grateful that you fought off that nightmare but excuse me-" Starlight was cut off when suddenly she was pulled in by the creature's magic until she was right in front of him.

"Don't "excuse me" me," he said as he was holding her by the throat. "Your actions may have doomed this entire multiverse! Do you have any idea how big a time anomaly has to be in order for someone outside the multiverse where it was created to sense it?!"

"Uh-"

"A GIANT ONE!!"

"Okay hold on a minute," Twilight said as she got closer. "I think we're missing some dialogue. Can we go back a bit?"

"A bit more than a bit I have quite a few questions," Super Stallion said. "What and who exactly are you and why are you here and how is all of this Starlight's fault?"

"And where can I get a staff like that?" Pinkie Pie asked, making the others look at her. "What? It looks cool." Suddenly a staff that looked exactly like the creature's appeared in Pinkie's foreleg. "Cool! Does this have the same powers as yours?"

"No but it just shoots out streamers."

"Super duper cool! A streamer staff to go with my party cannon. Thanks mister!"

"No problem," the creature said as he stood up. "Now the other questions. What and who I can answer at the same time. HA that wasn't even on purpose! I am the Time Wizard."

"Time Wizard? That's your name?" Flash Magnus asked. "Like the name your parents gave you is that?"

"No, that's what I go by now."

"Can we call you Time or Mr. Wizard for short?" Clover asked.

"I'd prefer it if you didn't thank you," Time Wizard answered. "As for the other questions, I'm here to help fix a certain pony’s mistake. As for why it’s all her fault, well let me just show you." Time Wizard then created a portal showing the things he would talk about. "It all started after Starlight was forced to flee from her own village."

"Hooray! Story time!" Pinkie Pie said as she got out a bag of popcorn seemingly out of nowhere.

"When she escaped she vowed vengeance on Twilight Sparkle and set out to get it by meddling with time of all things. What could possibly go wrong? Well a lot, because time can be very dangerous when tempered with. Twilight tried to get her to see reason but she proved too tricky, not to mention thick headed."

"Well thick headed might be a little harsh-" Starlight was cut off when the Time Wizard hit her on the head with his staff. "OW!"

"Don't interrupt. Eventually Twilight pulled Starlight into one of the alternate timelines she created. And actually had to explain how she was the cause of it, seriously you didn't know changing the past also changes the future. That's like time travel 101. How can you be so stupid?"

"Stupid?!" Starlight said offended. "I'll have you know I'm very smart, my way of spells-" Starlight was cut off when the Time Wizard bonked her on the head again with his staff.

"Just because you're smart doesn't mean you're not stupid, it's possible to be both," Time Wizard said. "Anyway, she was pulled into an alternate timeline she created-"

"Yeah but then Twilight, Spike, and I left and we undid all the alternate OW!"

"I said don't interrupt! True, you erased those alternate timelines, but not everything was erased."

"How does that work?" Star Swirl asked.

"Time has its own rules, sometimes it works 1 way, sometimes it works another. But in this case there are a few other factors to take in as well."

"But wait," Starlight said.

"How many times are you going to interrupt me?"

"I'm just having trouble understanding."

"Yes, time travel can be confusing, for now all you need to know is that the Twilight that's after you is a paradox fueled only by her hatred of you. It's just a matter of time before she comes back so we need to get ready or rather you need to get ready Starlight Glimmer."

***

Time Wizard brought the entire group back to Ponyville where they split up. Clover tried to explain everything to Wacko who trained some more with Super Stallion. Twilight took the Time Wizard and her friends to the castle.

"Okay so this mission had an unexpected detour," Rainbow Dash said. "But can we just acknowledge how totally awesome it is that we have the Elements of Harmony again?"

"I did miss this lovely gem," Rarity said as she admired her own element. "Speaking of lovely Time Wizard, your robe goes simply swimmingly with your staff and hair style. It makes you look quite divine."

"Thank you Rarity you look very smoochable as well for a 2 foot tall unicorn, especially with those sexy curls in your mane."

"Oh why thank you, I do take great care of my mane work."

"And by that she means she combs her mane 100 times before bed," Applejack said.

"At least I comb it."

"All right everypony, and Time Wizard we need to focus to stop Paradox Twilight," Twilight said, ready to make a plan as she usually did.

"Actually Twi do ya mind if I head to Sweet Apples Acres my belly's growling more than a dog gone plum mad?"

"I'll do my usual thing and save time by bringing the farm to you." With a tap of his staff several of Applejack's trees appeared inside the castle. "Don't worry I'll put them back when we're done. Do you mind if I have some too?"

"Uh, no help yourself."

"Thank you, you'd be surprised how much fighting off time anomalies builds up an appetite." The Time Wizard then walked over to 1 of the trees and placed his hand on it. Suddenly the tree changed and produced zap apples to the sheer surprise of everypony in the room.

"How in the hay did you do that?!?"

"I can do many things." As Time Wizard sat down to eat the zap apple Rainbow Dash flew over to him with several empty large wooden mugs and a huge grin.

"If you can make zap apples can you also make apple cider?!"

"Now hold on Rainbow Dash, cider is made with tender love and care not with freaky magic," Applejack said.

"Challenge accepted," Time Wizard said then he picked several apples on the trees and the mugs Rainbow Dash was holding. Time Wizard once again surprised the ponies by creating what looked like perfectly made apple cider.

"My my you are quite the talented creature aren't you?" Rarity asked. Time Wizard then offered the cider to the ponies after taking a little sip himself.

"Now let's not get a hold of ourselves," Applejack said. "Just because it looks like top quality cider doesn't mean it-" Applejack was cut off when Time Wizard tipped the mug into her muzzle with the bottom end of his staff forcing Applejack to drink it. "Wow! That is great!"

"I like to cook in my spare time and when you can travel through and or manipulate time that's something you have a lot of." The others drank and they all enjoyed it, especially Rainbow Dash.

"Can you make chocolate cake taste better too?" Pinkie Pie asked.

"Perhaps where's the kitchen?"

"Oh could I have some too please?" Fluttershy asked.

"Sure just let me get started and we can all pig out."

"My my, smart, handsome, a capable fighter, and you know how to cook you're more than the full package."

"Thank you Rarity but I'm taken." As Time Wizard was becoming quite close with the mane 6, Starlight was with Thorax and Trixie just outside of Trixie's wagon.

"Wow," Thorax said. "You stopped 1 monster and then suddenly another showed up?"

"Yeah that's pretty much what happened, Thorax and Time Wizard is very upset with me because all of it is my fault."

"Oh come now Starlight the wise and insightful Trixie thinks you're being too hard on yourself."

"Yeah how could you know you'd create something tartarus bent on murdering you?" Starlight then hit her head against the side of Trixie's wagon. "That didn't help, did it?"

"No," Starlight answered with her head still on the wagon.

"I'm sorry but Starlight I'm sure you can figure out what to do, you're a very smart pony."

"Thank you Thorax."

"And you're helpful too when you stayed at the hive you helped us learn so much," Thorax said as he started to make Starlight blush. "You care about others and go to great lengths to help them."

"Well I don't think that part is very true," Starlight said, still blushing.

"Trixie thinks so after all you helped me do the magic act that my idol did."

"Yeah. Despite whatever mistakes you might have made, you're a great pony and that's why I love you."

"Thank you Thorax, I love you too," Starlight said as she took her head off the wagon. Thorax and Starlight then shared a brief yet passionate kiss.

"You'll find a way to fix this somehow Starlight I know you will."

"You really think so, Thorax?"

"Of course."

"Trixie thinks you're quite a great and powerful unicorn, of course you're not as great and powerful as the great and powerful Trixie! But you're still very good."

"You know you guys are right I can't just stand by feeling sorry for myself. I got to set this right." Starlight then rushed into the castle.

"Well from the looks of things the inspirational and wise Trixie has helped her great and powerful assistant."

"Uh excuse me?"

"Oh yes and you helped out a little too."

Starlight found a rather large spell book and then opened it right up and began to take notes as well. "With this I can rework the time spell once again, but this time I'll be able to send myself to when Paradox Twilight appeared and then-" Starlight stopped when suddenly Twilight closed the spell book, shocking her.

"Hey," Twilight said.

"Uh hey," Starlight replied, unsure what her friend and former teacher was doing.

"So I was about to go outside and talk to you a bit while we waited for Time Wizard to finish making his chocolate cake when I overheard you talking a bit about time travel again."

"Well yeah but this is for a good reason."

"Oh really, like that time you basically brainwashed my friends so you could hang out with all of them better?"

"Okay that was a bad idea, but I can fix this with a spell or 2 if I rework my time travel spell I can send myself to where we first met Paradox Twilight."

"And get yourself killed, you know she wants you dead right."

"Yeah but if I go there I can stop her from escaping her erased timeline so she won't come after me."

"And you don't think that might cause another and maybe even worse time paradox?"

"Look I just need, I can rework the spell so this time time is going to, well I can work-" Starlight was cut off when Twilight lifted up the spell book with her magic and hit her right on the head, knocking her out.

"Every time I think she's past this," Twilight said to herself as she was dragging Starlight by her tail with her magic to get to the others who were so focused on Time Wizard's cake they didn't notice.

"Wow of wows this cake is delicious and yummy," Pinkie Pie said with her mouth half filled with cake.

"As I said before Time Wizard you are quite talented and if I do say so quite charming," Rarity said with a giggle.

"He's not all that great," Spike said frustrated.

"Now Spikey Wikey jealousy is not an attractive quality," Rarity said as she patted her favorite dragon.

"Twilight, help yourself before your friends gobble it all up."

"We just might, this cake goes great with cider," Rainbow Dash said.

"Uh speaking of cider Time Wizard I think we don't need my trees here anymore so would you mind?"

"It's already done." With a flash the trees disappeared and returned to Sweet Apple Acres.

***

Granny Smith was out for a walk and saw that there were empty holes where several trees were and before she could investigate the trees teleported right back into place. "Aw geez some of the trees are teleporting again."

***

"Thank y'all very kindly Time Wizard."

"No problem Applejack."

"Rather strange."

"What do you mean Twilight?" Time Wizard asked.

"Well Time Wizard I was just thinking out loud how it's kind of strange how you call yourself the Time Wizard but not all of your magic is based on time."

"Well you're the Princess of Friendship, is all your magic based on friendship?”

"Good point, wait, how did you know that I was the Princess of Friendship?" Twilight asked as this question got the attention of the other ponies and Spike.

"Just because you're outside my multiverse doesn't mean I don't know a thing or 2."

"Uh what's ah multiverse again?" Applejack asked.

"It's a group of multiple universes hence the name," Spike answered, getting the attention of the ponies he then got out some of his comics. "For example there's the Marble multiverse and there's the Private Investigators comics multiverse and who knows how many multiverses there are in the omniverse, that's pretty much everything by the way."

"Well put Spike," Time Wizard said.

"So it's like when Super Stallion rescued me and then Luna and Celestia from other worlds there were parallel universes in our multiverse."

"So does that mean there are other universes with us in it?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Oh yes," Time Wizard answered. "1 where Twilight adopts a filly Nightmare Moon, 1 where a human accidentally comes to Equestria and marries Applejack, 1 where Discord forces Fluttershy to stay with him and they fall in love, but my favorite is the 1 where Rainbow Dash is sent to another universe as a baby and is looked after by a human that acts like her father and I always cry at the end," Time Wizard said as he wiped a small tear out of his eye. "Speaking of water, sort of." Time Wizard then made a ball of water and threw it right at Starlight, getting her to wake up.

"Huh?! What's going on, what happened?" Starlight asked as she looked around and saw the others.

"You were unconscious and I woke you up."

"Now I remember, Twilight hit me on the head with a spell book." Hearing that the others with the exception of Time Wizard looked at Twilight.

"Because you were about to try another time spell," Twilight replied, which made the others look to Starlight.

"Starlight, are y'all going screwy?"

"Darling you couldn't have thought that was a good idea."

"Seriously, that is so uncool."

"Can I have more cake?" The others then looked at Pinkie Pie. "What? It's good and I'm still hungry."

"Why would you try to travel through time again?" Fluttershy asked.

"Especially since what happened last time," Time Wizard said as he tapped his staff and suddenly Paradox Twilight appeared causing Starlight to scream in fear and ran into the corner as it went after her.

"NO! LEAVE ME ALONE! PLEASE I'M SORRY FOR WHAT I DID! NOOO! Paradox Twilight then vanished like a fog when, Time Wizard hit it with his staff.

"Calm down it was just an illusion, you're really utterly terrified of her aren't you?"

"I…wasn't…that scared," Starlight answered. Suddenly Time Wizard was about to help Starlight up but stopped and looked away with his hand blocking what he just saw next to Starlight.

"I’ll get a mop.”

***

Starlight decided to go to the spa to try and melt away all the stress and Trixie decided to join her. "I should have come here sooner," Starlight said.

"Tell me about it," Trixie said. "It's nice to come here and just relax."

"Yeah I've had a lot of that lately my worst nightmare has literally come true and wants me dead."

"Well don't you worry Starlight," Trixie said as she walked over to Starlight to give her a hug. "If she wants you she'll have to go through the powerful and unbeatable Trixie." Just then Trixie stepped back and screamed a little and when Starlight turned around she saw Paradox Twilight.

"Ha ha real funny Time Wizard look I got your point the 1st time." Suddenly the spa got covered in a shadowy aura that started to break away the whole spa. "Uh, Time Wizard?"

"Even now when you're about to face the end you deserve, you continue to aggravate me!" Paradox Twilight then used her magic to try and bring the entire spa down on her head. And she would have if it weren't for Super Stallion and Wacko who had been training with one another not too far away and overheard everything and got everypony out just in time.

"Well, it looks like Paradox Twilight is back."

"Wacko take her down and do good!" Super Stallion and Wacko tried to fight her off but she was able to push back with her chaos magic.

"Stay out of my way!"

"Not going to happen, Paradox Twilight!" Super Stallion said.

"Paradox Twilight? Is that what you've decided to call me? I suppose it fits considering, not anymore."

"Why not?" Super Stallion suddenly getting a very bad feeling. Suddenly darkness started to surround Paradox Twilight.

"Trixie doesn't like this."

"Starlight doesn't like the looks of this either," Starlight said as she was hiding behind her magician friend.

"It was darkness that called itself the Pony of Shadows. He was stuck somewhere outside time like me and like me he had a great hatred that won't simply vanish. So we decided to work together."

"Call me Shadow Paradox." She then attacked Wacko and Super Stallion with chaos magic blasts that were even stronger than before.

"Owie, " Wacko said as he landed on the ground.

"Yeah big owie," Super Stallion said as he was on the ground as well. They both picked themselves up and around that time the pillars and the mane 6 heard what was going on and showed up.

"What in Equestria is that?" Star Swirl asked as he gazed upon Shadow Paradox.

"Paradox Twilight and the Pony of Shadows fused together," Super Stallion answered.

"Perfect!" Rainbow Dash said "Now we can stop both of them at once." Before they could activate the elements Shadow Paradox pushed them all back with magic even Wacko but Super Stallion was holding his ground.

"Oh this is just wonderful now her power has been doubled yet again," Super Stallion said to himself. "But I'm not going to let her do any more damage than she already has no matter how much of a beating I have to take!" Suddenly the rainbow aura from before returned and Super Stallion was able to move forward and then blasted Shadow Paradox so hard she was rammed into a nearby mountain.

"It can't be," Star Swirl said as he saw the aura around Super Stallion. "But it's the only explanation." Shadow Paradox then got out of the mountain and fired several blasts that were aimed at Super Stallion but went off course and Super Stallion had to blast them before they hit anything or anypony.

"It seems I'm having a little trouble controlling this new power," Shadow Paradox said standing on top of where the spa used to be. She then stared at Starlight with her cold dead eyes and froze her to her core. "But I'll get it under control in time and then I will end you." And with that Shadow Paradox vanished.

"The bad guy vanishes into thin air, that's a new one," Super Stallion said to himself as he saw the rainbow aura around him slowly vanish.

"Wait, the bad guy is gone?" Clover the Clever asked. "Shoot I wanted to come sooner but I thought I should bring a few things to help fight, Did Wacko at least help out a lot?"

"No," Wacko answered as he got out of the dirt. "Wacko do bad at do good."

"Are you kidding me?!" Clover said as she threw her stuff on the ground. "That's twice now he was robbed of a chance to do something really good by stopping a major bad guy."

"Ah Clover there might be more pressing matters at hoof," Star Swirl said.

"But it's not fair why can't he get a chance to show he's capable of being great? Just because an individual doesn't have a humble beginning or a good track record doesn't mean they shouldn't get a 2nd chance I mean if they just let Chrysalis-" Clover the Clever stopped herself by placing her hoof over her own muzzle. Clover then started to tear up and ran off.

"Clover wait!" Star Swirl asked as he tried to go after her but she teleported away. “I don't suppose one of you knows where she teleported off to?"

"Actually," Super Stallion said. "I have a pretty good idea." Super Stallion then picked up Star Swirl and flew off with Wacko close behind.

"My my," Time Wizard said as he approached the others. "It seems you ponies have been going through so much drama lately you really should try to do something about that. As for me, I think I'll take a trip around the spa you have here."

"Why in Equestria would you want to do that?" Starlight asked. "Don't you see all the damage that Shadow Paradox did to it?" Time Wizard waved his hand and the spa was restored as if Shadow Paradox was never there.

"What damage?" Time Wizard asked as he walked in.

***

Clover was sitting outside of the changeling hive in front of a marked grave in tears. A few seconds later Super Stallion, Wacko, and Star Swirl the Bearded arrived. "Is this a friend of yours, Clover?" Star Swirl asked.

"Yes her name was Chrysalis and she was the queen of the changelings."

"The queen?!" Star Swirl said in shock, remembering some of his not so pleasant encounters with them in the past. "They've changed. Was it friendship that helped them change? I knew friendship was powerful but I didn't think it could be that powerful."

"No it was love, and while love and friendship go hoof and hoof there is a difference. Love helped the changelings, well change but Chrysalis passed away before it could happen to her at least on the outside. I wanted to help her be good because I thought she could have done a lot, but she died before she could."

"I see," Star Swirl said.

"I guess that's why I've been trying so hard to help Wacko. I don't want the same thing to happen to him." Star Swirl then placed his hoof and Clover's shoulder as she continued. "When I fell through the time portal it messed with my head, made me forget things, I've gotten better but it still messes with my head sometimes. I'm afraid it'll make me forget stuff again."

“I see,” Star Swirl answered, not sure of much else to say.

"I need to be alone right now," Clover said as she ran off and Super Stallion left when he the changelings called him over to meet him.

"Beard pony?"

"Yes Wacko."

"What passed away mean?"

"It means somepony or some creature died."

"Died?"

Star Swirl thought for a moment then he saw a bunch of trees and got an idea. "Do you see those trees over there Wacko?"

"Wacko see."

"They start out as seed but over time they grow into large trees filled with life. But eventually the tree will get old or get chopped down and then it dies. We're like that too, we're born, we live for a while and then we die as life comes out of us."

"Beard Pony die?"

"Yes, someday."

"Wacko die?"

"I'd imagine."

"Where life go when it not in Wacko or beard pony?"

"Well, all living creatures have a soul and when we die it goes somewhere else and that lives on forever because souls never die."

"Wacko have soul?"

"You weren't born normally but you think and you have emotions, so yes I believe you do. Now if you'll excuse me I think I'll go talk to the changelings and see how different their lives are now and just how love changed it so much." Star Swirl then made his way down while Wacko looked at the tombstone of Chrysalis and put his hoof on it.

"Souls never die," Wacko said to himself but then suddenly he pushed on the tombstone too hard, breaking it. "Oh no beard pony Wacko do bad Wacko do bad."

***

Back in Ponyville the spa ponies were so happy Time Wizard fixed everything, they gave him numerous massages all on the house. "Yes, yes," Time Wizard said as Bulk Biceps was pressing his hooves right on his back. "Yes right there oh I feel the stress melting right off." After the massage, Time Wizard made his way in the hot tub where Starlight Glimmer was.

"Oh hello Time Wizard, are you going to be here much longer?"

"I was planning to, why?"

"Well it's just Shadow Paradox as she calls herself wants to murder me. So shouldn't you do something about her?"

"I've already been doing my part of forcing her back but it's going to be up to you to stop her once and for all."

"Me?!" Starlight said in shock. "How do you expect me to stop her? I'm talented with magic but her raw power would rip me to shreds in seconds."

"I never said you had to fight her," Time Wizard said as he got out of the tub and turned his swimming trunks into his robe.

"Okay that was cool."

"Thank you," Time Wizard said as he summoned his staff and sat down. "Shadow Paradox is one of the strongest time anomalies I've ever met ever but I could defeat her easily."

"Then why don't you?"

"Because you can't expect others to fix your mistakes. This is your mess, and you need to clean it up.

"Oh yeah how do I know you're not too scared to fight her?" Starlight asked and then put a barrier around her anticipating Time Wizard hitting her on the head with his staff. And Time Wizard did just that, breaking through the barrier effortlessly.

"Starlight Glimmer, I have seen the dawn of time and the creation of everything itself. I have stared into the face of God. I've seen an entire multiverse fall apart and miraculously come back together. I've made friends with incredible individuals some of which gave their lives to protect literally everything. But you are without a doubt the most thick headed creature I have ever had the displeasure of working with!"

"I'm sorry," Starlight said with her head down. Time Wizard then took a deep breath and put his staff on top of his lap.

"Sit down Starlight Glimmer." Starlight then sat down at Time Wizard's request. "You have talent Starlight Glimmer, more than just the magical abilities you've used time and time again to try and solve your problems, pun intended of course."

"Of course," Starlight added.

"You can be quite intelligent and help others with their problems when you aren't manipulating them to join your enslaved village."

"Oh, you know that too?"

"Yes, you've made mistakes in the past but everyone makes mistakes, even me eventually."

"Eventually?"

"I wasn't born like this, I was a mortal. When I was young, I found a magical crystal that eventually gave me the time powers I have now. Before that I used the crystal's power whenever I made a mistake to turn back time & correct it."

"Wow so you never made mistakes. That’s cool.”

"Not cool. Because I never made mistakes I never learned anything and that is the biggest mistake of all. Mistakes push us down so we can learn how to pick ourselves back up. Mistakes even help us learn who we are."

"They do?"

"Think for a second Starlight even when you were running that village deep down you knew it wasn't right but you did it anyway. As a result you got to meet Twilight who has been trying to help you get to your full potential. But you never will if you keep falling back into your bad habits.”

"Okay, but how is that going to help me stop Shadow Paradox?"

"Some evil can only be fought with the heart. So when it comes time for you to face Shadow Paradox try using your head, if you can still remember how to use it."

"But you said some evil can only be fought with the heart. Should I use my heart or my head?"

"I don't see why you can't use both."

"Well maybe you should have just said that instead of the story. Or maybe you can try knocking some sense by hitting me with your staff again." Suddenly Time Wizard raised his staff and Starlight ran behind one of the pillars. "No no wait I take it back!" Time Wizard then got back up, taking another deep breath.

"I'm going to get another massage, you try to listen to my story, maybe it'll teach you not to hide behind your insecurities," Time Wizard said as he walked off.

"I think another bonk on the head would have been a lot less painful."

A little while longer after that Super Stallion and Wacko had brought Star Swirl and Clover to Twilight's castle.

"Oh Clover are you all right?" Twilight asked.

"No, but I will be," she answered as she walked off and Wacko followed.

"So Star Swirl since you're here there was something I wanted to talk to you about. Super Stallion twice now had this rainbow aura around him-"

"I beat you to it Twilight," Super Stallion interrupted. "I asked him about that earlier."

"Oh you did?"

"Yes and as I explained to him it was an extra part of the sphere's magic to act as a transformation or as Super Stallion put it, a hyper mode to give the user a power boost in an intense fight. But I could never quite get it to work so only a part of it is able to come out."

"Wow," Twilight said.

"I know it's hard to believe right," Super Stallion said. "All the things I can do and there's still more to it."

"Do you think maybe it could work if Super Stallion trained with Wacko somehow?"

"I doubt it, Twilight," Star Swirl answered. "I could never quite get it to activate no matter how many times I trained while using it."

"Are you 100% sure because I'd love to test it out on Discord."

"We can figure that out later,” Twilight said. “I'm going to bed early. Something tells me we have a big day tomorrow."

***

Celestia and Luna came to the castle in the morning when they learned about a Time Wizard who explained he came all the way from another multiverse.

"May this is truly fascinating," Luna said. "I've been to another world, as unpleasant as it was, it was rather fascinating. But you're from another multiverse. A realm beyond all of ours."

"What's it like in your multiverse?" Celestia asked. "That...might be a rather difficult question to answer."

"Not really," Time Wizard replied. "It doesn't have as many magical talking ponies, but it's still really cool."

"So what are you doing here exactly?" Luna asked.

"It's my self appointed duty to make sure the natural flow of time isn't disturbed. To make sure things are meant to be the way they are," Time Wizard answered.

"I see," Celestia answered and then paused. "Luna, could you give us some privacy please? I'd like to talk to the Time Wizard in private." Luna was rather confused but honored her sister's request.

Celestia prepared to speak when suddenly the Time Wizard raised his hand. "Hold that thought, Starlight." Time Wizard turned his head to face a certain unicorn that was hiding in the corner thinking about the right way to approach a certain wizard.

"Uh yes?"

"Princess Celestia said she wanted to talk to me in private."

"Right sorry," Starlight said as she left the room but would stop at the end of the door. Her curiosity got the best of her.

"I know you're still listening Starlight, go away," Time Wizard said starting to get annoyed.

"Right sorry," Starlight said. In an attempt to fool the Time Wizard she lifted her legs and pretended to walk away. The Time Wizard however, wasn't fooled 1 bit. After inhaling he made his staff fly over to Starlight which repetitively bonk her on the head. "OW SORRY SORRY!" Starlight ran off but the staff chased her a bit until appeared back in the Time Wizard's staff.

"Blockhead," Time Wizard said which Celestia couldn't help but laugh at. "You were saying."

"Right, well it all started when Shining Armor was going to marry Princess Cadence. But...things didn't go according to plan."

***

"So, I placed my head on her and was crying my eyes out. But as it turned out, she was still alive."

"I see," Time Wizard said after Celestia finished her story. "So basically you had a prophetic dream that had every part of it come true except the last one. And you don't know why."

"Yes," Celestia answered. "I've always wondered why, but I could never think of somepony or rather, somebody to talk to about it. You just seemed like the right one to ask. I'm not complaining at all, but why do you think the last part of my dream didn't come true."

"You know, your story reminds me of another story."

"It does?"

"Yes, about a man born and groomed to be a great warrior. He became a powerful leader but was overwhelmed by an army of barbarians. So to defeat their forces, he made a deal with a cruel god of war. The war god thought the warrior would prove to be useful to him and agreed. He granted the warrior magnificent power but would turn him into his puppet."

"So getting his revenge cost him his freedom," Celestia said. "I hope it was worth it."

"It was not," Time Wizard answered. "For he made the warrior pay a terrible price. Make a long story short, he got his revenge on not only the god of war, but every god that wronged him. Including his own father."

"My, gosh."

"It gets worse. His revenge brought the destruction of his homeland. Though for what's it worth he released hope allowing the survivors to rebuild."

"Wait? He released, hope?"

"Like I said, long story. After that he traveled to a far off land to start over where he remarried and had a son. Eventually the wife passed away and her last wishes were for her ashes to be spread across the highest peak in all the realms. The warrior and his son set out and hijinks ensued, and when I say hijinks I mean death defying obstacles. Along the way he learned he and his son were connected to a prophecy involving a great battle where the warrior would lose his life, follow me so far?"

"Yes."

"Okay just checking. As the great battle neared, he tried to make sure his son would be okay without him, without knowing he was pushing him away. Eventually he sought out the ones in the land that can see the future to change his fate. They in turn explained that there is no fate."

"What?" Celestia asked confused.

"They told him, and I'm paraphrasing here, this is no fate no grand design. Only the choices you make, but because people never change, their choices become easy to predict."

"I see," Celestia said trying to process what the Time Wizard said. "So what happened next?"

"Not too long after that, the great battle came and the warrior led a great army to fight a tyrant god king. A little before the end of the battle, the warrior did something unexpected. He made a different choice, he saw the error of his ways and made a change of heart. As a result he not only survived but was able to make a new destiny for himself."

As the Time Wizard finished his story Princess Celestia sat in silence to process everything. "So," she started. "You're saying that before Twilight was supposed to die, I made a different choice which resulted in Twilight's death being avoided."

"You got it," Time Wizard said with a thumbs up. Princess Celestia didn't understand the gesture, but didn't give it much thought.

"Can it really be that simple though?"

"Our actions decide our legacy, or in your case, your student's legacy."

After their talk, Time Wizard finished his breakfast and brought the plate into the kitchen where Spike, who made breakfast and even invited Rarity over to eat and make a day for their date was cleaning. "My compliments to the chef," Time Wizard said.

"So Time Wizard," Spike said.

"So Spike."

"I have a date with Rarity coming soon and it might really help to know how it will go."

"Perhaps, but sometimes revealing the future changes it." Time Wizard then bent down and put his hand to Spike's ear. "Though between you and me you have more of a chance than most of the countless other versions of yourself." Hearing that Spike made the biggest smile he ever made and then ran off to find a tuxedo his size.

"Well that was certainly nice of you," Starlight who recently went into the kitchen said.

"I have a soft spot for baby dragons." Time Wizard then made the breakfast plate he saved for Starlight hover over to the table.

"Oh thank you, hey listen, I'm sorry for earlier, and yesterday."

"Forget about it, yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery and today is a gift, that's why they call it the present."

"You certainly have a way with words don't you?" After breakfast Starlight went to see Trixie but a portal opened above Ponyville that Shadow Paradox came out of.

"She's back already," Starlight said with her legs shaking. "And it looks like she's learned a few new tricks." Suddenly the others made their way outside as it was rather hard not to notice her portal.

"Let's make sure she doesn't get away again," Super Stallion said who stuck around for in case Shadow Paradox returned.

"Yeah if this chapter goes on much longer the writer will have to add a part 3," Pinkie said.

"You will die this day Starlight Glimmer, you and every Starlight Glimmer," Shadow Paradox said as she flew on top of Starlight. She tried to blast her but Time Wizard summoned a shield.

"Well Starlight hope you're ready to reason, if not well I can't say it was nice knowing you." Time Wizard continued to protect her and the others were about to attack her but then she made multiple copies of herself that flew around confusing the others.

"Big mean pony now lot's of big mean ponies."

The copies kept the others busy while Shadow Paradox made her to Starlight. Until Time Wizard got in the way again. "Don't get in my way!"

"Sorry but stopping creatures like you is kind of my job," Time Wizard said as they took to the air. Shadow Paradox cast numerous powerful spells, several of which nearly hit Time Wizard in the face. "Oh, that was a close one."

"Why must so many get in the way of what I so rightly deserve!?" Shadow Paradox then fired a beam and Time Wizard did the same. They clashed beams as they spun around a little while. WHY CAN’T I HAVE MY REVENGE!?!?" Shadow Paradox screamed with a version of the royal Canterlot voice that could be heard for miles. "She ruined everything I loved."

"Ruin everything, what are you talking about?" Shadow Paradox then screamed even louder as it caused everypony in Ponyville and even a few in nearby cities and towns to cover their ears from the pain.

Time Wizard endured it despite bleeding from his ears and forced his beam ahead hitting Shadow Paradox dead on. “This is nothing compared to the pain inside my heart, or what was my heart.”

“Seriously, what is she talking about?” Starlight asked. Shadow Paradox then used her chaos magic to make rips in space itself. As well as cause a rift in the earth going right at Starlight. Thinking quickly, Time Wizard threw his staff at the rift, stopping it in its tracks while he stopped the rips himself. Shadow Paradox then teleported to Starlight. “Uh, hello.”

"You want to know what I’m talking about, I'll show you." Shadow Paradox grabbed Starlight as well as Time Wizard’s staff after making a portal and flew into the portal with Starlight. It was about to close when Time Wizard used his magic to keep the portal open. Super Stallion was about to fly right in there with Wacko close behind when suddenly.

"No!" Time Wizard called out. "You'll die!"

"That's a risk I'm just going to have to take," Super Stallion said who then flew into the portal with Wacko as well as Trixie who used her cannon to launch herself into the portal to the surprise of everypony.

***

"Trixie? What are you doing here?" Super Stallion asked as he and Wacko arrived in a wasteland.

"What do you think that evil shadow version of Twilight took my friend. Honestly Trixie is surprised as well. Trixie's body moved on its own." As the 3 searched for Starlight she was thrown to the ground by Shadow Paradox.

"There's no escape Starlight Glimmer," Shadow Paradox said. "Do you recognize where we are?" Starlight then looked around and quickly put the pieces together.

"This, this is the timeline where I first met you, but how?"

"We're in Limbo. I remodeled it because what better place to finish you off before I move on to the others?"

"Others?"

"I was originally going to remake the time scroll, but with this staff when I finish you off I'll travel to other timelines and get the Starlight Glimmers there. I won't stop until I erase your existence from the multiverse!"

"That's insane, do you have any idea how much damage you could make?" Your actions may have doomed this entire multiverse, Starlight remembered Time Wizard saying before she was suddenly blasted into a rock by a spell.

Shadow Paradox continued to attack Starlight again and again. Starlight tried to escape and defend herself but it did her no good and she took a massive beating. Shadow Paradox stomped on her back, nearly breaking her spine, then punched her in the stomach again and again until she barfed out blood. Shadow Paradox then bombarded Starlight with spell after spell, 1 of which broke her left foreleg.

"S-Stop, please I beg you," Starlight said on the verge of death.

"You beg me?" Shadow Paradox said as she stopped attacking. Suddenly she was attacked from behind by Super Stallion and Wacko. While they attacked, Trixie went to Starlight to help. Super Stallion and Wacko, having trained with each other, were rather great at fighting together.

"Super Stallion, I remember you and I remember you don't mix so well with chaos magic." Shadow Paradox then counter attacked with powerful blasts of chaos magic the size of boulders. "My isolation left me tons of time to raise my magic power. I imagine my chaos magic is on par with Discord."

"She's right," Super Stallion said on the ground. "In fact I think she's even stronger." Suddenly Wacko and Super Stallion were bombarded with blasts of pure concentrated chaos magic and in no time at all they were in a condition almost as bad as Starlight.

"Nothing will get in my way!" Shadow Paradox made her way back to Starlight and whacked Trixie with the staff knocking her out. "I will stop at nothing to finally have my revenge!" Shadow Paradox then attacked Starlight more as Wacko heard her cry out in pain.

"Star pony in trouble," Wacko said to himself as he got up not noticing strange light blue cracks around his body. "Wacko help!" Wacko charged straight at Shadow Paradox and attacked her with everything he had. In the end Wacko blasted her up with the strongest beam from his mouth and then flew up to her just to punch her so hard she slammed into the ground. "WACKO DO GOOD!"

Suddenly the light blue cracks around Wacko started to spread. Wacko saw Super Stallion who was on his way and gave him a small wave and then exploded. This small explosion pushed Shadow Paradox back and all that was left of Wacko was the leftover remains and what was used to create him. "No, Wacko," Super Stallion said as he collected the pieces when suddenly Shadow Paradox charged at him. "Great, don't even have time to mourn."

"How could I have created such a monster?" Starlight asked as she was able to see everything.

"I will erase Starlight and I'll take down anypony that gets in my way." Shadow Paradox then fired a shadow beam at Super Stallion who summoned a shield to block it. "I'll defeat anypony that gets in my way, I'll erase Starlight Glimmer forever even if I have to destroy the entire multiverse to do that!"

"What?" Super Stallion asked, thinking about if that actually happened and how horrible it would be if wasn't able to stop it. Everything he cared about and much much more would vanish including Celestia and his unborn child.

"No!"

"Huh?"

"No you won't! If I have to give my own life like Wacko did, I will take you down!" Suddenly the aura from before returned and with a sudden power burst the barrier expanded, forcing Shadow Paradox back again who got up and was blinded for a split second by a light that came from Super Stallion.

"You will lose," Super Stallion said calmly and attacked Shadow Paradox with speed and power on a whole new level.

"All the misery, all the suffering, all the endless waiting wasn't enough, it all still continues." Shadow Paradox then let out a fury of large chaos blasts that Super Stallion figured at his new level he could charge right through them but to his surprise and great pain it only took 1 to blast him back. After several more hits he was pushed back and slammed into the ground.

"What's going on? I feel like I've been impaled several times over?" Super Stallion asked as he tried to get up when suddenly the sphere came off and when he tried to put it back on nothing happened. "Oh this just went from bad to utterly horrible!"

"She took down Wacko and Super Stallion," Starlight said as she got back up. "But that has to mean she's on the verge of defeat, maybe if I get the staff I can-" Starlight stopped when she saw Shadow Paradox use the staff on herself to reverse the battle damage. "You have to be kidding me, is there any way to defeat her?"

Some evil can only be fought with the heart, Time Wizard's advice repeated in Starlight's head as Shadow Paradox jumped down and attacked her once again.

"At long last I can finish you off once and for all!" Shadow Paradox then planted the staff on the ground and started to violently strangle Starlight. "Time to finish what I should have started long ago."

"...Is this how I made you feel?" Starlight asked, barely able to get the sentence out.

"Huh?" Shadow Paradox suddenly loosening her grip.

"When I meddled with time you tried over and over to get me to see reason but I wouldn't listen. I was too stubborn.”

"Yes and when that failed I brought you to a different timeline you created but you still refused to see the truth and then you ran away like a coward with your time spell leaving me there. So after what felt like a lifetime I found the magic and the means to rework your spell."

"And that's when Twilight, Spike and….wait, you’re the Twilight I know aren't you?"

"I was, long ago."

"So what happened to Spike?" Shadow Paradox then remained silent for a while; she was still on top of Starlight and her hooves wrapped around her neck. Shadow Paradox then put her horn on Starlight's head and she found herself in the mind of Shadow Paradox. Starlight then saw Twilight and Spike wandering around a wasteland of nothingness.

"When you ran away, we tried to look for something or somepony that could help us," Shadow Paradox said with her former self and Spike doing what she narrated. "We came across a special container in the ruins of Canterlot castle that had alicorn magic in it and a note that had "for any survivor that can use this magic" written on it. It gave me my new look and a huge magical power boost.”

“My gosh,” Starlight said as she looked around at what she created from her revenge.

“I worked on creating your spell from scratch,” Shadow Paradox continued. “I found other remains of powerful magic including abandoned ruins with powerful darkness. But when I tried absorbing it, some of it got to Spike acting as a poison, and, I," Shadow Paradox couldn't even finish as she was in tears and all choked up.

"Spike didn't make it?" Starlight then looked over to the regular Twilight absorbing the dark magic but also holding Spike trying to help him. But as strong as a little dragon he was, his heart wasn't able to fight the poison long enough for Twilight to remove it.

"Curse you Starlight," the Twilight holding Spike whispered. "CURSE YOU! CURSE YOU! CURSE YOU!" She screamed at the top of her lungs looking up at the sky as her eyes went blank. Shadow Paradox then brought them out of her mind still on top of Starlight but her hooves no longer around Starlight's neck.

"That's why you've been so bent on getting me, you wanted to avenge Spike. But you don't have to anymore."

"What?"

"Don't listen to her," the Pony of Shadows said. "She's trying to confuse you."

"QUIET!" Shadow Paradox then absorbed the shadows completely inside her to keep them from interrupting. "What do you mean?"

"When Twilight helped me escape she got me to change my ways and the timeline was reset so what happened to Spike never happened. You stopped me from running off like the coward I was. You saved Spike and he's living happily and he's even going on a date with Rarity soon." Hearing that Shadow Paradox backed off Starlight in shock.

"A date, I, how could I have been so blind. My hatred wouldn't let me see the truth…I've become you," Shadow Paradox said as her pupils slowly returned.

"Yeah you have," Starlight said, not even insulted by what Shadow Paradox said. "But I don't blame you. What pony wouldn't go crazy after what I forced you to go through," Starlight then struggled to get up as she started to cry. "All this time i’ve been terrified of what you might do to me. But maybe it’s fitting.”

“Fitting?”

“Yes, getting murdered by the monster I created. I…I'm so sorry Twilight."

"You're sorry?" Suddenly the shadows tried to get back on the surface but then Shadow Paradox started to fade away.

"What's going on?"

".....I forgive you, Starlight Glimmer," Shadow Paradox answered in a calm voice.

"You do? But how, after everything I've done?"

"The Starlight I hated and the Starlight you are now are not the same. Funny how time has a way of changing ponies isn't it?I forgive you. And now that I do, my anger and hatred has faded, the only things that kept me here. Thank you Starlight. I feel so…light."

"NO!" The Pony of Shadows said as he tried to escape his host but it was too late as she faded away into nothing and took the Pony of Shadows with her.

"Oh my gosh I did it," Starlight said as she sat down. "Time Wizard was right, and now I never have to worry about her ever again." Starlight then made her way to Trixie and woke her up.

"Starlight what happened?"

"She's gone, gone for good."

"Really? Ha of course. She ran off when she saw the great and powerful Trixie coming."

"Yeah that's it," Starlight said, humoring her friend before walking over to get Time Wizard's staff.

"All that's left is to find Super Stallion, get out of here, and return Time Wizard's staff."

"Wait, the guy that can manipulate time?"

"I think it's more that he monitors time but yeah."

"The wise and perhaps soon to be perfect Trixie has a great idea. There's no rush to return it, at least not until we use it."

"Use it? For what?"

"This may come as a shock but even Trixie's made mistakes. Yes I know it's hard to believe but if we use that staff we can go back in time and undo our mistakes."

"Trixie I don't know how to use this staff it's not like I can just think about a part in my past and-" Starlight was cut off when the staff shot out a beam that created a portal showing when Starlight started making her village.

"You did it!" Trixie said excitedly. "Now we can undo every single one of our mistakes." Starlight was actually excited to think she could undo all the bad things she did in the past, but it didn't last and she used the staff to show the portal to when Starlight and Trixie met each other at the spa. "Starlight, what are you doing?"

"Do you remember that time Trixie?"

"Of course Trixie does, that was when we first met."

"Yes and we bonded because we both had a rough day and because of the mistakes we made in the past. If we undo our mistakes we might never become friends." Trixie was shocked as she didn't even think about that. "We've made mistakes in the past but they kind of lead to us being friends, so I'd say they were worth it don't you think?"

"Oh Starlight that goes without saying," Trixie said as she hugged Starlight who returned the hug. "You're the best friend a pony could ask for."

"We've made mistakes in the past but by learning from them we can be better ponies. That's what Time Wizard was trying to tell me.” Starlight and Trixie then met up with Super Stallion who got his sphere to work and after being told what happened collected the pieces of Wacko to bring him back and Starlight used the staff to get the group out of Limbo.

***

With Shadow Paradox gone for good the group made it back to the others a literal second before they left. Starlight returned the staff and then she and Super Stallion fell down as a result from the beating they took.

"Are you all going to be okay?" Somnambula asked.

"I think so," Super Stallion answered. "After all, we were the ones that got off easy." Super Stallion then showed Wacko's remains that he was still able to hold on to.

"Wacko!" Clover said as she went over and grabbed the pieces. "What happened?" Super Stallion and Starlight explained everything that happened in Limbo.

"Wow that sounded intense," Twilight said. "Poor Wacko."

"Wait a minute, Time Wizard-" Starlight was cut off when Time Wizard put the bottom end of his staff to her mouth.

"I know what you're going to ask, but if I go back to when he was still alive it could cause a butterfly effect. A key factor for time travel is minimal interference and getting involved in a life or death situation is not minimal interference."

"So you can't help him?"

"Sorry Clover for lack of a better term, it was his time."

"Maybe if you find the rest of the pieces we can put him back together again."

"Uh those are all the pieces," Super Stallion said to Clover.

"But it can't because he was so big and these are so small."

"Oh no I think her condition is kicking in again," Twilight said.

"Condition?" Time Wizard asked.

"She fell through an unstable time portal and it messed with her head."

"Oh is that all." Time Wizard then put his hand on Clover's head and suddenly a blue aura appeared around it seemingly affecting her. When he stopped Clover fell down a little but got up right away.

"Clover? Are you all right?"

"Yes Star Swirl I actually feel a lot better. What did you do, Time Wizard?"

"I repaired your brain by reversing the damage you took when you were hit by the unstable time portal."

"You can do that?!" Super Stallion said almost screaming as he flew right up to him. "There's another pony that got their head messed with by portal lightning or whatever you call it. Could you cure him too?"

Time Wizard followed Super Stallion to Badland Prison and Time Wizard healed Stone Wall. After that Super Stallion left to change back into Squeaky Clean as he was forcing the sphere to stay on half the time. Time Wizard then returned to Ponyville where Starlight was taken to a hospital as well as Trixie for her bump.

“Well, you certainly are far from 100%, but you should be able to make a full recovery,” Nurse Redheart said.

“Well that’s good,” Starlight said.

"Hey Time Wizard if you can fix my head, you can heal Starlight right?" Clover asked.

"No Clover, I don't want him to heal me," Starlight said to the confusion of the others. "I wanna stay here and think about my past and all the bad choices I've made. And think about what I can do to make up for it and learn from them." Time Wizard then approached Starlight and she closed her eyes expecting another painful whack to the head but instead she felt a few gentle pats on her head by Time Wizard's free hand.

"You're all right Starlight."

"Really? Does that mean we're friends?" Starlight then received another painful strike to the head by Time Wizard's staff.

"Not a chance," Time Wizard answered. "But acquaintances might do."

"While I'm glad all this is settled I'm still rather puzzled," Star Swirl said. "About Super Stallion and Shadow Paradox how could the former's desire to protect help him unlock a power he didn't even have and the latter's rage and hate make them strong enough to survive their timeline getting erased. Can emotions truly be that powerful?" Suddenly Time Wizard placed his free hand on Star Swirl's head, getting his attention.

"Before I go, let me tell you a story about a boy who became a hero through his sheer desire to protect others. And along the way defeated a great evil and learned that love is far more powerful than death."

"Wait Time Wizard!"

"Yes Applejack."

"Before you leave y’all should come over to my farm and try some apple pie, and also meet my family who-"

"You want me to take you all back in time to when your parents were still alive."

Applejack paused before taking her hat off. “It’s not for me. It’s for my little sister Apple Bloom. They died little after she was born. You being a Time Wizard and all, it’s a rare opportunity.” Applejack paused again. “It would mean the world to her.”

"I'll think about it," Time Wizard said as he walked out of the room with Star Swirl.

"Well these last few days have been pretty stressful huh?" Twilight asked and her friends all agreed. "I think we need to do something to lighten things up."

"You mean like a party?"

"No Pinkie, not a party, a festival. A festival of friendship and everypony is invited, we can have it at Canterlot and make it the best it can be." Twilight's friends then all got excited as that sounded like a grand idea.

"That would be wonderful, what could possibly go wrong?" Starlight asked, causing all the others to glare at her. "Maybe I shouldn't have asked that."

Chapter 44 The Movie

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Thanks to Time Wizard Clover the Clever and Stone Wall were returned to normal. When Stone Wall returned Squeaky was so happy to see him again he tried to hug him. Only for Stone Wall to block him with a barrier. "Right," Squeaky said, still on the barrier. "Still not a hugger."

"Stone Wall, it's so great to see you again," Cadance said who came to Canterlot with Shining Armor and Flurry Heart to greet him.

"Thank you Cadance, I'm surprised you all welcome me back after what I did," Stone Wall said somewhat somberly, which surprised everypony.

"Stone Wall we don't blame you for what happened you weren't yourself," Celestia said.

"But if you want to make it up to us somehow you could give me away," Cadance said. who then explained that while she loved her wedding it wasn't perfect because she didn't have Stone Wall to give her away.

"You still want me to do that?"

"Oh come on Stone Wall,” Shining Armor said. We all know you like her, you always looked out for her like the little sister you never had."

"Actually I have a sister."

"You do?" Shining asked.

"Yes, but she, I don't want to talk about it. I don't know why I even brought that up."

The next day Celestia and Luna went into labor. Squeaky waited outside the delivery room because they both agreed that they wanted to be surprised and were they ever. When Squeaky saw Celestia she was resting on the bed and Squeaky decided to give her a kiss to help her wake up.

"Thank you Squeaky I needed that, I'm exhausted." They talked for a bit and then the doctor came in.

"Is there a problem doctor? Did something happen to my foal?" Celestia asked.

"No need to worry they're fine."

"Oh that's, they?"

"Congratulations, triplets." Celestia and Squeaky were shocked to say the least as the doctor hoofed over the 3 babies. 1 pegasus with a light blue coat, 1 earth pony with a light green coat and 1 unicorn with a light pink coat.

"Wow 3 foals at once, I can only imagine how much of a labor that had to be for you Celestia. Ha! That wasn't even on purpose." After giving her husband a fake laugh Celestia wanted to show her sister who gave birth to 3 babies as well each a different type of pony. 1 pegasus with a brown coat like his father, 1 unicorn pony with the same coat as her mother, and 1 earth pony with a coat that matched her mother's mane.

"Wow 3 foals that's more than 2," Swift Sweep said.

"This did explain why my stomach felt so heavy." After they got out of the hospital Twilight came to talk about the festival idea and Cadance who came with Shining Armor to see the babies thought it was a great idea. Because that would be the perfect place to renew their vows. But that would have to wait, as on the day of the festival mysterious storm clouds appeared followed by large blimps.

"I've got a bad feeling about this," Stone Wall said not knowing how right his feeling would be. A pony with a broken horn arrived and attacked with an army of creatures in service of the Storm King. The princesses wanted to do something but Luna and Cadance were turned to stone by strange spheres and Celestia had to act fast.

"Squeaky Stone Wall get Twilight out of here and travel south beyond the Badlands and find the queen of the hippo-" Celestia was cut off when she got turned to stone and Stone Wall who kept calm got Twilight and Squeaky Clean away before Twilight got blasted as well.

"Luna!" Swift Sweep cried out as he wanted to fly right over to her when she was blasted into stone but Stone Wall stopped him.

"I understand how you feel but you won't help her by getting caught yourself." Stone Wall then continued to help Twilight as they met up with their friends but Tempest wasn't too far behind and threw the final sphere. The group was about to get out of Canterlot when they were blocked off by a group of creatures. "Take them down but don't let them separate us!"

"Easy as apple pie," Applejack said as she got out her lasso and tied up one of the creatures before it even knew what happened. The others managed to fight them off but just as they were about to get out of there more of the creatures showed up. "Okay maybe not quite as easy as pie."

"Maybe easy as cake instead or is that easier than pie it's hard to tell I love them both," Pinkie Pie said.

"Get your mind off sugar products!" Stone Wall said. Stone Wall then let out a burst of spells that knocked out almost every creature but after he did he fell to the ground. Having recently been released from the prison hospital wing and was rather out of shape. After he collapsed Squeaky helped him up and the group got together.

And with that the group ran off and made their way out of Canterlot.

***

After getting to safety Stone Wall informed them of what Princess Celestia told them. “Before Princess Celestia was turned to stone; she told us to find the queen of the hippos."

"Griffs," Swift Sweep added.

"I beg your pardon Prince Swift Sweep?" Stone Wall asked. As it turns out Swift Sweep, having become a prince, took an interest in learning about the areas that were beyond Equestria. Such as Mount Aris, home of the hippogriffs. According to what he was told by Luna and Celestia their queen has a magical artifact that could help reverse the princesses getting turned to stone.

"Well, well that's certainly good to know thank you Swift Sweep."

"Oh no problem captain."

"I'm not the captain anymore," Stone Wall replied once again sounding sad. "But that's not important now we have to get going," Stone Wall said, sounding serious again as he walked off and the others followed. "We're down but we're not out. We get to Mount Aris, find the magical artifact we need, and then plan a counter attack on taking back the capital."

"A counterattack, oh yeah I'm all for that," Rainbow Dash said.

“Count us in,” Applejack added.

"It's good that we have a plan and all but I'm still wondering why Super Stallion didn't show up to help," Rarity said as Spike who was walking next to her looked back at Squeaky for a second or 2.

"Well you know Rarity being a superhero can be pretty busy he can't be everywhere at once. It's like how I love coming over to help you but I can't do it all the time."

"Besides," Twilight added. "Super Stallion isn't the only thing that protects Equestria, there's the royal guard plus there's my brother who was Captain of the Royal guard before becoming Prince of the Crystal Empire. I bet he can keep the invaders busy by the time we get back, if not stop them all by himself."

***

Stone Wall had always taught the royal guard to always keep their guard up at the moment Shining wished he had taken it more seriously. During the invasion Shining charged up his magic and made his shield that was going to force the invaders out of the capital. "I don't know what these things are or where they came from but they aren't ruining my sister's festival."

Shining Armor released his spell but Tempest not only stopped it with her magic but shattered it. Tempest ran to where the spell came from while Shining ran to where his spell was broken.

"I take it you were the one that made that abnormally large barrier spell?"

"And I'm guessing you're the one that broke it?"

"It was a powerful spell. I was expecting it to be stronger but if you break it in just 1 area you break the whole thing, pretty big design flaw for a spell don't you think?" Tempest and Shining then exchanged spells and while it seemed even, Shining eventually pinned her. But he was so focused on her he didn't notice Grubber sneak up and hit him in the back of the head with a long piece of wood.

By the time Shining Armor woke up he was bound with rope and had a magic canceling collar on his neck. He was going to be put in a cage but they were already filled. Many ponies came to the capital not just for the festival but for the rewedding as well.

"Wow, perfect timing," Grubber said. "You woke up right after I finished tying you up."

"What happened?"

"You lost," Tempest answered. "And with you taken out I can finally get to the castle and contact the Storm King."

Despite being captured, Shining was trying to figure out how to get free. Wait a minute, Shining Armor thought. I can just wait until she leaves then chew the ropes off, then I can find something to get this collar off.

"All right let's tell the big boss about what a great job we did."

"Grubber, are we forgetting something?"

"Huh? Oh right, right I'm on it." Suddenly Grubber wrapped a red cloth around Shining Armor's muzzle.

"Hey what arm oo mooing."

"Just in case you tried to bite through the ropes." Tempest then held up Shining’s head a bit with her hoof and couldn't help but lick her lips as she stared at Shining Armor. "Mmm you know, it may be because you're the first stallion I've been with in ages, but you're a real cutie. Maybe after I talk to the Storm King he'll let me keep you, as my little pet."

***

As they were making their way to the queen of the hippogriffs Stone Wall helped his group through the desert having traveled across it before. They made it to a small town called Klugetown where a group gathered around the ponies thinking they were for sale. Stone Wall, not wishing to fight right when they just got in town, used a flash spell and got everypony and Spike out of there. "Nice work Stone Wall," Twilight said.

"Yes, while I'm rather used to a crowd gathering around me, that was quite of a different nature," Rarity said.

"Hey I was totally about to tell that group to back off and give my mare her space," Spike said, trying to act macho. "But you did a pretty good job Stone Wall."

"Well let's find a place to rest and hide in case another crowd finds us," Squeaky said. Swift Sweep then flew up and then flew down looking rather excited.

"Hey I know where we can hide and have fun at the same time!" Swift Sweep said with a big grin and then led them to a small circus tent by a large windmill.

"All right, the circus!" Pinkie said as she ran right in.

"Stick with the group!" Stone Wall said as he chased after the party pony and the others followed. Once they made it inside Squeaky was shocked to see 2 familiar faces.

"Quite a show isn't it, It's just wonderful if I do say so myself," A tall cat creature said as he was acting like the ringleader. "Give it up for Inferno and Mimicry!" Suddenly Inferno made rings of fire in the air that she jumped right through while her sister Mimicry used her claws to get from the high beam to the tightrope. Soon after the group came in the 2 finished their act and the crowd left.

"If you all want to watch the show you're going to have to pay for it like everypony, every creature else sorry force of habit," Mimicry said. This made the group decide to come out in the open to her surprise. "Princess Twilight Sparkle? And other ponies I don't really know."

"Wait, we know that 1 buff stallion," Inferno said. "He was the stallion acting all psychotic that our brother found and-"

"I TOLD YOU NEVER TO TALK ABOUT HIM!"

"Right, sorry," Inferno said sheepishly.

"So why are you in Klugetown?" Mimicry asked as she directed her attention back to the group.

"We could ask you the exact same question," Squeaky said.

"Yeah, so why are you in Klugetown?" Swift Sweep asked. Mimicry then gestured to the group to follow her and Inferno as she walked off to a different part of the circus that had spots where they could all rest.

"May I offer you debt destroying ponies some drinks?" The cat creature from before asked as he held a plate with half a dozen cups of drinks. Mimicry and Inferno then took 1 and the plate was placed on a nearby table.

"It all started when we got released so we could help Super Stallion fight, though we were more interested in getting back at he who shall not be named ever at least not around me," Mimicry said after he finished her drink. "After helping out we got a parole and we chose to get as far away as we could."

"Yeah we wanted to see what was beyond Equestria," Inferno said. "We did it to find a new place where we could start all over where we wouldn't be reminded of our past mistakes."

"That's when we came here and met Capper the tall hairy fellow over there."

"When we got here he helped us get away from a crowd that thought the 2 of us were for sale."

Them too? Squeaky thought. What's with this town?

"When he helped us get away he let us stay at his place after we told him why we were there. Turns out he knew how we felt as he was betrayed by someone that he cared about a lot. We asked him where we could get a job and the next day he brought us here, turns out he owed the owner quite a lot."

"So Mimicry and I decided to work for free for a while to help him out since he helped us out. Soon the 3 of us got close and he got a job here too. Before long we helped him get out of debt and even got the owner to move his circus right outside Capper's house since it would be easier for every creature to come see us perform."

"So are you 2 okay staying here?" Squeaky asked.

"The pay is good and Capper's place has a lot of room," Inferno answered.

"This place isn't really the best place to live but you get used to it," Mimicry added and then looked down and stared at her claws. "Capper is a good friend and all the time working here has helped me realize what a fool I'd been."

"What fools we both had been," Inferno said as she patted her sister on the back.

"Maybe that's something we all need," Stone Wall said. "A second chance."

"Yes I suppose you're right, plus this job lets me show off and I've always loved to do that," Mimicry said trying to cheer herself up. "So now it's your turn. What are all of you doing here?"

"It doesn't matter because they won't be staying," Tempest said.

"Tempest!?" Twilight said in shock as the others got up ready to fight.

"What are you doing here?" Spike asked.

"She's here to get the last princess to finish the set for the Storm King," Grubber answered.

"Oh what do we have here?" the owner of the circus asked as he approached Tempest. "Perhaps another pony to add to my circus." The owner then walked right up to Tempest and put his hands right on her face and squeezed her cheeks a little. "What tricks do you know, my little pony whony?"

"This," Tempest said as she shocked the owner.

"Not bad," he said as he fell to the ground.

"Ouch," Capper said as he saw the whole thing. "That looked insanely painful."

"Yes, I'm sure it was," Tempest said as she shot another spell at the group but Stone Wall countered with a shield that protected everypony and Spike. "Oh great, another pony that's good with magic."

"If you want them you'll have to go through me," Stone Wall said as he made it to the front of the group. The others got away from Stone Wall as he and Tempest charged their horns ready to attack but then suddenly they stopped and simply stared at each other. Suddenly Inferno put a wall of fire between the 2 of them.

"I don't know what's going on but nopony does that to our boss," Inferno said as she also fired several fireballs forcing Tempest back.

"Careful, don't light the tent on fire," Mimicry said.

"I know I know."

"There's a dock not too far away from here filled with air ships that will help you escape," Mimicry said.

"Thanks," Squeaky said.

"Your welcome," Inferno said. The group ran off as Tempest made it through the fire. Mimicry tried to stop her by turning into her. However it didn’t even slow Tempest down and made short work of her.

"Often imitated never duplicated," the real Tempest Shadow said as she jumped to the right to dodge a fire attack from Inferno.

"Nopony messes with my sister, especially some freak that doesn't even have a horn!" Hearing that Tempest growled and zapped Inferno knocking her out.

"Now that that's out of the way, it's time to collect a princess." Tempest caught up with Twilight's group in no time at all. It was touch and go for a minute or 2 but after an escape plan involving a windmill, finding an airship, and Twilight saving Pinkie Pie from almost falling to her death they used the ship to get away and continue their journey.

"Best escape plan ever!" Pinkie Pie nearly screamed as they were all on the ship but Pinkie was asked to quiet down to not get the attention of those running the airship. But that didn't last long as they were discovered by the crew.

"None of you are going to lay a hoof, or talon on them or you'll have to answer to me!" Stone Wall said.

"Oh really?" Captain Celaeno said as she approached Stone Wall seemingly ready for a fight with the brave stallion. "So hot shot you think you can beat us all by yourself? Well if you think-" Celaeno was cut off by a large bell getting the attention of every creature on the airship. "THAT'S LUNCH!"

"What?" Stone Wall asked and soon they found themselves at the large dinner table with the crew. They even served some of the lunch.

"So what now we're not gonna go over the plank or anything?" Rainbow Dash asked and suddenly got elbowed in the gut by Stone Wall.

"Don't rock the boat," Stone Wall said as he actually tried some of the food offered to him but still ready for a fight.

"Yeah especially if the boat is actually a ship that's in the air that we can be pushed off," Pinkie Pie added to the continuing confusion of Stone Wall.

What is with that pony? Stone Wall thought to himself. As the ponies and Spike had lunch they learned more about the crew and how they used to be pirates or as they preferred swashbuckling treasure hunters.

"So pirates," Rainbow Dash said. The crew then explained how they used to be great but were put under the thumb of the Storm King and now must do as he orders or suffer his wrath.

"Wow that sucks," Stone Wall said, starting to feel sorry for them.

"Yeah don't remind us," Captain Celaeno said.

"Too late I think we already did," Swift Sweep said before long Rainbow Dash said that they shouldn't work for a guy like the Storm King and as she put it, it was time to be awesome again. Rainbow Dash was so full of passion she started to sing and the crew dawned their pirate clothing once again. Rainbow Dash got so caught up she took to the sky.

"Wait, what is she doing?" Stone Wall asked.

"Rainboom rainboom," Pinkie Pie said as she cheered for her friend, shocking Stone Wall.

"What!? No, don't!" Stone Wall said but it was too late. Rainbow Dash did her famous sonic rainboom that filled the sky with its beautiful colors but also got the attention of a certain unicorn.

"Well well those silly little ponies do like to party don't they?" Tempest said aboard her ship. "Good thing, I thought we were starting to lose them." Tempest then headed straight for their airship and Rainbow Dash landed on it once again taking pride in what she did. Suddenly Stone Wall bonked her right on the head, surprising all the others.

"WHY DID YOU DO THAT?! YOU JUST GAVE AWAY OUR POSITION, FIZ-TEMPEST SAW THAT FOR SURE!"

"Oh, you think she saw my-"

"YES RAINBOW I DO!"

"What do we do?" Squeaky asked as he wished that Super Stallion could help but as he was doing the entire trip.

***

After the multiverse was nearly erased by the anger driven Shadow Paradox, Squeaky had Star Swirl take a look at the sphere. Before long Star Swirl returned with the sphere but then Squeaky saw that where a symbol of a large horse once was there was only a small black dot. "Is that something you felt like putting on the sphere?"

"Not quite, I was able to repair the sphere by using some of Wacko's well, "remains,” but it's going to be a while before you can use it again. Do you see that dot? When that dot becomes the horse you can use it."

"Wait back to normal does that mean I can't use the hyper mode again?"

"You can, but that's something I wanted to talk to you about. Do you recall reading in my journal that the sphere provides no specific defense against chaos magic?"

"Yes.”

"Well I've come to believe that this "hyper mode" greatly increases all of your fighting attributes, but your weakness to chaos magic is greatly increased as well."

"Well that definitely explains a lot."

***

"I wish Super Stallion was here," Swift Sweep said.

"Yeah, me too," Squeaky said.

"No time to dwell on that we have to hide," Twilight said. The group snuck below deck while the crew tried to trick Tempest. But she wasn't buying it and even threatened to destroy the ship if the crew didn't blow the whistle on where the stowaways were. Thinking quickly as she usually does, Twilight found a way to escape and make a hot air balloon.

"Wow, nice thinking Twilight." Rarity said.

"Yeah I would have never thought of that," Swift Sweep said.

"Next stop Mount Aris," Rainbow Dash said as she got behind the hot air balloon to push it. When they finally arrived at the mountain their hopes took a downward spiral when they arrived in a city on top of the mountain and it was a ghost town.

"This is where we're supposed to find the queen of the hippogriffs?" Pinkie Pie asked as they continued to look around but found no living soul.

"What's going on here?" Stone wall said.

"Well let's think about all of this," Swift Sweep said. "Maybe hippogriffs can turn invisible and they're really shy."

"I know," Rainbow Dash said as she got the attention of all the others. "I'll go and get a bird's eye view of this place that should help." Rainbow Dash was about to take off when Stone Wall teleported her over to him.

"I don't think so," Stone Wall said. "Not after that stunt you pulled on the airship. You stay right here next to me! And don’t do something stupid! Understand?"

"I don't see any hippogriffs anywhere," Spike said.

"Don't worry Spikey Wikey I'm sure they're around here somewhere," Rarity said as she comforted her favorite dragon by putting her foreleg around him.

"Well we better hurry before Tempest catches up to us again," Twilight said. When suddenly they started to hear singing not too far off in the distance. The entire group eventually started to hear it as well and they followed it into a cave.

"Who's in there?" Swift Sweep whispered.

"I don't know," Stone Wall answered. "But none of you do anything to scare them." The group got deeper into the cave and came across a creature singing by the water. Squeaky got a little closer and was about to bump into a piece of rubble but Stone Wall put his hoof right on his chest to stop him. "Excuse me," Stone Wall called out loudly but not too loudly getting the attention of the creature.

"What? Who's there?" The creature replied.

"My name is Stone Wall and we mean you no harm. We've come here to find the queen of the hippogriffs because she has something that can help us."

"A-Are you friends with the Storm King?" The creature asked, still hiding and still keeping her distance.

"From what little I've heard about him I don't think the Storm King is the kind of guy that has friends," Stone Wall answered and the creature couldn't help but laugh.

"Yeah," she said as she laughed a bit more. "You're right I don't think he has any friends."

"So are you a hippogriff or what?" Rainbow Dash asked, making the creature scared again.

"Who's that?"

"Don't worry she's with me her name in Rainbow Dash," Stone Wall answered and then elbowed Rainbow Dash in the gut again. "Who I told not to do anything stupid."

"Sorry."

"But who are you? My name is Squeaky Clean, what's yours?"

"My name is Skystar. Princess Skystar."

"And isn't that name redundant?" Swift Sweep asked.

"Huh?" Skystar replied.

"Well stars are already in the sky right?"

"Oh yeah," Skystar said as she laughed again. "I guess that is true, I never realized that. I like you guys, are there others there with you?"

"Yeah I'm Rainbow Dash," she said as she got up wanting to fly over to her but Stone Wall stopped her with his magic and forced her back on the ground.

"I'm not gonna tell you again!"

"Sorry." The others introduced themselves and Skystar decided to jump into the water and swim over to the group.

"You're a seapony?" Twilight said, confused.

"Yes, what are you?" Twilight then answered that and more of Skystar's questions. After that Twilight asked where all the hippogriffs had gone off to and why they wanted to see them.

"Oh you want to meet the hippogriffs, well I'm not supposed to do this but I think I can trust you so how about you jump into the water and I'll take you to them."

"Wait there are hippogriffs down there?" Pinkie Pie asked. "Oh I know they're seeing who can hold their breath the longest can I go against the winner?" Pinkie Pie then saw Stone Wall staring at her. "What?"

"When all this is over I'm going to introduce you to the castle shrink." The group then jumped in and Skystar put bubbles on their heads so they could breathe, then led the group to the underwater land of Seaquestria. There they met Queen Novo who wasn't happy that her daughter brought outsiders.

"Guards!" Queen Novo called out and the group was surrounded by guards each with a spear pointed at them. This gave all of them quite a scare, all but Stone Wall.

"You want to get that out of my face?" Stone Wall asked the guard whose spear he grabbed.

"You wanna make me?" The guard responded.

"I don't make trash,” Stone Wall broke the spear. “I burn it."

"Wait!" Skystar called out before the guards did anything and then she whispered in Queen Novo’s ear who gestured to the guards to back away. All who breathed out of relief.

"My daughter does quite a few things that I don't approve of but she believes that you are of no harm, well most of you anyway. Your name is Stone Wall right?"

"Correct."

"I respect your fearless attitude and I have to agree with my daughter, you are rather cute."

"MOM! OH MY GOSH!" Skystar said, her face blushing so much that her whole head turned red.

"Why have you come here?" Twilight explained everything then Skystar against her mother's wishes told the story of the hippogriffs and how they became seaponies via a magical pearl to hide from the Storm King. Skystar even convinced her mother to test out the pearl and used it to change the group who enjoyed it quite a bit even Stone Wall found it interesting.

"Oh so the queen of the seaponies is the queen of the hippogriffs," Swift Sweep said. "So it's like she's 2 queens at once, that's gotta be stressful."

"Uh, did he suffer some painful strike to his head or something?" Queen Novo asked.

"Not in the last few days," Squeaky answered. "Princess Celestia must have wanted us to borrow that pearl of yours." Squeaky then swam up a bit to get closer to Queen Novo and bowed in respect to her. "Queen Novo I Prince Squeaky Clean humbly request to borrow your magic pearl so we can use its magic to free our princesses.”

"No."

"What do you mean no?"

"I'm pretty sure it's the opposite of yes Squeaky," Swift Sweep answered.

"I'm truly sorry for what happened to you but if I let you take the pearl it could end up in the greedy claws of the Storm King."

"That's it," Stone Wall said, upset. "After how far we came after everything we've been through, you're going to make it all for nothing just because of a could."

"Yeah now if it was a should that's another story like it would be if it was a would but a could on the other hoof or fin or hoof fin-"

"Please be quiet Swift Sweep," Stone Wall said.

"Try to see it from my point of view. I have to protect my kind, I am their queen after all."

"Wait so that pearl also protects the seaponies?" Swift Sweep asked.

"What? No it changes us from hippogriffs to seaponies," Queen Novo answered.

"Oh so you just use it to go out?"

"No, we never go out?"

"So you never use the pearl?"

"Correct."

"Well if you never use the pearl, why can't we use it?" Queen Novo was about to answer but she had no idea what to say.

"My gosh Swift Sweep made a good point," Stone Wall said.

"Even if I don't use it, it can still be dangerous if the Storm King gets it. I'm sorry but I made up my mind."

"So what are you just gonna stay down here for the rest of your lives?" Rainbow Dash asked. "That's no way to live."

"She's right," Twilight said as she approached Queen Novo. "There's so much out there."

"Yeah like chocolate and comic books," Swift Sweep said but despite all their pleas Queen Novo didn't budge.

"All right then," Stone Wall said, angry and disappointed. "Well can you at least use it to turn us back into ponies, and a dragon?" Queen Novo then did just that and Princess Skystar placed bubbles on them again.

"Wait, I have a great idea. Instead of leaving you can all stay here with us, mostly you Stone Wall."

"Sorry Princess Skystar-"

"Please just Skystar, you're making me blush."

"Sorry, Skystar but we need to head back to our home while figuring out what to do."

"Wait a minute," Queen Novo said almost in shock. "After what I told you about how horrible the Storm King is when he attacked our home you're just going to leave and fight him anyway?"

"Yes," Stone Wall answered.

"Though couldn't we stay just a while and maybe change back into seaponies for a bit?"

"No Pinkie," Stone Wall answered.

"But can't we just do 1 small thing, you know 1 small thing-"

"I said no!"

"You're honestly going to fight the Storm King, he can't be beat," Queen Novo said.

"How would you know? You didn't even try, you just fled," Swift Sweep said.

"We didn't flee, we swam, so we could flee," Skystar said.

"And besides I did what was best for us," Queen Novo said.

"You call hiding away in an overgrown swimming hole best for you," Stone Wall replied. "Maybe the Storm King is a great threat and maybe we are over our heads but at least we're not going to give up then run and hide. At least we're not a pack of cowards!" Hearing that the guards from before swam over to Stone Wall.

"You take that back!" The guard with the now broken spear demanded.

"Make me."

"I don't make trash," the guard then raised his broken spear about to attack. "I burn-" the guard was cut off when Stone Wall decked him right in the throat. Stone Wall then made short work of him and the other guards.

"And your guards are poorly trained."

"I guess we could ask the changelings for help; their powers could be very helpful," Swift Sweep said.

"If we did, would I still have to fight, that's not really my thing?"

"Don't worry Rarity I'll protect you," Spike said as he threw a few punches and Rainbow Dash did that as well.

"Yeah and maybe I could lead the attack to make sure I do more than my fair share of flank kicking," Rainbow said.

"Wait," Queen Novo called out as they were about to leave. "Are you all willing to fight him?"

"Yes," the group answered all together and then to their surprise Queen Novo, while hesitant, grabbed the pearl and offered it to Squeaky Clean.

"Really?!" Squeaky said and Novo nodded in response.

"Just please don't make me regret this."

"We won't," Twilight said excited. "Seriously thank you, I was actually really stressed out about this. I was even tempted to steal it."

"Oh please you wouldn't steal it Twilight that's way too out of character for you," Swift Sweep said.

"Not really," Pinkie said. "She's prone to doing something stupid when she's under stress."

***

"All right we're halfway there! Give or take," Pinkie said. "Let's have a we're probably halfway done party!"

"You know that's actually a good idea," Stone Wall said surprisingly. "We all need a breather so why not? Though I don't think you can really have a party here of all places."

"Challenge accepted," Pinkie Pie said as she got out her party cannon and the staff given to her by the Time Wizard seemingly out of nowhere. As Pinkie got to work making a party, Squeaky made the pearl turn him into a dragon. Spike then wanted to become a pony and Squeaky used the pearl to do just that.

"Sweet! How do I look Rarity?"

"Quite dashing, though I prefer your adorable little dragon form, this form doesn't have your cutest little chubby chicks."

"Don't play too much with that pearl, it's our ticket to taking back the capital," Stone Wall said as he approached Squeaky Clean and gestured to him to follow him out of the abandoned town.

"Something on your mind, Stone Wall?"

"Yes we may have the pearl but we're still gonna need help to take back the capital such as those former rogues that I heard helped you stop the now locked up in Tartarus rogues."

"Uh, I think you got a few details mixed up. They helped Super Stallion, not me though I did write him a royal letter that allowed him-"

"Oh give me a break Squeaky! I know, I've always known!"

"Uh, Stone Wall I think you're a little confused."

"Oh really?" Stone Wall asked as he smiled an unusual smile and then lifted the sphere out of Squeaky's saddle bag. "Well then let's see what happens if I play with this for a while. Maybe I'll show it to Queen Novo since she's experienced with large magic balls."

"Okay okay okay," Squeaky said as he put the sphere back in his saddle bag and looked back to make sure the others didn't see.

"None of the others are looking, I made sure," Stone Wall said. "They're too busy having the cake that Pinkie Pie made somehow, actually I think she pulled it out of her mane somehow."

"How did you know?"

"We can talk about it later but for now you need to find a place to change-"

"Uh actually I'm gonna stop you there because-"

"No! Help!" Spike as well as the others called out and the 2 stallions ran back to the group.

"What happened?" Stone Wall asked.

"They took Twilight!" Spike answered back in dragon form. "Those creatures showed up and a cage came down trapping Twilight." Stone Wall then saw several creatures knocked out after a fight with the mane 6.

"And it gets worse," Fluttershy said. "During the fight we were forced to drop the pearl and one of the creatures fell on it and well, see for yourself." Stone Wall then looked to where Fluttershy pointed and saw that the pearl had been shattered into pieces.

"NO! I DON'T BELIEVE IT!" Stone Wall yelled as he approached the shattered pieces.

"Yeah I know right we just got it and I didn't even get to turn into a griffin,” Rainbow Dash said. “Yeah yeah I know, it's not important right now but I always wanted to know what it would be like to be a griffin and now I'll never know." Rainbow then suddenly turned into the very creature she was talking about to her and the shock of the others. Stone Wall saw that one of her forelegs was on the shards of the pearl. Stone Wall then picked up a shard and turned into a hydra and back into a pony.

"They still work? Ha ha ha they still work! We're still in this!" As Stone Wall gathered the pieces he noticed they had company. Not only the pirates from before but also Capper, Inferno, Mimicry, and even Queen Novo who was struggling to get to the group with quite a few seaponies in the water behind her.

"Oh good you're all still here," Queen Novo said as she managed to finally crawl over to Stone Wall.

"What the heck is that, a giant mutant fish?" Inferno asked.

"Queen Novo? What are you doing here?" Stone Wall asked.

"I thought about all the stuff you said and I couldn't help but wonder if we fought when the Storm King invaded or if we could have defeated him. So I decided to join you in your fight and I asked my fellow seaponies who wanted to join me and well as I'm sure you can see they all wanted in on the fight."

"I admire your courage," Stone Wall said as he approached Queen Novo which made her notice that the pearl had been shattered.

"Are you kidding me!? I let you have it for a couple minutes and you break it! How are we supposed to help you now?" Queen Novo was suddenly turned into a hippogriff by a shard to her surprise. "But how were-" she was cut off when Stone Wall covered her mouth with his hoof.

"You want to asked questions or do you want to pass the shards to the other seaponies so they can help?"

***

Twilight was brought back to the city of Canterlot and into the castle where the other princesses were placed. There the Storm King arrived and with the Staff of Sacanas took the magic of all 4 princesses. "Let's get this storm started, oh that's good I should trademark that," he said. He was excited after receiving the magic and he got even more excited when he learned he could now move the sun and moon all on his own.

"Let's see Tuesday Wednesday Thursday oh look it's the weekend already." While the Storm King was goofing around Twilight's group had already put their plan in place while the pirates, Capper, Mimicry, Inferno, and Twilight's friends sneak in via giant cake while Stone Wall lead the hippogriffs into Canterlot so they could counterattack from the inside and the outside.

"It seems the cake squad was exposed earlier than I'd hoped but I suppose even a perfect plan can't guarantee a flawless execution," Stone Wall said as he was riding Skystar.

"It's amazing how there were just as many shards as there were seaponies," Skystar said.

"Yes now focus this attack is far from over," Stone Wall replied. Skystar and a few other hippogriffs made it to the group and freed some of the ponies. She had quite a few of the creatures around her but Stone Wall made short work of him.

"What a stallion," Skystar said. Stone Wall then got back and Skystar who along with the other hippogriffs flew across the capitol fighting the Storm King's forces to the shock of Tempest.

"What? How?"

"It's the magic of-"

"Yeah yeah, friendship and flowers and ponies." The Storm King interrupted and then fake vomited. "I am so totally over the cute pony thing." The Storm King then summoned the mother of all storms that most of the hippogriffs and even some of the creatures on the Storm King's side got sucked up in. Some of the hippogriffs managed to get into the castle along with the small group that got in through the giant cake.

"Storm King, I have fulfilled my part of the bargain, now restore my horn."

"Yeah, about that I think I'll just not do that."

"What? But we had a deal. I did everything."

"Yeah and that was what you were supposed to do, get it? I used you." With that the Storm King blasted Tempest. Or at least he would if Stone Wall hadn't gotten her out of the way with the help of Skystar while Novo and Squeaky Clean, who was riding on her, gave the Storm King a double punch to the jaw.

"Oh that felt so good," Queen Novo said.

"Here here," Squeaky agreed.

"Why, why did you protect me?" Tempest asked as Stone Wall was standing above her.

"Why?" Stone Wall replied. "That's what a big brother is supposed to do isn't he?"

"Wait what?!" Squeaky asked as he got off Queen Novo. "She's your sister?! Wait a minute! At the circus, that's why you both didn't attack, you recognized each other."

"Yes when she arrived at the capital I thought she looked familiar but only when I got really up close-"

"Uh can we talk about this later?" Queen Novo asked as she pointed to the Storm King who was getting back up and ready to use the staff.

"The staff has all the alicorn magic you need to get it from him," Tempest said as she got up.

"Yeah good luck with that," the Storm King said as he got ready to blast them but Twilight grabbed the staff and tripped the Storm King. "Oh no you don't give that back," the Storm King said as he grabbed Twilight's leg and tried to take the staff. "Let me have it you hear me let me have it right now, wait bad choice of words-" The Storm King was cut off when Twilight used the staff to blast him right through the wall.

"Twilight you're okay!" Pinkie called out as her group managed to make it to where she was.

"Not quite," Twilight then used the staff of Sacanas to return her magic. "Now I'm okay but we still can't free the other princesses."

"Yes you can," Tempest said. "Place the staff upside down where the Storm King placed it and it should free them as well as return their magic."

"Not on my watch!" The Storm King said as he came out of the hole where he was knocked through the wall and tackled Twilight forcing them both of them off the balcony and for a moment it seemed Twilight was lost to the storm. But she flew back with the staff still in hoof and the mighty storm fading away.

"All right Twilight!" Squeaky said. After coming back Twilight freed the other princesses, but just when it seemed this adventure was finally over numerous creatures entered the castle and surrounded the group. “AH COME ON!”

“I know right,” Swift Sweep said. The creatures continued their attack and even attacked and Squeaky Clean was thrown into another room. Stone Wall acted quickly, protecting the others and making the creatures back off. Tempest then saw 1 of the spheres she used to trap the princesses was coming Twilight's way so she got in front of her and was turned to stone instead.

"This isn't over!" The Storm King said as he got out a bag of the orbs that trapped the princesses in stone. "Good thing I stocked up on these before coming here." The Storm King then tossed all the orbs when suddenly they were caught in a magical aura. While they were capable of passing through magic, they weren't caught long enough as they were redirected to hit the creatures that serve that Storm King.

"Look at that, I hit all the targets, what do I win?" Said a certain superhero. When Squeaky was thrown a certain sphere fell out of his saddle bag that he couldn't help but notice that a certain symbol had finally returned. "Oh wait, I missed 1."

***

The Storm King and his followers were defeated and the Storm King would soon be taken to Tartarus. Naturally quite a few ponies wanted to know where the heck Super Stallion had been during the whole fiasco. "Yeah sorry about that," Super Stallion said to those ponies as he finished rounding up the Storm King's forces. "After a fight with a certain time anomaly I was worn out but now I'm ready to finally get back to stopping baddies like these." Super Stallion then flew off and at long last the Festival of Friendship could continue.

"Would you and your subjects like to stay for the festival Queen Novo?" Celestia asked the queen when the danger was finally gone.

"Oh can we mom can we?" Skystar said as she was jumping on and down.

"Well I guess there's no hurry to head back to Mount Aris."

"Hooray!" Skystar then went to look for Stone Wall who was talking with his long lost sister.

"I'm so sorry for what happened at the orphanage. I never meant to push you away, not a day has gone by that I didn't think about what happened."

"I'm sorry too, I never should have left you alone. I was so angry and so confused for so long." Tempest then placed her head on Stone Wall's forelegs. "I've missed you so much."

"I've missed you to Fizzlepop."

Stone Wall and Fizzlepop talked for a while and then Skystar finally found a certain captain of the guard. "Mom says we can stay for the festival. Let's dance, Stone Wall."

"Oh alright, I guess you deserve that much." As the Festival of Friendship finally started it was every bit as great as Twilight had hoped it would be. Tempest, who was freed, even helped out by making fireworks from her magic and Twilight restored her horn with her chaos magic to Tempest’s utter gratitude.

After the festival Shining Armor and Princess Cadance renewed their vows and this time it was a perfect wedding for Cadance because this time Stone Wall was there to give her away. After all that Squeaky met up with Stone Wall who managed to find a place to be alone.

"So, Tempest is your sister?"

"Yeah I'm still amazed by that myself."

"So do you know the story with her horn?"

"Yes, she got attacked by an ursa minor when she was young. Not long after that she just disappeared, I thought she ran off to Canterlot because she always dreamed of going to Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns and she probably figured there was somepony that could help her. So I went to Canterlot to look for her but she wasn't there. Celestia found me and well the rest is history. I always figured I'd see her again someday, but not like that."

"Well at least you 2 are together now and can catch up."

"No not really, she's talking about leaving to share what she learned about friendship and right the wrongs of the Storm King. Though I might be able to talk her out of it."

"Well if she's anything like you it's not gonna happen." Stone Wall wanted to get mad but he knew Squeaky had a point on his stubborn side. "So you always knew I was Super Stallion."

"Not at the beginning but I suspected. You left to get extra spares and showed up after Super Stallion left and after a while I put 2 and 2 together."

"So why were you surprised when we fought at the changeling hive?"

"Oh I don't know, maybe something messed with my head."

"Right, right, sorry."

"Though I was kind of thinking about what I did back then I was thinking that I didn't have what it took to be captain of the guard anymore. But after our adventure I know I still have what it takes, so I'll see if Princess Celestia will give me my former position again."

"You're coming back to the guard, oh that's wonderful!" Squeaky was about to hug Stone Wall but stopped himself halfway. Then to his surprise Stone Wall hugged him and he happily returned it.

"Don't get used to that and don't think just because you're a superhero you can slack off with your cleaning."

"If I do you'll probably notice anyway."

"You better believe it, nothing gets unnoticed by me."

"Oh Squeaky," Celestia called out wanting to dance with her husband.

"Oh gotta go Stone Wall the wife is calling," Squeaky said as he ran off.

"Fine, see you later……Wait the what is calling!?!"

Chapter 45 The Girl In the Movie Theater

View Online

"Yes! At long last the day's finally here!"

You walk into the movie theater eager to at long last see the movie adaptation of Daring Do. You've always loved the books and you're a huge fan of the director and you know he's going to do a great job. You don't want to waste any time and head right into the theater to find a place to sit, preferably in the middle somewhere but think maybe you should get something to eat too.

You make your way over to where the popcorn is and you want to make it fast so as to not miss any of the movie when suddenly you see one of the employees serving the food for someone else, a girl with green hair in a double ponytail style. You wanted to rush to the front as there was no line aside from just 1 person in front of you but you're blown back by how cute she is.

"Here you go sir enjoy the show," she says with kindness but you can also tell she sounds a bit tired perhaps from having to say that numerous times.

I gotta get the popcorn already and see Daring Do, you think to yourself as you walk closer to her and can actually feel yourself blushing as you do. Okay don't overthink how cute she is just ask for the food and get going. That's it, nothing to think about. Grab the food and plant a seat, popcorn then movie popcorn then movie-

"Excuse me." She says putting a stop to your who knows how long train of thought.

"What?"

"I said how can I help you?"

"Oh sorry I was kind of spacing out."

"Yeah I figured as much."

"Well," you pause as you try to look at her name tag which she sees right away.

"My name is Juniper, Juniper Montage."

My gosh her name is even prettier than her face. "I want a small popcorn please." Juniper gets to work getting your popcorn and as she does you can't help but notice how great her hair looks from the back, not to mention her figure. She probably goes to the gym every once in a while and you can't quite help yourself as you look down to see something about her that along with her face and name is very cute. As she was almost ready with your popcorn another person that's working there accidentally bumps into her and knocks the popcorn on the floor.

"Oops," the other employee says. "Sorry Juniper."

"It's fine," Juniper replies with a huff. "I'll clean it up, sorry sir but would you mind waiting a little longer while I clean this up?"

"Oh no problem," you answer Juniper right away. Thankfully you got to the theater early.

"Too bad I still don't have the mirror to clean this up too," Juniper whispers to herself as she bends down to get the last of the popcorn while you continue to watch her again not so subtly.

Yeah that's definitely a cute little butt. After Juniper cleans up the popcorn she gets back to getting you some to eat for your movie but acts a bit more quickly than before most likely to avoid another accident. Juniper fills a new bag and hands you the popcorn.

"There you are, enjoy the show."

"Oh I will believe me," you reply to Juniper. "I've literally been counting down the days for the Daring Do movie to come out and I doubt very much that I won't like it." You take the popcorn and make your way to the theater where the movie will be playing.

"Seeing it is 1 thing, being in it would have been another," Juniper whispers to herself with not so much bitterness in her voice as regret.

You find a nice seat right in the middle and you even sit next to a guy that made several comments about the various trailers before the feature presentation that you found rather funny. The film itself as you figured from the start was an excellent adaptation and you even see some girls from your school make a small yet notable cameo in the movie. While the film is great you can't help but find herself thinking about Juniper or rather at the very least keep her in the back of your mind and can't seem to get her out of there.

"So what did you think of it?" The guy who sat next to you asked after the movie was over. You tell him that you thought it was a great movie adaptation and when he mentions that he never read the books you nearly beg him to read the original source material. But he tells you he thinks he'll just wait for the sequel but thanks you anyway. As you make your way out of the hallway you see Juniper still working in the theater but this time she's cleaning the floor.

"Maybe I should just ask her out," you say to yourself but realize the 2 of you don't really know each other and it might seem weird to just ask her out right away and out of nowhere. Maybe if there was some way to spend more time with her, maybe you could see the movie again tomorrow and ask her to get you something else to eat. And as you do, you could chat with her a little bit and see her if she'd like to go out with you and see a movie when she isn't working or something. Suddenly you see a sign in the movie theater that says "help wanted" and you see that as a golden opportunity if ever there was one.

***

You make your way over to the movie theater again first thing in the morning. You go to the movie manager about the available position and you tell him how you'd like some extra cash and that you love movies and would be great for the job. He decides to give you a chance and hires you.

"Don't expect me to take it easy on you just because this is your first summer job," the manager tells you. “I put my all into running this place and I expect everyone that works for me to do the same."

"Yes sir," you reply and are even tempted to give him a little solute but stop as you think that might have been too much. Don't want to go overboard on your first day. The manager has you clean a bit while he finds another employee to show you the ropes of the workstation. And to your luck the said employee just happens to be Juniper Montage.

"So you're the new guy around here huh?"

"Yes it's nice to meet you."

"We've already met."

"Right, I knew that I just," Stop talking for now. "Okay."

"Well come on let me show you how things are done from our side of things." Juniper shows you around while explaining how things work, not just the popcorn maker and the soda machine but also takes you to a movie projector and shows you how that works which you think is very cool. While you walk around with her you try to strike up a conversation with her but nothing quite seems to work, that is until you go on a break and she has the same break as you and you notice that she brought several Daring Do books 1 or 2 of which are your favorites.

"So you're a fellow die hard Daring Do fan?"

"Yes," Juniper answers as she puts the book she was reading down and looks up at you. In no time at all you talk to her about not just the books she brought but also the other books as well and how the movie compared to them. You’re relieved to have finally found something to talk to her about.

"After work I'm actually going to the bookstore not too far away from here and buy the new one that came out recently," Juniper says, clearly eager to read it.

"Oh really?" You asked as you reached into the backpack that you brought with you to the theater and pulled out the book that Juniper was talking about. "I went to the book store and bought this before I came here to apply for this job, would you like to borrow it?"

"What?" She says as she jumps out of her seat and almost through the roof. "Really? You'd let me read it before you even started it?"

"Sure I've waited this long to read it. I can wait a little longer." You then stretch out your arm to offer her the book and she takes it and even jumps up and down a little bit and she runs over to you and hugs you while you are still sitting down.

"Thank you so much!" She says as she hugs you a little tighter. "This is one of the sweetest things anyone has ever done for me."

"Oh it's no problem." But that doesn't mean you need to stop hugging me. After your break is over you and Juniper get back to work and feeling rather good about yourself. I just started working here and I already got a hug from her. This is off to a great start but let's see what I can do tomorrow.

***

After your time at work is over you go home and tell your parents about how you did a great job on your summer job. The next day you go to work after a big breakfast and church and manage to show up a little early and run into the ever adorable Juniper. When you meet her you see her handing your book back as to your surprise she had already finished.
"You are gonna love this book, it's one of the best in the series."

"Wow, that's a tall order."

"I know."

"Also wow you read it already, are you a speed reader?!"

"Sort of I kind of didn't have a whole lot else to do. Though I have made some friends recently and they've helped me become more social."

"Social huh?" You ask as you take your book back and get an idea. "You know I haven't really been around the mall all that much so maybe we could explore it together after work."

"You know that sounds like a good idea," Juniper answers after she thinks about it for a minute. The 2 of you get to work and Juniper once again shows you how to get things around the theater to work since you're still pretty new there. You don't mind 1 bit as you get to spend more time with her and manage to talk with her more than you were able to last time. On your breaks you read a bit of the Daring Do book that you got back and in no time at all you see how right Juniper was.

"Well nice work again kid," the manager tells you just before quitting time.

"Thanks. Well, see you tomorrow," you say as you take off and Juniper isn't all that far behind. You walk around the mall with her and it feels like the 2 of you are on a first date as you look around the various stores and even get her a milkshake, another thing she greatly appreciated.

"This was a really good idea of yours," Juniper says as the 2 of you sat down at the table.

"I'm just glad that you decided to come along, I really like being with you."

"Oh," Juniper replies with a bit of a blush. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." After walking around a bit you find yourself at one of the exits of the mall.

"This was fun. Do you think we can do this again sometime?"

"I'd really like that Juniper and well not just that." Get to the point before you start to ramble. "Juniper you are well that is-" Suddenly Juniper cuts you off when she puts her finger to your lips.

"I like you too." Juniper then gets closer and before you know it puts her lips directly on yours. You then respond by slowly and not too tightly wrapping your arms around her like a delicate treasure, one on her back and another holding the back of her head. You both part your lips for a few seconds because you both need to breathe while you each stare right into the other's eyes.

"It's really true," you say.

"What is?"

"The eyes really are the window to the soul and I can see you have a very pretty one, it matches everything else about you." You then kiss Juniper while continuing to gently hold on to her.

***

You and Juniper start dating after your walk around the mall and it's made the rest of the summer just fly right by. You even went on a double date with a guy at your school named Ringo and his girlfriend. Even after your jobs have ended and you 2 go to different schools you 2 continue to date.

Since summer ended and you start your final year in high school you haven't had much time to see her because you got pretty much bombarded with homework but you manage to call her pretty much everyday. But 1 nice Saturday morning when you finally don't have any homework you call Juniper and ask her if you want to see a movie and she is more than excited to join you.

"Hi Juniper," you say as the 2 of you meet up and you kiss her right away.

"I've missed you too," she replies as you 2 make your way to the movie. After seeing it with Juniper you make your way to the bathroom and when you get out you see a man standing next to Juniper.

"That's the guy I've been dating," Juniper says to the guy.

"Oh hello there," he says. "I'm-"

"CANTER ZOOM!" You scream at the top of your lungs almost scaring him as you run over to him and grab his hand to shake it. "I am your biggest fan! I love every single one of your movies. I've seen every single one of them at least 5 times!"

"Well thank you it's nice to meet a die hard fan, can you let go of my hand now?"

You then do just that rather embarrassingly. "Uh sorry."

"It's all right I was a hyper fanboy once."

"What are you doing here?"

"I came here to talk to my niece," Canter Zoom answers as he looks over at Juniper.

"HE'S YOUR UNCLE! YOU NEVER SAID THAT BEFORE!"

"He and I weren't on the best of terms over some things I still feel kind of bad over."

"Yes," Canter Zoom says. "But I heard how you did a good job working here and I thought maybe I could give you a 2nd chance."

"2nd chance?" Juniper asks as you yourself are curious as well.

"I need a gofer for the next movie I'm going to be working on. Do you think you'd be up for that?"

"YES!" Juniper says even louder than you were. "Thank you so much uncle, I promise I won't disappoint you this time."

"Well that's good to know, but this is going to be different since school is starting you'll only be able to work weekends. Also this movie is going to have a higher budget than the Daring Do movie so you're going to need some help." Canter Zoom then looks towards you. "How about it kid you wanna work on a movie with me on the weekends?"

***

You find yourself in the supply closet of the movie theater with Juniper sitting next to you. "Oh good you woke up."
"What happened?"

"You fainted when my uncle offered you a job. We figured that was a yes then I brought you in here to rest until you woke up."

"But I should still tell him that I want the job," you say as you stand up and the blood rushes to your head a bit.

"You don't have to worry he took that as a yes you and I start next weekend."

"Really?! I should still thank him all the same," you say as you're about to head out the door when suddenly Juniper blocks the door.

"Well there's no real hurry I mean when was the last time you and I had a moment alone." Juniper then slowly walks over to you and the 2 of you begin to kiss as you sit down on the chair in the closet and Juniper sits on your lap.

Eventually Juniper would call her uncle saying you're both up for the job and you would tell your parents who would be overjoyed that you got another job. That would help make some extra cash for you and at the end of it you and Juniper would have a role in the said movies that even includes a little dialogue for the both of you.

But for now you stay in the closet enjoying this precious time with the girl in the movie theater.

Chapter 46 The Fearsome Foursome

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Fizzlepop Berrytwist or as she prefers to go by now Tempest Shadow had been pardoned by the princesses on the account of fighting back against the Storm King. Now she was setting off to spread the news of the Storm King's defeat as well as the importance of friendship plus she wanted to do something to redeem herself. Tempest got ready to set out along with Grubber and a few storm creatures that wanted to redeem themselves as well.

"Are you sure you really want to do this?" Twilight asked.

"Yes princess I'm sure."

"And when she's sure of something Tempest here is gonna do it," Grubber said. "Like when she was sure she could take the capital, too soon?"

"I've done some things I'm not proud of that I need to make up for, but I'll probably come back soon. I owe my brother that much at least." Tempest then turned around and approached the blimp. "All right let's get going, we're taking off any minute now."

"Well then it looks like I got here just in time," Dr. Arachnid said as he showed up flying above the 2 ponies. He had put the tips of his metal legs together and they were working as a helicopter but stopped when he got closer to the ground and separated again.

"I've heard of bat ponies but spider ponies?" Tempest said.

"Yeah I mean what's next?" Grubber asked. "Scorpion ponies or ponies that are like all 3 different types of ponies put together? Oh wait, no that's already a thing."

"I'm Ruby Shores and these spider legs are an invention of mine."

"Is there something I can help you with?" Tempest asked.

"Yes you can make sure there's room for 1 more," Ruby answered.

"Don't forget about us," Brush Stroke formerly Emo Pony said as he ran on just his back legs with Briar Hooffield or Pony Ivy not far behind.

"That pony is standing on 2 legs, that's weird," Grubber said.

"Uh so are you," Brush Stroke pointed out.

"What are you 3 doing here?" Grubber asked.

"They'll be going with you to Mount Aris," Princess Celestia answered as she too appeared with her husband Prince Squeaky Clean and her nephew Prince Blueblood.

"Princess Celestia, what are you doing here?" Twilight asked.

"When we heard that Tempest was going to be passing Mount Aris we thought she could stop by and a delegate could negotiate a stronger connection with us and them," Celestia answered.

"We wanted to do that during the Festival of Friendship but somepony kept saying just 1 more slice of cake," Squeaky added and Celestia pushed him aside a little wishing not to start that fight with him again. "We'll be sending my nephew Prince Blueblood as the art of conversation is his specialty.

"Oh auntie you flatter me so, but you're only saying because it's true."

"Also not too long after he got his parole with the other 2 Pony, Briar was helping with the royal garden and overheard your plan and wanted to join you," Princess Celestia said.

"Yeah we thought it would be a great idea to see what was beyond Equestria," Briar added. "I mean after getting out of prison going anywhere is a great idea. After we got our parole we rushed over to request it and Princess Celestia and Luna thought it would be great for us to go in case you need any extra help."

"This wasn't run by me," Tempest said.

"We didn't really have a whole lot of time since you were heading out so soon, honestly I'm surprised you even stayed for the party."

"This is still very last minute and out of nowhere. Not to mention that it rather interferes with my plans."

"Well Tempest," Princess Celestia said as she got closer to Tempest. "I was planning to have a great time with my husband at my former student's Canterlot sized festival but then a certain somepony came along at the last minute and put that on quite the delay."

"Right," Tempest replied. "I guess I have little to no right to complain."

***

"Alright this is great we're back on the open sky and now we don't have to listen to the Storm King anymore," Grubber said.

"Yes this is an acceptable vessel," Prince Blueblood said as he walked over to Tempest. "Though my quarters will need some major improvements in order for it to be worthy enough for me to sleep there."

"You'll get what you get and if you don't like it you can walk all the way to Mount Aris," Tempest said.

"I beg your pardon, do you have any idea who you're speaking to?"

"Yes and I'm already sick of doing that." Tempest then teleported away. Before long but still long enough for Prince Blueblood to annoy her, Tempest managed to get her airship to Mount Aris. After the Storm King's defeat the some of seaponies wanted to live on land again so Queen Novo divided the pearl among all of her subjects so they could go from one form to another at will.

"Wow," Brush Stroke said as he saw Mount Aris from the side of the airship. "It's beautiful."

"Yes but more importantly we can finally get off this overgrown blimp."

"Are you planning on complaining the whole trip, your highness?" Tempest asked.

"Well excuse me if I have certain tastes for transportation."

"Keep it up and I'll do more than excuse you."

The group made it out of the airship and saw how well the seaponies were doing since the Storm King's defeat and they were doing great. Queen Novo who heard from Prince Squeaky Clean that they would send somepony to talk with her about an alliance between their races saw the airship and flew to meet them. As a hippogriff she flew to them with several guards with her and landed in front of the group.

"Wow you were right Brush," Briar said as he looked around the mountain a bit and saw the plant life. "It's beautiful."

"Yes, very beautiful," Brush Stroke replied as he couldn't take his eyes off Queen Novo.

"Queen Novo look, a spider pony," one of the guards said.

"I'm not a spider pony," Ruby said. "It's an invention I can't take off."

"Huh? Interesting to say the least," Queen Novo said, who then approached the group and saw Tempest Shadow, recognizing her on the spot.

"You?!"

"I figured you would remember our last encounter."

"You came into our home under false pretenses with that little whatever he is and tried to take my pearl for your precious Storm King."

"Yes. That was a mistake I deeply regret for what it's worth. The Storm King used me as a means to an end, he never cared about me at all," Tempest said as she lowered her head a little.

"Well you did help out when we arrived at your capital, so I suppose you deserve a 2nd chance but I have my eye on you."

"Thank you, your highness."

"And speaking of highness isn't it about time you introduced me?" Prince Blueblood asked, growing rather inpatient making Tempest huff.

"May I introduce Prince Blueblood," she said with hardly any cheer at all.

"I shall handle the negotiations between you and Equestria."

"Well then perhaps we should continue this conversation from within the city."

"By the way is it true that you and your kind are capable of changing your forms, are you perhaps related to changelings in some way?" Ruby asked.

"Not exactly, perhaps a demonstration is in order." Queen Novo showed her pearl shard to show it to the group and then used it to change them all into hippogriffs.

"Cool! Stallion, am I glad that I came on this trip," Brush Stroke, who was still standing on his back legs said as he flapped his wings. He then flew up having the time of his life but suddenly an updraft came out of nowhere causing him to fall. He couldn't quite regain his balance but that was when Queen Novo caught him.

"It takes a bit of getting used to, doesn't it?"

"Well it's not so bad if it got you to come to my rescue, not that I have some thrill for danger or, um, you're very pretty."

"Oh, why thank you." Novo then placed Brush down and she changed them back to normal. She then led them into her city and once there she changed into her seapony form as she was by the water.

"I hope you don't mind if we talk while I soak myself."

"Oh not at all, I could dip a leg or 2 in that water as well," Prince Blueblood replied.

"Before you 2 start talking can I borrow your pearl shard Queen Novo?" Brush asked. "I'd like to try flying again and maybe that seapony form too."

"Well alright," Queen Novo replied after thinking about it for a moment and then tossed the pearl shard to him. "But don't take too long with it."

"I won't," he replied as he used it to turn into a hippogriff again and flew but not so high while the others headed out in different directions which Tempest noticed and went to look for them.

And after several minutes did just that.

"What are you 2 doing?"

"Well Briar wants to learn about the plant life and I want to learn more about this place's culture," Ruby answered.

"Well don't just run off out of nowhere and don't go too far because hopefully we won't have to stay here too long."

"You don't like it here?" Ruby asked.

"No, I just want to get a certain arrogant prince home asap."

"Well maybe he can just get a ride on the 2nd airship," Grubber said, confusing Tempest.

"2nd airship?" Grubber pointed to another airship above Mount Aris. Suddenly storm creatures jumped down and started attacking.

"Let’s see if any of these hippogriffs can give me a decent challenge," one of them with the symbol of a spade on his chest said. He then got out a sword and attacked several guards, taking them down no problem then suddenly another one landed on top of one of the houses that had the symbol of a clover on his chest armor. Behind him was one with the symbol of a diamond.

"Hello you hippogriffs so glad that you came out of hiding because now you have the honor of being concurred by, THE FEARSOME FOURSOME!"

"....The Fearsome Foursome?" Tempest said.

"Uh yeah, I wasn't going to say anything but that they could have worked on a better name," Grubber said.

"Enough with the theatrics already Clover, can we get to getting our claws on their treasure?"

"Patience Diamond we just got here, we have all day to take from them." Suddenly the 2 were wrapped in giant plant roots and slammed into the ground.

"Not if I have anything to say about it," Briar said when he saw a 3rd storm monster approaching. He sent spare roots after him but he cut them all up before they could even touch him.

"That's a pretty interesting power you have but you gotta do better than that if you wish to defeat Spade of the Fearsome Foursome."

"Okay seriously that's what you call yourself?" Briar said. "I mean heck even Ruby could have thought up something more creative than that."

"HEY!" Ruby called out who arrived with Grubber and Tempest.

"I'm sorry Ruby but you're not very creative."

"I have to agree with Briar," Brush Stroke said as he flew down still having a little trouble flying.

"My my," Spade said. "Former commander Tempest and her little sidekick along with a pony that commands plants, a pony turned into a hippogriff, and on top of all things a spider pony."

"I'M NOT A SPIDER PONY!"

"Beating all of you would prove quite a challenge, I love it."

"Why are you doing this?" Tempest asked. "The Storm King is defeated."

"Yes, so some creature is going to have to step up and take his place at least that's what Clover said."

"Not on my watch!" Tempest then blasted Spade who used his sword as a shield but it still pushed back to Clover and Diamond. Brush and Ruby attacked him so he fought them off while dodging more of Tempest's spells.

"Well looks like you got your horn fixed at long last. I do love a challenge but even I know when I need help." Suddenly Diamond and Clover broke free then attacked Ruby and Brush Stroke.

"What the?" Brush Stroke said, trying to dodge Diamond's attacks.

"He must have cut the roots while he was dodging," Ruby answered then suddenly he and Brush were thrown at Tempest who jumped back making them land on Grubber. While they did that Spade charged at Briar who tried to restrain him with plants but Spade cut them before they could do anything and grabbed Briar.

"What a shame," Spade said, almost choking Briar. "I hardly even broke a sweat." Spade then slapped Briar with the side of his sword slamming him into a house and knocking him out.

Diamond got blasted by Tempest from behind while Ruby made his way over to Briar and shot some water on him to help him get up.

"Good you're up, we need some more of those roots."

"Okay," Briar replied as he got up and shook his head a little. "But I need a minute."

"We don't have a minute," Ruby replied as he pointed out that a large group of storm creatures were coming.

"This is becoming a very stressful day," Brush Stroke said.

"Oh I don't know, it's giving me a chance to test out my newly restored horn." Tempest then bombarded them with magic.

"Impressive, but I think she's going to need a little help," Brush Stroke said as he flew up and reached into his bag so he could throw several spheres to emotionally distract the storm creatures Tempest didn't get. Brush Stroke then saw that Tempest used more spells that finished the group off but made her fall to the ground so he flew down to grab her and get her back to the others. "Tempest, are you okay?"

"Yeah," she answered as was placed back on the ground. "Those spells just took a lot out of me. I need a moment to rest."

"Well while you're resting there's something I'm missing," Grubber said. "Those guys call themselves the Fearsome Foursome but there's only 3 of them. Where's the 4th one?"

***

Queen Novo had gotten to work making sure that the children & other hippogriffs that weren't guards or fighters by nature made their way to the safety of Seaquestria. She even got Prince Blueblood down there after borrowing a pearl shard from a guard.

"How are things going above water?" Queen Novo asked.

"We're almost done evacuating but the counterattack is not going well," A guard answered. "It's going horrible actually." Queen Novo then made it up to the surface to see for herself but struggled to get out of the water in her seapony form.

"What a time I picked to lend my shard to a pony." The guards jumped out of the water and changed into hippogriffs. One of the guards was about to use his pearl shard to change Queen Novo. "No, don't worry about me, help the ones in town."

"But Queen Novo-"

"No buts," she replied to the guard. "Go now," she said and the guards flew off leaving the queen alone who was now trying to take everything in. "In hindsight I guess I could have just asked one of the seaponies to borrow their shard. Actually, I can do that now since there aren’t any attackers around hermm-"

Suddenly a storm monster with a breathing device on his mouth and the symbol of a heart on his chest armor came out of the water and grabbed the queen. "Hi there, nice to meet you, I'm Heart."

"lmt e gu ight ow."

"What?" Heart said as he took his hand off her mouth.

"I said let me go right now!"

"Oh." Heart then hand gagged her again and made his way out of the water.

"Hey mom I think we're fighting off the invaders and MOM!" Princess Skystar screamed out when she saw her mother getting taken. "LET HER GO NOW!" Skystar flew at Heart but she got blasted by an energy beam that came from a device on Heart's arm that blasted her right into a wall.

"SKYSTAR NO!"

"Don't worry she'll be okay, I set it to stun."

"I'LL KILL YOU!" A cage was then lowered that Heart placed Queen Novo in.

"They're taking Queen Novo!" Brush who flew up to see where the 4th foursome was called out to the others. "Hang on. I'm coming Queen Novo!"

"I think he has a crush on her," Grubber said to Tempest.

"Oh really you think?" Tempest then saw that the storm creatures were running off "What the heck is going on?"

"I think the tactical term is retreating," Ruby said.

"But that doesn't make any sense, why run away now?" Briar asked.

"Well if I had to guess, I'd say they didn't want to invade Mount Aris, it was only a distraction. They were only after the queen and perhaps a certain valuable object that she recently decided to share with all her subjects and now with the queen captured they're running off to most likely hold her for ransom. Of course that's just a guess, well more of a theory really," Ruby answered.

"Well it sounds like you hit the nail right on the head," Tempest said. "Let's get back to our airship and make sure we catch up to them."

"What about Brush Stroke?" Briar asked. "We can't just leave him here."

"If we wait, the Fearsome Foursome, gosh that is such a stupid name, will get away. Besides, he and Prince Blueblood can keep each other company while we rescue the queen. Now let's go." Tempest then ran off making her way to the airship with the others close behind when suddenly they were cut off by a group of guards.

"Where do you all think you're going?" One of the guards asked.

"Uh, something tells me the right answer is nowhere," Grubber answered.

"You got that right," another guard answered.

"No he got that wrong," Tempest replied. "We need to get on our airship. The storm creatures took your queen."

"Yeah we noticed, we also noticed that their airship looks a lot like yours."

"Are you implying something or something?" Grubber asked.

"A pony that once served the Storm King shows up here and then suddenly there's an attack not too long after."

"Uh you can just say suddenly or not too long after. Suddenly not too long after is redundant-" Ruby said.

"You're in liege with the storm creatures that took our queen aren't you!?" A guard said.

"I don't like being interrupted," Ruby said.

"No, we aren't. Now get out of our way," Tempest demanded.

"Make us," one of the guards replied.

"I don't make trash, I burn it." The guards then tried to attack the group but Tempest took them down. Tempest and her group made her way to her airship leaving the guards on the ground with a very painful feeling of deja-vu.

After getting back on the ship Tempest ordered them to take off right away and they followed the 2nd airship that recently took off.

"Not that it wasn't impressive but did you really have to beat up those guards?" Briar asked.

"They were in the way and time wasn't on our side, besides I'm sure if we defeat the Fearsome Foursome and rescue Queen Novo they'll forget all about it. That is if Brush Stroke didn't rescue the queen already when he flew off."

"I didn't," Brush Stroke to the shock of the others and still in a hippogriff form said while standing next to Prince Blueblood.

"What are you doing here?" Tempest asked.

"A better question would be how did you get in here?" Ruby asked

"An even better question would be why did you bring him with you?" Tempest asked, pointing at Prince Blueblood.

"Long story short I got hit by a beam, fell into the water, Prince Blueblood got me out of the water, and then I flew him into the airship. And I brought Prince Blueblood because, I don't know, I felt like I should have, by the way we saw you take down those guards that was cool."

"Yes I must admit that was quite impressive," Blueblood said.

"Well on to other matters if my calculations are correct, and they usually are, we should catch up to the Fearsome Foursome in just a few minutes," Ruby said.

"Are we really the best qualified to stop them?" Prince Blueblood asked. "I mean we aren't exactly the best qualified for this kind of mission. My thing is negotiation, remember?"

"Well you can't negotiate with the queen if the queen isn't on Mount Aris," Tempest replied.

"Actually I finished that already."

"Wait," Tempest paused. "You finished negotiations with the queen in the time it took me to find the others when they split up?"

"Yes, after all that is my specialty," Prince Blueblood said with pride.

"Well don't get cocky, that's not going to stop the Fearsome Foursome," Briar said.

"Oh really well what about you are you some sort of great warrior?"

"I can control the very forces of nature itself. I'm practically unstoppable."

"Does Super Stallion know that?"

"Okay maybe I oversold myself."

"Maybe I should design some battle plans to help figure out the best way to fight and-"

"There's nothing to figure out Ruby. I'll go in and mess the place up while you all rescue the queen."

"Tempest please don't interrupt me I really don't like when ponies interrupt me plus I was just about to-"

"Not Important right now we're right on the tail of-"

"Tempest! I asked you not to do the thing you did twice now!" Ruby said nearly ready to blow his top, a bad habit that he was trying to drop.

"Perhaps we should go back to Mount Aris to see if other hippogriffs want to help in the fight," Blueblood suggested.

"We don't need backup," Briar said. "All we need is my plants to tear that ship apart from the inside out."

"Oh great idea," Blueblood said sarcastically. "Why don't you get right on that with all the plant life in the sky?"

"Seriously Briar, why are you trying to give yourself such an ego boost lately?" Brush Stroke asked.

"QUIET!" Grubber yelled out, getting the attention of everypony else. "Now look, we can't fight the Fearsome Foursome if we're fighting each other. If we want to take them down and rescue Queen Novo we're gonna have to work together and make a plan we can all agree on. So what do you say everypony?" Grubber then put his hand out in the air to see if the others would join in.

"You're right Grubber," Tempest said as she put her hoof on his hand and the others joined in as well.

"So what are we going to do?" Prince Blueblood asked.

***

Queen Novo after being locked up in a cage was bound and gagged as the storm creatures couldn't take much of her screaming. But it didn't stop her from trying to break out of the cage by ramming it over and over. "Don't do that," Heart said. "You're going to hurt yourself."

"Who cares if she does?" Clover asked. "Maybe she'll try using her head and get knocked out."

"Where did you put the pearl though?" Diamond asked.

"What pearl?" Heart asked in return.

"The thing you were supposed to grab along with the queen."

"Oh right, it wasn't there Diamond."

"What do you mean it wasn't there?"

"The pearl wasn't where you guys said it would be."

"I saw several of those seaponies change into hippogriffs on their own," Spade added. "Perhaps the pearl was divided among them all so they could change at will."

"Oh great, what are we going to do, take the pieces from all of them?" Diamond asked.

"They actually might do that if they want to get their queen back," Clover said.

"Oh hey that might actually work and we have their queen," Heart said.

"Yes Heart that's actually where I was going with this."

"Oh. Okay."

"So I guess we turn around, get back to Mount Aris and do just that," Spade suggested.

"But what about that airship that's chasing after us?" Clover asked.

"We'll have to deal with it sooner or later," Spade said as he drew his sword. "Might as well do it now and get it over with."

***

Tempest was walking around making sure everything was running smoothly. As she was doing that she saw that Prince Blueblood was painting a red X on the chest of the storm creatures that came with her. "Uh Blueblood what are you doing?"

"Well I was thinking that the Fearsome Foursome look a lot like these guys and they're probably more of them in the 2nd airship right?"

"Yes."

"Well if these guys need to help in the attack they'll have to fight creatures that look exactly like them but by putting these on them they'll know who is on their side and who isn't."

"Oh, I see that's actually quite clever."

"What, did you think I'm just another pretty face?"

"Well I guess there's more to you than I gave you credit for."

"I get that every now and then. Being a non-alicorn royal pony was quite difficult even before Cadance, Luna, and Twilight came along. Some ponies think that I'm just an arrogant stallion that was born into a grand life and spends it with mares at fancy parties. But I've wanted to prove I could serve my country like the other royals. Auntie saw that in me and knew I had potential with my intellect and talent for negotiations. Which is why I get sent to places like Mount Aris or Yakyakistan, perhaps that's a little hard to understand."

"No," Tempest said as she got closer to Prince Blueblood. "I got my horn broken when I was just a filly to help my friend. Then I felt betrayed by my friends so I left them as well as my own brother to follow my own path and that's how I met the Storm King who "promised" to restore my horn if I served him. But even after all the bad things I did Princess Twilight restored my horn because she thought I could redeem myself somehow. Princess Twilight saw there was more to me the same way Princess Celestia saw there was more to you."

"Yes, I guess that's a really good way to look at it." Tempest and Blueblood then got even closer to one another and as it seemed like something powerful was pulling the 2 ponies together.

"Tempest!" Ruby called out, snapping her and Blueblood out of their trance. "The 2nd airship is turning around. I think the Fearsome Foursome is ready for a rematch."

"Well then get everypony together."

"Way ahead of you Tempest," Brush said as he, Briar, and Grubber came down with Ruby. Before long Tempest's crew boarded the rival ship and wasted no time attacking. Briar then used some special seeds he brought with him and made them grow into large plants that surrounded the airship, almost stopping the engines as well.

Tempest and company then began their attack and started shaking things up in the airship evening causing Queen Novo's cage to rock around. "Don't worry I got you," Heart said as he grabbed the cage before it slammed into the wall. "Wow that was close," Heart said to Novo's surprise.

I don't think this guy is like the others, Novo thought. Maybe if I wasn't running my mouth earlier I could say that to him. As Novo continued to think, Grubber and Prince Blueblood arrived ready to rescue her but stopped when they saw Heart.

"Uh, I don't think you 2 are supposed to be on this airship."

"No we're not but neither is she so we'll be taking her off your hands," Grubber said.

"Oh sorry she's our prisoner, she kind of has to stay here."

"Did he just say sorry?" Prince Blueblood asked. "That's rather odd isn't it?" Suddenly Brush Stroke flew in and sat down next to Grubber and Blueblood.

"Don't worry Queen Novo, I'll save you."

"Ah come on don't make me fight all 3 of you," Heart said.

"I'm not much of a fighter either but the situation really calls for it." Brush Stroke flew at Heart and this time dodged the laser blasts from Heart and gave him a painful uppercut. That left him vulnerable to several spells that Prince Blueblood cast while Grubber went over to Queen Novo's cage and tried to pick the lock.

"Don't worry I'll have you out in a minute."

"No!" Heart called out as he aimed his blaster at Grubber. "I set it to kill, move or I fire." Blueblood then got in front of Grubber and summoned a shield but Brush Stroke just sat down.

"Brush what are you doing?" Blueblood asked. "He said he set it to kill."

"Yes, you could have just fired but you warned him first. You don't want to fight us do you?"

"Well, uh, no," Heart answered. "But the Storm King said it was the only way?"

"Uh I don't remember him saying that," Grubber replied.

"It was when he first came to us under his title as the Storm King. My kind were simple creatures and then he showed up saying we could become something greater. That if we helped him conquer and take over other lands we could get our hands on anything we wanted. So we joined forces with him, but I never liked doing that."

"I know just how you feel."

"You do?"

"Yes in the past I thought the only way to get what I wanted was through rather unpleasant methods but all it brought me was failure. And very unpleasant beatings," Brush said as he held himself to stop himself from shaking. "My plans failed and so did the Storm King's so you don't have to follow him anymore."

"Spade, Clover, and Diamond said I had to follow them. That it’s the only way."

"Do you think it is? What do you want to do, what do you think is right?" Heart didn't answer for a minute but then walked over to Queen Novo cage as he removed his blasters.

Heart freed Queen Novo. "I'm sorry, I know that doesn't fix everything I've done, but I want to do everything I can to make it up to you."

"Oh sweetie I forgive you," Queen Novo replied but then smacked him in the head with her tail knocking him out cold. "But that was for my daughter." Brush Stroke then flew over to Novo and changed her into a hippogriff with her shard before returning it.

"Thanks for letting me borrow that. Now let's get you out of here."

"Well there's no hurry, I'm kind of in the mood for a fight," Queen Novo said.

Elsewhere Briar had not only used his plants to surround the airship but also restrained quite a few of the storm creatures. Spade was about to cut a few but Ruby got in his way.

"Am I to suspect that you wish to challenge me now, pony?"

"No I aim to defeat you," Ruby answered as swords came out of all four of his metal legs. Spade then drew his sword and while he was skilled at armed combat it was still 4 swords against 1 and Ruby was no stranger to fighting either. While there were several close calls Spade still managed to hold his ground and even cut off half of Ruby's metal legs then pinned him against the wall.

"Didn't expect me to be this talented with a sword did you?"

"Actually this is exactly what I wanted you to do." Ruby then used his back metal leg to release a small bit of gas in Spade's face causing him to fall down, out like a light.

"Knockout gas. Sometimes it's the smartest fighter that wins the battle, not the strongest." Ruby restrained Spade and then went to see Tempest. "Tempest, I took down 1 of the Fearsome Foursome.”

“Well,” Tempest said while on top of Diamond. “That makes 2 of us.” Tempest jumped off and was out of breath.

“You okay?”

"Yeah I'm alright I just took a painful punch or 2 to the chest and maybe have used more magic than I needed to. So I'm kind of exhausted. But it looks like you took some damage as well," Tempest said as she pointed to Ruby's metal legs.

"Oh yes but no worries I can repair them when we go back to Equestria."

"Well don't get too ahead of yourself, we still have a bit more of a job to do." As Ruby and Tempest made their way around they could see their side was winning and there was just a small group left that Briar was already restraining.

"No! No! It wasn't supposed to be this way!" Clover called out.

"Yeah that's life pal," Ruby said. "It doesn't always go the way you want it to."

"Not if I make it go my way!"

"Well let me tell you something that I'm speaking from past experiences trying to make things go your way can only end in disaster," Ruby said and then Brush Stroke, Briar, and Tempest all nodded. However Clover didn't want to listen and jumped up ready to attack Tempest but Prince Blueblood summoned a shield to protect her.

"Don't you just love it when a prince charming arrives right on time?"

"Yes I do actually," Tempest said. "But in a case like this I guess you'll have to do."

"Oh ho ho." Blueblood then pushed Clover back. "I think it's about time we finished things up around here." Prince Blueblood then attacked Clover both physically and magically and in no time at all knocked him out cold. "A few survival techniques that Auntie taught me."

"My my you are full of surprises," Tempest said.

***

After the Fearsome Foursome were defeated, Queen Novo was returned to Mount Aris along with both airships. There the defeated storm creatures would be taken away by the hippogriffs and locked up in Tempest's ship except for Heart who was pardoned along with quite a few other ones that also didn't want to conquer but didn't speak up about it.

The hippogriffs were very happy to have their queen back, especially Skystar who hugged her on the spot.

"Mom, your back!"

"Yes, thanks to Tempest and her friends. As for you Heart you and your little group will clean up the whole mess you all made when you attacked and repair all the damage."

"Hey that's fair, it is the least we can do." The rest of the storm creatures were being taken away but Clover broke free then grabbed one of Heart's blasters that a hippogriff was holding.

"And this is the least that I can do!" Clover fired at Queen Novo but Brush Stroke pushed her out of the way causing it to hit Briar instead.

"NO!" The other former rogues said as they ran over to him while hippogriffs restrained Clover and took him away.

"Briar, I'm so sorry I didn't see you there!" Suddenly the plants that he planted in the ship started to move on their own. The plants put their roots into the hole that Clover put in Briar.

"What the?" Tempest asked.

"I-I think they're trying to help," Ruby said and suddenly the plants Briar made were absorbed completely into Briar's body and the wound was sealed. Briar's body then began to morph and move around from the inside and he opened his eyes and got up.

"Briar, are you okay?" Brush asked.

"Yes, better than ever in my life before nature and I were quite close, but now, we are 1," Briar said as he dissolved into the ground.

"Huh? That happened," Grubber said. "But I guess he's gonna be alright I'm gonna go make sure the storm creatures get all locked up." Grubber then made his way to the airship while Queen Novo went to Brush Stroke.

"That was a very brave thing you did for me, Brush Stroke."

"Oh it was nothing," Brush said with a wave and a blush.

"Well the least I can do is make you a pony again."

"Well there's no hurry, in fact maybe we could be seaponies for a while so I can see what it's like down there."

"Fine with me," Queen Novo said as the 2 went off. "Uh Brush you're rather close to me."

"Oh sorry," Brush said as he moved to the side. "I guess I'm still getting used to these wings and-"

"I didn't say I didn't like it." As they flew off Skystar then went over to Ruby with a concerned look.

"Are you all right Mr. Spider pony, you lost some of your legs?"

"I'M NOT A, oh forget it. Can you show me around here please."

"Sure!" While those 2 went off Tempest was alone with Prince Blueblood when the guards from before approached her.

"If you're all expecting an apology-"

"No no not that," one of the guards said. "We’re sorry about that and we were wondering, maybe you could show us a thing or 2 so we could handle ourselves better in a fight."

"I'll think about but for now I need a break."

"Oh okay, we'll be at the top of Mount Aris." The guards then flew off leaving Tempest and Blueblood alone again.

"Once we're done here Blueblood I can take you back to Equestria."

"Well Tempest," Blueblood said as stroked Tempest's mane a bit and to her surprise and delight kissed her. "There's no hurry."

"No, I suppose not," Tempest said as she returned the kiss.

Chapter 47 Family Reunion

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After the defeat of Shadow Paradox and the rogues, peace had become quite common in Equestria and beyond with the defeat of the Storm King. Things had been changing across Equestria as well. Twilight opened a School of Friendship that creatures from all over came to join. Although just because there weren't any major threats didn't mean Super Stallion didn't need to help out once in a while.

"Thanks a lot Super Stallion," Rainbow Dash said.

She and Applejack had brought half a dozen students on a field trip that went horribly wrong in an attempt for 1 of them to be teacher of the month.

"If y’all hadn't shown up we'd be in quite a pickle," Applejack said.

"Well perhaps it would be best if you 2 cut this field trip short."

"Well ah wouldn't go that far," Applejack said with Rainbow Dash backing her up.

"Actually I'm on Super Stallion's side on this one," Twilight said. "Super Stallion, can you get the students back to school." Suddenly the students cheered as they would be getting rides home from a superhero who got right on that.

"Well with all things considered this trip wasn't so bad," Rainbow Dash said with Applejack backing her up. Twilight however turned around and glared at her friends.

"My office first thing in the morning."

***

"All right Cozy Glow how about we try an easy one?" Spike said as he was helping teach a class.

"Okay," Cozy Glow, a young adorable pegasus replied.

"Who is the element of magic?"

"...Your mom?" Hearing that Spike felt a little uncomfortable and would soon excuse himself from the class. "Was it something I said?"

But all things weren't unpleasant for Spike as he had finally gone on his date with his beloved Rarity which went swimmingly.

"Did you have a nice time Rarity?"

"I had a great time my precious little Spikey Wikey," Rarity answered and then suddenly she placed her lips right on Spike's.

"I-I thought you never kissed on the 1st date," Spike said, fighting the urge to faint.

"This time I made an exception. You are such a dear after all my precious Spike."

"You're precious to me too Rarity." Spike then flew up to meet Rarity eye to eye before returning a kiss. After that Spike spent more time with Rarity than usual and that was saying a lot. But he'd still help out Twilight who despite running a school managed to still have some free time to put on a play that Celestia wanted to be in.

"Wow Princess Celestia herself," Starlight said surprised. "We're going to have an actual princess with us in the play."

"Uh Starlight, I'm an actual princess," Twilight said.

"Well yeah but you're not a princess princess you're just you," Starlight responded. Hearing that Twilight used her magic to lift a nearby paint can and then bonked Starlight right on her head. "OW! Okay maybe I deserved that.”

Squeaky Clean entered the play as well and helped his wife with her acting or lack thereof.

After the play Spike was still getting the hang of flying but as he continued to practice he got better and better. After flying around a bit Spike flew into the open window of the castle and landed not too far away from Twilight. "Oh hello Spike how is it going with your flying practice?"

"Still a little tricky but I'm getting there. Was it this hard for you when you got your wings?"

"It took quite some getting used to and don't even get me started on how hard it was to try and sleep with them."

Suddenly a large dragon flew by the window to Spike and Twilight's surprise. They rushed out of the castle to see what the dragon was doing in Ponyville and hoped it wasn't anything bad. Turns out there were 2 dragons, the first a blue male dragon that was almost the size of Twilight's castle with horns that had stripes. The other dragon was a female dragon that was much smaller and had scales that were purple just like Spike's with long horns that also had stripes.

"I think this is the place honey."

"Don't call me honey around these ponies, it'll show weakness," the smaller dragon ordered.

"Sorry honey."

"Excuse me," Twilight said, getting the attention of the dragons right away. "Can I help you?"

"Or rather maybe I can help you," Spike said. "After all I am kind of an ambassador between ponies and dragons after all. I'm Spike and this is Twilight Sparkle the Princess of Friendship."

"What kind of title is that?" The female dragon asked the male.

"Well I'm Coal Diamond and this is my wife Scales we're trying to find our son."

"You lost your son?" Spike asked out of empathy.

"Oh that's so sad," Twilight added.

"Yeah we lost him a long time ago when he was just a little purple and green egg," Coal Diamond said. "We came here to look for him because we heard rumors of a young dragon living here in this town."

"Wow, that's rough, I know how you feel," Spike said.

"You do?" Coal Diamond asked.

"I never knew my parents or where I came from. I was raised by Twilight and her family but I've always wanted to know what happened to them."

"I can see why," Coal Diamond said. "Well I'd love to stay and chat but we gotta go look for our son." Coal Diamond said as he turned around and started to walk off.

"Uh Mr. Coal Diamond-"

"Give him a minute," Scales interrupted Twilight as she flew over to where Spike was and then suddenly Coal Diamond stopped in his tracks and then turned around to face Spike again.

"Son?"

"Yes Coal Diamond," Scales said as she hugged Spike out of nowhere. "Son at long last," Scales said out of pure bliss.

"Son at long last!" Coal Diamond said as he jumped over to where Spike was when suddenly Twilight stopped him with a barrier causing his head to slam into it.

"What's the big idea!?" Scales asked with some fire coming out of her mouth while still holding Spike in her arms. "You got a problem with family reunions?!"

"Oh my gosh I'm sorry," Twilight said. "I just didn't want him to slam against my castle and knock it down or something."

"Oh okay I guess that makes sense. I am rather big," Coal Diamond said with his head and neck still crammed against Twilight's spell.

"Don't defend her, she could have damaged your brain," Scales said, still holding Spike. "Although I suppose it would be rather hard to tell the difference."

***

Twilight informed the other members of the mane 6 about the arrival of Spike's parents who showed up before long after seeing Coal Diamond by the castle as he was hard to miss. "Wow Spikey Wikey's parents," Rarity said amazed.

"Yeah you know what that means?" Pinkie Pie asked. "The biggest family reunion party I can muster."

"That would be pretty big," Rainbow Dash said.

"Hold on now, slow your roll Pinkie," Applejack said, ready to use her lasso if she needed to. "Let's hold off on a party for the moment."

"Yeah I wanna know a thing or 2 about these 2," Rainbow Dash said.

"Well I think you're gonna have to wait a minute for that," Fluttershy said as she pointed out that Spike was flying around Coal Diamond and Scales showing the wings he got not so long ago.

"My gosh he's already gone through his molt," Coal Diamond said.

"Why couldn't we have found Sun Stone sooner?" Scales said as she teared up a bit.

"Sun Stone?" Spike said as he stopped flying around to fly right in front of his parents.

"That was the name we picked out for you when you were still just an egg," Coal Diamond.

"That reminds me, what happened to me when I was an egg? How did I get separated from you and mom."

"That all happened what feels like a lifetime ago," Scales answered. "We were flying off taking you to the other dragon eggs to hatch with them and I was carrying you in my arms. Suddenly a horrible storm came out of nowhere causing you to slip right out of my claws and fall right into a nearby waterfall."

"We looked and looked around the edge of the falls and down the river trail but no matter how hard we looked we couldn't find any sign of you," Coal Diamond said.

"So we searched the area around the water and then where the water continued to lead even when it left dragon territory," Scales added as she teared up a bit. "But we never found you."

"Yeah but we never gave up, ever," Coal Diamond said. "We searched and searched and now after all this time we finally found you." Coal Diamond then picked up Spike and held him to his face as he hugged him and Scales joined in as well. But then she pulled away from it and pulled Spike out of it too.

"What did I say about showing weakness around the ponies?" Scales asked, trying not to show her soft side.

"Oh come on mom there's nothing wrong with hugs," Spike said as he hugged her as well. She tried to fight the urge but in the end she returned the hug and once again broke out in tears as she was in true bliss to finally hold her child in her arms. "Feels good doesn't it?"

"Yes," Scales answered as she continued to cry but then cleared them up and picked Spike up. "Well come along now little Sun Stone, it's about time we got going." Scales then started to fly off with Coal Diamond not too far behind.

"It was nice to meet all you ponies," Coal Diamond said with a wave.

"Wait a minute, where are we going?" Spike asked.

"Where?" Scales asked. "We're taking you home. Back to the dragon lands."

"Yeah we have a lot of time to make up for." Suddenly Spike broke free of his mother's hold and flew back to Twilight and the others.

"Wait, you're taking me all the way to the dragon lands?"

"You're what?" The mane 6 all asked at the exact same time.

"Well why not that's where we live after all," Coal Diamond answered.

"It's where all of us dragons live," Scales added.

"Yeah that's why it's called the dragon lands."

"Yes Coal Diamond that's why it's called that," Scales said with her hand on her face and eyes closed.

"But you can't take Spike there," Rainbow Dash said.

"Why not?" Scales asked.

"Because I haven't thrown you all a giant family reunion party yet," Pinkie answered with a passion.

"And because Spike lives here," Twilight said as she looked at Pinkie.

"Right that too."

"Yeah that's right all of my friends live here so why don't you 2 just live here too?"

"Live in a village for ponies?" Scales asked. "That's absurd you should live with us with your kind."

"Yeah you'll love our cave, it's got lots of room and loads of gems for you to eat son."

"But all of my friends live here not to mention my," Spike paused as he looked over at Rarity for a moment who knew what he was about to say and blushed a little. "My very special somepony."

"Special somepony? What's that some kind of way of choosing which pony is the most valuable?" Coal Diamond asked.

"Wait, does that mean you and Rarity finally went on a date?" Twilight asked to the surprise of the rest of the mane 6 excluding Rarity and Spike's parents who were utterly shocked to hear that.

"Hold on a second, a date? Does that mean you tried to find a mate?" Scales asked.

"Well if it does I think he picked the best one of the bunch," Coal Diamond said which made Scales fly right in his face.

"And what the heck is that supposed to mean!" She asked, fire coming out her mouth again.

"Nothing I just kind of like how she got her mane in curls like that."

"Oh why thank you I do take very good care of my mane," Rarity said as she stroked her own mane a little. Scales then flew over to Spike.

"You can't get involved with her romantically!"

"There does seem to be a rather big age gap between the 2 of you," Coal Diamond said.

"That and the difference between you 2. She's a pony, you're a dragon!"

"Oh right, that should have been my first point."

"I don't care mom, she makes me feel happy. She's done that ever since I first met her." Spike then flew over to Rarity and held her hoof in a gentle manner. "And I hope that 1 day I can make her happy as well."

"Oh Spike that's so sweet," Rarity then kissed Spike right on the lips.

"You keep your lips off of my son!" Scales said.

"Mom, I love her!"

"No you don't, there are plenty of young female dragons not too far from our cave that would make a much better mate than this pony would."

"I beg your pardon, miss whatever your last name is?"

"Do dragons even have last names?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Can I throw the party now?" Pinkie Pie asked.

"Enough come on now Sun Stone we're taking you home!"

"But I am already home."

"No you aren't!"

"ALL RIGHT THAT'S ENOUGH!" Twilight said using the royal Canterlot voice getting the attention of her friends, Spike's parents and even a few other ponies from not so far away. "All of this isn't going to help, maybe you 2 should stay here for a while at least for a day so we can get everything in order."

"Well I guess we can," Coal Diamond said as he rubbed his chin. "I mean we already found our son Scales, there isn't really a hurry to get him back home is there?"

"I guess we can stay here for a little bit," Scales said rather reluctantly with her arms crossed.

***

Spike brought his mother into the castle and his father after Twilight used a spell to make him the size of Scales. Once inside Pinkie threw her family reunion party for the 3 dragons right on the spot.

"Is she always like this?" Scales asked Spike.

"Yeah pretty much, but don't worry she grows on you really fast." Suddenly Pinkie Pie offered all 3 of the dragons cake on plates that they all grabbed.

"What's this?"

"It's cake dad."

"Oh, what do I do with it?"

"I think we're supposed to eat it but I'm not entirely sure," Scales answered as she began to examine the cake.

"Yes you do," Spike said as he had already eaten his cake and so his parents decided to do it as well. Upon eating the cake they loved it right away and gobbled their slices down.

"Oh please tell me there's more of these," Scales said.

"You bet your scales there are," Pinkie replied with a giggle. "Get it? Because that's your name?" Scales and Coal Diamond didn't even hear her as they already flew to where the cake was and helped themselves. After that Coal Diamond got into a little dancing and so did Spike with Rarity despite his mother not being very fond of him doing that. After the party Spike's parents sat down at the table that also works as a map for Equestria and beyond.

"How long did it take you to crave this table?" Coal Diamond asked as he was admiring the table.

"Actually it came with the castle," Rainbow Dash answered.

"Where did the castle come from?"

"Uh it's kind of a long story, Scales," Twilight said. "I'd like to get back on to what we were talking about earlier."

"Oh you mean how I want to take my son home but you won't let us?"

"I'm not sure I would have put it that way," Twilight replied after taking a bit of a deep breath. "You don't have to take him all the way to the dragon lands, why not stay here in Ponyville? There's plenty of room for you in the castle and I can keep using the shrink spell on Coal Diamond until we build a house or something."

"We already have a home we've become quite fond of," Scales replied. "You may not know this but dragons are very territorial."

"Well mom and dad with all due respect I've been to the dragon lands before and it wasn't exactly the most inviting of places."

"Oh come on it's not so bad once you get used to it," Coal Diamond said. "Sure it can be hard at first but once you meet with some dragons your own age and learn how to use all the things that make a dragon great. You know how to breathe fire right?"

"Yes."

"Well did you know that if done right certain dragons can use them to burn right through a solid mountain?" Hearing that shocked everypony in the room and Spike most of all.

"Really?" They all asked.

"Yes, however that is a very rare talent. But since both your father and I can do it it's more than a safe bet that you're capable of doing it as well."

"Wow, cool!" Spike said.

"And there's quite a few other things we can teach you but you're gonna need quite a bit of space for the practice," Coal Diamond said. "Because I'm pretty sure you wouldn't want to light anything around here on fire, especially your mate."

"All the more reason for you to come back home with us there isn't much there to light on fire," Scales said.

"Uh can you please stop calling her my mate, we just started dating."

"That's not all, you need to spend time with your fellow dragon to show you what it means to be a dragon. How to walk like a dragon, fly like a dragon, how to raid like a dragon," Scales said.

"Uh what was that last thing you said?" Fluttershy asked.

"I just don't understand why you don't come with us, Sun Stone?"

"Well it's not that I don't want to go with you mom, it's just that I've been with Twilight literally all my life even if I wasn't supposed to. She's taken care of me along with her friends, family, and Princess Celestia. They taught me how to be kind, loyal, and true. I've done so many things with them I even managed to save an entire empire."

"You did?" Scales and Coal Diamond asked at the same time.

"Yeah," Spike answered. "Now I'm really famous at the Crystal Empire. They even made a crystal statue of me in my honor."

"Yes, the crystal ponies love Spike," Rainbow Dash said. "Just ask him. But then you probably couldn't get him to stop."

"Yer one to talk," Applejack mentioned.

"My precious little Spikey Wikey is such a brave and daring hero," Rarity said as she went over to her beloved dragon and hugged him while rubbing her head against his a little bit.

"Sounds like you've accomplished quite a lot at such a young age," Coal Diamond said.

"Yeah I have some on my own, some with the help of my friends. I've stayed here in Ponyville for so long I know so much about the ponies who live here, mom, dad, this place is my home. I want to come with you but I don't want to leave, I'm so confused," Spike said as he put his hands on his head and put his head on the table.

"Perhaps we were too hasty when we wanted to leave right away," Coal Diamond said as he walked over to his son and patted his head a little.

"We just wanted to bring you home Sun Stone before something else happened to you," Scales said as she also went over to her son to comfort him. "But what would you want to do if you were us?"

"Actually, maybe that's what we should have asked from the start," Twilight said, getting the other's attention including Spike who lifted his head up. "What do you want to do Spike?"

"Me? You want me to choose?"

"Well, yes. You aren't the baby dragon that was hatched from that little purple and green egg, you're becoming a big dragon, big enough to make your own decisions. So, I want you to choose whether to go with them or to stay here."

"Can, can I have some time to think about please?" Twilight gave a nod and Spike ran off to be by himself and think. Scales wanted to go after him but Coal Diamond grabbed her by the arm and shook his head a little bit at his wife.

***

Later that night Twilight was found by her friends walking back and forth in the dark and she seemed to have been doing that for quite some time. "Uh Twilight?" Applejack said, getting her attention.

"What are you all doing here?"

"We wanted to make sure you were all right," Fluttershy asked. "Did Spike make a decision yet?"

"He said he wanted to sleep on it. I want to respect whatever decision he's going to make but, but," Twilight said as she started to cry a bit. "I don't want him to go." Twilight's friends then went over to her and gave her a group hug which helped her stop crying.

"Well," Fluttershy said after the group hug broke apart. "Practically speaking, maybe he should go to be with his own kind. Birds of a feather and all that."

"But what if he doesn't like it in the dragon lands?!" Twilight asked, sounding a little hysterical. "What if all the other dragons are mean to him? He's only a baby."

"But you said he's not a baby anymore, remember?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Yeah, you're right I did."

"Plus we kind of have to see it from his parent's point of view. They lost him a long time ago and just want him to come home," Pinkie Pie said. "I mean what if you lost your son and weren't sure when you were going to see him again how would you feel?"

"There's a chance I'm going to find out very soon," Twilight said.

Morning came and Spike brought everypony together as well as his parents to the map.

"So I thought a lot about all this," Spike said in a calm voice. "Twilight you took care of me literally all my life and we've been the closest of friends. Having thought about all this I realized you're more than a friend to me, you're all my family as well." Hearing that touched Twilight's heart. "But you've already raised me, my mom and dad haven't, so I'm going with them."

"You are?" Twilight said, trying not to cry in front of Spike.

"Yes but I get to visit them anytime I want. I was very firm with them when I talked to mom and dad."

"Wait, you already told them that you were going with them?" Applejack asked.

"Yes and if he asked us that from the start I would have said no," Scales replied. "But after spending time here learning about what Sun Stone has done at such a young age. I have to admit it's impressive and you did quite a job raising him princess."

"Yes when Dragon Lord Ember ordered us to get along with ponies and had a dragon or 2 go to that School of Friendship of yours a lot of dragons didn't like it," Coal Diamond added. "But maybe it's not so bad." After that Spike gathered a few things he'd be taking with him and said goodbye to each of the mane 6, Rarity and Twilight most of all.

"Oh Spike, such a cruel turn of fate we finally start going out and now you're leaving," Rarity said on the verge of falling onto her fainting couch.

"It can still work out can't it Rarity? Letters and like I said I can visit whenever I want."

"Oh Spike I'm not sure of a long distance relationship that has ever worked out." Spike then surprised Rarity with a passionate kiss right on the lips.

"Then I guess we'll have to be the first won't we?"

"Oh Spike, you hopeless romantic," Rarity said as she returned the kiss. Spike then made his way over to Twilight. They didn't say anything to each other, they just hugged each other and each one didn't really want to let go. But after they did Spike flew off into the sky with his parents who had a lot of catching up to do with this son.

"Oh wait," Coal Diamond said as he was still flying.

"What?" Scales asked.

"I was so used to being this size in such a short amount of time I forgot to ask her to-" Suddenly Coal Diamond became his original size again as the spell wore off right when he was talking. "Never mind." As the 3 dragons flew off Twilight watched her number 1 assistant until the very second he and his parents were out of sight.

"Are you okay Twilight?" Fluttershy asked.

"No, but I will be," Twilight answered as she was holding a framed picture of her and Spike.

The next day Twilight was having a hard time with the paperwork in her office at the School of Friendship. "I can't believe this is so much harder without Spike," she said to herself. "I may have to find a new assistant." Just then Cozy Glow came in and saw Twilight was having quite a bit of trouble.

"Want some help?"

"You would do that?"

"Of course Princess Twilight, let Cozy make it all better."

Chapter 48 Stone Wall's Adventures

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Cozy Glow was an adorable pegasus that had become quite popular at the School of Friendship and even became a personal assistant to Twilight Sparkle. But beneath that adorable surface lied a manipulative and somewhat psychotic pony that wanted to make herself the Empress of Friendship. She tricked the mane 6 into getting trapped in Tartarus and even tricked Super Stallion into thinking Tempest sent her a letter asking for help asap. But as masterful as her plan was, she failed all the same thanks to half a dozen students that got a little help from the Tree of Harmony.

"I'm so disappointed in you Cozy," Twilight said. "Friendship is powerful but it's not the reason that you make friends." Twilight tried to get Cozy Glow to see reason but she wouldn't and tried to fly off but various ponies blocked her exits.

"Oh golly I’m surrounded, good thing I decided to hold onto this." Cozy Glow then made a portal with the medallion she took from Chancellor Neighsay. "We'll meet again." And with that Cozy Glow vanished before any creature could get her.

"No she got away!" Gallus called out as he slammed his fists onto the ground.

"Don't worry Gallus," Silver Stream said who flew over and put her arms around him a bit. "We still stopped her from stealing all the magic from Equestria."

"Besides you heard her, we'll meet again. And we'll see if she can get away then," Twilight said.

After that Twilight got to work getting her school back in order and before she knew it Hearth Warming was just around the corner. In no time at all Twilight was stressed out trying to get gifts for her friends that was until Applejack suggested that the mane 6 each get a gift for only 1 other of the group.

"Thanks Applejack this should make things a lot less stressful," Twilight said, starting to calm down.

"Hey do you think I can pick a piece of paper too?" Spike asked from not too far away from the mane 6.

"SPIKE!" Twilight yelled as she ran over to the dragon who ran over to her as well and they both hugged each other. "What are you doing here?"

"What? You think I wasn't going to come see you all on Hearth Warming of all days?"

"Are your parents here too?" Applejack asked.

"No but they'll be here in a little while," Spike answered. "Dragons aren't too fond of the cold but I convinced them to come by and see what it's like here on just about the best time of the whole year. They just want to spend some time with their dragon friends first so I came ahead."

"Wait, you came all the way here from the dragon lands?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Yeah after some practice with my parents I almost feel like I could stay in the air all day." Spike then picked a piece of paper and lucky for him, he got Rarity.

After that Squeaky Clean who came by to wish Twilight a happy Hearth Warming in equine. However along the way he spotted Stone Wall of all ponies not too far away from where he was.

"Stone Wall, is that you? What are you doing here?" Squeaky asked as he walked over to his old friend.

"Better question, what are you doing here without a royal escort? You are a prince now after all."

"Oh come on Ponyville is a nice little town you can trust ponies here, besides I'm more than capable of taking care of myself," Squeaky said as he patted his saddle bag a bit.

"You still should have brought a guard or 2 all the same superhero or not, royals can't just wander off."

"I'll keep that in mind but you still haven't answered my question."

"I came here to see Princess Twilight and her friends, mostly Princess Twilight really. I've been traveling around a bit visiting those that I wronged during my "episode."

"Oh come on Stone Wall how many times do we all have to tell you that wasn't your fault your head was scrambled!"

"Yes but it didn't take away the damage I did so I made a list of all those I wronged and I'm making it up to them. All things considered, it's actually been rather fun."

"Really?"

"Yes I helped Applejack on her farm and since I bucked so many apples they let me take home a pie, or 4. I helped Fluttershy with her animal sanctuary and expanded it a little. Rarity got me to help her with a lot of what she called her latest genius contribution to the fashion world and as for Rainbow Dash I got the Wonderbolts to act more like a team when I saw a practice of theirs up close."

"Really how did you do that?"

"As it turns out the Wonderbolts had a rather bad habit of calling each other a rather mean spirited name like Rainbow Crash or Clipper or well you probably don't want to know Spitfire's name."

"Oh come on how bad can it-" Squeaky was interrupted when Stone Wall whispered the nickname into his ear. "Wow."

"Yeah, so I explained to them about a line between friendly teasing and bullying. I mean yeah sure I was hard on the other guards myself but that was to toughen them up. After that I helped Pinkie Pie throw several parties in 1 day, turns out she has a whole party cave."

"What? You're pulling my leg."

"No really, I'll show you later if you want."

"Maybe later. So now it's Twilight's turn?"

"Yes, that's why I'm here."

"Well I'm going to see Twilight as well so we might as well go see her together."

"I suppose that would be nice," Stone Wall said, liking the idea a bit more than he was leading on. As they were making their way to the castle they spotted Spike who was rather running around Ponyville looking at all of the various stores. "What's with the dragon?"

"Don't know, but I know a way to find out. HEY SPIKE!"

"Oh hey Squeaky," Spike said with a wave and then walked over to the 2 stallions. "It's nice to see you again."

"Spike, last I heard, weren't you living in the dragon lands now?" Stone Wall asked having heard what happened to him through Princess Celestia who was told by Twilight not too long after he left.

"Yeah but I came here to visit for the holiday. Are you here to visit Twilight too?"

"In a manner of speaking, since you're here I suppose now is as good a time as any." Stone Wall then explained to Spike how he's been making it up to those he wronged and Spike was on the list. Spike, like others before him, told Stone Wall that he didn't have to but Stone Wall insisted that it was something he had to do.

"Well if you really want to make it up to me you can help me find the perfect gift for Rarity?"

"Seriously?"

"Yes seriously this might be the most important Hearth Warming for me because it's the first one where Rarity and I are going out. This could help cement our entire relationship. But if I screw it up and give her a gift she doesn't like that could make our romantic life take a turn for the worse and what if she just thinks the gift is okay that could-"

"Okay that's enough," Stone Wall said as he cut off Spike by putting his hoof in Spike's mouth. "First of all you're overthinking the whole thing. I'm not exactly a love expert but I've gotten Princess Celestia a gift every Hearth Warming since I met her. Getting somepony a gift is simple, just make sure you give it out of love and you'll find something that you'll want to give her for Hearth Warming."

"You think so?"

"I know so, young colt or whatever you call a baby dragon."

"Hey I'm not a baby anymore I'm a big dragon now," Spike said as he puffed out his chest a bit.

"Of course, you do have a special somepony now after all."

"Yeah thanks Stone Wall. But I'm still a little conflicted, like maybe a small crystal statue version of her or maybe a necklace or a sewing machine. Wait, what if I get Rarity something else entirely?" Spike asked himself. "What if I make a song just for her, a song that tells her how much she means to me?"

"Get her the statue,” Stone Wall said.

"Then the song afterwards," Squeaky said.

"Yeah I think I'll go with that," Spike said.

Before long the 2 old friends made their way to Twilight's castle where they saw Twilight was already busy trying to figure out the perfect gift to give Pinkie Pie. Twilight got the idea to make a very special pudding and when Stone Wall explained why he was there she asked him to help her make the pudding. Not too long after that Shining Armor, Cadance, and Flurry Heart who upon seeing Stone Wall flew over to him and hugged his leg showed up.

"I take it you remember me," Stone Wall said. "Come on, get off my leg." Stone Wall then walked around a bit gently trying to shake her off then he walked over to Cadance and Shining Armor with Flurry Heart still keeping a rather firm grip on his leg.

"Aw that's so cute she really loves you doesn't she?" Shining Armor asked.

"Well what's not to love about him?" Cadance asked. "He's such a lovable stallion and his tough act can't always hide it."

"Oh don't you start too," Stone Wall said as he reached down and pulled Flurry Heart off of his leg and put her on her mother's back.

"Uncle Stone Wall," Flurry Heart managed to say as she flew over to him and this time grabbed Stone Wall's head.

"Okay that's going a bit too far," Stone Wall said as he once again pulled Flurry Heart off of him. But as he told Flurry Heart that she gave him a kiss right on his muzzle. "Okay, uncle is fine."

"When did you get so popular with the baby alicorn?" Squeaky asked.

"Since I visited the Crystal Empire to cross her and her father off my list."

"What about Cadance?"

"I gave her away when she and Shining Armor renewed their vows. I wanted to cross her off my list when I came to the empire but she said it was more than enough. After I arrived she and Shining Armor got me to foalsit Flurry Heart for a while and for some reason now she's nuts about me."

"Wow well I guess it's good to know that if the whole captain of the guard thing doesn't work out you can always start a foalsitting service," Squeaky said.

"After that he helped me train the guards at the Crystal Empire and he got them to become much more lean and mean fighting machines in no time at all."

"Yes," Stone Wall said with a bit of pride. "I still got the old touch so those guards in Canterlot will be getting quite the workout when I get back to Canterlot."

"Uh Stone Wall can you come into the kitchen please," Twilight asked. And so Stone Wall went to help Twilight with her special pudding for Pinkie Pie. But as the 2 got to work on that Flurry Heart dropped numerous items into the pudding which caused the pudding to start to overflow. Seeing what she did Stone Wall used his magic to bring a small wooden spatula over to him and grabbed it with his hoof. Seeing that made Flurry Heart's playful smile disappear and was replaced by a look of fear.

"Flurry," Stone Wall said as he gestured to the baby alicorn to come over. "Come here Flurry." Flurry Heart then shook her head and began to make up from the stallion. "Come here," Stone Wall repeated and Flurry ran. Stone Wall chased her as Flurry Heart flew over to her parents and hid behind her mother's head.

"Stone Wall, what are you doing?" Shining Armor asked

"Flurry Heart needs to learn a little discipline," he answered.

"That's no way to do it, she's still just a foal," Cadance said. "She just needs patience and understanding."

"No, she needs a tranquilizer gun and a kennel. That's what she needs."

"Oh come on what could she have done that was so bad?" Shining Armor asked and just after he did the pudding started to spill over to where they were.

"That," Stone Wall asked. Everypony and Spike tried to stop the pudding however things got out of hoof as the pudding started to grow uncontrollably. Things went from bad to worse when a Winterchilla which turned into a Winterzilla after dark came into the castle but thankfully Fluttershy was able to calm it down. As for the pudding Pinkie Pie literally jumped right into it making everypony and Spike gasp with the exception of Stone Wall.

"I am never going to understand how the pony's head works," Stone Wall said calmly, figuring she did that for somewhat of a good reason. And she did as Pinkie Pie had just the thing to stop the pudding not too long after that Spike's parents showed up and saw the giant pudding. Coal Diamond and the Winterzilla were able to eat up the pudding and some of the ponies helped as well.

"Wow this is good, Scales you have to try this."

"In a little bit dear, are pony holidays always like this?"

"No trust me mom this is the first time something like this happened around here," Spike answered.

"Now remember Flurry Heart," Stone Wall said when he finally caught the young princess. "Don't go dropping whatever you want in a pot when somepony is cooking. I know you wanted to help but that's not how to cook something right, understand?" Flurry Heart then nodded her head and hugged her uncle Stone Wall. "Good because I don't enjoy punishing other ponies, unless they're criminals that really have it coming. But I need to at times to make sure ponies learn their lesson." Stone Wall then bopped Flurry Heart on the head with the wooden spatula that he still had but not too hard. "So let's keep the monkey business to a minimum for the rest of the night, alright?" Fluffy Heart nodded again and hugged Stone Wall when he offered to read her her favorite story.

"Well problems aside I think we can all agree this was a very good Hearth Warming," Twilight said and her friends agreed. Suddenly there was a knock at the castle door and Twilight was the first to open it. "Thorax and Starlight, what a nice surprise." Suddenly a rather large cloud of blue smoke appeared and Trixie appeared between Thorax and Starlight.

"And don't forget the great and powerful Trixie!"

"Of course Trixie we could never forget you," Twilight said.

"No matter how hard we try," Rainbow Dash whispered to Applejack who laughed.

"I was beginning to think you weren't going to show up."

"Yeah sorry Twilight we wanted to get here sooner but Thorax and I had to get quite a few things in order," Starlight said as she grabbed Thorax's hoof.

"Like what?" Fluttershy asked.

"Well," Thorax said, pausing for a minute. "We're getting married." Hearing that surprised everypony and the dragons in the room.

"A pony and a changeling getting married," Scales said surprised. "How did this happen?"

"Well it's kind of thanks to Stone Wall after he spent some time at the hive," Starlight answered.

"How the heck did you pull that off?" Squeaky asked.

***

"Thanks for all the help Stone Wall, we really appreciate it," Thorax said.

"It's the least I can do," Stone Wall replied. "Considering"

"Ah that, well if you feel that bad about it maybe you can talk about it in the feelings forum."

"The what?" Stone Wall was then brought to the very forum but things took a turn for the worst when they started talking about Thorax's brother.

"Everyone please! I understand Pharynx can be challenging at times," Thorax said, trying to calm the others down.

"That's an understatement, he filled a hallway with thorns."

"He teaches little changelings to growl and hiss."

"He poisoned our water supply, burnt our crops, and delivered a plague unto our homes!"

"He did?" All the other changelings and Stone Wall asked.

"No, but are we just gonna wait around until he does." Hearing that Stone Wall thought there might be a way to really help the changelings.

"Excuse me?!" Pharynx said to Stone Wall when he approached him and offered to help him accept love. "There's no way I'm going to accept love, especially from you. And another thing, don't think just because there's peace between our races that I'm going to forget about everything you did."

"I'm starting to think you don't like me very much," Stone Wall replied, thinking Squeaky would be proud of his comment.

"Of course I don't, you always got in my way and foiled my plans. I don't know when, but somehow someway I'm going to settle the score with you once and for all."

Suddenly the changelings started screaming and panicking as the hive began to rumble and shake. Stone Wall and Pharynx made their way outside and saw the dread maulwurf attacking. Quick to act as usual Stone Wall charged his horn and then hit the creature with a large magic beam so powerful and so concentrated it knocked the maulwurf out cold to Pharynx's utter shock.

"Uh never mind," Pharynx said. "You and I, we're cool."

"Oh good, now how about you and I talk about love a little more. This may come as a shock to you but I'm not exactly the touchy feely kind of stallion."

"What are you talking about? You strike me right from the start as a pony that rather keeps his emotions inside."

"Humor is a foreign language to you isn't it?" Stone Wall then talked with Pharynx and eventually managed to get him to finally accept love.

"Nice work Stone Wall," Starlight said. "I was beginning to think he was a lost cause."

"He and I are actually rather similar," Stone Wall replied. "He's kind of the captain of the guard here like I used to be in Canterlot. It's weird seeing the changelings like this, but it's nice to see they're in good hooves."

"Yeah, especially with Thorax as their leader. He's really something special isn't he?"

"Well you seem to think so don't you? After all that's why you 2 have been dating for a while haven't you?"

"How did you know?"

"Being a royal guard sometimes we're called in to investigate crimes and we have to train our eyes as well as our muscles. Plus I spent quite a bit of time with Princess Cadance so I'm rather good at telling who has a crush on who, most of the time anyway."

"Really? Well I was thinking of asking Princess Cadance about this but, well I'm thinking of going to the next step, he and I both really but I'm not sure if we're ready."

"Well I'm not exactly a love expert but I do have this advice to give, may your heart be your guiding key."

“You know,” Starlight said. “You just might be onto something.”

***

"The advice was simple but it was more than enough to get us to take the next step."
"Plus he even helped Trixie make a new magic act, one of her best actually," Thorax said.

"Yes and while I probably could have figured it out myself it was still quite the gesture," Trixie said.

"Wow Stone Wall you've really been busy for a stallion that hasn't even gotten his job back," Pinkie Pie said.

"Between all the stuff you've done and what Cozy Glow almost did and Spike's parents showing up I've been missing out on a lot of stuff," Squeaky said.

"Sucks doesn't it?" Discord asked who did his usual thing of appearing right out of nowhere. "I was built up and built up but now I'm hardly in this story anymore."

"Discord you're here too? Well call it a Hearth Warming miracle if I can cross another name off my list," Stone Wall said as he approached him to tell him about his list.

"Oh that whole thing from chapter 37," Discord replied as he swung his finger making his name get crossed off the list. "Getting to smash that sphere you had was worth the beating I took so no worries from me. I wonder if I'll get to do something like that again," Discord said as he subtly looked at Squeaky who backed up while holding onto his saddle bag.

"Though if you want to make it up to me Stone Wall I could still use help. Organizing some paper I have as well as getting a few things ready for Starlight's wedding."

"Fine with me," Stone Wall said as he walked off with Twilight. After that Squeaky said goodbye and went back to Canterlot to spend the best time of the year with Princess Celestia and the 3 beautiful children.

***

The next day Stone Wall managed to help Twilight get everything in order at the School of Friendship. "Thanks for your help Stone Wall I could really have used it."

"I can't believe you had so much to do. It was actually easier when I made it up to Clover the Clever by helping her organize everything in her cabin."

"I think it's nice that you want to help every creature that you hurt even if it wasn't technically your fault."

"I know it doesn't make much sense but I feel like it's something I had to do."

"Speaking of which, I'm rather curious. What are you going to do for Celestia and Luna?"

"I came to them first and made it up to both of them as well as Squeaky Clean and Swift Sweep by foalsitting their children."

"Wow more foalsitting," Twilight said as she remembered how much Flurry Heart liked Stone Wall. "You know if the whole captain of the guard thing doesn't work out you could always try a foal-"

"Squeaky beat you to that joke," Stone Wall interrupted.

After helping sort all of Twilight's things Stone Wall made his way to Canterlot to see Princesses Celestia and Luna to tell him he was finally ready to retake his former position as captain of the royal guard if he could.

"Well as I told you before Stone Wall you are more than allowed to return," Celestia said as she and her sister were sitting next to their husbands. "However you won't be serving under us for that much longer."

"What do you mean?" Stone Wall asked, raising his head up as he was bowing.

"Well Celestia and I talked it over," Luna said. "And we've decided to retire."

"Retire!?" Stone Wall said standing up in shock now. "You can't retire, who will look after Equestria?"

"Twilight will," Celestia answered. "She's more than capable of doing just that and she'll have her friends to help her and now you."

"Celestia wanted to crown her right away but I convinced her she should prepare Twilight a bit until she's completely fit for the role," Squeaky said.

"That may take a while," Stone Wall said.

"I don't think so. Twilight is very smart and if she gets in trouble I'm sure Super Stallion will show up to help every now and then," Swift Sweep said blissfully unaware he was the only pony in the room that didn't know Squeaky's secret.

"So will you come back to the royal guard and serve her like you served Luna and I?"

"Okay Princess Celestia," Stone Wall answered.

"Good now I suppose all that's left is for us to break the news to Twilight when she gets here, which is going to be soon actually," Celestia said.

"Wait, you've already asked her to come over to tell her this?"

"Why not?" Celestia asked.

"Well it was a big shock for me alone if you tell Twilight she might faint or something."

"Oh she's not going to faint. I've known her for years. She's practically my daughter. I know she's not going to faint."

"Well I think I'll get to cleaning while I still have a job," Squeaky said.

"I'm coming too. I don't like sitting all day," Swift Sweep said and the stallions made their way out of the throne room.

"But seriously Stone Wall might have a point, try to tell her gently," Squeaky said.

"She's not going to faint," Celestia said, a little upset.

"So you're going to retire with them? You're not even in your 40s?" Stone Wall asked when the stallions left the room.

"I'll admit it's a little weird but it would help Swift Sweep and I focus on raising our families. Plus you kind of have to expect stuff like this when you marry an older mare."

"Right," Stone Wall replied.

"Speaking of which, are you okay with me being married to Celestia? I mean you don't think it's weird or anything do you?"

"Oh why would it be weird? The pony that's essentially my brother is married to my mother?" Stone Wall asked sarcastically.

"It does sound kind of weird when you put it like that," Swift Sweep said.

"Brother?" Squeaky asked rather touched. The 2 princes then helped Stone Wall find his old guard uniform then went to cleaning and 1 or 2 royal duties. Stone Wall then got on his old uniform and was happy to see it still fit when suddenly he was approached by Princess Celestia.

"Uh Stone Wall no big deal but would you happen to know where I can find some smelling salt?"

Chapter 49 The Late Squeaky Clean

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"I can't believe this happened," one of the royal guards said as he and several others walked around the rubble of the broken castle.

"Yes, quite frustrating," Stone Wall, who recently became captain of the royal guard again said. "And what's worse, despite all the damage he did right in the middle of the capital, with all the guards here, he got away." The other guards noticed he was almost possessed with rage but was trying not to show it as it wouldn't help at the moment. "Let's focus on clearing away the rubble and getting the injured to what's left of the sickbay."

"Um, captain," another guard said.

"What?"

"I mean, is repairing the castle really our top priority right now? Shouldn't we look for the body or something-

"We'll get right on the rubble and the injured captain," the 1st guard said as he and a 3rd guard who were in-between the 2nd walked and made him come with.

"I know you're new here but you should try to read the captain more," the 3rd guard said. "He's dealing with a lot right now; his best friend is dead."

Super Stallion, after informing the princesses of what happened, brought back the tower that had broken off the castle during the attack. Princess Twilight used her recently mastered chaos magic to put the castle back together.

"Nice work princess," Super Stallion said.

"Thanks but I can't take all the credit," Twilight said. "You did get the tower back."

"I just wish you could fix my other problem that easily," Super Stallion said while wondering how things could have gotten bad so quickly.

***

Celestia and Luna had recently informed Twilight that they were going to retire and that she would be taking their place as rulers of Equestria. Twilight fainted right on the spot. She was taken to the royal chambers and put in the bed where she was awakened after Stone Wall located some smelling salt. "Uh where am I?"

"You're in the royal chambers Twilight," Luna answered.

"Or rather you're in your royal chambers since this will be yours soon," Celestia answered.

"What?" Twilight said.

"Well Twilight when you become the leader of Equestria this will be your royal chamber as well," Celestia said and hearing that made Twilight faint again. Celestia was about to use the smelling salt again when Stone Wall stopped her.

"No no no! Let her sleep, maybe a good rest will help her process this a little better," Stone Wall said as he tucked Twilight in a little bit. "In the meantime maybe you could practice answering Twilight's questions a little less bluntly."

After getting more rest Twilight was able to take the news much much better and would take the time for her to be suited for the role. Such as finding somepony to run the School of Friendship but that would have to wait as news came to her other teacher about her literal crowning achievement.

"Oh my dear Twilight I'm so proud of you!" Discord said as he was holding Twilight up in the air in his arms. "My little chaos maker in the making is going to be in charge of all of Equestria." Discord then started to spin her around a bit which Twilight actually kind of enjoyed.

"Well I'm glad to know you like it Discord honestly you're taking it a lot better than I did. So was this the reason you asked me to come over here?" Discord then placed Twilight down who was feeling a little dizzy.

"I brought you to the Castle of the 2 Sisters because I wanted to make an announcement. Granted it's not going to top you becoming the ruler of Equestria but what can you do?" With the snap of his fingers a black flat hat and black robe appeared on Twilight.

"What the?"

"Congratulations Twilight you've mastered chaos magic."

"I have? But I barely use it?"

"Oh look at you come so far and still so modest. Yes you have mastered chaos magic you've taken enough chunks of my magic to do it anyway. You've made it your own and are now at my level."

"I have?" Twilight asked, taken back, being at Discord's level of chaos magic is saying quite a lot.

"Yes and since you're going to be ruler of all Equestria you're most likely going to need some sort of royal adviser." Discord then smiled while making numerous claw hands appear pointing at him.

"Oh Discord, would you like to do it?" Twilight asked rather sarcastically who answered by wrapping himself around Twilight.

"Why Twilight I would love to."

"I'm sure you would but I think I should explore some alternatives first."

"Oh come on now Twilight haven't I always been there for you to offer sage advice besides between the 2 of us we can handle just about anything."

***

Meanwhile in Tartarus Cozy Glow, who managed to sneak in, had tried to help the other rogues. But the medallion she stole was only letting her go in and out and she couldn’t pick the locks of the cages. So until she thought of a way to help them all escape she was hanging out.

"Oh Tirek," Cozy Glow said to her old pen pal.

"It's Lord Tirek and what do you want now?"

"I just want to make sure you can see my best friend rock sculpture from over there," Cozy answered as she showed him a mini version of Tirek holding up Cozy Glow that she made with pebbles. However she wouldn't get to admire her own work for much longer as it crumbled away.

"Ugh will someone shut that brat up already," Storm King requested as he was sitting in his own cell taking a break from trying to break out. After another moment of rest he got back up and tried to break the bars with his bare hands.

"You're at it again I see," Scar Flank said. "Seriously trying to get free is just about the only thing you do."

"Well it's not like there's anything to do in here," Weather Warper said, whose cage was rather close to Scar Flank's. She, like Storm King was trying and trying to break free. "It's one thing to lock us up but why so tightly I can hardly work out. Seriously, how am I supposed to keep my body in shape here?"

"I suppose you have a point there I wouldn't want to have you get out of shape," Scar Flank said. "But getting out of the cages isn't going to do you much good."

"Of course it will," Storm King said. "If we can break out we'll be free."

"Except if you break out you'll still have to worry about the guard dog, remember?" Payback asked who had spent his time trying to plan escapes but none went further than an idea.

"Yeah he's always watching talk about puppy guarding," Cozy said with a giggle. "Get it Tirek because he's a dog."

"Uhg, please don't talk to me."

"Oh wow, please , you're improving."

"And even if you somehow did something about him there's still the GIANT FLIPPING DOOR that won't open from the inside," Payback continued.

"Please don't sugarcoat for him," Mad Alicorn said, who was trying to take a nap and was the only one of the bunch starting to accept she's going to be in Tartarus for the rest of her life. And it was showing.

"Come on now, don't be such a downer," Cozy said. "We can't just all give up. If we keep trying we'll find a way to get out. And then we can get our sweet revenge on all the creatures that wronged us," she continued with a sadistic smile at the end.

"That filly kind of creeps me out," Weather Warper whispered to Scar Flank.

"I think she creeps us all out," Scar Flank whispered back.

"Get real already, will you kid,” Mad Alicorn said. “We're stuck in here, we're not just going to magically vanish out of here." Suddenly that was exactly what happened for not only her but all of the rogues. They found themselves in a place none of them had ever been before.

"What in Equestria, did one of you do this somehow?" Scar Flank answered and the others answered no all except Weather Warper who was too busy flying around to even hear what he asked.

"All right! Finally! I can fly around free once again!" She said with utter bliss.

"Unbelievable," Mad Alicorn said. "We're free but who did this?"

"It was I who freed you," a mysterious voice answered. The others looked around for who answered but saw no creature.

"It came from that waterfall," Payback answered and when they all looked they saw a mysterious ram with abnormally long horns and a collar approaching them.

"You freed us?" Storm King asked.

"Yes, I just answered that," the ram said as he stopped at a table with a crystal ball. "You may call me Grogar. Hearing that made Tirek, Payback, Scar Flank, and even Storm King somewhat gasp.

"That's impossible," Payback said. "He's just a legend."

"I am very real."

"Who is he?" Mad Alicorn asked.

"Seriously?" Storm King asked. "I only came to Equestria on the day of the invasion and I've even heard of him."

"He was the 1st emperor of Equestria," Scar Flank added. "The Father of Monsters."

"Yes before Equestria became the land it was, it was simply a collection of farms and pastures that was when Grogar declared himself lord of all he saw," Tirek said. "I remember hearing tales of his tyranny when I was young."

"I gave life to the foulest of creatures and allowed them to roam wild taking what they want and destroying the rest. My reign was a glorious fear soaked epoch of darkness in Equestria," Grogar said as his crystal ball provided a few visual aids.

"So what happened to you then Bobar?" Cozy asked.

"GROGAR!" He answered, making Cozy hide behind one of Tirek's legs. "The source of my power was my enchanted bell but that infernal Gusty the Great took it, believing doing that would defeat me but she only weakened me temporarily."

"Uh Tirek is really old, no offense you look great. But if he knew about you when he was young we have super different ideas about what temporally means," Cozy said.

"Silence," Grogar said, making Cozy hide under Tirek again. "I've spent millennia gathering power biding my time waiting for the perfect opportunity to seize control of Equestria. However a lot has changed since I once ruled over this land: new princesses, a new capital, even what you would call a superhero. I trust you all know who he is."

"Wait, did that guy stop your plans too?" Storm King asked.

"Yes, some of us more than others," Payback said.

"Not me so much but I still know of him," Cozy Glow said, still under Tirek.

"Will you get out of there already," Tirek said as he kicked her a bit, making her fly out.

"While I have been away from this land a long time I still stayed aware of what was going on. Super Stallion is not the only one who fought against you, there is also Princess Twilight Sparkle and her friends." Grogar then waved in front of his crystal ball and showed the rogues her with her friends at the castle. "Soon she will become the ruler of Equestria leaving the Royal Pony Sisters to retire. She and her friends as well as Super Stallion have defeated some of you time and time again-"

"Let me guess," Scar Flank interrupted, which rather annoyed Grogar. "You want us all to team up to defeat them."

"I demand that you join me and together, Equestria will be ours."

"This again," Weather Warper complained.

"We've tried doing that, but it didn't work," Mad Alicorn said.

"Yeah no matter what we always get defeated," Payback said.

"Wow I had no idea I was hanging out with a bunch of losers," Storm King replied.

"You were defeated too pal," Weather Warper said.

"Yes," Grogar replied. "And do you know why you always lose against those ponies?"

"Because they don't know when they should give up," Payback said.

"Because they are annoyingly lucky," Tirek said.

"Because we don't have superpowers of our own," Scar Flank said.

"Uh I'm just a kid so," Cozy Glow said.

"It's because despite you using the clever idea of teaming up your leader was never qualified."

"Didn't expect that to be the answer," Weather Warper said.

"The 1st leader was more obsessed with getting his revenge on his sister than anything else. The 2nd leader was far too busy planning one backstabbing after another to properly lead you," Grogar continued as he stared at Payback. "And the 3rd leader if you could even call her that didn't know enough about this world or how to use her new abilities properly."

"Well maybe this guy has a point or 3," Mad Alicorn said.

"Join with me and under my leadership the defeat of Super Stallion and the others will be all but guaranteed."

"Uh and what makes you think we want you to be our leader," Storm King said to the surprise of others. "Oh what, you actually want to work under this ancient boar?"

"I'm a ram."

"Like it matters."

"Well what are you exactly?" Cozy Glow asked. "Are you like an albino monkey or something?"

"Shut it brat!" Storm King replied as he spooked her and caused her to fly over and hide behind Grogar this time.

"Don't have much of a backbone do you young one?" Grogar asked.

"Not really."

"As I was saying," the Storm King continued. "I don't need a leader. I already am 1. I'm the Storm King I traveled and conquered and conquered and traveled. Mostly I just conquered. Half the world was nearly under my control and if the invasion of Equestria worked out that would have been almost the 2nd half. I had an army under my control and almost more magic than even I'd know what to do with. If I just had those again nothing could stop me."

"You think so?" Grogar asked.

"I know so!"

"All right then." Grogar then made his way over to Storm King and made the Staff of Sacanas appear, shocking the Storm King.

"Where did you get this?" Storm King asked.

"Power wasn't the only thing I collected all this time. I've infused it with some of my magic allowing you to use some of the powerful magic you crave so much. But if you want to invade you'll still need an army, try a prison not too far from here where some of your army were locked up." Grogar then hovered his crystal ball over to him to show Storm King a map to the prison.

"That's going to be a problem even with that staff," Scar Flank said. "The prison now has fractions of the former changeling queen's throne magic. It cancels out magic except changeling magic."

"Which is why I also infused the staff with changeling magic as well," Grogar said.

"You can do that?" Mad Alicorn asked.

"I can do many things."

"Except shut up and give me the staff," Storm King said. Grogar then offered the Staff of Sacanas to him.

"If you manage to conquer Equestria you may keep it but if you fail you will return to me and work under my leadership."

"Oh really? And if I don't?"

"Would you like to go back to Tartarus? And that question goes the same for all of you," Grogar said, turning to the other rogues. "The magic you've been given is quite powerful but you should take some time to learn how it works-"

"As if I need to listen to you," Storm King interrupted. He then used his new found magic to blast a hole through a nearby wall. "I always was a fast learner." The Storm King then made his way out of Grogar's lair ready to set a plan he was already developing in motion.

"Between you and me," Cozy Glow whispered as she flew next to Grogar's face. "I kind of hope he loses."

"Yeah me too," Grogar said.

"Hey, could I get a sample of that magic of yours?" Tirek asked. Grogar then got a piece of his magic from his belt and tossed it over to Tirek who ate it right away and that alone was enough to get him into his 2nd stage.

"Can I have some more?"

"Don't push it," Grogar answered Tirek.

***

After fittingly storming off, the Storm King made his way to the prison and trained to use his new staff along the way to make sure he'd know how to use his newly given powers. When he finally made it to the prison he single handedly took down all the guards and freed the prisoners. "Wow that was so awesome I even impressed myself," Storm King said to himself as he finished off the last of the guards.

"We don't get paid enough for this," the last of the guards said to himself before the Storm King tossed him aside and he landed on the ground next to another guard.

"I thought we wouldn't have to worry about this kind of thing ever again," the other guard said to the one that was tossed next to him.

"Listen up! I'm planning an attack on the capital and this time it's going to go as planned but I need an army first, so who's up for serving the guy that will 1 day make this whole world his own."

"Oh great Storm King!" Clover called out happy to see his leader once again. "I am Clover from the once Fearsome Foursome."

"Fearsome Foursome? You actually went with that name. What did you lose a bet or something?"

"We didn't really focus on the name to be fair," Spade said.

"Well you should have, I mean imagine if I made a name for myself and it was something ridiculous."

"Can you just get us out of here already?" Spade asked. "They won't let us fight in here."

"I don't recall my troops giving me orders."

"Don't mind him, he's just itching for a fight," Diamond said. "Just like I'm itching to get my hands on something shiny and valuable."

"Hm, I suppose I can understand." The Storm King then used his new found magic to free the prisoners from their cells. However when they were given the opportunity a majority of the prisoners stayed in their cells. "Ah hello I'm giving you all a chance to escape here what's the hold up?"

"Yeah we've been given quite a few of those chances," one of the prisoners said.

"We always either get stopped or recaptured," another prisoner said.

"Plus my time is almost up. I'm not going to throw that away with another escape attempt," a 3rd prisoner said.

The other prisoners joined in saying they'd rather stay and reform then go with him.

"Wow, I guess we've been doing a better job at this than we thought," a guard that was on the verge of losing consciousness said to herself.

"Are you all kidding me?!" The Storm King asked with frustration and annoyance. "I give you a golden opportunity to run free and you just want to sit around? That doesn't make any sense!"

"Uh Storm King can we get going?" Clover asked.

"You really think you're going to make something of yourselves here?" The Storm King continued on. "You think you'll just stumble onto greatness? No! You have to find it and take it!"

"What the heck is he talking about?" Spade whispered to Clover.

"I think it's his idea of a pep talk," Clover answered.

"Can we go now sir?" Diamond asked the Storm King who answered by blasting a nearby wall and creating a hole.

"Hey fine let's go," the Storm King said as he and the storm creatures left with him. While he was disappointed in the not so big number he still had his army and decided to leave.

"So now what boss?" Diamond asked.

"We go to the capital, what else?"

"The capital?" Clover asked, surprised. "Isn't that rather risky for such a small group, what if Super Stallion shows up?"

"Oh I'm hoping he does. It's time he and I had a little rematch." Storm King then brought his whole army to the capital with a teleportation spell. "Hope you're ready to fight if not, well it sucks to be you."

"I've done nothing but train while locked up knowing that in some way, shape, or form, I would get my chance to fight once again," Spade said.

"That's what I like to hear, let's get them," Storm King said.

Meanwhile Stone Wall was preparing to talk to some new guards or at least guards that joined since he was gone.

"All right you stallions fall in line," Stone Wall said.

"Uh actually I'm a mare in fact several of the guards here-"

"I SAID FALL IN LINE!" Stone Wall interrupted and the guards did just that. Stone Wall then made his way across the guards looking them over. "My my, how progressive to see so many mares now in the royal guard. But don't expect any double standard nonsense from me. I expect equal competence from all of you understand?"

"YES CAPTAIN," all of the guards answered except for one gray unicorn mare at the end of the row.

"Equal I don't think so," the female guard replied.

"Excuse me?" Stone Wall asked and with that she walked out of the line and began approaching Stone Wall.

"Mares have done much for this land than stallions have. We've been led by Princess Celestia for over 1000 years and her replacement is going to be another mare." At this point she was right in front of Stone Wall and was looking at his armor a bit while wondering if it would fit her. "In fact I've got plans to be the new captain of the guards around here."

"You don't say," Stone Wall said, surprisingly calm but also annoyed by the mare's lack of respect.

"Yeah so I wouldn't get too used to calling the shots around here cause I'm the one that's gonna, gonna," the mare tried to continue but Stone Wall's sudden hard stare made it rather hard for her to concentrate and actually sent some chills down her spine and made her legs wobble like jelly. "Oh hey I'm out of line."

"In more ways than 1," Stone Wall replied as the mare guard got back in the line while the other guards snickered a bit. "A mare captain of the guard, that I would actually like to see but until then I'm calling the shots around here," Stone Wall then walked beside the guards. "As a royal guard you will be tasked with protecting the castle and more importantly, the princesses to do so you'll have to be, if you'll pardon the expression, be on guard. Always remember that and always expect the unexpected." As Stone Wall finished, the Storm King's magic made a hole in the castle.

"Well that was definitely unexpected," one of the guards said.

"Yes it seems that you'll be having an active workout today," Stone Wall said.

"Something tells me Super Stallion should help," Prince Squeaky said.

"Yes I think you're right," Celestia agreed.

Squeaky then ran off to find a spot to change. As he was doing that Storm King continued his raid on the castle and Stone Wall gathered the guards to counterattack.

"I'd kind of like to turn it into a pile of rubble but it might actually make a decent place to live when I clear out all of the ponies. What do you guys think?" Storm King asked.

"I think you're about to take the mother of all beatings," Stone Wall answered.

"And who might you be?" Storm King asked.

"The pony that's going to give you the beating!" Stone Wall then fired a magic beam at the Storm King that hit him dead on and knocked him to the ground.

"Why you sneaky little!" Storm King jumped back up and aimed the staff at Stone Wall but he dodged the attack.

Meanwhile, Squeaky ran into a nearby closet but as he was about to change he came across an unexpected obstacle.

"Squeaky what are you doing in here?" Swift Sweep asked who was in the closet.

"What am I doing here? What are you doing here?"

"Well I was hiding a just because present for Luna when I realized I already hid one in here for her and forgot all about it."

"Woah, I hope it wasn't a puppy."

"No, it's a chocolate sponge."

"Why would you get Princess Luna a chocolate sponge?" Squeaky asked after taking a few seconds to process Swift Sweep's question.

"Just because, weren't you listening?"

"Apparently not."

"Well anyway we need to get out of here some albino monkey is attacking the castle."

"Uh how about you go? I'll stay here and make sure the presents don't get hurt."

"Squeaky don't be ridiculous we could get really hurt come on let's get out of here," Swift Sweep said as he grabbed his hoof and pulled a bit to gesture to follow him out of the room. "Come on Squeaky let's go."

"I can't!"

"Squeaky what good would staying in a closet do in a time like this?"

"A lot!" More than I would like to admit right now.

"Squeaky you're not making any sense!"

"Swift Sweep, will you just get out of here already? I really need to be alone right now!"

"No! I can't just leave you here when something like this is happening, we're friends aren't we and friends stick together."

"Friends," Squeaky said after pausing. "Yes we're friends and friends also keep secrets right?"

"Yeah," Swift Sweep said, confused.

"So if I tell you a secret that means you wouldn't tell anypony not a single pony or any creature for that matter?"

"Of course not, losing a friend's trust is the fastest way to lose a friend forever."

"Good because-"

"FOREVER! Sorry, continue."

"Uh anyway I have just about the biggest secret on the planet and you can't tell anypony or creature or whatever."

"Okay I won't tell, but come on how big a secret can it be?" Shortly after Swift Sweep asked that Super Stallion flew right out of the window leaving a stunned to say the least Swift Sweep. "Wow, that was pretty big."

Super Stallion flew around a bit and saw the creature causing all the trouble. "Time to get to the eye of this storm," Super Stallion said to himself as he flew over to where the Storm King was. There Stone Wall had already gotten a few more solid hits.

"I'm surprised that a pony is capable of fighting like the way you do," Storm King said. "Tell you what I'm planning on putting this whole planet under my thumb. I could use a strong and fearless 2nd in command."

"Not interested," Stone Wall answered.

"What the world could be-"

"Not interested," Stone Wall repeated. "You'd make a terrible leader."

"That's something everypony here can agree on," Super Stallion said, joining in the fight. While the Storm King’s forces were being pushed back, other guards got to work evacuating the castle including Prince Swift Sweep.

"Prince Swift Sweep, have you seen Prince Squeaky Clean?" One of the guards helping in the evacuation asked him.

"I….last saw him when he was in that tower," Swift Sweep answered. Suddenly the Storm King used his staff to lift it up and tried to throw it at Stone Wall. Stone Wall used his magic to bounce the tower and it was flung all the way out of Canterlot and into the water at the bottom of the mountain.

"You ponies are too strong for your own good.” Storm King then let out a powerful spell that hit Super Stallion dead on but while Storm King expected it to send him flying to another continent Super Stallion stayed put.

"What? All this power coming from the staff and it can't even make you move."

"Let me give it a try," Super Stallion said as he charged a spell and blasted through the staff's magic. When it hit the Storm King he was the one that got sent flying as he was knocked into the air and slammed into the castle.

"Try not to damage the castle anymore, it's been through quite enough already," Stone Wall said as a storm creature was about to attack him but Stone Wall jumped and bucked him before it had the chance to do that.

"Noted," Super Stallion said. Storm King used his staff to pick up pieces of the wall and throw them at Super Stallion who just threw them right back and bucked him. Storm King landed flat on the ground hard and almost unconscious. "Had enough?"

"I overestimated my newly found powers as well as my influence," The Storm King said as he forced himself to get up. "I won't make that mistake again." Storm King then teleported outside of the castle and used his magic to gather all of the storm creatures that came with him in 1 place with him. And then suddenly they all vanished.

"They got away," Super Stallion said to himself. "I really really really don't like it when they get away."

"Yeah well I'm not too fond of that either," Stone Wall said.

"Captain!" One of the guards that was handling the evacuation cried out as he ran over to Stone Wall. "We have a problem."

"I'm guessing you mean beside the whole attack and the clean up that's going to follow?"

"Yes sir, there's no easy way to put this so I'll just come out and say it, Prince Squeaky Clean was last seen in the tower that got thrown off Canterlot. And it's very if not at all likely that he survived wherever it landed." Stone Wall then gave a quick look to Super Stallion before looking back at the guard that recently gave him the bad news.

"I, I see," Stone Wall replied, pretending to sound a bit sad and actually doing a rather good job at it. Super Stallion went to get the part of the castle Storm King threw.

***

With the castle being put back together the guards soon went back to the usual duties. Princess Celestia even helped with the repairs while Princess Luna saw to the injured. While she was helping with the repairs the guard that informed Stone Wall also informed Princess Celestia of her husband.

"He's dead," Celestia replied, rather confused since Super Stallion just passed her a minute ago. "Oh, I see that is too bad."

"Um princess did you hear me?"

"Of course I heard you, my little pony."

"Well it's just that you don't seem really bothered by what I told you."

"Yes," Princess Celestia replied. "I guess the shock of it all just hasn't set in yet." Princess Celestia then gathered Luna, Twilight, Stone Wall, and Super Stallion saying she wanted to talk about how to find the Storm King. When actually she wanted to talk about her "late" husband and wanted to gather those who know about his secret to figure out what to do.

"I can't believe I'm dead," Super Stallion said as the group was gathered together in private. "I was on the verge of retirement too."

"Yes, that does present a problem for you," Discord said who was flying around the ceiling and flew down to be with the others.

"Discord, what are you doing here?" Super Stallion asked.

"I was just waiting for the flashback sequence or whatever you call it in literary form to end."

"Wait, were you here when the Storm King attacked?" Twilight asked and Discord gave a nod. "Why didn't you do something to stop him?"

"Better question, why didn't you?" Discord asked as he poked Twilight in the nose. "You're going to be calling the shots around here soon so you'll have to know what to do."

"Perhaps," Twilight replied. "But in the meantime we need to figure out how to help Squeaky Clean."

"Yes, so I brought all those together that know about his secret so we can figure out how to clear up this problem."

"Well then perhaps you'll need the complete set for that." Discord then snapped his fingers and Swift Sweep, Sapphire Shores, Star Swirl, and Spike appeared in the room.

"Oh hi Luna, and everypony else and whatever Discord is," Swift Sweep said unfazed at all that he was teleported in the room.

“Whatever this is, I can’t stay,” Star Swirl said. “I’m rather busy with something.” Star Swirl then teleported away and Discord decided not to bring him back.

"Uh what the heck is going on?!" Sapphire Shores asked rather shocked. "Why am I here?! Did we all get captured or something?!" Sapphire then saw Stone Wall and calmed down. "Well hello there."

"Why is Sapphire Shores here? Discord don't tell me-"

"Yes Spike she and Swift Sweep also know Squeaky Clean and Super Stallion are 1 and the same," Discord interrupted.

"Wait what? You all knew and I had to figure it out on my own," Swift Sweep asked.

"Well Swift Sweep please understand," Luna said. "The secret identity of a superhero can't exactly be treated as idol gossip even between loved ones."

"Oh that I understand, I just don't get why so many already know about your secret. I mean it's kind of a lot."

"Yeah Swift Sweep has a point," Stone Wall added. "And why is one of them a pop star of all ponies?"

"Oh, are you a fan of my work?" Sapphire asked and then fluttered her eyes repetitively at Stone Wall who was rather confused by the gesture. Princess Celestia then informed the ones Discord brought in about the current problem facing Super Stallion.

"Well it's not like you're actually dead you just can't be Squeaky Clean anymore," Swift Sweep said.

"But I am Squeaky Clean. I need to be Squeaky Clean. I'd go nuts if I was Super Stallion all the time."

"Go nuts," Discord said. "See what wonders it does for you, of course that's me."

"Does anypony have an actual solution?" Super Stallion asked.

"Well can't you just say you found him, yourself when you went to get the part of the castle Storm King threw?" Stone Wall suggested.

"I thought of that but the tower was flung into the water," Super Stallion answered.

"Normally I wouldn't encourage this but you could just lie," Princess Celestia.

"I tried that but there were several boats nearby that had been there for a while."

"Hmm well now that is a problem," Luna said.

"Yeah I hate to say it but I'm falling back on Swift Sweep's idea," Spike said.

"Maybe we just need time to think on this," Twilight said. "If we do that we might figure something out."

"I know what you mean Twilight," Swift Sweep said. "Sometimes when I try to think, it takes me quite a while before I actually get an idea."

"What a surprise," Stone Wall said sarcastically. "But Twilight maybe on to something, sometimes you need to get away from a problem to learn how to fix it. Besides, we still need to find Storm King, wherever he ran off to."

"Yes I suppose we'll have to focus on that," Princess Celestia.

"Yes I'll go see how the guards are doing," Stone Wall said.

"And I guess I'll take a nice stroll back to my house," Sapphire Shores said as she walked over to Stone Wall and wrapped one of her forelegs around one of his. "And you come with me handsome. I saw the attack and might need a big strong stallion to make sure I get there safely."

"I'll think you'll be fine on your own," Stone Wall said as he tried to pull his leg free and Sapphire just held on to it a little tighter.

"Maybe, but I let 1 super hunk get away from me. I'm not going to let another get away that easily."

"Uh just what is she talking about Squeaky?" Princess Celestia asked as she approached her husband with a rather suspicious look.

"What nothing! And please call me Super Stallion when I'm..well Super Stallion."

"Well Super Stallion, what do you think my husband was doing when Sapphire Shores found out his secret."

"Celestia nothing happened well she kissed me a couple times-"

"I beg your pardon!" Celestia interrupted with an almost dangerous look in her eyes.

"She kissed me because I saved her from Dr. Arachnid and one other time but she kissed me! You're the only mare for me you've only been, you'll always be!" Celestia then calmed down after hearing the romantic sincerity from her husband.

"Well okay then but how exactly did she figure out your secret?"

"I don't know it was such a long time ago I don't even remember."

"Some of the readers probably forgot as well," Discord added in.

***

After his defeat Storm King brought his group all the way to the Undiscovered West where the rogues told him was a hiding spot once while they were talking in Tartarus. But he knew he had to act fast as he figured it wouldn't be long before ponies came around here looking for him since the rogues hid there before.

"All right, listen up my staff was strong but it wasn't enough to defeat Super Stallion so we need to get going and find other power sources for the staff to take and I can take him down once and for all. So any ideas?"

"Yes actually," Clover said. "When I was imprisoned I had a pony cellmate that told me everything about the Tree of Harmony."

"The Tree of Harmony?" Storm King asked.

"Hey this guy explained to me it was an object of great power that helped Princess Twilight defeat this centaur that can absorb the magic of others."

"Did he tell you where to find it?" Storm King asked.

"Yes in fact he was locked up for trying to steal the tree, knowledgeable as he was he wasn't exactly intelligent."

"All right then let's move out everyone!"

"Uh actually sir shouldn't we wait a while?" Diamond asked.

"Yes, even the greatest of warriors need to rest," Spade commented.

"We can rest when I steal the tree's magic and then use it to defeat Super Stallion."

"Just Super Stallion?" Spade asked.

"What's wrong with that?"

"It's just that there's other ponies we'll have to defeat in order to take over."

"But if we take him down first, their hope will go with him and without hope they'll be all the more easier to defeat. Their hope will be replaced with fear, and fear is power." Storm King then ordered his followers to move out and had Clover guided him to where he could find the Tree of Harmony and his next power boost.

While he did that Super Stallion set out to find Storm King while thinking what to do about his apparent death.

"There has to be some way. If I can't find a way, well I imagine it's gonna be difficult to get some privacy if I go to a restaurant or decide to go for a mind clearing walk." Before long Celestia lowered the sun and Luna raised the moon, something they would be training Twilight to do soon.

The next day Twilight returned to Ponyville and Stone Wall came with her as he would soon be her captain of the guard and wanted to make sure nothing happened to her before that.

"Are you sure this is necessary Stone Wall?" Twilight asked as she was walking with him as well as a few other guards.

"Yes it is Princess Twilight, you're going to be calling the shots around her soon and some ponies might like that. Others however might just like to grab you and lock you up in their basement. I'm going to make sure that doesn't happen. Plus we don't want Storm King to show up and take you away."

"Actually I've run the statistics and it's very low that after the fight in Canterlot he'd attack again so soon." Suddenly a tower of magical light shot out of the Everfree Forest and both Twilight and Stone Wall figured out what was the source behind all that. "Then again there's always room for error," Twilight said with a rather sheepish smile.

***

"Wow, it's actually kind of beautiful, like an eternal force of peace and virtue that will always guide those in need of it." Storm King then impaled the Tree of Harmony with his staff and not only drained its magic but broke it into pieces. "Well so much for that." Storm King then fired the magic from the staff straight up to the surprise of those that followed him.

"I'm guessing there's a reason why you did that," Spade said.

"Yeah to let Super Stallion know where I am so I can settle the score with him once and for all!"

"As much as I admire your want to get right back in the fight, shouldn't you have tested its power to see if it'll match his?" Spade asked.

"Relax if I still can't beat him I'll just retreat again."

"I think you should have planned a little better," Super Stallion said, who saw Storm King's magic and flew over there right away.

"Wow, that was fast," Diamond said.

"And he's not alone," Stone Wall said. When Twilight saw Storm King's magic she used her magic to bring herself there and Stone Wall insisted on coming with the guards. Suddenly Twilight turned and gasped when she recognized where they were.

"Princess what's the matter?" Stone Wall asked.

"The Tree of Harmony, it's been destroyed along with the elements."

"What but how can that be?" Super Stallion asked.

"Perhaps we can beat some information out of him," Stone Wall suggested. "Because we're going to defeat this guy either way, after everything this guy's done he's more than earned a beating."

"Well then don't hog all the fun for yourself," Discord said as he appeared out of thin air as he usually did.

"Discord, what are you doing here?" Super Stallion asked.

"I'm sick of being put on the sidelines. I'm going to be in this story more if it kills me."

"This isn't good," Clover said as he started to shake a bit since the odds of success quickly went lower than his former cellmate's IQ.

"Well then I guess we'll just have to fallback," Storm King said. But as he used the staff to teleport himself and his group away Discord brought them all back with the snap of his fingers.

"Sorry not sorry you lot aren't getting away this time," Discord said.

"Oh yeah!" Storm King said as he aimed his staff at Discord and fired who countered by snapping his fingers once again and turning the blast into bubbles.

"Yeah," Discord replied with a smug smile. Storm King then focused the staff with the magic he got from the tree and fired his magic again at Discord who thought he could snap away again was blasted into the fragments of what remained of the tree and put 2 and 2 together. "Even when this infernal tree is gone it still finds a way to get in my way."

"Oh my gosh the Storm King took down the spirit of chaos and disharmony with one attack!" Diamond said.

"You see," the Storm King said as he turned to his followers. "Follow me and serve under me and no creature will stop me. Perhaps they'll get close and knock me down for a while but in the end nothing can stop the Storm-" Storm King was then blasted in the back that knocked his face into a small pile of mud.

"Forgot about me did you?" Super Stallion asked who was the one that blasted him.

"Why you worthless pony, it's time to bring you into the eye of the storm!" Storm King said as he got back up ready to fight.

"The eye of the storm is the calmest part," Stone Wall said.

Super Stallion then flew at Storm King who blasted at the ground to launch himself in the air. Super Stallion flew after him and Storm King made the magic from the staff surround him so he could stay in the air.

"When did you learn how to do that?" Super Stallion asked.

"Just now," Storm King answered. "I'm a fast learner."

"Then maybe it's time you learn how to take a beating!" As Super Stallion fought Storm King the royal guards got to attacking his army. Twilight was about to join in the fight but Stone Wall got in the way.

"Stone Wall, what are you doing?"

"If I'm going to be your captain soon then I can't have you literally flying into danger."

"I can take care of myself and you might need my help."

"I can handle these guys, maybe you should see if Discord needs some healing spells."

"I'm not just going to stand around, I'll be fine, I've mastered chaos magic after all."

"So has Discord and look what happened there."

"Fight later, fight now, you know what I mean," Super Stallion said as he was still fighting the Storm King. Twilight and Stone Wall looked at each other for a minute.

"If we're going to be working together we're gonna have to trust each other so how about we both fight and stay close," Twilight suggested. "That way we can watch each other's backs."

"Fine, but don't blame me if you get hurt." Stone Wall and Twilight then got into the battle and right away hit hard. Stone Wall struck down a dozen storm creatures with some of his best stun spells while Twilight meanwhile used her recently mastered chaos magic to launch pies in the face of about half the army.

"Pies?" Diamond said after taking the pie off his face. "Seriously that the best you can-" Diamond was cut off when suddenly all of the pies exploded knocking out most of the storm creatures that were hit by them.

"Ha bomb pies," Discord said, still hurt and on the ground but chuckled a little more. "I've taught you well." With Stone Wall and Twilight's help the army's numbers quickly dwindled.

"It's actually amazing how strong you ponies are," Spade said as he was fighting a certain female unicorn guard.

"We have to in order to take down all those that keep invading and attacking," she replied.

"Yes it is rather impressive how many threats your kind has managed to defeat."

"Well you aren't bad yourself," she complemented Spade as the 2 continued to fight.

"Yes I actually care very little for the Storm King's desire to control. I simply want to fight strong opponents and find ways for me to get stronger." Suddenly Spade got the drop on her and forced her to the ground.

"Why don't you join the guard?" She asked which stopped Spade right in his tracks.

"What?"

"If you joined the guards you could fight and not get in trouble as long as you're taking down bad guys. And in the meantime you could spare with other guards and teach us a thing or 2. Who knows, maybe we'll teach a thing or 2 to you as well."

"Fight to protect and serve, actually it's rather tempting."

"So join us!"

"I don't think I'd get accepted considering my background and what I've been doing as of late."

"Well there may be something you can do to make up for that," she replied and after thinking about it for a minute Spade helped her up and turned on the army, taking a few down almost right away.

"What are you doing?" Clover asked and he grabbed Spade's hands with his.

"I've decided to change sides, perhaps Heart was on to more than I gave him credit for." Clover was then knocked back when the female guard blasted him with a spell. "Nice shot," Spade said. Before long the army was defeated and the Storm King wasn't having any better luck taking down Super Stallion.

"This can't be, what happened?"

"Well looks like that army of yours is going to get defeated, something you and them have in common."

"Don't you dare talk down to me. I was born into a small worthless village but I rose up and became something that mattered. I took over everything I could get my hands on and destroyed what I couldn't! I made something of myself."

"Yeah too bad it was something awful."

"I am the Storm King and I will not lose to a cute little pony of all things."

"And I'm not going to lose to an albino monkey." Super Stallion and Storm King then exchanged several attacks then clashed magic beams. It seemed like a stalemate but Storm King's was able to push through and force Super Stallion to the ground rather hard.

"HA! See I took all you've got and I gave it back and when I'm done with you I'll finish off your friends down there because I can take all you have and more." Suddenly a swirl of magical energy briefly swirled around where Super Stallion landed who flew up looking rather different.

"In that case let's see how you handle Hyper Mode," Super Stallion replied as he flew at Storm King and gave him the beating of a lifetime. As he was doing that the Twilight and the royal guards along with Spade defeated his army and restrained thanks to Twilight making chains for them to use. "You see that Storm King, your army is defeated, you've failed so give up before I break something important."

"No I haven't lost if you're going all out then so will I," Storm King then held the staff by its top and poured all of the magic it took into himself.

"What are you doing!?" Super Stallion asked.

"I've leveled the playing field and now that I got a boost as well-" suddenly the magic Storm King absorbed broke through a little and leaked out making a cut in his body. He tried to heal it but more and more appeared and suddenly to Super Stallion shock, Storm King exploded showing off a flash of magic like an enormous firework.

"Geez how many characters die in this E rated story?" Discord asked as he managed to get back up. With Storm King gone for good his army was taken away except for Spade who was on the verge of being taken away but asked Stone Wall to join the guard.

"You have got to be kidding me?" Stone Wall said after hearing his request.

"Ah come on captain, give him a chance," the female guard said. "He did help fight the others and could make a great addition to the guard, maybe even show you a few things."

"Oh really?" Stone Wall replied deadpanned. Spade then walked in front of Princess Twilight and kneeled while holding his sword.

"I swear to you that I will serve you and your captain and do all I can to make up for what I have done."

"He does seem sincere," Twilight said to Stone Wall. "Maybe let him in on a probation period."

"Fine but first you're going back to prison to serve the rest of your sentence," Stone Wall said.

"Fair enough," Spade replied.

***

With the Storm King gone for good and his army defeated the guards brought Twilight and Discord back to Canterlot Castle but not before Twilight stopped at Ponyville to deliver the bad news of what happened to the tree to her friends who didn't take it very well. Before leaving Twilight tried to restore the tree with her chaos magic but as Discord explained chaos magic and that tree never mixed.

Back at Canterlot Twilight explained what happened to Celestia and Luna as well.

"Yes and now that annoying tree won't get in the way of my chaos anymore," Discord said, which got him hard stares from the others in the room. "What, too soon?"

"His defeat aside I'm still puzzled how Storm King managed to escape," Stone Wall said.

"Yes, that is puzzling," Twilight said. "But I'm sure that whatever is coming we'll all be able to handle it."

"I got to say Twilight you've been handling this a lot better than I think you would," Luna said. "I mean no offense but you kind of tend to well-"

"Yeah I know Pinkie calls it Twilighting but I think Discord helped with that."

"Well of course I did Twilight, how did I do that?"

"I think learning chaos magic sort of helped me realize so many things are out of our control and we just have to deal with them."

"Well it's nice to know he's good for something," Super Stallion said. "I don't suppose he can help with the whole me being dead thing."

"Actually I think I have an idea on that," Twilight said.

***

The next day Sapphire Shores came to the castle bringing a recovered Squeaky Clean. Twilight looked into the various boats at the waterfall during Storm King's attack. As it turned out only 1 pony owed them all who had very blurred vision. That's why he didn't see Prince Squeaky swim to land. Where a certain Pony of Pop found him while on a morning jog.

She then brought him to her house and after he recovered returned to Canterlot. Afterwards Sapphire Shores was brought to the castle to be congratulated by Princess Celestia herself. As she got to the castle the guards nearly mobbed her for photos and autographs. That is until Stone Wall saw their rather unprofessional behavior.

"GET BACK TO YOUR POSITIONS OR YOU'RE ALL GOING TO RUN EXTRA LAPS!" With that all of the guards backed off.

"What a stallion," Sapphire said, admiring Stone Wall once again. "Such a commanding personality."

"Right this way Ms. Shores."

"Oh please, call me Sapphire." As Stone Wall led Sapphire into the throne room the guards talked among themselves.

"Can you believe Sapphire Shores found Prince Squeaky of all ponies she's probably going to get a medal of honor or something."

"Hey but what I don't get is why didn't she get him here earlier?"

"I asked about that. Turns out when the tower fell he got bounced all over the place causing him to lose his memory and getting his face messed up something fierce. He barely got out of the water when Sapphire found him. She took him to her house to recover and she thought he was a crazy homeless pony or something."

"Wow, Prince Squeaky really got lucky."

"Why didn't she take him to a hospital though?"

"I guess she figured she could take care of him."

"I wish she could take care of me if you know what I mean," A male guard said that other males agreed but the mares groaned in annoyance. As they were talking Discord who was hovering above the guards teleported into the throne room.

"Well?" Twilight asked.

"They're buying it," Discord answered. "And if somepony finds holes in the story to ask you, you can just plead amnesia."

"Fine with me I'm just glad to be myself again."

"Yes," Discord said, rather cocky. "Something else you can thank me for since I was the one that brought in Sapphire Shores and she was the only one that could have been there."

"Yes thank you very much for your help Sapphire," Princess Celestia said as she gave her a Medal of Honor.

"Wow, is this a real metal?"

"Yes it is, I just wish there was something more I could do for you for helping with Twilight's plans."

"Oh I think I may have an idea of what," Sapphire said as she approached Stone Wall. "Tell me by any chance, do you have a favorite restaurant somewhere?"

"I stick to my workout diet," Stone Wall answered.

"I bet," she said, admiring his muscles. "I actually know a thing or 2 about that, maybe I can help make a little something for you?" She asked while batting her eyes once again.

"I suppose I do owe you for helping my friend."

***

Back at Grogar's lair the rogues had actually made themselves comfortable but were getting rather bored. "Has anypony heard back from that albino monkey?" Scar Flank asked and then suddenly as if right on cue Grogar came right out of the shadows and got the attention of all of the rogues.

"The Storm King is no more," Grogar replied.

"What? You mean Super Stallion killed him?" Weather Warper replied.

"No," Grogar answered. "He did it to himself." Grogar then walked over to the table with his crystal ball on it then used it to show the others Storm King's defeat. "He refused to give up until the very end, reckless as he was. I admire him for that. He did make quite some damage along the way and served his purpose as a warning to the rest of you on what will happen if you don't follow along with my plans. Or do the rest of you have doubts as well?"

"Not I," Tirek said.

"No, Weather Warper said.

"I'm good," Cozy Glow answered.

"I'm with you," Payback said.

"Allies until the end," Scar Flank added.

"Whatever you think is best," Mad Alicorn said and like all the other rogues answered with a not so subtle linger of fear.

"Then the 7 of us will join forces and work together to bring Equestria to its knees. And perhaps more than that. Much more," Grogar said as he began to laugh an evil laugh. The other rogues joined in rather reluctantly. But regardless would continue to follow the ancient and powerful ram who in time would present Super Stallion with his greatest and perhaps final challenge.

Author's Notes:

And with this the final arc of the story has begun soon it's going to be time to say goodbye to Super Stallion. The idea of Squeaky Clean assumed dead was borrowed from The Late Clark Kent from Superman TAS. I wanted to use this idea for the chapter Bonds but couldn't work it into the story. I wanted Swift Sweep to learn about Squeaky's secret earlier but I couldn't quite fit into the story until now.

Also you should know I'm not going to finish Super Stallion by the end of the year close but no cigar. Though if that was the only problem this year then it wouldn't have been have bad. In my 3 year plan blog I said 1 more year until we all go nuts (which was a reference to Sealab 2021) but we probably all went nuts at least once this past year. 2020 has just been horrible with all the California fires, the modern day black plague, the Venture Bros getting cancelled, and probably a whole bunch of other stuff I don't know because I don't like watching the news. But as it draws to a close we can soon say goodbye to it and hopefully Covid-19.

So while I won't have this finished by the end of the year it will be soon and I hope I make a finale you'll all enjoy.

Re-edit: 11/27/2023 I may not have finished it in 2020, but I'm finishing it this year for sure. I put off working on this for a while to write a mini series script. But by editing a chapter nearly everyday this month, I'll have made up for lost time. After that all have all of December to write the final 3 chapters.

Chapter 50 A Spark from the Past

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After the defeat of the Storm King Super Stallion had been on the lookout for the other rogues who have an annoying habit of escaping and finding a great place to hide.

"Any luck?" Celestia asked when Super Stallion got home.

"Not a trace of them. Who knows, maybe they left the continent," Super Stallion answered. He changed back into Squeaky Clean and made his way over to where Princess Celestia was to give her a hug and a kiss.

"What was that for?" She asked.

"Do I need a reason?" Squeaky replied which made Celestia giggle who after all this time still admired her husband's wit and sense of humor.

"No I suppose you don't," Celestia replied as she gave Squeaky a hug and a kiss in return. "Try not to worry about not finding them. I'm sure they'll show up sooner or later."

"I'm sure that they will but that's kind of what worries me."

"What do you mean?"

"I've gotten a bad feeling or 2 about bad things to come but the 1 I've been having lately, well to put it simply it's worse than all the others combined and doubled."

"Wow."

"Maybe I should look around for a little longer," Squeaky was about to have it but Celestia grabbed the sphere out of his hoof.

"Now, now, nothing good will come from stressing yourself out besides you and Swift Sweep have a few royal duties to get to, and the toilets."

"Right, I suppose now is as good a time to do that as any." Squeaky then made his way out and met up with Swift Sweep.

"Hi there best buddy who is Squeaky Clean and only Squeaky Clean," Swift Sweep said before giving him a very unsubtle wink as 2 guards noticed his unusual behavior.

"Did he get hit on the head again or something?" One of the guards asked the other who shrugged.

"Yes Swift Sweep he's Super Stallion," Princess Luna said who came with her husband. "You don't have to keep acting that way."

"Sorry it's just so cool."

"I understand that," Squeaky said. "Believe me I actually still have moments where I get amazed that I'm a superhero. But you can't keep doing that somepony might put 2 and 2 together."

"Don't worry too much about that, not a lot of ponies take me all that seriously anyway, well I mean until I became a prince."

"Well all the same you should be a bit more careful," Twilight said who came along with Luna and Swift as well.

"And you can't tell anypony about it, no one got it?" Squeaky asked.

"Don't worry I won't tell a soul I promise," Swift Sweep said as he pretended to zip his mouth closed but then did a series of rather bizarre gestures.

"What are you doing? Doing a 1 pony play?" Squeaky asked, confused by his friend's bizarre action.

"No, I'm zipping my mouth closed then locking it with a key then digging a hole. Then put the key in the hole then filled up the hole. Then built a house on top of the hole then moved into the house," Swift Sweep answered leaving the other ponies very confused.

"Are you by any chance friends with Pinkie Pie?" Twilight asked.

"No, why?" Swift Sweep asked.

"Oh yes everyone loves a callback," Discord said before he appeared out of thin air as he usually did.

"Discord, what are you doing here?" Twilight asked.

"Well at first I was looking around to see what improvements I could make to the castle since soon it's going to be mine." Discord flew next to Twilight and hugged her a bit "Oh I'm sorry Twilight I meant ours. But as I did that sun butt herself saw me and gave me something to share with you." Discord snapped his fingers and a newspaper appeared.

"Oh thanks Discord," Swift Sweep said as he grabbed hold of the newspaper. "I didn't get a chance to read the comics today. I was too busy getting this for Luna." Swift Sweep then got out an action figure and gave it to Princess Luna.

"What is this?" Luna asked.

"It's a toy," Swift Sweep answered.

"Why did you get this for me exactly?"

"Just because," he answered.

"Ah I see, another one of those."

"It's not the comics Swift Sweep though I am rather fond of the orange cat, it's the front page." Swift Sweep then looked at the front page and as it turned out somepony made the discovery of a lifetime.

With the defeat of the late Storm King some ponies went beyond the borders of Equestria for one reason or another. For Prof. Fossil it was so she could follow an ancient map Swirl the Bearded himself helped decipher. He came across her on his travels across the land and thanks to him she made it to a place she thought only existed in the land of make believe, the Isle of the Ancients.

The land where some of the first creatures to ever be recorded in history came from. Such as the monstrous Grogar and also according to legend, the very first alicorn. When Prof. Fossil came to the Isle it wasn't long before she had more than enough to report back which would soon bring the attention of just about everypony or rather every creature. Squeaky brought this news to Celestia who along with Twilight and her sister arranged to go there with quite a few other ponies.

"THIS IS SO UTTERLY AMAZING!" Twilight said so excitedly when she and quite a few others were about to go there.

"Yes Twilight I'm rather excited myself," Celestia replied. "Star Swirl would tell me about this place a lot when I was a filly. It's truly quite incredible that we're actually going there."

"I KNOW I KNOW," Twilight said as she bounced around a bit like she was Pinkie Pie. "I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER BEEN THIS EXCITED I THINK, I THINK I'M GOING TO-" Suddenly Twilight exploded into confetti to the utter shock of Celestia, Stone Wall, Luna, and Squeaky. Fortunately she quickly returned to her original form perfectly fine and quite a bit calmer as well.

"Oh of course chaos magic," Stone Wall said.

"She learned from the best," Discord said.

"Yes unfortunately she did," Squeaky replied.

"I don't blame you for being excited but try to get it all out of your system by the time we get there," Stone Wall requested. "Being royalty you'll need to set an example of professionalism especially when you are around other ponies."

"Right," Twilight replied.

"And let's try to keep the chaos magic under control too shall we," Stone Wall added.

"If that ain't an oxymoron I don't know what is," Discord said.

Eventually the airship arrived at the Isle of the Ancients and Stone Wall wanted to tell Princess Celestia they arrived but saw she was napping while Squeaky was making sure their kids were doing all right.

"Princess it's time to wake up, we're here," Stone Wall said in a bit of a whisper as he wanted to gently wake her.

"No no," Celestia said in her sleep, sounding a bit like a young filly.

"Come on you can finish your nap on the way back let's get going," Stone Wall replied when suddenly she grabbed him or at least was going to if Stone Wall didn't jump back.

"Please don't go please," Celestia said, still in her sleep and crying a little bit.

"It's the dream again," Stone Wall said.

"The dream?" Squeaky asked as he stepped away from his children to see if his wife is all right.

"Once in a blue moon Princess Celestia had a dream about her mother."

"Her mother?"

"When she gets like that there's only one way to wake her up, aside from a bucket of water. Princess I'm making a chocolate cheesecake." Hearing that Celestia jumped right out of her bed super excited and looked around like a puppy looking for a ball. Squeaky, his kids, and even Stone Wall couldn't help but laugh.

"What's so funny?" Celestia asked.

"You are," Stone Wall and Squeaky answered together and kept laughing.

"Oh I see," Celestia answered as she went to see how her children were doing. “I must have had that dream again.” After that she got ready to head out with Prince Squeaky who could tell just from the look on her face that there was something on her mind.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Squeaky asked.

"It's just that, I thought I was done with the dream or it was done with me. Until today, I hadn't had it in years."

"Did you ask Luna if she could do something about it?"

"Well it's not exactly a nightmare so I don't think she can help with it in fact if she did try to help it might affect her as well."

"So what happens in this dream?"

"It's about my mother."

"It is? You never talk about your parents."

"I never knew them, nopony did, at least nopony that wrote it all down."

"You never knew them at all?"

"No, Star Swirl found Luna and I when we were just foals and took us in.”

"So what does your mother do in the dream?"

"She holds me close to her chest," Celestia answered.

"...And?"

"That's about it, sometimes I only see her chest as she holds Luna and I so tightly other times I see her face. But no matter what in the end she places me on the ground next to Luna and flies away. I've never told anypony about this dream other than Stone Wall, I wonder why I had it today of all days." Squeaky then hugged his wife sensing that she really really needed it. "Thank you Squeaky."

"Anytime." After setting the babies down for a nap with a few guards around them, they headed out to meet the others. They saw a few other ponies that came from other airships such as Tempest Shadow and her group of other former trouble makers. Seeing her, Stone Wall came over to see her right away but also made sure that Twilight was nearby.

"You're kind of the last pony in the world I expected to see here," Stone Wall said to his sister.

"Yeah in all honesty I wasn't all that interested in coming but Ruby practically begged us," Tempest replied.

"Wow these were made before Equestria was founded but they only look like they were made several hundred years ago," Ruby said as he continued to admire the statues. While he was doing that Prince Shining Armor and Princess Cadance walked by with their precious child Flurry Heart who upon seeing Stone Wall flew over to him right away and grabbed him by the head.

"Uncle Stone Wall," she said as she continued to hold him until Stone Wall pulled her off him.

"Looks like you need to keep your guard a bit more Stone Wall," Shining Armor said in a playful manner.

"Who said I dropped it? I'm not going to counterattack a baby but I might be forced to teach her a little discipline if her parents won't."

"Oh come on she can't help it if she loves you so much," Cadance said.

"Cadance Shining Armor Flurry Heart, what are you 3 doing here?" Twilight asked as she hugged her brother and sister in-law then kissed her niece several times.

"As if we were going to miss something like this, you aren't the only one that has a thing for history," Shining Armor answered. "It's like all those times we pretended to hunt monsters, it's something we both like. Remember taking down serpents that are bigger than they probably should be page 79 on the monster-pedia?"

"Actually it's page 80," Stone Wall replied to the surprise of the others. "What? You and Princess Twilight weren't the only ones that liked to play pretend. Squeaky was so imaginative when we were colts. He had us go on so many adventures I had to memorize the entire book just to keep up."

"The whole book?" Twilight asked. "I'll buy that you were more playful when you were younger but come on, the whole book." Suddenly to everypony's surprise he pulled out the said book and offered it to Twilight. "I usually take it with me when I go on a long trip. Go ahead and test me.”

"All right then," Twilight then took the book and started to quiz Stone Wall who answered every question given. As she walked off to join the others with Stone Wall Shining Armor watched as he felt rather on the side bench.

"Uh Twily?" Shining asked. Eventually Twilight and Stone Wall found the royal pony sisters and their husbands who weren't far away from Prof. Fossil and Star Swirl the Bearded who were being interviewed by other ponies.

"Yes yes it is quite the accomplishment," Prof. Fossil said while trying not to sound too full of herself. "But as much as it would be great to, I can't take all the credit. After all, finding something this great would of course take the help of somepony as incredible as Star Swirl the Bearded."

"Oh come now no need to acknowledge me," Star Swirl replied who was standing right next to her. "This was your discovery. I just helped you put the pieces together. Though it was rather strange that I didn't discover this sooner."

"What do you mean?" One of the ponies surrounding him and Prof. Fossil asked.

"Well in my younger days, which was quite a while ago, I actually traveled to this isle here. Well first I found something 2 certain someponies but when I brought them back a while later I went back and searched this isle but I found only trees."

"That's because that's all you were supposed to see," a voice that came out of nowhere answered, confusing the ponies.

"Who said that?" One of the other ponies around Star Swirl and Prof. Fossil as they continued to look around.

"It's like the voice came out of nowhere," Clover the Clever said as she recently walked over to Star Swirl.

"Weird that's usually my thing," Discord said. Suddenly a pony came right out of the ground, shocking and amazing everypony.

"I am so glad that I brought my camera," yet another pony that was with Star Swirl the Bearded and Prof. Fossil said.

"Wait a minute, isn't that Pony Ivy?" Squeaky asked.

"At a time I was indeed," he answered the prince. "Before that I was known as Briar Hooffield but now I go by Plant Thing," he announced to the others who didn't know how to reply.

"Uh Plant Thing?" Swift Sweep said, breaking the silence.

"I know I know I wanted to go with something simple and I know it doesn't scream creativity but I like it and I really feel like it fits me," Plant Thing replied.

"Uh okay so what were you doing in the ground? Do you hibernate now?" Squeaky asked.

"No I have become one with nature and as I was saying, Star Swirl the Bearded when you came here all that time ago you were indeed in the Isle of the Ancients. But a powerful spell was cast to hide anything but trees."

"Wait, you mean like some sort of powerful ancient illusion spell?" Twilight asked.

"Yes," Plant Thing answered.

"But how did you figure it out?" Star Swirl asked.

"I didn't when I became one with nature I traveled around being at one with the green and it brought me here and told me of the spell that long kept the secret of this small island. While not a unicorn mind you, my newly strengthened connection to nature is what allowed me to remove the spell and bring this isle out in the open once again. But I had a little help on how to do that not only from the green but an ancient voice, the one who cast this spell."

"Amazing," Prof. Fossil said. "But what about the voice?"

"It's still here and it wants to talk to some of you but only a few." Plant Thing then pointed to Stone Wall, Princess Luna, Prince Swift Sweep, Princess Celestia, Prince Squeaky Clean, Princess Twilight, Star Swirl the Bearded, and Discord. "It only wants to talk to those 8 and the voice or rather the creature behind it can be found in the ruins in the very center of the Isle of the Ancients. Now if you'll excuse me I wish to return to the green." Plant Thing then returned back underground from whence he came.

"Whence? Are you kidding me?" Discord asked to seemingly nopony.

"Wait come back," Prof. Fossil said as she ran over to where Plant Thing disappeared and even dug at the ground a little. "He's gone and there were so many questions he probably could have answered." After Plant Thing left the 8 went to see what was waiting for them while the other ponies decided to explore the other parts of the Isle hoping to find something exciting as well.

The 8 had made it to the center of the isle and a ball of light appeared in front of them which took the form of a tall white alicorn with a long red mane and tail.

"Mo-Mother?" Celestia said as she approached the figure.

"Yes Celestia, Luna, it is I. Your mother." Hearing that the royal pony sisters ran right at the alicorn and gave her the biggest hug they could. She returned the hugs with one of her own to the daughters who never knew her.

"Mother I, I have so many questions," Celestia said on the verge of tearing up.

"I'm sure you do, which I don't blame you for, but my time is short," she replied which made her daughters break the hug out of shock.

"You mean you're dying?" Luna asked and then suddenly her body became transparent before becoming solid again.

"I'm afraid that ship sailed eons ago," she answered.

"You're a ghost," Star Swirl said.

"Oh she is?" Swift Sweep asked. "I thought she was doing some weird magic trick or something."

"Did you hit your head recently or something?" Celestia and Luna's mother asked.

"No actually, funny, I get asked that a lot."

"I, see," she replied. "And yes Star Swirl I am a ghost and my time is short.” The mother then used her magic to change the landscape around her. "This is what this isle was like in my time here, a small tribe of ponies. In my youth I was a very curious pony that wanted to know how just about everything worked."

"How unlike anypony I know," Celestia said.

"1 day when I was a unicorn I decided to do an experiment with 2 friends, an earth pony and a pegasus. I took a sample of their essence as well as their own kind of magic and combined it into mine making me the first ever alicorn. But before I could have used this new found power of mine we were attacked."

"Attacked?" Celestia and Luna asked together.

"Was it Discord?" Celestia asked.

"Oh sure, blame me," Discord said. "Honestly, that's just rude."

"Along with a small tribe of ponies that lived on the Isle of the Ancients there was also a tribe of sheep who were treated as the lower class. They started out as our servants but over time despite my efforts they were treated more and more like slaves until 1 day a ram by the name of Grogar couldn't take anymore of the mistreatment."

"Wait Grogar?" Squeaky asked. "The father of monsters, I thought he was just a legend."

"The same was said about this place and Nightmare Moon," Stone Wall said.

"He used magic that he acquired and took revenge on our kind. I tried to stop him but I underestimated his power and he got away. So I set out on his trail when I arrived at the Crystal Empire where I met your father."

"Our father?" Luna and Celestia asked once again together.

"Was he a knight?" Luna asked.

"Was he a wise and great wizard?" Celestia asked.

"He was a stable colt of the Crystal castle and funny enough he himself was not a Crystal Pony. I know it might not sound all that charming but he cared so much for me and would do all he could to just make me happy. I couldn't help but return his affection. Even if he wasn't all that bright and at first was so smitten with me he could hardly form a sentence around me, but we fell in love. After our wedding and you 2 were born I learned Grogar was cruelly ruling over the land just beyond the Crystal Empire so I set a plan in motion with a powerful unicorn known as Gusty the Great. However I underestimated him again and he defeated me by using his powerful Bewitching Bell and dealt me a fatal blow."

"Was that how you died?" Twilight asked.

"No but my injuries were great; however my fight with Grogar did manage to tire him out but even then Gusty only managed to take the bell and force Grogar to retreat. After that she and her warriors fought off the monsters Grogar created and the rest as they say is history. I sensed my time was near so I needed to find somepony who could care for my foals. I feared it would take more time than I had but I sensed a traveler coming to the Isle and I found you," the mother said as she pointed to Star Swirl the Bearded.

"I always wondered why and how those foals ended up there," Star Swirl said. "It was because-"

"I put them there," she finished for him. "I could tell you were a noble soul and would take good care of them the best you could." Suddenly her body became transparent once again. "After making sure they would be okay I used the last of my magic to place my own soul in these ruins and cast the illusion spell to hide the ruins of the place that was once my home."

"But why go through all that?" Discord asked.

"While Grogar was defeated I knew 1 day he would return. I hide my soul away in the place I called home and at times came out of my dormant state to search for the one that I could help stop Grogar once and for all."

"Why didn't you come to us? We could have helped you somehow?" Celestia asked.

"It wasn't your destiny to stop him, I could just sense it. That falls to another in his group one that is a superhero as it's called," the mother answered.

"Oh you gotta be kidding me, another pony that figures out my secret, and it's a ghost of all things."

"Fear not Squeaky I will be taking my secret to the grave for now that I've finally found the one, I can give you this." The mother then made a sphere of pure magic and it flew over to Squeaky and into his bag to enter his sphere. "A part of my magic, but it will only work once so it will only work when you absolutely need it."

"Convenient," Discord said. The mother then started to flap her wings and took to the sky.

"Grogar's return is near so do all you to prepare."

"Wait, I have so many more questions," Twilight said.

"So do I," Star Swirl said. The mother then used her magic to summon a buried box and opened it to show a book she wrote about her life and flung it to the 2. Celestia and Luna flew up trying to catch up to the mother they never knew.

"Wait, don't go!" Luna cried out in tears.

"Please don't leave us!" Celestia cried out also in tears.

"I will never leave you my dear daughters. I will always be with you," she answered, and with that vanished from the mortal plains.

Seeing that Luna and Celestia dropped back to the group slowly and their husbands approached them to see they were still in tears.

"Are you alright Celestia?" Squeaky and Swift asked.

"No, but I will be," they answered. After that they met up with others such as Prince Blueblood who had an announcement.

"Tempest and I are getting married," he said.

"Wow, just drop it right on them."

"But it's true we've fallen in love in our time together. I wish to marry her auntie. She makes me so happy."

"I see," Celestia replied that her nephew was acting this way.

"Yes please give your blessings with this and allow me to marry her at the castle. I want to make her wedding fit for a princess, which is what she's going to become upon marrying me."

"I can tell you're quite passionate about this, very well you have my blessings for both your requests."

"Wow Blueblood finding a special somepony, I never thought I'd see the day," Cadance said.

"No kidding," Shining Armor said. “So Twily what did you all see in the center?" Shining Armor asked.

"Sorry but Stone Wall and I have to talk with his sister and soon to be brother in law about their wedding," Twilight answered, wishing not to discuss meeting Celestia's mother in front of her as she was still dealing with it. Or talk about how she knew Squeaky's secret as enough ponies knew it already.

"Right we should get to work right away," Stone Wall said, catching on to what Twilight was doing and walk off with her."

"Oh okay, later then," Shining Armor said, feeling left out again.

***

Being told that the ancient threat of Grogar will return, the princesses wanted to increase the castle security to prepare. That and it’s been invaded far too many times. Shining Armor was put in charge of finding better ways to make the castle safer and to test the new security measures he asked his sister Twilight Sparkle and her friends to try and break in and take the sibling crown. Something the 2 playfully battled for when they were young and this time, it was winner take all.

"I must admit that your ideas to upgrade the castle defenses are quite creative," Stone Wall said. "Though the geese might be a bit much." After a while of patrolling something caught Stone Wall's attention numerous royal guards gathered together in order to listen to Applecore.

"What are you all doing, you're abandoning your posts?!" Stone Wall asked in frustration.

"Well we can't hear her songs from over there," a guard answered.

"What?!" Stone Wall asked frustrated.

"Oh give us a break captain so we move to a different spot so what? It's not like we get entertainment like this everyday, we're bored."

"YOU MORONS ABANDON YOUR POSTS AND RISK INTRUDERS SNEAKING IN BECAUSE YOU'RE BORED!" Stone Wall screamed at the top of his lungs, scarring every single guard. "IF YOU DON'T GET BACK IN POSITION THIS INSTANT! YOU'LL HAVE A LOT MORE TO WORRY ABOUT THAN BOREDOM!!!" Hearing that every single guard went straight back to their posts to calm the wrath of their terrifying captain leaving Applecore without an audience. "Jumping Geronimare they get dumber and dumber everyday."

"I don't suppose you want to hear something," Applecore suggested.

"Beat it," Stone Wall ordered and she decided to listen to not get on his bad side. Eventually Twilight was able to get the crown thanks to Luna and Spike that came for another visit. While Celestia and Luna agreed to work together to improve the security Shining Armor told Stone Wall how he failed. "Let me guess, you thought you won and got so caught up you didn't notice she took the crown."

"How did you know?"

"Because you are so predictable," Stone Wall answered. "I know everything that's gonna come out of your mouth."

"No you don't," Stone Wall and Shining Armor said at the same time to the latter's shock. "That was a coincidence, not it off. Pickles and calms. Onomatapoeia."

"I'm an idiot," Shining Armor said alone.

Stone Wall shook his head. "I'm so disappointed, you're a prince, a captain, and a father now. But you're still an arrogant brat, aren't you." Stone Wall then left to inspect the party Pinkie Pie made then collected all the food and would pass it out to the members of the guard or store in the mess hall.

"Thanks for the slices of cake captain," a certain unicorn mare guard said to him.

"I'm not going to let you all abandon your posts but I'm not going to let food go to waste either. I'm tough but I'm fair."

"Uh speaking of food," she said with a blush that rather surprised Stone Wall. "There's this restaurant I go to once in a blue moon. Its food is to die for."

"I see."

"Our shifts are almost over. If you're interested I could take you there sometime."

"Sorry," Stone Wall replied as he saw that Sapphire Shores was waving him over while holding a picnic basket. "But I already have plans."

"Oh I see," she said as Stone Wall made his way over to the pony of pop. "It was worth a try."

Chapter 51 Cozy's Redemption

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Grogar, the evil ram of legend, had brought the remaining rogues together to lead them in a master plan to finally take over Equestria. But 1st he'd need his bewitching bell back so he had them get it to teach them how to work together better but they failed, at least that's what they told him. "Grogar is far too powerful to be trusted for all we know he plans to betray us when we're no longer useful to him," Payback said ironically of all the rogues.

"But what choice do we have?" Weather Warper asked. "If we try to take over Equestria without his help we'll fail just like all the other times."

"Not with this bell," Scar Flank said. "If we can use its power nopony can't get in our way, not that captain of the guard, not the princesses, not even Super Stallion."

"But only Grogar knows how to use it," Mad Alicorn said.

"But that doesn't mean we can't figure it out," Payback said. "And once we do, Grogar will no longer be useful to us."

"Oh I love a good backstabbing," Cozy Glow said.

"That bell could be the key to us finally getting what we've always wanted," Mad Alicorn said.

"And once we do that we can go back to destroying one another," Tirek said.

After a while 3 of the rogues snuck into Scar Flank’s abandoned home, his family collected several copies of books the princesses kept in their private archives. He set out with Weather Warper to watch his back and Cozy Glow who liked the idea of a road trip. When they found it, they overheard that Celestia & Luna were retiring and were going on a vacation. Hearing that Scar Flank figured those 2 would be the perfect ones to test the bell out on when they figured out how to make it work.

"Not a bad idea, we will need to get them out of the way once we're put in charge," Cozy Glow said. The 3 rogues made their way back and soon enough got the bell to work and they all got a massive upgrade.

Tirek grew to his 3rd form, Mad Alicorn got a fiery aura that she could control, and the others became alicorns.

"Oh yeah this was worth the wait," Tirek said in his 3rd stage.

"You said it," Cozy Glow said. “Now we just need to test our powers.”

***

In the middle of a forest, where what should have been a nice picnic between 2 sisters, Celestia was desperately looking for Luna. While on vacation the royal pony sisters started to get on each other's nerves. While trying to eat they got into an argument and Celestia said something she shouldn’t have, yet again.

“LUNA,” Celestia called out. “LUNA WHERE ARE YOU? I’M SORRY FOR WHAT I SAID!”

“Sorry isn’t good enough,” Luna said, curled up by a tree crying her eyes out. “This vacation has been awful, and it’s all your fault.”

“Luna please,” Celestia said as she got closer to Luna. Only for her to teleport to a different part of the forest. “That’s not fair, face it you’re never happy.”

“Because you don’t want me to be happy. I always have to do everything your way.”

“That’s not true, I went to the opera with you.” Celestia then caught up to her sister only for her to teleport again.

“You sat there like a pouty child then made us leave early even though it was my turn. And when I got that new mane style and makeup, you made us go swim. Admit it, you picked it just to wash it off.”

“...Yes,” Celestia said as she stopped searching. “I-I’m sorry,” Celestia continued as she started crying herself. “I’ve been so unfair to you this whole trip. What can I do to make this up to you?”

“Looks like we came at a bad time,” Payback said. Thanks to Grogar's crystal ball and Cozy Glow's medallion the rogues found the princesses right away.

***

Thanks to the Bewitching Bell, the princesses were captured easily. Afterwards they were taken back to Grogar's lair to be held for ransom. The next day quite early in the morning Grogar had returned and was surprised to see 2 alicorns trapped in separate cells bound and gagged. The other rogues then appeared showing their new forms.

"Well well it seems you've all been quite busy while I was gone," Grogar said showing no fear but the rogues were certain that would change when they showed his Bewitching Bell. "The bell, you had it all along, why didn't you tell me?"

"We're villains duh," Cozy Glow answered. The rogues then prepared to steal Grogar's power, but nothing happened, leaving all of them confused. Grogar then smiled at the rogues and let out a laugh, a creepy fear inducing laugh that echoed throughout the lair.

"Why are you laughing?" Weather Warper asked. "Cut it out, you're giving me the creeps."

"Did you ever wonder when Gusty the Great managed to take my bell why didn't she simply use it to take my magic? I charmed the bell to never work on me," Grogar answered and proceeded to laugh more. Weather Warper got so frightened she flew down to the ground as she rubbed her forelegs but Scar Flank went over to comfort her.

"Don't worry he still won't stop us. I have your back just like I always have."

"You're right, if we're together we can do anything," Weather Warper replied to Scar Flank before the 2 rogues gave each other a passionate kiss.

"Uh okay that came out of nowhere," Cozy Glow said.

"I always thought they had a thing though," Mad Alicorn said.

"He can't beat us, we got him outnumbered and overpowered," Payback said.

"Not for long," Grogar said. Suddenly the bell flew over to him and connected to his collar. "Ah it's so good to have my precious bell back after all these eons." Grogar then made a swirl of magic appear around him and strange creatures flew around the lair.

"Don't panic, he's just trying to scare us," Tirek said.

"It's working," Weather Warper said.

"It's about to work a lot better because I know what makes creatures tick right down to their basic impulses, because I know what they're afraid of. That includes all of you."

Suddenly Grogar used his Bewitching Bell to take back all of the magic that it gave to the rogues, except Cozy Glow who hid behind Tirek when the strange creatures started flying around and was shielded by the bell.

"No, my magic it's gone," Mad Alicorn said, who was no longer an alicorn. She was a unicorn who couldn't even light her horn, Tirek had returned to his main form as well as Payback, Scar Flank, and Weather Warper who could all barely even move.

"I-I can't fly," Weather Warper.

"Give it back!" Mad Alicorn said now in a pleading position. "Give it back please, I'll do anything!"

"Even try to betray me again?" Grogar asked.

"Please great Grogar, we've learned our lesson," Tirek said.

"Somehow I doubt that," Grogar said. "You were all imprisoned in the bowels of Tartarus until I freed you. And how do you all repay me? With betrayal, for some reason I wish I could be surprised but I learned long ago never to trust any creature. Now that just leaves the question of what to do with all of you."

"Wait, you aren't going to put us back in Tartarus are you?" Weather Warper asked.

"No, I have something else in mind," Grogar answered.

"You know what, go ahead," Payback said. "We've been defeated time and time again but we always manage to come back."

"He's right," Scar Flank said. "We'll endure whatever punishment you dish out so go ahead and do your worst!"

"Be careful what you wish for," Grogar said before the creatures swarmed on all of the rogues and trapped them in spheres.

"Where am I?" Weather Warper said as she looked around, she was about to fly out but her wings fell apart feather by feather. Suddenly Spitfire appeared to her shock.

"Did you really think you could be a great flier?"

"I-I am a great flier. I'm the greatest flier in all Equestria."

"If you were great you'd already be a Wonderbolt, you were never great enough to be one and you never will be. And deep down you know that."

In another sphere Tirek saw his father who told him that he uses magic to compensate for the fact he'll never get his approval.

"Father please understand."

"Understand what? That you could have been a great king but instead you ran away to take what wasn't yours? That the only alley you had to help you abandon you then left you to rot? That I should have just left you at an orphanage the second you were born because you'd grow up to be nothing but a worthless failure?"

In his sphere Scar Flank was having a family problem of his own, he always held his family in high regards but a certain captain of the royal guard was saying otherwise. "Don't you dare talk about my family," Scar Flank said as he tried to attack Stone Wall but he was hardly in a state to fight and was thrown to the ground.

"Oh what a shock you couldn't beat me again," Stone Wall said. "Just like when your family couldn't stop the royal guards from arresting and locking them up. You were just a kid when it happened so you weren't arrested but you couldn't do anything to help them as they all died in prison."

"I was still alive, I swore I'd restore my family to its former rank and glory."

"Glory? What glory? They got rich from robbing and swindling others not caring how much they hurt and you didn't care either. You loved the lifestyle you were born into and would do anything to get it back. Because that's more appealing to you than living the life of the average pony."

Meanwhile Payback, saw Princess Celestia of all ponies.

"Princess Celestia, what are you doing here?"

"I'm your mother."

"What?! You are!?"

"No, but I could be, you always wondered who your parents were. They could have been me and a brave powerful knight or perhaps noble ponies that could have brought you into a life much better than the orphanage. Ever since you were old enough to think you envied the rich and powerful ponies around you in Canterlot and hated your parents for leaving you and your sisters. Rather ironic isn't it you resented being abandoned yet that's what you did to them?"

"No, that's not what happened…Super Stallion, he, he turned them against me he stopped me at every turn. Every time I tried to climb to the top he smacked me down back to the bottom."

"Perhaps that's where you belong," Celestia said. "You wanted to become somepony important so you wouldn't feel like you were worthless. Something you've felt all your life and under all the manipulative planning and relentless backstabbing it all stems from the knowledge that you were born worthless and that you'll die worthless."

"NO!" He cried out defensively. "I'M NOT! I'M NOT!"

Finally in the last sphere Mad Alicorn saw her human self as well as memories of her life when she was human as well. There she relived the moments of her rough life with her parents until she decided to run away.

"It feels like yesterday to you doesn't it?" Her human self asked. "You ran away from home thinking living on the street would be better than what you went through at home. After a while you had regrets, at least with school since you had one or 2 friends there. But when you went to see if anyone missed you, you saw that you were replaced. By a different version of you from another world of all things."

"Yes I came to this world, I found magic," Mad Alicorn replied. "It was amazing it made me feel like, like-"

"You actually mattered," human Sunset Shimmer interrupted. "That's what it's always been about. All you've wanted was to prove to others and most of all yourself that you mattered, that you were worth something. But you never could because you aren't worth anything because you don't matter."

"NO!" Mad Alicorn said as she began to tear up. "No it's not true."

"But it is and deep down no one knows that more than you. Everyone was much happier with you gone and the same will be with this world."

Human Sunset Shimmer revealed to be one of the creatures summoned by Grogar who intangible by nature managed to fly right through Mad Alicorn and before she even realized it, half her body became stone. All she could do was scream and watch helplessly as the rest of her body turned as well.

Afterwards the spheres vanished and the creatures returned to Grogar who had each done the same to the other rogues as they did to Mad Alicorn trapping each of everyone in stone.

"My gosh," Cozy Glow said to herself as she watched what happened and that was all she could do as she was frozen with fear. She quickly & quietly flew away but came across the very ram she was trying to get away from.

"Did you think I wouldn't notice that I didn't turn you to stone as well?" He asked and Cozy Glow flew away as fast as she could but Grogar cut her off again. "You know it's sad I actually kind of liked you, that's why I always left you in charge when I left this place."

"Well why change that we can still work together, maybe I could go with you on your next mission or clean the place up a bit."

"Unfortunately for you that's not going to happen to take back Equestria is something even I can't do alone. But I can't have traitors sneaking around waiting to stab me in the back either. Especially when they use magic from my own bell."

"What If I gave the magic back and worked on a probationary period until you decided I could have it back? Or maybe I could just do something really important for you right now to prove my true loyalty to you so I can stay in this form?"

"You really like that new form you've gotten already don't you?"

"Uh, yes Mr. Grogar sir, very much in fact."

"Then I'll let you keep it while you join your other former comrades." Grogar then prepared his Bewitching Bell but Cozy Glow thought fast and used the medallion to open a portal and jumped through before Grogar could do anything. "Hm clever filly but she won't be able to stop my plans. Though now I'll have to find others to aid me," Grogar said to himself as he made his way to where the royal pony sisters were being kept. "And of course there's the matter of what to do with you 2."

***

Twilight was doing rather well at covering for Luna and Celestia. She and her friends had a problem or 2 along the way, but it was nothing they couldn't handle. Mostly because of Stone Wall because being captain of the royal guard for most of his life taught him how to be organized among other things. Squeaky Clean and Swift Sweep helped her out a bit too; they knew a thing or 2 about cleaning up messes.

"Well things have been a little bumpy but I think all in all I've been doing a rather good job don't you think?" Twilight asked.

"Yes I have to agree," Stone Wall answered. "You've made a mishap once or twice but that's to be expected, nopony's perfect kind of reminds me of when I first became captain of the royal guard."

"Oh you made a step or two in the wrong direction?"

"In a way I suppose. The captain of the royal guard before me was retiring. I was only about 15 at the time but like Princess Celestia, he saw my potential despite my age and awarded me the rank. Quite a few guards didn't like the idea of taking orders from somepony quite a bit younger than themselves."

"So what did you do about it?"

"Beat up the guards that gave me the most trouble," Stone Wall answered right away.

"That doesn't sound like the right way to handle that."

"After that my authority wasn't questioned and the rest is history." After that Twilight handled the last of things to do for the day and was ready to settle down and rest when suddenly a guard called out. Cozy Glow had appeared in front of the castle and surrendered to the guards right away, quite a few of whom had some questions.

"What is she doing here?"

"How did she become an alicorn?"

"Did anypony else see where I put my spear? What it’s a hoof me down from my father he's gonna be really mad if I lost it."

"GET OUT OF THE WAY!" Stone Wall said and the guards cleared the way to make room for him and Princess Twilight.

"So what's the plan Twilight?" Pinkie Pie asked after appearing seemingly out of nowhere something she was quite good at.

"I'll guess we'll just see what she wants," Twilight answered before seeing her with Stone Wall right beside her. Once she saw Cozy Glow who had rope tied around her wings and a magic canceling collar she asked for them to be removed in exchange for helpful information.

"You are hardly in any position to negotiate but if you insist on not talking I suppose I'll have to resort to advanced child psychology." Stone Wall then walked over to Cozy Glow and suddenly pulled on one of her ears. "Talk!"

"OW! Okay okay I'll talk just stop please stop!" Cozy Glow then talked about how she and the other rogues were freed from Tartarus by Grogar who turned the other rouges into stone. She decided to go to the castle and tell the ponies there about what Grogar is planning and that Celestia and Luna are being held there against their will.

"Wow that was quite a lot to inform us on," Discord said, who was also helping Twilight at the castle. He then tried to teleport to where Cozy said Grogar was hiding but suddenly he was teleported back. "Something sent me back."

"Interesting I've read about spells that cancel out teleportation spells to keep unwanted visitors out. It's similar to how Chrysalis's throne canceled out non-changeling magic," Twilight said.

Seems like there's a big chance that Cozy Glow might be telling the truth after all," Squeaky said, who came in with Swift Sweep before Twilight and Stone Wall did.

"Yes she is," Cozy said.

"Don't get ahead of yourself, this still doesn't mean you have our trust," Stone Wall said.

"So what do we do?" Swift Sweep asked.

"If we can't teleport, I guess I'll have to go check it out the old fashion way," Stone Wall answered, rather shocking everypony. Stone Wall then prepared to set out to where Cozy Glow said Celestia and Luna were being kept if Celestia was in danger Stone Wall wasn't going to stand around and do nothing. Twilight tried to convince him to bring more guards but a smaller group would be harder to detect.

“So what’s the plan exactly?” Cozy Glow asked.

"Here's how it works you lead me to Grogar's lair and if it turns out you're telling the truth and we get Celestia and Luna out of there you'll be getting some major leniency on your punishment, but if you're lying I'm teleporting us back here and then I'll spank you so hard you'll have to sit on your head for a month."

"Uh, okay," Cozy Glow replied as she gulped hoping this mission would go well but also not looking forward to running into Grogar again.

"Stone Wall, are you sure you want to do this," one of his guards asked.

"When somepony else is in danger, what I want doesn't really matter," Stone Wall answered.

"For the record I still think this is a very careless idea," Squeaky said. "But I've known you long enough to know that I can't do a thing to stop you when you've made up your mind. Which is kind of most of the time but why can't Swift Sweep and I come along?"

"Yeah they're our wives," Swift Sweep added.

"I told you, the smaller the group the better," Stone Wall answered. "Besides this could be some sort of trap to capture more royal ponies."

"But what if you get captured?" Squeaky asked.

"If we're not back in 3 days, send a whole army if you want," Stone Wall answered.

"All right then hurry back and also here's a bag of supplies you might need," Squeaky said as he gave Stone Wall a saddle bag.

Stone Wall then looked inside and saw several items including the Super Stallion sphere to his surprise. Stone Wall however took out the sphere and gave it back to Squeaky Clean. "Not a bad idea but you keep it. Just in case this is a trap and Canterlot gets attacked."

After that Stone Wall headed out with Cozy Glow to rescue the princesses.

"Well on the plus side, I get another road trip out of all this," Cozy Glow said as she and Stone Wall took off. Stone Wall stayed close behind Cozy Glow never letting her out of his sight for even a second. Before long the 2 of them made their way to a train that Cozy said would help them get to Grogar's lair quicker. They even got a car all to themselves because the train wasn't very crowded. Stone Wall sat in silence while Cozy Glow walked around a bit to stretch her legs.

"How's he going to do it?" Stone Wall asked.

"Huh?"

"How is Grogar going to try and take over Equestria?"

"I, I don't know, he never really talked about his plans to us, he was always so secretive. I don't think he really trusted any of us."

"I suppose rightfully so."

"Yeah, I still can't believe how horribly our backstabbing plan backfired. Funny thing is I kind of didn't want to do it. I knew he kind of liked me. I kind of wanted to know more about him. Like where he came from and why he had trouble trusting others."

"It's because of well, maybe I shouldn't say."

"What?" Cozy asked as she approached Stone Wall.

"It's sort of a long story."

"Well we're going to be on this train for quite a while," Cozy said as she sat next to Stone Wall. He then explained about his recent travel to a certain isle and how he came across the ghost of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna's mother. As well as how Grogar attacked the isle.

"Wow so she was the very 1st alicorn that's so cool, I wish all history was that fun. Did she say anything else about Grogar?"

"Just that he was returning and he just might be the greatest challenge we'll face." After that Cozy Glow and Stone Wall sat together in awkward silence neither one knowing what they should say to break the silence.

"Why is a male sheep called a ram and a female is called a ewe?" Cozy asked, figuring that was as good a question as any.

"I suppose it's the same reason we call a male pony a stallion and a female pony a mare, It's just one of those things."

"Yeah I guess." Before long the train came to their stop and the 2 of them continued their journey on hoof. "Look I understand if you don't quite trust me but can you at least get these ropes off of my wings?" Cozy asked after traveling for a while. "My legs are killing me."

"Fine," Stone Wall answered after he thought about it for a minute and magically removed the ropes. "But don't get any bright ideas," Stone Wall said while holding the ropes he teleported off her in one of his front hooves.

"Oh really," Cozy said as she stretched her recently freed wings and flew up. "Out of curiosity, what are you going to do if I try to fly away?" Cozy was suddenly surrounded in a magic aura and was teleported to right next to where Stone Wall was standing.

"I'd do that," he answered as he stared at Cozy Glow so intensely a chill went up and down her spine multiple times.

"O-Okay," Cozy said, clearly intimidated by Stone Wall's stare. "I wasn't really gonna try and get away, I was just curious that's all."

"Right, you just watch your step, got it?"

"Yes sir."

"Good that's what I like to hear, now get going we still have a lot of ground to cover and the sooner we rescue the princesses the better."

"Yes sir."

Cozy Glow and Stone Wall continued their journey, Cozy was happy to fly again but she made sure to stay close to Stone Wall. Eventually the sun was setting and Stone Wall decided to look for a place where they could safely sleep for the night. Suddenly a bugbear appeared out of nowhere and attacked him but he dodged its attacks easily. Stone Wall then blasted several spells that nearly knocked the creature on its back.

"If you don't want to get seriously hurt I suggest you hightail it out of here," Stone Wall said but the bugbear wasn't going to run away. To Stone Wall's surprise the bugbear suddenly turned around to attack Cozy Glow thinking she was going to be easier to handle.

"What the?" Cozy said as she quickly flapped her wings to try to get out of the way but the bugbear smacked her into a nearby boulder. She managed to get up but saw the bugbear when Stone Wall appeared in front of her.

"If you want her, you're gonna have to go through me!" Stone Wall then really let the creature have it and in no time at all the bugbear ran off with its tail between its legs. "Are you all right?"

"Yeah, I'm okay, thank you for saving my life."

"No problem, it's what I do." After that the 2 found a nearby cave that didn't seem to have any creature living in it and Stone Wall made camp for the night. As he did that he noticed that Cozy Glow was sitting at the front of the cave and was strangely quiet. "Are you sure nothing feels broken?"

"Yeah I'm sure, I guess I just wish I could have done something to stop that bugbear."

"There wasn't much you could do, you still have that magic canceling collar on."

"Even if I did, I doubt I would have fought against it, Grogar was right about me. I don't have a backbone," Cozy said as she couldn't help but sound almost utterly depressed.

"So are you going to let him be right?" Stone Wall said as he approached and sat down next to Cozy Glow.

"Huh?"

"If somepony or in this case some ram says something bad about you, the best revenge you can have is to prove them wrong."

"What do you mean?"

"Let me tell you a little story about when I first became captain of the royal guard." After Stone Wall told the story he and the filly beside him actually started to bond a little bit.

"Wow you slapped him silly I bet he didn't bother you again."

"No he did not," Stone Wall answered, getting Cozy Glow to laugh.

"Kind of reminds me of the time I stopped a certain nosy Neighsay from getting all up in my business." Cozy Glow then told Stone Wall how when she took control of the School of Friendship. Chancellor Neighsay arrived and tried to assume control but Cozy Glow convinced the students not to let him so they rushed him and tied him up in Twilight's office. "After that I took his medallion and I left him there," Cozy said before she started laughing but stopped slowly when she saw Stone Wall's stare.

"Between you and me kid I never really liked the guy very much," Stone Wall replied with a laugh. "I don't like him at all actually, while I don't approve of what you did I have to say it's rather impressive how you were able to get all those ponies on your side."

"Well that wasn't so hard, ponies are supposed to do what I asked them to, it's like my thing."

"Yeah, but seriously you wanted to steal all of Equestria's magic don't you think that was going a bit too far."

"I think big."

"Didn't your parents ever tell you to set your standards a little lower and then work your way up?"

"I never knew my parents, they died when I was just a baby," Cozy answered, becoming sad once again.

"I know how you feel," Stone Wall replied.

"You do?"

"I never really knew my parents either, it made me quite an angry colt to say the least. But 1 day," Stone Wall suddenly stopped as he started to get sad as well. "Well I think it's about time we went to sleep. I want to head out first thing in the morning."

"Okay," Cozy said before Stone Wall put out the fire and the 2 of them went to sleep. Morning came and Stone Wall woke up to find a still sleeping Cozy Glow he couldn't help but find rather adorable. He gently woke the young filly but as he packed up and got ready to head out he saw Cozy Glow had fallen back to sleep so used his magic to gently lift her off the ground and onto his back who woke up again after a while.

"Good morning."

"It's morning already, I was sleeping like a foal."

"How much longer until we get to the lair?"

"I think it should be about this time tomorrow but hey since it won't be long before we get to Grogar's lair, maybe it's about time to get this rather itchy collar off. Grogar is incredibly powerful so you're probably going to need help."

"I'll think about it, it rather depends if you can behave yourself today and besides, we probably won't have to fight him. We just need to get to Celestia and Luna then use your or rather Chancellor Neighsay's medallion to get us all out of there."

"I do like the idea of us not having to fight Grogar." Cozy then made her way off of Stone Wall's back and walked beside him. "So since it's still going to be a while, do you have any other funny stories?"

"I'm not really known for my sense of humor," Stone Wall answered. As the 2 of them continued to travel they couldn't help but have a bit of fun along the way. Like taking a break by a river and splashing each other or getting some snacks at a rather far off town. They ran into a few more dangerous creatures but Stone Wall made sure none of them so much as touched Cozy Glow. Before they knew it the day came to an end and once again despite being in the wilderness found a safe place to sleep, but first Stone Wall had to fight off a rather large serpent.

"Wow you tossed that thing like it was a rag doll, you're really strong."

"I should be for the captain of the royal guard."

"You really like being captain don't you? Is it because you like bossing ponies around?"

"No, it's because I wanted to make Princess Celestia proud. She was always a beloved princess but some ponies still wanted to do her harm and being captain I could protect from all sorts of things."

"Do you think after all this if we get the princesses back do you think maybe I could stay at the castle?"

"Why?"

"Well you know."

"No I don't, that's why I asked."

"Well, you know I think I'll just turn in. You probably want to get up early again. Grogar's lair isn't far." Cozy Glow then got ready for bed but not before Stone Wall walked over to her and removed the magic canceling collar from her neck.

"Just in case I need a little backup, besides you behaved rather well." The 2 then settled down once again and when morning came this time Cozy Glow was the 1st one to wake up and seeing how the sun was already up she woke up Stone Wall and they made their way out after packing up. Cozy Glow led Stone Wall until they were just outside Grogar's lair.

"Well there it is, that's where Grogar is and where the princesses are being kept."

"All right then, you got that medallion ready?"

"Yeah and speaking of which do I have to give it back to Chancellor Neighsay?"

"Yes it does belong to him after all."

"Aw but I like it. I mean it's helped me out quite a lot."

"It's still not yours and it's not right to take things that aren't yours like all the magic in Equestria for example."

"All right, fine," Cozy said, pouting a little. The 2 of them then made their way inside with Cozy Glow leading the way and before long came across where the princesses were being kept. Still kept in separate cells still bound and gagged but there was something different about them. "There they are, golly this was easy, I thought Grogar was going to show up and-"

"I know you're there, reveal yourself," Grogar said, cutting off Cozy Glow who shut her mouth tight from fear. "There's no point in hiding so come out before I force you to," the ram said as he summoned his creatures. Stone Wall was about to jump out and surprise attack him but Cozy gave the medallion to him and flew over so Grogar could see her. "Well well well, you actually came all the way back here."

"Yes, and I want you to take me back."

"Oh is that so?"

"Yes oh please Mr. Grogar I've learned my lesson I won't betray you again please oh please give me another chance," Cozy Glow said trying everything she could to get Grogar to believe her. Stone Wall meanwhile figured out what Cozy Glow was doing right away and made his way to the princesses while she kept the ancient ram distracted. He opened the cages and freed Celestia then noticed that her mane and tail were motionless & all pink.

"What the heck did he do to you?" Stone Wall asked as he freed Princess Celestia then looked over to Princess Luna and saw her mane was different as well. It along with her mane were also still and a lighter shade of blue.

"So you came all this way just to beg for forgiveness?" Grogar asked while Stone Wall made his way to Luna's cage and quickly freed her as well.

"Oh yes Grogar but if you want me to leave to do or get something to prove my new loyalty to you I can do that."

"Oh I see," Grogar said.

"Yes, so what's the first thing you'd like me to do?"

"I suppose you could start with doing something about that pony that just freed the princesses," Grogar replied. Just as Stone Wall used the medallion, the portal he made was destroyed by the creatures Grogar summoned. "I had quite a few of my friends patrol this place just in case any creatures tried to sneak in." Grogar then teleported away from Cozy Glow to appear above Stone Wall who put a barrier around Celestia and Luna in case Grogar's creatures decided to attack.

"Darn it, we were so close," Stone Wall said to himself.

"This is it?" Grogar asked. "I was hoping quite a few would come to try to rescue those 2 so I could take their magic with my bell. You honestly thought you and a forked tongued filly would be enough to rescue them from me?" Grogar then teleported Cozy Glow next to Stone Wall to get all the ponies together. "And did you think you could actually fool me, I know a diversion when I see one. Besides I learned long ago not to trust you ponies ever since a certain alicorn took over my home."

"What are you talking about?" Celestia asked as hearing that caught her attention right away.

"Long ago my home was what you would call the Isle of the Ancients. We lived simple lives but we were peaceful and happy. Until a small tribe of your kind came along and forced us into servitude, despite our mistreatment 1 pony befriended me. A unicorn that wanted the powers of the pegasus and the earth ponies. Ever since I was a young ram I experimented with various types of magic and she thought I could help her. I did, but she stole my ideas and used them for herself. She used her magic to oppress my kind so I traveled to Equestria to return the favor."

"You're, you're lying!" Celestia said, refusing to believe Grogar.

"What reason do I have to lie? You talk about friendship and unity but so many times you ponies are controlled by your selfish actions. A younger sister that lets her insecurities and darker natures transform her, her older sister that time and time again hurt those close to her, a unicorn stallion that beat up others to compensate for never knowing his parents, and a filly that uses and manipulates. Tell me something, have you gotten used to your new form?"

"Um yes, it wasn't all that hard to adapt to."

"Rather fitting isn't it? The newest alicorn being just like the 1st, a liar and a thief." Suddenly Cozy Glow used her magic to teleport away. "And still a coward who couldn't grow a spine if her life depended on it."

Suddenly Cozy reappeared from behind Grogar with a weight ring Tirek used for his bench press she grabbed and hit the ram on the head with. Then in the pain and confusion of it all she covered Grogar's eyes and knocked the Bewitching Bell off his chest.

"Quick get out of here," Cozy said to Stone Wall who had already put an escape plan into action. He used the medallion to open a portal and brought the princesses through allowing them to escape.

"GET OFF!" Grogar screamed as he forced the young filly off of him and was forced to the ground. But suddenly Grogar was struck across the face by a mean punch from Stone Wall that forced him to the ground too.

"Why don't you pick on somepony your own size," Stone Wall said.

"What are you doing here?" Cozy Glow asked. "What didn't you escape with the princesses?"

"And leave you here all alone," Stone Wall replied when suddenly Grogar blasted at him. Stone Wall as always kept his guard up and put a barrier but was sent through the wall.

"Ironic isn't it? He didn't want to leave you alone but you ended up anyway, and that's what you fear most isn't it," Grogar said as he used his magic to surround Cozy in darkness. She tried to escape but to no avail. She then saw moments and her life appear in the darkness, her time in the orphanage and her recent mistakes. "So young and already not a friend in the world, but then again who'd want to be your friend."

"I could have everypony as my friend but my plan failed and I got locked up."

"Yes how sad," Grogar continued, his body unseen but his voice echoing through the darkness. "And it's about to get much worse because like the other rogues you are going to be trapped in your own body with nopony ever coming to rescue you because I'm going to bury this place. I have to find a new place to hide away and plan anyway."

"What no!" Cozy cried out as she teared up and her body slowly turned to stone. "No please! I don't want to be alone!"

"You're not alone!" Stone Wall said as he made his way back in and somehow managed to break through the sphere destroying it. "I know how you feel. I felt like that too when I was young, but I met somepony that saw through my rough exterior and became my first true friend." As Stone Wall explained this, Cozy's body became flesh and fur again.

"Oh how touching you 2 have bonded," Grogar said in disgust. "This time I'll make sure you won't come back."

"Back off or I'll destroy your precious bell!" Stone Wall threatened after bringing it over to him with his magic.

"My bell cannot be destroyed, but you can," Grogar said as he used his magic to once again get his bell to come over to him. But when he tried to, Stone Wall grabbed the bell with his magic. But that only slowed Grogar down as he was still pulling his bell closer and just as he was about to get it Cozy blasted it with a magic beam that knocked it away.

"Nice work Cozy now let's take him down!" Stone Wall then fought with the ancient ram and while he got in a few good hits Grogar was undoubtedly the stronger of the 2. Fortunately Cozy was there to help fight Grogar as well at least until he forced both of them back.

"All right, fine you 2 care about each other so much you can be buried together!" Grogar then used his magic and soon the entire lair began to crumble. "I've put off my plans long enough, Equestria will soon be under my rule once again!"

"Not if I have anything to say about it!" Stone Wall cried out.

"You don't!" Grogar then summoned his creatures once again then brought his bell back before disappearing. But despite it all Stone Wall again with the help of Cozy Glow fought off the creatures and managed to avoid the falling rubble long enough for the 2 of them to find a way out of there just before the lair was buried deep underground.

"We, we did it!" Cozy Glow called out as she jumped for joy.

"Yes I think we can call this mission a success," Stone Wall said as he stood up.

"Uh maybe you should rest a little longer Grogar gave you quite an ouch."

"I'm fine you can't get rid of me that easily, you did a very brave thing risking getting turned to stone forever so the rest of us could escape. What made you do that?"

"Well somepony told me that when somepony else is in danger what I want doesn't really matter." Hearing that Stone Wall patted Cozy a bit.

"You're not so bad after all, ready to head back to Canterlot?"

"Sounds good to me," Cozy said as she looked back at where Grogar's lair once stood feeling rather somber that the other rogues weren't able to escape. "Do you still have the medallion?"

"Yes."

"Hey before we go back to Canterlot can we stop at that one town and get another snack? I really worked up an appetite in there."

"I suppose you rather earned it, besides I rather worked up an appetite in there as well."

As Stone Wall and Cozy Glow made their way back to Canterlot with the princesses, Grogar left to find a new lair. Not knowing that a mysterious figure was watching him and would approach him for a plan to spread chaos on this world.

And many others.

***

Before long Stone Wall and Cozy Glow returned to Canterlot with the princesses. Stone Wall explained to Celestia and Luna all the things Cozy did and how he believed she could be reformed and that he wished for Cozy Glow to be put under his watch. A hearing was put in order and Chancellor Neighsay was even there so Cozy could return his medallion. Despite her pleas for a chance at redemption one or 2 didn't trust her, most of all Neighsay who made his opinion very clear.

"Oh come on you're just mad because I turned the School of Friendship students against you, for the record it wasn't all that hard," Cozy said facing other ponies. "Nopony likes him," Cozy whispered loudly, making some of the guards laugh and Neighsay grunt in annoyance.

"I say let Stone Wall watch her, he can whip anypony into shape," a royal guard said.

"Don't be ridiculous!" Neighsay ordered as he approached Cozy Glow. "Her innocent act is what fooled everypony in the 1st place and if none of you will lock her up in Tartarus again, I will!" Suddenly Stone Wall got in his way and gave him the hardest stare he could.

"If you want her you're gonna have to go through me," he said and Neighsay backed up right when he did.

"Um yes perhaps I was too hasty after all my judgment does sometimes make me jump to conclusion."

"I'm surprised to hear and see you act like this Stone Wall," Celestia said.

"She'd already put herself on the way to redemption; she helped me get you 2 away from Grogar. And besides I know how she feels, she did the things she did because she was lonely."

Celestia then looked at Luna remembering all those years the 2 of them were apart. “Taking care of her might be a lot for you,” she said. “Considering all she’s done, it might not be so easy to get her to come around.”

“I know she might seem like a lost cause, but I love her.” The guards were quite surprised to hear that last part. “I know that might be hard to understand-”

Stone Wall was cut off when Princess Celestia pulled him into a hug. Surpringing the guards again. “I understand, perhaps more than anypony I understand. Others said the same for you when you were her age, but I couldn't have asked for a better son."

"Son?!" Almost everypony in the room said,

"Wow they don't even look all that related," a guard said.

"I'm adopted you idiot," Stone Wall said.

"If you care for her that much I trust you, though we may have to discuss certain boundaries." After the hearing Cozy was put under Stone Wall watch who would also be sure to train her since she was still an alicorn and could be quite useful in the fight against Grogar.

"Wow, I never had a house before," Cozy Glow said as she flew around a bit to explore Stone Wall’s house. Squeaky was also there with Stone Wall to help a bit with the unpacking of a few things to help Cozy train, and some toys.

"I'm rather surprised Celestia let me take her home with me. I knew she trusted me but it's still a shock," Stone Wall said as he and his old friend finished unpacking.

"Well actually she still had some doubts but I gave you and her a little push."

"How the heck did you do that?"

"Well let's just say that being her husband I can persuade her to do things in ways you can't."

"Like how?…..Never mind I don't what to know."

Chapter 52 Discord's Top 10

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"Hello all," Discord said right off the bat. "Right off the bat is right, Mr. Pioneer of Imagination wow is that a mouthful. Any when, it's me, Discord spirit of chaos and disharmony. Taking place right in the Castle of the 2 Sisters which might become the new chaos capital of Equestria when Twilight takes over and I get to play the role of her 2nd in command. So to celebrate Twilight's coronation in this chapter I'm going to be counting down my top 10 list of things that happened in Equestria and beyond that for one reason or another wasn't worked into the story, until now that is. So sit back, relax, and enjoy as I get right on 10 with the end of my chaos student's first visit to the Crystal Empire after she became an aunt."

***

Twilight and her friends got ready to head out after their visit with her brother, sister in-law and niece. Things had taken quite a turn for the worst with the baby breaking the Crystal Heart but as usual it was nothing they couldn't handle.

"Just once I'd like us all to go somewhere without some sort of drama happening," Rarity said as Spike rubbed her shoulders to help her relieve the stress. "A little lower darling, yes much better thank you."

"Ah but what fun would that be," Rainbow Dash said.

"But with all that's settled there's still 1 problem for us to deal with."

"There is Twilight?" Shining Armor asked a little worried.

"Yeah you still have to name my adorable little niece," Twilight answered to Shining Armor's relief.

"Oh I know," Starlight said. "How about Skyla?"

"...Nah," the others said..

"We've actually thought about it and I think we found the perfect one," Cadance said. "Flurry Heart."

***

"Yes Mr. Pioneer does enjoy his nice touches doesn't he? So much they've grown on me quite a bit, don't worry the rest won't be as short. Number 9 takes place in Ponyville as a stupid little fight turns into a stupid big fight as they have a habit of doing so. Turns out these ponies can be quite chaotic on their own if they want to be."

***

Ponyville was basically in the middle of a civil war with 1 half of the town hitting the other with pies and the other half putting old clothes on the others.

"Let them have it!" Applejack said as more pies were launched in town.

"Don't let up, we have them right where we want them," Rarity said as she and quite a few other unicorns used magic to force others to wear clothing from the pioneering days of Ponyville.

What was supposed to be a fun celebration of the day their town was founded had turned into a feud of just how they were supposed to do just that. Twilight, who wasn't there as she had to go to Canterlot soon made her way back to her utter horror.

"Oh Princess Twilight thank Celestia," Mayor Mare said as she ran over. "You've got to do something to stop all this."

"Oh I plan to," Twilight said as she used her magic to stop the ponies from fighting afterwards she made her way to the stage. "First off let me start by saying I am very disappointed in all of you. This is not how we resolve our differences. You've made yourselves look like absolute idiots and worse, you've set a horrible example for the younger generation. On top of that tourists will be coming here soon wanting to see how great Ponyville is after I bragged about it."

"Tourists?" Mayor Mare said concerned. "Coming here, you said how soon?"

"Very," Twilight answered. "So here's what you're going to do, you're all going to clean up your mess while I straighten things out here." Twilight tried to talk to her friends but they split up and Twilight would have to try a little harder to get them all together.

"Oh Princess Twilight is right Cranky I feel so foolish," Matilda said as she was cleaning up the town. "We shouldn't have acted the way we did."

"Well if you think that then I agree," Cranky said as he was helping in the cleanup.

"Well at the very least it's nice to know that you always have my back," Matilda replied. As Twilight was alone thinking what to say to her friends suddenly who should appear other than Discord who revealed he had been watching Ponyville's little war from the start.

"The start, why didn't you try to stop any of it?" Spike asked.

"And not see how big a pony created chaos of this magnitude could get, what kind of spirit of chaos would I be then?"

"I just don't get how things could have gotten so crazy so fast Spike and I was only gone for a day?"

"Madness is like gravity Twilight, all it takes is a little push," Discord answered.

After thinking about it a little longer Twilight figured the best way to get her friends back together would be to get their help with the visiting ponies. Twilight made her way to see Applejack hoping she could help the guests of Ponyville by turning Sweet Apple Acres into a bed and breakfast.

"Twilight that's kind of a lot to handle on such short notice," Applejack said as she was bucking apples.

"But Applejack when I first came to Ponyville the Apples extended such amazing hospitality. I was hoping you could do the same now."

"Twilight I don't know, I think I'm all burned out of this year's Ponyville Days."

"Burned out?! I was only gone for a day."

"Well it was a longer day for me than it was for you."

"That doesn't make any sense!"

"Well maybe if you didn't spend time with Discord it would."

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"Look I can't help all right. I'm too busy with the farm," Applejack said as she was about to storm off.

"You can't help or you won't? Who am I kidding? It's the latter it's always the latter this is so typical there's something serious going on and I'm the only that sees it. It's my brother's wedding all over again," Twilight continued the last comment stopping Applejack from bucking as she still felt a tad sore about the way she acted back then.

"Twilight-"

"No, you just go back to your farm," Twilight interrupted. "I'll fix everything like always. It's nice to know my friends are always never there for me." Twilight then walked off in a huff but as she left a smile appeared on her face as she knew that would get Applejack to come after.

"The ol guilt routine huh Twi?" Applejack asked herself as she kicked the ground a bit before catching up with her friend. "Works every time." After that Twilight talked to her other friends seeing if they'd help.

"No way, no how! My Ponyville days are over!" Rainbow Dash said as she was chilaxing by the water.

"So you're just going to live here from now on?"

"I have never seen this town get so crazy before! I’m fine kicking it back here and missing it all," Rainbow Dash answered but Twilight got her to rethink after talking about how another pony would be put in charge of weather control. After that she got the rest of Ponyville to get back on track and while there was a hiccup here and there it turned into quite the success. Discord even decided to help out in the celebration to make it even more of a hit.

***

"Ah yes, who says that I can't be nice? From the flashy Crystal Empire to the simple Ponyville to the mysterious Everfree Forest number 8 involves our adorable heroes there of all places as even after all this time it holds quite a few more secrets."

***

The mane 6 and Spike traveled into the Everfree Forest and found a young deer called Bramble; he was the son of the heart of the forest, King Aspen. He was making the Everfree Forest expand to balance out a minotaur named Well-To-Do that was leading an operation to build a theme park named Fun Fun Land. But in order to do that he would have to cut down quite a bit of the forest and the deer weren't happy about that.

"Don't you worry 1 bit King Aspen we're going to talk to Princess Celestia about this," Twilight said. Princess Celestia like King Aspen cared much for the environment as well as all of the creatures within her kingdom and did not like a place as unstable as the Everfree Forest being tampered with because of an amusement park of all things.

"Mr. Well-To-Do I'm afraid I can't approve of you doing such a thing," Princess Celestia said to the minotaur.

"Oh that's quite a lot princess, I already got all the approval that I need," Well-To-Do said as he showed several papers that showed what he was doing was surprisingly perfectly legal.

"Even if you aren't breaking the law can't you see the damage you're doing to the forest?" Princess Celestia replied.

"Oh it's nothing that can't be fixed, all you have to do is grow trees on the other side of the forest. By expanding there it should balance out all that I'm doing over here."

"Well actually that's not going to work as the land on the other side has a bit of a problem supporting life at least to the degree of a forest."

"Well from what I've seen on this side the forest has been expanding a bit too much for its own good. I know a thing or two about nature and having too many trees in 1 area can be bad for all of them. Besides, I pretty much put all the money I have into all this." Hearing that caught the others quite a bit by surprise.

"You have?" Fluttershy asked out of concern which also was surprising considering how much she cared for animal life which the forest greatly supports.

"Yes so what would you all have me do? Shut down this whole operation and put myself out of the street with hardly a bit to my name. Not to mention put all of these hardworking ponies and minotaurs out of a job."

"Well we don't want to do that, do we?" Fluttershy asked.

"No we don't," Princess Celestia said. "So this just makes things quite a bit harder to solve."

"Harder to solve, are you mad!" King Aspen said in almost a rage. "All we have to do is stop this mad minotaur and his hired help."

"You try that and you're going to be 1 sorry deer," Well-To-Do replied and pulled his sleeve back ready for a fight. Princess Celestia made the 2 separate and cool off telling both of them she would think on the matter and figure out a way to solve the problem at hoof.

But as Princess Celestia tried to think up a plan King Aspen refused to simply stand by as his beloved home was being chopped down. So he did what he could to expand the forest. Unfortunately for Princess Celestia and Princess Luna that meant Canterlot getting overrun with plant vines. The 2 of them were bound by the plant vines and hanging from the ceiling and they couldn't get free with magic because they were wrapped around their horns.

"Well this is quite the problem you got here sun butt," Discord said as he appeared in the room. "Though in all honesty I have to say I rather like this place's new look."

"Oh gosh of all creatures today," Celestia whispered under her breath.

"Discord your here, that's actually good," Princess Luna said.

"It is?" Celestia and Discord asked at the same time.

"Of course, he can get us free Celestia."

"He can do a lot of things but that hardly means he will."

"Well I certainly won't help you if you have that attitude," Discord said.

"You wouldn't help if I pleaded and begged you to cut me free," Celestia replied.

"Well, yeah pretty much," Discord said.

"Come on Discord don't be like that let's be friends. Doesn't that sound good to you?" Luna asked.

"Maybe tomorrow."

"Oh come on Discord put yourselves in our hooves," Celestia said. "We're stuck here and can't escape at all. Do you have any idea how bad this feels?"

"Are you kidding me? You and your sister turned me into stone and then you put me in the mines beneath this precious castle of yours."

"BECAUSE YOU WERE MAKING EVERYPONY MISERABLE WITH ALL YOUR CHAOS! AND YOU DID THAT BECAUSE YOU WERE A SELFISH MONSTER WITH A HEART AS COLD AS STONE! SO I GUESS YOU HAVEN'T CHANGED ALL THAT MUCH HAVE YOU!?"

"You know I'd be a lot more polite to me if I was in shoes. Do you say you're sorry?"

Celestia then began to wriggle and shake trying to get free while grunting in rage. "Rggh! Discord you dirty rotten stinking, hggr," Celestia said as she tried to get free. A little while longer Celestia stopped as she realized while she was strong the roots had her good and tight and Discord stayed in the room rather enjoying Celestia's tantrum. "Discord I am not kidding if you don't get me down in 5 seconds-"

"You got yourself into this mess little miss I can't get a minotaur to care enough about the trees, not me."

"But all of Canterlot is being overrun by these things. We have to do something."

"So the castle gets a lot more green so what? This isn't so bad, maybe you could change it into a nature preserve if I don't gobble all these roots up," Discord replied as he ate some of the roots. "Wow this stuff is good I just might go fat on this."

"Discord, this is a serious problem. What if Twilight tries to send a letter to me or something because she needs my help?"

"You could tell her we'd like to help but we're too busy hanging around."

"Not helping Luna! Okay look Discord, I'm sorry I yelled at you, I'm having a bad day and all the blood is rushing to my head which is very uncomfortable. Please get us down."

"Well, you did say please." Discord flew above Princess Celestia and started to bite on the roots above her. "Thank you Discord you know I don't really give you enough credit maybe you're not so bad after," Celestia stopped when she realized that she was going up because Discord was sucking up the root like spaghetti. "Wait Discord what are you doing hold on if you keep doing this you're gonna," Celestia was cut off when Discord suddenly swallowed her.

"Oh gosh," Luna said in shock but thankfully Discord spat out her sister.

"Ew you're not very tasty are you? You're just lucky that most of my body parts are animals that are herbivores."

"Well you got me free so I'm not going to get mad," Celestia said as she stood up and wiped a bit of Discord's saliva.

"You're turn now moon pie."

"I'll get Luna free Discord!" Celestia said as she used her magic to get Luna free.

"Thank you sister though don't you think it's rather weird that Super Stallion didn't notice all this and flew in to rescue-"

"Have no fear, Super Stallion is here," Super Stallion interrupted as he arrived ready to help. "Discord I should have known get ready for a Super Stallion super smack-" Super Stallion charged but was stopped when Discord cut him off by whacking him with a giant mallet.

"Blamo!" Discord said and then Luna got the mallet off of him while Celestia helped him up.

"Discord isn't behind this Super Stallion," Celestia said.

"He's not?"

"No Luna, please explain it to him."

"But don't you want to tell him?"

"Yes, but I really need a shower." After Super Stallion was told everything and Princess Celestia got herself cleaned up the 4 made their way to where Fun Fun Land was to be built. The situation was going from bad to worse as Well-To-Do and King Aspen were butting heads.

"I won't let you destroy my home!"

"I won't let you destroy all my hard work and put all these fine workers out of a job!"

"Every time you chop down trees we're going to grow some new ones!"

"Every time you grow some new trees we're going to chop them down!"

"Hey!" Discord said getting the attention of every creature. "We don't you just move Fun Fun Land about halfway to the side where there's hardly any vegetation and then grow some trees in the back and a bit around the sides of the theme park?"

Hearing that practical solution from Discord of all creatures rather surprised all of the others.

"That could work actually," King Aspen said. "By moving it there we could regrow half the trees chopped down and by making new ones behind and around should help with the other half as well as expand the forest a bit."

"And with all those trees around my park it could stop creatures from sneaking in without paying and if that's still not enough you can plant some trees in Fun Fun Land," Well-To-Do said and in no time at all a deal was made between the 2 who before were getting along like old friends.

"Wow Discord you actually saved the day," Super Stallion said who decided to speed up the creation of Fun Fun Land. But he didn't do all the work the ponies and minotaurs were hired by Well-To-Do to do; it was still their jobs after all.

"Yes it was actually rather nice, maybe I should do it more often, nah."

"Well all the same we are very grateful for your advice," King Aspen said.

"You're telling me this spot is even better than where we actually started," Well-To-Do said.

"I suppose all that's left is to take care of the roots around Canterlot," Super Stallion said.

"On it," Discord said before teleporting away to quickly gobble up all of the remaining roots. Discord did just that but it resulted in him becoming rather bloated. "That stuff was so delicious I simply have to get the recipe for this later," Discord said as he was on the ground as his stomach was getting rather upset from eating too much. "I just wish I could do something about the stomach pain."

"I think this could help you with that," Celestia said as she offered a cup to Discord who drank it and afterwards sat up.

"Oh that actually does help, thanks a lot Celestia."

"My my I think that's the 1st time you've ever thanked me or used my actual name."

"Well don't get used to it sun butt."

"And there it is, and I went to all the trouble to get you this other thing to help you with your stomach," Celestia said as she got out a brownie that Discord grabbed with his tail and ate right away. "Hope you like it, I made it with something special."

"Oh?"

"Yes, chocolate super lax," Celestia replied with a huge grin.

"What?" Suddenly Discord's stomach started to rumble and roar something fierce. "It's because of how I got you free isn't it?"

"Yes."

"Well at least I brought out your chaotic side."

"Actually I was always a bit of a prankster," Celestia replied. Afterwards Discord teleported to the royal bathroom.

***

"Not exactly my proudest moment," Discord said as he was eating certain roots out of a bucket with a pair of chopsticks. "I almost destroyed her toilet so there's that, next up is number 7 where a certain former student goes through quite the emotional struggle.”

***

Sunset Shimmer was with her friends and a few others.

"Yes we did, we admit it," Sweetie Belle said while with Scootaloo and Apple Bloom.

Recently the school had been flooded with horrible rumors and Sunset Shimmer was at the center of it all because even her friends thought she was doing it. She tried to convince them otherwise but they refused to listen and cast her out leaving her to fend for herself. In the end Sunset figured out it was Sweetie Belle and her friends because they were feeling left out. The others spent so much time with Sunset that they barely had time to spend with them. Once Sunset accused them they admitted right away.

"We didn't mean for this to spiral out of control," Apple Bloom said.

"Yeah we wish we could stop it all but we don't know how," Scootaloo said.

"We're so so sorry Sunset." Sweetie Belle said.

"I-I just don't understand Sweetie Belle why didn't you just talk to your sister about how you all felt? They would have understood."

"I don't know, I really wanted to, but when I tried I just choked up," Sweetie Belle said as she couldn't help but tear up a little bit.

"But you had no problem dragging my name through the mud," Sunset Shimmer said to the crusaders rather coldly. "Not to mention all the names of countless other students to cover your tracks."

"Now hold on just a second," Applejack said as she got up to defend the crusaders. "You can't talk to my sister and her friends like that."

"I can say whatever I want, remember? But that doesn't mean you have to listen," Sunset Shimmer said, throwing the words that Applejack had used on her earlier back at her.

Sunset Shimmer then stormed out and made it to some nearby woods figuring that would be a good place to rest and think. As she made it there and rested she tried to make sense of everything and couldn't help but cry a bit from all of it. So she figured she needed to find someone to talk to or somepony.

Twilight Sparkle was at her castle checking up on a good book as she usually did when Suddenly Twilight saw she was getting a message from Sunset. "Oh my gosh Sunset," Twilight said, almost crying while noticing strange dots. She quickly figured those were tears that fell on the paper. Sunset needed a friend and made her way to a certain mirror and using chaos magic teleported to where Sunset was right away.

"OH MY GOSH!" Sunset Shimmer said as she fell down or would have if Twilight didn't catch her. "Twilight, how did you get her so fast?"

"Let's just say that it's a new trick I learned, besides from what I've read you really need a friend right now." Hearing that Sunset pulled herself up and put herself right on Twilight who welcomed her with a hug as she started to cry.

"How could my friends have just walked out on me? They didn't even say they were sorry, well thinking about it I didn't give them much of a chance. But I had a right to be mad at them, didn't I?"

"Perhaps, but maybe you should talk to your friends about all of that," Twilight said as she continued to hold Sunset Shimmer who was starting to calm down.

"But can I even call them my friends after the way they treated me? We've been through so much and grown together so much but something like this drives a wedge between us. How can we still be friends after this?"

"I know just how you feel," Twilight said. Hearing that Sunset lifted her head and wiped the tears from her eyes.

"You do?"

"Yes." Twilight then talked about a certain almost wedding. Twilight felt betrayed by her friends, her brother, and Princess Celestia.

"Wow you had even worse than I had, uh sorry that was probably the wrong way to put it."

"It's okay, you're right. I felt like I couldn't trust them again or that they didn't deserve to be my friends after that but overtime after I talked things out and I was able to move past something I thought I couldn't. While it's not an Element of Harmony, forgiveness is an important part of friendship. Because the ones closest to you are the ones that can hurt you the most."

"You're right Twilight, I'll talk with everybody about this in the morning." Sunset and Twilight then shared a few laughs then got to sharing some stories with one another before Twilight decided to head home after she made sure Sunset was going to be alright. Morning came and Sunset looked around the town for her friends and when she found them the 5 of them were together.

"SUNSET!" They all cried out as they ran over to her and gave her a group hug.

"We were so worried about you darling," Rarity said.

"We tried to call you but your phone wasn't working," Applejack said.

"We were worried something might have happened to you, we're so glad you aren't hurt," Fluttershy said.

"I'm alright I just turned my phone off because I didn't feel like talking, but I do now," Sunset said and afterwards Sunset talked to her friends about how they should have given Sunset more credit. But she also talked about how maybe she didn't handle it the best way by walking out on them.

"Well it's kind of hard to blame you for acting like that. We fingered you out as the source of the rumors because we thought it only could have been you," Applejack said.

"We're super duper sorry," Pinkie Pie said.

"Please forgive us," Fluttershy said with an adorable sad face.

"It's okay I forgive you all," Sunset said as she saw Sweetie Belle hiding a bit behind her sister who was also looking for Sunset Shimmer. "And I forgive you and your friends too Sweetie Belle."

"You do!?" Sweetie Belle said as she ran over to Sunset Shimmer and hugged her as hard as she could.

"Yes, I know what it feels like to feel like you're all alone. It can make you do really stupid things. You're hurting my back."

Sweetie Belle then let go feeling embarrassed. "Sorry." Afterwards Sweetie Belle and her friends took down the Anon-A-Miss webpage and informed Principal Celestia about it all as well as apologized to all the students. They received 6 months of detention for the trouble they caused and despite their efforts the gossip they spread around is still there.

But as Sweetie Belle was told by Rarity she tried to take it all back and that's what counts. Even after all they did the crusaders were still invited to a huge family get together because they were still family and with family there's always room for more.

***

"Always room for more in a family huh?" Discord asked. "I wouldn't know, I never had a family, anyway from 1 Sunset story to another in number 6."

***

"What's going on it's like I've been erased," Sunset said in horror while trying to figure out what could have happened to her friend's memories. But as she tried she slipped and fell on Twilight's new device breaking it when she landed on it.

"No!" Twilight said as she ran over to check on it. "You broke it!"

"I'm okay thanks for asking," Sunset replied in a harsh tone as she got back up and rubbed her back a little.

"You should have been more careful!" Twilight said.

"Oh you're right next time I fall I'll try to defy gravity so I don't land on something important so you'll at least not be inconvenienced," Sunset replied leaving Twilight a bit stunned because she made a rather good point.

After leaving the beach Sunset tried to figure out what happened so she contacted Twilight who still remembered her. The 2 tried to figure out what was going on and that led to Sunset returning to Equestria and a long awaited reunion. When Princess Celestia saw her former student had finally returned, she was so shocked she was frozen stiff. Suddenly she teleported right over to Sunset and pulled into a hug and wrapped her wings around her.

“I-I’m sorry,” Celestia said as tears poured down her face. “That night, I don't know what got into me. I should have understood you better.”

“I…appreciate that,” Sunset said, shocked at her former teacher’s behavior.

Princess Celestia was informed of what was going on so she and Princess Luna took Sunset and Twilight to a secret part of the Canterlot Library where they ran into none other than Clover the Clever.

"Clover? What are you doing here?"

"Oh hi there Celestia I'm just catching up on some light reading."

"Wait Clover, like Clover the Clever."

"Yeah that's also a long story," Princess Celestia said before explaining to Clover about what was going on with Sunset.

"Wow that sounds like the Memory Stone," Clover said.

"The what?" Sunset asked. Clover then explained all about her encounter with the stone and how it could remove the memories of others.

"In short the stone is very powerful and after a while any memories lost to the stone will be gone forever."

"Forever?" Sunset said afraid her friends would forget all about her. "So what happened to the stone?" Sunset asked Clover.

"Uhhhhhhhh." Tried as she could, Clover the Clever couldn't quite remember but did give the others a lot to work with. Sunset decided to head back and when she did, she was in a panic along with the rest of her high school as everyone was running around in fear.

"What is going on around here?" Sunset Shimmer asked when suddenly she heard someone laughing like an evil villain and when she followed it she found herself, literally.

"You? But why you?"

"Oh hello my other self I was wondering where you were?"

"What are you doing here, besides giving new meaning to the phrase I've seen the enemy and it is me."

"I'm finally getting my revenge on this miserable school. They should have missed me but they forgot all about me when you came along so now I'm making them forget about everything and guess what? YOU'RE NEXT!" Mad Alicorn then aimed the Memory Stone at Sunset but suddenly a puff of smoke appeared out of nowhere and when it cleared Sunset was gone. "What but how?"

"That was certainly a close one, lucky for you Sunset the wise and super fast Trixie was here to help."

"Actually I was the one that told you she needed help," Wallflower Blush said.

"Keep the ego in check, Wallpowder," Trixie said.

"Wallflower!"

"Whatever it's not important right now, we need to stop the you that isn't you Sunset, what do we do?"

"We need to get that stone somehow, which begs the question how did she not get you 2?"

"The great and powerful Trixie's magic provided an escape from that stone."

"And the other you didn't notice me because, no one does."

"We can talk about it later for now we need to stop you…you know what I mean," Trixie said.

"Yes I do and I know how to fix all of this but we need to get that stone away from her." The 3 were about to make a plan when suddenly Sunset saw all of her friends were together trying to help everyone who didn't know who they were.

"If Trixie is going to get that stone from the other you we're going to need a plan." Suddenly Mad Alicorn pointed the stone at Sunset's friends and she ran right towards them. "That's not a plan!" Sunset got in the way of the Memory Stone's beam and took the blast for them causing her to lose all her memories. "This is bad we got to do something."

"I have an idea," Wallflower said.

"You took the beam for them, how stupid can you get?"

"Who are you? What's going on? Where's Princess Celestia, why is my body different?"

"That wasn't stupid that was noble," Rarity said.

"Oh way then let's see if you're noble enough to take this beam for your friends." Suddenly more smoke appeared blocking Mad Alicorn's view. "Again with the smoke what's going on?"

"If you want to get to them you'll have to get past the great and powerful Trixie first!"

"Oh it's you Trixie, I should have figured even after all this time you're still a blowhard after this I should erase you from my memory then see what I can do to a certain Super Stallion with this baby." Suddenly Wallflower grabbed Mad Alicorn from behind and tried to grab the stone but she got thrown off. "I remember you."

"You do?" Wallflower asked, more surprised than scared.

"Yeah you were that lonely little nobody that clung to walls."

"I'm not lonely," Wallflower said as she stood up. "I've got, plants! That sounded less lonely in my head."

"Well hear let me help you forget," Mad Alicorn said when suddenly her attention focused on the mane 7 who after seeing Sunset's noble action informed her of their friendship and then powered up. "What the?" The mane 7 then worked together and charged their magic at Mad Alicorn.

"Wow that looks tough," Wallflower Blush said. "I'd hate to be on the receiving end of that." Mad Alicorn tried to use the stone on them but the magic of friendship pulled through once again and destroyed the stone, restoring the memories of everyone.

"Girls I remember you all, thank goodness," Sunset said as she hugged them but as she turned her head to face Mad Alicorn she had already escaped somehow.

"She got away but how?"

"Hard to say but at least we beat her," Sunset Shimmer said as she made her way over to Wallflower Blush. "Are you all right?"

"Yeah I'm okay thank you for asking, really I'm surprised you even remembered I was here." After restoring the peace of the school, Sunset got back to work with the yearbook and added a few things such as giving Trixie her greatest and most powerfulest page and helping a certain wallflower with her gardening club.

"Thanks for your help Sunset," Wallflower Blush said, who was helping Sunset with the yearbook.

"No problem Wallflower," Sunset said as she made her way out to hang out with her friends and shut the light's off after heading out. But then came back to turn the lights back on. "Sorry."

"It's okay it happens, a lot actually," Wallflower replied.

Meanwhile back in Equestria Mad Alicorn returned to Grogar in shame.

"Well where is the Memory Stone? You said you knew where it was," Grogar asked.

"I'm sorry it got destroyed while I was testing it."

"Testing it? Let me guess you were using it for your own amusement and in the process got careless, allowing those who destroy it to do so."

"Please forgive me, great Grogar."

"I’m going out for some air. Cozy Glow is in charge until I get back.”

“Again?” Tirek asked. “Why is she always in charge?”

“She’s organized. From now on none of you goes alone to get powerful objects or useful information an-" Grogar suddenly stopped talking all of a sudden and looked at seemingly nothing for he had a strong feeling he was being watched.

***

“Yeah that was when I stopped watching as I didn't want to get that ancient ram’s attention just yet," Discord said. "So yes I was watching those rogues the whole time I could have done something but if I did Cozy might not have gotten her redemption. So maybe there's a method to my madness after all. But either way let's get right to number 5, this is a particularly interesting one involving time travel of all things."

***

Time Wizard had arrived at Sweet Apple Acres and saw that the Apple siblings were hard at work. “My my,” he said. “You 3 are really hard at work and working up quite a sweat while you’re at it.”

“Well it comes with living on a farm,” Applejack said.

“Eeyup.”

“Were you planning on showering today?” Time Wizard asked.

“Why?” Apple Bloom asked.

“Do you want to visit your parents all sweaty?”

The Apple siblings froze in place.

“What?” Apple Bloom asked. “Really?!”

“Really really.”

The Apple siblings then cleaned themselves up and told Granny Smith everything. But when offered to go back in time with them, she turned it down.

“But granny-”

“Applejack, if you 3 go back in time to before you were born that’s 1 thing. But I was already there.”

“Are you sure granny?” Apple Bloom asked.

“I have many wonderful memories of Bright Mac and Pear Butter, you 3 deserve at least 1 memory to call your own.”

“Well, alright then,” Applejack said. The apple trio were then taken back in time and met their parents. Apple Bloom hugged both of them right away.

“Well aren’t you just adorable,” Pear Butter said.

“And friendly too,” Bright Mac said. “What are 4 doing here?”

“4?” Applejack then remembered Time Wizard came with them. She wondered why were parents weren’t freaking out, but when she turned around she saw that Time Wizard had turned himself into a pony.

“Nice to meet you. My name is Tim. We were in the neighborhood and just thought we’d say hello.”

“Well that's mighty nice of you,” Bright Mac said. “You know, we could use a little extra help. Would you mind helping out a bit?”

Time Wizard and the Apples helped make short work of the chores around the farm. But the Apple sibling enjoyed every moment of it.

"Thanks so much for all the help you 3," Bright Mac said.

"Yeah we're so grateful, uh what were your names again?" Pear Butter asked.

"Oh, you can just call me AJ," Applejack answered. "This here is AB and BM, sorry."

“Well as a reward, how about we treat you to dinner?” Bright Mac asked.

“That would be nice, but we should be heading home.”

“Ah can’t we stay a little longer Time- I mean Tim.”

“Sorry, AB. But we really should get going.” With that the Apples said goodbye to their parents as well as Granny Smith who came out to see if the chores were done.

Upon seeing her Applejack had a better understanding of why Granny didn’t want to come.

When they were out of sight, Time Wizard turned back and brought the Apples back to the present.

“Thank you so much Time Wizard, this was wonderful,” Applejack said.

“Eeyup.”

“No problem.”

“Though how come you turned into a pony?” Apple Bloom asked.

“I didn’t want to freak your parents out, when I showed up you were already freaked out when the time anomaly known as Shadow Paradox arrived.”

“I guess that makes sense,” Apple Bloom said.

“Eeyup.”

“Now with all that none and over with, it’s time for me to go.”

“Wait,” Applejack called out. “Will we ever see you again?”

“If the fate of your entire multiverse is at stake. So keep a close eye on Starlight.”

***

"Such a sweet family reunion," Discord said. “Even in my stone prison I could sense a power presence around my level but never figured out what it was. Guess that finally came full circle. Though time travel had me thinking about the good old days. Say Mr. Pioneer, how about we take a break from my list and look back when I ran Equestria?

I’m sure that would be fun Discord, but we have a schedule.

"I suppose you have a point. Now on to number 4 the Grand Galloping Gala, Discord style!"

***

Princess Celestia usually oversaw the Grand Galloping Gala but this time she wanted Twilight to do it so she could relax and spend time with Squeaky. Twilight being a rather intelligent and hardworking pony got right on it everything was going perfect until.

"Well here I am!" Discord said as he showed up in an orange outfit getting everypony's attention. Mostly because of his plus 1 Tirek, who nopony had seen since he was taken off by Discord. "Ready to party Tirek?"

"You must be an even bigger fool than I thought if you think I would simply "party" with you and these ponies."

"Oh really?" Discord asked as he raised Tirek up to his face. "Maybe you'd like to go home and watch some more home videos?" Discord asked as he made a tape appear in his claw.

"No no no!" Tirek answered in fear as he put his hands together in a pleading position. "I'll be good! I'll be good!"

"Good. Go mingle," Discord ordered before tossing Tirek. "And don't even think about taking anypony's magic I'll know." After that the ponies became rather nervous but they quickly calmed down. Celestia however was still a bit on edge because so many ponies wanted to chat her up and kiss up to her so she hardly had any time for Squeaky.

"You and I have come a long way haven't we?" Discord asked.

"We have?" Twilight asked.

"Yes and I'm sure we'll learn from each other much, oh for crying out loud." Discord then teleported to Tirek who tried to take the magic of a young colt's magic who was all by himself. Discord grabbed him from behind just as he finished and pulled himself up again. "Oh Tirek how disappointing."

"Heh heh I suppose you can't blame me for trying."

"Oh yes I can, and much worse." Discord summoned a giant rolling pin and he used it on Tirek to force the magic right out of him and back into the colt.

"You can't do this to me!"

"Be honest, if the roles were reversed would you stop?" Discord then continued to use the rolling pin and shortly after Celestia arrived with Squeaky after hearing the screaming.

"Discord stop, you could really hurt him."

"What do you care, he took your magic and locked you in Tartarus?"

"Just because he doesn't care about us doesn't mean we shouldn't care about him."

"If we do, we're no better than he is," Squeaky added.

"Wow how virtuous you 2 really do deserve each other. And this." Discord then made a bubble appear around Celestia and whacked it with the giant rolling pin causing her to ricochet all over the walls and floor and eventually forced her through several walls forcing her to get her rump stuck in a toilet of all things after landing.

"Well better that end than the other," Discord said.

"You'd done quite a few things to me before Discord, but this is the final indignity."

"Wrong as usual sun butt, this is the final indignity," Discord replied as he flush the toilet causing Celestia to go down the toilet before she could even do anything about it. Squeaky made his way through the holes in the wall and had his sphere ready.

"Where is she?!"

"Here," Discord grabbed Squeaky by the neck with his tail and shoved him down the toilet. Discord then sat down on the toilet and started to dance a bit. "Sitting on a toilet, sitting on a toilet, gotta grab Tirek." As Discord went off to grab him and eventually drop him off at Tartarus and replace with a certain green blob Squeaky and Celestia found themselves in a small yet romantic setting.

"What the heck?" Squeaky asked as he looked around to find Princess Celestia was okay. "Oh thank goodness you're all right!"

"Yes this is quite the surprise isn't it?" Celestia asked as she walked over to a table with various foods along with 2 lit candles, several spot lights showing the heart symbols that are rotating around the table, and a collection of roses that had a letter saying "Don't say I never did anything for you." written on it. "Well I'll be."

"What?"

"It seems Discord made a little romantic getaway for us."

"What about the gala, I mean I still wanted to dance."

"Yes me too, but I suppose there's no real hurry is there?" Celestia asked as she opened a lid revealing a large bowl of spaghetti.

"Yeah you know we could just work off the food by dancing later."

"And afterwards we'll have to remember to thank Discord, I don't like it either." Celestia and Squeaky then sat down to enjoy the romantic dinner and would later dance next to Discord who actually convinced Twilight to dance with him but first had to wait until she finished with the Smooze.

***

"Yeah that was fun short but fun much much like number 3 where a little before his fight with Stone Wall and his wedding Squeaky's Parents are in for a jaw dropping surprise."

***

"So when is this mare gonna get here," Tub Rub asked.

"She should be here soon. She's a pretty busy mare but she promised to come."

"I just can't believe our son is getting married," Sky Sail said. "How come you never told us you were even dating somepony?"

"I guess since I don't live with you and dad anymore I got a bit out of touch, I meant to tell you 2 but I kept forgetting."

"Well at least your train of thought finally made it to this stop."

"Yeah sis, the bride to be should be here any second you mind if I go inside and make a few snacks?"

"Go right ahead sweetie," Sky Sail answered. Squeaky then headed into the house leaving the others to talk.

"So how much do you want to bet this mare is also a janitor or something?" Stacy asked in a mocking tone.

"Oh honestly haven't you grown out of the need to tease your brother?"

"Mom, think about it, he's a janitor, it's not like he's going to be dating a supermodel or something. She probably has a bit of a gut and a wonky eye."

"Give your brother some credit he does have my looks and sense of humor not to mention your mother's pure heart."

"Thank you dear, and by the way I find nothing wrong with dating somepony with a gut or whatever a wonky eye is."

"Maybe she's some sort of hag or maybe even-"

"Excuse me," Princess Celestia interrupted, shocking the 3 ponies who bowed right away.

"Princess Celestia, what are you doing here?"

"Is Squeaky Clean here?" The 3 ponies stood up in more shock and pointed to where he went. She then made her way to the house and the 3 followed.

"No way," Stacy said and when Princess Celestia walked up the Squeaky and kissed him right on the lips making her jaw hit the floor.

"Are you alright my little pony?" Stacy then got her jaw up.

"Yes I'm all right your highness." After that they all made their way to the living room with the snacks Squeaky made.

"So, so you're actually marrying our son?" Tub Rub asked.

"Yes, your son has captured my heart."

"The most precious treasure in this or any land," Squeaky added as he got super close to his soon to be wife who wrapped her wing around him.

"He's such a romantic isn't he?"

"Oh yes princess he gets that from me," Tub Rub said.

"I must say this is quite a surprise, however did our son win you over?" Sky Sail asked.

"It's a rather long story but when he got hired at the castle we talked every once in a while, letting me get to know him and see how sweet, charming, and funny he is. He had tough days once in a while but he always did what was right no matter what. He's a real Super Stallion."

"Oh that's so romantic," Sky Sail said as she cried out of joy a bit.

"I always had a feeling you were special son and had a feeling you'd get quite the mare but Princess Celestia now that's a trophy wife."

"Tub!" Sky Sail said as she playfully smacked him with her wings.

"It's quite alright Sky Sail," Celestia said.

"Sorry, it's all just so sudden my son is going to be a prince."

"Yeah he certainly knows how to pick them," Tub Rub said. "What was that you said earlier Stacy about our future daughter in law?"

"Uh, nothing."

"Oh really nothing about how Squeaky's fiancée might have a gut and a wonky eye?"

"I-I was joking around, I didn't mean it."

"What does wonky mean?" Celestia asked.

"Off center or unsteady, like how my sister is feeling right now."

"It sounds a little like she might be a bit jealous," Celestia said.

"I don't blame her, I feel the same way," Tub Rub said which made Sky Sail smack her yet again. "Mare, can you take a joke!?"

"I can take a good one," Sky Sail replied.

"Okay maybe I'm a little jealous, I've been looking for a stallion for years and no luck when it's going to be my turn?"

"I know how you feel," Celestia replied. "I gave up looking for my other half long ago but Squeaky came into my life and well, he was worth the wait. My time came and so will you-

***

"Yeah it kind of goes on and on for a while after that but you get the picture, on to number 2 where we return to the Crystal Empire along with several other ponies."

***

"At long lost she can finally come home," Sombra said. once an innocent colt unaware of his destiny to become a lost soul but found his way back into the light with help from a certain princess. After helping to save the Crystal Empire he left with his childhood friend Radiant Hope and was quickly joined by Gentleman Thief.

Long ago the Crystal Empire was ruled over by Princess Amore. But Sombra, blinded by anger, turned her into a statue and scattered the pieces. She never really died but could never become herself if the pieces were scattered. The trio searched for the pieces and after finding them all, returned to the Crystal Empire believing she should be revived there.

"This adventure has proven quite eye-opening for us; it's rather bittersweet for the journey on the verge of concluding," Gentleman Thief said.

"I kind of wanted to travel a little more too," Hope said. They made their way right to the center of the empire and put the pieces together and at long last, Princess Amore was revived. Needless to say, the ponies were shocked and amazed to see that.

"If it's needless to say why did you?" Discord asked.

Who's telling the story here?

"Fine, never mind go on."

Princess Amore came to her senses and the 1st pony she saw was Sombra. Sombra tried to say something but was choked up upon seeing her again and actually started to tear up and he fell to his knees. Princess Amore saw that and pulled him into a hug as he continued to cry.

"I'm so sorry!"

"It's all right."

"How can you say that princess I almost killed you? I enslaved the crystal ponies."

"You were a lost soul, but you came back into the light, you saved the empire from your own kind and searched high and low for my pieces." Hearing that made Sombra stand up and wipe the tears from his eye.

"Even then, how could you forgive me?"

"Sombra, I was never mad at you. If anything I was mad at myself for not telling you the truth earlier. I thought I was protecting you but I should have told you to try and convince you that you could be better."

"All that and more your highness," Hope said. "Sombra's turned into 1 heck of a stallion."

"Yes and I'd imagine having somepony like you for a friend helped with that. You've made some mistakes as well but you always did what you thought was right, that is truly admirable."

"Thank you so much Princess Amore that means the world coming from you, I've always admired you in fact when I was a filly I looked into the Crystal Heart and saw myself as a beautiful princess which motivated-" Radiant Hope was cut off when Gentleman Thief placed his hoof on her muzzle.

"I believe the fair maiden understands," Gentleman Thief said and then removed his hoof.

"Sorry," Hope said, feeling embarrassed.

"It's quite alright Hope, now then just who might you be my good stallion?"

"Good might not be the accurate term, like Sombra I lost my path. I am descended from crystal knights, 1 fateful night I acquired what I believed to be a shard of legendary figure. I took the mantle of the Gentleman Thief to collect the sum of your pieces. But along the way my path became more wicked and only when I saw the depths the individual I followed would go to I sought to redeem myself.

"My my, such an impressive vocabulary you have there."

"Thank you, I seek to redeem my actions," Gentleman Thief said as he approached Princess Amore and bowed before her. "If necessary I vow to serve under you for the remainder of my days if that is what I must do to make up for what I've done."

"I see well I suppose if you pass the requirements I could use a knight."

“He’s more than qualified,” Hope said. “He already found half your pieces when we teamed up.”

“Well…I had a little help.”

"Well before we get to the whole knight thing, what are we going to do with Princess Amore?" Shining Armor asked who recently arrived with Cadance. "I mean she used to run the Crystal Empire but now we run it so what's she going to do?"

"Well I think we can work something out," Cadance said as the screen went black again.

***

"Again it kind of goes on from there. Something about how Cadance and Shining Armor run the Crystal Empire but Amore runs it too like how sun butt and moon pie run things or, I don't know politics bore me. And we have 1 before we end this countdown and it’s fitting to end on this one because this one is also about an ending."

***

Sunset Shimmer and her friends were all dressed in black robes and gathered together for after what felt like a lifetime, she and her friends were graduating.

"I can't believe this is actually happening," Sunset said as she thought back on all the things she'd been through before giving a speech as valedictorian. Twilight probably would have gotten it but she wasn't at Canterlot High as long as Sunset.

"Butterflies in your stomach Sunset," Fluttershy asked.

"A little but I'll be alright." Sunset answered shortly before she got up to talk to the graduating class that was when things moved faster than usual.

"Yeah I'm just gonna fast forward through the speech," Discord said. "You know the drill she was alone and isolated, gave into her darker natures but the magic of friendship and blah blah blah, you've heard it a million times." Things resumed as usual as the mane 7 were hanging out at the café discussing what should come next while having some donuts.

"Wow this feels like the end of an era," Rainbow Dash said.

"Or the start of an even better one," Pinkie Pie added.

"So Sunset," Applejack said before pausing. "Now that yer outta school are ya going to head back to Equestria for good?"

"I, I'm not sure I haven't really been thinking about it. But whatever happens I want all of us to stick together. I know that's going to be hard with pretty much all of us doing different things and going different places but," Sunset paused as she was tearing up a little bit. "But I love you guys." Hearing that Sunset's friends got up to give her a group hug even Spike.

"Oh Sunset we love you too," Rarity said as she and the others cried a bit.

"You know I could figure out some way that we could all stay together," Twilight said. "Maybe we could still do our things but get together like maybe once a month."

"That would be great," Spike said. "Best friends forever."

"Best friends forever!" The mane 7 said all together as they all hugged each other even tighter.

***

"And with that we've reached the end of my top 10 and the chapter I hoped you all enjoyed it and-"

"Discord!" Twilight called out unknowingly interrupting Discord.

"Twilight, what do I owe this surprise?"

"I came to ask you for help on the final touches of my coronation. I've been here for a while calling out. Were you watching a top 10 thing you put together again?"

"Call it a unique hobby and I might make a new one, the top 10 great things we'll do when you're in charge."

Author's Notes:

9 and 8 are ideas adapted from once again the comics as well as Princess Amore who I hope we see again in the season 10 comics. 7 was from an Equestria Girls Holiday Special man does MLP have a lot of those. Number 1 was kind of something I wished they did for the last Equestria Girls special that would have made sense right?

Discord: Hold on a second you don't end my chapter you stop it out of nowhere?
Pioneer of Imagination: Discord what are you doing here?
Discord: Wondering why you didn't end my chapter instead of stopping it.
Pioneer of Imagination: Look the chapter was almost 10,000 words long and I have other projects to do give me a break!
Discord: Fine.

Anyway good news and bad news the good news is there's only 3 chapters left of Super Stallion the bad news is I'm going on hiatus.

Discord: Again!?

Yes again I have those other projects remember? I got to get to some other fanfictions I've been meaning to get to and I want to find an editor to help me make the finale as good as I can then like the show I'll bring out the last 3 all at once it may take a while cause I want to finish some other ideas but hopefully I'll make it worth the wait.

Discord: Yes it's going to be great, you're going to get to something worth the wait, the death of Super Stallion.
Pioneer of Imagination: DUDE!
Discord: What?

The Final Battle Part 1

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Grogar, after abandoning the secret lair that he recently buried underground, looked for a new place to set his plans of revenge in motion. Along the way he was surprised by a creature that wanted to form an alliance with him.

“I must admit, I was quite hesitant to join you considering my recent alliance didn’t work out. Long story short I trapped them in stone for all eternity.”

“I see, but hearing that tells me you have the resolve to get the job done.”

“Yes,” Grogar agreed. “I will stop at nothing. With you and what you’re offering I can go far beyond than I thought I ever could. For reasons I already explained I don’t entirely trust you, but this plan of yours is just too good to pass up,” Grogar said.

“Well that’s good to hear, so we have a deal?”

“Of course,” Grogar answered.

“Then where should we start? Or perhaps a better question should be how we start? It could be tricky with just the 2 of us.”

“Not to worry, I know a few more candidates to add to our group,” Grogar answered as he smiled a wicked smile.

***

At the castle Stone Wall had introduced Sapphire Shores to Cozy Glow who to her surprise pulled her into a hug. "Oh you are so adorable!" Sapphire said.

"Oh golly," Cozy said. "I get a new daddy and he's dating the pony of pop. I love your music."

"Really?" Sapphire asked as she stopped hugging Cozy Glow. "Well I was going to some vocal practice. Wanna join me?"

"Sure," Cozy answered. She waved goodbye to Stone Wall who waved as well before walking off with Sapphire.

"I think Cozy is a good match for you," Squeaky, who was joined by Swift Sweep and Star Swirl said.

"Plus she's an alicorn," Swift Sweep said. "She might be really helpful in the fight with Grogar."

“Yes but remember she is still just a filly,” Star Swirl added. “She’ll need guidance, and she’ll push you to your limits if you aren’t careful.”

“I’m guessing you’re speaking from experience?” Squeaky asked.

“I thought trying to unlock the mysteries of magic would be my greatest challenge. It was nothing compared to being a parent.”

“But speaking of the mysteries of magic,” Squeaky said. “What do you think the magic that ghost alicorn gave to the sphere was exactly?”

“Well based on the very limited information I have to work with, I’d say it’s based on connections or combining things,” Star Swirl answered. “I wouldn’t worry too much about it though, I’m sure you can figure it out when you need to.”

“Or maybe Stone Wall can,” Squeaky said.

“Excuse me?” Stone Wall asked and then suddenly Squeaky offered his sphere to Stone Wall. “What are you doing?”

“I think the right term would be passing the torch,” Squeaky answered. “Celestia will be retiring soon, and I’ll be joining her. But that doesn’t mean Super Stallion should.”

“Are you sure about something like this?” Star Swirl asked. “Perhaps you should give this a little more thought.”

“Yeah,” Swift Sweep agreed. “You’re giving up being a superhero. Who would want to give up being a superhero? I mean besides superheroes.”

“I’ve actually thought about this for a while now. The sphere doesn’t take long to get used to, and you were always such a strong pony. You’d probably be a better superhero than I was.”

“...No I wouldn’t, so I can’t take your mantle,” Stone Wall answered.

“What?” Squeaky asked, surprised. “But why?”

“Yeah why?” Swift Sweep asked.

“I am rather curious as well,” Star Swirl said.

“You were the one that found that sphere, or perhaps it found you. You were the one that was meant to be a superhero not me. Because you have the heart of one.”

“What are you talking about?” Swift Sweep asked when suddenly Spike and Shining Armor burst into the room with Twilight not far behind.

“HEY STALLIONS!” Shining Armor called out with a huge smile on his face. “Look what I have!”

“It’s here it’s here it’s finally here!” Spike said as he was jumping up and down.

“What’s here?” Star Swirl asked.

“Power Ponies issue number 100,” Twilight answered. Hearing that Swift Sweep and Squeaky Clean ran over to look at the comic. “I found it at the bookstore and thought you’d all like to give it a read.”

“Well you’re right on that,” Squeaky said. “This is the last in the series.”

“Wasn’t that supposed to come out forever ago?” Stone Wall asked.

“Yeah,” Spike answered. “But the writer took an insanely long hiatus to work on some other projects. One that's a wrap up to another story, plus this one short story that was really out there but had a fun adventure with good romantic elements.”

“He also made that band of misfits story,” Swift Sweep said.

“Oh yeah that was really good,” Spike said. “He hinted that the story was going to get a sequel and I really hope that’s true, I love all those crazy characters.”

“The writer that made all those also wrote that trilogy of trilogies didn’t he?” Stone Wall asked. “I found those to be rather interesting reads.”

“Really?” Squeaky asked. “I mean they weren’t horrible but all those stories were just a bunch of misery with a bittersweet ending. Plus that weird romantic element that came completely out of left field.”

“True,” Stone Wall said. “But they also had heavy themes about redemption, and hopefully that’s something you can learn from.”

“...Oh,” Squeaky replied. “I see.”

“Well, I think that’s a really good way to look at it,” Swift Sweep said. “Even without the metaphor about the failures and disappointments of your past.”

Shortly after that Princess Celestia walked in. “Hello Twilight, feel like going on a little trip with me?”

“Of course,” Twilight said with excitement. “Where are we going?”

“The Crystal Empire,” Celestia answered. “I’m just going to have a chat with Princess Amore about how things have changed since her absence as a ruler. I thought it might be a good idea to have you there since you’ll be a ruler too very soon.”

“A trip to the Crystal Empire, that would be great. I can see Flurry Heart again.”

“Take a group of guards with you,” Stone Wall said.

“Of course,” Princess Celestia said to please her captain.

"And a scarf," Star Swirl added. "It can get cold at the Crystal Empire."

Celestia laughed a bit. "You still consider me your daughter. Even after Luna and I learned who our birth parents are."

"That changes nothing," Star Swirl said as he approached then hugged Princess Celestia. "You are my daughter, you will always be my daughter."

After getting some guards together, and a scarf, Princess Celestia and Princess Twilight flew out of the nearby window while the others took a look at the recent comic.

“So Princess Celestia,” Twilight asked when they were up in the air with the guards not too far behind.

“Yes Twilight,” Princess Celestia answered.

“Shouldn’t Princess Luna be coming as well?”

“...Yes. But, well she’s been avoiding me a lot lately.”

“Really? What did you do?”

“Why do you assume it’s my fault?!” Princess Celestia said defensively.

“Well is it?”

“…Yes. We got into a fight and…I said some things that I shouldn’t have. I really need to make it up to her.”

“Maybe just give her some space. That might be enough.”

“I hope so, I’d really prefer not to go into retirement with her still mad at me.”

***

“Thank you so much,” Princess Amore said after their chat. “I really appreciate all the help you’ve given me since I returned. As well as from my friends.” Princess Amore then gestured to the other 2 princesses to look over to the right who saw Gentleman Thief who had recently become a knight and was going by his real name again, Shard Seeker. Along with Clover the Clever and-

“SUNSET!” Princess Celestia yelled the moment she saw her old student.

After graduating Sunset came to visit Equestria for a while thinking it might help her figure out what to do next. She decided to visit the Crystal Empire yet again and was welcomed by Princess Amore after Sunset mentioned she used to be the student of Princess Celestia.

“Uh, hello,” Sunset said, unsure how else to reply.

Princess Celestia surprised Sunset Shimmer with another hug. “Are you doing alright?”

“Yes,” she replied. “Just seeing the sights.”

“Twilight you can go back now if you want, I’m going to catch up with Sunset.”

“You really don’t,” Sunset said as she tried to walk off.

“Nonsense,” Princess Celestia said. “We have so much time to make up for.”

“Twilight, would you like to come with me? I’m going to talk with Hope and Sombra.”

“That would be nice, thank you,” Twilight said before walking off with Princess Amore and Shard Seeker.

“What are you going to talk to Hope and Sombra about Princess Amore?” Twilight asked.

“Oh nothing really,” Princess Amore answered. “I just wanted to get away from those 2.”

“But why?”

“Isn’t it obvious Princess Twilight?” Princess Amore asked. “There is a lot of tension between those 2.”

As the others walked off Princess Celestia got on her knees to talk to Sunset eye to eye. “I know I already said this, but I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to push you away, not a day goes by that I don’t think about how things ended between us.”

Sunset didn’t say anything.

“Sunset, I want us to be close again. If there are still issues we need to talk about, I’m all ears.”

“How long?” Sunset asked.

“What?” Celestia asked.

Suddenly a bubble of silence appeared around the 2 ponies. “HOW LONG DID YOU WAIT UNTIL YOU REPLACED ME!” Sunset screamed at the top of her lungs. Princess Celestia was so blown back by the shock, she backed up to the edge of the bubble. “A week?! A day!?”

“Sunset, it wasn't like that.”

“You always said I was special, you said I could be a truly great pony. But after 1 fight, 1 fight after years of loyalty, you cast me out for somepony else.”

“I never meant to hurt you,” Celestia said. Sunset then popped the bubble and stormed off. Celestia decided to head back to Canterlot on her own and a few guards, she wanted to say more but that would have to wait.

***

“Wow,” Spike said as his group finished reading Power Ponies 100. “What an incredible ending.”

“Totally worth the wait,” Swift Sweep said.

“I know,” Squeaky agreed. “Every character arc got a good resolution, every major question got answered, every loose end tied up. Great endings don’t come much better than that.”

“Yes, I rather enjoyed it as well,” Stone Wall said with a smile.

“Kind of sad that the story finally came to an end though,” Squeaky said.

“Yeah,” Swift Sweep replied. “But that’s okay, that just means we make room for other stories.”

Squeaky then looked at the window. “Hey, do you think the princesses have been gone too long?”

“Perhaps,” Stone Wall answered. “Why do you ask?”

“I don’t know, I just got a bad feeling. I guess it couldn’t hurt to check.” Squeaky then changed into Super Stallion and suddenly he put his hooves to his ears. Twilight, still in the Crystal Empire, was pressing the button on her special bracelet like crazy.

“What’s wrong?” Stone Wall asked.

“I don’t know,” Super Stallion answered as he took his hooves out of his ears. “But I’m going to find out.” Super Stallion then flew off and in no time made it to the Crystal Empire and was shocked. An army of rogues were attacking the Crystal Empire, some of which Super Stallion recognized right away.

“Tirek? The Storm King? Nightmare Moon? But how can this be?” Super Stallion asked. “Better ask questions later.” Super Stallion then flew down, taking down the rogues left and right.

“Who the heck is this guy?” Tirek asked as he managed to get back up.

“Have you forgotten the beatings I already gave you Tirek?”

“What are you talking about?” Tirek asked. “I’ve never seen you before.”

“What?”

“Seriously, who is this guy?” Chrysalis asked.

“Well whoever he is, let's take him down,” Sombra said.

“Sombra?” Super Stallion asked. “But I thought you were a good stallion now.”

“I am,” Sombra said, who was with Hope, Shard, and Princess Amore. Super Stallion turned and saw him and was even more confused.

“What the? How can there be 2 Sombras?”

“Quite the sight, isn’t it?” Grogar said as he made himself known. “Super Stallion I presume.”

“And you must be the father of monsters himself, Grogar.”

“Yes and-”

“Talk later, beat you up now,” Super Stallion interrupted and then charged at Grogar. However Grogar blocked him with a barrier around his entire body inches away from it.

“I had a feeling you would attack me right out of the blue so I placed a protective barrier around myself for just such an occasion,” Grogar said with a smug smile.

“You know from this close up I can see you help very healthy teeth,” Super Stallion said with his face still against his Grogar’s barrier.

“I’ve been watching you and the other ponies for a while. You may have won against all the other obstacles in the past, but you’ll find defeating me to be much more challenging.” Grogar then expanded the barrier forcing Super Stallion back.

“Nice work,” a figure from behind Grogar said. “You really ragdolled that stallion.”

“Lead the attack on the Crystal Empire. I’ll keep him busy.” Grogar then leaped over to where Super Stallion was who got back up and shook his head.

“Okay you curled horned bull-”

“I’m a ram.”

“Whatever. Let’s see you try something like that again.”

“As you wish.” Grogar then sucker punched Super Stallion with a magic construct hammer that sent him flying.

“Well, that was something new,” Discord said after grabbing Super Stallion.

“Discord?” Super Stallion asked as he came to his senses. “What are you doing here?”

“I told you I wanted to be more involved and that’s what I’m doing. Here.” Discord put a sticker on Super Stallion’s uniform that dissolved into it.

“What was that?” Super Stallion asked.

“Something to protect you from the Bewitching Bell, so Grogar can’t just take your magic.” Discord then flew down to meet the father of monsters.

“So at long last we meet again, Discord,” Grogar said.

“Hello, father.”

“WHAT?!?!?” Super Stallion asked as he got back up. “That ram is your father?!”

“Yeah too bad we just started the chapter, that would make a really good cliffhanger.”

“He was meant to be my greatest creation, instead he became the ultimate disappointment.”

“Yeah well what are you going to do?” Discord asked.

“I was actually kind of hoping you’d ask that,” Grogar said to his son. “I arranged a little reunion.”

Suddenly a chill ran down Discord’s spine and he didn’t know why. Until a creature out of a nightmare and from his past rose from right behind Grogar and gave Discord the mother of all death glares. “Cosmos.”

“That’s right my dear Discord,” the creature said. “It’s so wonderful to see you again. Let’s spend a little quality time together.”

“Uh yeah, let’s not and say we did,” Discord said as he took a step back that Super Stallion noticed.

Wait, is he scared of her. Super Stallion thought to himself.

“Oh, but I want so badly to get my claws on you,” Cosmos said.

“Discord,” Super Stallion said. “Who is this…lady exactly?”

“Her name is Cosmos,” Discord answered. “She and I used to date, but we went through quite a nasty breakup.”

“You turned me into a star constellation,” Cosmos said. “Grogar had to go through quite a lot of trouble to free me and store my magic in these amulets on me. Don’t know why you wasted so much time with useless leftover rogues when you could have just used me.”

“I wanted to use every resource I could use.”

“Well all you need is me,” Cosmos replied. “I can take over this entire empire by myself. But first, my quality time.” Cosmos then lunged at Discord and the 2 quickly vanished, leaving Super Stallion alone with Grogar.

Or so he thought.

“Since you got to meet Cosmos, perhaps it’s only fair that I introduce you to my other associate, Super Stallion.”

“Well villains do love to monologue, who am I to break that cliche.”

Suddenly Super Stallion saw a storm creature and yet another unusual creature. “On my left is Clover, a storm creature that a while back was part of a group known as the Fearsome Foursome.”

“The Fearsome what?” Super Stallion asked with a laugh.

“Yes I know, it’s stupid,” Grogar said.

Clover huffed. “We were a team, but they all left me. Heart had a change of, well you know. Then Spade was convinced to join the royal guard after his sentence and even Diamond left to join a band of bird pirates. I was lost and hope forsaken, but Grogar freed me and gave me a chance to make a name for myself.”

“Yes, I found him and took him by my side. I know what it's like to be betrayed and abandoned,” Grogar said. “On my right is the one that helped but this entire invasion, Princess Eris.”

“So what’s your story?” Super Stallion asked as he turned to a tall female draconequus.

“I’m Discord’s cousin,” Princess Eris answered.

“And everything horrible just keeps coming back to him,” Super Stallion said with a huff.

“I’m his cousin, but I’m not the cousin of the Discord you know,” Eris continued.

“Come again?”

“I’m from an alternate universe.”

Suddenly Super Stallion recalled the other rogues he took down earlier. “Those villains are from alternate dimensions that you gathered together for an army.”

“Yes,” Eris answered. “How sharp of you to put that together so quickly.”

“Well it was kind of obvious with the alternate universe line,” Clover said.

“And let me guess,” Super Stallion said. “You’re telling me all this because you’re that confident that I won’t be able to stop you.”

“Correct again,” Grogar said.

“Well let me prove you wrong,” Super Stallion said as he charged at Grogar only to be stopped once again by the barrier. “Right, the barrier. Forgot.”

“This is the big threat you were so worried about?” Eris asked.

“I just got this fight off on the wrong foot.”

“And that’s how you’re going to end this fight as well,” Grogar said.

“Oh you are so macho,” Super Stallion said as he pulled his face off the barrier. “I can’t wait to pound that out of you.”

“You’ll die trying,” Grogar said as he got his Bewitching Bell ready but nothing happened. “What the?”

“Nice try but Discord took precautions so your bell isn’t going to work on me.” Super Stallion then started to punch the barrier like crazy and in no time at all broke it.

“What the?” Eris asked, shocked. “But how?”

“Got any more tricks you want to try out?”

“Oh I’m just getting warmed up,” Grogar said as he blasted Super Stallion dead on and forced him back. “I’ll deal with Super Stallion, you put the rest of our plan in motion.”

“Uh right,” Eris said. “Good plan.” Princess Eris then ran off as Super Stallion got back up.

“You definitely pack a mean punch. I shouldn’t expect anything less from the father of monsters.” Super Stallion flew at Grogar but surprised him by going around and blasted him from behind.

“How surprisingly sneaky of you,” Grogar said.

“Well attacking head on didn’t work so I had to try something else.”

“Well, let's see if you can do that with a lot more targets.” Suddenly Grogar made a lot more versions of himself appear around Super Stallion.

“Well, either you found other versions of you from alternate universes or-” Super Stallion flew around attacking the various Grogars. Each of which disappeared the moment he attacked them. Until he got to the real one who was forced back from the punch. “They’re all fakes.”

“Eris was right, you are sharp. But that won’t be enough to stop me.” Grogar fired a beam that Super Stallion dodged only to get hit by it anyway since it turned around and hit him in the back. “1 good sneak attack deserves another.”

“That actually packed quite a hit, chaos magic.”

“I was the one that created Discord after all.”

“No matter, I’ve endured chaos magic before I can do it again.”

“You’ve only managed to do that because of the Elements of Harmony which came from the Tree of Harmony. Both of which were destroyed by the Storm King.”

“Well, that’s only…I hate it when the bad guys make good points.” Grogar then charged at Super Stallion and rammed him through several buildings. “Wow those horns of yours deal quite some damage.”

“I’ve been planning this for a long time. I’ve readied my body as well as my mind, all for 1 thing, taking you down.”

Grogar and Super Stallion charged at each other and their clash caused a minor quake. “Why are you so focused on just taking me down?” Super Stallion asked as he and Grogar tried to push each other back.

“Because you have become a symbol of hope,” Grogar answered as he managed to push Super Stallion back a little bit. “With you defeated all that hope will be crumbled into dust and Equestria shall be all the more easier to conquer.”

“Ponies are stronger than you give them credit for,” Super Stallion said as he pushed Grogar back a little bit.

“Not without hope, for without hope there is only fear. And I do so love fear.”

“And I thought Discord had issues, I guess the orange doesn’t fall far from the tree.”

“Don’t you mean apple?”

“Orange just felt right.” Super Stallion and Grogar struggled more to push each other back.

“It seems that we are evenly matched,” Grogar said.

“Well now,” Super Stallion said before going into hyper mode, shocking Grogar. “I wouldn’t say that.”

Grogar was forced to the other side of the Crystal Empire with 1 blast. Despite that he still managed to stand on his hooves. “As usual hope isn’t so easy to break.”

“When you try to break it, it only gets stronger,” Super Stallion said as he hovered over Grogar.

“But when you do manage to break it, that makes it all the easier for fear to spread.”

“Well you won’t be spreading it here,” Super Stallion said. “You’re completely outmatched now that I’m using my hyper mode.”

“Yes, ironic isn’t it? We were both holding back.”

“What?” Super Stallion asked as a bit of fear made its way into his heart. Suddenly Grogar was surrounded by shadows and he quickly emerged out of them revealing his new form. Grogar was bipedal with a beard and his horns went from round to hook like hanging over his head.

“Now,” Grogar said. “Let’s try this again shall we?”

Super Stallion was punched so hard he fell to the other side of the Crystal Empire and even further back.

“He has a hyper mode too?! And here I was thinking that fighting the creature that became the source of generations of nightmares and frightening fairy tales would be easy,” Super Stallion said as he got back up to see Grogar was right there.

“Give up or are you hungry for more?”

“Does this answer your question?” Super Stallion said as he blasted Grogar with the strongest magical beam he could muster right in his chest. However Grogar endured it and concentrated chaos magic into his fist and punched Super Stallion in the gut.

“Yes,” Grogar answered right before he sent Super Stallion flying again.

Super Stallion managed to regain himself while up in the air and saw that the Crystal Empire was in quite the disarray from the army from alternate universes. “This doesn’t look good. I better stop Grogar now and help the crystal ponies force this army back.”

“Easier said than done,” Grogar said as he flew over to Super Stallion. “I've pushed myself to my limits and beyond all for the sake of 1 thing and 1 thing alone, revenge.”

“But why take revenge on the Crystal Empire? They had nothing to do with what happened to you.”

“Well then I suppose it’s about 2 things,” Grogar answered. “Revenge and control. When the Crystal Empire is taken out, it’ll be that much easier for us to take control of Equestria. And after that I can move on to every Equestria throughout space and time. Everything will be under my control.”

“Don’t count your chickens before they hatch. You’re not taking over everything as long as I’m around.”

“A problem that I’m planning to fix, right now.”

Super Stallion and Grogar then fired beams of magic at each other and they started to clash. Once again the ground, despite the battle being so far above it, started shaking from the battle of these juggernauts of power.

“You won’t win,” Super Stallion said as he charged his beam forward. So much it nearly hit Grogar.

“Does it scare you?” Grogar asked calmly despite the energy blast being mere inches away from him.

“What?” Super Stallion asked as he tried to push the blast forward.

“The fact that you can’t beat me.”

“You haven’t won yet.”

“It’s only a matter of time.” Suddenly images flashed before Super Stallion’s eyes. He saw his friends laying on the ground with Grogar on top of them. He saw Canterlot castle crumble into pieces and a dark castle taking its place.

“What’s going on?” Super Stallion asked, not knowing that his beam was getting pushed back.

“You’re seeing what I’m going to do to this land you ponies took from me,” Grogar answered.

“This was never your land, it always belonged to ponies. You just randomly declared yourself emperor of all you saw, seriously who does that?!”

“I did that,” Grogar answered as his magic beam pushed forward more. “I swore that I would take back what was mine no matter what.” Grogar’s beam then pushed forward even more. “Does that frighten you?”

“What?”

“Losing to me, Equestria being under my control once again, everything you fought so hard for was for nothing.”

“I’m not scared of you.”

“But they are,” Grogar said as he looked down at the Crystal Empire. The copies of Grogar were relentless in their attack. What little resistance they offered was quickly dealt with and the crystal ponies were in utter terror. “I can feel it from up here.”

“Feel what?”

“The fear,” Grogar answered. “That’s what makes controlling other creatures so easy. Fear is absolute, fear is infinite, fear is power.” Super Stallion found himself trembling and suddenly Grogar’s beam forced his way right into Super Stallion and forced him into the ground as Grogar laughed wickedly.

“No,” Super Stallion said after his hyper mode faded away he plummeted and made the biggest crater he has ever made in a fight. As he picked himself up he recalled his fight with Discord all those years ago. “Like father, like son.”

Suddenly as if on cue Discord after finally managing to get away from Cosmos appeared next to Super Stallion. “We have to get out of here,” Discord said.

“What?” Super Stallion asked. “But the Crystal Empire-”

“Neither of us are in any condition to fight and we definitely won’t help if we get captured.”

“But there has to be something we can do.”

“There is. We can run away.”

“But-”

“He who turns and runs away can live to fight another day.”

“...Alright,” Super Stallion said after swallowing his pride for a little bit. “Get us out of here.”

“I was going to do that anyway,” Discord said as he teleported Super Stallion away. He then saw Cosmos again and ran off as Grogar dropped down.

“Got away?” Grogar asked as he looked around and saw no trance of the superhero. “No matter, fear has sunk in. He will fall like all the others.”

***

Princess Celestia was alone in her chambers finishing the last few things on her to-do list before she could finally retire. As she left she saw her sister Princess Luna walking down the hall. “Oh hello Luna-” was all she could say before Luna turned around and proceeded down the other way. Before Princess Celestia could go after her Super Stallion appeared next to her.

“Oh my everything,” Super Stallion said as he was on the floor.

“Super Stallion?” Princess Celestia said as she ran over to pick Super Stallion up a little. “What happened?”

“Let’s just say that the whole helping the Crystal Empire went wrong, horribly wrong.”

Princess Celestia quickly took Super Stallion inside her chambers to put him on their bed. Once inside Squeaky Clean took the sphere off and quickly explained to Celestia what happened when he went to the Crystal Empire. “Wow, you had it rough.”

“Yeah, and that would be putting it mildly,” Squeaky said.

“But what about Twilight?” Celestia asked.

“Oh my gosh!” Squeaky said as he stood on top of the bed. “Twilight, she was still in the Crystal Empire when Grogar attacked.” Squeaky then ran towards the door and gestured to his wife to follow. “Come on, we gotta get a group back together and back there.”

Suddenly Squeaky threw the chamber doors open and was shocked to see Twilight Sparkle just on the other side. “Uh hello.”

“Twilight?” Squeaky said as Celestia joined him. “I thought you were in the Crystal Empire.”

“I was,” Twilight answered. “But Discord helped us escape.”

“Us?” Celestia asked and Twilight moved to show the others she was with when Discord got her out of the Crystal Empire. Princess Amore, Clover the clever, the reformed Sombra, his friend Hope, Shard the knight, Sunset Shimmer, Shining Armor, Cadance, and Flurry Heart.

“Discord was able to help us get out and then he said he went to help Super Stallion,” Twilight said.

“That’s the 1 thing I don’t get,” Princess Celestia said. “Shouldn’t Discord have been able to handle most of the invasion?” Suddenly as if on cue, again. Discord appeared out of breath and barely able to walk. “Discord?”

“I DON’T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT CELESTIA!” Discord said as he walked off and Twilight ran after to try to help him.

“Sunset, do you know what happened-”

“I’m gonna go help Twilight,” Sunset interrupted and then followed Twilight.

“That was the worst offscreen or rather offchapter fight I’ve ever been in,” Discord said with a groan as he collapsed to the ground. Suddenly a bed appeared, including a blanket and pillow.

“Wow,” Sunset said. “That was impressive.”

“Thanks,” Twilight replied. “Just a little chaos magic.”

“So what should we do?”

“We should go talk to Princess Celestia about what happened.”

“Uhh,” Sunset said as her eyes started to go back and forth.

“Or I could just talk to her.”

“Yes please.”

***

Princess Celestia had the group come together along with Princess Luna, Star Swirl the Bearded, Cozy Glow, Stone Wall who was surprised Flurry Heart didn’t hug his face, and Spike. News of the attack reached even the Dragon Lands so he came by right away and was glad to see Twilight was alright. There they tried to think of a plan on how to stop Grogar.

“Are you sure Grogar didn’t mention anything about a weakness his bell might have had?” Clover asked.

“For the 3rd time, yes,” Cozy Glow answered. “All I know is that it can take and store magic, can’t be destroyed, and can’t be used on Grogar.”

“Something I don’t understand is why would Grogar lead such a crazy attack,” Shining Armor said. “It didn’t seem like a planned out way to attack enemy territory. He made copies of himself and they were just attacking randomly.”

“It’s because he wanted the crystal ponies to be afraid,” Princess Amore said. “He wants all of us to be afraid. Wherever he finds fear he grows stronger.”

“She’s right,” Celestia said. “The same way a strong friendship can create magic, a shared fear feeds strength to whatever is feared.”

“Well we’re not scared,” Swift Sweep said.

“We’re not?” Cozy asked.

“No, because we all haven’t worked hard to maintain balance and harmony just for some creature to take all that away,” Swift continued. “Even if it is the father of monsters.”

“Well said Prince Swift Sweep,” Stone Wall said. “But we’re going to need a plan on how to take down Grogar. Any ideas?”

“Well…What about the Isle of the Ancients?” Cozy Glow suggested. “That’s where he was born wasn’t he? Maybe if we go there we can find some sort of clue on how to stop him.”

“That’s not a bad idea,” Stone Wall said. “But if we all go, it’s going to be hard to protect Equestria.”

“I could just go myself,” Cozy said. “It would probably just be faster anyway.”

“Perhaps but somepony should go with you all the same.”

“I could go,” Princess Amore said. “I’d really like to explore a place I thought only existed in legend.”

“Then maybe I should escort you as well,” Shard said.

“Alright,” Princess Amore said. “The 3 of us should be more than enough.”

“Speaking of places beyond Equestria,” Twilight said. “Perhaps we should ask for help from the changelings and the hippogriffs. Their unique powers might be able to prove useful to us.”

“And I bet I can convince quite a few dragons to help us out,” Spike said.

“That’s not a bad idea,” Princess Luna said.

“And I can go beyond that by going to get my friends,” Sunset said. “Our magic would be quite useful.”

“Those are all good ideas,” Squeaky said. “Anypony else have any ideas?”

“I think I should look into how the enemy brought more enemies from other universes,” Star Swirl said. “Maybe if I figure out how they brought them here, I can figure out how to put them back.”

“That would really help dwindle their numbers,” Hope said. “Plus we managed to grab the crystal heart before we were teleported here. It might prove useful here.”

“It might be a little tricky, but we can probably think of something,” Sombra said.

“Well alright,” Squeaky said. “Let’s get to work on all of these ideas, the more we have to throw at Grogar the better.”

The group then went their separate ways preparing for the fight to come. Star Swirl went to study his notes and then suddenly Swift Sweep ran over to join him. “Hey Star Swirl, do you mind if I join you?”

“Not at all,” Star Swirl answered. “But may I ask why?”

“Yes you may.”

An awkward silence passed.

Star Swirl huffed. “Why?”

“Well all that talk about enemies from different dimensions gave me an idea on something we can try that could help us get the edge.”

As the 2 walked off the only ones that stayed were Sombra and Hope to discuss what to do with the heart. As they talked Spike joined them to their surprise. “Maybe you can sneak back into the Crystal Empire and use the heart to force Grogar back and then we can rally the crystal ponies. With me there it could be easy right?”

“I suppose that’s 1 idea,” Hope said.

“Yeah but before we do that,” Sombra said as he faced Spike. “Since I have the chance to say this, sorry about the whole almost killing you with that curse a while back.

Another awkward silence passed.

“An-d you made it awkward,” Hope said.

***

“What do you mean they got away with the Crystal Heart?” Grogar asked Clover while they and Cosmos were in the center of the Crystal Empire.

“Uh, what do you think he means boss?” Cosmos asked.

“I told you to go for the heart first,” Grogar said. “I told both of you, every symbol of hope must be destroyed. Every chance of victory they have must be crushed.”

“I’m sorry Grogar,” Clover said.

“Can’t we always just crush it later?” Cosmos said as she had a crystal pony wrapped in her tail that was crying out for help.

“Please,” the pony pleaded. “Let me go!”

“But if I did, I couldn’t hear your screams of fear and terror,” Cosmos answered as she grinned a sadistic smile. The crystal pony had to fight the urge to wet himself, mostly because that would probably upset Cosmos.

“So what’s the plan now boss?” Clover asked.

“You ask that as if something has changed,” Grogar replied. “Nothing has, we’re going to press the attack on Canterlot. So get our forces ready, we attack at dawn.”

“Uh isn’t that too early?” Cosmos asked. “I mean it’s already getting rather late so if we attack at dawn we’ll have to get up before dawn. So we aren’t going to get a whole lot of sleep-”

“Alright fine,” Grogar interrupted. “We’ll attack around noon. Is that better?”

“Much better thank you,” Cosmos answered.

***

Back at Canterlot Twilight was with Stone Wall working on protecting the city from an attack everypony was sure was happening. As they were brainstorming, Shining Armor approached his sister and former captain.

“Something on your mind BBBFF?”

“Well I just thought maybe I could help think up a plan? After all, I did help a lot with improving castle security.”

“Appreciate the thought but no,” Stone Wall answered. “Twilight and I have it covered. You should be with your wife and child right now.”

“As much as I’d like to make a plan with you, Shining Armor I think Stone Wall has a point there. But thanks anyway.” Twilight then walked away with Stone Wall leaving Shining Armor all by himself.

“But Twily,” Shining Armor said to himself. “We never get to hang out anymore.” Shining Armor made his way over to his family and to Stone Wall’s surprise they were next greeted by none other than the pony of pop herself, Sapphire Shores.

“Why are you here?” Stone Wall asked. “I mean it’s not that I don’t want you here, I'd love to have you here because…Is there something you needed?”

“I just came to visit,” Sapphire answered as she batted her eyes. “But then when a guard told me you were helping the princess with an upcoming fight with the father of monsters of all things, well needless to say I was worried.”

Stone Wall then looked over at the guard that escorted her to him and Princess Twilight. “I told you and the other guards not to tell the public about Grogar to not cause a panic.” Stone Wall stared furiously and the guard’s throat went dry.

“I wasn’t going to tell her but,” the guard said before pausing. “She wanted to know where you were and she said she could tell I was hiding something and…She promised an autograph. I’m weak captain, I’m weak.”

“Oh my gosh turn down the water works,” Stone Wall replied with an eye roll.

“Don’t be so hard on him,” Sapphire said. “Very few can resist my charms. Including you.”

Stone Wall blushed and turned his head in an attempt to hide it which Twilight, Sapphire, and even the guard laughed at. “Well anyway you can go back to your patrol.”

“Seriously don’t be so hard on him,” Sapphire said as she got behind Stone Wall. “How about a little back rub, that should help you relax.”

“I don’t have time-” Stone Wall stopped as Sapphire started her massage. “Wow, that does feel good.”

Unfortunately Stone Wall wouldn’t get too much time to relax as soon after that Grogar began his attack. Or rather Cosmos began it. “Oh Discord, come out, come out wherever you are,” she said as she wrapped herself nearly around the entire mountain.

“Oh why didn’t I throw her in a black hole?” Discord asked as he was hiding in the castle.

“Why do you hide Discord?” Cosmos asked as her head was right above the royal city. “Why run or hide from this? Don’t you understand? We were literally made for each other!?”

“Excuse me,” Swift Sweep said, which got the attention of Cosmos.

“Uh can I help you little pony? Very little pony.”

“I’m Swift Sweep and listen, I get you and your significant other are having a few issues, but you’re making a scene here.”

“Well suppose you have a point,” Cosmos answered as she shrank down to her regular size. “How about I just make a giant mallet appear and use it to make you as flat as a pancake?”

“Well that sounds rather needlessly hostile don’t you think?”

“Yeah,” Cosmos answered before making the mallet appear. “But that’s why I like the idea.” Cosmos then tried again and again to whack Swift Sweep with the mallet but again and again Swift Sweep dodged.

“Well come on,” Clover called out. “Let’s not let her have all the fun.” The army of rogues then charged Canterlot. Shining Armor tried to use his spell to force them out by Grogar rammed the barrier and smashed it into pieces.

“Forward march,” Grogar called out as he led the army Eris helped gather across space and time.

“So we just attack and wreck the place like last time,” a Tirek from another universe asked.

“Yes,” Grogar answered.

“Alright let’s finish what the Storm King started,” Clover called out ready to wreck the whole city.

“Alright we prepared for this,” Stone Wall called out to the guards. “Have the public evacuated?”

“Everypony except for the pop singer clinging to your legs,” a female guard answered.

“Good,” Stone Wall replied. “On that note, Sapphire let go of my leg.”

The guards couldn’t help but chuckle a bit as she did as Stone Wall asked. “Sorry, I just wanted to hold on to a big strong stallion. Makes a lady feel nice and safe. So what’s the plan?”

“You leave with the rest of the public,” Stone Wall answered. Which made Sapphire wrap herself around Stone Wall.

“Not going to happen,” Sapphire answered. “Mostly because of that.” Sapphire then pointed out the window that showed the army of rogues had already made it near the center of the city.

Stone Wall huffed. “We’re really gonna have our work cut out for us today.” Stone Wall turned to face the royal guard. “LISTEN UP! We’re facing a literal army of evil out there, but you’ve trained and I’ve seen you push yourselves to be your best.”

“Even me?” Zephyr Breeze asked who had recently joined the guard and didn’t quit because Stone Wall wouldn’t let him.

“Yes, the odds are against us, but that never stopped Princess Twilight or Super Stallion. The ladder taught me how important it is to never give up how matter how hopeless it seems. While the former taught me you can accomplish truly amazing things with teamwork.” The guards couldn’t help but be inspired by their captain’s words. “Now get out there, and make me proud.”

The guards then cheered and ran out of the castle like crazy rather surprising the army of rogues which gave them a bit of an advantage. Super Stallion quickly joined the fight ready for a rematch with Grogar, but first saw Cosmos still trying to hit Swift Sweep.

“STAND STILL ALREADY!” Cosmos yelled.

“Uh no thanks,” Swift Sweep replied. “I’ve been hit on the head enough.”

“Well when I want to hit something,” Cosmos paused before making many mallets appear. “I want to hit something.”

Swift Sweep then got out his trusty broom. “Don’t make me have to use this.”

“What are you going to do? Sweep my floor?” Cosmos asked and then suddenly Swift Sweep whacked her right in the face with the broom. Cosmos wanted to counter attack but the dust in the broom got in her eyes as well as her nose, making her eyes run as she sneezed like crazy.

Swift Sweep looked around and saw the guards fighting the rogues. “I think I better make it back to the castle,” he said before flying off.

“Hey come back here,” Cosmos said. Or at least that’s what she would have said if some of the dust hadn’t gone down her throat and she could barely talk from all the coughing.

Super Stallion came down and grabbed Swift Sweep by his shirt and flew him to the castle. “I know you can fly but do you mind if I give you a lift?”

“Not at all, things look serious out here.”

“Yeah, but maybe if I can just take out Grogar the rest will lose morale.”

“Easier said than done,” Grogar said, who had already transformed and had Eris standing next to him. “You will fall, Super Stallion.”

“Do you have any idea how many rogues have already said that to me?” Super Stallion asked.

“They weren’t me,” Grogar replied.

“Wow, that was a great line,” Swift Sweep said.

“By the way,” Eris said. “Grogar has plans after all this. Big plans. Once we take over this world, we’re going to other worlds.” Eris then made portals appear all around Canterlot showing various worlds across the multiverse. “Because why stop at just 1. Just think of all of the chaos. It gives me goosebumps.”

“Yes,” Grogar replied again. “I look forward to it as well.”

“Are you kidding me?” Super Stallion asked. “You’re going to drive the entire multiverse into chaos just for revenge.”

“I told you, it’s not just revenge, it’s control. And there is no better way to control others than through fear. Fear is absolute!”

Suddenly more images appeared in Super Stallion’s as well as in Swift Sweep’s mind. They saw worlds upon worlds falling under Grogar’s control. They saw other versions of Grogar that were joining him. “I-I won’t let this happen,” Super Stallion said.

“What?” Grogar asked.

“I won’t let it happen! I’ll die before I let it happen!” Super Stallion said.

“What?” Grogar asked again. “How can you say that after failing to defeat me last time?”

“Well, it’s like you said. I’m the symbol of hope, what kind of hope symbol would I be if I just gave up.”

“He has a point,” Swift Sweep said.

“It makes no difference to me,” Grogar said. “You will fall soon enough.” Grogar jumped at Super Stallion to punch him. But Super Stallion went into hyper mode and managed to block the punch with a barrier he managed to put up with just his aura and then expanded it, forcing Grogar into the ground.

“Turnabout is fair play,” Super Stallion said as he landed and put Swift Sweep down. “Can you make it back to the castle on your-” Super Stallion was cut off when Grogar came back and stomped his head into the ground.

“Uh we were in the middle of a conversation,” Swift Sweep said. Super Stallion forced himself back up ready to attack. But before he could Grogar blasted him and Swift Sweep point blank forcing them through a building.

“Swift Sweep!” Super Stallion said as he checked on his friend who hit his head on the recently made rubble.

“I understand now,” Swift Sweep said as he opened his eyes and looked at Super Stallion.

“What?” Super Stallion said.

“I understand why Stone Wall said you had the heart of a hero, you didn’t hesitate to fight despite everything.” Swift Sweep then looked over to Grogar who was approaching. “His heart is filled with hate, but your heart is filled with love. Let it guide you.”

“..I will Swift Sweep, thank you.” Super Stallion said as he turned around to face Grogar.

“And don’t worry I can get back to the castle on my own.”

Super Stallion flew straight at Grogar who was so surprised he didn’t counter the hoof right to hit face. Grogar tried to blast him but Super Stallion literally flew circles around him. Super Stallion then bucked Grogar so hard he flew and Super Stallion went after him. Grogar saw Super Stallion approach and they exchanged hits that shook the whole mountain before they were both forced back.

“You won’t win,” Grogar said.

“So you keep saying,” Super Stallion said before flying at Grogar again. Grogar tried to blast him with chaos magic but he endured it and hit Grogar before blasting him point blank. Grogar was barely able to endure it. “What’s the matter, scared?”

“Me? Scared? HOW DARE YOU!” Suddenly Super Stallion was concentrating his rainbow aura to his chest. “What are you doing?”

“You ask a lot of questions, you know that? I’m going to focus all the power I have into 1 shot to take you down.”

“All of it? You’re crazy!”

“Yeah, I guess I am.”

“Fine, I’ll match you on that,” Grogar then concentrated all his power as well.

Super Stallion and Grogar flew at each other before clashing power and then a blinding flash of magic went across the sky.

The Final Battle Part 2

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“Yeah you better run,” A white male pegasus guard said with gusto. “Well we really showed them who's boss.”

“Well it was mostly Super Stallion,” a female guard answered. “But yeah we still played a part in showing them who's boss.”

After Super Stallion and Grogar tried to hit the other with everything they got, Grogar managed to force Super Stallion back. But in doing so he barely had any energy left and was forced to retreat. Seeing that boosted the morale of the guards as they took on the enemy forces.

Discord also helped force them back after delivering a fatal blow to Cosmos and forcing her to retreat as well. They didn’t get far and took base at the foot of the mountain, but that meant the ponies would have time to form a plan.

Super Stallion was taken to the royal chambers of Princess Celestia where he could turn back into Squeaky Clean to rest and recover. “Nothing like a big comfy bed to help get your energy back,” Squeaky said as he was alone with his wife.

“And you’re sure you aren’t all that hurt?” Celestia asked.

“Yeah, just tired.”

“So can you explain what exactly your plan was?”

“Well Swift Sweep told me that my heart was filled with love and that I should let it guide me. So it told me to go all out with Grogar. In the long run it was actually brilliant. I went at him with everything I got and he returned the favor-”

“So even if he beat you he wouldn’t be able to keep fighting,” Celestia said once she put the pieces together.

“I love it when you finish my sentences for me,” Squeaky said as sat feeling a little better. “Still, I can’t believe even in hyper mode the best I could do against Grogar was force him to a draw. He’s strong.”

“We’ll find a way to beat him,” Celestia said as she put her hoof to her husband’s face. Just then Princess Luna knocked and opened the door.

“Squeaky,” Luna said. “I’m sorry to interrupt your recovery, but have you seen Swift Sweep? I can’t find him.”

“You can’t?” Squeaky asked. “I thought he would go straight to you, he was already making his way to the castle the last time I saw him.”

“I see,” Luna replied.

“Well,” Celestia replied. “Maybe I can help you-” she was cut off when Luna closed the door and would make her way down the hall. Celestia wanted to go after her but Squeaky grabbed her leg.

“Give Luna her space, we need to focus.”

“No, I need to focus,” Celestia replied. “You need to rest.”

Meanwhile in the castle Twilight was going over countermeasures with Stone Wall. “So should we look for Grogar and then take out that army?” Twilight asked.

“Might not be a bad idea,” Stone Wall said. “But to tell you the truth, I really want to take out that army. They lost their morale when Grogar ran off so now might be a good time to strike.”

“Not a bad idea, but there’s quite a few trouble makers in that army.”

“Most of which we recognize, so we know their weaknesses.”

“That’s a really good point,” Twilight said. “I think when all this is over, we’re going to make a really good team.”

“I think we already do,” Stone Wall said with a smile.

“Hey Twily,” Shining Armor called out. “Can I talk to you for a bit.”

“Sorry Shining Armor I really can’t talk right now,” Twilight answered before walking off with Stone Wall once again. Shining Armor simply stood there with his thoughts and before long Star Swirl the Bearded arrived.

“I came here to make a plan with Twilight but I take it Twilight has already made one?” Star Swirl asked.

“Yeah,” Shining Armor replied with a sad look in his eyes that Star Swirl couldn’t help but notice.

“Shining Armor.”

“Yes?”

“Is there something you need to talk about?”

“N-No,” Shining Armor answered, a little afraid which he tried to hide.

“I see, alright then.” Star Swirl then made his way elsewhere to put a few plans in place.

***

Cozy Glow, Shard Seeker, and Princess Amore after making their way to the Isle of the Ancients wasted no time in looking around for anything that can help fight the father of monsters.

“I don’t suppose you see some kind of glowing rock or crystal that looks like it could be Grogar’s weakness?” Cozy asked.

“I’m afraid not,” Princess Amore answered. “It’s not going to be that simple young one.”

“It’s a safe bet, either way Grogar will prove a formidable foe,” Shard said.

After a while they came across some stone pillars which they noticed had pictures of a certain ram. “Hey look at this,” Cozy said as she flew up and used her newly acquired horn for a light spell.

“That is something,” Princess Amore said as she approached the pillars.

“They are cravings of Grogar,” Shard said.

“Why would somepony want to tell a story about Grogar through these stone carvings?” Cozy asked.

“It’s not telling a story about Grogar, it’s telling how he was defeated,” Princess Amore answered as she noticed an alicorn figure was also carved into the pillars as well. “That must be Celestia and Luna’s mother. She seems to be using magic to attack him head on.”

“But why is her back turned?” Cozy asked as she noticed the figure of Celestia and Luna’s mother was facing away from Grogar.

“Maybe that’s the secret. Don’t look at him,” Shard suggested.

“So…if we want to beat him we have to hit him head on but we can’t look at him?” Cozy asked, a little confused.

“Like I said, it’s not going to be simple. But we found something useful, so let’s head back.”

“Works for me,” Cozy answered. “Let’s make Grogar suffer,” she added with a sadistic smile that worried Princess Amore and Shard. “Sorry, force of habit.”

***

Grogar after escaping met up with Eris, Cosmos, and Clover to discuss things. “He hit you with a broom?! Are you kidding me?!”

“That is a pretty lame excuse for a creature that can bend reality,” Clover said. This made Cosmos growl at him which made Clover hide behind Grogar. “On the other hand she probably just got-”

“You got careless!” Grogar said. “You let your guard down and that’s how you were outwitted by a simpleton.”

“Yeah,” Clover cried out. Cosmos growled again as he duck and hid behind Grogar. “I’ll be quiet.”

“I miss Cozy Glow,” Grogar said as he recalled she would act in a similar way.

“Maybe we should try a different attack this time around,” Princess Eris said.

“Oh please,” Cosmos said. “I just need to make my way there and those ponies will be at my mercy.”

“Not with Discord there they won’t,” Eris said.

Cosmos growled and Eris hid behind Grogar with Clover.

“Will you 3 quit clowning around!” Grogar ordered. “And you 2 get out of there!” Clover and Eris then got up and moved to Grogar’s side.

“So what’s the plan exactly boss?” Clover asked.

“The plan is fear, wherever I find fear I get stronger. So get those “troops” of ours and attack.”

“Sounds good to me,” Cosmos said.

“Attack where though?” Eris asked.

“Everywhere,” Grogar answered.

“Also works for me,” Cosmos said.

***

Following Grogar’s orders the rogues from other realms spread across the land of Equestria. Doing this caused fear to spread across the land like a plague, making Grogar all the more stronger. Twilight was told about this and got everypony and Spike and Discord together to form a plan.

“Let’s get going!” Rainbow Dash said as she punched the air. “I don’t care what universe they’re from, no bad guy messes with Equestria!” Hearing that the others cheered in agreement.

“I like your moxie,” Stone Wall said. “But we need to be careful. If we send too much backup all around, we can’t hold down Canterlot.”

“So what should we do?” A guard asked.

“Maybe Super Stallion can help,” a female guard suggested.

“He’s still recovering from his fight with Grogar,” Stone Wall said. “He’s out of it now, but trust me, he’ll be back to fight soon enough.”

Twilight paused as she was concerned about what their next move might be. “Okay here’s what we’re gonna do, we’re going to split up our forces.” The others were quite surprised to hear that.

“Are you sure about that?” Princess Luna asked.

“No,” Twilight answered right away. “But we can stand around while other ponies are suffering.”

“I’m with Twilight on this one,” Spike said. “Besides, the more bad guys we take down, the less backup there will be for Grogar.” Twilight with Stone Wall’s help wasted no time in picking who to go where.

As she was doing that, Twilight’s friends got together to see if she was doing okay. “Okay might not be the right word to use her, but I’m managing.”

“I got to say you are handling this rather well,” Stone Wall said.

“Thank you, Stone Wall,” Twilight said. “I think a huge portion of that is because of your help. You’re quite organized.”

“Years of keeping guards in line,” Stone Wall answered. Hearing that Shining Armor couldn’t help but lower his head, but not for long as he had other things on his mind.

Twilight quickly made his way over to Star Swirl after passing Princess Luna who was still looking for Swift Sweep. “So were you able to get all the letters out?”

“No problem,” Star Swirl answered. “If worse comes to worse and it probably will, the countermeasures are in place.”

“Good,” Twilight replied. “Though why do you think worse is going to come to worse?” Star Swirl then whispered something into her and Twilight looked over at her brother who was approaching him.

“Twily I know this might be another bad time, but can Cadance and I talk to you alone for a bit?”

“Sure,” Twilight answered right away. “Let me just talk to Star Swirl in private for a minute and then I’ll meet you 2 in the royal chambers.”

“Okay…Thank you,” Shining Armor replied. Before long Twilight did just as she said and met with her brother and sister in law who hugged her right on the spot.

“Was this all you wanted to see me for?” Twilight asked.

“We’re so sorry Twily,” Shining Armor said.

“We’re so very sorry, Cadance added.

“For what?” Twilight asked when suddenly she was teleported far away from Canterlot and the ponies that needed her guidance. As she looked around she was shocked to see none other than Grogar. “Nevermind.”

“You 2 have done well,” Grogar said. “But it took you long enough.”

“We did what you wanted now-“

“Yes, yes,” Grogar interrupted Shining Armor. “I know.” Grogar then opened a tear in space and reached into it, pulling out Flurry Heart. The poor foal was locked in a cage and was pulling on the bars desperately trying to get free. “As promised.”

“He took Flurry Heart when he attacked on the Crystal Empire,” Cadance said. “He told us if we didn’t take you to him we’d never see her again.”

“I wanted to tell you,” Shining Armor added. “But he told us we’d never see Flurry again if we said anything.”

“I made certain to know if they did,” Grogar said as 2 copies of himself crawled out of Shining Armor’s and Candance’s shadows and walked over to him. “And now the Princess of Friendship will become 1 less threat to my revenge.” Grogar then used his bell to drain Twilight of her magic. But was shocked when Twilight reverted to Star Swirl the Bearded.

“WHAT THE!?” The 3 all yelled out at the same time. Even Flurry Heart was rather surprised.

“Quite the surprise huh?” Star Swirl said as he stood back up. “I learned of your plan Grogar and switched places with Twilight with a disguise spell right before I was taken here.”

“But how? Did they tell anypony?” Grogar asked his copies and they both shook their heads.

“They didn’t have to,” Star Swirl answered. “I saw the look in Shining Armor’s eyes that was all too familiar, because I’ve seen it on myself more times than I can count. The look of a father that will do anything for their child.”

“Oh how touching,” Grogar said as his copies looked like they were about to vomit. “But since you didn’t bring Twilight Sparkle as we agreed-”

“We never agreed,” Cadence interrupted. “You forced us to-”

“Our deal is null and void,” Grogar interrupted back. “So I’ll be taking your child-”

“I don’t think so,” Twilight said as she flew down and blasted the 2 copies with magic destroying them then grabbed Flurry Heart and joined the others.

“Twilight Sparkle?!” Grogar said shocked once again. “What are you doing here?”

“Saving my favorite niece,” Twilight said as she got Flurry Heart out of the cage. “When Star Swirl figured out your plan he placed a magic tracer on himself so I could find you.”

“Are you kidding me?!” Grogar said. “All this from a look, how could you have thought up a plan such as this?”

“Give me a break! I’m Star Swirl the flipping Bearded.”

“Doesn’t matter, with Twilight here I can take her magic anyway. You were foolish to back up the others all on your own.” Grogar then aimed his bell at Twilight but Shining Armor got in the way and his magic was taken instead.

Suddenly Super Stallion flew across the wasteland the group was in and decked Grogar right in the face. Thanks to Twilight’s bracelet, he knew exactly where to go. “Good thing she didn’t plan on coming alone.”

“Super Stallion too!” Grogar said as he got back up.

“Yeah, don’t you just love it when the hero shows up right in the nick of time?”

“More or less,” Shining Armor whispered.

“I have super hearing. I heard that.”

“Now you have Super Stallion and I to deal with,” Twilight said. “If you try to use the bell on one of us, the other will grab it. It’s checkmate.”

“Not quite,” Grogar said as he started to sink into his own shadow. “You only foiled part of my plan,” he finished as he fully sunk into the shadow and disappeared.

“What do you think he meant by that?” Cadance asked.

“I think I know,” Twilight said. “We need to get back as soon as possible.”

“I’m on it,” Super Stallion said as he flew off. A few seconds later he flew back. “Sorry, I woke up from a nap after using all my energy, I’m not quite at my A game.”

***

While Grogar failed to take Princess Twilight’s magic, having his interdimensional army attack various parts of Equestria resulted in Twilight sending help all over. But in doing so Canterlot was left with little to no defense when they regrouped back there. This time Canterlot’s forces weren’t able to force them back and the army took control.

“Now this is what I’m talking about,” Eris said after taking over. “I can practically feel all of the chaos we’ve brought to this world.” Eris then looked up at all the portals in the sky. “I can’t wait to spread all of it to all those worlds as well.”

“Don’t count your chickens before they hatch,” Clover said. “We haven’t taken over this world just yet. A few bits of resistance managed to run off and hide before we were able to catch them.”

“Where do you think they went?” Cosmos asked as she once again had a pony screaming it’s head off tangled in her tail.

“I don’t know,” Clover answered. “But I might know a way we can find out.”

While Clover got ready to put a plan in action, the few that managed to get away gathered together in the mines beneath Canterlot. Including Super Stallion and the few he managed to help get back, just not in time to help.

“So he stole your own daughter,” Stone Wall said after being told what had happened. “That’s low even for the father of monsters.”

“I’m so sorry Stone Wall,” Shining Armor said.

“For what?” Stone Wall asked. “Trying to figure out what the least horrible choice in an impossible situation was.”

“Well said,” Super Stallion said.

“For the record, I think you did the most right thing you could do,” Stone Wall said.

“Thank you captain,” Shining Armor said, who then turned his head to his sister. “I’m so sorry Twily. Can you ever forgive me?”

“Of course, it’s like Stone Wall said, you were in an impossible situation.”

“By the way,” Stone Wall said. “Where’s Flurry Heart?”

“She’s resting,” Cadance answered. On Stone Wall’s request Cadance took him to see the young alicorn resting in a little bed Discord was nice enough to make.

“Not to be that pony,” Stone Wall said. “But how do we know that this is the real Flurry Heart and not another fake?” Suddenly, Flurry Heart woke up and the moment she saw her uncle Stone Wall she flew over to him and hugged his face. “Nevermind.”

“So what do we do now?” A guard asked. “I’ve seen some hopeless situations before, but this one might be the most hopeless.”

“We haven’t lost yet,” Super Stallion said.

“No but we’re pretty close,” the same guard said. Stone Wall then shot him a hard stare. “Sorry, I’m not helping.”

“What about Discord?” Cadance asked. “He didn’t get captured.”

“No but he got into an intense fight with Cosmos and this time she was the one that got the upper hoof,” Twilight answered. “He’s going to need a little bit to recover, and when he does he’s going to be a major help in our counter attack. Stone Wall.”

“Yes, your highness?”

“Get everypony ready for our attack, Star Swirl, help him. Your magic may be gone but your mind isn’t.”

“With pleasure, your highness,” Star Swirl answered. With that Twilight left to go check on Discord while Stone Wall got ready to help the others get ready for a fight. As he was about to Flurry Heart flew right in front of her uncle Stone Wall and punched the air a bit.

“Oh my gosh that is so cute,” Stone Wall said. “You want to help in the fight don’t you Flurry Heart?”

Flurry Heart nodded her head. “Uh huh.”

“No way,” Cadance said as she approached her daughter. “It’s not happening, that’s completely out of the question.”

“If it were probably any other circumstance I would agree,” Stone Wall said. “But we’re going to need every chance we can get, literally everything is at stake.”

“Are you kidding me!?” Cadance asked. “She’s a literal baby!”

“A literal baby with fire in her eyes. You can help Flurry, but you have to stay with me the whole time.”

“Yah,” Flurry Heart cheered and then she placed herself right on top of Stone Wall’s head.

“...I guess that’s okay,” Cadance said.

“We may be down but we aren’t out,” Stone Wall said. “We just need to wait for the right moment to strike and when we find an opening we’ll crush that army of interdimensional rogues like maggots.”

“Huh?” Flurry asked.

“It’s like a baby insect.”

Discord was resting in a rather remote part of the mines as he was recovering from quite the intense battle with Cosmos.

“Intense is right Mr. Pioneer,” Discord said. “This is quite the intense end to your long story, but we’re still going to win right?”

Well that would be telling now wouldn’t it? No spoilers.

“But-”

NO SPOILERS!

“Okay sheesh,” Discord replied as he put his paw and claw up in the air. “But can you at least make something good happen for us right away? You’re the writer afterall, whatever you want to happen can happen.”

It doesn’t work that way.

“Of course it does,” Discord argued. “All you have to do is type something-”

And then a chaos proof anvil suddenly landed right on Discord’s head.

“(gasp)” Discord then looked straight up but was shocked to see that nothing was coming to land on him.

See?

“Alright, point made.”

“Are you doing okay Discord?” Twilight asked as she approached him.

“Yeah, just a little meta humor,” Discord answered.

“...Okay. From what I heard Cosmos did quite a number on you.”

“Not so much, I took an idea from Super Stallion and forced her to a draw. But the next time we meet I’m gonna pull another Super Stallion and settle the score once and for all.”

“Well that’s good to hear,” Twilight said. “Otherwise she’d be a real problem. What is exactly your history with her again?”

“When Grogar created me, he created Cosmos to be my mate. She and I made a real connection.”

“But?”

“But she took things too far. While I made a bad habit of making things miserable for ponies, she went out of the way to hurt ponies. Basically, as bad as I was back in the day she still made me look sweet.”

“Yikes, maybe if we both go at her we can take her down easily.”

“No Twilight, this is something I have to deal with alone. Besides, I don’t want you anywhere near her.”

“Why?”

“Because she’s dangerous, and besides, with her focused on me you can focus on others.”

“That’s a fair point. I just hope when all this is over we can just sit down and have a whole bunch of donuts.”

“With some cotton candy and chocolate milk?”

“Sure Discord,” Twilight said as she put her hoof on Discord’s paw. “I know a good dentist anyway.”

“Quick question, when we win do we have to rescue sun butt and moon pie right away?”

“Yes of course we do,” Twilight answered with a serious stare. “Seriously, what's your problem with them? With 90% Princess Celestia actually?”

“I don’t know,” Discord answered, for even he himself didn’t quite know the reason. “She and I are just kind of natural opposites. There’s just something about her that just makes me want to get under her coat.”

***

After getting captured and getting drained of their magic by Grogar the royal pony sisters were locked in the dungeon and were being interrogated by Clover.

“Now tell me where the rest of the allies ran off to,” Clover asked.

“Never,” Princess Celestia answered for the 5th time. Clover got madder and madder every time.

“You’ve already lost, you might as well tell me where the others are so we can end this whole thing already.”

“Enjoy this while you can,” Princess Luna said. “It’s only a matter of time before they figure out a way to defeat you.”

“Oh yeah?”

“As a matter of fact, yeah,” Princess Luna replied.

“Super Stallion and Twilight have accomplished truly amazing things,” Princess Celestia said. “And when they combine their forces there is no way you will be able to stop them.”

“My my,” Grogar said as he made his way into the dungeon. “You still have such high hopes. But that’s just going to make it hurt all the more when they’re finally crushed.”

“I only wished we could have softened you up a bit,” Luna said.

“Which we probably could have done if we worked together,” Celestia added.

“You seriously want to bring that up now?!”

“I’m just saying.”

“Oh poor Princess Celestia,” Grogar said. “Always hurting the ones closest to you.”

“That’s not true,” Celestia said.

“Tell a lie long enough and you start to believe it. And hope is the greatest lie of all.”

“Keep telling yourself that Grogar,” Luna said.

“Don’t you get it?” Clover asked. “It’s over, you lost.”

“We lost this battle but we won’t lose the war,” Celestia said.

“It’s only a matter of time before our husbands come to rescue us,” Luna added.

“Your husband's you say?” Grogar asked. “Tell me something Luna, you don’t know where he is do you?”

“No,” Luna answered. “But he probably just got lost on his way to the castle. It’s actually happened before, he gets hit on the head a lot.”

“The truth can be so hard to accept,” Grogar said with a smile.

“What are you talking about?” Luna asked with concern for her husband.

“He saw that you ponies had no chance of winning so he ran off with his tail between his legs while the getting was good.”

Hearing that Luna had to fight the urge to cry from the very idea. “NO!” She screamed with the royal Canterlot voice that echoed throughout the whole dungeon. “He would never do that, he’s coming to save me and until he does I have nothing to say to you.”

“Suit yourself,” Grogar said. “I have a few more things to take care of. In the meantime, get used to the dungeon.” Grogar then made his way out with Clover not too far behind.

“Well since those 2 are gone-”

“I’m not saying anything to you either-” Luna interrupted Celestia.

“Are you kidding me? Look I know you're mad at me Luna and you have every right to be, I acted like a jerk and a brat. But that’s not important right now, we need to focus and figure out what we’re going to do.”

“Regrettably there’s nothing we can do. Grogar took our magic and these chains are too strong. All we can do is wait to be rescued.”

“But that-”

Stinks? I know, but it’s the only card we can play.” Luna then looked down at the floor. The fear Grogar put in her head was growing stronger and she couldn’t help but cry. “Wherever you are Swift Sweep, please come save me soon.”

Little did Princess Luna know that Swift Sweep was on the verge of doing just that.

After a talk with Grogar Princess Eris was acting as a lookout, but mostly she was simply admiring all of the chaos that she helped bring right to the center of Equestria. “I never would have imagined that teaming up with that mad ram would work out this well.”

“So when do we move to invade all those other worlds out there?” Clover asked as he went to join Princess Eris.

“Just as soon as Grogar finishes all of the loose ends in this one,” Princess Eris answered.

“Well how long is that going to take?” Solar Flare asked who overheard and was talking to a Tirek from another dimension. “I have a certain realm to get back to controlling.”

“You control an entire realm?” The Tirek from another dimension asked. “How did you get to do that?”

“I took it from her,” Solar Flare answered as she pointed to Princess Eris who suddenly saw Swift Sweep approaching the army of rogues.

“What the heck is he doing?” Princess Eris asked.

“You’ve had your fun,” Swift Sweep said as the army of rogues got together after seeing him. “If you can call attaching others and destroying cities and towns fun.”

“Oh we can, trust me,” Eris said as she jumped down and approached Swift Sweep with the army of rogues to back her up. “So I take it you’re here to surrender?”

“Close. I’m here to take you all out.”

“How is that close?” A Starlight within the army of rogues asked. However nopony or creature answered her as most of the rogues roared with laughter from Swift Sweep’s comment.

“Oh you’re gonna take us all out are you?” Eris asked as she was holding down a few more laughs. “And just how do you think you are going to pull that off?”

“That was rather impressive of you to bring in all sorts of backup from alternate universes,” Swift Sweep replied. “But there was 1 thing you forgot.”

“Oh yeah,” Eris replied. “And what would that be?”

“Turnabout is fair play.” Swift Sweep then held up a crystal from around his neck, resulting in a giant portal opening right behind him. Suddenly an army walked out of the portal putting the army of rogues rather on edge when they saw all the backup.

Including but not limited to a Nightmare Moon but her cutie mark was a shield, the mane 6 and a human standing protectively in front of Applejack while holding a chair, the mane 6 who had Trixie with them and her own Element of Harmony, a small version of the mane 6 except for Fluttershy who had grow to the size of a house, 6 ponies nopony recognized that had cutie marks on just 1 side of their flanks for some reason, and 6 ponies that nopony recognized with clear different ages who also bared the Elements of Harmony.

“ATTACK!” Swift Sweep screamed at the top of his lungs and all the backup he was able to gather charged with him towards the army of rogues.

Twilight, thanks to her chaos magic, was able to see the whole thing from the caves. “Wow, if that's an opening to counter attack, I don’t know what is. Stone Wall, get everypony ready.”

“Yes your highness,” Stone Wall said and quickly did as he was ordered.

“Twilight,” Shining Armor said as he managed to crawl to his sister. “Take me with you, I may not have my magic, but I can still help guide and direct the ponies.”

“Alight,” Twilight answered. “It’s like Stone Wall said, anything that can give us an edge. I’m paraphrasing of course.”

“Of course.”

Swift Sweep’s army attacked the rogue army head on while Twilight’s band of resistance attacked from the sides. Twilight’s band was also aided from the backup that was set in place. The hippogriffs, the dragons, the changelings, and Sunset’s friends.

Clover saw Princess Twilight commanding attacks from above with Shining Armor right next to her and ran over to grab her. However Stone Wall cut him off before he got anywhere near her. “If you want her you’re going to have to go through me!”

“That’s fine with me,” Clover said as he got ready to attack. Clover jumped up ready to strike Stone Wall right on his head.

“Barrier,” Stone Wall said and suddenly a yellow bubble surrounded him completely, blocking Clover’s attack.

“What the?” Clover asked as he jumped back.

“Nice work Flurry.” Stone Wall then patted the young alicorn at a job well done. “Now dispel it.” Flurry then once again did as she was told.

“Is that a baby on your head?!” Clover asked.

“Yes, she wanted to help her uncle Stone Wall.”

“You actually need a baby’s help to fight? You’re pathetic.”

“I was just testing her magic. She’s quite capable for somepony so young. But I can tell from the get go, I can take you down all by myself.”

“Oh yeah!?”

“Yeah, but if you think you can prove me wrong. By all means.” Clover then jumped again to try to strike Stone Wall who in response simply turned around and kicked Clover in the stomach. Clover landed flat on his back. “Huh, I didn’t even need to use magic.”

“Don’t mock me!” Clover got back up and aimed his blaster at Stone Wall who this time used his own magic to summon a barrier to block it. Stone Wall then fired a beam from his horn and Clover fired again, causing the beams to clash.

“If this is the best you can do I’m not impressed,” Stone Wall said which made Flurry Heart laugh.

“I said don’t mock me!” Clover said as he set his blaster to max but it still wasn’t enough to match Stone Wall’s magic beam when he gave it more energy. “I’m a great warrior that was chosen by the Storm King to fight in his world conquering army.”

“You’re an over bloated thug that was working for a tyrant,” Stone Wall retorted. “He was defeated and you’re going to share his fate.” Stone Wall’s beam pushed back and went right into the blaster destroying it from the inside.

“No way!” Clover said as he grabbed his arm which was now injured.

“As a matter of fact, way. You’re going back to prison where you’ll stay put. Out of trouble and out of the pages of history.” Stone Wall then teleported right in front of Clover and blasted him at point blank, knocking him out cold.

“Yay,” Flurry Heart cheered.

“That wasn’t so hard was it. Now let’s go even the odds and put an end to all this. Are you ready to keep at it Flurry?”

“Yay,” she cheered again.

Elsewhere Discord was in an intense battle with Cosmos determined to stop her once and for all.

“Why keep fighting me, Discord?!” Cosmos said. “It doesn’t make sense.”

“Make sense? Oh what fun is there in making sense?”

“We were literally made for each other, we should be on the same side!”

Discord then grabbed her head plate and chewed into pieces, breaking 1 of the 6 crystal stars which contained her magic.

“You were made for the old me,” Discord said back. Discord and Cosmos then spun around each other creating a chaos tornado. “I’ve changed Cosmos. Besides, even if I didn’t it was never going to work out.”

“Why not?” Cosmos asked.

“Because you stopped thinking about what I wanted,” Discord answered. “You used me! You didn’t care about me, that’s not a friend.”

“You really have changed,” Cosmos said.

“Yes I have.”

“...I haven’t,” Cosmos said before wrapping around Discord and making herself look more frightening. “I’M MALICE PERSONIFIED! OF COURSE I USED YOU! What goes better with malice than chaos! And if chaos won’t join me as my companion, you can sit at my feet as my dog.”

“Not going to happen,” Discord said as made himself fire, forcing Cosmos to let go. Discord then made himself more frightened looking as well to match Cosmos. “I’m not afraid of you anymore, and I’ve met somepony else.”

“What?” Cosmos asked. Discord then attacked Cosmos hitting her with everything he could think up, even the kitchen sink. While he attacked Cosmos Discord also made sure to break the other gems that were holding her magic, weakening her.

“Time to finally put an end to this, and the chapter’s not even at 6000 words. We’re all making good time.”

“No this isn’t over,” Cosmos said. “You can’t get rid of me.”

“I feel like I’ve been here before, then again I doubt it’s the only callback we’ve done.”

“I’ll get my revenge,” Cosmos said. “Equestria will be mine!”

“No. We’re done. This is over.” Discord then summoned a proton pack which he used to seal Cosmos away in it. With his fight finally over Discord collapsed to the ground. “Well that wasn’t so bad, at least I’m not trapped somewhere.”

While he was rather open and defenseless, thankfully Discord wouldn’t have to worry about getting attacked. For the army of rogues were defeated by the army of backup. Before long Princess Eris was cornered by none other than Swift Sweep.

“No please,” Princess Eris said as she got into a pleading position. “I didn’t mean to cause any harm.”

“Well you could have fooled me,” Swift Sweep said, who was nowhere near in a forgiving mood.

“Please try to understand,” Eris said. “Chaos is in my nature.”

“And protecting the ponies that I love is my nature.” Swift Sweep then bucked Eris so hard she went right through a wall and was knocked out cold. “Stallions aren’t supposed to strike ladies, but this is definitely an exception. You are no lady.”

Swift Sweep then made his way to the dungeons where he was certain that his wife, Princess Luna was being held.

“I knew you would come to rescue me,” Luna said while hugging Swift Sweep and crying tears of joy. “I never doubted it for a second…Well maybe a few.”

“You were able to take out Grogar’s army?” Princess Celestia asked.

“See for yourself.” Swift Sweep said as he took the princesses outside and saw 1 army rounding up another. With help from Twilight’s backup.

“How were you able to do all this?” Princess Celestia asked as she was shocked and amazed.

“Star Swirl put some of his magic into this crystal so I could travel from universe to universe and use the bad guys' plan against them,” Swift Sweep answered.

“It was quite a challenge,” Star Swirl said as he joined the others. “But as somepony who studies the means to travel across other dimensions, I was able to figure something out.”

“He and I sat down and talked and Star Swirl really liked the plan. When the army of rogues attacked I jumped into the mirror and rounded up all that backup,” Swift Sweep said. “Sorry I took so long.”

“You have nothing to apologize for,” Luna said as she pulled her husband in for another hug.

“Now there’s just the matter of getting all these rogues out of here,” Cadance said. Suddenly she saw that Twilight was eating a rather large sandwich that she summoned with her chaos magic. “Uh Twilight?”

“Yes?”

“Is now really a good time for a snack?”

“Hey, I’m the one that carried my brother all the way up to the balcony and down here to the street,” Twilight said defensively. “Do you have any idea what it’s like for my brother to ride you while making obnoxious grunting sounds?!”

Cadance didn’t say anything but her pink face quickly turned red.

“Now I’m not hungry,” Twilight said as she made the sandwich disappear.

“So should we lock all these rogues up and take them back to their respective universes and then lock them up?” Shining Armor asked.

“Maybe lock them up and then put them back in their own universes,” Discord suggested. “But this climax isn’t over just yet.”

“Yes,” Princess Celestia added. “There’s still the matter of Grogar. I doubt he’s just going to disappear for millenia again. Especially with the Bewitching Bell still in his possession.”

“How right you are,” Grogar said from up above. The army of rogues and the armies of backup looked up only to have their power taken by the Bewitching Bell, making Grogar all the more powerful. Some of which didn’t get their magic stolen, such as Discord who teleported away. And Twilight, because Cadance got in the way and used herself as a shield.

“CADANCE!” Twilight telled as she went to check on her sister in-law. “Why did you do that Cadance?”

“Well,” she answered. “Shining Armor did it last time, now it was my turn.”

“Well on the plus side,” a unicorn from an alternate reality by the name of Miracle said. “We don’t have to look for that ancient ram Swift Sweep told us about.”

“Yeah,” his friend Applecore replied. “But something tells me he isn’t going to be easy to defeat.”

“All this power,” Grogar said as he transformed and started to hover over the armies he took magic from. “Not just from various ponies but ponies and other creatures from various worlds.” Grogar then looked at the portals of all the other Equestrias. “It’s going to make it all the more easier to conquer other worlds. All the power of the multiverse is mine to command! No creature in this or any world will be able to stand my way!”

Suddenly Grogar was punched right in the jaw by Super Stallion. Super Stallion hit him as hard as he could and Grogar was slammed right into the ground.

“Wow, did I time that right or what?” Super Stallion asked with gusto that caused many to burst into laughter.

“My my,” Grogar said. “Aren’t we full of gusto?”

“Yes I think Mr. Pioneer made that rather clear,” Discord said while rather off in the side.

“I rather like that,” Grogar said.

“You do?” Super Stallion asked confused.

“It’s gonna make it all the more better when I beat you. So I can see it all break into pieces.”

“Have you forgotten Grogar? Our power is equal, more or less.”

“It was. But I have achieved a new level of power.”

“New level? What do you mean?”

“Here, let me show you.” Grogar then used his bell to take bits of magic from the others worlds the portals were showing. Grogar’s body then started to change as he transformed once again. His horns, while shorter, became curled once again and while Grogar was smaller he had much more muscle on his arms and chest with a large red bot on his forehead.

“Oh no,” Super Stallion said before Grogar punched him right in the muzzle, happily returning the favor. Super Stallion flew right into the horizon.

“Wow, that looked like it hurt,” Discord said.

“Do you think Super Stallion is going to be okay?” Twilight asked. Suddenly Super Stallion came out of the other side of the horizon and landed in the exact same spot that Grogar landed.

“Why don’t you ask him?”

As Grogar laughed wickedly, Twilight and Discord went over to check on Super Stallion. “Are you okay Super Stallion?” Twilight asked.

“Well okay might not be the right word, but I don’t think anything is broken,” Super Stallion answered as he got himself up.

“Did you get hit so hard you went all around the world?” Discord asked.

“Actually I saw the sun rise and set at least twice, so it was a bit more than that,” Super Stallion answered again. Grogar then fired spells that all entered the portals. "What's he doing now?

"I planted chaos spells that while infect all the worlds I plan to control," Grogar answered. "When I'm done here I'm going to spread fear to all those worlds. My spells will help with just that, I even made it so the chaos magic will attack anypony that tries to undo them. But perhaps I'm getting ahead of myself.

Grogar then was flew right at the trio. Discord and Twilight used chaos magic to surround themselves with a large bubble that Grogar bounced off of. “Rather simple, but surprisingly effective.

“So what’s the plan?” Twilight asked.

“I don’t know,” Super Stallion said. “I could barely keep up with him in his 2rd form, how do I fight him now?”

“Well between the 3 of us we should be able to think up something,” Discord said. “If not he’ll take over the entire multiverse, no pressure.”

“How about you leave the wisecracks to me,” Super Stallion said before Grogar landed not too far away from them.

“It’s time to end this,” Grogar said.

“Fine with me,” Super Stallion replied. He then went into hyper mode and tried to blast Grogar but he blocked it with his arms and took little to no damage.

“That’s the best you can do isn’t it?” Grogar asked.

“Yes,” Super Stallion replied.

“But it’s not the best we can do,” Twilight said. Super Stallion, Twilight, and Discord then all fired beams of magic that Grogar managed to endure.

“We didn’t even faze him,’ Super Stallion said.

“What happened to all that gusto?” Grogar asked.

“I got your gusto right here!” Super Stallion charged Grogar and struck him repeatedly, but like the energy attacks they did little to no good. Grogar counterstruck Super Stallion forcing him into the horizon again.

Or at least he would if Discord didn’t make a giant glove appear in the sky to catch him then bring him down to the ground. “This doesn’t look like it’s going to workout for us.”

“Of course not,” Grogar said. “You cannot defeat me anymore than you can defeat fear itself.”

“Challenge accepted,” Stone Wall said. Grogar turned to face Stone Wall only to get pushed back by a beam of concentrated magic, though not by much.

“Stone Wall?!” Super Stallion called out, happy to see his old friend could help in the fight.

“Flurry Heart managed to teleport me out of the way right before that bell of his could take our magic.”

“Not to point out potential plot holes,” Discord said. “But that spell of yours rather hurt him, when our attacks were barely able to.”

“I was concentrating a lot of my magic to focus on just 1 attack,” Stone Wall answered. “Plus his guard was down, that’s also an important factor.”

“It’s going to take a lot more than that to take me down,” Grogar said, only for him to get sucker punched by Miracle. “What the? How can you fight when you have no magic?”

“Well,” the unicorn replied while trying to stand. “I don’t fully get what’s going on here, but you’re trying to control others through fear. I got tired of living in fear a long time ago.”

Seeing Miracle get back up to help fight inspired others to do the same. But Grogar simply made more copies of himself and was easily able to keep them at bay. Super Stallion tried to blast the real Grogar with a hyper blast but once again barely scratched him.

“You may have inspired others to fight, but it won’t last long when the sheer hopelessness of your struggle kicks in.”

“Why do you bad guys always try to talk me to death?” Super Stallion asked, to Grogar's annoyance. Grogar then made another copy that became a giant, only for Spike to fly straight at it and burn a hole right through it, making it vanish.

“What? But how?” Grogar asked. “With all the magic I put into it that copy was as strong as a mountain.”

“If you can’t stand the heat,” Spike said. “Don’t fight a dragon.”

“Enough of this. Time for fear to smash hope.” Grogar charged at Super Stallion but Discord wrapped himself around his father in an attempt to slow him down.

“Come on now dad, if this is about what he said a minute ago you have to admit he has a point. You always were a talker.”

“I’m also the one that created you,” Grogar said as he struggled to get free. “Why not stand by me so you can finally flood this land in chaos like you’ve always wanted to.”

“I grew up dad, I learned there’s more to life than controlling other creatures and plotting revenge. Why don’t you try it?”

“How about I try this instead?” Grogar then grabbed Discord’s chest and suddenly pulled his chaos magic right out of him. This caused Discord to fall to the ground and he started to fall apart. Once he was freed he grabbed Super Stallion and pulled him up.

“DISCORD!” Twilight yelled as she went over to see him. “What did Grogar do?”

“He took the chaos spark back. That’s what he used when he created me.”

“My gosh,” Twilight said as she couldn’t help but tear up. “How could he do this to his own child?”

“Dad was never the affectionate type, speaking of affection.” Discord then surprised Twilight by kissing her right on the lips. “Something I’ve wanted to do for a while but I guess I ran out of time."

“Discord…Don’t go.”

“Don’t cry Twilight. Chaos never really dies, it just fades away for a while,” Discord said before he crumbled away into dust and various animal parts.

Meanwhile up in the air, Grogar was forcing Super Stallion to watch his copies round up the others still trying to fight. “Look around you.”

“Don’t you mean under me?” Super Stallion asked.

“All the others are being taken down and once I defeat you, their hope will be destroyed by my fear. Then they will be under my control.”

“I’ll fight you until my very last breath.”

“Have it your way.” Grogar then let out a series of chaos blasts on Super Stallion. Suddenly Super Stallion was surrounded by a pink bubble that pulled him back to the ground.

“Golly, we sure missed a lot,” Cozy Glow said, who was accompanied by Princess Amore and Shard Seeker.

“Seems things have gotten worse,” Princess Amore added.

“Much worse,” Shard added.

“Even more meddlers? It doesn’t matter, you will all give into fear.” Grogar then caused black lightning to rain down on the ground causing panic.

“Please tell me you found something,” Super Stallion pleaded. “We’re really running out of options.”

“Yes,” Cozy answered. “Don’t look at him Super Stallion, it’s the source of his power.”

“What? How can I fight him if I don’t look at him?”

“You have to fight internally, some evil can only be fought with the heart.” Suddenly more black lightning hit the ground and 1 of them hit Princess Amore causing her to turn into stone. “Not again! Listen Super Stallion, you have the magic to beat him. In more ways than 1.” Before she could explain Princess Amore was fully encased in stone.

“More ways than 1?” Super Stallion, while confused, looked up at the portals and remembered how Grogar transformed after taking magic through the portals. While also remembering he had some new magic from Celestia and Luna’s mother. “Could that be what she meant?” Super Stallion then flew right up and looked around the portals.

“What is he doing?” Grogar asked.

“Okay Celestia and Luna’s mom, whose name I never got, I want to say Lauren. If your magic can help me fight Grogar, now would be a really good time.” Suddenly magic flowed from the portals once again and went into Super Stallion.

“WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?” Grogar asked.

“I think the proper term is leveling the playing field,” Super Stallion answered.

“It’s like I said, “Swift Sweep added as he was watching Super Stallion transform. “Turnabout is fair play.”

Super Stallion, like Grogar, had become bipedal. On top of that most of his body became light blue and his eyes were black with a thick flowing golden mane. To the others watching he looked like a cosmic being. “Now let’s try this again shall we?” Super Stallion then closed his eyes right before punching Grogar and sending him flying.

Grogar flew back and blasted Super Stallion with chaos magic, but this time Super Stallion was able to endure the attack and once again closed his eyes. After focusing on where the attacks were coming from he hit Grogar dead on again.

“Now’s my chance,” Twilight said as she flew up by the portals. “Super Stallion! Keep Grogar away from the portals.”

“On it,” Super Stallion said.

Twilight focused on getting rid of the magic Grogar put into the portals. The magic fought back as she tried to remove it.

“Twilight stop!” Stone Wall said as he tried to levitate himself with his magic.

“No I can’t.” Twilight then summoned not just her friends, but also the pillars and the student 6. They and many others around her started glowing. “Grogar seemed impossible to beat but Super Stallion somehow found a way. We have to protect not just this world but all the worlds he tries to harm. There will always be darkness in the world but there will always be those who find the light.”

The pillars, the mane 7, and the student 6 all shot out harmony beams that went into Twilight who in turn fired beam after beam into the portals. Grogar’s magic attacked Twilight but she endured and continued firing beams until every portal was clear of Grogar’s magic.

“She did it!” Spike called out. Twilight then started falling until Spike caught her and placed her on the ground. “You did it Twilight!...Twilight?”

Elsewhere Super Stallion and Grogar continued their battle, each hitting the other with powerful attacks that shook the planet they were flying all over. Super Stallion was still able to have the edge throughout the whole fight by not looking at Grogar. He did this by either using reflective services near him, focusing on where the attacks were coming from, or just sensing his evil presence.

“Time to put an end to this fight. The others are probably going to need my help cleaning the giant mess you made.”

“You can’t beat me. I am fear!”

“And that’s why I can beat you.”

“What?!”

“It’s like you said, I'm a symbol of hope. Light is more powerful than darkness, joy is more powerful than misery, love is more powerful than hate, and hope. Hope is more powerful than fear will ever be. Fear isn’t infinite, hope is infinite. Getting this form made me realize we all have the power within us to overcome fear together. And for the sake and hope of every creature in this and every Equestria, I’m going to strike down the symbol of fear.”

Super Stallion then concentrated most of his new found power and shot it straight at Grogar. Grogar tried to use his bell, but the bell’s power was nullified. Grogar’s entire body was blasted all the way back to Canterlot.

“How many craters is Canterlot going to get today?” Swift Sweep asked.

Super Stallion flew down and was staring Grogar down who was trying to stand up.

“Don’t look at him, Super Stallion,” Cozy Glow tried to warn.

“It’s okay. I no longer fear him, and without fear, he has no power. Time to defeat you once and for all so we can all live without fear!” Super Stallion blasted Grogar 1 last time reverting him back to his original form but shortly afterwards Super Stallion reverted as well.

“Super Stallion are you alright?” Princess Celestia asked as she went over to him.

“More or less,” Super Stallion answered. “I guess channeling all that power can take a lot out of a stallion.” Super Stallion then noticed the princesses eyes were rather red. “Princess, have you been crying?”

“In a moment this whole world will be crying,” Grogar said.

“Are you still going on?” Super Stallion asked. “When will you quit?”

“When you’re all dead,” Grogar answered as a shadowy aura surrounded him. “And in about a minute that’s going to be the case.”

“What?” Princess Celestia asked.

“Super Stallion may have taken all my new powers, but I stored a powerful curse inside me before the fight. It’s going to work as a bomb and take out this entire mountain.”

“What?” Princess Eris who overheard asked. “You’re going to take all of us out? That’s insane!”

“My vengeance will be complete, even if it costs me my life. You may have defeated me in battle, but you’re exhausted. Not even you can stop it.”

“Are you kidding me?!” Stone Wall said. “After everything and all we’ve fought for, we don’t even get a happy ending?!”

Super Stallion looked around and saw all the others sad and afraid, but then he looked up at the sky and knew in his heart what he had to do. “Celestia,” he whispered so only she would hear. When she turned her head to him he kissed her as passionately as he could. “I love you Princess Celestia, until the end of time.”

“Why are you telling me-”

“You’re right, Grogar,” Super Stallion interrupted.

“What?” Grogar asked, surprised.

“I can’t stop you, but I can move you.” Super Stallion then picked up the father of monsters and flew into the stars. Not too long after that Grogar blew up and for Super Stallion, everything went black.

Happily Ever After

View Online

Squeaky Clean was surrounded by utter darkness, nothing to see and no sound. Suddenly the darkness became a realm of mist and stars and Squeaky saw many moments of his life, or rather Super Stallion’s life. From putting the sphere on for the first time to fighting Discord to his victory against Grogar. “Quite the life we had didn’t we?”

Squeaky turned around and saw none other than Super Stallion himself. “Or rather, quite the life I had, it was nice while it lasted.”

Before Squeaky Clean could even say anything Super Stallion flew away waving goodbye as he vanished into a blinding light beyond the horizon.

***

Squeaky Clean awoke in a hospital bed and saw his darling wife by his side happy to see him awake. “Celestia? Is that you, or do all the angels in heaven look like you?”

Princess Celestia kissed Squeaky Clean. “Yes, you’re still alive.”

“But how?” Squeaky asked.

“I have no idea,” Celestia answered.

“But we do,” a male voice Squeaky and Celestia never heard of before said. They turned around to see 3 figures standing by the door. 1 they recognized and 2 they didn’t. A tall woman with red skin in a light purple dress with long multicolored hair and a man with long black hair gray skin and a black full bodysuit only exposing his hands, feet, and head.

“Time Wizard?” Squeaky asked. “Were you the one that saved me?”

“Not quite,” Time Wizard said. “But we saw what happened. By the way, this is Astoria, my wife. Her role is rather similar to your sister’s Princess Celestia.”

“Nice to meet you,” Astoria said as she bowed.

“Oh charmed I’m sure,” Princess Celestia said as Astoria shook her hoof.

“And the somewhat psychotic looking fellow,” Squeaky asked. “Not that I’m saying you’re crazy, you just have this crazy aura to you.”

“Yeah, I get that a lot. My name is Mischief, the self proclaimed King of Chaos.”

“A chaos king!?” Squeaky said as he instinctively looked for his sphere. Suddenly Mischief teleported to the other side of the room and picked up the little pony.

“Little is right,” Mischief said. “He’s like 2 feet.”

“What?” Squeaky asked.

“Calm down my little Squeaky,” Mischief said as he poked his muzzle. “Chaos isn’t always such a bad thing. In this case it’s a window to the past.” Mischief then made a portal appear that showed Super Stallion taking Grogar clear off the planet so the blast would only kill them.

“Why are you doing this?” Grogar asked.

“So the whole hero sacrificing himself to save the ones he loves wasn’t clear?” Super Stallion asked back.

“But why would you do such a thing?”

“Are you kidding me? You still don’t get it?”

“No he doesn’t,” a female voice said out of nowhere. A small ball of light flew out of the symbol on Super Stallion and took the form of a ghostly alicorn.

“Mom?” Celestia asked as she was watching. “Squeaky how do you not remember all this?”

“I think I hit my head,” Squeaky answered. “Or maybe something hit my head. Or-”

“Or you can be quiet and we can watch the rest of the clip,” Mischief said.

“Sorry.”

“Lauren?” Grogar asked.

“Oh I was right,” Super Stallion said as he continued flying.

“Grogar,” Lauren said. “You were so consumed with hate and a desire for revenge for all these centuries. I hoped that 1 day you could have found peace, but you never did.”

“Of course not,” Grogar snapped back. “I swore I wouldn’t stop until I finally got my revenge. You used me to make you an alicorn.”

“I never used you Grogar, I wanted to help you.”

“What?”

“I admit I got carried away when my experiment worked. But I wanted to help you. I wanted to help all the ponies and sheep and other creatures. I took you for granted and didn’t realize that until I pushed you away.”

“I guess it runs in the family,” Princess Celestia said to herself.

“My gosh,” Grogar said. “I’ve been blind for so long. My anger and hatred wouldn’t let me see how wrong I was.”

Suddenly another light came out of Super Stallion’s symbol and another ghost appeared.

“Wacko?” Super Stallion asked as he finally stopped flying from a lack of energy.

“Yes, Wacko still here,” he answered.

“When I placed my magic within you, I also put my essence within you as well,” Lauren said. “In doing this I was able to find another essence within you.”

“Wacko meet pretty mare, pretty mare really nice.”

“I’m about to die in space with the father of monsters and I just learned that 2 ghosts were spending some quality time inside me,” Super Stallion said trying to take that all in. “Also I just remembered I didn’t clean the floor this morning.”

“No,” Grogar said. “Only 1 shall die.” Grogar put a protective aura around Super Stallion who started moving back to the planet he flew away from.

“What the?” Super Stallion asked.

“You were right all along Super Stallion you were right,” Grogar said as he finally let go of his rage and hate. “Lauren, I’m so sorry.”

“I forgive you Grogar, the past is over,” Lauren said.

Moments later Grogar blew up and the explosion flung Super Stallion all the way back to Equestria. While the aura Grogar made protected Super Stallion he still took a ton of damage.

“There was chaos magic in that explosion wasn’t it?” Super Stallion asked as he had no energy left and was going to plummet right into the planet. “This is going to be a very rough landing, oh well at least I’m going out on a joke.”

After that Mischief closed the portal. “After that you landed back here and the rest as they say is history.”

“Okay, it’s all coming back to me,” Squeaky said as he tried to get out of bed but was too sore. “But what exactly are you 3 doing here?”

“That ancient ram and that giant non-man eating bird lady opened the portals to various worlds across your entire multiverse,” Mischief replied. “Someone is going to have to fix all that.”

“And we’re just visiting,” Astoria said.

“To overcome such incredible odds, to use the power of the very multiverse. You ponies are strong,” Mischief said.

“Thanks,” Squeaky said. “So Mischief.”

“So Squeaky,” he replied.

“I don’t suppose you can heal my injuries?”

“Oh I can do more than that, I can show you the birth and end of time, I can bring you to the very face of God Almighty himself, or-” Suddenly the walls and floors flew away and the others were surrounded by complete oblivion. A giant gray hand appeared below them attached to a giant Mischief. “I can transform the cosmos so that everything is made of icing!”

Suddenly the room fell back into place as if nothing had happened.

“Okay,” Squeaky said. “Just gonna pretend that wasn’t utterly insane.”

“Point is, I think you deserve a reward for your accomplishments,” Mischief said. “And as you can see, I have the power to give said reward.”

“So a wish basically,” Princess Celestia said.

“Yes,” Mischief answered.

“Well I think we can put a pin in that for now,” Squeaky said. “I need to be filled in on a few things. First off, Celestia, have you seen my sphere?”

“...Yes,” she replied. She then reached under the bed and gave Squeaky his sphere. But when he looked at it, instead of the stallion symbol, he saw a skull and crossbones.

“Guess you’re going from superhero to pirate,” Mischief said. He then laughed. “Just kidding, it’s damaged beyond repair,” Mischief added with a wave of his hand.

“That’s what Star Swirl told me when I showed him the sphere after I found you,” Princess Celestia said.

“Wow, so no more Super Stallion,” Squeaky said. An awkward silence passes as the reality of that set in. “What are we going to do about that?”

“Star Swirl already put a plan for that in motion. We addressed the public and told them that Super Stallion and Grogar killed each other in battle.”

“I guess that’s a good idea, it’s not like they can go up where I went and look. So how long was I out?”

“3 days, 14 hours, 38 minutes, and 17 seconds,” Time Wizard answered.

“Wow,” Celestia said. “Right down to the letter.”

“It’s what I do.”

“So did anything major happen while I was gone?” Squeaky asked.

“Something major did happen,” Princess Celestia answered. “But not while you were out.”

***

Squeaky was being taken outside following Princess Celestia and his sister Princess Luna. "Well it looks like you and Luna finally worked things out."

"Yes," Celestia said. "I just needed to give Luna her space. Something I should have done numerous times in the past."

"Better late than never," Luna said as she smiled at her sister.

Squeaky was then led to a rather large crowd that had gathered together to say goodbye to a truly special pony. While Twilight was able to stop Grogar from spreading his magic all over the multiverse it took a toll on her body too great to handle. Much like Super Stallion she was able to save the multiverse, but not herself.

“Oh my gosh,” Squeaky said as he put his sphere away. “Twilight, it doesn’t feel real.”

“I know,” Star Swirl said. “I didn’t know her as long as Celestia did, but I could tell she was a special pony.”

The closest to the coffin of glass and gold containing Twilight were Shining Armor and Spike each one crying their eyes out. Seeing Twilight again, Princess Celestia started to cry her eyes out as well. “Oh Twilight, so many things left unsaid. Things that I wanted to tell you so badly but now I’ll never get the chance.

Squeaky got out his sphere and looked at it again before sighing. Once again, he knew in his heart what he had to do. “Maybe you’ll still have a chance.” Squeaky turned to face Mischief who along with Time Wizard and Astoria came along. “Mischief, you said you wanted to grant me a wish.”

“I did.”

“Mischief, can you revive the dead?” Hearing that made many ponies and Spike including Celestia look over.

“I can. But remember you only get 1 wish, is this truly what you want?”

“Yes,” Squeaky answered right away. “I wish nothing more than for Twilight Sparkle to be alive.”

“Alright then.” Mischief then raised his hands which caused the coffin of Twilight to open and her corpse to float up in the air.

“Could it be?” Shining Armor asked.

Mischief then made glowing lights appear from his hands that flew off and surrounded Twilight creating a golden circle.

“Is it possible?” Spike asked.

The circle got smaller and smaller until it became an aura to Twilight who suddenly opened her eyes when the light entered her body. Every creature was shocked and amazed as Twilight was gently placed back on the ground. Twilight was suddenly rushed by all those that gathered by her coffin.

“It’s a miracle,” Star Swirl said, who nearly did a backflip.

After gathering around Twilight the others gathered around Mischief to thank him for what he did. Except for Princess Celestia who pulled Twilight into a hug. “When I sent you to Ponyville, I had high hopes. When you became Princess of Friendship I knew I made the right choice, but nothing could prepare me for how proud I am right now. Equestria is definitely in the right hooves. You are ready.”

“Thank you,” Twilight said. “All I’ve wanted is to make you proud.”

“You’ve done more than that,” Princess Celestia replied as she hugged a little tighter. “...I love you Twilight. Just like one of my daughters.”

Twilight was shocked to hear that last part but knew how to reply all the same. “I love you too Celestia, just like a second mother.”

“So what are we going to do with all those others from other dimensions?” Swift Sweep asked. “I may have found our backup but it’s not like those other universes had labels. How are we going to get them all back home?”

“On it,” Mischief said as made the portals in the sky come down to him while shrinking until they fit into his hands like a deck of cards. Mischief then shuffled the portals around also like a deck of cards. “I’ll let you know when everything’s settled.”

Mischief then teleported away.

“So who is that creature Celestia?” Twilight asked.

“To be honest Twilight, I’m not entirely sure.”

“Well whoever he is, he can send us all home,” Pinkie Pie said. “In the meantime, how about we throw a party?”

“A party!?!” Various other Pinkie Pies said when they heard.

“Yeah let’s do it,” one of the Pinkies said. “It’ll be fun.” Pinkie then went off with all the other versions of herself and a strange blue stallion named Party Cannon while repeatedly saying fun along the way.

***

“And while there is much to take in over the last few days, the main thing on everypony’s mind is the passing of Super Stallion,” a reporter on the news said. “While he was famous all over, the ponies of Canterlot felt this loss the most as we knew him best. So let us take a brief moment to celebrate his time with us.”

Suddenly the news shifted to a young colt. “One time I dressed as Super Stallion for Nightmare Night. Now I’m gonna do it every year for the rest of my life.”

The news then shifted to a pony at the party. “I was working at the castle trying to fix the tiles when suddenly I slipped and fell. I thought I was a goner when out of nowhere everypony’s guardian angel was mine too.”

While the party was going on Squeaky Clean, Princess Celestia, and Star Swirl the Bearded found a statue that various ponies made in homage to Super Stallion after his death was announced.

“This was made in just 3 days?’ Squeaky asked.

“A lot of ponies were helping,” Princess Celestia said. “Myself included.”

Squeaky then took out the sphere and after digging a little bit, placed the sphere in a box then placed the box in the hole he dug. “It’s weird, this feels like I’m saying goodbye to an old friend.”

“I could try to make a new one but I made the old ones on a fluke,” Star Swirl said.

“Oh well them's the breaks,” Squeaky as he buried the box. “I’ll miss being a hero too.”

“No,” Celestia said to her husband. “You will always be a hero. You could have asked Mischief to repair the sphere for you, but instead you asked him to bring Twilight back. Your heart was what made you a hero, not that sphere.”

“Yeah, you’re right. Still I’m going to miss flying. Unless you want to make me an alicorn too.”

“I’m afraid it’s not that simple,” Celestia said.

After that, Sunset and her friends arrived to pay respect to Super Stallion as well. While her friends quickly left to join the party Sunset stayed to talk a bit with Celestia. While she and Celestia already made up while Celestia watched over Squeaky she wanted to talk with her more, they both did.

"I'm sorry that I blew up at you Princess Celestia," Sunset said as Squeaky and Star Swirl went to admire the statue to give them some space.

"No Sunset it's alright," Celestia said. "I should have waited until you were ready to come talk with me. But I am still sorry about how things ended between us." Celestia placed her hoof on Sunset's head. "Please believe me when I said I never meant to hurt you or replace you. It was just a coincidence that Twilight arrived shortly before you left."

"I believe you," Sunset said. "But I don't suppose you want to pick things up where we left off."

"Part of me does, but some things and some parts of ourselves are better left in the past. We both changed a lot since then. Though Twilight might like to be your teacher."

"Perhaps, but for now I like I'll just enjoy life for a while."

Celestia chuckled. "I plan to be doing a lot of that."

After that Sunset joined her friends and the trio walked off but Squeaky looked back at the statue 1 last time. “So long, Super Stallion.”

Meanwhile Shining Armor was having a heart to heart with Twilight who Stone Wall was with.

“You were jealous that I was spending so much time with Stone Wall?” Twilight asked.

“Why is that?” Stone Wall asked while he tried to get Flurry Heart off his face.

“You were just spending so much time together I felt left out,” Shining answered.

“Is during a party really the best time to talk about this?” Cadance asked.

“After she died I thought I’d never get the chance to talk this out with her,” Shining answered.

“Fair point,” Cadance said.

“Well Shining,” Twilight said. “He’s going to be my captain soon. It makes sense for us to work together.”

“I know, but he was starting to act like a big brother to you. So I got jealous again.”

“Again?” Stone Wall asked as Flurry Heart, still hugging Stone Wall looked in confusion.

“I felt inferior to you all my life,” Shining Armor said. “You were such an amazing stallion that I could never seem to measure up to. Maybe you're just a better brother than I am. My own daughter seems to like you better.” Flurry Heart then teleported off Stone Wall and appeared on her father’s face hugging him. “Thank you Flurry.”

“Come here sweetie,” Cadance said as she took Flurry Heart off her husband.

“Shining-”

“It’s okay, Stone Wall,” Shining Armor interrupted. “It’s just 1 more thing you’re better at than I am.”

“Shining,” Stone Wall started again. “I’m a horrible big brother.” The others look at him in confusion. “I pushed my little sister away to a point where she ran off and joined forces with a tyrant.”

“Oh yeah,” Cadance said. “I keep forgetting you 2 are related. But you were a pretty good big brother to me, Stone Wall.”

“Sometimes I think the reason I took you under my proverbial wing was my messed up way of trying to make up for being so bad to my rea…to my other sister.”

An awkward silence passed as nopony knew what to say, until.

“Shining Armor,” Stone Wall said.

“Yes captain,” he replied while giving a salute out of habit.

“I know I gave you a hard time when you were in the guard, but you’re a pretty swell stallion. Even if you do act like an arrogant brat from time to time. I don’t think Cadance could have chosen a better stallion to be her husband.”

“Wow, thank you captain.”

“You're welcome.” Stone Wall then bowed to Twilight. “Your highness may I be excused, all this talking about feelings has inspired me to do the same with a certain pop star.”

“You’re excused,” Twilight replied and with that Stone Wall left. “I know I haven’t been seeing a lot of you lately Shining Armor. But with me running one country and you ruling another, I think we can meet up to make sure things are going well in both places.”

“Thanks Twily,” Shining Armor said. “And don’t worry about living up to your hero as ruler of Equestria. I’m sure you’ll do great things.”

“Speaking of great things,” Twilight said. “There’s something I need to take care of.”

Twilight then made her way to where the remains of Discord were with Shining Armor and Spike after catching up with her beside her.

“So what’s the plan here exactly?” Spike asked.

“Discord died when Grogar took his chaos spark, maybe I can give it back.”

“Are you sure that’s-” Shining Armor was cut off when Twilight pulled out her chaos magic and pulled it into a sparkling purple sphere. “Oh okay doing it right away alright.”

Twilight then placed the chaos magic within Discord’s remains. Suddenly the parts managed to come together, but instead of Discord a goat appeared who would take the name John. He looked around and looked like a newborn child and would quickly lay down for a nap.

“Well, I guess it kind of worked,” Twilight said. “I think.”

“This might be one of those leave good enough alone things Twily.”

“Yeah you’re right Shining Armor.” After that Spike’s parents arrived.

“There you are, Sun Stone,” Coal Diamond said.

“Is it time to go home already?” Spike asked.

“Actually,” Scales said. “We’ve been talking. We saw how much you care for Princess Twilight and maybe we could move to Canterlot so you 2 won’t be apart anymore.”

“REALLY!?” Spike screamed. He then ran over to his parents and hugged both of them. “Thank you thank you thank you! Did you hear that Twilight? We’re staying!”

“Just as soon as we find a place to hold me,” Coal Diamond said.

“Well there’s something else we can try,” Twilight said. “How about Spike stays with me then Spike stays with you and so on and so on. Would that work for you Spike?”

“Sure!” Spike then hugged Twilight again.

***

After the party died down Mischief had gotten the portals ready and made himself bigger than the mountain to get every creature’s attention.

“Alright listen up you 1 life span 3 dimensional 5 sense skin puppets,” Mischief called out. “Or in most of your cases fur puppets. The portals are ready so meet me near the entrance of Canterlot and let’s get this afterparty started.” The various individuals from other universes gathered at the entrance of the city, including the army of rogues who were all restrained.

“All right,” Mischief said. “Let’s start with the bad guys.” Mischief then teleported the army of rogues to the front and then shot out a series of energy beams that went into the army of rogues.

“What the?” Twilight asked. “What did you do?”

“I returned their magic,” Mischief answered.

“You returned their magic?!”

“Is there an echo out here?”

“Look don’t get me wrong,” Twilight said. “I’m very grateful for bringing me back to life, but why are you doing this?”

“Simple the same reason why I’m letting Solar Flare run the universe she took over from Princess Eris.” Mischief then made Solar Flare come to the front of the army and a huge portal appeared right behind him.

“Seriously?” Solar Flare asked. “You’re just letting me rule over that land again?”

“Of course,” Mischief answered. “What would the multiverse be without a little chaos?”

"Okay first he brings me back to life and helps all the other dimension individuals return home then he does something like this," Twilight said to Time Wizard and Astoria. "Is he a good guy or a bad guy?"

"More like a force of nature/variant/walking anomaly," Time Wizard answered.

"This probably doesn't make much sense but chaotic individuals tend to see a bigger picture than most others," Astoria said. She then got on 1 knee and put her hand to Twilight's ears. "Plus if Mischief felt like it he could destroy your entire multiverse, so probably best not to make him angry."

Twilight had to pause to take that last part in.

“Wait,” a Luna from another universe called out with a Sunset Shimmer from her universe not too far behind.

“Queen Luna, wait,” Sunset said. “She could be dangerous.”

“I know you’re my most trusted student Sunset, but it’s okay. I have this.” Luna then approached Solar Flare. “Hello sister.”

“Sister?” Several others asked.

“How did you know it was me?” Solar Flare asked.

“It hasn't been so long that I can’t tell you apart from look-alikes,” Luna answered. “Sun and moon were meant to work together, we were meant to work together older sister. It is time to put our differences behind us, will you accept my friendship?”

Queen Luna then offered her hoof to Solar Flare. But Solar Flare smacked it away before flying into her portal.

“Re-jected,” Mischief said.

“She always was too stubborn for her own good,” the Celestia of this universe said as Luna held her hoof.

Mischief then helped every creature good and bad get back to their home universes. “Well,” Mischief said as he brushed his hands. “Now that that’s taken care of, I literally have a million things to do.” And with that Mischief vanished.

“I think we should make our way home as well,” Time Wizard said. “It was nice to see you all again.” Time Wizard then turned to a certain unicorn that had a sheepish smile on her face. “Yes, even you Starlight.” Time Wizard and Astoria then made their leave as well.

This left Celestia and Luna to finally get Twilight cornaration. It didn’t go exactly as planned but Stone Wall helped prevent it from being a complete disaster.

“Now that that’s settled. Luna and I can finally go to the Isle of the Ancients with our families.

“You know,” Twilight said. “I never asked. What did you name your children?”

“Well,” Celestia said. “It took Luna and I a while.”

“But we finally settled on names for all of them,” Luna added. “We named the pegasus Dawning Shield, the earth pony Astelle, and the unicorn Nyx.”

“As for my children,” Celestia said. “I named the earth pony Lauren after my mother, the pegasus Wishwash my former captain of the guard and Squeaky’s grandfather.”

“Your grandfather was captain of the guard before Stone Wall?” Twilight asked.

“Yes, but that’s another story,” Squeaky answered.

“So what did you name the unicorn?” Twilight asked.

“Twilight,” Celestia answered with a smile which Twilight returned. Celestia and Twilight hugged once again. Celestia then looked at Stone Wall who was rather hesitant to talk to his mother before she left.

“It. It was an honor to serve you Princess Celestia.”

Celestia then placed her hoof on Stone Wall. “I’m not a princess anymore, but I’m still a parent. I know you long enough to know there’s something else on your mind.”

Suddenly to the surprise of everypony Stone Wall broke out in tears. “I don’t want you to retire!” He nearly screamed. “I wanted to serve under you for my whole life.”

Celestia then brought Stone Wall into a hug. “You’ve been holding that in for a while haven’t you?”

“Since the moment you announced your retirement,’ Stone Wall answered, still in tears. “If I said something then would you have changed your mind?”

“No,” Celestia answered right away. “I’ve made up my mind.” Celestia hugged Stone Wall a little tighter. “I know this must be hard for you, but I need to be strong so you can look after Twilight. I’m sure you 2 will be an amazing team. And besides, just because I’m retiring doesn’t mean you won’t see me anymore. I’ll need somepony to watch their younger siblings so Squeaky and I can have some alone time.”

“What?” Stone Wall asked as he and Celestia stopped hugging. “But you gave birth to them. I was just-”

“That changes nothing,” Celestia said as she comforted her former captain of the guard. “You are my son, you will always be my son.” Celestia then hugged Stone Wall again. “I love you, Stone Wall.”

“I-I love you too, mommy.”

After they stopped hugging again Cozy Glow went over to Stone Wall. “Are you okay daddy?”

“No Cozy I’m not,” Stone Wall answered as he wiped the tears from his face. “But I will be.”

"Also Star Swirl," Swift Sweep said. "We didn't name any of them after you to avoid confusion since we're sure you'll be visiting your grandfoals a lot."

"Wise decision," Star Swirl said.

After that the royal pony sisters and their husbands said goodbye as they took their children to the Isle of the Ancients.

“Quite a few adventures we’ve been on,” Squeaky said as he was on Celestia’s back while holding his children. “What’s next?”

“Happily ever after,” Celestia answered as they all flew off into the horizon.

***

Many moons later Twilight had adjusted to ruling Equestria and would ensure its peace and prosperity for many moons to come. With the help from Spike who Twilight made her royal advisor. While he dated Rarity a little bit they both agreed to call it off and stay close friends, while short their relationship gave Spike more courage and passion. This helped him win the heart of an orange scaled green dragon named Emziko.

She also had help from Stone Wall who proudly served as her captain of the royal guard. But in time he would retire and marry Sapphire Shores then pass the torch to her adopted daughter Cozy Glow.

“All right you sissy stallions let me see you sweat!” Cozy ordered.

“Again?” A guard asked.

“Yes again.”

“Sheesh,” an older guard said. “And I thought her dad was a slave driver.”

“Oh golly, did you actually just insult my daddy in front of me?” Cozy asked before dropping her cute demeanor. “I’ll deal with you later.”

After getting together with her friends and dropping her student off at the School of Friendship, Star Swirl would take John to the castle. Having used a time spell to take himself to the present and after teaching him a thing or 2, he decided to take him to Twilight to overlook the rest of his training.

“So you’re here at last,” Queen Twilight said as John arrived in the throne room. She was looking forward to helping John regain his powers and hopefully become Discord once again. She’d also hope to get some chaos magic back again as it can be very helpful. “It’s nice to meet you John.”

John didn’t respond at first, as if he was lost in a trance. My gosh she’s beautiful, John thought. The very definition of a fairy tale princess.

The End