The Return of Harmony, part 1

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It was a lovely day in Equestria, and a beautiful day to be in the fields of Canterlot. In the said garden, Cheerilee was leading the foals of her class through the well-manicured lawn. These foals consisted of the CMC (bar Chad), Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon, Snips, Snails, and Twist.

"I want to start our field trip here, in the world-famous Canterlot sculpture garden." Cheerilee explained, leading them through the garden and pointed out two different statues.

"That one over there represents "Friendship"." It was of three fillies standing on each other's backs. Rumble looked up at the statue and tilted his head.

“Is it always fillies or mares on these statues?” He asked before the rest of the Cutie Mark Crusaders came over, accidentally bonked heads with each other when they tried to look at it at the same time. They glared at one another.

"All right, my little ponies.” Cheerilee said, getting their attention. The six caught up with the others and saw the next Statue Cheerilee was looking at. “This one represents "Victory"." The one she referred to was one of a caped mare standing on her hind legs, holding a flag with three diamonds as stars fly around her hooves. The flag is an actual cloth, not a piece of sculpture.

“How cool would it be to have that for a cutie mark?” Scootaloo asked. Skeedaddle snickered a bit.

“Cool…if you were actually victory-ful at something.” Skeedaddle sarcastically told her.

“That's not a word!" Sweetie Belle exclaimed.

“What are you a dictionary?” Pipsqueak asked her. Sweetie Belle turned to him, purposely looking over his head.

“Who said that?” She then looked down. “Oh, hi Pipsqueak. Almost didn’t see you there.”

“Short jokes, real original. How long have you been practicing that one?” Apple Bloom asked, shooting her a look.

“Comments on originality in ones insult to sound smart. Lame.” Rumble rolled his eyes.

“Kids!” Cheerilee called, getting their attention. They quickly joined the class while she pointed out a strange-looking statue that looked like it was laughing wildly. "Now this is a really interesting statue. What do you notice about it?" She asked, looking among the class.

"It's got an eagle claw!" Apple Bloom called out first.

"And a lion paw!" Scootaloo added, pointing to the item in question.

"And a snake tail!" Sweetie Belle exclaimed.

“And a pony head!” Pipsqueak jumped up to be seen before dropping down.

“I was gonna say that Pip.” Skeedaddle said with flopped ears.

“No you weren’t.” Rumble shoved him. He shoved him back, blowing a raspberry having knocked him over.

"This creature is called a draconequus." Cheerilee explained. "He has the head of a pony and a body made up of all sorts of things. What do you suppose that represents?"

“Confusion!" Apple Bloom said. She was shoved by Sweetie Belle.

"Evil!" Sweetie Belle exclaimed. She was shoved by Scootaloo.

"Chaos!" Scootaloo said. Skeedaddle slid in front of her.

“Disharmony!” Skeedaddle declared. Pipsqueak jumped on his head.

“Acrimony!” Pipsqueak chimed in. Rumble shoved him and Skeedaddle aside.

“Mayhem!” Rumble vociferated. Scootaloo glared at him.

“Hey, Chaos and Mayhem are the same thing! Don’t steal my answer!” She shouted.

"It's not either one, you dodo!" Sweetie Belle exclaimed.

"Don't call me things I don't know the meaning of!" She exclaimed, glaring at Sweetie Belle. "And it is too chaos!"

"Is not!" Sweetie Belle exclaimed, getting nose to nose with her.

Apple Bloom jumped on their heads. “You’re all wrong!” The two moved and as Apple Bloom dropped down, they began fighting among each other. The colts were no better as they were at each other's necks before getting into a fight cloud themselves. Cheerilee could only shake her head at their antics.

"Actually, in a way, you're all right." She said and the six foals stopped their fighting to look at her. "This statue represents ‘Discord’, which means a lack of harmony between ponies." she continued. "In fact, you six have demonstrated discord so well that you're each going to write me an essay explaining it."

Out of embarrassment, the Cutie Mark Crusaders’ ears to droop in response while their classmates laughed at them again.

"Now let's go, and I don't want anymore fighting." Cheerilee warned as she and the class began walking. The CMC started to argue under their breath. Unfortunately, as the class walked away, the statue began to crack and crackle in stifled laughter.

My Little Pony,
My Big Changeling too
Ahh, ahh, ahh, ahhh…

[Bandit]
(My Little Pony)

We used to wonder what friendship could be
(My Big Changeling too)

[Twilight Sparkle]
Until you all shared its magic with me

[Rainbow Dash]
Big adventure

[Pinkie Pie]
Tons of fun

[Rarity]
A beautiful heart

[Applejack]
Faithful and strong

[Fluttershy]
Sharing kindness!

[Lightning Sprint]
Motivate the team

[Bandit]
Heroics makes it all complete
You have my little ponies
Do you know you're all my very best friends?

Back in Ponyville, Rainbow Dash was flying around at a fast speed, enjoying the nice day when something pink suddenly whizzed past her. She spun for a short time before turning to look at the pink object, who strangely didn’t have the last name Pie, that whizzed past her.

"Come back here, you!" She exclaimed. She zipped to the object and was on it in no time, tackling it as soon as she was close. "Gotcha!" She found herself covered with pink gunk.

"Eww, what is this?" She asked as she shook most of it off. She still had some on her, so she took a lick of the substance.

"Cotton candy?" She recognized before seeing the different parts of the cloud she shook off zipping in all sorts of directions.

Thunder rumbled above her, making her up as something brown dripped out of the cloud and landed on her head.

"Wait a second!" she protested. "It's not supposed to rain until tomorrow. You can't just-" Before she could finish, brown-colored rain began falling out of the cloud and onto her. She didn’t look the slightest bit amused. "You did."

At Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack was picking corn and placing it into the cart behind her. She soon heard Rainbow Dash’s voice.

“Hey! I didn’t tell you to go anywhere!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, making Applejack turn around to see her chasing a pink cloud around. Following up were more pink clouds, and soon, chocolate rain came out as well.

“Rainbow Dash, what’s goin’ on with this rain…I mean, chocolate milk…I mean, chocolate-milk rain?!?” Applejack asked, trying to wrap her head around what was happening. Lightning Sprint zipped over.

“This isn’t the only place suffering from crazy weather, it’s happening all over equestria!” Lightning Sprint exclaimed. Rainbow Dash flew over to confirm.

“She’s right. There’s crazy weather all over Equestria! Cloudsdale’s getting soaked by a major cola storm right now.” Rainbow Dash said.

“Don’t worry, we won’t leave until we get control of Ponyville.” Lightning Sprint said as she and Rainbow Dash soon began to fly off. The corn began popping popcorn out, some hitting Applejack in the face and knocking her into a pile of said popcorn.

Pinkie was diving in and out of Popcorn piles, having a great time doing so.

“Why would you wanna stop this?” She asked, popping her head out to get a mouth full of the falling Chocolate Milk.

Rarity arrived, just as Applejack unburied herself, and she was wearing a violet raincoat, matching rain hat, and an umbrella strapped to her back to protect her from the brown rain. "Ahem. I heard about your troubles, Applejack. And I came to see if there's anything I can do without getting wet. Or dirty. Or out from under my umbrella."

Applejack gave her an unamused look as she listed her unwillingness before looking up to see the apples on the trees start to grow big, so big that they were making the trees bend unnaturally. The animals didn’t seem to mind as they jumped at the chance to feast on the apples. Much to the dismay of Applejack.

“Fluttershy, Do Somethin’!” Applejack exclaimed. Fluttershy looked at Angel, who was also partaking in the Apple Feast.

“Now, Angel, you really shouldn’t—” Before she could finish, Angel’s usually short legs, sprouted hooves. Very skinny and horse-like hooves that have grown much, much taller the length of hers.

“No! It’s not possible!” She exclaimed, gasping as she saw more rabbits running by, with the same leg length. “I must be seeing things!”

Bandit, Twilight (while carrying a book), Spike, and Chad soon arrived and looked at the chaos that was ensuing.

“Don’t worry everyone.” Twilight said, getting their attention. “I’ve learned a new spell that’ll fix everything!”

Bandit looked at her and nodded.

“Do your thing Twi.” He said. She smirked and lit her horn. The magic topped it off with a radiating blue/purple shock wave and a flash of white light that made Bandit and Chad turn their heads. However, when the flash went away, nothing changed. Bandit turned and to see what happened. Nothing changed. He wasn’t the only one surprised.

“My fail-safe spell… failed. What do we do?" Twilight asked.

“Uh, give up?” Spike asked, getting slapped in the back of the head by Chad. Bandit placed a purple saddle equipped with a matching umbrella on Twilight’s back.

“Spikester, Twily, we’ll come up with something.” Bandit said, then he thought of something. He looked at Lightning Sprint and Rainbow Dash.

“Rainbow! Lightning! Can you corral all those clouds in one corner of the sky?” Bandit asked. The two saluted and got to work on zooming through the sky to capture all of the clouds. Rainbow Dash was capturing the clouds and bring them to Lightning Sprint who was zipping around the clouds, keeping them from flying away. Bandit then turned to Applejack.

“Applejack, grab some extra rope. We’ll bring those high-strung storm clouds down to earth.” Bandit said. Applejack nodded and gave him an extra rope. The two spun the lassos and threw them to the clouds, roping the massive cluster of chocolate rain clouds, stopping the rain. Pinkie, who was under one of the clouds and enjoying the chocolate rain felt the rain stop.

“Hey! What happened?” Pinkie asked. Applejack and Bandit brought the cloud down with one mighty tug. Twilight whispered something in Fluttershy’s ears which made her face brighten with delight, going along with the plan.

"Oh dear." Fluttershy began in an attempt to get the attention of the various animals. "I hope none of the animals see these delicious chocolate-filled cotton candy clouds. I'd hate to have to share them."

"You and me both, sister!" Pinkie said, eating the cotton candy rain cloud. That was until the animals raced over and blocked her access to the cloud, much to her dismay. "Hey!"

“Oh, and make sure you chow down on this delicious popcorn before it’s all gone.” Chad said, helping himself to some of the popcorn he had placed in a bag. Angel looked at him as he ate. “Get your own popcorn Angel.” He said without even opening his eyes.

"You see, Spike? You should never give up. There's nothing we can't overcome if we all work together." Twilight said, happy with their results. Suddenly, Spike burped out green flames that transformed into a scroll with the royal seal on it. Bandit saw this and grabbed the scroll and opened it.

“Oh no. Everyone, mother needs us in Canterlot immediately.” Bandit told the group. They looked among each other, very worried.

In Canterlot, Celestia was pacing back and forth as the Mane 8 came through the door.

“Princess Celestia!” Twilight called. Celestia turned to look at the group.

“We came as fast as we could.” Bandit added as they stopped before her.

"Thank you, Twilight, Bandit." Princess Celestia stated gratefully. "Thank you, all."

"Is this about the weather?" Twilight began to ask urgently, followed by a series of more questions. "And the animals' weird behavior? What's happening out there? Why isn't my magic working? Is there-?" Celestia held up a hoof to respectfully stop her.

"Follow me." She instructed.

Celestia led them to a corridor with stained-glass windows on both walls.

“I’ve called you here for a matter of great importance.” Celestia started. Bandit was looking at all the stained glass in the room. “It seems an old foe of mine, someone I thought I had defeated long ago, has returned.”

Fluttershy walked away from the group and looked up at one of the stained glass windows. Which was of the draconequus, similar to the statue in the garden. Bandit was able to put the pieces together.

“Discord.” He said. Fluttershy let out a yelp and zipped over to hide under Bandit

“Exactly.” Celestia acknowledged. As she continued, the stained glass windows helped tell the story. “Discord is the mischievous spirit of disharmony. Before my sister and I stood up to him, he ruled Equestria in an eternal state of unrest and unhappiness.”

The next stained glass window showed Discord above three marionette control bars over each pony species. “Luna and I saw how miserable life was for earth ponies, pegasi, and unicorns alike. So after discovering the Elements of Harmony with some help…”

The final stained glass window showed a petrified Discord, caught in between Celestia and Luna. Having been defeated. “We combined our powers and rose up against him, turning him to stone.

“All right, Princess!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed happily.

“Rainbow, wait. There’s more.” Lightning Sprint told her.

“I thought the spell we cast would keep him contained forever. But since Luna and I are no longer connected to the Element…the spell has been broken.” Celestia said as she continued walking.

“No longer connected?” Bandit and Twilight said as they looked at each other.

“This is Canterlot Tower.” Celestia said, stopping before a pair of closed double doors in a gold frame topped with a carving of a winged unicorn. On both sides of the door. “Where the Elements are kept inside since all of you recovered them. I need you to wield the Elements of Harmony once again and stop Discord before he thrusts all of Equestria into eternal chaos.”

“I’ll do whatever it takes.” Bandit said, willing to do this without question. Twilight wasn’t so on board.

“But why us? Why don’t you-” Twilight tried to ask.

“Hey look! We’re famous!” Pinkie announced, getting their attention. They walk over and look at their stained glass window, which portrayed them in Nightmare Moon’s defeat. There was another stained glass on that side of the corridor, but it was in the front near the door.

“You eight showed the full potential of the Elements by harnessing the magic of your friendship to beat a mighty foe. Although Luna and I once wielded the Elements, it is you who now control their power, and it is you who must defeat Discord!” Celestia told them. Bandit looked at the group and then at Twilight. Twilight looked back at him and nodded. Bandit looked back at Celestia.

“Mom, you can count on-” Bandit tried to say, but Pinkie zipped over.

“Hold on a second! Eternal chaos comes with chocolate rain, you guys. Chocolate rain!” She emphasized.

“And that is worth an eternity of chaotic torment because?” Bandit asked her. Pinkie tapped her chin before narrowing her eyes at him.

“I’ll get back to you on that.” Pinkie said. Twilight slid over to Celestia.

“Don’t listen to her, Princess. We’d be honored to use the Elements of Harmony again.” Twilight said. Celestia nodded her head and turned to the door. Inserting her horn into the center of the sun, she hits it with a quick shot of magic and backs away. The eight gems on the door began glowing and soon enough, the doors then slid open, unleashing a flash of bright magical light that made everyone but the princess shield their eyes.

Inside the room, there was a jeweled lockbox on a pedestal. Rarity opened her eyes and went wide-eyed at the side of said, lockbox.

“Oooooh…” Rarity shuddered. “You can keep the Elements. I’ll take that case!”

“Have no fear, ponies. I have total confidence that you will be able to defeat Discord…” She showed the box to the group. “With these.”

She opened the box and it was completely empty. The eight gasped as Celestia dropped the book out of shock. Pinkie was the first to get any words out.

“Oh, well. If anyone needs me, I’ll be outside in the chocolate puddles with a giant swizzle straw!” Pinkie said as she began trotting off.

“The elements are gone?!” Twilight exclaimed.

“How is that possible?!” Bandit exclaimed.

“That chamber is protected by a powerful spell that only I can break! This doesn’t make sense.” Celestia pondered as she paced. A fruity, malicious male laugh was soon heard. Everyone began to look around for the source of the voice.

“Make sense? Oh, what fun is there in making sense?" The voice said.

"Discord… Show yourself!" Princess Celestia demanded. The laugh returned. Bandit stood in front of his friends, sprouting his wings protectively to shield them.

“Did you miss me, Celestia?” The voice asked from the marionette window. All eyes turned that way. The draconequus image begins to move and speak within the stained glass. “I’ve missed you.”

Bandit lit up his horn. “I won’t miss.”

Celestia held up a hoof to stop him, Bandit unlit his horn. Discord slithered off, past the edge of the image as if on a television screen, appearing in the next image.

"It's quite lonely being encased in stone, but you wouldn't know that, would you, because I don't turn ponies into stone." Discord said, tapping on the head of Fluttershy in the Element of Harmony stained glass.

"Enough! What have you done with the Elements of Harmony?" She demanded.

"Oh, I just borrowed them for a teensy little while.” Discord said before snapping his fingers, making the image of the Elements of Harmony disappear from the window. Celestia scrapped her hoof on the ground in anger.

“Oh, I’d forgotten how grim you can be, Celestia. It’s really quite boring.” Discord insulted. A magic blast hit the window and when it collided, Discord was no longer there, and the window was still intact. Celestia looked back and saw Bandit with his horn lit up.

“No one insults my mother.” Bandit gritted. Discord popped into the stained glass at the start of the room, on the same side as the Elements defeating nightmare moon. The Stained glass was of Celestia cradling a baby Bandit.

“You must be Bandit. The element of Heroism and son of Celestia I’ve heard so much about.” Discord began before looking at the baby Bandit. “I always thought Celestia would have an offspring the old fashioned way. Guess they can’t all be winners.”

Rainbow Dash flew over to give Discord what for, but he disappeared, making her slam right into the window. He reappeared back over to the stained glass he removed the Elements of Harmony from.

“Oh, you must be Rainbow Dash." He said, making Rainbow Dash turn to him. "Famed for her loyalty, the Element of Harmony you represent."

"That's right!" Rainbow Dash confirmed. "I'll always be loyal to the Princess! And my friends!” He teleported.

“We’ll see about that.” He said, definitely sounding as though he had a trick up his sleeve.

“I can't believe we're wasting our time talking to a tacky window." Rarity complained and jumped when Discord appeared in the window next to her.

"The beautiful Rarity, representing the element of generosity, if I'm not mistaken?" He asked.

"So you know who we are, big deal." Applejack said.

“Pfft, that supposed to intimidate us? It’s not working.” Lightning Sprint added.

"Oh." Discord began, growing bigger so that he filled the window, "I know much more than that, honest Applejack. And I’ll show you how….intimidating I can be Ms. Motivator Sprint."

"You seem to know our strengths too.” Twilight remarked, glaring up at Discord.

“Yes, Twilight Sparkle. And yours is one of the most powerful and elusive Element—magic.” Discord said.

“One of?” Bandit asked. Discord moved on to the last two.

“Fluttershy’s is kindness and Pinkie Pie’s is a personal favorite of mine—laughter.” Discord listed. Twilight looked back at Pinkie, who was now revealed to be snickering.

“Pinkie!” Twilight exclaimed, disapproval in her voice. Pinkie let out the laugh she was holding back.

“He’s standing on your head!” She said. When they looked up, they saw Discord moonwalking on Twilight’s head.

“Stop stalling, Discord! What have you done with the Elements of Harmony?” Celestia demanded.

“Oh, so boring, Celestia, really! Fine, I’ll tell you, but I’ll only tell you my way.” Discord said. He disappeared and began appearing in all the windows as he gave this riddle. “o retrieve your missing Elements, just make sense of this change of events. Twists and turns are my master plan. Then find the Elements back where you began.”

He let out one final chuckle and went back into the marionette stained glass.

Twilight, Applejack, and Fluttershy walked over to the window.

“Can we go home now?” Fluttershy asked. Bandit turned to look at the lockbox and walked over it.

“What do you reckon he meant? Twists and turns and endin’ back where we started?” Applejack asked.

Bandit closed his eyes and took in one deep inhale on the box. A transparent, golden mist went into his nose and seemed to circle into his head a bit. He opened his eyes and he could see the golden mist in the form of a trail. However, he was the only one who could see it, as these were the elements he could smell. He saw that the mist lead out the room, he looked out the window with Twilight, towards the labyrinth. That’s when it clicked.

“Twists and turns! That’s it! I bet Discord hid the Elements in the palace labyrinth!” Twilight hypothesized.

“I’ve got the scent trail to confirm. It’s definitely hidden in the labyrinth.” Bandit confirmed.

“Good luck, my little ponies.” Celestia started before looking at Bandit. “My big Changeling too. The fate of Equestria is in your hooves.” She said as she used her horn to knight both her son and her top student.

“We won’t let you down mom.” Bandit said. Bandit led the group out of the castle. Discord’s laughter was heard as they exited, making Celestia look around for the source.

The Mane Eight made it to the entrance and stopped short of the opening. Some were shocked, others were determined.

"W-We have to go in there?" Fluttershy asked uneasily.

"Nope!" Rainbow Dash said confidently, flapping her wings. Lightning Sprint flapped hers as well.

"Looks like that Dopey Dragoness-” Lightning Sprint started.

“Draconequus.” Bandit corrected.

“Draconequus, forgot about these babies!” She corrected herself with a flap as she and Rainbow Dash took to the skies.

“We’ll just do a quick flyover and we'll have the Elements in no time." Rainbow Dash said. The two of them flew toward the labyrinth before a flash of light made their wings disappear They fell back down and Bandit dove for them, catching them in his own wings.

They both looked at each other and gasped.

“Your wings!” They both exclaimed before looking at themselves. “My wings!”

Fluttershy had her wings disappear, making her gasp. Rarity and Twilight were next, with their horns disappearing.

“Your horn!....My horn!!” They both exclaimed before screaming in unison. Bandit at them and then himself. He was now the only one with wings and a horn. Another flash of light and Discord appeared before the Mane eight in his true form. He stood up and looked right at Bandit. Snapping his fingers multiple times, but nothing seemed to have happened.

“Grr. What is the meaning of this!?” He exclaimed at Bandit.

“I was gonna ask you the same thing! Give them their wings and horns back!” Bandit demanded.

“I took them so that they won’t be cheating. They’ll get them back in due time, but now I have to deal with you.” Discord said as he snapped yet again, but had no effect.

“Cheating? What are you on about?” Bandit asked. Discord stopped snapping before thinking. He then got a sinister smirk on his face before he explained the rules.

“Well, Your highness, this is the first rule of our game: no flying, and no magic." Discord answered.

"The first rule?" Rainbow Dash repeated.

“I do not like that sudden shift in tone.” Lightning Sprint said.

“The second rule is everypony has to play.” He said. Then he snapped his fingers again. Bandit suddenly felt heavier and almost fell to the ground from the weight. Bandit looked at his back and saw what looked to be a golden king cobra statue, coiled around him and his wings.

“Third rule, Bandit must carry this statue for the entire game, or the game is over, and I win. Good luck everyone!” He said, disappearing with a sinister laugh. Seeing Bandit struggle, Applejack and Twilight ran over to help, but couldn’t add any additional strength.

“I’ll be fine, I’ll be fine.” Bandit told them as he stood straight back up. He looked at the maze and narrowed his eyes. “I guess since he can’t take my horn or wings, he’s had to find a more creative way to make me suffer.”

“Will you be okay?” Fluttershy asked.

“I’ll be fine, let’s get to those elements.” Bandit said. “He might have slowed me down, but he isn’t going to stop me, or any of you.”

“Bandit’s right.” Lightning Sprint said before looking at the group. “Twilight has said it before, here’s nothing we can’t overcome if we all stick together. When we’re together, there’s nothing we can’t do!”

Now encouraged, the group walked to the entrance and raised a hoof.

“All right, girls. Let’s do this.” Twilight said. They all took the first step.

“Together!” They all said. As soon as they took that step, hedges suddenly shot up from the ground to wall one-off from the next. Panic ensues among them before Bandit spoke up.

“Everyone! Stay calm!” Bandit exclaimed. The panicking stopped. “Head to the middle of the maze!”

“Move as fast as you can and we’ll meet up there!” Twilight acknowledged.

“Moving out!” Rainbow Dash said.

“See you in the center!” Rarity added.

“Yee-haw!” Applejack said.

“Center! Got it!” Lightning Sprint exclaimed.

“See you guys there!” Pinkie exclaimed. 6 of the 8 began to take off. Bandit was about to run, but he heard Fluttershy panting. He stopped and used his ears to pinpoint a location.

“What’s that? Who’s there? GIRRRRLS!!” She screamed.

“Fluttershy!” Bandit called. Fluttershy turned to the hedge where Bandit’s voice came from. “Listen to me, we can get through this! I believe in you! Follow along the right wall if you think you’ll get lost! It’s all gonna be okay, okay?” He asked.

Fluttershy began to calm herself before nodding her head. There was a pause.

“Fluttershy, I can’t tell if you nodded your head, can you say something please?” Bandit asked.

“Oh, um, okay.” She said meekly.

“Okay, see you in the center.” Bandit said as he started moving. He motivated himself enough to start jogging, even with that very heavy statue. Fluttershy took Bandit’s advice and began following along the right wall.

Meanwhile, Applejack raced through the maze, running toward where the center was supposed to be. She was going at a good pace when something caught her eye, and she backtracked to one of the other pathways to find three red apples. She stepped toward them, and she blinked when the apples suddenly rolled away by themselves.

"What in tarnation?" She asked, chasing after the apples.

Applejack followed the apples to an open space that had a pond and apple trees. She promptly came to a stop.

"Where am I?" She wondered and winced when she was bonked on the head by an apple. She became confused when more apples fell out of the trees and rolled around her before forming three piles of dark red apples, light red apples, and green apples, which all began laughing. "Who are y'all?" She asked. The pile of dark red apples rose up, forming eyes and a mouth.

"The keepers of the grove of truth.” it informed her. "You may ask us…" It then deflated.

The pile of light-red apples rose up next to speak. "…one question…" And then it deflated.

The green apples rose up next. "…past, future or present."

"But be warned…"

"…that the truth…"

"…may not always be pleasant.” Applejack didn’t look comfortable at all.

"All right then." She decided. "I don't trust this place worth a hill of beans, but I've got a really bad feelin' about this feller Discord. What's gonna come of this mission we're on?" she finally asked.

The Red apples rose up and guided her over to the pond, where they were joined by the Light-red and Green apples. "For the answer you seek…" it began.

`"…go ahead, take a peek." The Light-red apples said.

Applejack peered into the water, which rippled, and a scene showing her and almost all her friends, all of which were arguing.

"I hope I never see you again!" Rainbow Dash shouted.

"Me too!" Fluttershy shouted.

"I wish I was never your friends!" Lightning Sprint shouted!

“Fine!” Pinkie shouted.

"Fine!” Rarity shouted.

"It's settled then." Twilight Sparkle agreed coldly, and the seven ponies parted way. Applejack stared in horror as the scene faded away, refusing to believe what she'd seen.

"No! Our friendship? Over?!" She exclaimed distraughtly. In her dismay, she was unaware of Discord hovering high above her, directing the apple piles while chuckling evilly. "It can't be true. It just can't!" she protested, taking off her hat to cover her face with, refusing to believe it. "That just can't be the truth."

The Light-red apples began speaking and the orange pony looked at it. “When all the truth does…"

"…is make your heart ache…" The Green apples said. Applejack looked at it, and Discord’s face and voice began to overlap it, with the hypnotic influence of his eyes spreading to hers.. "…sometimes a lie is easier to take." Discord let out a laugh as he and Applejack’s color faded to a greyed hue.

A section of the maze wall lowered as Twilight ran past. Twilight stopped and backtracked, seeing Applejack staring into space.

"Applejack! Thank goodness!" She said with relief as she trotted over to the apple pony, unaware that there was something very off. "I thought I heard voices over here. Who were you talking to?"

Applejack’s eyes were back to normal before she answered.

"I was talking to… uh… nopony! Nopony whatsoever!" She lied.

"What?" Twilight asked in confusion.

"Nothing." Applejack repeated, walking past her friend and still lying. "Come on, uh, we best be going."

"Did Applejack just…?" Twilight started before, chuckling. "Come on, Twilight! Applejack wouldn't lie."

Bandit was still jogging to keep up his pace. As he jogged, he looked back at the golden statue.

“There’s no way this statue is made out of gold. What the heck is this thing made out of?” Bandit asked. As he asked that, he came across a courtyard that had a bunch of mirrors against the hedge walls. Bandit stopped, looked at the courtyard, and then looked around before looking back at the mirrors.

“Oh come on, like I haven’t seen any movie ever. I know this is a trap.” Bandit said. As soon as he said that, the way back and the alternate path were closed off with hedges, forcing him to take the courtyard path. Bandit sighed and walked into the courtyard. As he did, the statue was suddenly lighter. Bandit was confused and looked back at the statue, only to look at the mirrors. Instead, it was a bunch of fancy-looking ponies. And none of them looked like they were happy to see him.

“Who doesn’t love a good reunion?” Discord’s voice said.

“Ugh, who invited the freak?”

“Hmph, that bug is still relevant?”

Bandit’s ear twitched as he looked around at the mirrors, he gritted his teeth, but he continued to move. As he did, the ponies changed to those he had met in the past. From his nymphhood. And it started with Top Marks.

“Simply put, I don’t think you are someone who deserves an A. You need to be grateful I gave you a B.”

Next was the Gold Star, the restaurant owner from when he was nine.

“Look, you listen to me pretentious, privileged little freak. The only thing keeping me from kicking you out of my restaurant is the fact that the princess is on the other side of this restaurant, other wise, I would toss you out myself. Now sit down and shut up.”

Next was Prince Blueblood, Solar Comet, and River Lilly, who were talking to Blueblood behind his back when he was 12.

“Pssh, as if anyone cares about his status as prince.” A young Solar Comet snickered.

“Celestia should have left him in that river like any other pony would.” a young River Lilly spat.

“I’m sure all of Equestria would have been better off.” Prince Blueblood said. Bandit’s ears lowered as he kept moving. Then he got to the ponies of ponyville, what he was hearing was their thoughts.

"He walks around like he owns the place."

"Why does he even stay here?"

"He should just go."

"He's planning something, we know it."

"That freak doesn't belong here."

"So what he saved Equestria once, he's still a danger."

"Think of the children."

Bandit’s ears flopped as he continued to move. The next mirrors he saw were his friends. He was beginning to hear those ‘thoughts’ as well.

"Why doesn't he just buzz off?!" Pinkie exclaimed.

"Royalty schmoyalty. Who cares?" Rainbow Dash said.

"He just gets in the way." Rarity said.

"I'd rather him be anywhere else." Fluttershy said.

"Should've just stayed in Canterlot." Lightning Sprint said.

"No good so and so." Applejack said.

Twilight just stared at him coldly. Bandit stopped moving to look at her.

"I'm the star pupil... not you. Thinking you're better than me. You aren’t a freak like you never will be. I wish I never met you.” Bandit looked shocked at what he just heard.

“This is how the ponies of equestria see you. How they will always look down on you.” Discord’s voice began. Bandit looked at all the crude looks he was getting. “They’ll never see you for who you are, because they can’t get past what you are.”

Bandit looked at the snake statue that was suddenly light from when he walked into the mirror yard.

“Equestria, waiting for you to screw up, weighing down on your negatives. Can’t look past the what to see the who. Are they truly worth being a hero for?” Discord asked him. Bandit looked at the mirror in front of him, he saw his own reflection. “Would you really risk your life, for those who will forget all your good deeds like nothing happened?”

Bandit looked at his reflection and then glared, leaning forward.

“Without. Question.” He said before turning to keep walking. As he walked towards the exit, the mirror with his reflection popped up behind him.

“Why?” His reflection asked. Bandit stopped at the exit and turned around. “You know those ponies will turn their backs on you. You know that, if something happens with your kind they will blame you. Why do you delude yourself into thinking they’ll see you as their hero?”

“I’m not a hero.” Bandit told the reflection. “I don’t need to be seen as one. If ponies don’t want to look past my appearance, that’s fine. If ponies don’t want me to live with them, that’s fine. Ponies want to forget any good deeds I’ve done, that’s fine. So long as they never forget that when trouble calls, I’ll always be there to help. Without. Question.” Bandit said, and with that, he left. The golden snake had its original weight back on it. Discord growled and snapped his fingers, blocking off a path that would have led directly to Twilight and Applejack before he could see the path. He watched him continue moving.

“Without Question huh? Well, we’ll see about that.” Discord gritted as he rubbed his claws together.

Meanwhile, Pinkie was bouncing along the route she was taking through the maze. She was cheerful despite the grim situation, which seemed perfectly normal to her. She whistled as she moved before coming across an opening, which made her jaw drop in amazement when she saw planters filled with balloons of all kinds of shapes and colors, and they were laughing. Delighted by her discovery, Pinkie entered the area, admiring the laughing balloons.

"This is the greatest balloon garden I've ever seen!" she declared. "It's the first balloon garden I've ever seen, but still! Wah!" She exclaimed as she suddenly faceplanted into the mud, she looks up to see what happened. A pink balloon had tied her back leg up to make her fall.

“Hey! What gives?” She exclaimed. Discord appeared before her a few seconds later.

“What’s the matter, Pinkie Pie? I thought you appreciated a good laugh.” He asked, pretending to be confused.

"It's different." Pinkie answered, her smile no longer on her face. "They're laughing at me."

"It's hardly different." Discord said as he moved his head behind a balloon, when he moved it back, then his head was no longer there, yet the balloon had a face. "Your friends laugh at you all the time."

Pinkie stood up and shook off the mud. "My friends laugh with me. Not at me." She said with a smile.

“Oh really?” The green balloon floated down. He then began spinning around her at a very fast pace, laughing at her. As he laughed, more laughter could be heard. Pinkie’s eyes spun to keep up, but the laughing was getting to her.

“No! Stop it!” She begged. They didn’t oblige her request and continued laughing. As she looked back up, the balloons were turning into her friends. The other 6 mares of their group.

“Stop laughing at me!” She exclaimed. The discord balloon floated down to her.

“Oh, poor Pinkie Pie. And here I thought laughter made you happy.” He mocked sadness before stopping in front of her. Using his eyes to hypnotize her like he did Applejack.

“Happy?” She asked before standing up and becoming greyed out. “I don’t think so.” She said with a very angry attitude.

The balloons around her popped, revealing a pathway that Bandit walked through seconds later.

“Pinkie!” Bandit called. “Wow, I am glad to see you.” He took a few steps and then stopped, looking confused. “Pinkie, are you okay? You don’t look so good.”

"Glad to see me? Why? Need a good laugh?!" She said, walking past. Bandit looked very confused as she did so.

“Why do you look…...grey?” He asked. She zipped into his face.

“Was that supposed to be a joke?!” She exclaimed.

“Uh….No. It was concern.” He said. She rolled her eyes and started walking. “Uh….Pinkie, it’s this way.”

“I know that!” She exclaimed as she walked back towards and past him. Bandit scratched his head and began going back to following the scent.

Rarity was walking through a different section of the maze in search of the center. "I was expecting an audience with the Princess, not outdoor sport." She said before walking into a wall "Agh.” Then she noticed the three diamonds in the wall she just walked into. “Oh my..." Images of Discord appeared on the surface of the three diamonds, laughing cruelly.

"Welcome to your lucky day, Rarity." He taunted, weaving his spell. "You've found the one thing in Equestria that could rival my face for sheer beauty. What do you think? You like?" The diamonds began glowing hypnotically.

"Yes…" Rarity said, falling under the spell and she moved toward the diamonds. "I like very much…" She stopped and shook her head violently, to clear herself of the hypnosis. "No! No, I shan't succumb to such fabulousness." She turned and walked away, struggling with every step she took.

"Must… get to the center… to meet… the others." She encouraged herself.

"Mine!" She turned back around, her color fading as well. She began digging to get to the diamonds.

After some time, Rarity had dug a path through the wall and was satisfied with herself.

“Well, Rarity. It took forever, but it was worth it!” She said. Before her, was a very large diamond. She shook the dirt off and ran over to it.

“Who knew three little gemstones would turn out to be this handsome hunk of a diamond?” She said with a happy gasp to be added to the end. “Now to get you home.”

Ducking as low as she could, she got enough of her back underneath the monster gem to allow her to hoist it up. As it was now on her back, she began to trek away. It was at that moment when the wall she dug at collapsed, revealing Twilight and Applejack.

"Rarity! Are we glad to see…” She began to canter over, only to stop when she saw that Rarity didn’t have a diamond, but a humongous boulder on her back. “Why are you carrying a humongous boulder?" Twilight asked.

Rarity flipped the boulder off her back. "What do you mean, ‘boulder’?" She demanded. "This big beautiful bedazzling rock is a diamond! And it's all mine. Keep your envious little eyes off it! I found it and it's mine fair and square!" She got the 'diamond' onto her back again and struggled to carry it while being followed by Applejack. Twilight couldn’t help but look on in complete shock and concern before following them.

In another part of the maze, Fluttershy was slowly edging her way through the maze, using her hoof to follow along the side like Bandit previously told her to. "Okay, I can do this. I can..."

A few butterflies flew by, startling her. As she yelped and dove into a hedge wall, she went in and stuck her head out. “Oh, wait a minute.” She saw what startled her. “Butterflies?”

The butterflies take a turn, and Fluttershy began chasing them.

“Wait! Don’t leave me here!”

The butterflies continue their flight, and Fluttershy hurries to catch up. She skidded to a stop and saw multiple paths before her. That was until the butterflies came behind her, prompting her to turn around and see that the butterflies had the mismatched antlers of discord.

“Fluttershy…” One of the butterflies began, turning out to be a high-pitched discord. “…looks like you’ve been left behind by your so-called friends, huh?”

“Oh no.” She turned with a smile while shaking her head. “I’m certain they’re doing their best to find me.”

They started to circle her.

“Well, it must be so upsetting to know how weak and helpless they think you are.” Butterfly Discord tried again. It didn’t work.

“Not at all. I am weak and helpless, and I appreciate their understanding.” She said with a smile.

"Yes, well, surely it burns you up, I mean—" Discord's real voice came out before he went back to his high pitched voice."—that they’re always pointing out your flaws, right?"

"Not really. In fact, I think I'm awfully lucky to have friends who want me to be the best I can be." That was what did it. Discord turned into himself out of frustration.

"Oh, for goodness’ sake!" He exclaimed before he jabbed her with a talon to hypnotize her.

"You've been kind for far too long, my dear. Time to be cruel. Arrivederci!" He said before he disappeared. A hedge wall dropped, revealing Bandit and Pinkie. Bandit managed to spot her and attempted to jog towards her.

“Fluttershy!” He called as he moved, a bit slower than how he started. “I am happy you’re finally-” He slid to a stop. “Hey, are you okay?”

“I was okay.” She turned around and glared at him. “Then you showed up.”

“Dang it, you got greyed too?” He asked as he looked at her.

“You got a problem with that? Then take that curved horn and make everything alright!” She growled at him. Bandit was in shock. “Oh that’s right, I forgot.” You can’t.”

She turned and tried to flick him with her tail. He dodged it by jerking his head back. He dodged the tail but hit his head on the snake statue he was carrying.

He rubbed his head as he watched Fluttershy walk on, hip-checking Pinkie and knocking her to the ground.

“Discord. What the heck are you doing to my friends?” He asked before he kept moving.

Lightning Sprint was running along the maze walls as she tried to get to the center as fast as she could. As she ran, the path she took was suddenly a very straight line. She took a moment to observe the area.

Lightning Sprint looked at the straight path. "What's so intimidating about a straight line? I'm not impressed" she said, referring to Discord mentioning his intimidating side, before running down the path.

She didn’t think much of this at first until she found herself running longer than she felt it should have taken. This made her slow down a bit.

“What the?” She asked as she slowed to a trot.

“What’s the matter Lightning Sprint? Losing your motivation to keep moving?” Discord was heard asking. She quickly picked up the pace.

"Not at all. I'm going to make it to the centre. No matter what. Cause we're gonna stop you."

“We? An interesting word, don’t you think?”

"You're nothing Discord. You have no chance. We'll stop you no matter what!"

“You’re nothing? You have no chance? It’s strange how those two phrases apply to you. A poor pony who doesn’t have her own personality.” Discord started.

"Very funny Discord. Your lies won't fool me."

"What lies? Hear for yourself." He said.

At that moment, her friend's voices began to fill in.

"Does she even try to be like someone else?" Rainbow Dash insulted. That made her slow down to look for the source.

"Rainbow Dash 2.0," Applejack said. "No originality"

Lightning Sprint shook her head as she slowed down some more. "Stop it. You're lying."

"She's like a worse version of Rainbow Dash." Pinkie was heard saying.

"All she does is hang around Rainbow Dash and then comes and bothers us. What an annoyance." Rarity said.

"This isn't true." Lightning said, shaking her head. She then came to a complete stop.

"You spend so much time motivating those around you. It’s simply unfair that they do nothing but put you down?" Discord said with a sinister snicker.

"Does she even know how to be herself?" Fluttershy was heard asking. Lightning Sprint began looking around with flopped ears.

"It's like having 2 Rainbow Dashes but only one is worth keeping around." Twilight said

Lightning stumbled slightly, slowly failing to not let it get to her.

Then she heard Bandit's voice.

"Are you anything more than a carbon copy?" Bandit was heard saying.

"Stop it! Stop it! STOP IT!" Lightning exclaimed.

"Oh I don't know how you keep yourself motivated, if this is how they all think of you." Discord said, beginning to hypnotize her. She clutched her head with her hooves but it was a futile attempt as her color faded and she slumped to the ground.

Twilight walked around the corner with Rarity and Applejack.

Lightning glanced towards them.

"Lightning Sprint! Thank goodness we found you. I was beginning to lose hope but now that we found you I know we can-" Twilight began.

"What's the point?" Lightning groaned.

"What?" Twilight asked in shock.

"We're just gonna end up falling short. So why bother?" Lightning followed up. Stepping a little too close to the rock.

"Stay away from my jewel!" Rarity quickly defensively said.

"I wouldn't get to it even if I tried." Lightning said, her tone remaining quite depressed.

"This is bad." Twilight said.

Meanwhile, Rainbow Dash was racing through the maze trying to get to the center as fast as she could, making good time. She then stopped when she heard thunder and began to look around. She saw something that looked like her cutie mark. A mini cloud that fired rainbow lightning occasionally.

"I've got you now, element.” She said as she began to chase after it.

Rainbow Dash ran through an opening and skidded to a halt when she saw Discord reclining on a white cloud hammock between two apple trees and he was wearing sunglasses.

"Oh." He said with a relaxed tone, stretching. "I can see why you like these clouds so much. Very plush."

"Get off there and put 'em up!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed as she raised her forelegs and stood like a boxer, punching her hooves. "Come on! Let's go!"

"Hey, I'm here to deliver a message." Discord informed her as he sat up.

"I've got a message for you too!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed, ready to fight.

"Listen closely, this is important." Discord started as he moved over to her.

"A weighty choice is yours to make:
a right selection or a big mistake.
If a wrong choice you choose to pursue,
the foundations of home will crumble without you."

He snapped his fingers and summoned a white cloud, setting it spinning, starting to hypnotize and show her, her home Cloudsdale collapsing.

"Cloudsdale?" Rainbow Dash gasped fearfully, falling under his spell. "Crumble… without me? No!"

Discord made a present appear before her, and stepped next to her, placing a clawed hand on her shoulder as her skin tone faded.

"That box contains your wings.” He told her. "You can take them and leave the game, or you can carry on aimlessly wandering this maze. Your choice."

Bandit was still following the scent and found himself into the courtyard where he saw the Elements.

“Finally.” He said as he took a step into the courtyard. A very loud thunderclap got his attention. He looked around on high alert, only to see Rainbow Dash flying into the sky, disappearing behind a cloud.

“No…” He said as his pupils shrank. The maze walls began to sink, leaving nothing but a crater and revealing the location of the other group.

“Bandit!?” Twilight was heard calling. Bandit turned to see her running over.

“Twilight, what happened? Why is Rainbow Dash flying away!?” Bandit asked. She stopped before him.

“I was gonna ask you that.” She said. The laughter of Discord was soon heard. All heads turned their way.

“Well well well.” He started. "Somepony broke the “no wings, no magic” rule." He snapped his fingers and gave everyone back their wings and horns, but he didn't move the statue off of Bandit's back. “Games over my little ponies! And my big changeling too! You didn’t find your precious Elements. Looks like we might be due for a big old storm of chaos.”

He spawned in an umbrella and began laughing heavily. As Twilight looked at him shocked. Bandit looked at him angrily. His wings starting to spread, and began to crack the golden statue.

The Return of Harmony, part 2

View Online

Discord was still laughing at the group, neither Bandit nor Twilight were liking this. Pinkie glared at him.

“And what are you laughing at?” Pinkie shouted, not taking kindly to the laughing.

Discord wiped a tear from his eye as he was still laughing. "Oh, you ponies are just the most fun I've had in aeons!" He stated happily.

“Well quit it!” She exclaimed as she poked him with a hoof. “You’d better think before you laugh at the Pink-” She looked around for a moment to think of what to call herself before quickly giving up. “…ie Pie!”

“Oh, yeah? Well, ha, ha.” Fluttershy taunted from behind her. Pinkie zipped over to her, not liking the fact that she was being laughed at.

“Quit it!” She exclaimed.

“No.” Fluttershy told her. “Ha, ha!”

“QUIT IT!” Pinkie shouted, covering her ears.

“No.” Fluttershy taunted again. “ Ha-ha-ha, ha, ha!”

Over with Rarity and Applejack, Applejack moved over to the rock.

“Uh, Rarity?” She called. Rarity turned around to face her. “This here diamond of yours? Twilight said we should split it six ways since we, uh, found it together.” Applejack lied.

“Hai-Ya!” Rarity exclaimed as she hit Applejack with a flying kick, which sent her flying the other way. “Try it, punk! He’s mine! All mine!”

Applejack was backing away from Rarity’s multiple high kicks.

“Girls, why are you all acting like this? We need to stick together!” Twilight exclaimed.

“Cause we know we’re beaten.” Lightning Sprint said rather dejected as she was now lying face down on the ground. As they argued Bandit and Twilight shot glares at Discord, who was sitting on a couch, eating popcorn and enjoying the show.

“It’s just too entertaining.” He said. The two stepped over to him.

“Stop it, Discord! You’re not playing fair!” Twilight exclaimed.

“I’m not playing fair? Perhaps we haven’t met.” Discord said as he stood up. “I’m Discord. Spirit of chaos and disharmony?” He then got in Twilight’s face. “Hel-looo?”

Bandit snapped his jaw down, but Discord teleported back to his seat before he could get the bite. Bandit then stepped forward.

“Taking away the elements as soon as I got to the end was a dirty move Discord.” Bandit glared at him.

“How are we supposed to find the Elements of Harmony now?!” Twilight added. Discord looked at both of them before he started to laugh. Twilight and Bandit both looked confused.

“Did you really think I was going to keep the Elements of Harmony in the wrong location?” He asked before laughing harder. He then teleported both of them back in time as ghosts, to when he first gave them the riddle.

“Twists and turns are my master plan.
Then find the Elements back where you began.” The windowed Discord said before they teleported back. Discord then looked at Bandit.

“Prior experience has taught me that a nose like yours would’ve been able to detect where they were and keep the ponies from ever entering the labyrinth. So I had to think outside to box. Send you on the right path, in the wrong direction.” Discord told him. Bandit’s eyes narrowed at him. Discord began to walk the opposite way.

“Keep trying you two.” He said before turning around. “Maybe the magic of friendship can help you.” He mocked before going back to his normal voice. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some chaos to wreak.”

With that, he snapped himself away, and a thunderstorm of chocolate rain poured down on the two of them. Pinkie looked up in disgust.

“Chocolate milk? I hate chocolate milk!” She exclaimed.

My Little Pony,
My Big Changeling too
Ahh, ahh, ahh, ahhh…

[Bandit]
(My Little Pony)

We used to wonder what friendship could be
(My Big Changeling too)

[Twilight Sparkle]
Until you all shared its magic with me

[Rainbow Dash]
Big adventure

[Pinkie Pie]
Tons of fun

[Rarity]
A beautiful heart

[Applejack]
Faithful and strong

[Fluttershy]
Sharing kindness!

[Lightning Sprint]
Motivate the team

[Bandit]
Heroics makes it all complete
You have my little ponies
Do you know you're all my very best friends?

Fueled with anger and frustration, Bandit’s wings broke the golden cobra statue as he managed to finally spread them.

The pieces fell off of him, allowing him to finally move with no dragging weight. He then placed a hoof on his head.

“Okay Twily. You and I gotta think.” He said.

“‘Find the Elements back where you began’.” Twilight recited. Bandit paced back and forth. “Back where you began.”

Rarity was hauling off her boulder before Applejack jumped onto it.

“Don’t touch my gem!” She scolded. Fluttershy flew over and placed a hoof on the rock.

“I’m touching your gem, Rarity! Ha, ha!” Fluttershy taunted. Pinkie zipped over.

“What you laughing at!?” Pinkie exclaimed to all three of them.

“My joke of a life apparently.” Lightning Sprint added. Bandit rubbed his head in frustration.

“I don’t think I’ll be going home until I figure this out.” Bandit said. That made it click in Twilight’s head.

“Wait a minute. Home!” Twilight said. Bandit looked at her before also getting the click.

“Our journey began-” Bandit started.

“-when we moved to Ponyville.” Twilight finished.

“So the elements must be in Ponyville!” Bandit exclaimed happily.

“Bandit, you really do like showing your genius.” Twilight said, Bandit looked confused for a brief second before sighing in relief.

“For a brief moment, I thought you said something completely different.” Bandit admitted before Twilight started heading back to Ponyville. As she moved, Bandit and the others followed, except Lightning Sprint, who Bandit had to go back and grab by the scruff.

Sometime later, the group was on a road leading into Ponyville, and Ponyville was in chaos. Trees and buildings were on floating midair islands; the town square pavilion was completely uprooted and hovering upside down; bright pink water flowed in the stream at the border; separate pastel blue and pink checkerboard patterns were covering different stretches of the ground; houses were plunked on crazy-quilt hills; clouds were over the whole town, but only one section getting rained on; a faded lime-green sky was what was above the town.

“Come on, everyone.” Twilight started. “I’m certain this is what Discord’s riddle really meant! If we get back to the library, I have a book that I just know can give us a clue!”

Bandit dropped Lightning Sprint, causing her to face plant, and grabbed Twilight, pulling her away from the rabbits with the incredibly long legs from their first encounter with the chaos ran by. Nearly trampling Twilight.

“Whoa!” She exclaimed as she saw this happen. She then looked at Bandit “Thanks for the save.” Bandit let go as Fluttershy began talking.

“Ugh. Angel you missed!” She was heard saying before shaking her head. “Mama’s so disappointed.”

The sun then zipped down and darkened the entire area.

“Wow, I can see so much better now.” Applejack sarcastically said. She tried to walk, but she only ended up skidding into the four friends she was in front of. Stopping before getting to Twilight and Bandit. “I meant to do that.

Twilight was trying to stand up but had no luck doing so, Bandit was able to stand, but he was sliding across the road. The sun came back up, revealing the road to be made of bubble soap.

“Discord’s turned our dirt roads into soap!” Twilight exclaimed.

“Not even the good kind either.” Bandit said as he started flying. That’s when Discord began to skate on by.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” He asked before he gestured to the town. “This is the new and improved Ponyville, and these are only my first changes.”

Pinkie began to glide by with ease, striking a few poses.

“This may look like fun, but it’s not!” She said with a completely stern look on her face. Discord’s lion paw wrapped around Bandit and his talon around Twilight. His body materializes next to them and he begins to lift Twilight into the air and had the ground below Bandit lift up so they could see Ponyville.

“Picture it—the chaos capital of the world!” Discord said as he took his paw from around Bandit and held Twilight out, right as the sun went down.

“I can’t picture anything. It’s too dark.” Twilight said.

“I can picture something. Your defeat.” Bandit said to discord. Discord tried to drop the ground below him, but Bandit started flying, keeping him there. Then he let go of Twilight, making Bandit drop down to catch her. He dropped below her and she landed on his back.

“Well, for all of you pony folk, wait a few minutes and you’ll see it in the beautiful light of day—or not.” Discord said, skipping over them and disappearing. Bandit stood up and looked at Ponyville.

“I am not about to let him turn my home...or anywhere of Equestria, into a chaos capital.” Bandit said.

“He won’t be. Not if we have anything to say about it.” Twilight said. Then Fluttershy glided by.

“Don’t worry. You won’t.” She said before laughing. Twilight groaned as she lowered her head. Bandit placed a hoof on her back.

“Keep your cool Twilight. They aren’t being themselves.” He comforted.

A few more minutes goes by and the group arrived at the Golden Oaks Library. As they arrived, the sun shot up into the sky.

“Okay, we’re here. Everyone please, please, please just go inside, please?” Twilight asked, wearily.

“I absolutely refuse.” Applejack said, contradicting her statement as she trotted in. She got even greyer. Bandit doubletaked as he saw this happen.

“With Pleasure.” Fluttershy said as she flew over. She stomped onto the flower bed before entering the building. Also turning greyer.

“I hate libraries.” Pinkie said as she trotted in, turning greyer. Bandit and Twilight turned around and saw Rarity trying to move the heavy boulder still, and Lightning Sprint just sitting there, not even wanting to move.

“Pleeeeease? We gotta hurry!” Twilight begged them.

“There’s no point.” Lightning Sprint said as she flopped onto her side.

“Forget it, you three. I know what you’re up to. The second I go in, you’ll have your little minions Spike and Chad come and take Tom!” Rarity accused.

“Tom?” Twilight asked.

“You named it?” Bandit asked.

“Well, it’s not going to work!” Rarity exclaimed as she started stroking ‘Tom’, turning even greyer. Bandit looked at Lightning Sprint before reaching into his bandana and taking out a cookie. Lightning looked at the cookie and stood up. Bandit threw the cookie to the library and Lightning Sprint took off after it.

“You’re not going in without him, are you?” Twilight asked. Rarity shook her head firmly. Bandit walked over.

“I got it.” Bandit said as he lifted it onto his back. “Much easier than that statue, though there’s no guarantee it’s fitting through that door.” He said.

Inside the library, Chad was curled up on the floor sleeping with his ears constantly twitching. Next to him was a bucket of water, which Fluttershy had picked up.

Chad’s shell shook, waking him up. He quickly rolled to the side, barely missing getting splashed on. He looked up.

“Fluttershy!? What was that fo- hey are you getting grey?” Chad asked. The bucket was thrown at him. He ducked and began to scurry under the table. That’s when he heard Bandit’s voice.

“It’s not gonna fit through the door!..... I said it before we even got to the door!.... You know what? Forget it, forget it. I’m going to teleport it into the library….. Too bad Rarity. Three. Two.-” Suddenly, a large boulder was teleported right next to the table Chad was hiding under. Rarity then scurried into the library and dove onto the boulder protectively. Bandit and Twilight walked in.

“Be careful next time, You’ll ruin his beautiful finish.” Rarity complained.

“Oh for the love of-” Twilight was about to complain. Spike poked his head out of his and Chad’s room.

“Twilight! Bandit!” He exclaimed as he ran out and over to them. “What’s going on?”

“And why is everyone so-” Chad started to ask.

“Grey?” Spike asked to finish for him.

“I was gonna say the opposite of how they normally are.” Chad finished. Both were placed on Bandit’s back by Twilight.

“Don’t ask.” Twilight said. “We need you to help us find something.”

“Think Big Macintosh could help?” Chad asked.

“Hey, Twilight. What’s soaking wet and clueless?” Fluttershy asked.

“Wait, Big Mac is here?” Bandit asked in response to Chad.

“Fluttershy, I’ve had just about enough—” Twilight was responding to Fluttershy. Chad’s shell shook, distracting Twilight, who looked right as Bandit backtracked. Twilight was drenched by Fluttershy pouring water onto her head.

“Your face!” Fluttershy said before slamming the bucket on her head. Bandit ran over and took it off.

“What’s happening to everypony?” Spike asked as he got off Bandit’s back.

“I guess you just bring out the worst in us, Spike.” Applejack said as she walked by.

“Ignore that Spike.” Bandit told him. “Long story short, Discord did something in that maze, and now our friends are acting the exact opposite of how they usually would.”

“And now, We’ve got to find the reference guide to the Elements of Harmony before somepony does something she’ll regret!” Twilight gritted her teeth at the end.

“The Elements of Harmony?” Spike asked before remembering. “Oh! I know exactly where that book is!”

Spike climbed up a ladder and pulled the book out.

“Found it!” He called out. He was then smacked with a scroll, making him drop the book into Fluttershy’s hooves.

“Ha!” She taunted.

“Oh no you don’t.” Bandit said as he got into a pouncing position.

“Keep away!” Fluttershy said as she tossed the book. Bandit turned to look at who she threw the book to. It landed on Applejack’s nose. He ran over to her.

“Give up that book!” He exclaimed. She tossed the book into the air. Bandit jumped up and swatted it. Chad looked at the book and ran to it, Fluttershy flew after it. Chad’s ear twitched and he stopped, which left Fluttershy fly ahead of him to the book. Before she could get to the book, the door opened and she flew right into it. It was Big Macintosh who opened the door.

“Everything okay?” He said before realizing the door had a thud. He looked and saw Fluttershy rubbing her head and Chad running over to grab the book. He picked it up and threw it to Twilight. She tried to catch it, but Rarity interfered.

“Mine!” She exclaimed as she grabbed the book and ran with it.

“Hey! Do you even know what you just stole?!” Twilight exclaimed, running after Rarity.

“No, but if you want it, I want it!” Rarity said back. Twilight pounced, only to land short and face plant. She looked up in annoyance.

“GIVE ME THAT BOOK!!” She shouted.

“Big Mac! Help us get that book!” Chad exclaimed.

“Uh...Eeyup?” Big Macintosh said. Initially confused, he waited for Rarity to run his way before he stuck out his hoof and tripped her, sending the book into the air. It landed next to Lightning Sprint, who dejectedly slapped it towards Pinkie. It would have gotten to her if it wasn’t for Spike pouncing on the book and sliding it back to Bandit, who grabbed it and tossed it to Twilight.

She held it with a death grip, and Bandit, Chad, and Spike stood in front of her defensively, armed with teeth, fangs, and a scroll being used as a sword.

“Get back! All of you! This is my book, and I'm going to READ IT!” Twilight exclaimed. Big Macintosh was confused but moved over to Bandit, Chad, Spike, and Twilight as she flipped through the pages. Inside the book, the eight elements were all there.

“The Elements!” She exclaimed happily. Big Macintosh looked at the book in slight amazement.

“So that’s the elements look like.” Big Macintosh said.

“Eeyup.” Bandit said. Big Macintosh glared at him.

“Stop stealing my line.” He said.

“Now that the elements are here, you can turn everyone back to normal.” Spike celebrated.

“See, girls? We did it! We found the Elements of Harmony, together!” Twilight also celebrated. None of the girls were replicating her feelings. This made her look deadpan. “You don’t even care, do you?”

“No.” They all said. Twilight’s ears flopped and she began to look sad once more.

“I never thought it would happen. My friends…” Bandit tried to give her a comforting hug but flinched upon her being suddenly fueled with anger. “…have turned into complete jerks!”

One by one, she gave a necklace to each friend in the room.

“Necklace…necklace…necklace….necklace…necklace...and-” She placed the crowns on Bandit’s head and the tiara on hers. “…big crown thingies!” She exclaimed.

“Come on, everypony, let’s go!” Twilight said as she started to walk out the door. Bandit pulled her back by the tail.

“Twily, I’m eager to take discord down too, but we are forgetting something important.” He hinted. Twilight turned to face him.

“No we’re not. We got the liar, the grump, the downer, the hoarder, and the brute.”

“We’re forgetting treachery. A.K.A, Rainbow Dash.” Bandit said. Twilight looked at Big Mac, Chad, and Spike.

“Spike, you’re the new rainbow dash.” She said, placing the necklace on him before walking towards the door.

“Me!?” Spike exclaimed. “B-b-but what if she finds out I’ve been impersonating her? Ugh…that won’t end well.” Spike said envisioning could possibly happen. Nothing he thought of ended well with him.

“Don’t worry Spike, I’ll protect you if anything happens.” Bandit said, placing him on his back.

“Now let’s go defeat Discord so we don’t ever have to talk to each other again!” Twilight said. Bandit was a bit concerned upon hearing that. He then quickly moved out of the way of the stampeding four. Bandit looked at Lightning Sprint, who was still unmotivated to move. He walked over, picked her up by the scruff, and moved out. Chad looked at Big Macintosh.

“You have no idea what just happened do you?” Chad asked.

“Eenope.” Big Macintosh answered.

“Want me to explain everything?” Chad asked.

“Eeyup.” Big Macintosh answered.

Rarity was pushing Tom in a very slow, struggling manner towards the door. Bandit poked his head in and used his magic to teleport them both out of the library.

Bandit pulled his head back out and Tom and Rarity were falling down. He used his hoof to catch Tom and his wing to catch Rarity. Sliding them both down as Twilight stood in front of the group.

“Well, well, well, I see you’ve found the Elements of Harmony.” Discord was heard saying. The group looked and saw Discord floating a short way away from them. “How terrifying.”

“Discord! I’ve figured out your lame riddle! You’re in for it now!” Twilight exclaimed.

“I certainly am. You’ve clearly out-dueled me, and now it’s time to meet my fate.” Discord said as he put on a pair of sunglasses. “I’m prepared to be defeated now, ladies and gentlestallion. Fire when ready.”

Discord wiped a target onto his mid-section.

“Formation! Now!” Twilight exclaimed. The other five ponies walked over rather unenthusiastically.

“Eh.” They all said. Bandit turned his head to look at Spike and nod his head.

“Go on.” He said. Spike gulped and got off his back to get in the formation.

“We can do this. I believe in us.” Bandit said. Twilight wasn’t so optimistic.

“Let’s get this over with!” Twilight said. The tiara and the crown both began to glow. Bandit and Twilight rose into the air, with their eyes blazing white. The same magic they used against Nightmare moon began to awaken. One by one, those of the other five ponies threw off brilliant white auras, all the while floating clear of the ground. Discord lowered his shades briefly in surprise, there is one last flash—and then the power is gone.

They all dropped to the ground, and Bandit was the first to sit up.

“Should’ve known.” Bandit said as he looked at his horn.

“What’s going on?” Twilight asked as she sat up. Applejack sat up next.

“Mine’s workin’. There must be somethin’ wrong with yours.” Applejack said.

“I hate the elements of harmony!” Pinkie exclaimed. Fluttershy floated down with her element before tossing it to the side.

“Hmph. Garbage.” She said. As soon as the element hit the ground, Rarity scooped it up.

“Mine!” She exclaimed as she zipped off. Spike took his element off and placed it on the ground.

“Sorry Bandit.” Spike said.

“It’s not your fault. Go back inside, we’ll find a way to deal with this.” Bandit told Spike. Spike nodded and began to run back to the library, only to get tripped by Fluttershy.

“Oops. Sorry, Rainbow Crash.” She taunted before giggling venomously. Discord strolled over to them whilst clapping tauntingly.

“Bravo, ponies, bravo! Harmony in Equestria is officially dead. Discord rules, Celestia drools.” Discord said, placing a talon on Bandit’s nose. Bandit went for a bit again, but Discord made the talon disappear as if he actually bit his talon off, only for it to reappear back. He began laughing and Bandit let out a tiger-like growl. Discord skated away.

"It's your fault it didn't work!" Pinkie complained, seemingly looking towards Discord.

"Who are you talking to?" Twilight asked.

"Any of you!" Pinkie shouted. "ALL OF YOU! I'm outta here!" She hopped off.

“Now wait, we don’t have give up.” Bandit tried to tell the group.

“Yeah we do. We just did.” Lightning Sprint said as she began flying off.

"I better go, too.” Applejack said as she walked by. "I've got new better friends waiting for me at the farm."

“Guys wait.” Bandit tried again, raising his voice.

"Yeah!" Fluttershy agreed. "I'm sick of you losers."

Rarity didn’t say anything, only hauling off her precious rock. It then proved too much for Twilight.

“FINE!" She screamed after them. "Leave! See if I care! I don't need you guys either! With friends like you, who needs…" She looked at her leaving friends. Her last hope was finally diminished. "enemies…?" She finished sadly as she hung her head. Bandit turned to look at her. Her tail began to grey.

“No. No no no no no no no.” Bandit said as he ran to her. Placing his hooves on her shoulders. “Twilight please.”

The greying didn’t stop.

“Twilight. Twilight look at me.” Bandit begged. Twilight’s head still hung. “Please Twilight please.”

She finally looked up, and her eyes told him everything. She had given up.

“I promise, everything’s gonna be okay. I promise we’re gonna fix everything. Okay? Pinkie promise. Chadwick’s promise. Okay?” Bandit tried, slowly getting desperate. The greying didn’t stop and was reaching her neck. “Cross my hurt and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye. The words I speak give you no lies, you’ll see the truth before your-” It was over, Twilight had turned completely grey. She used her magic to gently take his hooves off before she hung her head to start walking back to the library. Bandit reached a hoof out to her as she walked away. “........eyes.”

As twilight walked away, a single tear fell out of her eye, and it landed in a heart that had broken in two. It was no coincidence that one of those hearts reflected at Bandit. Bandit’s ears flopped and when he tried to take a step forward, the floor he was standing on spun him around, making him look at the even more chaotic ponyville. The long-legged bunnies were now accompanied by ballet dancing buffalos. Pies that fell up, a stallion running across the frames of the device the readers were reading on, and a googly-eyed purple mare floating around while flicking her bottom lip.

“Oh, my stomach!” Discord laughed as he popped up next to Bandit. Bandit looked back at Twilight, but Discord turned his head forward. “Bandit, you’ve got to see what I just did!”

Berry Punch was unfortunate enough to be standing under a giant pepper shaker. The pepper caused her to sneeze and upon doing so, the buildings around her collapsed like cardboard cutouts.

“It’s priceless!” Discord guffawed happily. Bandit teleported himself out of his grasp and in front of Discord.

“Forgive my lack of humor, but I don’t find turning my friends against me, and changing my home into a chaotic dystopian dimension straight out of a Marevel comic to be particularly funny.” Bandit told him, his eyes narrowed.

“Ah yes, the one home that didn’t send you away. Third time’s a charm am I right?” Discord nudged him. “Your friends have all turned their backs on you. Shifted the blame. And left you behind.”

“And guess what.” Bandit said as he lit his horn. “I’m still here. My friends can leave all they want. But I won’t leave them.”

Discord became amused with Bandit’s lit his horn and he started laughing again.

“You think.” He guffawed. “You think that you can take me on your own?”

“No. But I’m out of options, and I’ll be darned if I let you take over my home without a fight.” Bandit said. Discord laughed once more, but when the crown started glowing, Discord’s laughter stopped. The symbol on Bandit’s crown caused two electrical bolts, one red, one yellow, to shoot out onto his horn. Bandit’s magic aura on his horn began to shift from red and yellow.

Discord was slightly amused and impressed by what he was seeing, not perceiving this to be a threat. He makes the motions to snap his fingers, but it was too late. A red and yellow beam shot out of Bandit’s horn and encased them both in a blinding light. The light went away and Bandit was on the ground, the crown landing next to him, smoking hot. Bandit opened his eyes and looked at the crown, before looking at Discord and was shocked at what he could see.

Discord was currently encased in stone, and in just the nick of time, as his lion paw was just about to snap, with a grin on his face. Bandit was surprised, to say the least.

“I...I...I don’t believe it.” He said, tired from what he just did. He looked at the crown. “It actually worked. It actually worked it-” Bandit reached for the crown to pick it up. As he did, he began to get memories of his past. Not the negative ones that weighed down on him so much, but the positive ones that kept him going all those years.

Being pulled out of the river by Celestia, Getting his cape from his Grandma Galaxia that later turned into his bandana, creating Anubi, flying for the first time, meeting Twilight, taking care of Spike and Chad, meeting the rest of the Mane 8, hanging out with Big Macintosh and beating him in a field plow race, being there for the lessons his friends learned, taking them to the gala, seeing Night Ace again, putting on his scrunchie with the streamers of his mom and auntie’s cutie marks.

The element was reminding him who he was, not because he forgot, but to show him how he can save his friends.

“They need to be reminded who they are.” He said. The element shone and stopped smoking. Bandit picked up the element, and at that moment, he heard a cracking sound. He looked towards it and saw the top of Discord’s head beginning to crack.

“Without the other elements, Discord’s gonna break out of there in no time.” Bandit said. He picked up his crown and placed it back on his head. “I don’t have much time, but I know I have enough.”

Bandit began running off back to the library. Discord’s statue cracked a little bit more.

Inside the library, Chad just got finished telling Big Macintosh everything.

“And that’s why they were trying to get the elements.” Chad finished. “That all make sense?”

“Eenope.” Big Macintosh answered. Twilight was then heard opening the door. Chad turned and then tilted his head.

“Twilight?” Chad called, noticing her greyed out.

“Chad, you and Spike Pack your things. We’re leaving. All 4 of us.” She said.

“What?!” Chad exclaimed before zipping over to the stairs. “B-b-but. We can’t just leave.”

“Yes we can, and we’re going to.” Twilight said as she picked him up. Chad tried to wriggle out of her grip.

“Please Twilight, we can’t leave. Where will we even go?” Chad sadly asked as he kept trying.

“I don’t know yet.” Twilight answered. “Just not here.” Chad then grabbed the top of the stairs.

“I don’t want to leave.” Chad began to beg. Twilight started to pull him.

“Let go Chad. Now!” She demanded. Chad held on, but his horn sparked and propelled him backward as a letter came out, Twilight caught him but looked at the letter that came out. She put Chad down and picked up the letter. As she did this, Spike stumbled towards them, grasping his stomach.

“Spike? Spike!?” Chad exclaimed as he ran over to him. “What’s wrong?”

“The Princess…has been sending these…” Spike struggled as he turned to the scrolls behind him. “…since I came back upstairs!”

Chad took a look at the scrolls and saw what they were.

“Wait. Those are the letters Twilight and Bandit sent to mom. Why would she send them back?” Chad asked before a letter came out of his horn again. Chad rubbed his horn as he looked at the letters. Spike had lied down on the floor, grabbing his side. Twilight looked at the pile of scrolls and walked over to start reading them.

“Real friends don’t care what your cover is. Friendship is a wondrous and powerful thing…And like the path cut through the orchard, there’ll always be a way through. The best thing to do is to stay true to yourself…Everypony everywhere has a special magical connection with her friends, maybe even before she’s met them.” Letter per letter, Twilight’s color was coming back, remembering all lessons about friendship she and Bandit learned while they were in ponyville. As she read the last letter, all of her color was back. And Bandit had arrived and ran up the stairs.

“Twilight are you up here!?” He asked worriedly. Seconds later, he was glomped.

“Bandit! It’s all so clear!” She happily said before pulling him to his hooves and hugging him tightly. “Discord’s trying to distract us from what’s important! He knows how powerful our friendships are!”

“And he’s trying to keep us, and the others, from seeing it.” Bandit said as he hugged her back.

“When we first arrived, I thought the fate of Equestria didn’t rest on the two of us making friends.” Twilight began as she released the hug. Bandit let go as well and listened to what she had to say. “ But the opposite is true! The friendships we’ve made since we’ve been here are what saved Equestria from Nightmare Moon.”

“And now, it’s time for our friendship to save Equestria from Discord.” Bandit added. The two shared a nod.

Spike let out a groan, making the two look down at him. Chad rubbed his horn as he looked at the poor dragon.

“Chad, take care of Spike, he definitely needs a rest.” Bandit said. Chad saluted. Bandit turned to Twilight.

“Come on Bandit, we’ve got to fight for our friendships.” Twilight started. “For our home!”

“For equestria!” Bandit reared as he began to run out of the library. As he did so, he slid to a stop and looked at Big Macintosh, who was still sitting in the library kinda confused.

“Hey Big Mac. I know you’re confused and a bit outside your comfort zone, so I won’t give you a heroic speech telling you to join us and yada yada. Wanna lend us a hoof?” He asked. Big Macintosh shrugged.

“Eeyup.” He said.

“Follow me.” Bandit said as he ran out the door. Where Twilight was waiting for him.

Outside, Twilight and Bandit quickly discussed their plan.

“We’ll split up. Twilight. You go after Applejack, Pinkie and Rainbow Dash, Big Mac and I will go after Fluttershy, Rarity and Lightning Sprint.” Bandit told her as he took the crown off and placed it in his Bandana.

“You got it.” Twilight answered.

“We need to hurry, Discord isn’t gonna be happy when he gets out of that stone prison.” Bandit said. Twilight doubletaked at him.

“Wait, he’s encased in stone?” Twilight asked.

“Long story. Let’s go.” Bandit said. The three went their separate ways.

At Sweet Apple Acres, A herd of fat, happy pigs flew across the field. In a cornfield, a Discorded Apple Bloom was zipping around, panting and wagging her tail like a dog. Towards the farm, Granny Smith was doing a high-speed tap dance on her hind legs, needing no help from the cane she was carrying. Applejack was leaning against the wall. She had an apple core balanced on one hoof and took a reverse bite out of it. She was also, not wearing her element any longer.

“And so I tried to defeat Discord, but none of my so-called friends would lift a hoof to help me.” Applejack fibbed as she tossed the apple. At that moment, Twilight showed up.

“Applejack!” Twilight was heard calling, getting Applejack’s attention. “I’m here to fight for our friendship!”

She was then startled by Apple Bloom, who zipped over to her panting. She jumped up and licked her cheek and zipped off again.

“Oh, now you want to fight." She scoffed before standing up and pretended to do box. "Where you went when I was battlin' Discord?"

As his back was turned, Twilight dove and tackled Applejack to the ground, pinning her down.

“Snap out of it! This isn’t you! You’re not a liar!” Twilight told her. Applejack attempted to struggle, but Twilight lit her horn, applying magic towards her head and restoring her memories. As her memories returned, her color also came back. She stood back up, a little bit confused.

“W-what-” She said before shaking her head. “What happened?” She spotted Twilight at that moment and began to walk over. “Twilight! Oh, I saw a vision of us feudin’ and fightin’.”

Twilight gave her a warm smile in understanding.

“I couldn’t face the truth, so I started tellin’ lies.” Applejack said as she removed her hat. “Can you ever forgive me?”

“We already have.” She turned and got ready to gallop off. “Come on!”

As Twilight and Applejack were running to Sugar Cube Corner, Big Macintosh was holding the rope to keep Fluttershy still as Bandit used his magic to restore her. Fluttershy’s color began to come back and upon completion, she opened her eyes and looked at Bandit.

“Oh, no! Bandit. I just had the worst dream.” Fluttershy said. Big Macintosh began to untie her. Fluttershy looked at him. “Oh, Hi Big Mac.” She greeted.

Inside Rarity’s boutique, there was quite a commotion going on inside.

“What do you think you’re doing?! Let go of my gem this instant! Get away-”

One flash of magic being heard later and Rarity was back to normal, pushing Tom out into the chaotic Ponyville before looking back at Bandit, Fluttershy, and Big Macintosh.

“Let us never speak of this again.” She told them.

“Ee-” Bandit was gonna say, only for Big Macintosh to glare at him. Bandit chuckled and rolled his eyes. “All yours pal.”

Big Macintosh smirked as he got the line off.

“Eenope.”

With Twilight and Applejack, Applejack was pulling a cart that had Pinkie in it. And she back to her much more chipper self.

“Oh, and I…I turned gray! Can you believe it?” Pinkie was saying in between giggles.

Bandit walked to Lightning Sprint’s house, and the door was unlocked. He took one step in and saw Lightning Sprint just there, on the floor.

Bandit, Big Mac, Fluttershy, and Rarity all looked at each other and shrugged. Bandit walked over and used the magic to restore her. She stood up with wide eyes, looked at Bandit, and hugged him tightly, nearly knocking him over.

“ThankyouThankyouThankyouThankyouThankyou It’s so boring being so unmotivated all the time.” Lightning Sprint exclaimed. Bandit smiled and hugged her back.

The two groups met up at Rainbow Dash’s residence and Lightning Sprint was looking through her window, only for Rainbow Dash to not be in her house.

“She’s not in there.” Lightning Sprint said as she poked her head out.

“Without Rainbow Dash, we can’t use the Elements.” Twilight complained.

“She could be anywhere by now! We’re never gonna find her.” Applejack said.

“Found her.” Bandit said literally the moment Applejack finished talking. The others looked where Bandit was looking and saw that he was looking at a greyed Rainbow Dash, resting on a cloud.

“Rainbow Dash!” Twilight called.

“Hey guys.” Rainbow Dash said in a bored tone, her back still to them.

“We’ve been looking everywhere for you!” Twilight said.

“That’s nice.” Rainbow Dash brushed off.

“Discord’s still on the loose! We need you to help us defeat him with your Element—loyalty!” Twilight told her.

“Pfft. Loyalty, schmoyalty.” Rainbow Dash waved off before turning over to face them. “Have you guys seen Ponyville? It’s a disaster! I’m staying here in Cloudsdale where everything’s awesome.”

She jumped and landed back onto the cloud with her back facing them.

“How in Equestria can she think that tiny patch of clouds is Cloudsdale?” Rarity asked.

"The same way he got you to think that cheap rock was a bona fide diamond." Applejack suggested with a smug grin. Rarity’s eyes went wide, but then she glared.

“I guess Bandit never spread the word that we agreed never to speak of that again.” Rarity said.

Bandit and Twilight looked at each other.

“Plan B?”

“Plan B.” She answered.

More time went by and the mares, except for Lightning Sprint and Fluttershy were in a hot air balloon. Fluttershy was pulling the hot air balloon and Lightning Sprint had no rope on her.

“Okay, Lightning Sprint. You grab Rainbow Dash and hold her down.” Twilight began to whisper to her. Applejack will lower me down from this rope so I can cast the memory spell on her.” Twilight told her. “Fluttershy, get ready to pull the balloon.”

“Got it.” Both pegasi said. Lightning Sprint slowly flew behind Rainbow Dash so as to not make a sound. As soon as she was close enough, she pounced and held her down.

“Hey! Get off me!” She exclaimed. Twilight started to place the rope around herself and got to the edge, just in time to see Rainbow Dash use a hoof to shove a cloud into Lightning Sprint’s mouth. Lightning Sprint sputtered out the cloud and used her hooves to whip the taste off of her tongue. At that moment, upon being freed, Rainbow Dash zipped off with the cloud, which made Lightning Sprint flip off of the cloud.

Lightning Sprint recovers and glared that way.

“Why that little-” Lightning Sprint took off after her. Twilight took off the rope and looked at Fluttershy.

“Come on, Fluttershy! We gotta catch her!” She exclaimed. Fluttershy started to fly after them.

Lightning Sprint was on Rainbow’s tail, so she began to zip around in other directions to try and shake her off.

Not too far ahead of the group, Bandit was diving down towards them, Peregrine Falcon style. And Big Macintosh was on his back, looking like he regretted every decision he made to lead him to that moment.

“Not where you thought today would go, huh Big mac?” Bandit asked as he looked back at him.

“Eenoooooooooope!” Big Macintosh exclaimed, sounding like he was panicking.

“Throw the rope on three!” Bandit told him. Big Macintosh got the rope ready.

“One! Two!” Bandit got optimal distance, and Rainbow Dash was right-wear they wanted her. “Three!”

Big Macintosh threw the rope at the same time as Applejack. Both ropes managed to rope Rainbow dash on the shoulders and waist. Lightning Sprint dropped onto Rainbow Dash and held her wings closed. Bandit started to drop straight down and his weight dragged Rainbow Dash off the ground and towards the ground.

Unfortunately, Applejack’s rope wasn’t tied to anything, and Rarity and Pinkie’s rear hooves were coiled in them. Once the slack was no longer there, the two mares were pulled out of the balloon.

Both of them let out a shriek.

“Pinkie! You were supposed to secure the rope!” Rarity exclaimed.

“Oops.” Pinkie sheepishly replied. Lightning Sprint looked at them and quickly flew over to them. Grabbing them and slowly began to descend.

On the ground, Bandit was holding two of the ropes to stop Rainbow Dash from bucking, while Applejack and Lightning Sprint held the ropes from the front.

“Let me go! I don’t need you guys!” Rainbow Dash struggled as Twilight approached. “Leave me alone!”

Twilight lowered her head to Rainbow Dash and began to restore her memories with her magic. The color returned to her.

“Wh…what happened?” She then became panicked and came out of the loose ropes. “How’s Ponyville?”

She zipped over to Pinkie. “Where are the Elements?”

She tackled Lightning to the ground.

“Did we stop Discord?” Rainbow Dash asked. The girls all walked over to hug her Bandit walked over and hugged the group. He released them and looked at Big Macintosh.

“Sorry about making you ride on my back, I won’t do it again.” Bandit told him.

“Eenope.” Big Macintosh chuckled. Bandit looked at him confused.

“Wait, you like flying?” Bandit asked.

“Eeyup.” Big Macintosh said.

“Eh, fellas. I think it might be a little early for a little chat.” Lightning Sprint said, pointing to the ballet dancing bison. Bandit looked and then looked back at Big Macintosh.

“Thanks for your help Big Mac, we’ll take it from here.” Bandit said.

“Eeyup.” Big Mac said. The group ran back into town.

The group wound up running back to Discord, just in time to see Discord sitting on a throne, on a small pink-checkered hill, with the exception of his talon and paw, most of him was free from the previous stone prison. Discord looked towards them.

“So you’ve returned. Come to reconsider? Surely you’ve realized how wonderful chaos is.” Discord sarcastically spoke down to them.

“Not nearly as wonderful as friendship.” Bandit smirked, then he replayed what he just said in his head. “Okay, that was pretty corny.”

“Great, attempt number 3?” Discord asked, slightly irritated.

“That’s right! You couldn’t break apart our friendship for long!” Applejack said. Only for Discord’s talon to break free of stone, and he began making it glow, pulling Applejack towards him.

“Oh, Applejack, don’t lie to me.” He said, hoisting her up so they could take face to face. “I’m the one who made you a liar.” His lion paw broke out, and he snapped his fingers, teleporting the others, bar Bandit and Twilight, to him. He made the lion paw glow and hoisted them up by their elements.

“Will you ever learn?” Discord asked. Twilight sparked her magic and teleported to her friends. Using her magic to grab everyone in a ball of magic and disrupt Discord’s magic.

Twilight landed the ball of magic on the ground next to Bandit and turned the patch below them from the blue checkerboard to the ordinary green grass as the energy dissipates. Bandit hopped over and opened his wings so that they could land on him. Sliding off as they faced Discord.

“We learned more than you could ever know Discord!” Lightning Sprint announced to him. “Friendship isn’t always easy, but it’s always worth fighting for.”

"Ugh, gag." Discord said, pretending to gag. "Fine, go ahead. Try and use your little Elements. Frenemies." He teleported back to his throne. "Just make it quick. I'm missing some excellent chaos here." Under the impression that he’d be able to break out easily as he did earlier.

"All right, everyone." Bandit said as they got into formation. "Let's show him what friendship can do!"

"Wait-wait-wait!" Pinkie said. Bandit turned to see her standing under a pink cloud, drinking the chocolate rain. The group looked unamused, all but Bandit, who playfully rolled his eyes. Pinkie hopped back over, growling like a wolf.

Bandit and Twilight exchanged a look and nodded. They sparked their magic and tilted their heads downwards, closing their eyes. The six other elements began to glow. Discord’s reaction to all of this was a bored yawn. That was until those six elements began to shoot off short beams shaped like marks. His cocky demeanor was replaced by bewilderment.

“Huh. What’s this?” He asked as more shots went by. “No.”

Bandit and Twilight’s eyes blaze white as they all rose into the air. A multicolored blast wave exploded outward from them, and out came a broad rainbow, shooting skyward and reaching the peak of its arc, thundering down towards the draconequus.

“NOOOOOOOOOO!!” Discord screamed as the rainbow engulfed him, turning to stone from the tail up. The last thing to turn to stone was his bewildered face.

The rainbow split into two copies and folded out and down to either side toward the ground before a large hue of white light restored Ponyville back to normal, and did a little something extra.

The 8 of them were lowered to the ground and the statue fell over. As Bandit got to the ground, he stumbled a bit, the bright glow hurting his eyes a bit. He took a seat and shook his head a bit before hearing Twilight gasp.

“What?” He asked as he opened his eyes and looked her way. His vision focused and she was in utter shock, looking towards him.

“Is something wrong?” He asked. Then he heard the others gasp. He stood up and turned to look at the other six, who were to his right. They were also looking towards him in utter shock.

“What’s wrong?” He asked very worriedly.

“It’s! It’s!” Twilight started.

“It’s your cutie mark!” Lightning Sprint exclaimed excitedly.

“It’s amazing!” Rarity commented. Bandit looked at his flank and saw a yin yang symbol in the form of a yellow sun with a red sun in it, and a red cloud with a yellow crescent moon in it. He was shocked at first and thinking it wasn’t real, he made an attempt to wipe it off. It wasn’t fake, that was really his cutie mark.

“My cutie mark!?” He exclaimed before looking at his friends. “I GOT ONE!!”

He flew over and got them all in a group hug, spinning happily as the girls all giggled and laughed in support of him.

Later, in canterlot, a celebration was being held for the 8 heroes, with a fanfare starting for them as they walked through the doors. Bandit was obviously the happiest out of the group, so much so, that his tail didn’t stop wagging the entire time, even though he kept a straight face.

Upon getting to the thrones, Celestia exchanged a proud look to Bandit. Bandit smiled back, looked at Twilight, and winked. Twilight nodded and then looked at Spike who waved at her, only to have his wave stopped when Chad used his front hooves to place onto his head to get taller than him before also waving. Spike stepped to the side and Chad fell back on all fours.

“We are gathered here today to once again honor the heroism of these eight friends who stood up to the villain Discord and saved Equestria from eternal chaos.” Celestia said. As she said that, the crowd cheered for them, Celestia turned to a curtain and used her magic to open it, revealing a stained glass window of the eight of them giving Discord his just deserts.

Then, Celestia spoke up again.

“And, let us also Celebrate my dear little nymph.” Celestia began. “Who not only saved Equestria along with his friends, but has become the first Changeling in history of Equestria to earn a cutie mark.”

The crowd began cheering yet again. All of his friends hugged him tight, and he hugged right back. Celestia hugged him and nuzzled him dearly.

“Does this mean I get my own Cute-ceañera?” Bandit asked Celestia. Celestia gave him a kiss on the forehead.

“Of course it does dear.” She said, very proud. Bandit let go of his friends and hugged Celestia tightly.

Author's Notes:

And that's the end of the premiere. Boy, was that a long write. Also, for those wondering, this is how Bandit looks with his cutie mark.

Now for the comments I know are gonna be on this story, pertaining to the 'OP-ness' (If you know you know) of Bandit's element of Heroism stoning discord. I have some things to say.

1: You can blame the jerk who decided it would be funny to make those 'advices' and comment on my 'alien elements'. Who I almost blocked due to him playing on my first installment anxiousness. You know who you are, and you'll soon find out that I am incredibly spiteful.

2: Another hint that change is a-coming. Specifically to all of you who complained (not asked, complained) about if Change was coming, or complained about things being the same. There's the in-your-face change, now pay attention to the subtle ones that I have been leaving since season 1. Because they'll be dropped left in right during season 2.

Now that I got that off of my chest, thank you so much for taking the time out of your day to read this rewrite and give it a chance. I am thankful and very appreciative, to all of you. Even the ones I had to call out specifically, I appreciate all of you. You guys help inspire me to write this quick.

And an Ultra-Special thanks to my co-writer, Lightning Sprint, who not only helps me with this story, but keeps me inspired to continue no matter what.

May the rest of this season go smoothly, and I hope you're all excited for the highly anticipated, Season 2, finale.

Lesson Zero

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The sun was coming up over Ponyville and Twilight was up early, going through a list along with Bandit, Spike, and Chad.

"Quill." She said.

"Check." Spike replied.

"Parchment." She continued.

Chad popped up with the parchment in his mouth like a little puppy.

"Check."

"Extra ink." Bandit picked up the extra ink for her.

"Check."

"Extra extra ink." Bandit made another ink appear behind the ink.

"Double check."

"Great. Now that we've completed the checklist of things we need to create a checklist, we can make my checklist of the things I have to get done by the end of the day. Ready?" Twilight asked as she looked at the four.

"What....what are we doing today?" Chad asked as he tilted his head.

"There's quite a bit to do today." Twilight answered. "Item one: create checklist of the things I have to accomplish by the end of the day."

Spike sighed quietly as Bandit face hoofed and Chad trotted over and looked towards the list.

My Little Pony,
My Big Changeling too
Ahh, ahh, ahh, ahhh…

[Bandit]
(My Little Pony)

We used to wonder what friendship could be
(My Big Changeling too)

[Twilight Sparkle]
Until you all shared its magic with me

[Rainbow Dash]
Big adventure

[Pinkie Pie]
Tons of fun

[Rarity]
A beautiful heart

[Applejack]
Faithful and strong

[Fluttershy]
Sharing kindness!

[Lightning Sprint]
Motivate the team

[Bandit]
Heroics makes it all complete
You have my little ponies
Do you know you're all my very best friends?

Later that day, Bandit, Chad, and Spike have been collecting everything they would need for a picnic with their friends they would be having later on in the day.

"Let's see…” Spike started as he looked over the list in his claws. “We've already dropped off the cape at the cleaners, returned the blackboard you borrowed from Cheerilee, ordered new parchment and quills from the stationery shop..." Spike said.

"Hmm… Seems like we just placed an order for those a few days ago." Twilight remarked.

Spike looked back at the long list he was holding, currently resisting an eye roll. "Can't imagine why we go through so many of them."

"Ahead of schedule, just like how I like it. And I already know what’s next." Bandit smirked.

“Cupcakes!” Chad and Spike said. Spike quickly turned to look at Chad.

“Jinx! You owe me a soda!” He said quickly.

“You beat me by half a second.” Chad pouted.

The four walked into Sugar Cube Corner and Mrs. Cake was the first face they saw, she was putting a sign on a very clean-looking table.

"Oh hi Mrs. Cake." Chad waved as he noticed her. Chad had become such a regular at Sugar Cube Corner that Mrs. Cake had the table he sat at specifically reserved for him. She turned around and waved back.

"Hello Chad." Mrs. Cake said with a pleasant smile before gesturing to his table. "All set for you."

“Thank you Mrs. Cake, but we’re running errands today.” Chad said. “We’re here to pick up the cupcakes for the picnic.”

“Cherry-frosted cupcakes, I have it right here.” Mrs. Cakes said as she walked over to the counter and placed a box of it on the top. Bandit opened it up and Spike peered over his head.

“Whoa…” Spike said before Bandit lightly pulled him back, to keep him from possibly drooling on the cupcakes. Twilight counted the cupcakes and then looked up confused, counting twenty.

“I only ordered 16.” She pointed out.

"Oh, I know, dear, but I had extra." Mrs. Cake said, trotting to a counter with a tray of fresh cupcakes on her head, placing it on the counter, she grabbed a few more boxes and trotted back over. “And since Bandit and Chad are my best regulars, I decided to give four extra, free of charge.”

Spike tried to grab a cupcake, but Chad smacked his claw away, giving him the soda he owed him as Twilight walked over.

“Oh, that was very thoughtful of you." She said politely as Mrs. Cake came back out and joined them at the counter. "It's just some of the icing from the extra cupcakes are getting all over the ones next to them. See?" She pointed out. Bandit looked over to see what she was talking about and raised an eyebrow.

“Um. Twilight. They aren’t touching each other.” Bandit said.

“You’re not looking close enough.” Twilight told him.

“Twilight, my eye sight is better than yours. There is literally no icing from a different cupcake touching the other.” Bandit told her, looking and sounding unamused. Chad rolled his eyes and walked off. Good thing too, because the second he did, Spike dropped his soda and picked it back up, beginning to open it.

“You’re just saying that so we’d leave faster.” Twilight insisted.

“Twilight, this is very unnecessary. The frosting is perfect, let’s just leave it at that.” Bandit told her. This is when Chad came back, placing paper walls next to the cupcakes to keep the icing from spilling over to the next.

“There, problem solved.” Chad said with a smile. Bandit ruffled his mane.

“I guess that works.” Twilight said. Bandit closed the box, placing it on his back before looking at the list.

“Next thing we have to tackle is-” Bandit was interrupted by a yelp from Spike, who opened the soda he previously dropped, causing it to splash on him. Chad looked at this and started to snicker.

“Welp, ‘give a baby dragon a bath' just got added to the list." Bandit chuckled a bit. Chad had his back though, using a towel to cover Spike and then spin him around, making the soda fly off onto the towel. Spike was dry as a bone, and down half his soda, but Chad gave him another soda.

“Try not to drop this one.” Chad nudged him.

The four of them had returned to the library, their checklist finished from top to bottom.

“Looks like that's everything!" Chad cheered as he hopped off Bandit’s back.

“Almost everything.” Twilight stated. Spike looked at the list as he hopped off Bandit’s back.

“‘Triple-check checklist to make sure we didn't miss anything when we double-checked the checklist!’ Uh… check." Spike said, checking the final check box before clutching his aching claw, dropping the quill and list as he did so. “Ugh… I've been holding that quill so long, I've got a claw cramp."

Bandit walked over to him with some ice, placing it on his wrist.

“I told you to let me hold the list and quill.” Chad said as he tapped his horn. “This magic rarely tires you know.”

“Yeah yeah. Well, good thing we don't have anything to report to Princess Celestia this week… I don't think I could write another word.” Spike complained. Bandit looked at Twilight, hoping she didn’t hear that. Unfortunately, she did, and the panic that set in was written all over her face.
"We haven't sent a letter to Princess Celestia this week?!" Twilight exclaimed.

"Is that bad?" Spike asked.

"No. No it's not." Bandit quickly told him.

"It isn't?"

"Of course it's bad! We're supposed to send Princess Celestia a letter every week, telling her about a lesson we've learned about friendship! Not every other week, not every ten days, every... single... week!" Twilight said to each one of them.

"No Twilight. We don't. We have to send her letters about lessons we learned. There's no time limit." Bandit told her in an attempt to calm her down, but she didn’t do such a thing. Instead, she began rummaging around.

“Ohh… Where's my calendar, where's my calendar?!" She exclaimed. Chad pulled it out of a drawer.

“It’s right here. Where it always is.” Chad said before it was snatched from his grip by Twilight’s magic. She flipped through the calendar.

"When did we send the last one?" she asked desperately.

"Last Tuesday?" Chad answered, a bit confused.

“And today is…"

"Tuesday?"

Bandit stopped her flipping right on the day that she was due for a friendship problem, marked with a big, red X.

“Argh! Nononononononono!" She raced up to her room and looked out the window, where she could see the sun slowly moving across the sky like a clock hand. "If I don't send her a letter by sundown, I'll be… tardy!" The background flares red behind her, Spike walked over and pulled it away like a scenery flat. Chad looked at Spike.

“Tardy means late.” Answering before he could even ask. Twilight flopped onto her bed.

“Oh, how could I let this happen? I'm usually so organized. I've never been late with an assignment." She moaned and covered herself with her blanket. Bandit walked over and peeked in where her head is.

“Again Twilight, you don’t have to send a letter every week. It’s okay that a lesson wasn’t convenient enough to happen within a week….or day. Mother will understand.” Bandit reassured her.

"I'm afraid to take that chance, Bandit.” Twilight said, rolling upright to face him. “This is the ruler of all of Equestria we’re talking about. The pony who holds my fate in her hooves!”

“The pony who’s also my mother, and knows how important you are to me.” Bandit told her, but yet again, Twilight was still panicking.

“What if she doesn't forgive me?"

“She will forgive-” Bandit tried to tell her, but she teleported to Spike and Chad.

"What if instead she starts thinking I'm not taking my studies on friendship seriously?" Twilight questioned, the panic starting to increase.

“You know she doesn’t-” Chad tried to say.

"What if she makes me come back to Canterlot and puts me back in school and makes me prove I've been taking them seriously by giving me a test?!" Twilight yelped, beginning to pace back and forth. "What if I don't pass?!"

“Well, why wouldn't you pass-?" Spike tried to ask.

“She’s my teacher! Do you know what teachers do to students who don’t pass?” Twilight asked him.

“Twilight, breathe for like, ten seconds and-” Bandit tried. But Twilight wasn’t finished.

"They send them back a grade! But she won't just send me back a grade. She'll send me back to… magic kindergarten." She stopped pacing and sat down as mental images of young fillies laughing at her filled her head.

Chad pulled down on the mental image and it rolled back up, showing Twilight back in the library, sitting the same way as in the kindergarten class.

“Twilight, listen to me.” Bandit said. Twilight was so worried she didn’t respond. Bandit walked over and lightly tapped her back. “Twilight.”

Twilight turned to look at him.

“That’s the most ridiculous assumption I’ve ever heard. And with that list consisting of being banished to the everfree forest over a failed stunt, being banished and then thrown in a dungeon in the place that she banished you to, that is saying a lot.” Bandit remarked. “She isn’t gonna do that. You’re a wonderful student Twilight, you don’t have to send a letter every week for mother to know that.”

“You’re right. I have no reason to worry.” Twilight said. Bandit was surprised and began counting on his hooves, then he went from surprised to unamused. He knew what was gonna happen next. “Because I’m going to solve a friend’s problem and get that letter to Princess Celestia before sundown!”

“Does no one listen to me?” Bandit asked. Chad and Spike shrugged.

“So…..” She leaned over to Bandit. “...got any problems, troubles, conundrums, or any other sort of issues, major or minor, that I, as a good friend, could help you solve?” Twilight asked, speaking rapidly.

“Twilight, you’re seriously worrying me.” Bandit said with an ear flop.

“Something? Anything?” Twilight asked. Bandit shook his head and she flopped her ears in response.

“Then it looks like I’m gonna have to find somepony who does!” She said triumphantly before running out of the room.

“Twilight wait!” Bandit exclaimed, but she was already out the door. Bandit got to the edge of the stairs and looked down.

“This is not gonna end well.” Bandit said.

“This is one of those ‘Bandit, you were right’ days, isn’t it?” Spike asked.

“Definitely.” Chad said. Bandit hopped down and headed to the door.

As Twilight’s journey for a problem began, The sun advanced a notch as the windmill clicks along and the internal clock continued ticking in Twilight’s head. Down below, Twilight was trotting through town, looking for a problem.

“You’ve got this, Twilight. You still have plenty of time to get that letter to Princess Celestia.” She said as she trotted to town “Has to be somepony around here who needs the help of a good friend.”

At that moment, Rarity was heard shrieking.

“Rarity!" She exclaimed as she ran towards the boutique.

Inside the boutique, Rarity was doing more loud screaming and was sprawled on her dressing stand. Twilight kicked open the door, and Bandit, who heard the shriek from his location, tried to run inside but ran headfirst into the doorframe. Making him stumble back and rub his head. Twilight hopped in.

“Don’t worry Rarity, I’m here!” Twilight announced as Bandit peeked in.

“Why me-e-e-e-e-ee…" Rarity sobbed. "WHYYYY?! Why? Why-y?! And of all the worst things that could happen, this is THE. WORST. POSSIBLE. THING!"

Bandit ran in and got to Rarity.

“What happened?!” He exclaimed, worried that this was something big. “Are you okay?!” He asked.

"I've lost my diamond-encrusted purple ribbon!" Rarity wailed. "I have searched high, and I have searched low. Low and high! High and low! But I can't find it anywhere! Anywhe-e-e-e-ere! How can I possibly finish my latest creation if I can't find it?!" She hopped off the stand, magically brought over a fancy couch, and flopped onto it. Bandit facehoofed and began to look around.

"Never fear, Rarity!" Twilight said, "As your friend I'll do my best to help you fi-"

“Is that it?” Bandit asked, pointing directly at it, and interrupting Twilight. Rarity looked, seeing the exact ribbon she described, and trotted over to pick it up.

"So… you just lost your ribbon?" Twilight asked as Rarity began going back to work.

"Mm-hm!" Rarity answered.

“So, you’ve got nothing you need help with? Preferably a friendship problem?” Bandit tried to hint at. Rarity didn’t catch the said hint.

“No, but I left my measuring tape under the fabric over there." Rarity said, waving a hoof over at a pile of fabrics, and the measuring tape was sticking out of it. "Could you get that for me?"

Twilight sighed, disappointed as she magically retrieved the measuring tape and set it near her friend's hooves. "Measuring tape? Sure."

Bandit sympathetically patted her back. Rarity heard the sad tone Twilight spoke in and turned to talk to her.

"Twilight? Is there something bother-" She attempted to ask, only to see both of them had disappeared. “Twilight? Bandit?”

Walking outside of the boutique, Bandit stood in front of Twilight.

“Twily. Listen to me.” Bandit said. Twilight looked at him. “I don’t want you to get stressed out over this, especially since Celestia isn’t gonna punish you for not writing a letter.”

“Bandit, I know you’re trying to make me feel better, but we can’t waste anymore time. We gotta check with our other friends.”

“Twilight-”

“Come on. Let’s see if Applejack has a problem we can fix.” Twilight said as she started to trot off. Bandit’s eye twitched and he walked beside her.

“Twilight, you can’t just force these problems to happen. That’s not what makes Celestia wants the letters.” Bandit told her.

“I’m not forcing the problems to happen, I’m looking for them.” Twilight argued.

“Regardless, there won’t be any consequences if you don’t send a letter. Mother will understand, she knows these lessons don’t just pop up out of thin air. That doesn’t make you a bad student.” Bandit told her.

“I can’t take that risk Bandit. What do you expect me to do?” Twilight asked him.

“Trust me at least? Don’t you trust me?”

“No!” Twilight answered too quickly. She was expecting Bandit to ask a completely different question. She finally heard what Bandit asked and gasped. She looked at Bandit, who flopped his ears. “Bandit, I thought you were gonna ask something else, I didn’t mean-”

“Save it Twi.” Bandit told her, his voice now a bit deadpan. “I’ll help you look.”

“Bandit I’m-”

“Our other friends could need some help…..wouldn’t hurt to look right?” Bandit asked her. He did his best to look neutral, but his flopped ears told her everything. Twilight could only look down.

“Come on let’s see if Applejack needs some help.” Bandit said as he started moving towards sweet apple acres. Twilight soon walked with him.

Over at Sweet Apples Acres, Lightning Sprint and Rainbow Dash were wearing protective goggles and she was busy demolishing an old barn with assorted grunting and karate noises. Applejack was wearing a football helmet and was cowering in a nearby ditch. The two blue pegasi flew around the barn, tearing it apart, and a piece of wood went flying high into the sky. Bandit placed his hoof out to stop Twilight. The wood landed near where Twilight would’ve stepped. The two looked up and saw the duo attacking the barn.

“Rainbow and Lightning must be angry with Applejack!" Twilight exclaimed. "They must hate her guts! How wonderful!"

Bandit looked at her with a concerned expression on his face. She trotted towards the location as Bandit reluctantly followed.

Lightning Sprint and Rainbow Dash zipped back over to the barn in an attempt to attack it some more.

"Rainbow Dash, Lightning Sprint! Stop!" Twilight ordered using her magic to stop them. Lightning Sprint and Rainbow Dash looked at her questioningly. "Listen, you two. I know you're both upset with Applejack, but don't worry. Whatever it is that has come between you two, I'm sure that I, as a good friend, can help you resolve your problems." She then released them, dropping them to the ground.

“What are you talking about?” Lightning Sprint asked.

“Oh Lightning Sprint. You don’t have to hide your feelings from me. I can tell you two had a terrible fight with her.” Twilight said.

“Uh-” Rainbow Dash tried to say before Bandit spoke up.

“I’ll cut to the chase, why are you destroying that barn?” Bandit asked.

“She asked us to.” Rainbow Dash answered. She then turned to the trench Applejack was hiding in. “Right Applejack?”

“Yes sir!” Applejack said to Bandit as she took off the helmet she was wearing. “I wanted to put up a new barn, but this one’s gotta come down first. I would’ve asked you if you could do it but Big Macintosh told me you weren’t at the library.”

“Dang it. Ah well, nothing I can do about that.” Bandit shrugged, he picked up Twilight by her scruff. Applejack put her helmet back on and looked to the two pegasi.

“Get back to it you two.” Applejack said. Lightning Sprint and Rainbow Dash put their goggles back on and spread their wings.

“You got it boss/Aye Aye ma’am.” They said at the same time. They flew upwards and got high into the sky.

“I’d take cover you two.” Applejack said.

“Way ahead of you.” Bandit said as he hopped into the trench and lit a forcefield over the three of them. With a trailing war cry, Lightning Sprint and Rainbow Dash barreled towards the barn and collided with a cataclysmic blast. The debris from the barn covered the force field. It was dropped after it was safe and Applejack hopped out the trench happily. Bandit climbed out with Twilight, who looked a little more disheveled. Bandit looked back at her and was about to say something, but kept silent and climbed out instead.

Twilight and Bandit headed for Fluttershy's house. "I can't believe I wasted all that time," she grumbled. "I should have just come here first." She then perked up. "Fluttershy always has some fear she's trying to get over. As a good friend, I'll be able to help her."

They walked around the corner and saw a bear roaring in Fluttershy’s face. Bandit was about to jump into action but was caught off guard when Fluttershy suddenly flew under the bear, confusing Bandit, the Bear, and Twilight.

As the bear looked in between his legs, Fluttershy rocketed in and landed a flying kick to the bear’s back. As it tumbles through the air, she grabs a hind leg and twists to throw it flat on the grass. Her next move is to yank the leg toward the head, bending the massive body double and forcing a ground-pounding bellow.

“Fluttershy?” Bandit and Twilight said in shock. The pummeling continued with a stomp on the back and a hard twist that forces the beefy neck around 180 degrees, after which Fluttershy released her hold. As the bear collapses senseless to the lawn, Twilight’s jaw looks ready to fall off its hinge from sheer disbelief. She shakes her head clear and paces in place. Bandit, on the other hand, was still in shock looking at the bear.

“How can this be happening?" Twilight wondered, pacing a bit. "Of all the days she had to stop being such a scaredy-pony, she had to pick today?! What am I going to do?!" She then left.

As she left, Bandit’s shock subsided when he saw the bear smiling as Fluttershy massaged his back. He wiped the sweat off his forehead.

"You really should have come to me sooner," Fluttershy started, smiling. "You were carrying so much tension in that shoulder."

The bear growled happily, and he was clearly more relaxed. Bandit turned to look at Twilight, only to see she wasn’t there.

“Twily?” Bandit asked as he looked around.

Over at the park, Twilight was curled up on a bench and stroking her tail with one hoof, her hair was still messy from being hit with debris earlier, and her eyes were starting to twitch. "It's fine. It'll all be fine," she mumbled. "The day isn't over yet. But it will be over soon!" She sat up and stared up at the sun, which seemed to shift position like the hand on a clock. She groaned and flopped backward on the bench, staring at a puddle.

"It'll be all over!" She wailed. "My time in Ponyville! My advanced studies!" She quickly sat up and began reassuring her reflection in the puddle.

"Nono. You're a good student. You can do this.” She encouraged. Her puddle self wasn’t so sure.

“Ooh! But what if I can't?”

“You can! You just have to keep it together. Keep. It. Together!" She was staring so fixedly at her reflection that she was unaware that the baby dragon walked up with the box containing the cupcakes, the little Changeling with some juice boxes on his back, and the big changeling with a very worried look on his face.

“Twilight, are you talking to yourself?” Spike asked. Twilight was so focused on her reflection she didn’t respond.

“Twilight?” Chad called as he waved his hoof in her face to get her attention. That did nothing, but the laughter of the foals playing jump rope not too far from them did. She looked up and with an ear twitch, began imagining those fillies laughing at her. That was until Bandit used his horn and popped the mental image like a balloon.

“SNAP OUT OF IT!!” Bandit exclaimed in his royal canterlot voice. That was seemingly enough to get Twilight to snap out of it, as well as stop those foals from playing. Bandit turned to look at them.

“Sorry, carry on. I didn’t mean to stop you.” He said. The foals all shrugged and went right back to playing jump rope. Bandit turned back to Twilight.

“Twilight, look. You’re worrying us. This letter thing is getting to you.” Bandit told her. He scratched the back of his head. “Look. You go try to enjoy the picnic, I’ll try to find the friendship problem.”

Spike and Chad began to hand over the cupcakes and apple juice to her, but then she turned to them with a crazed smile on her face.

“The picnic!” She picked up juice and cupcakes and ran past them. “I should go see my friends!”

“This can only end badly.” Chad said, a bit worried.

“Not if I have anything to say about it. Spike, take a note.” Bandit said.

“Way ahead of you.” Spike said as he pulled out paper and Chad tossed him the quill.

Meanwhile, at the picnic in the park, Pinkie bounced to the location the picnic was gonna be held. She placed the basket down, took the blanket off of it, and watched balloons come out and lift the basket to the sky. Applejack placed down a picnic blanket down as Lightning Sprint rubbed some sunscreen on Rainbow Dash’s back. Fluttershy was looking at Rarity as she fished around in her basket.

"Please tell me I did not forget the plates." She gasped when she couldn't find the plates. "I did. I totally forgot them. Of all the worst things that could happen, this is THE. WORST. POSSIBLE. THING!" She magically summoned her couch and fell on it, crying. "Why, why, why… Uh… What?" she asked when she saw her friends giving her ‘Seriously’ looks. "You didn't expect me to lay on the grass, did you?"

Rolling her eyes, Rainbow Dash put on her sunglasses and she laid back on the blanket. She was startled when the cupcake box and juice box almost landed on her head, and she saw Twilight grinning in a mad way, and both her mane and her tail were looking really messy. She stood up, with a startled expression on her face. The others joined in the worried/startled looks directed towards Twilight. Applejack was the first to ask about her situation.

"You alright, hun?" Applejack asked, with a concerned look on her face.

"No!" Twilight snapped, her expression becoming frantic. "I am not alright." This got the other six ponies all looking concerned. "It's just terrible." She said.

“Yes?”

"Simply awful.”

“Yes?”

“It's the most horrific trouble I've ever been in and I really, really, really, need your help!"

“Are you gonna tell us or keep saying it’s awful?” Lightning Sprint asked, very concerned. Applejack bonked the top of her head.

“My letter to Princess Celestia is almost overdue, and I haven't learned anything about friendship!" Twilight exclaimed. Everyone but Lightning Sprint sighed.

“That’s it?” She asked. Guarding her head this time, but didn’t get bonked by Applejack.

“Oh, thank goodness." Fluttershy said, relieved. "I thought something really awful had happened." Twilight was not happy to hear that. She teleports to her friends, explaining the situation.

"Something awful has happened!" she snapped. "If I don't turn in the letter on time, I'll be tardy! TARDY!" Her annoyance was only met with giggles or dismissal.

"No offense, sugarcube," Applejack started politely, "but it looks like somepony's gettin' themselves all worked up over nothin'."

"This is not nothing.” Twilight argued. "This is everything. I need you guys to help me find somepony with a problem I can fix before sundown! My whole life depends on it!" She exclaimed, wishing that her friends would take her seriously.

“Uh-” Lightning Sprint started. “Aren’t you the best friend of her son? This sounds like you’re sweating something small.”

Twilight let out an annoyed groan and teleported away.

"Wow." said Fluttershy, surprised. "I've never seen Twilight so upset before."

"Oh, what a drama queen," Rarity scoffed and shrugged when her friends shot her a look. "Mm. Relatively speaking…"

Meanwhile, at Sugar Cube corner, Bandit was pacing back and forth looking at the clock.

“I really hope mother got my letter. I’ve looked all over town and haven’t found a single friendship problem.” Bandit said as he looked at the clock. “That clock is ticking and so is that time bomb in Twilight’s mind.”

Mrs. Cake came to him with a cherry-grape pie and gave it to him. Bandit took it, gave her a large tip, and walked out. He ate the pies by the slice.

“I hope mother isn’t in a meeting right now. I don’t know how long I’ve got before Twilight decides to make a friendship problem.” Bandit said as he ate another slice. That’s when he realized and went wide-eyed. “Oh no!” Bandit began running to the library, still eating the pie on the way there. He got inside and ran up the stairs.

He got to the top floor and looked towards a chest that was opened. His pupils shrank.

He ran out of the library and took off flying into the sky. Big Macintosh was outside the door with a bag in his mouth walking towards the library before seeing this. He looked up towards the sky. He was confused but shrugged and began walking towards the picnic area.

A bird flew out of a tree and landed in her nest, which was in a bush for some reason. As she did, Twilight, mentally unstable by this point, popped out of the bushes, startling the bird before looking towards the laughter of the CMC. The CMC were all playing in a field with a beach ball. Pipsqueak kicked it to Scootaloo while laughing with joy.

The ball bounced towards her and she knocked it towards Skeedaddle but before it got to him, Twilight appeared, popping the ball she just popped out of.

"Hi crusaders!" She said, completely crazy.

"Hi Twilight!" Skeedaddle waved, not noticing her demented look.

"Oh, hi, Twilight. How's it go—" Apple Bloom began.

"Gr-eat. Just great. You all look like you're doing great too! Looks like three good friends who obviously don't need the help of another good friend. This is Smarty Pants. She was mine when I was your age, and now I want to give her to you!" Twilight said, presenting them with a stuffed toy.

"Smarty pants?" Skeedaddle asked as he slowly backed away.

"That's right." Twilight said, turning to look at him, her eye twitching. Pipsqueak tugged the hoodies of his fellow Male Crusaders and gestured them to make a run for it. But before they can run, Twilight teleported in their path.
They stopped and looked at the fillies, eyes that screamed 'help us!'

"She looks.... Great." Scootaloo said, Apple Bloom nodding in agreement.

"I really... like her... mane." Sweetie Belle said

"She even comes with her own notebook and quill, for when you want to pretend she's doing her homework!" Twilight said, turning to look at them.

"That's.....interesting." Pipsqueak said.

"That's.....cool." Rumble said unsure.

"I just hope the fact that there's six of you and only one of her doesn't become a problem! I'd hate to cause a rift between such good friends.” Twilight said she was completely far gone. Scootaloo made the cuckoo hoof gesture to the others before Twilight looked back at them. “So, who wants to play with her first?"

"Pipsqueak." Skeedaddle and Rumble said, moving him forward.

"Uh, I would love to. Buuuuuuut....generic excuse? Sweetie Belle can play with her though." Pipsqueak said as he jumped back.

"Nonononononono. I think Scootaloo should get to play with her first." Sweetie Belle said as she jumped back.

"I'd love to, but, um, you take her, Rumble." Scootaloo said, jumping back and pushing Rumble forward.

Rumble backed up and shoved Apple Bloom forward.

"All yours Apple Bloom."

"Applejack n’ Big Mac say it's important to share." Apple Bloom said as she went back, attempting to shove Pipsqueak forward. Soon enough, they were all fighting to make the other play with the doll. This sent Twilight into a bit of a panic.

'I gotta think of something!' Twilight thought frantically. 'Thinkthinkthinkthinkthink Twilight, think!' She gasped. ‘That's it!’

“Ooh, you're going to like Smarty Pants." She said out loud. "And you're going to like her more than anything." She finished, casting a spell on the doll. Pink hearts began popping out of the glowing doll, as it dropped next to the dust cloud that contained the fighting CMC.

The colts were the first to look at the doll.

"Whoa!" Rumble said, his eyes turning to hearts.

"So amazing!" Pipsqueak exclaimed, his eyes also turning to hearts.

"I want it!" Skeedaddle exclaimed, doing the same.

"No I want it!" Scootaloo exclaimed.

"I need it." Apple Bloom exclaimed.

"I really like her mane!" Sweetie Belle said. They were back in the fight cloud to grab the doll.

"The 'want it, need it' spell. Works every time. Okay, okay, let's break it up." She said, however, They were still fighting. "I think we can all see that there is an important lesson to be learned here about-" She grunted when she got kicked in the face by one of the fillies. "Ugh! C'mon everyone, we're all friends here, right?" she asked, trying to take away the doll this time. "Don't you think you ought to share?"

"No way!" Apple Bloom shouted. Twilight groaned and dove into the cloud in an attempt to get the doll back. She was instead thrown out of the cloud and stopped by something big. Turns out, that something big was Big Macintosh.

"Big Macintosh!" she exclaimed happily as she stood up. "Thank goodness! You've gotta help me get that doll away from them!"

“Eeyup.” Big Macintosh said as he spotted the doll being tossed around. He placed down the bag he had down and walked to the fight cloud and with no effort at all, grabbed the doll out of the fight cloud.

"Oh, thank you so much. Now if you could just give her to me?" Twilight tried to say, He took off. He opened his eyes and he was now under the spell.

"Eenope!"

“Oh no!” Twilight exclaimed as she watched him run, and then saw the CMC run after them. Big Macintosh was still running from them and the chase got the attention of Mayor Mare.

"What's all the commotion about?" Mayor Mare asked.

“They’re fighting over that doll!” Orange Swirl said as she was also under the spell, flying over to it. Bon Bon spotted Smarty Pants too.

"That incredible, amazing doll!" Bon Bon squealed, also affected by the doll, also under the spell of smarty pants.

“Bon Bon, what happened to your voice?” Mayor Mare asked as she looked towards her run at the doll, only to fall under the spell as well. Mares became whammy and began ganging up on the stallion, arguing and fighting for the doll that he was holding out of reach. Rumble kept flying for it, but his hoodie kept getting yanked each time by a mare trying to grab it.

Twilight tried to get through the fighting crowd to zap the doll, but she wasn't able to. "Can't… get… a clear shot!" She said. Mares were constantly getting in the way.

Rumble finally grabbed the doll and tried to fly off.

“Gimme!” Mayor Mare said, jumping up and grabbing it right out of Rumble’s hooves, making him crash in the ground before running off. Seeing Mayor Mare snatch it, Big Macintosh knocked the other mares away in one move.

"Eenope!" He ran after Mayor Mare.

At the picnic, Chad and Spike got there.

"You guys seen Twilight anywhere?" Spike asked.

“We just saw her earlier, she said something about-” Applejack tried to say before Chad’s ears twitched, following a noise. “Whatcha hear Chad?”

Chad pointed behind them as the noise got louder. They all turned and saw Mayor Mare running from the crowd behind her.

"What in the name of all things oats 'n apples is going on here?!" Applejack exclaimed.

As the six ponies watched, a pegasus swiped the doll from the mayor, flying into the air, only to be attacked by a second pegasus, and they began fighting over the doll until they dropped it.

The doll landed near the group and Chad looked confused.

“Smarty-” He asked before Twilight scooped him up and turn his eyes away.

“Don’t look at it!” Twilight exclaimed to him.

“Don’t look at what?” Spike asked he tried to lean over to look. Luckily, Rarity covered his eyes.

"My Smarty Pants doll! I enchanted her and now everypony is fighting over her!" Twilight confessed.

"Why would you enchant your doll?" Fluttershy asked her.

"Oh, I had to do something! thought if I couldn't find a problem, I'd make a problem! The day is almost over!" Twilight panicked. Applejack turned to the sunset.

“Not almost." Applejack pointed out. They all watched the sunset. Twilight lowered her head in defeat.

"Twilight Sparkle!" Princess Celestia’s voice boomed from the sky.

A bright light appeared high in the sky and the seven mares gasped when it faded to reveal Princess Celestia flying above them, with Bandit next to her. Chad and Spike looked like they were relieved. When she reached the group, she hovered and her horn glowed gold and erased the effects of the Want it Need it spell.

The ponies all stopped fighting and the Smarty Pants doll landed before them. Mayor mare walked forward and looked at the doll before blushing in embarrassment, stepping on the doll as she trotted off. The other mares, colts, and fillies went their separate leads, all subconsciously agreeing to pretend this never happened. Except for Big Macintosh, who looked around before snatching up the doll, and ran off, neighing and whining happily.

Bandit and Celestia landed in front of Twilight, who was cowering. She couldn’t tell which she was more saddened/scared by. Celestia’s disapproving look, or Bandit’s saddened look of disappointment.

“Meet us in the library.” Celestia said. The mother and son flew off to the library.

"Goodbye, you guys. If you care to visit, I'll be in magic kindergarten, back in Canterlot." Twilight said as she put Chad down and walked away, saddened.

"Magic kindergarten?" Fluttershy asked as she watched her walk away.

"Canterlot?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"We're never gonna see Twilight again!" Pinkie Pie yelped, alarmed.

“We’re losing her!? This can’t be happening!” Lightning Sprint exclaimed.

"Uh, what are we gonna do, y'all?" Applejack asked.

"Of all the worst things that could happen, this is THE. WORST. POSSIBLE. THING!" Rarity wailed and her friends gave her annoyed looks. "What? I really mean it this time!"

“Have you been saying that all day but this was the one time it was appropriate?” Chad asked.

“Yes.” Rarity shamefully admitted. Chad rolled his eyes and grabbed Spike before using his horn to teleport to the library.

Chad teleported him and Spike to the top of the library stairs, where they looked down at the conversation, out of sight from Twilight, Bandit, and Celestia.

"But...but... I'm supposed to send you a letter about friendship every week. I missed the deadline. I'm a bad student! I'm... tardy!" Twilight said.

"You are a wonderful student, Twilight. I don't have to get a letter every week to know that." Celestia said.

“Really?” Twilight asked. Bandit was gonna say something, but the other seven showed up, with Rainbow Dash rolling to the front.

"Wait!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed

"You can't punish her!" Pinkie yelped.

"It wasn't her fault!" Applejack added.

“Just let us explain!” Lightning Sprint exclaimed.

“Guys wait-” Bandit tried to say before Celestia shushed him with a wing while giving them a bemused look. "I'm listening."

"Please, your Highness," said Fluttershy. "We all saw that Twilight was upset."

"But we thought that the thing she was worrying about wasn't worth worrying about." Rainbow Dash added.

Applejack nodded. "So when she ran off all worked up, not a single one of us tried to stop her."

"As Twilight's good friends." Rarity continued. "We should have taken her feelings seriously and been there for her!"

"Please don't take her away from us just because we were too insensitive to help her." Fluttershy told her.

"Looks like you all learned a pretty valuable lesson today." Celestia remarked and the six ponies all agreed. "Very well," she continued. "I'll forget Twilight's "punishment" [sneaks a wink at Bandit] on one condition."

The mares clamored over each other in anticipation before Celestia continued.

"From this day forth, I would like you all to report to me your findings on the magic of friendship when, and only when, you happen to discover them.” She told all of them, though most of that was directed towards Twilight. The seven ponies cheered. Celestia began to walk to the door before Twilight ran over.

“Princess Celestia, wait!” Twilight called, making Celestia stop and turn to look at her. How did you know I was in trouble?"

“Not only did Bandit, Spike and Chad all send letters to me, but Bandit flew all the way to Canterlot to let me know your fears were getting the best of you. My sons do tell me everything after all.” Celestia told her. That’s when Twilight remembered what she indirectly told Bandit.

“E-everything?” She asked. Celestia giggled a bit.

“As much as I commend them for taking your feelings seriously, my advice is to trust them a little bit more when it comes to me. He is momma’s little nymph after all.” Celestia winked as the others walked over. Bandit heard what she called him and blushed a bit. “Now, if you will all excuse me, I must return to Canterlot. I'm expecting some mail."

Celestia walked out the door and flew off. Chad trotted down with Spike on his back, who had a paper and quill in hand.

“Well, they know the drill already.” Bandit said as he ruffled Spike’s head spikes. Twilight smiled at the trio.

Later, the group was all sitting in a circle as Spike wrote the letter, leaning against a loafing Chad.

"Dear Princess Celestia, We're writin' to you because today we all learned a little somethin' about friendship." Applejack started.

"We learned that you should take your friends' worries seriously." Fluttershy said.

"Even if you don't think that she has anything to worry about." Rainbow Dash added.

"And that you shouldn't let your worries turn a small problem…" Rarity supplied.

"…into an enormously huge entire-town-in-total-chaos Princess-has-to-come-and-save-the-day problem.” Pinkie expressed.

"Signed, your loyal subjects," Lightning Sprint concluded. Spike finished writing that and was about to write a P.S, but Chad sent the letter with his magic.

“Hey!” Spike said. Chad snickered before Twilight looked at Bandit.

“I owe you an apology Bandit.” Twilight told him. Bandit looked at her as she spoke. “I should’ve listened to you. And...I never should’ve told you I didn’t trust you.”

“Water under the bridge Twily. It may have hurt my feelings at the time, but I know you didn’t mean to say it.” Bandit told her. Twilight walked over and gave him a hug.

“You were right.” She told him. Bandit hugged her back.

Luna Eclipsed

View Online

It was nighttime in Ponyville and Spike was pacing back and forth in the library as he and Bandit were waiting for Twilight.

"Ugh, come on, Twilight. We're gonna be late for the Nightmare Night festival." he said before she stepped into view. Chad was on her back, dressed in a tiny lion costume with a smile. Bandit walked around the corner with a costume of Princess Celestia. Complete with the horn, the Crown, the peytral, the shoes, and the sun cutie mark painted over his own. He also still had his bandana on under the peytral.

"Looking good guys. But who's Twilight supposed to be?" He asked.

Twilight gave him a look as if he'd insulted her.

“Spike, you really don’t pay attention do you?” Chad asked with a deadpan look.

"Is she that one kooky grandpa from Ponyville Retirement Village?" Spike answered. Bandit and Chad facehoofed.

"She's starswirl the bearded." Bandit told him.

"Uh...." Spike said.

"Did you even read that book I gave you about obscure unicorn history?" Bandit asked.

"I did." Chad answered. Considering he reads every book given to him 3 times, that was pretty much expected of him.

Spike opened his mouth to speak before there was a knock at the door. Bandit went to open the door.

"Nightmare Night! What a fright! Give us something sweet to bite!" A group of fillies sang.

"Hi, everypony. Great costumes." Bandit said giving each filly candy before looking up at Big Macintosh. Big Macintosh was wearing a backward baseball cap with a pair of goggles on his head, a brown bomber jacket with a pair of fake red metal wings, and a pair of woodland camo pants. "Big Macintosh, Happy Nightmare Night. Nice Osprey costume."

“Eeyup.” Big Macintosh said. Chad trotted over with a bowl of candy as Bandit looked at the costume.

“Granny Smith went to sleep?” Bandit asked.

“Five hours ago.” Big Macintosh said as Chad passed out some candy. As soon as he finished passing the candy to the fillies, Pipsqueak squeezed out wearing a pirate’s outfit, swinging a sword around before toppling over. He stood up with a salute.

"Pipsqueak the pirate, at your service. It's my very first Nightmare Night." Pipsqueak said.

"Since you moved here from Trottingham?" Twilight asked.

"Actually Twi. It's his first ever." Chad said. As soon as he did, Pinkie appeared in a chicken costume with a squawk.

"Enough chitchat! Time is candy!" Pinkie exclaimed, pecking around at the ground.

"Pinkie Pie, aren't you a little old for this?" Twilight asked.

"Too old for free candy?" She let out a chicken squawk. "Never."

Bandit eye rolled with a smirk before giving her some of the candy. Twilight decided to strike a few various poses, shaking the bells in front of Pinkie, hoping she would catch who she was.

“Do you like it?” She asked.

"Yeah! Great costume, Twilight! You make a fantastic weirdo clown!"

"Not who she is." Bandit said. Moving the bowl that Pinkie tried to peck and eat. Bandit gave her two extra pieces of candy. Pinkie ate them and took zipped off.

"A clown? Look at the borders on these robes. These are hoof-stitched!" Twilight exclaimed as the guys walked out with her.

"I think it's a good costume Twilight." Chad smiled.

"Sure is! Grandpa!" Spike joked. Bandit got him into a headlock and noogied him, making Spike wriggle to try and get free.

My Little Pony,
My Big Changeling too
Ahh, ahh, ahh, ahhh…

[Bandit]
(My Little Pony)

We used to wonder what friendship could be
(My Big Changeling too)

[Twilight Sparkle]
Until you all shared its magic with me

[Rainbow Dash]
Big adventure

[Pinkie Pie]
Tons of fun

[Rarity]
A beautiful heart

[Applejack]
Faithful and strong

[Fluttershy]
Sharing kindness!

[Lightning Sprint]
Motivate the team

[Bandit]
Heroics makes it all complete
You have my little ponies
Do you know you're all my very best friends?

The four library residents continued walking through the very decorated town, Twilight still annoyed by the fact that her costume hadn’t gotten recognized.

"Star Swirl the Bearded is only the most important conjurer of the pre-classical era." Twilight said as they continued walking. Some school foals were pulled in a cart by a large stallion that shared Caramel’s color scheme and cutie mark, with a body type similar to Big Macintosh. He was also dressed in a ‘Jack the Ripper’ costume, and the foals in the cart were cheering happily as they were pulled.

"He created more than two hundred spells! He even has a shelf in the Canterlot library of magic named after him. Maybe I should start up a pony group to teach ponies about history. I bet everypony would love it!" Twilight continued.

"I would too. Bonus points if you add Emperor Ersatz, Ling the changeling, King Aska-" Bandit tried to say before Twilight interrupted him.

"Hey look, we're here already! Should we get something to eat?" Twilight asked. Bandit looked at Spike and Chad, who had lots of candy and were chowing down already.

"I think Chad and Spike are covered." Bandit smirked. Pinkie raced up with the foals, and her bag was bugling with candy. "Twilight, Bandit! Look at our haul!" She exclaimed showing the bag to them. "Ah! Can you believe it?”She exclaimed as she began pecking at the candy. “And then, we went to Cheerilee's house, and got a bunch more goodies. Didn't we, Pip?"

"Sure did!" Pipsqueak confirmed happily.

A pair of dark clouds were creeping up behind Bandit in an attempt to prank him. Chad saw this and quickly covered his ears, not for the clouds, but for Bandit who sparked his horn.

"And then, we had to stop and wait for Big Macintosh because he had to pick up-" Pinkie was saying before Bandit raised a hoof.

“Just a second.” Bandit told her. He shot a beam out of his horn, making a thunderclap next to the clouds, a yelp came from Rainbow Dash and Lightning Sprint as they fell out of the clouds. Rainbow Dash landed on her back, as Lightning Sprint was able to recover. Rainbow Dash was dressed like a shadowbolt from their first adventure, meanwhile Lightning Sprint was dressed like a wonderbolt.

"What did you learn?" Bandit snarkily asked. They both looked at him and gritted.

"That we'll get you next time." Rainbow Dash said, looking at him.
"No you won't" Chad taunted after uncovering his ears.

"How do you know?" Lightning Sprint asked.

"Did you forget I grew up with him?" Chad asked. "The only pony that can prank him is on another level than you two."

“Hey!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

Chad gave a cheeky wink as they all walk off.

Bandit began leading the 3 away, another, less perceptive group of foals was close by.

"Oh! Oh! There's another group over there!" Rainbow Dash said before they flew over and scared them.

After the sound of a thunderclap was heard, all the unsuspecting foals screamed.

"This is probably the only time of the year where it’s acceptable to scream out of fear at me." Bandit joked.

"Of course you highness." Spike bowed with a chuckle, resulting in Bandit elbowing him playfully. They soon walked over to an apple bobbing stand, where Applejack was standing, supervising the event.

“Happy Nightmare Night Applejack.” Twilight

"Howdy, Spike! Hey, Twilight! Bandit and Chad. Nice costume." Applejack was heard saying.

"Thanks, I'm a dragon." Spike said.

"Noooooo, here I thought you were an oversized gecko." Chad sarcastically said. Spike elbowed him jokingly.

"With that beard, I reckon you're some sorta country music singer." Applejack told Twilight. Chad whispered something to Spike and snuck around them out of sight.

"While y'all are here, ya' feel like bobbin' for an apple?" She asked as she walked over to the water bucket.

"Boo!" Chad exclaimed, popping out the water scaring Applejack. Spike burst out laughing, and Bandit let out a snicker. Applejack panted before standing back up.

"How can someone so cute be so scary?" Applejack asked. Before an answer could be given, Derpy, dressed in a bunch of paper bags, came out of the water as well, which in turn put Chad on her head. She yanked out of the drain and out drained the water. Carrot Top, who was dressed as a vampire batpony, with some very real-looking teeth protruding from her mouth, leaned over and pulled her out of the bucket.

Bandit looked over at town hall where Mayor Mare, dressed like a clown, so the others walked over as well. Spike looked at Mayor Mare’s costume and nudged Chad.

“Hey Chad, look, Mayor Mare dressed like you.” Spike said. Chad bucked him lightly as Mayor Mare spoke.

"Thank you, everypony, and welcome to the Nightmare Night festival!" Mayor Mare began. Everypony began cheering as Bandit and the others walked over to the crowd.

"Now, all the little ponies who have been out collecting sweets should follow our friend Zecora to hear the legend of... Nightmare Moon! " Mayor Mare continued, putting on a scary voice.

"The voice would work better if she wasn't dressed like that." Spike said, referring to her clown costume.

Chad snickered as he heard Spike say that.

On stage, eerie green smoke appeared and Zecora, who was wearing her mane down with spider hairpins and a black cape, appeared out of the smoke. "Follow me and very soon, you'll hear the tale of nightmare moon."

At the Nightmare Moon statue, Zecora began to give the story of Nightmare Night.

"Listen close, my little dears, I'll tell you where you got your fears of Nightmare Night, so dark and scary." Zecora began, reaching into her cloak and pulling out some green dust before blowing the dust into the night air. "Of Nightmare Moon, who makes you wary."

The group gasped as an image of Nightmare Moon appeared before them, and began moving on its own.

"Every year, we put on a disguise, to save ourselves from her searching eyes." Zecora continued while the foals and older ponies ran around, screaming while avoiding the moving image that chased them. The CMC, minus Chad, sought safety behind, under and on top of the not very scared Bandit. "But Nightmare Moon wants just one thing: to gobble up ponies in one quick swing!" One of the foals, Dinky, just happened to back into Pinkie and they both screamed out of terror. "Hungrily, she soars the sky. If she sees nopony, she passes by. So if she comes and all is clear, Equestria is safe another year!" The image of Nightmare Moon disappeared into the moon high above. When it was all over, Chad tapped Apple Bloom’s head, who was hugging him tightly. She opened her eyes and let go as Pipsqueak walked over to Zecora and tugged on her cloak.

"Uh, Miss Zecora, if we wear costumes to hide from Nightmare Moon, so she won't gobble us up, how come we still need to give her some of our candy?" Pipsqueak asked.

"A perfect question, my little friend," Zecora replied. "For Nightmare Moon you must not offend." She blew more magic dust in the air, recreating the image of Nightmare Moon, who smiled evilly at the group. "Fill up her belly with a treat or two, so she won't return to come eat you!" The image disappeared once again after scaring the fillies.

The group screamed in fear.

"Everypony! Just dump some candy and get out of here!" Pinkie exclaimed. As they put the candy down, the wind picked up. Bandit looked up and saw the clouds swirling and a dark blue carriage being pulled by two bat ponies.

"It's Nightmare Moon! Run!" Pinkie exclaimed. The foals and Spike ran with Pinkie into town. Chad and Twilight looked at each other before looking at Bandit, who followed the carriage that passed overhead.

Luna made her way to the festival which resulted in many cowering ponies.

"Citizens of Ponyville! We have graced your tiny village with our presence, so that you might behold the real Princess of the Night! A creature of nightmares no longer, but instead a pony who desires your love and admiration! Together we shall change this dreadful celebration into a bright and glorious feast!"

"Did you hear that, everypony?" Pinkie asked, alarmed. "Nightmare Moon says she's gonna feast on us all!" She fled, along with her group of foals.

"What? No, children, no! You no longer have reason to fear us! Screams of delight is what your princess desires, not screams of terror!" Luna said, looking at the crowd and then at Mayor Mare, walking over to her.

"Madame Mayor, thy Princess of the Night hath arrived." Luna said, walking over and offering her hoof. However, Mayor Mare just cowered in fear.

Princess Luna was confused by this before moving to and doing the same to Raven, who also gasped and cowered as well. "What is the matter with you?" She demanded, She pointed to three more ponies, who only cowered. Angered and very well offended, Princess Luna began to walk away. "Very well, then. Be that way. We won't even bother with the traditional royal farewell."

She walked away and Bandit looked at her as she walked.

“Auntie Luna! Wait!” Bandit said as he tried to go after her. Spike tried to stop him by tugging his tail, only to get dragged for a second. Bandit lifted his tail and looked at Spike, who was dangling from it.

"You can't talk to her! She's Nightmare Moon!" Spike said. Chad hung upside down next to Spike using his tail.

“No Spike, that’s our auntie.” Chad told him. Bandit placed the two on his back with a tail flick.

“We saw the Elements of Harmony change her back to good. But it seems like she's having some trouble adjusting after being gone for a thousand years." Twilight told them as she started to walk with Bandit.

"You sure it's HER that's having the issue?" Bandit whispered as he looked back at the cowering townsfolk.

The four of them made it to the statue that Luna was standing in front of, where the two guards were trying to comfort her.

"Auntie?" Bandit called as he walked over, making Luna turn to look at him. "You feeling okay?”

"I am just fine, dear nephew." She answered, her tone of voice saying otherwise.

"Forgive me if I doubt the answer you just gave." Bandit responded as he walked over. The two guards bowed to him.

“Midnight, Blackjack, good to see you two again.” Bandit told them. They both smirked at him.

“We’ll still never know how you’re able to tell us apart.” Midnight, the one on the left said. Bandit winked and walked to Luna before turning her attention to Twilight.

"Auntie. This is-" Bandit tried to introduce.

"Starswirl the bearded. Commendable costume. She even got the bells right." Luna said.

"Finally! Someone gets my costume." Twilight said in relief before seeing Luna’s face, not exactly as enthused. Bandit walked towards her.

“Well, yes, she is dressed as Starswirl, but her name is-”

“Twilight Sparkle.” Luna interrupted. Bandit nodded her head. “It was thou who unleashed the powers of harmony upon us and took away our dark powers!" She said, using her Royal Canterlot voice. Bandit’s ears shook out the ringing. He used his magic to rub his ears.

“That was a good thing, Auntie.” Bandit clarified, thinking she was upset.

“We know. We couldn’t be happier! Is that not clear!?” Luna asked. Twilight walked over, a bit uncomfortable.

“It kinda sounds like you’re yelling at him.” Twilight said.

"But this is the traditional royal Canterlot voice!" She informed them. "It is tradition to speak using the royal ‘we’, and to use-" She then used the booming voice "-this much volume when addressing our subjects!"

Twilight and Bandit had their headgear mixed from the shouting. As they switched, Bandit spoke up.

“Well, that tradition was 1000 years ago. Things have changed since then. Which explains the mixed results in your appearance.” Bandit told her. “We gotta change up your approach a bit, get you to seem a bit less intimidating and voila! A warmer reception is sure to come your way.” Bandit told her.

“Change our approach?!” Luna asked in her royal Canterlot voice.

“Lower the volume?” Twilight suggested respectfully.

“Oh.” Luna said in her normal voice. “We have been locked away for a thousand years. We are… not sure we can.”

“I know just who can help.” Bandit said before looking at Midnight and Blackjack. “Midnight, Blackjack, you two are relieved for the night.”

Bandit, Twilight, and Luna walked off, and Midnight and Blackjack both looked at each other.

“Cider and Apple Pie?” Midnight asked.

“You know me so well.” Blackjack said. The two of them then flew off.

A short while later, they were approaching Fluttershy's cottage.

"Fluttershy can help you a lot. She has the sweetest little voice." Bandit complimented.

Chad hopped off of Bandit’s back and walked to the door, knocking on it.

"Go away!"` Fluttershy shrieked from inside her house. "No candy here! Visitors not welcome on Nightmare Night!"

“I can’t tell if that was Tempting Fate or Instantly Proven Wrong.” Chad said.

“Fluttershy, it’s us.” Bandit said as he knocked on the door again. The door slowly opened, allowing Fluttershy to see Bandit and Twilight.

“It is you.” She opened the door wider, seeing Chad, and Luna. She didn’t see Spike on Bandit’s back. "Ah. Nightmare Moon." She said, then gasped upon realizing. "Nightmare Moon!" She screamed before slamming the door.

Bandit walked to the door and pried it open, taking Spike off his back, placing him down.

"Uh uh, you aren't getting out of this." Bandit said as he walked inside to grab Fluttershy. An eep was heard escaping Fluttershy and Bandit was walking out holding Fluttershy by the scruff. He gently put her down in front of Princess Luna and Twilight.

"Fluttershy, you remember Princess Luna?" Twilight said.

"Charmed." Luna boomed. Fluttershy tried to run, but Bandit was quicker, blocking her from the door and walking her back to Princess Luna.

"Likewise." Fluttershy said timidly.
"Bandit hath spoken of the sweetness of thy voice. We ask thou teachest to us to speak as thou speakest." Luna said, in her loud, booming canterlot voice.

"Okay." Fluttershy whispered.

"Shall our lessons begin?"

"Okay."

"Should we mimic thy voice?"

"Okay. "

"How is this?"

"Great, lesson over!" Fluttershy said, zipping around Bandit. Chad closed the door, making Fluttershy run into it.

“A little quieter Princess.” Twilight instructed as Bandit walked over and gently pulled Fluttershy off the door.

"How is... this?" Luna asked, still loud, but making progress.

"Better, but Lower the octaves a bit. Right Fluttershy?" Bandit suggested. Fluttershy looked at Luna and nodded her head.

“Yes.” She said quietly. Fluttershy slowly tried to escape back to her cottage.

"How… about... now?" Luna asked, much better.

“Now you’re getting it.” Twilight complimented.

“And, how about now?” Luna asked, this time at optimal vocal volume.

“Sounds like perfection to me Auntie, well done.” Bandit told her. Fluttershy got to her door, but Luna levitated her back over with her magic, and into a hug.

“AH, THANK THEE, DEAR FLUTTERSHY! OUR NORMAL SPEAKING VOICE SHALL SURELY WIN US THE HEARTS OF THY FELLOW VILLAGERS!” Luna thanked, returning to her booming voice.

And it was at that moment when Pinkie walked into sight.

"Fluttershy Quick! You gotta hide us! Nightmare Moon is here and-" Pinkie stopped and squawked, startled. "Ah! She stole Fluttershy's voice so she can't scream when she gobbles her up!"

The foals with her screamed and took off running the other way. Princess Luna dropped Fluttershy and called after the retreating group in her booming voice.

"Nay, children, wait!" She then paused and tried again in a normal voice. "I mean… nay, children, no, wait."

Bandit walked over and patted her back.

"Don't worry. I got a plan B." Bandit said.

Returning to Ponyville and the festival, the ponies were all having fun again with games and dancing, but the moment they saw Twilight, Chad, Spike and Bandit return with Princess Luna, they all became scared and a few ran away.

"It is of no use, Twilight Sparkle, and Dear Nephew." Princess Luna said sadly, glancing around at the ponies that were steering clear of them with scared expressions on their faces. "They have never liked us and they never shall."

"Our friend Applejack is one of the most likable ponies around." Twilight said confidently. "I'm sure she'll have some ideas."

At the apple bobbing stand, Pipsqueak nearly fell into the water, only to be grabbed by Applejack.

"Whoop. Careful there, partner." Applejack said as he put him down. As Pipsqueak ran off to the other CMCs, Applejack turned and found herself face to……neck with Princess Luna. She was startled, and dropped to the ground, whimpering. Twilight walked over, lowering herself to her height.

"Uh... Applejack, the princess is looking for a little advice on how to fit in around here." Twilight said.

"Fit in? Really?" She asked, as if that was a high demand. Bandit glared a bit. "I mean....that's easy! All you gotta do is have the right attitude. Loosen up a bit, be positive, play a few games, have some fun."

"Fun? What is this "fun" thou speakest of?" Luna asked.

"F is for friends who do-" Chad tried to sing before his mouth was covered by Twilight as Bandit led her to a basket of fake spiders.

"Pray tell, what purpose do these serve?" Luna asked.

“Try to land the spider on the web.” Carrot Top instructed. She was, for some reason, unfazed by Princess Luna’s presence, unlike Derpy who was hiding behind her.

Picking up one of the spiders, finding that it was made out of fabric, Luna tossed it toward the web, and it landed an inch from it, and she looked at the group with uncertainty.

"You can do it, princess!" Applejack said encouragingly.

“Show’em how it’s done Auntie!” Chad cheered on.

Deciding to try again, Luna picked up another spider and threw it harder so that it landed in the center of the web.

"Ha! Your princess enjoys this "fun"!" she said delighted and turned to the ponies who were coming around and no longer fearful, a good sign. "In what other ways may we experience it?" she asked eagerly, yet professionally.

Later, Bandit and Chad loaded a pumpkin catapult for Luna. After the pumpkin was planted, Luna looked towards Twilight and Applejack.

"Fire away, princess!" Twilight said.

Luna stepped up and fired the catapult. The catapult tossed the pumpkin high into the air and it hit one of the targets dead center in the middle.

"Ha ha! The fun has been doubled!" she exclaimed with a delighted smile and the ponies all gathered around, cheering.

"Why don't you try bobbin' for apples?" Applejack suggested, happy to see Luna enjoying herself and that the ponies weren't keeping far away anymore. "We got the best apples in Equestria here, princess."

Blackjack walked over, a barrel of apples latched to his sides, eating an apple out of his hoof.

“They are not kidding. Totally worth the 175 bits!” Blackjack said as he ate another. Midnight snuck a few for himself, eating them silently.

“I ask that thou call us… me… Luna, fair Applejack," Luna requested and then called out to the gathered ponies. "Hear me, villagers! All of you! Call me Luna!" Her happiness increased when the ponies all agreed with approving chatter.

"Show me to these bobbing apples." Luna eagerly said as she walked with Bandit, Twilight, and Applejack. They walked over to see Skeedaddle fall into the water. First to react, Princess Luna ran over to fish him out. Bandit watched before hearing Pinkie’s voice.

"Hey, everypnoy," Pinkie said, arriving with her group as Bandit turned to look at her. "Anypony seen Skeedaddle? We lost him the last time we had to run-" Pinkie let out an alarming chicken squawk when she saw the Princess pulling Skeedaddle out of the water. "Aaah! Nightmare Moon is gobbling Skeedaddle! Everypony Skee-Daddadle!" She screamed and the foals, who also began screaming, fled too.

Panicking, Skeedaddle flailed and ran from Luna as she let him go.

“Help! My back’s been gobbled up!” Skeedaddle exclaimed as he ran.

"‘Tis a lie! Thy back is whole and ungobbled, thou ungrateful whelp!" Luna said, stomping her hoof with a loud crack of thunder. This made the other ponies back away. Seeing she was headed back to square one, Luna began to try and save the good reputation she just got. . "Fair villagers, please do not back away. Let us join together in… fun!"

Luna picked up and tossed one of the toy spiders to the ponies, which squeaked when it landed, the ponies didn’t dare touch it. "Not enough fun for you?" She asked angrily. "What say you to this!?" And she used her magic to bring the toy spiders to life.

The ponies were all very afraid and began running away. This wasn't helped by Chad who was trying to eat one of the spiders, disappointed with the fact that it still tasted like a stuffed spider. The now alive, stuffed spiders crawled to the web and bunched up in the center of the web.

“Huzzah!" Luna exclaimed happily, looking to the crowd. "How many points do I receive?"

Instead of points, she was met with screams of panic, and ponies running away.

"Do not run away!" Luna pleaded.

"As your princess, we command you!" She ordered and when this didn't work, she used a deafening voice that brought back the storm clouds. "Be still!" That seemed to work, as the fleeing ponies all froze, completely terrified. Bandit walked over to her.

"Auntie! Wait! We talked about the royal canterlot voice!" Bandit tried to calm her, but she turned to him.

"No, nephew! We must use the traditional royal Canterlot voice for what we are about to say. Since you choose to fear your princess rather than love her, and dishonor her with this insulting celebration, we decree that Nightmare Night shall be canceled! Forever!" Luna said before leaving with another clap of thunder. Bandit watched in shock as she left. Chad's ears flopped.

"No more Nightmare Night?" Chad asked, distraught.

"Shoot," Applejack said with a disappointed sigh. "We had everything goin' our way. Luna was happy, everypony in town was happy, now look at 'em." All around them, the ponies were comforting the crying fillies.

“We can’t let this be the last nightmare night! I was gonna be a tiger next year!” Chad said.

“This isn’t gonna be the last Nightmare Night.” Bandit said as he began sniffing the ground.

“What are you gonna do now?” Applejack said.

“Plan C.” Bandit said.

“What’s plan C?” Spike asked. Bandit and Twilight looked at each other and nodded.

“Lecture her.” They said at the same time.

Bandit continued sniffing around and managed to follow Luna’s scent with Twilight close behind her. He spotted her on the bridge and pointed her out to Twilight.

“Princess?” Twilight called out.

“Leave me be Twilight Sparkle.” Luna said.

"Auntie, I'm sorry it hasn't worked out how we wanted." Bandit apologized. "But you have to believe me when I tell you that Nightmare Night is one of the most popular celebrations we have."

"Yes. I can tell. By all the adoring shrieks of the children as they run away." Luna with an eye roll. She continued walking off.

"We'll find a way auntie, I promise." Bandit told her before looking at Twilight.

Back in town, quite a few foals were incredibly distraught about the cancelation. Each one was whimpering, crying, or a mix of both.

Meanwhile, Pinkie was still acting like a chicken, pecking around when she spotted a piece of candy on the ground. Pecking apart the wrapper, she ate it, and then she spotted a trail of candy leading into an alleyway. Bandit was on the wall of the building and pounced right next to her once she was in. Pinkie began clucking and was about to shriek. Bandit covered her mouth.

"No, no screaming, no shrieking, no squealing, or all of your cupcakes are mine for a month, got it?" He threatened. She frantically nodded her head. “There's something we want you to see. And I promise that it's safe, but you really, really, really can't shriek. Understand?”

Pinkie nodded her head. Bandit moved her hoof. Twilight walked over with Luna next to her. Pinkie covered her mouth before a scream could escape her lips.

"Pinkie, this is Auntie Luna...or Princess Luna. Auntie, this is Pinkie." Bandit introduced.

"Ah. The ringleader of the frightened children. Hast thou come to make peace?" Luna asked, offering a hoof. Pinkie smiled and walked over, reaching her hoof out as well.

Before the two could make peace, thunder cracked behind the alicorn thanks to one-half of the pranking pegasi.

"NIGHTMARE MOON!" Pinkie exclaimed, running.

Bandit grabbed, said pranking Pegasus and death glared at her. Lightning Sprint looked up at him, gulping nervously, having been laughing moments earlier.

“Eh heh heh, was this a bad time?” She asked.

After stuffing Lightning Sprint into the same cloud head first, Bandit teleported to the entrance of the alley, making Pinkie run right into him, she bounced off and Twilight held her still.

"She's changed, Pinkie!" Twilight exclaimed. "She's not evil or scary anymore! And she definitely doesn't want to gobble you up!"

Pinkie Pie stared at her for a long moment and then laughed. "Well, duh."

“Huh?” “Excuse me?” Twilight and Bandit spoke over one another.

"I know that. Sheesh, Twilight. I'm almost as big as her, how's she gonna gobble me up? I mean I know bandit could since he has the teeth but-"

“Wait, if you knew she changed, then why scream and run away?" Bandit asked.

"Cause sometimes it's just really fun to be scared." Pinkie said. Although it seemed as if something clicked in Twilight, Bandit facehoofed at that.

"Okay Pinkie. Let me get this straight. You find it fun to be scared, so you decided to have this fun at the expense of Princess Luna who spent the last 1000 years on the moon, doesn't know about this 'fun to be scared concept'. How exactly do you think she feels, coming back, trying to turn over a new leaf and everyone just screams and runs away without any explanation?" Bandit asked, making sure she would catch the hint he was dropping.

"Oh." Pinkie said, catching it. "I didn't think about it like that." She added, looking down.

"Pinkie. I love you like a little sister. But FOR PETE'S SAKE!"

"I'm sorry Bandit." Pinkie said as Lightning fell out of the cloud, landing on her back.

"Ow.”

"It’s okay. I probably should’ve known that given the day, but we gotta make this right." Bandit said.

“And I think I know exactly how we can do that.” Twilight said to them.

Meanwhile, at the ruined festival, Pipsqueak was sad for obvious reasons.

"Gosh. I never thought my very first Nightmare Night would be my very last," he remarked sadly.

"Come, little Pip," Zecora encouraged. "Now don't you fret. Nightmare Night's not over yet. We still have candy left to give, so Nightmare Moon might let us live."

"Yes. Come on, little ponies," Mayor Mare agreed. "What's Nightmare Night without the annual candy offering? You don't want Nightmare Moon to gobble you up, do you?" she teased in a spooky voice.

Spike, who'd been helping with the cleanup nearby, shook his head. "Aw, the rainbow wig just kills it for me." He grumbled. Chad snuck on him.

“BOO!” He exclaimed to scare him.

“GAH!” Spike exclaimed as he fell. It wasn’t until he looked at Chad laughing that he noticed he was wearing a rainbow wig over his lion costume. He didn’t look amused at all.

"Come on, kids!" Applejack said, agreeing with Mayor Mare and Zecora. "Doesn't that sound like fun?"

The foals looked among each other, a bit unsure, but still going with it.

The foals were all at the Statue, giving candy to it before Pipsqueak looked up at it.

"Goodbye, Nightmare Night. Forever." He said. Before he could walk away the wind began to pick up once again, whistling.

"Citizens of Ponyville! You were wise to bring this candy to me. I am pleased with your offering. So pleased that I may just eat it... instead of eating you!" Luna said before appearing as Nightmare Moon.

The ponies all screamed, except Chad because he was laughing a bit. As the group fled, Luna turned back into her normal self, spitting out a set of fake fangs.

"I am not certain that did what Twilight's planmeant it to do, dear nephew."

"Oh, just give it a moment." Bandit told her.

"For what?" Luna asked skeptically. "For… for them to scream some more?" She blinked when she felt somepony tug on her mane and she looked down to see Pipsqueak.

"Um... Princess Luna. I know there's not gonna be any more Nightmare Night, but do you suppose maybe you could come back next year and scare us again anyway?" Pipsqueak asked at her hooves.

Luna paused for a moment, taking in his question. "Child. Art thou saying that thou... likest me to scare you?"

"It's really fun! Scary, but fun!" Pipsqueak exclaimed.

"It....is?"

"Yeah! Nightmare Night is my favorite night of the year." Pipsqueak said.

"I thought it was your first ever." Rumble asked, Pipsqueak shoved him away.

"Well then. We shall have to bring Nightmare Night back!" She exclaimed. Her voice moved Pipsqueak and Rumble back.

"Whoa! You're my favorite princess ever!" Pipsqueak exclaimed, he ran back over and hugged her hooves, running back to his friends. "She said yes, guys!" Pipsqueak said as he ran back to the foals, who all cheered happily.

"See? They really do like you, Auntie." Bandit told her, wrapping a hoof around her.

"Can it be true?" She asked.

"Oh, most wonderful of --" she bellowed before stopping and then lowering her tone. "I mean... Oh, most wonderful of nights." Luna said.

Bandit was writing the letter to Celestia.

"Dear My loving mother, When you first sent us to Ponyville, I didn't know anything about friendship. I met somepony tonight who was having the same problem -- My Auntie, Princess Luna! She taught me that one of the best things you can do with friendship is to give it to others, and help them find it themselves! And I'm happy to report that all of Ponyville has learned that even if somepony seems a little intimidating, even scary, when you offer them your friendship, you'll discover a whole new pony underneath. And even if Twilight’s Star Swirl the Bearded costume didn't go over as well as she’d hoped, this still turned out to be the best Nightmare Night ever!" Bandit said, then he decided to add a PS. “P.S: I also learned, sometimes you shouldn’t jump the gun with a tradition someone new is unfamiliar with. Your loving son, Bandit.”

Rainbow Dash floated a cloud over to Bandit with the intent to scare him. Chad, who was next to Spike eating candy, counted backwards from 3 using his hoof. A thunderclap went off, but it wasn’t Rainbow Dash causing it. It was Luna, who zapped her and sent her flying out of fear. Bandit, Chad and Spike looked at Luna as she floated down from the cloud she was on. And with a wink, they all shared a laugh.

Sisterhooves Social

View Online

The sun was rising over the mountains of Equestria, and over in Ponyville, most ponies were getting up to start afresh new day. However, over at Carousel Boutique, Rarity was still asleep in her bed, dreaming about food, and she only started to stir when black smoke started coming into her bedroom.

"Oh… Are those sweet… carrot… pancakes I smell?" She smelled and sighed. "Mmm, how divine, num num num num. The aroma… spiced warm apple cider." She sniffed as the growing smoke reached her nose. "Ahh, and, the smell of… smoke… smoke? Smoke?!" She sat up and screamed, falling out of her bed in her haste, forgetting to remove her mask from her eyes. Her legs were tangled in her blanket, which caused Rarity to fall down the stairs, landing hard in the doorway to her kitchen, which held the source of the smoke.

"Rarity! Grr, you ruined the surprise!" Sweetie Belle complained from her position in front of the stove, which had smoking pots and pans on top, and the contents were burning. "I was gonna serve you breakfast in bed!"
Rarity could only sigh in disappointment.

My Little Pony,
My Big Changeling too
Ahh, ahh, ahh, ahhh…

[Bandit]
(My Little Pony)

We used to wonder what friendship could be
(My Big Changeling too)

[Twilight Sparkle]
Until you all shared its magic with me

[Rainbow Dash]
Big adventure

[Pinkie Pie]
Tons of fun

[Rarity]
A beautiful heart

[Applejack]
Faithful and strong

[Fluttershy]
Sharing kindness!

[Lightning Sprint]
Motivate the team

[Bandit]
Heroics makes it all complete
You have my little ponies
Do you know you're all my very best friends?

Freeing herself of her blanket, Rarity entered the kitchen to give her sister a piece of her mind when she heard a voice speak.

"Well! G'mornin', Rarity!" Hondo Flanks, an older light grey stallion with a mustache and blue eyes, cheerfully called from the table, where he was seated with Cookie Crumbles, a light pink mare with a purple mane and tail.

"Father! Mother!" Rarity said, surprised to see her parents sitting there.

"I'll have you know that Sweetie Belle here cooked thus yummy lookin' breakfast all on her own." Hondo proudly said as he gestured to the food, ruffling Sweetie Belle’s mane.

"I... figured." Rarity said, walking over and sniffing a cup of some burnt substance. "I didn't know you could burn juice." She didn’t know whether to be shocked, or impressed.

"I've been giving her lessons," Cookie Crumbles informed her. "I wouldn't be surprised if she's got a cutie mark in fancy cooking by the time we get back from our vacation."

"Vacation?” Rarity asked, caught off guard by this information. “Is that this week? As in 'starting this very instant' this week?!" Rarity asked as Sweetie placed a bowl on the table. "Umm. Let me guess. apple sauce?"

"Nope. Toast!" Sweetie Belle answered, rather proud of herself, the ‘toast’ had a bubble pop, and Rarity was even more confused on how this could happen. "We're gonna have the bestest time two sisters could ever have! I'm gonna go grab my stuff from Dad's wagon."

Sweetie Belle walked out of the kitchen and Rarity turned back to her parents.

"So, now, when you say 'a week'... is that, um, seven whole days?" Rarity asked, hoping that the answer was somehow no.

"And six nights, I know!" Cookie Crumbles replied cheerfully. "Such a short time to spend with your little sis."

"You gonna eat that?" Hondo Flanks asked, pointing to her plate as Rarity was processing what she just told her. She pushed the plate towards him.

"But I've got such a long to-do list. Oh well, I suppose 'spend time with your sister' will just have to be added to the list." Rarity said before a crashing sound was heard, making them all turn to the entrance. Sweetie Belle was standing in the middle of a bunch of suitcases and bags, and she smiled sheepishly.

"Just a few necessities." Sweetie Belle said proudly. Rarity smiled bashfully at her parents.

As a taxi carriage pulled Hondo Flanks and Cookie Crumbles away, with Rarity and Sweetie Belle watching happily as they went to their vacation, the two sisters went back inside and to the kitchen.

"Now, let's get that kitchen all cleaned up."

"Cleaned up?" Sweetie Belle repeated, confused. "But we haven't even eaten yet."

"Well now, Sweetie Belle, I appreciate the gesture, but we simply can't eat this breakfast; it's burnt." Rarity said, looking back at the breakfast.

"It's not that burnt." Sweetie Belle protested, failing to see how bad the breakfast looked….and tasted.

"Never fear, my dear, I'll get a proper breakfast going." Rarity said before getting to work. Sweetie Belle watched as she got everything prepared.

"Can I help?" Sweetie Belle asked hopefully.

"Oh, er, of course, er, in one moment, Sweetie Belle. Let me just get things started." Rarity answered in response as she continued. Trying to get away with as much as possible, Rarity continued to prepare breakfast. Sweetie Belle was becoming increasingly bored and saddened.

"Rarity!" Sweetie Belle called, making Rarity drop the spoon while mixing up pancake mix. "I thought you said I was gonna help."

Rarity cringed a bit before turning to her sister with a supportive smile. "You are! You... can…” She quickly looked around for an idea on how to satisfy her sister’s want to help, without sacrificing her kitchen, or her sanity. She then got an idea. “-put the garnish on the plates."

Sweetie Belle hopped over and eyed it skeptically. "You mean this parsley?”

Rarity nodded her head before following her to the table.

"Okay, now, easy! It has to be just right!"
Sweetie Belle grabbed it in her teeth and trotted to the table, where two plates of fried eggs and juice were laid out. Before she can lay the parsley down, Rarity rushes over in a sudden fit of worry.

"Okay, now, easy! It has to be just right!" Rarity said. Sweetie Belle tried to slow down, but it was too slow for Rarity’s liking. “That’s too slow! Careful! Back up!”

Sweetie Belle was now sweating as she tried to go at the optimal pace.

"Looking for perfection here."

Sweetie Belle then lost her balance on the stool she was standing on.

"Whoa, whoa!" Sweetie Belle yelped, crashing into the table and sending the dishes flying into the air. Sweetie Belle peeled her face off of the table face planted into as the Parsley floated down to the plate of eggs that somehow managed to land without damage. Neatly landing on the eggs.

"Not....bad." Rarity said, sounding both impressed and defeated.

Some time had gone by and the two sisters had finished cleaning the mess that was made before Rarity looked at the clock and saw the time, making Rarity gasp.

“There are some things I must attend to.” She commented before looking at Sweetie Belle, who was scrubbing the floor, picking up the dirty cleaning towels, and floating them over to Sweetie Belle. “Can you take the dirty towels to the laundry room?”

Sweetie Belle drops the brush and held up her hooves, Rarity dropped the towels onto her.

"No problem." Sweetie Belle said happily and she pushed the basket of towels into the laundry room. “I’ll make myself useful!”

Inside the room, Sweetie Belle looked at the washboard and basket of wash, the folded clothes, the clothesline outside, and a sweater hung on a closed cupboard. She smiled and walked inside to get to work.

Later, Rarity was walking past the doorway leading to outside. It was at that moment she noticed the clothesline was up and she ran outside. Not just the clothesline being up, but what was hooked up to the clothesline.

"Sweetie Belle!" She called, trotting outside, very alarmed. Sweetie Belle was finished hanging up a sheet and looked at her with a smile.

"I told you I'd make myself useful. Surprised?" She asked eagerly.

"Am I?" Rarity stated in horror, looking at the sweater that was now drying on the clothesline. "You washed my incredibly expensive one-of-a-kind designer crocheted wool sweater! Do you know how hard these things are to come by?"

"What's the big deal?" Sweetie Belle asked, not getting it.

"The big deal is that in the heat of the sun, wool…" Rarity began, then the sweater suddenly shrunk in size. "-shrinks."

"Oh." said Sweetie Belle sheepishly, having not known that about wool. "Sorry."

Rarity groaned and gritted before turning to Sweetie Belle. "Well. Back to work. I must create." She turned around to walk back to the boutique, only to step in the basket, making her turn back and glare at Rarity.

"Sorry?" Sweetie Belle said.

"Huh. Stay out of trouble, okay? Please?" Rarity requested before heading back inside.

“I just wanted to do something nice for my sister.” Sweetie Belle muttered as she began pushing the basket back inside.

Sometime later, Sweetie Belle was lying on the floor of the main room, wishing that she had something to do.

"Raargh, I'm so bored!" She complained as she scooted her upper body across the floor. "When is Rarity gonna finish her work?"

She then thought back to what she was told in a thought bubble. “Stay out of trouble, okay?”

Sweetie Belle then looked towards some crayons and paper on the three-way mirror platform, giving her an idea. “I never got in trouble for drawing.”

After a few minutes, she put down the blue crayon she'd been using and studied the picture.

"Hmm. This needs something…" She muttered and noticed a nearby chest filled with brilliant baby blue gems. A smile crept onto her face.

Rarity came downstairs with a piece of pink cloth and scissors, which she dropped when Sweetie Belle came over, showing the picture she drew and glued gems onto.

"Hi, Rarity!" Sweetie Belle started cheerfully. "I made a special drawing for y-"

Rarity screamed and ran over to the chest, finding it empty. "Oh no! Did you use these gems?!" She asked in a panic, looking back at her sister and the picture.

"Well, yes," Sweetie Belle admitted, cowering on the floor a little, "but I know you'll have more in your work room…"

"But, but these are extremely rare baby blue sapphires!" Rarity shrieked. "I need them for an outfit for an extremely important client!"

Sweetie Belle hung her head in shame for messing up again. "Oh. Sorry."

"Sweetie Belle, what am I going to do with you?" Rarity said, disappointed.

"Oh!" Sweetie Belle began, thinking that was a good thing. "We could paint together, we could ride bikes, play chess, sing a song, catch frogs, pillow fight-"

"That's not what I meant!" Rarity snapped, making Sweetie Belle stop.

"Oh."

Rarity stalked toward the door. "Now I have to go and find some more of these gems!" she complained.

Sweetie Belle tried to trot after her. "I'll go with you and help!" she offered.

"No!” Rarity exclaimed as she turned to her, making Sweetie Belle sad. Rarity adjusted her tone a bit. “No thank you. You can help by picking up these papers and stacking them, neatly. Put the pens and pencils back exactly where you found them, and please find something to do that doesn't create a large mess for me to clean up!"

Rarity left, closing the door hard Sweetie Belle lowered her head in sadness and began to walk off "Geez Louise, can't I do anything right?"

She got upstairs and saw the very messy room of Rarity, giving her an idea.

Rarity got to the library and knocked on the door. Twilight opened the door.

“Oh, hi Rarity.” Twilight greeted.

“Hello Twilight. Is little Chadikins there? I need his nose for a little while.” Rarity asked.

“Afraid he’s not here right now. He’s at Sweet Apple Acres with Bandit.” Twilight told her. Rarity sighed.

“Oh, thanks anyway.” Rarity said before walking away. “Looks like I’ll have to do it myself.”

It took some time, but Rarity soon came back to the boutique, and upon not seeing Sweetie Belle, began looking for her.

"Sweetie Belle! I'm back!" Rarity called out, going upstairs.

"Sweetie Belle!" She called as she reached her workroom. She gasped in shock upon seeing her workroom had been completely cleaned and reorganized.

“Surprise!” Sweetie Belle squeaked as she hopped from behind the mannequins and into view.

Rarity looked around in horror. "My- ee- bleh- My inspiration room! What did you do? What did you do?!" Rarity exclaimed.

"When I saw the big mess in your room." Sweetie Belle explained, sounding rather proud of herself. "I thought I'd clean it up for you."

"This wasn't a mess! It was organized chaos!” Rarity exclaimed, in absolute shock. “I was just about finished planning my new fashion line, and, and you, you, you went and, and you – and you put everything away!"

“But every time I make a mess, you get upset.” Sweetie Belle pointed out, confused. Rarity turned around, glaring at her, entirely fed up.

"But this was my mess in my house!" Rarity snapped, turning on her, fed up. "And now I have to start from scratch!"

“But…I…I thought it would…make you happy.” Sweetie Belle said, rather dejected.

"Happy?! Happy?! I-" Rarity scrunched her face a great deal before planting a smile on her face. "I just need some time alone.”

Sweetie Belle lowered her head and walked away.

Outside in Ponyville, Apple Bloom was chasing Chad as he was holding what looked like a flyer in his mouth.

Chad slid to a stop in front of Sweetie Belle and tilted his head, putting the flyer down.

“Hi Sweetie Belle, the sleepover with Rarity going well?” Chad asked before Apple Bloom tackled him. “Oof!”

"Why, it's smashing!" Sweetie Belle said sarcastically, mimicking her sister before looking at the two sadly. "I just wish we could do something special together that didn't include me goofing anything up." She sulked, climbing onto the nearby fountain to sit down. Chad and Apple Bloom looked at one another and nodded. Chad picked up the flyer and ran over to show Sweetie Belle.

“Why not try the Sisterhooves Social!” Apple Bloom suggested. “Applejack and I do it every year. You and Rarity can compete against other sister teams in all these neat events.” Apple Bloom said.

“I wanted to participate, with Bandit, but we’re not allowed to. For obvious reasons.” Chad told her. “But I’m certain the two of you will bond strongly over this event!”

"That sounds like the perfect way for us to hang out!" Sweetie Belle exclaimed. "Rarity will think it's an excellent idea!”

“What a ridiculous idea!” Rarity exclaimed, making Sweetie Belle drop her smile into a look of disappointment. “A contest at Sweet Apple Acres? It doesn’t sound…mmm…very…clean.”

“So, what, now you're back to hating messes?" Sweetie Belle asked a bit angered at the flip flop.

"Sweetie Belle, watch your tone!" Rarity informed her. "I am still your big sister."

“Right! And any sister who cares about her sister goes!” Sweetie Belle told her. Both of them stopped for a moment.

“Sweetie Belle, honestly! Playing silly little games in the dirt is…just……uncouth, with or without a sister!” Rarity said as she went back to work. That was what did it for Sweetie Belle.

“Well, then, maybe…maybe I’ll try the Sisterhooves Social without a sister! In fact, I think I’ll try the rest of my LIFE without a sister!” Sweetie Belle exclaimed. The news shocked Rarity so much, she gasped twice, as if even her voice had to perform a double-take.

"Oh, I'm the one who's ruining your life?!" Rarity started, next to lose her temper. "Really?! Have you looked around this place? I'm the one who'd be better off with no sister!"

"Well it looks like we finally agree on something!" Sweetie Belle shouted, face to face with her older sister. "Neither of us needs a sister!"

"Deal!"

"Deal! Goodbye, un-sister!"

Rarity watched her sister leave and turned away with a "Hmph!".

At Sweet Apple Acres, Sweetie Belle was resting on a haybale as Applejack, Big Macintosh, Bandit, Apple Bloom, Skeedaddle and Chad were getting everything ready for the event.

“Uncouth?” Bandit asked as he picked up a haybale to move. “She said the Sisterhooves Social was uncouth?”

“Uncouth?” Skeedaddle asked, more in a way that asked, what it meant. Chad zipped over and whispered into his ear.

“Yeah! Uncouth?” Apple Bloom asked, also unable to believe her ears. She then turned to Applejack. “What’s uncouth?”

“It’s not just the Social. She thinks I’m uncouth.” Sweetie Belle said. Applejack walked over.

“Honey, Rarity thinks everything’s uncouth.”Applejack said to Sweetie Belle. Apple Bloom ate an apple and walked over to Applejack with her mouth still full.

“What’s uncouth?” Apple Bloom asked.

“The lack of manners. Uncivilized.” Bandit answered from a distance. Apple Bloom let out a burp.

“Exactly!” Applejack told her. The six walked over as Applejack kept talking to Sweetie Belle. “ Sweetie Belle, just give Rarity some time. She’ll come around. Sisters always do.”

“Brothers too!” Chad said from Bandit’s back.

“Not sisters like Rarity.” Sweetie Belle said in disapproval.

“Well, AJ and AB got some more chores they want us to help with. Why don’t you join us? Help out a bit?” Bandit suggested.

“You sure you want me to help? I just mess everything up.” Sweetie Belle said, rather dejected. Skeedaddle patted her back.

“Oh don’t let a few bad outcomes lead to a bad day.” Bandit told her, patting her back.

Chad, Apple Bloom, and Skeedaddle ran out to the field with baskets. Bandit picked up a rotten apple and threw it towards Chad, who tossed his basket up to catch it.

“Good catch Chad!” Bandit complimented.

“Apple Bloom, heads up!” Applejack said, tossing an apple and slapping it with her tail. Apple Bloom caught it in her bucket. Big Macintosh bucked an apple towards Skeedaddle. Which he jumped to catch in the basket.

"This is a chore?" Sweetie Belle asked, watching them. She wasn’t expecting them to have fun as they did these chores.

“Since we can’t sell the bruised apple we gotta collect ’em all for the pigs to eat.” Applejack said as Bandit and Big Macintosh kept kicking/throwing the apples.

“It’s a lot of work, but Big Macintosh made a game of it.” Apple Bloom said.

“Eeyup.” Big Macintosh said.

“Wanna try?” Apple Bloom offered.

"Um, okay," Sweetie Belle agreed uncertainly. Applejack kicked a rotten apple to her and it impaled itself on her horn. "Ow!" She yelped. "You're right, it is hard work."

“That’s why we do it-” Apple Bloom started before Applejack joined her. “-together!”

“Hmph. Rarity never wants to do chores together.” Sweetie Belle muttered to herself.

Meanwhile, at the boutique, Rarity was trying to recreate the line of clothes she'd been working on, but it wasn't working out thanks to not remembering what she had laid out.

"All that work ruined, thanks to Sweetie Belle," Rarity complained and went to a drawer, opening it she noted how neat and organized it was.

"Oh my. It's usually a big mess in here." She said to herself before she looked at the neat stacks of different colored fabric that were in front of the mannequins. She gasped as this inspired an idea.

"Id-ee-a!" She happily exclaimed and used the fabric, along with hats to create brand new outfits.

"This is genius! I shall call it 'full spectrum fashions'!” She said, she then thought about what happened before.

“If Sweetie Belle hadn't-" She stopped and changed her thought process. "Well, no matter.” She stated, magically gathering the new outfits to take them downstairs. "She still shouldn't have touched my things without permission. Hm!”

Back at Sweet Apple Acres, Bandit and Applejack filled a vat full of grapes and nodded to each other.

“Skeedaddle! Chad!” Bandit called. Chad and Skeedaddle trotted/jumped over and Skeedaddle hopped on Bandit’s back to get sprung up into the vat. Chad was able to climb the vat and jump inside. The two of them stomped onto the grapes as Bandit flipped a switch, letting grapes pour out of a valve, and into a jar, which Apple Bloom switched out when it was full. Sweetie Belle looked at the juice as it was moved towards a crate that Big Macintosh was placing it in.

“You’re making…” Sweetie Belle began puzzled but then smiled. “…grape juice? Rarity would call the fashion police on me if I got grape juice anywhere near her precious outfits!”

“Ha! And Rumble says I overreact to something silly.” Skeedaddle said, stomping on the grapes, and sending mashed grapes into Bandit’s face. Although he licked his lips, he glared upwards.

“It’s like that, huh Skeedaddle?” Bandit asked, incensed.

“Uh oh!” Skeedaddle said.

“You better run.” Chad warned. Skeedaddle jumped out. Bandit chased him with grapes in his hooves.

“Please, Bandit! He didn’t mean—” Sweetie Belle tried to say, but Bandit grabbed Skeedaddle and noogied the grapes into his mane.

“You like those grapes troublemaker?” Bandit asked in a joking tone. Skeedaddle was laughing.

“That tickles!” Skeedaddle exclaimed. Sweetie Belle smiled as she watched, Chad smiled as he watched as well, but his smile disappeared when he saw the grin Apple Bloom was giving him when she got up the vat with Big Macintosh’s help.

“Wait wait-!” Chad said before he was pounced on and tickled.

Back at the Boutique, Rarity got to the laundry room with the new outfits.

"Now to get these fabrics washed for my fabulous new line." Rarity stated to herself. She stopped next to the sweater Sweetie Belle previously shrunk. "Ooh, my favorite sweater… I just can't believe that Sweetie Belle-" She was interrupted when she accidentally stepped on Opalescence's tail, making her yowl.

Rarity flinched, and then she looked between her cat and the sweater. Getting an idea, she put down the new outfits, snatched up the sweater, and put on Opalescence, who wasn’t exactly thrilled with the costume change but wasn’t fighting it. It was a perfect fit.

"Oh, Opal-wopal!" Rarity baby talked. "It's as if Sweetie Belle knew the sweater was perfect for you." Rarity took a moment to realize what she said, before shaking her head. "And Sweetie Belle should consider herself perfectly lucky that this thoughtless mishap turned out all right. Hm."

Back at Sweetie Belle watched as Applejack and Chad were herding some bleating sheep toward their pen.

Applejack turned back and saw one sheep straying from the herd.

“I got it!” Chad said as he ran to the side of said sheep. “Can you stay with the others please?” He asked politely. The sheep got back with the crowd and soon they were all back in the pen, where Bandit and Apple Bloom were ready to close the pen once they were in.

“How? It’s as if they’re just one pony…or Changeling…or pony-changeling hybrid.” Sweetie Belle said as the pen was closed by Bandit and locked by Apple Bloom. Chad hopped up and high-hooved Applejack, as Apple Bloom hopped up, high hoofing Bandit, who lowered himself a bit.

“Way to corral some critters, guys.” She told them. The sheep from earlier peeked through the gate.

“Thanks for asking.” She said to Chad, who smiled at her as the 4 walked over to Big Macintosh and Skeedaddle, who had apple juice for the group.

“Rarity never high-hoofs me.” Sweetie Belle said, dejectedly.

Back at the boutique, Rarity levitated a Sapphire gem to fit into an empty spot on her baby blue ensemble, making her smile in satisfaction.

“Just one more, and this ensemble is finis!” Rarity said as she walked past the ensemble and got to the bag of new gems, only to see she used them all, leading to a frustrated growl. “Sweetie Belle! Where’s her silly little arts-and-crafts project?”

Seeing said, ‘silly little arts-and-crafts project?’, Rarity went over to it and got a good look for the first time, seeing that Sweetie Belle had glued the sapphires into a large heart around two images of them facing each other with smiles.

"Oh, Sweetie Belle!" Rarity said, moved by the picture, feeling remorse. "My one and only sister! What have I done? All the time I could have spent with you was wasted complaining and wishing you were gone!"

"Woe is me! No!" Rarity cried dramatically, before sitting up determined. "I must get her back! I must! As Celestia is my witness, I shall never be sisterless again!"

Nightfall had occurred in Ponyville and Applejack, Chad, Apple Bloom, Bandit, and Skeedaddle were roasting marshmallows at a camp sight as Sweetie Belle watched.

Rarity managed to find her and trotted over happily.

"Sweetie Belle!" Rarity exclaimed, trotting over to her "Oh, I have been galloping all over looking for you. I-"

Sweetie Belle turned away, not even willing to look at Rarity. The other five looked rather uncomfortable already.

"Oh hello, un-sister," Sweetie Belle said. "What are you doing here? Better be careful, you might get some dust on you."

Rarity was stunned for a moment, but she went back to her apology.

"Oh, Sweetie Belle, I want to apologize.” Rarity began "I am not better off without a sister."

"I'm not better off without a sister either." Sweetie Belle agreed, standing and facing her big sister. "Spending the day with Bandit, Chad, Skeedaddle Applejack and Apple Bloom made me realize that."

"Oh, Sweetie.” Rarity started, reaching out for Sweetie Belle. “You don't know how happy I am to hear-"

She was interrupted when Sweetie Belle lightly slapped away her hoof.

“And that’s why I’m adopting Bandit and Applejack as my big sisters!” Sweetie Belle announced.

“WHAT!?” Rarity was the first exclaim. As Applejack and Bandit’s front hooves were hugged by Sweetie Belle, they were next.

“What?!” They both exclaimed.

“WHAT?!” Apple Bloom and Chad exclaimed.

“A sister is someone who loves and takes care of another sister. Applejack and Bandit are both real sisters.” Sweetie Belle said. Rarity didn’t look amused in the slightest. Bandit looked down at Sweetie Belle and pulled her off with his magic.

“Take a moment there Sweetie Belle. Don’t you think you’re getting a little ahead of yourself?” Bandit asked.

“And Besides, Bandit’s already my big sister!” Chad said before face hoofing. “I mean brother.”

“And Applejack is my big sister!” Apple Bloom said, tugging her sister back.

“I think my parents are off work now, I should go.” Skeedaddle said as he stood up.

“Your parents ain’t got no job!” Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle said.

“But-”

“Or maybe they should be your sisters.” Sweetie Belle said to Rarity. “So they could teach you what a good sister’s supposed to be!”

“Not a sister.” Bandit told Sweetie Belle.

“But I don't need lessons on being a good sister, I-I promise!" Rarity started going to Sweetie Belle. "Listen! I'll show you how to cook my favorite quiche! Or, or, I'll show you the proper way to beautify your mane. Won't that be fun? Hm?"

“No.” Skeedaddle said, getting elbowed by Chad. “Gah!”

"Hm! You want me to go home with you, so we can do what you wanna do?" Sweetie Belle inquired. Rarity paused a bit before answering.

“Yes?” She asked. Sweetie Belle scoffed and stormed off.

“Argh Just forget it!”

As they watched her walk off, Apple Bloom looked at Applejack.

“We’re still sisters, right?” Apple Bloom asked. Applejack smiled and nodded. Bandit looked at Chad.

“Don’t even ask me, you know the answer’s yes.” Bandit told him.

“Thanks….sis.” Chad teased before walking back to the campfire. Bandit groaned.

“I’m gonna be hearing that for a couple of days.” Bandit said before turning to Rarity.

“Well, that apology went swimmingly. Applejack, Bandit, why do you have to be so good and make me look so bad?” Rarity complained.

“Well for starters, thinking only about ourselves is something we rarely do.” Bandit started.

“Being a good older sibling is about give-and-take. You’ve been doing a whole lot of takin’ but you haven’t been doin’ a whole lot of givin’.” Applejack added. Rarity gave this a brief thought.

“But of course I give! I give lessons, reasonable demands.” Rarity defended.

“But do you give in?” Bandit asked. Rarity’s silence was his answer. “I didn’t think so. Think of being a siste-...Sibling like-”

“Apple pie.” Applejack said.

“Yeah. Apple pie. You can have amazing apples-” Bandit started.

“-and you can have a wonderfully crispy crust, but only together can you have a perfect apple pie.” Applejack added.

“But taking those apart, and you get a mess.” Bandit finished. That’s what clicked for Rarity.

“I know what I need to do! I just hope it isn’t too late!” Rarity said. Bandit smirk.

“Trust me, you’re definitely not too late.” Bandit told her.

Skeedaddle looked at Chad and got his attention.

“Can you take me home? I’m….not a fan of the dark.” He whispered. Chad nodded his head.

The next day was the Sisterhooves Social and there were pairs of sisters, cousins, aunts with their nieces, and even close friends taking part in the activities. Sweetie Belle was walking with Apple Bloom, Applejack, Chad, and Bandit, where they stopped to watch the pie-eating contest. Carrot Top and Dinky Hooves were the ones who won, winning a blue ribbon. Applejack and Apple Bloom were wearing Green Bandanas around their necks.

“Well, I guess it's a good thing Rarity isn't here," Sweetie Belle remarked as they kept walking around the area. "Do I see 'uncouth' written all over this contest?"

The group looked uncomfortable before walking with Sweetie Belle to the pigpen.

“Look at the size of that pig!” Apple Bloom pointed out. Chad stood on Bandit’s head to get a good look.

“Daww, he’s so adorable!” Chad said as he watched the pig roll in the mud.

"That's the last word Rarity would use." Sweetie Belle said before mimicking her sister. "Oh my, what a repulsive monstrosity! This thing needs a head to toe makeover!"

As more uncomfortable looks were shifted among the group, fanfare went off, signifying the event was about to start.

“You might wanna get moving, it’s almost time.” Bandit told the Apple Sisters.

"Well, you two have fun." Sweetie Belle said glumly. "Sure wish I had a sister to run the race with. Huh?"

Her saddened face turned to brief shock/confusion as a green bandana and Applejack’s hat was placed on her.

“You do now!” Apple Bloom cheerfully told her.

"AB and I figured since we do this every year…" Applejack started.

"I'd let you borrow my sis so you can give it a try!" Apple Bloom concluded.

“Your sister for a day.” Applejack told her.

"No way!" Sweetie Belle squealed. Apple Bloom got in her face.

"One. Day," Apple Bloom told her clearly. Sweetie Belle game Applejack a hug. "One. Day."

The megaphone feedback went off and Ponies, plus two Changeling brothers gathered around. Granny Smith was sitting in a rocking chair and trying to get the megaphone to work.

"Is this thing on?" She asked, turning it the wrong way. "I don't think this thing is on. Hello!" She shouted into the wrong end and Big Macintosh whispered into her ear. "What is the- e- oh. You have to say so. Confangled modern doohickeys." She spun it around and started talking on through the other end.

"Now, the event you've all been waiting fer! The Sister Soci- The Socialhooves- Oh, dabnabbit, you know, the big race!" she announced "We have five teams this year fer the event! So y'all head on up to the finish line, y'hear?" She mistakenly said. Big Mac whispered into her ear. "Eh? The start line!" She then spoke to Big Mac, still on the megaphone. "That's what I said."

At the Starting line, Apple Bloom zipped over to remind Sweetie Belle how long she had Applejack as a sister.

“One. Day.” She reminded. “Good luck!” Apple Bloom ran to Bandit, where she sat on Bandit’s back next to Chad to watch the event. Big Macintosh walked over with some cider, giving one mug to Bandit.

"And may the best sisters win!" Granny Smith called out, rocking back and forth. "On your marks… get set…” Right before she could start the race, she accidentally poked herself in the eye with the megaphone. “Gooooo!" She said, agonized.

The five teams raced down the line and reached a trench filled with mud, the first four sisters jumped over the trench. When Sweetie Belle reached it, she went bouncing across the mud to the other side. Applejack on the other hand fell in and sank, her yelp heard by Sweetie Belle. She turned around to see Applejack pulling herself out of the mud.

"You okay, Applejack?" Sweetie Belle asked, Applejack gave her a nod, readjusting her hat as she quickly ran to make up more ground, Sweetie Belle right on her side.

Passing Berry Punch and Piña Colada, Applejack and Sweetie Belle got to the basket obstacle, right behind Cloudkicker and Alula. Alula tripped on her basket, allowing Sweetie Belle and Applejack to pass them. Sweetie Belle happily hopped through each barrel behind the focused Applejack.

The next obstacle, a pyramid of three crates for the competitors to climb/jump over. Applejack was able to make it to the top, but Sweetie Belle got stuck.

“Applejack! Help!” Sweetie Belle called. The Spurious mud pony stretched out a hoof and pulled Sweetie Belle over the Pyramid. Although Cloudkicker and Alula were able to pass them thanks to this, Applejack and Sweetie Belle were able to keep on their tail.

Next was pie eating. Cloudkicker and Alula stopped to eat their pies, Sweetie Belle and Applejack hit their pies into the air and ate them only in one bite.

From the Haybale push to the Grape Juice Vat to Apple throws, and even carrying eggs to a basket, the two sisters conquered every challenge thrown their way and were in the lead.

That was until Carrot Top and Dinky Hooves zipped by, passing them, making them spin and fall. They stood back up and chased after them, gaining pretty quickly. The two teams were neck and neck, all that was left was the final hurdle to jump over. Both teams jumped over the hurdle and landed in dust.

When the dust cleared, Sweetie Belle and Applejack were right before the line, but Carrot Top and Dinky were over the line, winning them the race. Ponies cheered and as Carrot Top stood up, Dinky jumped and hugged her.

Sweetie Belle and Applejack walked over to Bandit, who gave them an approving smile.

“So close! That was a hair away from winning.” Bandit told them.

"Thank you, Applejack! You were amazing! I don't even care that we didn't win. This was so much fun!" Sweetie Belle said before hugging her. This action ended up knocking off the hat, revealing a white horn. "Huh?” Sweetie Belle questioned, she then moved mud off of her flank revealing Rarity’s cutie mark.

“Rarity?"

Rarity then shook off the mud, revealing it was Rarity the whole time.

“Wait, where’s Applejack?” Sweetie Bell asked. Bandit tapped her shoulder and he and Big macintosh stepped to the side, revealing Applejack.

“I don’t get it.” Sweetie Belle said, rightfully confused.

“I used my magic to switch them out at the very first mud hole.” Bandit said as he pointed to his horn.

“So…we did the whole competition together?” Sweetie Belle asked.

“That we did, little sister—oh, well, except for the start line.” Rarity said.

“But you finished together!” Chad told her as he and Apple Bloom hopped off Bandit’s back.

“You mean…you were all in on it?” Sweetie Belle asked. They all nodded their heads.

“Eeyup.” Big Macintosh said.

“You did this for me?” Sweetie Belle asked, about to tear up.

“Us. I did it for us.” Rarity said, nuzzling her cheek. “You see, we are apple pie!”

“Huh?” Sweetie Belle asked.

“Long story.” Chad told her.

“And that long story will have to wait. For now, I think we deserve a celebration.” Rarity told her. Applejack and Apple Bloom reared in cheer as Bandit smiled in approval.

"Where?" Sweetie Belle asked.

Rarity smiled. "The spa, of course.” Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, and Applejack fell laughing, causing Rarity to frown.

“I’ll pay. My treat.” Bandit told Rarity, getting her to smile again.

Back at the Boutique, Rarity and Sweetie Belle had plenty of ribbons in their mane and tails. Chad was sitting there, ready to write.

"Very well then, what should we write to the Princess?" Rarity asked.

"I'll start." Sweetie Belle said and began while looking at herself in the mirror. "Having a sister is just about the best thing in the world. But it sure isn't the easiest." Chad was writing all of this down.

Rarity nodded. "I agree that being sisters is a wonderful thing, but it takes teamwork," she stated. "Sometimes it's about compromising. Sometimes it's about accepting each others' differences. But mostly, it's about having fun together. Even if it means getting your hooves a little bit dirty."

"A lot dirty," Sweetie Belle protested.

"A little bit dirty." Rarity argued

"A lot dirty."

"A little bit dirty!"

"A lo-”

Chad let out a whistle that got their attention.

“How about, medium dirty?” Chad asked. Sweetie Belle and Rarity smiled and hugged one another.

“Deal!” They said in agreement.

Brother's Day

View Online

The sun was rising right behind the Golden Oak Library, bringing a new day to Ponyville. Bandit was watering his bonsai tree that was on a window seal. He had been taking extra care of it ever since Celestia gifted it to him at the Gala. As the sun shined through the window Chad walked up the stairs and got Bandit’s attention.

“Hey Bandit, this has been driving me nuts.” Chad was heard saying, making Bandit turn to look at him. “The bullies that Fluttershy told me about in Cloudsdale tried to say the HyperSonic Rainboom was an old Mare’s tale. Everyone around Equestria saw that happen, so did they forget? Flat out refused to acknowledge it, or am I just making that up?”

“They probably just flat out refused to acknowledge the existence of that event.” Bandit told him. “Creatures will purposely forget the accomplishments of someone they don’t like in place of lie as like a….denial phase, or something like that. Why do you ask?”

“I don’t know, it was one of those random questions I had in the middle of the night and waited until morning to ask you. That’s not even what I wanted to ask you when I woke up.” Chad answered as he walked over and looked at the bonsai tree.

“What did you want to ask?” Bandit asked.

“You wanna do something together today? The sisterhooves social yesterday made Spike and I want to do something with you.” Chad answered, that’s when Bandit heard Spike come up the stairs.

“Yeah, if the mares have a day where they can hang out with their sisters, it’s only fair we hang out with our brother.” Spike said as he got to the top of the stairs. Bandit thought for a moment before smiling.

“Hey, that’s not a bad idea. It can be our very on special event.” Bandit said with a smile. Spike ran over.

“Our very own Brother’s day!” Spike said with a smile. Bandit smiled and hugged the two.

“Sounds good to me!” Bandit told them.

My Little Pony,
My Big Changeling too
Ahh, ahh, ahh, ahhh…

[Bandit]
(My Little Pony)

We used to wonder what friendship could be
(My Big Changeling too)

[Twilight Sparkle]
Until you all shared its magic with me

[Rainbow Dash]
Big adventure

[Pinkie Pie]
Tons of fun

[Rarity]
A beautiful heart

[Applejack]
Faithful and strong

[Fluttershy]
Sharing kindness!

[Lightning Sprint]
Motivate the team

[Bandit]
Heroics makes it all complete
You have my little ponies
Do you know you're all my very best friends?

Bandit was in front of the door of the Library with Chad and Spike on his back, looking at Twilight.

“Thanks for agreeing to take care of our pets for us Twilight.” Bandit told her. Twilight smiled and nodded her head.

“Don’t mention it Bandit, hopefully your brother’s day goes by smoothly.” Twilight told the group. Klaw sat and waved his paw goodbye, as did Ace, with Achillies waving his wing. Bandit turned around and started walking. As Twilight closed the door, Bandit began walking, looking at the two.

“So, what do you guys wanna do for Brother’s day? Buckball, Picnic, our own version of the Sisterhooves games?” Bandit asked the two.

“I was thinking we head to Sugarcube corner first. Grab some snacks before we start.” Spike suggested. Chad looked at him with a disapproving look on his face.

“Come on Spike, we just left the library. We could’ve packed some food before we left.” Chad told him.

“Leftovers and home cooked breakfast never beats the bakery first thing in the morning.” Spike retorted.

“Okay, we’ll stop by Sugarcube corner, but next time, we’re eating before we leave. Okay Spike?” Bandit asked, before feeling Spike’s stomach growl.

“Aye Aye Captain!” Spike said with a salute.

Bandit made his way to sugarcube corner, only to see a really long line outside of it.

“Oh you’ve got to be kidding me.” Spike said upon seeing the line.

“Looks like you’re not the only one who feels like Leftovers and home cooked breakfast never beats the bakery first thing in the morning.” Bandit said to Spike. Spike pouted as Chad looked at the line.

“Brother’s day is gonna be halfway over before we’re even out of this line.” Chad said. Bandit looked back at the library.

“We can just go to the library and-”

“Psst!” Mrs. Cake was heard calling them. Bandit turned and saw her gesturing them to come to her. Bandit trotted over to the back of the building.

“Hey Mrs.-” Chad tried to greet.

“Shh!” Mrs. Cake quickly said, peeking out to look at the long line. “I’m sorry, but we got a bit packed for this morning. Do you think you can help us?”

Bandit looked back at Chad and Spike.

“You guys wanna bake for our first activity?” Bandit asked them.

“Yeah!” Chad exclaimed.

“Sure, don’t see why not.” Spike said.

“Activity?” Mrs. Cake asked.

“Oh yeah, the Sisterhooves Social yesterday gave us inspiration to have our own sibling event.” Spike answered.

“We call it, Brother’s day!” Chad told her. Mrs. Cake giggled at this.

“That is so precious, I hope this doesn’t put a damper in it.” Mrs. Cake said. Bandit shook his head.

“Nonsense, we love baking.” Bandit said as he walked in. As they did, they saw Mr. Cake taking quite a few orders from ponies, which got Bandit to walk over to look at them. A large amount of the ordered treats were RaspCherry cupcakes, Moon Nights, and baked cookies. Bandit smirked, looked at the Spike and Chad and nodded.

The first one to get an apron on was Bandit, followed by Spike and Chad.

[Bandit]

The three of us
We’ve got the day to ourselves
A day with no troubles
Just you wait and see

Bandit placed a mixing bowl on the table.

[Chad]

Equestria
Isn’t always perfect
And sometimes it tries to knock us down
And won’t let us be

Chad and Spike placed down a cupcake pan and cookie tray next to the mixing bowl.

[Bandit and Spike]

We brothers three

Chad began adding the ingredients at a rapid, and energetic pace, with Bandit mixing the ingredients.

[Spike]

Will have a great day
No matter what fate’ll say!

The 3 of them began to make the ordered treats at a much faster pace. Making the batter, and the cookie dough, playing them in the trays and baking them in the oven before moving on to make more.

It’s our brother’s day
It’s a day for us!
For Fun and Bonding
Just you wait and see!

The cupcakes and cookies were backed, and Bandit took the cupcakes out for Chad to spray the frosting on, as Spike took out the cookies.

[Chad]

And it’s starting great,
By helping Mrs. Cake
At Sugarcube Corner!
Where we’re Surrounded by, Cakes, Pies, Cupcakes and Cookies!

Chad sprayed the frosting towards the audience, covering their sight before licking off the frost.

[Bandit]

The limit goes beyond the sky!
Activities all
The fun is gonna make time pass right by!
The brothers Spike, Chadwick and I-

They placed their baked goods on a counter for Mr. Cake to collect and give to the customers who all ordered.

[Bandit, Chad and Spike]

Are gonna make the best of what we’re given today!

Bandit placed down a box of Cupcakes, which Mr. Cake grabbed. Chad placed down a box of Moon Nights, which was grabbed by Mrs. Cake, and finally, Spike put down a plate of cookies, which Mr. Cake came back for.

We, Brothers Three!

[Bandit]

Are gonna have a great day, just you wait and see!

They repeated the process.

[Bandit, Chad and Spike]

We, Brothers Three!

[Spike]

Have got our entire day clocked out, with Activities!

[Bandit, Spike, and Chad]

We, Brothers Three

[Chad]

Are gonna have a great day! (Bandit and Spike: We brothers three!)
Are gonna have a great day!
Just, Spike, Bandit and Me!

They continued to bake and ready the food until the long line finally subsided. That’s when Mrs. Cake came back into the kitchen.

“Thank you so much for your help.” Mrs. Cake said to them.

“Don’t mention it.” Bandit told her. Mr. Cake came over with a box of cupcakes.

“Here, freshly baked. On the house.” Mr. Cake told him. Bandit smiled as he took the box.

“Thank you. We’ll see you around.” Bandit told them as he began walking off. Chad waved as he followed, with Spike not too far of. As they walked outside, Bandit looked at the two.

“Okay, activity number 1 is complete! What do you guys want to do now?” Bandit asked. Spike and Chad opened their mouths and then closed them.

“I’m completely lost.” Spike said.

“Yeah, I got nothing.” Chad said with a shrug. “For some reason, I thought the activities would’ve come naturally.”

Bandit tapped his chin.

“Huh, maybe we should’ve planned this out a little bit more.” Bandit commented before getting an idea. “How about we go bowling?”

"Yeah!" Spike exclaimed.

“Hop on, I’ll take us there.” Bandit said. Spike and Chad climb on, with Spike carrying the box.

“Wait, I just realized. Why was Mrs. Cake whispering to us?” Chad asked as Bandit took flight to the bowling alley.

At the bowling alley, Bandit saw that it was closed.
"-How could it not be a sore throat?" Spike asked as they approached, not seeing the sign.

"She was talking to us normal." Chad told him, referring to the end of them helping.

"Bowling Alley is closed?" Bandit asked as he landed with a soft thud on the grass, the two shifting on his back. He felt Spike sag in defeat while Chad hopped down to the ground. The small changeling pranced to the door, nose nearly pressed against the glass as he peered inside.

“Closed due to needed maintenance,” Bandit read off of the sign. A second paper was taped underneath. “Will be closed until further notice due to additional illness amongst the staff.”

“Dang Spike, you went for those worm muffins again?” Chad joked, Spike opened the box and threw a cupcake at him, only for Chad to catch and eat it.

Bandit rolled his eyes and used his magic to close the cupcake box. “At least they are all at home resting. But that means bowling is out of the question. So what now?”

Chad sat on the ground, hoof tapping his chin in thought while Bandit looked around them. A couple of suggestions went through his mind, a walk around Ponyville, Comic shopping, maybe even the arcade. However, Spike had a bit of a different idea.

“We could go camping? Maybe build a fire together!” Spike said.

“That’s a great idea!” Chad agreed, considering he and Bandit did it yesterday and he enjoyed it. They both looked at Bandit and he smiled at the idea.

“It sounds great! Let’s head over to the forest and see if we can find a good spot to build a campfire.” He readied himself for the two to climb back on his back when Chad jumped up from the ground, his little wings buzzing as he dashed away from them towards the woods.

“Last one there has to gather the sticks!” Chad shouted over his shoulder.

Spike hopped off and ran after Chad, laughing wildly as Bandit used his magic to carry the box before chasing after them. He thought about flying but he decided to make it somewhat fair as he closed the gap between the other two. Chad crossed into the treeline first with Bandit close behind as the bigger changeling had overtaken Spike. Spike was faster than Chad, but Chad’s better stamina made him hard to catch once he had a head start.

The three of them were panting with wide smiles as Spike trudged across the imaginary finish line. He dropped down to his hands and knees as he struggled to catch his breath.

“Go and find a spot,” Spike gasped. “I’ll meet up with you with the sticks.”
Chad laughed, patting Spike on the back before running off further into the trees of the Everfree forest. Bandit walked towards Spike to help him off of the ground.

“I’m fine,” Spike said while taking Bandit’s offered hoof. “You don’t have to stay here with me.”

“Too bad. besides, if there’s two of us then we can get twice as many twigs and twice as fast.”

Spike wrapped his arms around Bandit’s leg in a hug before hurrying down the path that Chad went, gathering sticks in the process. Bandit followed after him, piling the wood into one front leg as he walked on three hooves, his horn still preoccupied with the box of cupcakes. They eventually came across Chad in a small clearing where he was rolling stones into a rough circle in the dirt. His eyes lit up as he saw Spike and bandit with their armfuls of fuel for their campfire.

Chad galloped over to Spike and took half of the sticks from him and they started to build the beginning of the campfire. Bandit dropped his own next to them and circled around the duo. They quickly got half of the wood inside the stone circle and came to stand beside Bandit, looking at their creation with pride.

“Light it up, Spike!” Chad cheered. Spike moved his head like a lighter before he breathed a small flame onto the dry wood and it immediately caught. Soon, large flames rose in front of them, the heat warming them as they all sighed, sitting back on their haunches.

“Well I guess it’s time to dig into these cupcakes!” Spike said as Bandit set them down between the three of them. Spike opened the paper lid as it stopped glowing from Bandit’s magic as Chad reached into his hoodie to pull out a few napkins. Spike was already snacking on some.

“Hey Spike, can you pass me one with the purple icing?” Chad asked as he stuffed a napkin into his hoodie to keep crumbs and icing off. Spike looked at him with purple icing on his face.

“Uh…”

“Did you eat all three of them?!” Chad asked.

“Sorry, I wasn’t looking as I grabbed them.” Spike responded.

“Ugh, you’re the worst.” Chad said. Bandit passed him the red ones before he ate some of the blue ones. After eating the rest of the cupcakes, Bandit scooped up three green sticks beside them as he popped a bag of marshmallows from their kitchen at home into his hoof.

“Cupcakes aren’t the only snacks for today. There’s s’more in store! It’ll be great to do over the fire that you both worked so hard on.” Bandit told them. Chad and Spike did a fist/hoof pump in celebration.

“Yes!” They both shouted. Bandit helped them push some marshmallows onto the end of their sticks as they settled close to one another. Spike sniffling at Bandit’s side caught their attention and they watched as the little dragon started to breathe deeper with every inhale as his eyes rolled up. Right as he saw the eyes roll, Spike let out the sneeze. His own fire breath added to the flames, their sticks set ablaze at the ends with charred gooeyness at the tips, as well as Bandit’s face.

Spike wiped his nose with the back of his arm as Bandit conjured a tissue for him. The dragon blew his nose into it while Bandit patted his back reassuringly.

“Good thing Chad and I are fireproof.” Bandit said. Then Chad tapped his side, getting his attention.

“The trees aren’t.” Chad pointed behind them both and Bandit’s eyes widened as turned and saw two trees on fire with more starting to light.

Bandit jumped up and popped five buckets of water into existence, holding them aloft with this lit horn and quickly doused the flames in water, quickly snuffing the flames before they could continue their destructive path. He surveyed the damage of the trees and found that two of them were completely burned while two more were only singed in some places.

He used his horn to get rid of the buckets, bringing one backfilled with water again to put out their campfire before making it disappear once more. The three of them surround the blackened wood inside the stone circle to see the bag of marshmallows black and melted now soaked with water.

“Well, I guess no s’mores,” Bandit said. Chad and Spike flopped to the ground with a groan. Chad’s ears folded back as he began to draw in the dirt with this hoof.

“Hey, hey, hey. There’s no reason to look so upset! We can find something else to do! Maybe less likely to burn down the forest but just as fun. Any ideas?” Bandit asked. Chad rolled onto his back with his hooves in the air.

“I have no idea! Anything we do is just going to fail again,” Chad whined.
“Yeah, there’s no point,” Spike agreed.

Bandit settled down between the two boys. “You don’t know that! Spike, mine and your ideas didn’t work out but we haven’t tried any of Chad’s ideas yet. Do you have any?”

Chad hummed in thought before shrugging his shoulders the best he could while lying on his back still. “I don’t know, a scavenger hunt? But what would we even look for?”

“How about we each come up with one thing and then we race each other to find them and whoever can get all of them first wins,” Bandit suggested. Chad and Spike perked up at that and they all started thinking about what they could hunt for.

“Oh! I got one!” Chad shouted, popping up from the ground. “A piece of fluff from Angel’s tail.”

Bandit tried not to cringe. “Are you sure, Chad? I don’t think Angel will let you get that close let alone take some of his tail.”

“That’s what makes it so challenging!” Chad grinned evilly. “Also, Angel nabbed my strawberries last week so revenge was planned.”

“Okay…Spike?” Bandit turned to Spike.

“I’m still thinking. You go first,” Spike responded.

Bandit hummed and tapped the ground with a hoof. “The biggest apple in Ponyville,” He said.

“What?! How is that any easier than my idea?” Chad shouted in disbelief.

Bandit laughed and stood up to ruffle the top of the changeling's head. “Not having to snatch fluff from a living creature. Have you thought of anything yet, Spike?”

“Yes! The shiniest green gem! Oh, I can already taste it,” Spike said, rubbing his belly.

“You would think about your stomach for this.” Chad rolled his eyes. “So how’s this work? We all find the item we suggested and race back?”

Bandit scooped the two together with his hooves into a hug. “I got something better: We each get a piece of Angel’s tail, we share the biggest apple, and whoever can get the shiniest gem wins the game. Deal?” Spike and Chad thought for a moment before agreeing.

“Great. Ready? Go!” Bandit shouted and flew in the way of Fluttershy’s house. He played fair during the treeline race, but this time, he was in it to win it. For now at least. Fluttershy’s cottage came into view and he lowered himself to the ground. He spotted the yellow pegasus tending to the flowers outside her house, talking softly to the bees that rested on the petals.

“Hey, Fluttershy,” Bandit called out to her. She let out a startled squeak, spinning to face him as she backed into the shrubs. The bees buzzed angrily before leaving out of fear of seeing Bandit. She looked up and nearly collapsed with relief when she saw who it was.

“Oh, Bandit, you scared me,” She whispered.

“Heh, sorry, Fluttershy.” Bandit laughed awkwardly. Fluttershy pulled herself out of the bushes, leaves and twigs sticking out of her pink tail and mane. “What can I do for you today?”

“Spike, Chad and I are having a Brother’s day and we are on a scavenger hunt. Do you know where Angel is?” Bandit explained.

“Brother’s day?” Fluttershy asked as she raised a brow. Bandit looked around for the small bunny. He could hear Chad and Spike (mostly Chad) closing in.

“Yeah, cause the Sisterhooves Social was yesterday so we are doing something similar. Angel. Have you seen him?” Bandit asked Fluttershy. She nodded and happily escorted him to the side of the house where Angel was sitting on a plush cushion in the warm sun. Fluttershy picked up a brush and started to groom the little bunny who rolled onto his stomach. Bandit locked his sight on the fluffy tail wiggling in the air.

“Hey Angel, I’m gonna nab a bit of your tail fluff.” Bandit warned. Angel went wide-eyed but was helpless as Bandit's horn lit up. He grabbed the smallest piece of the fluff and pulled it off. It didn’t hurt, but Angel let out a squeak of protest, shaking his paw at Bandit as Fluttershy gasped.

“Bandit! Why did you do that?” Fluttershy whisper-shouted in the way that only Fluttershy could.

“Free bell peppers for a week on me.” He said to Angel. Angel made a face that could only say, ‘I’ll allow it’. Bandit galloped away just as Spike and Chad rounded the corner. Immediately, Chad came to Angel with negotiation for his tail fluff, offering Radish tops. Spike was offering Bok Choy. Angel began pointing between them like an auctioneer, going to the highest bidder. Bandit laughed at the fight that ensued before turning back to focus on his run to Sweet Apple Acres. It was the only place in Ponyville that could possibly have the biggest apple in the whole town.

Apple trees soon covered his vision as he slowed to a trot on the dirt road. He spotted Applejack amongst the trees, bucking the fruit out of the branches and into a barrel. Bandit headed in her direction and noticed the beads of sweat rolling down her face. She paused to wipe it out of her way when her eyes landed on him.

“Well howdy there, Bandit!” Applejack called. “What brings you out all this way to the farm?”

“Hey, Applejack! Chad, Spike, and I are doing a Brother’s day since the Sisterhooves Social was yesterday and we are doing a scavenger hunt. What is the biggest apple that you have here?” Bandit asked as he leaned to the side to peer down the dirt road.

“Biggest apple, huh?” Applejack took her hat off to scratch at her head. Bandit sniffed the air and made him look up.

“You know Rainbow, you really gotta be more discreet when you hide up there.” Bandit told her. “How long have you been up there?”

Rainbow Dash flew out of the tree to hover above them. “The whole time! I hear you’re doing a race. Mind if I join?” she asked.

“Sorry, but it’s kind of a brother thing. Do you know where I could find the biggest apple?” Bandit said.

“Nope! No clue. How about you, Applejack?” Rainbow Dash said.

“I’m not sure but if you want to look through some of the apples we already harvested, knock yourself out.” She pointed a hoof towards the barn.

“Thanks, Applejack! Bye, Dash!” Bandit said as he dashed over, sliding one of the barn doors open. His jaw dropped as he saw the mountain of apple barrels filling the space. He snapped his mouth closed as his horn glowed and popped in a measuring tape.

“Time to get to work,” he said to himself as he settled next to the nearest barrel and pulled out the first apple, wrapping the tape around it and taking note of the size before moving on to the next one. It wasn’t long before Chad and Spike rushed in and had the same reaction he did.

“How are we going to find the biggest apple in all of this?!” Chad shouted.

Bandit could see Spike’s glaze over as the dragon mumbled, “So many apples…”

Chad placed a hoof on either of Spike’s shoulders and shook him. “Snap out of it, Spike! We have to beat Bandit!”

Spike shook his head and furrowed his brow. “Right! He beat us in getting the first item but not this time!” They shared a war cry before diving into the middle of the pile of apples, eyeing each one before tossing it to the side in favor of one that may have looked the slightest bit bigger.

Bandit was in the middle of his third barrel when he heard hoofsteps at the front of the barn. He looked to see Big Mac staring at them questioningly. Bandit’s ears perked up as he looked at his friend.

“Big Mac! Are you doing well?”

“Eeyup,”

“You don’t happen to know of the largest apple in Ponyville, do you?” Spike shouted from the top of the mountain.

Big Mac thought for a moment before shaking his head. “Eenope.”

The three of them sighed, drooping at the fact that this event may be a bust as well. Bandit’s head shot up when he heard Chad gasp, rushing down the apples and jumping onto Big Mac’s back, pointing to his cutie mark. Big Macintosh looked at him confused.

“Look!” Chad shouted, holding an apple next to Big Mac’s cutie mark. “Big Mac is the biggest apple! His cutie mark is a giant apple and he actually is the largest Apple out of the Apple family!”

Spike gasped. “You’re right, Chad! Great job, little brother” Spike said as he bumped hooves with Chad. Chad looked at him unamused.

“Relax with the little brother title. You’re only a nanosecond older than I am.” Chad told him as Big Mac stared at Bandit for an explanation.

“We’re on a scavenger hunt for our Brother’s day and you just became our second item.” Bandit said with a shrug. “Is that okay?”

Big Mac shrugged as well with a laugh. “Eeyup.”

“Awesome! Now, on to the last one.” Spike said walking past them. Chad jumped off of the large pony as Bandit gave him a nod before trotting after the two.

“Where are we going to find the shiniest gem?” Bandit wondered out loud.

“Green Gem.” Chad corrected before looking at Spike. We don’t have to go to the crystal caves do we?”

“Nope!” Spike shouted as he sprinted away with no further explanation.

Bandit and Chad shared a confused glance before chasing after the dragon, who miraculously had the stamina to speed off to the point where they lost him as they entered Ponyville, the bustling ponies hiding the small dragon. The two sniffed the air to look for him, but too many scents masked Spike’s.

“Where could he have gone that was in Ponyville?!” Chad cried.
Bandit picked up Chad with his magic and placed him on his back as he flew over the dense crowd.

A pony passed with a pearl necklace and fancy hat to keep the sun out of their eyes and a certain pony came to his mind.

“Rarity!” He figured out. A light bulb went off over Chad’s head. “I should’ve known! His crush on Rarity 100% motivated that run.” He grabbed the bulb and placed it in his hoodie.

“Hold on!” Bandit said to Chad before flying over the crowd, feeling his small hooves wrap around his neck. He hit his head on the doorframe and shook his head as Chad saw Rarity proudly showing Spike her extensive collection of glittering gems. Time slowed as Spike reached out to the large emerald in the middle while Chad launched himself off of Bandit’s back towards Spike.
The small changeling fell onto Spike’s back, sending them both crashing into the case sending gems flying. Bandit dove inside and used his magic to catch the gems into the case. Though they were in the wrong slots, which he began to correct, with Rarity guiding them to the right areas. However, they both noticed one of the gems missing. They both looked up and saw Spike and Chad fight over the emerald.

“Boys, what is the meaning of this?!” Rarity shouted.

“Brother’s day scavenger hunt!” They both shouted at the same time.

“What?” she rounded on Bandit looking for an explanation.

“We decided to have a Brother’s day since the Sisterhooves Social was yesterday.” Bandit explained simply.

“I can see that! Boys, this is quite unbecoming of brothers. Could you please stop?” Rarity tried to reason with them.

“No!” Chad and Spike shouted.
“The first one to have the shiniest gem wins,” Spike said, straining to keep his grip on the jewel.

“And I touched it first,” Chad said through a mouthful of the emerald. They resumed their tug-of-war. Bandit walked forward.

“Okay, guys. Dial it back a bit.” Bandit told them. They didn’t even pass him a glance.

“Boys!” Bandit raised his voice and stomped forward but the result was the same. His horn shone as he used his magic to pull the gem towards himself much to the dismay of the other two.

“Just call it a tie, it’s not that serious of a game!” Bandit told them. They said nothing as they all strained against one another. The clear crack echoed in their ears but they were too slow to loosen their grips as the emerald shattered. They all let go and watched in stunned silence as the broken pieces rained on the ground between them.

Bandit and Chad cringed from Rarity’s devastated shriek as she shoved Bandit out of the way. She threw herself to the ground, gathering the shards together as tears rolled down her cheeks, smearing her makeup.

“Rarity, I-,” Spike tried to say before she interrupted.

“Get out! Oh, my poor baby! Just get out!” She wailed.
Bandit picked the two of them up and placed them out the door.

“Stay here, I’ll be back.” Bandit said as he closed the door. After some time, Bandit came back out and saw that it was dark. The sun had set, ending their day, and not one of their times together played out the way that they wanted to.

“That emerald was complicated to put back together. Next time I’ll just replace it.” Bandit said with a chuckle. He looked down at his brothers to see Chad and Spike looking utterly dejected.

“Hey…don’t look so sad. We can still turn this day around.” Bandit said. He pulled them into a hug and they looked up at him with wide eyes.

“What else can we do?” Chad asked. Bandit hummed in thought as his eyes roamed the night sky. “Oh! Constellation making!”

“What’s that?” Spike said.

“It’s something mother and I used to do whenever I was down. C’mon let’s go to on a cloud and I can show you.” Bandit got low to the ground and let his brothers climb onto his back. He flew slowly through the quiet town as he left it all behind in favor of a cloud not too far from the trees Spike nearly burned down. He sat back on his haunches to let Chad slide down to the cloud as Spike slipped onto Chad’s back. They looked up at the night sky. Bandit scanned the sky for a moment before pointing with a hoof to a string of stars.

“There.” Bandit said, outlining the group of stars. “Do you see it?”

Chad and Spike squinted up to where he was pointing. “No?” Chad said.

“Right there. It looks like a wizard hat sitting on a bunny’s head. I’ll call it Magician's Angel. After Fluttershy’s bunny.” Bandit said.

Spike giggled. “Really? I see a donkey eating a flower. Lazy Dazy?”

“Looks more like a Capital F, lowercase A and Capital M to me.” Chad said while tilting his head to either side. They all shared a laugh as they settled back into silence.

“Today really sucked,” Chad whispered.

“Yeah…” Spike agreed.

Bandit looked between the two of them. “Hey, it wasn’t all bad. We still had a good time before and after things went downhill.”

“I guess, but we didn’t really hang out, though. Every time we tried something went wrong and kept us from being together. Maybe a Brother’s day doesn’t exist for a reason,” Spike said.

“Actually. Turns out, it actually does exist.” Chad said. Spike and Bandit looked at him. “May 24th.”

“Huh. Maybe that’d be less of a disaster than today.” Spike said. Bandit looked at Spike now

“Hey, don’t say that, Spike.” Bandit softly told him. “I actually had a really good time today. We got to see some of our friends and I got to spend the whole day with my brothers even if the day didn’t go entirely to plan. Did you really have a bad time?”

Both of them shook their heads having taken the time to think about it. Despite the day not going as planned, they still had some fun time, even if they all equally owed Angel some food.

“I guess it wasn’t all bad,” Chad confessed. “But it wasn't all that good either. But, the good outweighs the bad, right?”

Bandit ruffled the top of their heads. “You’re very right Chad. The race to the forest was a lot of fun and it was pretty funny Spike gooify the marshmellows. Seeing that powerful sneeze catch the trees on fire was very impressive, Spike.”

Spike chuckled as the two continued to listen.

“And doing the scavenger hunt was great! Seeing Angel’s auction as you both negotiate for fluff was funnier than it should’ve been! Good thing we’re able to hold up our ends of the bargain. Right?” Bandit asked, leaning with an eyebrow raise. The two nodded to Bandit’s words with a giggle.
“Don’t forget the mountain of apples in that barn! And how Big Mac walked in while we were measuring apples. Only to be the apple we were looking for.”

Spike and Chad were giggling a bit more now. Bandit smiled down at his two little brothers. He noticed Chad yawn with Spike following soon after. He stood and used his magic to lift them onto his back. Bandit started flying home as he kept talking.

“Spike, I have to say, when you lost us in the crowd I was very impressed. Maybe even a little worried but it was very smart of you to hide like that.” Bandit said.

“Well I knew if my smell was masked by other ponies, you wouldn’t have found me easily.” Spike said tiredly but Bandit could hear the smile in his voice.

Bandit chuckled. “Smart move Spike. Real smart move. But, you know, we don’t have to make our Brother’s day like the Sisterhooves Social. Maybe we can start doing it monthly or even weekly! I think spending a whole day with just us is what makes it a Brother’s day, regardless of what happens.”

Bandit did not hear a response as he opened the door to the dark library. He looked at them and saw that they were both asleep. Bandit smirked and walked to put them both in their beds. Putting the blankets over them before he went to the kitchen to grab a snack as well as write a letter.

"Dear My loving Mother, Today, we made a special day of our own to celebrate together. Brother's Day. After seeing all the fun everyone had at the Sisterhooves Social, we wanted to try it out ourselves. And Things didn't go according to plan..... like at all. But that's OK at the end of the day, we still got to spend a lot of time with one another. Some things went wrong, other things went…more wrong, but each bit of negativity given, there was good that made it worth it. This brother’s day was a first, but it was far from bad. And We’re looking forward to doing this again. Your loving son, Bandit." Bandit wrote before he sent the letter. After doing so, he walked to the freezer and opened it, taking out some ice cream. When he closed it, Twilight was standing there with a bowl already ready. Bandit looked at her and smirked.

“The pets gave you that much trouble?” Bandit asked her.

“You have no idea.” She answered. Soon, the two of them were eating some ice cream on the counter before Twilight looked at Bandit.

“So how was brother’s day?” Twilight asked him.

“Fun. Eventful, but rather fun.” Bandit answered.

The Cutie Pox

View Online

It was another nice day in Ponyville, and the Cutie Mark Crusaders were heading to the local bowling alley with their bowling bags. Chad had 3 bowling balls in total, the only one of the group with more than one.

"Today's the day, Cutie Mark Crusaders!" Apple Bloom announced confidently. "I can just feel it! Today's the day we are all gonna get our cutie marks in… bowlin'!"

"Whoo-hoo!" Scootaloo cheered.

"Mhmmmm!" Sweetie Belle said, the strap of her bag in her mouth before she dropped it. "I mean yay!"

"Why, after today, we won’t even be the Cutie Mark Crusaders anymore! We’ll be the…" Rumble started. "Three Strikes!"

"That makes it sound like we struck out." Scootaloo said.

"Hello, bowling. Three strikes is a good thing." Skeedaddle said as he adjusted his hoodie.

"How about the pin twins?" Apple Bloom suggested.

"There's seven of us." Chad pointed out. They went back to thinking before Apple Bloom got an idea.

"How about the bowling dolls?" Apple Bloom suggested.

“The bowling dolls! That’s it!” Sweetie Belle said happily.

“Perfect!” Scootaloo said. Then Pipsqueak cleared his throat. The fillies looked at the colts and saw the four colts looking at them with a 'seriously?' face.

"Yeah... nevermind." Apple Bloom said.

They went back to brainstorming before Chad thought of one.

“I got it! Lucky Strikers!” Chad exclaimed happily. The others were all in agreement.

“Now that is a perfect name.” Pipsqueak said.

“Agreed!” Apple Bloom said.

"Alrighty then! Let's get bowling!" Chad said as he took all the bowling balls and trotted inside like the bowling balls were weightless. 5 of the 6 looked confused and shocked.

“H-how-” Rumble tried to ask before Pipsqueak closed his mouth.

“It’s Chad, don’t question it.” Pipsqueak said as he was the first to follow, the other members of the CMC followed suit.

Once inside, Chad placed the names into the computer, with his own name last. Sweetie Belle stepped up, placing her ball down and then rolling it down the lane. The bowling bowl went down the lane and then took a sharp left turn into the gutter. She shrugged and went to sit down while Scootaloo tried bucking her bowling ball, only to have it go flying all over the place and land in the gutter of the far lane. She chuckled nervously before taking off back to her seat. Next up was Pipsqueak, who had a hard time getting the ball up to the lane. He managed to do so and pushed it, only for it to go straight into the gutter. The rest of the group watched as it slowly rolled.

"Maybe you should've used the bowling balls from your birthday party." Skeedaddle commented as Pipsqueak walked past him, only to get lightly shoved. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle giggled at that as Apple Bloom stepped up for her turn.

"You can do it AB." Chad encouraged with a smile. Apple Bloom leaned forward, picking up the ball in her mouth.
"Uh-" Chad tried to tell Apple Bloom, but it was already too late. Spitting the ball down the lane, she watched as it smashed through the pins.

Well... she thought it did.

The ponies began cheering when the red ball knocked down all the pins.

"A bowling cutie mark!" One of them celebrated.

"I did it! I did it!" Apple Bloom exclaimed, getting up and looking eagerly at her flank, but there was nothing on it. "Blank?"

Chad walked over and turned her head to the colt who actually earned the bowling cutie mark.

"Oh."

"Your ball is uh........still rolling down the lane." Chad pointed out. She turned to look at the lane and saw the ball rolled all the way down the lane, tapped a pin, and rolled all the way back. Apple Bloom watched in disbelief.

My Little Pony,
My Big Changeling too
Ahh, ahh, ahh, ahhh…

[Bandit]
(My Little Pony)

We used to wonder what friendship could be
(My Big Changeling too)

[Twilight Sparkle]
Until you all shared its magic with me

[Rainbow Dash]
Big adventure

[Pinkie Pie]
Tons of fun

[Rarity]
A beautiful heart

[Applejack]
Faithful and strong

[Fluttershy]
Sharing kindness!

[Lightning Sprint]
Motivate the team

[Bandit]
Heroics makes it all complete
You have my little ponies
Do you know you're all my very best friends?

After the bowling session, all of the CMC were walking together.

“That bowling sure was fun, even if all I got was gutter balls.” Sweetie Belle said. Skeedaddle shot a slight glare at Scootaloo.

"At least you kept your ball in your lane. Next time, lets not have Scootaloo bowl." Skeedaddle said as he walked with an ice pack to his eye.

"I didn't mean for that to happen." Scootaloo apologized.

"Forgive me if I have a hard time forgiving you while it looks like I got punched by a boulder with iron fists." Skeedaddle told her.

"I think Chad was the only one who actually knew how to bowl. He didn't get a single open frame." Rumble commented, not talking about how he fouled every two frames.

“Buttering up Chad won’t mask you fouling constantly.” Pipsqueak smirked. Rumble blew a raspberry at him. Chad looked at Apple Bloom and saw she was looking very down.

"You okay Apple Bloom?" Chad asked her, a bit worried. Apple Bloom just softly sighed in response. Chad then tapped his chin. “No worries Apple Bloom, I know how to turn that grim back to your adorable grin!”

A few moments later, Apple Bloom was seated at the counter at Sugarcube Corner and Sweetie Belle presented her with a cupcake.

"A treat from Sugarcube Corner will cheer you up." Chad said with a smile.

Apple Bloom pushed the cupcake aside. "No, it won't." Skeedaddle tried to take it himself, but Sweetie Belle bonked him, making him recoil.

Having enlisted Pinkie’s help, Apple Bloom was now upstairs with a party hat on, though in the same seated position with the same glum look on her face.

"A party will cheer you up!" Pinkie happily, and both Rumble and Pipsqueak blew party whistles.

“No, it won’t.” Apple Bloom said, a little bit louder.

[br]

At Rarity’s boutique, Rarity planted a feather-covered hat on her head. "A lovely new chapeau will cheer you up."

"No, it won't." Apple Bloom said as she shoved the hat off and stormed out of the boutique. The CMC looked at each other and went after her.

"Come on, Apple Bloom, it's just a cutie mark!" Rumble called out.

“Or lack of a cutie mark!” Sweetie Belle added. Skeedaddle shushed her.

“How is that supposed to help?” Skeedaddle told her. They saw Apple Bloom still walking into the forest. Chad picked up the speed in order to catch up. Chad then walked alongside her.

"You okay Apple Bloom? You're kind....walking into the Everfree forest." Chad asked her, still walking with her as the others began to go home. Apple Bloom didn’t say a word as she kept walking. Chad was gonna say something to offer words of comfort, but rustling in the bushes right behind them got their attention. As they turned to look, they saw a snake come out. Apple Bloom let out a yelp and tripped.

"Aah!" She yelped, tumbling off the edge.

"Ah! Ooh! Ow!" she moaned when she landed face first on the ground. Sitting up, she winced and covered her sore mouth with her hooves. "Ohhh…."

Chad jumped down, seemingly chewing on and swallowing something on the way down. He picked her up.

"Are you okay?" He asked.

"Mm-mm!" She said, still holding her mouth.

"Open up, let me see what your tooth looks like." Chad said as he used his magic to open her mouth. Letting him do so, he'd see that she'd chipped one of her teeth.

"You chipped a tooth." Chad said as he closed her mouth.

"Chppd?!" She asked, muffled.

Chad nodded his head.

"Don't worry, I know how to fix this. Zecora taught me some potions when I was trying to earn my Cutie mark in potion making, with Bandit’s permission of course." Chad said as he walked to the hut.

"Yu knw potns?" She asked, slightly shocked to hear that.

"A few, come on in. I got written permission from Zecora that I can make potions anytime I want, so long as I replace her supplies." Chad said, pulling out a scroll from his hoodie before putting it back after he was done talking. She nodded and followed him inside.

As the 2 of them were inside the hut, Chad was adding all the necessary ingredients needed when Zecora walked in.

"Well well well, what do we have here? Chad and Apple Bloom, my Dears." Zecora said as she walked to them.

"Hi Zecora! Sorry to trespass into your hut like a sleuth, I'm just making Apple bloom A potion to restore her tooth." Chad rhymed with a smile.
"No need for you to apologise. I am just happy to see you making potions before my eyes." Zecora replied, making Chad wag his tail.

"Thank you! Making potions is fun. Just two more ingredients and I'm done." Chad said as he put two more ingredients in the potion and sturring. Zecora chuckled, smiling at him and at Apple Bloom.

Soon enough, Chad poured the newly made pink potion into a bowl and gave it to Apple Bloom.

"Chug it." Chad told her. With no hesitation, Apple Bloom drank every drop. Chad spotted the opportunity for a joke.

"Oh wait. I read it wrong, you were suppose to chug half." Chad said. Apple Bloom looked like she saw a ghost before Chad spoke again. “I’m joking, I’m joking.”

She sighed in relief, genuinely worried for a moment.

"Open up." Chad said as he positioned himself to see if it worked. Apple Bloom opened her mouth once again. Her tooth began adjusting as it grew back into place, but soon enough it was perfectly back to normal.

"Oh my star apples, you did it, Chad!" She cheered and then looked around with interest at the various potions and ingredients needed to make them. "Golly, Zecora has tonics that heal all sorts of ailments, "Bad bones, bad back, bad breath…"

"Sure is, Zecora is fantastic at these." Chad told her. "Teach them well too!"

Zecora smiled and ruffled Chad’s mane.

"There's so many different kinds too. Not just for getting rid of the bad but bringing on the good." Apple Bloom said.

"Apple Bloom, If you're trying to butter her or me up into creating a potion that can make cutie marks appear, I'm afraid you're out of luck. I've already tried." Chad told her.

“You’ve tried it already? What happened?” Apple Bloom asked. Chad and Zecora looked at each other.

Chad moved a large boulder in front of a cave before looking back at Zecora.

"We can never speak of this to anyone." Chad told her. Zecora frantically nodded her head.

"Eh…..it would be best if we didn't talk about it. Think of it as a noodle incident." Chad told her. Apple Bloom tilted her head.

"What's a noodle-"

"I'll tell you later. But yeah, sorry Apple Bloom. I'm afraid there's nothing here that could help you get a cutie mark." Chad told her. This, in turn, made her lower her head in sadness. Chad walked over and placed a hoof on her shoulder.

"Sorry, but I'll treat you to food when we get back, okay?" Chad offered.

"Okay…." Apple Bloom said, still a bit sad.

"I'll meet you there, I just gotta help Zecora replace the ingredients I used when I was trying to get my cutie mark." Chad told her. And with that, Apple Bloom nodded her head and made her way out to head back to Ponyville. As she did, Zecora was preparing a brew as Chad turned around to face her.

"I'll get to......hey whatcha doing?" Chad asked her.

"I am brewing up another mix for a rooster and his chicks." Zecora answered, her voice becoming muffled while sticking her head into a tall basket to reach something. "It seems the rooster has lost his crow." Her voice returned to normal when she retrieved an unusual purple flower. "Making mornings very slow."

"Hey, I've seen some flowers that look like that. They look pretty, what are they called?" Chad asked her.

"This is a flower that we call Hearts Desire, a dash will ignite the rooster's fire." Zecora answered as she shook miniature hearts from the flower into the brew.

"Ooooooh! What does it do?" Chad asked.

"I am adding it to a Rooster's brew, to give him back his cockadoodle doo." Zecora answered with a grin.

"Does it work on ponies and changelings too?" Chad asked as he looked at it. "If you're not sure, I can work as a lab rat for you. I'll be fine, the rating means it won't hurt." Chad said with a tail wag.

"A lab rat? Could it be? You'd really do that for me?" Zecora asked as she looked through ingredients. "What is this? I've run out of amethyst."

"Amethyst huh?" Chad asked. He sniffed the air and began following the scent, a few seconds later he came back with amethyst....the pony. Amethyst looked rather….confused.

"Uh, what exactly am I here for?" Amethyst asked.

"Visual gag humor." Chad said as he pulled out a bag of amethyst for Zecora.

Zecora smiled and took the bag and went to put them away.

Amethyst meanwhile gave Chad headpats. Chad nuzzled into the headpats as he trotted over to Zecora.

"I'm ready!" Chad said with a smile.

Zecora got to work making the brew as Amethyst waited patiently, not wanting to traverse the forest on her own. Chad was chasing his own tail to pass the time as he waited. Soon enough, the brew was finished. Chad nabbed his own tail before turning to look towards Zecora, who had the potion ready.

"Everything ready?" Chad asked with his own tail in his mouth. Zecora nodded her head. "Anything I need to do before I take it?"

"Make sure that you drink it all, don't let any drops fall." Zecora answered. Chad nodded and began chugging all brew without a single drop spilling. Afterwards, he hiccuped.

"How long until desires are fulfilled?" Chad asked.

"You should feel the effects soon. At least before tonight's moon." She answered.

"Okay. I'll tell you if something happens. I gotta take Amethyst back to ponyville. Bye Zecora!" Chad said as he began to walk off. Zecora waved as he left. Amethyst kept close to Chad as they headed back to Ponyville.

The next day, Chad and Spike were playing a game of Checkers before there was a knock on the door. An excited Knock. The two of them looked over as Bandit walked over to the door. Spike took the opportunity to turn the board around so he was on the winning side.

"Hello Apple Bloom." Bandit greeted.

"Morning Bandit!" Apple Bloom said, her tone incredibly excited.

"You seem excited, what's the occasion?" Bandit asked as he raised an eyebrow.

"I've gotta show Chad something." She said, practically prancing in place from joy. Chad walked over and climbed onto Bandit’s back.

"What is it?" Chad asked as he climbed onto Bandit's head to look.

Turning to the side, revealing to them, a cutie mark of some kind of ring. Chad and Bandit's jaws dropped as they saw she had a cutie mark.

"What do you think?" She asked them.

"You got your cutie mark!?" Chad exclaimed with excitement and a tail wag.

"I sure did!"

"That's amazing! Congratulations Apple Bloom." Bandit told her.

"Thank you. Thank you." Apple Bloom said as she bowed.

"I can't believe it! You did it Apple Bloom! You're the first CMC to get her cutie mark!" Chad said happily.

"I know! I can't wait to show the others!" She jumped around happily. Bandit then took a closer look at the mark.

"Wait. What is your cutie mark?" Bandit asked.

"It's a loop-de-hoop!" Apple Bloom told them.

"A what?" Bandit and Chad asked her.

"A loop-de-hoop." Apple Bloom said as she picked up the one she placed by the door and started to spin it on her tail. Chad and Bandit then realized what she was saying.

"Oh! A hula hoop." Chad and Bandit said to each other.

"You know. For some reason I thought your mark would involve apples." Bandit told her.

"Me too to be honest but hey, I got this mark." Apple Bloom brushed off.

"Congratulations! I'll see you at the school soon! I want to see how the others react to your mark!" Chad told her.

"See you later Chad!" Apple Bloom said. "Bye Bandit!"

They both waved as Apple Bloom trotted off. Twilight came over after she left.

"I heard some excited voices over here, what's up?" Twilight asked.

"Apple Bloom apparently got her cutie mark." Spike answered, making Twilight's eyes widen.

"Really!?" Twilight exclaimed as she looked at Chad.

Chad nodded.

"I'm glad she finally managed to get one. Now she won't have to worry so much about not-" He gasped. "Oh my goodness."

He took off out the door, leaving no dust cloud of himself.

Twilight looked at Bandit, shrugging. Bandit also shrugged before walking by the checkers game. He looked at the board and saw Chad's side, which was the losing red pieces now that Spike turned the tables, and started moving for him, which let him jump over 4 pieces, and drop Spike back into the losing side.

Spike looked at him shocked and then at the board before just flat-out walking away from it.

Chad made it to the hut and jumped through an open window.

"Zecora!" He called. Zecora jumped in surprise, turning to look at him. "It gave Apple Bloom a cutie mark."

"I do not believe my ears. Did you say it made a cutie mark appear?"

"Yes! On Apple Bloom! I made my desire to be about Apple Bloom. I wanted her to not worry so much about not getting a cutie mark, and it gave her one." Chad said. "Did I just mess up!?"

"There is no way you could have known, that something like this could have possibly grown." Zecora said, shaking her head.

"Is there a way we can.....undo the mark? I got a feeling only bad news is ahead if we let this set." Chad said with a gulp.

"That has got me thinking, on that note. I will get to work on an antidote." Zecora told him.

"What do I do until then?" Chad asked.

"Keep an eye on Apple Bloom, I will bring you the antidote soon." Zecora answered, already looking for ingredients. Chad saluted and began to run off to find Apple Bloom.

Chad trotted back to ponyville and looked around for Apple Bloom near the schoolhouse. Apple Bloom was there, showing off her new mark. Chad ran over, running around ponies to get to her and watch, keeping a close eye on her. Luckily, the only effect it seemed to have on her so far, was the fact that she was hula-hooping with extreme ease using only her tail. Chad sat nearby and watched as she performed, much to the delight of those watching.

Apple Bloom looked towards him, smiling, which prompted Chad to wave back with a smile, since nothing bad happened just yet.

"That looks amazing!" Skeedaddle said.

"I can't believe you got such an awesome Cutiemark." Scootaloo said.

"Can you teach us your tricks?" Pipsqueak asked. She nodded her head.

"I sure can, but you'll have to get a hoop of your own." Apple Bloom said. Eyes looked at Chad.

"Lemme guess, y'all want me to make them?" Chad asked.

"Pleeeeeease?" They all asked. Chad sighed and started to use Transfiguration to make lots of hoops from nearby sticks.

In little time, all of the foals had a hoop and they were all trying to hula-hoop. Some of them were a little more successful than others but none of them were as good as Apple Bloom.. Except for Chad.

Apple Bloom watched him, smiling. "Hey, looking good!"

"Do I ever not?" Chad asked as a joke, getting a giggle from the Apple filly.

Rumble was having a very hard time with the hoop.

"Everything alright?" Apple Bloom asked him.

"Y-yeah, just-" He heeled over and fell. "Dang it!"

"You're doing great." She told him, to keep him from feeling discouraged.

"You know any other tricks. Ones that will be fun to look at?" Skeedaddle asked. Apple Bloom gave him a smirk.

"Watch this." She said, rolling the hoop up her body to spin around her neck before launching it up into the air and watching it spin around the flag pole. Stopping it at the bottom, she launched it into the air and jumped up to meet it, doing a somersault and then landing whilst still spinning the hoop. "Ta da!"

Chad's jaw dropped, as did the other students who witnessed this.

"What do ya think of that?" She asked.

“I think that was the most amazing hula hoop, ever. Of all time. Have you always known how to do that, or is that something you learned when you got your mark?” Chad asked with a head tilt.

“I picked up somethings here and there.” Apple Bloom answered. Chad raised an eyebrow at that. “What?”

Chad tossed her a few more rings to test something. The hoops came toward her and she repositioned to deal with them. She was able to spin those too and it was all going well. But then there was another flash and another mark appeared on her flank. Chad’s eyes went wide eyed.

“Oh no.” Chad said. The next cutie mark was of dinner plates and sticks. Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon zipped over and had malicious smirks.

“Another cutie mark? Ha!” Diamond Tiara said before turning to Silver Spoon. “I guess that last trick was a lot of hoopla. Those cutie marks are fake!”

“What?! No they’re not!” Apple Bloom exclaimed in defense.

“Miss Cheerilee, have you ever heard of a pony with two cutie marks?” Diamond Tiara asked her upon walking over to her.

“I must say that I never have.” Cheerilee admitted, then Skeedaddle walked over and spoke up.

“Well, no one’s ever heard of a changeling getting a cutie mark either, but it happened for the first time in Equestrian history not to long ago.” Skeedaddle said.

“Yeah! Maybe Apple Bloom is so good, she’s got two special talents!” Pipsqueak spoke up. Silver Spoon was not having it.

“Oh yeah? Then let’s see you do that.” Silver Spoon said as she pointed to the spin plates cutie mark.

"Spin plates! Yeah!" Snips and Snails said before Apple Bloom could protest. They tossed her a pair of sticks and a pair of plates. She caught the sticks and plates on the tip of her nose and found that she could indeed spin the plates, and the foals gasped in amazement.

“Two cutie marks?” Sweetie Belle and Rumble asked.

“Two talents?” Skeedaddle and Scootaloo asked.

“Twice as awesome!” “One big issue.” Pipsqueak and Chad said. Pipsqueak looked at Chad, disappointed that they didn’t say the same thing at the same time.

“Aw yeah!” Apple Bloom cheered happily.

“Our friend is the most special pony ever!” The CMC, bar Chad, all cheered.

“Alright, everypony, and Changeling, you ready for a real show?" Apple Bloom asked, and the group nodded eagerly. Chad tugged his hoodie a bit.

The school group headed into town and caught the attention of the ponies, who were amazed to see Apple Bloom had two cutie marks, and she put on a performance. The ponies cheered as she did different tricks with both the plates and the hoop, which she used to cut a circle out of the cloud that Rainbow Dash was sleeping on, and didn't even wake her up.

When Apple Bloom saw Rarity and Twilight, who had been brought over by Sweetie Belle, she threw the hoop so that it spun really fast on the purple unicorn's horn before flying off, and Twilight blinked when she saw that her mane now looked like Rarity's and she scowled while Rarity looked very happy at the style of hair on Twilight, Spike looked at the hair with heart irises.

Bandit was walking towards the library with some kind of board game with Apple Bloom rolled over on her hula hoop. He stuck out his hoof for Apple Bloom to jump on, and when she did, he launched her for her to do one heck of a flip.

The performance drew the attention of Granny Smith, Big Mac, and Applejack, and they were amazed to see the filly doing her tricks, especially when she spun the hoop around her neck and Granny Smith's neck.

Applejack then whistled to get her sister's attention before bucking into the air a large apple pie and a stack of plates. Apple Bloom caught them on her nose and she tossed them high into the air, where she used her hoop to slice the pie into neat slices. First, the plates landed on the nearest picnic tables, and the pie slices landed on them. A whole pie went towards Big Mac, but it was intercepted by Bandit, who swallowed it whole. Big Mac glared at Bandit who smugly shrugged.

Soon enough, time made the sun rest, and it was time for Apple Bloom to head to sleep. The apple family walked through the door, and Applejack was excited in particular.

“Yee haw little sis!” Applejack started as she walked through the door. “Congratulations on getting not just one, but two cutie marks! We’re mighty proud of you, right. Right Big Macintosh?”

Big Macintosh was seemingly in the other room, but he poked his head in.

“Eeyup!”

“I’ve never seen anything like it, have you big mac?” Applejack asked. The tv was heard turning off.

“Eenope.” Big Macintosh said.

"Why, the way you were a-hoopin' and a-hoppin' and kickin' and spinnin' reminded me of when I was a spry young filly," Granny Smith remarked and struck a pose, only to have one her hind-leg cramp up on her. "Guh, charley horse, charley horse!" She yelped. Big Macintosh walked over and gave her a jab to her side and her leg returned to normal. "Ooh, that's better."

“Why Apple Bloom, I think you’re ready to hit the rodeo circuit right now!” Applejack suggested.

“Actually, I’m ready to hit the hay right now.” Apple Bloom said as she started walking to the stairs. “I’m plum tuckered. I’ll see y’all in the morning. G’night!”

Applejack peeked over and watched her walk up the stairs with a smile.

“Night!”

Granny Smith and Big Macintosh came over to watch as well.

“Oh my. Little Apple Bloom has finally blossomed--hasn’t she Big Mac?” Applejack asked.

“Eeyup.” He said with a smile. Then Applejack snapped over to face him.

“Now what you gone and turn the tv off for?” She interrogated. Big Macintosh took off. Applejack was shocked at his speed. “Hey! Get back here you!”

“Nope!” Big Macintosh exclaimed. Applejack ran after him and caught up. She snatched the remote and turned on the tv, but it was a talkshow. She hit the return button, but it was just one channel above. So whatever Big Macintosh had on the tv before, he managed to cover his tracks.

“You win this time.” Applejack told him. Big Macintosh stuck his tongue out at her.

The next morning arrived though the sun was yet to be up, but the sounds of tapping came in with the morning, which woke up Big Macintosh and Applejack. The two of them got to her room and Applejack opened the door.

"Apple Bloom, what is all that awful… tapping?" she began and gasped when she saw that her sister now had bright red, yellow-ribboned tap shoe cutie mark on her flank. "Three cutie marks?!"

"Help me!" Apple Bloom pleaded, unable to stop tap dancing, and she was still spinning the hoop on her tail and the plates on her head, unable to stop any of her three talents.

Big Macintosh walked over and used his mouth to grab the hula hoop on her tail, only to be thrown into the wall.

“I’m sorry! I don’t know how to make it stop!” Apple Bloom told them.

“We know someone who might.” Applejack said as she stood up.

At the Library, Apple Bloom was still tapping away as Twilight and Bandit were looking at what was happening to Apple Bloom.

“Three Cutie Marks. Three talents. I’ve never seen anything like it.” Twilight said as Bandit tapped his chin.

“What kind of illness could this even be?” Bandit asked.

“Cutie pox!” Chad said as he came out of his room with a book in his magic. Spike turned to look at him.

“Did you just wait by the door for someone to ask that question?” Spike asked him. Chad shook his head.

“No, I was looking for the name of the condition in this book when I heard the tapping. I found it right before-”

“Chad, not the time. What’s cutie pox?” Bandit asked.

“Oh, right.” Chad said as he looked back at the book and began reading. “This puzzling pony plague back in-, wait. It’s not a plague, it’s not contagious. It’s a noncommuniable disease.”

“Chad!” Bandit called.

“Continuing. This puzzling pony plague afflicted a population of ponies back in the Paleo-Pony Period.” Chad read. Spike opened his mouth.

“Spike, if you say, ‘say that 10 times fast’ I’ll eat that gem you’re saving.” Bandit told him. Spike closed his mouth real fast.

“Random cutie marks appeared all over the ponies' bodies, causing them to perform all the talents that came with them!" Chad continued.

"Just like me!" Apple Bloom exclaimed, alarmed that this was happening to her.

“Yes, but what’s the cure? What’s the cure?!” Applejack asked.

“There uh….there’s not a known one.” Chad said as he showed where it was written in the book. Jaws were dropped as a result. “It says the cutie pox disappeared as mysteriously as they arrived. The cause of the breakout was never discovered.”

"Oh, no!" Apple Bloom said in shock. It was at that moment when a fourth cutie mark, shaped like a fleur-de-lis, and she started speaking in French. "Sacré bleu! Plus de marques de cutie! Qu'est-ce c'est?! Je parle Français?!”

“My sister's speakin' in fancy!" Applejack yelped.

“It’s called French Applejack. Languages have names.” Bandit pointed out.

“Bandit, not the time. I’ve gotta get to Zecora, pronto.” Chad said as he was about to zip out the door, but Twilight grabbed his tail.

“Oh no, you need to explain yourself, mister. Why were you researching the Cutie Pox?” Twilight asked him. Bandit put his hoof on her back.

“Twily, let him go grab Zecora first. Then we can interrogate him on whether or not he caused this.” Bandit told her. Twilight sighed, nodded and let go. Chad zipped out of the door. Bandit watched him run before looking at the others. “Let’s try to keep Apple Bloom from-” He would then notice Apple Bloom was gone.

“Where’d she go?” Big Macintosh also noticed.

“I took my eyes off of her for a second!” Applejack said as she looked around. They soon spotted her outside, chiseling a sculpture after a new cutie mark appeared.

Chad teleported to Zecora’s hut and began knocking on the door.

“Zecora! Are you in here?” Chad asked as he then opened the door and walked in.

“You opened my door in a rush to see me. What happened to cause this urgency?” Zecora asked.

“The cutie mark turned into cutie pox. Please tell me you found that antidote.” Chad practically begged.

“It seems as though things might turn bad. Luckily, I have the antidote Chad.” Zecora told him. Chad sighed in relief.

“Thank goodness, come on! Apple Bloom needs our help.” Chad said as he started to run out of the hut. Zecora runs out after him.

When Chad and Zecora got back to Ponyville, they were shocked to find it as empty as the first time Zecora came to the town. It was so empty, a dead tumble weed bounced past them.

“Seriously, what is with those tumbleweeds?” Chad asked.

“Chad, Zecora! Over here!” Bandit called. They looked over and saw Apple Bloom solving equations on a board while also being covered in cutie marks.

“Why is this place so empty? I was gone 5 minutes.” Chad asked.

“I may have let slip that Cutie Pox was a disease she had with no known cure.” Spike answered.

“Really? That slipped out?” Chad asked. Spike was gonna answer, but Chad continued talking. “Nevermind, Zecora’s here to help us.”

Bandit walked over to her.

“Zecora, good to see you again. What kind of cure do you have?” Bandit asked as Apple Bloom started to clean a window with sponges as two ponies inside put on Hazmat attire.

"A cutie pox cure I have forsooth." Zecora began, pulling out three yellow seeds from her bag and held them up with her tail. "For healing power is in the Seeds of Truth."

"Well, well then give 'em to her! Quick!" Applejack yelped.

"These seeds must be planted in the ground. With the truth, they'll grow, and the cure is found." Zecora told the group. "The Seeds of Truth do hold the cure, but one must speak words, true and pure."

“No time to lose!” Chad said as he used his tail to dig out a hole before using his magic to plant the seeds and cover it.

"Now we just need someone to tell the truth." Bandit said before looking at the others. "Any volunteers?"

A tornado cutie mark appeared on Apple Bloom’s body and she started spinning out of control. Ponies, and the CMC all looked on in worry as this went down.

“Anyone at all?!” Bandit asked.

Chad was gonna say something, but Skeedaddle somehow broke first.

"Okay okay! I'm the one that ate Sweetie Belle's blueberry pie Rarity made for her and told her Opal ate it!" Skeedaddle exclaimed. Everyone looked at the buried seeds, and nothing happened. Sweetie Belle bonked Skeedaddle in his head. “Ow!”

“Anyone else?” Bandit asked. Next to break was Rumble.

"I actually am a fan of the Wizarding Pony series!" Rumble confessed.

"I knew it! You made fun of me for weeks, you closet fan!" Pipsqueak exclaimed.

“Shuticus Upus!” Rumble exclaimed back to him. The seeds, again, didn’t grow. Chad finally had enough.

"Okay! Everyone stop talking!" Chad exclaimed. "I'm the reason Apple Bloom has Cutie Pox!"

A collective gasp filled the town as all eyes fell on Chad.

"Zecora told me about a plant that when ingested, could make true your deepest desire, after Apple Bloom was bummed out for not getting her cutie mark, I wanted to make her happy, so when I took the plant, my desire was her getting her mark." Chad confessed, the seeds began to grow. Though he kept it a secret that he volunteered to be Zecora's guinea pig. "I just wanted to make her happy, so she wasn't so down. I really didn't know it would end up like this, and I'll do whatever it takes to make it right." Chad added.

As fast as his words were spoken, a beautiful white flower grew out of the ground and bloomed, making the ponies awe in amazement.

Chad snatched up the flower and shoved it into Apple Blooms mouth. Apple Bloom wasted no time eating the flower, resulting in a sigh and of relief. She fell to the ground and the cutie marks disappeared left and right. She stood back up with a smile on her face, seeing that she was now a blank flank.

“Are you okay Apple Bloom?” Chad asked her. She smiled and nodded.

“I’m great, and I have never been happier to be a blank flank in my entire life.” She said very grateful. Chad then rubbed his arm.

"Apple Bloom, I want to apologize." Chad said to her. "I didn't mean to have this happen. I just saw how down you were when you didn’t get a cutie mark, I was willing to do whatever it took to put that smile back on your face.”

As Chad lowered his head in sorrow, Apple Bloom practically glomped him with a hug.

“Apology accepted! I know you didn’t do this on purpose Chad. Your heart was in the right place.” Apple Bloom told him as she released the hug.

"Which is exactly why you aren't gonna be grounded." Bandit told him. Chad smiled and did a backflip.

"Alright!" Chad exclaimed.

"But you are cleaning up this mess." Bandit told him, pointing to the aftermath of Apple Bloom’s cutie mark escapade. Chad sighed. "Don't worry, Zecora said she'll help you, didn't tell me why."

Chad looked at Zecora and winked, Zecora winked back before the other CMC members spoke up.

"I'll help too!" Apple Bloom volunteered.

"Me too!" Pipsqueak said.

"I'm in." Skeedaddle said.

"Same!" Rumble said.

Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo both nodded. "Yeah!"

"This is another attempt at cutie marks isn't it?" Bandit asked them.

"....how does he always know?!" Skeedaddle whispered to the others.

Bandit rolled his eyes. "Go."

The CMC were off, with Zecora’s help and began to fix the messes that was caused. Chad then looked at Zecora.

“Hey, Zecora, did that rooster get his-” Chad tried to ask. Zecora covered his mouth and nodded his head. Chad smiled and continued to clean the town.

"Dear, My loving mother. Today I learned a very cliche but incredibly valuable lesson. Be careful what you wish for. I know it sounds weird I had to learn this lesson, but it's true. I thought that I would be able to wish for a desire to be fulfilled for a friend of mine. But now I understand that without patience and hard work to earn what you want, the desire you receive wouldn't be worth it. And I understand that now more than ever. I learned that you can’t rush things that your heart desires. And good things come to those who wait. Sincerely, your loving son, Chad." Chad wrote before sending the letter. He looked at the town and saw everything was fixed and cleaned up.

Apple Bloom walked over to Chad and tapped his shoulder, getting his attention.

“Hey Chad, I got another cutie mark we can try to get.” She told him. Chad tilted his head with a raised eyebrow before he was booped on the nose. “You’re it!”

She took off running, Chad started laughing before getting up and running after her.

May The Best Pet Win

View Online

It was a bright and sunny day with clear blue skies, and peace in the air. Rainbow Dash was racing through the sky, enjoying her flight.

“Ha-ha! Whoo-hoo! Yeah!” She laughed as she did a series of tricks in the air. As she was flying, soon enough, Klaw and Fang began flying right beside her. Fang was wrapped around Klaw’s neck like a scarf, and enjoying his flight. Looking over her shoulder, Rainbow Dash spotted them.

“Oh hey Klaw. Hey Fang.” She said with a smile. Klaw saluted to her as Fang stuck out his tongue happily. Rainbow Dash started to pick up her speed.

“Try to keep up you two!” She said as she flew even faster. Klaw didn’t have a single issue keeping up, and even flying faster than her at one point. This took Rainbow by surprise, but she didn’t slow down. She sped up to try to surpass Klaw, but barking caught her off guard.

“Huh?” She asked as she stopped in confusion. Klaw turned around, and he had Winona’s head on his body, barking towards her.

“What? Winona?!” She asked in surprise. “I mean… Winona’s head?” She asked in confusion. Klawnona did a bunch of barrel rolls around her while still happily panting.

“Um, is this weird, or is it just me?” Rainbow Dash asked. Within seconds, she got her answer when Owlowiscious flew by, with Angel for a head, which also turned into Gummy’s body.

“Owlowiscious? Angel? Gummy? Okay, this is officially beyond weird now and moved right on down to Freakytown.” Rainbow Declared. Thats when a wing tapped her shoulder. She turned around to see Ace with Achilles’s wings. He hissed at her and Opal came out as the tongue.

Rainbow Dash gasped and suddenly she was falling toward the ground far below. "Yaaaaah!"

"WAAH!" Rainbow Dash woke up startled almost falling off the tree branch she'd been sleeping on.

She blinked as she saw Opal and Achilles in the tree. Achilles was preening Opal as she was yowling down at Winona, who was barking up at them, Gummy was standing next to the dog, Angel was hopping around, and Owlowiscious was hovering nearby, hooting.

"Phew." She said, wiping her forehead with relief when she realized that she'd been having a dream.

My Little Pony,
My Big Changeling too
Ahh, ahh, ahh, ahhh…

[Bandit]
(My Little Pony)

We used to wonder what friendship could be
(My Big Changeling too)

[Twilight Sparkle]
Until you all shared its magic with me

[Rainbow Dash]
Big adventure

[Pinkie Pie]
Tons of fun

[Rarity]
A beautiful heart

[Applejack]
Faithful and strong

[Fluttershy]
Sharing kindness!

[Lightning Sprint]
Motivate the team

[Bandit]
Heroics makes it all complete
You have my little ponies
Do you know you're all my very best friends?

Later on, the rest of the group had all gathered together and caught up with their pets. Rainbow Dash flew down to join her friends, seeing the fun they began to have.

As she did, Bandit walked over to her.

“I do apologize if our companions were bothering your nap.” Bandit said, swishing his tail to play with Klaw and Fang.

“What are you guys all doing out here?” Rainbow Dash asked.

"Why, we always round up our critters for a regular old pony pet play date in this park." Applejack answered as she threw the stick for Winona. Then remembered Bandit, Chad and Spike. "Ponies, Dragon and Changelings."

“You do?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Same time every week!” Chad said as he ran with Ace on his back.

"I thought you knew. You didn't know? She didn't know?" Fluttershy said, bashfully looking down.

“Well, we had intentionally planned on inviting you and Lightning, buuuuuuut.” Bandit stopped and looked at Pinkie and Chad. Pinkie beat Chad to it.

"We were totally gonna invite you, Rainbow, then Bandit remembered that you don't even have a pet, and Rarity remembered that you really like to take naps in the afternoon, so Applejack figured you wouldn't be missing out on anything anyway, then we were gonna go to Lightning Sprint, but Twilight reminded us she doesn’t have a pet either, and Fluttershy and I nodded our heads in agreement like this." Pinkie said, zipping between them all, as well as nodded Fluttershy’s head, who was still nodding after she took her hooves off.

“Pinkie, we really gotta work on your social awareness.” Bandit told her.

“Hmm?” Pinkie asked as she tilted her head.

"Oh, please don't be mad at us." Fluttershy pleaded.

"Oh, I'm not mad." Rainbow said quickly, flying back to the branch and her pillow. "You all are right. Not much point of a Pony Pet Playdate for me if I'm a pony without a pet, right?"

"Eeexactly." Applejack agreed. "So, if'n you'll excuse us…"

Rainbow Dash settled back on the pillow to resume her nap. It only took a few seconds of hearing how much fun her friends were having before she finally flew back out of the tree.

“Hey, now wait a minute!" she snapped. "Just because I don't have a pet now doesn't mean I never want a pet!"

Bandit quickly moved Chad who was right behind Fluttershy.

Fluttershy spun around and zipped over to her.

"Ohh! Y, y, Oh, really? You really want a pet? Really? 'Cause I've got so many wonderful choices at my house! Oh, and I know you'll just love them! And they'll love you! Oh, and you'll be best friends forever and ever! Oh!"

She attempted to lift Rainbow off the ground but was only dragging her. Rainbow used her own wings to help as they headed in the direction of her cottage.

As fate would have it, Lightning Sprint was coming as they were going. Seeing Fluttershy holding Rainbow Dash and smiling happily, she looked between them and the rest of her friends.

"What did I miss?" She asked.

"Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy. They're trying to adopt a pet so she can be a part of the pet playtime that we usually do every week." Chad answered her as Ace tugged his tail.

"Maybe I should join them." She said to herself in thought but also loud enough to be responded to.

“Lightning, what are you doing?” Applejack immediately tried to warn.

“Oh, cookie crumbs I wasn’t thinking!” Lightning exclaimed as Fluttershy zipped over.

"You're looking for a pet too?!" Fluttershy exclaimed from really away.

"Oh no." Lightning said, knowing what was coming.

Fluttershy rushed over and grabbed her before rushing off again.

"Gyah!!"

"So, what kind of pet do you think Rainbow Dash will pick?" Bandit wondered.

"Given that this is Rainbow Dash we're talking about, I'm guessing it'll be able to fly." Applejack guessed. Chad looked at the audience.

“Yeah yeah, we know that’s not the case, just keep reading.” Chad said. Spike was next to him.

“Chad, who are you talking to?” Spike asked him.

“You’ll find out in two seasons.” Chad said as he walked off.

“Two seasons of what?” Spike asked as he watched him leave. He then walked after him. “Two seasons of what?!”

Meanwhile, over at Fluttershy’s, the two pet seeking pegasi were led there to see all the animals able to be adopted.

[Fluttershy]

Now, Rainbow and Lightning, I cannot express my delight
It's abundantly clear
That somewhere out here
Is the pet that will suit you just right

[Rainbow Dash]

We can't wait to get started,

[Lightning Sprint]

but first let us set a few rules

[Lightning Sprint and Rainbow Dash]

It's of utmost importance
The pet that we get
Is something that's awesome and cool

[Fluttershy]

Awesome, cool, got it!
I have so many wonderful choices, just wait, you will see

[Rainbow Dash]

I need something real fast like a bullet to keep up with me

[Fluttershy]

Sure! How 'bout a bunny?
They're cutesy and wootsie and quick as can be

[Lightning Sprint]

Cutesy? Wootsie? Have you met me?

[Rainbow Dash]

Or me?

[Fluttershy]
You both, have faith
You see, I will bet you
Somewhere in here is the pet that will get you
“Come on, the sky's the limit!” Fluttershy said as she began to flew towards the the cottage.

“Sky is good. I'd like it to fly.” Rainbow Dash said.

“Gotta be able to head to the skies so they aren’t lonely at home.” Lightning Sprint said.

“Really? Because I think this widdle puddy tat has your name written all over it. Yes, he does.” Fluttershy told them as the cat rubbed his face against Lightning Sprint’s “Aww, look, he likes you!”

“Pass.” Lightning and Rainbow Dash both said.

[Fluttershy]

I have so many wonderful choices for you to decide
There are otters and seals
With massive appeal

“Otters and seals do not fly.” Rainbow Dash said.

“Maybe not, but I've seen this particular seal catch ten feet of air when he breaches the water!” Fluttershy said. The seal barked and clapped its flippers.

“That's it. I'm outta here.” Rainbow Dash said.

“I wanna see the other options.” Lightning Sprint said.

[Fluttershy]

Wait! There must be a pet here
That will fit the ticket
How 'bout a ladybug, or a cute cricket?

“Bigger.”

“And cooler.”

“Bigger, cooler. Right.” Fluttershy responded.

[Fluttershy]

I've got just the thing in that tree, Rainbow Dash
Meet your new fabulous pet, Squirrely!

“It's just a squirrel.” Lightning Sprint pointed out.

“Not just any squirrel. A flying squirrel!” Fluttershy said as she threw the squirrel into the air, allowing it to safely glide to the ground. The two blue Pegasi looked at one another and rolled their eyes.

“Flutters, Listen, we appreciate this bit-” Lightning was gonna say, only for Rainbow Dash to interrupt her.

[Rainbow Dash]

Fluttershy, pal, this won't cut it
I need a pet to keep up with me
Something awesome, something flying
With coolness that defies gravity!

“I'm sensing you both want an animal that can fly.” Fluttershy said.

“I’m here just to say, ya think?” Chad said as he walked over. Rainbow Dash and Lightning Sprint doubletaked.

“When did you-”

[Fluttershy]

I have plenty of wonderful creatures who soar in the sky
Like a sweet hummingbird or a giant monarch butterfly

“Better, but cooler.” Lightning Sprint egged on.

[Fluttershy]

I see. How 'bout an owl, or a wasp, or a toucan?
There's so many wonderful creatures the likes of that
There are falcons and eagles
They are both quite regal
Or perhaps what you need is a dark and mysterious bat?

[Rainbow Dash]

Now you're talking! But instead of just one standout, now that's too many.
So many choices, and such riches aplenty

“Not a bad problem to have, if you ask me.” Bandit said as he walked over.

“Where did you come from?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Came to get Chad out of the song.” Bandit said as he grabbed Chad and walked off.

[Lightning Sprint]

The bat would be awesome, but the wasp I'm digging too
Do you have something in a yellow striped bat?

“Nope.” Fluttershy answered.

[Fluttershy]

I've got a hot pink flamingo, just dying to meet you

[Rainbow Dash]

What to do, what to do? *gasp*
A prize! That's it! There's really just one way
To find out which animal's best
Hold a contest of speed, agility, and guts
That will put each pet to the test

[Fluttershy]

Don't forget style, that should be considered

[Lighting Sprint]

Then we'll know for sure who's best of the litter

[Fluttershy]

The one who is awesomest cool

[Rainbow Dash]

Just like me

[Lightning Sprint]

Can't settle for less, 'cause we’re the best

[Fluttershy, Lightning Sprint and Rainbow Dash]

So a contest we will see

[Rainbow Dash and Lightning]

Who's the number one, greatest, perfectest pet

[Fluttershy, Lightning Sprint and Rainbow Dash]

In the world for me!

[Fluttershy]

May the games

[Fluttershy, Lightning Sprint and Rainbow Dash]

Begin!

“And may the best pet win!” Lightning Sprint and Rainbow Dash said before hoof bumping.

Later, Bandit, Chad and Big Macintosh were finishing set up the pet Olympics that were going to be taking place. The animals that were going to be participating. The builder 3 finished and gave a nod to Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow Dash then blew a whistle to get the attention of the peticipants.

“So! You all think you've got what it takes to be my pet, do ya? Well, we'll just see about that! If any of you don't think you can handle it, bow out now before you humiliate yourself in front of your peers. This competition isn't for the weak. You'd better be prepared to step up your game!” She looked right at a monarch butterfly, and Lightning Sprint zipped right over to it.

“You call that flapping?!” Lightning Sprint drilled. The butterfly began to flap even faster as a result. “That's better.”

“There's only room on Team Rainbow Dash and Team Sprint for one of you, technically two, and out future pet needs to be able to take it to the extreme! Any questions?” Rainbow Dash asked.

"I got one," Applejack muttered. "Does she understand what a pet really needs?"

"Yeah, like care and attention, love and affection!" Twilight said before Winona suddenly licked her face before Klaw came back to play with her. "Ugh! And breath mints!"

Meanwhile, Fluttershy showed up and put at the end of the line next to the hummingbird the tortoise. "Now, you just pay attention, and try your best, and-" she began.

"Seriously, Fluttershy! The turtle? What did you bring that thing here for?" Rainbow asked.

"Technically he's a tortoise, and he's always dreamed of being somepony's pet," the yellow pegasus corrected her while polishing his shell with a cloth and hugged. "He just wants a chance to compete, he won't get in the way. You won't even know he's here."

"No." Rainbow Dash said.

"Oh come on RD, let him try at least." Lightning said.

"Ugh, but there's no way he can possibly keep up. Look at him!" Rainbow Dash said.

"Let the tortoise try Rainbow. Unless you're too scared you might grow attached." Chad decided to toy with, to get in her head.

“What’s that supposed to mean?!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

“Simple, it might just win you over and you’re afraid of that.” Chad smugly told her. Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes.

“Fine. Let him join.” Rainbow Dash said. Chad pulled out a clipboard and marked a tally on it, which got the attention of the others near by.

“Now for what’s gonna be on the agenda for Rainbow and Lightning’s pet.” Chad said as he put away the clipboard.

"These games will determine which one of you has the most important qualities we're looking for in a pet." Lightning Sprint explained.

"Speed. Agility. Guts. Style. Coolness. Awesomeness. And radicalness." Rainbow Dash added.

"Those last three are all the same thing Rainbow. You basically just said a bunch of synonyms and call them obstacles." Bandit told her with a raised eyebrow.

"You would think that, Bandit. That's why you'd never qualify as my pet." Rainbow said. Bandit chuckled.

“Rainbow, you and I both know that you’d be the pet in this relationship.” Bandit said as he patted her head.

"Well... that's a mental image I never thought I'd have." Lightning Sprint muttered.

Later on, all of the animals were lined up to start the 1st test. The two pegasi were lined up with them, ready to show them how it was done. Having them lined up on a simple race track, the two got the animals ready.

"Alright. First up is speed." Lightning Sprint told them.

"On your marks. Get set." Rainbow Dash said before narrowing her eyes and then blowing her whistle to set them off. The birds and insects shot down the track while the tortoise slowly made his way, one step at the time.

Achilles looked at Spike and then the tortoise. Clearly wanting to help the guy. Spike looked at the others to make sure nobody noticed him before subtly nodding, giving Achilles the go ahead. Achilles flew over and gave tortoise a helpful push. With this help, the tortoise was able to cross the finish line…….dead last.

“That’s just sad.” Rainbow Dash said.

The next game for the flyers was an obstacle course they needed to get through in order to test their agility.

“Next up, Agility!” Lightning Sprint said as she blew her whistle.

The animals began performing the agility course. Ace walked over to help the tortoise through the hoop. Spike smiled softly upon noticing, then turning to look at Chad. Chad was giving a nod of approval...then the tortoise got flipped on his back. Ace helped flip him over.

"Wanna know the opposite of agility? That." Rainbow Dash said as she flew by.

Then there was a hummingbird that seemed to do the entire course completely flawless.

"Yeah! Now that's Agility!" She exclaimed, holding up her hoof. The hummingbird looked at her and her hoof.

"Come on, don't leave me hanging." Rainbow Dash said. The hummingbird slapped her hoof with a wing and nearly dropped out of the sky when she stopped flapping.

"I'm gonna have to deduct a point from your score for that." She said.

It was now time to test the flyers and tortoise's guts, and Rainbow Dash gestured to a carrier that Opalescence was in, and in front of the open door was her toy mouse.

"Now. Which one of you has the guts to take Opal's favorite toy away from her?" Rainbow Dash asked, placing down the mouse. Klaw was waving to Opal to try and get her attention. Opal growled at all the pets, holding up her claws before noticing Klaw. Fang gestured to the tortoise as if to say, don't harm him, which Opal narrowed her eyes at him. Klaw gave her the adorable begging eyes, and She relented, turning her head away from the Tortoise. Taking advantage of this, the butterfly grabbed the squeaking toy mouse and brought it back over to the blue pegasus.

"Now that takes guts!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed. Klaw, Ace, and Achilles facepawed/facewinged. Fang tapped Klaw to requested a paw since he didn’t have obe. Klaw placed a paw over Fang’s head to replicate a facepaw.

Up next was a photo shoot and the animals took turns posing with Rainbow Dash and Lightning Sprint to show off their style, and most of them were doing a great job since Rarity was helping with the makeup, outfits, and props.

"Any pet of ours has to look the part. We'll come as a set!" Lightning explained with a smile.

The last photo with the tortoise didn't turn out too good, despite his best effort to not hide when the flash went off. The pegasi were both looking at one another as it was taken.

Next up was the coolness challenge.

"Coolness." Rainbow Dash said, wanting to hear the sounds the animals made.

Each flyer did their best with the owl hooting, the duck quacking, various other sounds and the only failures were the butterfly, who couldn't make a sound, and the tortoise, who could only cough.

"You need a cough drop?" Lightning asked.

Bandit walked over with one, giving it to the tortoise as an eagle call went off. Scaring the tortoise into his shell.

Now it was time to see which of the animals could be awesome, and each took their turn, doing the best they could.

"Kinda awesome, not awesome, could be more awesome." Rainbow Dash said before watching the owl spin its head. "Oh yeah, now that's awesome."

The tortoise stuck it's head into his shell.

"Uh, you did that already. That's all you can do, huh?"

At the radicalness competition, the flyers all did various talents and the bat played a song on water glasses. When the song was done, the bat screeched and the glasses shattered into dust. Lightning Sprint was staring in disbelief.

"That was awesome!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed. "But this is the radicalness competition so I'm gonna have to take some points off."

Next up was the tortoise. The tortoise tried to do a stunt that left him upside-down on his shell. The falcon who was part of the competition flew over and began trying to help flip him over.

Lightning softly smiled, seeing the Falcon helping him up.

Rainbow Dash sighed as she walked over. "Listen turtle-"

"Tortoise." Bandit, Chad and Fluttershy corrected.

"Whatever." Rainbow Dash said. "Look, it's quite clear who made the cut and who didn't."

The owl, bald eagle, the falcon, and the bat flew overhead, and the tortoise made a croaking sound.

"A+ for effort and everything. I'm sure that I've got a gold star somewhere you can have."

“I'm the gold star giver.” Chad said as he popped up with a sticker page full of them.

"See?" Rainbow Dash said, pointing to them. The tortoise only looked at her, still willing to participate.

"Aaaaanyway." Rainbow Dash said, moving towards the others. They all looked at her, willing to participate still.

"Your final daring and awesome task is...... pause for dramatic effect."

"Seriously Rainbow Dash?" Lightning asked

"Is a race against us!" Rainbow Dash announced.

"I don't think you understand the concept of dramatic effect." Chad said as he crossed something off a list.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Rainbow Dash asked. Chad looked up at her with a smirk.

“It simply means…..” Chad paused. “Don't announce dramatic effect pauses.”

Chad then walked off. She stuck her tongue out at him as he went.

"Are the 2 of you going to continue Explaining what exactly is required?" Bandit reminded them.

"Right! We're gonna race through Ghastly Gorge." Lightning began.

"Dun dun duuuuun." Rainbow added for effect.

"That's two isn't it?" Lightning asked Chad, looking towards the list. Chad glared at her.

"Don't look at my trope checklist." Chad said.

"My bad." She said.

"It's not that scary. It's fun, I've flown through it plenty of times so I'll be at the front." Rainbow Dash said.

“I'll be right there with her.” Lightning Sprint said.

“Because we both know she won't be ahead of her.” Spike said to Chad.

“I heard that!” Lightning Sprint exclaimed, Chad crossed something else off the list.

"Alright. Whichever one of you crosses the line with us, will prove that you can be our pet." Rainbow Dash said as she stretched.

Everyone took positions.

"Ready." Lightning said, opening her wings.

"Set go!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed, zipping off.

"No fair!" Lightning raced after her. They shot off like rockets with the four flyers setting off after them.

The tortoise looked around, found a path that led off the ledge, and he started for it. The two pegasi were a good way ahead of the animals, zipping through the gorge with ease. Upon reaching a windy tunnel, they both pushed through to the other side.

"Can't catch me!" Rainbow Dash said, getting through first.

The four flyers reached the tunnel and it was a struggle for them to get through it, which they eventually did, even the bat despite having been blown out of the tunnel once. Down on the ground, the tortoise was slowly making his way along.

Rainbow Dash whistled a tune as they flew before reaching a patch of thorns.

"Come on slowpokes. You wanna win don't ya?" She asked.

The four flyers reached the brambles and while the owl, bald eagle, and falcon had issues with the thorns, the bat used his sonar to make it safely through with the three birds eventually following.

Getting to the next section, Rainbow Dash turned to face them.

"I forgot to mention. Watch out for the eels. They don't let it when you get too close to their nests. Like this." Rainbow Dash said as she nimbly flew between the holes and avoided the eels.

"I hate this bit." Lightning huffed before following.

Exchanging a look, the four flyers flew through the area, just barely avoiding being eaten and/or caught by the eels. While down below, the tortoise was still making his way on the ground, and so he was never noticed by the Quarry eels.

"Easy peasy one two threesie, right guys?" Rainbow Dash said before slamming her back into the side of a rock. The rock started cracking, and large pieces began to fall.

"Avalanche!" Lightning exclaimed, avoiding the falling pieces.

The avalanche continued to fall towards the two until eventually Rainbow Dash ended up getting buried.

She tried to fly back up but her wing was caught "Huh?!"

The rock was completely pinning her wing with no hope of getting it off herself.

Turning towards the animals, she watched as they flew by.

"Hey wait!"

She was a little too far away for any of them to hear her, so they kept going without her.

"Lightning!" She called out but like the animals she was too far. She was truly by herself, none of the animals nor her best friend noticed she was there.

"Somepony, anypony, help me!!" Rainbow Dash called out.

Minutes passed and the blue pegasus spent them, trying to free her wing while calling out for help, but she wasn't having any luck with either. Just when she was about ready to give up, she heard something coming, and she could see a large shadow heading her way.

"Woo! My prayers have been answered. Oh thank you thank you thank you." Rainbow Dash began. The shadow was revealed to belong to the tortoise. "You?! Not only am I gonna be stuck here forever but I'm gonna be dead last."

The tortoise continued to walk over towards the Boulder.

"I'm doomed. Doomed I tell you!"

The tortoise examined the side of the rock, dug a hole with one foot, and then he stuck his head into it. Straining a little, he slowly began to lift the rock with his head, and the crying blue pegasus stopped and stared in shock. The tortoise was raising the rock off her wing.

Rainbow Dash stared in disbelief as the rock came off of her wing.

At the finish line, the rest of the group were awaiting who would cross the line first. The five ponies plus changeling had set up a finish line and were waiting with their own pets and Spike when they heard the cries of the eagle and the falcon. Spotting the four flyers, and they began cheering as the falcon crossed the finish line first with the other three flyers behind him. However, their cheers began fading away when they realized that a certain friend hadn't appeared yet.

"Woo!" Lightning Sprint exclaimed as she came over the line. However, upon seeing their faces, she could tell something was wrong.

"Where's Rainbow Dash?" Fluttershy wondered, worried. Bandit sniffed the air.

"She's on her way." He said. Lightning turned to look over her shoulder. Bandit pointed to the edge of the gorge. They all looked and saw a figure making their way over to them. The figure of something was slowly coming into view. Sure enough it would be Rainbow Dash... sitting on the tortoise's back.

"It's the turtle!" Fluttershy gasped.

"Tortoise." Bandit and Chad corrected.

"And he's carrying something on his back…"

"Ahh! It's Rainbow Dash!" Pinkie Pie squealed when the dust finally cleared to reveal their battered and bandaged friend. "It's her! It's Rainbow!"

With the tortoise moving at a very slow pace, it would take a while for them to get there. The ponies and the baby dragon all cheered, but their cheering slowly died down again when they realized that it was going to take a while for the tortoise to reach the finish line, even with the blue pegasus on his back.

The falcon flew off and got behind the tortoise, giving him a helpful push.

"Maybe we should meet them half way." Fluttershy said. Agreeing, Bandit and Chad picked up the finish line and carried it over to the 3. Twilight levitated over the posts, putting them in the ground over the line. The group began to cheer as the tortoise stepped over the line.

Chad patted the tortoise on the head. "Huh. Way to go, little guy!"

"Rainbow Dash, are you alright?" Lightning asked. "Is anything damaged?"

"Just my pride." Rainbow replied.

“So nothing of value got lost.” Lightning jabbed. Rainbow Dash jabbed her with her hoof.

"I certainly hope all of this dreadful dust was worth it!" Rarity said, sneezing a little on the lingering dust.

"It sure was if that means Rainbow can have her own little critter like the rest of us." Applejack said. The falcon flew over and landed on her back.

Rainbow turned to look at the falcon and softly smiled at it.

"Right. My new pet, yeah, that."

"You got your perfect pet, right?" Pinkie Pie asked.

"The best of the best like you wanted, remember?" Fluttershy reminded her friend. "It can fly and it's not a squirrel! Should we sing about it again?"

"A Falcon sure looks good on ya Rainbow." Applejack told her. Rarity set up the camera and took a picture. The flash scared the tortoise yelped and hid himself in his shell. Chad turned towards the viewers.

“Here it comes.”

"Easy fella, nothing to be scared of." Rainbow told him before looking up at the falcon. "The falcon is everything I want in a pet."

"Yay?" Fluttershy offered.

"But I said that whoever crossed the line with me got to be my pet." Rainbow said. "And the only one who finished the race with me was the tortoise."

The falcon went wide eyed in surprise.

Pinkie Pie began bouncing around, having heard the same thing. "You did!" she exclaimed. "You did say that! She did say that, that was the rule!"

"And it is important to follow the rules," Bandit agreed.

"Yup and he was the only one who stopped to save me when I needed help." Rainbow Dash said. The falcon sadly hopped off her back.

Chad and Ace patted the falcon on the back as it did.

"You still did good."

Turning to the tortoise, the falcon shared a wing/legshake before walking away.

"And you're going where?" Lightning asked, following him smiling.

"You didn't forget lightning Sprint was also looking for a pet did you?" Bandit asked the Falcon. The falcon blinked a few times before looking at her.

"You totally did." Lightning said in mock shock.

"I mean we're not surprised, it is pretty often that we forget about the sloppy seconds." Chad smugly joked. She slowly turned to playfully glare at him. "Don't look at me like that, that's pay back for looking at my list or later." Chad smirked.

"Why are you so protective over a list, hmm?" She asked.

“Just my thing, Lights.” Chad said with a shrug.

The others were all looking towards Rainbow Dash and her new pet.

Realizing that he was the winner, the tortoise slowly smiled at the group.

"Wouldja look at that? He even smiles slow," Applejack remarked and they all laughed.

"Chad, Spike, take a letter." Rainbow Dash told them. Chad took out the paper and looked at Spike. Spike took out the quill, looking back at him.

"Today I learned what the most important quality really is. A certain kind of spirit. A stick-to-it-ive-ness. A never give up, can-do attitude that's the mark of a real winner. And this tortoise has it." She said.

As she spoke, she watched as Opalescence played with her toy mouse until the tortoise came over to nudge her, and she growled as she leapt onto his shell while he hid inside.

While the cat was busy clawing uselessly at his shell, the tortoise stuck his head out long enough to grab the toy mouse in his mouth and pulled it inside with a squeak. Realizing that she'd been tricked, Opalescence hopped off and stalked past the blue pegasus, who'd chuckled and the other ponies all giggled.

"Tenacity." Twilight said.

"Gesundheit. You just can't stop that little guy. He's like a... like a... Tank!" Rainbow Dash said.

"That's what you're gonna name him?" Bandit asked her.

"Yeah, it's fitting." She nodded.

"But Rainbow!" said Fluttershy. "You didn't want a pet that couldn't fly because it would keep you grounded and hold you back, remember?"

"Hmmmmm.." Rainbow thought.

The next day the ponies were at the park with their pets and having a good time. Rainbow was heading towards the group before looking over her shoulder.

"Heh. C'mon, Tank! We're gonna be late for our very first Pony Pet Playdate!"

Tank came flying in on a custom made propeller, helping him fly. Rainbow smiled and led him towards the others. Achilles was flying around before swooping towards Lightning Sprint, to tag her falcon. The falcon turned to look at Achilles as he swooped in. Achilles tagged the falcon and flew off. The falcon turned before taking off after him.

"Looks like Swift is making friends already." Lightning said.

"Seems like they all are." Bandit said as he watched them play.

Later, the pets were under the tree looking amongst each other, speaking in their own language.

"So, looks like we're all friends now, huh?" Klaw asked with Fang around his neck.

"It sure does!" Winona answered.

"I look forward to hanging out with you guys." Ace said as he sat down. His voice did not at all match his enthusiasm for his new found friends. At all.

"As long as you all don't make a mess." Opal said.

Achilles flopped his body weight onto her with a smirk.

"Achilles!" She huffed.

"Looks perfectly fine to me." Swift said.

They all looked at Swift, rather surprised.

"Swift.....you're a girl?" Fang asked.

"Of course. Wait, did you all think I was a guy?" Swift asked, looking at them all. They all nodded.

Escape from the Future

View Online

It was a bright and sunny day in Ponyville. Bandit and Twilight were getting ready to head to Canterlot for a couple of days, for Bandit’s practice in Chaos Magic. Twilight was beyond excited for the trip, wanting to seeing everything that Bandit's new magic would have to offer.

"Why is it that you always seem more excited to see my mom than I am?" Bandit asked her as he picked up the bags.

"There's always new learning experiences when we visit the princess." She answered, hopping around on her tippyhooves.

"Yeah. That's why I'M the one learning chaos magic." Bandit jokingly teased her.

"Don't worry about a thing Bandit, this house will be spotless when you get back." Chad said with a salute. He and spike had every intention of being alone when they were gone, unfortunately twilight took care of a precaution. Hiring a babysitter.

"Oh, I know it will be. That's why I went to the trouble of hiring a babysitter for the two of you whilst we're away." Twilight replied, smiling at the two of them. Chad let out an audible groan.

"Spike, Code Purple." He said, signaling him to put the hidden drinks back.

"Purple? Ugh." Spike groaned, heading to put them away. There was a knock at the door and Bandit walked over and opened it, seeing Octavia on the other side.

"Oh, hey there Tavi." Bandit said.

"Hello Bandit, Twilight, how are you both?" Octavia asked.

"Doing good. We're just about to leave. Hopefully these two won't give you too much trouble." Bandit said, ruffling Chad's hair.

"Oh there's no need to worry, I'm sure that the three of us will have a wonderful time together." Octavia responded, smiling at both Chad and Spike as he walked back over to them.

"Just don't tell Twilight about Code Purple." Bandit said with a wink as he began walking out.

"I'll make sure not to." She smirked.

Twilight would follow after Bandit.

"You two behave now." She told Chad and Spike.

"That means you Spike." Chad snarkly told her.

"Not everything is aimed at me." He said deadpanned

"See two in a couple of days." Bandit said as he closed the door.

"Hopefully Ms. Octavia won't be a stick in the mud." Chad said with a tail whip

"I'm sure it'll be fine." Spike said.

"Well boys, looks like it's just us now." Octavia said as she walked over. "Is there anything in particular you'd like to do?"

"Well, after I learned how to use Partial Morphing, Spike and I were about to celebrate by making a bunch of bad decisions under the influence of a non existence sugar rush. Want to join us? It'll be quite the adventure." Chad offered.

"A non existence sugar rush you say? Hmmmmm." She brought a hoof up to her chin in thought.

"He's got a point." Spike added.

Octavia pondered the thought for a few moments more before looking at them.

"Can you make a decision before the intro please?" Chad asked. Then a magic circle formed around them.

Octavia's decision was promptly halted as she looked around at the circle that surrounded them.

"Huh. This is a bit weird. Is this part of the adventure?" Chad asked. Then the circle opened as a portal and sucked them all in before closing just as fast.

My Little Pony,
My Big Changeling too
Ahh, ahh, ahh, ahhh…

[Bandit]
(My Little Pony)

We used to wonder what friendship could be
(My Big Changeling too)

[Twilight Sparkle]
Until you all shared its magic with me

[Rainbow Dash]
Big adventure

[Pinkie Pie]
Tons of fun

[Rarity]
A beautiful heart

[Applejack]
Faithful and strong

[Fluttershy]
Sharing kindness!

[Lightning Sprint]
Motivate the team

[Bandit]
Heroics makes it all complete
You have my little ponies
Do you know you're all my very best friends?

The three of them were falling, inside of some kind of tube like structure with what looked like a galaxy behind them.

"What in Equestria is happening?!" Octavia exclaimed as they fell, looking around frantically and trying to put it all together.

"I have no idea!" Chad exclaimed.

"You!" A female voice came from the right.

Spike was the first to turn in that direction, looking at where the voice came from.

Next was Chad and A white earth pony Mare grabbed them both. The mare had a galactic mane of some kind with a black cape and a green gem on the cape.

"Finally! I'll have my revenge!" She said upon grabbing them. Her eyes were sparkling with magic.

"Hey! You let them go! Whoever you are." Octavia said, reaching to pull them away from her.

The mare grabbed her and pushed her off with a lot of strength, nearly pushing her out of the tube. Chad grabbed Octavia with his magic before spitting in the mare's face, making her let go of them. A portal opened for a split second and swallowed them. The mare on the other hand ended up going through a different portal.

Chad, Spike, and Octavia landed in Ponyville, behind Sugar Cube Corner

Spike landed on his back and Octavia would land beside him.

"What was all that about?!" Spike exclaimed.

Chad landed on the ground next to them and shook his head.

"Told you we'd drop in today." Chad was heard saying. Chad turned to his own voice and saw.....him and Spike standing there.

Spike picked himself up off the ground, looking towards Chad..... and Chad.

"Uh."

"Hey, don't be alarmed, we're just you guys from the future." Other Spike said as he sipped his drink.

Spike blinked a few times to check if he processed that correctly.

Octavia would shake herself off as she stood up.

"I'm sorry. From the future?" Chad asked in surprise.

"Well, TECHNICALLY you guys are us from the past who landed into the future." Future Chad told them.

"The future? I think I hit my head too hard." Octavia commented.

"Trust me. You didn't." Future Octavia said behind them, with a sack of bits on her back.

"Sapphire Spectre ended up sending you into the future." Future Spike said. Future Chad slapped the back of his head.

"Dang it Spike! Why did you do that!?" Future Chad chastised.

"Ow! I forgot!"

"Sapphire Spectre?" Spike asked, tilting his head.

"Ugh. Sapphire Spectre. She's a tyrant who went back in time to get her revenge after we foiled her plans last time. And now thanks to Spike, we have a bootstrap paradox on our hooves." Future Chad said with a facepalm.

"Well, if this Sapphire Spectre is as bad as you say she is, what are we supposed to do?" Octavia asked. "This isn't exactly how we'd planned our day to go."

"Well, thankfully, all you need to do is find the time medallion’s puzzles at black skull island." Future Chad said.

"That's....really far." Chad said.

"That's the only thing we can do?" Spike asked, his facial expression showing his hesitation.

"All you have to do to get back to your original timeline, that and solve the time medallion’s puzzles to get the time medallion. I would be very VERY careful though. Sapphire Spectre might have changed her pursuit like she did with us. When we landed in the future, our future selves said that the time medallion was in the everfree forest, and Sapphire moved it to black skull Island at the last second." Future Chad said.

“It was right after we solved those puzzles too, that was irritating.” Future Spike answered.

"Why don't we just use Starswirl the bearded's time spell?" Chad asked with a head tilt.

"There is no guarantee you'll go back in time to your own timeline. That thing is WAY too unstable for someone as young as the two of us with no time travel experience. Even someone WITH time travel experience if it isn't modified."

"So we won't know if she'll have moved it again until we get there?" Spike said.

"Well, if that is the case, then we'd better get moving hadn't we?" Octavia added.

"Before you get moving, here." Future Octavia said as she gave her past self the bag of bits on her back.

Octavia took the bag, putting it on her back. "H-How much is in here exactly?"

"1501 bits. When you get back to the past, ask Time Turner for a replica of that device that combines Science and Magic." Future Octavia said.

"Sorcery Screwdriver." Future Chad clarified.

"There it is." Future Octavia said. The thing was, none of them have met time Turner, aka doctor whooves yet.

"Sorcery Screwdriver?" Spike asked. "Where are we supposed to find that?"

"Spike, she just said Time Turner was gonna make it, pay attention." Chad glared at him.

"Get a move on, you don't want to take to long." Future Chad said.

"Can you come with us?" Chad asked.

"I'd love to, but someone's gotta keep Pinkie's mouth shut about The news on Cadence." Future Chad said.

Spike winced slightly at Chad's response before looking at future Chad.

"News? What news?"

"I can't tell you that, but I can tell you that the answers to the puzzles are 12 for Now, 18 for future, and 1 for the past. Head out. And be careful." Future Chad told them as he held out the map to Blackskull Island.

"Alright, let's get going!" Octavia said before taking a nervous breath. The three began to walk off….without the map.

"I think you'll need this map." Future Chad said.

Spike ran back and took the map and opened it up to look at it, having a brief scan before folding it up once again.

"Thanks."

"Good luck out there." Future Chad said as he walked back and snagged Pinkie's impatient tail.

Pinkie let out an audible help after being grabbed.

"Well, I guess that's that." Spike commented.

"Let's make sure we're careful. If we screw something up with ourselves we'll screw up a lot!" Chad said as he walked. He knew about the laws of time travel, after all. Bandit and Twilight taught him, he didn't fall asleep during it.

"Well then, let's keep our wits about us." Octavia said, looking between the two of them.

"Right!" Chad said. "Part of me wishes we went Back in time. This would be so much easier."

That statement was a bit confusing considering how movies portrayed going to the past.

"Wouldn't that also change things up?" Spike asked. "Y'know, going back and changing events?"

"That's not how Time travel works Spike. Did you fall asleep when Bandit and Twilight were teaching us about that?" Chad asked with a raised eyebrow.

Spike just sighed at that. "Enlighten us."

"When you go back in time, the present is the past, and the past is your future. So what ever you do, it isn’t gonna effect the present, the worst that will happen is that you make timelines that move simultaneously to our own. However, when you go FORWARD in time, you ARE the past, and whatever happens to you will drastically harm the future. Worst case scenario, you completely erase yourself from the timeline and from everyone's memories." Chad answered.

"Erase yourself entirely?!" Octavia asked in surprise

Chad nodded his head.

"Buuuuuut, this is rated E. That isn't gonna happen to us." Chad said with a grin. He then looked up and saw the TV-Y7 symbol pop up again, before slapping it away with his tail. "Pretend you didn't see that."

Spike and Octavia looked at one another with a shrug.

Chad took the map out to read it over and began to follow it. He had his head in the map as he walked.

"Don't worry guys, we'll be their before we know it. Heck, I know a short cut!" Chad said.

[One week later]

Chad, Spike, and Octavia were all on a boat with Blackskull island in view.

"See? I knew jumping on that time card was our best bet. Saved us a 7 day trek." Chad said.

Octavia opened her mouth to speak but Spike shook his head.

"Don't question it."

"Woo! Blackskull Island ahead. Octavia, deploy the anchor." Chad told her with a smile.

"Aye aye!" She exclaimed, dropping down the anchor

The moment she did, she instead ended up hitting dirt as they were no longer in the water. They had transported to the ground.

She peered over the side, looking down at the dirt that she hit.

"Uh, land ho?"

"What just happened?" Chad asked. He turned around and saw a portal close behind him. "She moved us again."

“Again!?” Spike exclaimed then raised an eyebrow. “Wait how are we back here if we’re in a different parts in time? Shouldn’t we be in the same spot just on a different date?”

“Spike the planet moves, I think we should be grateful we aren’t in the vacuum of space.” Chad said. Octavia groaned.

“Where are we now?” Octavia asked.

“You’re in the everfree forest.” A voice said from near them. This time it wasn’t the three of them in the future. This made them turn around and saw a pair of massive, yellow eyes looking right at them. Spike and Octavia yelled in fear, whereas Chad tilted his head.

“What’s a Sphinx doing in the everfree forest?” Chad asked.

“I live in the cave nearby.” The Sphinx said as she stood up straight. She stood over the trees and looked down at them. Chad looked up at her with wide eyes.

“Wow, you’re large.” Chad said. The Sphinx smiled.

“Why thank you, now before I assist you, I need to make sure you are actually Chad, and not some kind of herald of Sapphire Spectre.” The Sphinx said as she loafed. “Each one of you must solve these riddles. Starting with you Miss Octavia.”

“Of course.” Octavia said with a gulp,

“Your first riddle. What goes up, but never goes down?” The Sphinx asked her. Octavia thought for a moment and then realized the answer.

“Ah! My age.” Octavia said. The Sphinx nodded.

“Correct. You’re next Mr. The Dragon.” The Sphinx said. Spike sighed and looked up at the Sphinx.

“Go easy on me, please.” Spike said.

“Though sharp or flat, I don’t cut or go on the floor. I possess many keys, yet open no doors. What am I?” The Sphinx asked him. Spike tapped his chin and began to think. Then he got the answer.

“A piano.” Spike answered. The Sphinx smiled and nodded.

“Correct again.” She then turned to Chad. “Now for you. Your future self told me that you’ll probably get this answer before I even finish the riddle. So here is yours.”

“Ready.” Chad said with a salute.

“Once I’m past, I’m considered gone. Most try to stop me but I march on. Though during fun, I-”

“Time.” Chad answered.

“I should have expected that.” The sphinx said as she used her wing to work as a ramp. “Okay, all aboard, I’m taking you to Black Skull Island.”

“Just like that?” Chad asked. The Sphinx nodded her head.

“You don’t know this yet but in the future you helped me with something that I owe you like…..7 Favors for. This is favor the first favor.”

“Sweet!” Chad said as he climbed on. Spike was hesitant at first but walked onto her back as well, followed by Octavia. Spreading her wings, the Sphinx took to the skies and flew towards Black Skull island.

“Do you…uh? Do you have a name?” Spike asked.

“Nekopatra!” She said with a smile.

[24 Hours Later]

Nekopatra landed on the docks and they saw Black Skull island straight ahead.

“I see Black Skull Island up ahead.” Chad said with a smile, waking up Spike and Octavia. Nekopatra tilted her head.

“Huh, I didn’t know the waters sank the island.” Nekopatra said. The three looked at her a bit confused.

“I’m sorry, sank the island?” Spike asked.

“Hold on tight.” Nekopatra said as she flew towards the island. She then grabbed the mouth of the island and began flying upwards. Soon, she began pulling up the island itself. Chad, Spike, and Octavia went wide eyed as the head of the island slowly began to be revealed as an entire body of an island. Water was slowly spilling out of the entrances, especially the massive entrance in the island’s body.

“So black skull island was really….this?” Spike asked, still in shock from the fact that Nekopatra just literally pulled an island to the surface.

“Back in my day, this was called Black Obsidian Island.” Nekopatra said. Octavia looked at her like she was crazy.

“Black Obsid-....that island was from thousands of years ago!” Octavia said.

“Meh, a little over 994 years ago.” Nekopatra clarified.

“I’m sorry, how old are you?” Spike asked. Nekopatra glared at her.

“Never ask a lady her age.” She scolded him. Spike silenced himself. Nekopatra flew down to the entrance and landed before the large opening. “I do appreciate the entrance being big enough to fit me.”

She walked inside and turns out, while the entrance was big enough to fit her, the inside wasn’t exactly roomy for her. While she could fit, it was practically impossible to open her wings.

“While we appreciate your assistance Nekopatra, I doubt the inside is as roomy as the door.” Octavia said.

“I’ll see if I can back out so you can explore the inside without me.” Nekopatra said. She took one step back and felt and heard a snap.

“What was that?” Spike asked.

“My hoof went through the floor, I think we’re about to fall-” Nekopatra just got out before the floor collapsed completely, resulting in all of the falling, and two girly screams being heard. Only one of them belonged to a girl though.

Nekopatra looked down below and saw a lit temple like area that they were getting closer too. Since she couldn’t open her wings, she activated her claws and dug them into the wall, making them slow down and before they could fall out of the ceiling, they came to a complete stop. The four let out a sigh and Nekopatra let go to land on the floor. Ahead of them was a lit path of torches leading towards a medallion that had a clock in the middle of it.

“That’s the time medallion!” Spike said as he began running towards it. Chad grabbed his tail and yanked him back.

“Spike wait.” Chad said before letting go of his tail. “That’s a bunch of fire torches, still being lit after the island was submerged under water for 994 years. Don’t you think that’s a bit suspicious?”

Spike blinked at him and then looked at the fire. And as he squinted, he was able to see that the fire wasn’t even moving.

“Dude, that’s creepy.” Spike said. Nekopatra suddenly conjured a rock into her paw and threw it, and the rock disappeared, as if it went into some kind of invisible path way.

“It looks like some kind of invisible doorway.” Nekopatra said as she walked forward.

“Do you think its a trap?” Octavia asked.

“It could be, maybe we should go in all at the same time.” Chad said. Spike, Nekopatra and Octavia looked at each other and nodded. They stood in front of the invisible pathway.

“How about we go on three?” Octavia asked.

“Okay. One.” Spike started.

“Two.” Spike said.

“Three!” Chad said as he, Octavia and Spike jumped into the barrier. Nekopatra was in the pouncing position when they jumped, not going in at the same time as them due to thinking they meant ‘1 2 3 go’ rather than ‘1 2 go on 3’.

Chad landed inside of a room with a floor that looked like a massive clock without numbers. There were also no walls, and no ceiling, just a black void. Chad looked around for Octavia, Nekopatra and Spike, only to see that they were nowhere to be found.

Spike landed on a giant hour hand and looked forward to see Romane Numerals ahead. There wasn’t a floor, there wasn’t any walls, just a black void below, above and around him.

Octavia landed on a floor that had a lot of surrounding Romane Numeral numbers, as if it was a massive clock without the hands. She looked down and there was a floor, and a wall, but their was no ceiling, just a black void above her. All three of them had a note right at their feet. Chad’s note said, ‘Now’. Octavia’s note said ‘Future’. Spike’s note said ‘Past’.

Chad looked at the note and then thought back to what his future self said.

“"I can't tell you that, but I can tell you that the answers to the puzzles are 12 for Now, 18 for future, and 1 for the past.

Chad looked forward at the number XII and walked over to it. He stepped on the number and an arrow appeared above him and told him to go forward. Spike hesitated, but placed a paw onto the void and saw that he could walk across it without falling. So he walked along the invisible path.

“"I can't tell you that, but I can tell you that the answers to the puzzles are 12 for Now, 18 for future, and 1 for the past.

Spike looked right at the number I and looked around for a way to get there. He walked towards the edge of the hour hand and looked for if he could make the jump. What he didn’t see was the second hand was moving towards the I. That was until he looked towards the minute hand and saw the second hand moving. Spike gasped and quickly ran back to the base of the hour hand and ran along the second hand and jumped onto the I right as it lined up. When he did, the room began moving with him being the only thing that was stationary.

Octavia was sitting while tapping her chin, reciting what Future Chad had said.

“"I can't tell you that, but I can tell you that the answers to the puzzles are 12 for Now, 18 for future, and 1 for the past.

“18 for future. What the heck is that supposed to mean?” Octavia asked. She looked at all the romane numerals and growled in frustration. “How am I supposed to figure this out?”

Octavia then looked at the romane numerals again and began to count them.

“Okay, so there’s no 18, how am I supposed to solve this puzzle?” Octavia asked. Slowly beginning to lose her patience, and sanity, she began counting the numerals again. She counted 3 more times before she decided to humor the idea of counting over 12. Once she got to XII, she began to count higher instead of restarting at 1.

“13 (I), 14, (II), 15 (III), 16 (IV), 17 (V), 18 (VI), 19, 20, twenty o- wait a minute.” She said to herself. She recounted and got to the number VI when she said 18. That’s when she facehooved and groaned. “The 24 hour clock format, I can’t believe I forgot.”

She walked over to the VI and stood on it and a door opened in front of her. She walked through the door.

Chad walked until he came across a podium with a circular base and a glass protecting it. On the podium was a paw print that simply said, panda. Chad was confused before looking at his hooves. He began to concentrate really hard and after a moment, his hooves transformed into panda paws. He looked at it, smiled and placed the paw onto the print and the glass disappeared. Chad took his paw off the print to grab it and the glass came back. Chad groaned and put it back. When the glass disappeared he used his right paw to grab it. Chad looked at the podium again and then had a light bulb light up above his head.

“Oh! Panda-podium! I get it!”

Spike watched as his surroundings move until a ring of roman numerals fell into his hands and everything just stopped.

Octavia walked through the door and came across a symbol of the sun and the moon, and the two sisters, with a lock around it. The lock didn’t have a keyhole, it instead had a coinslot. Octavia looked at the bag on her back and used her tail to grab a bit from it and put it in her hoof.

“Hmm, these puzzles must’ve been inspired by EA.” Octavia said as she put the coin in the slot. The lock unlocked and just went up, allowing Octavia grabbed the symbols.

Spike, Chad, and Octavia were a few feet in front of the invisible barrier, with the invisible barrier no longer there.

The very moment they did, they heard a thud, making them all flinch and look towards the sound. They saw Nekopatra was rubbing her head, having hit her head on the ceiling when she tried to jump.

“Wait, you didn’t come with us?!” Octavia exclaimed.

“Are you okay?” Chad asked with a head tilt.

“I’m okay. Sorry about that. I thought you meant one, two, three go. Not one, two, go on three.” Nekopatra said before looking at the parts they had. “But hey, it barely took you any time at all to get those parts.”

“Barely any…it took me forever to- Oh nevermind, lets just make this time medallion and get out of this confusing….paradoxical….UGH! I can’t even come up with the words for this outlandishness!” Octavia exclaimed.

“Paradoxical conundrum?” Chad offered as his panda paws went back to changeling hooves.

“Just the items together so we can leave!” Octavia exclaimed. Chad and Spike scrambled and placed the items near one another. Before they could try to think about whether or not how they were gonna put it together, the medallion just…..pulled itself together to make…itself.

“Well. That’s convenient.” Chad said. Nekopatra’s ears twitched and she looked towards the hole they came down in. She heard something coming, and fast.

“How are we supposed to work this thing?” Spike asked. Nekopatra grabbed them and started running down the path. When she did, they heard something land with a loud thud. Chad, Spike and Octavia looked and saw Sapphire Spectre land near them with her eyes glowing blue. She started running after them.

“Okay, crazy mare is back! She’s BACK!” Spike exclaimed. Chad began using his magic to try and activate the time medallion.

“Activate, Activate, Activate, Activate, ActivateActivateActivateActivateActivateActivateActivateActivateActivate!” Chad exclaimed before a portal opened and suddenly they were flying in the sky. “It worked!”

“No, that was me.” Nekopatra said.

“You can make portals?!” Spike asked.

“One of my magic talents.” Nekopatra said. However, the 3 saw Sapphire Spectre come fly out of the hole with wings made of magic.

“I think she’s got just as many.” Octavia said.

“Please tell me you can lose her.” Spike pleaded. Nekopatra looked back and saw the mare shoot blasts at them. She quickly began making evasive maneuvers.

“My size might make that hard.” Nekopatra said. As they were being pursued Chad kept trying to activate the time medallion.

“Come on, we went through this whole adventure and puzzle solving nonsense to get you, how the heck are you supposed to work!?” Chad exclaimed. All of a sudden, there was a two loud booms caused Chad to cover his ears, making them look in that direction. The two sonic booms shook the clouds Nekopatra was flying towards. One had a rainbow explosion, the other had bolts of lightning shooting out.

“The Hypersonic Rainboom?” Spike asked. The time medallion began to spark and was about to activate.

“Oh no you don’t!” Sapphire Spectre was heard saying as another blast shot right for the medallion, Nekopatra dodged it, but the blast arched and headed right back to them. Chad gasped, seeing her aim that blast come right back. Nekopatra looked back and whipped them off of her back. The blast changed targets right back at them. Nekopatra grabbed the magic blast and pulled it down with her paws. The magic blast was sending Nekopatra in different directions as if it was trying to shake her off, but now the magic blast wasn’t a problem for them anymore, but Sapphire Spectre was still coming after them.

The time medallion activated and snapped them back into the large tube that got them in the future in the first place. However, it took Sapphire Spectre with them, the medallion on the other hand was starting to float back to Black Obsidian Island. That was until the back of Nekopatra hit the time medallion sending them into the tube.

Chad, Spike and Octavia were falling through the tubes once more and looked back at Sapphire Spectre who was gaining on them. She sent magic blasts at them, which they were able to dodge. However, when they dodged, they slowed their descents allowing Sapphire Spectre to get closer until she was able to grab them with her magic.

“This is the end of the road for you, you little bug.” Sapphire Spectre said with a growl. Chad looked at her and saw the green gem on her cape.

“Can’t we just talk this out? I’m sure we can come to an agreement.” Octavia said to her. Sapphire Spectre looked at Octavia.

“I think we agree you’re out of place!” Sapphire said. She was about to use her magic to send her out of the tube, but Chad used his magic to try and grab the green gem. It rejected his magic and made a shockwave that sent Octavia, Spike and Chad downward, and Sapphire Spectre back upwards. But it also knocked the gem off of her cape. Sapphire’s magic seemed to completely disappear as a result and she gasped, reaching for the gem.

Chad shot a magic blast at her, which knocked her upwards and away from the gem, which hit the edge of the tube and promptly, flew out. Sapphire watched it and went wide eyed.

“No!” She exclaimed. Chad was then heard talking to her.

“Hey Sapphire! I got a riddle for you!” Chad said, making Sapphire look at him. “It’s not the stars or the cosmos or the universe that grew! Don’t bother looking up, but it’s there for you! What am I!?”

“Dead.” Sapphire said with a glare. Then a voice came from behind her.

“Close.” Nekopatra’s voice said. Sapphire turned around and gasped upon seeing she still had the magic blast in her paw. “Time. Specifically, yours!”

With one punch, the large Sphinx knocked Sapphire Spectre out of the tube, making her collide with her own magic blast. After a brief spin, there was a spherical scorching blast of golden fire that expanded rapidly as a result. Before the explosion could reach them, they all went through portals that opened for only a split second and closed immediately. Chad saw the ground of the library and quickly used his magic to keep them from hitting the ground. He shut his eyes before this but opened them upon realizing his head wasn’t well aquated to the ground. He looked around and saw that they were back home. Chad sighed and used his magic to place them all down. The moment he did, Spike began kissing the ground happily, and Octavia let out a cheer.

“Thank Celestia! We’re back!” Octavia said. “I have never been happier to be in someone else’s home so much.”

The door began to open and Twilight walked back inside. The three of them quickly moved into positions where they were ‘acting natural’.

“Welcome back Twilight!” Spike said with a smile. “How was canterlot?”

“Is that a joke?” Twilight asked. The three looked at each other as Twilight chuckled and rolled her eyes, walking over to the desk and leaving a check list there. “We had to come back because I forgot to leave the chore list for you two.”

“Wait, how long were you gone?” Octavia asked. Twilight raised an eyebrow.

“Um. Seven seconds? Are they causing you that much trouble?” Twilight asked.

“Oh no, just a little curious is all.” Octavia quickly covered. Twilight was gonna ask further, but Bandit poked his head in.

“Twilight, I will live you in like, 10 seconds.” Bandit said. Twilight left the list and ran back out the door, closing it behind her. Octavia, Spike and Chad looked at each other in shock.

“Only 7 seconds past!?” They all exclaimed.

Inside Canterlot Castle, Celestia was walking out of the room Bandit was going to be use for his Chaos Magic practice and immediately after leaving the room, she received a letter from Chad. Thinking it was a friendship lesson, she opened it to read it. However, as she progressed through the letter, her smile dropped and she seemed to be looking in shock instead. When she got to the end of the letter, she used her horn to call Luna. Who woke from her sleep to answer.

“Hmm? Sister?” She asked.

“Luna, Chad has found it.” Celestia told her.

Author's Notes:

One thing I want to set straight about this chapter. Spike, Chad, and Octavia 100% returned to their original timeline! They did not end up somewhere else without knowing, they are back home, so calm those theories down now.

Buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuut, that blast did something to the Multiverse. What did it do? You'll see.....in later seasons (Season 3) but you'll see.

Four things to point out right now.

1) Sapphire Spectre survived that blast, also at this point looks like this:

2) The two points in time Spike, Chad and Octavia ended up in the future in is 'The One Where Pinkie Knows' and My Little Pony: The Movie

3) This is Nekopatra:

4) Octavia went to see Time Turner as Chad was sending that letter to his mom. Oh, and also this is what the Time Medallion looks like:

My Little Pony: Friendships and Magic [Season 2]

by Alpha Wolf 4500

The Return of Harmony, part 1

The Return of Harmony, part 2

Lesson Zero

Luna Eclipsed

Sisterhooves Social

Brother's Day

The Cutie Pox

May The Best Pet Win

Escape from the Future