//------------------------------//
// Chapter 9 
// Story: Loved And Lost 
// by EquineAvenger 
//------------------------------//

	It was early morning and below the deck of the galley ship, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, and the slaves had been rowing all night and they were very exhausted. Unfortunately, the slave driver wasn’t giving anypony anytime to take even a few seconds of rest. After awhile, the ship finally landed at the docks of a harbor where ponies where all walking about checking out and buying all sorts of foreign goods brought over seas. While all that was going on, a group of three cloaked ponies were exploring the docks and checking out the ships that had arrived this morning. A certain small purple scaled dragon poked his out at the bottom of the tallest pony’s cloak to see if he could help spot the ship they were looking for.
“Alright, everypony go ashore!” the slave driver said to the slaves. “Get food and drinks. Some guards will be watching to make sure you don’t run away and remember to be back here in fifteen minutes or the next journey won’t be so pleasant,” Then he unlocked the chains of the slaves and they all starting walking up on deck to meet the guards that would keep an eye on them. As Applejack and Pinkie started making their way to the deck, they were suddenly stopped by the slave driver. “Oh no, not you! I still a bone to pick with you two.”
On the docks, the three cloaked ponies and the dragon, Spike, hid behind a docked ship and watched as a group of guards escorted a group of tired-looking galley slave ponies off a ship and down the docks toward the market place.
“Those are galley slaves,” the shortest cloaked pony said.
“That must be the ship Pinkie and Applejack are on,” Spike guessed. “But where are they?”
“Let’s get closer,” the tallest cloaked pony said once the guards and slaves had left the area.
Back below deck, the slave driver was chewing out poor AJ and Pinkie. “I’ve had it up to here with you two complaining and slacking off!”
“We’re doin’ the best we can! The work on mah’ farm wasn’t nearly as backbreakin’ as this,” AJ argued. “And ah’ don’t think Pinkie can take anymore. Can’t ya just give her a little break?”
“Silence!” the slave driver commanded. “Nopony gets a break unless I say they can. Now, I want you two to get this through your thick skulls: this is your new home now! This is where you’ll be spending the rest of your pathetic miserable lives, and there is no miracle in the world that will ever change that!” 
Just then, a gold aura appeared around the slave driver’s body, but before he could react, he was levitated up onto the deck where the sounds of a brief scuffle where heard. After a moment, a huge cloaked figure descended down bellow the deck and nearly started Pinkie and AJ. But their fear quickly turned to relief and excitement when the figure lowered her hood to reveal a warm, familiar face: Celestia.
“Celestia!” both young mares said at the same time and ran into a warm embrace with the former princess.
“What are you doing here?” Applejack asked.
“I’ll explain later. Right now, we have to get out of here,” Celestia said and led them up to the top of the deck. Up on the deck, they saw the slave driver’s head sticking out of a barrel with his mouth gagged. Then Spike slammed a lid on the slave driver’s head and sealed him inside the barrel. Along with Spike were Cadance and Luna, who were also wearing cloaks.
“Spike! Luna! Cadance! You’re all here,” Pinkie happily exclaimed when she saw her friends.
“Yes, and we’ve come to liberate you and the others as well,” Luna said.
“Now lets all head to the Dragon Lands to get Rainbow and Fluttershy,” Cadance suggested.
“Right, lets do this,” AJ agreed with newfound hope and confidence.
“Yeah, anything is better than rowing a boat for the rest of our lives,” Pinkie agreed.
With that, they leapt off the ship and were on their way to their next destination.

In the Dragon Lands’ coliseum, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy were sitting in their cells waiting to be called for the next match. They could the roar of the crowds from their cells. 
“Alright, time to head for the arena,” a pudgy armored green dragon guard holding a spear said unlocking the cell. “I hope you two lose this time. I’ve got a lot of gems betting on you both finally falling.” Just then, he heard a noise from behind a corner. “Hey, who’s there?” the dragon guard asked readying his spear and creeping toward the corner. When he poked his head behind the corner, his eyes went wide with surprise. “What the-” but before he could finish, something pulled him behind the corner, and the sounds of grunting and blows landing were heard.
Rainbow and Fluttershy sat nervously in their cell and wondered what had just happened to the guard. Then they heard the sound of foot steps coming from behind the corner. Did one of the beast get loose and was now hungry for pony flesh? Was it Garble and his goons breaking in so they could have revenge for their humiliation in the arena? Or was it… Spike?
“Spike?!” both pegasi said in surprise when they saw their little dragon friend come out from behind the corner.
“Not just me,” Spike replied. Then to add more to the pegasi’s surprise, Celestia, Luna, Cadance, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie all came out from behind the corner.
“What… How… What are you all doing here?” Rainbow asked in complete surprise.
“We thought we’d never see any of you ever again,” Fluttershy added.
“There is a lot to explain my little ponies,” Celestia warmly told them. “But right now, we have to get you both out of here.”
“Everything will be explained on the way. So let’s get outta here!” Pinkie said.
After looking at each other for a moment, both Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy silently agreed to go with their rescuers. As they went around the corner, they saw that the dragon guard had been tied up, gagged, and locked in one of the cells.
“Looks like no one’s getting any gems this time,” Rainbow teased him as she and Fluttershy took off with the others down the corridor.
“Yes, now on to the Diamond Dogs’ mines!” Spike said excitedly. “Here we come, Rarity!”

In the Diamond Dogs’ mines, Rarity and Shining Armor had just finished hauling a bunch of wagons filled with gems, and were now allowed by their masters to take a literal five minute break. Both unicorns were sitting around a little fire to keep warm. Rarity still had the uncomfortable-looking muzzle on her face.
“Hello, ponies,” Rover said as he and his two partners came in. “In just a few minutes, you’ll be going back to work.”
“By the way, pony king sent a little gift for the pretty one,” Fido said.
“He said it’s something you must have,” Spot said putting a little cardboard box down.
Rarity and Shining Armor looked at the box with confused expressions on their faces.
“Why would Jewelius send any of us gifts?” Shining asked. “I thought he was mad at us.”
“Don’t know, don’t care,” Rover said. “Just remember to get back to work when break is done.”
“Hey, look! GEMS!” a voice was heard from one of the tunnels.
“GEMS!” the three Diamond Dogs said in excited unison and immediately dashed into the tunnel. But then the sounds of screams, grunts, blows landing, and the slamming of a cell door were heard.
“Who’s there?” Shining Armor asked standing a defensive stance.
“Somepony who loves you,” said a pony coming out of the shadows and into the light. It was Cadance.
“Cadance!” Shining said in surprise and excitement. He rushed over to embrace the mare he loved.
Pretty soon, more familiar faces started emerging from the shadowy tunnel. Spike, Celestia, Luna, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash all appeared before the two unicorns.
“You’re all here!” Shining exclaimed.
“Rarity!” Spike said running over to the unicorn he had feelings for. “Oh Rarity, what have they done to you?” He asked noticing the muzzle on her face. “Here, I got the key from them. Let me get it off,” he said as he pulled out a key he got from the Diamond Dogs in the scuffle and unlocked Rarity’s muzzle.
Rarity opened and closed her mouth a couple times. It felt like heaven to have a free mouth again. “Oh, Spikey-Wikey, you’re the best!” she said embracing the young dragon with tears of joy in her eyes. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I would like to have a little word with my employers,” she bitterly said walking into the tunnel.
“Uh oh!” Pinkie said in anticipation of what Rarity was going to do to the Diamond Dogs.
Rarity found the three Diamond Dogs locked in a cell. They saw that the muzzle was off and she did not look happy at all. They felt completely helpless locked in the cell.
“I think it’s time I taught you three a lesson in manners,” Rarity said threateningly.
“You wouldn’t,” Rover nervously gulped.
Ten minutes later, Rarity reunited with the others looking very pleased with herself.
“What happened?” Shining asked.
“Oh, I just reminded them why they hate having me here in their mines,” Rarity answered.
Back in the tunnel, the three Diamond Dogs sat shaking in fetal positions in their cell with traumatized eyes.
“So how did you all escape your enslavements?” Rarity asked her friends.
“It was thanks to them,” Rainbow said pointing to Spike, Cadance, Celestia, and Luna.
They all gathered around the fire to discuss recent events.
“Now I know you must be wondering why we’re all here,” Celestia began. “It’s because Spike provided us with some rather disturbing news he heard from Hildread.”
“Apparently, rumors in Canterlot say that a few changelings have escaped and that one of them might be impersonating Jewelius,” Cadance said.
“We fear that Twilight Sparkle’s life may be in great danger,” Luna added.
“Oh no, Twily!” Shining said visibly concerned.
“We’ve gathered you all so we can sneak into Canterlot, save Twilight, and stop the changelings,” Celestia explained.
“And if we’re lucky, we’ll probably be pardoned for how we almost brought the end of all of Canterlot,” Pinkie said excitedly. Then she realized that probably brought up some bad feelings. “Oh, that didn’t come out very well.”
Cadance looked over to Shining Armor, who had a very sad expression on his face. “Shining?” Cadance asked him with concern, but he did not answer. He was having flashbacks of some important moments in his life he had with his sister.
He remembered when she was a tiny little foal and how much he adored her.
He remembered when they were kids and how they used to play together, learn together, and share and support each other’s dreams.
“I just know you’ll make a great member of the Royal Guard, BBBFF.”
“Thanks, Twily.”
He remembered how excited he was when he heard she finally got her cutie mark and became Princess Celestia’s pupil.
“I can’t believe it! You got your cutie mark and became the Princess’s student all in one day! I’m so proud of you, Twily.”
“Thanks, BBBFF.”
He remembered the sad moment when he bid her farewell when she moved to Ponyville.
“I’ll miss you, BBBFF.”
“I’ll miss you too, Twily.”
And finally, he remembered how he cruelly and mercilessly ignored her warnings about the fake bride at the wedding rehearsal, stripped her of her title as best mare, banished her from the wedding, and practically disowned her.
“And you can forget about being my best mare. In fact, if I were you, I wouldn’t show up to the wedding at all.”
That last terrible moment between him and his sister proved to be his greatest mistake and had cost him so much. Because he had allowed his own pride and a shapeshifting bug to get the best of him, he had failed in the line of duty, the wedding had been cancelled, he had lost his title as Captain of the Guard, his reputation had been destroyed, and he had been exiled from Equestria as a criminal. But the worst part was that he never got the chance to reconcile with his little sister.
Shining shed rivers of tears from his eyes as the memories flowed through his head. 
“Shining?” Cadance asked snapping him back into the present. “Shining, I heard about what happened at the wedding rehearsal.” She paused for a moment with a sad look on her face. “There’s something I should’ve told you a long time ago.”
She told everyone about how she and Shining first met when they were teenagers in Canterlot Academy. Shining remembered how taken he was by her beauty and kindness but unable to find the courage to speak to her. He remembered the plans he and his nerdy friends made to get him and Cadance together and get her away from polo team captain and school bully, Buck Withers. He also remembered the moment at the school dance when both he and Cadance finally saw how meant for each other they were and became each other’s very special somepony. However, Cadance revealed that she too was secretly in love with Shining and not Buck, but she couldn’t find it in her heart to tell him. So one night, when she was foalsitting Twilight, she asked her for information about her brother. When Twilight realized Cadance loved her brother just as much as he loved her, they both graphed several comparative charts of Cadance and Shining Armor and the results said they were a perfect match. Fearing that if anypony knew this secret it might ruin any relationship she would have with Shining, Cadance swore Twilight to secrecy with the foal school playground oath. After that, Cadance broke up with Buck and she and Shining became an official couple that eventually led to them planning their wedding. Once the story was over, everyone was almost completely dumbstruck.
“Twilight wanted you two to be together forever!” Fluttershy said in remorseful realization.
“All this time, we’ve only been thinkin’ about how much the weddin’ meant to us and not how much it meant to Twilight,” Applejack said visibly regretful.
“Some friends we are,” Pinkie said in a very sad tone.
“I should’ve know!” Celestia said cursing herself.
Shining Armor was taking it the worst. His own little sister, who had been so loving and supportive of him, was also the one truly responsible for him and Cadance becoming a couple all along. And he repaid her by casting her out like garbage.
“Oh, Cadance, I’m so sorry for all this,” Shining tearfully apologized to his beloved. “I should’ve known that wasn’t really you and what she was doing to me. Can you ever forgive me?”
“I can,” Cadance said in an understanding but sad tone. “But I think we should wait awhile before we decide to get married again. Right now, you have a wonderful sister to make amends with.”
Shining’s heart sank at these words. By forsaking his sister, he had probably put his relationship with the mare he loved in jeopardy.
“Well, now that we know the complete story, I think it is clear what we all have to do,” Luna said.
“I’m sorry, everypony,” Shining apologized to the group. “I made a mess of everything.”
“It’s not entirely your fault, we helped too,” Rainbow said trying to comfort the stallion.
“I should’ve never made Twilight keep this a secret,” Cadance said.
“We all have some responsibility for how things have turned out so badly,” Celestia said. “But now is not the time to sit around feeling sorry for ourselves.”
“You’re right,” Shining said feeling a new sense of determination. “We’ve gotta go back and set things right.”
As everyone else shouted in agreement, Rarity, who was overcome with curiosity, went over to see what was inside the cardboard box Jewelius had sent. She opened it, and to her shock, was the bridesmaid dress she had made for herself. Tears began to well up in her eyes.
“I know how you feel,” Spike said trying to comfort the unicorn mare. “He gave me a couple things also, to remind me why I can never return to Equestria.”
Rarity continued to shed tears as she stared at the dress that had once brought her so much joy, was now a symbol of her worst mistake. Then her heartbroken eyes turned to ones of anger. “I traded my best friend for THIS?!” she said angrily tossing the dress into the fire. Everyone stared in shock at what Rarity had just did to one of her own dresses. “I am the Element of Generosity, but I failed to represent that during the wedding. That is a mistake I fully intend to rectify!”
“And you’ll get your chance,” Celestia said touched by the ponies’ determination to make up for their mistakes. “We’re sneaking back into Canterlot to rescue Twilight and stop the changelings.”
“I believe I’ll stick to the shadows,” Luna suggested. “I have a bad feeling about this, and if something goes wrong, it would be best if we didn’t all get caught.”
“Understood, sister,” Celestia agreed, and with that, Luna walked into one of the dark tunnels and disappeared. “I suggest the rest of us begin our journey immediately.”
“Right, who knows how long those changelings have been loose in Canterlot,” AJ said.
“I just hope Twilight’s still okay,” Fluttershy nervously said.
“Me too,” Shining Armor agreed still feeling a great deal of remorse for his past actions.
With nothing more needed to be said, the group of eight ponies and one dragon set out on their quest to sneak into Canterlot and get back their friend. This was it, this was their true test of friendship. All they could do now was hope that luck would be on their side.