When the next day comes, the train arrives at the Crystal Empire, so Spike and Scorpan exit the train to enjoy the wonderful scenery.
“Wow!” Scorpan said impressively. “The Crystal Empire is even more shinny and beautiful than I remembered!”
“Wait, you were here before?” Spike asked.
“Yeah, sometime before it disappeared.” Scorpan said. “If these crystal ponies are the exact same ones from a thousand years ago, I wonder if they’ll remember me?”
“Well, I can remind them if they don’t!” Spike offered. “After the crystal ponies see me, they’ll come right over, and perhaps they’ll recognize you too! They’ll also respect you a lot more since you’re friends with their hero!”
“Yeah, you told me about the story a dozen times already.” Scorpan rolled his eyes. “Look, dude, once I see that statue of yours, I’ll believe you.”
“Well then let’s go see it now on the way to the palace!” Spike suggested.
Spike and Scorpan start walking down the streets of the Crystal Empire, and the duo were just enjoying their walk when suddenly they were recognized by two crystal ponies. “Oh my gosh! Is that who I think it is?!” One of the crystal ponies that spotted them asked in shock.
“Yep! It’s who you think it is!” Spike said. “The Great and Honorable-“
“I’ve seen you before!” One of the crystal ponies said to Scorpan as they both ran over to him.
“Yeah! It’s been so long! Uh, Scorpan, right?” The other pony asked.
“Uh, yeah! I’m sorry, who are you again?” Scorpan asked embarrassingly. “Heh, it’s been a thousand years for me, so my memory of who I met is kinda slim.”
“Oh, how silly of us!” One of the ponies blushed in embarrassment. “I’m Amber Laurel, and this is Scarlet Heart!”
“So nice to see you again, Scorpan!” Scarlet said excitedly. “How have things been for you?”
“Oh, it’s been great actually!” Scorpan said. “I mean… it hasn’t always been like that, but ever since I met Spike here and his friends, things have great!”
“OH, Spike the Brave and Glorious!” Amber said surprisingly. “I’m so sorry, we didn’t see you there!”
“Oh it’s fine!” Spike said. “I’m always welcomed here, so it’s not very surprising; but I really appreciate you giving my friend here a good welcome!”
“Well any friend of Spike’s is a friend of ours!” Scarlet said. “You two staying long?”
“Yeah, for a little while.” Spike said. “I need some time away from home, so I came here!”
“Well I hope you two stay comfortable!” Amber said. “Need a place to stay? You can stay with Scarlet if you like!”
Scarlet glares at Amber. “Even though I really don’t like being volunteered like that, it is an honor having you both around!”
“I live in a one-bedroom house.” Amber said. “You two have too much honor to be sleeping on a couch! Also, I don’t think you want to sleep on MY bed.”
“I really don’t wanna know.” Scorpan said, feeling disgusted.
“That’s okay!” Spike said. “We’re staying at the castle! Much more room and all that! Scorpan here, he can be pretty spacey.”
“Oh shut up!” Scorpan nudged Spike teasingly.
The two ponies giggled. “Well we hope to see you two soon!” Amber said.
“Yeah, please enjoy yourselves!” Scarlet said. “Bye now!” The two ponies walk away, and at the same time, Spike and Scorpan start walking over to the castle.
“Wow, these ponies really respect you!” Scorpan said.
“Hey, they missed me; they noticed you first!” Spike reminded him.
“That’s true, but like you said, I take up so much space!” Scorpan teases, and they both laugh.
Meanwhile, inside the crystal palace, Princess Cadance was sitting on her throne as she talked to Sunburst. Sunburst was reading his journal to Cadance as he explains the best magic defense strategies.
“So, if you use Shieldaria combined with other ponies doing the same spell, it would cause the defense shield to be even stronger, and you’d be able to save enough magic for other defensive strategies!” Sunburst explained.
“Well, this would’ve come in handy when King Sombra was around, or during the first changeling attack at the royal wedding!” Cadance said impressively. “I guess maybe the shields would’ve been stronger if Shining Armor and I had some extra help from Celestia, Luna, or even Twilight!”
“Exactly!” Sunburst said.
“Thank you for this useful information, Sunburst!” Cadance said gratefully. “I should send a message to Celestia, Luna, and Twilight right away about this discovery, and make sure you tell Shining Armor this once he’s done with Flurry.”
“I will! Thank you, Princess Cadance!” Sunburst bows. As he starts walking out of the throne room, he spots Spike and Scorpan entering the room just as he walks out.
“Oh, hey Spike!” Sunburst said as he trots passed him.
“Hey, Sunburst!” Spike greeted him.
“Oh, Spike!” Cadance said surprisingly. “What a pleasant surprise! I didn’t know you were coming!”
“Yeah, it was kind of short notice. I hope I’m not interrupting anything.” Spike said.
“No, not at all!” Cadance said. “Is Twilight with you?”
“Nah, just me, and my friend here!” Spike said.
“Oh, that’s too bad, I have something she’d be very interested in!” Cadance said. She then spots Scorpan next to Spike and finally asks, “Who’s your friend?”
“It took her that long to ask?” Scorpan asked with an attitude. Spike then elbows him, signaling him to be quiet. “Ow!”
“Cadance, this is my friend Scorpan!” Spike said. “Me, Twilight, and the others found him in a cave, and-“
“Wait, Spike, can I interrupt you for a second?” Cadance interrupts.
“Uh, did you have to ask?” Spike asked sarcastically.
Cadance rolls her eyes at that snark. “Did you just say his name is Scorpan?” She asked.
“I’m guessing you know the story about me and my brother.” Scorpan presumed.
“I presume that Tirek is your brother, right?” Cadance asked.
“Yeah, I’m not very proud of what he did.” Scorpan admitted. “I’m really sorry for all the trouble he caused.”
“Oh no, it’s okay!” Cadance said. “Please, I hope I didn’t offend you or anything!”
“You didn’t. I’m used to it.” Scorpan said.
“So, what are you doing here anyway?” Cadance asked.
“It’s a rather long story.” Scorpan said. “I-“
“Uh, we found him lost in a cave after his kingdom wouldn’t allow him back without Tirek, so he had nowhere else to go, so we decided to bring him in.” Spike explained.
“Oh! Well that’s very nice of you!” Cadance said.
“Yeah, and it’s been a while since he’s last been to the Crystal Empire since before it disappeared, so I decided to bring him here and take a trip down memory lane!” Spike explained.
“That’s wonderful!” Cadance said as she stands up from her throne and walks down passed Spike and Scorpan. “Please, make yourselves at home! I need to go find Shining Armor. I’ll be right back!”
“Take your time!” Spike insisted. “We’ll be waiting for ya! I promise not to eat your entire castle while you’re gone!” Cadance giggles as she walks out.
“Uh, Spike?” Scorpan asked confusingly. “Why didn’t you tell her about me wanting to reunite with my brother, and you kinda lied to her about why we’re here.”
“I don’t want her to be suspicious.” Spike said. “Cadance and Shining are very close to Twilight, and if they realized that I’m actually spending time away from her, they’ll want to contact her and ask her why. I’m not going to take that chance.”
“What about lying about the reason we’re here?” Scorpan asked.
“I didn’t lie. I just didn’t mention to her about my fight with Twilight.” Spike corrected him. “You did want to come back here, right?”
“I told you that right when we got here.” Scorpan reminded him.
“Yeah, so?” Spike asked.
“So, that’s still a lie, because that wasn’t your reason.” Scorpan informed him.
“Oh like you’re a total expert at friendship of friendship just by hanging around the girls for a few days.” Spike said sarcastically.
“I know enough, bro.” Scorpan said.
“Spike!” Shining Armor said as he walked inside the throne room with Cadance and Sunburst. “Good to see you! I didn’t know you were coming!”
“Well, I’m here now!” Spike said. “This is my friend, Scorpan! Yes, he is the brother of Tirek, but he’s not evil like him.”
“Oh I know!” Shining said as he walks over to greet Shining. “Pleasure to meet you, Scorpan! Welcome to the Crystal Empire! This is so far a much better meeting than the last friend Spike brought in!”
“Ugh.” Spike groans embarrassingly.
“Yes, Spike told me about the situation with Thorax.” Scorpan said. “I never met him yet, but he sounds pretty nice. Twilight told me a lot about you too!”
“Really?” Shining asked. “What did she say?”
“A lot! About how you’re her BBBBFF, or something.” Scorpan said.
“BBBFF.” Shining corrected him. “You added an extra ‘B’ there.”
“So does Twilight know you’re here, Spike?” Cadance asked.
Spike started to get nervous. He looked up at Scorpan and he just shrugs, not knowing what to say. Shining and Cadance were awaiting an answer as Flurry Heart giggles on Shining’s back. As Spike was nervously thinking, Shining and Cadance were concerned on why he wasn’t giving his answer, and then Spike finally lets out; “Yes. She knows.”
“Are you sure?” Cadance asked suspiciously.
“Hey, heh, would I lie to you?” Spike asked nervously.
“Uh, what Spike means is,” Scorpan takes over for him, “Twilight realizes that I’ve been spending too much time in Ponyville, so I decided to go travelling, and Spike here wanted to keep me company, and Twilight didn’t stop us. Absolute truth!”
“Well… okay then!” Cadance smiles, and Spike felt relieved. “You two are welcomed here for as long as you want! Just relax!”
“Well… if it isn’t too much to ask though, we… err… could use a little help, if you don’t mind?” Shining asked.
“No, not at all!” Spike said. “Since I’m already Equestria’s ambassador, assisting others shouldn’t be a problem for me anymore!”
“Well, I’m glad to hear that!” Shining said. “Cadance and I could use some help with the baby, and Sunburst here needs some help with some research.”
“Yes,” Sunburst agreed, “I think I’ve discovered a way to create holographic decoys without the use of magic, but by small devices, but I’ll need a test subject.”
“I’ll handle this, Spike.” Scorpan offered. “Since the baby knows you, I think looking after her might be the better thing for you to do.”
“Are you sure?” Spike asked. “I’m used to being a test subject, and it isn’t easy work. You have to make sure you don’t grow a third arm out of your belly button, or lose your sight of all colors except for red.”
“Spike, I don’t think you known, but I used to be Star Swirl’s test dummy!” Scorpan said. “His magical research was INTENSE! I think I can handle what Sunburst here has in store!”
“Well… I hope so!” Sunburst said. “Come with me to my haven, and I’ll show you!”
“Haven?” Scorpan asked.
“It’s a nice safe place for me to read in peace without disruptions!” Sunburst said.
“What about the library?” Cadance reminded him.
“They don’t allow food in the library.” Sunburst said. “I like to eat and read at the same time.”
“Ooooook, so… I guess we can get started on everything now?” Shining asked awkwardly.
As Spike goes with Shining Armor to take care of Flurry Heart, Scorpan goes with Sunburst back to his house to test out his new device. As Scorpan sits down on the floor leaning on Sunburst’s table (since he’s too big for a chair), Sunburst takes out a metal box with a magical glowy-glow around it, and with his magic, carries it to the table, and sets it down on it. Scorpan curiously touches the box as the magic shocks him.
“Ouch!” Scorpan yells as he then sucks on his finger.
“I should’ve told you not to touch this. The magical energy surrounding this box keeps it safe.” Sunburst said. “Only my magic, Cadance, or Shining Armor’s magic can even lay a spec on this box. I don’t want anything bad to happen to the prototype.”
“Noted.” Scorpan understood. “So what is it?”
“It’s a magical energy box of my own design!” Sunburst said. “Keeps others from-“
“Yeah, I figured THAT.” Scorpan interrupts him. “I mean what’s inside?”
“Oh, right!” Sunburst figured out. “Heh, anyway. What’s inside this box is a new defense magnesium. With my magical knowledge combined with Shining Armor’s magic, I was able to create little orbs those of non-magical users, or those that don’t know this spell, to be able to use it for their own advantage.” Sunburst uses his magic to stop the secured glow, and he takes out a key to unlock the box, and when he opens it, Scorpan looks inside and sees two green orbs sitting close together among a small pillow.
“Wow.” Scorpan said impressively. “You made these?”
“Well, with the help of Shining Armor!” Sunburst said humbly as he picks up one of the orbs.
“So how does it work?” Scorpan asked.
“I’ll show you!” Sunburst said as the orb began to glow. After a sudden flash of light that temporarily blinds Scorpan, he looks back at Sunburst who just smiles at him.
“Sooo… what happened?” Scorpan asked curiously.
“It worked!” Sunburst said excitedly.
“It did?” Scorpan asked.
“Yeah!” Sunburst cried out as he raises his hoof. “Give me a high-hoof, Scorpan!”
“Oh, sure!” Scorpan accepted as he gives Sunburst a hoof-bump, but Scorpan’s claw just goes right through his hoof as Sunburst’s body went static like a hologram. “What the?!” Scorpan got startled.
“Like I said…” Sunburst started just as he disappears into the green orb lying on the ground, and then another Sunburst shows up from behind the curtains and says, “…it worked!”
“HEY! What sort of witchcraft is this?!” Scorpan yelled confusingly.
“Wizardcraft.” Sunburst corrects him as he picks up the orb. “It’s a Decoy Orb! You don’t have to be a magic user to perform Nanabooalus anymore! With this, you can create your own decoy! Your foes can be focused on a fake holographic you, while the real you either escapes or sneaks up on your foe!”
“Wow, that’s so interesting!” Scorpan said impressively.
“I’ve got a ton of orbs ready for our guards for battle, just in case anything threatens Equestria in any way!” Sunburst said.
“Can I try out the Decoy Orb?” Scorpan requests.
“Of course! It needs all the testing it can get!” Sunburst accepts as he gives Scorpan the orb. When the orb began to glow, Scorpan immediately drops it out of fear, and then a huge flashbang glow occurs as Scorpan notices himself right in front of him.
“Whoa! Now that’s just trippy!” Scorpan said shockingly.
“I’ll say!” Decoy Scorpan said. “How am I talking if you’re there?”
“Yeah, that’s weird, isn’t it?” Real Scorpan said.
“That’s because the Nanabooalus spell creates a temporary copy of your mind, and can do pretty much anything before it deactivates itself!” Sunburst said.
“Well, maybe I don’t want to be deactivated.” Scorpan said. “How about that?”
“You’re the real Scorpan, you can’t get deactivated.” Sunburst informed him mischievously.
“Wow, he’s too good.” Fake Scorpan said as he deactivates himself, and Scorpan picks up the orb.
“The orb projects a temporary clone of you.” Sunburst explained. “It can even do holographic magic, depending if you’re a magic user. It’s magic won’t touch your foe, but it can startle him or her, and if you’re lucky, maybe they’ll be able to run away!”
“This is cool!” Scorpan said excitedly. “You’re a genius, Sunburst!”
“Heeey, I only do what I do for the sake of pony kind.” Sunburst blushes in embarrassment. “You can keep that orb if you want!”
“Are you sure?” Scorpan asked. “Isn’t this the prototype?”
“I have two prototypes. Didn’t you notice the second orb in the box?” Sunburst reminded him. “Like I said, this thing still needs field testing, and I hope perhaps you can do it for me!”
“I would love to!” Scorpan said excitedly. “Spike’s really missing out on this! Can’t wait to show him! But… I’m sure he’s having a good time with the baby!”
Meanwhile inside the castle, Spike and Shining Armor were covered in mashed peas.