Later that day after leaving Foal Mountain, the heroes had returned to Canterlot where they walked into the Princess' throne room. A guard announced, "Princess Twilight Sparkle and company."
The group approached the throne where Celestia and Luna awaited them. The sisters stepped down, as Celestia welcomed them, "Welcome back, my subjects."
"Good to see you, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna." Leo greeted them.
"We assume all went well?" Luna asked.
"More or less." Twilight answered.
Melody approached, "Princess Celestia, good to see you."
"Melody Spirit, you're looking very well." Celestia smiled at her former students from her school.
"Thank you," Melody turned to Luna, "Princess Luna, a pleasure to finally meet you."
"The feeling is mutual, ma'am." Luna nodded.
"That's one familiar face," Casey began, "Check out the other we brought."
Everyone made space to reveal Blade Swipe who stood nervously. Sunset and Raph nudged him forward, and he approached the two sister. Blade bowed his head, "Princess Celestia." he greeted.
"Blade Swipe, it has been decades since I last saw you." Celestia began, as she looked him over.
Blade sighed, "I know I've changed a lot."
"Yes, Twilight and the others have told me what befell you so many years ago."
"But we found out there was more to it." Shini began.
"Blade was using a grimoire that housed the spirit of a evil wizard named Dark Codex." Donnie explained.
"Dark Codex?" Celestia and Luna gasped.
Blade answered, "Yes. He was feeding off my anger and hate while pretending to teach me the secrets of the grimoire."
"He was just a pawn in a bigger villain's plan." Karai added.
"But me and these ninjas helped my brother see the light." Melody finished, as she smiled at Blade.
Celestia spoke, "I'm glad to hear you've turned over a new leaf, Blade. However we must take in account the attacks you've taken over the number of years since you left."
"What?!" Pinkie gasped.
"But, Princess, he's changed really." Starlight pleaded.
"Can't you cut him some slack?" Casey asked.
"Yeah, Princess Dudette." Mikey pleaded.
Blade raised a hand silencing them, "It's ok, guys. I did many bad things. So I must take responsibility for my actions."
"Yes. But, Blade." Twilight tried to help him.
"Don't worry, Twilight. I'm grateful for what you've all done. Helping me see the warrior I was before and reuniting me with my own sister. What you did for me, I don't think anypony would've done as much. And you, Sunset Shimmer. You were right all along, there was still good in me no matter how much I tried to deny it. You will always be a good friend," Blade turned to Celestia, "I am willing to do whatever it takes to repay my debt to society."
Celestia smiled, "I'm glad to hear it. But I will shorten your sentence on the account you helped save my pupil and subjects."
"You will?" Blade asked with hope.
The Princess of the Sun nodded, "Therefore your punishment will be four months of community service here at the castle."
"Four months, huh?" Blade asked, "Well, better than life imprisonment."
"And once you've paid your debt Luna and I would be honored to grant you the title as Canterlot's Royal Guardian."
At the sound of that, everyone gasped, as Blade looked up in shock and joy, "You mean it?" he asked.
"You never got the chance to graduate from the Royal Guard, but it's safe to say all you've learned has not gone away after so many years. And we could use a strong fighter like you in the ranks. Do you accept these terms?" she asked.
"Accept them? You bet." Blade nodded.
"Very good," Celestia smiled, as she embraced Blade much to his embarrassment, "It's good to have you back, old friend."
Blade chuckled sheepishly, "Thanks. And Princess Luna, I hope my time serving at the castle will be a good opportunity to get to know the real you and not what I was taught years ago."
"Indeed." Luna agreed.
"Congratulations, Blade," Leo began, "Maybe this can help you get back to your roots and begin anew."
"I hope so too, Leo. Though I just hope the ponies won't continue to think of me as a freak."
"Not with what I have in mind." Pinkie grinned, much to the ninja pony's confusion.
That night, the ponies and ninjas were walking through the castle halls on their way to the ballroom. Blade walked wearing a tuxedo jacket made by Rarity, while also having his mane and tail neatly groomed so it wasn't wild like before. He spoke to Pinkie, "Are you sure bringing me to a party is a good idea?"
"Of course it is." Pinkie grinned.
"Trust us, Blade," Twilight began, "What we have in mind here will totally change your mind."
"If you say so." Blade replied, deciding to trust them.
As they opened the doors to the ballroom, party poppers popped and confetti fell from the ceiling, as ponies shouted, "Surprise!" Blade looked up and saw a banner hanging from the ceiling. The banner read 'Welcome Back Blade Swipe'.
Blade and the others looked around the ballroom seeing Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, Cadence, Shining Armor, Flurryheart, Sunburst, Trixie, Thorax, Ember, Discord, Melody, Spirit, and a bunch of old ponies wearing uniforms. Blade looked around in shock. Twilight spoke to him, "Surprise."
"What-what is this?" he asked in disbelief.
"A welcome back party for ya, sugarcube." Applejack explained.
Melody trotted over, "Isn't it wonderful. And look who Pinkie and Princess Celestia invited." she showed her around.
Blade looked at all the old ponies while envisioning them much younger, "These ponies, they're my old fellow rookie guards in training." he gasped.
"Now we're retired guards, Blade." one began.
"So you do remember me." Blade replied, as the old ponies looked guilty.
"We're sorry, Blade. We were young and foolish. Trained to recognize anything we never saw before with hostility." another apologized.
"But we were stupid to not recognize you." a third said.
"I know this is asking a lot coming from us after fifty years, but could you ever forgive us?" a fourth asked.
Blade looked around at the old ponies looking stern, until his expression softened, "How can I stay mad at a bunch of old geezers? Besides I've learned holding onto so much anger doesn't do anypony any good."
The old ponies smiled, as one spoke "Thank you, Blade. It's just a shame we never got to fight side by side during our years as guards."
"Yeah. We'd probably would've made one swell team." Blade smiled, before chuckling to himself.
"What's so funny?" one asked.
"Sorry, I just can't help it. I remember you all as young cadets, but look at you all. You're wrinkled prune faced old timers!" he laughed.
The ponies gave him dry looks before one answered, "Like you're one to talk. You may look young and spirited on the outside, but on the inside you're just as old as us." the old ponies laughed along, while Blade couldn't deny it.
The group of ninjas smiled, as April spoke, "Looks like he'll be adapting back into society in no time."
"As long as he has others to keep him on the right path this time." Leo added.
Mikey pulled Blade over, "So, Blade, how does it feel to be surrounded by so many ponies who really care about you, even when you thought no pony did?"
"You must be speechless." Rainbow added.
"Actually, there is something I feel an overwhelming urge to say." Blade admitted.
"And what's that?" Rarity wondered.
Blade took a deep breath and shouted, "Booyakasha!" the ninjas were impressed, as Mikey spoke.
"Took the words right out of my mouth."
The next day at Twilight's castle, the ninjas from New York and Sunset Shimmer stood by the portal back to the human world, as Twilight, her friends, and Blade stood opposite ends to see them off, "Well, looks like it's time we headed back." Sunset said.
"Such a shame you all have to go." Rarity pouted.
"Sorry, Rarity. But home calls," Donnie replied, "But we're glad we got to know all of you."
"Yeah. Thanks for helping me learn how to use my wings, Rainbow." Casey said, as the two hoof pounded.
"Any time, Jones." Rainbow replied.
"But I will miss not having them." Casey admitted, as he flapped his wings.
Mikey was hugging Pinkie, "I'll sure miss ya, Pinkie."
"Same here, Mikey." Pinkie agreed, while holding back tears.
"And you to, Spike." Mikey said, as the two fist bumped.
"Likewise. Next time you're here we should play Ogres and Oubliettes." Spike suggested.
"Sounds like a plan to me." Mikey nodded.
April spoke to A.J, "Thanks for letting up come by your farm so much, Applejack. Made me feel like I was back at home."
"My pleasure, April." Applejack smiled.
Raph was holding Chompy out to Fluttershy, as the pegasus was petting his head, "You be a good boy now, Chompy."
"I'll make sure he does.' Raph promised.
"I'll be glad to get back home where technology exists." Donnie said with joy.
"I just wanna walk on two legs again." Karai replied.
"Same here." Shini agreed.
Sunset and Leo each hugged Twilight, as Sunset spoke, "Guess this is goodbye again."
"For now." Twilight replied, as Sunset nodded.
Leo turned to Blade, "You behave yourself, Blade."
"You have my word as a ninja, Leo." Blade bowed his head.
Twilight levitated a journal to Sunset with an image of both hers and Sunset's cutie marks combined, "Here, Sunset. I can imagine the journal you've been writing with has been running out of pages. So I made you this new one."
"Thanks, Twilight. This is perfect." Sunset said in joy as she levitated it into her bag.
Starlight trotted over, "So I really want to know what is it like back there in the other world."
"It's pretty different." Sunset admitted.
"Totally different." Mikey added.
"And yet it's not so different at the same time," Sunset put in, "It's hard to explain."
"You'd have to see it to believe it." Leo finished.
"I see," Starlight said, as she looked slyly, "I don't supposed I could go back with you and see it for myself?"
"Go back with us?" Sunset asked.
"Yeah. I've heard so much from Twilight about it I actually want to see it up close." Starlight explained.
Leo turned to Twilight, "What do you think, Twilight?"
"Well, it's important to learn new things. Maybe perhaps Starlight can learn something from going back to your world. So I'm ok with it."
"Really?" Starlight asked in joy, "Thanks, Twilight!"
"Let's just hope we don't run into any Starlight Glimmer in our world." April worried.
"I don't think that would be a problem," Sunset answered, "I mean we've never seen her before. So there's less chance we may end up running into her."
"But you'll have to make sure not to draw too much attention to yourself." Leo warned her.
"You'll barely notice I'm there." Starlight promised.
"And it would be good to introduce you to the rest of the girls." Sunset admitted, as Starlight slid over and spoke.
"But you'll also totally notice I'm there, and it will keep your mind off of other things that might be bothering you. So? What do you think? Can I go back with you?!" she pleaded.
"It's all right with us." Leo admitted.
"Just make sure you don't let her out of your sight." Twilight warned them.
"We promise, Twilight." Leo promised.
"Come on, guys. Let's go home." Mikey said, as they each took one last look at their Equestrian friends, before entering through the mirror.
Sunset and Starlight entered the portal, but before Leo could, Twilight trotted over to him, "Hold up, Leo. For the road." she pecks his cheek making him blush.
Leo stammered a bit before answering, "I gotta go!" he went through the portal that powered down.
Twilight smiled, and thought to herself, 'See you soon, Leonardo.'