//------------------------------// // Aftermath // Story: Equestria Ninjas: Shadow Play // by Wildcard25 //------------------------------// After all was done, the group of friends returned to Canterlot, where Star Swirl was overjoyed to see his two oldest pupils from so long ago, "I simply cannot believe how tall you've gotten!" he spoke to Celestia, as he looked up at her. Celestia smiled in amusement, "Well, it has been over a thousand years. Will you stay here and teach magic once again? My sister and I have such fond memories of your lessons." "As long as you don't ask for those essays we owed you before you disappeared." Luna said sheepishly, as the two sisters smiled. Star Swirl chuckled, "I'm not certain Canterlot is where I belong. The realm has grown, and I believe I'll have a look around before I settle in any one place." "And I long to see what has become of my home." Meadowbrook added. "I believe we all do." Mistmane agreed. Celestia spoke, "Then I hope you will return to Canterlot on occasion and share the wisdom of your great experience with the next generation of ponies." "We would be honored. But if it is wisdom you seek, look no further than your own pupil," Star Swirl motioned to Twilight who smiled, "She showed me that the power of friendship is a magical force indeed. And that in turning away from others, you hurt yourself as well." the whole group gathered around Stygian for a group hug. Twilight spoke to Starlight, "It's funny. I thought meeting my idol would give me all the answers I ever wanted. But instead, I forgot what I already knew. Good thing I had a student of my own to remind me." the two embraced before joining the others. Later on in the Royal dining hall, the pillars were seated with the girls and the ninjas, as Mikey, Pinkie, and Blade came in carrying pizza boxes, "Hope you legendary ponies are ready to sample the greatest food this century." Mikey said. "Yeah," Flash Magnus agreed, "After being stuck in Limbo for so long, I'd like to see what's all the rage today." "We present to you... Pizza!" Mikey unveiled the food. The legendary ponies each took a slice and had a bite of it. Each of their eyes lit up in wonder. Rockhoof was the first to react, "This is some delicious stuff." "Better than the slop we had to eat during training." Flash added. "Cheese, tomato sauce, and dough mixed together?" Star Swirl asked, "What an astonishing creation." "Quite so." Meadowbrook agreed. "We had nothing like this back in our time." Somnambula noted. "Indeed. We missed out on so much." Mistmane finished. Stygian spoke to Leo, "So, Leonardo, what did you and your brothers say you were again?" "Mutants." he answered. "And how did you become mutants?" Flash Magnus asked. "Well, my brothers and friends are actually from another world." Leo began. "And in our world we're actually mutant turtles." Donnie added. "Turtles?" Meadowbrook asked. "That's right. We became mutants through an unstable substance called mutagen." Donnie put in. "Same for me, except Equestria is my birth home." Blade added. "Where did this mutagen come from?" Somnambula asked. "From an alien race known as the Kraang." Leo answered. At the sound of that, Star Swirl gasped, and squinted his eyes, "Did you say 'The Kraang'?' "Uh, yeah." Leo answered, feeling confused. "Star Swirl, is something wrong?" Twilight asked. "Forgive me, but I haven't heard that word in a long time." he replied. "Wait a minute. Star Swirl, you know about the Kraang?" Donnie asked, as the group was surprised. "Yes. I even met their leader a long time ago." Star Swirl used his magic to cast a flashback for everyone to see. He began to narrate, "Over a thousand years ago before we banished the Pony of Shadows, I was given an invite by a being not of this dimension. A being known as Kraang Prime. He sought audience with me to discuss important matters. I wanted to see what those matters were." Everyone watched as past Star Swirl came upon a hill side where three Kraang droids stood in position. The androids were modeled like ponies due to the laws of their dimension, while the Kraang themselves remained the same. The androids opened up a very large portable portal, and rising up from it was Kraang Prime on a hover platform. The large brain alien hovered above smiling evilly. "Kraang Prime, I presume?" Star Swirl inquired. "One called Star Swirl the Bearded," Kraang Prime addressed him, "Kraang has come with a most opportunistic offer for you." "I'm listening." Star Swirl answered, as Kraang Prime continued. "The land known as Equestria is rich with life and magic. But it could use some improvements." "What sort of improvements?" the wizard raised a brow. "Kraang has been experimenting on a substance called mutagen," Prime began, "With it, Kraang can terraform this land into an environment fit for all Kraang. And in return, Star Swirl the Bearded will have access to all of Kraang's technology." Star Swirl squinted his eyes, seeing past the deception in the alien's words, and answered, "I'm sorry, but Equestria is not just a land for you to terraform just to suit your own purpose. I deny your offer." Kraang Prime frowned, "If Star Swirl the Bearded will not join Kraang, then Kraang will destroy!" he bellowed, as the three droids stood on their hind legs and started blasting at Star Swirl. The wizard used his magic to shield himself before blasting at the androids disarming them. He then used his power to levitate the droids and Kraang Prime pushing them down into the portal. Kraang Prime screeched as he and his three followers went through the portal that closed up. Star Swirl blasted the portable portal device so that they would not return. Star Swirl narrated, as they watched the flashback shift, "It wasn't long after I was visited by the Utrom Council's ambassador Bishop," they saw Star Swirl meeting with their allie Bishop whose body was in pony form, "He promised me the Council would do what it took to keep the Kraang from ever trying to return to Equestria." "Well, there's never been any other reporting of Kraang in Equestria." Luna assured him. "Then the Utrom kept their word." Star Swirl smiled. "Yeah, good for you," Raph began, "But then they decided to come to our world." "If the Kraang continued to stick around in Equestria, there's no doubt the Triceratons would've found them and try to wipe out Equestria using the Heart of Darkness." Twilight shivered at the thought. "Luckily those guys are finished." Spike reminded her. "I wouldn't wanna get caught up in anything Kraang related for sure," Blade Swipe agreed, "But Star Swirl, there is something I want to know." "What is it, Blade?" he wondered. "What happened in the battle between you and Dark Codex?" Star Swirl and Mistmane were surprised, "How do you know of Dark Codex?" Mistmane asked. "Because he mind molded me into becoming bent on hating ponykind for casting me out because of how I looked after my mutation." Blade answered. "Yeah. He said you two clashed a long time ago." April recalled. Mistmane spoke, "That he did, but Dark Codex was actually a part of my kingdom." "He was?" Rarity asked. The old pony nodded, "Dark Codex was once a royal sorcerer to my friend Sable Spirit, but he was banished when he attempted to take over the throne." Star Swirl continued, "He sought me out for my power so he could try and take over Mistmane's village. We clashed in our magic arts, but in the end I succeeded and trapped him inside his own grimmoire." Stygian spoke up, "I was tasked with hiding it where nopony could ever find it. I'm guessing it didn't work?" "Not so much," Blade admitted, "But it's all right. Dark Codex is no more. Thanks to my friends." he smiled at the group of ninjas. Star Swirl stood up, "You lot have proven to be very loyal and dedicated ponies just as the inheritors of our mantles. So it is with great pride I bestow upon each of you your own mantle," he motioned to Leo, "Leadership!" he looked to Donnie, "Intelligence!" he eyed Raph, "Brawn!" he turned to Mikey, "Heart!" he looked at April, "Sympathy!" he looked to Casey, "Avenger!" he turned to Shini, "Trickery!" he finally looked to Karai, "And Justice!" The group smiled, liking the titles Star Swirl bestowed on them. Leo spoke, as they bowed their heads to him, "Thank you, Star Swirl." After their party, Twilight spoke to the ninjas, "Well, looks like it's time to send you guys home." "We know." Leo confirmed. "It was great seeing you all again." April told them. "Likewise." Applejack agreed. "Come back any time." Rainbow told them. "You bet." Casey confirmed. "And Star Swirl, if you and your pals ever wanna explore someplace new, you should come to our city. Just let us know ahead of time." Mikey suggested. "Sounds good to us." Star Swirl smiled, as the others agreed. Twilight and Starlight used their combined magic to open a portal back to their world. The ninjas looked through the portal seeing their home, "It's the lair!" Donnie gasped. "Come on, team. Let's go home." Leo said, until Twilight trotted over and kissed him. "For the road." She told him. "Thanks." Leo blushed, as Raph and Karai dragged him through the portal with the rest of them. The portal closed, as the ninjas were back in the lair, "Well, that was fun." Raph admitted. "We just made history in Equestria." April added. "Bet we'll be legends too." Mikey said. "Whatever the case, I'm glad we could help our friends." Leo smiled. Karai spoke, "I'll bet Twilight's gonna get started in writing this to Sunset Shimmer." "She's gonna be shocked to hear that." Mikey chuckled. "And be jealous she missed out on it." Shini giggled. "Well, it's not like nothing exciting ever happens here or with her and the others." Raph noted. The group agreed, as they decided to kick back and relax knowing they earned their time of relaxation.