“You win again,” Stone Wall again. Squeaky had invited Stone Wall over to his house just to hang out and Stone Wall agreed. “This card game is more complicated than I remember.”
“You always did have trouble dealing with piercing damage,” Squeaky added.
“Yeah, but honestly it’s just nice to be hanging out with you again. It’s been forever since we did that.”
“True, I figured we were overdue for it,” Squeaky said as he shuffled the decks again to start a new game.
“Yeah, I’m sorry I haven’t hung out with you that much since you got here. I’ve just been so busy.”
“I understand, being captain of the guard can’t be easy.”
“No, it isn’t. But I love the job. Are you still enjoying your job?”
“Very, it’s so nice just to be back in Canterlot. Though speaking of my job, something I’ve been meaning to ask. Are Swift Sweep and I the only janitors in the castle?”
“Not exactly, there are a few others but not much. The guards mostly do the cleaning but it’s more of a discipline thing. There are a few more, but they have different shifts so it’s no surprise you’ve never seen them. Except Swift Sweep, but we were still working him in.”
“So you’re okay working at the castle for the rest of your life?”
“Absolutely,” Stone Wall said as he tributed 2 monsters that before long won him the duel. “I win.”
“Nicely handled.”
“Thank you.”
“Wanna play again?” Squeaky asked.
“Sure,” Stone Wall answered as he was the one that shuffled the decks this time.
"By the way," Squeaky said. "I haven't seen much of Princess Celestia."
"She's been spending a lot of time with Princess Luna," Stone Wall answered.
"Makes sense, they were separated for 1000 years. Of course she'd want to make up for lost time."
"She wants to make up for more that," Stone Wall said before pausing.
"What do you mean?" Squeaky asked with concern.
"Recently I told her she might have been spending too much time with Princess Luna, because I just thought she was getting distracted. But she told me she wanted to spend time with Luna to not just make up for lost time, but to show she cares about her."
"Huh?"
"Basically, when Princess Luna became Nightmare Moon, Princess Celestia blamed herself. If she talked things out with her sister, she could have prevented it. As far as she's concerned, the birth of Nightmare Moon was her fault just as much as it was her sister's, maybe even more."
"Wow, that's a lot to take in," Squeaky said after a rather long pause.
"I'm sorry, I guess I wanted to talk it out with somepony because I don't understand why she would blame herself for the actions of somepony else."
"It's okay. I guess she's trying to take responsibility."
"What do you mean?" Stone Wall asked.
"Even though she was in the right, she thinks she could have handled the situation better."
“I suppose that makes sense. Back to jobs though," Stone Wall said wanting to change the subject. "What about you? Where do you see yourself in 8 years?”
“Don’t ponies usually say 10?”
“I don’t know, 8 felt right.”
“I’d kind of like to be retired by them, but I’ll probably still be working at the castle. It’s kind of hard to imagine anything really changing around here.”
“Yeah that’s true,” Stone Wall agreed. “But change is probably right around the corner. Who knows what’ll happen in the next 8 years.”
“Well I know 1 thing for sure,” Squeaky said. “You and I will still be friends.”
Stone Wall smiled.
***
The next day Squeaky Clean and Stone Wall were going around Canterlot. Squeaky had the day off but Stone Wall was escorting Princess Cadance through the market. But he could still chat, unfortunately he wouldn’t be able to as mysterious colored smoke appeared around the area. It quickly sent nearly everypony there into a panic.
“Colored smoke?” Squeaky said out loud. “So he’s at it again,” he said a little quieter. Squeaky was about to reach into his saddle back to have Super Stallion jump in and help. But Stone Wall beat him to it.
“Squeaky, stay back!” Stone Wall said as he ran over to Princess Cadance to make sure she would be okay. Numerous ponies were being affected by the smoke including some guards, but Stone Wall kept a level head. He got several ponies out of danger and away from the smoke causing the effects to be weakened.
Wow, look at him go, Squeaky thought to himself as he decided to keep a certain sphere in his saddle bag. “He’s so awesome.”
Stone Wall cleared most of the area when suddenly he saw Princess Cadance frozen from fear, most likely a result of the smoke. On top of that a recently formed mob was coming right at here. “RUN CADANCE!” Stone Wall yelled but she was frozen in place. “FLY! TELEPORT!” Cadance still didn’t move.
“CADANCE!” Shining Armor called out as he made his way to her, but still she wouldn’t move.
Stone Wall however made it to her first and slapped Cadance right in the face, this snapped her out of her frozen in fear trance. “MOVE!” Cadence did just that and cleared the area as Stone Wall brought the mob to a stop.
“Cadance, are you alright?”
“Yes, Shining Armor,” she answered. After that Stone Wall made his way to Princess Cadance as he also wanted to make sure she was alright.
“I’m okay Stone Wall,” she said as he looked her over.
“What if I hadn’t gotten to you in time!?” Stone Wall suddenly said when he finished looking her over. “If that mob reached you, you could have…When I tell you to move, you move. Never freeze like that! EVER!”
“I-I’m sorry,” Cadance replied.
Stone Wall took several deep breaths allowing the anger within him to flow. “Shining Armor!”
“Yes captain.”
“Take Princess Cadance to her chambers.”
“Yes sir!” Shining Armor said as he grabbed Cadance and started escorting her back to the castle.
“And come right back,” Stone Wall ordered, stopping the guard in his tracks.
“Yes sir.”
“The rest of you, start cleaning up this mess.”
“Okay,” Squeaky said, making his old friend turn around rather confused.
“You don’t work today. Remember?”
“I don’t mind, it is my specialty afterall.”
“Very well.”
***
Back at the castle Shining Armor did as he was told but when he arrived at the chambers he was looking at her cheek. He even went so far as to get an ice pack for her.
“Shining, I keep telling you, I’m okay.”
“I just can’t believe he slapped you,” Shining Armor said.
“He only did it to snap me out of my trace, it didn’t even hurt that much.”
“I’d just have to hate to rough up my boss for hurting my mare,” Shining Armor said trying to act macho.
“Come on Shining, he already beat you up once.”
“Y-You know about that?” Shining Armor asked embarrassed.
“The whole castle was talking about that.”
“Well, that was a long time ago and I've gotten a lot stronger. Besides, he only won because of a lucky punch.”
“Yeah, all 20 of them,” Cadance replied making Shining Armor puff his face a bit. “Oh come now I’m only teasing. But seriously you should head back before Stone Wall gets mad.”
“Oh let him get mad,” Shining replied, trying to sound macho again. “I’m not scared of him, he’s just a stallion and-”
“SHINING ARMOR!” Stone Wall called out from just outside the chambers making a chill run up and down his spine. “FRONT AND CENTER!” Shining did as he was told and was face to face with the captain. “I thought I told you to come right back, when I give you an order I expect it to be followed. You want to be captain of the royal guard 1 day, right?”
“Yes sir,” Shining Armor answered rather sheepishly.
“Well how can you do that if you can’t even do as you're told? Now report back to where the mob was.”
“Yes sir.” Shining Armor left as Stone Wall locked as Princess Cadance.
“Are you alright?”
“Yes Stone Wall,” Cadance answered with a smile.
“Okay then.”
***
The next day, Squeaky Clean was hard at work thinking about the Grand Galloping Gala. As well as how he tried to confess his feelings to the beautiful Princess Celestia and that perhaps he shouldn’t have called it quits the way he did.
"Maybe I should have tried harder to tell her," Squeaky said to himself as he was mopping the floor. "I can't keep making excuses for myself, if I don’t tell her how I feel, I’ll go insane." With the floor cleaned he went down the hall to get to Princess Celestia's chamber. "That's exactly what I'm gonna do, enough is enough, no more beating around the bush. I'm gonna go knock on her chamber doors, walk right up to her, look her right in the eye and say- "
As Squeaky turned around Princess Celestia herself was there.
"Oh hello Squeaky," she said to him politely but Squeaky just stood there for a minute confusing the princess. "Uh Squeaky?"
"Hello." Say more than that. "Nice day isn't it?"
“Yes it is," Princess Celestia said. "I’d love to stay and chat but I have yet another meeting to get to."
"Okay." Squeaky then showed an abnormally big smile to the princess who gave him an awkward smile in return.
"Squeaky you're in my way."
"I am?"
"You are." Squeaky then moved, and Princess Celestia was on her way.
"Thank you Squeaky."
"No problem Princess Celestia." When the princess was out of sight Squeaky breathed a sigh of relief and of shame. "That was pathetic, why can't I just tell her?" Squeaky thought maybe he should run after her but decided against it. "No bad idea, I think I've filled my awkward quota for the day."
"Awkward quota?" Squeaky turned around and saw Princess Cadance behind him. Squeaky, having seen her around the castle several times, talked with her quite a bit and was well acquainted with her.
"Oh hello Princess, Cadance!" Squeaky said with an unusual tone of excitement at the end. "The princess of love."
"Hi Squeaky," Princess Cadance said, giving a little wave and somewhat weirded out. Suddenly Squeaky pulled Princess Cadance into a nearby room he knew was empty.
"Okay don't freak out I just need your help with something."
"You want love advice," Cadance quickly replied.
"How'd you know?"
"It's usually what happens when ponies pull me into an empty room."
"Okay, well see I have the biggest crush on this mare."
"Is it Princess Celestia?"
"Are you psychic?!" Squeaky nearly yelled and sounded like he was about to burst.
"No, It's just every stallion and a few mares have a crush on Princess Celestia. Well except my Shining Armor of course."
"Oh right, yeah." Squeaky then calmed down as he recalled Sapphire Shores saying almost the same thing to Super Stallion. "I want to tell her how I feel but it's like somepony tries to choke me everytime I try to say it."
"That's a rather common problem, maybe you could try practicing saying it when you're alone."
"That might work. What else?"
"Well maybe you can try just being her friend first."
"I've already done that Shining Armor kind of gave me that advice. Well him and Stone Wall."
"He did, did he?" Cadance asked. "Well it's nice to know he can give love advice too. Well maybe what you can do is next time you want to tell her to close your eyes, take a deep breath and say it. And even if it doesn't want to come out, force it out."
"I think that might work." Squeaky then hugged Princess Cadance out of gratitude but then pulled away after figuring that was a bit much. "Sorry."
"It's quite alright." Princess Cadance then gave Squeaky a return hug. “Why can’t you be that bold with Princess Celestia?”
“I know right! Oh 1 other thing- "
"Don't worry your secret's safe with me." Princess Cadance then walked out the door. Maybe I am psychic.
Squeaky Clean made his way out thinking about the advice he was recently given. When suddenly Shining Armor came into his part of the castle and looked like Tartarus. Squeaky went to see what happened but once again, Stone Wall beat him to it.
“Don’t tell me Shining Armor I can guess. Scar Flank and Emo Pony?”
Shining Armor nodded and Squeaky Clean approached his friend.
“Wait? Scar Flank and Emo Pony? Together?”
“Yes,” Stone Wall answered. “They’ve been working together recently and causing all sorts of problems.”
“But why would those 2 of all ponies be working together?” Squeaky asked.
“I don’t know,” Stone Wall answered. “But I have a feeling in my bones that something terrible is just beyond the horizon.”
***
“We made quite the mess and escaped back down here, just like you asked,” Emo Pony said.
“Ye-s,” the voice echoed across the mines. “I can feel it all the way down here. I can feel my powers are slowly returning, the spell the princesses cast on me eons ago is breaking. 1 more push should do it.”
“You want us to cause more trouble?” Scar Flank asked.
“No, something different. I want you to look into strange magic near Canterlot."
"What do you mean strange magic?" Scar Flank asked.
"I can sense obscure magic and very recently bits of it have been centering around a small spot just outside of Canterlot. I want you 2 to go see what it is and if it can benefit me in any way."
"How can you be benefited exactly?" Emo Pony asked.
"I want you to see if whatever is the cause of the obscure magic can be used for anything chaotic. If that’s the case, this should be the last push I need to be free."
"You really think so?" Scar Flank asked.
"Well it won't be 3 school fillies that are fighting right in front of me after petty arguments over trivial matters, but it should do."
"Oddly specific," Emo Pony couldn't help but notice.
“And once I get free, I’ll make all those who wronged you suffer. As well as what you want out of life.”
“Well, I rather like the latter of that,” Emo Pony said. “But isn’t suffering a bit much?
“If it gets us what we want, I don’t care,” Scar Flank said. “I was once part of an aristocratic family that practically ran Canterlot. I swore that I would restore my family name to its former rank and glory no matter what. If ponies have to suffer for that to happen, so be it.”
“I’m surprised you aren’t as eager as Scar Flank, Emo Pony,” the voice said. “After what ponies did to you.” Suddenly several crystals within the mines started to show an image of a certain building Emo Pony knew well.
The image then showed Emo Pony getting thrown out into the streets of Canterlot. “Wait a minute,” the Emo Pony from the image cried out. “Just give me 1 more minute.”
“We’ve heard enough,” one of the ponies that threw him out said. “We’re not remotely interested in your unethical ideas.”
“Yeah,” another said. “Now get out of here you public menace.”
Emo Pony continued to stare at his past self, remembering the pain he felt that day.
“Do you remember what you said to yourself that day?” The voice asked.
“Yes…I do,” Emo Pony answered. “Menace am I?” Both past and present Emo Pony said at the same time. “I only wanted to help, now they’ll see just how much of a menace I can be.” The images from the crystals vanished. “Where is the exact spot exactly?”
***
“We’re getting pretty close to the spot where the voice sensed the magic,” Emo Pony said. “How exactly do you think we can use it to free the voice?”
“Even if that voice doesn’t get free, this is going to be very fortunate for me.”
"What makes you so sure that whatever we're looking for is going to help you out?"
"This!" Scar Flank answered by showing Emo Pony a large and very old journal.
"An insanely overdue library book?" Scar Flank then smacked Emo Pony on the head with the journal. "Ow!"
"This isn't a library book stupid, this is a journal that belonged to my great grandfather. And in one of his entries it explains that he came face to face with Star Swirl the Bearded."
"Star Swirl!?" Emo Pony said with disbelief. "But that's impossible, he died eons ago."
"Nothing is impossible, the entry explains that Star Swirl got to that point in time by the use of a time traveling spell he was perfecting."
"Time travel? That makes sense, if anypony could do that, it would be him."
"The last part of the entry explains that Star Swirl told him that he was going to go 50 years into the future from that day. That entry was written 50 years ago today. I knew the time but I could never figure out the place. But now, thanks to that voice, I have."
"This is amazing." Emo Pony could hardly believe what he heard. There was a very high chance that he'd be meeting one of, if not the most famous pony in Equestrian history. "So what are we going to do? I mean assuming that we really are going to meet him, what do we do then?"
"Did you bring our little combined project with you?"
"Of course I did," Emo Pony said as he quickly got out a sphere whose colors inside were a mixture of yellow and red.
While in the caves beneath Canterlot he and Scar Flank experimented on some of Emo Pony's spheres. A mixture of an obedience spell used for pets and a sphere that can make a pony calm and quick to help. Before long they created a sphere that would put a pony under the control of Emo Pony and Scar Flank.
"Then I trust you can see where I'm going with this."
“Right. By the way, I had this idea that if we run into Super Stallion. Maybe you could fight him for a second, then I'd throw several spheres as a distraction and in that brief second you teleport him and spheres somewhere else. Somewhere with other ponies can be affected by the spheres, including him."
"Pretty clever, even if it doesn't work on him, it could still work as a distraction." Suddenly a large flash of light appeared out of nowhere. When it cleared an elderly stallion bearing a hat and cloak stood before the 2 criminals.
"Oh, hello there. Didn't expect to meet ponies right from the get go."
"Star Swirl the Bearded," Emo Pony and Scar Flank said together. Scar Flank had always believed the journal of his great grandfather, but it was still an amazing feat to see a pony of legend leap through time.
"Well it's good to know even in this day and age, my name still hasn't been lost to the sands of time," Star Swirl said with a smile. "Judging from what I saw on my last trip through time, this is the city of Canterlot."
Okay so how do we get the sphere to hit him, Scar Flank thought. Should I offer it as a gift and smash it when I get close enough? Or maybe tell him it's a new discovered fruit and have the smoke get him when he takes a bite.
"Catch!" Emo Pony then threw the sphere straight at Star Swirl and the smoke quickly surrounded him.
Or, Emo Pony could just do that.
"What's the meaning of this?" Star Swirl asked as the smoke swirled around him.
"Quick to the trigger much?" Scar Flank asked as he turned to Emo Pony.
"What? It worked didn't it?"
"What worked?" Star Swirl asked, getting both of their attention. "What are you 2 talking about?"
"Stand on your head." Suddenly to his shock Star Swirl did exactly that. "Stand on your hooves again." Star Swirl then again did as he was told. “I’m talking about that.”
"HA HA! It works, it really works," Scar Flank said and then danced around a bit in excitement.
"Why are you acting surprised?"
"Never mind that," Scar Flank replied, stopping his dancing and turning to Star Swirl.
Who the heck are these stooges? Star Swirl thought.
"Star Swirl!" Scar Flank said with command. "I am Scar Flank and this is the Emo Pony you are under our command. I seek to restore my family to its glory once again, to do that I require advanced spells, among other things. I know for a fact that numerous powerful spells are in Canterlot Castle. So you're going to help us sneak into the castle, get what we want, and sneak out."
"Okay," Star Swirl answered and he slowly walked towards the castle and the 2 criminals would soon follow.
"He took that pretty well," Emo Pony couldn't help but mention.
***
"I love you Princess Celestia," Squeaky said to his own reflection but it came out rather poorly. "I love you! Princess Celestia. IloveyouPrincessCelestia. I guess either of them will do just as long as I finally say it." Squeaky grabbed his saddle bag and headed down the hallway to look for Princess Celestia. "Today's the day, I'm finally gonna do it! I hope."
As Squeaky prepared to talk to the princess, Star Swirl his group into the castle into a tower that held many scrolls of spells. While Star Swirl was out of the loop for literal centuries, he had no problem sneaking past the guards and as he quickly figured out their patrol patterns. Thanks to Star Swirl the criminal duo made it to the Star Swirl the Bearded Wing after Scar Flank picked the lock.
"An entire wing dedicated to me, how flattering."
"And I'm sure I'll find something in here to help me get my family name back on top."
"Like what?" Emo Pony asked.
"Well I don't know in particular, but there has to be something. Like maybe a spell that can turn air into gold."
"Turn air into gold?" Star Swirl couldn't help but comment. "Imagine casting that while taking a deep breath. Talk about choking on your wealth."
"Choking on your wealth?" Emo Pony commented this time.
"You know the old saying," Star Swirl replied. "Is it not an old saying anymore?"
"Sadly some things are just lost to the winds of time."
"Yes, unfortunately. You're quite poetic. Even if it's pretty similar to what I said earlier."
"Oh, really? Thank you," Emo Pony said flattered to be complemented by such a great stallion.
"Emo Pony, quit standing around and help me look through these scrolls!" Scar Flank said who was already looking through them. "Star Swirl you too!" The 3 then quickly looked through the scrolls eventually, Princess Luna and several guards who were dragging a rather large and somewhat broken cage entered the wing. Star Swirl was ordered to hide and be quiet with Scar Flank and Emo Pony when Scar Flank heard them coming.
"Why are we here again, your highness?" A guard asked.
"One of the trouble-making creatures in Tartarus somehow broke a few of the bars and managed to get out. After that it managed to escape under Cerberus's nose, or noses. This cage needs to be repaired and then returned to Tartarus."
"Okay, but why did we have to take it all the way to this wing of the library?" Another guard asked.
"Because the repair spell is in one of these scrolls."
"Ah geez it's going to take us forever to find it," The 3rd guard said.
"No I'll look for it, you 3 can go back to patrol," Princess Luna told them grateful they helped her and believed they had done enough.
"Oh thanks Your highness," The 1st guard said very happily. "Stone Wall said if I skipped another patrol he'd make me run around Canterlot."
"What should I do with these magic canceling collars Princess Luna? I can’t remember where we usually put them." The 2nd guard asked.
"Just put them down there, I'll figure out what to do with them later." The 3 guards then made their way out of the wing after the 2nd guard left behind the 2 callers. The 3rd guard stopped just before leaving the wing.
"Are you sure you don't want our help Princess Luna?" The 3rd guard asked.
"Yes I'm sure." And with that the 3rd guard left.
"Luna?" Star Swirl said almost unable to believe his ears. Scar Flank and Emo Pony almost popped out of their skin when their cover was busted and Luna quickly turned her head to the direction of where the voice came from.
"Who's there?" Luna called out and made her horn glow.
"Has it been so long, you don’t even recognize my voice.” Star Swirl then showed himself. “Somepony who is happy to see you again."
Luna's jaw almost hit the floor.
"I thought I told him to hide and be quiet," Scar Flank whispered.
"You didn't say for how long," Emo Pony whispered back.
Luna pulled Star Swirl into a hug who returned it.
"I can't believe it, how are you-" Luna stopped in mid sentence and pulled away from the hug. "Wait a minute. This has to be some kind of trick, you can't be the real Star Swirl the Bearded."
"If you don't believe it, ask me anything." Princess Luna paused to think.
"What was my favorite bedtime story as a filly?"
"Nightie Night Moon."
"Uh, too easy, what's my sister's favorite dessert?"
"All of them." Princess Luna couldn't help but laugh at that comment but quickly regained her senses.
"O-Okay not quite the answer I was expecting, but still rather pretty on the dot. Okay, if you're really Star Swirl, tell me something only you would know."
"One time your sister ate every cookie in my cookie jar, so I told her she couldn't have any dessert for a month since she'd eaten a month's worth that day." Hearing that Luna went back to hugging Star Swirl who again returned the hug.
"It is you! I have to find Celestia," Princess Luna said when she broke her hug. "She'll be so excited to see you again! Wait here, I'll be right back." Princess Luna flew out the door then Scar Flank and Emo Pony came out.
"Ah geez that was a close one," Scar Flank said finally at ease.
"No kidding, if she found us instead of him, we'd be in very deep water right now," Emo Pony added.
"By the way," Scar Flank said. "What's a canceler collar?"
“The name kind of makes it obvious,” Star Swirl said to himself.
"They're made from iron, a special metal that can cancel out magical properties. When it's placed on a unicorn's neck, it stops them from using magic," Emo Pony answered. “They’re used to restrain trouble making unicorns.”
"Wait, could it be used on an alicorn as well?" Scar Flank asked.
"I would imagine so.”
"Star Swirl, Princess Luna mentioned something about a spell that could repair this cage. Did you find it?" Scar Flank asked.
"Actually yes."
"And there are 2 collars over there correct?" Scar Flank asked.
"Yes," Star Swirl answered and suddenly put 2 and 2 together. "Oh, you better not be thinking what I think you're thinking."
***
"I love you," Squeaky said to himself for about the umpteenth time. "Maybe I should open with a compliment. Princess Celestia, you are beauty incarnate, and that's why I love you. Perfect!" Just then Princess Celestia ran by him and nearly ran him over. "Where's the fire?"
"Oh I'm sorry, Squeaky." Princess Celestia turned around and walked up to him, dropping a small saddle bag next to Squeaky's. “Are you hurt?”
"No, but since you're here I'd like to tell you something."
"Oh I'm sorry Squeaky, I can't stop and chat right now."
"But I-"
"Luna told me somepony very special arrived and I've got to meet him and patch things up."
“Wait, patch?”
“It’s a long story.” Princess Celestia then grabbed a saddle bag and ran off.
"B-But I love you," Squeaky said but she was already out of sight. He then grabbed the other saddle bag as he wondered who Princess Celestia could be meeting today. "The way the princess acts, you'd think somepony came back from the grave."
"Who's back from the grave?" Swift Sweep who was doing a rare day job asked.
"Oh hi Swift Sweep, it's just that Princess Celestia was acting super excited about meeting somepony."
"Her too?"
"I beg your pardon?"
"Princess Luna was also super excited to meet somepony as I saw her flying around."
"Did she say who it was?"
"No, but from the way she was acting, you'd think somepony from the distant past she thought would never see again somehow traveled through time and arrived at this current point in time."
"Yeah," Squeaky replied after pausing for a minute to take in all that Swift Sweep said.
"What are you 2 doing?" Stone Wall asked. "I mean besides just standing around not doing your jobs."
"Stone Wall, who are the princesses meeting?"
"I beg your pardon?"
"Princess Celestia said she was meeting somepony important and Swift Sweep told me Princess Luna said the same thing. So who are they meeting?"
"I wasn't told they were meeting anypony today," Stone Wall replied, starting to get concerned.
"Do you think whoever they are just appeared at the castle out of nowhere?" Swift Sweep asked.
"There's something strange going on here and I don't like it. Come on, we're getting to the bottom of this." The 2 janitors followed Stone Wall's instructions and then looked around the castle for the princesses.
***
Princess Celestia had made it to the Starswirl the Bearded wing and upon seeing him, she picked him up and hugged him tightly. Swinging him back and forth as she was hugging him.
"It's you, it's really you! This is a miracle. I can't believe I'm seeing you again!"
"I can't breathe," Star Swirl said. Hearing that Princess Celestia placed the old stallion down. "Thank you, that's better."
"Sorry about that."
"It's okay Celestia. I'm really happy to see you again too." Celestia then hugged Star Swirl again but not quite as rough as before. "Which is why I'm very sorry for this."
"Huh?" Suddenly Star Swirl placed the collar on Celestia's neck. "What are you doing?"
"Unfortunately I'm being forced to capture you against my will."
"What are you talking about?"
"If you get in the cage I'll explain it all," Star Swirl said as he pointed to the cage Luna had the castle guards bring in earlier. The cage had been repaired as well as enforced with magic.
"I don't know if this is some strange joke or if you've finally lost your marbles, but there's no way I'm getting- " Suddenly Star Swirl started to give Princess Celestia a hard stare. "Are you kidding me?” She said with a laugh. “That stare may have worked on Luna and I when we were fillies but-" Celestia tried to finish her sentence but Star Swirl's intense stare made her throat dry.
“What’s the matter?” Star Swirl asked as he continued his hard stare. “Uncomfortable?”
"S-stop it! Cut it out, I'm serious." Princess Celestia then backed up a bit but Star Swirl walked up to her more and somehow made his stare even more intimidating. She felt hot and sweaty, she wanted to look away but she couldn’t. "Okay, okay I'll do it, just stop! Stop!" Princess Celestia pleaded as she got into the cage.
"I guess there are some things you just don't grow out of huh?"
"Apparently not," Princess Celestia said as she was trying to make herself comfortable in the cage. Shortly thereafter Princess Luna returned and was still so excited that Star Swirl had come back, she didn't notice her sister was in a cage. Luna flew over to Star Swirl to give him another hug. "Lu- '' Celestia wanted to warn her sister but Star Swirl quickly used magic to summon a purple cloth with yellow and light blue stars around her muzzle to stop her from speaking.
"Don't ruin the moment," Star Swirl said.
"What?" Luna then turned around and saw her sister. "Why is my sister gagged and locked in a cage?"
"Too late," Star Swirl said after giving a brief sigh. With her back still turned, Star Swirl placed the second collar on Luna. "I'm sorry about this." Star Swirl then grabbed Luna by the ear and forced her to the cage.
"What's going on? Why are you doing this?"
"I'm sorry but I'm being forced to do this by the 2 trouble makers hiding over there." Suddenly as if on cue, Scar Flank and Emo Pony came out of hiding. After seeing them Princess Luna removed the gag on her sister who looked at the dastardly duo.
"I remember you, you're that pony that tried to set off an emotion bomb in the mines. As for you, this is just a guess but I'll bet you were the one that tried to rob my treasury."
"Guilty as charged my dear," Scar Flank said, showing a lot of ego in his tone. "And I'm willing to bet the guards will use all the bits in said treasury to cover the ransom of the both of you."
"Yeah, but how are we going to get them out of here?"
"That's what Star Swirl can figure out," Scar Flank answered and would then order the old stallion to come up with an escape plan. Meanwhile Stone Wall, Squeaky Clean, and Swift Sweep were able to figure out where the Princesses went and were observing things from the hall having just got there.
"I can't believe this," Squeaky asked as the 3 backed away so they wouldn't get overheard. "The princesses, captured and locked up."
"All this under my muzzle too," Stone Wall added. "We need a carefully thought out plan-”
"I'LL SAVE YOU PRINCESS LUNA!" Swift Sweep got the door to the wing open then tried to get the cage open.
"I don't get paid enough for this job. Squeaky try to make a distraction so, Squeaky? Are you kidding me?" Stone Wall turned to the wing door and saw Squeaky going in after Swift Sweep. "All right fine nuts to strategy!" Stone Wall then entered the wing as well.
"Are you okay Princess Luna?"
"Are you okay Princess Celestia?"
"Yes we're fine," They answered in unison. Star Swirl had his eyes on the 2 janitors which worked to Stone Wall's advantage, allowing him to sneak behind Star Swirl. He quickly charged his horn for an attack, however before he could cast it.
"Star Swirl watch out!" Star Swirl quickly noticed Stone Wall and summoned a barrier that blocked his spell.
"What in Equestria are you doing?!?" Stone Wall asked Princess Celestia.
"Don't hurt him, he's being forced to do this!"
"By who?" Squeaky asked.
"And how?" Stone Wall added.
"Is there any food here?" Everypony looked at Swift Sweep after he just asked that. "What? I'm hungry?"
"2 other ponies placed me under some sort of spell and now I'm forced to do as they say," Star Swirl explained. Scar Flank who had remained hidden was about to sneak up on Stone Wall, but before he could attack, Stone Wall back punched him.
"Not in a million years pal." Emo Pony was about to attack with a couple spheres, but Squeaky saw him just in time. Acting quickly Squeaky grabbed the spheres with magic a split second after Emo Pony threw them and gently teleported them to the floor.
"A day late and a bit short pal." Stone Wall then picked up Emo Pony with magic and threw him at Scar Flank just as he was getting up.
"Scar Flank and the Emo Pony,” Stone Wall said. “Getting into trouble yet again I see.”
"Not you again," Scar Flank and Emo Pony said in unison, both remembering the brutal beating they got from the captain of the guard.
"Do you have a problem with me slapping these 2 silly?" Stone Wall asked.
"No, but try not to cause any permanent damage," Princess Celestia answered.
"No promises. Squeaky, Swift, get the princesses out of the cage."
"Star Swirl h-" Before Scar Flank could even finish, Stone Wall charged him and already had him on the ground and started pummeling him. Scar Flank was about to use a flash spell again but Stone Wall pressed his hoof against his horn.
"That's not going to work this time!"
"Hit him with a sphere!"
"I can't they won't work on him," Emo Pony who was somewhat frozen with fear watching Scar Flank get beat up. "But I have an idea." Suddenly Emo Pony was blasted by a spell from Stone Wall.
"You know I can hear you right?"
Emo Pony quickly got back on his hooves. "Remember my idea from earlier?" Emo Pony then threw several spheres and Scar Flank caught the spheres with magic. In the brief second Stone Wall was confused he was lifted up by magic and teleported away along with the spheres.
"Star Swirl, get those 2 out of here," Scar Flank said, barely conscious. Squeaky Clean and Swift Sweep were still having trouble getting the cage open and Star Swirl was still forced to do their bidding.
"Uh any chance you could let us get the cage open first," Squeaky said right before Star Swirl forced them out of the wing with a magic teleportation.
"Sorry, I wish I could."
I think it's time Super Stallion had a say in this.
"What are we going to do Squeaky?"
"We should split up. You go that way and find Stone Wall. I'll…do something else in the other direction."
"Sounds like a well thought out plan to me." And with that Swift Sweep flew away.
Squeaky went around the hall into a closet to make the change, but when he opened the saddle bag, he found stuff he didn't recognize. "What the? Royal documents?” Squeaky suddenly remembered running into the princess earlier. "Ah geez, Princess Celestia must have grabbed my saddle bag by mistake. Which means I can't become Super Stallion. Now what do I do?" Squeaky then left the closet and came across Swift Sweep who was somewhat out of breath.
"Squeaky we got a problem!" Swift Sweep.
"What is it, Swift Sweep?"
"I went to find Stone Wall and I did, but he was dealing with several guards who were acting very weird."
"Weird how?"
"Well one was in the corner crying about a relative that recently passed away. And another wouldn't stop punching the wall screaming about not getting a raise."
"I get it when Stone Wall was teleported with the spheres, they must have broken and affected the guards. Stone Wall is okay though right?
"He's fine, but quite a few of the guards are going nuts. I’m gonna try and find some guards that aren’t doing that.” Sweep Swift then flew off, leaving Squeaky to think of a plan.
"I gotta get my Super Stallion sphere. It shouldn't be too hard. I just might have to fight Scar Flank and Emo Pony. And outsmart possibly the smartest stallion that ever lived. While also making sure neither of the princesses figure out what I'm doing, ah geez."
Back at the Star Swirl the Bearded Wing, Emo Pony threw several more spheres out the window to cause more of a distraction. Scar Flank and Emo Pony also made another special sphere. The same they used on Star Swirl, who on top of creating a barrier to the wing preventing entrance, was working on an escape plan. Since the princesses were in a cage from Tartarus, they couldn't just teleport.
WhileStarswirl was putting a plan together, Squeaky already got one, sneak into the wing real quick, grab his saddle bag, sneak out, and become Super Stallion to rescue Celestia and Luna. Fashioning a grappling hook with a mop and some rope, Squeaky went outside and got to a window that led to the wing. He used magic to quietly place the mop on the inner edge of the window and quickly started climbing.
"All right almost there, this was easy. I'm smarter than I give myself credit for."
"Hello," Star Swirl said who poked his head out the window and was an inch away from Squeaky.
"H-Hi."
"What are you doing?"
"Just hanging around." Hearing that Star Swirl gave out a chuckle.
"That's a good one, here's another knock knock."
"Who's there?"
"Gravitational."
"Gravitational who?"
"Gravitational pull?" Star Swirl then untied the rope causing Squeaky to fall but Star Swirl used magic to summon a bubble to cushion his fall.
"Was that one of those janitors from before?" Emo Pony asked.
"Yes.”
"Well hopefully he learned his lesson now," Scar Flank said. Star Swirl then walked over to the princesses.
"He's not giving up is he?"
"No," Princess Celestia answered. "He…kind of has a crush on me."
"And do you return his affection?"
"N-No!"
"That didn't sound very convincing," Princess Luna said in a mocking tone towards her sister.
"Shut up Luna!"
"So do you like him or not?"
"He's. He's a close friend and I care about him a lot but I don't have time for romance with a nation to run."
"Oh really? I wonder what would have happened if you had the same attitude about him."
“You don't need to bring that up."
"Oh what too soon? Over 1000 years later and still too soon?" Star Swirl then laughed at his own joke but stopped when he saw the depressed look on Celestia's face. "I'm sorry."
"It's okay," Celestia said, still a little hurt. "Our friendship was never the same after that. I know what I did was stupid but please believe me when I say I never wanted you to hate me."
"I don't hate you!" Star Swirl said shocked to hear that. "But you're right, things were never quite the same between us and I guess that was my fault as much as it was yours. I'm sorry."
"It's okay," Celestia said, starting to feel better. "Even if it is in such a messed up way, I'm really glad I got to see you again."
"Me too." Star Swirl and Princess Celestia then hugged each other during which Celestia reached for the key to her collar. She was on the verge of grabbing it but Star Swirl slapped her hoof and it pulled away. "Not even 1000 years later."
"Well I had to try," Celestia said as she was rubbing her hoof.
"Star Swirl, stop wasting time and get back to that escape plan!" Scar Flank said. Star Swirl then looked at the wing entrance and saw that Stone Wall had returned. Seeing him, Star Swirl gave a wink. "Star Swirl, did you hear me?"
"Yes I heard you, but I'm done taking your orders."
"What?"
"Oh no! It must have worn off!" Emo Pony said.
"Well, use another one!" Emo Pony quickly threw it at Star Swirl the Bearded but he threw a book making it break and the smoke went over to him and Scar Flank. However they managed to jump out of the way and dodged it.
"I don't fall for the same trick twice."
"Oh that does it, you are dead!" Scar Flank said angrily.
"Will that make you feel good about yourself? Beating up a fragile old stallion."
"Oh please I can tell from the spells you've cast here alone that you can take care of yourself," Emo Pony retorted.
"Yeah but I figured he'd want to take you 2 down more than I do." Scar Flank and Emo Pony then noticed Stone Wall was back. "By the way I undid the spell preventing him from getting in."
Stone Wall cracked his neck. "I'm going to pound you both silly and love every second of it." Stone Wall made short work of Scar Flank and Emo Pony and got the princesses out of the cage. "That felt so good."
"Yes but perhaps you were a bit too brutal," Princess Luna said.
"No kidding, I had no idea pony legs could bend like that," Star Swirl said. "Now there's just the matter of that spell."
"Spell what spell?" Stone Wall asked. Stone Wall walked towards the window and cast a spell that spread across the whole castle. "What did you do?!"
"I undid the effects that the spheres the gray stallion threw."
"What?" Emo Pony said, now locked in the cage with Scar Flank "How could you possibly figure out how to do that?”
"Give me a break, I'm Star Swirl the flipping Bearded!"
***
Stone Wall ordered a search of the whole castle to make sure the guards were okay.
"PRINCESS LUNA YOU'RE OKAY!" Swift Sweep said, giving her the biggest hug he could.
“My, aren’t you friendly,” Star Swirl said, who found some cookies to eat. Upon seeing Star Swirl, he put himself in front of Princess Luna in a protective manner.
"Get back Princess Luna he might try to imprison you again."
"No need to worry young stallion, I'm free of the control of those 2."
"After all that's happened you can't expect me to trust you right away can you?"
"Are you hungry?"
"Huh? Actually yes I am, I haven't eaten since breakfast."
"Well why don't you have my cookies, I'm not as hungry as I thought I was." Star Swirl then offered the bag of cookies to Swift Sweep who swiftly took it.
"Cookies! Thanks, you're alright after all." Swift Sweep then ate some cookies out of the bag.
"Oh he's much more than alright," Princess Luna said to him who gave a smile saying he appreciated the compliment.
"Try this princess Luna, they're great." Swift Sweep then put several cookies in her mouth who enjoyed them very much. Suddenly Stone Wall used magic to pull Swift Sweep off her and towards him.
"When we want to talk to the princesses, we approach them in a respectful manner. We do not jump on them and hug them like a 5 year old, and we don't shove cookies in their mouth!"
"It's quite alright," Princess Luna said. “I enjoyed the hug and the cookies quite a bit.”
"No it's not, you don't see anypony else behaving in such a manner?"
"STAR SWIRL THE BEARDED!" Every pony in the room turned around and saw it was Twilight Sparkle who was visiting Canterlot for a bit. She came to the castle and heard a bit of the crisis, but mostly that Star Swirl the Bearded had arrived and came to where she was told he was to see for herself. "Oh my gosh oh my gosh it is you! I'm such a huge fan, I'm Twilight Sparkle!"
"Wait, you're Twilight Sparkle?" Star Swirl then looked at the side of Twilight's stomach for a second. "Interesting, a possible metamorphosis maybe."
"What?" Twilight asked.
"Nothing, nice to meet you."
"Star Swirl, this is Twilight Sparkle, she's my personal student."
"Really? You must be very talented for her to want to be your teacher." Twilight almost fainted at such a compliment.
"Well I try to always study and work hard and figure if I keep that up, I can be as perfect as her 1 day." Hearing that made Princess Celestia blush a little, but Twilight didn't even notice. Because saying what she said caused Star Swirl to burst into laughter.
"You honestly think she's perfect, you have no idea what she was like when she was young."
"I take it she was quite the hoof full," Stone Wall said.
"She was a little Tartarus spawn, always getting into trouble."
"Well Star Swirl no need to get into that," Princess Celestia said now feeling embarrassed.
"Sometimes after I grounded her I had her grounded again right after the first one was over."
"Okay that's enough about the good old days." Princess Celestia tried to quickly change the subject.
"But it is nice to see that even after 1000 years, she and her sister are still working together."
"Well," Twilight said before stopping and looking away.
"What?" Starswirl asked. "You hesitated there. Did something happen?" Starswirl then suddenly turned to Princess Celestia. "What did you do?"
"What? Why you assume it's my fault?"
"Is it?"
Princess Celestia looked at Princess Luna before turning back to Starswirl. "Yes." Luna was shocked at that answer. Suddenly Squeaky clean came in and upon seeing Princess Celestia, he rushed over and hugged her to her surprise and to Stone Wall annoyance.
"Princess, you're safe."
"Yes I am, thank you for noticing."
"Squeaky I'm glad you're here."
"You are Stone Wall?"
"Yes, save me the trouble of finding you later. I want to give you and Swift Sweep something."
"Really?" Swift Sweep walked over and stood by Squeaky. "Is it more cookies?"
BONK
Stone Wall grabbed their heads and made them hit each other.
"What did you do that for?" They asked in unison while also running their heads.
"That was for rushing in without thinking earlier. Being careless like that won't help in a crisis."
"Sorry Stone Wall," Squeaky said, still rubbing his head.
"Sorry captain."
"Now that that's settled Swift Sweep, go with the other guards and help them clean the messes caused when the guards got "emotional". Squeaky you stay here and clean the wing then help Swift Sweep."
"Okay," The janitors said in unison. Swift Sweep and the guards including Stone Wall made their way out of the wing.
"By the way princess, here's your saddle bag back."
"Huh?" Princess Celestia saw Squeaky holding up a saddle bag and that it was indeed hers.
"We grabbed each other's saddle bags by mistake."
"Oh my I was in more of a hurry to see Star Swirl than I thought." Princess Celestia then looked for Squeaky's saddle bag.
"Looking for this?" Star Swirl asked as he was holding up Squeaky's saddle bag.
"Star Swirl, why do you have my saddle bag?"
"Luna Celestia, cover your ears." The princesses were surprised by the sudden request but quickly did as they were told. "I was looking through this bag earlier to slow down writing the escape plan for the crime bozos. And when I did I came across something truly interesting and of my design as well." Star Swirl then pulled out the sphere Squeaky uses to become Super Stallion.
"Star Swirl wait." Squeaky gestured his head a bit to Twilight Sparkle who was reading a journal that Star Swirl himself wrote and was allowing her to read.
"No need to worry, watch. Twilight Squeaky Clean is Super Stallion." Squeaky almost screamed from the sheer shock of what Star Swirl just said.
"Okay." Squeaky then calmed down upon seeing Twilight not surprised at all she didn't even bat an eye.
"Also I'm not really a pony, I'm a 2000 foot dragon made of chocolate that vomits gold."
"Sounds good,” Twilight replied. She was so caught up in reading, she wasn't really listening.
"Okay that's a relief, but how could you know I'm Super Stallion or know about Super Stallion in general?"
"Oh I've been around for a while I've seen a few things, learned some tricks and I went through all the trouble of inventing this so that helps."
"YOU INVENTED IT!" Squeaky couldn't believe his ears. "But how and why?" Star Swirl then got out a journal which would answer his questions and a ton more. Celestia slowly uncovered her ears as she was getting curious to what Squeaky and Star Swirl were talking about.
"KEEP THOSE EARS COVERED!" Star Swirl ordered and Celestia re-covered her ears in a flash. Luna couldn't help but giggle at her sister getting yelled at to her annoyance.
"Anyway that journal should tell you everything you want to know about the sphere but if it gets too complicated, Twilight over there should be more than capable of understanding it. I haven't known her long but I can already tell she's very special."
"But I can't tell her I'm Super Stallion."
"Have you told anypony?"
"No."
"Well you might want to change that. Not even I did everything on my own." Star Swirl then gave Squeaky the journal and signaled the princesses they could uncover their ears and Twilight, having finished the book, offered it to Star Swirl who placed it back in his saddle.
"That was amazing. I always knew your ideas were ahead of their time but they're ahead of my time too."
"Well Star Swirl, would you like to tour the castle or something?" Luna asked.
"I'd love to Luna but I think my time is up." Star Swirl was then surrounded by a light green energy. "I figured as much, you might want to stand back. I don't want to burn anypony."
"Wait, Star Swirl, don't go!" Celestia begged. “I can’t lose you again!”
"Yeah there're 100 questions I still want to ask." Celestia then gave her student a rather strict look. "What?"
"Isn't there some way you can stay?"
"Not now, but I can guarantee we'll meet again." Star Swirl then gave a subtle glare to Squeaky. "You've overcome numerous obstacles, but they're nothing compared to what you'll be facing next."
"What? Wait what do you mean? What do you mean?" Before Star Swirl could answer, the energy surrounded him and he was literally gone in a flash. "What was he talking about Princess Celestia?"
"You're guess is as good as mine. He always had a way of seeing things way before they happened."
"I still can't believe he let me read something he wrote," Twilight said in utter bliss. "Well I think I should help clean up." Twilight then left the wing and Princess Luna followed, also wishing to help. As Squeaky was about to clean Princess Celestia turned to him.
"Squeaky." Hearing his name he turned his head to the princess. "While I didn't agree completely with how he handled it, Stone Wall still had a point. You were rather careless like he said, but you also tried to sneak in. Even if you got in you'd have 3 stallions to deal with. What were you thinking?"
Tell her how you feel now! Squeaky thought to himself. It's perfect you 2 are alone and it'll cover for you trying to get the sphere to become Super Stallion! Come tell her, don't chicken out.
"I-I. Princess Celestia. I just wanted to help you out, I mean that's what friends are for, right?" You chicken.
"I see," Princess Celestia replied. "Well I think I can handle cleaning in here. How about you go clean the other parts of the castle?"
"Okay. That's probably a good idea. I saw how the guards were acting, the whole castle pretty much went into chaos." Squeaky then saw Princess Celestia shiver. "Are you cold princess?"
"No, I just don't like that word."
"Chaos?" Princess Celestia then shivered more.
"Yes, please stop saying that."
"Sorry."
"It's alright." Squeaky then made his way out of the wing and got to cleaning. Princess Cadance even decided to help out. As well as try to help Celestia, who was rather depressed that somepony important to her came back into her life and left just as quickly.
"I can only imagine how hard it is to lose somepony again," Cadance said while helping Stone Wall finish with the clean up. "Why couldn't he just say something meaningful before he left?"
"Sometimes...It's hard for stallions to say what's in their hearts," Stone Wall answered. Suddenly he pulled Cadance into a hug. "Come on, I'm taking you shopping."
"But I-"
"No buts Cadance now move it," Stone Wall said as he pushed Cadance from the behind.
Cadance sighed. He must still feel bad about the slap. "Alright Stone Wall."
As Stone Wall kept pushing Cadance they passed Shining Armor. "Shining Armor."
"Yes captain?"
"If I ever see you doing something similar with Cadance, there will be, big trouble."
By the time Squeaky finished, the sun had come down and was looking at the night sky as heheaded for home. Along the way saw a shooting star run across the night sky. Squeaky remembered how ponies say if you make a wish on a shooting star the wish will come true. "I wish I could confess my feelings to the princess."
On his way home, a brief but surprisingly cold wind blew past him.
"Where in Equestria did that come from, the frozen north? Was that some sort of bad omen? No, I'm overthinking this." Squeaky shook his head. "Whatever future problems are coming, I can handle it no problem. Or rather, Super Stallion can handle it."
***
At the bottom of the mines beneath Canterlot a strange statue had cracks all over it and more of them were appearing. A voice was echoing all across the mines with laughter. "Those 2 did even better than I had hoped," the voice said. "Now at last I can be rid of this stone prison. I'm so happy, I feel like singing."