"Right then! Let's go over Gabriel's powers, shall we?" The Doctor said.
Everyone had once again gathered that night and were in the process of preparing for their attack.
"As he is, Gabriel is an ordinary human, so he's immune to most forms of magic. But his sword, 'Wrath', is an ancient and powerful sword made from a dragon's tooth, which also eats the souls of those it cuts down. I know that sounds bad, but it gets worse. Whatever abilities the soul's owner possessed gets transferred into the sword as well, so Gabriel has access to a myriad of powers. Timberwolf breath, night vision, limited manipulation of various elements, etcetera. But aside from that, the blade gives it's wielder enhanced senses and accelerated healing. He's also had the sword for so long that it has imprinted on him; no one else can wield it." he explained.
"Are the skeletons part of the sword, too?" Twilight Sparkle asked.
"Yes, the Shades are physical representations of the souls trapped inside the sword. His control over them is limited, so they can't manifest as whole beings, only bones." the Doctor explained.
"Sounds overpowered..." Rainbow Dash said.
"You'd think that, but the important thing to remember is it's all about the sword. If he was kept away from the weapon, he wouldn't be able to use any of it's abilities."
"How many ponies did he have to..." Fluttershy began to ask, hesitating. "How many did he...?"
The Doctor paused, grim look on his face. "Too many. And not just ponies. Dragons, Griffins, and almost every other creature under the sun. All so he could increase his own power."
The room grew somber as the gravity of Gabriel's madness was felt among them all.
"The first thing we need to work on is getting us all there. Is the conductor for the Canterlot Express still here?" The Doctor asked.
"I think he's still in town. I'm pretty sure I can take you to him." Twilight answered.
"Brilliant, the rest of you need to gather some materials; we're going to armor a train."
As the group began to disperse, Matt slung his bag over his shoulder before leaving the library. Outside, he found Shining Armor and Applejack waiting for him.
"Something the matter?" Matt asked.
"I wanted to apologize for sayin' you were bein' yellow-bellied and all." Applejack said.
"Me too. I shouldn't have been upset with you for being scared; I'm pretty sure we all are." Shining Armor added.
"Don't worry about it. Yes, I'm still terrified, but I know now that I need to do all I can, no matter what. Now what do you say we gather some stuff to reinforce this train?"
"Sure thing! Although... that Doctor fella didn't say what we should be lookin' for." AJ replied.
"Hey, I just thought of something! The blacksmith who makes the armor for the Royal Guard should be here somewhere, I'll try to find him to help." Shining Armor said.
"Guess we should try to find some metal for him to use, then."
…...
The next day, progress had begun on reinforcing the train that would be driven to Canterlot. Twilight and the Doctor had managed to find the conductor and had recruited him to get them there. Matt was taking a break from train reinforcement inside the station.
"Oh my goodness... Matt?" a familiar female voice called out to him.
He turned to see a yellow pegasus with a cyan mane and tail, as well as droplets of water as a cutie mark.
"... Aqua?" he asked in disbelief.
"Yeah! Well, no... Sunshower Raindrops is my actual name." she flew over and hugged him. "I never thought I would see you again, but after the Gods sent us back I had recalled seeing you around town before."
"So they snatched us from the same time..." Matt said. "Either way, it's great to see you! Have you bumped into anyone else we were trapped with?"
"I was about to ask you the same thing..." she replied, downcast.
"Aside from the Doctor, I haven't either. Although... I did some digging, and found out when they grabbed Quixote. It was nearly sixty years ago." Matt's face soured as he recalled the smiling face of their fallen friend.
"So we might not have ever seen him again anyway..." Raindrops said, noticing Matt's expression. "You don't still blame yourself, do you?"
"Of course I do. What happened only happened because I cracked under the pressure and made a mistake. I survived while someone else died in my place... again..."
"Hey, none of that. If Quixote were here he'd bonk you on the noggin with his guitar for talking like that. It wasn't your fault. He did what he did to save all of us and it worked." she said reassuringly. "As long as we keep his memory alive, it's like he's still with us."
"I... suppose you're right. Thank you, Aq- er, Raindrops."
"No problem! Now why don't you catch me up with what needs done? I originally came to offer to help prep for the attack on that Gabriel guy."
"Oh we've still got quite the ways to go. Including today, we have four days until he starts his campaign. We plan on striking Hearth's Warming Eve, so it's really three."
…...
Another day of preparation passed and Matt was met by the Doctor and Rarity.
"Matthew, dear, if you have a moment." Rarity said.
"Yes, come along Nabal. We've something to show you." The Doctor added.
They led him to Carousal Boutique, to a table with a large paper rolled up on it.
"I figured the odds needed to be evened up a bit more, so I asked Rarity to design something a little different than clothes for the battle." The Doctor said.
"It took some doing, but I think it came out quite well." Rarity said, unfurling the scroll.
The paper detailed plans for a sword. A straight, double-edged blade approximately three foot in length. The design was beautifully made, detailing engravings and accurate measurements.
"You're going to be making a sword?" Matt asked.
"Hey, Gabriel's a human with a sword. We needed one on our side too." the Doctor replied. "It should be quite handy in clearing out the shades that swarm Canterlot."
"I can't make it here, but if you find somepony who can you're welcome to the design." Rarity said.
"I think I know just the pony." Matt said, curling the sheet back up. "Thank you so much, Rarity."
"Anything for you, darling. It should make getting to the castle much easier." she said.
As Matt left the Boutique, the Doctor scrambled to catch up with him. "Nabal! Nabal, there's something I forgot to mention." he said, catching up. "I know I said that Gabriel was an ordinary human, but that's not entirely true. He was once a prisoner in a scientific compound where they conducted numerous experiments on him, one of which gave him some limited magic-like powers."
"What do you mean 'magic-like'?" Matt asked.
"He can extend the range of his sword or claw swings by projecting an extension of energy, but it takes him quite some time to prepare it."
"Good to know, although I hope we don't have to actually fight with him directly. The Elements of Harmony should be enough to deal with him."
"Right, right..." The Doctor replied. "Back to it, then?"
.....
"Goooood morning, Ponyville! This is a test broadcast for the emergency broadcast system brought to you by Vinyl Scratch..."
"And Octavia."
"That's right! If any of King Nutjob's spooky monsters try to make a move, we'll be the first to know and you'll be the second. In the meantime, remember to lock your doors and be safe!"
Matt smiled as he heard the announcement that boomed throughout the whole town. He was impressed Vinyl and Octavia had gotten something set up so quickly. The train had finished it's improvements and was ready for the ride to Canterlot, so Matt was relaxing with a mug of hot cocoa just outside the station.
"Hey there, two-legs!" he heard shouted o him. He knew immediately that it had to have been Lyra. Naturally, Bon-bon was close by as well.
"Good morning, ladies. Where have you been? I assumed you came back with the Doctor but I couldn't find you." Matt said.
"We were taking a break. Too much excitement on our last outing, right Bon-bon?" Lyra replied. "Bon-bon...?" she repeated when she didn't get an answer.
Bon-bon had seemingly spaced out staring at Matt as he took a sip from his mug, almost as if she was seeing him for the first time. She snapped out of it after Lyra waved a hoof in front of her face.
"O-oh! Yes, too much excitement..." she stammered.
"Riiiight... Are you two joining us for the attack?" Matt replied.
"Oh, no... we couldn't..." Bon-bon answered.
"We already told Vinyl and Octavia that we'd help them keep ponies informed here. Somepony's gotta stay behind while the rest of you go do all the heroics." Lyra said.
"I see. Well, it was nice to see you again. We should catch-up sometime, I want to hear about your adventures with the Doctor." Matt said.
"If only you knew, two-legs. " Lyra replied cryptically. "Speaking of, the Doctor said he was looking for you, I think he parked the TARDIS by Sugarcube Corner."
Matt waved after the pair and finished his cocoa before heading off to see the Doctor. He spotted the TARDIS quickly, and as he approached the door burst open and the frantic Timelord emerged.
"You wanted to see me, Doctor?" Matt said.
"I did? Ah! I did! Good timing, we just finished." The Doctor said.
"We? Finished what?" Matt asked.
"That blacksmith you brought me hadn't forged a weapon in many years, but we somehow managed." The Doctor said as said blacksmith emerged from the TARDIS, pushing a small cart with a bundled up cloth atop it.
"It wasn't my area of expertise, but I think it came out rather well." the smith said.
"Tempered by the heart of a dying star..." The Doctor said, unwrapping the cloth to reveal a glistening sword. "The Blade of Harmony. For you, Nabal." he said, gesturing for Matt to pick up the weapon.
The sword was truly a thing of beauty, made to the exact specifications Rarity had set. The blade shone brilliantly in the sunlight, and Matt could make out the same engravings Rarity had designed for it. The hand-guard and handle were made of gold, the handle wrapped in a smooth brown cloth. The golden pommel had a thin pink cloth dangling off of it.
Matt picked the sword up, finding it lighter than he had expected but still having a nice weight to it. He held the weapon straight up and noticed his reflection in the blade. His once shoulder length hair had gotten quite long during his stay in Equestria, something he had somehow not noticed before.
"Don't forget the scabbard!" the smith said, passing a durable feeling sheathe for the weapon to Matt. It came included with a strap for across his waist and diagonally across his chest.
"Get some swings in with that thing, you'll need it for the Shades." The Doctor said as Matt sheathed the blade and attached the scabbards straps to him. The sword rested comfortably on his right hip.
"I'll be sure to practice. I have to ask, why go for gold in the handle?" Matt asked.
"The Doctor said it's for 'magical conductivity', I just think he wanted it to look nice." the blacksmith answered.
"A bit of both, truthfully." The Doctor said.
…...
The day of the attack had arrived, and Matthew Nabal swung his new sword into the open air of a field nearby Ponyville. Rainbow Dash lay idle on a cloud floating low to the ground.
"You've been swinging that thing for hours. Do you feel any better with it?' she asked.
"Hard to say..." Matt said, sheathing the sword. "I feel like all this has really taught me is that I'm out of shape..." he said, huffing for breath.
Rainbow Dash giggled. "I thought you said you were good at everything?" she teased.
"Hey, I said things I tried. Never in a million years did I think I'd be swinging around a sword to help save a kingdom."
"Whatever you say, Gary Stu. Let's get going, we're heading out in a few hours." she replied, flying off.
"And what's that supposed to mean? Rainbow Dash!" he called after her as they headed back to the train station. As they arrived, Matt saw Twilight speaking with the conductor.
"Thank you so much for everything you've done." Twilight said.
"Anything to help the princesses, ma'am." the conductor replied.
The conductor walked off as Matt and Rainbow approached.
"Everything good to go?" Rainbow asked.
"It would appear so, just as soon as everypony arrives." Twilight said.
Matt, Rainbow and Twilight all sat down, Matt between the two mares. "So this is it, huh..." Matt said.
"Sure is! Time to kick this guy's butt straight out of Equestria!" Rainbow replied.
Matt was absently staring out into the sunset, unaware of how much his body began to tremble as he thought of what lay ahead of them. He felt Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash reach for one of his hands.
"It'll be alright." Twilight said.
"Yeah, we've got this, no problem!" Rainbow reassured.
"... I know." Matt answered. "I know as long as we're in this together, we'll be alright. We're going to steal away tomorrow, right out from under his nose."
"That's the spirit!" Rainbow said as the group noticed more ponies arriving.
"Now Applebloom, you gotta stay here and help keep everypony safe. Leave the rest to us." Applejack said to her younger sister.
"That goes for you as well, Sweetie Belle. The Cutie Mark Crusaders are most needed here at home." Rarity said.
Applebloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo all gave them a salute and swore to do their best.
Spike followed Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie, both of whom were giving him instructions to care for their pets.
"C'mon, guys, I've taken care of Angel and Gummy before. I know what I'm doing." Spike said.
"Better safe than sorry, Spike. Thank you so much for taking Angel for the night." Fluttershy said.
"I would've brought Gummy with me, but he's cold-blooded so he has to stay home and warm." Pinkie said.
Twilight smiled as her friends all got onto the boarding platform. She then noticed Cadence and Shining Armor arrive as well. Before they could all board the train, somepony called out for them to wait. The Canterlot celebrity Fancy Pants had come to see them off, along with a large group of other ponies.
"I thought it best the citizens of Equestria come see you brave heroes off!" he said. The crowd he brought with him cheered and celebrated, the group all waved to them with smiling faces. Matt and Fluttershy seemed a bit uncomfortable, while Rainbow Dash and Rarity seemed to be enjoying every second of it.
"Oh my gosh, I almost forgot!" Twilight Sparkle said as she opened a large book she had brought with her, revealing the hiding place of the Elements of Harmony. As she floated the five other Elements to their proper bearers, she adjusted hers within the tiara atop her head. The crowd seemed to get even more excited at the sight.
"It's time we headed off." The conductor called back to them. "Night has officially fallen."
With that, everypony resumed boarding as the engine roared to life. Matt was surprised to see the Doctor was already aboard, watching Canterlot castle in the distance out his window. The doors shut as they all began to take their seats.
The Doctor seemed to snap out of it as the train began to move. He looked back to see the nearly full train car. "When did all of you get here? Eh, doesn't matter. Let's go over that plan one last time."
…...
"They should be on the way, soon." Amethyst said as Gabriel rose from where he was lying.
"Already? I was having a lovely little nap..." he replied with a yawn, noticing her downtrodden expression. "... You don't have to do this. I forgive you if you don't."
The mare sighed as a sad smile graced her features. "I knew you would say that."
He placed a hand on her shoulder gently.
"You may want to put your armor on." Amethyst said, noticing he was still in plain clothing.
"Of course, of course." he said as she headed for the door. "Oh, and Amethyst?" he called out. "I love you."
She didn't turn to face him, but she hesitated before leaving. "I love you, too."