The pressure of the waterfall kept dragging Yona and her friends down until they finally reached the bottom and fell into the lake close to Canterlot. Yona slowly sank to the bottom of the lake as she desperately tried to swin to the surface while holding her breath, but the strong current coming from the waterfall stopped her from going up. Silverstream and Gallus regained their composure and looked around underwater for their friends. Their eyes soon caught sight of a light blue seapony swimming their way.
''Go save Yona! I'll help Smolder!'' The light blue seapony said.
Gallus and Silverstream instantly recognized Ocellus's voice. They saw how she quickly swam away from them and towards Smolder, who was also having trouble swimming to the surface.
''Come on!'' Silverstream said before she quickly swam down towards Yona, who looked like she couldn't hold her breath for much longer.
Gallus immediately swam after her. They reached Yona in time and placed their fins under her arms. Together they swam to the surface with every ounce of strength they had. Eventually they managed to reach the surface and held Yona's head above the water, who immediately coughed the water out of her mouth as soon as she got above the water. Gallus and Silverstream swam with Yona towards a tiny beach close to the lake where she was finally able to walk on dryland again. Yona stepped on land with her fur completely soaked and slowly walked away with her head hung low.
Silverstream held onto her necklace, grabbed Gallus's fin and transformed them both back into their normal selves. Ocellus and Smolder soon arrived on the beach as well. The blue changeling transformed back into her normal form as soon as she felt that her tail was touching the sand below her.
''Is everyone okay?'' Ocellus asked.
''Don't worry, I'm fine,'' Smolder answered reassuringly, ''But next time, I think I'll stick to swimming in lava, thank you very much.'' She said in a joking manner. Ocellus gave her a playful smile.
Silverstream let out a sigh of relief, ''We made it.''
Yona shook her body widely to dry herself a little bit on the grass and walked off to the nearest tree.
''Where did you get that thing?'' Gallus asked Silverstream as he took a good look at the necklace around her neck. Silverstream looked down at the little piece of pearl on her necklace.
''Oh this?'' Silverstream said before showing it off to Gallus, ''it's a part of Queen Novo's magic pearl from back home. It allows any creature to transform into a seapony and back at will.''
''Can I have one of those?'' Gallus asked with an excited look.
''I'm sorry, we already used up all the pieces of the pearl.'' Silverstream answered with a disappointed look.
''Hey, it's alright,'' Gallus said back, ''I was just curious, that's all.''
''Hey, guys,'' Smolder said while looking around the beach and at the lake, ''Where's Sandbar?''
''I thought he was with Yona.'' Gallus answered.
Together they searched around the beach for Yona. Eventually they saw her sitting close under a tree. Her fur was slightly wet and she had her back turned on them while looking down at the ground. They all walked over to her.
''Yona?'' Silverstream said, placing her claw on Yona's shoulder.
''Yona sorry,'' Yona said, sounding like she was about to cry, ''This all Yona fault.''
''What do you mean?'' Smolder asked while looking concerned, ''Where's Sandbar?''
''Yona failed to protect Sandbar,'' Yona explained as tears were already appearing under her eyes, ''Yona and Sandbar got attacked by evil changeling. Yona tried to help, but got stuck on bridge. And now evil changeling captured Sandbar because of Yona.''
''What?!'' Yona's friends all said out loud.
''Yona sorry,'' Yona said in a sad tone as tears began to roll down their cheek, ''Yona worst friend ever.'' She started banging her head against the tree multiple times, causing the tree to shake wildly while leaves fell down from the branches.
A look of regret appeared on Ocellus's face as she thought back to the moment between her and Thorax back in Canterlot. Silverstream went over to Yona, sat next to her and gave the sad yak a comforting hug as she heard Yona sobbing.
''Actually Yona,'' Ocellus said, still having a look of regret on her face, ''This is all my fault.''
‘’Don’t say that,’’ Gallus said to Ocellus, ‘’You were captured by a changeling, remember? There was nothing you could do.’’
‘’I wasn’t captured,’’ Ocellus began to explain, ‘’....I wandered off on my own.’’
''You what?!'' Smolder asked with a furious look, ''Why would you do that?!''
''That's what I wanted to tell you before,'' Ocellus tried to explain, ''That changeling who attacked me in the alley back in Canterlot. That was actually Thorax. I heard his voice in an alley and went after him. I'm really sorry.''
''Thorax? The new leader of the changelings?'' Smolder asked in a confused tone, ''But he didn't look anything like-''
''I know,'' Ocellus answered Smolder, interrupting her sentence, ''But he had the exact same voice when I heard him speak. It has to be him.''
''But then why did he look like that?'' Smolder asked curiously, ''And why did he attack you?''
''Chrysalis,'' Ocellus answered her, ''She must have casted some kind of spell on him and the other changelings from my hive. That must be how she got her army and that's why their eyes were always glowing, there's no other explanation.''
''Oh,'' Smolder said with a guilty look, ''I...I'm sorry.''
''So, what now?'' Silverstream asked concernedly.
''I don't know,'' Ocellus said in a somber tone, ''But I don't wanna go up against my own family.''
''Well, one thing's for sure,'' Smolder said determinedly, ''We gotta go back and save Sandbar.'' She was already getting into position to fly back to Canterlot.
''Smolder, no!'' Ocellus said with a worried look as she stepped in front of the orange dragon, ''That's exactly what Chrysalis will expect us to do.''
''So what?'' Smolder asked, ''I'm not afraid of her!''
''Listen, Smolder,'' Gallus said, ''I wanna save Sandbar as much as you do, but you saw how many of those changelings there were, right?''
''But we can't just do nothing,'' Smolder said while sounding worried, ''He's our friend! And true friends never leave each other behind!''
''If we want to save him, then we'll have to stick to Ocellus's plan,'' Gallus said sternly, ''Without the help of Shining Armor and Princess Cadance, we won't stand a chance!''
Smolder looked conflicted as she tried to think of what to say back. While she kept thinking, a small blue bird flew into some bushes close to a tree behind them without their notice. The orange dragon eventually took a deep breath and calmed herself down.
''I guess you have a point,'' Smolder said while sounding kind of somber, ''But.....What if Chrysalis will do something to him?''
''If I'm right, she'll probably just put Sandbar back into a cocoon again,'' Ocellus reassured her, ''He should be fine for now.''
''I hope you're right.'' Smolder said as he looked a bit conflicted.
''Let's not waste anymore time,'' Gallus said, ''We have to get to this Crystal Empire.''
''Did you hear that, Yona?'' Silverstream said while patting Yona's shoulder, ''Once we reach the Crystal Empire, Shining Armor and Princess Cadance will help us save Sandbar and teach that big meanie Chrysalis a lesson.''
Yona dried her tears, looked at Silverstream and gave her a warm smile. Soon she felt something touching her other shoulder. She look to her right and saw Gallus looking at him with a determined smile.
''We're gonna save him. That's a promise.'' Gallud said.
Yona's sad face slowly disappeared and began to show a reliefed smile.
''Thank you,'' Yona said before giving Silverstream and Gallus a big hug, ''Yona could not ask for better friends.''
''Does anyone know the way to the Crystal Empire?'' Gallus asked.
''It's somewhere over there, in the Frozen North.'' Ocellus said before she pointed her hoof to the big snowy mountains in the distance.
''Is everyone ready to go?!'' Smolder asked with a look of confidence.
''I'm in!'' Gallus answered.
''Me too!'' Ocellus said.
''Yona ready!'' Yona added.
''Count me in!'' Silverstream said with a confident look.
''Let's do it!'' Smolder said. She and the rest of her friends all walked around the lake and began to make their way to the Crystal Empire.
''Crystal Empire, here we come!'' Silverstream shouted.
As soon as they were all gone, the small blue bird came out from the bushes of the tree they were standing close to. The blue bird surrounded itself with green magic for a split second and revealed itself to be a black changeling with purple wings. Pharynx showed a gleeful smile on his face before he flew back up to Canterlot.
All of Canterlot was crawling with black changelings. Every building, shop and tower in the city was heavily guarded. Not a single place was safe from the sights of the black creatures.
Inside the castle of Canterlot, changelings were patrolling through the many dark hallways. They checked ever room and searched every corner of the giant building at least three times, making it nearly impossible for any creature to get in without being seen. The throne room in particular was the most heavily guarded of them all, since that's where Chrysalis was, sitting on one of the two thrones at the end of the room. The room was barely lit, with the only source of illumination being the moonlight that was shining through the many windows. At least three changelings guarded her throne while ten others kept guard of the rest of the throne room. Chrysalis looked over to her left side close to her throne, where a black statue resembling Princess Celestia stood. The statue was covered in many black, spiky crystals. She then looked over to her right to see another statue, this time resembling the Princess of the night, Princess Luna.
A green aura began to glow around Chrysalis's horn. A big book surrounded by the same green aura appeared from behind her throne. The book was a little torn and had a grey, heart-shaped symbol on the cover. She admired the book with a gleeful smile on her face.
Suddenly Chrysalis heard the door of the throne room opening and quickly hid the book back behind her throne. She turned her attention over to the open door and saw Pharynx walking towards her over the long red carpet. Chrysalis slowly stood up from her throne.
''Well?'' Chrysalis said in a calm voice, ''Did you find them?'' Pharynx stopped walking as soon as he got close to Chrysalis's throne.
''They're heading to a place called the Crystal Empire, your highness.'' Pharynx explained to her as he bowed before the tall changeling.
''The Crystal Empire, hm?'' Chrysalis said to herself before she showed a menacing smile and let out a sinister giggle, ''I think I already have a pretty good idea of what they're planning.''
''Should we go after them, your highness?'' Pharynx asked.
''No. I've already got a better plan,'' Chrysalis answered in a conniving manner, ''Besides, we've already captured their little ponyfriend. They wouldn't dare to oppose me if their little friend's life was on the line.''
''I'm listening.'' Pharynx said.
''I need you to follow those six creatures to the Crystal Empire. Alone,'' Chrysalis explained, ''There's a little baby alicorn over there who could be of good use to me. Bring her to me. And make sure that no one sees you.''
''How will I recognize the baby?'' Pharynx asked.
Chrysalis responded to him by using her magic to transform herself into small, pink baby alicorn with huge wings in a light blue diaper.
''Like this.'' Chrysalis said while still talking in her own voice. She quickly transformed back into her original form.
''I'm on it, your highness.'' Pharynx said while saluting her queen. He flew back to the open door and exited the throne room.
''The rest of you will stay here,'' Chrysalis commanded before a sly smile appeared on her face, ''We're going to prepare a little surprise party for our upcoming guests.''
Chrysalis giggled to herself and looked back on her right as the silhouettes of six ponies with green glowing eyes stepped out from behind the curtains. A black and grey colored source of magic was glowing around five of their necks while one of them was glowing close above it's head.
Gallus and his friends eventually reached two big snowy mountains after many minutes of following the train rails from Canterlot. They finally seemed to be getting somewhere and continued to follow the rails between the two mountains.
Another few minutes later, the tight space opened up into a large grassland surrounded by many more large snowy mountains. They got out of the narrow space and there they saw it, further up ahead in the middle of the grassland was a giant crystal looking castle, which was surrounded by many buildings made out of light blue and dark pink colored crystals with small windows in them.
''Finally,'' Gallus said before he looked back between the two snowy mountains, ''That place was giving me the creeps for some reason.''
''We made it!'' Silverstream said as she placed her claws on her squishy cheeks while admiring the sight of the Crystal Empire, ''Do you see all those crystal buildings and that giant crystal castle?! I bet it must be even more beautiful up close!''
Ocellus giggled, ''Yup, that much is....Crystal clear.'' She said in a playful tone. Her friends all rolled their eyes at her.
''Don't forget that we're here to get help and save our friend Sandbar along with Canterlot.'' Smolder explained.
''I know,'' Silverstream said, ''But it's just so exciting! This is the first time I've ever seen the Crystal Empire with my own eyes.''
''Me too,'' Ocellus said while taking in the beauty and size of the empire, ''And I can't believe we're also going to meet Princess Cadance and Shining Armor for the first time as well.''
Smolder sighed, ''Oh well, I guess I can't blame you for that.'' She said while shrugging as she showed a relaxed smile.
''Off to the Crystal Empire we go!'' Silverstream shouted. The excited hippogriff raced to the Crystal Empire. Her friends followed her immediately.
It didn't take long for them to get close to the entrance of the empire, which was located between two big crystal pillars. They eventually slowed down and were about to walk over the path leading to the empire.
Suddenly two purple ponies dressed in crystal armor showed up from behind the two pillars and stopped them in their tracks.
''Halt!'' Both of the crystal guards said out loud at the same time. They already had the tips of their long grey spears pointed close to Smolder's face.
''Wow! Cool it,'' Smolder said, looking surprised while backing away from the spears, ''We're just here to get help.''
''Sorry, but we're gonna need some form of identification before you can proceed.'' The crystal guard on the right demanded, still aiming his spear at Smolder.
''We are students from Headmare Twilight's School of Friendship.'' Ocellus explained.
''The ones who saved Equestria from a crazy little pegasus named Cozy Glow who tried to suck away all the magic.'' Silverstream added urgently.
''Yona and friends not dangerous,'' Yona said while looking worried, ''Yona promise!''
The guards both looked at each other for a few seconds and eventually nodded in agreement.
''Alright, you may proceed.'' The crystal guard on the left said before both of them stepped aside.
''Thank you, Mister crystal guard!'' Silverstream said with a happy smile.
''Let's go.'' Smolder said. She and her friends all stepped onto the path between the pillars and began to make their way towards the Crystal Empire. The guards watched the five creatures head to the empire until they were out of their sight.
Suddenly the two guards heard hoofsteps in the snow coming from behind them. A giant shadow soon began to lurk over them. Before they had the chance to turn around and look at what was behind them, a giant claw slashed both of them against their armor and got knocked out cold the moment their heads smacked against one of the crystal pillars. A flash of green light appeared close to the unconscious ponies for a split second and the shadow that was looming over them had shrunken down into what seemed like a pony with deformed limbs and fangs under his mouth.
Entering the Crystal Empire felt like a huge breath of fresh air for Gallus and his friends. They took their time taking in the warmth and comfort of their new surroundings. The place was filled with life and joy, the streets were crowded with ponies, walking and talking to each other in harmony. There were no dangers in sight and the empire itself looked just as gorgeous as they had imagined.
A few minutes later of making their way to the castle, Silverstream noticed a big red stallion sitting at a table close to a café with a giant mug in his hoof. He had a sad look on his face while tears kept rolling down his cheeks. Next to him sat three young fillies. One of them was a yellow earth pony with a red mane and a pink bow tie on the back of her head. The two other fillies sitting next to her were a orange pegasus with a purple mane and a white unicorn with a mane that was a mix of pink and purple. The yellow filly seemed to be comforting the red stallion by gently patting his back while he kept drinking from his mug.
''Hey, aren't those the Cutie Mark Crusaders?'' Silverstream asked as she pointed at the table close to the café. Her friends all looked over to the table where the little fillies sat.
''Who are they?'' Gallus asked, giving a confused look.
''The Cutie Mark Crusaders,'' Ocellus said to Gallus, ''They helped us save Equestria from Cozy Glow.''
''Oh, right,'' Gallus said, ''From that story you told me about back at the School of Friendship, right?'' Ocellus answered him with a nod.
''But who is that red stallion they're sitting with?'' Smolder asked, ''I've never seen him before.''
''Me neither,'' Ocellus said, ''But we better go see what's wrong.''
Ocellus and her friends made their way through the crowd of ponies, walked towards the café and approached the table. Scootaloo, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle all turned their attention to the five creatures as they got closer.
''Hey, I remember you!'' Scootaloo said with an excited smile.
''Aren't you the creatures who saved the School of Friendship?'' Sweetie Belle asked as Smolder and the others stopped at their table.
''Yup, that's us.'' Smolder said with a confident smile.
''It's good to see you all again.'' Ocellus said.
''It's good to see y'all too and....'' Apple Bloom said before she noticed something odd, ''Hold on. Where's Sandbar? Ain't he always with ya guys?''
A sad look appeared on Yona's face as soon as she heard Apple Bloom say Sandbar's name.
''He got captured by changelings in Canterlot.'' Smolder answered.
''What?!'' The Cutie Mark Crusaders all said at the same time.
''But aren't the changelings supposed to be reformed?'' Sweetie Belle asked with a worried look.
''They are,'' Ocellus explained, ''But Chrysalis used some kind of spell on them and now their back under her control. That's why we came here to seek help from Princess Cadance and Shining Armor.''
''Do you know where we can find them?'' Gallus asked.
''They should be in the castle along with Starlight Glimmer and Spike.'' Scootaloo answered.
''Counselor Pony here too?!'' Yona asked while looking surprised.
''Uh huh,'' Sweetie Belle said with a nod, ''We and the rest of Ponyville had to take the train to the Crystal Empire after the Everfree Forest grew out of control and destroyed our homes.''
''Wait, so everyone from Ponyville is here?'' Silverstream said with a hopeful smile.
''Yeah, It was the craziest thing I've ever seen,'' Scootaloo explained, ''There were huge plants with razor sharp teeth coming out of the Everfree Forest, along with many thorned vines trying to snatch everypony in it's path.''
Smolder sighed in relief, ''At least now we know why Ponyville was abandoned when we came out of the catacombs under the school.''
''Catacombs under the school?'' Apple Bloom said curiously.
''It's a long story.'' Ocellus said.
''But it's strange,'' Gallus said, ''It didn't seem that bad when we were there. If it was so bad that all of Ponyville had to be evacuated, then how come we were able to make it through just fine?''
''That could have something to do with when we got tested by the Tree of Harmony.'' Ocellus answered.
''What do you mean?'' Gallus asked.
''Well, remember when the Tree of Harmony said that the magic inside us helped it from becoming completely corrupted by the dark magic?'' Ocellus explained, ''Since the tree's magic helps to contain the Everfree Forest, then that means the forest calmed down and stopped growing out of control after we somehow spread our own magic into the Tree of Harmony.'' Her friends all stared at her in amazement.
''Wow! Not bad, Ocellus.'' Silverstream said with a smile.
''Yeah. We sure are lucky to have such a smart friend like you.'' Smolder said before giving Ocellus a small wink, which caused the small changeling to smile a little while blushing.
''Apple Bloom,'' Yona said to her before looking over at Big Mac, ''Who is big red pony?''
''This is my big brother, Big Mac.'' Apple Bloom answered while still trying to comfort the sad looking stallion, ''He's been like this ever since we lost Sugar Belle.''
''Sugar Belle?!'' Ocellus and her friends all said out loud at the same time.
The ponies that were walking past them stopped and turned their attention towards them. They all stayed quiet for a moment before they shrugged it off and continued walking.
''Did I say something wrong?'' Apple Bloom said, slighty confused at their reaction.
''We found her stuck in a changeling cocoon in the Everfree Forest.'' Smolder explained.
Big Mac instantly raised his head back up, wiped his tears and showed a big smile on his face.
''Ya have?!'' Big Mac asked out loud before he got up from his chair moved his head really close to Smolder's, ''Where is she now?!''
''We lost her in Canterlot after we temporarily got captured by the changelings.'' Ocellus explained with a dissapointed look.
Big Mac's smile slowly disappeared before he sat back down on his chair with the same sad look from before.
''But don't worry, Big Mac,'' Silverstream reassured him, ''Me and my friends are going to save her with the help of Princess Cadance and Shining Armor.''
''Ya are?!'' Apple Bloom asked eagerly.
''Absolutely!'' Smolder said with a confident look, ''That big bug queen will get what's coming to her!''
''Did ya hear that, big brother?!'' Apple Bloom asked Big Mac with an excited smile. Big Mac smiled back at her as he dried his eyes.
''Eeyup.'' Big Mac answered in a reliefed tone.
''Come on, everyone,'' Smolder said to her friends with a determined look, ''We've got a friend to save and a villain to defeat! Off to the castle!''
Smolder and her friends all ran back into the streets and headed to the middle of the Crystal Empire where the castle was.
''Good luck!'' The Cutie Mark Crusaders shouted while waving at them as they left.
They finally got themselves away from the crowded streets and walked into the center of the empire under the castle. In the middle of it hovered a giant crystal heart in between two pointy shining crystals. Under it was a huge snowflake symbol on the ground.
''It sure feels nice to finally be in a safe place again after all this time.'' Gallus said.
''Not to mention an incredibly beautiful place at that.'' Silverstream said with excitement as she admired the beauty of the castle.
''Indeed,'' Smolder said while looking around herself, ''But there's no time for sightseeing right now, come on.''
On one of the pillars that held the castle together they could see a door with a small flight of stairs under it. Four crystal armored guards stood in front of the stairs and guarded the door into the castle. The five creatures walked over to the pillar, but stopped when two of the four guards blocked the way to the stairs with their spears.
''Should have seen that one coming.'' Gallus remarked sarcastically.
''State your business.'' The guard on the left demanded with a fierce look.
''We're here to see Princess Cadance and Shining Armor,'' Ocellus explained, ''We need their help to save Canterlot from Chrysalis.''
The guards both looked at each other for a few seconds. They looked back at the two other guards behind them, gave them a nod and raised their spears back up.
''Our guards behind us will escort you to the throne room.'' The guard on the right explained. The two crystal guards standing behind them walked up the stairs and opened the door.
Ocellus and her friends followed the two crystal guards into the castle as the two other guards at the stairs closed the door.
Silverstream looked in awe at everything her eyes could see while she and her friends walked through the halls of the crystal castle. Every meter of the walls was decorated in bright crystal pillars, little gems glittered and shined through the hallways. Her friends, aside from Smolder, couldn't help but watch with the small hippogriff in amazement.
''Wow,'' Gallus said while looking flabbergasted, ''I've never seen anything like this before. I mean, as far as I can remember at least.''
''It's just like Headmare Twilight described it.'' Ocellus said eagerly.
''It's almost as beautiful as my home underwater.'' Silverstream said with great enthusiasm.
''Good for you,'' Smolder said unenthusiastically, ''All this place does is make me hungry. And I'm not even allowed to eat any of it.''
Gallus gave Smolder a confused look, ''What are you talking about?''
''Dragons love to eat gems and crystals.'' Smolder answered the blue griffin, ''So you can probably imagine how I'm feeling right now.''
Eventually the hallway split into two. The right hallway led to the balcony of the castle while the one on the left led to a tall door. The guards led the five creatures to the tall door on the left and stopped right in front of it.
''We're here.'' Both of the guards said.
Both the crystal armored ponies placed one of their hooves on each side of the door and gently pushed it open, slowly revealing a big room with a long purple carpet on the floor on the other side. The carpet led to a tall crystal throne at the back. Close to the throne they saw Starlight Glimmer along with Spike, who both seemed to be in a conversation with a big white stallion and a pink alicorn standing in front of the throne.
''Your highnesses.'' The guard on the left said.
A few seconds later Starlight, Spike and the two other ponies with them looked over to the open door where they saw Smolder and the others entering the throne room. The guards both stepped aside when the door had fully opened and positioned themselves on each side of the purple carpet.
''These five creatures wanted to see you.'' The guard on the right announced.
Starlight recognized the five creatures standing at the open door almost immediately and gasped in shock. Her shocked look soon got replaced by a smile filled with joy and relief. She ran towards Yona and her friends at full speed and embraced them all into a group hug.
''Thank Celestia, you're all alright!'' Starlight said happily.
''Yona so glad to see Counselor Pony!'' Yona said while hugging Starlight back very tight.
''I'm glad to see you all too, Yona.'' Starlight said before she and the others stopped hugging and let go of each other.
''Smolder!'' Spike said as he happily flew over to the orange dragon and gave her a big hug. Smolder gave a bit of an awkward look, but eventually smiled and hug him back.
''It's good to see you too, Spike.'' Smolder said before she stopped hugging him. Soon after the white stallion and pink alicorn approached them.
''You two must be Princess Cadance and Shining Armor, right?'' Ocellus asked them both with a little smile.
''That's right,'' Shining Armor answered her, ''And who are you, little changeling?''
''Sounds like it's time for another roll call.'' Silverstream said to her friends with a happy look on her face. They all rolled her eyes with a playful smile.
''I'm Ocellus.'' Ocellus said while bowing before them.
''Yona!'' Yona said with a endearing smile.
''Name's Smolder.'' Smolder said while winking with her thumb up
''I'm Gallus.'' Gallus said casually.
''And I'm Silverstream!'' Silverstream said enthusiastically.
''Hey, Twilight told us about you,'' Princess Cadance said, ''Aren't you the ones who saved Equestria from losing all of it's magic?''
''Uh huh,'' Ocellus said before she bowed before the pink alicorn, ''It's a real honor to finally meet you, Princess.''
Cadance giggled at the blue changeling, ''Thank you, Ocellus,'' She said while showing a warm smile, ''But you don't have to bow to me, you can treat me just like a normal pony.''
''Okay, Princess.'' Ocellus said before she stood back up with a shy smile.
''I still can't believe that you're all here,'' Starlight said, ''Now, can you......'' She stayed quiet and began to look worried when she noticed that a certain pony was missing.
''What's the matter?'' Gallus asked.
''Where's Sandbar?'' Starlight asked in a concerned manner. A sad look appeared on Yona's face once again as soon as Starlight brought up that name.
''......It's a long story.'' Smolder said while looking a bit down.
''I see,'' Starlight said, still looking worried, ''Can you start from the beginning?''
''It all started when we got tested again by the Tree of Harmony under the catacombs of the school.'' Silverstream began to explain.
Starlight, Spike, Cadance and Shining Armor all listened to the five creatures as they told them about everything they've been through. They explained to them about the Tree of Harmony almost being corrupted, how they found Discord as a statue in the Everfree forest, Chrysalis having taken over Canterlot and finally about Sandbar being captured by the changelings.
''Oh no,'' Starlight said with a frightened look, ''Looks like things are even worse than we thought.''
''At least now we know why Discord never came to help us, even after calling for him multiple times.'' Spike said.
''And that why Yona and friends need help from pink princess pony and white prince pony.'' Yona explained to Cadance and Shining Armor.
''I see,'' Cadance said, ''But what about Twilight and her friends? Can't they help too?''
''I'm afraid not,'' Ocellus explained, ''Chrysalis has captured them along with Princess Celestia and Princess Luna.''
''What?!'' Shining Armor said out loud an angry look, ''Alright, that does it! Nopony messes with my Twily!''
''We'll help in any way we can.'' Cadance said determinedly.
''I'll go tell the crystal guards about the situation!'' Shining Armor said fiercely before running out of the throne room.
''And somepony's gonna have to watch over Flurry Heart for us.'''Cadance added.
''Don't worry, I can do that,'' Spike said, ''I am her uncle after all.''
''Thank you, Spike.'' Cadance said with a warm smile.
''I'll go with you to Canterlot,'' Starlight said to Cadance, ''If Chrysalis is back, then she most likely still wants take revenge on me.''
''We're gonna help too.'' Smolder said.
''I don't think so,'' Starlight said with a stern look, ''I know that you all saved Equestria from Cozy Glow, but this is far too dangerous for you.''
''Our friend Sandbar is there,'' Smolder said, ''So I'm not just gonna sit here and do nothing.''
''Yona neither!'' Yona said.
''Can we help, Counselor Starlight?'' Silverstream said while Starlight the puppy dog eyes, ''Please?''
''We're probably gonna need all the help we can get, Starlight,'' Cadance explained to her, ''Trust me, Chrysalis is not someone you want to underestimate.''
Starlight thought about it for a few seconds and then sighed, ''Alright, you can help,'' she said to them, ''However, I need you to promise me that you'll do exactly as I say. Got it?'' Silverstream and her friends all nodded to her.
''So, what's the plan?'' Spike asked curiously.
''That's exactly what we're going to discuss now and-'' Starlight stopped mid-sentence and widened her eyes a little.
''What is it, Starlight?'' Spike asked.
''I just remembered something,'' Starlight said before she looked over at Gallus, ''Gallus. Do you remember back at the school when I told you about a memorey spell?''
''Oh yeah,'' Gallus said, ''You mean you finally found it?!''
''No, not yet,'' Starlight answered, ''But I'm sure the library in the Crystal Empire might have a book on that. I'll be right back.'' Her horn glowed for a split second before she disappeared in a flash of blue light.
''What was she talking about?'' Cadance asked.
''Back at the school we found out that Gallus has amnesia.'' Silverstream explained.
''How did that happen?'' Cadance asked.
''I guess I'm about to find out.'' Gallus said.
Suddenly a magical blue light appeared in front of them for a split second before revealing Starlight Glimmer, who seemed to be carrying a small, glittering book in her right arm.
''I found it!'' Starlight said eagerly.
''Wow,'' Smolder said with a suprised look, ''That was fast.''
''She and Twilight have alot more in common than you think.'' Spike said in a joking manner.
''No kidding.'' Smolder said.
''Are you ready, Gallus?'' Starlight asked.
''You bet,'' Gallus answered happily, ''I can't wait until things will finally start to make sense again.''
''Everycreature, stand back.'' Starlight said before she opened the book with her magic.
They did as they were told and Starlight began to read the first words from the book in what sounded like some kind of unknown language.
''What Counsler Pony saying?'' Yona asked Ocellus.
''I don't know,'' Ocellus answered, ''But it sounds like old Ponish.''
As Starligth kept reading, a white magical glow appeared on the tip of her horn. Soon a white magic beam shot out from Starlight's horn and onto Gallus's forehead.
It was as if time had stopped when Gallus saw that everyone and everything stood completely still for a second. Soon everything around the blue griffin disappeared into nothingness before he ended up in a brightly lit, white area.
Inside the white area, hunderds of green glowing squares kept circling around Gallus. One by one each of the green squares flew past his face as a white, magical glow surrounded them and revealed many different moving images of what he assumed to be from his past. One of the first images that stood out involved a small blue griffon that looked just like him. He was making his way through the streets of Griffonstone while several other griffons either ignored him or gave him the stink eye. The imagine then changed to a slightly more grown up blue griffin going around stealing food and belongings from other griffins, followed by him being confronted by an older looking griffin wearing a small, dark red hat. The old griffin shook his head with a look of dissapointment on his face and led the blue griffin to his house.
Gallus felt a huge wave of emotions going through him as many other familiar images of himself in Griffonstone flew past him. The next image included seeing himself being stuck in a pit while a purple winged unicorn and five other creatures, who he suddenly remembered were none other than his friends and Twilight Sparkle, watched him from above with anger in their eyes. Gallus look at his past self in the image and could see the panic and fear in his own eyes as the walls around him inside the pit kept closing in on him. He could hear his own voice coming out of the image.
''Please don't do this!'' Gallus heard himself shouting inside the image in agony as he saw tears appearing under his eyes, ''Just give me another chance! I promise I won't do it again!''
It was after seeing that image and hearing those words that he finally remembered. This was exactly what happened to him when that purple magic from a dark crystal had struck him on his head, back when he and his friends explored a secret passage in the Castle of the Two Sisters. The image ended when he saw Smolder snapping him out of the illusion.
Other images went by with seemingly nothing much important happening in them. That was until one of them was about seeing himself breaking and entering into Twilight's office along with a small pony, who's name he began to remember as Cosette, walking next to him. They both searched every corner of the office before Cosette took six items out of a chest inside a tall closet. He saw himself stopping Cosette right before she reached the door. The small pony began to cry for a few seconds before shooting a green beam out of her horn and on Gallus's forehead, all while having a sinister smile on her face. His other self fell asleep on the floor and the small pony suddenly surrounded herself with green magic that shot out of the ground. When it disappeared a second later, the small pony had suddenly changed into a tall, black creature with a long green mane, disformed horn and a little crown on her head. The tall creature smiled sinisterly before carrying the six magical artifacts and the sleeping blue griffin out of Twilight's office. The image changed to the tall creature entering a small room and putting his own body on a bed.
Gallus slowly began to understand who the tall creature was and figured out Cosette's true identity. Many feelings of guilt, doubt and regret started to go through his mind after that image had faded away. Soon the white area around him became so bright that he was forced to close his eyes.
The blue griffin opened his eyes a few seconds later and saw that he was back in the Crystal Empire, where his friends along with Spike, Cadance and Starlight all looked at him in anticipation.
''Well? Did it work?!'' Silverstream asked, eagerly waiting for Gallus to answer her. Gallus remained silent as he watched his friends.
''I uh....'' Gallus said stutteringly.
''Yes?'' Silverstream said, still with an eager look on her face.
Gallus looked as if he was about to cry. He quickly turned around and ran out of the throne room without looking back.
''Hey, where are you going?!'' '' Smolder asked.
''Gallus, wait!'' Silverstream called out as she watched Gallus run into the hallway before disappearing around a corner.
Starlight, Spike, Cadance and Gallus's friends all looked at each other in confusion.
''What just happened?'' Ocellus asked.
''I have no idea.'' Smolder answered.
''Did the spell not work?'' Silverstream asked Starlight worriedly.
''You should go talk to him,'' Starlight suggested, ''Spike, Cadance and I will stay here and think of a plan on how to stop Chrysalis.''
''Got it,'' Smolder said, ''Come on, everyone.'' She ran out of the throne room along with her friends and began their search through the castle.
Gallus was sitting all by himself in a small room, which contained nothing more than a small bed with curtains. Close to the bed stood a small desk with a mirror in front.
The blue griffin sat on the bed with his head resting on his claws, staring down at the ground with a sad look on his face. All he could think about at that moment was the night before he lost his memory. What would his friends think of him if they ever found out? His mind kept on pondering about the situation, having no idea as to what he should do or say next.
Suddenly the sound of the door opening snapped him out of his thoughts. He raised his head up and aimed his eyes over at the open door, where he saw Silverstream along with the rest of his friends entering the room.
''Here you are,'' Silverstream said while approaching the blue griffin, ''We were worried about you, Gallus. Is everything okay?''
Gallus sighed to himself, ''I'm fine.'' He said very unenthusiastically.
''But you do have your memory back now, right?'' Ocellus asked worriedly.
Gallus nodded calmly while having a somber look on his face, ''Yes, I do.''
''Are you sure you're okay?'' Smolder asked him, ''Cause you sure don't sound like it.''
''And why Gallus look so sad?'' Yona asked as she and the others also approached the sad blue griffin.
''It's nothing.'' Gallus answered, sounding slighty annoyed as he turned away from his friends
''Then what's the problem?'' Smolder asked while looking confused.
''And why did you run off like that?'' Ocellus asked.
''I said, it's nothing!'' Gallus said, raising his voice a little to everyone's surprise, ''Now stop asking.''
''Why can't you just tell us what's wrong?'' Smolder asked as she started to get a little irritated, ''We're your friends, aren't we?''
''I told you to stop asking!'' Gallus answered back with a frustrating look on his face. Smolder and the others all kept looking worried at him.
''Sorry, Gallus,'' Silverstream said nervously, ''We're just worried about you.'' Gallus sighed to himself before looking down again with a sad look.
''Can you at least tell us how you lost your memory?'' Ocellus asked, ''If that's okay.'' She waited a few seconds for him to respond.
''It's not important.'' Gallus answered her.
''How is it not important?!'' Smolder said as she began to sound frustrated, ''Just tell us what happened! Is that so hard?!''
Gallus looked conflicted for a few seconds before sighing deeply, ''....I hit my head on the desk in my room that night right before I went to sleep.'' He explained reluctantly.
''....Is that it?'' Silverstream asked with a confused look.
''Are you sure that's what happened?'' Smolder asked suspiciously.
''Yes,'' Gallus said in an irritated manner, ''Are you happy now?''
''Why were you so afraid to tell us that?'' Ocellus asked.
''I don't know,'' Gallus answered her, still sounding irritated, ''I guess I was just afraid you would laugh at me or something.''
''Why would you think that?'' Silverstream asked.
''I DON'T KNOW!!'' Gallus shouted, ''The point is that I hit my head on the desk and lost my memory! End of story, okay?!''
''Alright, calm down! You don't have to shout,'' Smolder said when she noticed Ocellus getting a little scared, ''We just think it's a little weird that you were so reluctant to tell us about a little accident.''
''Yeah,'' Silverstream said, ''Did you really think we were gonna hate you over something that small?''
Gallus was just about to say something, but got interrupted when they heard the sound of many hoofsteps running on the crystal floor heading their way. Soon Cadance, Spike, Starlight and a Shining Armor dressed in armor all pushed the door of the room open.
"Flurry Heart has been kidnapped!" Starlight shouted.
''What?!'' Ocellus and her friends shouted at the same time.
''The crystal guards guarding her room told us that a black changeling had knocked them out and then took her away!'' Shining Armor explained in an urgent manner.
''Oh no,'' Ocellus said with a worried look, ''Chrysalis must have ordered one of the changelings to follow us here.''
''That ugly, disgusting witch,'' Cadance said in a cold voice filled with anger, ''I swear I'll make her pay for this.''
''Try to stay calm, Cadance,'' Starlight said, ''It's going to be okay. We'll just have to stick to our plan.''
''The crystal guards are all waiting outside and are ready to go.'' Shining Armor explained.
''Good job, Shining Armor.'' Starlight said to him.
''What is the plan exactly?'' Ocellus asked curiously.
''The crystal guards will fight the changelings as a distraction,'' Starlight began to explain, ''Shining Armor and Cadance will rescue Twilight and her friends along with the princesses while I deal with Chrysalis.''
''And what about us?'' Smolder asked.
''I'm not sure yet,'' Starlight asked, ''But we're gonna need you just in case something unexpected might happen.''
''Got it.'' Ocellus said with a determined look.
''So, you all got this under control then, huh?'' Gallus asked hopefully.
''As long as we work together and stick to the plan, definitely.'' Starlight answered determinedly.
Gallus quietly sighed to himself in relief.
''Is everycreature ready?'' Cadance asked.
''Ready!'' Smolder and her friends all shouted at the same time.
''Then let's not waste anymore time! Follow me!'' Shining Armor said. Everyone exited the small room together and made their way out of the castle to prepare for battle.