//------------------------------// // Part III. The Sword of Friendship // Story: The Sword of Friendship // by Musical_theatre_demon //------------------------------// The legend was over. In fact, it never existed. The Sword of Friendship was always locked away somewhere at the ruins of the Mountains. And she'd discovered it. She couldn't believe it, but she was the one all these years to uncover the mystery of the sword. But did she really? She still had so much to learn about it. Princess Sugarmoon knew what she had to do. She had to take matters to Equestria --- where a group of ponies she knew would understand better than her --- would tell her all about the sword. And now that her mother had granted her permission to go wherever the hell she wanted, she was free as free could be. There's No Looking Back Lyrics No looking back There's only forward Just me and the sword And a world yet to be explored Nothing to do Nothing to worry about Just take the step With no doubt You're free With the world at your hooves And oh It feels so good To suddenly break free from restrains To break free from the chains My mother held on me For years No looking back On the ruins And my quiet mountain town of three Just the sword and me And a growing curiosity To open that door of discovery To learn even more There's no lookng back Whatever they say They said I'm free to go And I know I'll find where I'm going With this sword by my side, a-glowing And I know From coming this far That this journey won't end As things are I'll find the answers I need By confiding in friends that I know I'll be guaranteed to succeed I know I know That there's no looking back No turning the page It's time to leave the past behind Because I'm ready to journey on My life is an open book If you just take a look The possibilities are endless And I know That I'll be strong I'll just keep trucking along And learn all that I can While they learn all that they can There's no looking back, it's true The road is answers to my questions The road is filled with endless solutions And conclusions that last Say goodbye to the past! Let it go at last! There's no looking back I'm set aback Equestria shines so bright The answer lies here If I'm right That means I'll try with all of my might To ask the right ponies But where do I find the right ponies? (gasps, spoken): Right there! "The Sword has been missing and we still haven't found out who took it," Rainbow Dash said. "That means it definitely has to be in the wrong hooves!" "We can't just jump to conclusions without concrete evidence!" Twilight cried. "We will wait until the pony shows up and gives us the sword." They want the sword, Princess Sugarmoon thought. But it's my land's right. Why do they want it? Why do they need it more than I? She trotted closer to the six ponies. She had to find out what they were talking about and why they wanted it, but for the first time in her life, she was hesitant. Why was she hesitant? Why couldn't she get a word out? She wasn't that shy, she was actually quite social. Princess Sugarmoon didn't understand, but she took a few deep breaths. Was she seriously scared of the six ponies and the suspicion that they were the ones behind the diabolical plan to use the sword in ways nopony could ever imagine? The young, blue alicorn shook her head. They were united as friends, so there was no way they could be plotting against The Sword of Friendship, right? But Princess Sugarmoon just wanted to make sure. She cleared throat. "Excuse me?" she asked. Twilight and her friends turned around. "Hello, and what might your name be?" Twilight said with a huge smile on her face. "I'm Princess Twilight Sparkle." "Nice to meet you, Princess Twilight, but I believe the alicorn nation already knows who you are," Princess Sugarmoon said in reply. Twilight Sparkle showed Princess Sugarmoon a glowing book. "Does that mean that the alicorn nation that my book mentioned is real?" She pranced around in utmost excitement. "That's amazing! Then that means the sword! I knew I was getting somewhere! Of course it isn't just a legend!" "No, it's really not," Princess Sugarmoon said. She examined the book. "Where'd you get that? I found a book just like it when I visited the ruins before starting out to... what's this town called?" "Ponyville," Twilight replied. "Thank you, fellow Princess," said Princess Sugarmoon. "I was told that you were born in Canterlot. Since when did Canterlot become the residence for alicorns such as the Royal Sisters over the years? My parents say that Celestia and Luna were born of Queen Galaxia and King Cosmos in my land. But why did they move to Equestria?" "You see, they wanted to unite all the pony races," Twilight said. "And by doing that, they sorta became the primary rulers of Equestria." "I see," Princess Sugarmoon siad. "That's fascinating. Anyway, your home is in Ponyville now, correct? And if you really aren't after The Sword of Friendship, I'd like to ask you all some very important quetions." "You see, I haven't quite had the chance to study it myself," said Twilight. "So if you're lookng for answers, I don't know much about it." "Figures," Princess Sugarmoon said. "Nopony knows about htis object, not even me. I figured that you guys could give me the answers I need, but I'll be on my way." "No! Wait!" Twilight said. "We can figure this out together!" Princess Sugarmoon smiled. "I'd like that," she said. "Welcome aboard to The Friendship Squad," Pinkie said. "That Earth pony is quite something," Princess Sugarmoon said. Twilight chuckled with a smile. "Yeah. She's quite extraordinary, II'll tell you that." They trotted and trotted. "Where are we going?" Princess Sugarmoon asked. "To my castle," Twilight replied. "It's here in Ponyville. When I became The Princess of Friendship, the Golden Oak Library that I used to live in became a beautiful castle that I like to say resembles the Tree of Harmony." "Ah, yes. And are you the bearers of the Elements?" Princess Sugarmoon asked. "You catch on quick! I like that!" Twilight said. "What's your name?" "Princess Sugarmoon," Princess Sugarmoon replied. "It's a pleasure to be your friend, Princess." "You don't have to use our titles now that we're friends," Twilight said. "But isn't that disrespectful?" Princess Sugarmoon asked. "No, not at all," Twilight said. "Just call me Twilight." "Gotcha," Prncess Sugarmoon said. "Twilight." She paused to let it sink in a little bit. "Then, I guess you can call me Sugarmoon." * * * At The Castle of Friendship.... Twilight sat down with all of her friends, including Princess Sugarmoon. "Sugarmoon, do you have the sword with you at the moment?" Twilight said. "Yeah. Of course I do," Sugarmoon said. "I didn't leave without it." "That's good. May we see it?" Reluctant at first, but then confident that she could trust her new friends, she placed The Sword of Friendship on the table. The Sword of Friendship started glowing and transforming into the shape of a third-quarter moon. It seemed to surge with the power of Princess Sugarmoon's magic. Everypony watched in awe, but Rainbow Dash was the first to utter a word. "Whoa!" she said. "It's beautiful!" Pinkie and Rarity said in unison. "It's everything I'd ever thought it would be!" Twilight and Sugarmoon said in unison. The two princesses looked at each other. "Did we just say that together?" Twilight and Sugarmoon said in unison once again. They began to laugh and chuckle. A new bond was forming and Sugarmoon loved every bit of it. So this is the real magic of friendship, she thought. Having friends to share a bond with. I never would've thought of it like that. After al these years of studying friendship in school...not once did they ever---! "Uh, Sugarmoon?" Twilight asked. "Oh, sorry," Princess Sugarmoon said. "I was lost in thought." "It's OK," Twilight said. "That happens sometimes." "It's happened lots of times," they interject together. They laugh and chuckle again. "Rein it in now," Applejack said. "I think we've just about seen what this sword can do." "You're right, Applejack," Twilight said. "And it won't be long until somecreature comes looking for it. So we have to be prepared." "But nopony's found this sword in years!" Sugarmoon cried. "Who could possibly want it and its power?" "I can think of only one creature that wants it more than anyhting and will not stop until he gets it," Twilight said. "Although he doesn't know where it is or how to grasp it." "Then we've gotta protect the sword," Princess Sugarmoon suggested. "Lock it up like how I found it and only use it in times of dire need." "No, that's too risky," Twilight said. "This villain is the most clever of them all." "Isn't there a chance to reform him like everycreature else?" Sugarmoon cired. "Tell me, Twilgiht. There's a way, isn't there!?Didn't you say there's always hope for everycreature in Equestria?" "I don't know about him," said Twilight. "How can you say that? You thought Cozy Glow would never change, and yet she did! You thought the same about Tirek and Chrysalis, and look at them now!" said Princess Sugarmoon. "I refuse to believe that Grogar's dark heart is incapable of change. If those reformed die-hard villains can see the light eventually, why can't the villainous goat bastard?" Twilight sighed. "You're right," said Twilight. "We've just gotta try." "That's the spirit!" Pinkie, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Applejack, Fluttershy, Spike, and Sugarmoon exclaimed. "Now what's the plan?" Princess Sugarmoon asked. "Nothing yet," Twilight replied. "And the way the book describes something is disturbing." All of the friends circled around Twilight, looking at the specific page as she read from it: "'Whoever touches it with a dark heart incapable of reformation despite how hard you've tried, he/she/they will disintegrate to dust.'" They all gasp. "That's horrible! Hopefully that's not the fate of Grogar!" "We don't know yet for sure," Twilight said. "And there's only one way to find out."