//------------------------------// // Issue 10: // Story: MLP G5 Sunset: IDW Comic Story // by JesusG0987 //------------------------------// Issue 10: With the Mane 6, sins Sunset, still in a cage that is dangling over the huge cliff where Discord trapped them with the ropes on each end on top of it as it hangs over the cliffs. “Anypony have snacks left?” Izzy asked her friends. “If I don’t have sugar every hour, my mood gets wonky, and things are bad enough already.” She said, reminding them of their predicament. “Don’t look down. And don’t move…” Hitch said to the others in a whisper tone as he curled himself, a little scared of them being hung over a cliff. Sunny then brings out her Alicorn magic as she floated up before she bucked her hind hooves on the floor of their cage, which earned a thud as the cage shook a bit. “I said don’t move-AHHH!” Hitch cried out in fright as he held onto the bars when Sunny shook the cage. Pipp got her head hit by the bar from the shake of the cage as she turned to Sunny. “Okay, ouch.” She said as she rubbed her head. Sunny landed as she tapped the cage’s floor with her hoof. “With enough momentum, I think I can crack through the bottom of the cage and get us out of here.” She said, thinking that with enough force to the floor, it might crack and a hole for them to be free. Hitch starts to panic as he starts to sweat. “I almost fell to the bottom of these cliffs back on the bridge.” He said in a panic tone, reminding them of his near death experience from the bridge earlier. “I am not going to risk it happening again! I won’t. I can’t--” He ranted in panic. Zipp then came to him as she yelled at his face. “Pull it together, Hitch! This seems like our one shot at escaping and getting to Discord.” She pointed out, snapping Hitch out of it as she continued. “Sunset is still out there. I’m sure she will get us out.” She added, since Sunset is not with them at the moment for some reason. “Well, I don’t know where Sunset is, but in the meantime, let’s keep trying.” Sunny said, while Sunset is MIA right now, it’s up to them to think of something as Sunny places her hooves on the top of the cage again. “If only I could get a bit higher--” She said to herself as she flew up as she pushed on the top of the cage with all her strength as she strained in effort, but then her magic glitched out again as her Alicorn form disappeared. “Ughhh.” She groaned as she fell on her belly on the floor with a thud. “Ooof!” SHe cried out from the fall, which caused the cage to shake a bit as the others held on as the shake stopped while Sunny felt a bit dizzy from the impact. The others gave Sunny a sympathetic look as Izzy bent down and tapped on the ground next to Sunny. “Oooh, I think that’s a small crack right there.” She said, before she realizes it’s not a crack. “Oh… no. Just some dust.” She sighs. Sunny then breathed in sadness as she gave a sad expression as Izzy helped her up. “But a few more tries and I know you can do it. And Sunset will save us.” Izzy said in an optimistic tone as she smiled at Sunny. “We’ll get Pipp to film the whole thing, too, so that when we get back home, you’ll be a Maretime Bay Sensation!” She cheered for Sunny. Sunny’s expression didn't change as she looked at her hoof. “I don’t see that happening. My magic’s completely gone again, and we don’t know if Sunset is close by or far to help us…” She said in a sad tone as she looked off in the distance as her friends listened. “It wasn’t a great plan, anyway. Maybe Hitch and Sunset are right. Instead of trying to come up with another plan, we should just wait here for Discord to come back and let us out or wait for Sunset to set us free, if she gets here in time.” She said in a sad tone, feeling guilty of getting them into this mess without another plan and for not listening to Sunset or Hitch. Izzy then placed a hoof on her chin as she gave a thoughtful expression. “Waiting around is still technically a plan. And it’s not a very good one because we don’t know how close or far Sunset is, and if Discord’s coming back to let us out, it means he’s already destroyed the crystal.” She pointed out the flaw in the idea. Sunny then begins to tear up as she speaks again in a sad tone. “All I wanted to do was bring magic back to Equestria. I thought it would make things right and help Sunset feel like she’s home to someplace familiar again. But all it does is make us fight and argue about everything. That’s why we’re trapped in here and Sunset not with us.” She said in a sad tone as her friends gave her a sympathetic look, feeling sorry that Sunny feels this way. Izzy looked at her friends and then she looked at Sunny, not liking how she is feeling as she have felt something similar during their whole search for Discord and remembering what Sunset told her about it and how Magic can have it flaws but they can learn from them as she spoke out to her friends as she waved her hooves. “Having magic around changed everything in Equestria.” Izzy said as she continued. “Everypony’s been so busy figuring it out for ourselves that we haven’t really considered what it means for all of ponykind.” She pointed out as she gave a small smile to her friends as she placed a hoof on her chest. “That’s why it can sometimes feel like our magic is dividing us. And it’s not that it makes me angry or want to fight with anypony. It’s that it scares me…” She admittedly said. “...But what Sunset has taught me from all this, I now know it doesn’t have to be that way. Because if we all come together, nopony will feel left behind, like how Sunset had experienced it when she returned to Equestria to find out all her friends are gone but made new ones, us.” She added as she place her hooves on Sunny’s cheeks, which made the Earth Pony smile a bit. “You’re the one who can bring us together, Sunny. Along with Sunset.” She finished with a smile. Sunny smiled at Izzy’s words as she felt a little better. “Discord was right. Even with everything that’s happened, you always see the best in others, like how Sunset saw the best in Discord, knowing that he is alone and lost without friends to comfort him.” She said in a calm tone, now seeing what Discord and Sunset met, which gave her an idea as she remembered something from earlier as she gave a confident smile. “That’s it! I know exactly how to get that Crystal back from Discord. But first, we need to get out of this cage.” She said to the others, now having an idea to help them out of this situation. Hitch raised an eyebrow at Sunny’s sudden enthusiasm. “I hope it involves not looking down and not moving…” He said nervously. “With our magic glitching out and Sunset missing, none of us are powerful enough to get out on our own.” Sunny started as she looked at Zipp with a smile. Zipp smiled as she got what Sunny was thinking. “So it’s a good thing we’ve got one another.” She said with a smile as she and Sunny high hoof each other. At the otherside of the mountain cliff, Sunset is flying as fast as she can to reach the top as she gives a tired sigh. “Discord really thought this through. Knowing that my magic is not connected to the crystals and not fading, I would’ve helped my friends out in a situation he put them through, therefore, separating me from them to make it easier for him.” Sunset said to herself as she kept flying to the top. “I hope the others are okay. And I hope that we can stop Discord before he succeeds.” She added, hoping she reaches the others in time and stops Discord before it’s too late. Back where the rest of the Mane 6 are, a pack of bunnies heard a whistle, which got their attention as they turned and looked at the cage that is over the edge, which they ran to as they climbed across one of the ropes holding it as they went to the top of the cage. “That’s right, over here.” Hitch said to the rabbits as he and his friends waved their attention. The bunnies are now on top of the cage as they then begin to chew their way through the ropes to cut them. “They’re breaking!” Pipp called out to her friends. Sunny then grabbed the bars as she leaned on her back, summoning her alicorn magic. “Get your wings and horns ready!” She called out to the others to get ready for what comes next. The ropes then snap. “NOW!” She yelled out as she used her magic to surround the cage, but it started glitching out as it began to fall, with them and the bunnies in it. “Aaah!” The rest of the Mane 6 start screaming as they are falling straight to stalagmites at the bottom. “It’s not working!” Zipp called out in panic, sweating as she flapped her wings really hard. “Keep trying!” Sunny called out as she used both her wings and horn to try and slow it down while Izzy tried to use her magic, and then Sunny’s Alicorn magic faded as it glitched out again. “No!” She yelled out. Just before their cage could hit the ground, they suddenly stopped as they shook a bit. Pipp had her eyes close while tears formed, totally scared from that as she opened one eye to the group. “This silence is either a very good thing or a very bad thing.” She said to the others, wanting to know if they were alive or not, but then saw that they were levitating above the ground that they were about to hit. “Thank Equestria!” She yelled in relief.  “That was quite a ride!” Hitch commented at the experience they went through, before the magic around the cage fell as they hit the floor as Hitch and Zipp busted through the bars. “Which is not me saying I ever want to do it again!” He added irritatedly, not wanting to go through that again. “Nice idea, Sunny. That really saved us from being a pony pancake.” Pipp said to Sunny. Sunny then spoke while looking confused. “My magic glitched out before we hit the ground. I didn’t do this.” She honestly said, which made the others surprised by this. “But if you didn’t, who did?” Izzy asked in confusion. “That would be me, ponies.” Sunset’s voice called out as the group looked up and saw Sunset flying down towards them with a relieved smile on her face as she landed next to them. “Sunset!” The rest of the Mane 6 called out as they ran towards Sunset, giving her a hug of relief. “You’re okay!” Sunny said in relief. “And you saved us!” Pipp said in joy. “Just watching over my fellow ponies from harm's way.” Sunset simply said as she returned the hug before they broke apart. “I’m glad that I made it to you guys just in time.” She said in relief. “What happened to you, Sunset? Why didn’t Discord put you in the cage with the rest of us?” Sunny asked, wanting to know what happened to her. “Discord knows that I’m the only one with working magic and an expert at it since the glitching never worked on me since I’m not connected to the crystals. So he teleported me across the otherside of the mountain so I wouldn’t be able to help. It was exhausting trying to fly back up here, believe me.” Sunset explained to what happened to her and why she wasn’t with them “Well, glad you are back, Sunset. But you’re gonna want to keep all that adrenaline pumping…” Zipp started as she looked up. “...Because we’ve gotta get back up there!” She added, need to catch up to Discord before he succeeds as she starts climbing up the rocks. “Okay, the dirt is a bit unstable over--” She started, but didn’t finish as the rock where her hind legs broke off. “--Here!” She yelled out as she began to fall. “Uh-oh!” She cried out, but before she could hit the ground, the bunnies caught her with their paws as Zipp smiled down at them. “Thanks for the save!” She thanked the bunnies, but then they started carrying her to a cave. “...But you can put me down now.” She said to the bunnies, wondering where they were taking her. “Zipp!” Sunny called out when she saw Zipp being carried away by the bunnies as the others watched in confusion. “Where are they taking her?” Izzy asked in confusion as she tilted her head. “Tchit-tchit.” The bunnies spoke in their language, to which only Hitch can understand. “What are they saying, Hitch?” Sunset asked Hitch in confusion and in need of a translator. “The bunnies want us to follow them.” Hitch translated to them as they followed the bunnies. The bunnies then went into a cave as Zipp spoke in the darkness. “Oh no. AHHHHH--!!!” Zipp screamed as she was dropped down to the deep hole. “Zipp?!” Sunset, Sunny, Hitch and Zipp called out as they looked in shock and worried at what just happened as they looked at the cave. Pipp then broke the silence as she spoke in a worried tone. “I’m going to go ahead and say this time Zipp’s silence is a very bad thing.” She said in a slight panic tone, not liking the sound of silence if Zipp stopped screaming. “Come on, we gotta follow them!” Sunset called out as they rushed through the cave to see if Zipp was okay. But once they entered, they saw a dead end as Zipp and the bunnies suddenly disappeared. “Where did she go?” Sunny asked in concern, but then they heard rumbling underneath them. “I think we are standing on a geyser.” Sunset said in worried as the geyser that erupts underneath them. The surprise ponies then got lifted up in the air as steam came bursting off the ground, which surprised them, but then they saw Zipp and the bunnies on a edge of a path as they landed near or close to it as Zipp grabbed her sister’s hooves to get her close. “WHOOOOAAA!” Hitch called out in surprise but he balanced himself as he landed on his hind hooves before standing on all four. “That was unexpected.” Sunset commented about the sudden surprise they just went. “Shhh!” Zipp shushed her friends to be quiet as she pointed to the end of the tunnel as they saw Discord on the other side of a laval pool with his two critters comrades. “Discord.” Sunset whispered as she gave a serious look at Discord. Zipp then looked at Sunny as she whispered to her. “Sunny, back in the cage, you said you knew how to get the crystal back from Discord. What’s the plan?” She asked, wanting to know what the plan Sunny had. “And give us the highlight reel. Discord’s not wasting any time.” Pipp rhetorically said, need to be quick on the plan since they are on a time limit. “I do. Sunset, you still have Pipp’s phone?” Sunny asked Sunset. Sunset looked at Sunny as she gave a smirk as she levitated Pipp’s phone she confiscated earlier as she brought it out Pipp’s phone. “I think I understand where you are going with this.” Sunset said to Sunny with a smirk. Sunny smirked back as she turned to the group. “Okay, ponies. Here’s the plan.” She started as they huddled together as Sunny whispered out the plan to them. A little bit later, Discord is admiring the lava at the edge as he spoke to his critter comrades at his side. “Now’s the time to make things right.” Discord started as he held the Pegasus Crystal. “For Unicorns, Pegasi, and Earth Ponies to come together in peace, without magic or the belief that any one species is better than the other.” He said as he dangled the crystal on his hand as it dangled over the lava. “I’ll always protect the Equestria you believed in…. Fluttershy.” He said in a slightly sad tone, really missing Fluttershy and wanting to make Equestria to be equals instead of fighting against one another. But as Discord let go of the Pegasus Crystal, it levitated back over his hand, which made Discord surprise by this as he turned to the other side of the edge he is on, seeing the Mane 6 as Sunny brought out her horn to levitate the Pegasus Crystal to safety. “Time to give the crystal back.” Sunny said seriously to Discord as she strained herself to even use her horn. Discord looked at them as he brought out his talons. “IF it’s magic you’ve come for… you’ll have to be part of the show.” He said as he snapped his talons, putting Sunny in a cut-out magician box, which split her in half as his two critters comrades separated her, which surprised her friends. “Sunny!” Sunset called out when she saw Sunny in that state as she glared at Discord for what he did. Zipp then glares at Discord next as she points a hoof at him. “We’re not interested in joining your act today, Discord.” She called out, having enough of his antics. “RAAGH!” Discord yelled out as he extended his arms as he went to grab Zipp and Pipp as Sunset, Izzy, and Hitch, along with the bunnies, took cover. “Ahhh, Zipp!” Pipp called out in fright as tears began to form. Zipp then grabbed her sister as she ran off. “I’ve got you!” She said to Pipp. The two sisters didn’t get far as Discord’s talon got them. “Ahhh!” Zipp called out as Discord then pushed them to another section of the cave. “Put us down!” She demanded Discord, who dropped them on a stone as they landed with a thunk, right in the middle of the lava. “I didn’t mean here!” She yelled out as Discord’s talon retracted away from them. “Where is here?” Pipp said in fright as she looked around at the lava surrounding them, since they can’t fly at the moment, which means they are trapped. Back to where Discord and the remaining Mane 6 are, Discord retracted his talon as he looked down at Reginald, who is giving him the Pegasus Crystal that he is carrying. “Thank you, Reginald.” Discord thanked Reginald with a smile as he took back the Pegasus Crystal as bunnies were around him, trying to get the Pegasus Crystal as Discord just gave a sigh, not bothered by it as he looked at Hitch, who was giving a look at the Lord of Chaos. “Oh, to be young and believe you’re invisible…” He started, but then Hitch snapped his fingers at Hitch, which put him and the bunnies in a rock that was floating in the lava. “...It’s a real kick to the ego when reality finally sets in.” He added, knowing from experience that he was once like that and learned the lesson the hard way. “Hold on!” Hitch yelled out to the bunnies as they huddled close to avoid getting hit by the lava. “Playtime is over, Discord!” Sunset yelled out as Discord turned to her as she gave a glare at the Lord of Chaos. Discord just gave a light chuckle as he spoke. “Sunset Shimmer, we meet again. Even after all this, you still seem to hold confidence.” He said with a light chuckle. “You should know by now that like the others, I don’t give up.” Sunset retorted, since Discord knows what she is saying. “We may not see each other's point of view, but we can be friends, Sunset. You and I should bring peace and unity to Equestria if we work together when there is no more magic.” Discord said, wanting Sunset to see why he is doing this. “This is not how unity is, Discord! Magic is a part of Equestria as it is part of you! Magic may show how different and not the same as we are to others, but that just shows how special we are in our own ways.” Sunset pointed out that while Discord does want unity for all Equestria, this is not how this would achieve it. “Then perhaps Equestria is better off without magic once the Pegasus Crystal is no more.” Discord said as he held out the Pegasus Crystal. “You are not thinking straight, Discord. All the years of loneliness have got your mind all mixed up and with no friends to turn to once they are gone, leaving you alone with nopony to comfort you.” Sunset said, saying that Discord is not thinking clearly after being alone for generations. “Being alone has got me thinking that magic is the problem that tears us apart for being so different and not the same.” Discord said with a light glare when Sunset said that to him. “I was beginning to think, who you were, in that old husk of your former self, which I still know he is in there. The Discord Fluttershy once knew, would never take action like this to give peace and unity to Equestria.” Sunset said, knowing that Discord is tarnishing Fluttershy’s legacy. Discord then glared at Sunset angrily, mentioning Fluttershy struck a nerve. “All Fluttershy wanted was ponies and creatures to be friends, and that was already tarnished because of magic, so I’m getting rid of it to fix it.” He said in a mean tone. Sunset closed her eyes as Discord was still not thinking straight as she looked at him again. “Then I’m gonna knock some sense into you until you realize what you’re doing is wrong.” She said in a serious tone. “You really think you can beat me?” Discord taunted with a challenging smirk. Sunset was silent for a moment before she lit up her horn. “Let’s find out.” She finished. The two Ancient Equestrian beings glared down at each other before Sunset made her move as she flew towards Discord. The Lord of Chaos was about to snap his fingers, but Sunset uses her magic to stop his talon, which gave Sunset the chance to magically blast him straight to the wall. Discord grunted as he uses his tail to swipe at the incoming Alicorn as Sunset hits the ground. Before Discord could react, Sunset quickly recovers as she kicked Discord in the head, knocking him back as she charged at him, which Discord manage to catch Sunset with her hooves as the two glared down at each other as Sunset pushed back as she dodges a swipe from Discord’s swords that he just summoned as the two Ancient Equestrian beings clashed at each other while Sunset prevented Discord from snapping his fingers so he doesn't trap her or worse.  Sunny and Izzy watched the whole thing as they were amazed at Sunset clashing out with the Lord of Chaos. “Sunset is amazing.” Izzy said in awed at the fighting. “Yeah. I gotta ask her to teach me how to do those moves.” Sunny said, even though she was split in half, what she is seeing is amazing that her mentor/sister-figure is clashing it out with the Lord of Chaos on equal terms, seeing the two creatures from Ancient Equestria fighting each other. Sunset and Discord kept fighting as they are somehow on even ground, while Sunset is at her prime again thanks to becoming an Alicorn, Discord is no as spry as he used to be in his old age and was a bit rusty on his chaos magic and that it is glitching, as she dodge a rock that Discord tried to hit her with as she did an air kick on Discord to the face as the two then gave each other magic blasts at each other, which pushed them back a few feet. Sunset recomposed as she then flew at high speed at Discord with a battle cry as she magically blasted him with her horn, knocking Discord to the floor as Sunset pushed him back, but before she could do anything else, Discord quickly kicked her back, which caused Sunset to hit the ground as she got up. “You can’t win, Discord!” Sunset yelled out. “I am doing this for the sake of Equestria! For what Fluttershy would’ve wanted!” Discord retorted as he swiped his talon claw at Sunset’s face. Sunset recovered as she dodged another swipe from Discord as she bucked him in the face, knocking him back a bit. Sunset and Discord then circled each other with a glare before they charged at each other as they tackled each other to the ground, rolling across the floor as they tumbled across the cave before they hit a wall, with Sunset being the one to hit the wall as she groaned. Before Sunset could do anything, Discord finally snapped his fingers, which caused Sunset to be trapped on stones that strapped on her wings, hooves and her horns, preventing her from escaping or using her magic as she struggled to break free. Discord got up as he caught his breath as he looked at Sunset. “I told you, I am the Lord of Chaos. Nothing can be an equal match to face me. Sorry, Sunset. But you will understand once magic is gone.” He said as he went and picked up the Pegasus Crystal and walked out from her. “You can’t do this, Discord! This isn’t the answer!” Sunset yelled out to him in reason. “To me, it is. You will see.” Discord said as he walked towards Sunny as he gave a small smirk to the split in half Earth Pony as Sunny glared at Discord. “Sorry for that, but at least it was quite a show, and the best fight I had in years. But surely you would have known your failing magic and Sunset facing me never best mine.” He taunted Sunny as he twirls the Pegasus Crystal in his finger. “It was never meant to.” Sunny said, which made Discord confused.  “This whole ambush and the fighting was just a diversion to buy Izzy some time.” Sunset called out with a smirk. “Now, Izzy!” Both Sunny and Sunset yelled out to their Unicorn friend. Izzy then appeared as she levitated Pipp’s phone with a smirk as she tossed it to Discord. “You got a voicemail.” She said to Discord with a smirk. Discord was surprise as the phone went up to his face, but once he looked at it, he saw a recording with somepony on it that he hasn’t seen for a long, long time, and it was Fluttershy when she left her message on the crystal they found in her basement, which Pipp recorded the whole thing. The recording starts playing as Fluttershy spoke. “Hello, is this thing working? Discord… Listen closely because this is something you need to hear….” The recording started. Discord shook his head at the sight of seeing Fluttershy’s recording as he turned his head away from the phone. “I can’t see this again. I can’t see her. Please don’t make me watch.” He pleaded with Izzy to not make him see the pony he hadn't seen in many moons, since he missed her deeply. “And stop rolling your eyes at me like that! I know you are because I know you better than anypony else.” The recording continues. “You need to hear it.” Izzy said with a sympathy expression, knowing that Discord has to hear this. “Please, Discord. Just listen to this last recording of Fluttershy. She wanted you to hear this, even after she was gone, to get you to open your eyes and clear your head again.” Sunset stated, giving a sympathy expression to Discord as well, knowing that he has to hear this. Discord listened to them as he turned and looked at the phone with teary eyes as the recording continued. “Which is why I can tell you how hard it’s been for you to let go of the pain caused by these magical divides. I’m creating this message for you in the hopes that every time you feel overwhelmed, you can listen back and remind yourself why anger is not the answer.” Fluttershy explained as the recording continued. Discord then held the phone close to him as he listened deeply to what Fluttershy was saying, having not heard her voice for many moons. “Our magic does make us different… and that’s something we should embrace… Both in ourselves and in others. Our powers let us be the best versions of ourselves. I mean, who would Rainbow Dash be if she couldn’t fly?” The recording continues as Discord suddenly feels Fluttershy’s spirit giving him a warm smile and a hug on the head, feeling like she is always with him as the recording continues. “And yes, our powers might threaten some ponies, but if we’re able to use what makes us special in unity, I know we can create the Equestria we always dreamed of. Lead with your heart, Discord. It will always show you the way.” The recording finished. Discord looked at Fluttershy, after what she just said, he is having second thoughts. “That was a long time ago. Fluttershy hadn’t even experienced the worst of it when she recorded that message.” He said, knowing that Fluttershy wasn’t around when Discord experienced the worst of what he had been through when the magic was lost and ponies and creatures were divided. Izzy then managed to get Sunset free with her magic as they walked towards the sad draconequus. “Discord, Fluttershy may not experience what you have, but at least she understands when ponies are being divided.” Sunset started in a sympathy tone. “But she would say the same thing if she were here right now.” Izzy said next as she continued. “I’m not saying I’ve never felt left behind. But mistakes happen. My friends showed up for me today when I really counted. And we got all the way here because we know that what makes us special alone makes us even more powerful together.” She said, wanting Discord to know that they may be different because of their magic, but they are stronger and are the same when they are together. “Please see reason, Discord. I felt the same way when I went back home to visit Twilight, but I found out that so much time has passed in Equestria, that magic was gone, ponies were divided and Twilight legacy was destroyed.” Sunset said next, knowing that she went through something similar to Discord. “Look, I know I wasn’t there when Equestria changed, and I know what it is like to be alone and out of place in a world that is no longer the same, with all your friends and family gone. But once I met Sunny and the others, they made me feel like I was home, that I am no longer alone in this new era of Equestria. There are times that I wish to go back and revisit my friends and family, but I can’t live in the past forever, I have to live for tomorrow. And when magic returns and Equestria returns to the way it should be and Twilight’s legacy being rebuilt, this feels like the way it should have been before the division.” She explained to Discord of her experience of something similar to Discord, but she got it easy for only a couple of days or so while Discord went through it for many moons. “So please answer this, Discord. Is this what Fluttershy would have wanted? For magic to be gone forever and destroy her hard work that she, Twilight and the others worked hard to build, or keep their legacy alive so that they can be remembered?” She questioned Discord calmly, wanting him to make a choice. Discord thought carefully at what Sunset and Izzy just said as he looked at the Pegasus Crystal, wondering what Fluttershy would think about his idea of unity if she was still here. After a moment of thought, he is taking Fluttershy’s words by heart as he made his choice, giving the Pegasus Crystal to Sunset and Izzy. “Take it.” Discord said, giving the Pegasus Crystal back, making things right. Sunset and Izzy are surprised by Discord’s choice as Izzy took the crystal back in her hoof as they smiled at Discord. “Thank you.” Izzy thanked with a smile as she placed a hoof on Discord’s arm as Reginald and the squirrel gave Discord a comforting touch. “We promise you we’ll honor Fluttershy and create the Equestria you always wanted it to be.” She said to Discord with a small smile. “One where everypony and draconequus belongs!” Sunny cheered while her lower half kicked in joy, even when she was still split in half. Sunset then placed a comforting hoof on Discord as she gave him a small smile. “You won’t be alone anymore, Discord. You have us to be friends with you now.” She said, which surprised Discord that she said that they were friends, even after all they went through because of him. “You and I are all that’s left of Twilight and her friends’ legacies, and we are all that is left of our old Ancient Equestria home. And I promise, we will keep that legacy alive, and we’ll always have each other's backs. Looking out for one another and staying together, because that’s what friends are for.” She said with a calm smile. Discord sighs happily to himself, taking those words by heart, going to honor Fluttershy’s memory the right way. “And by the way, now that is settled… can you put Sunny back together and get our friends out of the lava so we can put the Unity Crystal back together?” Sunset asked Discord, who pointed to Sunny, who is still in half. Discord chuckled at this as he forgot about that. “Don’t worry. It will be fixed in a snap.” He joked as she snapped his fingers to fix the mess he made to the Mane 6. A little bit later, after regrouping and Discord fixing them, the Mane 6 returned to the Brighthouse, with Cloudpuff with them, as they were at the top where the Unity Crystals should go as the Mane 6, except Sunny, stomped their hooves. “We’ve got the drumrolls going, so it must be time.” Sunny said with a smile as she held up the Pegasus Crystal. “It’s time to reunite the crystals. Sunny, if you would do the honors.” Sunset said with a smile at Sunny, wanting her to put the crystals back together. Sunny nodded as she placed the three crystals back together, reuniting the Unity Crystals as it gave a big glow before it shot a rainbow up into the sky, recreating the same reaction when magic returns the first time as magic is being restored. The five ponies, except Sunset, felt their magic returned as Hitch hooves glowed, Pipp and Zipp wings glowed as Pipp took fight as she recorded the whole thing on her phone with a wide smile, Izzy horned glowed and Sunny’s alicorn magic has returned and back to its full strength as she took flight between Zipp and Hitch as Cloudpuff barked happily on Hitch’s hooves. “Look at all the bright, shiny colors!” Izzy cheered as her horn glowed. “Just like when magic first returned.” Sunset said with a smile in pride that the magic is now stabilized and the Unity Crystals reunited once again. In Maretime Bay, the ponies felt their magic returning as well as the rainbow shining all over Equestria as the ponies are now enjoying their magic that has returned. “The sky is once again the limit!” The red pegasus stallion said happily as he flew to the air. “Race you there!” The pink pegasus mare cheered to her friend as they flew through the air. “Oh, how I’ve missed you, my silky, smooth mane.” The Unicorn stallion said happily as he used his magic to restore his mane. Sometime later, Sunny is now placing a new photo frame with a picture of her and her friends, along with Discord with them, at the ruins of Canterlot with the sign that says ‘Welcome to Canterlot’ now restored as they stood together for the group photo on the wall on top of the picture of her and her father. Sunny stood back as she felt her father’s present behind her as they looked at the picture together as Argyle speaks. “And so long as you make sure Earth Pony, Pegasus, or Unicorns ever feels lesser than because of who they are, CAnterlot will always be your home.” Argyle’s voice echoed through Sunny as she gave a smile at her father’s words. “I did it, Dad. I made it to Canterlot.” Sunny said with a smile as she touched the picture of her and her father. Sunset came in as she placed a hoof on Sunny’s back as she gave a small smile. “Your dream did come true, Sunny. You did make it to Canterlot.” She said, which Sunny gave a smile in return to Sunset as they looked at the picture together. Izzy then appeared next to them as she ate a snack piece that fell out from the frame. “Reginald did a great job with the frame! And now you can always grab a snack on your way out the door.” She said happily. Sunset chuckled from that. “There is that, Izzy.” She said to Izzy with a smile. Sunny then gave a guilt expression as she looked at Sunset and Izzy as she spoke. “I owe you an apology, Izzy. You and Sunset were right. When magic came back, I was so excited about my powers that I let it get in the way of our friendship. THat wasn’t fair to you and I should’ve listened to Sunset when I got carried away.” She apologized to them when she wasn’t giving Izzy enough attention when magic returned and when Izzy felt left out from it while Sunset kept her from being lonely from time to time. “I know it will take time, but I hope one day I can earn your trust back.” She added, thinking Izzy might not trust her after what happened. “You can’t.” Izzy suddenly said as she gave Sunny a hug as she smiled with tears of joy coming out. “Because you never lost it.” She finished as Sunny smiled and returned the hug. “We all make mistakes, Sunny. But we learn from them and make up for them. Because that's what friends do.” Sunset added with a smile as the three ponies smiled to one another. And then Zipp then appeared through a window as she spoke out to them. “If you’re done chatting in there, we’ve got a game to play!” She called out with a smile to the three ponies as Sunny, Sunset and Izzy smiled at Zipp. A little bit later, the three ponies walked up to where Zipp wanted them to be, with Discord joining them now that he has friends to hang around with. Sunset then spoke to Discord as she turned to him. “Now, Discord, I know that you finally found a place in Maretime Bay near the woods, but if you ever wanted to hang with us, just come by. And if we ever wanted to contact you, here’s a little something as a gift for a friend.” She said as she held out an amulet to Discord. Discord gratefully accepted the amulet as he gave Sunset a confused look. “What’s this, Sunset?” He asked the Alicorn. “It’s a communication amulet that I whip up.” Sunset answered with a smile. “I have the other one. They are sync so we can keep in touch with each other, and you can come by if you want, but just when you are not available, just give us a call and we can chat to one another.” She added, wanting to keep in touch with Discord now that they are friends. Discord looked at the amulet with a smile as he gracefully put it around his neck. “Thank you deeply, Sunset. Now I have something to keep in touch with my friends if I am not around from time to time, from when I can see you is like Twilight. And somepony who is from Ancient Equestria as well who remembered what it was truly like, like me.” He said with a happy smile, now having friends again and that he and Sunset had much in common while being in a new age of Equestria. Sunset chuckled. “Ancient creatures gotta stick together, right?” She joked happily, knowing that is true as she and Discord shared a chuckle while Izzy and Sunny watched them, really glad that they are not alone in this new age of Equestria and that they are now friends who shared the same experiences and memories of the Guardians of Harmony. As the four made it to the spot where Zipp wanted them to, Pipp, Hitch and Discord’s two critters comrades are presented as Zipp spoke up with a board and two ballnets on a field in front of them. “The rules of power-pass are simple. There are two teams and two next.” Zipp explained the rules. “The goal is for each team to get the ball through the other team’s next.” She added. A little bit later, the Mane 6, Discord and his critter’s comrades are playing the game together, Izzy is levitating the ball over Sunny as she hopped along while Zipp saw this as she tried to catch it, Discord then appeared through a portal as he snatched the ball from Izzy, giving her a playful expression as the third picture showed him disappeared through another portal as Zipp tried to catch him, but appeared on the ground as he ran out with a smile as he tossed the ball to Reginald, who then passed to the squirrel as Izzy rushed passed to catch the ball as Hitch and his bunnies are at the next to block the ball as he got ready and raised his ball to try and catch it. “All magic is allowed on the field…” Zipp narrated as she kept speaking the instructions. “...But you’ve got to pass to each player on your team before getting the ball in the net. If not, your goal doesn’t count.” She finished. The squirrel kicked the ball into the net, which Hitch tried to catch as he jumped up, but failed as it hit the net. “AW!” Hitch groaned that he or his bunnies didn’t catch the ball. Pipp then looked at Zipp next to her with a smile as she was livestreaming the whole thing on her phone. “The score’s ten to five now. Noway we’re winning this.” Pipp said to her sister with a playful smile, seeing that they are behind and Discord is winning. Zipp gave a confident smirk as she leaned back to her sister while looking at her hoof. “They might win the game, but we all know who pulled the best trick today.” She said with a smirk. “You saw my double air kick?” Pipp asked her sister with a smile. “I was talking about me. I came up with this ingenious game.” Zipp pointed out playfully. “If you two are done chatting, come help your teammates! We can’t let Discord beat us, we need to beat the score!” Sunset called out to them as she pointed at Discord, who had the ball as he cheered while Izzy smiled playfully at him. Zipp nodded to Sunset as she flew straight to Discord to try and get the ball from him with a challenging smile. Pipp kept livestreaming as she looked at her phone and recorded the whole thing as she gave a playful smirk at what her sister just said. “You heard it here first. Zipp’s ego is now ten times as big as it was when this whole thing started. And that’s not the only thing that’s changed in Equestria. It’s definitely been an adventure for the books.” She said to her followers of all that has happened when Discord first took the Pegasus Crystal, and after that adventure, things returned to normal but with a slight change, with Discord now being their friends and now embracing the New Equestria Era with new friends and a pony who understands him as they continue playing as Pipp gave a smile to her followers on her phone. “Thanks for coming along for the ride, Pippsqueaks. Until next time. Pipp, Pipp, hooray!” She cheered as she ended her livestream, that said ‘#The End’ on it as she continues the play with her friends and Discord. The End of Issue 10.