//------------------------------// // Not Easy Being Spike // Story: Age of the Alicorns Book One: The Swords of Justice // by HarryBuilder //------------------------------// Underneath Canterlot Castle, the dungeon of the palace was holding Spike, the two rulers of the Crystal Empire, Luna, the CMCs, Zecora and Discord in separate cells. While the other wallowed or searched for a way out, Discord spent the time playing the harmonica. Discord kept playing for a while as Zecora gave a bored expression while the others were annoyed. “Discord? Can you please quiet down there? You’ve been playing that thing for hours.” Shining pointed out in annoyance. “What? After Queen Hothead blocked my magic when she first showed up with you all, I have to do something to pass the time. And this is the only thing I can find in this cell.” Discord said in defense as he continued to play the harmonica as Shining Armor groaned. “Let Discord be, hon.” Cadance told her husband. “It’s better than doing nothing all day. At least we have music to keep us going.” Shining looked at Cadance with a raised brow, “You seem pretty calm given our situation, Honey.” He noted to his wife dully. “Well, this isn’t the first time I’ve been trapped underground.” Cadance pointed out with a narrowed expression. “Kinda like the time when you chose an imposter of me over your own sister when she was trying to warn you about said imposter while I was trapped underground and only just found out about this now.” She added with a slight anger. Shining Armor cringed at his wife for bringing that up. “I-I don’t know how to explain this to you! I swear!” He pleaded in despair. “I was tricked and brainwashed before the wedding even started!” “Still, didn’t you or the girls ever consider that Twilight knew me as well as you did compared to how her friends only just met me?!” Cadance questioned as Shining flinched. “I mean seriously, even I would never have acted like that to her or her friends even if I was having a bad day! I’m the Princess of Love, you should know that!” She added. Shining Armor looked down in guilt from what his wife just said as he gave a sigh of sadness. “You’re right. I should’ve known. And I should’ve listened to Twily’s warning instead of saying all that to her, even if I wasn’t brainwashed.” He said in guilt as he looked at the ground. Cadance continued to glare at him, “But it really galls me that you just decided to carry on with the wedding without even considering how much you hurt her.” She told him. “But I did.” Shining said, surprising her. He sighed and decided to explain, “After I stormed out of the wedding hall, I began to realize what I said to Twilight…” Flashback. During the Canterlot Wedding preparations, Shining Armor marched out of the Throne Room, heading to where he thought Cadance was, still fuming at what Twilight said to his future wife. But then he realized what he had said to her and facehooved himself, “Great, now I gotta maintain the shield, protect Canterlot, prepare for the wedding and worry about hurting Twiliy’s feelings, awesome job Armor, awesome job.” He said sarcastically.  Shining Armor then started to have mixed emotions of what just happened as he felt a cringed pain on his head as he placed a hoof on his head as he then gave a guilt expression. “Why did I say that to her? She’s my sister. I mean, I know what she said to Cadance was crossing the line, but she’s family. I can’t just ban her from the wedding. Even if she was talking crazy.” He said in guilt as he then started having some weird thoughts of what she said. “Though now that I think about it, Cadance has never really acted the way Twiliy said she did when we were kids. And her horn shouldn’t be glowing green when she uses magic, her magic should be aqua blue when using it. And the way she acts towards others is so not like she would be, she is the princess of love after all, so being a jerk to others isn’t really her style or status.” He said to himself as he started putting the pieces together. Shining Armor then started having flashbacks when Cadance was next to him every now and then, more so than usual when the wedding was first being set up as he then saw a glimpse of her eyes glowing green for a sec before fading out. And then at that moment, he felt like part of his strength was sucked out a tiny bit at a time before heading towards Cadance as she gave a sinister smirk. Shining Armor widened his eyes as he then gasped in realization. “Wait a minute, Cadance never smiled at me like that when we were kids. And her love usually makes me stronger, but somehow, I feel weak whenever I’m near her ever since the wedding preparations.” He said to himself  as he then rubbed his chin. “Maybe Twilight wasn’t so far off from what is going on with Cadance lately. Maybe I should talk to her about those clues she found, if she’s feeling okay to talk.” He said in worry as he walked back to the Throne Room. He then walked past the Mane 5, Spike and Princess Celestia, who followed him after leaving the Throne Room as they had displeased expressions from what Twilight just spoke about Cadance as they saw Shining walking past them back to where he just walked out from. “Excuse me, girls and Spike. Just passing through.” Shining politely said to the group as he walked past them while they all turned to him in confusion. “Where’re you going?” Spike asked. “I need to check on Twiliy, make sure she’s all right.” Shining answered as he turned to them. “What for? Shouldn’t you check on your soon to be somepony?” Rainbow asked. “The one who isn’t crying after what Twilight just spoke to her.” She added while crossing her hooves in displeasure. “Hey, don’t you dare speak that way about Twily!” Shining snapped at Rainbow as the pegasus mare flinched from his outburst. “Whoa! Easy there captain!” Rainbow said as she raised her hooves in defense. “You just walked out of the room in anger for what Twilight just said, and now you are defending her?” She questioned in confusion. “Yeah. What’s with the sudden mood change, Shining?” Spike asked in confusion as well. “I just realize that Twiliy’s feelings are just as important as Cadance’s. Because right now, I’m starting to see the pieces as well.” Shining said while giving a serious expression. “Why would you say that? She thinks Cadance is evil just because she’s overworked.” Rarity pointed out. Shining shook his head, “No, after thinking about it, I know Cadance doesn’t act the way Twilight describes, even under pressure Cadance always keeps her cool and acts politely to others.” He pointed out. “What makes you say that partner? We would’ve known that Cadance would’ve been like that if she wasn’t under pressure.” Applejack pointed out. “Okay, I know I just met you girls and Twilight speaks highly of you five through her letters, but seriously can’t you ponies be real for just one second? You barely even know Cadance. You only just met after a day.” Shining pointed out with a look. The mane 5 blinked, realizing he was right. “Well, when you put it on that day. We only just met, so yeah. You’re right.” Pinkie admitted with a shrug. “But that doesn’t excuse Twilight’s disrespect towards Cadance. She has a lot to think about after saying that.” Celestia pointed out with a disappointed look. Shining look at Celestia in surprise. “Princess, forgive me for speaking out of line but are you serious? Do you really think Twily is making this up?” He questioned in slight irritation as he walked up to the Princess of the Sun while the girls and Spike looked at him in surprise. “You know, for a mentor of my little sister, you really should know her better at the fact that she never makes these things up.” “What are you saying, Armor?” Celestia questioned. “I’m saying that you never really pay attention to Twilight at what she does!” Shining yelled out. Celestia looked at Shining Armor in surprise as she gave a scoff. “What makes you say that? Of course I know her better. She’s my pupil after she first got her Cutie Mark and got accepted to my school.” She pointed out. “I’m not saying as a teacher, Celestia. But as a friend who would’ve been there for her and learning more about her.” Shining called out with a firm glare. Celestia looked at Shining in shock and hurt while the Mane 5 and Spike gasped in shock at what he just said. “Captain Armor, such hurtful words to Princess Celestia!” Fluttershy said in shock. “I’m sure that Celestia had been a friend to Twilight before she met us.” Rarity said with a slight anger glare at Shining Armor. Shining rubbed his chin and nodded, “You're right. Alright princess, name one friend you have.” Shining challenged Celestia. Celestia looked at Shining in confliction as she looked at the girls and Spike as they wanted her to speak of one friend she had as she gave then gave a sigh and looked down with her eyes closed. “I, I did have some but, mistakes were made and I, I never spoke to them again.” She said in sadness. The group look at Celestia in shock and sympathy as they feel sorry for her. “W-what happened that made you break your friendship with them?” Spike asked in concern. “Like I said, mistakes were made.” Celestia said in slight sadness. “Since then, I haven’t made any other friends because of my mistakes. Which is something that still haunts me to this day. Fearing that I might repeat my mistakes again and cost the friendship to them as well.” She added. Shining and the others feel bad for Celestia as Pinkie starts crying out waterfalls. “It’s so heart wrenching!” Pinkie cried as she brought out some tissue to wipe some of her tears as Fluttershy came to her to comfort her pink friend. “But Celestia, if you wanted to avoid those mistakes, why did you leave Twilight when she needed your guidance the most?” Shining questioned the Princess about what happened at the Throne Room not too long ago. “Because I…” Celestia cut herself off when she realized Shining was right and sighed, “Your right Shining Armor, I did something very foolish. I should’ve given Twilight comfort and guidance instead of just leaving her to wallow in hers.” She said in guilt.  “And I’m quite surprised that you didn’t even notice Cadance’s behavior either.” Shining continued. “I mean come on, Celestia, you’re her aunt, Cadance’s your niece. You didn’t even notice her personality flipped overnight?” He questioned with a brow. Celestia looked down in guilt as she gave a sad expression. “No. I haven’t. I just assumed that Cadance was just dealing with much pressure for her wedding that I would understand her being more hostile than she truly is.” She admitted. “I never even considered checking on her to see if she’s feeling okay.” “Celestia, I can understand how you deal with ruling a kingdom other than preparing for a special event, but me and Twily know Cadance for a long time since we were kids. She never acts like that even under pressure.” Shining reasoned. Celestia nodded in agreement before turning to Shining, “Shining, I want you to go and check on your sister and tell her I will be willing to hear her out, I have some questions to ask my niece.” Shining salute to Celestia with a determined expression. “Yes, Princess.” He saluted as he then walked off to the door of the throne room before turning to the rest of them. “And I hope you ponies would like to say an apology to Twilight when she gets out.” He added with a stern look. The Mane 5 and Spike turned to each other as they nodded their heads in understanding as Shining nodded back to them as he entered the throne room as he saw Cadance only and not seeing Twilight around. “Cadance? How did you-, nevermind. Where’s Twilight?” Shining asked in confusion as he walked up to his special somepony. “What about her?” Cadance asked in confusion with a brow. Shining got really suspicious, “Alright Cadance, what’s going on here?” He demanded. “What do you mean, sweetie?” Cadance asked innocently. “Ever since the preparations, you haven’t been yourself lately.” Shining pointed out. “Forgive me for asking this, but why are you acting like a jerk to others when you are usually polite and nice even under pressure. And you couldn’t even remember yours and Twilight’s signature greeting yesterday. And even up to this day, you two still do it even during important activities” He added with a brow. Cadance looked at Shining in surprise as she looked around the room before she gave a sinister smirk. “Well, it seems that my little hubby is starting to lose his touch.” She said in a flirting tone as she walked up to Shining. “Cadance? What are you talking about?” Shining asked unconformable as Cadance came up to him while still giving a smirk while circling him around while moving her tail under his chin. “It seems that I need to tighten the reins on you just a notch.” Cadance said sinisterly as her horn started glowing green again as it then hit Shining to his head as he started groaning in pain as he felt like his mind was going blank by the second. “Don’t worry, Honey, this will only hurt for a moment.” She taunted as Shining’s vision had gone blank as Cadance gave a sinister chuckle as Shining lost consciousness. End of Flashback. “And that’s all I remember before snapping out of it when I saw a frazzled-mane you next to me.” Shining explained as he gave a guilt expression. Shining looked at Cadance and was surprised to see her looking at him with sad puppy-eyes and a trembling frown with her hooves close to her mouth, “Umm, you okay honey?” He asked in concern. And then what caught him by surprise is Cadance launching herself at him as she gave Shining a tight hug as she let loose tears from her eyes. “Oohhh, my poor Shiny! I’m so sorry I was so horrid to you! I can’t imagine what else that witch did to you under her power!” Cadance bawled out, “I’m so glad you thought of your sister, you truly are a great stallion I’m honored to be in love with!” Shining blinked awkwardly, never seeing Cadance act so emotionally before he gave a comforting smile and returned the hug. “I may be strict, but even I know that family comes first.” He said with a soft tone as he and Cadance look at each other as Shining place a hoof on her cheeks. “But right now I’m worried about you, first you threw up, then your magic seemed weaker than it should be and now your emotions are changing like crazy.” Cadance wipe her tears as she gave a sniff. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me either, Shiny. But it’s been happening just so little lately that I’m not sure what it is. But it’s probably nothing to worry about. Just a common thing for ponies.” She assured her husband. Shining didn’t look convinced but nodded, “Alright, but when this is over, we’re going to go see the doctors to check on you just in case.” He said firmly but softly Cadance’s face paled a bit in fear, “D-Doctor’s?” She squeaks before leaping away and huddling down in the corner of the cell, shivering like a little filly scared of a nightmare. “Cadance?” Shining asked in surprise.  Cadance trembled as she shook her head fearfully. “I-I don’t need a doctor! I’m not getting a needle!” She told him. “What?” Shining asked in surprise and confusion with a brow before he gave a teasing smirk. “Wait, you’re afraid of needles?” He asked teasingly. “What?!” Cadance asked sheepishly. “No! I just don’t like them! They’re way too pointy and too painful for me to take!” She called out. “Cadance, it’s just a needle. You’re the Alicorn who helped save Spike and the Crystal Heart to get rid of King Sombra and you’re afraid of a little needle?” Shining asked in amusement. “Give me a break! Who likes getting a needle?!” Cadance tried to deny. “Not to mention their medicines taste so awful that it almost makes me puke!” She called out while cowering down. Shining gave a slight chuckle in amusement as Cadance gave an embarrassing blush. “It’s not funny!” She retorted. “Are you seriously scared of doctors that badly?” Shining laughed. “She is.” Luna spoke out from her cell with Spike as she gave an amusing smile. “Celestia told me that when she was filly, Cadance always tried to avoid the doctors by any means, like faking that she is better and tried to hide from her as my sister used her magic to drag Cadance to the hospital while placing a magic inhibitor ring on her horn to keep her from poofing away.” She explained as she gave a slight chuckle. “Aunt Luna!” Cadance called out in embarrassment as Shining chuckled as well. “Forgive my little niece, but it had to be said.” Luna said in a slight chuckle. Discord, the CMCs, and Zecora gave giggles in amusement while Spike just stood quiet. “Oh, I wish I could see that and keep it on a loop for future events.” Discord said in amusement as he wiped a tear of joy from his eyes. “It seems that royalty have their joy fully. But even that is funny to act like a filly.” Zecora said with a slight laughter. Spike just looked down in sadness while curled up to the wall as he stayed quiet, thinking about Twilight and the others. Since he was a baby Twilight raised him like a son, always being there for him but remembering the Wedding reminded him how he ran off on her just so he wouldn’t be off the wedding as well or get shunned by the others as he shed a tear of sadness from his eyes. Luna saw Spike’s expression as she turned to him in concern. “Dear Spike, are you okay?” She asked. “Okay? Why would you ask me that, Luna?” Spike questioned as he looked at the princess of the moon, who looked startled by his tone. “Twilight and the others are gone! Out in the frozen wasteland outside the Crystal Empire! Daymare have captured us, put us in cages and now she’s ruling Equestria with an iron hoof! So no! I’m not okay!” He cried out as more tears began to form as he sniffled and then cleaned his eyes, “I wasn’t there for Twilight once, not gonna make that mistake again!” He declared as he rubbed his arms like he was rolling up sleeves. “What makes you say that? Aren’t you her assistance?” Luna asked in confusion. “Not when during Shining and Cadance’s wedding.” Spike answered as he stood up while looking at the bars. “But now I can make up for it, by getting out of here and finding her!” “Young Spike be reasonable, you can’t escape from these bars, they were made to hold even an alicorn.” Luna told him. “But can they hold a dragon?” Spike questioned as he then bit at the bars to see if he could bite them off, but they weren’t even making a dent as he cringed and stopped biting. “Okay, so biting won’t cut it. But can they handle my fire breath!?” He then took a deep breath as he held it for a moment as his chest puffed up and then he released a bit of fire breath at the bars, which caused them to break and fall to the floor as Spike gave a victorious smirk. “That answered it.” He said. He then leapt out of the cell with Luna following him as the CMCs clapped to him, “Watta go Spikey!” Applebloom cheered. “You rock!” Scootaloo complimented him. “Now, free the rest of us!” Sweetie Belle told him. But before Spike could answer they heard voices upstairs, “Did you hear that?” A guard asked. “Sounds like it came from the Dungeons.” Another guard answered, “Go check it out.” “Oh shoot! My fire alerted the guards!” Spike said quietly. “We must leave before they spot us!” Luna said to Spike. “But what about the others?” Spike asked in concern, not wanting to leave the rest of their friends behind. “There’s no time for you to breathe more fireballs, Spike!” Discord pointed out, since Spike won’t have enough time to breathe more fire to break the rest of the cells. “And my magic is still blocked from within this.” Luna added as well, since Daymare also uses the inhibitor rings to block any magic users if they ever escape the cells. “Just go, you two!” Scootaloo called out. “We’ll be fine! Just find our sisters and their friends!” “They’re the only ones who can stop Daymare!” Sweetie Belle added. “They’re our best chance to save Equestria!” Cadance finished as Shining nodded. Spike feels conflicted at leaving their friends before or go find Twilight and the others before Luna places a comforting hoof on his shoulder. “It’s time to be brave young Spike.” She told him. Spike looked at Luna for a moment before he gave a sigh of defeat. “Okay, but we’ll come back for you all. We promise!” He called out. “We know you will, Spike!” Shining encouraged as Spike hopped on Luna’s back and they ran a corner as they were out of sight. The pair of guards then came into the dudgeon as they gasped when they saw a cell broken. “A cell is destroyed! We have escapees!” One of the guards called out. “Fine them! If Daymare finds out, you know who she’ll take it out on!” The other called out in fear as they both shivered as they ran out the room to find their escapees while the group in their cells gave small smirks. “These guards really don’t realize that Luna and Spike are the ones who escape.” Discord said in amusement. Behind some crates, Spike managed to get the inhibitor ring off Luna’s horn. She charged her horn and quickly teleported to the safest place she knew. In the Castle of the Two sisters, Luna and Spike then suddenly appear into the Swords of Justice’s base, which is surprising untouch, except for the hole where the entrance used to be above them as the sunlight shines through it as Luna landed on the ground while panting. “You okay?” Spike asked in concern. Luna took a breath, “I am, alive young dragon. Just a little tired from the constant running around Equestria without simple rest, even we alicorns have limits.” She assured Spike, since all the chasing around Equestria and using her teleportation without a frequent rest can really take it out of her. “That’s exhausting alright, but this is the place where the guards just were. You couldn’t think of any place other than your old castle?” Spike asked in confusion. “It has all the necessary equipment and weapons we need to prepare, and if I know the boys and the girls, they would come here to formulate a plan and find us here if we ever escape.” Luna explained. “How do we know they would come here? They were flying far from the Empire when Daymare Sol tossed them, which happens to be far from the closest-” Spike was cut off when a Waypoint suddenly activated, “Waypoint?!” He finished in shock. Spitting out from the Waypoint, screaming, was a colorful ball of tangled hooves, manes, wings and horns as it rolled out towards Spike and Luna, who jumped out of the way, before crashing into a wall revealing the Heroic 14. And then a helmet fell from a shelf as it landed on Rainbow’s head. “Ouch!” She cried out in pain as she rubbed her head. “I’m starting to hate these Waypoints things.” She muttered. “Oooh, I think the sweets I had for lunch are about to come right out.” Pinkie groaned in dizziness as her eyes started swirling. “Ow! I landed on a hoof!” Blaze exclaimed. “That’s my hoof you’ve landed on!” Sunset groaned as she tried to get her hoof free. “Oh! Sorry!” Blaze apologized as he quickly got off Sunset’s hoof as the fiery mare rubbed her hoof. Twilight groaned and lifted up her head, only to find herself on top of Midnight, “Um, Hey?” She said sheepishly with a blush. Midnight gave an embarrassing chuckle as he blushed as well. “W-well, this is, um, awkward.” He said sheepishly. “Y-yeah.” Twilight said in agreement as she and Midnight quickly got to their hooves as they gave each other embarrassed looks. “Twilight!” The purple alicorn turned and saw Spike pouncing into her arms, “You're okay!” Spike cheered, nuzzling Twilight’s chest. Twilight gave a heartfelt chuckle as she nuzzled Spike back. “It’s okay, Spike. I’m here and unharmed.” She said softly to her baby dragon. Midnight turned to see Luna approaching and smiled, “It’s good to see your alright Mistress.” He said as he and his brothers bowed their heads. “Midnight, boys, you are okay.” Luna said in joy as she looked at the girls. “All of you. You’ve all returned.” She said with a smile. “We’re back, Luna.” Fluttershy said with a small smile. “When we were flung from the Crystal Empire, the boys saved us from a very hard landing that we would’ve crashed into.” She explained. “Well, some good other than nearly sinking in snow because it was melting.” Sunset said amusingly while looking at Blaze. “I said I was sorry. At least we kept warm.” Blaze said in defense with a sheepish smile. Luna gave a chuckle from this as she looked at each of them. “You ponies never cease to amaze me.” She commented. “We are full of surprises, Princess.” Pinkie said cheerfully. “I don't even know what the next surprise is gonna be.” “Heheh. I believe it, Pinkie.” Luna said with a slight chuckle. Twilight then realizes something as she looks down at Spike. “Wait, Spike, how did you and Luna escape from Daymare? We saw you and the others get caught.” She pointed out in confusion, since she and the others saw the rest of their friends getting captured when they first faced Daymare. “We were in the dudgeon in Canterlot after you guys got sent flying.” Spike started as he broke apart from Twilight. “Daymare blocked Discord’s magic and planted inhibitor rings on Cadance, Shining, Sweetie Belle and Luna to keep them from bursting out. But luckily, she didn’t account for me using my trusty dragon fire to break the bars down to give me and Luna the chance to escape.” He explained while giving a proud smile. “Unfortunately, we are the only ones who manage to escape while the rest are still locked up.” Luna said in a sad tone as she lowered her head. "I fear Daymare may be planning for a public execution to set an example." "What?!" The Fourteen exclaimed in shock. "Then why are we just standin' round down here?!" Rocky demanded. “Let’s go and free our comrades now!” Hydro declared. “Hold on boys!” Midnight called out before his brothers could even rush into battle. “We can just go and face Daymare head on.” He pointed out. “Midnight’s right.” Twilight said in agreement. “The last time we tried to take her on without thinking ahead, she tossed us like a bunch of meat-dolls across the frozen mountains.” She reminded them. “So let’s think of a strategy before we face her first.” Midnight finished as he looked around the base while noticing something. “Hey, wait, how come our lair is still in one piece? Didn’t the guards tear this place apart when they took Discord and Zecora?” He asked in confusion. Luna then looked around the Sword’s base as she gave a thought. “It would seem that the guards didn’t want to tarnish a sacred landmark of the old castle unless it’s to enter a room.” She theorized. “Well, at least those guards have some morals of not discrete ancient art.” Rarity said with her hooves crossed. "Still, we shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth," Storm stated. “If we want to purge Celestia of the Nightmare, we’re gonna need to up our game.” He added. “he's right, and the best way to do that is the same way we defeated Nightmare Moon: We have to use our friendship Rainbow laser!" Twilight declared. Fluttershy raised a brow, "Without the Elements? Can we do that?" She asked. “We manage to do it without them to stop Tirek, remember?” Twilight reminded Fluttershy as she gave a determined smile. “Like the boys said, the Elements were never the crystals, it’s us. The power of Friendship and Harmony was inside us this whole time. We just never realized it. I mean, we and the knights created an oasis in a frozen tundra.” She pointed out. “What?” Luna and Spike asked in shock and surprise by what Twilight just said. “We’ll explain later, partners.” Applejack simply said to the confused alicorn and dragon. "Still she’s right, if the Seven of you girls concentrate your powers through us, it just might work." Midnight said with a small smile. “We just need to work as one and stop Daymare once and for all.” He added. “So that means, y'all mares are gonna need some gear.” Rocky said while the Mane 7 looked confused by that. “Gears? Why would we need some gears, darlings?” Rarity asked in confusion. “Do we need the turny gears for our bodies?” Pinkie asked as she turned her body around. “Not that kind of gear, Pinkie.” Volt corrected with a slight chuckle. “The kind of gears to wear.” He said. Blaze turned to Hydro, "Hydro, care to show them?" He asked. Hydro smiled and then lighting his horn, he moved a wall upwards, revealing sets of armor, "My finest work, fit for both mare and stallion." The Mane 7 looked at the armors in awe as Rarity spoke. “Um, these are great armors, Hydro. But aren't they a tad blah?" She pointed out while looking at the armor. “They could use a bit of style.” Hydro gave a chuckle and gestured to her, "Well try one on, and see what happens.” He suggested with a smirk. “Well, if you insist.” Rarity said uncertainty as she levitated one of the armors as she put it on and then looked at it with a thought. “A bit too big and it could use some colors. But it does look…” She stopped when her armor began to glow. “Oh dear!” She yelped as her armor started glowing bright. Rarity’s armor then started transforming as it started adjusting itself as it shrunk down to fit Rarity's frame as it then formed a white-ish color with Rarity’s Cutie Mark at the chest part and some purple outlines on her legs and shoulders. Then a helmet formed on her head as her mane was kept in place while her face was left open once the glowing stopped. "Oh my," Rarity said in amazement. “This is absolutely stunning! Beautiful!” She cheered in awed at what just happened as she looked at her new armor. The Mane 7 and Spike looked in shock at what happened to Rarity, while Spike looked at her with hearts in his eyes with a huge blush on his cheeks, as they turned to the Seven Swords as they gave amusing smirks while Luna gave a slight chuckle. “I see you manage to perfect your enchanted armor, Hydro.” Luna said with a small smile. Hydro laughed in pride, "Success, a brilliant success! After trial and error, as well as a few spells, the enchantments for the armors finally work!” He cheered in pride. “Enchanted armor?” Twilight asked in surprise while looking at Midnight. “What are they?” She asked in interest with an exciting smile. Midnight gave a slight chuckle at Twilight’s excitement as he spoke. “They’re like the armor worn by the original Swords of Justice. They may look like crude and big armors for somepony, but they have special enchantments to properly fit the pony who wears them, whether they are big or small, while also having magical properties that give them advantages in the field.” He explained. “That is amazing! You think I could study them when we have the time?” Twilight asked excitedly while picking up one of the armors. “After we stop Daymare, Twilight.” Spike reminded her. “She’s still around ruling Equestria.” "Oh yes right of course!" Twilight said before looking at the armor and prancing a bit, "My turn!" She cheered as she put on the armor. Twilight’s armor began to glow as it went through the same process as Rarity’s did, but with a purple color and her cutie mark being on the chest piece while her wings are covered in armor at the bone part of them as the glowing stopped. Twilight looked at her armor in amazement as she gave exciting giggles. “This is so amazing! An armor fit for a princess!” She cheered as she looked over at herself. Midnight gave a slight blush at Twilight’s wearing her own armor as he shook his head and snapped out of it as he turned to the group. “Yes, well, it is amazing. Okay everypony, pick your armors, we got a Nightmare to stop and friends and our homes to free.” He announced. The rest of the Mane 7 wasted no time as they excitedly ran past Midnight as they fought for one of the armors they could grab as Midnight shook his head and gave a chuckle in amusement. “These mares sure do love ancient relics, huh?” Midnight asked in amusement. “To them, anything old and never seen before is like the latest comic book, especially for Twilight’s case.” Spike commented before giving a sad look. “I’m guessing that there’s no armor for me, is there?” He questioned sadly. Midnight gave Spike a small smile and hovered over a helmet, "Let's try this instead.” He said as he put the helmet on Spike, which surprised the baby dragon. “Ow! Hey! What are you…?” Spike was cut when the helmet began to glow as purple and greenish armor plating started to form all over Spike’s body as some magical metal decorative wings formed on his back as the glowing stopped as Spike looked at himself in surprise. “Whoa! An armor for me as well?!” Spike asked in surprise. "I did say it would fit whoever wears it." Midnight reminded him with a smirk. “Awesome!” Spike cheered before he noticed something on his back. “Wait, are these wings?!” He asked in surprise. “Maybe. I don’t know.” Midnight shrugged. “We never had dragons wear these armors before. They sorta just adjust to the wearers that would fit them and their personalities and characters.” He explained. "Cool." Spike smiled. Soon a bright light flashed as the stallions, Twilight, Rarity, Spike and Luna covered their eyes. After a moment, the light faded as the group looked at the rest of the girls. The rest of the Mane 7 are wearing armor while doing a heroic pose. Their armors matched their element colors while each of their cutie marks are on their respectives chest pieces while Rainbow and Fluttershy’s wings had armor like Twilight’s, and Applejack’s helmet was shaped like her hat. “This is gotta be the most epic awesome thing we ever have!” Rainbow cheered in excitement. “Now this is some fancy shmancy.” Applejack commented with a whistle. “Such perfect flexibility and balance.” Fluttershy said with a small smile. “And so amazing and colorful! So like us!” Pinkie excitedly cheered while hopping up and down excitedly. “Now this is a look I can get behind.” Sunset said with a smile as she looked at her armor. Midnight gave a small chuckle as he turned to Luna. “Mistress, if you still have your old armor, would you like to join us in this battle?” He asked with a smirk. Luna gave a smirk to Midnight as she then focused her magic to her horn as she glowed bright. Once it faded, Luna was in her old armor before she became Nightmare Moon, which she wore whenever she and Celestia went into battle. It was jet black with her chest armor boring her mark, helmet having a hole in the back for her hair to come out and was tied in a ponytail. The Seven Swords then armored up as well, they're armor and masks sporting colors and details akin to their elements, with Storm and Volt boring armor on their wings. "Now that we're all geared up, have a plan, all we need to do is head to Canterlot and finish this!" Blaze declared. “But how do we get to Canterlot without the guards or Daymare knowing?” Sunset asked in confusion. “If they see us flying in, they’ll be on us faster than Rainbow can do a Sonic Rainboom.” She commented. “Hey!” Rainbow called out in offense from hearing that. “Sorry, Rainbow, but Daymare really was a quick one on us.” Sunset pointed out while Rainbow sighs in defeat, finding that true. “Luckily, we have a Waypoint to Canterlot.” Arbor said while pointing to one of the Waypoints that had the mark of Canterlot above it. “We use it some time to go into Canterlot to visit Mistress Luna, whenever she needs company or has one of those coffee parties she likes to do.” The Mane 7 and Spike were surprised by that as they turned to Luna in confusion as said princess gave an embarrassing blush. “Um, well. You have to do something to pass the time after your nightly duties and keep the ponies' dreams from becoming a nightmare.” Luna said sheepishly while rubbing the back of her head. The girls and Spike gave Luna a small chuckle as Fluttershy spoke. “I wouldn’t mind being invited next time when I feel like staying up at night.” She said with a smile. “I wanna join in as well since I’ve been up most or all night just to prepare surprises all around Ponyville!” Pinkie cheered. Midnight cleared his throat, "Perhaps after we get to Canterlot and stop Daymare from burning down the whole world." He reminded them as he walked up to the Waypoint as he pressed his hoof at it as a portal to Canterlot opened up.  "Alright ponies, nothing fancy. We go in and free our friends, face Daymare, get Celestia out of her and save Equestria, that's it.” Midnight said to his friends. “And remember, this battle is going to be tough, and we've seen how vicious Daymare is” He reminded. Twilight then stepped next to him with a serious look, "We stepped through that Waypoint, there's no guarantee we step back out again. So if anyone has second thoughts, please say them now." She said to them. The others looked at each other for a moment before Blaze smiled with his hoof out, "Let's do this ponies!" He declared as the others placed their hooves over his. Twilight and Midnight smiled and Twilight placed her hoof over their friends', "When we first met we were enemies, but now we're a team!" She declared. "Now, we're a family." Midnight corrected as he placed his hoof over the others’ as they smiled. “For Equestria!” The Heroic 14 called out in unison as they all raised their hooves in the air. Luna and Spike look at the ponies as Luna has tears dripping from her eyes as Spike saw this. “Are you alright, Luna?” Spike asked in confusion. Luna cleared her tears and nodded with a smile, as in place of the boys and girls she saw herself, Celestia and other ponies they were close too, "Just fine young dragon, better than I've ever been." She said before seeing the Heroic 14 again. She then walked towards the Waypoint Portal before turning back to brave young ponies and dragon behind her, "Now young ones, let us save my Sister, and our home!" She declared as they were ready for the final battle.