"When is the Summer Sun Celebration?" asked Skyfire.
"It's not for another week." responded Twilight.
Skyfire had a plan to confront Princess Celestia. Celestia was coming to Ponyville to begin the Summer Sun Celebration this year. Skyfire could not wait a week, and she didn't want to go back to her disguise.
"I can't wait a week. Is there any other time that she will be coming?" Skyfire asked.
"Actually, she's coming to Ponyville later today to check up on out setup for the celebration." said Twilight.
"I'll have to confront her then, I guess." Skyfire said.
Applejack had left and promised to not tell anyone. After all, everypony would eventually know of Skyfire's return.
And the day went on. Skyfire had to stay inside Twilight's house for the hours. But, as evening soon came, Skyfire saw Princess Celestia's chariot fly down from Canterlot. It was almost time.
Skyfire went upstairs in Twilight's tree house and opened the hatch to the roof. A steady wind blew Skyfire's hair around. From the top, she could see the whole town preparing for the Summer Sun Celebration. Of course, nopony could see her, because she was hidden in the leaves of the tree house.
"I'll just wait here and jump down when Princess Celestia walks by." Skyfire thought. She would have to change herself before she hit the ground though. Skyfire was aware of the power of her mutation, so she could definitely jump and land from this height.
Time seemed to slow down as Skyfire waited for Celestia to walk towards the tree house. The royal pony was walking around to every major part of the city and talking with the ponies supervising there.
Skyfire saw the princess turn and start heading towards the tree house. She obviously wanted to check on her student, Twilight Sparkle.
Celestia was now about 75 yards away from the tree house. Skyfire's heart began to race as her eyes began to turn a neon green. She felt the sensation of metal bursting through her skin and her mane heating up -- something she hadn't felt in what seemed like forever.
Celestia was now 50 yards away from the tree house. Skyfire jumped out of the canopy of tree. There was silence as she fell towards the ground.
Skyfire hit the ground with a loud thump. She landed on her legs, and the shards of metal that covered her skin shifted back to absorb the impact, but quickly repositioning themselves.
There was a brief silence before the ponies walking around Ponyville screamed and ran inside their houses. Celestia definitely saw her, and the two were staring each other straight in the eyes, about a 35 yard distance between them.
Skyfire began to walk towards the alicorn. She could see her horn beginning to glow.
"Princess Celestia." Skyfire began, her digital voice ringing throughout the silent town.
Before saying anything, Celestia shot a beam from her horn and striked Skyfire on her side. Apparently Celestia had forgotten how strong Skyfire's metal was. It simply bounced off Skyfire's body and faded off. Celestia didn't cast a spell strong enough.
"Now, now Celestia. That's no way to treat a friend." said Skyfire, smirking.
"You have no place here....whoever you are. Be gone with you before I send you to the moon." said Celestia.
"Your highness, I am not the pony you think I am. I mean you no harm."
"After you killed that stallion? Sure, he killed a pony, but that doesn't mean you had to kill him too. My agents discovered his mutilated body in the caverns of the Everfree Forest." Celestia stated.
"That was five years ago. I've changed, Princess, I really have. Just give me a chance." said Skyfire. Her metal armor was fusing back into her body, and the fire in her mane vanished.
Celestia was thinking about what the other white pony said. Skyfire spoke again. "It's not like you can't beat me. I know you can. I regret what I did in the past. I want to make it up to you. To all of Equestria."
"And what might that be?" asked Celestia.
"You'll see."
Celestia kept staring at Skyfire. Most of the doubt vanished from her eyes.
"Oh, and tell your subjects they can come out, too. I mean no harm." said Skyfire.
Celestia called out that it was safe, and ponies began to nervously walk out of their homes.
"I'll give you this one chance, uhh..." Celestria trailed off.
"My name's Skyfire."
"Right, Skyfire. I'll give one chance to prove yourself. You're lucky I'm even giving you a chance. But if you mess up, I will have to banish you. If it comes to the point, I may have to kill you." Celestia said in a stern voice as she walked back to her chariot.
Skyfire was now being stared at by lots of ponies. "There's nothing to see here. Not yet, at least." said Skyfire in a loud voice.
Ponies began with their business again as Skyfire began to walk around the town and seeing the preparations. Ponies still stared at her, and most of them backed away when Skyfire walked past them.
Skyfire knew that they would eventually see her as a hero. And that's what Skyfire wanted the most -- to be a hero.
Skyfire found a newspaper stand and grabbed one. She flipped through the pages until she found the crime section.
This was the first thing on her agenda: Make sure criminals know that she existed. Make them cower in fear.
She saw that a teenage mare had gone missing about 2 weeks ago. She was apparently kidnapped by an unknown pony.
Skyfire closed the newspaper and set it back on the stand, the stallion operating the stand was giving her a nervous simile.
"Thanks." Skyfire said as she walked away.