"Be careful up there, TC!" Eve called from the ground below. TC glanced down and saluted her before calling, "Don't worry! I got this!" Facing forward again, the Pegasus focused his attention on the platform high above him. That's where they've got that pony held hostage! he told himself. His inexperience prevented him from flying any higher, but that wasn't going to stop him!
TC grabbed onto a pillar and started climbing up slowly. Okay, why couldn't Chrysalis just do this, again? he wondered. Oh, that's right! She had the nerve to pretend she didn't know what we were talking about... and we couldn't let Celestia do this because it might be a trap. Guess it's up to me then! TC reached up to grip the next ledge, but--
"Ahh!" The pillar started to crumble and fall, bringing the young Pegasus down with it. He flapped his wings desperately, reaching for some sort of hold but only succeeded in slowing his fall. Huge rocks fell toward the party below, but Princess Celestia managed to use her magic to catch them and toss them aside. She was about to grab ahold of TC when she realized he wasn't falling.
TC sat in surprise on the same pillar he was climbing earlier. It had fallen passed him and landed snugly on the platform in the middle of the room, successfully creating a bridge right to his destination.
"Huh," he smiled and stood up. With a little swag, he trotted over to the platform and waved to his friends below.
"What just happened?" Eve asked in disbelief.
"Things like this just seem to work for him," Night Heart shook his head.
TC approached the raised platform in front of him. When he saw what was there, a smile grew on his face.
~~~
"Celestia still hasn't given us a signal..." Stagequill paced back and forth in front of her friends. Given this was Equestria, Blazer was pretty sure if she kept this up, she'd wear a trench in the ground.
"I'm sure she's fine, Stagequill," Blazer attempted to calm her down, "But I think if we don't hear from her soon, we rush in there and blow the place sky high!"
"No way!" Swiftbullet stepped up, "We might hurt the others!"
"Not literally!" Blazer responded.
"Celestia told us to stay here, but if she doesn't-- huh?"
"What?" Stagequill stopped pacing to see what Swiftbullet was looking at. When she saw what it was, her eyes widened. "Who is that?"
"I think it's Cleverbuild," Swiftbullet started walking toward the approaching pony.
"All right!" Blazer cheered and ran up to him. "Clever build, is that you?"
"Ha! Blazer, right?" Clever Build reached out a hoof and put it on Blazer's shoulder. "I knew it!"
"How did you find us?" Stagequill asked.
"And more importantly, how did you get here?" Swiftbullet watched him.
"I don't know," was Clever Build's reply, "I was asleep, but I could see you guys kind of. Then I felt somepony picking me up, and I was carried over here. When I woke up, I was still blind, but I could sense where you guys were!"
"Wow!" Stagequill jumped up and down. "That's so cool! So you can see like a bat!"
"Heh, yea," Clever Build smirked, "Kind of."
"Welcome to the team!" Swiftbullet saluted him. "Need an update on what's going on?"
Suddenly, hoofsteps were heard behind him. Everypony turned at once and saw the others emerging from the hive. Out walked Celestia, followed by Eve, TC, Night Heart, and... who was that last pony?
~~~
MMMBrony limped out with the rest of the team. The first thing he had seen when he had opened his eyes was a Pegasus smiling at him. So he HAD made it! He was in Equestria! Of course, it hadn't exactly looked like Equestria right then because he was in some smelly Changeling place. TC Dubstep had introduced himself and gotten him to the rest of the team.
Now he was walking, only slightly injured, towards more of his pony friends. He still couldn't believe this was happening! All he needed now was some epic music to play as he and the princess walked victoriously toward the others.
He was a colt, actually. A young Pegasus to be exact. He hadn't tried flying yet, but he planned on riding the wind into Ponyville when he got there!
When everypony had reunited, Celestia filled them all in and they headed back for Ponyville.
"All right, everypony," Princess Celestia addressed them outside the town, "I know you're all eager to meet everypony. The meeting will be tonight at the schoolhouse at eight. Until then, feel free to see the world you saved! I'm proud to say you've earned it!"
Everypony cheered and ran into the town, but Night Heart stayed behind. Adjusting the egg on his back, he looked out at the small village.
Celestia looked at him. "I know that face," she said. Night Heart looked at her. "Walk with me."
Night Heart took a deep breath and began to walk with the princess.
This chapter is not finished! Obviously. If you check the forums in our group, you'll find all the instructions on what happens next. You'll be writing what happens to you!