//------------------------------// // Planning Weddings and Defenses // Story: Sunset's Locked-On Love // by 00RaiserGundam //------------------------------// Sunset Shimmer and Lockon Astros woke up next to each other in what they were now calling "their" house. Shadow liked Lockon as much as he loved Sunset Shimmer. So all three were very happy living in the same house together. After breakfast, the engaged royal couple were in the kitchen table with a bunch of blank paper, quills, and ink bottles ready to plan their wedding day. "Ok." Sunset began. "So Celestia has already agreed to preside over the ceremony and let us have it in Canterlot. And we have already decided to have it on the first day of summer. What is today's date?" "I believe this is the fifteenth of April." Lockon answered his fiancé. "That gives us a little over two months to get everything ready. I'm guessing we want Twilight and the girls to do the same roles they did at Cadance and Shining Armor's wedding?" "Definitely." Sunset agreed. "I was not here when that happened, so what roles did they have?" "If I remember correctly," Lockon began to answer, "Fluttershy provided the music with a songbird choir. Rarity designed the dresses for the bride and bridesmaids. Pinkie Pie hosted the reception and Applejack was in charge of the catering for the reception. Twilight was in charge of organizing and making sure everything went as planned and Spike was the ring bearer. And I do believe Rainbow Dash was asked to perform a Sonic Rainboom after the ceremony." "Actually, I would like to ask Lightning Dust to perform a Sonic Lightningboom alongside Rainbow's rainboom as well." Sunset requested. "Oh, I am certain that can be arranged." Lockon agreed. "So, who do we want as our bridesmaids and groomsstallions?" "Well," Sunset started, "I definitely want Twilight as my maid of honor. As for my other two, it is so hard to decide. I mean I really would have wanted all of the Element wielders as well as Lyra and the others to be my bridesmaids. Why are we only allowed to have three of each?" "Honestly, I don't know." Lockon replied. "But we will definitely invite all of them. I am sure that all of them will at least be happy with that." "Alright." Sunset sighed. "In that case, I definitely want Twilight as my maid of honor, and then I guess my other two should definitely be Moondancer and Lightning Dust." "In that case," Lockon added, "I'll have Flash Sentry as my best stallion, and then probably Shining Armor and Discord as the remaining two." "Ok, then." Sunset said in response. "So we have a location, a date, and Princess Celestia is officiating. All we need to do is send those invitations and ask the rest of our friends to help." With that, Sunset rolled up the list and took it with them via her magic. Once they got to the Golden Oaks Library, they politely knocked on the door three times. The door opened to reveal Spike looking at them, then getting a smile on his face. "Hey, guys." He told them. "What are you doing here?" "Hi, Spike." Sunset answered him. "Is Twilight home?" "Hang on." Spike responded. "I'll go get her." It wasn't even a minute before Spike came back with Twilight in tow. "Hey you two lovebirds." Twilight addressed them. "Spike told me about how you moved in with your fiancé, Lockon. And I would just like to say welcome to Ponyville." "Thanks, Twilight." The alicorn stallion said. "But more importantly, Sunset and I just finished the first part of the planning for our wedding. And there are a few questions we would like to ask both you and Spike regarding this." After they described every possible detail to Twilight and Spike, Twilight was happy to accept the role that she played at her brother's wedding again, as well as the role of Sunset's maid of honor. Spike eagerly offered to be the ring bearer. "Oh, by the way, you two," Twilight addressed the royal couple, "Princess Celestia just sent me a letter for you two as well as myself. She wishes for all three of us to come to the Crystal Empire to help welcome the foreign dignitaries to a very important meeting." "Ugh." Lockon groaned. "Politics has never been my strong suit." "I am not that big a fan of it either." Sunset agreed. "But I can't turn down a request like this from Princess Celestia." "Don't worry." Twilight said. "I already asked the girls to accompany me. They'll meet us at the train station." "Perfect." Sunset said. "Then we can ask them to help out with our wedding." "I just know the others will be more than eager to accept the wedding roles they did at Shining Armor and Cadance's wedding." Spike said. Once they all got to the train station, true enough, the rest of the Mane Six were waiting for them, as well Lightning Dust. On the train ride over to the Crystal Empire, Sunset and Lockon told them all about their wedding plans and asked each of them to help out. Fluttershy was joyful at the prospect of leading her songbird choir to do the music again. Pinkie Pie was bouncing all over the train cart that they were all in after accepting the job of hosting the reception. Applejack was more than happy to provide the catering. Rainbow Dash and Lightning Dust were beyond enthusiastic about being asked to do a Sonic Rainboom and a Sonic Lightningboom, and Lightning Dust immediately accepted her position as one of Sunset's bridesmaids. And Rarity nearly fainted out of a mixture of joy and excitement at the prospect of designing the dresses for another Canterlot wedding. Soon enough, they all reached the Crystal Empire train station and began their walk towards the Crystal Castle. Soon enough, the dignitaries arrived under the announcement of Flash Sentry. The meeting ended just about as quickly as it started, especially for Twilight, who felt like she was not living up to her role as a princess. Sunset joined their friends in trying to comfort her as well. Truth be told, Sunset was confused about her own role as a princess as well. However, unlike Twilight, Sunset did not worry about this as much, and knew that waiting was the best way to sort out this kind of problem. But she resolved to help Twilight through her own worry whenever she could. Soon enough, it was time for bed. Lockon came back into the room as he and Sunset were sharing the bed together tonight like always. "Hey, Sunset." He called to her. "I just spoke with Flash Sentry and Shining Armor. They both agreed to be my best stallion and groomsstallion. I even got Flash to ask Moondancer next time they talk if she wants to be your bridesmaid." "Thanks, Lockon." Sunset said before pulling him into a romantic and passionate kiss. Then they both got under the bed covers together and slept a quiet night. The next morning, they both awoke to the sound of a knocking on the door. Lockon groggily got up and answered it while Sunset groaned herself awake. Lockon then walked back towards Sunset. "It seems that you and I are needed in the boardroom." Lockon told her. "What for?" Sunset asked. "I don't know." Lockon answered her. "All I do know is that this is a very urgent request from Mom, and that Twilight, Cadance, and Aunt Luna have been summoned there as well." "Alright then, let's not keep them waiting." Sunset said as she just finished brushing her mane. When they finally got to the meeting room, Celestia, Luna, Cadance, and Twilight were already there sitting in various positions around a circular table. "We came as soon as we got the message." Sunset told them "What's going on? What is this about?" "I am afraid I had a vision last night." Celestia explained. "A vision about a danger that is just starting to grow. But first, let me tell you a story." She then levitated an old book over to the table and then opened it. The first picture that everypony saw was one of two creatures walking through a wasteland. One looked like a centaur with a beard and long thick horns his head. The other one looked like a gargoyle with a lion's mane and a tail ending in a spade. "Tirek and his brother Scorpan came here from a distant land, intent on stealing Equestrian magic." Celestia started before moving the pages to ones depicting the gargoyle among a group of happy ponies and side by side with what appeared to be a depiction of Starswirl the Bearded. "But Scorpan soon came to appreciate the ways of Equestria, even befriending a young unicorn wizard." "Scorpan urged his brother to abandon their plans." Luna added. "When Tirek refused, Scorpan alerted us to Tirek's intentions." "Scorpan returned to his own land." Celestia continued. "And Tirek was sent to Tartarus for his crimes. But it appears he has found a way to escape." "We believe it happened when Cerberus left his post at the gates." Luna added. "Wait." Sunset cut her off. "Cerberus actually LEFT his post?! When did this happen?!" "This was back before you stole the Element of Magic from me. Back when I was still a unicorn and before Cadance married my brother." Twilight answered her before turning to the rest of them. "But that was a long time ago. Why is he just now starting to steal magic?" "His time in Tartarus left him very weak." Celestia answered. "He has just now gained enough strength to use his dark powers." "But with each passing moment, he grows stronger still." Luna continued. "And I know just the princesses who could stop him." Cadance finally spoke to Twilight. "Yes, we'll find him and-" Twilight started to speak for herself and Sunset, who was already ready to agree, only for Celestia to interrupt her with a "No, you two." "I'm afraid I must call in another to stop Tirek. Discord." Celestia said, causing everypony in the room to gasp. "I do not mean to question your decision, Mom." Lockon addressed his adoptive mother. "But why send Discord of all beings?" "He can sense when there is a magical imbalance." Celestia answered. "The next time that Tirek steals magic, Discord will be able to track him down." "Well then, what exactly are we supposed to do in the meantime?" Sunset asked. "For now, we will just have to wait for Discord to carry out this mission." Celestia answered her. "Why don't the three of you return home to Ponyville with your friends in the meantime? I am sure you all have a lot of catching up to do." And with that, Twilight and the engaged royal couple went back to Ponyville with their friends. The rest of the Mane Six were skeptical about Discord being given the task. All except for Fluttershy. Anyway, Twilight decided to go to the ancient castle of the two royal sisters. Spike and the rest of the Mane Six followed her. Sunset and Lockon wanted to be there for Twilight as well, so they tagged along too. Plus, Sunset wanted to see the castle of the two sisters and maybe the Tree of Harmony while she was at it. Soon enough, they came to a cliff that looked down over the cave where the Tree of Harmony currently resided. It looked a lot more beautiful than Sunset imagined. "I still can't believe we had to give back the elements." Rainbow Dash sighed. "It had to be done or the Tree of Harmony wouldn't have survived." Rarity responded. "We already took a big enough risk as it was when we borrowed the elements back for the duration of that whole changeling fiasco at the Crystal Empire. I'd say it was just a miracle that the tree was able to survive at all without them for that long." "Don't remind me." Twilight said in agreement. "But Twilight was right." Fluttershy replied. "Even without the elements, our friendship is as strong as ever." "Ah just hope another 'friend' of ours never makes us sorry we had ta give em' up." Applejack said while holding up her front hooves to make quotes when she said "friend." "Hoho, you're talking about me, I presume?" Discord chuckled as he floated down towards them on an umbrella wearing a nanny's outfit and carrying a travel bag. "How'd ya guess?" Applejack asked sarcastically. "My ears were burning." Discord said while his ears were on fire before dumping a glass of water on them in what was supposed to be a comedic fashion. "What are you even doing here, Discord?" Rainbow Dash asked in an irritated tone. "Oh, just a bit of light reading before I head off on my extremely important mission." Discord answered while flipping through a journal before stepping in front of a pull-down screen depicting the two royal sisters circling each other in a yin and yang fashion, in what appeared to be a military outfit. "I suppose you all know that I've been tasked to capture a certain escapee?" Then he began puffing on a pipe that just blew out bubbles. "Big deal." Spike said in a skeptical and sarcastic tone while raising his arms. "You're right, Spike. It IS a big deal." Discord responded to him before blowing a bubble big enough to trap Spike inside it and float him up into the air before it popped and Rainbow Dash had to catch him. "Seems I possess a magic that gives me quite an important role in Equestria." Discord continued. "Maybe they should make ME an alicorn princess." Then he disappeared in a flash before immediately reappearing from another one wearing a pink horn with a ridiculously large matching pair of wings, and an unnecessarily large crown on his head, blowing kisses from his hands to an imaginary audience. "In your dreams." Dash replied before knocking the crown off of his head. "Oh, I never dream of such things. Ask Princess Luna." Discord mentioned as he pushed the pink horn into his head, causing it and the rest of the outfit to disappear. "Don't you have a creepy, magic stealin' villain to track down?" Applejack asked in a sarcastic tone. "Yes, yes, yes. Of course." Discord quickly replied before all of the ponies present in a group hug and teleporting them directly in front of the Tree of Harmony. "It's just that I couldn't help but notice that Twilight hasn't yet opened this little chest of hers. It got me thinking; what if what's locked inside is something that could prove her royal worth? I only bring it up because she said that she's been feeling like her role as a princess doesn't equate to much." "Wait a minute. How do you know how she was feeling?" Pinkie Pie with a face that looked a cross between anger and suspicion. "Oh my," Discord seemed to feign innocence, "is eavesdropping not the way you're supposed to find out what your best pals are up to? Woe is me. Will I ever learn the intricate nuances of being a good friend?" The others just gave him blank and/or annoyed looks in response. "Well, in any case, I suppose now is as good a time as any to make my exit." He continued after clearing his throat. Then, he got on what Sunset recognized from the other world as a moped and disappeared in a flash of light. "And good riddance." Applejack said angrily after he left. Only he did not truly leave yet as he had just reappeared in another flash of light behind all of them. "Oopsy doopsy, I almost left with the little journal you've all been keeping." He spoke mainly to the Mane Six as he returned a book with a horseshoe and the six Elements of Harmony on the cover. The Element of Magic was depicted in the middle while the rest of the elements outlined the horseshoe. "What a fascinating read. Haven't you girls just learned so much?" "I've bookmarked a few of the more interesting passages; you really should take a look." He said to Twilight before balancing the journal on her horn just by a corner, and then turning to Fluttershy. "We're still on for tea later, aren't we Fluttershy?" "I wouldn't miss it." She answered him. He chuckled excitedly at her answer. "Oh, and I'll bring the cucumber sandwiches." He chortled before opening and walking through a dimensional passage like a door before closing it behind him. "Sometimes Ah think the 'reformed' Discord is more obnoxious than the before-he-was-reformed Discord." Applejack voiced her opinion to the others. "Indeed." Rarity agreed with her. "Honestly, I can only imagine what the latter one was like." Sunset said in response as she had never met Discord before he was reformed. "But he could be right, couldn't he?" Fluttershy asked them all. "What if there is something important in that chest?" "There's only one way to find out." Twilight replied after pondering her thoughts for a brief moment. "Come on. Let's go do some research in the castle's library." "I can definitely help you out with that if you want." Sunset enthusiastically responded. "I'd be more than happy to help you do some research." "Wow, Sunset, you and Twilight really are so much alike." Rainbow told her. "The fact that you're just as much of an egghead as she is just proves it." "I'll just take that last bit as a compliment." Sunset replied in slight irritation before getting a smirk on her face. "Though in all honesty, Rainbow, I could say the same thing about you and Lightning Dust. The way you two look and act so similarly to each other and your shared passion for speed and flying, I'm surprised that the two of you aren't even related. You two could totally pass for twin sisters." "Very funny." Rainbow responded sarcastically. Everypony else just laughed at this. "I just can't wait to see what the castle looks like." Sunset said with an enthusiastic grin. "I can only imagine how many tomes depicting the ancient history behind Princesses Celestia and Luna must be housed inside the library. And don't even get me started on the fact that I would be walking through an actual piece of ancient history." Then she just did an excited little dance, trotting in place on all four hooves while she giggled like an excited little schoolfilly. This reminded Rarity of herself when she got invitations from Fancypants back during her visit to Canterlot around Twilight's birthday. Everypony just laughed heartily at Sunset's enthusiasm as they continued on with her. Soon they all found themselves inside the castle's library, looking through books that might have some clues about the chest. Twilight, Sunset, Lockon and Rarity were using their magic to gather and flip through the books while the others were on the ground using their hooves, or claws in Spike's case, while Rainbow was flying along the higher shelves. Fluttershy even had a small songbird help her by holding up a book in its feet. "Anything?" Twilight asked everypony, to which they all responded with various ways of saying 'no.' "There must be something in this library that can help me figure out how to open it." Twilight said as she flipped through more books with her magic. "The answer is in one of these books. I just know it." "I am actually rather curious about that journal you girls have been keeping." Sunset said to the Mane Six. "Would any of you mind if I read through it? I would like to know what kind of adventures you have been up to before I returned to Equestria." "Go right ahead, Sunset." Twilight said. "If nothing else it'll probably give you a few new lessons about the Magic of Friendship that you have yet to experience." Everypony else agreed with her. Soon, Sunset found herself reminiscing back to the days she spent with her friends in the other world. Believe it or not, the journal recounted events and journeys by the Mane Six that were also taken by most of their human world counterparts. From Rarity having her generosity taken advantage of, to Applejack withholding the truth about a placebo effect inducing tonic, to Pinkie Pie's goof-off with Cheese Sandwich. Sunset remembered a lot of those adventures from similar ones that she and her friends in the other world had. "Hey, Twilight." Sunset called to her. "I was looking through your journal that you and the others have been keeping. Believe it or not, I have had similar experiences with our friends beyond the mirror." "Really?!" Everypony but Lockon gasped in surprise. "Yes." Sunset answered them before turning to Twilight. "To be honest, it's kind of freaky in more ways than one, but that's beside the point. I was also looking at the entries that Discord bookmarked, and I really think you should consider taking a look at them as well. I think I might have found something of interest." Twilight took the book in her magic and skimmed through them, paying close attention to the bookmarked sections. Soon, she saw it too. "I think you're right, Sunset." Twilight said in understanding before turning to address the rest of them. "Applejack, do you remember when you had to tell everypony that the tonic Granny bought from the Flim Flam Brothers didn't really work?" "How could Ah forget?" Applejack answered her thinking back to that event. "It was one of the hardest things Ah ever had to do. But in that moment, Ah knew Ah had to be honest. Ah just knew it. But what's that got to do with openin' the chest?" "I found that each of you has had to face a situation, where living up to the Element of Harmony you represent isn't easy." Sunset answered her for Twilight before turning to Fluttershy. "Fluttershy, it was when you realized that the way to show kindness to the Breezies was by forcing them to leave your home." "Oh, the looks on their poor little faces." Fluttershy responded in a sad tone. "But I knew that as difficult as it was, pushing them away was the kindest thing I could do." "Rarity," Twilight addressed the fashionista, "even after Suri took advantage of your generosity at fashion week in Manehattan, you didn't let it cause you to abandon your generous spirit." "I simply couldn't have lived with myself if I didn't do something special for the friends who have always been so generous to me." Rarity responded. "Rainbow Dash," Twilight spoke to her next, "you had the chance to fly with the Wonderbolts at the Equestria Games. But instead you chose to compete with your friends." "Sure." Rainbow Dash replied. "But being loyal to my friends was way-" "Ooh, ooh, my turn, my turn." Pinkie Pie cut her off in mid-sentence. "Pinkie Pie," Sunset began, "you realized that seeing your friend laugh was more important than proving you were a better party planner than Cheese Sandwich." "Best party I've ever had." Rainbow Dash happily agreed. "It's clear we've all had our moments to shine, you two." Rarity said to Sunset and Twilight. "But I'm with Applejack. What does any of this have to do with the opening of the chest?" "All of you had tough choices to make." Twilight explained. "But when you made the right one and embraced your element, it helped somepony else make the right choice too. Each of you received something from the pony who's life you helped change." "I know it sounds crazy, but maybe there's something special about those objects that could lead you to the location of the keys." Sunset further explained. "The chest is connected to the Tree of Harmony. The tree is connected to the elements and the elements are connected to all of you. There must be a connection." "You're probably right, Sunset." Twilight agreed with her. "I hate to admit it, but maybe Discord was trying to be a good friend after all." "Why don't you girls gather the objects you were given?" Lockon directed to the Element wielders. "Let's meet back at the chest once you have gathered them." They all agreed. After which they headed their separate ways. Sunset, Lockon, Twilight, and Spike were waiting for the rest of the Mane Six at the chest. When they got back, they all had their respective objects. Rarity brought the spool of rainbow thread she got from Coco Pommel. Rainbow Dash brought the lightning bolt pin she received from the Wonderbolts. Pinkie Pie brought Boneless, the rubber chicken, which she received from Cheese Sandwich. Fluttershy brought the flower she received from the Breezies. And Applejack brought the bit that she received from Silver Shill after the whole Flim Flam Brothers ordeal with the tonic. "I don't see anything on them that would give us a clue as to where the keys might be." Twilight said. "They're just ordinary everyday objects." "Unless by some chance the objects are in fact the keys themselves, but I really don't see how that could be possible." Sunset agreed with her. "Come on, Boneless!" Pinkie Pie shouted at the rubber chicken as she began to shake it. "Give us that key!" "I don't think that's going to work." Twilight said in response before ducking as it came right towards her head. Then it ended up hitting one of the keyholes on the chest. Then it became surrounded in a magical aura. Then everypony gasped at this, and the next thing they knew, the rubber chicken transformed itself into a key with a handle that looked just like Pinkie's cutie mark and then magically floated inside the keyhole. The rest of the gifts were then placed on top of the box and the same thing happened to all of them. The handles of each key looked exactly like the cutie marks of the respective pony who received the gift that was given to them. Then each key floated into its respective key hole. That only left one key remaining: Twilight's key. "There's still one key missing." Twilight said. "The key that represents the Element of Magic, my element." "Oh, but I'm sure that if we've gotten our keys, you have too, Twilight." Fluttershy said in slight confidence. "Think, Twilight." Rarity said. "When have you completed a difficult magical task, and in doing so encouraged another pony to do the same?" "I haven't." Twilight answered her. "If I had, I would have written about it in the journal." "Don't worry, Twilight," Spike ensured her, "I'm sure you'll get your key eventually." "Yeah." Sunset added. "If your friends could all find their keys, then I am certain that your key is practically just around the corner." Just then, Spike puffed out his cheeks, looking like he was going to be sick. Then he burped out a scroll from Princess Celestia. Twilight levitated it over to her face with her magic to read it. "What's it say?" Spike asked her. "That Sunset, Lockon, and I are needed in Canterlot at once." Twilight answered with slight worry. "Sounds urgent." Sunset replied. "Let's book it." Then the three alicorns all took off into the sky and headed straight for Canterlot Castle as fast as they could. When they finally got there, they headed straight for the throne room, where Princesses Celestia, Luna, and Cadance were all waiting for them. "We came as quickly as we could." Twilight told them. "Is something wrong? Is it Tirek?" "I'm afraid I put too much trust in Discord and the effect that friendship would have upon him." Celestia answered her. "Oh no…" Sunset gasped in worry. "Don't tell me…" Lockon said as he brought a hoof to his face. "I am afraid so." Cadance confirmed their fears. "Discord has betrayed the ponies of Equestria and joined forces with Tirek." Luna continued. "How could he do this?!" Twilight asked in slight despair. "I thought our friendship meant something to him. I thought he had changed." "Well he can just forget about showing his face at our wedding for all I care as of now." Lockon said in anger while Sunset nodded solemnly in agreement. "Tirek has stolen enough magic that he now has the strength to steal flight as well." Celestia continued. "Without pegasi to control the weather, there will be no rain in Equestria. There is word he has gone after earth ponies as well. Without their strength, they will not be able to tend the land." "Ponies will no longer be in control of their world." Luna added. "That power will belong solely to Tirek." "There is no doubt that Tirek is after alicorn magic." Celestia continued. "With Discord by his side, we will not be able to stop him from taking it." "Once it is in his possession, his power will know no bounds, and all hope will be lost." Luna added in a tone that almost made it sound like she was giving up while folding her ears back against her head while lowering it in despair. "But there is one solution." Celestia pressed on before she and the other two princesses glided down to Twilight and the engaged royal couple. "It is only by making this sacrifice that Equestria and the lands beyond it might be saved. We must rid ourselves of our magic before Tirek has the chance to steal it from us." Twilight, Sunset and Lockon all gasped in shock and horror as they could not believe what they had just heard.