Saddle Rager changed back into pony form. “Did we win?”
“Yes, Saddle,” Zapp said. “Yes, we did.”
“WHOA,” Anar D shouted. “What a rush! Well, if you don’t mind, I’ll…”
“Hold on, Anar,” the Masked Matterhorn said. Her horn glowed and Pandora’s Box floated into her hoof. “There’s still a matter of you trying to kill us this past month.”
“Oh, that,” Anar D chuckled nervously. “I was just… Uh… I got nothing. Besides, I know when I’m beaten. Are you going to lock me in that box for the rest of eternity?
“Actually, that’s for Saddle Rager to decide,” the Masked Matterhorn said giving the box to her shy friend.
“Me,” Saddle Rager asked.
“Her,” Anar D asked.
“You have the best judgement of us all,” the Masked Matterhorn explained to her friend, “Especially when it comes to unique creatures.”
“I say you put him in a cat suit and throw him in the kennel,” Radiance said. “I’ll make the suit.”
“I say you let me feed him to an Ursa Major,” Mistress Marevelous said.
“Don’t do that,” Filli-Second said. “You know how comedic this guy is. He’ll taste funny.”
“I say you make him beat himself up,” Zapp said. “That’d be the perfect opportunity for me to say ‘Why are you hitting yourself’ over and over.”
“Classic,” Anar D chuckled. “All right, Saddle Rager. Let me have my punishment.”
“I have an idea,” Saddle Rager said. She flew towards Anar D.
The Spirit of Chaos was frightened of what might happen and closed his eyes. Then, he felt something placed in his paw and claw. He opened his eyes and saw that he was holding Pandora’s Box. Saddle Rager smiled when she let go of the box.
“So… I hold onto this for a while,” Anar D asked.
“No,” Saddle Rager said. “It’s yours to keep.”
“WHAT,” the Power Ponies gasped.
“Hold on a minute,” Filli-Second shouted. She pulled out a glass of water and drank it empty. She then spit the water out.
“But… you know that if I have it, I’m free,” Anar D said. “No pony tells me what to do again.”
“I know,” Saddle Rager said.
“I DON’T BELIEVE IT,” Anar D cheered loudly creating many celebration tools. “I’M FREE! I’M FINALLY FREE! I…” He stopped and looked at Saddle Rager. “This… This is the nicest thing any pony has done to me. And all I did was try and kill you all.
“It takes a lot of nerve to see through me
I can’t believe you’re giving my sister’s box to me
Saddle, why would you take the risk
After everything I did
All I’ve done to you kids
How… why trust me with thiiiiiiiiiiis”
“The same reason you helped us, D,” Saddle Rager said. “That’s what friends do.”
Anar D widened his eyes in shock. “We’re friends?”
“Of course,” Saddle Rager said. “You were willing to sacrifice your life to help us. That’s a friend to me.”
“Wow,” Anar D said with a cry. “I… haven’t had a friend for 10,000 years. I… I’m sorry for all the trouble I’ve caused.”
“So… does this mean it’s over,” Mistress Marevelous asked.
“Not really,” Anar D said. “Every time I talked to the Changeling queen, she always spoke about a leader. She never said anything about him; only that he’s more powerful than anything else.”
“Then, Anar D, it is my royal declaration that you travel and investigate who this master is and what he wants,” the Masked Matterhorn said. “Return to us when you have some information.”
“Sorry, girls, but I’m done taking orders,” Anar D said. “Although, a favor, I will accept. One more thing…” he reached into his fur and pulled out a triangle, golden amulet on a string.
“The trinket from the flashback,” Radiance said. “Why…”
“Scynder lied when she told me that this would be a symbol of her gratitude and loyalty,” Anar D said placing it in the Masked Matterhorn’s hoof, “But when I say that I’m giving this to you out of change in my heart and a vow that I’m going to make things right, I am telling to truth.”
Suddenly, a bright rainbow glow came out of the trinket. Everyone was amazed at what they saw.
“Another rainbow flash,” Filli-Second asked.
“I don’t get it,” Mistress Marevelous said. “I thought that glow only occurred on the Harmony Gems we had. Anar, what does it mean?”
“What are you asking me for,” Anar D asked. “I only act like I know everything. Sounds like a question for another day. In the meantime… I’M OUT OF HERE! I’VE GOT AN EVIL MASTERMIND TO IDENTIFY, AND NO ONE CAN SAY OTHERWISE BECAUSE…
“WELL, LOOK AT ME
I AM FINALLY FREE
LOOK AT ME
I’M FINALLY FREEEEEEE
T.T.F.N.! ARREVEDIRCI
BUT THIS MUCH, I GUARANTEE
I’LL BE GOOD… LIKE I USED TO BEEEEEEE
YOU SAW THROUGH ME EVEN WHEN IT WAS TRAGIC
AND NOW, I’VE LEARNED THAT FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC
SO AAAAAAS YOU SEEEEEEEEE
I’M FINALLY FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE”
Suddenly, Anar D flew out of sight. The Power Ponies watched him leave.
“Are you sure you can trust him,” the Masked Matterhorn asked. “I mean, why would you set him free. No pony would’ve blamed you if you just buried the box in a hole and forget about it.”
“Matterhorn, despite how much trouble Anar D caused, his powers can be used for good,” Saddle Rager explained. “If we want Anar D to trust us, we have to give him a reason to.”
“And that’s by giving him the box and setting him free,” Zapp asked.
“No,” Saddle Rager said. “That’s by becoming his friend.”
“Well, I trust your judgment,” the Masked Matterhorn said. “If you truly think he has reformed, we’ll give him a chance.”
“Well done, Power Ponies.”
The other three princesses have appeared while the thorn wall dematerialized.
“Princesses,” Radiance said.
“We have already entered the Sisterhood of Evil’s lair and apprehended the villainesses,” Princess Celestia said. “You not only have saved Equestria from destruction; you also changed Anar D’s heart to what it was before. He did have some friendship in his heart after all. All of Equestria is in your debt, Power Ponies.”
“Thank you,” the Masked Matterhorn said, “But if there’s any pony to thank, it’s Hum Drum.”
Hum Drum widened his eyes while all the other ponies gazed their eyes at him.
“Me,” Hum Drum asked.
“Hum Drum, without you, we wouldn’t be here,” the Masked Matterhorn said. “You believed in us even when we didn’t believe in each other nor ourselves. You may be a dragon, but you’re as much of a Power Pony as the rest of us. So… Thank you, Hum Drum.”
“Thank you, Hum Drum, Radiance said. She kissed Hum Drum on his cheek and he blushed.
“Thank you, Hum Drum,” Saddle Rager said.
Hum Drum looked all around and heard every pony in Maretropolis thank him. Then, everyone picked him up and raised him over their shoulders. They carried him and he finally felt important.
Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, and Princess Cadence watched everyone happy.
“It is official,” Princess Celestia said. “They are the new Heroes of Harmony.”
“But sister,” Princess Luna said, “What about the future? No doubt the battle today have attracted the attention of others from across the worlds.”
“I have no doubt,” Princess Celestia said. “But if they saw the battle, they also saw what our heroes are capable of. So now, the world where the Changelings came from know who the Power Ponies are; every world knows it.”
Suddenly, Anar D appeared out of nowhere right in front of the Power Ponies.
“Oh, before I leave,” Anar D said, “Can I make the first request I can make in 10,000 years?”
“NO,” the Masked Matterhorn shouted.
“What,” Anar D asked with a little grin. “I was merely going to ask for a teeny, tiny glass… of water.”