Right then mental checklist. Step one, save Twilight. Step two ask Shining and Twilight to help save Rarity and Applejack whilst I help Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie. Step three, Get everyone to sort Dash out whist I distract Discord. Yeah this plan will need be changed quickly but I'll make it up as I go along.
Shining then puts his hoof out in front of me and whispers “Careful there's Discord”
We both then stay still for a few second as we hear him laugh and say “It was so easy to mess with little Twilight's head just like her little friends. Not just that but the freak I pulled from that other world is gone. No one can stop me.” with that he disappears as me and shining continue across the road towards the library.
I then grunt and mutter “I really hate him right now”
Shining Armour just looks at me and says “he'll get his just desserts soon enough”
“Right we're here” we then look at the library and walk towards it. I then look towards shining and whisper “ready” to which he just nods his head. I then knock on the door and say “Twilight. Twilight are you there?”
We then hear her shout back “Go away!”
I then stare at shining and we both sigh I then turn back to the door and shout “Twilight, I'm not leaving till you listen to me.”
“I don't even know who you are! Leave me alone!”
I then look at Shining and say “You try”
To this he looks up and shouts “Twily it's me”
We then hear a voice say “Shining Armour?”
“Yes it's me Twily”
We then hear the noise of something rushing down around inside the house and the door quickly launches open as a gray blur smashes into Shining Armour.
I just look at Twilight and say “is my voice that hard to hear?”
her head then turns to me and shouts “what are you doing with that monster. Don't worry Shining Armour I'll protect you from it”
He then puts his hoof in front of her and says, “Twily he's not a monster nor has he harmed me. If anything he's a friend”
I then look at him and mutter “friend”
Twilight then glared at me and says “how is he a friend? He's a zombie or something. Discord killed him”
I then look at her and say “almost killed me if it weren't for Luna and Celestia I would have been dead”
“prove it”
I just look at her in confusion and ask “prove what?”
“prove your not dead”
“What would you have me do”
“perform the song that was on his laptop”
“what song?”
“it was called something along the lines of how you remind me”
“yeah I can do that. If I can do it will you believe that I'm me”
“only if you can perform the song”
“OK but can I perform it inside the library don't exactly want Discord knowing I'm around”
“fine but I still don't trust you are who you are saying you are yet”
As we walk into the library I place my hand over the symbol of the guitar and it changes back. I then hear a voice say “twilight who is it”
“Just my brother and someone pretending to be my dead friend”
“that's it I'll play the damn song and prove it to you” I then start to perform the song she ask for.
Once I finish the song and shout “good enough for you?”
she just stares at me and announces “I still think your a fake”
“Twilight your starting to annoy me with that. I'm me. Spike you know it's me right”
I then see him walk down the stairs and say “it looks like you but” then a green flame bursts from his mouth and a letter appears. Second later twilight catches it and begins to read it and then gasps and reads it aloud
“Dear Twilight Sparkle,
We are sure thy have seen thou's brother, and a creature that says it's name is Craig. Well we are writing to tell thee that it is Craig. We found him outside the labyrinth after what we believe to be a fight. When we found him he was injured and in great pain. We took him to our sister who healed his wounds and then she collapsed from exhaustion. We sent him and thou'sts brother to help stop Discord.
We hope thou the best of luck,
thous hopefully, Princess Luna”
She then looks at me as colour begins to reappear on her body and in her mane she then runs up to me and grabs me in a hug that could rival Pinkie and shouts “it's you! It's really you! Your alive”
I then cough and splutter out “Twilight, your crushing, my lungs”
“Oh sorry. It's just so good to see to again”
We then hear Shining Armour laugh then say “well it's good to know you seeing that Craig's alive turned you back to normal”
“That was what caused everyone to hate each other, the fact that we believed we let you die Craig.” Twilight Sighed
I then click my fingers and “that's it the final piece of the puzzle”
Twilight just stares at me and asks “what do you mean Craig?”
“I, understand how Discord got to you. He got to you through me”
Shining Armour then looks at me and asks “how does that work”
“he used their fear of losing a friend to break them down, then made them believe that they lost a friend. Well he believes they lost a friend. That's the one advantage we have. He thinks I'm dead, and won't look for me.”
“I guess that makes sense”
“Anyway Twilight we need to get everypony back to normal. Who do think we should help first?”
“I guess we somepony who is strong.”
“So we need Applejack?”
To this twilights smiles and says “Your words not mine”
“Lets go get her. But we need to be aware of Discord. He probably knows something's up” I proclaimed.
To this both Twilight and Shining Armour announce “lets go”
“You'll still need to act like I'm not around. Shining can you stick with her? You can say you heard that a friend was killed and came to comfort her.”
They both look at me and say “lets hope he still thinks your, gone.”
I just smile and nod then ask “you ready”
They both look at me and do the same then announce “yes”
“OK then I'll meet you at Sweet Apple Acres” I then nod and put two fingers to my forehead and teleport to Sweet Apple Acres.
-Seconds Later-
“well then, I'm here lets see if can find Applejack. She shouldn't be that far from the farm. Now where did I land” at this point I look around me and see the sign for Sweet Apple Acres right infront of me. “Lucky me. Must be better at using Instant Transmission than I thought” with that I slowly walk up the path.
Once I arrive at the farm I realise just how bad Discord had screwed with the whole apple family and my fist starts to clench and I punch the ground. I then hear a voice from just inside the barn shout “what in tarnation is going on out here!”
I then see Applejack walk out the barn and stop dead in her tracks and just stare at me and I shout “What's wrong you look like you've seen a ghost!”
“Craig is it really you”
“who else would it be?”
with this Applejack slowly walks towards me and says “the freak called Discord”
Seconds later my hands began to drop towards the hilt of my sword and clench around it as I Shout “never link me to that freak Applejack! For what he has done he will not be shown mercy by me!”
With that her mane and coat begin to return to there original colour she then looks at me and splutters out “it is ya Craig. Did I cause ya to get this mad? I'm sorry.”
I then begin to calm down as I realise what I am doing. I then release the hilt of the sword from my grasp and my hands start shaking uncontrollably and I full onto my knees and start muttering “What have I done” over and over until Applejack walks over me and puts her hooves over my shoulder and says “Ya didn't arm me Craig. Just scared me”
I then look at her and mutter “Thank god. I'd never forgive myself if I hurt you”
We then see the image of two ponies walking into the farm Applejack then shouts “Twilight over ere”
“Applejack ya back to normal.” She then looks at me and asks, “what happened to him?”
She then looks sheepishly at Twilight and says “I may have said the f word to 'im whilst under Discord's influence”
“that isn't good let's get into the barn and work out a plan”
I then mutter out “OK” with that I then stand up and we all make our way into the barn.
- second later -
“So do we ave a plan to elp the others?” asked Applejack
I just look up and says “I did. But I just don't want to continue alone anymore. I'm just to big of a threat to everypony to continue alone. Because of this the plan I had is now out of the question.”
Shining Armour then asked “So we need a new plan?”
I just smile and say “no. The plan will still work. It just needs some adjustments”
“What like Craig?” Twilight asked
“the plan initially consisted of me going to each Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie alone, whilst the rest of you helped Rarity. But with my temper being uncontrollable I think it may be better if we all moved as a group.” I declared
Shining Armour then looked at me and said “OK” and then asked “who we get next?”
“I guess we get Fluttershy next” Twilight replied. “she's likely to be at her cottage”
I then look up at them and say “I can get us there fast”
Shining Armour then looks at me and says “Craig no flying”
I just laugh and announce “weren't planning on it. My plan was to use the technique I use to teleport to take us there directly”
Twilight just looks at me and says “OK, I don't care how strange your powers are, there is no way you can use magic, and anyway how did you fly earlier when you battled Discord you have no wings.”
“Twilight I'll give you a full explanation of what I know after we sort this out. OK”
“OK to get from here to the cottage it will take a lot of bursts of magic.”
I then laugh and announce “One burst to take us all there”
Twilight's eyes then open wide and she asks me “One spell you've got to be joking”
“lets see shall we all of you place your hooves on any part of my body and we'll get going” seconds later they are all putting there hooves on my legs as I put two fingers on my forehead close my eyes and say “Don't let go” and then we disappear from the barn.
- Seconds later -
Once we reappear after teleporting Twilight lets of me and says “Said you couldn't do it”
I just laugh and tell her “turn around”
She just smiles and begins to turn around. Second later her smile falls and splutters out “how, did you do that”
“the power of anime Twilight. Don't question it. It has no logic whatsoever.”
“Anime?”
“I'll explain later. In fact I'll show you one later. OK”
“I guess that's OK”
“Right then lets save Fluttershy”
With that we turned around and walked towards her cottage
-1 Minute Later-
As we reach Fluttershy's cottage I announce “I will try to talk to her first see if it snaps her out of it”
With that, everybody looks at me and says “good luck”
I then nod my head and turn to towards the Cottage and shout “Fluttershy are you alright?” after a few seconds I had no answer. “Fluttershy are you there?”
we then here a faint noise as quite as a whisper squeak “go away” seconds later I hear a window break and an object come flying towards me which I quickly avoid. I then stop as I once again hear her wimpier and say “It's my fault. I should have stayed with Craig, not left him injured. It's my fault he's dead.” At this I slowly walk toward her cottage and then stop next to broken window and just hear her mutter “I should have stayed with him. I should have got help. Not entered the maze with the others”
“you care that much for me Fluttershy? What have I done to deserve do much kindness from you?” I ask from outside the building
I then hear a faint noise say “Craig? Is it really you?”
“yes Fluttershy it's me. Can I come in?”
“prove to me it's you”
“I'm beginning to sense a pattern here. Each of our friends has asked the same thing since I returned from Canterlot. What do you want me to play you a song?”
“yes”
To this I smile and announce “I know the perfect song Fluttershy. I can sing about something only me and you could know off. Your childhood.” I then reach for my guitar and announce “this is a song called Sight Unseen” second later I begin to play the song
Once the song had finished I see Fluttershy begin to walk out of her cottage and looks at me then runs up to and begins to hug me and says “it is you. I didn't kill you”
To this is I just smile and say “Fluttershy you could never kill me. Me and you are more alike than you'll ever know. The paths we walked through life are similar. We both had it rough, and we are both better for it.”
Second later everybody else walks up next to and twilight says “that's three of us back together.”
“Any idea who we should get next”
I then hear Twilight Say “ We're nearest to rarity's. We might as well get her next”
“you will need to do it without me. I don't think I know her well enough help.”
Applejack then looks at me and asks “But we thought ya knew everythin about us?”
“I'm afraid I don't know everything. I just remember some events”
“do you remember any way to help Rarity?” asked Twilight
“Yeah. You can try a counter spell. To be more accurate a memory spell.”
With that her eyes open wide and she says “That would give her back her memories. Why didn't you tell us to use this earlier”
“I was afraid that Discord would notice something was up and make things more difficult. If the cure was not based on magic, I believed he wouldn't have anything to track, and give us time to save everyone”
“I see. But we have no more time to be careful. The longer we wait for the more ponies Discord messes with.” Twilight replies
“I guess. OK then no more being careful time to work fast. Everyone to me. All of you but Fluttershy know the drill”
Then Fluttershy asks “What are you going to do Craig?”
“Place your hooves on my legs and you'll see”
Quickly she grabs hold of my legs and I repeat the normal procedure for Instant Transmission and we disappear.
-Second Later-
Second later we reappear just outside the boutique and everybody but Fluttershy lets go of me. I then look at Fluttershy who has her eyes closed and whisper to her “Fluttershy. We're safe, you can let go now.”
With this she slowly opens her eyes and whispers “what happened?” she then lets go of my leg and asks “Craig? are you alright”
“Yeah. Guess I can't teleport myself and four ponies easily” I then collapse onto my knees and mutter “God that takes it out of me. I need to rest, you girls go ahead and help Rarity.”
To this Fluttershy just looks at me and says “Craig I'm not leaving you a second time.” she then turns to everybody else and says “You girls go ahead I'm staying with Craig”
I then look at them and say “We'll be fine, go help Rarity”
To this Twilight looks at me and replies “OK. We will help Rarity then be back” with that the rest of the group heads towards the boutique.
Seconds later I look at Fluttershy and ask “why did you blame yourself for, me being injured Fluttershy?”
“I thought something had happened outside the labyrinth. Then when we came out and you weren't there I was worried. I thought somepony had found you dead and buried you”
To this I smile and say “no. Luna found me and took me to Celestia who healed my wounds. Luna was also the one who gave me this chest plate and she upgraded my sword.”
“What else can you do with it now?”
“I can create an Illusion of it being pitch black. When Luna asked me to test it, it made a lot of guards scream.”
“so you can make your enemy blind?”
“In a way I guess I can”
Seconds later we turn are heads as we see everybody walking back towards us including Rarity who instantly says “So you aren't dead”
I then just laugh then say to her “Nice to see you to Rarity”
“Good to know that you can take a lot of punishment darling. But don't do that to us again”
“I'll try my best Rarity. But I won't make any promises”
Seconds later Shining Armour says “OK everypony that leaves two of your friends to save. Who are we going for next?”
To this is just reply “Probably Pinkie. Rainbow Dash's location is unknown at the moment”
To this Twilight asks “what do you mean by Rainbow Dash's location is unknown at the moment?”
“I mean that I don't know how to find her without Pinkie's Hot air balloon, as she's likely to be flying or on a cloud, also you know how easily pinkie can find her”
“OK then one more teleport and we're at Pinkie's” announced Twilight
To this my eyes open wide as I say “No. Not a chance I'm teleporting whilst carrying another pony. Just carrying you lot did me in. Sorry but we're walking to Sugarcube Corner.”
To this Shining Armour says “you managed it before why not now?”
Seconds later Fluttershy says “You saw the state of him last time. How much worse do you think he will be carrying somepony else?”
“I'll be too drained to help against Discord. I'm not risking you falling a second time. I will be there standing by your sides”
To this Applejack smiles and says “An I'll be happy to be with ya”
Seconds later each of them says “we all are”
With that I smile and say “first time in years I've had a group of friends stand by my side, and say that want to be with me. Normally it was me against the world”
To this Twilight announces “Like we said yesterday what sort of fiends would be if we let you do that”
“Well it won't be all of us till we have Pinkie and Rainbow back”
To this Twilight replies “then lets save our friends”
With that we all made our way to Sugarcube Corner
-10 minutes later-
“So how we gonna 'elp Pinkie?” asked Applejack
“I'm going to talk to her”
“How are you going to help her?” asked Twilight's
“I think that she is feeling similar to how Fluttershy did. Think about it this way she had a new friend but before she could make me feel welcome in Ponyville she believed I was killed. That would be the final straw for her”
To this twilight then says “I guess you're right. Good luck”
I then walk towards the door and says “luck will have nothing to do with it”
Once I get inside I hear a voice say “welcome to Sugarcube Corner” however before I can say anything I hear a scream and then hear the same voice whimper “please don't hurt me”
I then put my hands up an say “calm down. I'm not here to hurt you”
Then she asked “Then what are you here for?”
“To help Pinkie. I know I look strange but I am not here to harm anypony. You must have guessed something's wrong with her?”
“I did but I didn't want to upset her”
“Mind if I go up to see her?”
With that she smiles and says “Please do she's in the second room on the right”
“Thank you Mrs Cake” I then bow to her and begin to walk up the stairs.
-Seconds later-
Once I reach Pinkie's room I knock on the door and shout “Pinks you in there?”
Then I hear her shout “Who are you? In fact I don't care. Just go away.”
“not a chance Pinkie. I'm not leaving without my favourite pony being back to normal”
she the asks “Who are you?”
“Pinkie my name is Craig.”
I wait a second and then see the door fly open as Pinkie grabs hold in me in and shouts “Craig it's you I thought you were dead or worse I so happy to see you again I should throw a thank Celestia your not dead party”
I then laugh and say “How about we both throw Discord a this is why you don't mess with the elements of harmony party” to this she looks at me and I put my hands up and say “yeah bad idea”
“Seriously of all the names you could have thought up you chose that”
“cut me some slack Pinkie I'm not you. I have to make thing up as I go. It's not like I an break the 4th wall whenever I want. Anyway lets go to everypony else just Rainbow Dash left to save”
To this pinkie looks at me and asks “Is Dashie still in a bad way”
“We don't know. We haven't seen her yet”
With that we both begin to walk down the stairs as we hear Mrs Cake ask “I see your better Pinkie.” she then looked at me and says “I guess I have you to thank for helping her”
I then clench my hand an place it on my chest then say “it was no problem. I would never abandon a friend”
She then asks “but how did you know my name?”
“Mrs Cake my name is Craig, I am from... well actually I am questioning that after something Discord told me. Anyway I know a bit about Equestria and the inhabitants of this town prior to my arrival yesterday.”
“So you were the strange creature we heard customers talking about?”
With this Pinkie says “yeperoonie you got it”
I then smile and look at Mrs Cake then ask “Do you mind if we have this conversation later. We need to stop Discord, to ensure that everypony is safe”
To this Mrs Cake says “no problem just keep Pinkie safe”
“No problem. With any luck she'll be the one looking after me”
With that we both walk out of the door and walk towards everypony else.
Seconds later Pinkie runs up to everybody else excluding me and Shining Armour and begins to then give each of them a hug. To this both me and Shining both smile till I hear a faint noise in the distance. I then ask “did any of you hear that?”
I then hear the voice again but even clearer I manage to hear the words “help me”
My eyes then open wide as I say “wait that's Scootaloo's voice”
To this all the girls turn to me and Twilight says “wait did you say Scootaloo?”
Second later we hear the voice again scream “Get away! Somepony! Anypony! Help me!”
With this my eyes open even wide and I say “girls help Rainbow I'll buy you some time”
with this I begin to run and then I see Shining Armour running next to me and say “You think I'd leave my teammate alone?”
“Not a chance. We will fight together”
To this he smiles and says “Wouldn't have it any other way”
“lets go we have a pony to save”
We that we both run towards the sound of Scootaloo's screams.