//------------------------------// // The Cutie Castle - Part 2 // Story: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic (Alternate Season Six) // by FlareGun45 //------------------------------// (Mane Six vector by S-Guri) When Spike frees Skyla from her imprisonment, Spike starts rocking her back to sleep. “Shhh, shhh. It’s ok, it’s ok, Skyla.” “Spike… do you have any idea what you just did?” Cadance asked. “You keep your newborn foal trapped inside a box. Do you have any idea how crazy that is?” Spike asked. “Spike!” Cadance said angrily. “Let me handle this, dear.” Shining suggested as he walked over to Spike. Spike continues to rock her as she falls back to sleep. “It’s ok, Skyla.” Spike whispered. “Uncle Spike is here. He is here to keep you happy.” “Spike, I hope you realize that Skyla needed that box to keep her and everypony else safe from magic surges.” Shining said. “And she’s ok. She’s not doing anything wrong.” Spike said. “Princess Cadance, Shining Armor?” Starlight asked. “I just wanted to say that this was my doing.” “Wait, Starlight?” Spike asked. “I asked him to take Skyla out of there because it doesn’t seem fair to her that you’d trap her in there like that.” Starlight said. “He couldn’t help himself. I told him how miserable she was in there” “Huh… I see.” Shining said. “I’m going to have to talk to Twilight about this, Starlight. Can you… just please give her to me?” “Oh… umm…” Spike thought. “No he’s not doing that.” Starlight said. “Excuse me?” Shining asked insultingly. “If you thought you had the right to keep your daughter locked up, and now you think you have the nerve to take her?” Starlight asked. “You are not good parents!” “Oh that’s right?” Shining asked angrily. “Yes! That’s right!” Starlight said to his face. “Shining? Starlight?” Cadance asked. “You think you have the right to tell me how to be a good parent?!” Shining asked in her face. “As I know of, you are NOT a parent!” “No, but I do know how it feels to be abandoned!” Starlight said. “Uhh, guys?” Spike asked as Skyla started to wake up. “I am NOT abandoning my daughter! I am keeping her safe from harm!” Shining yelled at her. “You telling Spike to let her out of there is a big mistake! Because of you, all of the Crystal Empire might be at stake! You have no idea how powerful alicorn magic is!” “Uhh, guys?” Spike asked again as Skyla began to tear up and moan on his arms. “Maybe I don’t, but at least I know how it feels to get tender, love, and care from parents! When my friend abandoned me, THEY WERE ALL I HAD!” Starlight yelled. “I think you two should really stop-“ Spike started, but got interrupted. “I waited all the time I was married to Cadance to finally start a family, AND YOU WILL NOT TAKE HER AWAY FROM ME!” Shining yelled as he grabs Skyla from Spike and then she starts to cry. When she cries, her eyes open revealing her glowing white abyss within them. As she started to cry, her magic began to kick in. Her magic shot at the ceiling and rubble started falling. Cadance used her magic to grab the falling rubble and push them aside. Shining started to panic. He began to rock Skyla and sing to her, but nothing worked, she was still crying, and her magic got even more powerful. “Cadance! I don’t know what to do!” Shining yelled. “Do you have a plan?!” “I have one plan.” Cadance said as she uses her magic to perform a spell on Skyla, and just like that, magical energy started getting absorbed into Cadance. After a few moments, Skyla’s magic stopped and electric statics were forming all around Cadance. Skyla suddenly got exhausted and fell asleep. “She stopped.” Shining said. “What did she do?” Starlight asked. “I… I…” Cadance said as she twitched. “I absorbed Skyla’s magical energy. I have all her magic now.” “Why did you do that?” Shining asked. “That’s very dangerous.” “It’s the only way to stop her now- now- now…” she twitched again. “This is not good.” Shining said. “Shining, I am so sorry about this!” Spike said. “I shouldn’ve let her out!” “It’s ok, bro.” Shining said to him. “Your heart’s in the right place, but if we tell you to do something, then you have to do it. We told you that Skyla was dangerous.” “I know, but… but…” Spike stuttered. Cadance continued to twitch hysterically. “Cadance is in bad shape.” Shining said. “I’m going to take her to her room to rest, and I guess I should take Skyla with me since we can’t seem to trust you two with her.” Spike and Starlight both looked down upsettingly. “Just stay in here until Twilight gets back.” Shining takes Skyla and Cadance out of the room and shuts the door behind him. “I can’t believe I just did that.” Spike said. “Don’t blame yourself, Spike.” Starlight said. “It was my fault to begin with. I just encouraged you to do it. When Shining Armor tells Twilight this, I’m prepared for anything.” “You’re not a bad pony, Starlight. I hope you know that.” Spike said to her. Back at Starswirl the Bearded’s castle catacombs, the Mane Six get comforted by a giant rock monster. The giant rock monster yawns as it awakes from it’s slumber. “Wh-wh-what is that, Twilight?” Fluttershy asked nervously. “It’s a rockdog!” Twilight said. “I’ve heard stories about them! They’re heartless, emotionless beasts that were made to guard!” “Who dares disturbs my slumber?” the rockdog asked. “Who should be the one to tell him?” Rarity whispered. “Let’s pretend we’re the pizza ponies delivering a large oat deluxe.” Pinkie whispered. “It is us – the Guardians of Friendship.” Twilight said. “We hold the Elements of Harmony within us, and we come for the secrets of alicorn magic.” “Hmm.” The rockdog observes the Mane Six. He then sniffs them. His snorts were so breezy that it made Rarity’s hair go up. “Please don’t go into his nose! Please don’t go into his nose! Please don’t go into his nose!” Rarity mumbled nervously to herself. He then gives the Mane Six a lick. “OW!” AppleJack yelled as she rubbed the skin burn on her cheek. “Those are definitely too solid to be dog kisses.” “Hmm.” The rockdog said. “You are indeed the Elements of Harmony. Except… the elements are not worn by you, but more within you. You hold the power of the rainbow. It is beyond anything my master has ever researched.” “And who might you be, pile of stones?” Rainbow asked angrily. “I… I am the guardian of the Bank of Starswirl the Bearded.” The rockdog said. “My name is Crunch. I protect Starswirl the Bearded’s secret ancient magics for all eternality; unless a pony has proven themselves worthy of borrowing them.” “Borrow?” Rainbow asked. “Yes… borrow.” Crunch said. “Everything that is owned by Starswirl the Bearded, stays owned by Starswirl the Bearded. But if you are in great need of the book you seek, then you must first pass a series of tests.” Twilight smiled and let out a squee, and Rainbow Dash frowned with a flop. “We can handle anything, Crunch! We’re ready!” Twilight said. “Very well then.” Crunch said. “Each of you will be individually completing a series of tests.” “And then we’re done?” Rainbow asked. “Oh you’ll see.” Crunch said as he opens the vault. “And what might these tests be exactly?” AppleJack asked. “You will find out when you see them.” Crunch said. “If all of you are what you claim to be, then you must prove it. In you go, but once you get in, the only way out is failure. If you quit… you will never have another chance. Good luck.” Crunch then falls apart into several smaller rocks and they roll through the vault before the Mane Six have a chance to get in there. Once all of the rock pieces roll into the vault, the cavern lights up. “Let’s do this girls!” Twilight said as she leads the group into the vault. After about a minute of walking, a red beam starts scanning the Mane Six from the sides of them. “What in tarnation is this contraption?” AppleJack asked. “Ooo pretty lights!” Pinkie said as she started poking her hooves through the scanning beams. When the scanner scans the other Mane Six after Pinkie, Pinkie began chasing the beam making ‘wah wah wah’ sounds. The beam then flashes green when it hits AppleJack’s cutie mark; and then it eventually disables. “Awww.” She whined. “What in blue blazes was that for?” AppleJack asked. “It’s a scanning process.” Crunch said as his rolling rocks come together, combine and reformed him in front of another vault door. “Welcome to the first test. In this test, the Element of Honesty known as AppleJack must complete this trial in order for all of you to advance to the next area.” “Is there any way we can help her?” Twilight asked. “She must complete this trial all on her own.” Crunch said. “No assistance whatsoever.” “Don’t worry, Twilight. Ah’ll be fine.” AppleJack insisted. “Ah’ve delt with many situations mahself. Ah can handle it. It shouldn’t be too hard.” “Ooooo, don’t jinx it!” Pinkie said nervously as she started biting her hoof-nails. AppleJack walks into the next chamber, but feels a little nervous, but she knows what she needs to do. The door shuts behind her which startles her a bit, and all there was is pitch darkness. “Uhh, hello?” AppleJack called out. “Anypony here? Helloooooo?!” Just then, a door appears right across from her. AppleJack walks over to it and opens it, and just like that, she ends up in the middle of the kitchen at Sweet Apple Acres. “Sweet Apple Acres? What the? What am ah doin’ here?” AppleJack began searching around the barn to see if she could find anything useful to answer her question. She walks into the living room, and there was still nopony around. “Uhh, Granny Smith?” AppleJack called out. “Big Mac? Apple Bloom? Anypony here?” She then walks upstairs and checks out the upstairs rooms. She walks into Apple Bloom’s room and looks around. “Apple Bloom? You in here, sugarcube?” She searches around the room to see if she could find anything. Nopony was in there, but she does find something on the bed. A journal. “Apple Bloom’s journal? Ah didn’t know she had one.” AppleJack takes the journal and starts reading it. “Dear journal, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and I went out for to help out other ponies in discovering their special talents. Unfortunately though, we got rained out and had to take shelter at Carousel Boutique.” Just then, thunder started rumbling outside. “What in tarnation?” AppleJack asked as she then continued reading. “Rarity was feeling very angry today saying that somepony stole all her glitter. We offered to help once the rain stopped. We searched all around town but couldn’t find it. We decided to turn in for the night and continue tomorrow.” AppleJack puts the book down and asks herself, “What is this about? When did this happen? Why would anypony steal Rarity’s- WHOA!” Just then, on Apple Bloom’s bed, there was a sack that just appeared out of nowhere. “That WASN’T there before!” AppleJack opens the sack and takes a look inside, and saw there was tons of glitter inside. “Apple Bloom?! Did you steal all this glitter?” AppleJack asked. She then put the book up again and continued reading it. “Dear journal, the crusaders and I continued looking for the glitter. There was still no trace of it, but a number of other things were stolen today. Fluttershy’s hair brush, Rainbow Dash’s signed photo of Spitfire, Spike’s collection of gems, and even all of Cheerilee’s pencils. My friends and I were stumped and couldn’t find any clues on where they were hidden. We had to call it a day. We’ll find out the source tomorrow.” AppleJack was getting more and more confused. “This is really gettin’ spooky. Ah don’t understand how- WAH!” AppleJack gets surprised to see that a hair brush has suddenly appeared on the bed. “Is that… Fluttershy’s hair brush? But… no! It can’t be! Apple Bloom’s no thief! She can’t be!” AppleJack then looks on the wall and sees a photo hanging on the wall. She reads it, “To Rainbow Dash, stay blazing. Spitfire.” And then AppleJack finds an open chest and sees a collection of gems inside. “WHOA! Ok this is gettin’ way out of hoof!” “But ah didn’t do it! Ah swear!” Apple Bloom cried from downstairs. “Apple Bloom!” AppleJack cried. She then runs downstairs and in the kitchen, Apple Bloom was getting interrogated by police officers. “The evidence is right here, filly.” The officer said holding up a baggy full of pencils. “You think you’d have the chance to get away with this? You may be a filly, but that is no reason to be a criminal.” “BUT AH AIN’T A CRIMINAL!” Apple Bloom cried. “AH DUNNO HOW THAT GOT THERE!” “Apple Bloom… why? Why would you do this to us?” Granny Smith asked hysterically. “You… you disgraced us all!” Big Mac sniffled and said, “Eeyup.” “But this was all a set-up!” Apple Bloom yelled. “Somepony put it all there! AppleJack! Help!” “AppleJack…” The officer puts down his sunglasses down to his nose and glares at AppleJack. “You are the Element of Honesty, are you not?” “Ah am.” AppleJack said. “I see you have Apple Bloom’s journal with you.” The officer saw. “Umm… yeah.” AppleJack said worriedly. “Perhaps you could tell us the truth.” The officer said. “Did Apple Bloom steal a bunch of valuable merchandise?” “Ah know mah little sister ain’t a criminal.” AppleJack said. “Right, Big Mac? Do ya agree?” Big Mac doesn’t say anything. “Big Mac?” “But does the evidence prove that?” the officer asked pointing to the journal. AppleJack looks down at the journal and reads the next page. It reads: “I continue to look for the missing items with my friends. I’m so glad that they don’t suspect anything. They have no clue that I’m the one that stole all that.” AppleJack gasps after she read it. “Well?” the officer asked. “You’re the Element of Honesty. Tell us the truth. The evidence is in this house. Somepony took them. Somepony here is going away for a long time.” “Yeah!” the other officer agreed. “Imprisonment! Or banishment! Or imprisonment where you get banished!” “Ok, settle down, Star.” The first officer instructed him. AppleJack looks at her family, and then she looks at her sister who was tearing up and begging AppleJack to help her. “If you don’t tell the truth, AppleJack… you won’t get what you want.” The officer said. AppleJack took a deep breath and said, “Ah did it.” “What?!” everypony yelled. “No! AppleJack!” Apple Bloom cried. “It was me. All me. Ah stole all that merchandise because we were incredibly in debt and ah needed to save the farm.” AppleJack said. “If yer goin’ to take me away for a long time, then so be it.” AppleJack picks up her hooves, waiting to get cuffed. “Ah’m ready to go.” “APPLEJACK!” Apple Bloom cried. “You’re a good filly, Apple Bloom.” AppleJack said upsettingly as she magically appears in a cage. “You’re a very good… filly…” Just then AppleJack suddenly wakes up back into the caverns. “AAAH!” she cried. “AppleJack?! AppleJack what’s wrong?” Twilight asked. “Yeah you sound like you saw a ghost.” Pinkie said as she lifts up her tail showing a sheet over it. “Ah… ah… what happened?” AppleJack asked. “Are you ready to begin your trial or what?” Rainbow asked. “We’re in a tight schedule.” Just then, the scanner beam appears again and it marks green on Rarity’s cutie mark. “Rarity – the Element of Generosity – it is your turn to take the trials.” Crunch said. “Say what now?” Rarity asked. “But AppleJack didn’t do hers yet!” “I’m in charge of the trials. So it’s either you go in, or you won’t get what you came here for.” Crunch informed her. “What’s it going to be, Rarity?” “Good luck in there.” AppleJack said to her. Rarity begins to nervously walk over to the open vault door, but she doesn’t go inside yet. “Ok what just happened?” AppleJack asked. “You passed the trial, AppleJack.” Crunch said. “But ah wasn’t honest! Ah lied to save Apple Bloom from imprisonment!” AppleJack said. “Uhh… what?” Rainbow asked. “Honesty works more than just being honest, AppleJack.” Crunch said. “Lying to save a loved one’s life can make a big difference.” “Ok, I never thought I’d say this, but my brain is really feeling not right, right now.” Pinkie said as she flops face first on the ground. “AAAH!” Rarity cried as she wakes up near the vault door. “What’s going on, Rarity? Are you going to go into the vault door or what?” Rainbow asked. “I WAS JUST IN THERE!” Rarity yelled. “And… how was it?” Fluttershy asked. “HOW WAS IT?!” Rarity yelled at her which made Fluttershy nervous. “HOW WAS IT?! I had to choose! I had all the gems in the world to complete my collection of dresses! I had to use them!” “Wait… Rarity, what’s the choice?” Twilight asked. “Well… Ponyville was starving.” Rarity said. “Everypony was homeless, starving, had no food. I had to do something. So I… I gave up all my gems to save everypony. I made all my customers from Canterlot disappointed. I sold them out!” “Yep! And she did that all by laying down on the ground!” Pinkie said. “Story of my life!” “Wait a minute.” Twilight thought. “The trials… they’re not real.” “Oh I saw what happened, Twilight! It seemed very real! Very real indeed!” Rarity said. “Well… they’re not.” Twilight said. “But we have to treat them like real life. Crunch is testing our skills out. In all the trials, we have to sacrifice one thing to save things that are more valuable, like Apple Bloom, or the entire Ponyville population, but that would also mean making other ponies unhappy.” “Well… you can’t make everypony happy.” Fluttershy said. “Yeah, sometimes you gotta fail other ponies for a greater cause.” AppleJack said. Just then, another scanning beam scanned the Mane Six and lit green on Pinkie Pie’s cutie mark. “Pinkie Pie – Element of Laughter – you are next.” Crunch said. “Okie dokie lokie!” Pinkie said excitedly. “Pinkie… good luck in there!” Twilight said. “Pffft! It’s Element of Laughter! How bad can it be?” Pinkie asked. “There are never any compromises for LAUGHTER!” Back at the crystal palace, while Shining was planning for the Crystal Faire at the desk while Cadance was lying on a sofa with Skyla laying next to her. Cadance tries to relax after absorbing all of Skyla’s magic, so she thought it would help her relax if she sung to Skyla. “Skyla, I promise, I will always love you till the end of time. You will bring peace and happiness across the Crystal Empire.” She muzzles Skyla’s head. “You will be amazing with your parents by your side, you will get everything your heart desires.” Shining walks over to his wife and child sings along with her. “Skyla… you may wonder how that name… comes to mind. The sky… it means you will bring the spirit of the crystal ponies… really high. Skyla… it also means you will bring love… for all you meet. You’re trustworthy… you will never be dishonest, or will cheat.” Shining and Cadance both hold hooves and both sing to Skyla, “Out of all the choices you make, we will always love you. Out of everything we do, we do the best things for you. Don’t you forget, we are always there for you. As long as the stars glow brightly in the skkkkkky… Skyla.” Meanwhile, during the instrumental solo, Pinkie enters her trial in the vault. The crowd at the comedy club chants for Pinkie and cheers out for her. At the dressing room in the back, the stage manager comes in and says to Pinkie, “Pinkie Pie, 2 minutes till you go on.” “Woo hoo!” Pinkie cheers. “This is going to be the best magic show ever!” “Comedy show.” The manager corrected her. “Comedy show!” Pinkie said right away. “I said it first.” “Well, you’re almost on.” The manager said. “This show is going to be make you rich and famous! You’re going to make all of Equestria laugh for all eternity! Good job cancelling out on your sister’s birthday for your own flame and glory and helping everypony else in Equestria smile! I’m so proud of you!” “Wait… my sister’s… birthday?” Pinkie asked. “You don’t need those lowlives that study… ROCKS! Worry about your own life and helping other ponies smile!” the manager said to her. “Oh… but… but… I gotta go.” Pinkie suddenly runs out of the dressing room and through backstage, passing the ponies that want an autograph from her, and passing the agent with a contract, and even passing the plate of jelly donuts. But she reversed back to the donuts and ate one because who wouldn’t miss out on jelly donuts? She then runs out the back door of the club and yells, “I NEVER miss a sister’s birthday party! NEVER!” As Pinkie started running through the streets of Manehattan, passing by all her fame and glory, Shining and Cadance continued to sing, “Family is the most important thing that’s ever made. The greatest gift of friendship that nopony can ever trade. Our love will never break it cannot be suede. As long as there are that stars that glow brightly in the skyyyyyy… Skyla.” That was when the Manehattan streets slowly merge with the rock farm, and Pinkie bursts through the door and meets up with her family who were sitting in the dining room, barely touching the still candle-lit rock cake. Pinkie cries out, “I am so sorry I am late! I wouldn’t give any of you up for all the smiles in Equestria!” Pinkie’s family smiles. “Just one question though… which one of my sister’s birthday is it?” Back at the crystal palace, Shining and Cadance conclude the song, “We will keep you safe in our arms… as long… as there are stars, that glow brightly… innnnn theeeeee skyyyyyyyyyy.” Then they both share a family hug and say, “Skyla.” As the song ends. Over by the door, Spike and Starlight were outside peeking their heads through, listening the whole time. Spike felt upset, but Starlight just smirked. “I don’t buy it.” Starlight said. “It’s probably pity-love.” “Pity-love?!” Spike asked surprisingly. “If what I just heard wasn’t love in general, then I don’t know what is!” “You think them confessing their love to their daughter like is going to make-up what they did to her, then you’re probably more gullible than I thought!” Starlight said. “I am not gullible… much!” Spike admitted. “I know I may not know much about love. I’m still learning about friendship myself, but I’ve known Shining Armor and Princess Cadance long enough to know that they are the symbols of love. I’ve seen it at their wedding, I’ve seen it when the Crystal Empire returned, I’ve seen it a number of times you wouldn’t even imagine. I know they love Skyla. We were wrong to accuse of them of not!” Starlight takes a deep sigh and says, “You’re right, Spike. You probably know a lot more friendship than I do. I’ve only had true friendship once in my entire life before Twilight came into the picture. I’ve made so many mistakes in my life, you wouldn’t understand.” “Oh I don’t?” Spike asked. “I got jealous of an owl, I let greed take control of me, I let my love for Rarity take the best of me, and I even let fame and control take the best of me. I’ve made so many mistakes you wouldn’t even imagine. But every single time I did them, I was forgiven, and Twilight forgave you too. You know why?” Spike places his claw on Starlight’s shoulder. “Because she cares.” “You really think so?” Starlight asked. “I know so.” Spike nodded. “Is that why you’ve been her assistant for her so long? Because she cares for you?” Starlight asked. “Well… yeah… I… I actually thought she needed me for her princess duties.” Spike said. “I mean, someone has to keep that pony sane.” “But have you ever wished you could be someone else?” Starlight asked. “Well I had these dreams of being Rarity’s prince rescuing her from some evil-“ Spike started, but Starlight interrupts him. “I meant your destiny.” Starlight said. “Did you ever have a choice? Have you ever wanted to do other things? Have you ever thought that there’s more to your life than just being an assistant?” “Well, I…” Spike pauses and he starts to think. “Huh… did I have a choice?” Meanwhile back at the catacombs, Fluttershy was just finishing up her challenge by angrily instructing a bully pony, “Now you listen here, mister! How would you feel if somepony said those things to you?! You wouldn’t feel good now would you?!” “Well… I…” the bully stuttered. “I want you to apologize to him… right… now!” Fluttershy ordered him. “Umm… sorry.” The bully said to the colt. “Like you mean it!” Fluttershy demanded. “Sorry I called your collection of dolls to be girly.” The bully said to him. “It’s no big deal. We all have our hobbies.” The colt said, and just like that, Fluttershy wakes up back into the caverns. “Wow, it makes sense.” Fluttershy said to her friends. “What happened?” Twilight asked. “I am the Element of Kindness, but I wasn’t being kind to the bully at all. I had to be aggressive to show kindness to the little colt.” Fluttershy said. “Wow! Sounds much easier than my trial!” Rainbow complained. “I mean you had it easy, Fluttershy. I had to choose between staying in the Wonderbolts and my friends. It wasn’t an easy answer that’s for sure.” “Yeah, but luckily you know better, Rainbow Dash.” Rarity said. “The old me would’ve joined the Wonderbolts in a heartbeat!” Rainbow said. “After I met you guys, it really brought back out the loyalty in me.” “Well, that’s all of us!” Pinkie said. “Not quite.” AppleJack corrected her. “Twilight hasn’t had her trial yet.” “With the Element of Magic… I don’t think it’s going to be easy.” Twilight said. Just then, Crunch’s rock pieces roll down to the next vault door and reformed Crunch again. “The Element of Magic trial is right through this vault.” Crunch said. “Only this time, it’s going to be a little different. This time – all of you are going in.” “Say what now?” Rainbow asked. “You mean we had to go in alone, but Twilight gets to have all of us?!” “Problem, Rainbow?” AppleJack teased. “NO! I can totally take care of myself! I just find this unfair is all.” Rainbow said. “Let me ask all of you a question.” Crunch started. “How can the Element of Magic be made without the other five elements?” “It’s truelio!” Pinkie said. “That’s right. When we first used the elements, the Element of Magic couldn’t be summoned without the other five elements.” Twilight explained. “That’s what binds us together.” “So it looks like we’re all goin’ in.” AppleJack said. “I guess so.” Twilight said. “Just don’t think it’ll be easy.” Crunch said as he breaks apart again and the rocks roll inside the vault. The Mane Six all follow inside and the vault doors close them behind them. “We better not be lying down outside once this is over.” Rarity hoped, just as a bunch of rocks appeared and started surround the Mane Six. Each of them tried to back away from them until they all covered their bodies leaving their heads to stick out. Twilight was the only one that the rocks haven’t covered. They all struggled to get out but the rocks barely budged. “This really doesn’t look good for my image!” Rainbow said. “Trapped under a pile of rocks!” “Don’t worry, Dashie. I’ll call in an expert to help us!” Pinkie offered. “Maaaaaud! Maaaaaaaud!” “Speak louder, Pinkie. I don’t think they heard you back at your farm.” Rainbow suggested sarcastically. “Good idea – MAAAAAAUD!” Pinkie shouted, which made Rainbow cringe. “Welcome to the final trial, Twilight Sparkle.” Crunch said. “What have you done with my friends, Crunch?” Twilight asked angrily. “Incapacitated, but that’s not important.” Crunch said. “In order to free them, you have to make a choice.” “And what might that choice be?” Twilight asked. “You must choose which one to set free.” Crunch said. Twilight suddenly gasps. “What do you mean I have to choose which one to set free?” “I mean you can only choose one of your friends to come with you to join you in your task.” Crunch said. “Everypony else must stay here… forever.” The Mane Six all gasp. “Forever?!” Pinkie yelled. “That’s only a day more than forever minis one!” “Twilight, whatever you do… you have to choose wisely!” Rainbow said. “And quite frankly… anypony else but me is fine.” “No! Rainbow has a future! Leave me be instead.” Rarity insisted dramatically. “With me gone, my name shall live on as my boutiques shall be more popular when their owner goes down in history, and goes out a hero!” “Wow, Rarity, that’s deep.” AppleJack said. “Oh thank you! I was saving it for a future play I was one day going to act in!” Rarity said. “No! Neither one of them! I should be the one to stay behind!” Fluttershy insisted. “You Fluttershy? Please! You wouldn’t last! You should definitely take her, Twilight.” Rainbow insisted. “Honestly, Rainbow Dash! Is that any way to talk to her? And why choose her over me?” Rarity asked. “You wanted to stay, and I was like… meh.” Rainbow shrugged. “I don’t care who you pick, Twilight!” Pinkie insisted. “Maud will be here any minute and save us all!” “Now hang on, this is Twilight’s choice. Let us not provoke her.” AppleJack informed them. “Oh now you’re going to make us all look bad and she might pick you, AppleJack?” Rainbow asked angrily. “Ah want Twilight to pick who she should pick without us blabberin’ about it, RAINBOW DASH!” AppleJack said angrily. “ENOUGH!” Twilight yelled. “If I’m going to pick, I need absolute concentration! I need to think!” So everypony stayed quiet as Twilight began to think about who she should save. It was the hardest decision Twilight has ever made. She has to choose one friend out of all the rest. “C’mon, Twilight! You done this before! Think of the gala ticket!” Pinkie reminded her. “Pinkie! Shush!” Rainbow instructed her. “The gala ticket…” Twilight whispered to herself, and then her brain hatched an idea. “I have made my decision, Crunch.” “I am listening.” Crunch said. “I choose…” Twilight started as all of Twilight’s friends paid attention dramatically, and just then, Twilight gives her answer, “Nopony.” “Huh?!” all of Twilight’s friends asked surprisingly. “Nopony?” Crunch asked. “You mean you wish to go on alone without your friends?” “Nope. Not me either.” Twilight said. “If one of us stays inside these catacombs forever, all of us stay in here forever.” Twilight looks back at her friends and they all smile. “Together. We are friends forever, no matter the cost; and even though my brother and sister-in-law have to figure out teaching Skyla to control her magic themselves, it’s price I have to pay to make sure my friends are safe.” “Oh Twilight, you didn’t need to do that.” Fluttershy said. “I had to. How would I be able to live my life knowing that I abandoned my friends?” Twilight asked. “I wouldn’t be able to survive that’s for sure!” Pinkie said. “I’d never be happy again!” “Me neither!” Fluttershy agreed. “Well done, Twilight Sparkle.” Crunch said. “You have passed the final trial. You six truly are the Elements of Harmony. You are free to enter the vault and take what you need.” Crunch frees the rest of the Mane Six from the clutches of his rocks and everypony cheers. “I just hope you brought the key with you.” Just then, everypony stopped cheering. “What key?” Twilight asked. “You never mentioned anythin’ about a key, Crunch.” AppleJack reminded him. “Nopony can enter the vault without the two-halves the key.” Crunch said. “The… two-halves… of the key?!” Twilight panicked. “Well where is it?!” “Back in the lounge area in the castle.” Crunch said. “May we go get it?” Twilight asked. “But then you’d forfeit the trial and can never return.” Crunch said. “WHAT?!” the Mane Six all yelled. “Master’s orders. I’m sorry.” Crunch said. “You mean… we came all this way… FOR NOTHING?!” Twilight yelled. “Think of it like this: our friends are stronger, isn’t it?” Rarity asked. Twilight started to tear up. “All this way… all of that… all for nothing! How will Skyla be controlled?! She’s going to stay in that bubble forever, all because of a dumb key.” All of Twilight’s friends walked over to her to comfort her. “Two-halves of a key.” Crunch reminded her. “You’re really not helping, boulder brains!” Rainbow informed him. “Well… at least I have my souvenirs!” Pinkie said as she takes out the two book markers from upstairs. “Two book markers?” AppleJack asked. “Ahh, so you have brought the key with you!” Crunch understood. “Well done, Pinkie Pie!” “Wait, what?” Twilight asked as she wipes her eyes and looks at the book markers. She then uses her magic to grab the book markers out of Pinkie’s hooves. “HEY!” Pinkie yelled. Twilight then carefully collides the two book markers together, and just like that, they get attached together. “Got it!” Twilight said excitedly. She then runs over to the vault and inserts the key into the slot, and just like that, the wheel on the vault begins to turn, all the locks get disengaged, and the vault door opens. “Whoooa!” the Mane Six all wooed at all of the books that were inside the vault. It was like another whole library. “We did it, girls!” AppleJack said. “Yeah we sure did!” Rainbow agreed. “Starswirl the Bearded has so many secrets!” Twilight said shockingly as her eyes grew wide. “Well, every great unicorn has their secrets, Twilight.” Rarity said. “I have to come back here again! There is so much about Starswirl the Bearded that I need to learn!” Twilight said. “Let’s stay focused on the task at hoof, sugarcube. We can focus on secrets later.” AppleJack reminded her. Twilight snaps herself out of it and agrees. “You’re right. Let’s find what we’re looking for and get back to the Crystal Empire.” Back at the palace, Skyla was whimpering and grunting on Cadance’s hooves. “Shining, Skyla’s feeling very ill right now.” “What?!” Shining gasped. “Why?” “It’s her magic. Magic in a pony keeps them healthy.” Cadance said. “I took her magic, and now she’s feeling very sick.” “Well we can’t just give her the magic back, can we?” Shining asked. “She’ll be unstable again.” “But it is the right thing to do.” Starlight said as she and Spike walk into the room. “Oh not this again!” Shining rolled his eyes. “How about you mind your own business and let us worry about ours, ok?” “If the box thing wasn’t bad, taking your child’s magic away definitely is.” Starlight said. “It’s like taking candy from a baby!” “Or in this case, taking magic from a baby.” Spike said. “Starlight, I won’t allow you to-“ Shining started, but gets interrupted by Cadance. “No… she’s right.” She said. “We took something very valuable away from our foal, and we kept her imprisoned in a box. What kind of parents are we, Shining?” “But… Skyla’s magic!” Shining reminded her. “And we-we-we-we’re ready fo-for…” Cadance twitched, but before she could finish, Shining places her hoof on Cadance’s shoulder and then nods in agreement. Cadance activates her magic and the extra magic that should took from Skyla gets absorbed back into Skyla. Once that was done, Skyla began to float; not by her wings, but by her magic. Cadance collapses on the floor from exhaustion and Shining catches her. All four of them look up and watched as Skyla’s magic activates. When her eyes open to reveal her abyss eyes her magic started going out of control. “This is not good!” Shining said worriedly. “Skyla… no matter what you do… we will always… love you!” Cadance cried out as she started to get teary eyed. Just then, Skyla’s magic starts to slow down becoming less aggressive. “Wait, she’s starting to calm down!” “That’s because she needed you this whole time!” Starlight said. “The key to controlling her magic is love and trust, and you haven’t been trusting her enough!” “Exactly!” Spike agreed. “When I took Skyla out of her box and showed her affection, she was calm. If you want her to be calm, you have show her that you really trust her, and love her. Not just by saying the words, but just doing it!” Shining and Cadance both looked at eachother and then they looked up at Skyla and smiled at her. “Skyla…” Shining and Cadance both looked at eachother, and then they both sang, “Skyla, I promise, I will always love you till the end of time. You will bring peace and happiness across the Crystal Empire. No matter what choices you make, we will always appreciate you. As long as the stars glow brightly in the skyyyyy…” Skyla’s magic rage eventually died down and she started to slowly float back down to her parents. “As long… as the stars… glow brightly… innnn theeeee skyyyyyyyyyyy.” Skyla lands on her parents’ hooves, and the family gives her a hug. Spike and Starlight smile, then they look at eachother and knew they were successful. “Spike… Starlight… you both really inspired us today.” Cadance said. “Yeah.” Shining agreed. “You may not be parents like us, but… you both do know what a young pony really wants.” “We were wrong to accuse you. You were right.” Cadance said. “Wow!” Spike said impressively. “For once I did right!” “Hey this is the first time I’ve done right!” Starlight said. “I guess it’s not every day that you make mistakes.” “You got that right, Starlight!” Spike agreed. After a little while later, the Mane Six have returned to the crystal palace with the book. They opened the doors into the room Skyla was in and Twilight calls out, “Shining! Cadance! We’re back! We got the book!” “Shhhh!” Shining, Cadance, Spike, and Starlight all shushed her as they were hanging over Skyla’s crib, watching her sleep. The Mane Six realized what’s happened, so they all walked over to the crib to see what was happening, and they all saw Skyla fast asleep in her crib. “What’s going on?” Rainbow whispered. “Yeah, why isn’t Skyla in her box?” AppleJack whispered. “If she’s not using it anymore, can I have it?” Pinkie whispered. “It was wrong of us to put, Skyla in the box.” Cadance said. “We should’ve trusted her more. Spike and Starlight Glimmer here helped us see that.” “Really now?” Twilight asked with a smile as she looked at them. “Aww shucks!” Spike blushed. “We learned it all from you, Twilight!” Starlight said. Just then, all of the Mane Six’s cutie marks began to glow. “Woo we! Job well done!” AppleJack cheered. “Well… you won’t believe of the friendship adventure I have to tell you!” Twilight said to Spike and Starlight. “Well, that’s funny, Twilight, because I have one to tell you too!” Starlight said. “Oh yeah?” Twilight asked as she gave her a smirk. “Bet it doesn’t beat mine.” They both laughed. “You know what, Twilight? I think being your student might’ve been a great choice after all!” Starlight admitted. “That’s good to hear!” Twilight said as she walked over to Skyla’s crib. “May I?” Shining and Cadance both nodded. Twilight then excitedly picks Skyla up with her magic and places her on her arms. “Hi, Skyla! It’s me, your Auntie Twilight! If you ever need a foalsitter, come to me! I’ll give you the best time of your life, as your mother once gave me.” Cadance smiled at her comment. Just then, Skyla’s eyes open for the first time, without the white abyss, showing her sapphire blue eyes. Twilight starts to get tears of joy upon seeing them. “Well… all’s well that ends well, huh Spike?” Starlight asked him. “Mmhm.” Spike agreed. “Are you ok, Spike?” Starlight asked. “You sound a little down.” “Well… I was thinking of what you said, about me having a choice of what my destiny should be.” Spike said. “What about it?” Starlight asked. “And I think you’re right.” Spike said. “Maybe being Twilight’s assistant isn’t supposed to be my destiny, and I’m going to look for it.” “Good luck with that.” Starlight said. “You need any help?” “I think this is something I should do on my own.” Spike said. “But… if you could help by not telling anypony this… I don’t want Twilight or the others to worry about me. Can you keep a secret?” Starlight smiles and nods. Just then, Skyla starts to cry. “Oh no!” Cadance cried. As Skyla began to cry, her magic began to surge again, but then Fluttershy immediately starts to sing the tune she heard at the castle, and just like that, Skyla returns right to sleep. “Wow! That was beautiful, Fluttershy! You need to teach us that one! It may come in handy!” Fluttershy giggled and blushed at her comment as Shining, Cadance, Twilight, and Skyla all shared a hug.