1
5 YEARS LATER
"Pinkie, these cupcakes are finished!" yelled Sugar Sprinkles from the back of the shop.
"Okay. They're right on time! The customer has just arrived to pick them up!" said Pinkie Pie cheerfully.
Pinkie Pie grabbed the cupcakes off the counter and took them towards the customer. "That'll be 7 bits, ma'am."
A mare held out 7 bits and left with her cupcake. "Ah, another satisfied customer." said Pinkie.
Sugar's life had changed -- a lot. During the past five years, she became a normal pony again, living a normal life. She pretty much forgot about her past, and wasn't planning on going back to it. Occasionally, she would see articles in the newspaper about the shard of metal that was found in the Everfree Forest. Many ponies were trying to reverse engineer the metal to create armor out of it.
Any attempts at it had failed, for now. Scientists could not re-create the biometal in a lab.
But another thing was always passively bugging her. She knew that many ponies saw her as she took Rough Spirit out of the jail. They knew who she was, and what she turned into. Twilight's spell had done wonders for her, and without it, Sugar may be dead or held up in unbreakable shackles by the princess.
And Sugar remembered Princess Celestia announcing to Equestria that she would find that being and bring her to justice.
But, that was all in Sugar Sprinkle's past, and she was focused on her future, on settling down and starting a family.
Apparently her past had a different idea, because the present would shape her future.
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Sugar looked at the television in the kitchen at Sugarcube Corner. Crime reports for that night were the same. Another robbery in Canterlot, another kidnapping in Ponyville, more people being held hostage in Saddle Arabia.
Crimes rates were higher than every in Equestria. "Why can't those ponies just learn to love?" asked Pinkie, watching the television as well.
"Because they weren't loved in the first place" Sugar Sprinkles said.
Sugar looked away and stared at the ground in front of her hooves. "I wish I could do something to stop this." Sugar thought.
She was always willing to help people ever since she changed into her new form. Sugar knew that.
But what if she could help people in a different form?
Sugar's eyes widened as she looked up from the ground. "Pinkie, I'll be right back," Sugar lied.
"Okey dokey lokey!" said Pinkie, waving as Sugar went out of of the front door.
Sugar knocked on Twilight Sparkle's door. It was answered by a violet alicorn. Sugar remembered that Twilight had been "upgraded" by Princess Celestia.
"Hey Sk-Sugar Sprinkles. Haven't seen you in a while. Come in!" Twilight said.
Applejack was in Twilight's library when Sugar walked in. "Applejack, have you met Sugar Sprinkles yet?" asked Twilight.
"I'm afraid not. How d'ya do, missy?" said Applejack, firmly shaking Sugar's hoof.
"Hold up," Twilight said to Sugar, engaging in a conversation with Applejack. "So, you need a book to categorize your new apples?" she asked as Applejack nodded.
Sugar was getting anxious. "Twilight!" she burst out.
"In a bit Sugar." said Twilight.
"No, Twilight, you don't understand. It's time." said Sugar.
"Time? Time for what?" asked Twilight, confused.
"No, Twilight. It's Time." said Sugar sternly.
Twilight had a happy look on her face for a second, but then it slowly turned to worry and her eyes widened as she realized what Sugar meant. "Uhhh...Applejack, you have to leave."
"But you didn't even find my book!" Applejack retorted.
"Applejack, you really need to leave." said Twilight.
"The new apple season is almost here. I need that book now."
Twilight thought for a second. "Can you at least go upstairs?"
"Sure, as long as I get my book" Applejack said, as her hooves made the stairs creek as she walked up them.
Twilight made sure Applejack was upstairs and began in a whisper. "Why do you want to do this, Sugar? I thought it was just for emergency reasons?"
"It's sort of an emergency," Sugar began in a low voice, "but I want to change back. Crime has been too high in Equestria, and I want to see if my mutant powers can help."
They heard a shout from upstairs, "Are you two done yet?"
"Wait a minute!" shouted Twilight, then moving back down to a whisper, "You can't show your face, you gave yourself a bad name when you broke out of that prison. Princess Celestia has had teams searching for you for the past five years."
"I'll have to convince them somehow. Just change me back." said Sugar.
Applejack shouted again, "Twilight!"
"Hold your horses, Applejack!" Twilight shouted again.
"Sugar, Applejack will find out if I change you here."
"Everypony will find out sometime. Just do it. Do it now!"
"Okay." said Twilight, stepping back. "You ready?"
"Ready."
Twilight's horn began to glow, and Applejack came down the stairs. "That's it I've waited long enough, what are you two-"
She stopped on the middle of the staircase as Twilight's horn was sending a beam to Sugar's body. Every inch of Sugar turned a glowing purple as she morphed. The purple faded away, and a white and orange-maned pony stood in front of Twilight and Applejack.
Applejack launched herself between Twilight and Skyfire. "It's that pony that turns to metal! Don't worry, I'll protect you Twilight!"
Skyfire and Twilight giggled. "Oh, Applejack! This is Skyfire. She presents no harm."
"But...she killed that man from the jail!" Applejack exclaimed.
"She's changed since then. I had her disguised as a normal pony to let her be normal, but she wanted to change back." Twilight explained.
"What Twilight said is true. I now want to help fight alongside Equestrians to end crime." Skyfire said.
"A crime-fighting pony? Well, okay. But try explaining that to the Princess." Applejack said.
"It's going to be tough, but I have a plan." said Skyfire.