Someone's still going to get hurt, and since you want it that way, it may as well be me.

Raven walked through the streets of Horn Kong, a look of admiration and annoyance on her features. The admiration came from how she saw the town was being run. Though the town had been turned from a city of fun and games into a slave-run munitions center, the ponies seemed to been living lives as close to normal as possible. Though they did look upon her with fear for retribution if she was angered, they did carry on their daily lives. She saw ponies working on weapons and making armor, while some were allowed to take breaks, "I wonder if these slaves have to worry about being raped like the ones back at HQ?"

This admiration was tinged with the aggravation of her mission. The stallion that she had come to see, Titan. As she stepped towards the large pagoda at the edge of the city, she clenched her fists in anger, "Sure Conquest, sir, I'll go and check up on the lazy idiot and see what's he up to. It's not like I have anything better to do. And would it kill him to come in the base once in awhile" she growled , punching her fist into her palm. Out of all of the high generals, it was Titan that was allowed to do as he pleased. He was given his own base, his own forces, and his own slaves to work for him. The only thing he needed to do was come to the meetings once a month.

Looking up at the base, she growled, "Why did he miss this month anyway? What is he up to?" she asked aloud. There was a part of her that did not trust the stallion, every move he made just gave her a bad vibe. Looking back at the gates of the pagoda, she saw two burly Unicornicopians before her.

"Halt, what brings you here?" asked a Unicornicopian as he pointed a lance at Raven.

Ravn calmly pushed the spear away, "General Raven, here to see General Titan."

"It is all right, she is allowed to come here," Titan said, brushing his black hand aside, making the two soldiers to stand down, "You can stand down, Strong Bad and Strong Sad."

Raven rolled her eyes, "Unicornicopian names are weird."

"You are one to talk," Titan said, his red eyes narrowing. "But tell me, what do I owe the honor of your visit?"

"Conquest wanted me to check up on you. You weren't at the strategy meeting last night and he wanted all of the top generals there. And that includes you!"

"My apologies, I was busy with my own plans and my own general. Have you met her?" Titan asked. "Come, let us talk as we walk through my little town."

"Yeah, that Magus chick. I saw her when I came in, she was busy performing some form of spell," Raven said, as she followed with the cloaked stallion. As she looked around the town while they walked the streets, she sighed, "I'm impressed, you know. The way you run this town, it's like they don't know they are enslaved."

"I prefer to think of it as keeping order," Titans said, looking around his town with his red eyes. "As long as they obey me, follow my rules, they know that they are free to live their lives in peace. In a way, it is a better life inside here than outside there."

Raven put her hands behind her head as she gave her bat wings a little flap, "So, what is the mage doing with that spell anyway?"

"Her special power that I gave her is location magic. I am having her divinate something for me. In return, I am giving her a chance to find her lover," Titan said.

"Yeah, at the cost of her memories," Raven frowned, turning her head to watch a couple walk through the streets and sighing.

"Is there a problem?" Titan asked, raising an eyebrow.

Raven crossed her arms and then glared at Titan, "Yeah, I don't like the idea of people messing with memories, it kind of pisses me off. For some of us, memories are all we have. It's all I got left, it's the only thing that is feeding my hatred of Celestia."

"Ah yes, your little rage and hatred against Celestia," Titan said with a raised finger, then he placed his hands behind his back and began to walk ahead, "I assure you, this is nothing that she did not want. I only took her memories to help her become a better mage."

"You sound like Grand Ruler, messing with people's heads just to get what you want," Raven paused when she saw that Titan looked at her confused, "What, it's the talk of the base since Dementia had her talk with Starla. A lot of the Unicornicopians have been talking, trying to find out what else is BS about their lives."

Titan smirked underneath his hood, "I am nothing like my old enemy, of this I can assure you. I only take memories as... payment for my services. Ponies come to me, needing a great wrong to be righted or avenged or a desire to be granted or simply made possible and I help them. For a price, I grant them powers that they can only dream of. Grand Ruler, on the other hand," in rage, Titan then clenched his hands into fists, "Takes the ponies and forces the change upon them, destroying their minds just to fit his vision of the world."

"Yeah, and it's ticking off the Unicornicopians something fierce. Hell, it's scaring some of them," Raven scoffed.

"And you are not afraid?" Titan asked.

Raven leaned against the wall of a building, her arms crossed in front of her chest, "Not in a million years. I know my memories, I know who I am. My memories of my husband are the reason why I fight anymore. It's my only drive."

"And I have done nothing to take that drive away from Hope," Titan said, walking to the side of a street and watching the slaves passing by, "I believe that memories are just a small part of who we are. Emotions, bonds, and the ones that we love from that little part of us that we call a heart. I believe, deep down, that the bonds we have made bind us eternally. That in the end, our hearts will lead us back to the ones we love the most in this world or the next."

Raven uncrossed her arms and began to ask, "Hey, did you do the same to your-" but Titan interruped her by pointing to a nearby stallion.

"Take that stallion," Titan said, pointing to an eggshell white stallion with a green cutie mark, "His wife had been taken from him two years ago. Yet, he still searches for her. Some might say it is a fool's errand, but he still thinks he will find her."

"What do I care about a stallion, GAH!" Raven shrieked as she pulled back and held her head in her hands, images flashing by.

Raven sat on a picnic blanket, looking at her husband. She smiles and laughs with him, the sun beaming on the two of them. Her laughter stops when an unicornicopian in a cloak grabs her and takes her through a portal. She then finds herself in a cell with five other ponies, and a stallion with a golden horn walking by them, his cape dancing as he walks.

Raven turned her icy blue eyes up to look into Titan's red, "What did you do to me!"

"Nothing my dear," Titan said, holding his hand up in defense. "I only showed you a young stallion on a quest for a loved one. Any images or feelings that you associate with him are purely your own. Perhaps if you took it up with our master."

"Believe me, I will," Raven growled as she teleported in a haze of brimstone and smoke.

Watching the stallion walk by, Titan moved to his side, "Berry Blast, tell me, will you still refuse my offer? If you give me what I want, I could help you find your wife."

"No, sir, I don't want your deals. I want to stay who I am," the earth pony said, his voice filled with determination, walking away as he looked at a picture of a bat-pony.

Titan smiled, "As you wish... as you you wish."

---

In a flash of black magic, the portal opened itself wide enough to allow Raven to step in. With a snarl, she began to storm her way through the courtyard and to the base. The soldiers who saw her pass by all wisely jumped out of the way from her rage, letting her through and into the base proper. After traveling the floors to the top of the base, she slammed the doors open, "Conquest! We need to talk."

The alicorn slowly stood up from his desk at the end of the large room. The room that served as both his headquarters and bed chamber covered the width of the top of the building, with some chairs arranged at the side for meetings and when he needed to have his generals over. Stretching his black wings, he walked towards the grey unicorn, "Problems, Rae? Look if it's about the lack of killing lately, I have a plan for a siege on the Crystal Empire that I think you would love. That, or you could attack-"

Raven growled and swiped her hand at the air in a dismissive manner, "I'm not here about killings. I am here because I have questions about my memories."

"Ooooh, memories, now doesn't that sound like fun. Pull up a chair and tell me all about it," Conquet said, sliding over a chair for Raven to sit in.. As she sat down, she began to explain the day's events to Conquest. Putting a finger to his chin, he shook his head, making his red mane shake, "I am sorry to tell you this, but I have no idea about it. I don't mess with memoires, unless it's to tick you off or to torture you. But, I can tell you this... When it comes to this wonderful little hell hole, don't believe anything that has three horns."

Raven growled and punched the wall of the room, "Damn, I was hoping to find some answers. Why did I see that image, and if those are my memories, does that mean my memories are fake? If so, then what do I fight for now?"

"Simple," Conquest said, tucking Raven's chin and smiling, "You live for killing Starfleet, rip the answers out of the heads of those infuriating little monsters and then dance on their still screaming corpses. Or, my personal favorite, rip out vital parts of their anatomy, hang them with it, and cast a spell that will keep them alive through the excruciating pain."

"You are sick, but you are a fun kind of sick," Raven said, giving Conquest a fist bump.

Happily, he returned it and began to walk to the desk, "Now, if you'll excuse me, my best friend is getting a new soldier for me and I want to be ready."

"Anyone I know?" Raven asked as she walked to the door.

"That will be a surprise," Conquest said, smiling.

---

Grand Ruler walked in front of the blue Unicornicopian, frowning as he took his seat, "Give me your report."

The way that Grand Ruler gave out this order, which was emphasized with the coldness in his eyes, made the Unicornicopian shudder and tremble in fear, "Well, on the war front, it seems that the Equestrians have been winning more and more battles for us since they were knighted. W-while the victories are still in Conquest's favor, which is to be suspected as it seems that his numbers grow while ours shrink, the Knights have been making it harder for him to win consecutive victories."

"I do not care about the wins of a bunch of inferior creatures that keep getting lucky. I care more about Starfleet, and how our Unicornicopians are bringing us the necessary victories to scare Dark Conquest into submission,:" Grand Ruler said, resting one hand over his knees while placing a finger to his mouth.

"Well, that's just it... sire. None of the past victories have been taken by Starfleet, it is always with the bearer's help and especially when they take command of the battlefield," the stallion said, shaking nervously. "Rainbow Dash's squadron are particularly effective in winning air superiority. Applejack, in comparison, seems to be keeping the team together quite nicely on the ground. As a matter of fact, it seems that when those five take the field, our civilians get enough to courage to fight back. The same goes for our guards, they seem to get stronger.'

His brow furrowed in rage as he began to growl lowly, his eyes narrowing, "Those mares are becoming quite the pain, aren't they? I'll have to fix this soon."

The stallion gulped, 'Sir, there is more."

"More?" Grand Ruler asked, placing his hands on the arms of his chair and slowly scratching the arm rest.

""Sir, we are in the red," taking the inquirious look on his face as a symbol to continue, the Unicornicopian continued his explanation. "With so much money being poured into our war budget, we are having problems keeping up with the cost of materials like steel and wood. Add onto this and the programs that you have to help the poor and destitute, we're stretching our budget thin.. We will need to raise taxes."

Grand Ruler shook his head, "No, we do not. I refuse to ruin United Equestria's image as a paradise by raising taxes and making life hard for my people"

"But sir-"

Grand Ruler continued, interrupting the stallion, "So, instead, we will cut libraries and museums, we do not need them. What's more, cut the school budget and tell them that they are only to teach History and English from now on. But not that foolish Equestrian history or its literature, but ours."

"But sir, why?" asked the stallion.

Grand Ruler leaned back in his chair and held out his open palms, shrugging in confidence, "Because, Equestrian literature teaches the ponies about friendship overcoming hardships and their history teaches much the same. The foals then begin to think that they can change the world for the better or become something that they are not. This will distract them from becoming good Unicornicopans and soldiers."

""They can't sir, this would break them!" the stallion said, not seeing the two guards coming towards him.

"Furthermore, I despise the way you have been giving me my news as of late. Filling me with lies and expecting me to believe them. Guards, take him away to the reeducation center and fix him," Grand Ruler said. Before the stallion could say a word, the guards grabbed his arms and began to drag him away, "Oh, and you have a son, correct? One who is lame and blind? Men, find the child and send him to one of our hospitals to get him...f ixed."

"No! Please, not my son, he didn't do anything to deserve that!" screamed the stallion as he was dragged away into darkness, just when Lightning Dawn came in.

"You wanted to see me, sire?" asked Lightning as he kneeled before Grand Ruler, crossing one arm over his chest.

"Yes, I have," Grand Ruler said, narrowing his eyes at his champion, "You have disappointed me, as of late. I do believe I had told you to keep those Equestrians under control, did I not?"

"Yes, but it's been hard. Every time that we have gone out onto the battlefield, they are there in full force. It's like someone is telling them when me and my team are about to go out on a sortie and then they begin to fight along our side."

"Yes, and it is becoming quite a problem," Grand Ruler said, bringing his hands together and interlacing his fingers in front of his face.

"Problem? Sire, if it weren't for them I-" he then looked away in shame when Grand Ruler's eyes narrowed in rage, "Sorry, sir, I spoke out of turn, sir."

"Combine this with the fact that Rhymey has said that he has had to leave his wife behind, it seems that I have to begin to question my faith in you as my sword," Grand Ruler said.

Lightning looked up in fear, "But sire, I have served you faithfully. I have been your best soldier for a long time."

"Yes, you have been; however, I cannot ignore these blemishes in your armor. You have failed now, and I begin to doubt you. Are you not my Enticorn, my sword? Then why have you failed me?"

"I am sorry sir, I promise sir, I will fix i," Lightning said, turning his head and bearing his teeth as he clenched his hands into fists.

"I know you will, which is why I am pleased to announce that I am giving you three new team members to replace the ones you have lost," Grand Ruler said, his fingers not separating.

"Rookies? You are giving me rookies to lead? Sir, I cannot stand by this, thy will get slaughtered out there. I need experienced soldiers!" Lightning said, his voice sounding pleading.

Grand Ruler ignored his plea and continued, "With the loss of Dyno and Myte, Buddy, and Starla, we need fresh blood for the team,:

Lightning's eyes went wide when he heard the name of his wife, "Sire, Starla is still alive and on this team."

"She has been AWOL for six months, and from what you have told me she is on a paradise planet to be protected from the savagery of this war," Grand Ruler said.

Lightning nodded, "Yes, so that way she doesn't have to fight. I needed to keep her safe from-"

"Which tells me that she is unfit for service. As such, she needs to be fired from this team," Grand Ruler said.

"Father, please I beg you, don't do this to her! Leaving Starfleet will break her!" Lightning said, not realizing his mistake. Gasping in shock, he backed up, "I am sorry sire."

"Did you just call me, father?" Grand Ruler asked, glaring at Lightning with a cold, unfeeling stare. "Lightning, I know that I have raised you as my son, but that is only in title. You are not, nor will you ever be, truly my son. Giving you the affection that is expected of me in that regard would break the mutual bond that we share as mentor and student. I do not need to give you the affection that Twilight and Celestia share because we have never needed of it. Besides, you know I could never really care for you as my son, because I cannot put you above all of my other subjects, who I also love as my children," Grand Ruler said, his cold stare never leaving from Lightning.

"Y-yes sire, I know sire," Lightning said, his voice in a low whisper as he turned away.

"Besides, I have a son. How fair is it that I would love you as much as I do him, when it is he who carries my bloodline. I would hurt him. We are master and student and that is all we need to be," Grand Ruler said.

Lightning squeezed his eyes tightly and said through a pained groan, "Y-yes sire."

"Now, dismissed," Grand Ruler said, "You will receive your three new members in a few days."

Lightning said nothing, instead, walking out of the throne room silently. As he walked down the hallway, he encountered Krysta, who was waiting for him. As she flew near him, she quickly flew out of the way of his fist as he punched a wall and put a hole into it, "DAMN IT!:"

"Lightning?" asked Krysta.

Lightning fell to his knees, and tears began to well up in his eyes, "I knew that he may have raised me as a son, but he needed to keep his distance. But, I just thought that he might have... that he could actually find it in his heart to see me as a son. That he would actually show me a little bit of how he cares for me. But no! He doesn't, and I knew it, I knew it all along."

"Oh Lightning," Krysta said, hugging against Lightning's neck.

Lightning gave out a few sniffles, "I'm jealous, you know, of Celestia and Twilight's relationship. I look at them, and I can see that they love each other like a mother and daughter. I can see it in her eyes, or how she talks about her. I wish I had just a little of that. But no! When Starla was kidnapped, he didn't even talk to me like a father worried for his son, but just like I was another soldier! He just doesn't... that's all I am, isn't it? A replaceable sword?"

"Not to me," Krysta said, looking up at her longtime friend and smiling, "You are my dear friend, someone who is just lost right now."

"And you, are my faithful fairy friend," Lightning said, rubbing his finger against her head, messing with her hair.

"Hey, I lost everything you know. I need to stick with the only family I got left," Krysta said," And that... is you."

"Thanks," Lightning said, nuzzling her. "Hey, do you know here Artie is? We need to train for a bit."

"He's'," Krysta blushed, "Playing hookey."

"What?!"

---

Pinkie gave a long yawn as she sat up in her bed, before stretching and lightly scratching her poofy mane. Hearing a light snoring, she turned her head to look at the sight in her bed with a soft smile. Artie was in the bed, the blankets messily strewn along his body. In his arms was two sleeping foals, Pound and Pumpkin, each giving out their own little snores. Pinkie let out a soft giggle as she said, "Somepony's gonna get a silly awakening soon." she said, her mind thinking of how they got into that position.

She had invited Artie to help take care of the twins with her, and they spent the night reenacting a series of stories for the little foals until they had fallen asleep. Artie at that point was too tired to head home and Pinkie had fell asleep in the bed with him and her two surrogate siblings. With a soft sigh, she leaned in and kissed the three ponies on the forehead. Then she got up and turned away to head to the bathroom.

Once inside, she closed the door and took off her sleep shirt. Looking at the mirror she gave a big grin and a quick wink at herself before reaching into the medicine cabinet. Pulling out some ointment, she turned her head to look at the two large gashes on her back where her wings once been. Closing her eyes, she began to rub some of the salve on her back, wincing a little as the cold cream hit the wounds. As she rubbed slowly, she looked back at the mirror and sighed, her smile turning to a frown, "Hey, Twilight,it's time for the monthly report. Heh, you know, the psychologist said that I needed to get creative in how I cope with my loss, and talking to my dead friend and pretending she's listening to me is pretty me actually."

Pinkie Pie gave a soft chuckle before continuing, "I... I thought this would get easier, that the pain would disappear by now. I got over my granny pie's death in about a year, I thought it would be the same with you, but it's different," she whispered as she closed her eyes at the tears that began to sting her eyes. "It still hurts just as bad now as it did then. I feel so... un-Pinkie lately. It's like there is a big hole around here without you."

Pausing a little, she wiped a tear from her eyes, "I almost broke down, yesterday. Because I walking by this bookstore and I saw a book in the window and I thought about how much you would love it. I wanted to buy it for your birthday, because I knew you didn't have it. Sometimes, I hear a great joke somepony says and I think 'Twilight would love it'. Your birthday is next month, and I have to celebrate it again without you here. That first year, I didn't even do anything, it was just, so painful."

"That's why I want to thank you, for Belle," Pinkie said, holding her arm and smiling softly, her usual grin returning, "She has been a great friend and when I'm near her... it feels like you are with me all over again. It's not that she's replacing you, it's like somepony has brought a new friend, and it's their sister. I've been doing good, " Pinkie nodded, "Just, keep on smiling right? That's what I said I would do, just keep on smiling through everything and they are gonna smile with you. Even if your heart is breaking, just keep on smiling, then all of the bad stuff that hits us won't be so bad."

She put on her t shirt, one with her cutie mark on the chest and her skirt and winke, "That's all I wanted to say about this month. See you later Twi-Twi." as she went to the door, she looked over her shoulder and giggled, "Oh, and do you think Artie is a good friend? Because I think so."

As she skipped down the stairs and into the bakery proper, she watched as Artie was talking to the cakes. She smiled to herself as her new friend was offering his services to help paint the building and was about to offer an opinion, when she heard a flat and monotone voice, "This is why I want the science community to add some new levels to the hardness scale, because these fingernails are able to scratch various kinds of rock."

"Maude!" Pinkie shouted at the top of her lungs as she ran to a light grey girl with long straight purple hair and give her a giant hug and nuzzle.

"Hello Pinkie. I am very happy to see you," Maude said, returning the hug.

Belle smiled, "Um Pinkie, your sister was just telling me all about the hardness scale and how we need to fix it. It was a," she paused thinking of the right word while drinking her milkshake, "interesting conversation."

"Wasn't it though?" Pinkie said, looking back at Maude and then back to Belle, "I knew you two would get along great. Maude, this is Belle Amie, one of my newest friends. Belle, this is my second oldest sister Maude."

"Uh, yes, we met," Belle said nervously.

"So," Pinkie Pie asked, smiling wide as she took a seat in between the two girls, "What brings you here?"

"I came over here to see you. I wanted to visit and check up on you," Maude said, looking at Pinkie, staring at her little sister.

"Aw, no need to be worried about me! I am as happy and peppy as ever," Pinkie giggled and then looked to Belle, "So, Belle, did you get the new books I sent you?"

"Yes, I did, as a matter of fact I-"

Maude interrupted her, "Pinkie, could you come and talk with me in your room, now?"

"Um sure thing Maude," Pinkie Pie said, getting off her chair and racing to the stairs, Maude following behind, "Talk to you later Belle."

"Bye," Belle said to the disappearing two ponies.

When Maude finished following Pinkie Pie to her bedroom, she took a seat on the mattress. Then, silently, Maude patted the side of the bed and offered Pinkie a seat. Nodding , Pinkie PIe took her seat next to her sister, "Pinkie, what's wrong?" Maude said.

"Maude, what do you mean, n-nothing's wrong," Pinkie Pie nervously giggled. After a few long minutes of sweating and feeling the weight of Maude's stare, she sighed and slightly deflated, "Can't get much past you, can I?"

"I am your big sister, seeing what is hurting you and trying to fix it is my job, consider it my Maude Sense. Now, what is wrong?" Maude said putting her arm over Pinkie's shoulder.

"I," Pinkie sighed as she collected her thoughts, looking down at her hands, "I'm scared Maude. Scared for my friends and the future. I know we can beat Conquest, I know we can beat him, but...'

"But?" Maude asked.

Pinkie sighed, some tears rolling down her cheeks, "What if I lose any of them. What if today is the last day I watch Rainbow Dash fly or hear Flutters talk about animals. What if Rarity never makes me a new dress or what if something happens to Applejack, making Applebloom, Big Macintosh and Granny Smith would be all sad. I don't want to lose any more friends, I don't think I could take another one."

"I know, you were hurt by Twilight's loss, it's why I came here," Maude said, pulling Pinkie in for a hug and running a hand through her frizzy mane.

"You know about the psychiatrist?" Pinkie Pie gasped.

"I heard about it last month," Maude said. "I then took a break from my Petricultology class to see you and make sure you are all right."

"Thanks Maude," Pinkie said, her voice quieting as she hugged her sister.

"You know I worry about you, especially nowadays. I know what monsters you fight, and I do wish I could protect you from everything that hurt you. But I know I can't," Maude then let loose a small smile, a rare one that she only shows to Pinkie, "Or maybe I shouldn't worry about you too much, even when this happens."

"W-why?" Pinkie asked.

"Because I know you, and you'll bounce back from this, you always do. That's what makes you my Pinkie Pie. You take the worst, and bounce it back with a warm smile," Maude said, playing with her little sister's hair. "Anything else, and you wouldn't be Pinkie."

"It still hurts, a lot, and I still get nightmares that I will lose them," Pinkie said, looking down and away from her sister.

Maude nodded, "Then I'll be there, to help you get this back," she then pulled the sides of Pinkie's lips to make her smile.

"You would that for me?" Pinkie asked, and when the purple haired Earth Pony nodded, Pinkie hugged her sister, "Thanks Maude."

Maude smiled softly and then hugged Pinkie close, running her hands through Pinkie's messy mane, humming gently with a calming tone.

---

Belle smiled happily as she looked through the new books that she had delivered to her. Several libraries had been giving her the old and used books and now she had a chance to organize the books into the way she wanted. When she was about to place one last book onto the shelf, Pinkie Pie popped out with a giant grin, "Heya Belle!"

"Yah! Pinkie, what are you-"

Before Belle could ask, Pinkie slipped out of the shelf and began to look in the nonfiction section, "Looking for a book!"

"Ok," Belle paused as she watched Pinkie speed through book after book, "Can I ask what kind of book?"

"Nope, I just need to make sure of something, and AHAH!" Pinkie said, looking up a book called 'holidays around the world'. "Foal's Day is celebrated in Neighpon on .May 5, just two days before my birthday, so it's perfect."

"Perfect for what?" Belle asked as Pinkie Pie pulled out a tiny notebook and began to write down in it.

"For your birthday," Pinkie Pie said, "I figured you needed a birthday so I wanted to find a perfect one for you. The day we met happens just a bit before Twilight's...well, it wouldn't be as happy as I want it to be. And I didn't want to place it with Twilight's birthday, because it wouldn't be fair to you so I think you should share it with me. Then we can have twice as much cake!"

"You... are giving me, your birthday?" Belle asked, a little stunned, before smiling. "You didn't have to do that. Even you don't know if that isn't my birthday."

"Yes, it is. From now on, that is your birthday. I want to celebrate knowing my good friend for an entire year, and I want to celebrate your entire life. Even if it is a little small" Pinkie said, giving Belle a big hug."

"Pinkie," Belle said softly, "Thank you."

"Don't mention it, you're worth it," Pinkie said.

Belle shook her head, "Not that, for everything, for letting me stay with you that one night and sharing your cupcakes with me. For introducing me to your friends, everything. You've treated me like a friend, even though you never had to."

"Of course I do, silly," Pinkie Pie said, waving a hand dismissively, "I am friends with everypony in Ponyville, and that means you."

"And what if I gain my memories back and you find out that I am a monster?" Belle asked.

Pinkie put a finger to her chin and said, "Then I am going to make her my friend too. But right now, I want to spend time with Belle Amie, my special new friend."

"Thanks Pinkie, you're special to me too," belle said, hugging Pinkie back.

---

Fluttershy watched as her bear companions began to push the last of Rhymey's stuff out of her house. For the past few hours, Fluttershy had overseen the removal everything that reminded her of her husband, the clean up being handled by several of her animal friends. As she turned to look back inside of her house, she was glad to see it transformed back to its natural state before Rhymey had came in to live with her. Walking in, she began to look around for a place to sit and enjoy her home in relative quiet, "Let go of that you mangy varmit!:"

"What?" Fluttershy asked, walking into the nearby dining room, where she smiled and giggled a little to herself at the sight of Rainbow Dash and Angel pulling on a metal object.

"Let go! That's Fluttershy's! I found it in her attic," Rainbow Dash grinned as she pulled.

Fluttershy placed her hands onto her hips, "Rainbow Miram Dash, Angel bunny, you two quit this minute!"

"But he," Rainbow Dash began, then deflated under Fluttershy's gaze. "Yes ma'am."

"Now, what are you two-OH," Fluttershy gasped as she got a good look at the object. Walking over to the metal object she picked it up and smiled, "This is that house warming gift you gave me when I first moved here Rainbow Dash." Fluttershy said, looking at the golden circle. It was a pair of butterfly wings encircled by lightning bolts.

"Yeah, I had that made to show that, no matter where you flew, I would fly to be by your side," Rainbow Dash said, smiling.

As Fluttershy put the circlet onto the mantle, she said, "And you have remained true to your word ever since."

"No I haven't" Rainbow dash said dismissively, lowering her to the side, "I had problems with that Rhymey guy from day one and I should've said something. I should've stopped you or beat him up or-"

"Rainbow Dash," Fluttershy said, laying a comforting hand alongside her friend cheek, "Nopony could have seen him coming. And even if you told me, I might not have even believed you. I would've said that you were just being a jealous fool, and that you were wrong." then she smiled and nuzzled Rainbow Dash, "You stayed with me, when anypony else would've just left me to my fate. It goes to show what a good friend you really are."

Rainbow Dash blushed at this sign of affection, "Well, yeah. Of course I am."

"Thank you," Fluttershy said with a smile as she backed away.

Wit a quick glance around the dining room Rainbow Dash asked, "So, anything else you need to have thrown away?"

"No, that should be all," Fluttershy said walking to the living room, "I was thinking of laying down on the couch with a goo-ooh" she squeaked when she felt a paw hit her butt. Looking down, she saw Angel Bunny holding a piece of paper, "Well, maybe I do need to do a little grocery shopping."

Rainbow Dash walked to Fluttershy and pulled the paper from Angel's grip, "Hey, how about I go with you."

"Oh, you don't have to, I mean don't you have-" Fluttershy stuttered a little looking away.

"I told Spitfire about how I was going to take some free time to help you clean up after Rhymey and she told me she would help the ponies with their training. Beside, I want to," Dash let out a soft chuckle, "Consider this your first trip as a new bachelorette."

---

It had taken two hours, but the two mares had finally finished all of the grocery shopping and even picked up a few extra items on the list. Rainbow Dash, some of her shopping bags filled, kept an eye on the list while staying afloat, "Geeze. Your animals can certainly be picky eaters."

Fluttershy giggled as she walked with Rainbow Dash, one bag slung on her arm, "Well, Rainbow, so many animals need different diets. I like to be particular about how I feed my little friends."

"Yeah, but kelp? I thought only seaponies eat that kind of stuff," Rainbow Dash said.

"Well, seaponies and some of my crabs that live in my creek," Fluttershy said, smiling softly. Then she stopped when she saw a meat vendor haggling his latest cuts, Frowning, she shook her head.

"I know the feeling, I could never get used to seeing meat being sold here either, " Dash said. Shaking her head she added, "I know that griffons love the stuff, but I can't used to seeing it sold here. I mean, Starfleet does know that it comes from cows and pigs, and some of those guys hate the fact that their relatives are being sold up there."

Fluttershy nodded, "I know Grand Ruler says that they come from other worlds, but it's still a little disturbing. And dead from natural causes is not a healthy way for us to eat," Then she looked to Rainbow Dash curiously, "Have you ever tried meat?"

"Once, when Gilda dared me," Rainbow Dash said looking back at Fluttershy. "I couldn't really stand the taste and spent about two hours hacking it up. And she had the nerve to laugh at me about it."

Fluttershy let out a giggle, "And that was when you decided to never try something like that again?"

"No, then I made her try and do something even stupider," Rainbow Dash laughed, which caused Fluttershy laugh as well. Dash then looked ahead and smiled, "Well, well, what do we have here?"

Just ahead of them, was Ace Ray and Gilda walking through the market. In Gilda's hands was a small pink cone. With a smug smirk, Rainbow Dash nudged Fluttershy to follow and meet them. Nodding, the demure pegasus followed her friend. After a few steps, they got close enough to hear the griffon and pegasus talking, "Now try it," Ace said.

Gilda looked at Ace and the back at the little pink cone. With a quick nod, she took a quick lick, which then made her smile and let out a small, "Peep."

"Did you just peep?" Ace chuckled.

"If you say one word about me peeping I will kill you," Gilda said, pointing a finger at Ace's chest. In response, the pegasus gave Gilda a quick peck on the nose.

"My goodness, is that my old friend Gilda spending her time off with a boyfriend, "Teased Rainbow Dash as she batted her eyelashes, much to the amusement of Fluttershy.

Gilda blushed, "Y-yes, I am! I am out on a date, he asked me and I said yes. Is that a crime?"

"Nah, I'm happy or ya," Dash said, hugging Gilda tightly, "I am happy you found somepony who cares for ya. And Ace, you break her heart-"

"I'll get a beating? Yeah, Gilda tells me you are protective of your friends," Ace chuckled, and then looked to Fluttershy, "So, what is up with your little friend here?"

"Oh, I get it," Gilda chuckled, " Rhymey's out of the picture and now you are here on a date, huh, Commander?"

Fluttershy let out a squeak and Dash frowned through her blush, "That is insubordination, Private. I could have your wings!"

"Aw, look at that, I can still get under her wings!" Gilda said, leaning in and kissing her friend lightly on the nose, "Just messing with ya. But, it is kind of funny to see ya oth out here, alone, by yourselves."

"We are shopping," Fluttershy said, leaning on Dash's arm.

"A job, that you could do on your own. But you are here, with your friend, without the rest of the team," Gilda then chuckled." Sure, nothing romantic about this. Come along Ace, lets leave the two love shoppers alone."

Rainbow Dash's face turned beat red as Gilda and Ace flew off, "When I get back to base, I am putting you two on triple laps. You hear me! You are gonna be doing fire-drills so much that you will need a fire extinguisher to put your ass out. I am going to-"

"Rainbow Dash, let them have their fun, and we can continue our walk," Fluttershy said with a soft smile as she rubbed Rainbow's arm.

Looking back at Fluttershy,her rage simmered a bit and a smile came to her lips, "Aw sure... want to walk through the park?"

"I would love too," Fluttershy smiled as she wand Rainbow Dash walked towards the park. Hand in hand, Fluttershy noting Rainbow's dark grey t-shirt fit her well and accompanied the yellow pegasus' green dress. The two mares began to trot along the park grounds, the early October air blowing by them and lightly nipping at their ears.

With a quick turn of her head, Rainbow Dash caught sight of some pink flowers with little brown freckles on the petals. Walking over to the patch,she picked two, one of which she put into Fluttershy's mane, and the other, she put into Fluttershy's hands. Smiling sweetly, Fluttershy began to nibble a little on her snack. Seeing a patch of sunflowers, Fluttershy picked one for Rainbow Dash and put it into the prismatic mane. For a second, Dash looked up and frowned, and then when she saw the look in her friend's eyes, she melted and nodded her approval.

With her hand in Fluttershy's again, Rainbow Dash continued to lead her through a park. All around the two, ponies were busy living their lives. Foals played with each other, older ponies talked about love, and others were content to watch as their lives carried on. There was a different feel in the air when it came to Ponyville. As if the war was just a nightmare that parents told to scare their kids and the Unicornicopians were actually friendly. Ponies seemed to want to enjoy their lives and feel the world around them. It felt like home.

Fluttershy took a look up at Dash and saw a small change in her friend's features, looking less of the warrior and more like the friend she had always cared for. Rainbow Dash returned the look, noticing that Fluttershy seemed happier, and brighter now than when it was her and Rhymey. Dash smiled warmly at Fluttershy, causing the yellow pegasus to blush.

Turning around the two mares walked through the park, just enjoying the air around them, "Rainbow... why do you love me?"

"Are you kidding? Isn't it obvious?" Dash said with a smirk. "I think you know why, and that is it here!" she then pointed to Fluttershy's chest and at her heart, "It's your heart. Yeah, to some ponies, you look like a meek little wimp, but I know the truth. Inside that, you are probably the strongest pony I have ever met. Maybe..." she then muttered her last few words.

"What was that?" Fluttershy asked.

Dash then sighed as she stood by a tree and looked into Fluttershy's eyes, "Stronger than i am."

Fluttershy shook her head, "Rainbow Dash, I'm not that strong."

"Are you kidding? You reformed Discord. If I was in your shoes, I would've just gave in and said 'Sorry Princess, but this jerk has to go," Rainbow Dash said.

Fluttershy let out a small giggle, "Actually, you would probably had him on the first shuttle into a volcano."

Rainbow Dash giggled, "Yeah, I would, but that is I mean. You held out against us, because you believed in something. Do you know how much strength that takes? Do you know how badass that is? I don't know anypony else who would do what you do."

"But, I failed. He still went back to evil," Fluttershy said kicking a stone.

"So? Doesn't change what you did, you stood up to us, and that takes guts," Rainbow Dash said, smiling.

"Rainbow," Fluttershy whispered before turning her head so her mane fell over one eye, "Thank you."

"For what?" Rainbow Dash asked.

Fluttershy smiled softly, "For being, a good friend."

"Hey, I'm not that Rhymey jerk. I know that there is more to you than just a pretty face," Rainbow Dash smiled and sighed, "You are a great mare you know. And that is why i kind of-"

Anything that Rainbow was about to say was interrupted by soft whimpering. Raising an eyebrow, Rainbow Dash looked behind the tree and saw a familiar mane of purple, "Scootaloo?"

Turning her head up to look at Rainbow Dash, the orange filly wiped her tears, "Oh, um, hey Rainbow Dash."

"Why were you crying kid?" Rainbow Dash asked.

Wiping her tears away, she turned her head, "I wasn't crying."

Rainbow Dash looked at Scootaloo with a disapproving glare and then sighed. Looking back at Fluttershy, she asked, "Hey Flutters... could you-"

"I can head home by myself," Fluttershy said, nodding and picking up the bag. " I'll see you later. "

As the yellow pegasus flew off, Rainbow Dash turned to look at her surrogate sister, " Ok, talk, why are you crying your eyes out?"

Realizing that she had been found out, the orange filly sighed and began to lightly kick the ground, " I got into a fight with my mom."

"What?" Rainbow dash asked shocked, " Why are you and Sunny fighting?"

"About Dad," Scootaloo sniffled

When she saw the confused look in her sister's eyes, she pulled out a yellow paper.

Dash recognized it by its color, it was setting that she had seen Spitfire give out at her academy one day, "Missing in action? Swift arrow is missing. How long?"

"For almost five months," Scootaloo sniffled. "Mom seems to think that means he's dead. But, he can't be, he simply can't be. He's like the second greatest pony on the planet! How can he be..."

When Scootaloo gave our another whimper and a sign that she was about cry again, Rainbow Dash pulled her little sis into a wing hug," Aw, Scoots, come here. I am so sorry I didn't know about this or that I couldn't have been there to help you."

"It's ok, I know you have busy with a lot. The war, the other knights, your squad, there was no way you could have time for me," Scootaloo let out a little whimper.

" That's no excuse," Rainbow Dash said with a frown, " I should've found time to spend with my little sister along with all of the other stuff I do. I shouldn't be shrugging my big sib responsibilities."

"You still think of me as you little sister?" Scootaloo asked, smiling wide.

" Of course kid," Dash smirked. " Tell you what, how about tomorrow I go and give you some flying lessons. And when I'm out on the field, I'll keep an eye out for Swift."

Scootaloo gasped, " You'll do that for me?"

"Of course. What are big sisters for?

"But you don't have to," Scootaloo said, smiling a little.

"Of course I do. Do you know why I love being the fastest thing out there?" When Scootaloo shook her head in response, Dash smiled with a confident grin, "Because it allows me to fly to be by the side of those I care about and stand close to them, so I don't don't have to say goodbye ever again."

"What do you mean?" Scootaloo asked

"I hate goodbyes," Dash said. " It always mean that somepony I care about I'd going somewhere where I can't help them, and I won't be able to save my friends if they are in trouble. So, I like the idea of being fast enough to be their for everypony I care about. Everypony," Dash added for emphasis.

"Oh, Dash, thank you," Scootaloo said, hugging her sister tightly

'No prob, kid," Dash smiled. " Now, let's go and get some ice cream. Then we talk to your mom.

"Yay" Scoots smiled as she and Rainbow walked away from the tree.

---

Spike stirred softly as the early days of the morning light shone through the window and onto his face. He breathed a sigh of contentment as he slowly opened his eyes. Truth be told, he preferred the summer days to the cooler fall ones. Even in times of war, summer just made things livier, while fall just was a cool down before winter.

Turning to his side, he had a little frown on his face when he saw the empty bed side where his lady had slept. Spike hated when his lover left the bed before he did, mainly because he enjoy the extra snuggles he could engage in.

Rolling out of his bed aude, Spike Stephen his body one more time before getting his clothes on, a long sleeve shirt and pants c9mbo that he felt fit his mood that day. With a deep breath he smiled and walked out the bedroom, his nose getting a wiff of some wonderful breakfast biting his nostrils.

With a curious look on his face, he walked down the stairs and into the kitchen , "Rarity, are you making," he paused in his question when he noted that the Rarity in question had a cyan stripe on her mane and tail, "Glarity?"

"Oh, hello," the golem said, smiling with a blush, "I was just making some breakfast for you and rarity. I hope you don't mind. And I love the new hair for me by the way, I think I'll keep it."

+Spike was still a little dumbfounded, " Did Rarity leave you on last night?"

"Why yes, I did," Rarity said, walking into the kitchen, dressed in a maternity shirt and with her mane done in a bun. Smiling, she looked to her golem, " Um Glarity, may I talk with my boyfriend...alone?"

"Well,I was thinking of shopping for the three of us," Glarity said getting out of chair and walking out of the house.

"so, what is up with that?" Spike asked, taking a bite if the gem waffle.

Understanding what Spike meant, Rarity began to speak, " It began last night..."

Glarity sat on the cold grass as she looked at the setting sun. There was a warm smile on her lips as she watched the sun set l. Her hands lightly played with a daisy as she watched, " Glarity? " Rarity asked, walking out of the boutique, "What are you doing out here?"

"Oh," Glarity said looking at her original self as s she sat next to her, " Just watching the sunset. You always turn me off before I get to see it, so I decided to try it once. It is beautiful "

As Rarity sat with her golem, she noticed the streak in her hair, "You changed your hair dye again."

"Oh, you like it," Glarity asked running a hand tour the cyan stripe that ran through the top of her mane, "I wanted to go with s new look, to help differentiate the difference between us. Do you think it works for me?"

"You tell me," Rarity said With a warm smile, a finger on her chin.

Glarity rolled her eyes in thought before saying, "Well, while the color may work for Rainbow Dash, I feel as if it clashes with the rest of my mane, perhaps it would be better is I go with yellow or indigo, or-" sh paused when Rarity giggled, "What's so funny?"

"Nothing, its just that you sound truly like me. But, with one small difference," gently she ran some of her fingers through Glarity's cyan streak, "I do think that streak is you. I helps with your eyes."

"Then why did you ask?" Glarity said, pulling back a little.

"Curiosity," Rarity said plainly. You have become, different since I made you. You want to see sunsets, love the rain, and have your own opinions on clothing and color. While you may have my memories, I would never have done something like dye my mane like you did."

"It's those friends of our, I blame them," Glarity said with a laugh before leaning back on her hands. "They've been treating me...well, like a pony. At first, I thought it was because I was like you, but they have been doing things. Like, did you know during the fight in Filly, Applejack acted like I was you? Or in the cave, Pinkie wanted me to have my own name. See this?" Glarity held up her hand showing a bandage, "Fluttershy, she put that on me when I cut myself during a fight. They just..."

Rarity listened to Glarity's paused and nodded, "Those are my friends, they will do that. Accept you because you want to be their friend. Maybe we should talk about it more later, right now it is time for me to-"

Glarity interrupted her with pleading eyes, "Wait, please don't turn me off yet. I want to stay awake and look up at the star. I promise I won't do anything bad, please... sister."

"It was the word 'sister' that convinced me to leave her on for the night," Rarity said, "I used my memories to make her, and to let her relate to my friends,, but I certainly never taught her things like friendship or how how to make you breakfast," she took a drink from her tea and pointed at the plates, "Look, they aren't even arranged like would've done the food."

"Yeah, it looks like how Sweetie Belle would arrange the plates, randomly," Spike laughed. Then his face turned into a serious frown, "Do you think this means that she's becoming, you know... sentient?"

"I talked to Zecora the other day about it, and she has said that sometimes enough magic and use could make a golem start to take a mind of its own, starting to gain a...soul as it were," Rarity said, sipping a little more of her tea.

"Whoa! You don't think this means she is going to become violent and want to kill you to get her own life, do you?" Spike asked, his eyes looking on in terror.

To answer this, Rarity placed down her cup and looked on with a come hither look, "Would I?" when Spike shook his head, Rarity leaned back a little, "I would never take somepony else's life not when I could have my own. Sh would probably no different."

"So what would you do if she starts wanting her own life?" Spike asked.

"Then I would probably do my best to give her one," Rarity said. "A home, maybe her own little store, everything I could. A sister could do no less."

Spike leaned across the table and kissed his lady's lips softly, "And that is why love you so much."

"Not as much as I love my gentledrake," Rarity said, returning the kiss and getting off the table. "Now, I need to work on some dresses and do some small fixings for Coloratura and for Nightmare Night.

"Yeah, and I have some work too," Spike said, walking away, "see you later."

---

Belle walked through the marketplace, with a warm smile on her face. She wasn't really there to shop, so much as to listen and watch the ponies as they went about their day. She felt a warm comfort as she listened to the ponies talk, haggle, and joke with one another. As her eyes glanced back from stall to stall, she could hear the calls from the ponies as she passed by. She could even hear some of the ponies call her cute or beautiful. This made her blush a little in embarrassment and would try and deny t. Wha she couldn't deny, was the feeling love that she had been given thanks ot the populace of the small town. For six months, it was home, and there with five mares she was starting to call a family.

As she stepped away from the marketplace, she started to sway and began to stumble. Letting out a little moan, she began to move towards a bannister to hold onto for support while her vision began to swim. After holding her head and standing for a few moments, her vision began to clear, "What happened? What was that?"

"Belle? Are you alright," asked a concerned voice.

Recognizing it, Belle turned to look up, "I am fine, just a bit of dizziness Rar-Glarity?" Belle asked, seeing the golm standing before hert.

"Hello, nice to see you out of a mission or a fight," smiled Clarity. "And please, it's Glarity. I was just doing some shopping for my friends before I saw you and your little spell."

"I'm fine really" Belle said, and then she looked to Glarity curiously, "So, Rarity just let you do some shopping? On your own?"

"Yes, she figured that I could help her get some things done while she works," Glarity smiled softly as she looked down at her bag, "She even trusts me to make my own decisions."

Belle listened to the soft tone of Glarity's voice, and looked on with curiosity, "IT almost sounds lie she is starting to see you as something more than just her golem. Sounds almost like me."

"Hmmm, what do you mean?" Glarity asked.

"Ever since I came here, those five that," Belle sighed as she leaned on the railing of the bridge, "Have acted like I am an actual pony and not just another Twilight. It, makes me feel...alive."

"Then we are in the same boat," Glarity said, looking down at the river at the image looking back, "I am Rarity with all of her memories, looking for a life of her own, and you... are a being wit h a new life, needing memories."

"Ah what a pair we make," Belle said with a bit of dramatics, "Two souls lost, but bounded by the fact that we have ponies who treat us as something more. What will we find out about ourselves at the end of our long road."

"I don't know, but if I had one wish," Glarity said, pulling away from the bannister," Is that Rarity will still want me around when her baby is born.'

"You want to be there for her?"

"Be there? I want to hold her, play with her, I want to say to the little one," Glarity smiled as she said, "Hello, how are you."

"You want to live," Belle said, "I can understand how that feels."

"What do you want more than anything?" Glarity said.

Belle ran a finger through her hair, twirling it, "To be honest, at first I thought it was my memories. But now..."

"Now?"

"I just want to live the rest of my days with them, you, and everyone hee," Belle said, walking ahead of Glarity. "I just want to study the world around me and... live."

"I think that is what we both want more than anything else," Glarity said walking up to Belle, "Shall we walk together and continue talking?"

"Sure," Belle said with a soft smile.

---

Rarity hummed happily to herself as she sewed a new button onto a shirt. It was the latest in a lime of "knight" models that the populace of ponyville had been requesting as of late. Clothing that was done in the style of her and her friends outfits from the party they had a month's previous. It made her both happy and a little sad. Happy in that it was a little reprieve from the funeral ware that she had been making, but sad in that she knew that it was only a matter of time before it would go back to mourning faceless soldiers and lost ponies.

"Hey you cats and dolls, this is your badass of the air with some bits of news, first it seems that Conquest has been changing things up. Attacking and ravaging random towns, much to the uselessness of Starfleet. Remember if you see Conquest's men on the horizon, don't rely on those shields, attack and fight. Somepony will come, and if not, then you can leave a hoof mark into one of their guts!"

"Vinyl, hurry up," growled Octavia.

"Relax, sweet base," Vinyl saud, the confidence beaming from her voice, " The other piece of news is that... We're moving. It seems that Grand Ruler found our studio again and has sent some cronies our way. The funny part is that it seems to be happening less since Brain vanished off the face of the earth."

"Off the face of Equestria you say," Replied Octavia with mock shock.

Vinyl chuckled, "Yep and it seems a lot of their tech has fallen to pieces due to lack of use. This is why we were able to keep going from this location. But somepony found out about us now and now we have to leave."

"There they are, what" Shouted a dumbfounded guard as the sound of doors breaking sounded over the radio.

"But, not without leaving a present for the idiots," Vinyl laughed.

The guard over the radio shouted, " It's just a reforming device and... a bag of lollipops."

"Yes, suckers," Octavia said. "We will be back from our new location soon."

Rarity giggled at the trickery of the radio duo and went back to work. That was when she heard a loud explosion from the other room. With a look of worry and horror she ran into the living room and gasp at the sight before her, "Spike, what is the meaning of this?" she asked as she looked at Spike sitting in the living room, in front if a large hole

A blush came over Spike's cheeks as s he said, "Um, hi?"

"Spike, who is the meaning of this?" growled Rarity.

Spike gulped, "Um. Well you see-"

"Why is there a hole in my living room? Why is there a hole in my business?" Rarity asked stomping slowly towards Spike.

"Well, I wss-"

Rarity let out a roar,"How can you do this to me? How dare you do this to our house, why?"

"The thing is I wanted to-"

"What, destroy everything I work for? Is this how you repay me for all that I give you!?" Rarity ranted, and then she saw some gems and golden bits behind him," What is this? A nest? Are you trying to say something, that you are moving?"

"If you would shut your fat mouth and let me talk!" the moment those words left his mouth, he quickly covered his mouth and tried to stop the words from escaping his lips.

Rarity pulled back tears and rage flooding her vision, "If I am fat, then it is because you put this!" For emphasis she pointed to her belly, "Into me! The reason why I am fat is because you put your little tool into me and now I have a damn mound!"

"Because we agreed to-" it was slowly dawning onto Spike that he should stop before he incriminated himself any further.

"And now you are ditching all of the blame onto me?" Rarity narrowed her eyes in rage as she yelled, "Get out of my house! I never want to see you or talk to again!"

Spike nodded in terror and ran out of the house with his tail in between his legs. As he ran, he accidentally bump into two ponified, " Spike, what's the matter?" Belle asked, seeing Spike looking back in terror.

"Rarity kind of kicked me out," Spike said, sighing.

Glarity looked in in shock l," My goodness, is everything alright? What was the argument about?"

"It's not really all that important" Spike said with a sigh " This is just one of those things you know, that couples get into. I kind of expected this, so I need to crash somewhere while I wait for her to cool off."

"You could stay with me," Belle said with a smile.

"Oh no I couldn't," Spike said.

Belle waved a hand dismissively, "It's no big deal, really. I was going to organize the library and I can use the company."

"Well, that sounds good. I think I can do that until Rarity calms down," Spike said, then he looked to Glarity," Think you could-"

"I'll watch over Rarity for a bit," Glarity said and then smiled at Belle, "Thanks for the walk."

"No problem," Belle said to the disappearing Golem. When she looked to Spike, she saw a cocky smile on his lips, "What?"

"Sounds like somepony found a new friend," Spike said.

Belle smiled softly and ran a hand through her purple mane, "Well, I do need to talk to others once in a while right?"

---

Luna let out a sigh as she made her horn glow, its dull blue magic raising the moon. With a serene calmness that was usually reserved for a lady of the night, she looked over the city of new Canterlot. Everywhere she could look, she saw that ponies were either falling asleep or getting ready to to to sleep. For a brief second, she looked up at her stars and whispered a silent wish for this war to be over so that somepony could the lovely stars that she set out onto the black blanket, "Problems, Luna?" Celestia asked, walking up behind her sister and placing a hand on her back, "IT isn't-"

"What? No, it's not that," Luna said, before sight and turning away from her sister, "Partly."

"It's the curfew, isn't it?" Celestia asked.

"I should never had agreed to it, but I thought that if I gave him that much then he would let me set the time for the curfew," Luna said, and turning away, " And yet, he found a way to circumvent that as well, saying that regulations and his Starfleet are accustomed to sleeping at nine! So, in a way it is like before, only worse!"

"How so?" Celestia asked.

"Because if I go Nightmare Moon, then I would be giving Conquest the key to victory because Grand Ruler would be dead, you would be n chains, and the bearers would be lining my throne," Luna said with a sneer. Then she looked out at the moon, "But, there is more."

"Tell me," Celestia said.

Luna looked back at her sister over her shoulder, "It's about my little rebellion, I just feel like need to do more."

"Luna, that attack last week was beautiful. Not only did you strike a blow against Conquest, but you freed a lot of prisoners," Celestia argued.

"Yes, but if you had been leading them instead of me then you would've had this country back into your hooves now. You would've destroyed Grand Ruler and installed yourself onto the throne by now!"Luna began to walk away from the balcony and lower her head, "Me, I have been so cautious. Making sure that my team was gathered in silence, picking the best, creating alliances so we will be ready to end Conquest once this battle was done, and teaching Trixie to be my second in command. Compared to anything that you could've done I-"

"Did exactly what I suspected you to do," Celestia said, placing her hand onto Luna's shoulder and turning Luna around, "Luna, I had Discord join you because I knew that you were leading the rebellion. I knew that you were the best one to choose because of who we are. You have always been the best on the front lines, charging into battle and fighting with your sword. I have always been the best working on plans and strategies, it's how we balance each other."

"Y-yes, but you would've-"

"Oh, dear sister," Celestia said, giving her sister a big hug, "After all of this time, you still are comparing yourself to me. You have to remember, that you are not me, you will never be me or as good as me."

"Thanks," Luna snarked.

Celestia chuckled, "Because you are the best Luna out there, but not the best Celestia. You have a wonderful team, and you have been careful. You have become the perfect shadow, and I couldn't be prouder."

"Thank you, Tia," Luna said, giving her sister a hug. After a few moments, she broke from the hug.

"Aw, Sister cuddles, can I join?" asked Discord, only to get punched by Luna.

"Now, I need to go. Trixie's lessons are ready," Luna said as she walked away. Then she saw Lilani. Sitting on her knees, she asked, "Lilaie? Do you know who I am?" the daughter just stared, "I am Luna. Lulu, can you sai-"

"Lithie!" shouted Castor, making his sister run after him without a word.

Luna stood up and put a finger to her chin, "Curiouser and Curiouser." Placing her questions away for later, she walked back into her room.

With slow careful steps, Luna began to disrobe, her dark blue body still containing several scars from battles long past. As she began to remove her armor, she looked to a yawning opossum and smiled. Pattig her sleeping pet, she used her magic to lay some food pellets out for her little rodent. Putting on her long blue nightgown, she laid in her bed and fell into a deep sleep.

---

When Luna opened her eyes next, she was in the dream world, surrounded by stars. Walking along the starry field, she looked at each door as the lined up before her, many of these doors were emitting a dark energy, a nightmare taking place or a dream that was wrecked by a fear for tomorrow. Soft sigh escaped her lips as she saw these doors, because it reminded her how much the war was affecting the ponies, her subjects.

Not all dream doors were filled with misery, however, some of the doors were bright and what was more... there were more doors from the Unicornicopians than in the years past. It was as if the help of the five bearers was causing the Unicornicopians to believe in something more, to believe in themselves and that they could strive to be better. She smiled at the sight, before focusing her attention on one door in particular, adorned with a wand cutie mark.

In a few moments, the door opened and Trixie stepped out, "Thank you, you have all been a wonderful-Princess Luna?" she said, turning to look at the mare before her.

"Welcome, my student," Luna said, smiling at her student's power.

"Wh-where is Trixie, how did she get here?" Trixie asked, looking back and forth, her hat almost falling off her head. Then she remembered what Luna had told her, "You said, to find a door in your dream...Is this the realm of dreams?" at Luna's nodding Trixie gasped, "B-but how? Isn't this your realm? How did Trixie wind up here?"

In answer Luna asked, "Tell me Trixie, what is a dream, scientifically?"

Trixie closed her eyes, trying to remember her science classes, even if she had slept through most of them. There was one lesson that stuck out in her mind, " A dream is a collection of images created by the mind during REM sleep. They are figments created by the mind as you sle..." Trixie then paused as sht revelation hit her. " dream is an illusion in the mind"

"And your special talent is illusions, is it not?" Luna asked, looking coy as she did. When Trixie nodded, Luna began to walk away, "This is just the next step in your training. To learn to walk through dreams.""

"But, Dreamwalking, isn't that an alicorn's power?" Trixie asked, feeling a sense of humility.

Luna could only smile as she walked ahead of Trixie, "You will find, with a little effort and skill, a pony who is seemingly weak, can conquer the strongest of foes. Now come, the lesson begins now."

Trixie nodded, and followed Luna down the pah. After passing by several doors, she and Luna made their way into a small circle, devoid of doors, "This is where my mother trained me in Dreamwalking. Now sit."

"Yes master," Trixie said, sitting with her teacher and crossing her legs.

Luna sat with her student and closed her eyes, " Close your eyes, and focus. Concentrate on the world around you and feel the energy. Of the dreamworld seep around you."

Trixie nodded, and breathed slowly, letting herself relax. As her breathing slowed, she began to hear voices speak. Some were quite, while others were loud, it was like hearing a busy street.

"I hope to ace my quiz!"

"I still have to see that site/"

"Please mom,don't die!"

"Man that mare is so sexy, I hope she notices me."

"So many voices, Trixie can't tell the difference between them," Trixie said, flicking her ears.

"In time, you will be able to tell the difference between each voice and know which one needs you the most. For now, let us focus on one dream, in Ponyville," Luna saud.

Trixie nodded, and began to concentrate, as she did, she heard some soft sobbing and whimpering. Feeling that out, Trixie began to hone in on the sound until she reached the door. Looking up, she saw a door with three gems on it, "Rarity?"

"She must be having a nightmare, or she had a bad day and her mind is trying to cope," getting up, she walked to to the doo r and opened it. Luna smiled at Truxue as she guided her in, "Remember, you cannot change the dream, just yet. Only become a silent observer."

Trixie nodded and followed Luna into the dream world. After a flash of bright light, Trixie blinked and began to look around the area in surprise as she saw the market place of Ponywville. Her eys looked over the usual sight of ponies hawking their wares, oferinng foods, and even offering deals. Trixie looked at one of the stalls wiht peanu butter crackers and sihged, "The ponyville market place, why would rarity be dreaming of this place?"

"That is what we are here to-shhh!" Luna said,looking to one of the stalls where a white unicorn stood, "There she is. Let's watch.

Rarity sighed as she looked at the grapes, " Another price hike? Oh well, fair is fair. The little dragon does love his grapes," Rarity said, throwing in a few bits onto the table. Turning away from the vendor, she waved goodbye and walked away. As she walked down the road, she tried to ignore smell of meat that came from some of the stalls that she passed by.

Without warning, she bumped into a large muscular form, "Oh my goddess, I am so sorry." the stallion said, looking down at Rarity as she sat on the ground, offering a hand to help her.

"Oh, it is quite all right, sometimes we..." Rarity paused when she looked up at the stallion, his muscular and well toned body catching her eyes immediately. As she traveled up his body, she got a good look at his facial features with a smile at his handsome magazine cover looks, "..might not pay attention. Well," she chuckled as she took his hand, "Hello there, good sir."

"Hello yourself," smiled the stallion, his suave tone leaking eloquence and sophistication. "My name is Thunder Cloud and you must be the fair lady Rarity."

"You have heard of me?" Rarity said with a blush.

Thunder Cloud smiled, "Of course, your picture is in many newspapers detailing the adventures of Starfleet, and I had seen your gala dresses. Very unique, but I have to say, I am disappointed."

Rarity looked hurt, "You are?"

"Yes, I have learned to trust papers and the news and to know I have lied to hurts. I believed that you were merely lovely, now I see that you are simply divine," Thunder smiled and kissed Rarity's hand.

Rarity blushed, taking her hand and placing it to her lips before letting out a haughty laugh, "Oh, you charmer you. You know how to woo a lady."

"It's a gift of mine, but not my special talent," he said, showing the thunder bolt coming out of a dark cloud on his thigh. It seemed to match his black mane well, "I am actually good at using thunder clouds. I moved from Cloudsdale yesterday to help with the Lightning services of Ponyville."

"Well, we certainly need the help, especially with Rainbow so busy on Starfleet tours and Wonderbolt duty," Rarity noticed a frown crease Thunder's lips when she mentioned the word, Wonderbolt, "Something wrong?"

"Nothing, just somepony close to me liked the Wonderbolts a lot," Thunder Cloud said with a sigh. Shaking his head from the sadness, he leaned down and picked up Rarity's bags, "Here. I got to go and get back home to finish moving in."

"May I help you?" Rarity asked, walking with him.

"Well, you don't really need t-"

"You helped me, it is only fair that I help you," Rarity said with a smile as she walked with Thunder Cloud towards his home.

The grey coated stallion smiled, "Thanks."

"Odd," Luna said, watching the scene from a distance.

Trixie looked to Luna, a curious arch in her brow, "Odd, mistress?"

"When Lightning gave his report to my sister and her-" Luna paused, trying to bite back the bile in her throat when she mentioned Grand Ruler, "Sperm Donor, he said that Rarity acted like a filly in his presence and that Thunder Cloud acted in such a manner that it would've been obvious to a blind bat-pony that he was a monster from a different time."

"But here, he is acting suave and calm, like a true spy," Trixie said, putting a finger to her chin, "What does it mean."

"Somepony is manipulating events and changing the story to fit their own world," Luna said. "But who, and why? Let us watch this dream further."

Time seemed to pass by in a blur through the dreamscape, until they reached a small fields, a little away from the aftermath of a battle with one of the Cardinals, In the field, was Storm cloud helping Rarity out by bandaging her wing, "Ouch."

"Sorry," Thunder Cloud said, finishing wiht the bangasge."

Rarity sighed as she gave her wing an experimental flap, "IT is all right. Despite what you may have heard, these suits do not protect against everything and we still feel the damage. If anything, theses suits feel like slim spandex rather than armor. It doesn't help that Pinkie, myself, and Applejack are unused t these cumbersome things."

"You don't like them?" asked Thunder Cloud.

"No, as a matter of fact, I hate them! They hurt everytime I move them, they are a nuisance, and everytime I see Pinkie's..." Rarity then softly shuddered.

"Do I want to know," he asked.

Rarity shook her head, "Pinkie's reaction to her new appendages was not... pleasant."

"I see," Thunder Cloud said, sighing, then he looked into Rarity's eyes, "Rarity, I hope you do not think me too forward, but will you go out with me?"

"You are asking me out on a date?" Rarity said, shocked.

Nodding, he took Rarity's hand into his and smiled softly, "Rarity, for the past few weeks, I have fallen for you. Your sister is a dear, I love your family, and I love helping you. I think you need something to help take your mind off all of this starfleet and battles. I want to be that somepony and help you."

"Thank you," Rarity said with a soft smile, leaning in and kissing him on his lips, "Of course I will go out with you."

"My, how sweet," Luna said with a smile, much to Trixie's dismay. Looking over her shoulder, she noted Trixie's look of Disgust," Problem, Trixie?"

"Trixie is not much one for romance," Trixie said, and then taking a few steps forward, "But did we see this part of the tale, why is Rarity dreaming of a single scene in her love life with a villain?"

"Well, if she had a fight with a lover, then she probably used this as a point in which she remembered why she loved Spike over Thunder. Or, she is remembering this for another reason," Luna said, before turning to see Rarity, now sitting on the grass alone.

Rarity looked down at the grass where Thunder Cloud was sitting and picked up a rusted pin. Though tarnished with rust, there was still bits of gold shining through, revealing a pair of wings connected to a Lightning bolt," A Wonderbolt badge?"

"Why is he-"

Luna put a hoof to her chin, "That is what I am wondering about. Because, now I am curious as to what the true story here is." Luna said as sh t world began to spin again, time flowing forward until they reaches a black void with only a small hole. In the hole was an image from Rarity's viewpoint as she glared at Spike.

"Rarity, I am only trying to protect you!" Spike argued.

Growling, Rarity said, "What you are, is a jealous little brat! You have never appreciated any of my lovers and only want to keep me for yourself. IT burns you that anypony else wants me so you go and make up these lies!"

"But he is evil Rarity! I saw him, I heard him planning to kill you! He is Bad Horse!" Spike yelled.

"Heathspike Amadeus Sparkle!" Rarity stomped her hoof down, "He is not a monster, he is a noble stallion! I love him to death an if you cannot take it, then you can just pack your things and move out."

"What?"

"You heard me, move out and never come to my doorstep again!" Rarity said, turning away from her dragon. As she began to hear Spike's footsteps walk away from her, the viewpoint began to water with tears, "Oh Spike... I am so sorry. But I have to break your heart... can't let him know that you know who he is or he'll kill you."

"What?!" Trixie gasped.

Luna smirked, "It seems that Miss Belle is smarter than most realize. She figured out the secret to her foe before Starfleet could."

"Starfleet couldn't figure out a simple strategy based on a circle," Trixie snarked. "Starfleet seems to have a problem with figuring things out and using the brains."

"That is true," Luna let out an uncharacteristic chuckle as she sped through the dream, until they found themselves in a jewelry cavern. In the center of the room was Rarity and Thunder cloud.

Rarity looked over the gem covered walls, "My, Thunder Cloud, this is beautiful. It's like standing inside of a diamond."

"I'm glad you like it, because I want you to," Thunder then brought out a ring, "Marry Me."

Rarity took a step back, letting out a little gasp as she looked at the diamond rng in front of her, "M-Marry you. You want to marry me? Oh, Thunder Cloud, this is the greatest thing. And this ring, it's so beautiful, it puts Canterlot Carousel to shame."

"Yeah, it is certainly more beautiful than that old building," Thunder Cloud said,

"Rarity smirked, "So, that is what my Canterlot story will be called. Thank you."

Thunder Cloud then realized his mistake and stood there, trying to come up with an excuse for what he had said. Finding no way out, he narrowed his eyes and said, "How did you know I'm from the future."

"Quite a few hints gave it away, Bad Horse," Rarity said, transforming into her armor in a flash of light, "If that is your real name. First, you seemed to be aware of several events before they happened: The attack during Trixie and Abra's show, the princess's disease, the mega modes, and knowledge of exactly where I would be. See, I may love romance above all,but my second favorite type of book is mystery, so I have picked up a good eye for detail. I have to, I am a fashion designer," walking around Thunder Cloud, she gave a flip of her mane and smirked, "Also your feelings whenever one mentioned the Wonderbolts was not one of a admirer, but of a pony who had lost a loved one wo served on that team. MY uncle is on the royal guard and has told me stories. And lastly,' she sighed and looked down.

"And..." Thunder Cloud cocked his head to the side, smirking deviously.

"You were too perfect for me. As much as I am a romantic, I know that there is no such thing as a perfect love, that a stallion will be perfect for you no matter what. You didn't seem normal, just a stallion who groomed himself to meet my desires. And I almost fell for it," Rarity said, looking away from the stallion and sighing.

"So our love was real?" Thunder smiled, a black fog beginning to cover his body as it started to change him.

"Yes, I had prayed that this time i had found the perfect stallion for me. That you wouldn't turn into a jerk or that you would love me for me," Rarity said, watching as Bad Horse appeared, his dark blue mane pulled back to reveal his sunken eyes. "But it was all a lie wasn't it."

"Sadly, it was," Bad Horse said, centhins his dark grey hand, a small tear rolling down his cheek. "In the future I already had a lover and a child, but they were taken from me by Starfleet's carelessness. So when Dark King chose me to become his knight, I jumped at the chance to avenge my lover."

"Who are you, really? We already know about the code names that you knights use, but I want real names. Who have we been fighting?" Rarity demanded.

Bad Horse made his hand glow, "That is a secret for another time. Right now, you should be worried for your own life. I have you trapped and away from your friends."

"Ha! You thought I went here alone?" Rarity threw back her mane confidently," My friends know about this meeting, they had been listening to our conversation and will be here in ten minutes. I just have to hold you here until they come for me."

"Shame, they'll only find your corpse," Bad Horse chuckled as he threw two daggers at Rarity, right when she had unfurled her wings. With a bloody thunk, the blades impaled themselves into Rarity's wings and into the wall, "You know the fun of attacking you in this era? You haven't mastered your wings, leaving you very vulnerable."

"AHHH!" Rarity screamed, feeling the daggers dig into her wings, cutting bot flesh ad bone. As she struggled to pull her wing free, she grunted, "They're stuck!"

"Yes, they are," Bad Horse smiled as he began to make hi s hand glow with Lightning. "Giving me the chance to have a lot of fun with you before I kill you!"

Rarity closed her eyes as Bad horse pulled back his hand, waiting for the pain, but then flicked her ears when she heard, "Get away from her!" and an armored purple foot kicked Bad horse in the face, knocking him away from Rarity.

"Spike!" Rarity said, her eyes glistening with happy tears, "I didn't know that you were-"

Spike stood up and put his hand behind his head, "To tell you the truth, I came here because I followed you. I wanted to congratulate the guy on winning your heart. Then when I saw him attacking you, I knew I had to jump in and save you."

"Thank you Spike," Rarity smiled, and then nodded to her impaled wings, "Now, get these things out of me and we can stop him."

"Right!" Spike nodded and went to the wings. As he grabbed one of the daggers, he sighed, "Sorry for being mad at you."

"No dear, I am sorry for getting you mad at me," Rarity said sighing.

Spike opened his mouth to say more, but Bad Horse's arms reached from behind his back and wrapped around his neck. Before Spike has a chance to move, Bad Horse judo threw him into the nearby wall. Getting back up, Bad Horse struck Spiek with a powerful lightning bolt, sneering as he watched Spike writhe in pain, "Poor Spike. While Starfleet and the harmony bearers are remembered in the future as heroes. You know what they say about you? Nothing, you are forgotten by history."

"S-shut up!" Spike said, rolling away from the Lightning blast. Getting back on all fours, he snarled at him.

"You know why you are forgotten? Because unlike the other mares, you'll go on to do nothing of worth, nothing of importance, and die as a loser. You are just an abandoned dragon whelp so desperate for love and affection that you chase after a mare you had no chance with," Bad horse chuckled.

"Not true!" Rarity said, glaring at him. "Yes, we may have left him behind on some mission, but because he is too young to be facing things like Discord or Sombra. Sure, he may have been put to work, and I may have used him sometime, but that doesn't mean we don't care for him! To a lot of us, he is like a helpful little brother, always by our side. Tell me, does the future treat our little siblings like that!?"

"What does it matter?" Ba horse asked as he looked over his shoulder at Rarity.

"Because that's what Spike is to a lot of us, another little sibling. Well," she blushed, "most of us."

Spike heard this and smiled. Racing towards Bad Horse, he tucked his tail into his mouth and became a little ball of fire, "Dragon Wheel."

"You know the fun part of killing you through the various time lines?" Bad horse chuckled as he roundhoused Spike in the face, sending him flying into the crystalline walls, "Learning how to beat that move. Now, Dark King taught me a spell," he said grabbing Spikes' neck and lifting him up, "that I have been dying to use."

"What is it?" Rarity asked, watching his hand glow to prepare casting.

"I am gonna suck his lifespan away, every second that passes by, he will become older. In a few minutes, his heart won't be able to support his body," Bad Horse said, sneering.

"No!" Rarity screeched and began to struggle more, trying to pull away, but the daggers held her fast against the wall. Stopping her struggled for a moment, she looked away f om the sight of Bad Horse draining Spike and to the crystals on the walls, and then sighed, "Blood is never easy to wash out."

As Bad Horse drained Spike of his life energy, making the dragon's body grow as he did, he was distracted b a high pitched scream. Turning around, he saw a pair of bloody wings impaled to a wall and sitting there, on he knees with her mane matted from sweat was Rarity, "Y-you cut off your own wings?!"

"A-Anything," Rarity panted through her pain, "for a friend!" raising her hands up, dark violet magic glowing around her hands in the form of balls of thaumaturgic energy. Narrowing her eyes at the horse, she breathed slowly, "You know," her breath came out in short pants as she struggled to concentrate, "You picked a bad place to capture me. I can feel every gem in this cave, it's my special talent you know. Which means I can control each and every single one!"

Bad Horse barely had a chance to react as he dropped Spike in shock and horror as he watched every gem in th gave explode out from their confinement in the walls and point right at him, covered in the same glow as Rarity's magic. He turned to Rarity, his eyes still in shock, "Y-you."

"Oh,can't forget that amulet I gave you, the one close to your heart," Rarity said, shattering the amulet into tiny pieces, "Word of advice... Don't threaten the lives of my friends!""

Bad Horse barely had a chance to say a word or move out of the way as every gem in Rarity's control impaled him, "...Spitfire, I'm sorry..."

Rarity gave a smile of triumph, before finally collapsing in a fiant.

"Code names? But Lightning never said anything about this to us," Luna said, placing a finger to her chin.

Trixie walked forward, looking down ,"So, Lightning has either been misinformed, or his memories of the events have been erased. But why?"

"Considering the story I was fed made the element bearers look like wimps and made it look like that they let Bad Horse die, I think the answer is becoming clear," Luna said.

"What?" Trixie asked.

Luna frowned, "To help further the focus of our strength into Starfleet. If Celestia believes that the bearers are incapable of fighting without Starfleet, then she will become closer to Grand Ruler and believe that our power lies not in compassion but in war."

"But, it has failed, hasn't it?" Trixie asked, looking up at her mentor, "Celestia still has faith in friendship and love after all of this time."

"Yes, but I wonder," Luna said. "The whole entire Dark King situation seemed to only try and destroy the very foundations of what Celestia had believed in. To make us more like them, from that abysmal Valkyrie mode to the very adventure into future."

"Do you think you actually went to the future," Trixie asked.

"I believe that we saw something, that we waged a fight with somepony called Dark King, but beyond that, no, we did not go into the future," Luna said with a shake of her head. "Come Trixie we need to-"

"Wait, Trixie wants to see this dream through t the end," Trixie said, holding up a hand.

"I thought you didn't like romance?" Luna asked.

Trixie shook her head, "This isn't about love. You want Trixie to solve this problem, correct? Then she wants to see why this moment is important to Rarity."

Rarity woke up to the sound of beeping and light snoring Looking around, she found herself in a hospital ward, an EKG and IV attached to her body. Flicking her ears towards the snoring, her gazed focused on a frizzy pink mane, "Pinkie Pie?"

Pinkie's ears flicked and she looked up, her eyes red from tears. When she saw Rarity away, she let out a large gasp, "You're awake! Rarity' You're awake! Hey Sweetie Belle!"

To Rarity's left, a slightly smaller head turned in the bed next to her, "Yay!, You're awake!"

"Sweetie Belle?" Rarity whispered.

"She had to give you some of her blood because of how much you lost when you cut off your wings," Pinkie said, hugging Rarity. "Oh, I can't wait to tell te others!"

""Did you..." Rarity paused, "Stay with me the whole time?"

"Nope," Pinkie shook her head. "I had the afternoon shift, Applejack had the morning shift and Dashie had the evening. We took turns staying with you because the hospital wouldn't let us all stay."

"Not to mention we all had other things to do too," Applejack said, hugging Rarity, "Glad to see you're ok sugarcube."

"Well, not totally, I'm afraid," Rarity looked behind her, noting the loss of her feathery appendages. "Lost the wings."

"Yeah, Nurse Redheart said that they can't reattach them when they get cut off like that. Sorry," Applejack said.

Rarity waved a hand dismissively, "It is all right, they were cumbersome anyway." Then her eyes shot up in horror, "Spike? Where is Spike!?"

"In the next room, he is in kind of bad shape," Applejack said with a sigh and lowered her head. As Rarity looked on sadly, Applejack continued, "The doc said it was like he had ten years of his life sucked right out of him. It's changed him a little, but they say that his mind might not take the trauma of aging so quick, or handle so much energy loss in such a short amount of time."

"Can I go see him?" Rarity asked. Applejack said nothing as she left the room.

In a short time, Rarity was let out of the room and just as quickly, she ran to Spike's Room. When she got there, her eyes began to well up as she saw the young dake laying in bed, "Oh, Spikey, my wonderful drake." she whispered as she walked towards the prone body. No longer a small twelve year old dragon, he was much closer to Rarity's age by a year. Baby fat was replaced by lean muscle and he had grown a little green goatee to match his spines. Surprisingly, there was a noticeable lack of wings on his back, "Looks like Twilight might be right, you are a luck dragon. A very lucky dragon."

She let out a sigh as she rubbed his chest, "Applejack told me the doctors said that you might not wake up, due to the quick aging, but I don't believe them, because you are my dragon. You are Spike, son of Twilight, and she would never give up. It isn't in your nature. Besides, I have a little confession," she sighed as she sat on the bed and looked down, "I always have known about your little crush on me, it was obvious. But, I had long treated it as that, a little crush that a child has on a teacher or an adult that one has when the are young. Even I had one on this stallion in high school, and i figured it was better to let you hang onto it then break your heart like a monster. I thought, you might grow out of it and just continued to go on dates with stallions that suit my fancy. But you know what, you want to know a secret?"

With a soft smile, she looked at Spike's face, "If you had waited for me, and still found me beautiful when you grew up," with a pause, she placed a hand on her heart, "I would've gone out with you. I would've taken you out. There was only a ten year difference between us, my grandmother married her beau when she was 40 and he was but that. It's kind of funny you know? I searched high and low for that knight, the hero that would save me and sweep me off my feet. And instead of a stallion it was a dragon that did it." with tears in her eyes she whispered, "Oh, Spike. If you wake up, I promise, I'll take you out on the town! I'll take you to all of the best places in Canterlot, we'll paint the town red together, you and I. Just...come back to me, please." she then leaned in and kissed Spike softly on the lips.

"Wow," Spike said, his eyes fluttering open, "Maybe I should sacrifice myself for you more often"

Rarity smiled and her eyes widened in pure bliss. Then she began to lay upon a swath of kisses on Spike's face, speaking in between kisses as she hold him close, "OH Spike, you wonderful handsome drake you. You're al right! Wait...how long were you awake?" Rarity asked.

Spike blushed, "About a few hours ago. Applejack wasn't laying hen she said that little spell did a number on my body, but when she came in to check up on me, that was when she saw me getting up. I kind of wanted to surprise you with a hug, but then you did that nice speech, I couldn't stop you."

Rarity pulled away and then pouted, before turning her head, "Oh, I see. Well, I am glad you are ok."

"I'm sorry for doing to that to you Rarity," Spike said, running a claw through her mane, "Did you mean what you said."

Rarity took his claw in her hand and smiled softly, "I meant every single word Spike. Let's see where this crush of yours leads, now that it isn't awkward."

"I would love that," Spike said, leaning up and kissing Rarity softly.

"Um, should we go?" Applejack asked.

Pinkie Pie giggled,"What and miss out on the massive snogging they are planning?"

AS Trixie watched the two lovers blush, she sighed, "Trixie understands now." Pulling back a breath, she shouted, "Rarity, do you not see? Do not let your love be broken by one argument, you two love each other. Go back to your dragon and apologize."

"Wonderfully said," Luna said.

Trixie sighed, "She won't realize that it was Trixie will she."

"Even if she did, she will dismiss your appearance as just a part of the dream. Dreamwalkers like you and I are rarely given due credit for helping through bad times. Most are wont to thank a teddy bear or some other token."

"Trixie sees," Trixie said, having a little smile on her lips, "And yet... t doesn't seem important to Trixie right now."

"You are growing up, my student...

In the waking world, Rarity woke up and looked to the side of her bed. Her eyes looked at a photo of her and Spike in front of town hall, a fire ruby ring in his hand and him on one knee. Rarity had tears in her eyes in the picture as she accepted Spike proposal on that day. Sighing, Rarity whispered, "Oh Spike, I am sorry for being so cross. I'll make it up tomorrow, I promise."

---

A figure walked in into a large room where five cells rested. Within each cell was a creature: A rock dog, a small antelope like creature, a mare encased in fire, an earth pony with a deranged smile, and an unicorn. The figure walked by the sells and smiled, "Unleash them all."

"Sir," asked a unicornicopian, "Are you sure?"

"Yes, I have grown tired of Lightning's weakness in dealing with the Elements, it's time for some...corrections."

---

In a cave, not to far away from Canterlot mountain, Titan and Mage walked to the entrance. Mage turned her head up to look at Titan,"I can feel the one we are looking for in here, but he is not."

"I know," Titans said, waving a hand as he walked further into the cave. There was a calm smile as he said, "So, this is where you've been hiding old friend."

---

Conquest walked away from Starla's room, a big grin on his face. He could still hear her screaming out her hatred of him from where he began to walk. As he passed by some of th cells, he could still hear the howls of hate, anger and rage at him coming from the cells. Sticking out his hands, he waved his hands in a beckoning motion, begging them to continue their anger. Skipping along happily he made his way to a cell that was flowing with dark magic. Smirking, he opened the door," Hey buddy! How's getting our latest recruit?"

"It has taken me a while, but I believe I have found his soul. It was trapped deep within the darkest reaches of Tartarus and I needed the power of Luminoth to take it," the figure said.

"But, you got him, right? Please tell me you got him!" Conquest said.

"Yes," the figure smiled as he waved a cloven hoof in the air, making the body form in front of them."

"Great! Because it just wouldn't be a siege of the empire without- pause for dramatic effect- Sombra!"

---

In early hours of the morning, the five element bearers found themselves walking down the hallways of new Canterlot castle, their echoing footsteps reverberating along the empty walls. Rainbow Dash was at the head of the group, flying along with Applejack as the later strode through the castle, "I can't believe this," Dash said, seeing the looks from the Unicornicopians, "For five months we have been doing more than Starfleet in protecting them and we are still looked down like pieces of Tank's stool!"

"Ah know," Applejack sighed, keeping her head forward. Still feeling the heat from the looks of the various soldiers. Some of the Unicornicopians turned their noses up, while other looked at them with disdain, "Ah know."

"Why do they still hate us?" Pinkie asked. "Didn't we save Philly?"

Glarity shook her head "It doesn't matter to them, as far as they are concern we are still in a war, we only held back a small force. It's like if you just gained a lot of money and turned into a noble. The rest of the old money will still see you as just that mare who got lucky."

Fluttershy let out a shiver, and looked at a pillar to see Rhymey staring at her from the shadows, "Rhymey..."

"Is he really trying to stalk you?" Dash asked, looking back up at the disappearing Starfleet member, "Don't worry, tell me and I will kick his ass for you."

"Thank you," Fluttershy said.

As the group entered into the throne room, all five of them quickly took a knee and bowed before Grand Ruler as he sat on his throne, "Greetings, Knights."

The bile with which he said that word was not lost on Applejack's ears as she smiled, "Grand Ruler, you wanted to see us?"

"Yes," Grand Ruler said calmly, rising to his feet, "I have received reports that Dark Conquest is about to unleash five monsters at five different cities at once. Obviously his plan is to divide our forces while Celestia attends the anniversary party of Princess Cadence."

"Pardon me for asking, sir," Glarity asked, "But this sounds awfully out of character for Conquest. It doesn't fit his style."

"It is as i said," Grand Ruler began, smirking, "Now that Conquest has seen the power of Starfleet, he is going to fall back on to the basic strategy of sending a new monster once in awhile for us to fight. No one really uses a strategy like he did for very long."

Rainbow Dash resisted the urge to facepalm, "So, what do you want us to do?"

"Go to these five cities and protect them. I will have Starfleet go to the crystal empire to watch over that. Now, you five are dismissed, I have to go and introduce Starfleet to its three new recruits, Lightning will have to get to know his new teammates," Grand Ruler said, walking away.

Nodding, the element bearers walked to the front doors of the throne room and began making their way to the hanger where the airship awaited them. Applejack had a frown as she followed close behind the group, "Something about this little plan stinks and Ah don't like it. Not one bit."

"But, what if he's right?" Fluttershy asked, looking down, "What if Conquet is planning on something. We need to be there."

"Yeah, Ah know," Applejack sighed, punching the wall next to her, "Damn it! Why does he seem to keep putting us in these situations?"

Dash smiled and patted Applejack, "It's because he keeps underestimating us, AJ."

As they got onto the airship, Celestia watched them leave, "I don't like this."

"Problem, Celestia?" Goldwin asked.

Celestia frowned, "Conquest isn't one to use a tactic like this. What s there to gain? how does it hurt us in anyway? His attacks have all been around isolating us and breeding hatred, those cities provide neither."

Goldwin smiled, "Maybe it's a trap."

"Set by who though?" Celestia said. "Get a word out to my sister, tell her that she needs to send her little tea out on a mission."

"Oh, so you want me to send a little birdy?" Goldwin said making a little paper pegasus representation of Derpy and sent her on her way.

---

"It's only breakfast, does she have to take so long!?" groaned Raindrops ass she lowered her head to the table, whimpering.

Lyra sighed and leaned back, looking up in the ceiling, "It's been only ten minutes when she started, food takes time to prepare."

Raindrops frowned at Lyra, "I can make toast in five minutes, why does it tak-"

"Breakfast is here!" said Carrot Top as she walked in, carrying a plate of food on each arm. "I figured with some of the carrots that Spark bought a few days ago, I wanted to make something special, so carrot pancakes with some strawberry frosting and a cherry on top." with a smile, she placed the plates down in front of the five mares. Looking up, she asked, "Where's Spark?"

"She'll be down soon, late night," Trixie said, looking down at the plate. She frowned and placed a finger on her chin.

"Something wrong? Are you allergic?" asked Ditzy.

"Needs something," Trixie said, using her magic to levitate a jar of peanut butter, some hot sauce, and mozzarella. Then she began to smear the combination onto her pancake and began to eat it.

"Oh, Celestia," moaned Raindrops.

"I am starting to think she has a cast iron stomach, or is part earth pony," chuckled Lyra as she began to eat her food.

Trixie frowned at this, "No, that is not it at all. It is a little known fact that the best way to build up stronger reserves of mana is to eat a variety of unique foods and toppings. It's why Trixie's mana potions are always made with a little bit of hot sauce and honey in them, plus bourbon."

"Actually," said Spark, her voice monotone as she walked into the kitchen. Her eyes were sunken in, grey mane frazzled, and her body limp, "Thaumaturgist have actually stated in magicians weekly that mana reserves are usually linked to caffeine intake, talent, and a few other factors."

"Um, Spark, are you ok?" asked Ditzy.

Spark raised a hand, walking to a pot of black brew. Lifting the pot, she poured it into a cup labeled ' Go juice inc' and began to mix honey, milk, and some cherry juice into her cup, "As a matter of fact, the only side benefit of eating like Trixie does is an increase in magical stamina and," slowly she sipped her brew. After two seconds of drinking her coffee, her body glowed and her hair and eyes were done up, "endurance to magical poisons. Now, her recipe isn't surprising, it's a little known fact that ether flowers are naturally bitter so a lot of magicians and mages prefer to mix ingredients to make their mana potions taste better. It's actually one of the first recipes you learn in advance potion brewing class. I don't drink hat many mana potions because my mana supply is so high, but I usually like to stay with mixing a little cherry and strawberry into my mana potions to make them taste a little sweeter. Actually, an old friend of mine taught me how to mix strawberries, I just used cherry juice."

As Spark said this at a rapid fire pace, this left the table a little dumbfounded. After a few moments, Lyra was the first to speak, "Wait, did you go to Celestia's school? When, I thought I knew everypony in that potions class."

"I thought you went to the Barding division," Cheerilee asked.

Lyra shrugged, "Positions 101 was an elective I could take, and I thought it would help with my singing voice."

"I was a year behind you, so it is no surprise that you may have missed me," Spark said, sitting to the table and eating her pancakes.

"Wait, you have some friends from where you come from?" Ditzy asked, "Where are they, do we know them?"

"They are," Spark paused, "Around. I left them behind in order to complete my mission and when I am done with Grand Ruler, I'll go back to them. Then we can meet them."

"Don't you miss them?" Ditzy asked.

Spark shook her head, "Not really. I know that leaving them behind is necessary for this mission. I need to do what is necessary to make sure that they are safe and that Equestria will be restored. I know they are fine and that they are not in danger and that-"

"The Bearers of Harmony might be walking into a trap," Luna said, stepping into the kitchen. Once these words settled into the room, Spark got up from the table and ran pass Luna, brushing her to the side. The princess of the night watched Spark's speedy exit and smiled knowingly, 'Get dressed and meet me in the briefing room, now."

With a nod, each one of the six got out of their chairs and ran out of the door. Within a few moments, each mare had gotten dressed and sat in the drawing room of the mansion, or the briefing room as they had begun to call it, "Where is Dyno, isn't he one of us?" asked Ditzy.

"He is also busy being our informant, explosions stallion, and our decoy should we get caught," Cheerilee said, sitting on the sofa. "It might be better if he keeps his distance."

Luna stepped in front of the seven mares and looked at each one of them, "It seems that Grand Ruler has sent the element bearers out to five separate cities to 'stop a monster attack'" she said, wagging her fingers for emphasis.

"Conquest doesn't attack like that, he's not one to send out monsters weekly," Spark said, a finger to her chin, "He doesn't have anything to gain from attacking those five cities and it doesn't hurt Starfleet in anyway."

"It's a trap," Cheerilee said, "He's using Lightning Blitz's strategy, split up the five generals to get them alone and fight them one-one one."

"That is what Celestia has guessed, but the question is, who is the trap for? Starfleet, so Conquest can take another member out? Or for the bearers of harmony," Luna said.

Lyra let out a gasp, "You don't think Grand Ruler would be so insane that he would harm the bearers just to make himself look good, would he?"

"It's propaganda," Cheerilee said, "Since our rebellion struck and the recent victory in Philly, Unicornicopians are starting to lose faith in their leader. Some of them are actually thinking that maybe the Equestrians are right, and some are even joining our little rebellion. If he has the five taken down a notch he could start winning back support for his team."

"We can't let him hurt the bearers," Spark said, standing up, "To lose them would mean losing... everything. The airship they are on will probably making it's last delivery soon, I can teleport you five there quicker."

"Five?" Trixie asked, "Who's not going?"

"You," Spark said, and placed a hoof onto Trixie's shoulder, "They know who you are and what you look like. If anypony sees you, then they might not spring the trap. Those five will go, scout for the monster or whatever it is, and then we can work out a way to tell the bearers that they are walking into a trap."

"Fine," Trixie said, sighing.

Spark then added, 'Besides, whatever is out there is no match for the greatest mage in Equestria, correct?"

"Of course," Trixie smirked.

"There is one other thing that bothers me," Luna said, "The Crystal Empire is having a celebration in honor of Cadence and Shining Armor's wedding. My sister herself is heading there with Lightning and his new team at this moment. I worry that Conquest might be planning on a siege of the empire to take advantage of this moment."

---

Lightning Dawn walked through the halls of Canterlot Castle, sighing and his head down. There was a time, he had looked forward to being given a new assignment by his master, but those days are gone. Looking to his side, he frowned and sighed when he was again reminded the absence of his teammates, their voices no longer giving him comfort or a reason to face the next mission. Now, alone in the quiet, he began to see what it was that made the bearers so cheerful, something that despite all of Grand Ruler's teachings he needed at that moment, friends. He turned to walk back down the hall when footsteps caught his attention. When he turned to the noise, he smiled wide when he saw the figure, "Artie!"

"Hello," Artie said, walking pass Lightning.

"B-but, I had thought you left us," Lightning said, finding himself smiling a little.

Looking back at Lightning, Artie frowned, "I got into this job to be a hero, to fight for something better than myself. I may not know what that is yet, but one thing I do know is that the only way to be the hero i want to be is by staying here. This is where I can do the best good," he finished walking away.

"Thanks, for being here anyway," Lightning said softly.

"Why give thanks

That is a traitor in our-" Rhymey paused, unable to think of a rhyme.

Artie chuckled, "Wow, Rhymey, your rhymes are worse than usual." pausing, he asked, "Why did I think that?"

Rhymey growled as he followed the group, trying to not show his frustration. As he followed them, he smiled and bowed when they had entered the throne room before the presence of Grand Ruler. Raising a right hand, Grand Ruler bade them to rise, "Lightning, I am glad that you and your team could make it, I have an important announcement."

"Yes, sire?" Lightning asked, watching as three figures stepped into the room.

"These are the three new recruits I told you about," Grad Ruler said. "They are to replace your fallen comrades and to help strengthen our forces."

"We are pleased to stand by your side, Lightning," said the trio as the bowed to the three.

A brown earth pony mare with short cut blonde mane and a AT4W ID code smiled, "Hi, my name is Terra Strike! I have earth powers and I can throw giant rocks. I am also really peppy."

"My name is Copy-Cat," a black stallion with cat-like ears began. "I have the ability to fly with my tail and copy the powers of any Starfleet member" he said, looking those his white pupiless mask. Moving his tail, he revealed his id code to be DB4F

"And I am Beast Boy," said a green unicornicopian with a green frizzy mane. His id code read CW4L, that was shown on his purple jumpsuit, "My power lies in the ability to change into any animal want."

Artie stepped forward, "Wait, how old are you?"

"14" the trio said at once.

"Sir, I protest, these three are rookies, children!" Artie said. "They are not ready for this."

"They have passed their exams with flying colors, I see no reason why they shouldn't be a part of this team," Grand Ruler said, before narrowing his eyes, "Or are you questioning my commands."

"No sir, he is not," Lightning said, interrupting Artie. "As a matter of fact, we should be heading out on our first mission to the Empire, Artie come with me." he said, grabbing Artie and pulling him out of the throne room.

AS Grand Ruler watched the two leave, he glared daggers at Rhymey, "Rhymey, keep an eye on my sword, please. I am not sure I can trust him to keep everything in order."

"Yes sire," Rhymey said, beginning to walk away.

"Oh, and fix your voice, you sound like you have been having a problem speaking as of late," Grand Ruler added.

Outside of the throne room, Artie glared at Lightning, "Why did you do that?! We can't take his child-"

"I was trying to save your life!" Lightning said, turning his head away and let out out a breath, "You don't know what he would do to you if he found you that you were question his ideals. Send you away, kill you, or re-educate you. Something horrible and I don't want to lose anymore teammates."

"So, we are going to be working with children on this mission?" Artie asked.

Lightning looked away, "I need to. How else can I prove myself to be any kind of leader if I can't protect a couple of teens on one mission. Please, I know..." he shivered, "I know we aren't friends, and I haven't been that much of a captain, but I beg you to help me on this. Please!"

The pleading tone, the small bit of tears that Artie could see on Lightning's face, softened the unicornicopian, "Fine, we'll go and I will do all I can to protect those kids. But, you better be ready to prove yourself this time."

"Watch me," Lightning said. "This will be easy.

---

Applejack walked down the street of Oatsburg, noting the lifelessness of it all. With each step that her orange shoes took a faint chill came across her body. Looking back and forth, she began to feel uneasy at the lack of ponies and the general lack of an army. After stepping into a wide center of town encircling a fountain, she heard a loud hit and a scream. Turning around, she saw a jasmine flying through the air and into the ground, "What the?" looking down, she helped the mare up, "R-Raindrops, what are you doing here?"

"Re-recon," Raindrops moanes, nursing a deep purple bruise on her side. "Heard about a trap and wanted to see it."

As Raindrops explained, Applejack quickly ran over her words, " Rainshower... You're a part of the rebellion!"

"Yeah, I - But that is kind of not-"

Raindrops didn't have a chance to finish as a maniac laugh began to fill the area, " Oh, thank you, Rainykins, you saved me the hunt."

Applejack turned to the voice, seeing a brown mane earth pony mare with a white coat walking towards her, "Don't know who yAll are, but you picked the wrong mare to fight."

"Applejack, wait!"Shouted Raindrops as Applejack punched the mare hard enough to snap her neck.

"Oh, Celestia, Ah am so sorry."Applejack said,

What happened next, made Applejack's eyes widen in horror and let out a gasp of she watched the mare snak her neck back into place with a sickening crack, "Oh, its all right. I didn't feel a thing! HEHEHEHE" the white mare laughed sadistically. "Oh, don't give me that look. It's not that odd, is it?" she asked, cracking her neck to an unusual angle, "Oh, wait. Maybe you never met a pony like me before?"

Before Applejack could respond, the mare snapped her arm loose and swung it at her, hitting her in the face. Before she could recover from the blow, Applejack was hit hard in the chin by an uppercut and a sick kick, "See, I can disconnect my joints anywhere I want, it's my special talent! Guess that is why they call me Ragamuffin. Caaaaause, I can break my body up like a little rag doll and use my limbs to beat you until you're dead."

"But that punch should still hurt you," Applejack said, getting to her feet.

"Oh, that's because the Doctor in my Cage did something special to me," Ragamuffin said, her eyes becoming cockeyed while smiling in a devilish grin. "He went into my spine and deadened all of my nerve endings and now," she then bent backwards all the way around until her head was in between her legs. Then she turned her head upside down, "I feel no pain whatsoever!"

"Ah think Ah am starting to see why she was a problem," Applejack said, getting back into her fighting stance, while Raindrops nodded.

"Now, let's see, I was supposed to tell you my backstory, right?"Ragamuffin said, getting back into her standing position. "Now, what was it? Was it like Frost Eye where I was trapped by Celestia because I was a mocker? No, that's not it. Oh, no that's Raven. Oh, wait, now I remember. Five hundred years ago, I was sentenced to be put under a rock for all of eternity because I just kept insulting other ponies artworks because I was a lazy pony who didn't learn how to farm."

"Celestia would never-" Applejack's eyes opened wide when her mind thought of Frost Eye and his backstory. "Do... that."

Ragamuffin giggled, "I know! But, that was the backstory I was given and told to play out. I don't really have a choice. Though personally, i find it boring, don't you? I just like the beatings!" she said the last sentence in a musical like tone.

"Raindrops, run," Applejack said,plainly as she and her friend began to get some ground between them and the insane pony.

"Hehehehehehe, HahaHAHAhahaha! Now, don't run, the pain hasn't started yet, and I want some screaming!" Ragamuffin laughed like a mad mare.

---

Rainbow Dash flew through the small little hamlet, using the rainclouds to put out some fires. As she flew, she kept an eye out for the arsonist and the threat that Grand Ruler told her about. As she scanned the area, she saw, sitting on a bench, slowly stroking her instrument, was a mint green unicorn, "Lyra?"

"Shh," Lyra said, standing up to her full height, "I'm trying to focus here."

"On what?" Dash asked.

Lyra opened her eyes and began to look around, "For our little arsonist. I had saw her pass by for a few seconds and I have been trying to slow her down so I can see what type of pony she is."

"A fire mare, from Manes," A mare said, her accent thick. When the the two ponies turned, they saw a mare with black coat with a fiery mane streaming down her back. Along the fetlocks of her arms and legs were helixes of fire.

"Manes?" Dash asked.

Lyra looked to Rainbow Dash and began to explain, "Manes is an island in the tropics of Equestria. Fire MAres are ponies that can control and live in fire."

"Yes, it is said that we fire mares are touched by Celestia herself," the mare said, smiling, "You may call me Serrano."

"Are you the one who has been causing these fires?" Dash asked.

Serrano bowed, "Of course. I had to do something to lure one of Friendship is Magic out here. Instead, I got an infuriating rebel to fight me."

"Ok, first, she has a name, her name is Lyra. And she is just as capable as kicking your can as I am. Second, get the memo, we ditched the Friendship is Magic as a team name a long time ago," Dash said, crossing her arms and looking smug, "We prefer to be called the Knights of Harmony or the Element Bearers."

"Considering your ego, I thought you would call yourselfs the Rocking Rainbooms," chuckled Serrano.

Dash frowned, "I would've but Applejack and Rarity stopped me."

"I see," Serrano then smirk, "Well, now that the introductions are done, it's time for me to hurt you."

"Fat chance," Dash said, jumping up and down on her feet while holding up her fists in a boxing position.

"Rainbow Dash, I should warn you that-" before Lyra could say anything, the fire mare raced over in a blaze of flame and punched Dash hard in the stomach. Before she could recover, rainbow was hit by an uppercut and a roundhouse that sent her flying, "Fire mares are extremely fast and are always on fire."

Rainbow Dash rolled, tying to get the fire off of her armor, "Thanks for the warning."

---

Pinkie Pie skipped through the abandoned town, her eyes taking in the desolate city with an air of curiosity. Occasionally, she would shout out for anypony to answer her to come out and each time she was met with an echo. She let out a sigh as the city's silence began to dwell on her. As she walked past the city hall, a chill went along the spine and down her knees, "An arrow is coming at me?" She asked, quickly ducking under a crossbow bolt. Turning around she saw Cheerilee stumbling towards her, "Hey Cheerilee, what's happening?"

"Pinkie, run away," Cheerilee strained as she struggled to lower her armed hand. "I got no control."

"What do you mean?" Pinkie asked.

A voice rang out," What she means is, that she is subject to my whims as of this moment. She won't stop fighting you until you are a bloody pulp. Now you could fight her, but the only way I am letting go of her is if you kill her."

"Why are you doing this? How are you controlling her," Pinkie asked.

"My strings," The voice boomed from around her, the voice echoing through various speakers. "See, my power relies in the strings attached to my fingertips. Once I catch a pony in my strings, they are under my power. I know trying to catch you in my net is impossible, but forcing you to fight a friend, that is much easier."

"What do you want me to do?" Pinkie asked, looking back at the struggling mare.

"That little belt of yours, drop it and then let the mare beat you until you are a bloody mess," the voice said, and then asked as it watched Pinkie pull out some shears and a stick, "What are you doing?"

Pinkie smiled with a wide toothy grin, "OH, well, you see, I am still going to dodge Cheerilee, but I will begin to find out where you are and when I do, I am going to cut the strings and then..."

"Then?" asked the voice.

"It's party time," Pinkie Pie giggled

---

Fluttershy walked through the park, her hooves crunching the fallen branches beneath her. Every step she took, it made it seem that the foliage and the surrounding greenery was getting thicker and denser. As the canopy became thicker, it was giving the area a nighttime atmosphere. This left Fluttershy feeling a little nervous as she felt a little shiver across her spine. Darting her blue eyes back and forth, she kept an eye out for any attacker.

A soft moan came from a deep thicket not to far away from her. Turning around, Fluttershy looked at the small bush and ran to it, seeing a grey mare with in, wrapped in vines, "D-Ditzy? How did you get here?"

A soft voice spoke from behind Fluttershy, "Please don't, my vines don't like it when you get near. They are very agitated you see."

Fluttershy turned to see a short little brown coated girl with dark round eyes, "An antelope?"

"Close, I am a Dik-Dik," the dik-dik said, smiling softly, "My name is Birch Feeder and this is my garden."

"Why do you have Ditzy trapped?" Fluttershy asked.

"Oh, please don't misunderstand, this wasn't meant for her...it was meant for you," Birch said, holding out a hand and letting one of the vines entangle around his arm.

"M-me?" asked Fluttershy, her eyes wide.

Birch nodded calmly, continuing to speak in his nonchalant and calm tone, "Yes, you have been a naughty pony, breaking the rules and destroying the natural order of the world.I have come to fix it. This little trap was meant to trap you so I can torture you slowly and make you suffer for your indiscretions."

Fluttershy let out a shudder, "But why me?"

"Because those who break the order.. .need punishment," Birch said, letting the vines let go of his arm. Then he smiled, "Now,we could fight to free her,but we Dik-Diks are horrible physical fighters. So, I make this proposal. Tell me, do you like riddles?"

"Yes, I do. Dis-an old friend of mine used to tell me them and I would have fun guessing them all the time," Fluttershy smiled softly, thinking of a certain Draconequus.

Birch let another viner slither between his fingers, "Here is the deal. We are both going to ask each other riddles. For every one wrong answer, a vine will begin to coil itself around us. We will stop when one of us is entrapped by the vines."

"And if I win, you will give up and let Ditzy go, right?" Fluttershy asked.

Birch nodded, a serene smile on his lips, and spoke with a calm tone that lacked any malice "And if I win, I get to do whatever I want with your trapped body. Break your bones, carve your pretty face into something horrific, ram thorns into your womb to leave you infertile, cut your teats into ribbons, remove anything that makes you a woman, sever your wings, and other unpleasant things, Everything I want to do until you realize that your sin is unforgivable and you repent for your crimes. Deal."

Fluttershy listened to these sick words and the disturbing way he spoke them, "Deal." she said, her eyes narrowing as she looked to the trapped Ditzy.

"Good, I'll start," Birch said. "It cannot be seen, Cannot be felt, not heard, and not smelt, it lies behind stars and under hills, and empty holes its fills, it comes first and comes after, ends life and kills laughter. What is it?"

"The answer is dark," Fluttershy said calmly. "What has yellow skin and writes?"

"I don't know," Birch said, before a vine wrapped around his foreleg and squeezed. Not losing his cool, he said, "What belongs to you but people use it more than you?"

"Um, I-ahhh!: fluttershy scream as a vine binded to ger left hind leg. "W-what sits in a tree, weighs six ounces and is very dangerous?"

"S sparrow with a machine gun," Birch said, "I don't have eyes, but once I did see. I had thoughts, but I am now white and empty."

"You are a skull," Fluttershy said.

---

Glarity ducked under the arrow as it shot across the sky and through her mane. Looking up, she could hear a voice whisper, "Oh, it's just the doll. Why should I bother with just a little doll like her."

"What?" Glarity asked, stepping back in shock.

The vice chuckled as Carrot Top came running in, "Did he really think that I should fight a doll, when I could be using my spectacular talents on a real threat? Enjoy the doll, mud pony! I am going to Ponyville for a real fight." and with a laugh a bright light appeared in the sky, indicating a teleport.

Glarity shook her head in shock before letting out a shout, "No, you get back here. You get back here and you fight me!" she screamed, taking a few steps forward and shouting to the sky.

As she yelled, Carrot Top tried to place her hand onto Glarity's shoulder, but pulled away when the golem batted t away her hand, "Glarity we-" Carrot paused when she watched Glarity pull out one of her arrows and grug the sharp head against the palm of her hand.

"You know," Glarity said, watching the green ooze trickle down her palm and drip to the ground, "I forget sometimes that I am just nothing more than a bunch of clay, sticks, and magic brought together by Rarity's memories. There are time when I can pretend that I am alive like you and that I am a part of their team. I call Rarity sister and they call me friend. But, it's all a lie isn't it? Isn't it?!" shouted Glarity, tears rolling down her cheek.

Carrot Top quickly moved in to hold Glarity close and rub her back, "Glarity, don't let what he said get to you. You are real to the others and that is what is important. And what is more important is that you must put aside your fears for the moment and help Rarity."

"What?" Glarity asked, snapping out of her depression.

"The monster said he's heading to Ponyville. Which means he wants to kill Rarity or Belle. We need to stop him. Does your link work both ways?" Carrot Top asked.

Glartiy nodded, her mind trying to forget her pain "Yes, I can send a message to her right away."

---

"Thank you for all your help Spike," Belle said, a soft smile on her lips as she put a book away.

Spike shrugged, "Hey, I figure you might need all the help you can get. And it will give Rarity a day to cool off."

Belle looked back at Spike, "I am sorry that you had to run."

"It's nothing really,," Spike waved her off, picking up some dusty old books. "You kind of get used to the mood swings after a while. According to Mina, she has known some mother dragons go on warpaths when they are pregnant. And they have to lay clutches of at least ten at a time.'

Belle opened her eyes wide and slid down the ladder, "Clutches of ten?!"

"Yeah, so I can't imagine what Rarity is going through. A little half-dragon, half-pony baby that is currently doing laps in her stomach, making her want weird things, and messing with her body. It kind of makes me glad I can't get pregnant," chuckled Spike. "But got to stand by her. It's my duty as a father and boyfriend.'

"Sounds like you are learning to become very responsible," Smiled Belle softy.

Spike picked up the last book from the box, smiling, "Well, I am a little older now and I need to take responsibility. It's what Twili-: he stopped when his emerald eyes looked at a sheet of paper that lay within the book. Silently he shook his head and whispered, "No."

"Spike, what is it?" asked Belle as she began to look at the book. IT was a book marked, 'Spikes baby book.' "You baby book, but wha-"

"It was something we never said out loud, you know. Just something we kept between us as a little joke," Spike whisper, sniffling a little as he looked down to the ground. "She would tell me she loved me, tuck me me in, or find ways to make my life better, and I got to be the rambunctious kid who would disobey her. It as just something we kept between us, but I never thought that she...she actually thought about-" he hen broke into tears.

Belle then began to read the paper that was inside the book, letting out a gasp as she read it

The day of our eternal Princess, this eleventh day of May in the year 1014:

I, Twilight Sparkle, being of sound mind and body, do hereby declare Heathspike Sparkle as my legal and lawful son. This declaration is made in full knowledge and consent of said ward, Heathspike Sparkle

Twilight Sparkle

Signature of adoptive parent.

Signature of consenting minor

As Witnessed by:

Shining Armor

(Signature of primary Witness)

Celestia Von Solaris

(Signature of Secondary Witness...omc the actual princess was signing this!)

"She was going to adopt you?" Belle gasped.

"That date.. .it's my birthdate. She must have wanted it to be a surprise for me on that day. There's just one problem." Spike whimpered

Belle looked at the date and then back at Spike, "Before your birthday... she died. Oh, Spike, I am so sorry." and with that, she gave Spike a tight hug as he started to break.

"I-I-I try so hard, to be strong," Spike cried. "To show it doesn't bother me, to move on and get on with my life. To grow and live happily and take responsibility. I should be happy and I am! I have a kid on the way and the best girlfriend ever, but...it's so hard! I want her here" Spike said, rubbing his face into Belle's shoulder, "to see my kid, to be proud of me, and to tell me that I did great. I want to tease her, to call her names and we can hug it out later. I just... I just... want Twilight back."

Belle nodded and hugged Spike tightly, "IT's all right, let it out. You've done a greatjob."

"Aw how sweet. You know, now that I know I get to beat the faker, I guess its ok I couldn't find that annoying fashionista.," A voice called out as he bashed the door down. "I'll just kill the librarian instead!"

---

Rainbow Dash and Lyra sat behind a fallen tree, painting. Their bodies were covered in bruises and red burns from the blows that Serrano had delivered to their bodies. As Dash straightened herself against their cover, she moaned in pain and looked at her broken piece of parm that had lodged itself into her side, "This guy doesn't play around."

"I know, fire mares are great fighters," Lyra panted, before looking to the burn on her shoulder and chest and wincing in pan. "Oh, it hurts so bad. Dash, look, he's after you. Run and let me fight him."

"What?" Dash asked, looking at Lyra with a mix of shock and disbelief.

"You are more important, you need to live. He's too much, if you run now, at least you can be safe and I can fight him without-"

"Buck that noise!" Dash growled. Standing up, she said, "I never-" before she could finish her words, images flowed in her mind. Sights of a crying Scootaloo, her little sister that she forgot. Fluttershy in the arms of a monster, her dearest friend being trapped and she did nothing to save her. And finally, Twilight's corpse, a life she could've saved. The thoughts of how she failed her element flowed through her, and a tear rolled down her cheek. Closing her eyes to banish the tears away, she narrowed her stare at Lyra, "Look, I know I can slip up, that I may falter, but if there is one thing that I will never do and that is not be there for when a pony needs me. I am always loyal to my ideas and beliefs, and that means I am not about to leave a pony to die when they need me. There is a way to kick this mare's flank, we just need to find it!"

Lyra watched and looked into Rainbow's eyes, and for a second she thought she saw a rainbow sheen in them. At that moment, she could feel the doubt in her heart leave and fill with determination as she nodded, "Right, any plans?"

"You're a bard thingy, right?" at Lyra's nodding, Dash looked to the fre mare as eh began to approach them. "Got any songs that can distract her, make her dizzy?"

"Yeah, but she can recover before we could-"

" Dash smirked, "I just need five seconds, now rock this girl's world!"

Lyra gave a nod and leapt from their perch to a podium, "Hey, fire-gal! Check this out!" And with that, she strummed her fingers along her lyre to burst out a loud and heavy riff that shook the ground. As her fingers danced and played along the strings, creating an beat that felt like two swordsmares clashing in the sunlight, her magic began to add an electric beast that heightened the tension and created a sound that made the mare stumble back and hold her ears in pain as she struggled to keep her balance against the music.

Quickly, the mare stood back up and ignited her flames even higher. As she prepared race at Lyra, she found herself trapped in a cyan tornado. Looking up, she saw her fire rising into the sky, being sucked up by the vacuum, "Do you think you can douse my flames?"

"With this? Aw heck no. But that wasn't my plan," Dash said with a smirk on her lips. "Actually, I am just using this little vacuum for a trick."

"What trick?" asked the mare, and in answer, the tornado stopped for a second, and then she felt a series of rapid punches against her spine. Serrano let out a loud scream as she felt the series of punches strike her from behind. Turning around, Serrano looked for the rainbow streak, but another loud guitar riffs from Lyra made her stumble. Growling, she looked to Lyra and prepared to throw a fireball at her. Before she could, Serrano was his by Rainbow Dash from the side as the cyan mare drove both of her fist into the side. Serrano grunted in pain, "How are you hitting me without," she the gasped when she saw how the mach cone that surrounded Dash was creating a barrier of air that was dousing the flames.

"Simple," Rainbow Dash chuckled, "I am Rainbow Dash and I make the impossible happen!" grinning, she looked up at Serrano's eyes, "Physics question, what happens if I stop pushing you and let go?"

"I don't know?!" shouted Serrano.

Dash chuckled, "Neither do I!" and with that, she let go of the mare, letting Serrano fly out like a bullet. Not missing a beat, Dash flew up at a ninety degree angle and did a curve back toward the mare and pulling back a punch. As she flew through the sky, her speed increasing, she began to see little crackles of electricity flow along her arms. She shook her head to ignore the sight and punched the fire mare with the force of a sonic boom, sending Serrano flying through trees and two buildings. Landing just a few feet away from the downed opponent, Dash smirked as Lyra came walking to her, "And that is how you take down the bad guy!"

"Hoof bump," Lyra said, extending her hand out and hitting her fist against Dash's/.

---

Fluttershy let out a gasp as another vine bind itself to her neck. By now, all it took was one more vine and either side could win. Looking back at her opponent, she saw that he still had that calm and collected look. A chill came over her as she began to realize that his next riddle might just beat her. Looking back to the trapped Ditzy, she let out a breath and then turned to glare down Birch.

Her mind knew she had to escape and to win, but she had run out of riddles. In her head, she played through every game she had played, joke she heard, and none seemed like it would work. Then she let out a gasp as a memory played.

"Hey Twilight?" Rainbow Dash asked, floating over her unicorn friend's head. "I have a question for you. One that Celestia said would be important to a spell."

"What is it?" Twilight asked, looking up from her book.

Dash looked down and whispered, "How is a raven like a writing desk?"

Twilight looked at Rainbow Dash and then smirked, "Rainow, I read Alice in Wonderland too. That riddle has no answer. It's supposed to be Carousel's commentary on impossible mathematical equestiations like finding out Pi to the highest number or impossible numbers in general. It's a good commentary, but I feel like it's lacking in substance."

Fluttershy opened her eyes wide at this, and then smirked as she asked, "How is a raven like a writing desk?"

Birch sat there shaking his head, "What? That's insane, they are nothing alike, how can you possib-urk!" his complaint was opened by the last vine wrapping its;ef around his body.

Fluttershy let out a sigh of relief as the vines removed themselves from her. Then she looked to Ditzy and ran to the outside of the vines, "Hold on Ditzy, I'll get some help." she said, taking flight. After a few minutes of waiting, a large thudding noise was heard and in came Fluttershy riding atop of a very large bear, "Ok Baloo. Could you please cut these vines down for me?"

The large grey bare gave a friendly nod as he reared back with his claws and began to slash at the vines. Within moments, he managed to cut them all down and freed Ditzy. Giving Fluttershy a playful lick, he began his walk back to the zoo, "Thanks, Fluttershy." Ditzy said with a smile.

---

Pinkie did a mid-air backflip as she dodged another bolt being fired from Cheerilee. As she landed back on her feet, she gave a bow and smiled at the mulberry earth pony. The excitement and joy never seemed to leave her face in spite of some of the cuts and stab wounds that trailed along her body. While her Pinkie Sense had served her well to keep her from getting hit, she was still only a pony and was still capable of making mistakes. Still, in spite this, she bounced on her feet with the energy of a three year old.

Cheerilee, smiled at the sight, hoping that Pinkie's confidence would be rewarded as she felt the creature holding her strings make her fire another bolt. This time, Pinkie rolled out of the way from the shot to the left. When Pinkie stood up, she sniffed the air and smiled. She even let out a giggle when she felt a slight burning on the back of her knees, giving her the cue to bring out her large shears. Before the puppet master had a chance to ask questions, Pinkie pointed her shears and clipped them. Cheerilee let out a gasp as she found her limbs capable of moving again, "I'm free!"

The creature who was controlling from the shadows spoke with a whisper, "What, how is this possible."

"Simple. Sir," Pinkie said, reaching into her mane and bringing out a yo-yo. "You, stink!" she said as she slung her yo-yo out from her fingers and into the darkness. The creature who controlled the strings let out a yelp of pain as she fell out of the shadows. The creature was large and furry,with a big mane of fur around its neck. The creatures horns jutted out from hits head with several severed strings from it, "A reindeer?"

"Yes, a Reindeer, and that 'stench' is a perfume I bought ages ago," the Reindeer said standing to her monstrously huge height, "The name is Hardanger. Now tell me, how did you find me?"

Pinki began to spin her yo-yo in her hand, subtly adding two more in her right hand, spinning three yo-yos at once, "Well, I knew you had to keep an eye on me while controlling Cheerilee, and your strings couldn't be that long. So, I played a game of hide and seek until I found you. Also, you smell. Bad. I smelled you nearby when I saw Cheerilee. So I used that to my advantage."

Cheerilee walked up to Pinkie Pie, frowning, "Pinkie, could you please give me a weapon? I want to have some revenge on this jerk."

"Sure!" Pinkie said, pulling out her and her bat 'Pinkie's little nutcracker' and handed to Cheerilee. "Here you are."

"Thanks," Cheerilee said, turning to look to the Reindeer.

Hardanger gulped and stepped back, "This is the part where I scream like a small child, isn't it?"

"Oh yeah," Pinkie and Cheerilee said together.

"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"

---

Applejack and Raindrops jumped back,panting and holding their arms in pain. To say that the battle with Ragamuffin had been brutal so far was putting it lightly. Both of the ponies could hardly stand, their arms hung limp at their sides, and blood was dripping from their lacerations that had come from being hit through windows. Ragamuffin, in comparison, looked fine. Her unique way of fighting allowed her to break her limbs and contort in ways that allowed her to dodge the punches and kicks thrown by her opponents. To make it worse, since she felt no pain, she was showing no signs of fatigue in her eyes. Just the signs of madness that she had when the fight started.

Applejack moaned a little and looked to Raindrops, "Got any plans on running away?"

"Nope," Raindrops said, wiping her chin clear of blood, "Just getting my second wind actually."

"Good, because I think I finally might have an idea on how to take this mare down," Applejack said, looking to a window and smashing it with her hand. Then she reached down and picked up a glass shard and handed another to Raindrops. "When I say now, charge at her."

"Got it," Raindrops said, nodding and kneeling down on her trembling legs, spreading her legs. Applejack sneered as she glared at the approaching mare, and smirked. With a silent nod, she watched as Applejack charged at Ragamuffin and followed suit, sliding with the farm mare and slicing at the ankles.

After their slide ended, Ragamuffin turned around slowly to face them, "Were you thinking of hurting me with those shards of glass? Heh, silly mares. I feel no pain, so that type of attack can't really hur-whoa!" she said, tripping and falling to her face. When she tried to stand up, she found her feet incapable of movie, "Hey...what gives?"

Applejack straightened her hat, "Gto to admit, that was real clever of whoever it was that messed with ya nervous system. Removing your pain receptors was a nice trick but there is one little problem with that. Ya need yer pain in order to know what's wrong with you and to stop what it is that you are doing. Ah remember how I had sprained my ankle and had to keep off of it because of how much it hurt. Ah couldn't move for a month. So, Ah figured that if we cut you somewhere important, say your achilles tendon, and you wouldn't notice if we did it."

"Oh, I see! You are one clever girl, no matter what he thinks!" Ragamuffin giggled.

"That reminds me, time to start talking," Applejack said, "Who do ya work for?"

"Oops! Can't say that, would be telling. All I can say is, we live for the one and we die for the one," Ragamuffin gigged, her body starting to convulse and twitch. Before Applejack could make another move, the mare's eyes began to roll back in head and started to bleed. Foam began to flow out if Ragamuffin mouth as her body twitched and writhed. After a few moments of twitch and writhing, she finally stopped and laid still.

Applejack shook her head and slammed her fist into her palm, "Damn it! Ah was hoping to get some answers out of. Maybe about what has been happen to us for the past few years or even more about Twilight's death."

---

"Ok, we hat the buck was that?" Dash ask, looking down at the corpse laying before them.

Lyra sat down and put a finger to her chin, " A mnemonic spell."

"Ok, now explain for us who aren't mages or bards?" Dash asked.

Lyra looked back up to Rainbow Dash, "A mnemonic spell is a sentence that we bards use to help us remember a complicated verse or a new song in an instant. We say the sentence and it turns on a switch in our heads that helps us to remember what we need. But to use it like this, as a kill switch, I have never seen anything like it."

"Who would go through the effort of sending guys like this after us, only to do use something that will kill them in the wind?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Somepony who does not want information to get out," Lyra saud.

"Just like Raven," Dash said.

"Wait, I thought Celestia killed Raven with the Elements and the Grand Celestial Ruler thing. Or that is what I read," Lyra said, looking shocked.

"Yeah, about that...

---

Spike was flung back against a bookshelf, a crossbolt in his side. Growling, he narrowed his eyes at the moose who stood before him, "You know, before I can get my second wind and kick your flank, how about you tell me who you are?"

"MY enemies call me, 'Ahhhh,'" the moose smirked twirling his crossbow in hand, "But if you are really curious... my name is Jane."

"J-jane! Hahahaha!" Spike laughed, only to quickly have to dodge some more projectiles.

"I have gender issues that I am trying to settle!" growled Jane as he fired another shot. Spike swiped his tail at the moose, making his opponent jump in response. When he was in the air, Spike quickly raised his tail to catch him in the chin. Getting to his feet, Spike ran over and delivered a cross into the moose's face, sending him flying into a table.

Shaking his head, the moose got up and used the table to block a spout of flame coming from Spike. Looking over from his cover, he saw that his opponent had vanished. Before he had a chance to looked for the wayward dragon, a double claw slash stuck his side. When he turned around he got a face full of Spike emerald flame.

With pained growl, Jane jumped back and fired some bolts into Spike's left arm. Before Spike could recover, the moose spun and bucked Spike hard in the stomach, This made Spike crash into another bookshelf, "Look at you, how pathetic. You gave away your armor and thus your only means of fighting back. You are now useless to everypony around you."

"Yeah, you are right. I gave up my armor for Rarity so she can use it on my friends. And I would do it again in a heartbeat! But you see the thing is, I'm not really useless. Because I know how to be the distraction," smirked Spike.

"What," and before Jane could turn around, he felt the power of a lightning bolt struck his side. When he looked up, he saw a furious Belle glaring down at him.

"I may not know magic, but at least I have a brain," said Belle, as she charged her lightning gun again. "Now, back away from my friend."

Jane chuckled as he got to his feet, "Oh, big mistake unicorn. You are going to run out of ammo for that fancy gun of yours and when you do I-URRK!" he groaned as slashes from a sword cut into the back of his legs. When he turned around, he saw Rarity standing in the light of the doorway, a rapier floating near her hand.

Narrowing her eyes in divine anger, Rarity sent her blade deep into the arms of the moose, "I will give you this warning once! Stay," her blade cut deep into the moose arms and legs, "Away from my boyfriend," the blade then slashed a x in his chest, "And my friend!" her blade then spin in midair before pointing at his throat, "If you do not want this blade an inch deep in your throat, I suggest you not draw your crossbow.

Jane looked at Spike and Belle, then back to Rarity with her sword. Sighing, he said, "Well, I had a good run. We live for the one, we die for the one." And with that, the mnemonic spell activated and killed him.

If Rarity had noticed his death, she did not show it as she ran into Spike's arms, " Oh, Spikey! I am so sorry that I was miffed at you and fought with you. Please forgive me. Let's never fight like that again. Oh it my fault that you got hurt." She then began to pepper his face and lips with kisses.

Spike enjoyed the kisses, before hugging Rarity and looking into her eyes, "Rarity, it's ok. I'm fine and I don't mind having these little riffs with you. It just makes the Romance more fun."

"How did you know to save us?" Belle asked, looking at the corpse of her would be assailant and then back to Rarity.

Rarity look we d to Belle and smiled, "Glarity told me about the attack while I was busy making cookies with Mother." She stood up and then paused, "Wait, just got a message from Glarity. She and Applejack are going to have a talk with the Umbra Circle on the airship."

---

"Come on Spark we need to-"

Spark shook her head, "No, you need to go, I need to stay behind and teleport you home when the meeting is sone."

"But," Trixie began, but was teleported away.

Spark sighed, " I can't see them, not yet."

---

"What?!" Trixie shouted as she looked to the five bearers as they rested on the airship. It was decided that both teams would meet on the airship that being get the knights there so they could take. Spark had opted to stay behind and a way to teleport the circle h ome.

Applejack nodded, sitting on a chair across from the circle, "It's just as we said, that fight you read about was all made up. There was no Elements, no Ruler, nothing. Don't know where you all got that idea, but ah was there to see the fight.."

"Me, well Rarity and Pinkie and Fluttershy were not privy to the fight, but I trust Applejack," Glarity saud.

Ditzy looked confused, "But the report said the elements were destroyed in the fight with Titan and-"

"A lie," Applejack said plainly. "All ah remember about that day was that we fought those three villas and the spirit of nightmare moon. Twilight got us all together to find them and save gh er m, and..."

"She wanted to follow them to their home world because she wanted to explore it," Dash laughed.

Applejack nodded, "But as we made plans, we fell asleep and when we woke up next, we found ourselves on this little planet and Celestia was telling us that she had to go and make plans for the treaty with Grand Buffoon"

"And that leads us to the day of darkness, the day nine of us can remember. When we suddenly found ourselves in these bodies," Cheerilee nodded and began to walk along the deck.

"But," Ditzy said shaking her head, " I know I saw the dreams and belief if ponies make this world. I'm sure of it, just like I saw the Ele..." Ditzy trailed off on that last sentence, her mind seeing two images. In one, the Elements were fighting Titan. The other was a normal day with her daughters.

Trixie frowned, " A glimmer." When the ten mares looked at Trixie with confused looks, the mare explained, " A glimmer is a powerful illusion spell. Much like what Trixie did to Detrot, but this was done on a planetary scale."

Raindrops growled, " So, you mean that somepony hit us with an illusion spell to make us think that the Elements were destroyed, and that there was this huge battle that ended with Equestria blowing up?"

"But what could be that powerful? A draconequus, some new enemy, or trick?" Lyra asked.

"But something did happen to the Elements,"Dash said looking solemn, " We haven't felt them or anything about them since United Equestria was born."

"Felt them?" Lyra asked.

Fluttershy began, " When the we first tapped into the Elements, it was like a door opened for us and let in this wonderful warm feeling "

"Like we were being hugged by each other tightly in a big comfy blanket, " Pinkie giggled.

"Ever since then, they had a feeling like the others were there, that they were always connected," Glarity said.

"But since that day...we haven't felt that feeling. There is nothing there, like We've been disconnected to the elements somehow."

"Trixie believes that connection is what I'd keeping you from feeling the full effects of whatever it is that us messing with us." Trixie said. " But then, what of Celestia and Raven and Sombra. We're the elements not there as well?"

"Celestia was alone in that fight. She and Raven had a sword duel in the middle of the courtyard. As for the elements, even if we had them, they won't work without Twilight." Applejack sighed

"Why is that?" Cheerilee asked.

Rainbow Dash said, " Same reason why it didn't work with Spike that day. We aren't that close."

"Yeah, Ah mean Celestia's a nice gal and all, but Ah hardly know what to say around her."Applejack said

"Rarity is too scared to offend her,"

"i, um, don't really know what we have in common."

"Everypony is my friend, but it's not the same with her."

"I think of Celestia as a big mom figure than a friend."

Applejack finished the others words, " The point is, the elements need something that can unite us as a team to activate their power and they are powered by the strong bonds of friendship that we made with each other. And no amount of training, battles, or 'making us as strong as Twilight was' is going to change that. To use the elements, we need to be friends, not just teammates."

Cheerilee frowned, "More lies and deceptions from our great leader. What's the point? Why put on this show and make us feel inferior, and what's the purpose?"

"Ah don't rightly know. Ah jus know that this all has to stop or it's gonna backfire something fierce," Applejack said.

"It already has," Raindrops said, punching her palm. "We have a monster that is waging war, taking lives, and taking away homes. Worst yet, he knows that he has us by the short hairs. We focus on him, and Grand Ruler will get more power, we focus on Grand Cockhead and he kills more of us. It's just aggravating is what it is!"

Trixie then looked at the five, "So, is the part where you arrest us? We are rebels after all."

"Well, we would but you see," Applejack held her arm, wincing, "That last fight took so much out of us that Ah don't think A h have the strength to tackle you and take you in."

Rainbow Dash nodded and began to put on an exaggerated air, "Oh yeah, totally weak! You could so totally run and we wouldn't stop you."

"Oh most definitely," Fluttershy said, swooning, "So tired, better run before we catch our second wind."

Trixie nodded and took out a small charm, which began to glow a dark violet. In a flash the rebels disappeared , leaving only the knights on the airship. Dash let out a chuckle as she high fived Applejack, "Whoo, nice bluff AJ!"

Applejack let out a pained groan, 'Wasn't bluffing. Ah really am hurting from that last fight, but it worked to give us an excuse as to why we let them get away."

Dash arched an eyebrow and shook her head, "You are way too good at manipulating the truth, you know that?"

"Ah prefer stretching it," Applejack said with a chuckle.

Glarity stepped in, "Well, I guess now we head for h-"

"Hey everypony, DJPON-3 here at K-Colt, the station that cannot be stopped. If you have been looking to the frozen north lately, you might notice some bright lights coming from the empire. Well, that ain't the aurora borealis, it's fire. The Empire is under siege right now and it seems to be in a stalemate between the empire and Conquest's forces. So, if any team of brave heroes want to come and save the day, be my guest!" Vinyl shouted over the radio.

"OH, this is bad, this is bad," Fluttershy said, shaking her head in horror.

Rainbow Dash turned to Applejack, "Ok, leader-girl...what are we gonna do?"

Putting her hat over her eyes, Applejack said, "What do you think we're gonna do?

---

"Oh, this is not good," Rarity said, pacing the floor of the library, "If I know Applejack she is going to straight to the battle without even thinking of her own needs. And there is nothing we can do."

As Rarity began to cry into Spike's shoulder, Belle ran outside, her face showing signs of worry and dread. Placing her hand to her lips, her mind began to try and think of a way to help her friend, but every thought she had just came up a blank. Tears threatened to roll down her cheeks as she began to think of her friend in trouble and how useless she was at the moment, "Quite a conundrum, isn't it?" a voice sid from the shadows, "You wish to save your friends, but you don't have the tools. You know that they are facing a powerful opponent, but lack the means to help."

Belle nodded, "Yes. If only I could do magic, I could at least do something, anything."

"I maybe able to help," the voice said, handing Belle a long staff, "This is the staff of Null, one of Meadowbrook's eight magical items. It has the power to nullify all magic in an area: all magic."

Belle looked down at the staff in wonder, "And you are just giving this to me? No charge?"

"No charge, just a friend giving you a weapon to help those dearest to you," the man in the cloak said, before turning away.

"Thank you sir," Belle said, running away.

The man in the cloak turned away, smiling to himself, "turning around to look at his companion, "Sire, is this wise?"

"Yes, Mage it is. It' s just another move in this little game," Titan said, walking away. "Much like the orb I gave Moondancer, this staff will have it's own purpose to play in the bigger game. Now, tell our new ally it's his turn."

---

(8 hours ago)

Cadence sighed as she looked over her empire from the balcony, seeing the crystal ponies and Unicornicopains mingle ability to feel and sense emotions gave her the power to see the strife that some of the ponies had for one another, the anger in their hearts, and she sighed and turned away, "Something troubling you, Cadence?" Celestia asked, stepping behind her niece and placing a hand onto her shoulder.

Cadence looked up at her aunt and sighed, "It's the anniversary of mine and Shining's wedding, a day i put effort into making happy because I want to forget all of the madness went down and... I'm miserable."

"Care to talk about it?" Celestia said, resting her elbows onto the railing on the balcony.

"Look out there, my little Crystal Ponies and the Unicoronicopians. They are always at each other's throats and always so, angry at each other. And why? Just because my ponies believe in love and compassion over violence and death. And the Crystal Ponies are no better," Cadence said, walking away from her railing and back into the chamber, wincing a little as she felt her baby kick, "They hate the Unicornicopians because they feel they are bullied."

"But, Cadey, they are not bullying," Celestia said, with an air of disgust. "They are just telling ponies that they are stronger and faster and more advanced than they are. It's not bullying, it's just a fact. They are not lording it over them, they are just telling them a fact."

Cadence narrowed her eyes in disbelief, "Last I checked, telling a pony that you are superior in every way and reminding them about it is still a form of bullying, it's just worse because you are lying about it."

Celestia chuckled and nodded, "I know. But still, things are looking up, are they not? You did unite an Unicornicopian and Crystal pony in matrimony last month."

"Yes, and the moment their love was found out, they were shunned by the Unicornicopians. That's the thing about them, they are never upfront about how hateful they are. They give this air of friendliness, of being helpful. Then you talk to them and get a good look into their hearts and you see how spiteful they can become," Cadence shook her head and looked away, some tears rolling down her cheeks, "I just wish Twilight was here. She could've helped me in opening their hearts."

Celestia hugged Cadence from behind and held her close "Oh, my little Cadence. You still try and do everything for everypony. You still want to be the one who fixes the problems and be their little light. This is why you became an alicorn at such a young age."

"Es, the fight with Prisma, it was when I got my cutie mark," Cadence looked down at her flank, remembering the battle with the mare who took everything from her. "I just want to help fix the hurting inside so much. I have to be there, to heal them and to be their princess."

For a moment, Celestia could see the little filly that had entered her home and heart so many years ago. The little filly who cried for her mother and father at night. Turning Cadence around, Celestia hugged her niece and ran a hand through her mane, "Cadence, I told you this before, you can not be there for everypony and fix all of their problems. That is why you need help, why you need to let others in. A princess needs to be an icon for their ponies."

"I know, but, you don't know what it's like auntie," Cadence sighed. "To feel everypony's emotions. To be sick when you feel a pony's anger or to feel pain when you see a couple angry when they don't need to be. I just want ponies to feel the love that they know is deep within themselves. I know there is something more to those Unicornicopians, if they just open their hearts!"

Celestia nodded, and wiped a tear from Cadence's eye, "It will happen one day, you will see. I know it, because you will make it happen. I have faith in my little niece. Now," breaking from the embrace, she looked down, "Let's try to make this a little happier, how is my future grand-"

"Niece?" Cadence smiled, feeling another kick, "Feisty as ever. I think she is empathic as I am."

"Oh, you know the gender already?" Celestia asked.

Cadence nodded, "Shining was desperate and I was little curious too. So we asked and now we know it's a filly. I told Shiny that we can have a son on the second round."

Celestia giggled, "Oh, you are going to try again?"

"Why yes," Cadence said. "Some of us aren't just happy having only one child you know."

"Don't know what you mea-"

"Auntie, princess of love remember? I feel your love towards Goldwin everytime I see you two. And as for Castor, well I feel-"

Cadence was interrupted by a yellow pegasus running up the stairs, "Your majesties! There is an invasion force just outside our border!"

Cadence frowned, "Tell Shining I will join him shortly."

"You will not!" commanded Celestia. "You are too pregnant to fight anymore. You will put up your own shield to keep the citizens safe."

"But Auntie!" pleaded Cadence.

"Don't worry, highness," a faint buzzing voice said, stepping out from the shadows, much to Celestia's shock, "I'll keep the princess from doing anything foolish."

---

Shining Armor strode confidently through his soldiers, eyes focused on the cloud of blackness up ahead, "Soldiers, guide the civilians to Cadence's shield, we cannot trust the shields of Unicornicopia or the powers of the fairies anymore. Get them safe behind the shields. Those unable to fight need to be put safely into the refugee rooms below the castle. All soldiers behind me," Shining said, and then looked at one crystal guard and held his arm. Then he looked down to the sword, "None of the Crystal Ponies have any desire to be slaves again. If we fail to hold back this siege."

The guard nodded, "Don't worry, I know."

Turning around, the prince strode through the charging forces and towards the front of the army, where he led them to outside of the city and empire. At the line where the green of the empire met the cold of the north, the opposing army waited. In the center of the army, sat a tall throne composed of Unicornicopian and pony skeletons. Sitting on the throne, as an Unicornicopian slave fed him a grape, was a black unicorn with a long red cape. As he narrowed his green eyes at Shining armor, the black unicorn laughed, "Haha, so the false king has made his approach. Care to give me your surrender now?"

"Sombra!" Shining shouted.

"King Sombra, whelp. Titles are important," Sombra said, holding his head up in an air of indifference. "It helps to separate the strong from the weak."

Shining Armor smirked, "I save titles for the ponies I respect. And I do not acknowledge false kings."

"You dare call me a false king? Do I not wear a crown, did I not take a throne by my own hooves, did I not lead the ponies under my thrall?"

"You committed genocide!" shouted a stallion from the army.

Another stallion shouted, "You were the reason my wife and I were afraid to have kids! We feared of having an unicorn or pegasus filly."

"You robbed the crown fro it's true owner!" shouted a mare, snarling as she twirled her staff.

Sombra merely waved a hoof in dismissal,"Little details in the book that is my rule. What you call genocide, I called a culling to insure that no pony sought the heart. Sadly it seemed that one filly escape my notice, and I will find her. But, first, I make a request of Shining Armor," Sombra then rose to his feet, the cape billowing in the air behind him, "Kneel before me and surrender your empire to me. If you do so, I might condescend in letting your army live and become my soldiers."

"We will not be slaves again!" shouted a pegasus as he flew straight at Sombra.

"Sunfire, hold back!" Shining shouted, but was too late as the stallion flew to Sombra.

The king smiled as a smoky tendril appeared from behind him and wrapped itself around the pegasus. The pegasus let out an unearthly howl of pain and agony as he twitched within the smoke cloud. After a few moments of screaming in pain, Sombra threw the pegasus at the feet of Shining Armor, letting out a chuckle as he did. Shining Armor went to the fallen soldier, "Is he?" asked a guard.

Shining shook his head, "No, Sombra just took his magic away. Until that monster is beaten these shards will remain in his wings forever. This is why I want no pony to directly attack Sombra until we have an alicorn at the ready. Any other pony he will just attack the source of magic: horns for unicorns, wings for pegasi, and legs for earth ponies."

"What about us Unicornicopians?" asked an Unicornicopian, looking up at the king.

Shining stood up and looked at him, "Each of you supposedly has some of Grand Ruler's magic inside you. Think of where he'll be aiming then."

"My heart?" gasped the unicornicopian.

Shining said nothing, instead he held out his hand and twenty four shards of steel flew out from its sheath and joined together to form a single sword. Narrowing his eyes, he whispered the sword's name, 'Twilight'. Then he turned to the men, "Ponies, listen up! He wishes to know of our answer if we want to surrender, so I ask of all of you right now! If you wish to be enslaved, then run. If you wish to see your friends and families destroyed because of his whims, then stand down. But if you believe in the empire, if you believe in friends and family, then hold your sword high! For today, we must make a stand here at the north. We must make the empire an example for all of Equestria and all of our allies. We must show the world what our hearts are made of! We must stand and be as powerful as a diamond! If you feel as strong as a diamond, then I want to see you raise your swords in battle and charge with me!"

The ponies looked to each other, nodded and let out a fierce battle cry.. Sombra smiled and pointed his hoof forward, making his order known. The army from the other side let out a loud cheer as they charged at Shining's army. With narrow eyes, the royal guard captain let out a battle cry and charged at the opposing army.

On the dividing line between the cold winter and the warmth of spring, the two armies clashed in a titanic struggle of battle. Blades, staves, and arrows flew from the various combatants as the soldiers of the empire fought to make their stand known and to protect their homes. A crystal stallion rammed a spear into the chest of an enemy minotaur, only to get his back cut open by a flying griffon. The griffon was taken out of the sky by a unicorn wielding a bow and arrow. The unicorn then began to fire arrow after arrow, taking out the fliers that he could. Occasionally, he would looked down at his fallen brother, a swords pony that fell in the opening charge, and this would renew his blood lst to take down more of the enemy.

A unicorn ducked under a blade swung by an earth pony, only to get stabbed in the back by an enemy unicorn. The unicorn growled a he pulled himself along the spear and electrocuted his opponent with his magic before falling to his death. Pegasi in the sky waged a fierce aerial combat with the various flying opponents, making the sky flash in clashes of blades and claws. The unicoprain let out howls of pain as they were slain when they found themselves unable to use their magic.

As the battle waged on between the two armies, Sombra looked to his side and nodded. At his side, a herd of long dark blue horse spirits with long waving manes turned up to look at him. When he nodded to them, the herd of horse spirits launched themselves from his throne and began to attack en masse on the crystal army. Shining Armor, as he finished slashing down two Unicornicopians with his blade, let out a gasp, "Windigos! But how?"

"It seems that there had been a spell keeping them back since United Equestria was born. When my mutual benefactor came to your pathetic little world, they flocked to him like a dog unto its master. In return for serving him, they are given the leftover hate energy that he feeds on. It's a symbiotic relationship you see," smiled Sombra as he leaned on his forelegs.

A crystal pony screamed in horror as his hoof touched one of the Windigos and his leg was frozen quickly, "Stay away from the Windigos! No physical contact! Long distance mages and archers, focus on the Windigos, keep the close range fighters covered." Shining shouted as he turned and saw two minotaurs holding a large set of repeating crossbows. Shining gasped as he watched the bulls fire their weapons at him, making him to create his barrier to block the shots. Grunting, Shining armor walked slowly towards the two bulls, each shot merely bounce off of his shield. Looking up, he saw that his shield caught a boulder that was launched at him. Shining smirked as he turned off his shield and dropped the boulder onto the two bulls.

Turning around, Shining Armor saw a spear wield earth pony charge at him. Charging at his opponent, Shining began to cut through the spear with his sword until it was a nub, and then he cut the legs of the earth pony off in one slash. Turning around, h e slashed across the chest of a diving griffon and then threw his blade into the chest of a nearby unicornicopian. Before he could charge at the the dead pony, a boar charged at him from behind and stabbed his shoulder with his tusk and threw him into a waiting minotaur. The minotaur slammed Shining Armor into the ground by the neck and slowly began to squeeze.

For a moment, Shining Armor struggled to pull the hand off of his throat. Then with a smirk, he ignited his horn, making it glow a bright pink. As the miniature began to laugh, he started to choke. Pulling away from his victim, the bull tried to breath and claw at his throat to get the thing out of his throat. Looking down at Shining Armor, he realized too late that Shining Armor had generated a shield in his throat and expanded it, choking him to death.

Rising to his feet, Shining Armor held out his hand to catch a fireball and a Lightning Bolt in two separate shield balls. Then he threw the balls back at their owners, releasing them in an explosion of magic. Turning around, he held out his hand to summon his sword. As the sword flew towards him, he broke his sword into ten sharp pieces of metal and stabbed ten opponents before flying back to his hand whole.

When his blade touched his palm, several soldiers attacked him at once, piling their weapons on him. Using a shield to block the attacks, in spite of some of them letting through and cutting into his shoulders and sides. As the attacks increased, Shining Armor made his shield explode and push his opponents away. Then he thrusted his sword into the ground, using his shield to lift himself off the ground and when he was in the air fired his shield spell at the opponents and putting their heads in shield bubbles. As he landed on the ground, the ponies fell to the ground thanks to the lack of oxygen. As he pulled out his sword, Shining shouted, "Pegasi, Unicornicopains, drive the outside force to the left and try to get them into the cold zone!"

"Interesting," Sombra said, "He commands these ponies with the skill of an amature. He thinks that these ponies are not trained for arctic combat." He paused and then looked behind him, "No, it can't be."

"Cloaks off," said Fratello as he and a legion of yaks and crystal ponies took off their stealth cloaks and stared at the rear of Sombra's forces with pure rage."

"Prince Fratello, are you sure about this Armor. I mean, considering-"

Fratello waved him off, "Whatever infected my armor and turned me against my sister was a fluke. Something took it over and turned me into that creature, but my sister fixed it. This armor was made based on the armor of Starfleet and a bit of Yak smithing. Now, men! For my sister, for the Empire, CHARGE!"

"Yaks SMASH!" shouted a large yak as he and several crystal ponies attacked the rear.

"He was diverting our attention?" Sombra asked himself. "Windigos, retreat from your position and attack the rear. Boars, charge the yaks and rip their bodies asunder."

"Mages, divert some of your focus to the boars, do not let them build up momentum. Archers, keep your attention on the skies!" Shining Armor shouted above the din, slashing and striking whatever soldier he could.

Fratello flew and landed next to his brother in law, twin swords in hand, "Nice trick, sending me out on a diplomatic mission to Yakyakastan. You wanted me to improve on my designs didn't you?"

"That," Shingin said, cutting the head of a unicorn off, "And Yaks are damn good at making armor. It's a specialty of theirs. I figure you would make a good distraction for the rear."

"You also banked on me having a time with Chrysalis to help me handle the worst species on the planet," Fratello chuckled.

Shining blushed, "Yeah, sorry. But the yaks are like the only race United Equestria hasn't pissed off yet!"

"Speaking of," Fratello said, slashing a pony down, "Where is Lightning and his band? They need to be here!"

"He's busy with his own battle!"

Elsewhere, to the east side of the city. Lightning Dawn saw the dark cloud approaching the city, "Galloping Galaxies. The empire is under attack, everyone power up now!" he shouted.

The trio nodded excitedly, while Artie and Rhymey looked solemn as they double tapped their insignia and transformed into their armor states. Terra smiled as she jumped for joy, "OH, this is so great. My first mission and it's against a big bad!"

"Indeed, Terra, now we get to see your skills in action," Rhymey said, a bit of disgust in his voice.

"Just be careful," Artie said.

Lightning looked up, "Terra, us your earth magic to scout how far everyone is."

"Right," nodded Terra as she generated a rock platform and lifted herself up into the sky. "It looks like the-ow!" she yelped.

"Are you alright?" asked Artie.

"Yeah, something just, ow, bit me. Ow," she looked downs, and saw the bite marks were actually cuts in her flesh. When she looked up, she saw a little black dot fly at her and striker her in the eye, making her scream as it was gouged out. Whimpering through the pain, she tried to pry the creature out from her eye to stop the pain. When she did, right right eye was destroyed, blood oozing out of the socket. When she looked down, she saw a decaying body with little wings, "A fairy?"

"A what?" asked Lightning as he looked up.

"A fairy just, aH!" she screamed as a little hole appeared in her breast, cutting into her armor and letting blood flow from her. Another scream as another fairy cut through her hand. TRembling, she looked up at a black cloud that swarmed her, making her scream and let out an unearthly wail.

Artied looked up and shouted, "Terra! Art Bomb!" he shouted, through a bomb of art and ink at the black cloud, dispersing it. Once the black cloud of fairies dispersed, the rock and Terra's body fell to the ground.

Beast Boy ran to the fallen Starfleet member, "Oh, Ch-elestia no. Terra." he whispered as he looked that the skeleton body of Terra. The only thing left of her that could be used to identify her body was her insignia.

Artie sat down and pulled a leftover fairy from the skeleton and shook his head, "No, I don't believe it."

"What?" asked Copy-Cat, looking down at the struggling zombie fairy.

Lightning gasped in horror at the small boy, "It's Tink. It's Krysta's son. The bastard is using the dead fairies from Luminoth as his soldiers."

"Oh Celestia, no," Copy-Cat whispered. Then he began to spin his tail in a circle to gain flight, "I'll check out the area and see if I can find a quick path to the front."

"You are not going anywhere," said a metallic voice as he stepped out from the shadows.

As Copy-Cat landed, Lightning Dawn looked at the crystalline being, "Who are you?"

The being bowed his head, allowing the light from the borealis to shine down on his golden horn, "MY name is Cyclopsis. I have been created by the great leader, Dark Conquest, to destroy you." he said, narrowing his singular eye at the four Unicornicopians.

"All right, a monster of the week! This is what I signed up for," said Copy-Cat as he charged at the monster.

"No, Copy-Cat, stand down!" shouted Lightning as the soldier ran out.

Copy-Cat smiled as he formed two fireballs in his hands, "Boom Boom Rockets!" and with dead accuracy, he threw the fireballs at the monster.

Cyclopsis smiled as he had a blade shoot out of each forearm and stepped forward. With his right forearm blade, he slashed the two fireballs in half. Then with the left forearm blade he slashed at Copy-cat. As the unicornicopian landed on the other side of the monster, the top half of Copy-Cat's body kept moving as his lower half came to a stop. Cyclopsis smiled as he looked to the bisected Starfleet member, cut his head off, and sliced that in half as well. The four warriors could only star on in shock at their teamte was dismembered.

Rhymey was the first to snap out of his shock and ran at the monster, his blade out as he shouted, "Ward-" and before he could finish, his blade was cut in half and he was kicked in the stomach.

Cyclopsis sneered as he looked at the trio, and stepped forward. Then he stopped when he noticed that one of his opponents was missing. The fourth revealed itself with a burst of green flame and a gorilla fist slamming into his face. Turning around, he attempted to slash at Beast Boy, but missed as Beast Boy turned into a rabbit and ran between his legs. With another burst of green flame, he turned into a kangaroo and slammed his legs into Cyclopsis back, shattering the crystal armor. Cyclopsis roared in pain as he turned around to slash at Beast Boy only to miss again as Beast Boy turned into a bee.

Artie, seeing the wound in the back, launched forward with his staff and struck hard into the wound. This caused the monster to scream in pain as the staff hit its mark. Turning around to slash at Artie, he found his arms bound by Beast Boy's snake form. This left him open for a twin strike from Artie's Staff which caused him to stagger. Beast Boy transformed from a snake into a lion and slashed Cyclopsis across the face, making him move back.

Before he could recover, Artie used his staff to pole vault over the head and spun his staff in a blinding circle. Then, without missing a beat, Artie spun around and stuck with his staff with all of his might, killing the beast in a fiery explosion. As the explosion happened, Artie turned his back to the explosion and held his staff just above his head while crouching. Beast Boy landed and looked to his two dead teammates, "Terra, Copy-Cat. I'm so sorry, I didn't want you to..."

Callously, Rhymey growled, "Oh do shut up. You have no right to talk about caring for your friends when you have lied to us this whole time about yourself, changeling!"

"Hey, let him mourn, two of his teammates just died. Our teammates!" Artie said, not noticing Rhymey's lack of rhymes.

"We don't have time to mourn for comrades that we hardly know, especially when we have a changeling traitor in our midsts," Rhymey said.

Lightning looked confuses, "Wait, changeling..."

As he trailed off, he turned around and saw Beast Boy become encased in green fire. After a few minutes, his equine form gave way to a chitlin insectoid body with thin wings one his back. Sheepishly he put his hand behind his head and chuckled, "Um, hi? My name is Thorax, nice to meet you. Guess my green flames kind of tipped you off?"

Lightning stepped back, his eyes widening in shock at the newcomer, "But, wait, how could you, why did you, h-how?"

Thorax lightly kicked a rock, "Well, I wanted to be a hero you know, help ponies out. I was just so tired of ponies being afraid of me and wanting my head that I wanted some way to get ponies to like me. So, when Starfleet began asking for new recruits, I transformed into an unicornicopian and decided to help out."

"But, our visors, how did you-"

"Oh, your visors aren't exactly perfect. We changeling change everything about ourselves when we transform:Molecular density, vitals, blood type, bone structure, organs, and even DNA. The only things we can't change are memories and magical aura, which your visors don't really detect. Sorry to say, but if you guys had been at wedding, we most likely would've bypasseed your visors in five seconds."

Lightning stumbled back, and stood there for a moment as these words passed through his head. His face became paler as he stood frozen in place, unable to move, "We failed? Our visors are useless against them? I couldn't... I couldn't protect them? I couldn't save those rookies. I couldn't do it. I think I'm weak, I can't do a thing."

"Lightning, snap out of it!" Rhymey said, slapping Lighting across the face.

Artie grabbed Rhymey and pulled him away, "Hey, that wasn't called for!"

"Wasn't called for? We are in the middle of a war, we do not have time for crying and whimpering and giving into our emotions like those crybaby Equestrians. We are warriors and we do not have time to sit around crying. We shed one tear for our fallen comrades and that is it. This is no way for a soldier like us to behave," Rhymey said, swatting Artie's hands away.

"No, but that is how a equine behaves. We cry, we feel pain, we comfort our friends when they are hurting," Artie said, pushing a finger against Rhymey's chest.

"Lightning, it's me, Thorax, it's going to be ok, really," Thorax said, sitting with Lightning and patting his shoulder. "We make mistakes, and sometimes, it's not our fault but the people we follow. Sometimes, you feel out of place and that just means that maybe you should try finding your own path."

Rhymey growled, looking to Lightning and then back to Artie, "Compassion, being friends, helping each other? Is that what your Equestrian whore has taught you? Forget that! The heart is a weak piece of filth that needs to be burned."

"What did you say about Pinkie?" Artie asked, narrowing his.

"Your whore, but that's only because a slut would get paid," Rhymey said.

Artie growled, "Take that back."

"Afraid to face the truth? That she has been poisoning your ear while she is in your bed? It is the truth, she has poisoned you as she has poisoned my Fluttershy," Rhymey said.

Enraged, Arte pulled back and delivered a punch to Rhymey, "You bastard!"

"Now now," Rhymey smiled, "Don't' we have more important things to do than fight, 'hero'?" Rhymey laughed as he walked away and ran to the front.

Growling, Artie formed a fist and punched the ground. Turning around, he looked to Thorax, "Get Lightning out of here. He's useless in a catatonic state."

Thorax nodded, turning into a minotaur and picking up the cationic leader, "Come on, we need to get-" he paused as he felt wetness hit his shoulder.

"Useless... I'm useless."

---

One thousand crystal ponies found themselves in front of the barrier, all with terrified looks on their faces. One of them began to beat on the barrier, "Let us in! You locked us out! You are going to get us killed. Please let us in!"

"Well, look here," said an unicornicopian as he turned on his visor. "A bunch of refugees left behind by the bitch queen."

"Should we let them live and capture them?" asked a griffon.

One of the ponies stepped forward and got on his knees, pleading, "Please, let us live. Don't kill us."

"Nah," the unicornicopian sneered as he picked up a blade, "Why let a bunch of weaklings survive?"

As the blade swung down to the pleading pony, he caught the sword with his bear hand, "That is what you should be asking yourself."

"What?" askedthe unicornicopain as he watched the pony in front of him became wreathed in green flame.

The pony was now insectoid, his blue eyes narrowing in anger and rage. Looking behind him, he nodded to his comrades, each one of the thousand ponies began to change in a blaze of green flame. Soon, the thousand ponies were replaced by one thousand changelings. All the changelings crouched, and hissed as they got into fighting stances. With a single nod, the changeling that held the sword ordered the other changelings to begin their assault. In seconds, the sky became covered by the swarm taking off into the sky and dive bomb the army. The changeling who held the sword smiled, "I suggest you surrender. It doesn't ease the insult of your defeat, but it does ease the pain!" pushing up the sword, the changeling punched the Unicornicopian hard in the stomach before tripping him with a leg sweep.

The army of the rear began to find themselves swarmed with the opposing force, most of the races had never seen their kind before and did not know how to fight them. Even the vaunted rouge Unicorpains, for all of their valued strength, found themselves being beaten by the changeling tricks and skills. One changeling found himself being bashed from behind by a minotaur club, but another changeling flew in and became a sword that landed in his comrade's hand. The changeling smiled as he slashed the club and then the minotaur. The sword returned to a changeling and gave his friend a hug before turning to face down more of the army.

The rear forces gasped as they watched their opponents change into not just ponies, but boars and various other races that some had never seen before. The changelings fought well, using not just their ability to transform and dodge the attacks of the stronger warriors but using their superior numbers as a tool as well. Each changeling were capable of handling a boar on their own, and the army began to see that as their world was racked by the sound of buzzing and green flame.

From his throne, Sombra saw a messenger fly up to him,""Sire, news from the rear. Tat scouting team you sent to kill those stragglers have been beaten. And now they-URK!" the soldier turned into a changeling as Sombra ran his hoof through the solder chest.

"Changelings? How on earth did they get changelings?" asked Sombra as he looked down at his forces and began to use his magic to summon more soldiers.

---

Chrysalis smiled as she watched the war begin in earnest, enjoying the sight of her changelings fighting to their fullest extent, "Now, aren't you glad you decided to agree to the treaty?" she asked, looking to Cadence as the alicorn looked down at a glowing object.

(1 day before the siege began)

Cadence sat on the throne, her husband sitting by her side. Occasionally she would look at her lover and smile at him, only to notice the lingering depression that creases his face. Gently, she reached over and rubbed his hand, giving out a soft smile to him and then a kiss on the cheek. At this, Shining returned an empty smile to his wife.

That was when the doors opened and a yellow pegasus with a blue mane appeared, "Shining, is that Flash?"

"No, it can't be," Shining Armor said. "Flash has been missing since the prisoners were freed."

The pony pulled out a parchment and bellowed, "Presenting her royal majesty, Terra of the Land! Mistress of the ground, mother of Celestia and Luna, and the high queen of all."

At these words, a majestic alicorn strode into the room. Her coat was as green as the forests and matched up with her brown mane and tail. Her cutie mark was that of the tree of live, signifying her connection with the earth itself, "Hello, my little ponies."

"Queen, Terra?" asked Shining Armor.

Cadence shook her head, "That is impossible, Queen Terra has been missing for over a millenia. And even if you are the Queen, why visit us first and not your 'daughters'?"

"Because, my dear princess," she said with a hiss as her body became wreathed in green flame, her voice taking on a slight buzz to her tone. As the circle of flames rose up along her body, changing her coat from green fur to black chitlin with holes in her legs, "If I had appeared as this, you would've caused a panic." The once pony said as her mane turned into a limp blue that was in tatters, her once proud wings were now a set of thin membranous wings. Running a hoof through her mane, lightly touching her crooked and cracked horn, she chuckled, "IS this better?"

"Chrysalis!" shouted Shining Armor as he brought out his blade and leapt from his seat.

"Hold prince, I did not come here as a conqueror, but as a queen and I expect to be treated as such," hissed the changeling queen.

Cadence looked to her husband and then back to the queen, "Hold Shining, please. Let's hear her out"

As Shining Armor frowned and turned around, Chrysalis smiled, "My, I am glad that the sun-bitch had actually taught you manners."

"Why are you here, Queen Chrysalis?" Cadence asked.

With a bow, Chrysalis began, "My purpose here is simple, I wish to form an alliance with you so I can hunt down the infidel who stole my name and kidnapped my children."

"Infidel?" asked Shining Armor.

"Two years ago your nation was invaded by a rogue changeling who took my name and identity in some false desire to win glory for my kingdom and usurp my throne. She dared to team up with that disgusting robotic creature you called a brother and allowed herself to kowtow before him on more than one occasion. It took a few years for the news to reach the Wasteland that your little spell banished me to. Needless to say, the moment I had found out, I was quite incensed."

Cadence looked down, "And for our help in hunting down this criminal, you are offering armies and aid to us?"

"Make no mistake, this is by no means a sign that I am reforming or turning good," Chrysalis said with bile building in her throat, "I am just a mare who wishes to have justice wrought."

"What's the price? Nothing is gained for free," Shining said, glaring with daggers at the queen.

"My, how... direct," the queen said, putting a hoof to her chest. 'Now, what could I want? I could ask for Shining Armor as my lover again. Oh, how I quiver at the memory of our love making. The way he touched me, held me, and said sweet nothings as we laid in bed together. We said so many things to each that my heart will never forget them."

"You shameless-" Shining roared, only to be held back by Cadence.

Cadence put a hand to Shining's chest, "Shining, she is only trying to get under your coat."

"Of course," Chrysalis chuckled, transforming into Twilight, "Perhaps I could also engage in a little sister love. His heart seems to be broken so much that caring for his little sister once more will bring back his love." Chrysalis laughed as Shining fumed, "But no, I won't ask for that. I have no need for a stallion who will pine for his family every night. No, I think I want the unborn princess."

"I will not let you have my daughter," Cadence said, narrowing her eyes at her opponent.

Chrysalis stepped back, feigning shock, "Please princess, I am not a monster."

"You lost the right to call yourself equine a long time ago," Shining growled.

Chrysalis chuckled at this, before continuing, "I have no desire to kidnap the baby, merely to request to be it's godmother."

"Why would you want to be my baby's godmother?" asked Cadence.

"Why wouldn't I want to be? I would visit my godchild whenever I could," she said sweetly, smiling as she took in a deep breath, "I would play with her, care for her, tell her stories, and in return she would love me as her aunt."

"You just want her to be your personal love generator! Well no de-"

Cadence interrupted Shining Armor with a calm, "We accept your terms."

"Ca-Cadence?" Shining asked, shocked.

Cadence then stood from her throne and walked towards Chrysalis, slowly striding, "But, in return, I will watch over all visits. I will be monitoring you and the baby at all times to make sure you will not corrupt her. Any attempt to harm my child and I promise you that I will bring the wrath of harmony upon you. Understood?"

"Yes, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza," bowed Chrysalis. Then she turned to look at the retainer as he turned into a changeling, "This is Kevin. He has been my envoy in New Ponyville for sometime and knows much about how your tactics works. He will help organize things between my people and yours. Also, I bring this," she said, using her sickly green magic to levitate a covered jewel, "It seems that somepony tried to hide this lovely gem from you by hiding in the Wasteland. When I interrogated him, he pouted some nonsense about one and died. It was a marvelous treat for a while, but I feel it's better in your hands."

When Chrysalis pulled back the cover, Cadence let out a gasp as she saw the shimmering heart jewel in front of her, "I don't believe it... the crystal heart!" Cadence smiled, the light from this heart was much brighter and more pure than the fake one that they had used to protect against the wind.

Now back in its home in the empire, the jewel began to glow bright, shining and spinning in place. Shining Armor stepped forward, "But how? I saw it shattered. I know I did."

"But if it did get shattered, then why wasn't the empire covered in snow? Why was the climate still nice?" Cadence asked, looking at the Crystal Heart, she then placed her hand along the facets, rubbing gently.

Chrysalis walked behind the two royals, "Perhaps you only saw what somepony wanted you to see."

"But then, how does that explain the monsters, the creatures that gained power through the gems, and the power of Sombra?" Cadence asked.

"Are you sure that was even Sombra you met?" Chrysalis asked.

(The present)

Cadence looked down at the heart before her, the Crystal heart pulsating with energy in spite of the conflict outside. Turning her head back at Chrysalis, she sighed, "Thank you. You provided a big help to our forces."

Chrysalis smirked before looking back out at the war that waged on, "Do not think of this as a help, this is only because we have mutual goals at the moment."

---

Sombra watched the battle from his throne, snarling as he watched the changelings begin to help turn the tide of battle. With a shout he commanded, "Windigos, attack the bugs."

With a nod, the white horses flew out at charged at the bugs. One changeling smiled as he flew to the nearest horse ghost and punched it, only to scream i pain as it's hoof dissolved. In turn, the windigo let out a howl of pain as it's jaw was dissolved, "What on earth?" Asked Fratello as she cut down a soldier.

"changelings feed on love, Windigos feed on hatred. They are opposites, which means they are poisonous to one another," Shining said, deflecting a sword slash from an earth pony, getting an arrow struck into his side.

Sombra smiled as he used his cloud to create a portal that summoned reinforcements with a new set of creatures that backed up his forces. Two legged turtle monsters that fired water from their hands. One soldier from Neighpon shouted, "KAppa!"

As the fight began anew, now with the Conquest forces overpowering the Crystal Army, a shout followed by a blinding light was heard from the heavens, "Dusk Shine!" Celestia shouted, floating down from the heavens, garbed in a golden set of armor while a blazing sword of fire was seated at her side.

"Celestia," Sombra said, stepping back as Celestia landed before him. "Why have you called me by that name? Has it been so long since you and I fought? Since you glared at me with those eyes, those damning eyes of fire that I have come to hate."

"But, you are Dusk Shine. I remember the final battle when Grand," at this, Celestia winced, closing her eyes as memories began to flood her vision.

Celestia and Luna stood in the desecrated Crystal Castle, crowds at their sides as they stared down Sombra. Sombra let out a fierce laugh as he charged at them.

A royal guard kneels before Celestia, kissing her hoof while an unicorn watches and frowns. There is a jealous glare in his eyes as he watches the new inductee get recognize by the princess.

She now stood in front of a pony wearing Sombra's name, his colors and his shield. But Celestia knew the truth, this was not Sombra. She knew Sombra in battle, she faced him with her sister and she knew that this soldier was not Sombra. Just a pretender to the throne, however, there was a tickling in her mind that said differently. That Dusk Shine was the Sombra of the past.

"Y-you're King Sombra...no, Dusk Shine, no...You," Celestia fell to her knees as her mind tried to wage war between the two sets of memories.

"Problems, Princess? Where are those eyes of fire now?" Sombra asked. "Do you still think so lowly of me that you sent a child to fight me instead of yourself?"

Struggling through the pain of her memories, she looked up at Sombra, trying to get everything on track and asked, "Why? Why work with Conquest? You know he will conquer everything! And once he is done with this world he will throw it away."

"That is why asked for a boon," Sombra said, walking around Celestia. "If I retake my empire,then her will spare my country. He will let me rule it as I see fit and allow me the freedom to live. He is nothing, if not honorable in his rule. Unlike your lover who seems to have desired to put you into that hideous form."

"W-what do you mean, hideous?" Celestia asked.

"You do not know? Do you not look in a mirror?" Sombra asked.

Celestia shook her head, trying to figure out what he meant, and was about to ask when she heard a buzz in her ear, "Celestia, come to Canterlot! It's Dusk Shine, he's attacking the capitol and we need help." Luna called through the communicator.

"So, what will you do Celestia? Abandon the empire to fight your old foe, or will you trust in the heart of mortals once more?" mocked Sombra. "You see where trusting in the mortal heart has gotten you so far."

Celestia was about to respond when she looked to the distance and smiled, "I think you'll find that mortals are far more reliable than we immortals can hope to be." and in a flash, she was gone.

---

As the battle intensified on the ground, Fratello was panting as he cut down another soldier, "We can't keep this up, brother. The more we cut down, the more they send in. It's a battle of attrition, and we are losing!"

"I know, if only we had some sort of miracle to help us!" Shining said.

"Did someone ask for a miracle?" A cyan blur shouted as it flew away from an airship and swooped down to take down four griffons in two seconds.

Shining opened his eyes wide, "I don't believe it. It's the Elements!"

From the side of the airship, Applejack looked to her three friends, "Ok, on my mark! We jump, Glarity, you'll have to use TK to lower us down and catch us."

"I don't know. If I make a mistake I might-"

Pinkie interrupted with a pat on the back, "Don't worry Glarity. Fluttershy can fly and if you mess up, I'll stop with an inflatable balloon!"

This brought a smile to the trio as Applejack shouted, "Go!" and with a jump she leapt out of the airship, followed by Glarity, Pinkie, and Fluttershy. With expert timing, Glarity made her horn glow with a blinding violet light that surrounded the other mares and gently lowered them to the ground, forcing the enemy forces to back up a little.

As the fighting paused, one Minotaur looked at the group as Rainbow Dash rejoined her friends, "Are those the knights?"

"Yeah, I heard the orange one ripped a boar's head off with one hand," muttered an unicornicopian.

"I heard they can control lightning, and make dragon's cry," said an Earth pony.

A griffon chuckled, " Well, shall we see if these girls match up to their little legend?"

Dash looked to Applejack as she held her arm in pain, "Want to retreat?"

"What, and leave you with the fun part?" Applejack chuckled.

Fluttershy looked to the girls, "Remember, those healing bandages aren't perfect, but Zecora said those healing potions should've fixed the biggest wounds, but are still healing. So please be careful."

"You be careful too Flutters," Rainbow Dash said.

Applejack looked up to the sky, "You just focus on doing what you can to keep casualties to a minimum, we'll kick ass."

The girls nodded in unison as the fight resumed.

---

Chrysalis sighed as she watched the battle commence, at the bright lights of magic and the screams of the dying hitting as far as the palace. Her emerald eyes looked on while her magic kept command of the changeling army, "My forces, the Crystal Empire, Sombra, the Windigos, and now the Knights of Harmony. That is five armies, four united against one monster. Eve then, I doubt that you will be able to get through this battle with little casualties. Heck, I doubt your husband might come out of this alie. Tell me, princess, what are you going to do?"

Turning around, Chrysalis watched as Cadence held both hands onto the Crystal heart. A bright pink ethereal energy began to flow across her hands as her fingers touched the heart, her fingers lightly brushing against the facets. Beating slowly, Cadence kept her eyes closed i concentration, "I am going to put a stop to this siege, and end this battle right now!" Cadence said, her eyes opening wide to reveal pupiless white voids. Chrysalis stepped back as she watched Cadence become enveloped in pink light and for a moment, the changeling queen believed that she had watched Cadence's mane become ethereal like her aunts, flowing eternally in powerful magic.

If Cadence noticed this change in her mane, or that her body had gotten taller and more regal, she did not show it. She was too focused on the feelings that had surrounded her. The power of emotions and the strength of the love that she could feel from the palace workers. This was not the first time that she had tapped into this power. The first was long ago, in a distant earth pony village that had taken her in when she was but a filly pegasus. A family that filled her with love and warmth, a family that was taken from her when the witch Prisma had stolen the love energy from her adoptive parents, turning them into savage monsters that killed each other in a bloody fight, a fight she watched happened. It was on that day she me t PRisma and challenged her. On that day, a pegasus was able to take the magic away from a powerful amulet, control it, and manipulate it as her own. On that day, she had not only discovered her talent for being able to sense, feel, and control emotions, but so personified her cutie mark that she became the youngest alicorn. Still, the memory of her adoptive parents killing each other still stuck with her for the rest of her days and had been her drive.

She breathed softly as she began to reach out to pony to pony, unicornicopian to unicornicopian, and began to search for the feelings of love and kindness that lied deep within them. She felt and could bring out each feeling and memory of love that the ponies had. It was this reason, she felt she was a princess. While she lacked her aunts warrior side and the violent edge that came with age and battle, she felt she had something stronger within her.

Deep within the bowels of the castle, the ponies of the empire sat holding close to each other. While some had faith in the heroes of the empire, others were terrified of the future. Foals held themselves close to their parents, lovers held each other and whispered reassurances. The guards looked at the civilians and frowned, knowing that if the army fell this day, then they would be in charge of making sure that they would never become slaves again. The mood was sombre as each pony looked above their heads and said silent prayers that the shields would hold out.

Then they felt it, a warm glow that started in their hearts and began to emanate throughout their bodies. It was a feeling all too familiar to them, like a family member holding them, a friend's warm smile, or a lover whispering 'I love you; on a cold night. It was a welcome feeling that made the dark part of their souls seem to fade. They could feel a little bit of the energy flow out of them and towards the heart, but unlike the feeling of their love being stolen by a changeling, it felt more like a kind voice was asking them "Please. Lend me your strength and I will give you mine. Please stand wit me" and in response, they complied with the request. They breathed softly as they felt the energy mix and leave them, and then some of them began to hum a song.

The song lacked instruments, but was a song that they could play with their voices as they hummed. It was as if their voices were saying that they were going to be there to help. That their hearts were one and they would be together through the darkness and into the light. Together they were strong and that is what their voices conveyed as they hummed together. Others let out a low whistle that seemed to rise higher as their energy mixed.

Cadence could hear their voices, the humming bringing out a calming influence, as they were all singing in in unison that they were there. Cadence smiled and began to sing, her voice uniting all of the souls as one, pleading for the war to stop.

Why is this world that is yearning

For love so easily thrown?

Why is your heart that is hurting

So twisted and wickedly so

The darkness is coming

To bid on your soul

You can't let it win now,

You're stronger, you know?

Across the battlefield, Shining Armor and Fratello could hear Cadence's song, and began to feel the same warmth shining from within. Shining Armor sighed, feeling as though Cadence was there with him, holding him and kissing him. Fratello could feel his sister running her hand down his arm, soothing the wounds. The two stallions began to glow softly as they felt the heart's magic enter them and remind them what they were fighting for.

Just give me your hearts, dears

I'll make them anew

Lay down your crosses and bows

The element bearers could hear the song as well, an internal light shining forth from them that matched the color of their elements. It was if Harmony itself was joining in with the song, becoming stronger for it. Rainbow Dash looked up and saw, "Look!" all around them, the soldiers of all factions began to lower their weapons, some even began to kneel towards the shining castle.

Come toward the light now
Just push through the rain
Love is in bloom and love
Will vanquish the pain
We'll vanquish the pain

"What's happening?" Pinkie Pie asked.

"She's stopping the siege," Applejack whispered.

Why is this soul that is suffering

Refusing my comforting touch?

Why do they taunt me and scorn me

When I'm just the one they should trust

The unicornicopians, long angry and dismissive of Cadence's ways, were now looking at each other in a brand new light. The rogues deactivated their weapons and ran to the brethren, holding one another close and saying their apologies. Other Unicornicopians turned to their Crystal allies and hugged them close. Others just looked to the to castle and shed a tear as they felt something brighter than ever shine through.

The darkness is coming

To bid on your soul

You can't let it win though

You're stronger, you know

The Windigos screamed in pain as they were vanquished by the light of friendship and love, "How? By mind controlling them?" Dash asked.

Applejack shook her head, "No, by asking them to stop and asking why they are fighting."

"No one really wants a war," Glarity said, smiling softly, "She is just making them see that."

Just give me your hearts, dears

I'll make them anew

Lay down your crosses and bows

Come toward the light now

Just push through the rain

Love is in bloom and love

Will vanquish the pain

We'll vanquish the pain

There were some, who wished to keep fighting, but the changelings floated over to them, energized by the love magic and beat them senseless. However, the light of the Crystal Heart and Cadence's song made the soldiers forget why they were there, forget their aggressions, and chose to embrace each other in love and compassion.

Heartache's consuming

A dangerous foe

Its freezing embrace

"So, what do we do?" Dash asked.

Applejack smiled, "Watch the show."

Will smother all hope

But don't let it trap you

Tear down the walls

Never stop yearning

For love's gentle call

Sombra watched all of this with pure rage, wanting nothing more than to break the neck of the princess who had stopped his sieges. Slowly he began to rise from his throne and strode down the steps as the soldiers all began to bow and throw down their weapons.

Give me your hearts, dears

I'll make them anew

Lay down your crosses and bows

Come toward the light now

Just push through the rain

Love is in bloom and love

Will vanquish the pain

Cadence pulled away from the heart and smiled softly, feeling the lingering love energy dissipated from her and return to their owners. As she relaxed, she felt another presence behind her, hugging her. When she turned around and looked down, she saw a young little filly with a pink white coat and a tri-colored mane. As Cadence looked down at the little filly, she knew that the filly had also offered its energy for her, "Oh, hello little Filly, and what's your name?"

"I don't know, you haven't given me one yet," the filly said, smiling as she hugged her mother, "But I knew I had to help you beat the bad people. Did I do good, Mommy?"

Cadence knelt down and gave her daughter a hug, "You did wonderfully, my little I cannot wait to see you."

"I can't wait to see you too, Mommy," the little spirit said as it hugged her mother and faded away.

---

As the ponies relaxed to the feeling of the love magic that flowed through them, Shining Armor turned to look at King Sombra as he walked away from his throne, "It's over, Sombra. The siege is done and your army has no desire to fight any longer. Surrender."

To answer Shining's command, Sombra put his hooves onto the head of one of his soldiers and broke his neck, "This is why I shouldn't have asked for help from a wannabe emperor. If one wishes to fight, then one should do it themselves." he said as he began to increase the cloud around him, eyes glowing purple as his red irises began to glow and glare daggers. His equine body started to fade away, becoming a large black cloud with his head on the front, letting out a monstrous roar.

"Oh shoot, this is bad," Shining Armor backed up as Sombra began to laugh evilly, his cloud growing bigger. Forces on both sides began to run to stand behind Shining's side. "This is real bad."

"Right, time for us to step in," Applejack said as she stepped forward in front of Shining Armor.

Shining shook his head, "Applejack, you can't. That monster will drain you of your magic befor you had a chance to strike back."

"So, we will just stay away from his tendrils and hit his face," Dash said.

Fluttershy shook a little but nodded as she looked to Shining, "You are in no condition to fight anymore, please let us handle this."

"B-But," Shining asked.

"That's right, move it," Pinkie said, bouncing ahead. "We can handle this."

Fratello put his hand onto his brother-in-law's shoulder and nodded, "Let's get these ponies to safety and let the knights hand;e this."

Shining sighed, "What good are armies when we can't beat a monster like this."

Glarity looked ahead and notched an arrow as Sombra finished his growing, "That is what heroes are for."

Sombra let out a hissing laugh as he struck out with one of his tendrils, forcing the Element Bearers to scatter. Glarity ran from the attacks, firing shot after shot at the monster. If they managed to hit him, he did not show it. When he threw a tendril at Pinkie, the little party girl managed to duck under the shot and throw a party grenade at the form. Sombra absorbed it and fired a lightning bolt that stuck Pinkie.

Dash flew close to try and hit the monster, but each attempt was only met with a tendril. Quickly, Applejack grabbed Dash and pulled her away from a smoke tendril and down to some cover, "This is getting us nowhere!"

"Tell me about it," Dash said, breathing hard, "How can we hit that son of a bitch if we can't touch him."

"Yeah, we also had a problem," Pinkie panted leaning with her friends. "We're still tired from earlier, and frankly I'm popped."

"We need a plan," Applejack said.

"Um, too late!" Fluttershy said, looking from the cover as Sombra turned his eye to the hiding mares.

"You know, the fact that Twilight Sparkle is no longer here is disappointing. I wanted to make her pay for costing me my kingdom and destroying everything I worked for. But, slaughter her friends will make a-"

"Get away from my friends!" Belle shouted as she stood against the light of the borealis of the empire, her mane flowing in the breeze.

Sombra laughed as he stared down the grey unicorn, "And you think you can stop me? Then try."

Belle said nothing as she ran towards Sombra's cloud. Jumping and dodging his tendrils as she ran towards him. One of the bolts of magic almost hit her, but it was blocked by Fluttershy's shield, "Go Belle!" nodding, at her friend's words of encouragement, Belle continued her charge. Rolling and moving as swiftly as she could.

Some of the tendrils would hit Belle, were it not for Glarity's arrows. She winked at Belle, giving her the sign to continue to run. As Sombra looked down at the charging unicorn, his vision was blocked by looking at a collection of the world's most interesting bombs as they were being thrown by Pinkie Pie. She moved faster as one of the tendrils almost reached her, but was pushed forced and out of the way by Applejack. Her final leg of her journey was helped by Rainbow Dash, "Don't know what you got planned Belle, but we got your back."

Belle smiled softly, "You guys trust me that much?"

"Always," Dash winked as she dropped Belle off within a few meters of Sombra.

Sombra glared his eyes down at Belle, his dark eyes narrowing as the magic flowed out from them, "Oh, and what does a little unicorn think she can do to me? I am Sombra, dark lord of the shadows, destroyer of empires. And you, are just a little unicorn who is scared and weak. What chance have you against a god?"

Belle's legs shook as she took a step forward, her heart racing as she looked up at Sombra, "You're right, I am just a little unicorn. I am not super fast, strong, or creative. I am just Belle, their friend. I don't even have memories to call my own."

"Then what good are you?!" shouted Sombra as he shot a tendril right into Belle.

As the smoke tendril rested in Belle's chest, she smiled, "Simple, I don't have any magic in me. Which means that you can't touch me!" and with that she began to run closer to Sombra. Looking down at the rod in her hand, she began to look at the four gems, "Now, he said, in the order of the union, but what does that mean? Wait,The first point to open her heart in the Unification story was the unicorn, then pegasus, and then earth pony. The three tribes the asked an alicorn to be their leader," with a swift touch, her fingers touched the four gems that represented each tribe, the unicorn, pegasus, earth pony, and alicorn. Then she chucked the staff as hard as she could right into the mouth of Sombra.

There was a flash of dark magic, and then Sombra sat there before them, a normal unicorn, "What on earth?"

"It's the Staff of Null, it has the power to take away and disable all magic in a ten mile radius. All magic, which means you can't hold onto your smoke form any longer or perform any spells," Belle said, sitting down.

Applejack walked up to the kneeling Sombra, "Shame, see I tend to think I am still strong even without Earth pony strength."

"Well, if you ain't up to it, I can help. I just can't fly," Dash said, walking alongside her best friend.

"Oooh, can I share a punch?" Pinkie asked pronking to stand with her friends.

Glarity shook her head, "Now ladies, I think we should be nice and let Sombra decide who gets first punch."

"You-You can't do this to me! I am your king! I am darkness, I am the black void of your soul. I am fear," Sombra said, backing away with fear in his eyes "I am-"

"Our punching bag!" the quintet said together as they began to let loose a whole day's worth of aggression on Sombra.

---

"Luna walked alongside Celestia, long after the clean up from the siege was done, "Sister, what is wrong? Sombra is in a cell with enough anti-magic runes to prevent even a simple card trick, Dark Conquest was pushed back even with heavy losses from both sides of the fight, and Dusk Shine-"

Celestia turned to look at Luna, her eyes ablaze, "That battle with Dusk Shine was a farce! The moment I appeared he ran like his tail was on fire, and before I even had a chance to ask him my questions. Like how come Sombra, who I thought was Dusk Shine, was two separate ponies. Why do I remember a guard with Dusk Shine's colors but nothing of that fight. And look at what Belle found in a book in Twilight's library."

Celestia hande Luna a photograph. As Luna looked at it, she saw a picture of her as a five month old filly in a onesie, sitting in between Celestia's seven year-old forelegs, "It... it is us, when we were children."

"And look at the two adults," Celestia said.

Luna looked at the photo some more, seeing two adult alicorns at either side. One was tall and black, with a white mane and tail. The other was green with a brown mane and tail," These are-"

"Our parents, Queen Terra and her consort King Titan. The same name of the monster we supposedly fought on the day that Equestria blew up. The day that my 'husband' and I first formed the Celestial ruler and the day before the day of darkness. Now you tell me, why did we not make any connection between the two? Why did I have a false memory of Sombra dn Dusk Shine being one and the same? And why is Grand Ruler so sure of these events?!"

"More lies and detect. MY rebels have been pointing out the same lies have been perpetuated amongst the populace of Equestria. So far, the only few that seem to be unaffected are the bearers and us. Though even that hold is weakening as we find more and more of our memories getting changed." Luna said, handing the photo back to Celestia.

Celestia frowned, "Someone has been wiping my memories and changing my past. I do not like this, one bit! You have a smart mare on your team, correct?"

"One named Shining Spark, yes. As a matter of fact, she bears a resemblance to-"

"Give her every bit of information on our past and the history of the past three years since United Equestria was born. I want to know what is the truth and who is messing with my mind. Then, I will bring him to justice.:

"As you wish, sister" Luna said walking away.

---

Titan walked forward, a smile under his hood spreading across his lips as he took a black piece and placed it on the board, taking away some of the white, "Conquest played his part beautifully, as did you Dusk Shine."

"What part, master?" asked Dusk Shine as he watched Titan play his Go game.

Titan chuckled, "Dark Conquest had revived Sombra to wage a siege against the Empire, not to conquer it, but to break and hurt Starfleet some more. He broke poor Lightning Dawn, who I heard is still catatonic in the hospital. He created a riff that is growing between the three remaining members and is causing poor Grand Ruler to lose more of his self-control. At the same time," he continued, moving to Luna's board and putting a white piece, taking away more of the black, "Your appearance has gotten the ponies to start asking questions, and questions for a stallion like Grand Ruler are very bad. They have some grievous consequences that I don't think he will like."

Dusk shine looked at the board, his black hand holding up a white stone, "I do not care for the end game, as long as you hold your end of the bargain."

"Do not worry, all bargains will be kept and promises will be honored. I am not a tyrant by any means, only a being of order," Titan said as he watched Dusk Shine walk away.

"Welcome, Dusk Shine," Titan's memories recalled.

"That is not Sombra," Mage said. "That is a pretender."

Dusk Shine stretched, his golden barding shimmering in the daylight, "So, you figured it out? A lot brighter than what Starfleet thought."

"I can feel magic," Mage said. "And yours is too uniquely pony to be Sombra's."

"So, who are you, really Dusk Shine?" Titan asked.

Dusk shine bowed, crossing his arm over his chest, "Dusk Shine, 1st of the royal guard."

"And the armor?" Mage asked.

"This barding is the only thing that is keeping me alive at the moment. It is one of Meadowbrook's eight magical objects. The barding gives longevity. It can heal wounds and stop aging, the problem is, it is only do long as I wear it. The moment I remove this barding, age will finally take hold and I will die."

"Why do you still wear that barding?" mage asked.

Dusk shine frowned," Revenge." seeing at the looks he received from his compatriots, he continued, "A thousand years ago, me and Grand Ruler were on the same squad together. He was obsessed with Celestia, desiring nothing more bur to stand with her ad a lover. One day, I had found the vault."

"Meadowbrook's vault?" asked Titan. " You mean the chamber where she stored her items?"

"Yes, all eight magical items in the vault. Only to be used in time of great need. I had told Grand Ruler about it, so we could report it to Celestia, however he betrayed me, took some items from the vault, and destroyed it to leave me to die. It was only through the use of this barding that I was able to survive."

"Then how do you explain you overwhelming lying power when you pretended to be Sombra?" Titan asked.

To answer, he held up a jewel, " The crystal of magic retention. It absorbs the ambivalent magic of the ponies in an area and transfers it to one pony. I gave this gem to each one if my generals when they fought Starfleet. The gem absorbed the ambiance magic energy, and when the time was right, I transferred its power to me."

"Amazing, and if I gave you the power, would you do it again?"

"Are you proposing an alliance? Only on one condition," Dusk said, " When Grand Ruler falls, you must agree to remove this barding and kill me."

" You want to die?" Titan asked.

Dusk Shine stepped forward and looked out of the cave, " My family is in the past, my loyalties are in the past, if I die then it is a blessing. I just want to see Grand a ruler fall before I go.:

Titan nodded, deal."

As his thoughts returned to the present, he placed a white stone on the board, " More players, more pieces for this game of ours, and what will be your next move, my old friend?"

---

Chrysalis walked down a long cavernous hallway, "So, you believed you could hide from me?"

"I wanted to, I tried to," whimpered Thorax as he followed his queen. His wings lightly buzzing as he made his plea, "Please your majesty, don't force me to work for you. I can't do it, it's so hard stealing love energy and I hate hurting ponies."

"Silence!" Chrysalis demanded as she came to a large door, "It is obvious that you are no use to me. So, think only of one punishment." and with a glow of her magic, she threw Thorax into the chamber.

"No, please, don't!" Thorax screamed as he was thrown into the room. "I just wanted to be a hero. Please spare-"

"Hey, it's ok," said a soft female voice as she placed her hand onto Thorax's shoulder. When Thorax looked up, he saw a pink alicorn with a violet mane who smiled down at him. Her golden horn shining in the dark, "My name is Cerise Wonder, and you're with friends."

"F-friends?" Thorax asked, rising to his feet.

"I have given my pat for your little troupe, now you can give me the information you promised me," Chrysalis growled.

Cerise nodded and pulled out a paper with a royal seal on it, "This is a list of transfers that was made under my time as warden. The changeling you are hunting might be there."

Chrysalis took it in her magic and nodded, "Thank you. Thorax, this will be you home now. Do with it as you will." and with that, she walked out of the room.

"Friends, home, what?" asked Thorax as he watched a light begin to blaze in the cave. When he looked around, he saw some other ponies around him. Some were unicorns, others were pegasi, and some were earth ponies.

Cerise Wonder stepped away from Thorax ,"Welcome, soldier, to the second stage of the resistance."

"The Umbra Circle?" asked Thorax.

Cerise smiled, "No, they operate in the shadows. We are going to be more direct in our assaults. See, Starfleet has been abandoning the towns that Conquest has attacked, or even gotten near, we are gonna try and liberate them. We are also going to fight for the other places that fly Starfleet's flag."

"Liberate them, but why?" asked Thorax.

Cerise walked down the cave and sighed, "Once upon a time, I was a warden for the central prison planet, until one day I was there for a major prison break caused by a changeling. Luckily, I was there to fight them off, but some of the prisoners managed to get the drop on me. That was when Twilight Sparkle appeared. In an instant, she was able to organize both myself, her friends, and Lightning into a fighting force that was able to subdue the prison break. I was so impressed by her power, skill, and brains that i knew I had to thank her one day."

"Then she died," sighed Thorax."

"Yes, but that was not what ticked me off the most. It was what I read on the report that told me that change needed to happen," Cerise punched a wall. "That whole prison break, Twilight's heroism, all amounted to nothing! Why? Because the papers and other ponies said it was Lightning Dawn that saved the day, not her. I owe that mare my life and she got no respect for it? That was when I realized that in the eyes of the state, we don't matter so long as the top seven members of Starfleet are shown to look good. So many of us have given our lives to the state, and yet, unless you are one of the top seven, you are worth no more than shit. That is what we fight for, for all of the soldiers out there who deserve recognition for their heroism."

"I see, and you wanted me because?," Thorax asked.

A white unicorn with a red mane stepped forward, "Because, we need members from both sides, unicornicopian and Equestrian, to send a message that we can stand together and bring out true reform. While Luna and her team overthrow the government, we need to be a sign that we as a species can stand together.""

"Thorax, Esteem Belle. Esteem was one of the royal guards back in the old days of Equestria, and he is our weapons expert. He will teach you how to handle the different races. When you are done training, we will begin discussion of our mission," Cerise said, leaving Thorax behind with the unicorn.

As she stepped through the cave and to her office, she heard a voice speak, "You think that your little team is ready for their first sortie?"

"They are, each one of them is ready to give their lives for the cause," Cerise said.

The voice responded, "I hope not, I paid too much for all of you to die."

---

Belle smiled as the party was in full swing, watching as the ponies celebrated not just the anniversary of the Royal Couple, but the victory over Sombra. In Belle's hand was a small cup of punch that she had been nursing after her fourth round of dancing. She let out a sigh as she heard someone call her name, "Uh, Belle."

"Look, I would love to dance with you, but I am exhausted and need-" She paused when she saw who was talking, "Oh, Shining Armor! What a surprise. Shouldn't you be dancing with Cadence?"

"I wanted to, but her aunts called her over for something. Alicorn business they called it," shining said, taking a spot next to Belle. "This does give me a chance to talk to you, and say thanks."

"You are welcome, but please you and the amy were the ones who-"

"Not that, something else," Shining said, smiling at her, "Ever since, Twily died, I have had this huge hole in my heart. Nothing seemed to fill it, not even the news of my it depression or something, but I felt so empty for the longest time. Then, I saw you today, and I kind of remembered something important."

"What was that?" Belle asked.

Shining smiled, "That Twilight would want me to go on, and protect you girls. That the moment she met the girls, that you all became my sisters too. I needed to learn to respect that."

"So you are saying that, you see me as a little sister too?" Belle asked with a smile.

To answer, he gave her a big hug, "Yeah, my little sister. That is what you are."

"Thanks,' Belle smiled softly as he hugged Shining back. The she broked from the hug, she looked around, "So, where are the others?"

"Outside on the balcony. They kind of wanted to watch the fireworks," Shining said, pointing to an open balcony, where five figures said.

As Belle ran to the balcony, she could hear Applejack begin to speak, "So, let's recap today. We-"

Rainbow Dash laid on the bannister of the balcony, while Applejack rested her arms on the railing, "kicked the tails of some bad guys."

"Saved a kingdom from an evil monster who wanted to destroy us all," Pinkie said with a bounce, sitting on the railing next to Applejack.

"Befriended some former enemies," Glarity said, drinking a small glass of punch.

Fluttershy looked at Dash, "And we did it together, by staying together.'

"You know what I call that?" Applejack asked, looking up at the aurora, "A normal day."

"Next time, can I stay out of the normal day? I'm bushed," Belle said, wiping her mane out of her eyes. This caused the entire group to begin to laugh.

---

As the night rolled on, Rarity walked with Spike in Carousel Boutique and to the large hole n the wall he mad, "So, Spikey-wikey, why did you destroy part of my house if it wasn't for you?"

To answer, Spike placed his hand onto Rarity's belly, "For our baby. One day, the kid is going to want it's own place. So I figure, how about I make a little nursery for the baby so that way it can have its own home and have a place to play when you work so it can be with you and you can keep an eye on it. That way, you don't worry about abandoning it."

Rarity's eyes opened wide at that, and then she looked back at the nest. Then she looked back at Spike, and with a wild feral look, tackled him to the ground and began to kiss him deeply, passionately. As she straddled him, she ripped off her shirt for him and then had him place his paws on her, "Spike that is the most selfless and kindest thing you have ever done! Make love to me you wonderful, handsome, powerful drake!"

"With pleasure!"

(Five hours of a sex scene so hot that I couldn't write it)

Rarity laid curled up next to Spike as they rested next to a small fireplace. The remnants of their love making laid strewn about the entire boutique, leaving not a single room that was untouched by the two lovers as they embraced their love, "Mmmm," Rarity purred as she ate an apple, "That was the second greatest sex I think we ever had. The first of course being the night after we found out about our little one."

"Yeah," Spike breathed softly, as he let Rarity rest her head on his shoulder, his arm wrapped around her. "I just hope we didn't wake anypony."

Little did Spike know, that at the Crystal Empire, the six Knights of Harmony laid in bed with their eyes wide open, unable to sleep thanks to the noise "Whoa." was the group call.

"Whoa," Tirek said, laying in bed in Tartarus.

"Whoa, I am impressed," Dark Conquest said, looking out at the skies from his headquarters. Then he gave a thumbs up.

However, we must this scene of comedy to focus our view on the home of the family of Rhymey. Slowly the door opened and his father was the first to greet him, "Rhymey, my son. Come in, it's-"

"Please father, no rhymes. This is just between family for now," Rhymey said as he walked into the house.

Harry nodded, "Of course son, take a seat in the parlor."

Marry, a buttery yellow unicornicorpian with pink mane, stepped in, "Oh, Rhymey, good-"

"Mary, what have I told you?" commanded Harry, his yellow hand balling into a fist.

"To be seen and not speak, unless given permission. I am sorry. S-shall I fetch you a drink, lover?" asked Mary, her soft weak voice barely being carried across the living room.

"Yes, for both me and our son," Harry said, sitting down in a big chair. Crossing his legs, he placed his fingers against each other, "So, my son what brings you home? Trouble?"

Rhymey looked into his father's emerald eyes and his thinning green mane and nodded, "Yes father. It seems that I have lost my mnemonic powers, I can no longer form rhymes or control ponies minds."

"I...s ee," Harry said, disappointment in his voice.

"What's more," Rhymey said, taking a drink from his mother as she walked in. "Me and Fluttershy are on the outs, it seems."

"You and Fluttershy have had a fight? Well, that is ok-"

"What did I say about speaking unless you are told!?" Growled Hsrry as he stood and readied to slap her.

Whimpering, Mary whispered, "I'm sorry."

"Do not worry Mother, Father, I am planning on getting it all back. I will make it alright, and I will burn her friendships to the ground," Rhymey said.

"Good, I expect nothing less from my favorite son," Harry chuckled.

"Well, you know what we say," Rhymey said as he hit his glass in a toast with his father, "We live for the one-"

"We die for the one," as Harry took a drink, his eyes opened wide in horror as what he had just said came to him. Within minutes, he fell to the ground, convulsing and twitching as he started to foam.

"How many missions was it, Father? Twenty-two? Twenty-two assassinations and it was your own son that was able to stop you. I am curious, who was it that you were going to correct, me? Fluttershy? One of her friends? Oh well, it's no matter. You are dead and now the lands and titles will belong to me. Which also means I get the powerful mental spells that are my birthright."

"Y-you bastard. You will," Harry managed to get out before coughing up blood.

Rhymey frowned at this, "Please, save the title of bastard for those half brothers and sisters of mine. Oh yes, your promiscuity with the ladies of the planets that you have visited is quite well known. Quite frankly, I am surprised that the trophy wife you call my mother is my own mother with the way you go around." chuckled Rhymey as he sat back down and began to drink his wine slowly.

"Never.. .Away... This," groaned Harry as his life began to ebb away.

Rhymey brushed him off as he began to drink slowly, "I have. Gotten away with this. Tomorrow, the papers will read about the deaths of my siblings, all under horrible accidents and all blamed on Dark Conquest. Being the second favorite of Grand Ruler has it's benefits. With all of my siblings dead, this means power will befall to me."

"Not... all," harry said, his eyes closing as his life faded.

"Oh yes, that abomination that you had a few years ago with mother. Tell me, how is that little freak? Did you kill her in her sleep, or did you throw it in the trash where she belongs?" Rhymey asked.

Mary gasped when she came into the room, "Harry!"

"Mother, shhh," Rhymey said, walking over to his Mom and tucking her chin, "It's going to be ok, I just got rid of the bad man for you. He was abusing you and he needed to be put down." Comfortingly, he caressed the side of his mother's face, "See, I'm your hero. I protected you, and now the bad man won't hurt you anymore." he said, leaning in and kissing his mother's nose softly, while running his hand through her pink mane.

"No, I suppose he won't. Thank you, my son,' Mary said, rubbing her face against his hand.

Softly, Rhyme spoke, "Now, go and prepare Fluttershy's room. She will be here soon." As Mary left, Rhymey sat in his chair and smiled. Slowly, he brought out his cup of wine and began to drink slowly, "Soon, I will have it all back. My life, my world, and my wife."

---

Belle smiled as eh looked at the photo before her. Happily she began to hum as she placed it into her journal, remembering what led to that photo.

"So, why are we taking this photo?" asked Belle as she stood in the center.

Rarity smiled, "Because, two days ago, you helped saved the day. And we need to take something to help remember that day."

"Besides, we have a group photo of Twily, we need one with you!" Pinkie said, getting next to Belle and hugging her.

Fluttershy nodded and laid on the ground in front of Belle, while Dash got above Belle. Applejack stood to Belle's right while Rarity to the left. As Spike began to take the photo, Rarity pulled her lover close, "Oh no, my boyfriend is coming to this photo too!"

There was a warm smile on Belle's lips as she put the photo into the book, "Dear Journal, today I think I can finally say I am part of the group. If I can have one wish come true... it's to always keep my friends." As she wrote that last line, she began to sway back and forth while holding her head, "Whooo, that's not good. Why does that happen."

Thhis chapter would not exist, were it not for some fan requests and some ideas I wanted to get through. See, it all started with the idea that there should be another battle for the empre. A huge battle. Well, this fit nicely with some ideas that I wanted to address and deal with. Thus this chapter came into being.

Lets break down the basics.

First thing I wanted to work wiht was some bits of fallout with Rhymey and show what has been happening to Pinkie. This is also why I wrote the short story that ties into this, to show more of the truama that Pinkie has been going under. Also, i wantd more time with Belle. Scootaloo also came about because realized lately that I hve ad scenes with the other two CMC but none with Scoots. I also wanted to touch a little on how war affects thos of us at home as well as the battlefield.

Rarity's scene nd flashback came to me when I had finished readng seasn 4 of Starfleet. The top three things I hated in that drek were Kudos, Tirek, and what happened to Rarity. I saw bad horse and I hated his desing. Ratiy would not fall for that thing. Also, this was me addressing the elephant in the room, Spike's aging. Like it or hate it, its in Mykan's cannon and I had to work wht it. I could ignore it, but wherre the fun in that. See, ersonally, I have no problem wiht Rarity waiting until Spike was 20. I come from a may-december romance. MY mom was 6 years my dad's junior. But how the story did it...just felt wrong. SO I figur my way would also explain matrutiy. He is now mentally and physically 20. Does this work, I will let thereaders decide.

Those assassins, they wee a take on the MOTW format. That and I wanted to show that not everything is as it seems. There is more to this story you know. Also, it helps me answer what had happened to the elements. After all, we know thye can't be destroyed and I hate the Valkeryie mode with a passion.

This brings me to the war for the empire. I wanted to give Cadence another badass moment and I wanted to talk about what had happed to Fratello. I aslo wated to fix Sombra because I hated that the story turned him into a bully. No, no, and no! So, I made him a badass and gave Cadence her most awesoe song ever. I love cadence canticle, and Skillet. Also, this gave Shining a chance to be a badas. This is also why the trree rookies were here. I wanted to give Lighting more trauma.

Now, for some tiva

The id codes for the rookies: They have jokes. Terra's code is Atop the fourth wall, Beast Boy is CW 4 Life, and Copy Cat is Dragonball 4 ever.

What is signifigant about Beast Boy, Terra, and Copy Cat? They are from End of Ends. Heh ;)

Why is Thorax Beast Boy? SSimple, Beast Boy used to be known as Changling.

Esteem is another immortal game reference.

I apologize for the use of a simpsons joke in rarity's and Spikes love scene.

Rep, Dimetnia, and Mysterious are all mad at me. They didn't have a scene in this chapter. I apologize for this, and they are planning on my death for this mistake.

I wanted to pu in both KEvin and Thorax. And yes, I know about the season finale. Part of why I wanted the story out now!