No, that's not how the world works. Hence why I inflict pain and torture to the ponies in my fics

Within the forest of White Tail, far from prying eyes of the populace of Ponyville and hidden within many layers of illusion spells sat the mansion of the Umbra circle. A simple three story house, it contained rooms for many activities and bedrooms for all seven of the members. One particular room, hidden in the library, was the lab of their most secretive member, Shining Spark. Said pony was busy setting up a large whiteboard that was covered in pictures and strings of various colors.

Sitting back in her chair, Spark ignited her horn and brought over a book labeled 'The Truth'. Opening the book with a wave of her hand, she put pen to paper and began to speak, "Shining Spark, personal journal entry 1: The following book is meant to be a log of the many lies surrounding Starfleet and it's history. Through this paper, I mean to find out the truth of our world and discover what happened on the day of darkness."

"Let us state one fact before we begin," Spark said, turning her head to look at a photo of Twilight Sparkle, smiling. "Twilight Sparkle is dead. This is an undeniable fact that we must accept, for now. Twilight Sparkle is dead and there is no way to bring her back. After all, there is no way to return from the dead. Now that is out of the way, let us begin the proper examination."

"Five years ago, Equestria was attacked by a being calling itself Nightmare Moon," Spark said, looking up at a photo of the being, next to her were three pictures of Titan's soldiers. "Accompanying her were three generals known as Titan's trio.. These demoncorns, as Starfleet called them, were quickly beaten by Twilight and her team. However, Nightmare Moon beat the heroes through trickery and deceit, even going as far as sending Celestia to a far off world, now known as Unicorpia."

Spark put a finger to her chin, "This brings us to our first lie, the origin of Celesto's and Celestia's love for one another. According to Starfleet, before Celestia's arrival on Unicornicopia, Celesto gave ot his backstory. A story of how he met Celestia at school and fell in love with her there. I asked Luna about this and she responded as thus:"

---

"Absolute rubbish and poppycock!" Shouted Luna as she walked alongside Spark through the mansion, "Of all the idiotic brain dead things to say. First of all, I have no memories of school, or even meeting a young colt with three horns. Why would only my sister be at this supposed school and at these games? I am her younger sister by only eight summers, I had every right to be there. What's more, his story makes no sense in the least. Why would an alicorn child be mocked when they are respected, much less one that is a special child with three horns. He would be studied, researched, and looked at by magical students across the world."

"What Luna said next gave me pause"

"I does not help, that I know for a fact that I never went to school! Now, why does Celestia have two conflicting memories? One of her meeting this monster at a school, and one where we were home-schooled by our parents."

"Princess, you said that the book Twilight had in her library was found in the castle of the Royal Sisters. Maybe I can look in there," Spark said.

"Go then," Luna said, mumbling to herself, "If you ask me, the whole story sounds like a three year old's idea of a romantic tale."

And so, Cheerilee, Lyra, and myself mad our way to the Castle of the two sisters. Along the way, Lyra had noted that there was a staircase leading down to the bottom of the ravine. When I investigated the ravine I saw nothing. The staircase seemed to serve no purpose. Deciding to put that onto the back burner for now, I and my two teammates found our way into the castle of the royal pony sisters.

Lyra took several steps forward into the main entryway of the castle. An excited smile crossed her face as she began to look at the old castle. Turning around to look back at her two friends, she asked, "So, why did Twilight come here for an old book anyway?"

"I don't know," Cheerilee said, stepping forward, and looking at an old tapestry, "Maybe Twilight was suspicious of what was going on here?"

"Like what?" Lyra asked.

"Well, like the supposed fusion of our two worlds. Why are there no landmarks from Unicorpia? No homes or anything like that from their world. All that is here is Equestrian relics," Cheerilee said.

"I have a theory," Spark said, stepping ahead and looking down a hallway, "This way by the way, the library is down here."

"You've been here before?" asked Cheerilee.

Spark nodded, "Twice actually. Once was when I was here is a scouting team looking for ancient relics and the second was when I was looking for the library."

Lyra walked next to Spark and began to look at the many pieces of old armor, "Oh, I get it. So, your theory?"

"I believe that those who are touched by the elements have a stronger resistance to the changes that have affected our world," Spark said, speeding up her pace, "Twilight must have been catching onto these differences and went here to find some. She must have been onto something, since she did discover that book."

This elected a series of nods from the other two and then they followed Spark in silence. As the sounds of their shoes on stone floors echoed around them, the explorers continued on with their trek. Spark, ahead of the team, seemed to dodge and move away from every trap that laid before them. Comforted by the skill of their leader, Cheerilee decided to spend the time by reading a history book. Lyra, on the other hand, began to look over every inch of the caste with wide excited eyes.

It was only a short time before they made their way to the library. Before them was shelves upon shelves of dusty books. Ancient tombs surround broken tables and old statues of times long past. Calmly, Spark stepped forward, and gazes down the many bookshelves, "Ok, let's spread out and search."

"What are we looking for in here?" asked Lyra.

"Another portrait of Celestia and Luna along with their parents. That will most likely be near a book that may have some record confirming either Grand Ruler's story, or Luna's," Spark said, taking a few steps down the ways and through the bookshelves.

Cheerilee looked to see Lyra almost running everywhere to look at books, "You seem excited."

"Well, yeah!" Lyra said, looking back and grinning ear to ear. "I like Archaeology and Cryptozoology. It's a hobby of mine. Heck," she sighed, "I kind of get jealous from time to time of Twilight and friends."

"Because they're heroes?" asked Cheerily as she continued to read.

"No, it's not that," Lyra said, walking around a broken table. "It's that they met nightmare Moon! They fought Discord and were the first ones to make it to the empire. I would love to have a job like that, to travel and see the world. You know, to see all of the cool stuff."

"I know the feeling," Cheerilee sighed, "In spite of everything, I am enjoying the-" she paused when she opened a page in her book and gasped. Shaking her head, she whispered, "No... nononono, this not good!"

"What is?" Lyra asked.

Spark came out from behind a bookcase and looked at the two, "What is it."

"I was reading the latest history books, trying to see what has been added, and look at this," Cheerilee said, pointing to a few pages. "The unification of the three ribes? Gone! Any mention of the past before the rulers? Gone! According to this, Equestria was always peaceful and happy with no strife at all!"

"Ok, now that is just a load of horse manure!" Lyra said, shaking her head. Growling, she asked, "Why would Grand Ruler do such a thing. Wouldn't the ponies notice?!"

"At first, the educators might," Cheerilee said, closing the book. She did not notice Spark walking away and pushing on a statue head to open a secret door, "But, over time, the young one will start taking this new history as fast, and then over time, those who deny it will seem as insane or stupid. Then, this new history will be the correct one. That's how propaganda works, you take facts and you change them to suit your needs."

"That is exactly what Grand Ruler is doing, and now we have proof," Spark said, standing in front of a small collection of pictures. All of them of Luna and Celestia at various ages, "I found these, and a book."

Cheerilee cooed as she looked at some of the portraits. Her eyes drifting to one photo in particular, "Aw, this must be when Luna was born. Look at her in a little onesie being held by..."

"Her mother and father. It was a photo of Queen Terra and King Titan, the same photo that Princess Celestia has said was found by this Belle girl in Twilight's library. Since these two photos matched, it helped to solidify Luna's story."

---

Spark picked up a cup of tea and drank it slowly, letting the paper and book to finish writing down her log. Taking a deep slow breath, she looked back at the board and the pictures that lined it. Crossing one leg over the other and putting a finger to her lips, she began to analyze the information before her. Her violet eyes looked up at the picture of Luna and her family and then to a picture of a young grand ruler, "Grand Ruler must put those false memories into Celestia's head when she arrived. Which means that his mental abilities are very powerful."

Slowly, she got off her chair and walked out to the window and watched as her friends made their way out of the house and to Ponyville for nightmare night, "My team." she said, watching them." I hope you have fun out there."

Her eyes then glanced to a newspaper on the table with a publishing date of six months ago, "Grand Ruler does have a knack for removing information if it's inconvenient...

(Six months ago, the beginning of the war)

The Antelope lands, a small section of the continent of Zebrica. Too small for the Zebra Queen to deal with and not much of importance to the other bigger powers that surround it. The land is just small enough that a small army can make a base there is they so wished.

The Antelope culture is also timid and shy, not ones to get involved in the affairs of the larger races. More than content to focus on their inner magic of healing, the Antelope didn't even have a representative of Starfleet to watch over , it was a surprised when a figure in a black cloak appeared in front of their leader, "Greetings, I am a representative of this world's ruler, Dark Conquest."

"Dark Conquest?" asked the King, "I thought this world was watched over by Celestia and Grand Ruler.."

"Oh, it was, but my associate is about to fix that error," the figure said, narrowing his red eyes at the Antelope King, "I am only here as a prelude to what is to come for your race."

"What is to co-" before the king could said more, he found himself impaled by a blade of black magic.

The figure frowned under his cloak, "Shame, my power seems to not have reached it's pique yet. Conquest still needs to kill more then. No matter."

"K-Kill?" the King whimpered as he watched the figure in the cloak walk closer, and placing a cloven hoof onto the king's forehead.

"Yes, kill as in decimate," the Necromancer said, smiling. "See, he doesn't plan on attacking all of Equestria for the entirety of the, no... he wants the whole planet, and to do that, he needs to wipe out the small fry first. I am here before he removes your culture from the planet."

"Why?" asked the King as he began to breath shallower and shallower.

The figure smirked and looked to the Prince, "You, you are how old?"

"18, sir," whimpered the Prince.

" A foal then. Oh well, you run to Zebrica, and charter a ship to Equestria. It will take you two months to reach there. There, you will tell the queen of our exploits here and introduce yourself as the last antelope, is that understood?" asked the necromancer before looking to the King and opening his mouth. As he did, a black magical energy began to flow off the King and into the figure's body.

The Prince was scared, but he nodded and ran off. As he escaped the castle, he saw his city in flames. Standing on a pile of bodies, was Conquest with a smirk on his face as he held a civilian by the throat, "You know, the problem with asking for a throne of corpses is that they are very hard to make." he then smiled as he saw the boy. "Oh, you must be the one that my friend decided to let live. PErfect, history needs to have a messenger to announce the power and legend of the evil ones."

"Y-you monster, " the prince said backing up in terror.

"Yep, that is what it says on my school reports. Now, I know what you're thinking. This is where the prince goes back to a foreign land, brings back heroes and support to save them. Well, see kid, the problem with that is,' Conquest leaned in and whispered in the prince's ear, "You're not the hero of this tale. You're the delivery boy that will show those morons back in Starfleet just how big this war really is. Now go, and run little boy," laughed Conquest as he patted the boy on the rump and hand him run away.

The boy nodded and ran away. Two months later, he reached Equestria.

(The Present)

"The news didn't even get out of Canterlot, the prince is now back in Zebrica as a refugee," said Spark as she drank her tea and walked back to her chair. Looking down at the book, she continued, "Fact two: After taking down the spirit calling itself Nightmare Moon (Addendum: Look into who sent that spirit), Twilight Sparkle and her team," she paused as she made mention of the element bearers. Looking over her shoulder, she looked at a picture of Twilight Sparkle surrounded by her friends in a group hug. Turning away from the photo, she continued, "Made plans to find Titan's Trio and find out where Celestia had come from."

"However, just before plans could be made, There was a moment in time where the bearers of the elements, plus princess Luna, all passed out," Spark placed her fingers together and leaned back, lightly tapping the digits against each other. "When they had awoken, they found themselves in New Unicornia and facing the Starfleet team. They were told of a great battle between Celestia and Titan and that the original Equestria had been destroyed..."

"But wait," Trixie asked Applejack as she began to till the soil. "Then how do you explain the missing wings, and the destroyed elements?"

"That's the strangest part," Applejack said. "The only group of ponies that actually know about a battle are anypony that's not me and the others. Twilight said that, before she regained her wings, she knew they were there but for some reason she couldn't see them. And as for the elements."

"Yes?" Raindrops asked.

"There may be some truth in that," Applejack sighed and looked out across her farm, "The truth is, Ah haven't really felt my element in a while."

"What do you mean felt?" asked Trixie.

"Well, it's like this," Applejack sad, looking at her two friends, "When Ah had the element, Ah felt a little bit different. Like, a little more honest than ah used to be, like Ah could feel everypony's strength backing me up. If you were to ask the others, ah bet they would tell you what it's like. Like the best part of them was out in the open for everypony to see."

"Nut, I thought Valkyrie mode was like some kind of super and purified version of that," Raindrops said.

Applejack shook her head, "No, weren't. If having an element felt like a cool stream, then this was like a polluted water. It was just... wrong somehow. When I used it...Ah can't even begin to describe what Ah felt."

"...Theory," Spark said, snapping out of her thoughts, "Anypony who was once an element bearer has a greater resistance to the magic that Grand Ruler uses. However, proximity to him gives him the ability to manipulate your mind easier." she turned her eyes to a picture of Rhymey, "This makes me think, Rhymey has been known to have mnemonic powers. Perhaps he is an amplifier for the magic of Grand Ruler. This does explain how come, whenever one of the members of the elements were near him or Grand Ruler, they had a moment where they would act...Out of Character as it were."

"For instance, Rainbow Dash challenging Fluttershy of all ponies to a race, or Pinkie Pie crying uncontrollably for no reason," Spark said, tracing a blue line from Grand Ruler to Rhymey. "The question is how did they do this? How is Rhymey able to use psionics in such a way that he increases Grand Ruler's might over the populace. And how is he able to transform and fuse an entire planet in a day."

"The transformation, as I refer to it, is what happened to all of us after the day of darkness as it is known to Equestrians," Spark slowly got up and walked around the room, putting a finger under her nose in thought. Looking back at her board, she continued, "After the blackout experienced by the bearers, Celestia made an announcement that she would confer with Grand Ruler to make a treaty that would unite all of our people. As soon as she went into the castle, that was when the Equestrians had their blackout. When we awoke, we were in these forms."

"Conclusion," Spark said, "Grand Ruler has an ability to not only mess with our minds, but with the reality of the planet as well. The problem is, if we try to confront him about this, he will most likely wipe or change our minds. This is why Celestia or the bearers have yet to confront him with this evidence."

With a wave of her hand, Spark closed her book and began to walk around her small lab. Around her sat some tables with potions bubbling and small computers with read outs of several things. Making her way to a shelf, she looked up at some of her books, as if making sure that they were all straight and in perfect order before using magic to float her book onto the shelf. Then she turned to look at a blank computer and turned it on.

As the computer turned on and the login screen passed by, it cut to a desk top with a counter in the center.

Time Left: 6 months, 10 days, 2 hrs, 33 mins, 33 secs.

Looking at the clock, she nodded and levitated a book to her, one with her cutie mark emblazoned on it. Opening it, she began to read, making the computer record what she had been saying, "This is Shining Spark, for purposes of security I will still be using my code name. Password: TSIzA&1v3." Spark nodded, watching the enchantment dissipate on the book if anypony finds my journal and tries to open it without my permission, then it burns, Spark thought as she looks at the computer and began to speak, " It has been six months since the war with Conquest started, close to a year since I joined the rebellion, and the progress has been moving smoothly. I have joined a unique team of friends that have proven... valuable. If not interesting."

---

I remember it was Trixie who ended up picking our team members earlier in this year, when I had first joined the rebellion...

Luna stepped up to the group and threw down a manilla folder in front of Trixie and Spark, "I want you two, to pick out five ponies from this folder. They will be our team."

"Only five?" Trixie asked, "Mistress, if we are to be a proper rebellion, don't we need-"

"We must start out small," Spark said calmly. "If we have too many start with, then we will be hunted. Smaller numbers will mean we will be able to strike harder than not."

"Fine,' Trixie said opening the folder, after sorting through the list of ponies, she pulled out five dossiers, "These will ."

Spark levitated the five dossiers over to her and began to look over each one. After careful study of them, she looked back at Trixie and asked, "Are you sure? This team seems rather unorthodox."

"Why not?!" Trixie exclaimed, "After all, the world was saved from Nightmare Moon with less."

"But a mailmare, a teacher, a weatherpony, a musician, and a farmer are all going to help us save the country?" asked Spark.

"Sometimes," Luna spoke up, "It is the people we least expect to be heroes that will provide the strongest part of a story. I will go and inform the team."

To this day,I still do not know what drew Trixie to these five girls, but i am glad that she did.

---

I'll admit, I was uncertain to Raindrops skill as a team player at first. She was hot headed, quick tempered,and a bit on the brash side. I noticed a few times that she would op for a more violent solution to the problem rather than stealth. However, over time, she has provided something very useful for all of us. Even if we didn't realize we needed it.

Raindrop let out a yawn as she stepped out of her work out room and into the library. With a bottle of water in hand, she looked at the rows aof books and picked out one to read for a bit, but was quickly interrupted by a small yell of anger and rage. With a curious look, she walked a few feet down to see Trixie flipping through the pages of a book, "Whoa, what's got your cape in a bunch, Trix?"

Trixie looked up and sighed, "Hello Raindrops. Trixie was just... you know. Looking at sme of the magic books that Luna left for us."

"Thought you hated to study, that it all just came 'natural' to the mistress of illusions," Raindrops said, sitting on a table and drinking her bottle.

"Illusions, yes. If you were to ask Trixie to name an illusion spell, she could name it and about ten variations of it and how long it takes to cast it," Trixie sighed and shook her head, "It's the other seven schools she cannot touch."

"Seven?" asked Raindrops.

"Abdjuraton, conjuration, divination, enchantment, evocation, illusion, necromancy," she let out a shudder at the name, "and transmutation. Those are the eight schools of magic."

"But you enchanted that cool necklace of mine," raindrops said, looking down at the pendant.

"With an illusion spell. That was still hard and took Trixie hours to conjure. Anything else is beyond Trixie's skill, she can make a copy of that spell, but that would be it," Trixie sighed.

"Why all of the focus?" Raindrops asked.

Trixie looked out the window and frowned, "Raven, Titan, and others out there. They all are powerful beings with untold supplies of mana. Our strongest mage rarely leaves the base, so that leaves Trixie as the mage out there. If we meet one of them on the battlefield and Trixie doesn't have a plan, then-"

"I punch them hard in the face while you get a plan ready," Raindrops chuckled.

"We're not all mountains of muscle like you," Trixie snarked before looking back at the book.

"The point is," Raindrops said, putting her hand onto the book and looking into Trixie's violet eyes, "We are a team, remember? You don't have to protect us, so calm down."

"Calm? Funny talk from Mrs. Punch first and then ask them a question later," Trixie said, chuckling.

"It's how I take my mind off what's going on," Raindrops smirked.

"What do you mean?" Trixie asked.

Raindrops walked away from the book "You think I'm fearless? That every time I go out and go on one of these missions, I am ready to fight? Nah, the truth is, I am scared every time. Scared, and a little bit angry."

"So, what does this mean?" Trixie asked.

"Simple," Raindrops then clenched her fists and made some small punching motions at the air, "It means that I take my fear and anger and turn it into my strength. Then it becomes something more focused, and I find I'm not afraid of anything anymore."

"So you are saying that Trixie should punch things more often?" Trixie asked.

Raindrops stopped punching, "I'm saying you should find things to help get your mind off your worries for a bit. And that means stop it with the books. I swear you are becoming like Twi-ow!"

Trixie smirked as she watched her thrown pen hit Raindrops on the nose, "Do not compare Trixie, with Twilight Sparkle. She seeks to surpass her rival, not stand on the same level as her."

"Sure," Raindrops said, rubbing her nose. Then she looked out the window and smiled, "Want to go on a run sometime?"

Trixie looked at her book, and then to Raindrops, "Go easy? Please?"

"Sure thing," chuckled Raindrops.

---

Cheerilee is the interesting one of our group. She had a life with a bigger impact than the most of us, and she wasn't that much in the background as the rest; however, when she was given a chance to become a member of our group, she jumped at the chance. There is a part of me that wonders just how much of her life that she keeps hidden from us, and how much she lets on.

"Ok, out with it," Ditzy said, leaning on the couch, turning to look at Cheerilee, "Why a teacher?"

"What? My special talent isn't good enough?" asked Cheerilee, pressing a hand to her chest.

"Nope," Ditzy said, flipping to lay on her belly and rest her head on her fists, "I want to know why a mare is so into spy stuff, into being sultry, and into so many more little un teacher like hobbies. Yet, you still love being a teacher."

"Wisdom, and knowledge," Cheerilee said, sitting on her chair. She smiled warmly as she looked out the window, "I used to be kind off a wild girl when i was a young adult. Felt like I had something to prove, to be just as fun and awesome as my two sisters. But, overtime, I began to notice something. During my adventures."

"What's that?" asked Ditzy.

"That, I had been learning a lot of things lately. I had so much information being gathered in my head, but no one to share it with. Can you imagine what a kid could do if they knew some of the things I know now," asked Cheerilee. "They could change the world. So, I decided that I wanted to teach the children what I knew and help them grow."

"That sounds-"

"Not as engaging as yours, I know. Or as tough as Trixie's," Cheerilee smiled, "I mean, the day Luna came to me..."

Luna stepped into school building, listening to the rants from the mulberry teacher, "Wrong, wrong, so wrong!" she ranted.

"A problem, teacher?" asked Luna.

If Cheerilee noticed Luna, she did not respond, instead, she lifted up a paper, "When I want to grow up, by Daphne Dill. I do not want to be anything special, if I can serve Grand Ruler to the best I can, then I'll be happy. I don't want to be special."

Cheerilee rubbed the bridge of her nose, "It's the same for every Unicornicopian child."

"Yes, it seems that Grand Ruler has this thing about his Unicornicopians and their uniqueness," Luna frowned. "He wants the Equestrians to stay the same, he wants the Unicornicopians to never become better or special. It all seems so, bland, wouldn't you say?"

"Yes," Cheerilee nodded.

"Care to change it?"

"I leapt at the chance, I ran ahead with no questions asked," Cheerilee looked down, "Even if it mean not talking to my boyfriend for a while."

"I know the feeling," Ditzy said,

Cheerilee smiled. "You know, one of the proudest moments I ever had in my career was watching your little Dinky give a ten minute speech about why you are great?"

"Haha, no, she really did?" Ditzy said, smiling, trying to show a tear of sadness.

"Yes," Cheerilee said, sitting up, "You see it started..."

---

I was apprehensive about Ditzy Doo joining at first, not because of her skills, but because of all of us she was the one with the most to lose. As a mother, if she were to die then she would be making two young fillies orphans. However, Trixie assured me that she would be fine, because of the two of us. I swear, sometimes the magician of ours astounds me. Still, I am grateful to have her on our side. She has taken in the habit of cheering us up when we feel down, brightening our days with a song or a hug. I believe it's because she has taken us on as a second set of daughters...

Spark gave a yawn as she walked down the stairs from the bedrooms. As she walked, she sniffed the air to smell a sweet scent coming from the kitchen. As she stepped closer to the origin of the scent, she found Ditzy flittering around the ovens and the dishes. Looking confused, she asked, "Ditzy, what on-"

"And what do you think you are doing here, young lady?" Ditzy asked, a stern tone coming over her normally peppy voice.

"I live here," Spark said matter of factly.

With a frown, Ditzy shook her head, "Yes, you do, but you are not to be on your feet! You are to be in the living room, relaxing!"

"But I-"

"That's right, now move it!" Ditzy said, lightly shoving Spark into the living room.

Once she stepped in, she saw Raindrops laying back on a sofa, reading a book. Trixie was in a chair with a deck of cards, performing small illusions with Carrot Top. Lyra sat back in a rolling chair, spinning lightly. Before she could ask a question, Cheerilee looked from the cup of coffee she was nursing and sighed, "She caught you too?"

"Caught? What do you mean?" asked Spark.

Trixie sighed, "Ditzy is on a mother kick. Apparently, she thinks we are working too hard and need a day off to relax. She is making us all breakfast as we speak."

"You mean she has forced all of us to take a break," Spark asked.

Luna stepped forward from the shadows, "Yes, dearest Spark, all of us. She told all of us to rest or else."

"Or else wha-"

"She would ground us," Dyno said, looking away embarrassed, "She has a very good argument you know."

"Yes, we know," Discord growled, leaning back on a chair and playing with some cartoon images.

...Though, there are times when she can be a bit too motherly. I wouldn't have it any other way.

---

Carrot Top, I admit, has been the interesting one of our team. Lacks the skill of the others, the emotional depth of the team, and is more prone to sticking to her garden than working with the others. She always is looking for some way to help us and offer assistance, even if we don't need it. I feel like her strength lies within her tenacity to push her efforts to help us and to keep trying in spite of her hardships.

Though... I wonder if she remembers to have fun once in awhile.

Carrot Top sat on the bed, sighing. In front of her was a roaring fire, that she never took her eyes off of as she watched it burn. From behind, she could hear the others talking, "Why is she looking at the fire?" asked Cheerilee.

"Maybe she's thinking of her farm?" asked Ditzy.

Spark shook her head, "It's obvious that she is thinking of her home and what we need to do to save it."

"No, I bet she's thinking of the next fight!" Raindrops said, punching the air.

Lyra looked around, a confused look in her eyes, "Where's Trixie?"

Then the air was filled with a loud shriek, followed by a bunch of prench cursing. After the yells, Trixie walked down the stairs, dripping wet with a towel wrapped around her, "Who is the Fills De Chienne that messed with the hot water!?"

Carrot Top leaned back, smiled, and rubbed her wrench gently.

---

I think the best way to describe Lyra, is a romantic. She believes herself to be a brave knight, facing down the demons of the land to protect the greater good. Willing to stand by her lover throughout the night until she conquers the evil that is before her. It is a quaint, if naive way to look upon our mission here. Though, one has to admit, she has the amazing quality about her that makes us think of the knights of old. She has a certain strength behind her that makes me believe in her.

Carrot Top walked onto the top of the stairs, sighing and stretching. Her joints ached for the sweet comfort of her bed. As she made her way to her bed, she could hear a sorrowful tune being played from Lyra's bedroom. Taking a step back, she sawy Lyra slowly strumming her fingers along her harp, "A ballad tonight? Personally, I prefer your more perky numbers."

"Oh, hey Carrot," Lyra said, looking up away from her own harp. Gently she placed it down and looked back at the stars, "Just feeling down today."

"Lyra Heartstrings, the upbeat musician and our go to gal for an adventure soul," Carrot Top laughed, "has a moment when she is feeling down."

"Hey, I'm a pony too," Lyra said, looking over her shoulder with a smirk.

"Sorry," Carrot Top chuckled warmly and then stepped in, "So, what's the problem? Is it Bon Bon?"

"Bon Bon, this whole mission of ours, the fact that the Unicornicopians still haven't gotten a clue that Grand Ruler should be overthrown if we have a chance to live. Take your pick," With a sigh Lyra moved away from the balcony.

"So, you're regretting this? Do you want to quit?" Carrot Top asked.

"What, no!" Lyra gasped and shook her head, "It's just that, you know, sometimes the pressure can get to you, and then you see how little impact you made in the world."

"We freed hundreds if not thousands of prisoners, have hurt the Unicornicopian's belief in Grand Ruler, and have probably helped the knights in more ways than one. I don't see the problem," Carrot said.

Lyra took a few steps forward and looked down at a newspaper, "The problem is, Grand Ruler still controls the news feed, he still manipulates the events in his favor, and we still end up looking like idiots compared to him. You know he basically said that the assassins were sent by Conquest? We know that Grand Lummox was the one behind those guys, we know that he probably stopped the communications from the Empire getting out when Fratello attacked, but-"

"We can't do anything about it," Carrot Top sighed, "Not until we figure out how he is keeping up this charade. He can only keep it up for so long."

"Yeah," Lyra sighed, and then looked out, "But, I won't give up."

"Not until you are back in your Bon Bon's arms, right?" Carrot Top smiled.

"Well, of course. It's my duty as hr knight. You've got somepony back home, right?" Lyra asked.

"Most of my family is dead and gone," Carrot Top sighed, "When I go, I don't even know if there is going to be anypony at my grav-"

Lyra put her hand on the shoulder, "Stop right there. You aren't going to be alone at your funeral, because you aren't not going to die."

"I'm not?" Carrot Top asked.

"Yes, because I, Lyra Heartstrings the knight of love and compassion, promise to not let a single friend die. She will protect them with her life f need be!" Lyra said, standing triumphantly.

Carrot Top chuckled, "Oh, my hero."

"Besides, I live to protect cuties like you,' Lyra said, kissing Carrot Top on the nose.

Carrot giggled, "Thanks, but I'm straight."

"And I wouldn't leave Bon Bon for the world," Smiled Lyra, before she lightly booped Carrot on the nose, "But it doesn't mean I won't compliment a girl."

Carrot chuckled at that, then she walked away, "I'm off to bed. Are you feeling a little better."

"Yeah, I just needed some depression time, you know us artist," Lyra shrugged and walked to her lyre.

"Oh, and play something upbeat," Carrot Top said, "You might not know it, oh bard, but you do keep us cheerful with your music."

"Hey, it;s what I do the best," Lyra said, sitting down and stummng her lyre, "Besides, Eulogy for a Fallen Princess is a boring piece anyway. Here is one I want to do with Octavia one day: The Anthem of Harmony!"

---

Trixie is the most, interesting of the six, I have found out. At time egotistical and abrasive, there is an unusual quality to her that I find admirable. Her stories, her tales, and the way she brings it all out almost makes you believe she can do what she does. It is only when you peel back the surface, do you find the truth. That the reason why she has been doing this, and has been so forward, is because...

She's lonely.

Trixie trudged back to the mansion, grumbling to herself as she stepped through the fallen leaves and branches. Behind on her back was a bag full of food and cakes, "Of course it's Trixie's turn for a food run, of course she'll go and get it." a sigh escaped her lips as she looked at the door and reached for the knob, "But what does she expect on her birthday."

"Look at her, failed again," her sister said, shaking her head. "Why did we even send you to that school if you don't have the talent."

"Are you going to be second rate all your life?"

Shaking her head to clear out the memories, she opened the door and stepped in. The entryway was dark with very little light. Reaching over, she turned on the light switch next to her, and stepped back when she saw the group all standing under a birthday banner, "W-what on Equestria!?"

"Surprise!" the group shouted.

Cheerilee blushed as she put her hand behind her head, "Um sorry we couldn't give you an all out Pinkie Pie like party."

"But the moment we heard that it was your birthday," Lyra smiled, "We knew we had to celebrate somehow."

"Did you like it," asked Carrot Top.

Trixie shuddered, and smiled, wiping a tear from her eye as she whispered, "Why did I... How did I," she then looked up with a smile at her friends, "How did I make such wonderful friends like you guys."

"Well, you picked us for a mission, we joined, and then we became friends. End of story," Raindrops said.

"No, it's more than that," Trixie said. She looked at the group, "Would you have even become Trixie's friends if we weren't forced together."

There was a short moment of silence and it was Raindrops who stepped up first, "Remember the Detrot mission? When I said I like being friends with the little magician? I meant it then and I mean it now. You probably would've been annoying at first, but I could see us getting along."

Carrot Top nodded, "I don't think we needed a war to become friends Trixie. We just needed the time to know one another."

"That's just it though! Why? Every time Trixie has had anypony that resembled a friend she just ended up pushing them away! Either because of her own ego, or she failed them," Trixie sighed and looked out the window towards Ponyville, "Trixie never had much of normal family. Mother was an excellent potion maker, Checker was the best at everything, and her sisters all had excellent talents. The only way Trixie could ever hope to become well known, was to be a showmare. Not exactly high profile work."

Turning around, she looked at her friends and smiled warmly, "Trixie has never had friends that have stayed with her like you have. Never had somepony put such faith in her that they are willing to stand by her for the rest of her life. She just does-"

"No," Ditzy said, putting her hand onto Trixie's shoulder and smiling warmly, "We aren't gonna split up after this war is done. I want you to be here for so many birthday parties."

"Trixie moves a lot, might be hard to find her," Trixie chuckled.

"We'll manage," Lyra said, then she levitated a book over to her. "Oh, and I have another reason why I probably would've been your friend a long time ago."

"Is that," asked Spark, looking at the book with the a curious look.

Lyra nodded, "Yup! It's my old yearbook from Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns, and guess who I found!"

The group looked at the yearbook and inside was a photo of a smiling Trixie, a little star braid in her mane. "Awwwww," Cheerilee commented, "You are so cute!"

"Not that cute," Trixie grumbled. "And Trixie was only there for one year."

"Why did you leave?" asked Raindrops.

Trixie sat on the couch and shook her head, "Trixie didn't leave, she was expelled."

"What did you do?" Lyra laughed, "Put a firecracker in the toilets?"

Levitating a bottle of bourbon to her side, trixie popped the bottle open and shook her head, "No, it was something else," Trixie said, taking a drink. "There was this student, Sunburst, he tried a spell that was way more powerful than his level could obtain. When it was done, he had destroyed most of the dorm and injured three students. It was obvious to the most obvious pony that Sunburst was guilty, Trixie had changed things to make it look like she was the guilty party."

"Wait, so, Celestia just let you go like that?" LYra asked.

Trixie nodded, "Yes, though...Trixie presumes that Celestia found out about it and probably forgave Sunburst. Trixie chose not to come back."

"Why not?" asked Spark.

"Because Trixie's goals lied elsewhere! She knew that she could not be contained in a small little school room! She needed to be out among the ponies if she was to prove her power," Trixie said, standing on top of the couch.

Ditzy flew up behind Trixie and gave her a hug, "Ir was still a noble thing you did. And that's why we love you!"

"Yeah," Lyra said, smiling and picking up her soda, "Because that's what's important isn't it? Taking the time to get to know a person, or at least putting in the effort to get to know you."

"Ok, enough of the mushy and cheesy friendship speeches," Raindrops said, pulling out a cake, "We are here to party!"

Trixie has an unusual power, one that I think she is slowly starting to realize herself. The ability to your faith in her without question. As our group begins to bond more and more, I am seeing that quality in her, and I think this is why Luna picked her.

---

Spark pulled pac from her book and looked over the last sentence, letting it burn into her head. Then she looked back at the photo of the Umbra Circle, standing in a group hug. Slowly, she began to speak again, "I won't lie, it hasn't been easy in the beginning. Nothing usually is. We had our disagreements, fights, and the like. What can you expect from a team of such unique individuals. However, I believe we have become a strong group of dedicated friends. No more true than this, than when I revealed my greatest secret."

---

Spark walked down stairs into the living room, a book in her hand. As she made her way into the room, she noticed that her friends were all sitting across from her on the couch. Curious, Spark asked, "What is-"

"Ok Spark, out with it," Lyra asked. "Who are you, really?"

"What do you mean, I am Shining Spark," Spark asked curious, "Just a normal pony who-"

"Lack emotions," Carrot Top said. Then she held up her hand and blew out a pile of dust at the purple unicorn.

Spark swished her hand past the smoke, coughing, "Carrot Top, what on earth?"

"A few days ago, I was working on a new gas for some of my bombs when I spilled some on the two of us. It was a powder made from the flowers of the laughing flower, and I was the only one of the two of us that was laughing," Carrot looked up at Spark with a frown. "In all my years, I have never heard of a pony that is immune to laughing flower, not even the princess."

"What are you," Trixie asked, narrowing her eyes, "I want to believe that you are still our Spark."

Spark nodded, her voice now losing the air of emotion and care that she had put on before, "You are correct, I am a being without emotion. I can assure you that I am still Spark, your friend for the past few months. I just lack the heart to have emotions, I just operate on pure logic."

"But, you have emotions,' Lyra objected. 'We've seen you laugh, smile, and be sad with us!"

"An act," Spark said, tapping her forehead. "I have memories of my life before you, so I know what emotions are supposed to be. When I see a moment that my mind tells me is supposed to be sad, then I follow logic and act sad. When I need to be happy, I play happy. But, it's not really."

"How can emotions not be real?" asked Cheerilee.

"When one plays a part," Spark said. "Do you think that an actor on stage is really angry or sad when they are playing? When you pretend an emotion, are you really feeling it? That is me. I am just an actor playing her part. Just a doll playing out the scenes that she has been given." she shrugged, "I suppose, if I had emotions, I would feel sad that I am nothing more than an emotionless puppet, but I don't. Because it's not logical for me to feel that way, and no memory can tell me if this is a sad scene or not. I am just the actor playing her part perfectly by reading the script."

"So that time you told Trixie that she was worth protecting?" Trixie asked,, frowning.

"It was the truth, was it not? You are important to this team and to the success of this mission. Logically, it was the right thing to do," Spark said, seeing the frown and saddened look in Trixie's eyes. "So to answer your question, I am a half of a pony. One night, almost a year ago, I found myself outside of this mansion with all of my memories and powers at my disposal. The only thing missing, is my heart."

"So, what does that mean?" asked Raindrops.

Spark looked down at her chest, feeling the coldness that emanated from it, "In six months time, if I do not find my heart... I will fade away into nothing. A pony cannot exist as only half a being after all. The same can be said for my heart as well, she will die too."

"No, you-"

"I assume," Spark interrupted Lyra, "This means that you no longer trust me and this will harm our relationship."

"Why?" asked Cheerilee. "I mean, you may not have any real emotions but that doesn't stop us from being friends."

"However," Spark corrected," I could just as easily deduce that one of you is no longer valuable to the team, and decide to let you die. I can decide that any one of you is expendable."

Trixie got up and began to walk towards Spark, "Oh, really? You can decide that easily? Ok, Miss Logic, tell Trixie this! How can we possibly live without Ditzy motherly love, Carrot Top's kindness, Raindrops strength, Lyra's heart, or Cheerilee's friendly smile? Look at them, and tell Trixie how are any of them 'expendable?"

"Trixie, you forgot," began Raindrops, but was stopped by Lyra. Looking at her, Lyra shook her head.

"Can you honestly tell me that those five mares are worthless? That not a single one of them is worth giving everything for. That to lose one, means that our team would be missing something important?!"

"Trixie," Spark said. "Let me respond with this, that no matter what. You are just as important as they are."

As Spark paused to realize what she had just said, Trixie smiled, "So, guess we all aren't expendable are we? Now you just hold off on that talk of anyone of us dying, because Trixie isn't going to let that happen. She gave her word," then she held Spark's hand, "And Trixie is going to find your heart no matter what happens. Got it?"

"You know," Spark said, looking at Trixie in her eyes, "With encouraging words like that, I am inclined to believe you."

---

"It was this event that proved to me without a doubt, that this is a team of strong friends that have been put together. Almost as strong as my old team," Spark looked back at her computer, taking note of the time that was slowly passing by, "If I believed in wishes, then there is one that I want to make. That is to stay friends with this team, long after the war is done."

---

(A few weeks later, a day after the Battle for Manehatten)

Ditzy Doo was flying through the the woods with a bright smile on her face. The fall breeze that surrounded her gave her such an uplifting feeling. It gently wafted through her wing tips and played with her short blonde hair. Occasionally she would do a twist to better get the feel of the air around her. It helped to calm her and take her mind off of the world around her.

Sighing, she landed at a nearby patch of flowers and smelled them. Then she bunched the set up in her hand and ate some. Then she spun around to lean back against a tree to watch the clouds pass by overhead. That was when her right eye drifted up to the upper part of her eyelid, and she caught the sight of a blue dot flying straight at her. Letting out a gasp, the motherly pegasus flew up into the air and dodged out of the way of the crashing body. With a loud series of crashes, the blue body rammed through several trees.

A worried look in her eyes, she followed the trail of destruction to where the body laid in the middle of the broken trees. Letting out a gasp, she floated down and lean body and took it back to the mansion.

A few hours later, the figure that laid in the bed, began to wake up too the muffled sounds of the voices of the Umbra circle, "Ditzy, let Trixie check again," Trixie's voice began to come in. "You found a dragon lying in the ground and the first thought you had on your mind was' Bring it home!?'"

As her eyes began to open, the blue scaled dragon began to make out eight distinct pony shapes. The grey blur began to talk, "She was injured, I couldn't let her lay there in pain."

"But here?" Trixie asked.

Raindrops looked back, "Didn't think they all came in this size."

"Wyrmlings like Spike, Mina, and whoever this is, tend to stay in that state for over 50 years," Luna said. "At least according to the Draconomicon."

"The Draconomicon?" asked Spark.

"Ancient book on dragons, lost for millennia," Luna replied. Then she looked at the opened red eyes of the dragon. "She's awake."

The young dragon backs up on the bed, keeping the covers over her while baring her claws, "What the? Where am I? Who are you ponies? Why have you taken me hostage?"

As she bared her teeth, Carrot Top came to her side with some soup, "Relax, dear. You are with friends. You crashed into some trees and we took you here."

"Why," the dragon asked, turning her head, but looked at the soup with desire. "You ponies are scared of us. And your ruler thinks we are scum."

"While it is true that Grand Ruler detests dragons for some unfathomable reason," Luna said, "I can assure you that Equestria does not share his sentiments."

"And while we are a little scared," Ditzy said, looking at the dragon's broken wing, "Doesn't mean that we won't help."

Lyra sat across from the bed in a chair, "Care to tell us who you are?"

"Princess Ember, only daughter of Dragon Lord Torch," Ember said, wincing in pain at her wings and holding the side.

"Did not know that the ruffian found a blue dragon to mate with," Luna said. "I always thought he would prefer black dragons."

"Why were you flying with a broken wing, so far from home?" asked Spark.

Ember turned her head, "None of your business. It's personal for dragons."

"We could help," Cheerilee said. "Assisting different cultures is our thing."

"Your people is why I left home in the first place!" Ember growled, and then pulled back in pain. "I was heading north, hoping to talk to that Spike kid I met a few months back, and if not him, maybe a passing," she shuddered, "Bronze dragon."

"Our people?!" asked Luna. "Grand Ruler has had much of his forces either stuck here trying to fed off Conquests attacks or patrolling one of the many planets. What do you mean, our people."

Ember looked down at the bed, and frowned, "A few weeks ago, I saw someone walking around some of the sacred caves. The ones that we hold a shrine to honor Queen Tiamat. I was wondering who would dare to enter our sacred lands when, lo and behold, I found some Unicornicopian trash searching the place. If that wasn't bad enough, you know what I aslo found? Conquest's men!"

"Conquest would be a fool to attack a dragon homeland," Luna said. "Why would either side be there."

"The Amulet of Dragon Companionship," Ember said, her ruby eyes narrowing.

Lyra looked up, "No... it exists? Then again, if the other items exist then that has to too!"

Trixie looked at Lyra oddly," The Amulet of Dragon Companionship?"

"One of Meadowbrook's eight mystical items," Lyra said, strumming her harp, "You remember how Meadowbrook created the eighth to provide for various purposes?"

"Yeah, we know of three right now," Raindrops said, counting o her hand, "The Ring of Fear, The Staff of Null, and Barding of Invincibility."

"The Amulet of Dragon companionship is another one of those eight" Lyra said. "And for a while, it was the only one that could be confirmed to exist. Legend has it that Celestia found it in the ruins of the vault where the items were kept. As part of a treaty, she gave it to the dragonlord about a few centuries ago."

"That was my grandfather," Ember said.

"What does it do?" asked Trixie.

"Simply put, anypony who has it in his hand, can bed any dragon to his will, not matter what color," Lyra said. "They would have the power to make all of dragonkind his slave."

"We dragons have been staying far away from this war because we have no stake in it," Ember said. "But if either Grand Ruler or Conques gets their hands on it, then they would make us work for them."

"Thought some of you would," said Trixie. "You guys do have some prejudices about ponies."

"We Chromatics may worship Tiamat, but we have more honor than to lower ourselves to work for slime like Grand Ruler or Conquest. So to stop them, I tried to take some of them on my own," she winced, "You saw how well that worked out."

"And you thought that Spike would be helpful?" asked Trixie.

"Yes," Ember nnodded. "I need someone to help me take down these guys, or find the amulet before he does and then deliver it to my father. Then he can, I don't know, throw it into lava or something."

Luna looked around the room and then to Ember, "They will assist you in getting the amulet."

"What?!" asked Ember, stunned. "Oh no, out of the question. The guys I fought are some pretty tough guys, if I can't stop them, then what chance do you stand?"

"Trixie shrugged, and then smirked as she stood on the table, "Dear Princess! You know that you are dealing with the most powerful rebellion in all of Equestria, The Umbra Circle! We have broken into impenetrable fortresses, stopped unbeatable foes, and overcome impossible odds! Why, Ditzy alone is worth twenty million mares! Those odds sound like a mere card trick when it comes down it it! We are invincible," Trixie said, adding a cape flourish and some fireworks to her speech. "We will not only find the orb, and bring it to your father, but you will be so impressed that you will give us aid without question!"

"If you guys can get in there, get the amulet, and bring it out of the dragonlands without getting caught, then I'll not only give you our aid, but I will make a trip into metallic dragon territory myself and convince them to join us," Ember said.

"Deal," Trixie said, turning around and letting her cape billow behind her, "Girls come! We have planning to do. That include you Spark!"

Spark nodded and followed along with the others out of the room. This left Luna alone with the dragon princess. A warm smile crept across Luna's face as she looked at her student and friends, "Quite a team, are they not?"

"One thing I do not understand, your highness," said Ember, "Some of the dragon lands who studied history have heard of Luna the Destroyer, Luna the Avenger, Luna the Crusher of Souls, Luna the Night-"

"I'd rather forget that last one," Luna sighed and looked way. "Besides, I heard that one of your fellow chromatic do not think highly of myself and sister. What was it Spike said about us? Namby Pamby Pony Princesses? I wonder how he would think about us if I told him that I beat his grandfather and was responsible for the loss of his horn."

Ember chuckled at that, "The thing is, I study dragon history and I know that you are like the badass of the two. The, like, warrior who steps in when Celestia is too busy being nice."

"Yes I know," Luna sighed as she got up and looked out the window at the setting sun, "One is the warrior getting herself into danger while the other holds back. Sun and Moon, the heir...and the spare."

"Then why aren't you out there with those seven planning? Why aren't you on the forefront of the rebellion? Why the secrecy?" Ember asked, moving a little out of the bed. "You could fight toe to toe with Grand Ruler and-"

"Create a civil war? Wage a battle here while fighting Conquest? No." Luna paused and sighed, "Besides, this is another of my sister's famed 'teaching without teaching' lessons she is so fond of."

"What is the lesson." asked Ember.

"To be prepared to one day stand down and let mortals follow their own path," Luna looked down at her hands, little reminders of her battles resting on them. "She wants me to learn that it is ok to be an example and let others be the heroes and do things for themselves." looking back at Ember, she asked, "Tell me, is it better to rule with fear or respect?"'

"Most dragons would say fear," Ember said, looking up at Luna.

"That is what I believed when I was Nightmare Moon, but after my redemption, I am starting to see differently," Luna said, looking at the setting sun. Nodding, she began to lift the moon slowly, talking as she did so, "With respect, one can earn more that what fear will grant you. Fear, you tend to earn more enemies wanting to deny you strength, just look at how often enemies come to United Equestria wanting to do battle, just to say they can defeat Starfleet. If they had the respect of their peers and their enemies... we would not be alone in this war. But Conquest knows how to tap into the fear and hatred of Starfleet that the races have, and he can use that to spur them into battle."

"I never thought of it that way," Ember shrugged and shook her head. "We're just taught that you need to be angry, tough, and feared in order to be bad. It's why a metallic dragon is so weak!"

"And how well is fear working out for Starfleet so far?" asked Luna.

Ember gave a roll of the eyes and laughed, "Not very well."

"And how many wars did Equestria have before Grand Ruler while I was away," asked Luna.

Ember shook her head, "None."

"See?" Luna asked. "I feel that you are a eager dragoness, perhaps one who is willing to grow and learn. Perhaps while you are here, I can teach you a little bit about what it means to be a princess."

---

Two days later, after the battle of Manehatten.

Lyra sat calmly in the backroom of the grand chamber of the cave of the Dragon Lord. she looked like a dragoness musician Trixie's glamour. In fact she was actually waiting for the show to start, "Who would've thought that Torch's birthday was today. Heh, lucky." she chuckled to herself as she played her instrument, waiting for the true show to start.

"So, who's the goodwill ambassador?" asked Raindrops, covered in a similar glamour.

Lyra softly chuckled as she continued to play her harp, "A certain former magician that used to be well respected in Starfleet until he let a traitor escape." another laugh escaped her lips as she looked back at her lyre, it's soft music bringing back memories.

'And we went down to the river

To the river we dive

Oh down to the river we drive'

"Heartbreaking," Luna said, walking to the patio where lyra sang.

Lyra gasped and smiled at Luna, "Oh, hello Princess Luna." Lyra said with a bow as she put her lyre on the beach and stood up.

"Why the sad melody?" Luna asked.

"Just a little broken today," Lyra growled and clenched her fists, "Me and Bonnie were just sitting around, you know, going on our date. Now, back in Equestria, seeing me with the wife was never a big deal, heck, we'd get teased about how close we are. But those, Unicornicopians, I could hear them. Freak they called me, messed up!"

"So, were you upset about them making fun of you?" Luna asked.

Lyra shook her head and looked up, "For Bon Bon. I could tell she was feeling down, like loving me was wrong and that we shouldn't be together! How wrong is that!?"

"Very wrong," Luna said, sitting on the bench.

"And of course, it just reminded of how much Unicornicopia hates the idea of anypony going out and doing something that they aren't trained for. Or how they refuse to look into anything that isn't written down. Saying that, if it isn't in the book they can't research it. Well, how do you get something into the book if you don't look it up. Of course, when I try my hoof at cryptozoology, I am called nuttier tan a loon! What type a world do I live in where I can't try and enjoy a little weirdness huh?!"

"A corrupt one," Luna said, standing back up, "Miss Heartstrings, I am putting together a team of agents that will be the first in a rebellion."

"Oh," gasped Lyra as she looked to Luna with a smile, "You mean we will be a team of rebels, fighting an evil empire and bringing peace back to the land?!"

"That is an accurate assumption," Luna said with a nod.

Giggling Lyra jumped and fist pumped the air, "Oh, this is so great! Now that... I think I can make a happier tune. Any request?"

Lna sat down and offered ten bits, "Something by a bard of legend would be nice."

Lyra nodded and strummed her lyre, "I won't back down...

A loud chorus of boos snapped Lyra from her thoughts as she looked up to the sound, "Wow, it does not sound like they are happy."

"No, they hate it," Cheerilee giggled. "Suppose that is the signal?"

"No, Trixie said we will know it when we see it," Spark said, looking around.

On the stage, Abra was trying to duck from the thrown gemstones that was coming his way. His eyes narrowed in disgust as he yelled at them, "You don't know magic! This wowed them back at United Equestria! What you, myself, or anyone else may consider "Good magic" or even "Great magic" It's all a matter of PREFERENCES and EXPECTATIONS! This is my preference and not yours!"

"Oh, Abra, poor Abra. Just never got it," Trixie's voice echoed through the caves.

"This is shocking," Torch said, then bellowed, "Be shocked!"

The crowd gasped.

"See, you lack the most important lesson of them all! One no magician should do without!" Trixie said, as a cup appeared next to Abra.

Abra looked to his left, "What is that?" he said, lifting up to find an empty cup. Then from behind, a giant moon rose up from the ground, before exploding into millions of stars.

As the stars fell around Abra, they soon collected together to form a silver maned equestrian mare. Throwing her arms up to let her cape billow in the breeze, she shouted, "PRESENTATION!"

Abra growled as he saw the showmare, "You, I am putting you under arrest!"

"Oh, do put a sock in it," Trixie said, holding up a hand in front of Abra's mouth, when she pulled it away, he began to spit out a variety of socks. Smiling, Trixie turned to the audience, "Hello my wonderful Dragon Lord! How is you and your delightfully decadent court?"

"We are bored! Show us something good or we will be enraged!" growled Torch.

Trixie shrugged as she pulled the socks out of Abra's mouth, "OH believe me sire, this will be fantastic! Watch as I disapprove one of Starfleet's greatest fallacies."

"And what would that be?" asked Abra.

"Everypony knows that all starfleet members are trained to withstand mental magic and that they cannot be fooled, correct?" Trixie asked.

"Of course we cannot. Our mental prowess is abov-" Abra paused when he saw the deck of cards. "What?"

"Pick a card," Trixie said. "Trixie will beat your mental control and read your mind."

Abra sighed, and picked the Ace of Spades. Growling, he put it back into the deck, "There!"

"Good, now...Shuffle it by saying the names of each member of the Elements," Trixie said, pulling back to give him a chance to shuffle. After waiting a moment, Trixie took the deck and pulled out a card. "Is this it?"

"No, it's the three of clubs," Abra said.

"What?" Trixie asked, shocked. Then she took back the deck, shuffling it for a moment and mumbling the names to herself. After a second, she pulled another, "How about this?"

"Nope, two of diamonds," Abra said.

Growling Trixie tried again, then she spread the cards before her before chuckling, "Oh, silly Trixie. There's the problem," she said, splaying the cards out. "Do you see?"

"No, I don't!"

Trixie chuckled as she put the cards back, "There are only fifty one cards in the deck. One should never play with a full deck. OH, Dragon Lord, there is a card under your seat, if you could throw it to me?"

"Eh," Torch looked down, and then pulled out a card. Nodding he threw it at Trixie.

Without even looking at the card, Trixie smiled and caught it. Then she held it to Abra, "How about this?"

Abra stood there for a moment, shaking his head as he looked at the Ace of Spades, "Yes," he muttered.

Trixie gave out a boastful laugh, "HA! You see, Unicornicopian magic is nothing compared to the-" she then jumped and giggled, before pulling at the neck of her shirt to allow a little skunk to pop it's head out. It then licked her, "S-Sally, what are you doing here?"

As the skunk gave a squeak, Trixie pulled the little animal out of her shirt and gave it to Abra, where it growled at him, "Sorry, Sally is Trixie's little pet. She met her outside of her house two weeks ago. The first thing this little annoying thing did was spray her with a foul odor. Well, Trixie has vowed," the dragons all looked in shock as Trixie brought out a giant ax, "To get revenge!"

"Trixie no!" shouted Abra as he watched Trixie use the ax to cleave the little skunk in twain. Then his eyes shook in disbelief as Trixie used a little string to pull her back to together/

"Aw, stop being squamish!" Trixie said, taking Sally into her arms, "Sally Is Trixie's assistant. With means that she is durable. Strong enough to be squished," Trixie tried, sighed and then grabbed Abra's hands and forced him to squish the little skunk. Trixie then took the little thing by its flattened tail and bang it around the room, "Bashed. And," Trixie put Sally into a fire pit and turned it into ash, "Fried, without dieing," she said, reaching into the ash an dpulling out Sally, unharmed.

"But-What, how?" Abra asked.

"This is most enjoyable... CHEER!" screamed Torch.

The crowd cheered at the sight.

Abra growled as he watched the show, "This, this is madness. You are cheering for her? All she is doing is using her horn for magic!"

"Please," Trixie said, taking off her hat and throwing it to Sally, who happily trotted off the stage with it, "Trixie doesn't need unicorn magic for this. Here," she said, giving Abra chains, "Allow Trixie to show you, tie her up while she puts on this anti magic coller."

As the set up began, little Sally walked over to the disguised Umbra Circle members, "Sally? Why are you here?" asked Ditzy

"Wait, Trixie really did adopt that," Raindrops stammered for a moment, "Thing?"

"Yep, found her outside. I helped tame and name her," Ditzy said, taking the hat, "Hmmm, a note. 'Exit is to your left, await Trixie's signal. Signed TL."

"What signal?" asked Raindrops.

By the time Raindrops looked to the stage, the setup was done. Now chained to a rock and in front of fiery spikes that moved towards her, Trixie grinned, "And now, you will see Trixie make her narrow escape." she said, grunting and pulling. As she watched the spikes get closer and closer, she grunted and pulled harder, "Ok. Trixie might be in trouble." As the spike neared her, Trixie could feel her heart began to race, sweat beading down her head, "Ok, big trouble!" Trixie squeaked. She moved faster, but her bonds did not break, "Oh, Celestia hel-" before she could scream, the spike rammed into her, crushing her body and sending out bits of gore into the audience.

Abra stepped back in horror, shaking his head, "No, it can't be."

Torch could only chuckle, watching the reaction of the Unicornicopian at the death of the stage mare. Then he heard a muffled voice from his clenched fist, "Excuse me, Dragon Lord, could you please open your fist? It's getting hot."

The dragon looked down curious at his fist and opened his fist to reveal Trixie unharmed and had a smile on her lips, "Thank you. Oh, mighty Dragon Lord!" she said with a bow. She then tipped her hat, spread her cape like a pair of wings and then glided down back onto the stage, "Trixie needed the room to breathe."

"That was amazing! Be in awe!" growled the Dragon Lord.

"Awwwwwww," cooed the crowd.

"I SAID AWE! A-W-E!" Shouted the Dragon Lord.

"Oooooh," they said, much to Trixie's amusement.

Trixie looked over her shoulder at Abra, and sashayed over to him with a smirk, "You may think you have all that power and skill, but compared to me you are nothing. You can call this fake, but this is real MAGIC!" she said, throwing her hands into the air, creating a giant neon sign that spelled out the words magic.

Ditzy gasped as she saw the c making out a giant arrow at the end, "That's the signal, let's go!"

---

The caves within the volcano home of the dragonlord were surprisingly well lit for a place deep within the earth. The footsteps that followed the circle as they stepped through the wide tunnels were smothered out by the soft ground beneath them. With careful tread, the group moved two by two through the maze-like caverns keeping an eye out for the other Unicornicopians and Conquest soldiers that were also making their way through the caves.

Ditzy, who was at the head of group with Spark, kept looking back and forth between her wings to gauge the wind. Spark, on the other hand, was by her side, looking around with a faint blue glow in her eyes. Behind them, Cheerilee and Lyra were talking with Raindrops and Carrot top, "So, what's Spark doing with those glowing eyes of hers?" asked Raindrops.

"Mana Sight," said Lyra. "It's a basic unicorn spell that allows you to see magical signatures. She's checking for any Unicornicopian guards or soldi-"

"Shh," Spark said, pointing to a wall fo them to hug. Taking a look above them, she could see the images of three soldiers walking above their heads, Then she looked to the side to see five Unicornicopians walk around to their left.

Carrot top was the first to speak after the teams passed by, "How are we going to find an orb in a place like this when who knows how long those other groups have been doing it?"

"We could always just hold one down and force him to give us a map," Raindrops chuckled.

Lyra rolled her eyes, "Not everything has to be a beatdown!"

"It would work, wouldn't it?" Asked Raindrops, waiting eagerly for Lyra's rebuttal.

"Wait," Ditzy said, fluttering her wings, feeling a small breeze, "There's an air current coming from this wall." she said looking to the soldier wall to their left.

Cheerilee looked confused as she put her hand onto the wall, "Really? You can feel that? I don't feel anything."

"Ditzy's special talent is feeling the tiniest of wind currents," Spark said, breathing slowly and placing her hand onto the door. Igniting her horn to make it glow a faint blue color, she placed a glowing hand onto the door, "Find portal." she whispered.

To the amazement of the entire group, the wall began to glow bright blue in the shape of a large door. Ditzy turned to look at them with a little smirk and a wink. Spark began to run her hand along the blue lines with a raised eyebrow, "They made a hidden door, but I can't find a way to open it. No code or spell. Though, if I were to hazard a guess and considering the dragon's love for strength, one can assume you need superior strength to open it."

Raindrops smirked, and looked to Lyra while sticking out her tongue. Chuckling, she pressed her fingers against a small indentation in the door and began to pull hard on it. While she began to slowly move the door open, her mind began to wander.

"Wow," said Snails with a smile as he walked alongside his big sister, "That was amazing! Didn't think you could make somepony fly that far."

Raindrops winked to her little brother and walked by his side, "That's 'cause no one calls you a retarded idoit in front of my face and gets away with it!"

Snails sighed and looked down, "You didn't have to do that for me, you know. I know I'm not all that-"

"Hey!" Raindrops stopped and put a hand onto her brother's head, "None of that. You're pretty smart. You probably forgot more about Enemomagy than I can remember."

"Entomology," Snails said, a knowing grin on his face as he said his favorite subject with pride.

""Whatever," Raindrops shook her head. "The point is... you got a lot of smarts in that head of yours. You just need ponies to know you first and then learn to appreciate it. Like Snips."

"Yeah," smiled Snails. He then backed up when he saw a silhouette in the house, "Sis, there is a pony in the house."

Raindrops looked up and narrowed her eyes with a scowl. Looking back to her little brother, she whispered, "Run to Snips' house, and if I don't come back in an hour. I love you little bro." she said, giving him a hug.

Once he had run out of site, the jasmine pegasus walked to the house and opened the door. Growling, she stepped into the living room where the intruder waited. With a balled up fist, the pegasus threw the first punch. Without a word, the black figure grabbed her fist and spoke in a calm voice, "Interesting, you are as bad with your temper as Rainbow Dash says. You prefer to punch first."

Pulling back her fist, Raindrops did a spinning back fist, followed by a shin kick and a knee upper. All of which was parried and dodged by the unseen assailant, "Muay Thai? You know, I met its founder when I was a teenager. He gave me my first kiss." she giggled.

"Cut the crap," Raindrops said, turning on the light, "In order to have met him, you would have to be..." she paused as she looked at her opponent.

Luna gave a soft giggled as she sat down on the couch, lifting a teacup to her lips and drinking slowly, "fifteen hundred and twenty seven years old. About seven younger than Tia."

"Oh my goddess, I am so sorry," Raindrops said bowing.

"It is ok, I have heard of your," Luna cocked her head to the side in thought, "Temper problems. Rainbow Dash has said that she had to hold you back once from killing Filthy Rich's daughter."

Raindrops sat down and crossed her arms, "She insulted my baby brother."

"Seems to be happening a lot lately, doesn't it?" asked Luna. "Before, Snails could ignore it, by hanging onto his best friend. But ever since Starfleet, the young ones have been more cruel with their insults. Especially the Unicornicopians."

"They're brats," Raindrops growled, "They see him in only one way, you know, as a," she paused not wanting to say that word. "But he isn't! He just learns differently from the rest of his class. When it comes to bugs, he's a freaking pro! And he's an expert in defense! He ca catch so many things, but they think 'You have one failing, so thus you are forever tainted. You can't become anything more than you are' It makes me sick."

Luna smiled at this, "What if I told you, I am giving you a chance to change that. To return the world back to what it once was before Grand Ruler, before all of this, and to give your brother the world he deserves?"

"Why me?" asked Raindrops. "You just said I have a short temper. Any team I'm on would have to deal with that."

Luna sat her cup down on the table, "I believe that temper of yours can be useful, if aimed properly. We already have a motherly voice, a calm voice, an excited voice, but we need one of anger and rage. I think you fit the bill."

Raindrops looked down at manilla folder and then back up tot the princess, "You're serious. We're about to wreck the entire government up." a smile came across her lips as she said, "Let's do business."

As the massive doors opened, Raindrops quickly snapped out of her memories to look at the open gate. There was a smirk on her face as she began to show off her biceps to her team. This had the effect of getting Lyra to roll her eyes as the stepped in ,"Honey, let me tell you... softer is nicer."

As Ditzy stepped in, she turned to see Carrot Top putting up some trip wires on the door, "Carrot, what are you doing?"

"Making a little trap, in case Conquest's men see this open hallway," Carrot said, finishing the trap. Nodding her head at her work, she turned around to begin following her friends down the long hallway.

Much like the caverns before it, the hallway was cool in spite of it's location. Stalactite occasionally dripped water down below in a rhythmic pace, while their footsteps echoed throughout their long walk down the incline. With only Lyra's light to help guide their way down the path, the group may their way down. The light from the lit horns made the team's shadows dance upon the nearby walls as they moved.

Running her purple hand along the smooth walls, Spark began to look back and forth down the hallway , "Fascinating. The builders of this tunnel knew what they were doing. They wanted to keep access to only the strong and the smart."

"Yeah," Raindrops said, taking to the air and looking around, "But who's the guy that built it?"

Before Spark could answer with a hypothesis, her ear twitched along her her nose, picking up a sulfuric smell. Breathing deeply she moved her way ahead of the group and reached the end of the long hallway into a circular room. Save for a pedestal that the amulet rested upon, the room was surrounded by five large rocky spires. Carrot Top whispered with wide eyes, "There it is!"

"I smell pony flesh," growled a low deep rumbling voice.

"Scatter!" ordered Spark, causing each mare to hide behind a rocky pillar.

"It has been a long time since I had smell the scent of a pretty pony," growled the being as he stepped into the light. Revealing his dark, black scales that lined his body. They were dulled and marred by many scars of battle.

Carrot Top shook her head, unable to take her eyes off of the large scythe-like claws or the acid that dripped from his long snout, "A black dragon?" she whispered, quickly ducking under his slashing claws.

"He's blind!" shouted Ditzy, moving out of the way of an acid splash from his breath weapon, as she got a good look at his clouded green eyes.

"Why would a black dragon be down here?" asked Lyra.

The dragon growled, looking for Lyra by sniffing for her, "Centuries ago, the former Dragon Lord bested me in combat and threw me in here. He told me that, as punishment for causing a war, I was to protect the amulet. What he did not tell me, was that he was subjecting me to a lifetime of loneliness and blindness! He deprived me of my beloved pony flesh!" he roared letting loose a stream of acid that burned a wall.

Raindrops narrowed her eyes and took flight, bobbing and weaving out of the Dragon's claw range. She had a smirk on her face when she neared the amulet, but before she could reach it, the black dragon's spade tail reached up and knocked her hard, sending her corkscrewing through the air.

Before she could recover from the blow, the black dragon fired an acid shot at her back and it struck her hard, causing her to scream in pain as she crashed into the wall. Seeing this, Lyra ran to her friend and began to play a slow healing spell on her lyre. Rubbing the burns, she looked to Spark and opened her mouth to speak but then closed her mouth. Choosing instead, she nodded ot confirm that Raindrops would live.

Cheerilee moved to stand with Spark as they hid behind the pillar, "We are facing against a black dragon. Raindrops is down right now. Please tell me, you have a plan."

"I do," Spark said calmly, ethereal magic began to glow around her fingers. Stepping out from her cover, she looked at Cheerilee, "Get to Carrot Top and ask her to mix a bicarbonate bomb."

"Wat?" whispered Cheerilee as she watched Spark walk slowly to the black dragon.

"I know you can see me. You have magic sight on," Spark said. Not changing her emotions, she charged her hands with ice and fire magic, "I will be your opponent for now. My apologies."

"For what?"

"The proceeding kicking of your posterior," Spark said in a calm tone as she fired an ice and fire spear at the dragon. The two spells flew through the air at a rapid pace, accompanied by a whistling sound. The black dragon growled as he swiped at the ice attack and moved his head away from the fire spear.

A chuckle escaped his lips as he fired his acidic breath at the area Spark was, only to growl when he saw the the unique rainbow shine of a wall of force reflecting his attack. Growling, he turned his eyes to look down at Spark, who had two large balls of flame encircling her hands. Raising his head back, he unleashed a torrent of acid breath at her.

As the spray of acid flew at her, Spark crossed her arms in front of her, allowing the flames to consume her arms. Then she spread them wide, allowing a long horizontal wave of fire to fly at the dragon, blocking the stream of acid from hitting her. As the breath of acid died down, the wave of flame managed to reach him and hit his head, snapping it back.

Roaring in pain, he slammed his claw down, just inches away from Spark. However, she did not see the secondary claw slash strike her left side, sending her flying into a flaming tail and into a wall. Wincing in pain, she put her hand to her side to help stop the bleeding from the deep gashes in her side and to heal her. When she looked up, she saw that the dragon reached out with his claw to slash the rock wall that she was in.

With split second timing, she teleported away before the claw smashed into the wall. Reappearing on the other side of the dragon, she created a ball of Lightning in one hand while she extended her right arm forward, crackling with electricity. Throwing the ball of Lightning into her open right hand, she caught it and threw the ball of Lightning at the black dragon. Seconds before they could hit his head, she snapped her fingers, causing two sonic booms that shook the cave and the dragon.

Roaring in agony, he turned to where Spark stood and slammed his claws into the ground. Before she could slashed, she jumped out of the way from the dragon's large claws, however, she was quickly gouged by the black dagon's right horn. Though she was racked in pain, she created a large ice spear in one hand and sent it flying down into the dragon's right hand, piercing it and send our a spurt of acidic blood, coating the ground. While the dragon screamed and bucked in pain, Spark turned her body into stone, summed a flame sword and cut the dragon's dorn off. As she fell to the ground, her horn glowed purple, allowing her to teleport to a safe distance.

With a swipe of his tail, the Dragon tried to strike at her, but with a swift motion of her hand, Spark turned the rock into mud, capturing the tail. Then she quickly turned the mud back into stone. As the dragon struggled with his tail, she brought out a flame sword and with on strike, cut his tail off.

Using a quick shield spell to block the acid, she teleported in front of the dragon,. Looking to her left, she saw that Carrot Top had prepared the bomb. Using her telekinesis to grab the bicarbonate bomb, she threw it into the dragon's opened mouth. The dragon roared as he wound his acid breath gone, 'What on earth!?"

"Its how you neutralize acid," gasped Carrot Top. "That's why she had me prepare that bomb from before."

"It's over." she said calmly.

"What?"

"You have lost a lot of blood, you are blind, your acid is neutralized. and," she looked to her side to see Raindrops with the amulet in her hand, "You have lost the treasure. If you do not stop this, you will die."

"No, I will not lost to a pony. I will never lose to another Firew-" before he could say more, a stalactite came crashing down upon his neck. Piercing his throat, he let out a death rattle before dieing.

Spark looked down, and said, "I warned you." with an emotionless look, she turned her eyes up to the stalactite, remembering how the acid spray from earlier weakened the structure of the stalactite and broke it.

Lyra stepped to Spark's side, her eyes wide with shock, "You just killed him."

"It was an accident but also a necessity," Spark looked back at Lyra's look of shock at her cold tone, "Do not mistake my tone for uncaring, if my emotions were still here, I would mourn for the loss of a life. As it stands, i see it as a necessary evil for our mission. Now come, we need to get Trixie out of her show and back home..

Silently, the rest of the circle followed Spark as they walked out of the room. They did not see, though, a cloven hoof rise from the darkness and point at the dragon, "Come," the necromancer said, " I think we may have need of you..."

---

Trixie wiggled her ear as she felt it vibrate, signaling the exit of her friends. Giving a quick nod, she turned to look at Torch, "Thank you all!" she said, extending her arms out and allowing the fireworks to explode around her. Giving a bow she said, "You have all been a great audience. Nwo Trixie must go."

"No," Abra said growled racing towards her, "If I capture you, then Grand Ruler will finally let me come home!"

As Abra reached her and grabbed her, Trixie continued to speak, "Now, any magician worth her salt would do a big explosive extravaganza for hr finale. But Trixie would like to show." with a wink over her shoulder at Abra, she grabbed the top of her head, and said, "That the best trick."

With her fingers tightly held onto her forehead, she began to pull down a zipper down her face, in between her chest, and down to the bottom of her belly. Abra could gape in surprise as the person who unzipped out of the Trixie costume was not Trixie, but instead, Princess Ember. With a chuckle, she swatted the would-be magician away with her tail and stood up, "Is the simplest!" she said taking a bow.

"What? But, how? This is a trick, she's a-" Abra reached out for Ember, attempting to grab her.

"Get that freak away from my daughter!" shouted Torch, some of the dragons flying at Abra,beating him into unconscious, "Bring him to the dungeon!"

Elsewhere, on board a black airship, the Umbra Circle had gathered around in a circle in the rest room, "Ok, how did you do that?!" Raindrops asked.

Trixie smirked, "By, whatever do you mean?"

"That, unzip to reveal yourself to be Ember trick?!" Raindrop said. "You don't know teleportation, so it can't be that!"

"And you were being watched the entire time, Abra had his arms around you, so how did you escape and pull a switcheroo?" asked Ditzy, eating a muffin.

Trixie smirked, and twirled her hat on a finger, "Now, my dear comrades, if Trixie were to reveal her greatest and most cherished secrets, then she wouldn't be the Great and Powerful Trixie, now would she?"

This prompted a small bit of laughter from the others, while Spark began to look closely at the amulet, "Amazing, the power to control dragons, all in the power of a little gem. Interesting how something so small can control so much."

"Are we giving it back to Torch?" asked Carrot Top, putting some salve onto Raindrops' back.

"No," Luna said, " I'll take it."

Lyra looked to Luna, a curious look in her eyes, "Are you sure princess? Do you even have a way to hold them?"

"We have our ways..."

---

Celestia stood in the chamber that once contained the elements, before er sat the Amulet of Dragon Control. Smiling, she adjusted it on hit little pillow that it sat upon, "Are you sure it's safe here?" Luna asked, looking at Celesta with her arms crossed.

Celestia nodded, "Yes, I do. Discord is the only one besides myself who can open this door. I enchanted it with a spell that only myself or someone of my blood could open" Pulling away, she smiled warmly, "So, the Staff of Null is in the dungeon, acting as a bond for our most foulest of villains, and the other items will be stored here when we find them. It's good that this chamber can be of use since the elements are gone."

As Celestia walked by Luna, the younger alicorn was quick to follow her. Looking at Celestia, Luna asked, "What happened to the Elements? Surely you do not believe that Titan destroyed them?"

"There was once a time I believed it to be true," Celestia said, standing by a stained glass window that showed the elements defeat of Nightmare Moon. "However, as this war continues, the layers of deceit and lies are being peeled away slowly." Celestia growled, putting her head to the cold glass and growled, "The more Celesto's lies are being revealed, the more I feel like an idiot for not seeing it sooner!"

"If he has the mental magic that we think he has," Luna said, putting a hand onto her sister's back and rubbing gently, "Then he most likely has been able to distract us with tricks, illusions, or who knows what else. He does know how to keep[ us busy with constant battle, and it's only until now that we can actually make the proper connection. His power is weakening, Sister."

"But, how can one pony have enough power to mess with so many ponies minds, and where are the elements," Celestia said. "Ever since they were restored, I have been feeling them, but, now it's like... they are not even there."

"If we had a bigger clue, perhaps-"

Luna was quickly interrupted by the sound of little hoofsteps running in. Celestia smiled as she reached don and picked up Castor, "Castor, what are you doing here?"

"Dissy was teaching me how to play with tops and blocks," Castor giggled, "Then I wanted to see Mommy."

"And where is your twin?" Luna asked.

"I don't know," said Castor sweetly before nuzzling into his mother's shoulder.

"Oh," Celestia said, "by the way, there is a rebel group that wishes to meet with you and your team. I think you have started something."

---

Within the crystal caves of Canterlot, the once empty and silent rooms were now filled with the talk of ponies. Blades were forged, plans were made, and friendships were even blossoming among the populace. The site of so many ponies and Unicornicopians and even other species working together both amazed and shocked the Umbra Circle as they walks into the caves. Soon a pink Unicornicopian bowed before the group, "Greetings, oh Princess Luna. Welcome to the rest of rebellion."

"The rest?" Luna said, seeing the group of ponies all working together. Some of them had caught sight of the ponies and began to walk towards them."

Cerise Wonder nodded, "Yes. Many of these ponies her have heard of the exploits of your team have inspired us to save Equestria alongside others, even if it costs them their lives. Although, your stories are a little exaggerated."

Through the cave some of the ponies began to whisper.

"The Umbra Circle! I heard they stopped volcanoes."

"Raindrops can crush storms."

"Ditzy can see air."

"I hear Trixie is an alicorn in disguise."

"So I see,' Luna said, looking at the crowd of ponies. With a chuckle she said, "I can assure you, that my team are very modest and have no desire to bask in anytype of glory."

"Come one, Come all, and you will hear the tales of the Great and Powerful TRIXIE!" Trixie shouted, loving the attention she was receiving.

"Almost none of them," muttered Luna as she watched her student perform.

"I can see," chuckled Cerise. Then with a sigh, she looked at Luna and nudged her head, "May I see you in my private chamber? There is something important to discuss."

Luna nodded and followed Cerise deep within the caverns, into a small close off part of the caves, "I trust this is the real reason why you wanted to see my team? And expose yourself to us?"

"Yes," Cerise pointed to her golden horn and looked at Luna, "I want you to rip this off."

Luna stepped back, surprised at this, "Cerise, what you are asking for is very painful. Yu realize this."

"Yes, I know, taking a unicorn's horn off is one of the most painful things in the world, but you have to understand, I have my reasons," Cerise sighed and leaned against her wall. "I don't know if Lightning has been experiencing this for tattoo, but I have been having these... visions you might call them,"

"Visions?" Luna asked.

"Yes, of another life," Cerise held her head and shook it, "It's like someone is attacking my mind, showing me things that I can't be sure are real or not. And I know it has something to do with this thrice damned horn of mine."

Luna walked slowly up to the golden horn and ran her hand along the shaft, her fingers touching the spiral, "I have always been curious about the golden horn, both yours and Lightning's. While it is normal for a unicorn to have a horn to match their coat color, this thing is quite unusual."

"I thought it was some sort of legend?" asked Cerise.

"Then why was Grand Ruler picked on for it? Why did Twilight Sparkle show no interest in studying it? Why did no one show an interest in finding out more about it?" Luna said, "There are too many questions about an anomaly such as this."

Cerise sighed and grabbed her seat, "And the answers start with taking off this horn. Ok... I'm ready."

"I won't lie, you will scream," Luna said, grabbing Cerise's horn and began to pull. After a few moments of pulling, tugging, and straining, Luna let go of the golden horn. After a few moments, she let go and shook her head. Putting on a look of determination, she surrounded her hands with magic and reached out once more to grab onto the horn. With an almighty grunt, :una pulled with all of her might on the golden horn and with an audible snap, it broke off.

All through the caverns, the members of the resistance could hear the loud bellows of Cerise's screams. Inside her personal chamber, she continued to scream in horrible agony as she held the top of her head in agony.

Luna looked at the broken horn in her hand, the golden glow beginning to dim, "No blood?" she asked herself as she looked at the now dull horn.

Cerise Wonder looked up from her crouching position, panting from the pain. Once the pain subsided into a dull throb, she whispered, "I... I remember."

"Remember what?" Luna asked.

"Who I really am," Cerise said, leaning back against the wall. "I came from one of Harmonia's moons. I was living with a small colony on the moon so we could help terraform it. One day, I got a call about a disaster that happened on the homeworld."

"Serpent Tyrant, the monster correct?" asked Luna.

Cerise wonder looked up and shook her head, "Is that what Grand Ruler said he was? No... Serpent Tyrant, alias Serpentari, is a planet buster."

"What?" Luna gasped, "Starfleet had such a weapon?"

"Do you remember seeing such a monster? Celestia said she came in at the aftermath. What do you think happened to those so called, 'Rainbow Stones'? They were used to power the device to where it can take out a sun!"

"And you saw Harmonia destroyed by this?" Luna asked.

."All can remember seeing is this great snake-like shadow coming over the planet and swallowing it, like a snake would an egg," Cerise growled, "Then that was when..."

For a brief moment, a series of images flowed through her mind. A silhouette of an Unicornicopian, holding a sword as he cuts down several of her people.

"I saw him. A demon who slaughtered all that was left He said that his master told him to, that it was the best way to create the champion they needed," Cerise growled. "I fought him until his master came in."

"Did you see his master?" Luna asked.

"Yes of course i saw him. It was_" Cerise paused as the image of the man faded from her mind. She could see a golden horn in her mind, but nothing else, "It was _. Why can't I say it! Why can't I say _" Cerise shuddered. "I can't even see his face! I know it was _ who did this to me, him and his lacky _"

Luna looked down at the golden horn and gazed at it, "Interesting. A horn that comes with a spell that wipes memories when you take it away. I would almost want to use it personally as a gift, if it didn't hurt so many ponies."

"Keep it," Cerise said, "Find out who did this to me."

"I will, and we will find this planet buster," Luna said as she walked out of the door.

"Princess," said a royal guard, his orange coat hidden beneath his armor, "When you go into the dream realm, could you tell Scootaloo that her father is doing ok?"

"I will," Luna nodded. The she looked at Cerise, "I wish you all of the luck in the world, taking back our home will not be easy."

"No, but it will be worth it in the end," Cerise wonder said with a warm smile.

---

Raindrops shook her head as she watched Spark hold the horn in her magic, "I can't believe that Starfleet has a freakin planet buster in their arsenal,"

Trixie sighed, drinking her bourbon slowly, "And Starfleet probably doesn't even know Grand Ruler has it up there. He probably just keeps it in storage until he needs to reset the game."

"This does explain where the Rainbow Stones went," Carrot Top said, "after all, if the Elements of Harmony cannot be destroyed then how can items of similar power be destroyed.

Cheerilee took one of the carrot cakes from the plate and nodded, "Not to mention, why we first knew of the monster as Serpent Tyrant, and then as Serpentari."

"Yeah, if Grand Ruler has been messing with our minds and history, how can we so sure some of Starfleet's intel is on the level," Raindrops asked, sitting on the chair.

"Not to mention, it's a sure fire way to-"

"I have something," Spark said, letting the horn drop to the table, removed from her magic, "This horn, matches the magical aura of the other four items."

"Wait," Lyra said, picking up the dull grey horn, "You mean this thing is one of Meadowbrook's eight?"

"Close, I said it matches, but the magical energy is weaker, much like the copies of the Ring of Fear had a weaker magical aura around them. However, this is unique," Spark said.

"Unique, how?" asked Lyra.

"While the copies of the ring copied the effects of the original, this is more like an," Spark paused to consider her words carefully, "antenna. It links the holder of the object to the source of the magic and transfers the magic into the user."

"That's why the golden horn was so, unnatural, because they are!" Raindrops gasped.

Spark nodded, "I was always curious about this Uniforce and why it had appeared to be used only by a select few, and there was only a power for unicorns. It has to be a corrupted form of magic that comes from a centralized source."

Carrot Top looked up and asked, "But let's say that Grand Ruler is behind all of this, and that he has one of the eight items at his disposal. Why mess with Lightning's mind, why kill his hometown?"

"You can't be a hero, without a bit of tragedy," Cheerilee said calmly..

"What?" Trixie asked.

"It's something I read in a book once. A hero was facing down his greatest enemy, and his foe said that the reason for why he was trying to kill the hero's family was that a hero can't be a hero without tragedy," said Cheerilee. "Remember, Grand Ruler has been all about propaganda, misdirection, and lies. Which sounds more noble and heroic? A man who came from a happy home, or a champion who came from a dead world."

"Great, so Grand Ruler has a powerful mind altering artifact, a planet buster, and is manipulating everything he can," Trixie said with a roll of her eyes.

"Just as my sister and the Knights have been figuring out," Luna said from the shadows, stepping into the room with the team and sitting down, "The question is... how do we prove it to the world and make it so he doesn't try another misdirect?"

Lyra looked to Ditzy, "You ok Derpy? You haven't said a word."

"I'm worried about Lightning," Ditzy said, eating a carrot muffin. "Do you think he knows about this?"

"I hope so," Luna said, "It may prove key in ending Grand Ruler. Then we can face Conquest."

---

Lightning Dawn, age five, looked up at his mother. The frightful look in her eyes made him tremble with fear, "Mommy?"

"Run son, never look back!" Emerald Dawn said, ushering him into a basement, "Get out the entrance!"

"Mommy?!" whimpered Lightning as he looked on from in the basement, seeing two figures in shadow. Trembling, he held out a hand as he saw a yellow Unicornicopian smile as he lifted his sword.

"As you command master,

I will bring disaster," the figure in shadow said as he executed Lightning's parents.

"MOM! DAD!" Lightning yelled, jostling Krysta from her sleeping spot on his pillow.

"Lightning, are you ok?" Krysta asked, adjusting herself slowly and fluttering back down to lay on his pillow.

Lightning put his hand to his head and nodded, "Y-Yeah, I'm fine just fine."

"Is it that dream again, about Starla?" Krysta asked.

Lightning shook his head, "No, it's different. It was about my parents."

"Your parents... you haven't dreamt about them since Starla..." Krysta said, gently patting Lightning's hand.

"Yeah, I know, but it was different," Lightning said. "I saw two figures standing in front of them, and one of them was the one who killed them both."

"Oh my gosh," Starla said, holding her hand to her mouth. "Do you know why?"

"No, I don't" Lightning said, shaking his head sadly. Then he looked to the side of his bed, seeing the yellow sheet. Taking a deep breath he picked it up and walked to a mirror to watch himself transform into his military formal gear.

Krysta fluttered to Lightning's shoulder, "You don't have to do this."

"I do, Krysta. It's my duty as a commander," Lightning sighed, and turned away, walking out of the room.

---

"Come on Artie," Pinkie said, looking down at Artie's legs, "You can do this."

"I don't know if I can, feels a little tight," grunted Artie.

"Well, it's not gonna get looser," Pinkie commented. "Now, come on, one more time!" she shouted.

With a final grunt, Artie swiped his foot across the canvas, making a lovely little cloud. He gave out a chickle as he looked at the cloud on the blue background, "Heh. perfect. I bet soon, it will be one of my best handi-"

"Footwork," Pinkie interrupted with a giggle.

Artie laughed in return, and then smiled warmly, "Thanks for helping me for the past week, Pinkie. It feels odd, painting with my feet you know."

"Hey, whatever it takes to get you back in the painting game and out of the hospital," Pinkie said, holding Artie's hand. Smiling, she said, "The twins miss you, back home."

"I bet they are not the only ones," Artie said, looking into Pinkie's blue eyes, and winking at her.

Pinkie nodded rapidly, and then hear a knock on the door. With a quick turn around, she saw Lightning stand ing in the doorway, "Um, excuse me. I need to see my second in command."

"Sure thing," Pinkie said. As she walked out of the door and pass Lightning, she glared daggers and said, "Hurt him, and I have a pie with your name on it."

Lightning laughed and said, "I got it." walking in, he slowly pulled out a paper.

Artie frowned as he got back onto the bed, "Let me guess, discharge papers. You here to personally tell me I'm off your squad."

"That's what this paper says. I am to kick my teammate off my squad, because you are unfit for service," Lightning growled as he looked at the paper. Then, he slowly began to crunch it in his hands and began to tear it slowly, "But... I am not about to kick my only friend off the team."

"Your," Artie paused and looked at Lightning shocked, "Friend?"

Lightning sighed as he sat on the bed, "Look, I... know I have been a shitty commander since this team started. I have been arrogant, hard headed, jerkish, and every other bad name in the book. But, I want to start anew, and try to be a friend. Just this once, I want to give this whole friendship thing a try."

"You know, you're right. Lightning the commander has been a shit-head since the day I knew him. I barely spent anytime with him and I barely got to know him. But, I would actually like to get to know, Lightning Dawn, the person. Oh knows, maybe we can become friends," Artie said, smiling warmly.

"You make it sound so easy," Lightning said. "What's even the first step?"

"Try your names!" Pinkie whispered, hiding on the side of the door.

Lightning gave a chuckle as he held out his hand, "Lightning Eugene Dawn!"

Artie began to laugh, "Your middle name, is Eugene?"

"Yeah," Lightning blushed at this, and then felt a weight in his hand.

"Arthur Reginald Bristles," Artie laughed, shaking his foot with Lightning's hand. "There we laughed at something stupid about each other. I guess, that means you and I are friends.'

"I like that," Lightning said, giving Artie a hug, "And I know for a fact, that no friend of mine is going to let this keep him down. You will find a way to beat this,. And get back into top fighting shape! I will see you again on my team and you will be kicking ass all over again."

"Good," Artie said, "Because, I want someone I can trust to back me up." he returned the hug. Much to Pinkie's happiness.

This chapter came out weirdly. You see, one commenter mentioned that she wanted a little bit of a dossier to gather what we know so far and what secrets and lies are to be discovered. I also wanted to add more about the 8 items and more information on the Umbra circle. Now, in case ou haven't noticed, I usually give the Umbra circle time at the end of each chapter to explore their arc and to have adcentures. This time I made a seperate chapter. Mainly because I couldn't think of a transition from the end of the Artie chapter to this scene that made sense.

So, I figured, why not give them an entire chapter to themselves and save Pinkie Pie for the end. Techinically, making a lower decks episode.

I wanted to give a small framing device in the form of Spark, to basically be you the audience. She is discovering things with you and is collecting the information. Also, I wanted to work with some of the extra bits that I havent touched on that happened in the original story.

Brining out Spark's lack of emotions was an interesting thing for me to try. See, I wanted Spark to be more emotional, but as time wore on, she became more logical. So I decided to explain her emotions like this and help to demonstrate her as a character.

I love magic shows, so getting Trixie to truely show up Abra and demonstrate why she is the best was a treat. See, one thing that I alway got made about Abra as a character is...his magic is too plain. I want a spectecale with my magicians, and for some guy who's illusions are 'so great' they really don't match up to someone like Penn. Now, I also wanted to show that Trixie...can do her's without her horn, because that is how my girl rolls.

Ceresies Wonder, I don't think she would've become as big were it not for my love of Scorpio's story or somethings that me and a friend did on an RP with , I brought her out and decided to souch upon something I realized I completely forgot to explore. See, the elements were only destroyed as an F-U to the show and show how much better Titan is and to rip off Digimon Adventure. However, we know this is bullshit. So, if the elements can't be destroyed, we know that there was no fight with Titan, then what happened with the Rainbow Stones (OR Star Stones as they are called in the rebooted story.) They can't be destroyed, so what happened. I also wanted to mess with the fact that Serpentari had his name changed in between stories.

Other notes.

-The fight with the black dragon was originall going to be Trixie alone. But, I decided that she has had enough badass moments for now. She will get another chance soon.

-I live and die by DND rules when it comes to my dragons. So, if I can find a way to discuss Metallics vs Chromatics, I will. Besides, I have yet to see a silver dragon on the show.

-This is technically a breather chapter. It's mainly here to make you laugh, relax and think. So, enjoy