Shadow Dragon, in his immortal and old form, packed all of his stuffs: clothes, armors, papers, notes, pen, and even cans of Lao Meng Soup. He wants to be ready for his big mission in Ponyville. As soon as the villain packed everything, Shadow Dragon turned and heads out from his door. Suddenly, the sound of a trumpet and pops are heard.

"Surprise!" A voice exclaims, much to Shadow Dragon's irritation. Why now?

Shadow Dragon groaned, "You again." The one who surprised him was a red spiky mane of dark brown Unicorn with yellowish goggles who also wore a black coat, smiling at Shadow Dragon. He looked with a disappointed and disapproval look. Shadow Dragon rolled his eyes as he ask, "What do you want, Tech?"

"I just want to say: Good LUCK with your secret spy mission! And please take me with you!" Tech exclaims to Shadow Dragon anxiously.

"No. You'll be giving me problems. So, stay out of it, Tech."

Shadow Dragon was about to leave, but his back legs are grabbed by Tech.

"Please! Take me with you! I want to work with you! It's my life!" Tech begs Shadow Dragon, making the villain more irritated. Why did his Master even recruited this...this mama's colt?!

"Let go of me, or I'll let my pet chew on you!" Shadow Dragon threatens sternly to Tech, making his eyes widen in horror.

"No! Not him! Anything but the Hydra!"

"Good, so stay out of it."

Tech let go of Shadow Dragon's legs. He then heads off to the gate where Black Tiger and Dark Warriors Trio are standing near. DJ smiles as he gives his pal the hoofs up, saying, "Yo, Big S, take care of yourself."

"Don't worry about the Devil Destroyer. We'll take care of that maniac." Clumsy remarks with a laugh.

The voice of the one called the Devil Destroyer roars in fury, "I heard that, you RAT!"

Shades gulped nervously, "Well, if he can stay cool down for a while."

"Never fear, master; whenever or whatever your orders are, we shall fulfill it, even you are on the enemy's sides." Black Tiger booms as he pounds his chest in a salute.

"I trust that everything will go according to our plans?" Shadow Dragon asks. Black Tiger and the Dark Warriors Trio nodded. "Good. And please make sure that idiot Tech touch nothing in my room when I'm gone. You can do whatever you want with him. He's weak and pathetic."

"Cool." DJ remarks with a cruel smile. He loves hurting Tech whenever the idiot did something stupid.

"Sweet," Shades remarks with an eager smile.

"Perfect." Black Tiger remarks with a cruel chuckle, cracking what appears to be the pony version of knuckles.

"So shall we get going?" Clumsy ask his colleagues anxiously.

The Dark Warriors Trio and Black Tiger smiled evilly before they head off. Shadow Dragon rolled his eyes before he disappeared in puff of smoke. He then appeared in an area further away from Ponyville. Shadow Dragon transformed into his mortal form, a blue Earth Pony with black belt and fist Cutie Mark: Chase the Warrior.

Just before Shadow Dragon was about to leave, he spotted a familiar ally in front of him.

"That's some form you had, Master Shadow." T. Moon said to Shadow Dragon impressed.

Shadow Dragon smirked, saying, "So, you spotted me. I guess you know what I'm doing next."

"Indeed . And I wish you luck, my dark love."

Shadow Dragon nods as he moved towards to T. Moon. He smiled at her while T. Moon blushed. The villain always does that to her.

T. Moon blushed while saying, "Even in this form, you're still handsome."

Shadow Dragon smiled, responding to his love's statement, "Why thank you. Is there something else you are here for?" T. Moon's horn glowed in a black aura-like form; a mistletoe appeared on top of him. Shadow Dragon was shocked and surprised to see this. "You know, I'd never had the chance of kissing her before you, my Twilight."

"I know. But you moved on, didn't you? I know that I may not be perfect mare you want. But know this, from live till death; I shall be with you, eternally."

Shadow Dragon smiled, saying warmly, "And always know, Princess of Darkness, my heart had been filled by your essence of darkness, love and kissing. This is not goodbye. I'll send mail to you."

T. Moon responds, "I'll be waiting. This night and Hearth's Warming Eve will not be forgotten."

"Let me see your face. So I will not forget you."

Shadow Dragon removed T. Moon's hood and sees...well, sorry, folks! I can't ruin the surprise for you yet! Trust me! Shadow Dragon and T. Moon leaned and kissed together under their mistletoe for long before they departed. Both Shadow Dragon and T. Moon departed as the latter put her hood back up.

"Goodbye, Twilight." Shadow Dragon said to T. Moon with a nod.

"Goodbye, Chase ." T. Moon said with a nod of her own.

Shadow Dragon headed off to Ponyville by walking, instead of using his Dark Magic, in order to avoid being detected and found by his enemies about him. T. Moon smiled.

Tso Lan appears nearby, looking disgusted while snapping, "I thought that he'd never stop; Freed from his stupid kiss."

"Shut up." T. Moon snaps to Tso Lan. She didn't have to put up with his criticism after all. The mare got enough already.

------------

It was a clear day in Ponyville. The ponies are doing what they usually do. Of course, for Princess Twilight Sparkle and her friends, they are training to prepare themselves for the Element Evolution. Even though the Elements aren't in their possession, they suspect that the power is within them all. The girls just gotta unlock it.

Twilight is training with most of her friends, using her shield to block their attacks. Rainbow appears to not shown up. Ben is watching from nearby, eating some apples.

"Okay, Rarity, try to hit me with everything you got." Twilight said with a smirk. Rarity smiles as Twilight fires lasers, causing the diamonds to absorb them; Now then...

Rarity is preparing to fire...when Rainbow appears from out of nowhere, looking excited, crying out, "He's here, he's here!" The white unicorn yelps as her diamond fires, burning some bushes. The cyan Pegasus pony flew to Fluttershy shaking her a bit. "He's really finally here!'

"Yay, he's here, he's here, he..." Pinkie stops bouncing and lands, looking puzzled. "Uh, who's here?"

"My cousin of course Brave Heart!"

"Oh yeah, yer cousin fro' Eatinburgh right," Applejack ask, recalling how many times Rainbow spoke of her cousin, "An' he finally done show up!"

"Yep! My cousin just got off the train at last!" Rainbow exclaims with a smile. "Man, it's like it took all year for him to get here."

"Right, especially since author Jus took long to do so!" Pinkie exclaims eagerly, much to her pals' confusion. "What?"

"Well, he must be important from what you told us." Fluttershy said with a smile.

"Right, well, we all like to meet your cousin if that's all right." Ben said to Rainbow with a smile.

"Right, come on, follow me!" Rainbow exclaims as she flies off. The gang decided to put the training on hold for a while so that they can meet Brave Heart whom their friend waited all this time to see again.

The group heads through Ponyville, a bit anxious and so. They arrive at outside the train station where Rainbow smiles eagerly upon seeing a certain cousin of hers.

"There he is! Brave Heart," Rainbow exclaims.

The others soon see Brave Heart for the first time: He's a male alicorn. His eyes are dark brown along with his tail and mane. His coat is light blue and white. He is a pinto Alicorn with a flag of Scotland as his cutie mark.

Brave Heart grins as he hugs Rainbow, saying in a Scottish like accent, "Rainbow, lass! It's a bonnie good mornin' to see ya, isn't it?"

Rainbow smiles as she said, "It sure is, Brave Heart. It's good to see you, too." Brave Heart spots the others nearby, waving.

"Ah,...and these must be yer friends. Greetings, I am Brave Heart, son of Strong Wind and Morning Light. And ye are?"

Ben introduces himself first, "I'm Ben Mare-..."

Brave Heart interrupts Ben as he knows him already, "Rainbow's told me much about ye, Ben lad." The Alicorn glances to the Alicorn princess. "And ye..."

"Me?" Twilight ask Brave Heart, wondering if the Alicorn knows her. It's amazing to see another male Alicorn since Golden Heart.

"Aye, ye must be Twilight Sparkle, Princess Celestia's pupil."

"That's right. But I am a princess of Equestria now."

"Ah, so I must be informed now." Brave Heart laughs. He hasn't gotten much info since Rainbow's last letter to him. Seeing the others, he adds, "And ye must be Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy and Rarity, eh?"

"Yew got 'dat right, Brave Heart." Applejack said, smiling as she tips her hat to Brave Heart in respect.

"We're gonna have so much fun." Pinkie giggles while throwing some confetti into the air.

"It's very nice to meet you, Brave Heart." Fluttershy said meekly and shyly to Brave Heart.

"What kind of clothes do you fancy, Brave Heart?" Rarity asks Brave Heart, pondering what clothes to give the cousin of one of her good friends.

Brave Heart smiles as he ask, "Got any kilts?"

"What's a kilt?" Pinkie ask, puzzled.

"I'll draw ye a picture." Brave Heart said. He uses his magic to draw a picture of something on some paper then the Alicorn shows the kilt in question to Rarity. "This is a kilt."

Rarity glances at the picture then shakes her head, saying, "Sorry. I don't have any of those in stock yet."

"Don't worry, Rarity, I don't mind."

"That's a cute skirt, Brave Heart, but why are you interested in it?" Pinkie asks Brave Heart happily while looking at the kilt in question.

Brave Heart smirked then laughs loudly enough for any pony to hear him, "Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha."

"What's so funny?"

"It's not a skirt, Pinkie. It's called a kilt. And back where I come from, all the colts wear kilts at grand parties."

"Cool!" Pinkie exclaims with a smile on her face. What Brave Heart said sounds very interesting and cool indeed !

"And we have a saying back in Eatinburgh; 'Real Colts Wear Kilts'." Brave Heart explains a saying to his cousin and friends proudly.

"Ah should tell 'dat 'ta Big Macintosh." Applejack said with a smirk. Boy, would her big brother get a kick out of that saying.

"That ye should, Applejack. Now where are these Cutie Mark Crusaders I've heard so much about? Are they here?"

"Yew'll get 'ta meet them eventually."

"For now, let's show you around Ponyville." Ben said with a grin. "You would enjoy what we got to say."

"I will be liking it, lad." Brave Heart said with a smile of approval. His visit to Ponyville will be a very interesting one indeed .

At the moment when Twilight's group was taking Brave Heart from the train station, they failed to see one more interesting pony getting off. She looked like a Pegasus mare of some kind, and some of the other passengers seem to get a 'chill' after passing by her. She is a blue Pegasus pony with a hairstyle and tail is similar to Sweetie Belle's, only blue, and she has blue eyes and a crystal snowflake cutie mark. As the new pony looks around, she seems to be filled with excitement for some reason.

"Oh wow. So this is where I'm assigned? Princess Candace & Prince Shining were very kind to let me come here. I wonder how my twin brother Crashfire is doing. I wonder if I'll see the Mane Six. Oh, I can't choose, but who cares? Lookout Ponyville, Snowcrystal has arrived!" The revealed mare announced off to no pony in particular, but at least we know her name; As Snowcrystal was soon taking her stuff with her to begin a little work from her side.

----------------

Meanwhile, the Mane 6 was showing Brave Heart around Ponyville. The alicorn from Eatinburgh looked as he spoke with a smile, "Ah, if this is yer home village, I say this is a bonnie nice place ye got here, lassies."

"Oooh, hey, say 'I'm giving her all she got, captain’!" Pinkie exclaimed to Brave Heart. Of course, the Alicorn looked at her unamused. "What? It was funny when Scotty said it on Star Trek!"

"I can see why ye're sayin' Pinkie can be random, cousin." Brave Heart said to Rainbow softly.

"Yeah, just be glad you weren't around during the incident with the Mirror Pool." Rainbow said to Brave Heart in concern. "There are so many Pinkie Pies, it wasn't cool."

"The Mirror Pool, eh?" Brave Heart asked in amusement. "I've heard of that old pony myth...but I've never thought that it was possible to make clones of yerself through that pool. Ha ha ha ha. Imagine the look on Fafnir's face if there were hundreds of me against him."

Pinkie, overhearing interrupts in worry, "I really wouldn't recommend cloning yourself, Brave; I really wouldn't."

"And why ever not, Pinkie; Imagine all that power within my hooves, I could rid Equestria of all evil in a heartbeat." Brave Heart said to Pinkie, not seeing the point.

Twilight answer, "Because we learned the hard way that kind of power is far too easily abused; even by those with the absolutely best of intentions."

"Believe me, darling, you do NOT EVER wanna get through that problem like how we did." Rarity warned Brave Heart.

"Aye; I will take your word for it." Brave Heart said. He gave an impressed look to Twilight. "So Twi, lass, how is it ye got yerself a pair of wings, lass. Ye were born a unicorn?"

"Yes, I was a unicorn born, Brave Heart." Twilight explained, "I've been a unicorn for a long time, until something unexpected happened to me and my friends."

"It involves cutie mark switching and a magic book made by a famous wizard, let's leave it at that." Ben said to Brave Heart proudly.

Brave Heart gave an amusing look to Ben as he ask, "So, Ben...have you and Twilight done...it...yet?"

"It? What's it?" Ben asked, not sure what Brave was referring to at first.

Brave Heart, slapping his own forehead in annoyance, asked, "Do I have to bloody explain everything around here?! I'll lay it down fer ye. Have you and Twilight consummated your relationship with each other?"

"What--?" Ben asked, then he looks disgusted, now realizing what the Alicorn is talking about. "Ugh! Brave Heart, son of Strong Wind. Yuck. What kind of colt do you take me for?! I'd prefer to wait until Twilight and I were properly married...before we actually...do...THAT; It's not something a gentle-colt like me would talk about in public here in Ponyville."

"Back in Trotland, we do. Besides, it's better that you and Twilight...consummated your love sooner, rather than later, Ben." Brave Heart remarks to Ben, making the mares especially Rainbow a bit disturbed. "Besides, what would happen if Twilight were to lose her...innocence to another before you two were even married; what would ye do about it, Ben? Huh?"

"At least I'd still love her, even if something terrible were to happen to her. She's a free-minded filly, not my...property." Ben snaps, giving a dark look to Brave Heart. "At least I don't objectify fillies like you do, Brave Heart."

"I do not objectify fillies, Ben! I'm just saying it's for the best." Brave Heart insists his innocence to the upset Ben. "So, by what you told me, you're saying that you've never done...it?"

Ben frowns as he answers, "That's right, and what I do and don't do with Twilight is none of your business, Brave Heart. I can scarcely believe that you and Rainbow are related to each other."

"Then I'll just have to take matters into me own hooves." Brave Heart said slyly.

"Brave Heart, ix-nay, cousin," Rainbow said to Brave Heart in alarm. "Trust me; you don't want Ben and Twilight to tell Princess Celestia. She's Ben's mom."

"Och! She is?!" Brave Heart asked in surprise. He didn't know Ben was the son of the great Princess Celestia.

"Didn't you tell him that in your letter, Rainbow?" Fluttershy asked Rainbow.

"Okay, there are some details that I have left out." Rainbow admits to Fluttershy sheepishly.

"Right...ah, is that the cafe?" Brave Heart ask, eyeing the cafe. "I've missed lunch. How about I leave for a while lad and lasses and I will join ye later."

"Right, we will be at the library trying to figure out that box we found in the Everfree Forest." Rarity said to Brave Heart with a smile. "We will get the Cutie Mark Crusaders and some new friends to join us so you can meet them, darling."

"Okay, lassies. I'll see ya then." Brave Heart said with a smirk as he headed to the cafe. Then Twilight decides to drop it.

The group heads on over to the library. Twilight said to Rainbow, "Rainbow, you got a weird cousin."

"Said the Alicorn who has a Dragon for a little brother, a former Demon Pony for a colt-friend, who has a teacher who is now her aunt-in-law, a former Pegasus turned Alicorn as a sister-in-law, a brother who is now a prince of an empire and has a daughter who was once one of the most terrifying evils in Equestria," Rainbow points out Twilight's list of evils to the mare.

Twilight decides to drop it.

--------------

Twilight, Ben and her friends met up with Spike, Nyx and the CMCs are the library but they aren't the only ones there. Tao, Dragon Kick, Mighty Heart and Jade are there, too, trying to figure out the mysterious box.

"Ah just wish Ah knew where those kids are." Applejack said with a frown. "So far, we didn't find any."

"Well, so far, the ruined castle didn't have time and we did meet up with A.K. Yearling." Rainbow said, then quickly adds, "Now that I'm saying there's a reason why. Yeah, gotta respect the mare's privacy."

"Good to hear, Rainbow Dash." Twilight said, glad that she is not gonna bother Daring Do when it comes to her books and stuff.

"Those keys are hard to find." Tao said, glancing at the box with the keyholes carefully. "They could be in places or one place that one may never find them unless they know where to look."

"Geez, this could take a while." Spike said with a groan.

"Yoo hoo," A voice spoke up, much to Tao's horror.

"Aiiiiiiieeeeeeeeeeeyaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh," Tao scream frantically. "Not her!"

The Mane Six, Ben, Spike, Nyx, the CMCs, Dragon Kick, Mighty Heart and Jade turned and saw what freaked Tao out. They saw a golden Earth Pony with a Japanese girl's hairstyle who wore a yellow shirt and red jacket.

"Billy goat," The pony calls to Tao, much to his irritation.

Everyone but Tao's family asked in surprise, "Billy goat?"

"I didn't know Tao had a nickname." Phobos remarks with a delightful laugh.

"Surprisingly," Spike remarks with a chuckle of his own.

"Mommy," Mighty Heart spoke, much to the surprise of most of everyone in the room.

"Mommy," Everyone but Tao's family asks in surprise. This newcomer is Mighty's mother?

"That's your mom, Mighty Heart?" Nyx ask Mighty Heart in surprise.

"But she isn't a Pegasus." Fluttershy said puzzled since Mighty is a Pegasus and not Mama Heart.

Mama Heart smiles widely as she explains, "That's because I married Mighty's papa Pegasus."

"Oh. I'm sorry if I had offended you." Fluttershy said meekly to Mama Heart, worried that she may have offended her by mistake.

"No it's okay. I'm perfectly fine, thank you very much." Mama Heart assures Fluttershy that no harm is done.

"So, you're Mighty's mother. It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Heart. My name is-" Twilight started, but Mama Heart interrupted her.

"Princess Twilight Sparkle, her children are Spike and Nyx, the white unicorn is Rarity and her sister is Sweetie Belle, the orange Earth Pony is Applejack and her sister is Apple Bloom while the pink one is Pinkie Pie. The shy one is Fluttershy and the hardcore ones are Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo. Another one is the obnoxious white Moon Dragon, Phobos. And finally, the pirate's brat," Mama Heart said, saying the last part towards Ben.

"What did she call me?!" Phobos scowls angrily at being called an 'obnoxious white Moon Dragon'.

"Pirate's brat; was that supposed to mean anything?!" Ben asks Mama Heart with a frown.

"Mother, please, Ben - Had - No - Idea - of - PIRATE." Mighty Heart said to his mother, explaining a secret to Mama Heart.

"He'd - NEVER - heard - of - it." Jade adds along. It didn't take long for the mother to gasp in realization and embarrassment.

Mama gasped, "You mean-?! My apologies, my boy; you remind me of someone, a pirate, no doubt."

"You fought a pirate?" Spike asks Mama Heart in amazement.

"Why yes. All they talk, no bark . That's what they do the most." Mama Heart remarks with a scoff.

"I don't know, we met pirates once," Rainbow remarks with a shrug, pointing out an adventure that she and her friends went on once.

"Somepony like you," Tao said to Mama Heart dryly.

"I see you hadn’t changed a bit, Billy goat." Mama Heart remarks to Tao, much to his annoyance.

Spike and Phobos chuckled. Tao hits their heads before snapping to Mama Heart, "What are you doing here?!"

"Oh? Didn't you know? I am Brave Heart's Mystic Guardian." Mama Heart answers, much to the surprise and shock of everyone in the room.

"No way," Rainbow said in surprise.

"She's telling the truth, mate." Brave Heart said as he enters the room, not noticing Spike and Phobos. "I've saw the lass after I was done eating and she directed me here personally."

"Hoo-wee, 'dat's incredible!" Applejack exclaimed in shock.

"Well. Both of you are not welcomed!" Tao snaps at both Brave Heart and Mama Heart in irritation. If Rainbow's cousin has to have her as a Mystic Guardian, he doesn't want anything to do with them.

"TAO," Everyone but Brave Heart and Mama Heart exclaims in alarm.

"Uncle, Please!" Dragon Kick pleads to Tao to mind his manners.

Tao hits Dragon Kick as he demands, "Why?! This Dragon lady is nothing but a troublemaker! I had lots of work to deal with, thank you very much! Such as securing and checking the Mystic Shield of Equestria; Hoping that nothing cracks."

"Bah! Do you think you should be more worried about that stupid elf named Grimmore?" Mama Heart scowls to Tao in annoyance. "I can't believe that you endanger my boy on that journey. I was worried sick of his safety!"

"Mother, please. I am fine. In fact, I'm not injured." Mighty Heart assures his mother of his safely.

Mama huffed, "You should be lucky that you're a Mystic Pony, otherwise, you would have been killed if you had flight problems."

"What?! Mighty Heart can't fly?!" Scootaloo ask, surprised that she is not the only Pegasus who has trouble flying.

"Okay, 'dat's not what Apple Bloom expected." Apple Bloom said in surprise.

"Shouldn't Papa Heart train Might Heart to be a flyer?" Sweetie asks Mama Heart curiously.

Mama sighed as she explains, "That's the thing. Mighty's father died. I had no knowledge of Pegasus wings. But he should be happy that he's a Mystic Pony as in flying with magic."

Mighty embarrassed spoke, "Mother......."

Tao chose that time to interrupt while snapping, "You see?! What did I tell you?! Your mother is nothing but a talker and troublemaker! She should never come here!"

"Hey, watch yer mouth! She's my Mystic Guardian!" Brave Heart snaps to Tao in offensive.

"No doubt that she's gonna be a problem to all of us. I can guarantee it." Tao remarks stubbornly.

"The only thing that is going to give a problem is you, Billy goat!" Mama Heart snaps to Tao, calling him a 'billy goat' once more.

"Stop calling me that! Or feel my wrath!" Tao snaps, ready to go at it right here with Mama Heart.

"Bring it! My Mystic Phoenix Temper is better than yours!" Mama Heart remarks, ready to kick some flank hard.

"ENOUGH!" Twilight angrily yells, causing the two ponies to stop short. "Look you two, I don't know why or what you're fighting over with for who knows how long. But this is Ponyville, not a battlefield. Okay? So, I want all of you and that includes you two, Tao and Mrs. Heart, to know that I don't want this kind of behavior and attitude in my home, with my friends and with my family! Do I make myself clear?!"

Everyone nodded their heads. Twilight sighed, "Good."

"My. You're definitely acting like a princess. Celestia sure picked a better and best princess like you. Well done." Mama Heart said, impressed. "As long as Billy goat doesn't touch my stuffs and privacy, I'll behave."

"If she doesn't touch mine," Tao remarks angrily. Mama Heart and Tao glared at each other at this.

"Okay...... This is gonna take a while." Ben said a bit awkwardly.

"Well, at least my mom is better than yours, Mighty," Nyx remarks to Mighty with a giggle.

Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, Jade said in agreement, "Agreed."

"I beg your pardon, ladies?! What was that?!" Mama scowls to the fillies, scaring them.

"Nothing," The CMC said quickly.

A messenger flew in, saying to Twilight while holding a form, "Princess, can you sign this?"

"What is this?" Twilight ask the messenger with a frown.

"Oh, a permission form to hold a list of competitions next year in Equestria. I've already got the Royal Sisters to sign so I need yours to finish things up." The messenger said with a rough voice.

"Fine," Twilight said to the messenger, using her magic to sign her name in the form via a pen. "There, thank you for leaving."

"No, thank you." The messenger, who is really Discord in disguise, chuckles mischievously as he looks at the form which is labeled 'Permission to host a season of Total Drama' then leaves quickly.

"Yeah, I'm sure things will calm down." Spike remarks with a chuckle. He notices Brave Heart looking at him and Phobos puzzled. "What?"

"What kind of creatures are ye, lad?" Brave Heart asks Spike puzzled.

Spike, concerned that Brave Heart may not trust Dragons yet, spoke up, "Lizard creatures," He will decide to tell the Alicorn the truth later once Twilight clears things up to him.

"Oh, I see." Brave Heart said with a nod as he trots off. "Twilight, do ye got any rum?"

"No, we don't serve that." Twilight said to Brave Heart in concern. "We got apple cider. Would that do?"

"Yeah, we Apples make 'de best apple cider in all of Equestria!" Applejack said proudly.

"Well, I will take yer word for it." Brave Heart said as he goes into the kitchen.

"Why didn't you tell Brave Heart that you and Phobos are Dragons?" Nyx ask Brave Heart in concern.

"I wanted to wait until Twilight clears things up, that we are not bad Dragons like my father and brother was." Spike explains to Nyx clearly. "Plus, I wanted to wait until he's okay with that...along with Ben being a former Demon Pony and you formerly being known as Nightmare Moon."

"Oh, right." Nyx said, realizing what Spike meant.

-------------------------------------

The ponies' group are in the progress of hanging around Brave Heart. Twilight plans on telling Rainbow's cousin about Spike, Phobos and Nyx later and hopes that he doesn't want to lose his cool. As the newly made friendship continues, none of us saw a figure watching from nearby.

Shadow Dragon AKA Chase frowns. Dark Curse told him that Brave Heart is visiting but never of the fact that he is an Alicorn! This could be difficult to get closer because Brave Heart may get suspicious. 'Befriending' the heroes and finding out about the shield's origins shouldn't even be this complicated.

"Pssst," A voice exclaims, startling 'Chase '. He turns and saw a black figure in a disguise nearby.

"Fafnir, don't do that!" 'Chase' scowls to Fafnir in annoyance. "I hate it when you do...say, what are you doing here? This is my mission."

Fafnir smirks as he comments, "Relax, Shadow Dragon. I am not here to interfere in your task for Dark Chase. I'm here to check up on an 'old friend' of mine."

"You mean 'Brave Heart', right? How were you able to get in undetected?"

"Correct. And to answer your last question, the Mystic Ponies may be on the lookout for Grimmore, you Dark Ponies and the Apocalypse Ponies...but I can slip in and out undetected as long as I don't do anything...provoking. I am like the night."

'Chase' grunts as he remarks, "Then you should figure out how to get Brave Heart away. I didn't know that he was an Alicorn until now. If I try to befriend the Mane Six and their friends while he's around, that Brave Heart fool would get suspicious of me. Next to Mystic Ponies, Alicorns aren't easy to fool."

"Please. If Celestia was fooled by Chrysalis in the disguise of Cadance, I doubt even Brave Heart and Twilight herself would be any different." Fafnir scoffs, pushing aside his colleague's concern. "I wouldn't worry about Brave Heart."

"Why's that?"

"You want to know why? My old 'friend' has a hatred for Dragons, ironic that your name is that, and anyone or anything associated with me. He also got a bad temper and intends on winning arguments no matter what. His behavior will cause him to leave or be pushed away...then things will get easy."

"Ah, I see. So I wait for the right chance to introduce myself. Clever, no wonder Grimmore spoke well of you." 'Chase' remarks with a slight smirk. He prepares to head out but Fafnir stops him now,"Now what?"

"You think that the Triforce Elements and the other elements are artificial weapons and/or were created by the Mystic Ponies, but that's only half the truth is it?" Fafnir asks Shadow Dragon with a sly grin. "They were originally parts of other Trees of Harmony which were haunted down and destroyed by Tirek and his armies, only the relatives survived...the Mystic Ponies nearly found shells for the Elements to live in. They didn't make the power , just the shells. The one in the Everfree Forest is the only one in existence which is why the Mystic Ponies worked so much to save it; Even the Triforce Elements were centuries old when they were found by the Hero of Time before the Mystic Ponies did."

"I know that, Fafnir! You think I am a blasted fool?! Look, just go before you get us both caught!"

"Don't get your tail in a bind, Shadow Dragon. Otherwise you will lose her like you lost your first one...or did you even remember how you truly lost her?"

Shadow Dragon was about to yell but Fafnir disappears. The former apprentice of Tao looks frustrated. He lost his first love but doesn't remember why...whatever happens was so tragic, Shadow Dragon could not remember...

------------------

At this moment, Ben, leaving Twilight and the others with Brave Heart right now, was walking alone by himself down the busy streets of Ponyville. His mind couldn’t shake off what he was feeling about things, about his dream so long ago, about the Mane Six not having the Elements of Harmony and that his Triforce Elements might not even be able to protect Equestria. What’s worst, is that there may be a dark side effect to him turning into a monster abusing his gift for evil, like what Shadow Dragon, the vile creature from Ben’s dream, was telling him about. If only there was some way to help get over this problem, some way to where he won’t cause harm to his friends or family and will be even stronger to protect them.

“Oh, I’ll take me a couple of those, if an ye don’t mind. Keep the change!” A Red-Neck voice was heard by a shop stand that earned Ben’s attention in recognizing that speech tone. And look and behold, it was Hoboken ‘Hobo’ Joe, an old janitor pal of Ben’s since his days as a colt.

“Hoboken Joe,” Ben responded surprised to see that his old pal was here & not in Canterlot.

“Benny-Boy; why, wha are de chances I plain run into you here?” Hoboken Joe spoke in finishing his shopping business to see with a smile, the young stallion that he knows so much.

“I’ll say, what are you doing here? I thought you were in Canterlot.” Ben Mare responded to say while liking to know, why was the Hobo stallion doing here?

“Shoot, I just pick up some groceries for the Mrs. They only got the right stuff in Ponyville after all.” Hobo Joe showed his bag of purchased items in stating that he was shopping for his love one back home. “So tell me, how’s life going for yah?” He asked off in liking to hear something about Ben’s day.

“Um….?” Ben was a bit hesitated, as he looked away in feeling…not wanting to talk.

“Um, Ben….you okay; you look a little, down & about.” Hobo Joe focus his eyes in feeling something was bothering his friend, what was up?

“It’s nothing, really.” Ben spoke off to not wanting to talk about this sorta stuff.

“Nothing my dusty hat; Come on, this is your old pal here. You can tell me if something’s wrong, maybe I can help.” Hobo Joe insisted that Ben tell him his problems and see if he can help.

“Well…okay. Better sit down for this.” Ben sighs in defeat to smile a little bit, Hobo Joe just wants to help the stallion, cause the hobo lived through worst odds, but always found a silver lining. Maybe this could help him relieve some stress.

Soon Ben & Hobo Joe sat near a bench to discuss what was making the son of Celestia feel a bit sidetracked. Almost a long while ago, days or a week, Ben hasn’t kept track of things, but he told about his dream or more like a nightmare. The boy has troubles in feeling like what some pony called Shadow Dragon is gonna do to him, but killing his love ones to go crazy, etc. Hobo Joe couldn’t help but feel shocked to learn of such hardships Ben was feeling.

“Wow Ben, sounds like ye’re in a pickle.” Hobo Joe spoke off in sensing his dear pal is having it rough around the edges.

“Believe me, I wish I was in a pickle jar, at least then I can handle that.” Ben shrug off to mope about feeling how his situation be better if his case was more simpler to deal with.

“Heh, as funny as dat be, wha you be needin’ is some help from your friends.” Hobo Joe laughed off that little joke to make a pointed statement in what his pal outta do.

“That’s just it, Tao already told me much of what he knows and spoke in which it’s hard for me to see….if I can truly find an answer.” Ben shook his head in stating that the answers he seeks can’t be found by others, while they’ll support him, he alone needs to uncover it. “I wish that Equestria had another way to keep every pony safe. I wish there was something…something to stop whatever evil is trying to trick me into becoming evil.” Ben looked to his hooves to almost grip them in a shake, feeling so angry…at himself & his own weakness.

“Ah hog wash! Listen to ye self!” Hobo Joe spatted out in feeling a tad bit upset to stand up before the surprise Ben, this attitude was new to him to see the hobo act. “Are ye not 'de same stallion 'dat helped make sure Twilight never got turned evil by 'dat Superior fella, like wha he did in deceiving Sunset Shimmer? Or how it was you dat saved Nyx from becoming an evil being an it took your love & Twilight’s to help keep her as herself?” This tough little Earth stallion was making some stated claims about Ben’s achievements where those that were almost lost to darkness, he helped save & protect them, so he shouldn’t feel like this issue of some other villain’s scheme shouldn’t get him down.

“Your right; I did help make sure that they never became something they weren’t." Ben slowly spoke in feeling himself get a boost of courage & determination, he helped those conquer what he went through, so why should he be worried? “Because they would not have been the ones that I love and I never wanted to lose them!” He declared that Ben never wanted to lose his important love ones to the side of evil, they will never make them OR him join the side of the villain team.

“Now you’s a gettin’ it Ben!” Hobo Joe smiled to pat the stallion on the shoulder; he’s finally getting it, about time too.

“But still…” Ben slowly spoke to sit himself down in feeling something else on his mind. “The enemies might be more powerful than even I currently am. I may have awakened piece by piece of my Element & what it connects to the Hero of Time, Link. But…I wish there was more to heal this aching pain that weighs me with doubt.” He held his forehead to let it drop off, feeling that the nightmare of Shadow Dragon just won’t leave him be, like it keeps getting stronger & his spirit feels weaken by the enemy coming at him in his dreams…if only there was a way to help heal the poor guy of whatever he’s under, an evil Dark Mystic spell, something.

“Boy, you really ain’t making this easy for yourself, are ya?” Hobo Joe sighed to sit down in feeling that Ben’s problems are real tight, if only there was something he knew that could help, but…how…? Wait a second…there is one! “Wait just a darn toothin’. DATS IT,” He snap open his eyes in declaring this out, like the answer was smack in front of him.

“What’s it?” Ben raised an eyebrow in seeing his friend act strange from getting something now.

“Benny boy, you probably know dat there were plenty of ‘other’ Elements besides the Elements of Harmony, which the Tree of Harmony provided, right?” Hobo Joe spoke off in recalling that, there are more Elements put here than just the Elements of Harmony.

“Yes, but how do you know this?” Ben raised an eyebrow in knowing there were more out there, like his Triforce, but different, and so are other types, but how does this hobo pony know it?

“I read online, your pal Rainbow puts it up on her site.” Hobo Joe spoke off with a proud sly smile in telling how he acquired the intel.

“Of course,” Ben rolls his eyes to sigh, figures Rainbow Dash posted their conversation on her web-blog email account thing, just to tell her online web fans.

“But listen, have you ever heard of a particular Element? One said to be close to Light, and could heal all?” Hobo Joe leans closer to whisper this out to Ben with some form of excitement on his face.

“Can’t say I have, what is it?” Ben shrug off to respond puzzle, what could his friend here be planning to tell him?

“It’s known only as…the Element of Healing!” Hobo Joe declared out with a proud smile in announcing a ‘new’ known element into the fold.

“An Element of Healing; You mean like, an element that can heal things?” Ben Mare responded almost surprised, he knows Rainbow Dash’s pal Crashfire is an Element user of Fire & Johnny Brock the user of Music, but now an Element of Healing exists too? Now he’s heard it all!

“Exactly,” Hobo Joe points out to say that there was in fact, an element that’s just as the name states, one that heals. “They say it was a one Element that was said to be lost, but one stallion came into contact with it and lives to this day…as a Spirit Pony.” Hobo Joe explained the story of where one pony came into contact with the Element and has been the user since, but only…as a spirit type pony.

“Ah…Spirit Pony?” Ben raised his eyebrows in finding this sorta tale…a bit hard to swallow. It’s one thing if it’s like the Mystic Ponies, but a Pony Spirit, sounds…far-fetch.

“Yep, he’s know as….Mangani! The Silver Pony Healer,” Hobo Joe spoke off in addressing the only known user to the Element of Healing. “He goes around Equestria, healing the wounded & curing the sink. Why, if a creature even became deceased, if their body is still there, he could revive them, no wounds found as if they never died.” He spoke of the amazing abilities this Mangani pony guy could do that no ordinary pony had the power to perform, except maybe Mystic Ponies, but that’s a different subject.

“Amazing; It almost sounds like the miracle powers from the Necklace of Eternal I got for Twilight.” Ben spoke off in recalling the special necklace he got for his love, the same one that saved his life & that of Spike when they almost died.

“Might hav been a small chip of dat Element dat made your special necklace your mother kept in the treasury.” Hobo Joe held his chin in thinking the necklace was but a piece fragment from the original Element created & became apart & lost within the history of Equestria, etc. “But make no mistake, Mangani is the Element User of Healing, course seeing him is a rare life-time opportunity.” He spoke off in stating that while the necklace of Eternal is a nice miracle charm item, the user that can perform the magic maybe even greater….if they can locate the guy first.

“Are you certain he can’t be found?” Ben asked a bit puzzled, this was great news, but how can they find some pony that’s a rare life-time opportunity?

“Well, that’s another thing, most ponies have stopped believing since incidentally, none have found him for years & say he’s an old pony Tale.” Hobo Joe shrug off his shoulders in stating that for some reason, Mangani has not been since to become nothing but a legend. “But it’s said he’s more likely sealed somewhere. An by evil’s hand in it.” The hobo stallion assured with a stern face that some nasty evil plot was done to the poor Spirit Pony and they need to find & help a fellow Element User out.

“Of course, why is it bad guys always wanna do something like that? But why seal Mangani?” Ben rolled his eyes in seeing it’s a typical villain thing to seal away the good guys so they are never seen or heard from again, but question remains…why did some vile foe wanna seal the pony that can heal? Was there any danger from the power of healing that villains could fear?

“Cause, he was a pony that was a Spirit dat use his powers for good, especially with all emotions dat would corrupt his heart prove in-effective. So, the villains dat saw him last, used a spell to hide him somewhere & none of de living can sense his trap state.” Hobo Joe explained that Mangani was a Spirit Pony, and that with a pony whose emotions are keys to be tempted to go over to the dark side proven useless, the bad guys instead sealed the living spirit pony somewhere that no living creature can sense Mangani’s presence; it was fool proof.

“Hmmm…. I wish there was a way to help him. If he could, maybe he even helps us out. Another Element user never hurt.” Ben held his chin in looking pretty down, that’s a sad tale to hear; he wishes that there was some way to help free the Element User of Healing, somehow.

“Well, there may be one pony whose can help in your search plan, come along.” Hobo Joe smiled in suddenly having a crazy idea to pull Ben from his seat, stating that there actually ‘is’ a way to find Mangani.

“Where are we going?” Ben asked off in where they were gonna go at this time of the day.

“To a music store,” Hobo Joe responded off in stating a clear answer of their destination.

“Hugh?” Ben raised an eyebrow again, that sounds like a weird place to go to when they wanna be searching a way to find & free the Pony Spirit.

Course that idea was gonna be explained later along the way. So it looks like Ben’s gotten himself tangle with a new little search journey, oh well, beats moping around.

Author's Notes:

And thus some things are found out, to an extreme. In the next chapter, Brave Heart meets Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon...and punishes them in his own way. And when he finds out about Spike, Phobos and Nyx, boy, he isn't happy. And how will Ben's search go? Read, review and suggest.

Tech is Nigel's OC based on Jack Spicer from Xiaolin Showdown.

Snowcrystal is Neros Urameshi's OC.

This chapter has reference to the Mirror Pool episode from Season 3. It also references the latest MLP: FIM comic arc and a future crossover with Total Drama.

Mama Heart is Nigel's OC based on Mama Tohru from Jackie Chan Adventures.