Shining Armor's head was held low as he made his way around town. He barely lifted his hooves as he went, just enough to keep from actually dragging them through the dirt. His tail was a little less fortunate, the tip of it tracing along the ground behind him.

A pole off to the side caught his attention, making him look up. In front of him was a sign that had a silhouette of a crab with the words "crab x-ing" written across it. It was at that time that hundreds -- if not thousands -- of crabs started moving across the road. It was certainly too many to count, looking more like a river of red water than of singular creatures. After a few stragglers made it across, Shining Armor resumed his walking.

Admittedly, he was taking longer than was necessary to get back to the library. Not just because he was moving slowly, but because he was kind of going a longer way. Shining Armor really had no interest in what was going on in the town. It was more that he really did not feel like going back. Right now, the place seemed like the worst place in Equestria to be. He could not even think of it as "home." Plus, going there would mean having to deal with his sister. The idea of telling her they had failed, of seeing the disappointment and sadness on that face, was too much. He already felt heart broken, but that would just leave it shattered.

The sound of laughter reached Shining Armor's ears. A part of him cringed at the familiar voice, but he tried to keep from noticeably reacting. Maybe if he ignored it, he would not have to deal with it.

"This has been so much fun," Discord called out excitedly. "Why, just look at all the wonderful chaos going around. Isn't it wonderful?"

There was a snap and Shining Armor suddenly felt a weight on his head. A tiny Discord twisted to look at him from where it held onto Shining Armor's horn.

"And just look at you," Discord continued. "Celestia's prized student, normally so optimistic and energetic. Now just a sad and depressed little thing."

"What do you want Discord?" Shining snapped, glaring at the mini-creature. "There's no way I could make it through The Everfree alone and get The Elements of Harmony."

The miniature Discord vanished from Shining Armor's view. The stallion was suddenly grabbed and lifted up, being held by the full sized version like some sort of stuffed toy.

"My dear boy," Discord stated, "I never said that The Elements of Harmony were at Celi and Lulu's silly old castle. You came to that conclusion on your own, and I merely didn't correct you. They were never actually there. If you had managed to make it all the way there, you wouldn't have found a thing." He paused, rubbing his goatee with his free limb. "Although, I bet the look on your faces would have been hilarious."

"But your riddle," Shining called out.

"Said 'find The Elements where you began.'" Discord gave a shrug, dropping Shining Armor in the process. "It's not my fault if you came to the wrong conclusion."

Ears pinned back, Shining Armor let out a grumble as he pushed himself back up into a sitting a position. He winced slightly as he did, his rump stinging from the landing. After adjusting himself to keep from sitting on the tender spot, he looked up at Discord again.

"Why? Why are you doing this?"

"Because it's fun," Discord responded. "Because I can. Because it's what I do. Maybe because I don't really need a reason."

"But..." Shining Armor shifted, looking down at the ground. "My friends..."

Discord crossed his arms and let out a huff.

"Yes," he grumbled. "Well you can consider this an important lesson, my pouty pony. You can't rely on your friends." He turned his back toward Shining Armor as he looked at the town. "Because sooner or later, they will let you down and leave you behind."

That was a strange statement. Shining Armor could hear a note of bitterness. Lifting his head, he looked at Discord, eyes narrowing to study him.

"Is that what happened to you?" Shining Armor asked. "Did your friends abandon you? Is that why you sta-"

The rest of the question was cut off as Discord flicked a talon against Shining Armor's nose. It did no harm, but stung a little.

"Don't you try your little mind games with me," growled Discord. He placed his forelimbs on his hips, narrowing his eyes. "Besides, it would do you no good. I am not something you could understand just from talking to."

Shining Armor wiggled his nose, but said nothing. He had touched on something, but really did not feel like trying to pursue it any further. Getting back up, he turned from Discord and resumed walking back to the library.

"You know," Discord said as he floated above Shining Armor, "you remind me a lot of Tia. So clever, so courageous, and oh so very boring." He rolled his eyes at the last word. "No wonder she chose you to be her student." He let out a hum, rubbing his chin.

"I wonder if your sister would be more fun."

The statement made Shining Armor stop. The gray of his coat faded slightly as he turned toward Discord. The stallion's eyes narrowed as his horn lit up with magic.

"What was that?" he asked, jaw tense.

"Your sister," Discord responded. "What was her name again? Fight Night Special? Nightlight Sprinkles? Highlight Spackle? Whatever. She seems like a pretty smart filly. I bet she would be a lot more fun that you--"

As he said "you," Discord turned toward Shining Armor, the sight of the glowing horn causing him to stop. It gave him just enough warning to throw himself to the side as a blast of raw magical energy was shot right at him. Conjuring an umbrella, Discord popped it open and held it out between him and the angry stallion.

"Was it something I said?"

"You will not touch my sister!" Shining Armor shouted, and unleashed another blast.

With a surprised yelp, Discord pulled the umbrella up in front of him. There was an audible thud as the magic slammed into it, followed by a sizzling sound as the energy burned away at the fabric. When the blast finally ended, Discord was holding the smoldering black remains of the metal frame.

"Well," Discord huffed as he tossed the remnants aside, "it seems somebody has a bit of a temper." Slapping his paw and talon together, he conjured a blue rubber ball. He then tucked at under his arm as he turned away.

"If you're going to be that way about it, then I am going home." He let out a huff and threw his head up. Nose in the air, Discord walked off and out of view.

Shining Armor stood there, body tense as he stared at where Discord had been for nearly half a minute. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and slowly let it out. He released his magic and opened his eyes again, now actually looking around.

He felt... different. In an odd way it was like he was more himself than he had been a few seconds ago.

Twiley! Giving a shake of his head, he turned and started running for the library. His sister was there, and she might need him. She was his little sister, his family, and his responsibility. He had to make sure that she was okay.

As he continued to run, it was as if something else in his mind clicked. He was not the only one with a little sister. Even of the ones who did not, there were still younger ponies that looked up his friends (former friends, a voice whispered in his head, but he tried to shut it up). Maybe those same young ponies could help the others remember who they are the same way the memory of his sister and need to protect her and helped him. Even if they could not help themselves, they probably knew the ponies they looked up to better than any others in Ponyville.

The tree that made up the library came into view. A thrill of excitement shot through Shining Armor at the sight. He was glad to see it, to call it home. It was where he lived with Twiley and Spike. It was where he had met the ponies he now thought of a friends (former). It was where they had all insisted on going with him to The Everfree Forest after learning about The Elements of Harmony. It was...

It's where all of this began! he thought excitedly. Picking up his pace, he ran as fast as he could. His horn glowed again as he got closer and closer.

Reaching the door, he threw it open and ran inside. Seven pairs of eyes all turned to look at him, wide with shock. He grinned, letting out a chuckle.

"Good," he called out. "You're all here."

"Shiny?" Twilight asked curiously. "Are you okay?' She was suddenly grabbed in her brother's magic and pulled into a hug.

"No," he answered as he held her close. "But I think I will be now." He ruffled her mane then turned to the others.

"Spike, I need you to find the book on The Elements of Harmony. The same one we found the information in the night we first got here." He turned toward the rest of the crusaders.

"As for the rest of you, I have some bad news and good news. More importantly, I have a plan to fix everything, but I'm going to need your help."