[POV: Nightmare Moon]

Celestia, Luna, and I were waiting in the throne room for Twilight's return to tell her how she had done on her test.

'Knowing her, she probably thinks she failed,' I thought in slight amusement. The doors opened and we turned our attention to it. We were surprised to see not only everypony to enter, but also to see two other ponies and another human walking next to them.

"Everyone? Why are they with you?" Celestia asked, pointing at the gray mare and Dinky, I think her name was.

"We've been staying with Ditzy, so Ashley and I thought that we should tell her where we were going," Sean explained. "But when we told her, she insisted on coming with us. And unfortunately, Dinky apparently overheard us and snuck onto the train."

"And who's that?" Celestia asked, gesturing at the new human. Before anypony could answer, the woman spoke up.

"Are you saying you don't remember me?" she asked in mock hurt. "Tia, Lulu, I'm hurt."

Realization dawned on my sisters and something stirred in my memories. Or rather Luna's as I remembered the woman in front of us, from when they would spend time together.

"Sarah!" they both exclaimed, before launching forward and practically tackling the woman in a hug.

"It's so good to see you again!" Luna said.

"I missed you so much, Sarah," Celestia said.

"You knew Sean's mother?" Twilight asked in shock.

My sister's pulled back and looked at the woman in surprise. "He's your--?" Celestia started to say before facepalming. "Right, your last name is Griffin isn't it?"

"Well, there can be people with the same last names and not be related, but in this case yes, Sean is my son," Sarah said.

"But I thought you didn't know what humans were," Ashley said.

"To be fair," I spoke up. "It has been over a thousand years."

"Wait, what!?" she and several ponies exclaimed.

Celestia nodded, "Yes, she, Luna, and I faced Sombra more than a thousand years ago, but when we banished him, he made the city and Sarah vanish."

"Speaking of the dark king, what became of him?" Luna asked. The question brought serious expressions to Sean, Ashley, Sarah, Jack, and, somewhat surprisingly, Ditzy's face.

"Princess," the gray pegasus spoke up. "Would it be alright if Dinky and I take a look at the castle?" Dinky's eyes widened and she looked up at us with a wide smile.

"I suppose," Celestia said. "Guard, would you please give them a tour of the castle?" The guard saluted and the three of them exited the room.

When they were gone, Luna asked, "Did that seem a little convenient of a time for her to ask that?"

"She knows what I'm about to tell you and to be honest the others have probably guessed, but I wanted them to hear it from me," Sean said. He took a deep breath, "I ended Sombra's life."

We looked at him in shock. That the goofball we'd met was able to end somepony's life was astonishing. The other's looked slightly shocked as well, but it seemed like they were expecting what he had said.

Celestia's look hardened and she asked, "You killed him?"

"I did," he said.

"You don't regret it?" Luna questioned, a slight edge in her voice.

"For killing him? No. From what Ashley told me about the stallion, the bastard deserved it and I'm glad that I put him down." The other's gasped at his claim, my sister's gaze hardened, and I was getting slightly worried for Sean. "However," he continued, "I probably would have tried to take him in first if I was in my right state of mind."

"What do you mean?" I asked, slightly worriedly.

"I was in a rage," he stated.

"What are you talking about?" Luna asked in confusion. "You were angry at Blueblood, but you just looked like you'd beat him up a bit and that's it."

"This was different. You see, I have a soft spot for children and that son of bitch threatened to kill Dinky," he said, as anger flashed in his eyes. My sisters and I were shocked to see such rage coming from Sean. He took several breaths to calm himself. "I don't regret killing him, but I do regret how I killed him."

Sarah snorted, "While I wish he hadn't, if Sean had not ended Sombra, I would have."

Celestia sighed, "Considering who it was and that the deed is already done, I suppose there's nothing we can do. But please don't kill everyone you fight Sean. There might be times that we will need to question them."

"I don't plan on killing everyone I have to fight Celestia. Besides as long as they don't threaten a child, that will be easy to do," Sean said. "Princesses there's something you need to know about Sombra." We raised a brow at him as he reached into his backpack and we were shocked at what he pulled out. "Sombra was a Devil Fruit user and he had probably one of the most dangerous ones."

In his grasp was a Devil Fruit that was about as black as my fur. "What is that fruit?" I asked.

"It's called the Dark-Dark Fruit. It makes it to where the user can negate the powers of other Devil Fruit users," he explained, tossing the fruit to us. I grabbed it in my magic and brought it to myself.

"It's true Your Highnesses," Jack spoke up. "Sombra was able to punch me and he slammed Sean into the ground, making him bleed."

"You're injured!?" Twilight exclaimed.

"Was," Sean said. "Whatever changed us to crystal temporarily, healed my injuries. Anyway, I think Sombra's dark magic affected the Devil Fruit."

"What makes you say that?" Luna asked.

"This isn't what the fruit is supposed to look like. It should look like this," he said, pulling out another fruit that looked similar to the fruit in his right hand, except that it was purple. "The other reason is that he used the fruits powers differently than what's been done in the anime."

"Such as?" she asked.

"For one, he made crystal golems rise from his shadows, but that shouldn't be possible. You see, the element that's associated with this fruit is gravity. It pulls everything in and crushes it. Another thing is that even though it's a Logia-type, the user isn't able to change into the element the fruit allows them control over. However, it seemed like Sombra could do just that," Sean told us. "So I was thinking that it might have something to do with his dark magic and Devil Fruit power combining," Sean explained. "There was something else."

"Which is?" I asked.

"Along with pulling everything in, it allows the user to absorb physical matter and attacks of any type by sucking it into the darkness. However the downside to that is attacks tend to hurt even more than usual. That didn't seem to be a problem with Sombra though," he said. He paused and then said, "Although, he did keep healing his wounds."

This caught our attention. "He healed himself?" I asked in concern.

"Yes, he did. Why?" Sean questioned.

"Because while casting dark magic doesn't corrupt you, using it on your body warps it. It may be able to heal practically any injury, but the more you use it on yourself the more it will start to twist one's mind," I explained.

"I see," Sean said. "Well, this did give me an idea for something."

"What?" Celestia asked, sounding concerned.

"It's nothing bad, Celestia. Although it does involve you," he told her. She gave him her undivided attention, "First, I was wondering about your lifespans. Are you immortal, ageless, or just long lived?"

Surprised by the off topic question, she answered, "Me and my sisters are immortal."

Sean seemed to notice her word choice, as he asked, "What do you mean?"

"Cadance wasn't originally an alicorn like my sisters and I," Luna said. "She became one and along with that an extended lifespan."

"So, she'll live for several hundred years?" Ashley questioned.

"She said extended not shortened," Rainbow Dash said.

Sean and Ashley seemed to stiffen at this. "H-How long do ponies live?" she asked.

"Three hundred fifty to four hundred years," Twilight answered.

The two human's eyes widened in complete shock. "That long?" Sean questioned, his voice sounding distant.

"What's wrong, you two?" Spike asked.

"Humans can only live up to a hundred years and by then we'd be old and frail," Ashley said.

All of our eyes widened and I felt a stab of pain in my heart. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Luna and Celestia looking at me with a guilty look in their eyes. However, before any of us could say anything, Sarah spoke up.

"I don't know if that's necessarily true anymore," she said, catching all of our attention.

"What do you mean Mom?"

She looked up at Celestia and Luna, "Given what Ashley just told you, you should know what I'm talking about." The two stared at her in slight confusion, causing Sarah to roll her eyes, "How long did I live here before disappearing?"

"Around seventy years," Celestia answered automatically.

"You were here that long!?" Ashley exclaimed. "And you haven't aged?"

"Nope," Sarah answered. "I'm as young and agile as when I arrived here."

"So, you think that means we have, at the very least, an extended life?" Sean asked, sounding hopeful.

"Considering we were displaced by the same Merchant, I think it's safe to assume so," she said. "But even if you don't, you shouldn't worry about that and just live in the now."

"You're right of course," Sean said. He shook himself, "Right, back to what I was saying before. You are proficient in light magic, which is healing magic right?" Celestia nodded. "I was thinking that you ate the Heal-Heal fruit and maybe, like the Dark-Dark Fruit and dark magic, your magic and the Fruits power will combine. If it did, you might be able to heal wounds that you or the fruit couldn't alone."

"That actually sounds like a good idea Sean," Ashley said. "What do you think, Celestia?"

Celestia raised a hand to her chin in thought. "It does sound like, if it worked, it would be very helpful," she said.

"Plus it would keep it out of the hands of a villain and heal themselves or any of their allies," Sean said.

At this, I looked down at the Dark-Dark Fruit in my grasp. 'Maybe I should eat this to keep it out of the grasp of someone like Sombra,' I thought.

Celestia thought a little more before nodding, "I think you're idea has a lot of merits to it. Later today, I'll eat the Heal-Heal Fruit."

Making up my mind, I said, "And I'm going to eat this Devil Fruit." Before anyone could say anything I bit down on the fruit. I immediately gagged, "Ugh, Ashley was not exaggerating on this things taste."

"Why did you do that Nightmare?" Celestia questioned me.

"To keep anyone like Sombra from getting their hands on it," I said.

Sean lifted his hat before running a hand through his hair. "Well, at least if Blackbeard is here, we might not have to deal with him having the Dark-Dark powers," he said.

"Hopefully," Ashley and Sarah agreed.

"I guess I'll respect your decision, even though it's already too late," Celestia said. "Since everyone is here there is someone I want you all to meet."

They all took notice of the fact that she said someone rather than somepony. At that moment, the doors opened and Ditzy and Dinky entered the room.

"Perfect timing. Guard will you please bring Heart here?" Celestia requested.

The guard saluted and walked back out of the room. About half an hour later the guard returned.

"She's here Your Highness," he said.

"Thank you let her in," Celestia said. He nodded and opened the door.

Other than Jack, all of the ponies and Spike tensed and Ditzy grabbed Dinky when they saw a changeling enter. Rainbow Dash and Applejack immediately charged toward her. Both looking ready to take her out.

Sean sighed and facepalmed. The action surprised me, Celestia, and Luna, as we'd never seen him look so exasperated.

He looked over to Sarah. "Mom? You mind helping me?" he asked, as he pressed down on his legs. Our surprise increased when he suddenly turned pink and steam started emanating off of him.

She nodded before disappearing in a flash of light. He then disappeared in a blur of movement, shocking us even further. Something colliding made us look up and saw that Sean and Sarah were blocking the attacks of Applejack and Rainbow Dash respectively.

"What in tarnation are ya'll doin'!" Applejack said. "Don't ya see that there's a changeling."

"That was escorted here by a guard," Sean pointed out scathingly, making the two take a few steps back. "Honestly, you should pay attention before jumping to conclusions."

"I'm afraid he's correct, my little ponies," Celestia said. "You should have known that since the guard let her in, she was who we wanted you to meet." The two mares ears lowered and they looked down in shame. The others eased slightly at Celestia's words.

"I hope you don't hold this against them," Sean said.

Heart shook her head, "I completely understand their reaction. I hope I can put that to rest though."

Sean nodded and he and Sarah walked back to the group. Heart walked past them and stood between us and the group, before facing the others.

"I'm Princess Heart, daughter of Queen Chrysalis." Everyone tensed again, but a look from the humans kept them from doing anything. She bowed and said, "I'd like to apologize for what she did during Shining Armor and Princess Cadance's wedding." Her apology surprised them all as they just stared at her.

"Why exactly did she invade?" Sarah asked.

Heart sighed, "Someone messed her memories and made her think that Princess Celestia was responsible for her not knowing who my father is. So, she planned on how to get back at you. It took about twenty-five years, but she finally found out how she could strike at you."

"Shining Armor and our nieces wedding," Luna said.

The changeling princess nodded, "Yes, but with Sean and Ashley's help that was stopped by the very one's she tried to separate."

"Heart was actually the one to warn us of the invasion. Though she did so anonymously for obvious reasons," I told them.

"I just wish I had known what exactly her plan was so I could have properly warned you," Heart said, regretfully.

Sean walked up to her and placed a hand on her shoulder, "Hey, you did your best to help everypony. I'm pretty sure they're grateful for your warning."

"Indeed we are, Heart," Celestia said with a warm smile. "You put us on alert, where if you hadn't warned us the Wonderbolts and the guards wouldn't have been able to combat the changelings."

Heart smiled in appreciation, "Thank you. I'm glad I was able to help somehow." She turned back to the group, "Now for the main reason I'm here." They all looked at her curiously, before their eyes widened when she reached up and pulled her cheek farther than it should have gone. She glanced at Sean, "I hope you don't mind, I just thought the others you would think that it was just me using magic if I used one of the other powers."

"You have the Copy-Copy Fruit," Sean said in shock.

"You know about it?" Heart asked in surprise.

"It was a non-canon Devil Fruit that showed up in a One Piece special live show," he said. "It had the ability copy other Devil Fruits. Although it had a huge drawback. You see the user had to, or at least it seemed like it, be hit by the other Devil Fruit users power for them to copy it. But something's not right." Sean stepped closer to Heart and looked her over. "The fruit also changed the users appearance to whoever the fruit belonged to."

Heart's face fell, "That's something else the one who messed with my mother's memories did. When I was born, they made it to where I can't transform and it seems that it's strong enough to even keep the Devil Fruit from changing me." The humans and even the ponies frowned.

"So, you can't do one of the things that makes you a changeling?" Twilight asked, sympathy in her voice. As the changeling shook her head, all of the ponies surrounded her in a group hug. "I'm sorry you have to go through something like that. I can't imagine what it would be like to not be able to use my magic."

Sean, Ashley, and Sarah smiled at the ponies hugging the changeling. Sean then turned to Celestia, "Is there not a way to remove the magic that's causing this?"

"All three of us have looked into the spell that's been cast on her, Sean," I said, gaining his attention. "None of us know what he did to her, so we don't even know where we would start."

"I see," he said.

Suddenly the doors burst open and a guard rushed in. "Your Highnesses, we just received word from Manehattan that something is terrifying the ponies there," he said quickly, after bowing.

"Did they say what it was?" Celestia asked.

The guard hesitated as if he couldn't bring himself to say it. Finally he answered, "They said it was a... skeleton."

Author's Notes:

Princess Heart OC created by GIGA-XISBASS