The horror of what Twilight did was only expanded upon when she and her team entered the city. While the city itself was mostly intact, with the exception of a few fallen street lights and one or two crumbled buildings, what caught her eye the most was the body count and the blood across the pearl flooring. Guilt began swelling up within her, and she honestly wasn't sure how she'd get through this one. Maybe she wouldn't?

"Commander Spectrum Streak!" an ordinary Pegasus knight with silver armor and a silver helmet on, as well as purple wings and ears, came up to Spectrum and saluted, walking alongside the trio "I'm glad your back, but as you can see the city could be doing better. We've already gotten 482 reports of injury and 67 reports of death."

The statistics hurt Twilight. She closed her eyes as tears began filling them once again, trying her best to look as professional as possible during the event.

"That's... no..." Spectrum stopped walking to clutch his fists, along with everyone else joining him "At the very least, is the king alright? Has he been hurt?"

"The king had been evacuated from his castle the moment we began falling from the sky" the knight informed, giving relief to the Dragoon "This, however, brings me to my second point. Obviously our cause of falling was because the wind crystal had failed. I assume these two are the cause of it?"

"N-No, not just them..." Spectrum admitted "I, to my regret, had a hand in it as well. A terrible beast had befallen the crystal, and while fighting it we damaged the crystal."

"Hmm..." the knight wondered "You'll have to take this excuse up with the king. Please feel free to speak with him at any time. He is located in safe-house Number 3. If you wish to collect some supplies or have some time to record your progress, the shops are to your left. Until then, sir!" the knight saluted once again before walking away.

"I personally think it would be wise to collect some items before heading to meet with the king" Spectrum said turning around, quickly noticing that Twilight was trying not to cry "Hey, hey now. I know why this might upset you, but-"

"Why did you take the blame for us?" she asked Spectrum, slightly confusing him "You're such ignorant idiot, yet you put it upon yourself to make sure we didn't get in trouble. Why?"

"Well, I mean, not to brag or anything..." Spectrum had a smile underneath his mask, but seeing how serious Twilight was, he too became slightly more serious "Well, I suppose it's because people tell me I have a strong sense of loyalty. I don't think I'd ever be able to NOT help a friend or ally in need of some."

"Oh..." Twilight's eyes widened slightly, revealing a few more of her tears "Um... Thank you..."

"Spectrum, um..." Fluttershy began "That's really nice of you, and, um... thanks..."

"No problem, Miss Twilight and Miss Fluttershy" Spectrum bowed "Now, shall we do as advised?"

"Y-Yes, of course!" Fluttershy nodded before following Spectrum. Twilight, however, stayed behind and continued to look at the disastrous city. Spectrum immediately took note of this and went over to aid her.

"Twilight, you shouldn't feel bad about this" he advised "It'll only make you feel worse. Besides, if you don't cheer up, who else will set an example to the worried, frightened and homeless? Fluttershy?" he then turned to the White Mage "No offense."

"None taken..." Fluttershy understandably nodded.

"Well..." Twilight said before taking a deep breath in and out "...alright, I'll try."

"That's the spirit!" Spectrum patted her on the shoulder, wary of where her pet Bahamut was "Now c'mon, don't be a mope and get back up on your feet! Yeah, there we go..."

(Music Stop)

The small marketplace store was largely undamaged, as well as its supplies. It was small, only large enough to fit about 50 people inside along with the shelves, but it was a quiet and all around pleasant place.

While Fluttershy and Spectrum had gone around the shop looking for certain items to purchase, Twilight had found herself speaking with the shop owner: a kind elderly mare with wrinkly pink skin and curly white hair, as well as a blue shirt, white apron and long black dress as her supposed work clothes.

"It has been far too long since I've seen someone in the city that's not a Pegasus" the elderly woman said before a small smile came to her face "Although, now that the city came tumblin' down, there'll be a huge flock of Unicorns and Earth people, now won't there! Ohohoho!"

"Hmm..." Twilight smiled "Yes, I think people will want to start coming here more often, either to help fix the place up or eat some of your absolutely delicious baked goods."

"Mmmhmhmhm..." the old woman hummed her laugh "Oh, don't be a suck-up. Now, may I ask what the problem is with you, deary? You've looked like you've been on the verge of crying ever since you got here. It's okay, you can tell me."

"I can?" Twilight wondered, to which the old woman nodded "Well, besides the city falling down, Spectrum did something very loyal to us, and I suppose I still can't quite grasp why after his cocky attitude during our travels."

"Ah, I suppose he never told you, did he?" the old woman sighed somberly "Everyone in Cloudsdale knows his tale by now, but being an outsider, I wouldn't be surprised that you didn't know. You see, a few years back, when Spectrum was still a lieutenant-commander, he was strong, protective, and admittedly humorless. He also had a wonderful wife and a beautiful daughter that he cared for deeply..."

"No..." Twilight understood where this was going.

"You catch on quick, I see" the old woman gave a sad smile "One day, on his way back from his Dragoon post, he found that his house had been burned down. No one in the house had survived, unfortunately. He took it pretty hard, I'll bet. But instead of becoming a cold, heartless commander that we see in all those cliches, he became more arrogant, rude, and slightly incompetent. My guess is he was doing his best to deal with the pain the best way he could; becoming blissfully unaware of everything."

"Th-That's..." the story almost made Twilight cry again, but she quickly held back her tears once again "Oh, sorry. That seems to be happening to me a lot lately."

"Nonsense!" the old woman laughed a bit "If you need to cry, cry. It helps, I assure you."

"Th-Thanks..." Twilight nodded. As she did, Spectrum and Fluttershy approached the counter with an arm full of potions and other assorted items. Peacefully, they bought their items, thanked the old woman, and walked out. Before Twilight did however, the old woman spoke to her once again.

"Twilight, was it?" she asked before getting to her point "Word of wisdom for the day: People aren't always what they seem. Remember that, and I think you and I will get along just fine... Ohohohoho..."

"Thank you, miss" Twilight bowed before going out to join with her friends.

It was a long trip from the shop to the designated safe-house the king was currently situated in, but at last the trio found it. It was tucked away to the left side of the castle in a place normal people wouldn't be able to find on any normal occasion. It was a simple metal hatch with the number 3 on it, nothing more and nothing less. Spectrum opened the hatch up and allowed the two ladies jump down first.

"After you..." Twilight knew he was smirking under his helmet. She just rolled her eyes and entered the hatch, where a ladder was awaiting her. She was soon followed by Fluttershy and then Spectrum himself. Inside the safe-house was a short hallway that lead to an iron door with a handle in the middle of it.

"Well, are you two ready to meet the king?" Spectrum asked "Gotta warn you though; he can be a little harsh sometimes. Other than that, he's kind and caring."

"Only s-sometimes?" Fluttershy slightly panicked "Oh dear..."

"Relax, Fluttershy" Twilight assured her friend, patting her on the shoulder "I'm sure he's only like that when he's angry."

"Kaw!" Spike cawed, attempting to help in any way he could.

"Twilight, we felled a city!" Fluttershy had officially begun panicking "HIS city! That knight we met earlier must have told him! He knows we've done wrong! I don't want to go to jail! I can't! If I do, then... then..."

"What's all that racket outside?" a knight opened the door only to see Spectrum looking over a saddened Fluttershy desperately hugging Twilight's legs "Well, I'll have to admit, I wasn't expecting this... Commander Spectrum!" he saluted "The king was looking forward to your visit! Please, step inside and allow us to speak with you and your companions."

"Of course" Spectrum nodded before looking back at the two women "Well, let's get this done and over with, shall we?"

"Y-Yeah, just a second..." Twilight looked back down at the sobbing Fluttershy "Please, Fluttershy, it won't be so bad! At least get off my legs so I can-"

"Screw it!" Spectrum flung his arms up into the air before picking up Fluttershy and carrying her bridal style into the safe-house. Twilight was amazed, but nonetheless happy she was finally off her legs. She too followed Spectrum into the large room with a single chair in the center and dozens of guards all wearing the same armor as the previous knight.

On the chair was a slightly chubby old man with a long bushy, white beard and grey skin. He wore a regal blue pants and some silver armor over his chest. A red cape wrapped around his back, and a golden crown dawned his head.

"Ah, and what brings you three here, hmm?" the king asked the trio "I assume it's because of your story? Please, continue where you left off, commander."

"Of course, your highness" Spectrum bowed "As one of your valiant knights may have already told you, whilst we were engaging a terrible beast, the crystal had been damaged and ceased the wind from blowing. This caused the city to plummet to the surface and for lives to be lost. I would like to take full responsibility for my actions, and in return you set these two women free with no charges."

"Hmm..." the king's mouth twitched "And what of your squadron?"

"Oh... I believe they were all unfortunately killed from the blast" Spectrum somberly said, but not before being slightly confused as to why the king disregarded his plea to leave blame on him.

"I see..." the king nodded "And of the crystal?"

(Music Stop)

"Your highness, I'm very certain an impact like that would have shattered the crystal" Spectrum pointed out "With it being so small and the city being so big, there would be a slim chance that the crystal survived. Even if it did, Cloudsdale is too heavy to lift, and even if we found it, it would most likely be faded and unusable."

"What a shame..." the king sighed "Guards, go to the lower levels of the city and investigate anything down there."

"Ngh!" Spectrum was taken aback by his king's sudden command.

"Hey! Do you have any idea what Spectrum just said?!" Twilight called out "Many people died today because of my mistake, and with me trying to amend for my flaw, you just disregard any semblance of Buhonian life and send a search team to find an otherwise useless rock?!"

"Child, that rock is far from useless" the king pointed out "Without it, the winds would not blow and the-"

"Screw the wind!" Twilight shouted "Wind is a lot less important than people, and you just think you can ignore your own because you want some stupid, 10,000-year-old stone?!"

"Twilight's r-right!" Fluttershy stood up alongside her friend, albeit very nervously "P-People shouldn't be treated like how you think! We should be above the crystal, no matter the situation!"

"Sorry, your highness" Spectrum joined his friends' opposition "Your choices are morally wrong, and I refuse to follow them."

"Ohohohoho! What a pity!" the king laughed "Guards execute them. You should have listen to the old woman, Twilight..."

"Wait, what?" Twilight thought aloud "No, it can't be! You and that woman! Working together?!"

"Oh, did I say that out loud?" the king smirked "I guess the cat's outta the bag now, so I might as well reveal myself!"

"Pardon?" Fluttershy wondered. Her thoughts were immediately answered when a burst of light shone forth from the king's body, forcing the trio and Spike to cover their eyes.

Once they looked back, they all gasped as in the king's place was a slender man with light grayish brown skin and a white goatee, as well as his face was more elongated than a normal Buho. He wore a brown vest, a shirt with purple on one side and yellow on the other, red and brown thinly stripped pants with a purple patch covering a rip in them, and stylish black shades over his eyes. On his head were two ears and two horns, one looking like it was from a deer, and the other looking like it was from a deformed unicorn horn.

"Greetings one and all!" the mysterious man greeted, now slightly hovering in the air "My name is Discord, and I have come for the wind crystal! Not only did I impersonate the king of Cloudsdale, but I also killed him and his wife, burned their bodies, set their son into the woods, and brainwashed every single member of the royal guard here. There, every last bit of my plan!"

"You killed the king?!" Spectrum shouted, bringing out his spear from his back "Dude, that is not cool! You're going to hell for that!"

"You set their son in the woods?!" Fluttershy spoke in a concerned voice "Oh, I hope he made it out okay..."

"Wait, why are you telling us you plan?" Twilight questioned "Who even are you anyway? Are you some sort of servant to King Sombra, trying to revive him?"

"Sombra? Ohohohoho!" Discord chuckled "Don't make me laugh! I don't work for that fossil, I work for me! Do you have any idea how much a single chip of any crystal is? Imagine the payload of the entire wind crystal! Besides, Sombra's already revived himself, so kinda don't need to do much there."

"He's what?!" Twilight gasped "So it's true..."

"You still haven't answered her original question, fiend!" Spectrum demanded "Why did you reveal your plans? What do you have to gain from doing that anyway?"

"Nothing really" Discord shrugged "But perhaps... Your little secret in return, Specky..."

"You wouldn't dare..."

"Oh, I would" Discord giggled "UNLESS, you can defeat me in battle! Then, you're little secret is safe with me, Specky. Cross my heart and hope to die, stick a needle in my eye."

"...okay then" Spectrum agreed to Discord's challenge "I'll accept. But also if I win, you must set everyone under your spell free."

"Fair enough" Discord smiled "But that leaves something open for me now, doesn't it? In that case, if you lose, I get the yellow one and make her my bride!"

"Eep!" Fluttershy shrunk down, terrified of that thought.

"You're on, creep!" Twilight confidently shouted.

"Ohohohoho... You'll regret facing me, Discord the Bounty Hunter!" Discord laughed "Minions, attack!"

The guards standing by in formation faced the trio and pulled out their swords, engaging them in combat. One had attempted to strike Twilight, but she was able to pull out her dagger in time to block it. In no time at all, Spectrum came and stabbed the knight in the belly, killing him.

"Thanks" Twilight nodded.

"No time for that now" Spectrum had become slightly more serious, clearly not wanting his secret revealed "We need to take out the knights. Fluttershy, cast your magic on them!"

"W-Which one?!" Fluttershy panicked.

"Aero! What else?!" Spectrum yelled. Despite the sudden tone of voice, Fluttershy rose her staff and swung it around, blowing the knights back even though they were in heavy suits of armor. This left an opening for Twilight to attack Discord.

"Spike, you know the drill!" she called out, the Bahamut immediately spewing flames from its mouth at his target. Unfortunately, Discord cast a spell that brought up a shield in front of him, blocking the oncoming fire. He yawned in disappointment before snapping his fingers and levitating all the knights like puppets, fortunately having them by standby until he needed them again.

"That's really the extent of your power?" Discord laughed "That's pathetic! Looks like your little secret will be spilled, my dear."

"Don't call me that!" Spectrum shouted before throwing his spear at Discord. The latter caught it however, twirled it around and aimed it right at the trio.

"What's going to happen now, Specky?" Discord mocked "However will you fare without a weapon?"

"Grrrrr..." Spectrum grumbled "Twilight, summon something else! Something... um, I dunno! Something that's not magic related!"

"Oh, okay" Twilight nodded before silently chanting something and causing a summoning circle to once again appear at her feet "Summon! Chocobo Lv.1!"

Like the time at Fluttershy's home, the yellow flightless bird once again appeared before her. It ran blindly at Discord, attempting to kick him anywhere it could. Discord, obviously, saw this and cast a fire spell on the Chocobo, causing it to scream in pain before dying on the ground. This caused Fluttershy to gasp.

"Mmmm..." Discord sniffed the air and smiled "Roasted chicken... My favorite!"

"Alright, that's it!" Spectrum yelled "You're going down!"

"I'll leave you with a choice, Spectrum" Discord grinned "Kill me, or..." he pointed the Dragoon's spear at Fluttershy, who was still silently weeping about the loss of the Chocobo "...save her. Completely your choice."

"You monster..." Spectrum's eyes widen. Discord laughed once again before twirling the spear around again and firing it straight at Fluttershy. She gasped in fear; her first quick reaction to the situation.

"NO!!" Spectrum raced forward and ran out in front of the spear, blocking and saving Fluttershy, but knocking his golden mask off his helmet. The mask went flying over to a wall and made a clanging noise, whereas Spectrum fell to the ground, his face looking at the floor away from his friends.

(Music Stop)

"Ohohohoho!" Discord couldn't contain his excitement "Well, you just gave up your victory, but no one technically won, so I'll hold up my end of the bargain..." he snapped his fingers and released the guards from his captivity "Next time, though, I'm taking your lives and making the girl my lovely wife!"

"Meep!" Fluttershy squeaked.

"Ta ta!" Discord snapped his fingers and teleported out of the room, laughing maniacally all the while. As soon as the echoing laugh stopped Twilight took this time to check up on Spectrum, while Fluttershy went and healed the knights.

"Spectrum?" she wondered "Are... Are you... alright?"

"Ngh..." Spectrum groaned "D-Don't look at me!"

"Y-Your voice!" Twilight immediately noticed his voice had risen in pitch only slightly, as well as sounded more... feminine.

"P-Please, no!" Spectrum plead.

"Spectrum, please tell me who you are" Twilight insisted.

"I... I can't..."

"Spectrum..." Twilight placed a hand on his shoulder "We're friends, remember? You can tell me and Fluttershy anything you need to. You don't have to worry.

"I..." Spectrum had begun crying, as seen from the water on the ground below his face. Slowly, he then turned his head towards Twilight, to which she rightfully gasped in shock. What she saw wasn't a hardened man built by war with a cocky attitude, but a woman with a cyan face, cerise eyes and ears that with a color that looked like it was painted on.

"Spectrum?" Twilight's shocked expression turned into one of concern "Are you..."

"Yes" she nodded "I'm a woman... I'm sorry I lied to you, Twilight. I didn't want you or anyone else finding out. If that happened, I... I would have been kicked out of the Dragoon squadron..."

"Wait, why?" Twilight questioned.

Before Spectrum could answer, the iron door to the outside world swung open with twelve Dragoons in silver armor highlights all marching in single file. They all took formation around Twilight and Spectrum, making way for another Dragoon with the same blue armor as the others, only with green highlights instead of gold or silver. His mask was open, revealing his auburn skin, wings and ears, and graying hair. His face was not an impressed one.

"So, commander Spectrum, if that is your real name," the man started "We've finally tracked you down. Allow me to introduce myself: I am high commander Wind Fury of the Dragoon operations team. I hear-by arrest you for impersonation of an officer, the death of over fifty people, and false identity. Take her away, boys. And her friends too, why not?"

"N-No, wait!" Spectrum tried to stop the other Dragoons, but to no avail. Six of the Dragoons took each of the girls, two for each, and carried them out of the shelter to wherever Cloudsdale's jailhouse was. None struggled; not even Fluttershy. They knew they had to atone for what they did, but they also knew they weren't going to go down without a fight.

So patiently, they waited.

Author's Notes:

I felt as if this chapter was a bit short, but I kinda wanted to get to the point on this one. Doesn't help I'm slightly tired, but oh well, I can still work for you guys!

So Spectrum's secret is out! He is actually a she! You don't need half a brain to figure out who it is. Oh, and by special request, Discord is in this story! He was already going to be in this story, but I figured this was a good time to introduce him maybe as a recurring villain throughout the heroines' journey.

I took the cross-dressing thing from a certain Final Fantasy game, but I won't say which to avoid spoilers. Also, was the title of this chapter symbolizing Discord's impersonation or Spectrum's? That's up for you to figure out.

Am I missing anything? Oh, right! BE SURE TO COMMENT!! You don't have to, of course, but it's always nice reading your feedback, be it good, bad, critical or just plain strange.

Be sure to Like, Comment, Favourite and Follow, and until then, dream on everyone!