~10 years later~

I stood on the steps of town hall as I looked around, Toasty was at my side as we stared at the chaos of the town. We stood no chance but to give into this part of Discord's rule. I looked at Toasty and he nodded, Twilight had placed a shield around his medallion to keep Discord away from the powers within it.

We walked slowly to the library, when we arrived I cast a charm around the two of us so we could pass safely through the force field she'd put up. We went to the door and knocked twice, Spike answered the door, his spikes were now jagged and he had scratches on his face and he was missing a clawed finger. He stared at me for a moment, I'd cut my mane into a shorter style and kept my wings hidden uncomfortably beneath a black cape. I lifted my cape to expose them and he allowed us passage. We walked in and he locked the multiple locks on the door and then led us to the hidden doorway that led to below the library.

We went down into the bunker where Twilight, Apple Jack, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Rainbow dash were all standing around the table; my dad was in the corner as he was reading through some blueprints he was copying down. We went to the table and I sat at the head of the table.

Since Discord's rule began we had started this underground revolt, we were slowly bringing people in that we that we knew we could trust, and we knew that Discord had taken Pinkie from us, for we hadn't seen her since it all began. Our first task; was to retrieve her.

"We've managed to locate where Discord has been holing up most of the time," I began; the single light above us was swinging like you'd see in a police interrogation film. "It's in the middle of the desert between Dodge Junction and Apploosa," I explained showing a spot I'd circle on a map.

"But it's heavily guarded," Toasty intervened, "from what intelligence I've been able to gather on it there are several guards just outside, but if I can figure out whats inside I can prepare us to infiltrate and bring her home, I'm pretty sure this is where they're keeping your friend, because they wouldn't keep her in the palace."

Fluttershy muttered behind Apple Jack and I could see the fear on her face, despite this new regime she hadn't changed her timid self. Rarity however gasped.

"If we're going to infiltrate then we're going to need special outfits for it!" she beamed, I smiled a little and shook my head.

"It's not necessary Rarity," I said with a gentle smile.

"Oh yes it is, I already have an idea, this way we won't be caught as easily!"

At that moment the door opened, and Crimson descended with his snake. Fluttershy smiled and walked over and began to pet Crimson's snake. "I'm quite surprised he's lived so long," Fluttershy said, "He was already so old when you got him, and he's lasted you another 10 years."

Crimson cleared his throat and looked at us. I cleared the map from the table; I didn't really trust him as of late. Every step we'd taken to get back Pinkie Pie we had always been blocked by something.

Twilight however trotted over to him eagerly and licked his cheek with affection and he smiled, the corners of his mouth twitched a little and he walked to my side, "So what have we figured out now?" he asked, his actions made me want to cringe, and his snake was slowly slithering towards me, hissing slightly as it's scaly skin touched my coat I cringed away and turned towards my dad and went to his side to help with his blue prints.

I kneeled down and dad looked up at me, "You still don't trust him, do you Light," he asked, I shook my head and he smiled, "You don't trust anyone anymore."

"Do you blame me? Anyone could be a Changeling, hell you could be one," I muttered in response. My language had seemed to mature with my body. Now I was using the adult language I would be scolded for back when I was young. Now I was 17, and in the middle of a revolution that would rival all others.

Dad glanced up at me and smiled softly, "Light, do you really believe that I would be a Changeling?"

"It's possible dad…anything is."

"Light," Twilight said, I looked over at her and she motioned for me to join her, I sighed a little, I still didn't trust Crimson, but for now I would have to deal with this.

"Yeah?" I asked as I walked over, before her was a spread of Canterlot Castle, I glanced up at her, "Where did you manage to get these?"

"I've had them for years, I thought they would come in handy in case of an emergency when we needed to enter Cantlerlot under duress and without suspicion," she replied.

"But aren't we going to storm his hideout instead?" I asked.

"Yes, but this is for future reference."

I nodded and nibbled on my lip, "I think we should focus more on our more current plans instead of those future ones."

Twilight nodded, "You're probably right." She said as she walked to the wall where several shelves had been set up to hold some books that were related to anything about the war. "But what are we going to do to get in without being hurt?"

"Ideaaaaaa!" Rarity sang as she ran out of the room with a large grin on her face. I blinked and shook my head.

"Anyways, do you know any protective charms that would work to keep us safe from, like, other magic, or would get us through detection charms?"

She screwed up her face as she thought calmly, licking her lips subconsciously.

Toasty looked up at the clock and stood up, "Excuse me, I've got somewhere else to be." Then without another word he walked out of the room and back up the stairs.

"Where is he going?" Rainbow dash asked almost appalled.

"It doesn't matter, we've got other things to do," I replied as I watched Twilight pull down a book and flip through the pages hastily.

"But-"

"He's probably going to make some toast," I interrupted, "You know how Toasty can be, so there is really no point in asking."

She shrugged, "I guess you're right," she sat down and sighed, "I'm so tired of not being able ot put these plans into action, I'm going after Rarity, maybe I could help her with whatever she's doing."

She walked out next and Fluttershy pawed at the ground a little, "Do you have to leave too," I asked, she bit her lip.

"Well yes…you see I need to check on my bunny, Angel, he usually worries if I'm gone too long," she replied nervously, I glanced at Twilight and she nodded. "Oh, thank you Twilight," she ran out after Rainbow and I looked at Apple Jack and waited for her to say she needed to leave.

"Don't worry; I don't need to go anywhere." She replied with an honest smile.

But then Big Macintosh came running down the stairs, panting lightly, he hardly ever came to the revolt meetings…something was wrong with our spies.

"Big Mac! What's wrong?" I asked immediately.

"They're…missing…" he panted heavily.

"What do you mean they're missing? Where did they go?"

"After…the…Elements…"

"But they're in Canterlot."

"They…went…to…the…Ever…Free…Forest…" his legs gave way and he hit the floor, Apple Jack adjusted her hat and we took off, Big Mac struggled after us.

"Big Mac, go get Rainbow, we're gonna need her speed, she can join me in going over the forest to find them, the others can go through and see what they can find, use your magic, Twilight, if you find them. Signal us to you, I'll do the same."

They nodded and once we went a ways inside the forest I launched up into the sky, my wings were now exposed, but I ignored it and flew over the forest, I was joined awhile later by Rainbow dash, we both flew over the forest, and soon enough I used my horn to signal to the others, we landed where the Cutie Mark Crusaders stood with their backs to each other and were panting.

Around them were fallen creatures, I looked at them, "Are you guys okay?" I asked, my horn was still glowing, giving the others a trail to follow to get to us.

"Yeah," Applebloom muttered as she walked over to us, "They tried to ambush us when we came out here looking for those Elements of Harmony, but we were able to fight them off."

"All by yourselves?" I asked, Applebloom nodded and I smiled, "I'm impressed, I didn't know you girls had it in you."

"Oh, I'm hurt," Scootaloo said sarcastically, feigning a butt-hurt look. I giggled.

"I'm sorry, it's just I didn't know you could fight," I replied, she smiled and nodded.

"I know, but you're not the only talented fighter," she giggled.

I nodded, "I know."

Just then the others ran through, "Applebloom!" Apple Jack said thankfully, she hugged her tightly as Big Mac followed after and hugged her. "Oh I was so worried, what in the name of Equestria happened? What made you come all the way out here?"

"We were just looking for the Elements," Applebloom replied.

"But why?"

"Well, they beat Discord before, why not use those?"

Twilight shook her head, "Applebloom, that's not possible, the Elements of Harmony are in Canterlot, not the Ever Free Forest," she replied.

"Then what are they protecting," Applebloom asked as she looked at the fallen creatures.

"Did you do that?" Apple Jack asked, Applebloom nodded and Apple Jack grinned. "Then, I doth bestow upon you a token of my gratitude for not dying," Apple Jack removed her hat and placed it on her sister's head. "Now you better take good care of that hat, it's been through a lot with me, and I'm sure it'll be through a lot with you."

"Even that," Applebloom stared sadly at the scar across her sister's face.

Apple Jack waved her hoof carelessly, "It's nothing Applebloom, you just take care of yourself," Apple Jack said with a smile.

We then returned home, my cape was resting over my wings once again and I used my magic to lead the trail back to the entrance of the forest. We returned to the library where Spike was waiting just beyond the door. We walked in and he brandished a sword at us threateningly, I knew why instantly, but within seconds I'd brought my sword out and they clashed, causing a loud metallic ringing sound to erupt between us. My eyes began to sparkle as my heart raced quickly, my pulse beating a staccato rhythm in my ears.

"It's you..." Spike muttered, he'd become less naive since the war began, less trusting and much more alert during both night and day.

I looked at Twilight and she nodded, "We'll go tonight."

The others gasped, but I knew we had no other choice, we needed to bring Pinkie back to us, we needed to know that the one friend who could make this whole thing less painful, was still alive.

I walked back to my home with my sword placed back in it's holder. I hurried inside the house that had been renovated since the attack.

Mom's library looked the same, still bright, still clean, but...empty. The one thing that changed was mom wasn't here, walking in I knew that the brightness was only from the window, not her presence.

I felt my eyes welling up but I quickly ran from the room, I needed to get my stuff together, the day was nearing it's end, which meant we needed to prepare for the voyage that would take place in about an hour or so.

I pulled out my saddlebag and placed some clothes into it and a few snacks and a flashlight. I walked to my closet and inserted my horn into the doorknob hole, the door opened in the opposite direction and it showed my armory. I pulled out another sword and placed it in the sheath. I then grabbed a gun and holstered it to my back leg and beneath my cape I attached twin pistols.

I shut the door, locking it with my magic again and then running from the house again, shutting the door behind me. I ran back to the library and ran through the barrier, I knocked on the door and behind it was Spike, he granted me entrance when I briefly exposed my wings.

I entered the house and went down to the others where Twilight was preparing for the voyage. "Where's Crimson?" I asked softly.

"He went home to get a few supplies, he said he'll be back in awhile," Twilight replied as she looked over the notes she'd made about the journey we'd make. I walked over and pulled the maps out, placing them on the table.

"We don't know what's inside," I said softly, she nodded as Apple Jack, Rainbow dash, Fluttershy, and Rarity joined us.

"Where did you go?" Twilight asked, looking at Rarity in curiosity.

She smiled and pulled out several boxes. And passed them out to each of us, we all opened them and I looked up at her, "How did you do this so fast?"

"I'm a dress maker, I can manage my time."

In the box was a bodysuit and I pulled it out.

"Put it on, I need to see how it works."

I obliged after slipping off my saddlebag. It covered most of my face except my horn, mouth, eyes, and allowed my main and tail to flow freely. It was black with dark red jagged lines around my hooves and along my underbelly.

I looked up at her and Rainbow dash gasped, "You look a lot like the Wonder Bolts!"

I tried to see but without a mirror and it pretty much failed, I just took their biggest fan's word and nodded.

"They're all pretty much the same, but I gave the bolts different colors to show the uniqueness."

everyone else pulled theirs out and smiled, thanking her halfheartedly.

"We need to leave soon, we'll keep these in their boxes to keep from arousing suspicion," Twilight said as I removed mine, I nodded and thank Rarity with a genuine smile. She really was generous, she stuck to her element worse than super glue.

I sighed, "Let's go, we need to get Pinkie back."

Assuming she's still alive...