Chapter 1: Ancient Reunion! New Rivals!
In Zephyr Heights, Eclipse parked the ship hidden in the mountains as he and the others looked down on the city.
Eclipse: Now, remember Duke, don't stick out and don't use your powers unexpectedly.
Duke Venture: Yeah, yeah. You trained me for this and everything.
Eclipse: Now I'm going to check how things are down there before you go in.
Eclipse turned on the monitor of the ship and viewed Zephyr Heights and saw something unexpecting…
Eclipse: What? Pegasi, earth ponies, and unicorns together, then that means…
Shadox: The magic has already been restored.
Eclips, Crystal, and Blood felt a cold chill down their spines where a massive shadow cast over the ship and dragged them into the dark abyss.
Back in Maretime Bay, outside the Brighthouse, the group was all cleaned for whatever guests Nemesis and Shadox were bringing.
North was seen with a red blister on his cheek.
Desna: Are you sure it's not a scale rash?
North Star: Dude, you saw me and Obsidia have scale rashes before. Does this look like one?
Saber: Maybe it's puberty.
Desna: Just ask Nemesis when he gets back.
As if on cue, a giant shadow appeared in front of them where Nemesis risen from it with Shadox as a giant spaceship also risen from the shadows.
The group had their jaws dropped. Except the Taros and Nyx.
Nyx: Is that what I think it is?
Shadox: And the crew…
Shadox formed four spots of shadows and removed the crew.
Nemesis: Everyone, say hello to our friends. Eclipse the vampire pony, and Crystal and Blood the alipups.
Blood: It's alidogs now, jerk.
Nemesis: Who cares. Also, who's the new pony? Where in Tartarus is Rail Spike?
Eclipse: He's….no longer with us…
Nemesis: *Sigh* You stinking flank, Rail…
Duke Venture: I'm his descendant, Duke Venture.
Nemesis: Well, can't be mad at you for what he did. But I'm still mad at those three pricks!
Eclipse: Woah, what?!
Blood: Who are you calling pricks?!
Nemesis: You three!
Crystal: Okay, calm down. Why are you mad?
Nemesis: You know why…
Zipp: Can somepony explain what's going on?
Nyx: Over a thousand years ago, Eclipse, Crystal, Blood, and another pony left Equestria on that thing called a Gummi Ship. They never said goodbye or gave a reason why they left.
Hitch: So you're saying they just-
Nyx: Left? Yes.
Pipp: Why?
Nyx: I don't know. They just left Equestria for no reason.
Nemesis: I don't care if any of you are royalty! Equestria was going through its darkest hour and you all just left!
Eclipse: Well maybe you can explain why all ponykind is back together since you are so into the topic?!
Nemesis points at North.
Nemesis: See that blue dragon-alicorn hybrid going through puberty?
Saber: Told you.
Nemesis: That's Star's descendant North Star. And he and his friends were able to get all ponykind back together in less than a week while we were hiding. So I say you're one thousand years too late.
Duke Venture: Wait, what? Eclipse, I thought you said I was the once who would be destined to bring back magic and reunite all ponykind.
Nemesis: Well maybe if you guys stayed, maybe you could've helped.
Shadox: You kids go about your day, let the veterans talk.
North scratched his blister as he and the others walked off leaving Nyx and the Taros with the Nemesis and the veterans.
Sunny: Will everything be okay?
North Star: I don't know. Nemesis sounded pretty mad. And all that rage and sadness he had, it's like he's been holding that grudge for over a thousand years.
Pipp: But what about that blister?
North Star: Well hopefully this puberty thing will end before more pop up.
Blaze Chaser: Uh, North…
Blaze pointed to the other side of North's head who saw three more blisters.
North Star: I spoke too soon…
Back with the veterans, Nemesis and Eclipse were arguing still.
Nemesis: I don't give a flying pegasus' flank if you thought it was a good idea! You left the rest of us down here and who worked our own flanks off to the point we actually died! Sky Heart, Royal, Arthur, Mighty, Zero Dawn, Silver, Serena, DJ, Star, EVERYONE! They died while you four were out there having some grand adventures.
Crystal: But we're still friends, right?
Nemesis: Friends? That ended the moment you left without saying goodbye.
Nemesis walked off.
Crystal: Shadox?
Shadox became a shadow and zoomed off.
Crystal: Nyx, sweetheart?
Nyx: Sorry Auntie Crystal. Usually I would try to calm down Nemesis when he and Shadox get into a fight, but, after what was said, I don't know how to feel, let alone think.
Nyx walked off leaving Crystal, Blood, Eclipse, and Duke with the Taros.
Eclipse: So…Taros…long time no see.
Eclipse noticed one of the Taros was missing.
Eclipse: Where's Ryutaros?
On cue, Ryutaros dumped a bucket of water on Eclipse and dropped it on the stallion's head.
Eclipse: This better not be holy water.
Ryutaros then wacked on the bucket and wrecked Eclipse's ears as the Taros ran off.
Eclipse: *Sigh* Duke, go explore and…maybe make some friends…
Duke Venture: Uh, sure. I'll leave you three with whatever you got going.
Duke walked off while Eclipse just stood there with the bucket on his head.
Eclipse: 1000 years. Longest grudge I have ever known.
Duke was seen walking around Maretime Bay where he saw pegasi flying, unicorns using levitation, and earth ponies walking around like nothing was wrong.
Duke Venture: I was training for over 20 years just so I could make this happen.
Duke then saw North with Des where they were looking at an empty building.
Duke Venture: But instead he did it without magic or powers. He had no training either.
He then saw the duo walk off as they sat down at a table where Pipp, Zipp, and Izzy were sitting at.
Duke Venture: They seem close.
Pipp: Eeeeee! Thank you!
With the group, Pipp hugged North.
Pipp: I can't believe you found a place for me to open Mane Melody!
North Star: Come on, you said you wanted to open a salon and well, me and Des went looking around and found the place.
Desna: I already called the estate agent so you can sign the papers.
Pipp gave North a big kiss on the cheek as Duke watched.
Duke Venture: Lucky.
Duke then saw Sunny working at her Smoothie Cart.
Duke Venture: Maybe…
Duke walked up to Sunny as he brushed his mane aside.
Sunny: Hello, you're Duke Venture right? Sunny Starscout.
Duke Venture: Hello, Sunny. So, you own this cart?
Sunny: Yep. Make smoothies to make a living. What can I do for you?
Duke Venture: Maybe a fruit and veggie blend. And maybe your time?
Sunny: Sorry but I'm already with someone.
Duke Venture: Really, who?
Sunny pointed at North where Duke went wide eyed.
Duke Venture: What?! But I thought-
Sunny: Polyamorous relationship. Me, North, Pipp, Zipp, and Izzy. Anyway, I'll get your smoothie.
As Sunny went to work on Sunny's smoothie, Duke just looked at North full of envy.
Duke Venture: (I can't believe this guy! He succeeds in bringing back magic and reuniting ponykind while getting four girls?! I've been training forever 20 years for this moment and he does it with nothing!)
Duke walked and tapped North on the shoulder.
Duke Venture: Hey.
North turned around to face Duke only to receive a hoof to his face.
Pipp and Izzy covered their mouths in shock where Zipp and Des got mad.
North put his wing up to stop them where he got up and faced Duke.
North Star: Is there a problem?
Duke Venture: Actually there is. How did you do it?
North Star: Huh?
Duke Venture: How did you bring back magic and reunite all ponykind while getting FOUR mares.
North Star: I don't know. I just wanted to help Equestria and ended up falling in love in the middle of it all.
Duke Venture: But I have superpowers and training. You had none of it.
North Star: All I needed were my wits, senses, and my friends. I didn't need any magic or powers. Just what I had and an open heart was all I needed to pull it off.
Duke Venture: How can that work? When it failed 1000 years ago.
North felt something ignited inside.
North Star: What…?
Duke Venture: How can an open heart be more powerful than the power we possess?
Desna: You'll be surprised at what it can do.
North Star: And it's quite the motivation.
Duke Venture: In that case, let's make a bet.
Sunny finished Duke's smoothie where he went up and grabbed it.
Duke Venture: Me and you will have a sparring match one week from now.
North Star: And the catch?
Duke Venture: Simple, you dump three mares and go out with just one.
North Star: Okay, but my catch, you stay away from them.
Duke Venture: Deal.
Both North and Duke shook hooves as Duke walked off.
The mares were scared after hearing that, where Des walked up to his best friend.
Desna: Are you positive about this? If you lose you'll lose three of your mares.
Sunny: Not just that, he has more experience with his powers than you.
North Star: I'm sure Nemesis has a solution.
Sunny closed up shop early where she walked up to North.
Sunny: But what if he doesn't?
North Star: I trust Nemesis. He might not be the kindest hero, but he and Shadox know things that we don't.
Desna: Well, whatever you have planned, it better work. Or else you and four mares will have your hearts broken down to nothing.
The mares walked up to North and nuzzled him so they could feel more comfortable.
Zipp: At first we were nervous about you picking one of us.
Izzy: But when you chose all of us, we felt so much joy.
Pipp: But why did you choose all of us?
North Star: Easy. I loved you all the same and fairly. No personal favorites or anything. Just you wait. I'll show Duke how powerful the heart can be.
