Chapter 7: Horse Play

A week later, Twilight was writing down documents and student reports on Headmare's Table. Chase just came back as he was discussing and talking with her over his students' training.

"How did the training session go, honey?" Twilight asked her husband with a smile.

"Well, there have been a few hiccups here and there, but so far the students have been doing much well." Chase said with a smile.

Twilight nodded as she continued to write down the documents. While she wrote down the documents, she noticed her husband was looking at something on the bookshelf.

It was a picture of him and his grandfather smiling in the portrait. Looking at it reminded him of when he was around since Chase was only a small colt.

Noticing the sad look on her husband's face, Twilight stopped writing the documents and walked over to him.

"You miss him, don't you, honey?" Twilight asked Chase as he nodded sadly.

"Yeah, I just wish he was still around." Chase replied back sadly.

Twilight smiled at Chase sympathetically as she tucked her head under his chin and he held his wife with a foreleg.

"I know how much you miss him, honey." Twilight said gently. "But he'll always be with you in spirit."

Chase smiled in reply as he and Twilight nuzzled each other lovingly.

Suddenly, the door was barged as Nyx and Spike rushed towards Chase and Twilight. They both panted heavily and exhaustingly, making them worried again.

"Nyx? Spike? What's wrong?" Twilight asked in concern.

"Mommy! Daddy! Great Grandpa Darius' statue is getting vandalized again!" Nyx panted heavily.

This alerted and prompted Twilight and Chase to get up at once. All four of them rushed out of the office at once.

*Main theme*

Following Nyx and Spike, they, Chase, and Twilight arrived at the middle of the Courtyard. They found the statue of Darius Hisomi being vandalized as some of the students were throwing pebbles at it.

"What the-?!" Chase said in shock before he turned to see that Smolder and Gallus were throwing stones at the statue.

Smolder threw a stone at the face of the statue.

"Oh yeah!" Smolder said excitedly. "Right in the face!"

"Nice." Gallus said with a smirk as he readied another stone in his right talon hand. "Now let the master work his magic."

Gallus threw the stone at the statue, but just when it was about to hit the face, Chase caught it with his left aura hand and landed on his hind legs with an angry look on his face.

"Not again, you guys!" Chase said with an angry look on his face as he crushed the stone with his aura hand before he stopped using his magic and went back on all fours again.

Gallus and Smolder dropped the stones as they smiled sheepishly toward Chase.

Twilight, Nyx, and Spike joined him with angry and disappointed looks.

"What is going on?!" Twilight demanded angrily as she approached the front of the statue. She turned and looked at the vandalized statue. She continued, "Who did this again?!"

Everyone and even his own friends pointed their hooves and claws at annoyed Gallus. Chase glared at him angrily.

"Gallus…" Twilight said in disappointment as Gallus groaned in frustration.

"Fine! I did it! I screwed up that stupid statue!" Gallus confessed. Everyone looked at him. Some glared at him for being disrespectful. Others supportively and firmly glanced at him understandingly. He ranted angrily, "I don't understand why you even built that stupid statue for him! He wasn't even around to help us since the Quinkan continued to attack us. All of the inhabitants of this world would have perished for good even he was still alive."

Hearing this made Chase feel more angrier than ever before he released a low yet heavily sigh.

"Gallus, you should know better than to mock somepony's relative like that. After all, how would you feel if anyone of your kind did that to you?" Chase asked Gallus sternly, making the griffon flinch in surprise before he realized what he had done. "It's clear now that you need to do some major attitude adjustment."

"Agreed. Gallus, since you started the mess, I want you to clean this up and repair the statue! No one is allowed to help you!" Twilight said sternly and firmly towards an angry Gallus. She continued, "I don't care how long it takes, Gallus. You will fix and show some respect to that statue! Jade and Sunray will keep an eye on you, making sure that you really work. Do I make myself clear?!"

"Yes, ma'am." Gallus replied back bitterly.

Chase turned away from him in anger and disappointment before he went back inside. At the same time, Darkshine passed some tools including cement, hammer, chisel, sponge, cloth, soap and bucket of water to Gallus. The blue griffon began washing off the graffiti of the statue.

Jade and Sunray were standing there to keep their eyes on him. Seeing the fight had ended, everyone dispersed and left the scene at once.

Though Twilight was relieved that she and her husband had resolved the fighting, she was disappointed to see that many ponies still disrespected his grandfather's spirit.

She looked back to see her husband going inside the school both angry and disappointed at how his grandfather's spirit was being disrespected by the other ponies.

(Scene changes)

Twilight and Chase were inside their office. They were discussing and talking over clearing Darius' name.

"This has gone for too long. Darius' name and status have been tarnished because of the Storm King." Twilight said firmly and seriously, "We need to do something about it."

"What do you have in mind, honey?" Chase asked in concern.

"We need to clear his name and tell everypony that we saw his spirit that day you defeated the Storm King." Twilight answered with determination.

"I don't think that's simple, Twilight. I doubt everyone will forgive and forget." Chase said with concern.

"Why not?" Twilight asked.

"Even if we told everypony the truth, they would have a hard time believing in us. Let alone that Chancellor Neighsay would twist their words claimed that he was a fool to abandoned us." Chase said bitterly about his grandfather being insulted.

Twilight couldn't believe what her husband said.

"We can't just give up, Chase Young!" Twilight said with determination. "You especially can't give up on this!"

"I didn't say I was giving up on Grandpa." Chase replied back firmly. "I'm just stating the facts."

"Still. We should do something about it," Twilight insisted in concern.

"I'm afraid there isn't, Twilight. Unless we have proof that Grandpa really stands for the Equestria, he is now considered to be a traitor. Thanks to that idiot satyr." Chase said with an upset tone as he looked at the ground. "I don't know how much I'm gonna take if all of the ponies keep mistreating him."

Then he began to head out of the office.

"I need to get some fresh air now. I'll see you later, sweetie." Chase said as he exited the office.

Twilight felt concern for her husband as well as frustrated and upset over the ponies still disrespecting his grandfather. She wished she could do something about it.

(Scene changes)

In the Dojo inside the Castle of Friendship, Chase was making his way to a shrine that had his family portrait consisting of him, his parents, siblings, his aunt and uncle, and his grandfather smiling happily in the picture.

Gazing at it made Chase's heart ache as he looked at the family photo.

He sighed heavily as a tear fell from his eye, feeling that if there was a time he needed Darius Hisomi by his side, it's now.

"Do not give into despair, Chase." A voice came from behind Chase, causing him to widen his eyes in surprise before he turned to see who talked to him.

"Grandpa!" Chase shouted in joy as the spirit of Darius Hisomi approached him with a smile on his face.

"I miss you so much, Grandpa. All of the ponies around Equestria are taking this to a new level of criticizing you after you went missing." Chase said with concern. "I just wish there was something I could do to make them understand why you were destroyed by the Storm King."

"There's nothing you could have done, my grandson." Darius said gently. "After my last encounter with him and if there was ever a time that the world was in grave danger because of Zhao's previous return, it would be my fault."

"But, Grandpa. How are you even here exactly? I mean, we saw you in Canterlot. Is it really you or… or am I dreaming this?" Chase asked with his voice cracking.

"You are not dreaming." Darius said as he walked up to his grandson. "I have obtained a higher spiritual plane of existence. Passing it to death, we merge with the whole of life. We become one in all of the universe. Even with you."

Chase looked down at the ground with a sad look before he turned back to his grandfather's spirit.

"Grandpa, all of the ponies are still disrespecting you since you haven't come back. It's like they still don't care if you were a hero after the Storm King destroyed you." Chase said sadly. "Twilight and I are trying to find a way to show them how much you've done to us when you were around, but I don't know what to do."

Darius puts a hoof on Chase's shoulder, making his grandson turn to his grandfather's spirit as he gives him a warm smile.

"Find the light within. It is the only thing that can help you erase all of the harsh critics that have been passed down on you." Darius said wisely.

Hearing those words made Chase drift his eyes to the left with an unsure look.

"Then what do I do now?" Chase asked, hoping there would be an answer to save his grandfather's spirit when hoofsteps were heard heading his way.

"Um, do what now?" Twilight asked as she stood next to Chase, making her husband flinch at the sound of his wife's voice. "Who were you talking to, Chase?"

"It was…" Chase said as he turned to find his grandfather's spirit had disappeared. He looked at the ground with a sad look. "Nothing."

Twilight looked at her husband with concern as he shook his head to recompose himself.

"What are you doing here, honey?" Chase asked Twilight curiously.

"Well, I just wanted to tell you that I may have found a solution to honor Darius' spirit." Twilight said, making Chase look at her in surprise.

"Really?" Chase asked with a hopeful smile.

"Uh huh." Twilight said as she took her husband's left foreleg with her. "Come on, the others and I have an idea on how we can show the ponies of how great he was."

Chase felt a little unsure about this, but conceded as Twilight led him out of the dojo and back to the school.

(Scene changes)

When they arrived inside the school, Chase saw the students making costumes and painting cardboards of the time Darius was in Saddle Arabia.

"What's everypony doing?" Chase asked curiously as he and Twilight approached their family and friends.

"We're making a play, silly!" Pinkie answered excitedly.

"For what?" Chase asked as Applejack approached him with a smile.

"It's to help us show everypony of how your grandfather became famous, Chase." Applejack explained. "From when he first started out as an orphan, to the time he met Chen, as well as fighting the Quinkan, and when he met Queen Novo before he was destroyed."

"It's also to honor his spirit, Chase." Jade added with a smile as she came to her brother's side. "Grandpa always said that when you put your heart into something right, you stand by your family and friends no matter what happens. And now, we're here to help you see it through."

"And we won't let anyone else mock him for all the good he's done for Equestria, especially for all of us." Sunray added with a smile as Rarity came up to Chase.

"Is it not wonderful, darling?" Rarity asked happily. "It was all your wife's idea."

Chase turned to Twilight, who smiled at him lovingly with a blush. Chase smiled at her in reply.

"Thanks, honey." Chase said as he approached Twilight and hugged him, making his wife giggle.

Mako, Bolin, and Korra then went up to them as the alicorn filly brought out the list of the actors to show Chase.

"We even have a list that will be honored to take part in the play, Headstallion Chase." Korra said with a smile. "Me, Bolin, and Mako are among those who would be willing to take part in it."

"I'm gonna be dressed as your grandfather while Korra will play as Iris Moonlight." Mako added with a smile. "And Bolin will be one of the White Lotus member actors too."

"Then who's gonna be playing as Pakku, Chen, and Princess Celestia?" Chase asked as he looked at the list.

"I'm gonna be performing as Pakku, buddy." Sokka said with a smile as Fluttershy stood next to her husband.

"I'll be performing as Princess Celestia." Fluttershy added with a nervous smile. "I hope I can be good enough to confront my stage fright."

"Don't worry, honey." Sokka said with a gentle smile as he kissed Fluttershy by the cheek. "You'll do just fine."

Fluttershy smiled at her husband sweetly.

"And who's gonna be performing as Chen?" Chase asked curiously.

"That'll be me, Chase!" Antonio said with a smirk as he presented the custom that Chen originally wore before the ponies in the present were even born.

Chase smiled as he heard footsteps approaching him, making him turn to see Ocellus, Silverstream, Yona, Sandbar, and Smolder approaching them.

"We already made sure that Gallus will behave himself the next time he does something to disrespect your grandfather again." Ocellus said with a smile.

"And, Chase?" Smolder asked Chase nervously as the alicorn stallion turned his attention to her with a firm look. "I'm sorry for joining up with Gallus. I realized now that Darius meant a whole lot to you and your family."

This caused Chase to smile at her as he put a hoof on the young dragon's shoulder.

"Don't worry about it." Chase said with a smile. "I know he dragged you into it. I'll be sure to talk to him later on after the play is done."

Darkshine came into the scene with an annoyed look on his face.

"Well, you better talk some sense into him. Because the next time he does this again, he will have to serve detention for the whole year." Darkshine said with a blunt tone.

Chase and Twilight gave him an unamused look.

"Relax, Darkshine." Chase said firmly. "We'll make sure he stays on his best behavior once he sees how great my grandfather was in his days."

Darkshine sighed before he conceded as he walked away to check up on the play preparations.

"Well, I'm gonna see if I can write down how the story of your grandfather from his past will make out for this play, honey." Twilight said as she turned to Chase with a smile. "I promise you that this will help everypony remind Darius of who he truly was when he used to be around."

This made Chase smile at his wife in reply.

"I'm sure I'll like it, honey." Chase said as he nuzzled Twilight lovingly, making her smile contently.

Then they turned back to Mako, Bolin, and Korra as they noticed they were making the costumes with Rarity's help.

"So how long will this take?" Chase asked curiously.

"We only have five days before the play will begin." Twilight said with a smile as she looked over the list. "So it might be best that we get started by tomorrow morning while we have the chance."

They then looked to see a few students having trouble making adjustments to the cardboard.

"If we can make it in time." Chase added with an uneasy smile as Twilight smiled in reply to her husband.

(Scene changes)

The next day came to the first act as Mako, who was dressed in the ragged clothing Darius wore, was acting out from the day Chase's grandfather was an orphan.

Then Antonio, now dressed like Chen, walked past him and dropped a fake golden bit as it rolled right over to Mako.

Chase, Twilight, and the others watched this as they knew this was going well.

"Looks like they've picked up the story from my grandfather's story, honey." Chase said to Twilight as his wife smiled in reply.

"Mmm-hmm." Twilight replied back with a hum.

Mako picked the fake golden bit up with his hoof, catching Twilight by surprise.

"Cut!" Twilight shouted through a megaphone, gaining everyone's attention. "Mako, you're supposed to pick the bit up with your magic, not with your hoof."

That made Mako realize his mistake.

"Right. Sorry, Headmare Twilight." Mako said with an embarrassed smile.

"Alright, everypony." Jade said with a sigh. "Let's take it from the top again."

All of the students nodded in reply as they reset they began to the start and Chase sighed with an uneasy look.

"This is gonna be tougher than I thought." Chase said with concern.

"Don't worry, honey." Twilight said with an encouraging smile. "We'll be sure this play will make much progress." Soon she dropped her smile as it became a worried frown. "I hope."

"You and me both." Chase added.

(Scene changes)

About half an hour later, with a few hiccups sorted out, they moved onto the part of when Pakku was attacked by the Quinkan as some of the students were dressed up as the Protoquin and Pyroquin soldiers while Sokka was now dressed as the leader of the White Lotus clan with the white and blue clothing.

Twilight was going over the list and observed it with Chase, Jade, and Sunray by her side.

"Twilight, are you sure that this is gonna work?" Jade asked her sister-in-law with a worried look. "I mean this isn't just about to make this play work perfectly, it's supposed to honor Grandpa in his name's sake."

"Yeah, we've already gone through the first part of when he was an orphan, how long do we have to do this?" Sunray asked. "We'll never make this happen."

"Believe me, guys. I don't know if this is gonna work, but we have to try." Twilight replied back. "Because if we don't do something soon, this could ruin everything."

"Take two from the top!" Pinkie said through a megaphone as Mako and Korra were casually acting out by walking through the busy streets on the Saddle Arabia alleyways.

While they were continuing to act out, Mako looked a little unsure about this.

"You sure this is gonna work, Korra?" Mako asked Korra with a whisper.

"Have a little patience, Mako." Korra whispered back with a determined smile. "No matter how hard it is, we'll honor Chase's grandfather's spirit."

"I hope you're right." Mako replied back, unsure.

"Less talking, more acting!" Pinkie yelled through the megaphone again.

Mako and Korra sighed in unison as Chase watched what would happen next.

Suddenly, a bright light blinded the two actors as they shielded their eyes. Chase looked up to see Spike holding up a huge yellow crystal reflecting it from the sun and he was standing on a large pedestal.

"Spike, what are you doing?" Chase asked with a glare.

"Just giving off some light for the students!" Spike replied back when suddenly some of the cardboard paintings of Saddle Arabia started to catch on fire because of the light.

Some of the students panicked when Starlight used her magic to douse the fire. She then gave Spike a glare as the students followed her direction they sent the baby dragon with annoyed looks on their faces.

"Yeah, and the way you're catching things on fire doesn't seem to be right on the script." Starlight remarked annoyingly. "Just get rid of the crystal, Spike."

Spike smiled sheepishly before he tossed it aside.

"Well, that's take two for the most part." Chase said with a weary yet annoyed look before he turned back to Twilight. "Honey, this is never gonna work."

"Yes it will, sweetie." Twilight said firmly yet gently. "We're not gonna give up on this. We're just gonna have to start all over again."

Chase sighed as he knew this was only gonna make things worse than ever.

While watching from aside, Gallus noticed how the students were repairing everything and looking back to Chase.

He sighed as he knew this was all his fault.

"I gotta make this right for Headstallion Chase." Gallus said with a determined look.

(Scene changes)

Then the next came to start the rehearsal for the play all over again. Since they only had three days left, it was now or never that they were gonna fulfill the chance to honor Chase's grandfather's spirit.

The scene starts at the part of when Mako begins at the first part of the story of the do over. Then Antonio came out as he walked past Mako and dropped the golden bit as it rolled right up to the colt.

Not wanting to let this happen again at the first rehearsal, Mako picks it up with his magic.

Seeing this made Chase and Twilight smile.

"Wow, five yen." Mako said, imitating Darius. "Better just bring this back to him."

He walks up to Antonio with the bit in his magic.

"Sir! Excuse me, sir. You dropped your money." Mako said, gaining Antonio's attention.

"What is this?" Antonio asked, imitating Chen, as Mako gave him back the bit. "So much honesty in one so very hungry? Hmmm."

Chase and Twilight saw this as they smiled, knowing everything was going smooth as silk for the play.

"Try as quickly as you can to snatch the coin from my hoof, and you may keep." Antonio said with a testing smile.

Mako did the same hesitant look Darius once had before he swiped his right hoof to grab the bit from Antonio just as he closed his hoof.

"Ha! Too slow, so no… huh?" Antonio said before he dropped his smirk after he opened his hoof to find the bit missing.

Mako was stunned at the moment before he opened his right hoof to see the bit in his hoof. He then chuckled.

"Looks like they're getting it, guys." Sunray said to his family with a smirk.

"At this rate, we'll be able to have the play performed in no time." Jade added with a confident smile.

Chase, Twilight, and the others felt the same way too. But unknown to them, some of the students from behind the cardboard that were holding them straight were having a hard time, due to standing straight while keeping a firm grip on it which was easier said than done.

Spike noticed this and quietly went up to them.

"Guys, what are you doing? You gotta keep this a firm grip on the cardboard." Spike whispered to the students sternly.

"Well, we're trying our best, mr. Spike." A pegasus mare student replied back indignantly.

"But these cardboard paintings are hard to hold in place." A unicorn stallion student added as well with a blunt look.

Spike just glared at them irritatingly before he picked up a few poles from the ground.

"Well, let me help you in on it." Spike offered, not noticing that the poles also cut off a small section of the cardboard scenes.

The students saw this as they widened their eyes in shock and horror. Sandbar was among those helping the students out as they were dressed as the Quinkan and saw this as well and was panicking.

"Wait, you just-!" Sandbar was about to answer.

"What's going on back there?" Applejack asked, coming into the scene. "We just saw that rip in the cardboard and-"

Applejack didn't get the chance to finish when she saw Spike freezing in place as she widened her eyes.

"Spike, what're you doin'?!" Applejack demanded angrily.

"Uh, just trying to help out the students." Spike replied back meekly as he turned to face her, not noticing that he made an even bigger rip in the cardboard.

This caused Applejack to panic as she now looked more worried.

"Uh oh." Applejack said worriedly.

"Alright, enough!" Twilight shouted from behind the cardboard painting. "What in the world is going on over there?!"

"Uh, Twilight, I-" Spike said as he was about to come out to speak to the alicorn mare while still not noticing that he made a bigger mess as the students left the scene.

Then all of a sudden, the scene fell down heading toward Spike and Applejack.

"Oh boy." Applejack whimpered before she and Spike were buried underneath the cardboard.

When the dust cleared away, Chase, Twilight, and the others had shielded themselves from the cloud of dirt before they looked to see the play rehearsal in ruins.

"Everything's ruined." Chase said in dismay as Twilight and the others were shocked by this.

"All of our hard work." Fluttershy said as she placed a hoof to her mouth.

"Who did this?!" Twilight demanded as she turned to the students angrily.

The students didn't say anything as they pointed at Spike, who had just poked his head out of the rubble with Applejack. Then Chase landed before them, making the two turn to him with frightened looks on their faces.

"Spike, what have you done?!" Chase demanded furiously, causing Spike to step back in fear from the alicorn stallion's angry stare.

"Uh, I guess I… kinda… made a mess of things here?" Spike replied back meekly as Chase's shadow loomed over him.

The scene changes to the pond when…

POW!

"AAUGH!" Spike screamed as he was sent flying into the water, splashing in it.

When he rose up, his left eye had a nice shade of black. Chase glared at him angrily before he released a heavy sigh.

"That's it. It's officially over." Chase said as he walked away with an angry yet hurt look.

"But… but, Chase, honey. Please don't give up so soon." Twilight said as she quickly went over to comfort her husband, who stopped. "We can fix this with a little glue and we'll have everything back on track."

"No!" Chase shouted angrily to Twilight as his wife stepped back a bit. "We can't! Everything is going into the trash! We're canceling the play!"

"But I…" Twilight didn't get the chance to finish as she saw Chase walking away with a few tears falling down his eyes and walked inside the Castle of Friendship before he slammed the door hard.

Everypony winced at that as Twilight looked down with a shameful look. The others walked up to her with worried looks.

"Come on, Twilight. We can have everything back to normal again. All we have to do is make a new set." Sokka said to his friend, who couldn't take it anymore.

"Not this time, Sokka." Twilight said with a cracked voice as she walked past them and headed back to the School of Friendship.

Twilight went inside and slammed the door loudly as her friends, family, and students looked at each other in concern for the Headmare.

That's when Princess Celestia arrived at the scene.

"Hello, everypony." Celestia greeted as everypony turned to see her coming up to them. "I just received a message to Twilight wanting to help her sort out the play situation you've been discussing."

"We're a mite sorry, your majesty. But it looks like we have a play to get to." Clay said sadly as he pointed to the wreckage.

"What happened here?" Celestia asked as she looked at the mess with a stunned look on her face.

"Let's just say some dragon screwed it up big time." Jade said with a bitter look on her face as she and the others glared at Spike, who had just came out of the water with a guilty look on his face.

"And now Chase just canceled the play as he knows this won't ever work." Trini added sadly as Princess Celestia knew where this was going.

"Is it to honor his grandfather's spirit?" Princess Celestia asked, knowingly.

Everypony nodded at her answer as Celestia thought about it for a minute before she smiled.

"Then we're not canceling it." Gallus said as the others turned to him.

"What are you talking about, Gallus?" Smolder asked curiously as she and her friends joined him. "You heard what Headstallion Chase and Headmare Twilight said. The play is canceled."

Gallus turned to her after hearing that statement.

"Well, I say that we can't give up." Gallus said with a determined look before he added with a guilt expression. "I know that this whole mess was really my fault for vandalizing Darius' statue in the first place. But now I realize how much Chase means to his grandfather how much he's missed him. So I say that we're not quitters. We're still going to perform to let all of Equestria know how much Darius has done for us so many times before the Storm King destroyed him."

The others listened to him as the rest of the Mane Sixteen listened with smiles on their faces. Celestia had an impressed smile on her face as well.

"So what do you say? Are you all with me or not?" Gallus asked with a determined smirk.

There was silence in the area before the students cheered for him. It was a sign to show the griffon that they were all with him.

"Seems like that you learned a valuable lesson, Gallus." Princess Celestia said with a proud smile on her face before she turned to the Mane Sixteen members. "You help the students rebuild another set while I find Twilight."

"Yes Ma'am!" Applejack replied back with a nod and a smirk. "Come on, ya'll! We've got a play to save!"

The rest nodded as they helped out the students to repair the cardboard paintings while Celestia went inside the School of Friendship to find Twilight.

(Scene changes)

In the office, Twilight was just sitting on her seat with a sad look on her face while thinking of how she failed Chase to honor his grandfather's spirit.

Her eyes look toward the picture of her husband with the rest of his family. One look at Darius smiling in the picture caused Twilight to her head down a bit with a sigh.

"What's the point?" Twilight muttered to herself. "I've failed my husband big time."

"And why would you feel that way my faithful student?" A voice caused Twilight to look up to see Princess Celestia standing at the doorway.

"Princess Celestia!" Twilight said in surprise as Celestia approached her former student's desk.

"I just received your letter, Twilight. And it would seem that your play did not go well the way you had planned." Celestia noted with a sympathetic smile.

Hearing this caused Twilight to moan sadly. She walked away from her desk and approached the bookshelf to look at her family portrait as well as the picture of Chase's family.

"All because this was a terrible mistake. Now all of Equestria will surely insult my husband's grandfather for good." Twilight said miserably. "All I wanted was a perfect play to show everypony and everycreature all of the good Darius Hisomi has done over the years, but I guess now this was a complete disaster."

Princess Celestia approached her and sat down next to her.

"Twilight, if you honestly believed that there were some bad actors around these parts of Ponyville, why didn't you want your husband to choose the better ones?" Celestia asked.

"I don't know." Twilight replied back honestly as she looked down. "I guess I thought I could control the situation, but now the play is ruined. We can't make it."

Princess Celestia stared at her for a moment before she smiled.

"You know, Twilight Sparkle." Celestia said, gaining Twilight's attention. "I've actually had this kind of experience when I was only a small filly."

That got Twilight's attention.

"Huh?" Twilight asked in confusion.

"To be honest, I was never a good actress in my first play role." Celestia said with a smile, which made Twilight widen her eyes in surprise.

"What?!" Twilight asked in surprise.

"In my first three rehearsals as a filly, I was never good at acting. It was my teacher's idea to help honor my father's legacy when he was once a ruler. All my life I was told I could never be good as an actress. I was humiliated a few days ago. I was destined to give up my role until there was a very brave colt around my age that was trained in the art of jiu jitsu just like Chase."

"Really?" Twilight asked with an amazed look.

Princess Celestia nodded.

"This colt also had the spirit like that of a black panther due to the ambition and elegance he had to honor his family's legacy." Celestia added with a smile. "He gave me the courage to never give myself up and so I did it again. This time I took it step by step and further on, this colt has always been by my side no matter how long I've been."

Twilight smiled hearing it.

"My point is, Twilight. While you had good intentions to make your husband happy, there are times when there won't be a good time to put yourself down." Celestia said with a smile. "It's something the colt told me long ago. And that's what made me fall in love with him."

Hearing this made Twilight look at her with a stunned look.

"Wait, you were married?" Twilight asked in disbelief.

Princess Celestia giggled in amusement.

"Yes. But that life soon turned bitter when Zhao's forces attacked us long ago when we had our loving daughter taken by the Quinkan." Celestia said with a sad look. "My husband had to venture out to the wasteland in search of the spirit animals to help him gather ninjas of his own." Then she smiled. "But that is another time to discuss in the future. Right now you should really see what is outside."

Curious, Twilight turned and looked out the window and to her shock, she saw all of the students had repaired the cardboard paintings for the play and began to perform to honor Darius Hisomi.

"But my husband just canceled it." Twilight said in confusion as Princess Celestia joined her with a smile.

"Well, you should really thank a certain griffon for doing that." Princess Celestia said.

"And that would be him." Chase's voice said, drawing Twilight's attention to see her husband with Gallus by his side as they had smiles on their faces.

"Honey?" Twilight asked with a tearful smile as her husband joined her.

Chase hugged Twilight as his wife smiled contently while resting her head under her husband's chin. Gallus approached them with a guilty expression.

"Headmare Twilight?" Gallus asked, getting the royal couple's attention. "I just want to say I'm really sorry for the trouble I caused. I guess I was just angry and jealous that Headstallion Chase did all of the work for his grandfather. Something the griffons couldn't do. I know now I was wrong to insult Darius for everything."

Twilight and Chase approached Gallus with a smile.

"Thank you, Gallus. Since you understand one of the values of friendship, we'll let you off the hook this time." Twilight said with a smile.

Gallus smiled back in reply as Princess Celestia joined them while smiling at the sight.

"Well, now that we have everything back in order, I believe there is one more request I must make." Princess Celestia said, gaining the three's attention. "Isn't there an old saying? "The show must go on"? There may be a way for us to save the play yet."

Chase and Twilight smiled in reply.

(Scene changes)

After arriving back outside, Chase, Twilight, Gallus, and Celestia had just joined the Mane Sixteen. They were glad to hear that Chase and Twilight were okay as they knew that they weren't going to give up that easily.

So far, they have just restarted the first rehearsal of the play and this time there were no bad moments. Needless to say, the Mane Sixteen were satisfied too. They were also surprised to hear from Princess Celestia that she was never a good actor until her husband came to her and encouraged her to never give up and that was something the others weren't going to do.

(Scene changes)

Over the last three days, the play finally came as all of the leaders from around Equestria gathered and watched 'The Ballad of Darius Hisomi' stage play. Everypony was disgusted and annoyed to see Darius. They were about to leave, but thanks to Echo and his team, they all stayed.

They continued watching the play of how Darius was raised as an orphan, taken in by Chen, becoming a martial arts master, falling in love with Iris Moonlight, saving Pakku from the first Quinkan encounter, becoming a member of the White Lotus clan, bring Jewel into the world, losing Iris to Kai, sending the anthropomorphic yak back to the Netherworld, coming to Canterlot to join Princess Celestia's guard, saving Queen Novo's clan from Zhao's army, and when he was destroyed by the Storm King.

They all had realized that Darius had sacrificed everything he loved so much in his life. His family, his friends, and everything he loved in his life. The ponies all felt guilty and ashamed of how much they insulted Darius on finding out where he was. Now they realized that Chase, Twilight, and the others were telling the truth.

After the play, both school staff and students bowed humbly before the world. Everyone was speechless and uncertain of the play and Darius Hisomi, minus the other leaders of Equestria. Prince Rutherford was the first one to give the round of applause for supporting and liking the show, despite him being the yak. Everyone followed as well.

(Scene changes)

Sometime later, the play ended and everyone went home.

"Judging by how many flowers the audience threw, it seems our play was a success." Said Celestia with a smile.

"And all of this was worth it to honor Grandpa." Chase added as Twilight gave her husband a loving nuzzle as he returned the gesture.

"Well, Chase. Are you happy now?" Sokka asked with a smile on his face.

"Yeah, buddy." Chase replied back with a smile. "Now I won't have to worry about everypony insulting my family's legacy again."

"And on that we agree, honey." Twilight said with a smile as she turned to Celestia. "Anyway, thank you for saving our play, Princess Celestia."

"You're welcome, Twilight." Said Celestia. "But from now on, none of you will have to call me "Princess" anymore."

The others had confused looks and glanced at each other. Chase, however, smirked since he knew she was only joking.

"Huh?" Twilight and Spike asked, confused.

'Wait, what? We don't?' Spike questioned, confused.

"No. I had so much fun tonight, I've decided to give up my crown, step down from the throne, and devote all of my to the theater!" Princess Celestia answered proudly.

The rest of the Mane Sixteen, minus Chase, panicked.

"Y-You... what?!" Twilight panics.

"Say what?" Jade, Sunray, Trini, and Antonio asked, stunned.

"Gotcha!" Celestia said as the others were speechless. Celestia has tricked them by acting. "Maybe I'm not such a bad actress after all."

Everyone then laughs. While they were laughing, Princess Celestia looked away to the eastern part of Equestria with a sad look on his face.

"Wherever you are, Kon..." Princess Celestia whispered to herself. "...I hope you are safe."

Princess Celestia then drops a few tears from her eyes.

(Scene changes)

In a desert on the eastern part of Equestria lies a mysterious village and a huge castle monastery.

Inside the castle, a familiar figure was seen walking down the hallway and stepped onto a very large raft. He pulls on a rope hanging down low from the top of the castle, giving it a light tug.

Almost instantly, the raft began to carry the figure into the room. Once the figure reached the throne room, he was revealed to be none other than Nandu Gilli.

He walked off the raft and into the throne room. Inside the throne room, there were a lot of vegetation, a lot of water going across some walkways, a lot of vases, and very large totems consisting that of a bear, a hawk, a lion, wolf, and a black panther.

Nandu Gilli walked on the walkway leading to the throne chairs as three shadowy mysterious figures were seen sitting on the chairs. Nandu Gilli eventually stopped as coming over to join him were a few black panthers and they stood next to the bunyip elder.

"My lords. I have come to tell you that your vision was right. The Quinkan are still around. They almost have everything ready for the plan to destroy Equestria for good. We must make sure Zhao's next heir to his throne does not let that happen." Nandu Gilli said with a grim yet firm expression.

Hearing this caused the three mysterious figures open their eyes as they stared at Nandu Gilli. One had a green color, the other had a dark blue color, and the other had a light blue color.

"We assure you, Nandu Gilli, that the Quinkan will not let their plans be complete." A deep voice said firmly.

"We will ensure that in hope Darius' grandchildren will not fail." A female voice added.

"We will judge the current Elite Ninja. We will determine whether they will live…" Another voice said firmly.

"...Or hope they will meet their end." The first figure finished.

Nandu Gilli bowed his head, knowing this was out of his hands, for now at least, but he hoped it would change.

Author's note: Hey guys,

I know what you're gonna think, but I didn't want to do the original chapter of Horse Play because it breaks my heart to see sad moments. So I decided to do a different version of the original chapter that involved Darius Hisomi. I worked so hard on it and added a special surprise in it as well. I hope you like it.

Again, I'm sorry if I may have disappointed in you all, but the truth is I have a very sensitive heart in me that just can't take the sad moments that make me wanna cry. I hope you all understand. Anyway I'll be back later on to do the next chapter soon enough.

Peace out!