The School of Friendship in Ponyville same day
Things for now are going very well for the main and young six. They no more have problems because of what was with the newcomers. They were amazed however by the fact that Pinkie was right regarding them been aliens and so on now things are going a bit more calm since Twilight had confirmed to them that they weren't dangerous at all and that she had made friends with some of them at Hogwarts however they were very concerned on how thing could be. Ever since when Rainbow Dash went to see the wizard game of Quidditch and have heard from her peer in the Wonderbolts on regard of the attacks against the wizards and that the ones near the Princesses were some charlatans who play innocent to do devious deeds with some shabby ponies they could only turn very nervous regarding their friends' safety not knowing what might happen if they would turn on the school where she was or what might be the response of the wizards for them if they would hurt their children.
Twilight had written about the mechanical guards the school and the other settlements have but they weren't described to be dangerous and for Rainbow Dash on seeing them she thought of them as nothing more than some odd looking pieces of metal that could move around on two legs and for Applejack although not seeing one thought of them only as a facade she thought what would be the use of those things if they only move around and be only for show.
"I am telling ya why they employ some mechanical things to be their guards if all they do is only move around and nothing else." Said Applejack.
"In a way they are a bit weird but they don't do bad things although they look like some strange skeletons that are easy to fool." Said Rainbow Dash.
"I do wonder if Twilight is safe especially with the potion's teacher." Said Fluttershy.
"From what we know Snape is the school's Nightmare Moon. And team Slytherin is inhabited with children of wizards with some devious past." Commented Rainbow Dash.
"Let's just hope that nothing bad will happen for now. We must however ask Twilight someday about what is going on there. What she had written to us isn't very much." Said Rarity.
"The best night we could go is during their holiday of Halloween that is exactly our Nightmare Night." Said Pinkie hyperactive thinking about some wizard sweets that Twilight had sent and she ate them no matter how strange they were or how they tasted.
"Exactly during that night they shall have a ball with costumes Twilight can come outside while the others are busy. I just finished her Dress." Rarity said showing them the costume of princess she made for her.
"Don't you think they will recognise that she is a Princess?" Asked Applejack.
"No silly because no one will ever think of that."
"Problem will be to pass their guards. Shining Armour and Cadance will come as well." Said Starlight.
"Don't worry Twilight said that the students have the habit of playing jokes on them and never react back, me and Pinkie will distract them while you get near the school. It shouldn't be a problem." Said Rainbow Dash.
Hogwarts the Next day
The next day all the students had gathered in the great hall as usual for breakfast however this time Professor Dumbeldore had to make an official announcement regarding the situation knowing that the students were starting to become more and more restless and concern thinking whether or not will be an attack on them next.
During that time the garrison had been reinforced again now comprising of 60.000 battle robots alongside 2 special units of 60 robots, 2 meters high with special electric and magnetic staffs with fingers like a man but much longer that could squeeze and chock someone with concealed blades on their wrists they were more intimidating then the initial ones or the commandoes they wasn't fooling with them and had glowing blue eyes to indicate calm but if they turn red they will attack. From what was known to everyone they were more skilled and more resistant when they engage but they were also more aggressive. Not to mention the fact that now some battle robots were now put to watch from the rooftops of the castle either to the skies or to the grounds the groups were no bigger than 3 to 5 but sometimes it was the problem of falling from the rooftops.
One thing that immediately removed the thought of attack in the students was the sight of a Zebra in black robes that stood right next to Madame Hooch. However the Zebra was immediately recognised by Twilight.
"I wonder what kind of announcement Professor Dumbeldore has to do." Said Twilight thinking why Zecora was here.
"It is actually an order from the Ministry of Magic in London it seems they started to get involved more in this situation." Said Hermione.
"This is a good thing that Minister Rufus Scrimgeour is doing his best now to try to stop those attacks." Said Ron.
"The same way he did with Voldemort when he returned. Let's hope that he will manage this situation as well." Said Harry.
"Don't worry, from what I know he wants to broaden the relationships with the natives he will not act against them unless forced to. Luckily unlike the previous problem there will be no opposition from Death Eater or their supporters." Said Ron.
"Glad to hear that, I wish however what the ministry decided. Using robots garrisons and Aurors instead of Dementors is a good policy."
"I know let's hope he wasn't influenced by the radicals." Said Ron before McGonagall tracked the attention of the students.
"Your attention please, the headmaster will make the announcement." Said McGonagall before Professor Dumbeldore came to the front.
"Dear students, due to the recent attacks the Ministry of Magic had decided that they will start to broaden the relations with the local native civilizations. The Ministry had decided to start at a small pace by introducing a new optional sturdy subject; The Study of the Native Civilizations. It was intended and planed only for the next year to start however due to recent events the Minister of Magic decided to better start from the next week on Monday. The teacher for this subject will be from the friendly nations whom she also spent a lot of time alongside the natives in the country of Equestria that is nearby our territory." Said the Professor now tracking Twilight's attention, it means that they know of them.
"It is my great pleasure to welcome at our Hogwarts our new teacher; Professor Zecora." Said Dumbeldore presenting the Zebra and everyone started to clap their hands and smile warmly and she returned the gesture by leaning her head to both the students and now fellow colleagues.
"All students that want to join in will have the time till 10 in the evening. The registration shall be made on the third floor in the Defence against the Dark arts Classroom. The Heads of each House will give you the timetable that will include the new subject for whoever wants to join up. The hours shall be held on the 3rd floor on Thursdays and in the dungeons when there will be local potions taught on Fridays. You may now resume your breakfast." Said Professor Dumbeldore stepping down and every student start to talk among themselves regarding this some were either reluctant while others like Hermione looked excited on joining in with the study of the new subject.
"You know I shall join in to see how it will be." Said Hermione.
"I will come as well." Exclaimed Twilight before turning to the boys.
"What about you two? Harry, Ron?" Asked Twilight.
"I think I shall join in as well. For what is happening today we must know something to understand them." Said Harry.
"If you will join I shall as well. Let's hope she will not give us hard homework." Said Ron.
"I am happy that you will enjoy I am more dreading what kind of potions we shall do." Said Neville.
"You don't need to worry they are not so hard to make." Twilight said.
"How do you know?" Asked Neville.
"Well...I believe they are not hard to make." She said trying to look calm although he wasn't so certain but in his mind he shall give a try. Till the sun settled there were many who had joined up, most of the students were from the senior 5th to 7th years, with a few from the 3rd and 4th years. Harry, Ron, Hermione and Twilight had it on Fridays and Thursdays on the new timetable.
The next week went well without problems students were already talking about the future Halloween Ball that was very close. Up till now it was the usual thing except for more news of attacks that came on Monday and on Thursday. The golden Trio with Twilight had went with their fellow colleagues to the classroom where it now had a plate that was written Class for the Study of the Native Civilizations.
Upon entering the class there were some books already on the desks with a map of the native land and their settlements alongside the wizard settlements while on the blackboard there was the subject written for the day.
"Good day students of Hogwarts time for new knowledge to gain now you will." Said the Zebra in a strong like African accent and all started to go to their seats.
"The books that I brought for the future potions you will need some might save your lives indeed."
"Ah, Professor tomorrow we will have potions why bringing them today?" Asked Parvati.
"Look in them today must they be, so that accident might not come to be. Now to the course attention you must pay. Today plants will be needed to say" She said before starting to show the different plants they have no knowledge of one of them was a blue flower called Poison Joke that by what the teacher had explained it's effect was like a poison oak but as a little joke. Where one that likes to talk could become mute or one that likes to hear things might become deaf, or one that likes to watch something might become blind and so on symptoms been identified by the blue spots on the afflicted body part and tomorrow they will learn to make the cure for it.
Not to mention other odd plants like Rapweed and Sleepy Poppy. The first hour was only for writing down notes about the plants that were dangerous and how to stop or cure themselves from their effect. For some it was a bit annoying her speech in rimes but aside from that she was an enjoyable company and Neville regain his confidence that maybe he will manage at least at the Zebra to do a potion right. After the bell rang for them to leave she told to them that she will for a time not give homework thing that for many came as a relief. After the other students left she remained in the class to talk with Zecora.
"Never thought that I will come to study more with you Zecora." She said and the zebra after looking a bit more attentive she realised who she really was.
"Twilight Sparkle, great pleasure there is to me as well." She said smiling.
"How come that you became a teacher at Hogwarts?" She asked.
"Near the colonies I have been and they looking for a teacher there were and joined up I did on your friends request and told me they to inform. They will come to talk regarding what is going on in Equestria to you." She said before turning to the ground.
"Bad things are now happening and more will come." Said Zecora
"What do you mean?" She asked concerned.
"Your friends from Ponyville will tell you more. Now you must go to your friends of Hogwarts." Said the Zebra and Twilight left the class and went to the group she stayed for a time with them before going to the library to do the rest of her school work. During that time the Trio was outside the Library with other students.
"The situation is growing grim." Said Dean Thomas.
"Right now the Dailey Prophet reported that yesterday alone there were other 3 attacks by dark shape shifters." Commented Lavender Brown.
"I know the situation is going bad. But what can I do I can't put down everything like last year; reality is that I hoped to not be called up again." Said Harry.
"Harry everyone knows that but all we ask is to speak with Professor Dumbledore to restore the D.A that in case the Shape Shifters think of attacking Hogwarts." Said Hannah.
"By official report in the Dailey Colonial Prophet it is said that in their Kingdom their sovereign is trying to find an explanation for those acts not to mention the fact that he also reported some disappearances between his people." Said Collins.
"They're Queen Chrysalis somehow is using a much more advanced version of the Imperious curse that is surely controlling them and she puts them to attack us without managing to resist." Said Luna in her usual dreamy voice.
"Oh come on do you think this is possible. The only way for her to do so is for a wizard to have told her about the curse." Said Zacharias. "That is however impossible from what I know no wizard with their heads on their shoulders would have done that not never Death Eaters."
"It might be possible but that only to make the natives to pull their eyes out from one another. It is either this or they learn on their own." Said Pansy Parkinson.
"However from what I knew from my father the Dark Lord never had interest in the natives, plus I don't think it is the Imperious curse, for one to control more individuals like how Chrysalis is doing takes years to muster it." Commented Draco.
"This means it is due to a Dark Control Crystal that somehow got in her possession." Said Padma.
"Problem is, what she is planning to achieve by attacking us. Taking her kingdom back to rule it in a tyrannical way is one thing but attacking us also, is something else." Said Ron.
"This might be the work of a dark wizard who either is trying to be like the Dark Lord or is simply trying to make havoc so that the ministry names his allies in positions of governors and after that gets rid of her and turn on the other natives." Said Lavender.
"Either way it is a bad thing." Said Harry.
"And either plan if it succeeds it will be a disaster, many wizard colonists conduct businesses with the natives and if one of those things happen it will be ruinous for both parts." Said Draco.
"All right we will go and tell Professor Dumbledore if we can remake the army to protect Hogwarts, never though this will happen after Vodemort was defeated at last." Said Harry with a voice of disappointment he really never wanted to happen this again.
"We know that Harry and we understand that you want to be let alone. Everyone wants that." Said Ginny.
"Unfortunately however even some people from the ministry expects you to do something when there is a problem near Hogwarts." Said Seamus.
"I did not destroy Voldemort or kept his Death Eater away ALONE every one of you had a contribution in stopping him no matter how small it was." He said.
"We know and we would do it again no matter the cost mate." Said Ron.
"When the time will come all of Hogwarts will do what will be right." Said Hermione and Harry gain back his confidence.
"We will go and remake the D.A but this time it will not fight a war it will only defend. And this time it will be only for extensive practicing of self defence." Harry said and everyone agreed before each started to leave for their own business just when Twilight had come to them.
"Hey what is going on?"
"We want to restore the Dumbledore's Army." Said Harry.
"The Dumbledore's army?"
"We made it during our fifth year at Hogwarts for practical Defence against the Dark Arts when Voldemort returned. It was our student organization we made, in order to defend ourselves in case of attack" Explain Harry.
"But why it isn't anymore and needs to be remade?"
"During our fifth year the Ministry did not wanted wizards to know that the Dark Lord returned problem was that the minister at that time decided to so call 'reform' the education to contain only theoretical knowledge and not practical. Meaning we could have became sitting ducks and the teacher that was sent to us Umbridge was only to make sure that there will be no more practice at anything." Explained Ron.
"But that is outrageous why would they do that?" Exclaimed Twilight.
"The minister did not want wizards to find out and constantly lied to the press regarding this subject. He was eventually forced to resign his post after seeing that he really returned and that wizards realised the situation." Said Hermione.
"Right now we want to go and tell professor Dumbeldore about this hopefully he will allow us to remake it." Said Ron.
"By the way Twilight how about you will join us as well." Said Harry smiling.
"Me? To join up?"
"Yeah, you are one of the most talented witches in the school you will be of great help to defend Hogwarts." Exclaimed Hermione.
"Every spell you make it is perfectly done." Said Ron.
"I will join. I will do everything for my friends and everyone around." She said with excitement and on hearing that they all smiled at her. Twilight of course would do everything for her friends no matter what it was and Harry could only smile for the fact that she approved.
When Harry and his friends went to the headmaster's office, they were immediately given approval by the teachers to remake the D.A. they knew that it was only a matter of time till the attacks will come to them as well and relying on robots only will not be sufficient enough but this will be done this time under the supervision of a teacher most likely the heads of the houses aside from that they shall use again the Room of Requirement for their training the next day.
For six days now the students were no more concerned regarding the attacks, the D.A began training almost immediately and the teachers that were usually accompanying the students were either Snape, Flitwick, Flang or McGonagall. Professor Snape was the harshest since he implied students on trying to conceal and defect more attacks at one time (good thing that he isn't allowed to deduct points like in class). As for Professor Flang he seemed to be in his best element when he wasn't teaching about creatures in class he was one of the best at defence as for Flitwick he teaches them on using different charms and other methods to avoid and run from aggressors while McGonagall was trying to teach them how to transfigure objects to be used to stun the aggressors. Not all of Slytherin had joined up though aside from Draco and some others, few were from junior years some were only to show off on how great they could duel.
In the meantime
The dark Changelings had made yet another raid on another village, ever since the dark wizard used the Dark Control Crystal he went on a campaign to harass the wizard settlements without stopping. Beyond that the dark wizard managed to "resurrect" Queen Chrysalis. It was basically a clone created by using dark magic on a tree by using the picture it had. It was basically a clone that was a total puppet to the dark wizard that was much more obedient. The wizards knew about some native spells and magic, they also learned the fact that those aren't always working. This one been an example, usually the clones could become unruly but with slight modifications with some more powerful dark magic turned the clones much more obedient. Aside from that the dark wizard managed in that time to take control of another 11 unsuspecting changelings.
This clone aside from the fact that she had managed to attack yet another settlement on the map she also managed to ransack another that wasn't on the map. Half of the buildings been damaged and several Aurors have been incapacitate and injure while some robots were destroyed. This went well till the civilians started to fight back with their magic and for other robots to come as reinforcements. After flying as far away as possible from the ravaged wizard village a beam of red light came indicating that her ally was there waiting for her.
"Master wants to talk." She said wanting to hear his opinion. She directed her minions through the crystal where to land, however one of the Changelings in the back had by mistake hit himself by a branch and fell hitting his head against the tree, after the impact he turned back to what he was, a green like grass changeling with green emerald eyes.
"Oh, my head what happened." He said to himself holding his head aching by the accident.
"I am impressed; attacking two settlements was a great idea." Said a male voice.
"It is always easy with a surprise attack master." Said a female voice that the changeling recognised and started to take a peek behind the tree to see Chrysalis to his total disbelief talking to a man dressed in a black robe with a mask on his face. Just in that moment he remembered what happened.
"I hope that you took into considerations my advice regarding attacks."
"I have indeed the wizards will be very busy now." She said and the hidden changeling realised that this couldn't be Chrysalis looking closely now he noticed one aspect, she wasn't as dark as he remembered to be and she wouldn't be servile.
"That is a clone!"
"I suspect that you already know what must happen now?"
"This Friday I will go with the changelings under our control to make the attack on Hogwarts." She said while the hidden changeling was listening to every detail before the man pulled the map of both the realm of the locals and the settlements of the wizards.
"When it will be the time?"
"At noon, make sure you will not be seen while the fight commences."
"I know what to do you don't need to worry master." She said with a smirk before the wizard rolled its dark cape to disappear while the hidden changeling was listening with more and more concern. Clone Chrysalis and the other changelings in her trance then left.
"I must reach that school as soon as possible. But first I need a way to get there." He said before taking the shape of an eagle to fly towards his kingdom to tell the others and to find a map that will show him the exact direction of the school.
Back at Hogwarts.
The Room of Requirement usually appears when one needs it the most and right now when everyone at Hogwarts were now doing extra magical practice for self- defence but of course when the teachers usually finish their job the students could stay in it for a bit longer or sometimes they entered themselves alone either to practice more or just to stay alone. In the case of Twilight she used it for her practice of spells she was always accompanied by Harry who was always showing her the spells and what they have learnt during his years at Hogwarts it wasn't always him all the time sometimes the whole Trio joined. But there usually was Harry and Twilight.
Hermione and Ron who wanted to get them together were letting them alone on purpose hoping they will get together. And in a way it started to pay off in some cases. The more Harry was with her the more he started to like her as for Twilight she started to slowly but surely like him as a person he was more than just a powerful wizard he was an intelligent, quiet, shy and kind pony or rather person and both started to develop an attraction for each other.
"Stupefy!" Twilight said to the dummy before her and it backed away.
"Great now another." Said Harry and Twilight turned on another dummy to make it explode and another to shrink it without talking.
"Redcuto and Diminuendo, great I believe we can finish for today." Harry said.
"I really learned a lot since I arrived here." She said with a smile having to both be happy and to conclude that the wizards have even more to offer in terms of powerful magical stuff then Equestria unfortunately.
"You learn fast and you are willing to learn plus you are a great student." Said Harry smiling to her.
"I might be but you together with Hermione and Ron are also great teachers. Especially you who showed me so much."
"Maybe but I don't consider myself that great." He said.
"Maybe, maybe so, one thing is certain you are one of the most talented magic users I now know of."
"It took me a lot of practice to muster so much I wasn't that great in the beginning, something I had expects since I lived with Muggles for a long time." He said before turning to the mirror in the room thinking in melancholy.
"Harry, for you to know Hermione told me what happened and I am very sorry for what you have gone through. I never knew that your relatives had tormented you for so much in your life." She said in apology taking his hand.
"You know during my time at Hogwarts I started to compare myself for a time with Voldemort before facing him. He also didn't had family and other things I was also told by the magical hat that I could do great in Slytherin when I was sorted." He said to her.
"But you are not in Slytherin and you are nothing compared with Voldemort. And I can see in you that." She said.
"That is because I had chosen Gryffindor and I know something he never knew." He said turning his eyes to her. "I knew friendship, love and compassion things he did not knew of. But I know and this drove me to the light. I fought not for myself but for everyone I care about." He said now holding her hand making the girl to blush and feel a great heat inside her.
"You know Harry you are a great person and a great wizard. I always thought that you will be great in everything you might choose to do." She said giving him a kiss on his cheek.
"Thanks Twilight." He said starting to blush "By the way would you want to come to the Halloween Ball with me? That if you want this of course" He said.
"Well I haven't been invited by anyone and yeah I want to come with you." She said with a shy smile and he turned back the gesture. "By the way how will you be dressed?"
"It is a surprise. You?"
"It is a surprise as well." She said and both left the room to go for the Gryffindor Tower.
Author's note: I do apologise for taking this long I had to bring those chapters up to date. I do admit that in this version Luna and Celestia don't retire but the other events in season 9 do happen and I am trying to be as close to the cannon as possible.
I do hope you like the story Happy Holydays everyone.
And please do leave comments. I will see if I could post the other chapters one day in the future.