An Equestrian Lifestream Corrupted and Manipulated

In the aftermath of the situation, no one made a sound. None knew what to do. So much had happened and it felt unreal. They needed an answer for everything that happened. Carried in the wind’s breeze, came that answer. It was a final message from mentor to student; a message from Celestia to Twilight.

When your present falls apart, how do you pick up the pieces to your future? Remember, Twilight, the ties that bind for they shall remain your eternal strength. I sent you to Ponyville to learn the most important lesson of your life. You need companionship. You need friendship. You need love. You need limitless affection.

For some, Twilight, morality and love mean nothing because they are intangible. Such are the ways of those that ignore the wind, shame honor, and deny emotional values. Yet, these same individuals seek the most intangible gift – power – and eternally fail to fill the empty space that is their soul.

Much lies ahead Twilight for all of Equestria is now you and your friend’s. Fear not, cry not. We immortals have lived a fulfilling existence. Though we cannot die, we must go now. Remember your friends, Twilight. They will be the light in the darkness.

Forever are you my most faithful - and cherished - student…

Celestia’s final words echoed across Ponyville attracting the attention of those standing in its ruins. Twilight looked around for Celestia with hope she was still alive. Silence gave the answer. Crying tears, Twilight looked at the ground. Everything felt so wrong. This isn’t how things should be.

“Sugarcube…are you all right?” Applejack said approaching Twilight with the rest of the ponies.

Twilight didn’t answer and it was obvious she wasn’t fine.

“Ay know it ain’t easy, Twilight. But no matter how things fall apart, we need to pull ourselves together. It is like my barn. It always needsa fixin’.”

“It is not like a barn!” Twilight screamed.

“Yes, you’re right. It ain’t like a barn. The point is Celestia is still depending on us to make things right. What hope does the rest of Equestria have if it sees itself in a state of disrepair?”

“So…just suck it up? It’s great to be a princess,” Twilight said sarcastically.

“That’s just it, sugarcube. You’re a princess and you are Twilight, the most gifted unicorn specifically chosen as Celestia’s mentor. You have the ability to make things right. Celestia believes in you and so do we.” Applejack looked at the other ponies who sounded their agreement.

“I understand. Thank you Applejack.”

“What’re friends for?” The ponies starting giggling with bitter tears. Cloud and Tifa didn’t understand what was so funny but they decided to smile too.

*****

Twilight asked Cloud and Tifa what they were going to do with Hojo’s container considering how dangerous the being inside it was. They told Twilight of the plan to send the container into the sun. They didn’t need to explain the container’s danger for the ponies knew why. Cloud and Tifa were ready to take Hojo’s container back to the ship. However, Twilight stopped them and asked them why they were willing to give the container – and its contents – another second of peace. It had spared them none. She then magically teleported the container into the sun exacting a little revenge on the one who had taken away her mentor.

Cloud and Tifa were surprised at the magical feat but were glad to be rid of the container. It felt like a burden had been lifted on one of the most tragic journeys they’ve taken. As Cloud, Tifa, and the ponies walked through Ponyville, they saw all the destruction that had been wrought. They even noticed the bodies of Celestia, Luna, and Discord with much sadness. Cloud apologized for the pain Sephiroth brought to these ponies’ world. Then, the group heard a very soft noise. They couldn’t make it out at first but heard it a second time.

“Fluttershy?” A weak voice spoke softly. It was Discord trying to hold on for his life. The group ran over to him with Twilight trying to heal his wounds. She couldn’t heal them for they looked like poison was seeping out.

“Don’t worry, Discord. I’m here. Everything is going to be fine,” Fluttershy said to Discord with tears in her eyes.

“Fluttershy?” Discord repeated.

In a sort of parrot talk, it seemed like Discord was unaware of his surroundings. He spoke the same word like it was his only lifeline to the world. In fact, he might have been saying the word longer than anyone near enough could hear it.

“I’m here, Discord,” Fluttershy said again brushing his hair. Fluttershy started to hum a song gently into his ears – Hush Now, Quiet Now. A smile crossed Discord’s lips. “Thank you for being my only friend, Fluttershy.”

With that Discord became lifeless with Fluttershy still humming into his ear for a while longer.

*****

The ponies walked back with Cloud, Tifa, and Nanaki (Red XIII) to the rocket left outside what remained of the Crystal Empire. Cloud and Tifa tried to ask if Nanaki was ok for he had been in the exact spot they left him for the entire time they dealt with Sephiroth. He didn’t speak a word to them causing much worry.

The trek back to the rocket was long. Twilight could have used her teleportation but everyone needed to walk to clear their minds. When they reached the rocket, Cid was the first to jump out making sure everyone was ok in his loud and obnoxious ways. Barret came out and was hugged by Tifa. Cloud decided to hug Barret as well which only made him feel uncomfortable. They laughed when Barret pushed Cloud off cursing at him. Twilight and Cadance gave Shining Armor a hug. He tried to ask what happened to the Crystal Empire but they weren’t ready to relay the news. They were just happy to see him alive.

The ponies watched the rocket take off unsure of what the future held for them. There was a lot of rebuilding to do. It wasn’t going to be easy. But Twilight could it. Everypony knew she could do it. Everypony knows Twilight can’t fail. She cannot afford to fail.

*****

Not all citizens of the Crystal Empire were killed in the fight for the Crystal Heart. Cadance rebuilt the empire with the help of these citizens. The same was found with Canterlot though the only survivors who lived were away from the city at the time of the disaster. The citizens of Ponyville remained safe under Spike’s care when Twilight ordered its evacuation. Effectively due to the population shift, Ponyville became the new Canterlot City albeit it stuck with the prior name.

A memorial was built to those whose lives were taken in the Crystal Empire and the City of Canterlot. The mourning lasted for more than a month. This wouldn’t include the tragedies’ anniversary dates. There was even a funeral procession for the passing of Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, and even Discord that almost everypony in Equestria attended though space did not allow the crowds. From those days on, Twilight expressed what she learned as a capable ruler. Some even regarded her as Celestia’s equal. In time, she even surpassed her mentor.

*****

The journey back to Gaia was not a happy one. The rocket, being emptier than it ought to have been, felt like an empty vessel making its way through an empty void. Cloud spent the entire time thinking about the past trying to find a ray of light or happiness. Everything just seemed to fall apart. Cloud found his cell phone where he slept and saw that he had a voice message. Vincent’s voice spoke through the phone saying that when this journey was over Cloud’s sins would be forgiven. Normally, this would have gotten him down. However, his confidence was renewed after hit with the elements of harmony. Maybe he could use this confidence to try and make things better for his friends. If his friends were happier, perhaps he could find some of his own.

Cloud had a talk with Cid, Nanaki (Red XIII), Barret, and Tifa. Cid talked about his wife. Cloud listened vowing never to forget her. Barret talked about the fear of a sad Marlene when he was bleeding out. Cloud listened promising to take care of Marlene if anything ever happened to Barret. Cloud listened to Nanaki about his annual meetings with Vincent. Cloud reassured Nanaki that he and his children would take Vincent’s place in those meetings. Cloud listened to Tifa as she described her fear that, like her father, he would have died in her arms. Cloud listened and let her know he was not going anywhere. He made sure to not only understand how they were feeling but he also tried to uplift their spirits. This sense of a tighter friendship bond was shown to him by Cadance, Genesis, and the Mane 6. From that day on, life seemed just a bit brighter. Cloud finally understood what Aeris was trying to show him.