MLP: Friendship is Adventure

Everypony groaned as they got up.

“My head!” Starfyre neighed.

“Everypony in one piece?” asked Big McIntosh.

“Oh my!” gasped Bravissimo.

“Look at our armor!” Forester said. “The jewels look like our cutie marks!”

“So cool!” whinnied Thunderlane.

“Sweet!” brayed Starfyre as he reared up.

“Wow, Midnight,” Big McIntosh smiled at the unicorn, who looked a bit sheepish under his helm. “Ah wern’t so shor `bout all this, but… Ah reckon we are the Spirits of Adventure!”

“Indeed you are!”

Hearing that voice, like the music of rainfall, they looked past the pillars to see the wintry clouds part to reveal the break of dawn as did arose a golden light. The light came down and dimmed to reveal…

“Princess Florinda!” Midnight gasped.

It was indeed Princess Florinda whose coat was blue like the clear morning sky, her mane and tail like white fluffy clouds that gently glowed with sunshine, her eyes spring-green, her horn like a ray of sunlight, her wings folding, she wore jewelry and a crown, and her cutie mark was a stylized sunflower.

The other stallions all bowed as Midnight approached his teacher.

“Midnight Blaze, my loyal apprentice,” Princes Florinda greeted, giving him a warm nuzzle. She stood up, gazing at him proudly.

“I knew you could do it!”

“But… I thought you said it was just an old pony’s tale,” Midnight protested.

“I said you had to make some friends, nothing more,” Princess Florinda reminded him.

“I saw the signs of Frostfright’s return and knew it was you who had the light within to defeat him, but you could not ignite it until you let friendship back into your heart.”

Midnight beamed at his mentor’s praise.

“Now if only another would as well,” spoke Florinda as she stepped past them all as she neighed, “Prince Polaris!”

Everypony looked to see Frostfright was no more, and in his place was a snow-white alicorn stallion with an icy blue mane and tail, his cutie mark was the same pattern of frost, and his horn shined like the northern lights. He wore a plumed helmet and ice-armor smooth like glass. He laid upon the ground, looking exhausted but his eyes, now orange like a maple leaf in autumn, widened nervously as Florinda approached him.

“It has been five hundred since last I saw you as yourself. It’s time to settle our differences! We were meant to oversee the seasons together, big brother.”

“Brother?!” the stallions all gasped.

“Won’t you accept my friendship?” asked Florinda hopefully.

Polaris looked down in shame, everypony leaning forward as tension built, when the alicorn stallion stood up and quickly nuzzled Florinda, whinnying, “Please forgive me, little sister! I’ve missed you so much!”

“I’ve missed you too!” said Florinda, as a tear of joy ran down her face.

The six stallions all cheered.

There was much celebrating, as everypony in Ponyville had turned out for the event, as the six ponies, wearing the armor of the Spirits of Adventure, walked down an aisle towards Princesses Celestia, Luna, and Florinda, as well as Prince Polaris, who all had gathered in front of Town Hall.

Midnight and Big Mac were happy to see the Mares of Harmony were all no longer frozen, and Midnight’s little brother Twinken was there as well, smiling proudly at his big brother as he stood next to Zaps and a little grey Pegasus colt with a swept-back black mane, that Midnight later learned was Rumble, Thunderlane’s little brother, along with a brown earth pony colt with a messy mane, wearing a beanie-hat, the propeller spinning even though there was no breeze, and he remembered his name was Button Mash.

“Step forth, brave stallions,” bade Princess Celestia.

They bowed before her as she rested her horn on Midnight’s shoulder.

“I dub thee all Knights of Canterlot – By your efforts, has been averted a great disaster and returned to us our once-lost Prince Polaris, the Overseer of Winter.”

Prince Polaris shied, looking sheepish but happy as Florinda nuzzled her brother.

“From this day forth, you shall be remembered as the Heroes of Spring!” Princess Celestia declared and everypony cheered.

As it died down, Pinkie Pie leapt up with her party cannon, shouting, “Let’s get this party started!”

As the party went on, Midnight took a moment to be alone. He should’ve known better as a voice he knew well spoke behind him.

“Why so glum, my loyal apprentice?”

He looked to see Florinda, beaming at him with pride.

“Are you not glad your mission is complete and you can return to your research in Canterlot?”

“Well, it’s just…” Midnight hesitated, trying to find the right words. “I’d all but forgotten just how wonderful friendship can be! …Now that I’ve been reminded of it, I have to leave them…”

“S’all right, haystack.”

They looked to see the other Knights as they approached.

“No matter how far apart we might be…” Thunderlane began.

“…Our friendship will keep us connected,” Bravissimo assured.

“How could it not, with such awesome ponies like us?” Starfyre seconded.

“And you’re welcome to visit anytime,” Forester invited.

“I don’t think that will be necessary,” Princess Florinda said, everypony looking at her. “Twinken, take a note please.”

Don’t ask where he got them (except Pinkie Pie maybe) but Twinken whipped out a quill and parchment and wrote down Florinda’s words.

“‘I, Princess Florinda, Overseer of Spring, do hereby decree that the unicorn known as Midnight Blaze shall take on a new mission for the sake of Equestria – He must lead, as Captain, his fellow Knights of Adventure should ever their services be required to protect the ponies of the land, and so he will stand ready with them, reporting to me from his new home… in the town of Ponyville!’”

“Pony-pile!!” shouted the other knights as they all jumped on Midnight, laughing, as did he as he cheered, “Thank you, Princess Florinda, I promise to do my best!”

Everypony cheered happily, some relieved that this particular adventure was over. Little did they know, particularly six young stallions bound by a friendship tested and true, that this was only the beginning!