It was that time of year again, the Grand Galloping Gala was nearing, and this time there was a new pony invited to attend the festivities.
Hope Healer grumbled slightly as she headed towards the castle. She knew better than to decline the invitation, especially since it was signed by all her siblings. She had cleaned up her cloak, and even her fur and mane. She was no longer a dusty looking unicorn, but she made sure that her cloak still covered her wings.

As she walked up to the palace gates, she checked herself over one last time. She had been living in Everfree forest, near the old ruins of a castle. She was an old friend of Zecora’s in a way, Zecora being a member of Hope’s Healers, and Zecora had asked for help with some of the local Everfree animals for when Fluttershy was busy. She had made sure that none of the Ponyville residents knew she was there, save for Zecora and a young set of troublesome fillies who were trying to get their cutie marks. She smirked, remembering all the things that she and Luna had done to try and get theirs.

She handed her invitation over to a Noble who looked at her with an undignified look. She rolled her eyes as he called one of the guards over to get rid of her. The noble was quickly put in his place when the guard read the invitation and bowed down before the youngest of the sisters. “Princess Luna has requested an audience with you in her chambers before you go to the party, Commander.” He had been one of her healers’ descendants and knew exactly who she was.

She in turn knew who he was. She knew every member of Hope’s Healers. She felt it was her responsibility to know every member’s family. “Thank you, Star Sword. Send word that I’ll meet her up there by the garden entrance. I don’t want to have to take off my cloak tonight if I can help it.”

He nodded and moved the poor confused noble aside and let the last princess into the castle walls. Hope dodged around, using the shadows and her dark black cloak to get to the ground entrance of her sister’s tower. She entered it and was quickly ensnared in Luna and Astra’s combined magic.

“Geez, I said I was coming, no need to be so rough!” She sounded like an annoyed teenage mare. The lights quickly went on and she found herself being glared at by the element of Generosity, Rarity Divine. Hope’s eyes glared as she realized what was going on. “Oh no, you are not putting me into another of those tight fitting gowns, I hate those things! The royal tailor kept thinking of Celestia when he was making my dresses and I looked horrid! What works for her white coat does not work for my pink coat at all!”

Rarity smirked. For a pony that lived in isolation, she seemed to know what to work with. It was rare to find a pony like that. “Don’t worry, Princess. I’m sure you’ll like this one, it’s an original…” She took out a dress and used her magic to put it on Hope as her two sisters held her down.

Princess Celestia, Princess Twilight, and Princess Cadence were out greeting the guests. Discord and Screwball were playing with Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy in the gardens, making sure Fluttershy didn’t freak out on the poor animals again. Applejack was making business connections for her apples while Rainbow Dash was dancing with a Wonderbolt named Soarin. Spike was grinning like a fool as he tried to think of how to properly introduce the remaining princesses to the party. Even Prince Blueblood and Sombra were at the party, not that anypony knew Sombra was once “King Sombra” the tyrant of the Crystal Empire. The two of them were talking to each other, trying to act casual while betting each other who could get the hottest pony to be with them by the end of the night.

When Hope’s vision cleared, she was standing in front of a mirror with a dress on. It wasn’t just any dress, it was her dress. The one she had designed while trying to get her cutie mark. It was old fashioned today, but with the adjustments and modifications that Rarity had added on, it was something to rival Celestia’s natural beauty. Hope’s eyes widened as she got a good look at herself. Her mane was now laid out in soft blonde curls, since it had turned back to normal though, it still had a pink glow to it on the lower parts. On her snout was a set of soft pink tinted glasses, just like her usual blue ones. Sitting on her head, just under her jet black horn, was her crown, only it had been modernized as well. It was a small silver crown with a golden band surrounding a small ruby in the shape of a cross. Her dress was a simple, subtle, pink gown that screamed of middle ages, but had black trimming. She even noticed a simple necklace with a tiny white star in the center of the black chain, symbolizing Hope. She looked down at her hooves and noticed she was wearing a set of shoes as well. They were black shoes with tiny pink jewels in the shape of a star, all glittering like diamonds. She looked up in shock at the unicorn who had put it together.

“Don’t be so surprised. Princess Luna asked me to come up with something for you and I just happened to find this old design lying in your art book while looking for inspiration. I must say, for a design that’s over a thousand years old, you certainly can make it look good.” Rarity smiled. She was already wearing her Gala gown, and was helping Astra fix her mane to look like Celestia’s.

“Thank you… Thank you so much, Lady Rarity.” Tears started to form as she felt the comforting cold crown on her head. She had given it up years ago, and yet she had secretly missed it. She was once again Aurora Hope, the princess of Hope.

“There, now, don’t cry. It was nothing. Come, we have a party to get to, Princess Cadence and Prince Blueblood haven’t met you yet, and Princess Celestia and Princess Twilight could use the diversion from greeting everypony.” Rarity smiled kindly as she applied a subtle dark pink eye shadow to Hope. “You’re a Princess too. No one should ignore you three looking like this.” She smiled at her work. She had made the three “Lesser” princesses look just as noticeable as the Sun Princess. “Let’s go.”

Rarity nodded to Spike and the young dragon smiled. He had always wanted to do this. He cleared his throat loud enough to signal Celestia and Twilight that it was time. The two princesses smiled and looked towards the hallway at the top of the stairs. Spike stood there with his escort, Lady Rarity, who was smiling proudly at her work.

“Ladies and Gentle-Colts, I am pleased to announce the guests of honor, and our hosts. Please put your hooves together for the princess of Love, Princess Cadenza Mi Amore…” A moonbeam glowed and shot towards the surprised princess and her husband, Shining Armor. “The Princess of Friendship, Princess Twilight Sparkle…” Twilight blushed and curtsied as the moonbeam then moved over to her. Spike looked over to the other set of stairs and smiled. “The Princess of the Nightmares, Princess Stella Nightshade…” This resulted in the crowd being very confused, but if Celestia had invited her, then she had to be alright.

Hope smiled as she saw Stella walk down the stairs in a gown that had also been made by Rarity. It was a gown that flowed with her dark powers, yet showed off her light violet coat nicely. She also seemed to glow thanks to the moonlight that Luna was using for a spotlight.

“The Princess of the Changelings, Diana Nightshade…” This received an even bigger shock as a slightly taller pony like creature walked down the stairs, covered in moonlight. She blushed as she felt some anger and fear, and yet also some joy come from the surrounding ponies. Though she looked like her biological mother, Chrysalis, she had retained enough of her change to have Hope’s blonde mane rather than the sea green one. She also, unlike any other changelings, had no holes in her legs, probably because of Hope’s influence on her creation as well.

She had taken down Chrysalis a month after the Nightmare Queen was vanquished and had banished her mother to another realm. Some of the ponies knew of this and quickly spread the word that she didn’t even eat love like the others. No pony attacked her as she took her place beside her adopted sister behind Celestia.

“And the Royal Sisters, The Sun Princess, Princess Celestial Light…” Everyone cheered, of course, for the oldest of the sisters. She smirked as she noticed Luna’s horn glowing slightly. Luna placed a moonbeam on her oldest sister and smirked back. “The Princess of the Stars, Princess Astrana Compassion…” Astrana made starlight show upon her while Luna took away her moonbeam, only to place it on herself as she followed her older sister down the stairs. “The Princess of the Moon, Princess Luna Moonlight…” He looked back at Hope and smiled encouragingly to the terrified alicorn. Hope saw this and calmed down. She had been giving hope to others for hundreds of years, now it seemed that this baby dragon was willing to do the same for her now. “And announcing the youngest sister, The Princess of Hope itself, Princess Aurora Hope Healer…” Hope blushed slightly as both her sisters’ moonbeam and starlight covered her as she started her descent. There were many whispers about her, but also many cheers. She closed her eyes for a second and moved on through with a confidence she had long forgotten she knew. As she took her place beside her twin and daughters, she smiled. “I give you, the Princesses!” Spike proclaimed proudly as Aurora lit her black horn with a white star and threw the star into the center of the room. The lights then returned and the party continued.

Everypony in Equestria would now know of her, and that she was a sister to Celestia, but that wasn’t what made Aurora happy that night. It was that she had finally gotten to be with her entire family, and she was respected. This was the best night of her life.

Author's Note

So, what do you think? It's got the sad label because of the character always doubting herself and being sad, but it gets a happy ending. Hope you liked it.