Chapter Thirteen

When Misty Moonrise opened her eyes, all was still and quiet. She wearily lifted her head and realized she lay on the ground now. She could not remember coming down. Glancing about her, Misty saw that her friends were also on the ground, some already picking themselves up. They all still wore the golden necklaces bearing their Elements of Harmony. She still had hers as well, could feel the silver coronet upon her head. As Misty slowly pushed herself to all fours, a violet wing settled across her back.

“Twilight?” Misty found herself standing beside the princess, whose appearance had returned to normal. The rainbow magic must have gone. “Twilight, where’s Chrysalis?”

Twilight Sparkle smiled and pointed to the center of what had been their circle.

There now stood a stone statue where Queen Chrysalis had made her last stand. The Changeling Queen herself was frozen in her rearing pose, eyes still ablaze with fury but now only graven rock.

“We did it?” Misty Moonrise could not quite believe her eyes.

“Yes. When the changelings saw what became of their queen, they fled,” replied Twilight. “And thank you.”

Misty regarded Twilight quizzically. “For what?”

“For not calling me ‘princess’ this time,” Twilight clarified with a wink.

Misty smiled, but, before she could say anything more, another voice interrupted.

“Everypony okay?” Applejack asked Misty’s friends. The orange mare, along with the other four of Twilight’s friends, had also reverted to their normal visages—yes, the rainbow magic had definitely subsided.

Steel Shield was the first to respond. He was up and examining the golden necklace, comparing the emerald, shield-shaped jewel to his silver shield cutie mark. “What the hay is this thing?”

Rainbow Dash zoomed over to hover beside him. “That’s our Element of Harmony, buddy. Like it? Personally, I think it looked cooler on me, but I guess you look pretty good in it, too.”

“Element of what?” asked Cloudy Day.

Fluttershy trotted over to him, explaining patiently, “Element of Harmony. You all must represent the spirits of the Elements just like we do. Ours is the Element of Kindness.”

“And ours,” said Rainbow Dash to Steel Shield, “is the Element of Loyalty.”

“We represent Generosity,” Rarity put in, helping Nightingale to stand.

“An’ we’re good ole Honesty,” said Applejack as she pulled Lilypad up to all fours.

“Ooh! Ooh! Me next!” Pinkie Pie piped up, bouncing over to Juniper Berry. She wrapped a foreleg around Juniper’s shoulders and, still bouncing, said, “We’re the Element of—!”

“—Laughter!” Juniper joined in, and the two fell into a fit of giggles.

Misty turned back to Twilight. “I don’t understand. I thought the Elements were bound to you six. It’s because you returned the Elements to the Tree of Harmony that you’re able to use the rainbow magic. How can we represent the Elements?”

“The Magic of Friendship isn’t something that belongs to just a few ponies,” replied Twilight Sparkle. “It’s everywhere. It lives inside every one of us. You don’t have to be a princess or a Wonderbolt, or even a pony. You just have to seek it out and let friendship into your heart.” She glanced up at Misty’s silver coronet. “We represent the Element of Magic,” she said, returning her gaze to Misty. “Without it, the others are unable to unite. But without the other Elements, there is no Element of Magic—just as our lives are incomplete without our friends.”

Steel Shield appeared beside her, along with her other friends. He ruffled Misty’s mane teasingly. “See? You’re stuck with us.”

“But there’s one thing I still don’t understand,” Misty Moonrise pressed. “Where were the Elements? They can’t have been with us the whole time. At the castle, you used your connection to the Elements to determine they were still with the Tree of Harmony.”

“No, we didn’t!” Pinkie Pie trilled, bouncing past Misty.

“We learned that the Elements were safe,” Twilight Sparkle explained. “Nothing more. Even I didn’t know exactly where they were—not until Chrysalis revealed that she didn’t have them, anyway.”

Cloudy Day spoke up. “So, does that mean we’re connected to the Elements now just like you all?”

“Everypony is connected to the Elements of Harmony in one way or another,” answered Twilight. “I think that, when the Tree of Harmony realized it was in danger, it found the first safe place to hide the Elements it could.”

“But that should have been you, Twilight,” said Misty Moonrise, still bewildered.

Twilight smiled knowingly. “Not this time. Misty, you said it yourself: Chrysalis was at the Tree well before you stumbled into her dream. More likely than not, she had already tainted the Elements and returned them to the Tree. But when the Tree of Harmony felt your presence—a presence similar to that of the previous spirit of the Element of Magic—it trusted you to keep the Elements safe in its stead. As your friendship grew with these ponies—” Twilight glanced at Steel Shield, Cloudy Day, Nightingale, Lilypad, and Juniper Berry as she spoke. “—you imparted to them your trust and love as well as the Element of Harmony they each represented. When all of us harnessed the Magic of Friendship, united, the taint in the Elements was cleansed and the Elements themselves were revealed.”

Misty Moonrise was silent for a moment, drinking in Twilight’s words. Then she embraced her magic and lifted the silver coronet off her head. She gazed at the intricate elegance and softly glowing full moon diamond. “I’m honored the Tree of Harmony trusted me to safeguard the Elements, but…” Misty presented the Element of Magic to Twilight Sparkle. “This belongs to you, Twilight.”

Twilight’s magenta aura enveloped the coronet as she received it. The smile she offered Misty was bright with gratitude, as warm and gentle as Princess Luna’s smile.

At that, sorrow swept through Misty Moonrise. She, Twilight, and the other ten ponies walked to where the Moon Princess still lay motionless.

Princess Celestia lay beside her sister, a white wing settled protectively over her like a blanket. She looked up as the twelve approached.

Misty Moonrise could not bring herself to meet the Sun Princess’s gaze. She averted her eyes as she sat down, ears laid back. “I’m sorry, Princess Celestia,” she said quietly, voice trembling. “It’s my fault…”

Twilight placed a hoof on Misty’s shoulder. “Misty, no—”

“Princess Luna was looking at me when she was struck,” Misty continued over Twilight. “If I hadn’t distracted her, she would still be…” She could not bring herself to say it. Fresh tears began to trickle from her eyes. “It’s my fault… I’m so sorry…”

Princess Celestia smiled softly. “No, my little pony,” she said gently. “Chrysalis alone is to blame, and she has received her just punishment. There’s no need for tears.”

“But—” Misty began, but stopped. Princess Luna’s mane—it was flowing without wind. Misty’s heart skipped a beat.

Ever so slowly, Princess Luna’s eyes opened. She blinked blearily, slowly, and settled her gentle gaze upon her student. “Why do you weep, Misty Moonrise?” asked she, her voice soft but strong.

Misty could find no words to describe the relief, the pure happiness, that now overwhelmed her. She could barely hold herself up, and so embraced her mentor, burying her face in Princess Luna’s starlit mane. “I thought… We thought you were…” She could not even finish a sentence.

“I think I understand,” said Princess Luna, smiling. She carefully lifted her head, wincing slightly. “Chrysalis, is she—?”

“Yes, my sister,” answered Princess Celestia. “Everything is going to be just fine now.”