Greater Love have no one than this...

The hallway of the castle that led to the balcony away from the throne room was filled with the echoing footfalls of Celestia. With a determined stride, she walked through the corridor with a look in her eyes that blazed like fire. Her brow narrowed as she looked towards the doorway, the feeling of elation over the reveals were now replaced by the silent rage that she had long perfected over years of honing.

With the pass of each window, her armor dissipated in a flash of golden light. Now her body was dressed in a long flowing white dress. The bottom of said dress had highlights that shone with the colors of red, white, blue, orange, and yellow depending on how the light shown on it. On the top of said dress was a long red sash that had a collection of medals from previous battles along its surface. At her side was a sword that seemed to glow with the might of the sun.

Walking behind her, was Luna with a pale white katana at her side. Her dark blue dress was a similar make, although it had sequins on the bottom that resembled the constellations of the night sky. Her walk was a solemn and quiet one, while her eyes displayed a more outward anger, as if she was ready to unleash the assault before her sister could. Occasionally, she would look up to her sister, for any subtle clues about her next movement.

As they made their way to the balcony, Rarity remarked, “Zenith and Nadir...”

“What?” Applejack asked Rarity, looking confused.

“Zenith, Celestia’s sword of sunlight and Nadir, Luna’s blade of moonlight. It is their own personal swords,” Rarity said, looking on in awe. “It is said that when drawn, the two will never lose a war.”

Rainbow Dash looked on an smirked, “Ok, that is awesome. So that means that they finally are getting serious?”

“I think we may be seeing the final curtain rise on this war,” Rarity said calmly as she and the other members of the group followed Celestia and Luna to the balcony.

Down below in the courtyard, countless ponies of both Equestrian and Unicornicopian breeds were milling about. Eyes looked to balcony as Celestia and Luna appeared, filled with various emotions ranging from hatred to utter fear about the future. With baited breath, they waited for the first words to come from the princesses mouths.

Celestia looked up, staring to the sky, “Conquest, it’s been an hour, show yourself.”

A crackling image faded into existence, and Conquest appeared on a large magical screen while pulling up his black thong, “Hey there Tia! Are you ready to talk now? Because I sure am!” he said with a chuckle as he looked back at the now charred remains of Grand Ruler, “If you want his royal asshole’s corpse back, I’ll give it back to you, but I think you might have to clean it first. The things I did to that body for the past hour, whooo!” with a chuckle, he teleported the circle and three horns of the tri-horn crown to Celestia. “But, on the bright side, I’ll let you have the broken tri-horn crown back. Don’t worry, it’s clean, I didn’t use the horns as a butt plug.”

Celestia said nothing, and Luna looked to her. Noting the lack of reaction on her sister’s face, Luna quickly followed suit, just looking up at the screen at the black alicorn.

“Oh, no words again, Tia? No shouts of defiance, no yells of rage or how I will pay for all I have done. Maybe you are thinking that, now that I killed the biggest waste of space in this little war that you have it easy, or that by hiding your rage behind that stoic face of yours that you are going to win this now,” a low unnerving chuckle escaped his throat as he shrugged, “Or are you trying to see what gets me mad? I’ll admit, I lost my cool earlier when you gave me the silent treatment, but I’m better now.”

Celestia said nothing, only letting ascowl show on her face.

“Want me to make the first salvo of our little word game? Fine, I will,” Conquest said, backing up and looking around as if he had an audience, “All of this, all of it. The war, the death, the hate? It’s all on you! You made a bad move, Tia, and it cost you so much. You wanted to give peace a chance, in spite of the fact that you could’ve wiped the floor with these space ponies with only minimal loss to your side. But, you chose not to, instead, you let the hate fester between the two sides until it reached a boiling point, practically turning this universe into a beacon for me! Do you deny it?”

Celestia looked down and to the side, “No...I do not. I wished for peace, but instead got war.”

Conquest opened his eyes a little before smirking, “OH, that is surprising. Most rulers I’ve met would’ve denied their crimes. Are you also going to admit your failings with Luna, Discord, and so many others?”

“I’m not perfect,” Celestia said, looking away. “Though I have put on airs as such, I am still only a pony. I live, breathe, and make my mistakes. However, as a pony I am gifted with something special... the ability to fix those mistakes.”

“Fix? Fix?! HA!” Conquest laughed, “You think you can fix this? Any of it? Grand Ruler may be dead, but I can still feel it. If the Space ponies right now aren’t hating themselves for seeing how they have committed such sins under the banner of that moron over there, then they hate me for revealing so many lies, or hate Grand Ruler for saying those lies. Do you really think that you coming to the field will change all of that? Wipe away years of hate, bitterness, and fear? HA!”

“What they need is a symbol, a light to remind them of hope,” Celestia said.

Conquest rolled his eyes at this, “Oh brother, here we go. Don’t know if you know this, toots, but I’ve got the advantage here! The colonies of Starfleet? Burned to ashes. Your towns and cities? Mine! The countries that you ignored? Also mine! You are out gunned, out manned, and are on the brink of total loss. What can you possibly-”

He was interrupted by Celestia holding up her hand and spreading out five fingers. Luna looked and nodded, holding up her hand and shadowing her sister. Narrowing her eyes, Celestia said, “Ten minutes. Give me ten minutes with one of your cities and I will give them something that Grand Ruler never could.”

“Oh wait, don’t tell me,” laughed Conquest, “Hope, right?”

Celestia nodded calmly and turned to look at the people in the square,”Equestrians! Unicornicopians! Listen to me! I see upon you the fear that has overtaken you, the hate that is overcoming you, and the feelings of dread that is overwhelming you. I see that you are overcome with feelings of uncertainty and worthlessness, but you need to dismiss these feelings. For too many years you have been told that you are different by matter of species, that somehow your place of birth meant that you are inferior or superior to one another. Now that veil has lifted and you are lost and confused. You see the other as what they truly are, ponies just like you.”

“I was once like you,” Luna said, walking with Celestia and looking down at her people, Thinking that because my sister was more loved, that she was my better. That she was a better princess than I because ponies worshiped her days while my beloved night was shunned. This fear, anger, and jealousy turned me into a monster that wanted to eclipse the world in eternal night. It took the courage of one brave little unicorn and her five friends to show me the light and make me see that my sister was not superior to me, but my equal. That while she was a better strategist, I was the better fighter. My swordmareship was the superior while she was a better spell caster. Any weaknesses in my abilities were filled in by her strengths, and in turn, my strength could help where she was weak.”

Celestia looked at the ponies and spoke, her voice calm and gentle but commanding, “You each are not superior by fact of race or species, but by yourselves as individuals. That is what it means to have a cutie mark, to be a pony. Each one of you brings something unique to the table and has a special something that makes you better than anypony else on the planet. Some of you are stronger, while others are smarter. Some of you have different life experiences that make you more acutely aware of changes in the battlefield or could just have had a better life.”

“Behind me are five mares who learned this lesson well,” Luna said, looking behind her at the Knights of Harmony, “Each one of them has a weakness and a strength. In each other, they found that their strengths far outweighed their weaknesses, allowing them to shine forth as the lights they are now. When they were seperated, their weaknesses shown forth and this made them dim in the world; however, when they were brought together, they were able to shine bright once more in the world that needed them the most. Each one of you has that potential that can be brought forth.”

Nodding, Celestia took over, as a sun following the moon, “Now is not the time to differ yourselves by species, race, or creed, but to see yourselves as individuals. It is time to see yourselves as equals, unique and united as a single whole. It is time to see yourselves as teammates, comrades, maybe it is time to even see yourselves as friends, standing shoulder to shoulder with each other. This is where we must stand truly united, help when one falls and stand when the other cannot. Today is the day we throw away the ideals of United Equestria and embrace the teaching of unity and friendship!”

“United Equestria has fallen,” Luna said, unseathing her blade and cutting down the flag that represented United Equestria. Taking its place was a flag depicting a white alicorn and a blue alicorn encircling a sun and moon.

Celestia ignited her horn, raising the sun for the first time that day, bringing forth the dawn, “In its place, rises Equestria once more!” she said flying high into the air and joining her blade with Luna’s, smiling into her sister’s eyes.

“All hail the princesses!” shouted the Equestrians, thrusting their fists into the air as the sun began to rise.

“Long live Equestria!” shouted the Unicornicopians, joining in.

“All hail the Princesses, Long live Equestria! All Hail the Princesses! Long Live Equestria!”

A young pegasus, with mane split between black and yellow, took a few steps forward and began to sing softly, not needing instruments to sing the slow melodic beats that needed for the song to work.

Chaos reigns
And harmony has fled
Stand your ground
Our day will come

A few other mares began to join in, followed by some stallions as they looked up at the sky, feeling their hope rekindled once more

The night is gone
And our path is lost
We look to the stars
Know that soon
The dawn will come

The guards began to remove their helmets in honor of their rulers, and looked up, adding their voices to the chorus of ponies that began to sing.

Our friends are lost
And home is gone
Look to the moon
The dawn will come

The Unicornicopians nodded slowly, each looking to one another as they felt their own inner light of hope begin to shine through. Each taking a deep breath, they began to sing in time with the others, their voices becoming brighter

The night is gone
And our path is lost
We look to the stars
Know that soon
The dawn will come

As one, their voices began to sing aloud, united as one for the first time in five years.

Steel your blade
Strike the sky
Stand our ground
The dawn will come

And our path is lost
We look to the stars
Know that soon
The dawn will come

“See you in ten minutes, Conquest,” Celestia said, her horn glowing brightly before teleporting away with Luna.

A griffon guard stood alone in Neigh Orleans, overlooking the reconstructed town. For the past year, he and the rest of his battalion had run the city. His small little army served as a powerful occupying force for Conquest, keeping the ponies in line and making them slaves for the war effort. While a small town in the grand scheme of things, it served as a reminder of the first loss in the war and a symbol of failures of Starfleet. The guard let out a sigh as he watched the sun rise in the distance, the light reflecting off of the shield that protected the city from attacks, “Hey, did you hear the news?” asked a fellow guard as he landed next to his friend, “Celestia has entered the war.”

“So what?” grumbled the guard, “It’s Celestia, you know, the mare who lost her little fight with Chrysalis? Didn’t lift a finger to stop Sombra, Discord, or Nightmare Moon? Hell, lets not forget that she has been sitting behind on her laurels in every war since Starfleet arrived, and only really could fight when that loser was with her. And as we just saw, all of his wins were just figments in our minds, who the hell knows what the real truth is anymore.”

“That’s why I’m worried,” said the guard looking down, “What if all of that, was just Celestia holding back? I mean, why bring an army when a small force will do? Those knights of hers, they wield objects of mystical power, why not use them before sending out armies and save on lives? Why not hold back a little when there are lives on the line.”

“So you’re saying that it’s been only convenience that she hasn’t been allowed to show off what she can do in a fight?” asked the guard, “And that now she is allowed to let loose, we should be scared. Pfft, yeah right.”

“I’m serious I-” the guard paused as he looked to the left of the city, away from the sun, “Isn’t it dawn?”

The guard nodded, “Yeah, why?”

“Then why is the moon rising?” the other guard asked, looking to the rising white orb in the distance. As he stared at the milky white object, his eyes could make out a black winged silhouette in the center with her horn alow and a blazing white blade in her hand, raised above her head.

Across from them, a similar silhouette rose with the sun, holding a sword that seemed to glow with a powerful flame. The two guards watched with awe and wonder as the two figures lowered their swords and aimed directly at them in unison, “Are they trying to break the barrier?”

“Impossible,” said the guard, “Conquest forged this barrier himself. It would take a god to break it!”

Celestia narrowed her eyes, mentally giving her sister a signal to unleash the magic within their swords. With not a word spoken, her blade blazed with a passionate blue flame before firing in a torrent of magic at the shield. Across from her, Luna’s sword flared to life with magic, draining all of the ambient heat from the area of the blade before firing a stream of cold black magic at the barrier. As both beams collided with the shield, the barrier waved and shimmered for a second before shattering into millions of little shards. Much to the horror of the soldiers within the city.

With a few flaps of her wings, Celestia landed in front of a battalion of soldiers from the surrounding area, each armed with swords and small weapons, “Soldiers, today marks our first day in our move to regain our world from the forces of hate. Over there are the soldiers that dared to steal away our happiness, lives, and friends away from us. They are willing to fight for a monster that would like nothing more than to see our heads on pikes!” Celestia then sighed, “However, do not forget that the enemy has soldiers that are like you. Souls who are just fighting for what they believe in just as much as you. They too have friends and family, loved ones that they need to protect. I do not ask that you give quarter or to show mercy. If you must kill, then you must, we will not hold it against you. Such is the horror of war. However, I do ask to remember the reason you fight, why we all fight. And to show those soldiers that we will not fade quietly!”

“Soldiers of the night!” Luna spoke, her canterlot voice booming as she glared at her soldiers. The bat ponies and various guard of the night wielding fierce looking blades and spears, “The enemy over there fears you, hates you, and despises you! They fear the night for what it means to them, death and the unknown. I say it is time we properly give these fools reason to fear the night, to know that we are strong compared to them! Give no quarter, make them run from us, and make them beg for the mercy that they denied so many. Make them run, make them hide, and make them fear us for we are the night! We are unstoppable, and we must protect the dawn! Onto the breach my fallen angels, and let us bring these knaves screaming into the night as they would have done the same to our brethren in the light! Let their blood flow for our families, friends, and loved ones!”

At the same time, in perfect unison, the two leaders of Equestria shouted, “CHARGE!!!!!”

...

It is said, that when Conquest made his assault on Neigh Orleans, it took him two hours to fully take it over. When Celestia and Luna took to the field, it took them ten minutes.

Now dressed in their war armor, Celestia and Luna strode into the rarely used war room of the palace. In the center of the large circular room was a giant map that showed all of the planet that Equestria rested on and all of its surrounding lands. Already in the war room were the bearers of the Elements of Harmony and the Umbra Circle, having heard of the news of the taking back of Neigh Orleans, “That was awesome!!!” shouted Rainbow Dash. “You took that city like it was nothing!”

Celestia nodded as she put a white go stone onto the board, several black pieces surrounding her, “Yes, but me and Luna cannot possibly keep doing that for every city Conquest has taken. It would take too much time and he could possibly start attacking the other cities while we are busy elsewhere.”

“Luckily, it will take only one of us to destroy the barriers,” Luna said, standing in the corner with her arms crossed, eyes narrowed down at the map.

Ditzy looked shocked at this, “Wait, then why did you attack together?”

Luna chuckled a little at this, “Intimidation tactics, dear Ditzy.”

“It also shows to the ponies that the tide of war is about to change, and that hope has returned to this battle,” Celestia said, looking at the board, “Luna, you will tackle the Eastern half of the planet, while I take the West.”

“Then we will meet in the middle,” Luna said, smiling as she looked at the entire map. “The battles will be long of course. But, I promise you, I will keep the losses to a minimum.”

“And charge!” said a boar as he prepared to charge at a batpony. Before he could take a step, he found himself impaled by a series of ice spikes.

Luna landed on the ground, an unconscious griffon falling off of her back. Looking to the soldier, she frowned, “Watch yourself. These boars are notorious for being tough fighters.” she said, freezing a griffon in mid-flight, causing him to ground before taking flight. Once in the sky, she slashed at three Unicornicopians, causing them to drop in agony as the blade brought their worst fears into their minds.

A harpy growled as she flew at Luna, only to be shot down by a crossbow bolt from a distance. In a distant tower, a grey unicorn mare with light brown hair loaded another round before calling on her communicator, “Calamity, this is Little Pip, keep a better eye on the air. You missed some of the more airborne ones.”

A rust colored stallion growled as he watched another unicorpian fall, “Ah’m sorry, Little Pip, but the princess told me to lay off them and let her handle it.”

“I think she is starting to become like you two,” a charcoal unicorn said, shaking her two toned mane, “you have this strange love for war.” Velvet Remedy said with a sigh and a shake of her head.

“Nah, not the princess,” Little Pip said, sniping another soldier out of the sky.

Little did the quartet know at that moment, Luna had a smile on her face as she flew into a small group of harpies. As she slashed the five out of the sky with well timed slashes on their stomachs, one could hear the sound of laughter.

“This is Homage speaking on behalf of K-Kolt,” a grey unicorn said, smiling, “I am live on the scene, and judging from the fact that the Equestrian flag has just risen, Luna and her forces have taken back Trottingham!”

Celestia sighed as she looked at the map, and shook her head, “Taking back the entire planet will not be easy. Due to my late...” she paused for a moment to come up with an appropriate word for the dead ruler. With a bit of venom in her voice she said, “Husband’s desire to keep his focus on our own nation, Conquest still has much of the planet under his thumb. Even with the two of us working together, it’s not going to be easy.”

“Then your hopes will arise
For you do have Allies,” said a deep feminine voice coming from outside of the war room. Stepping into the circular room was a rather tall Zebra, her body covered in large multi-colored robes and fine jewelry. At her side was a younger zebra, who had a warm smile as she looked at the five gathered mares. Once fully inside, the zebra queen took a bow before Celestia, “Queen Malkia, of the Zebra Nations and the allied states of the west, are at your disposal. At first, I did not think of accepting your alliance proposal. However, some zebra near and dear changed my mind.”

Applejack looked at the zebra next to the Queen, “Zecora, what are you doing with the queen anyway?”

“My daughter told me of her friends here and of her trust. So, our allegiance, I agreed to thus.” the Queen said, looking to Zecora.

Rainbow Dash blinked for a moment, and then looked from one zebra to the next, before doing the math in her head, “If you are a queen, and Zecora is your daughter, then that means that Zecora is a-”

“PRINCESS!” Rarity said, before bowing to Zecora, “Oh my dear, I am so sorry for all that we said and talked to you when we first met you.”

Zecora shook her head, raising a hand, “Forgiveness you need not give me, I forgave you long time ago you see. I chose to hide my prestige and royalty, if only to spend time with the commonality. For a while I have helped the west desert tribes unite, to better prepare for this fight.”

“Something that your Grand Ruler couldn’t do, but we all agreed that if he fell, we would join in taking on Conquest,” Ember said, stepping into the throne room. She then smiled at Rarity and then gave a nod to Trixie, “It’s the least we can do after you obtained the Dragon Amulet.”

Celestia looked shocked at this, “Luna, your team had curried favor as well as gained the amulet? I am impressed.”

“Training her to be a kind ruler helped as well, sister,” Luna said, smiling.

A flap of wings attracted everyone’s eyes as Gilda flew in, by her side was a grey griffon that looked to be a bit younger than her, “Oh wow! So this is the big war meeting! Did I miss anything? Should I get anypony anything? Oh, maybe I should make hot chocolate!”

“Gilda!” Rainbow Dash said, flying up and giving her old friend a high five, “Who’s the little friend.”

Gilda nudged to the young griffon, “Her name’s Gabby. She helped me find out which clans in the Griffon Empire are on our side and which aren’t on Conquest’s payroll. It looks like a lot of us were just waiting for the big moment and the,” she looked asde before coughing out, “right payment, before helping out.”

“Yep, and I was working my wings to the bone looking up names, playing mail tag, and getting everyone together. But, now we are all waiting outside for the big mission!” shouted Gabby, a big smile on her face.

Rainbow Dash leaned in and asked, “Peppy, isn’t she?”

“You have Pinkie Pie? Meet the griffon version,” joked Gilda.

“Bah, all of you are missing the superior strength of the boar clans!” shouted a booming voice. When all eyes turned they saw a rather large boar with his hair tied into a ponytail. Looking to Applejack he stepped over to her with a big grin. “Ah, there is great warrior of your people. Applejack, it is good to see you have survived long year!”

“Wait, who? What-” for a moment, she paused, but then noticed the lack of tusks on the boar, “You’re that boar Ah kicked the ass of a few months back.”

“The name is Thog, of the clan thog, grandson of Pumbaa,” Thog said, his voice loud as he bowed to Applejack, “After battle, when you had torn my tusks off, you had every right to kill me, but you chose not too.”

“Ah don’t like killing if Ah can help it,” Applejack said with a smile as she rubbed the back of her head.

Thog nodded, “It was this nobility that impressed me and had me go back to my clan. I had to fight and convinced others that not all of United Equestria was bad, and that there were some noble souls there. So, I had to fight to win the right to lead out people. It was a long time convincing, but all tribes allied under me are now under your wing, Princess Celestia.”

“You are a welcome addition, Thog,” Celestia said, bowing. Before she began to discuss plans, another voice broke the air around them.

“All right, as long as this is a big party, might as well join in and throw my hat into the ring,” A yeti with black armor said, walking in while Tempest strode by his side, “Hello everypony, allow me to introduce myself as Super God Storm King. This is my henchman, Tempest Shadow.”

Celestia raised an eyebrow at this name, “Super God Storm King?”

“Well with all of the gods that had been playing around here, I figured a little bit of rebranding was in order,” Storm King said, shrugging, “Couldn’t gain the respect of the free nations of Equestria without a litte name change. And besides, it helped my product margin!”

Tempest rolled her eyes at this, while Pinkie nudged her, “Your boss looks fun!”

“Trust me, you do not want to work for him for too long,” she said, shaking her head with a groan.

“Should consider working for Celestia,” Pinkie said, “We have benefits!”

As Tempest listened to the deals that her boss made, she sighed and said, “Maybe I should.”

The capital city of the antelope people had long been suffering under the thumb of Conquest. Many people had been enslaved or their people butchered. For many months across the year, all hope seemed to be lost on the people of the small country. That was when the sun rose and the people of the city looked up to see a white alicorn flying high in the sky, her sword a flame and making a circle around her.

Celestia narrowed her violet eyes at the city and then looked back at the small army of various species that stood behind her. Giving a nod, she let out a shout of “Charge!” and on that day, hope was restored.

Rarity looked around the room, “But wait, didn’t Conquest say that he had taken over some of the colony worlds as well? Shouldn’t we worry about them?”

“That is where we come in, lady Rarity,” Avarok said, teleporting in while Brain stood beside her.

Celestia looked confused before leaning to Rarity, “And who is this?”

“Avarok, she is an Elk from the planet El. Me and the other knights went to their world not too long ago to ask for help for a friend,” Rarity said.

Avarok nodded and walked to Celestia, bowing slowly, “My apologies that our fleet wasn’t enough to save all of your people from Serpantari.”

“It is all right,” Celestia said, smiling warmly at the Umbra Circle, “I am just glad that my sister picked such a good group of heroes.” Then she looked to Brain and smiled, “So this was where you were hiding, Brain.”

“Yes, well, after being shunned by your late husband for so long and only given enough materials to build a single spaceship over the course of ten years, one tends to get a little annoyed. Especially when it feels like everytime I tried to advance or better Starfleet life, I was forced to stop.”

Celestia sighed, “For that, I am sorry.”

Brain smiled as he looked to Avarok, “It’s ok. With a little help from my sabbatical on El and the use of their tech...” pressing a button on a small controller, the castle began to shake with the arrival of several ships, “I kind of showed what I can do with enough materials and time.”

On a distant planet in the galaxy, was one of many Starfleet’s colonies. For ages, the war had taken much away from them. For the longest time, they had felt abandoned by their homeworld, and treated like they were wastes of time. Then, they looked to the sky, only to see their world covered in stars. Soon, the stars changed into a fleet of ships, bringing with it a new theater of war and a new day for their little colony.

Applejack stepped up to the war table, looking at the leaders as they began to discuss and talk, “So, what happens to us? Are me and my friends gonna get seperated or something? Put into our own little ministries?”

Luna shook her head, “No, you have proven time and time again that your greatest strength lies in your unity. When you five fight as one, you are almost invincible. Seperating you five now would be foolish.”

“So, then what do we do while the army is busy kicking ass?” Rainbow Dash asked, cocking her head to the side.

Celestia looked at the map, “ Conquest still has some tricks up his sleeve. Powerful monsters and tools from the rest of the worlds he has conquered. If, and when, he brings those out, we will have need of you five. Consider yourselves our trump card.”

The soldiers of Celestia’s army fell before the giant red bull. The roar from the flaming monster caused the buildings to shake while some of the soldiers in the air were burned alive thanks to the bull’s flames. With each massive stomp, the monstrous bull brought the soldiers to their knees, those who weren’t were gouged out by one of the monster’s horns.

A griffon began to laugh, until he saw in the distance, five shadows, “Oh shit...it’s the Knights of Harmony! Retreat!”

“Wait, the Knights...is it true that they bested gods and could turn Chaos?” asked a boar.

A harpie shook her head, “Worst, I heard that the kindest of them could turn a dragon’s heart without a weapon.”

“I heard that the fashionista could snipe you at 100 miles without looking at you,” said a minotaur.”

One other minotaur shuddered, “I heard that the pink one is invincible!”

“Hurry,” shouted the griffon commander, “Flee and allow the Red Bull to take care of them!!!”

Rainbow Dash watched the retreating forces with a frown, her arms crossed in front of her chest as she leaned against the wall while she was in the air, “Awwwww, they ran away before we could kick their asses.”

“Why are you complaining? That just means less work for us,” Applejack said, adjusting her hat. “Besides, we have a bull to take on.”

“No, she has it!” Pinkie said, watching as Fluttershy walked slowly towards the flaming red bull.

Eyes unflinching, Fluttershy nimbly ducked and weaved through the flames from the giant red bull. Sighing, she floated up and patted the bull on the nose comfortably, “You can rest now, it’s ok. You are no longer needed.”

The bull paused in his rampage and looked at the yellow pegasus. After spending a moment looking into her blue eyes, he nodded and disappeared into the either. Fluttershy smiled warmly at this, only to flinch as she heard Rainbow shout, “Darn it Fluttershy! Give us a chance to get a few hits in before you kick his ass!”

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Fluttershy squeaked, hiding behind her mane, “It’s just that he seemed in so much pain and rage that I had to-”

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes, letting out a sigh as she mumbled, “You make it hard to be mad at you.” flyin over to her marefriend, she hugged her and kissed her lips, “It’s fine. I can tolerate loving a kill stealer.”

Fluttershy blushed and smiled, before saying, “Thank you, Rainbow. And I promise, not to stop anymore big threats to make sure,” she paused and looked over Dash’s shoulder, reading Applejack’s lips, “as to not bruise your giant ego or to remind you that you have a lower win count than AJ.”

Rainbow Dash narrowed her eyes and fumed, “What? Did you...did she” pausing, Rainbow Dash turned to look at Applejack, who had a big smirk on her face.”

“What? Ah’m just telling Fluttershy what ya needed to hear in order to make sure your ego isn’t too bruised,” Applejack chuckled. “Ah mean, it’s true. Your win count is a lot smaller than mine. What is mine? Two-hundred, two-hundred and five?”

“Two hundred and 1, I have two hundred and five you-”

As Rainbow Dash and Applejack began to have their argument, Rarity stood with Fluttershy and shook her head, “How, mortifying. Trying to compare defeats like a scoreboard in a game. When will they realize that it doesn’t matter in war. Right, Pinkie Pie?” as she questioned, she looked around and noticed that Pinkie was gone.

“Ohhhh! Can I add in? I have two hundred and fifteen!” Pinkie Pie giggled.

Fluttershy smiled warmly and patted Rarity on the shoulder, “If it helps, I don’t keep count either.”

“It does, Fluttershy, it does,” Rarity said, looking downward.

Titan strode forward, a small team of ponies with butterfly wings at his side. Smiling at his daughter, he asked, “I suppose you do not mind if I bring forth my own group of ponies to this war gathering?”

“Father, who are-” Celestia asked, only to be interrupted by Krysta as she stepped forward.

“Your majesties, allow me to introduce Queen-

Luna interrupted, a smile on her face as she asked, “Auntie Rosedust?”

“No,” said the tall and regal looking Flutterpony, standing on all fours, “Your godmother died many a century ago. I am Queen Necile, the new queen of the Flutterponies. I am glad to know that my most trusted advisor, Krysta was helpful to you somewhat.”

The Knights and Umbra Circle all stepped back in shock and shouted, “Advisor!?”

“Yeah,” blushed Krysta in embarrassment, “Seems that me being a ‘Queen of the Fairies’ was just another of Grand Ruler’s lies. See, about a few centuries ago, Grand Douchey found a small colony of Flutterponies and he used the Orb of Reality to change us all into these fairy things. He apparently wanted our special talent for creating and maintaining portals.”

“The race of Flutterponies followed me on my quest to destroy the darkness,” Titan explained, and then frowned, “Sadly, some grew restless on the endless search and made colonies on some planets and some went back to Equestria, slowly evolving into breezies. Krysta’s colony stayed on Luminoth to practice their portal spells.”

“My family were advisors to the court, to Celestia’s and Luna’s godmother Rosedust. I guess that explains why I was always by Lightning’s side and was more there for him than my people,” Krysta said.

Necile stepped forward and bowed, “Celestia, in honor of the Flutterponies long standing allegiance with Equestria, we will offer you our aid. All we request is a home to stay in.”

“There is a place not too far from the main continent called Flutter Valley. That place has plenty of what you need to live on,” Celestia said, smiling, “I also heard that it was your ancestral land. You can stay there.”

“Thank you, your highness,” said the queen.

Pinkie Pie looked to Krysta, “Where are you going to be hanging by?”

“Where else?” asked Krysta, “At my best friend’s side.”

Pinkie giggled and then looked to her friends, “This must be nearing the end, everypony is coming back for the big finale.”

(Two weeks later)

Deep within the pocket dimension, Conquest’s HQ had a very sombre mood coursing throughout the base. Many were feeling down and felt as if their winning streak was at its end. No greater was this feeling than in the main room of Conquest himself. Conquest sighed, looking at his map of the planet with a frown on his face. Lifting up a little figurine of Celestia, he narrowed his eyes and made it vanish in a puff of flames.The pony figure now a piece of molten sludge, was found being thrown across his room and against a wall. The figure in the cloak stepped through the door and looked at the melted figurine with curiosity, “War’s not going the way you wanted?”

“What was your first clue?” Asked Conquest as he leaned back in his chair and putting his feet onto the table and looking at his figures. “I cannot believe that in the course of two weeks, that miserable little bitch has us in a stalemate!”

“I did warn you that you needed to kill them quick before they gained an advantage, did I not?” the Necromancer asked, stepping out and crossing his forelegs over the other.

Payfully, Conquest held out his hand and did some mocking mouth movements, “‘Kill them quickly, and stop being so-yadda yadda.’ Yeah, I heard ya, and I didn’t listen. I was a moron who let myself get too caught up in the euphoria that this planet was giving me. I was enjoying the banquet instead of thinking straight.”

“It was your pride and excitement that was the problem, Conquest,” the Necromancer said. “That has always been your problem. You get too caught up in your victories that you forget just how truly mortal you are.”

“My problem,” Conquest corrected, leaning onto the table and putting his hands together, clasping his claws as one, “Is that I underestimated those five. When I came to this dimension, they were at their weakest, broken and shattered. That pink one was on her way to death within a few years! This place was the most ripe with hatred thanks to Dark King and I was ready to dine in.”

“But, you underestimated their friendship, their bonds.” said the Necromancer, frowning.

Dark Conquest shook his head and picked up a piece that looked like Belle Amie, “What I underestimated was the addition of this little thing! I do not know how she did it, I do not know how she managed it, but her arrival in this story threw everything out of synch for me. I had this whole story planned out. I come in, rape Starla, cause mayhem where I go, break those losers one by one, and then kill the five later when they are broken by despair as their own weaknesses destroy them.” looking down at the five Elements of Harmony, he slowly twirled one of them around, “They were so broken at that point that it would take just one motion to destroy them.”

“Then Belle entered the picture and reminded them of where their real strengths lie. Thus, they became stronger, did they not?” said the Necromancer, ducking under a thrown figurine.

“Yeah, shuddap!” murmured Conquest as he levitated the thrown piece back to him. “So, what’s your bad news today?”

“You mean other than Celestia’s forces have been holding yours at bay?” the Necromancer asked, cocking his head to the side, “You mean you do not know of how fifty percent of our forces have deserted us?”

“What?” Conquest deadpanned.

The Necromancer shrugged, “With Grand Ruler dead, many of our soldiers have no desire to fight anymore. Many were willing to throw down their arms for Celestia when they exited via the portal. The rest were just glad to be done with this war.”

“Who’s left?” asked Conquest.

“Only the criminals that were actually guilty of their crimes, the mercenary forces, the soldiers who want to see a new Equestria, and a few stragglers,” the Necromancer said, shaking his head.

“You know,” Conquest said, getting up from the table and looking out his window at the courtyard, “If I were any other kind of villain. This would be the part where I would whine and cry about my fate. Blame my problems on you and all of my soldiers. But nope!” he said shaking his head, “I’m a big boy and I can admit when I fuck up. I underestimated just how strong those mares are and their will power. Still, we have back up plans...right?”

The Necromancer smiled, his red eyes glowing as he looked at Conquest with a grin, “Well, I suppose I should help you. After all, I have been planning on having revenge on this world for a few years now. It is something I have been looking forward too.” the Necromancer said, his mind flashing back to days long past.

A light blue pegasus with a pink mane stood up amidst the turmoil, her medallion glowing brightly. Her eyes narrowed at necromancer as she shouted, “Monster! You will pay for all you have taken from us.”

“Mimic is dead, my little pony. Your friends have all fallen and the world is coming to an end,” the Necromancer said, smiling. “Think you have the power to destroy me?”

“Destroy? No. Seal away? Not without my friends,” Wind Whistler said, looking behind her at the world covered in shadow, “But there is a light in your little shadow world, breaking through the death you have created.”

“A light?” chuckled the Necromancer, watching with glee as Wind Whistler began to collapse to her knees. “Are you speaking of hope?”

“There are two foals born, right now, that will pave the way for a new generation of heroes, of ponies that will bring forth the light to defeat you once and for all,” Wind Whistler said, wincing in pain as she reached for a glowing object.

The Necromancer rolled his eyes, “Please. Hope, dreams, life? Such meaningless things all fade away in the presence of death. I will kill them all to make the multiverse see the truth of life.”

Wind Whistler sighed and held up a bell, “That is why I brought this.”

“ A bell? A bell is going to stop me?” laughed the Necromancer.

Shaking her head, the pegasus hit the bell, making it ring loudly and opening a portal behind him, “Kill you, no. Seal you away, no. I was not blessed by Yggdrasil with the Seed of Harmony and I could not find it in time. But this will have sufficient power to do something just as bad to you.”

“What,” asked The Necromancer as he felt the energy of the portal pull him away.”

“It will send you away, into the deep vastness of the multiverse. There you will not have the power to come back and enact your evil on any other worlds. You will be locked away in the darkness you love so much,” Wind Whistler smiled, “but far away from the death that you crave.”

“NO! I refuse to let this,” the Necromancer grunted, feeling the pull dragging him away, his cloven hooves creating ruts in the ground as he struggled, “take me away! I will return, I will bring forth death and I will rule!!!”

“Maybe, but one day,” Wind Whistler said, falling to her knees as her chest began to rot away, “there will come six chosen by Yggdrasil. A mare who sacrificed much for her family, a loyal child of lightning, an honest heart born of tragedy, a kind soul that can resist hell, a clown who hides a broken heart, and a mare of friendship that will bind them in the light and they will defeat you once and for all, banishing you into the hell you made.”

“No!” shouted the Necromancer as he faded into the portal.

Wind Whistler sighed, feeling her heart slowing down as her mind thought back to happier times, “Fizzy, Gusty, Truly, Mimic, Applejack...does this work? Did I avenge you?” she chuckled, “How illogical, saying my friend’s names as if they could hear me.”

“Mother!!!” shouted a little colt as he ran, little bells ringing.

“G-goodbye my son,” said Wind Whistler as she breathed her last, and bringing an end to the first generation of heroes.

The Necromancer growled before breathing deep and calming down, “If you need me to bring forth my skeleton warriors to aid you, remember to just ask.”

“Oh, would you?” joked Conquest as he blinked with hearts in his eyes. “Thank you! Oh, and do remember to talk to Kudos to give them some upgrades.”

“Speaking of our three remaining generals,” asked The Necromancer, “How have they been handling the news of their lies.”

“Aw, you know, each are probably handling it in their own ways that will be very significant to the plot and themes of our little tale!” Conquest laughed as he sat back in his seat and made some plans.

Discord flew through the castle, a smile on his lips as he soared. Twisting and weaving through the castle, he made sure to change some random objects and made some of the guards a little dizzy. After a few minutes of flying, he soon encountered Celestia as she walked away from the war room, “Happy two weeks of winning, princess!” Discord said, waving a flag that said ‘Hooray’ before kissing her on the lips, putting a hershey’s kiss in her mouth.

“Thank you Discord,” Celestia said, swallowing the chocolate and eating it,” But we won nothing. Not while we still can’t breach Conquest’s HQ. Until then, we are only responding to his assaults and taking back our world. We are attacking the body but not the head.”

“The trio no help?” asked Discord, looking at her.

Celestia sighed and shook head, “No, not at all. Their pathways to and from the pocket dimension are sealed, and any soldier we catch has no memory of where the dimension is. Luna and I have spent days trying to divine the location and nothing. Krysta has worked herself tired to find it.”

“And don’t look to me, sister,” Discord said, stepping back and then holding up a giant comb, “I can’t find a dang thing, no matter where I comb. He’s got some bad juju working for him man,” he said, donning a large wig with cornrows and a tye-dyed t-shirt while smoking a joint.

Celestia frowned, “We need to weaken him further. We may be lifting the spirits of the ponies with our victories, but it’s not enough. We need something big,” after pausing for a moment, she smiled and looked to Discord with a sly look, “a wedding!”

“Ooooh,” Discord smiled and rested his head on Celestia’s shoulder, “A wedding? Between who? You know, Rarity and Spike really need to get hitched sooner or later.”

“I was thinking a little more...personal,” Celestia said, smiling softly and looking into Discord’s eyes before kissing his nose.

“Wait, what?” asked Discord shocked.

Celestia shrugged, “Well, I am not going to let our son be illegitimate forever and now that Grand Ruler is dead we can actually get married.”

Discord backed up and shook his hand, “Oh no, toots. Me and marriage is right out! Look, I love you more than anything, but marriage is straight out. O-W-T out!”

For a moment, Celestia had a scowl on her face which then turned quickly to a smirk, “Well, that is ok. I wasn’t really planning on marrying you anyway.”

“Wait...what?” sasked Discord, shocked.

“Why yes,” Celestia nodded, before snapping her fingers, “Raven?”

“Yes ma’am!” Raven, her personal scribe, said, pushing up her glasses while her hair bun bounced.

“Take a decree,” Celestia said, “On this, the sixth year of the Celestial harmony. I, Celestia Von Solaris, do hereby decree that Draconqui are not to marry alicorns under any circumstances.”

Discord paused at this, feeling his eyebrow twitch, “A, decree? Are...are you issuing me a command?”

Celestia paused, before nodded, “Why yes, I do believe I am issuing you a command.”

Discord’s eyes narrowed and his red pupils blazed in fury, “Listen here toots! Nopony, and I do mean nopony, issues me a command!!!!!” growing to a monstrous size, he shouted, “You are going to get married tonight Princess and you are going to like it!!!”

“Tonight? Right now? But my decree and the setting,” Celestia said, acting shocked as she looked at Discord, shaking.

“Don’t care!” Discord said, snapping his fingers and changing the room in a flash of bright light.

In an instant, Celestia was dressed in a lavish orange-yellow wedding dress with a small opening in the back for her wings and an opening for her cleavage. In her hands was a bouquet of sunflowers, “Now, what do we need?” asked Discord, now in a tux of mismatched colors, a bowtie that was also a long tie, and wearing a top hat that only covered one horn. “We have the dresses, the church,” he said, looking at the chapel that had half in perfect harmony and was white while the other half was crooked and the pews were askew. “Oh, guests!” He said snapping his fingers and bringing forth half of Ponyville and Canterlot on the bride’s side. On the other was a collection of chaotic beings from across the multiverse, Red Eye, Crystalline, a slew of other bad guys from other great fanfics, the Godhand, a killer clown being from Final Fantasy VI who identified himself as Kefka Palazzo, and of course...Sephiroth.

As all of the bad guys began to question why on earth they were there, Discord brought out his checklist, “Ok, let’s see, that’s dresses for number one. Number three is chapel, number pie is the guests.”

“What about the wedding party,” Celestia asked, smiling as she watched Discord sink himself deeper. “We need them too.”

“Oh, you’re right! Namely, the bridlemaids!” with a snap, the Umbra Circle and the Knights of Harmony found themselves standing on the bride’s side of the chapel. Each was dressed in a long dress that matched their element of harmony color.

Applejack looked around confused, “What in the hay! Where are We? Who are they? What’s going on!!!!”

“Oh, a wedding!” gasped Fluttershy as she looked around, “But who is getting married?”

“Celestia,” whispered Rarity as she looked at Celestia in her lovely gown. She smiled and winked at her before looking down, “I have to say, Discord has surprisingly good taste in dresses.”

“Of course, Maid of Honor!” Discord continued, snapping his fingers to summon Luna in a similar dress as her sister.

Luna looked shocked as she looked down, “What on ea...” she paused, before looking up at her sister in her gown and then to Discord, before feeling her heart sink and turn cold, “No...no, no, no, no...”

As Luna shook her head and shaking in utter terror at the proceedings, Discord continued, “Mmm, best man!” he said, snapping his fingers to bring out a green slime monster with a little bow tie and dapper top hat, “How’s it going Smoozey!”

With a happy gurgle, the monster high fived Discord.

“Music!” he said, snapping his fingers to summon a band consisting of Octavia, Vinyl, and Lyra.

“Is this really happening,” asked Octavia deadpanned.

Vinyl cheered and said, “Who cares! We’re playing at a wedding with one of the coolest Lyre players in existence!”

“You really think I’m that good?” asked Lyra.

Octavia nodded, “I have always had a desire to play with you.”

“Sweet!!!!” Lyra cheered.

“Officator!” shouted Discord as he snapped his fingers to summon Cadence to stand behind the pulpit.

For a brief moment, Cadence stood there in shock as she looked around at the guests, the dresses, and the rest of the wedding. In the back, she could see Shining with Flurry in his arms, shrugging about the situation. Looking down, Cadence gasped and said, “Oh! I didn’t realize that it was...I mean, as soon as I heard, I didn’t think Auntie was going to-” she then paused as she said, “I am going to have Discord for an uncle.”

“Yep, and for the finishing touch,” he said, snapping his fingers, sending Celestia into the back and arm in arm with Titan. Next to Discord was little Illusion holding the rings, and giggling while the music finally began to play.

For a moment, Titan was shocked at what was going on, before finally looking at Celestia and smiling warmly as he lead her down the aisle, “Well, it is strange, but this was the wedding I had always envisioned for you, my daughter.”

“Even to Discord?” asked Celestia with a chuckle.

This made Titan sigh and roll his eyes as he walked her to the pulpit, “Yes, even to Discord.”

“Is...Mother here?” she whispered.

Titan frowned, “Do you really want your mom on the planet during times of war?”

“Well, I do want a little challenge,” Celestia said, sighing. Handing the bouquet to her maid of honor, Celestia stood with her hands on Discord’s as the music faded.

“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here to watch a particular union of two lovers,” Cadence began, a little smile on her lips. “Though their union and their love was kept hidden from our sight, this did not stop them from loving each other. What began as just a fun fling for them has blossomed into a love that is both strange and adorable. Weird, but interesting. But,” she let out a sigh, “My aunt has taught me that our world is one of balance and harmony. We have sun and moon, life taking over from death, hate and love, and the support of others to help with their weaknesses. So, why not a union between chaos and harmony.”

Cadence then looked between the two, “Since I assume that Discord is not one for making wedding vows.”

“No, I have something to say to my wife,” Discord said, looking back into Celestia’s violet eyes, “Babe, I won’t always promise to be good forever. I might end becoming evil once in a while just for kicks, or I might stay good for another century or two. But know this, I will do all I can to make your life an adventure. Bring a smile to your face, or just give you something to beat when you are bored, I can promise that you will never have a boring day in your life. You may be a force for harmony here, but I am chaos, and trust me, you need that in your life.”

“Discord,” Celestia said, sighing warmly and looking away a little, “I’ll admit, our courtship was a little unusual. What started out for me as a fun experiment and just a way to relieve my stress of ruling has turned into a genuine love. I know this will not always be the way things are, you are chaos and I have accepted that as a fact of life. However, it’s that part that draws me to you. The adventure of having you as a husband, the life of having the spirit of chaos as my mate. I look forward to seeing what you will bring to my life everyday. It’s this element that brings me to you.”

“Now that the vows are said,” Cadence said with a smile, looking at the Smooze, “the rings?” as the Smooze took the rings from Illusion and gave them to the couple, she continued, “May these rings symbolize that no matter what happens in the future, they will be together. You may now kiss the bride.”

“With pleasure, little niece!” Discord said, spinning Celestia around and kissing her deeply. This brought out a huge range of cheers and applause from the gathered group of ponies. Then, with another snap, Discord said, “Cue the music!” and teleported them all into a grand ballroom where a dancefloor and a giant buffet awaited them all.

“My, you thought of everything,” giggled Celestia as she watched Discord take her hand in his and began to dance along the floor, swaying side to side together.

“Yes, and I think I have shown you that you cannot control me,” Discord bragged.

Celestia giggled, “Yes, yes you did. You defied my orders and married me in spite of my commands.”

“Yes, I married you and made-” he then paused as he remembered how this conversation started. After running through the calculations in his mind, he looked to the ring on his finger, back to Celestia, back to the ring, and then back to Celestia, “You saucy minx! You tricked me!”

“Did I?” Celestia teased, putting a finger to her chin, and then roll her eyes a little, “I mean, I did make up a fake law just to convince you to marry me and then trick you into this. So, I guess I did trick you.”

Discord chuckled and pulled Celestia into an embrace, “I think I’m rubbing off on you, babe.”

“And I think, I’m rubbing off on you. You let yourself fall for this,” Celestia said, smiling.

“Who said I didn’t want to fall for it?” sked Discord before kissing his wife deeply, “Now lets see if we can get little Lulu married too.”

“I don’t think you have to wait long,” Celestia laughed, looking at Luna as the alicorn sat alone at the buffet table and sighed.

Luna watched as her sister dance with a look of fondness mixed with sadness in her eyes. A male voice spoke up from behind her as he took a seat, “A problem, your majesty?”

“Nothing, I just feel a little alone at the moment,” Luna said, smiling and looking down. “I always imagined that my sister would be married first and have a family, and I always said that I would go next. And now, here I am, watching my sister walk down the aisle not once, but twice; while I am still here, with none to call my own.”

Supernova smiled as he put his hand onto hers, entwining his fingers with hers, “Well, your highness, if you would have me...”

As he trailed off, Luna looked down at her hand in his, and then back into his slitted eyes. Smiling back at him, she leaned in and kissed his cheek, “If you are serious, then you will escort me to the dance floor, now.”

“As you wish,” smiled Supernova as he took his love onto the dance floor. As the took began to dance and sway to the music, Luna looked over her shoulder at her older sister. When Celestia looked back at Luna and into her eyes, she smiled at her sister and winked at her. There was an unspoken message between the two sisters as they looked at one another. They were content with their choice of lovers, and they wanted to let each other know how content they were.

While Luna danced with her boyfriend, for a moment, her mind flashed back to the dream that she had under Grand Ruler’s spell. She could see in her head, the vivid image of a young bat pony alicorn and the look in her eyes. Looking back at her lover as they danced, the night princess couldn’t help but smile at the idea of having a daughter of the night to raise. Dancing slowly, she pulled Supernova into an embrace and asked, “Tell me, if you were to have a daughter, what you call her?”

“Well, I was always partial to the name Nadira,” smiled Supernova as he danced with her. This brought a little smile to Luna’s face.

Elsewhere in the corner of the ballroom, Titan watched the scene with a warm smile. He let out a contented sigh as he watched his daughters dance and move from side to side. Behind him, Dusk Shine stepped from the shadows, “Thoughts, sire?”

“I am just glad that they are happy now,” Titan said, before pulling away and walking out the door.

Dusk looked confused, “You are not staying?”

“I have heard reports of something brewing in the badlands of Equestria,” Titan said, “A few ponies are losing their magic and I want to make sure that this doesn’t interfere with the war in the end.” generating a small go board, he looked at the even sides of black and white stones and nodded, “The sides are even for the moment, and I trust my daughters to see the war to the end. Whatever it is.”

“Will you be back?”asked Dusk.

Titan nodded, “When the war ends. Now, go, talk to them, and I just want to say...thank you for your service.”

As Titan walked away, he began to think about a certain event in his life in the distant past.

“I don’t believe it,” Titan whispered as he watched his six year old daughter leave the table.

Terra smiled as she walked up behind him, “What? What did our little Celestia do to you this time?”

“She beat me, she beat me at Go,” Titan said, shaking his head, “You were the only one I had ever seen do that. She beat me...”

“And here you are, still outplaying gods,” Titan said, disappearing, “Good luck my daughter.”

Dusk Shine nodded slowly and walked to the dance floor. Luna and Celestia were taking a break from dancing to enjoy some of the food from the buffet when they saw the soldier walking towards them. Nodding, Dusk Shine gave a bow and knelt before the princesses, “Your majesties, may I make a request?”

“Yes you may,” Celestia said, taking a regal posture.

“May I be dismissed?” Dusk asked, looking to his armor, “Can I finally be free.”

Luna looked to Celestia and then back to Dusk Shine, “Are you sure? You have much to talk to the guards of our time and there is much to learn here in this time.”

“Your majesties, I have been through a lot this past millennium. Watched as Grand Ruler rose to power, had a battle with Lighting, and had to struggle to protect an entire city on my own,” Dusk said, “Some of these are memories I would rather not have anymore. I just want to go to my final rest and see my family once more.”

“I see,” Celestia said.

“I...I have been traveling for so long, fighting for so long, that I just want this to end. I want my story to end here and just fade into the either,” he shook his head, adding “I never saw my wife die or my child grow up. Sometimes, it’s better for old soldiers to die and leave the world a better place.”

Celestia sighed, and then nodded, “You, are dismissed. You may remove the armor.”

There was a forlorn smile on Dusk’s face as the armor glowed brightly for a moment and then began to detach itself from his body. As it did, his body began to age slowly, catching up with the age that he should’ve been at that moment, “You know, I think I know why his majesty awoken me and brought me here. If I didn’t appear, you wouldn’t have questioned yourself about your memories. If I wasn’t there to protect Horn Kong, you might not have had a place to send the refugees and would’ve had too many ponies to protect back in the empire. Had I not given the sword to Flash Sentry, then you would not have the empire as a place to make your final stand.”

“Indeed,” Luna said, nodding, “It seems that Father had his plans to save Equestria set in motion from the start of this war. He just needed all of the right pieces.”

“No,” shook Dusk, looking at the two princesses, “He just was the owner of the boards, he gave the players the right pieces and relied on them to play their parts properly. He knew you both would play the right move.” as the age managed to catch up with him, making his skin wrinkled and body frail he whispered, “Guess that’s all I was in the end. Just another piece in a game of immortals. A side character for a bigger plot. I know I didn’t do much in the end, but it was just nice to...exist.”

As the final words were said, Celestia smiled, “If it will make your journey brighter, know that your bloodline, still shines bright.”

He only smiled as he vanished into the either. When the old stallion disappeared, Luna looked up confused, “His bloodline?”

“After the Nightmare Moon incident,” Celestia said, folding her arms, “I took account of all soldiers and royal guards that were either MIA or KIA. Then I talked to each one of their families. When I didn’t see Dusk Shine after the final battle, I had assumed that he was killed in the ensuing struggle. So, I talked to his wife and child. His son took the news hard, but he made a decision to become a brave royal guard like his father. Since then, his family has had a member in the royal guard.”

“What became of them then,” asked Luna.

Celestia looked to the dance floor, watching as Shining Armor dance with his wife, “He has recently married our niece.”

Luna gasped, “You mean he’s Twilight and Shining’s ancestor?! Did... did he know?”

“Somehow, I think he knew all along,” smiled Celestia.

Somewhere, on the dance floor, Fleur was enjoying the dance with her husband. She smiled warmly as she put her hands onto his shoulders, and looked up into his eyes, “And so, with this, the career of Celestia’s best spy is put on a long hiatus.”

“My dear,” Fancy said, tucking his wife’s chin, “You know you can always be the spy. I never once told you no.”

“Well, in six months, it’s going to be weird walking around in a tight fitting catsuit with a big belly in the way,” Fleur giggled. Then she took his hand and placed it on her belly, allowing him to connect the dots, “I like the name Amethyst.”

“Oh, my...” Fancy then tipped his wife over and kissed her deeply, “My lady, you are one of a kind.”

“Thank you, kind monsieur,” Fleur said.

Not too far away, at another table, the Umbra Circle and Knights of Harmony had gathered around with their plates and drinks and began to talk and joke as friends do. Applejack smiled as she held up her drink and tapped her glass with her friends, “To the wedding and the gaining of your elements!”

“Cheers!” the group shouted as they held their drinks together before drinking it down.

“Must be awesome, holding your own element,” Rainbow Dash said, grinning up a storm.

Raindrops nodded, looking down at the element held in her hand, “Yeah. Now Snails just won’t stop bragging about how he knows the two greatest bearers in the world.”

“Uh, he knows three,” she said, pointing to herself. “You know, me?”

“”He puts you on number three from the bottom,” snarked Raindrops, making Dash fume a little.

Fluttershy looked to Ditzy and asked, “So, what are you girls going to do now?”

“Head home to our normal lives I guess,” Lyra said, sighing. “And personally, I am glad for a little rest. Being a hero’s fun and all, but I kind of want to leave the taking out the big bads to the professionals. Besides, we did our part, time for the main girls to take action.”

Cheerilee nodded and smiled, “I’ll just be glad to get back with my school work and my Big Mac.”

“Ooooh, that reminds me, I need to throw a congratulations party for you two!” Pinkie said, in between bites of cupcake and carrots.

Seeing some of the carrots made Carrot Top sigh, “Don’t know what I’ll be going home to. I mean, my farm is-”

“Currently under the ownership of Carousel Boutique inc. In a joint ownership with the Apple family as a part of a better United Equestria for all program,” Rarity said with a warm smile as she looked to Clarity and bounced her on her lap. “Isn’t Mommy clever.”

“What?” asked Carrot Top.

Applejack smirked and tipped her hat, “Ah saw what you had to do to you farm to make sure that United Equestria never took a hold of it, and knew Ah had to take it over for myself. But, didn’t really have the money or the resources to own and maintain a second farm.”

“I on the other hand, did,” Rarity said.

Trixie looked up oddly, “Didn’t you five get some sort of salary for working for Starfleet?”

“‘Ten times in a month than what we make in a year,’” Rainbow Dash said, doing a fake quote. “Of course, it just was enough for us to live off of without trying to do the jobs that we love so we can devote more time to patrolling and working for the idiots.”

“Not that we really kept it,” Applejack said, smirking, “Ah kept most of my money for Apple Bloom’s college fun, Rarity donated all of hers, and Dash-”

“Bought the worlds greatest video game collection and Wonderbolts memberobila,” Dash said with a smile.

Fluttershy drank slowly and whispered, “Donated mine to the nature preserve.”

“All of mine went home to my family,” Pinkie said with a big grin.

Rarity nodded, “So, I decided to devote some of that money to buying up your land and preserve it as a part of a plan to keep United Equestria beautiful while keeping enough to help pay for my new store and for little Clare’s college fund.” she said, smiling as Clare lighty clawed at her mother’s mane.

“Trixie, will stay at the mansion for a bit with Spark,” Trixie said, drinking a little. “She still has some research to do for a special project and needs the resources. After that, it will be time for her to move on.”

“And don’t forget,” Ditzy said, smiling, “Let us know when your next show is. We’ll be there to watch.”

Trixie let out a chuckle, “Of course!”

“Aw, you guys learned the bestest lesson of all!” Pinkie said, hugging the Umbra Circle, “Just because the adventure is over, doesn’t mean that the friendship is! We’ll always be together.

“And besides, Ah think we’ll catch the show too,” Applejack said, before winking at Trixie, “and we promise, no heckling this time.”

“And Trixie promises, no trying to show any of you up,” Trixie said, before smirking, “Except for Dash, because she needs to be brought down once in a while.”

“HEY!” Dash shouted.

“Shhh, they are going to throw the bouquet!” Rarity said, taking the girls and to the center as Celestia threw her bouquet over her shoulder. As the mares looked up, trying to catch it, they were were all shocked when a buttery yellow hand caught it.

“Oh, my,” Fluttershy blushed, looking back at Dash who winked at her.

Rhymey leapt onto the nearest parapet of the HQ, smiling to himself. In a flash of light, he flew to the next one, before running up the tower and doing a backflip onto the walkway. With great speed, he ran ahead, creating speed mirages as he went. After out racing them, he ran back to punch each one with a hard right and left. Then he stopped at the edge and took a deep breath.

Wiping the sweat off his brow, he looked back at the golden wings of lighting and smiled. Gently he caressed the left one as he said, “Oh Meadowbrook, if you only knew how your item will finally help me to obtain what I most desire.”

“Speaking to oneself is usually a sign of madness,” Kudos said, walking up behind Rhymey. Then with a chuckle, he added, “Unless you have already gone that far.”

“You are one to speak of madness, Kudos,” Rhymey said, looking at the doctor with daggers in his eyes. “Especially considering your crimes. If I were still with Starfleet then I would-”

“Follow in Grand Ruler’s footsteps and use me to your advantage,” Kudos then held up a hand and said, “Please, do not try and deny it. Or use paltry excuses like good or evil, we both know that we have crossed those lines long ago.”

“What, do you see yourself as above good or evil?” asked Rhymey.

Kudos chuckled, and then shrugged, “I am a futurist my good man, I believe in the world of tomorrow and how it can define us. A man is cherished and loved as an icon one day, then the next is demonized. Worst, that same person will be loved again when he dies and his sins forgotten. One condemns a person as much as they want, but in the years to come, we will always be at the whim of time.”

“I didn’t think you came here to only discuss philosophy,” rolled Rhymey’s eyes as he looked at the wasteland of their HQ.

“No, I am actually here to see how you are dealing with the realization of all of the lies that have to light recently,” Kudos said. “You have been so obsessed with mastering those wings of yours that we don’t get to talk much.”

Rhymey chuckled and leaned back, stretching his wings out, “What is there to talk about? I was raised on the knowledge of our family’s history. I knew the truth of our power and who we are when I was five years old. I didn’t really care about the history or lies, no.” with a grin he said, “All I care is about the power and prestige that this brings me. It was comforting, knowing that I was destined to be among the elite. That I was among the top of my group of chosen. Which is why I crave Fluttershy so much.”

“Because she looks like your mother,” Kudos calmly said, reaching in and pulling out a jelly bean to eat.

“Yes!” Rhymey confirmed and walked around with a smile on his face. “From the day I laid eyes on my mother, I knew she was perfect. An angel of divine love and compassion, so I knew for my wife, I had to had someone like her. Which is why I chose Fluttershy, granted she needed fixing to become the one I love.”

Kudos then chuckled, “Well, you will have your chance, good sir, when you finally do battle with your rival for her love.”

“Fluttershy doesn’t love that dyke! She is only going after that one because she is curious and nothing more,” Rhymey said, shaking his head, “Yet another reason why I hate that prismatic cur.”

“Oh, and it’s not because of your own issues with your mother?” snarked Kudos as he chewed on the jelly bean and leaned on the rail.

Rhymey did not respond to the remark and continued, “That dyke, she represents everything I hate about lower beings. She represents drive, and the desire for change. My family, we have always been told that we are the best from the day we were born. We have always been told that we are on the highest pillar of strength and that we are meant to lord our power over those weaker than ourselves.”

“And Rainbow Dash’s existence disproves this belief how?” asked Kudos.

Rhymey clenched his fist and looked down at them, before releasing his grip. With a growl, he said, “She believes in pushing herself, in breaking her limits and pushing through the clouds to touch the sun. She fails to realize that when you do this, you are only to get burned in the end. Progress comes with a price and ponies like her need to learn that they have to pay for it.”

Kudos shrugged, “Some may not mind the price. She doesn’t.”

“That’s because ponies like her are too busy with their heads in the clouds. When I kill her, it will remind others that we all have our place in society, and that we should stay there,” Rhymey said, looking back the sun, “To do otherwise only leads to you getting hurt.”

“When you kill her? You act like our victory in the end of all of this is assured,” Kudos said. “And what will you do with Fluttershy when we win.”

Rhymey smiled as he looked at sun and sighed, “Find my own world or my own dimension to take her and hold her into my arms for the rest of my life. How about you? What will you do when we win.”

“If, we win,” Kudos corrected. “Time and fate is a tricky mistress. But, if we win, I think I would like to continue traveling with Conquest.”

“Become friends, have we?” asked Rhymey.

Kudos merely shook his head, “No, nothing like that. Love, compassion, or even empathy are such emotions that I find worthless. They tend to get into the way of my work. If I had empathy then I might find my work to be horrifying and wrong instead of doing the just work for the betterment of my species. Emotions such as these are what weaker scientists tend to use to hold themselves back. No, I want to travel with Conquest because I know there are other beings out there, other species for me to test.”

Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a jelly beand and looked at it for a moment, “There are so many dimensions out there with hundreds of worlds and untold number of species. Who knows what powers lie within, and how I can prove my culture’s superiority without a little...testing.”

“You have probably heard of this before, but you are insane,” Rhymey said, frowning.

Kudos gave a low throaty chuckle, “Fine talk coming from the one with the Oedipus complex.”

“If you want a complex, perhaps you should talk to our dear comrade,” Rhymey said looking down the path as Raven stepped up.

Raven growled as she walked along the path, her slitted eyes narrowed at Kudos. With a snarl she shouted, “You!” and then she pointed at Kudos before pulling back for a punch.

Kudos quickly formed a barrier with his technology, “Yes? What do you desire Raven?”

“You did this to me, didn’t you? You mangy bastard, you were the one who fucked with my memories and made me into...into this monster!” Raven screamed.

Kudos looked over his shoulder at Rhymey and walked around her, “You see what emotions get you? Without compassion and empathy, she was the perfect killing machine. Powered by hate, she derived joy from her kills and now she is regretting everything. If you ask me, a perfect experiment and a successful test.”

“Experiment? T-T-test?” whispered Raven as she looked at Kudos over her shoulder.

Kudos nodded, “While your memories were manipulated by Grand Ruler, and thanks to that golden horn, I did something different. I went into your brain and began to experiment with the parts that controlled self-control and rage.” he said calmly, pulling out a notepad and began to write. Leaning back, he began to jot down notes and continued, “It was to see who had better control of themselves when they lack those restrictions. Applejack, who doesn’t cry, and a bat pony. This was especially interesting seeing that you therestials are quite rare on our world.”

Raven looked at her hands, tears starting to roll down her cheeks as she saw the blood in her mind. Clenching her fists, she began to whisper, “I killed a father. I took a daughter’s family from her and I liked it. I loved it and I still do! I still feel that excitement when it comes to killing him.”

“That was part of the experiment, to remove your inhibitions and see what Grand Ruler’s powers could do to you,” Kudos said. “I have to say, I never knew that you Therestials are so...brutal.”

“Shut the fuck up!” Raven said, standing up and glaring daggers into his soul, “Then what is the truth? Ever since Grand Ruler died, this golden horn has been fizzing in and out! I see two sets of memories, one where I am some sort of royal guard and then the one I feel is true. Who am I!? Just what did you do to my memories?”

“Why ask me?” Kudos said, flipping a jelly bean and eating it. “I have lied and could be lying to you right now just to test your anger.”

“Stop it with the double-talk!” Raven said, narrowing her eyes.

Kudos nodded, “I apologize. I am just saying, you should go and see Conquest. He most likely will tell you the truth.”

Raven nodded, and flipped him off before spreading her batlike wings. With one final glare at Kudos, she took off for the castle. Kudos smiled as he watched her fly away and turned away to walk down the path. Rhymey can only say, “I think I know why Conquest is letting you fight Applejack. Because you break down everything she believes in, and I think you enjoy that.”

Kudos said nothing, looking up at the passing Raven. Raven, meanwhile, opened the window to Conquest’s main room and stepped in. Looking up, she watched as Conquest finished up his last bits of plans and began to fold up his world map and leaving behind the figures. Stepping forward, she bowed and said, “Lord Conquest, I must ask you something. When you said that you would never lie...is this true?”

“Of course,” Conquest bragged. “Lies don’t really offer much fun for me. You can wring so much more out of a pony if you make them face the truth.” Conquest smiled,”Sometimes, a hurtful truth can cause more hate than a lie.”

“Then...which is true? What is my real memories?” asked Raven. “Who am I?!”

“You, are Raven Darkwing, formerly of Luna’s royal guard and one of the best of her entourage. One day, you fell in love with a stallion by the name of Berry Blast and were introduced to him via your favorite pony in Ponyville, Pinkie Pie. She helped you with your first date and on the day that you would’ve gotten engaged, he was kidnapped by the sugar mafia.”

Conquest made a few steps towards Raven and continued, “After saving him with the help of Twilight and the others, you proposed to him on the spot. For a year you two were married until Grand Ruler kidnapped you and mind raped you.”

Raven took a step back as she heard this, her eyes widened in horror at her sins.Slowly, she fell to her knees, feeling the tears roll down her cheeks uncontrollably. Shivering, she held up her clawed hands as she began to flash back to every kill she had made, “Twilight, Myte, Buddy. Oh Celestia, I killed them. I killed the mare who helped me and my husband. I...I’m a monster.”

“Yes, and I can’t even guarantee if your hubby is alive,” Conquest said, putting his hand onto her shoulder, “Or even if he wants you back.”

“Then...what do I do now?” Raven asked, looking up at Conquest. “Do I leave you, do I go back to my home and hope Berry is alive? Or do I stay here? Thanks to that bastard Kudos, I don’t even know what side of me is the better half, the guardian or the monster.”

Conquest shrugged, “Have no idea, toots. But, if you want I can offer you a chance to find out. One last fight, battle one of the Knights of Harmony for me and see what you embrace during that battle. Let yourself be free.”

“And if I embrace the guardian over the killer?” asked Raven.

“Then you are the guardian and I will have to kill you,” Conquest said, frowning, “But, at least I will have some good memories of you. Now, go into your room and get ready for the battle ahead.”

“And what will you do?” asked Raven as she began to leave.

Conquest smiled as he turned away. Once he heard the door close behind him, he sat down with the figures and grabbed the Pinkie figure and the Belle figure, “Oh Belle, I need to tell you about how much I love you!”

“Pinkie...Take me!” Conquest said in a falsetto voice, putting the figures together, making kissing noises.

“Conquest! Are you playing with your figures again?!” shouted the Necromancer.

“Yes!” Conquest said with pride.

Luna stepped through the halls of the castle until she had reached the balcony. Smiling as she looked at her moon and stars, she ignited ehr horn and lowered the moon. As the sun began to rise, she looked down at the city below and some of the evening ponies going home for the day. At how some of the ponies who were once at odds with the Unicornicopians were now working together. Granted, she could hear some of the old prejudices reman, she was happy that her hard work seemed to have been working off.

“Morning, Luna!” Celestia said happily, skipping to the balcony and raising the sun.

Luna smirked, “Morning sister. Enjoy your... husband’s company?”

“Best sleep I have had since this whole mess started,”Celestia said, holding some coffee in her hand and drinking slowly. “Mmmmm, Winter Wrap up has passed, and Conquest is in a stalemate. It is truly a grand day.”

“Do not be so confident, sister,” Luna said, wagging her finger, “We are still at a stalemate and Conquest still has more than enough hate to focus his power. He can make a move on his own at any moment.”

Celestia nodded, and looked down at the small town of Ponyville in the valley, “I know, I know. That is why I am glad we have given those five a moment’s rest before their biggest battles. We can ill afford to let them get tired now.”

“I know the feeling. However, are they not concerned for their friend?” Luna asked.

“Yes, Belle Amie,” Celestia said. “They are still trying to find a way to save her and protect her.”

Luna gripped the railing and cracked it, “It’s just like Spark. She has been kept hidden in her bed chambers for the past few weeks now. Neither I or my team have seen her leave. She is determined to stay there until she fixes her little problem.”

“And this troubles you?” asked Celestia.

“This was my team! I should be able to step in and solve this problem or help when I am needed. And yet, here I am...useless,” Luna said, lowering her head before being hugged from behind by Celestia.

“It’s the nature of the beast and the weight of being rulers, Luna. If we control everything, we risk holding our people back, and too little makes it look like we don’t care. Sometimes we have to trust in the ponies we care about to make sure they do the right thing.”

“Still thinking about her?” Luna asked, “Still thinking about Twilight? I noticed that you have yet to take on a new student since her death.”

Celestia sighed, “I think about my little Twilight almost as much as I thought about you. I look out there at our changed world and how ponies have been getting together in friendship and think that she would’ve loved this. She would’ve been happy with this.”

“I know how you must feel,” Luna said, looking out at the city. “I may have not the connection like you had, but I feel if she were here...this would’ve been the goal she would’ve worked for.”

“Yes,” Celestia said and walked away.

Curious, Luna asked, “Sister, what are the elements doing right now?”

“Same as they always do,” Celestia said, chuckling warmly. “Living each day to the fullest and spending it in the warm company of friends. Especially sharing the love that they share.”

“Hey Twi,” Applejack, laying on the soft grass of the newly arrived spring. Looking up to the clouds as they passed overhead she continued, “What a crazy few weeks huh? Grand Ruler’s dead, Starfleet has fallen and Conquest is on the run. Everything is actually looking-”

“Brighter,” Rainbow Dash said to Twilight as she flew through the skies overhead. “ I mean, yeah, it ain’t perfect.”

“Equestrian pig!” shouted an unicornicopian before being swatted by his wife.

“But they are getting brighter. I mean, get this, some of old Starfleet ponies actually asked if they could help with the weather duty during Winter Wrap-Up. Them, asking me, can you believe it!!!! We’ve all been kind of shocked that the Unicornicopians are now ‘lowering’ themselves to work with us. Guess when your whole culture was just dealt with a bakery’s worth of humble pie, you kind of start looking at the world differently. Oh, and don’t worry about the refugees-”

“We got this, as Rainbow Dash would say,” Rarity said, doing some stitches on a dress as she smelled the air. Looking behind her at Clarity as she kicked and giggled, Rarity sighed and ignited her horn. With a masterful use of her magic while she finished stitching, she changed Clarity’s diaper, powered her, and then patted her on her fuzzy head. “Since Dark Conquest had some of his soldier employ a slash and burn policy on his cities.”

“Raw!” growled Clarity.

Rarity nodded and said, “Yes, I know sweetie, how horrible. Boo on him and his robotic zombies.”

“Pbbbth!” blew Clarity before rolling side to side.

Nodding, Rarity continued, “We, that is, me and the others, decided that it would be best if the refugees helped with the land and construction. While some disagreed, most actually thought it was a good idea. There was even this group of nine who thought about making bases and fighting, I think they called themselves the Reds and Blues.” she rolled her eyes at the name before holding up her creation to her daughter, “What do you think, Clare?”

“Raw!” Clarity cheered, throwing her paws in the air. Then she looked at the passing by Opal.

“Thank you for your opinion, I agree. And no, Clare, you cannot eat Opal, she is not a fuzzy marshmallow,” Rarity said, much to the relief of Opal. “As for us and our relationships? Well, I think that has gone swimmingly. Me and Spike cannot wait for the war to be over so we can finally be wed and get together. Applejack has found love with Caramel, Pinkie...I am not sure with her, I have heard that she might be...never mind. And Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy? Our star romance? Well-”

“I don’t know, I mean, we are getting closer than ever,” whispered Fluttershy as she put away the last of the feed. “Oh my, what if she pops the question soon? I don’t know what I’ll do. Maybe I’ll say yes or maybe I might be nervous.”

She didn’t notice Angel rolling his eyes, almost as if he was saying “You know you’ll say yes. We can see it coming a mile away.”

Fluttershy sighed and looked at the window, “But, you are probably more interested in us. Well, I think we’ve all gotten better. It almost feels like old times, well not completely, you are still not here. But, we’ve gotten better, and we’re back together. Applejack doesn’t overwork herself, Dash is here more often, Rarity doesn’t hold away, and I feel lighter. Actually, I think the one who is back to normal the most is-”

“Pinkie Pie,” the group said in unison.

In Sugar Cube Corner, Pinkie Pie sat in front of an old Twilight plush. She sighed as she looked at it, remembering when she bought it and what happened during that month she owned it. Taking a deep breath, she sat in the bed and looked at it with a warm smile, “Hey Twilight, it’s me, Pinkie Pie.”

She calmly looked at the plush doll in the eyes, before continuing, “Oh, don’t worry, I’m not going crazy. This is just because I think this is the best way I can talk to you. I kind of want to talk to you about everything that has been happening.” Pinkie waited for a moment, and then said, “Wait, did everypony else tell you already? Well, I guess it’s just me and the rest of Starfleet huh?”

Closing her eyes, Pinkie leaned back a little and looked up at the ceiling, “I knew it, you know. I always knew there was more to them than just what they had on the outside. That somewhere in them was a little bitty bit of happiness just waiting to come out and now they found it! Ok, so it took a long time, but now they are the great ponies I knew they could be! Starla is her own woman now, Lightning is the hero he always wanted to be, and Artie-”

Pinkie Pie blushed at Artie’s name and laid back on the bed, “He has become a great friend. See, I knew it all along, that they were more than just cardboard cutouts and jerks. They could be great ponies and friends, they just needed a chance.”

With a smile, she looked back up at Twilight, “And you knew it, didn’t you? You agreed with me deep down, you just didn’t know how to make it happen. Bet you had a plan all along to unite both Equestrians and Unicornicopians, you just wanted the opportunity.” Pinkie said, leaning forward and tapping the plush doll’s chest. Smirking, she bounced back to the bed and rolled in it for a moment. Then she laid flat on her stomach and said, “I’m just glad that this whole war can be over soon and we can all go back to living happily again. What?! Of course I know we are gonna win silly. It’s what we do best! It’s what I had been trying to get through everypony’s heads for the longest time, that even though we were beaten...there is always hope for a brighter day.”

When Pinkie saw the plush of Twilight nod her head, she added, “Guess I should’ve believed that first huh? I mean, when you died, it...broke me. It hurt me worse than anything and I guess, I lost myself. But, that was when you sent an angel to remind me of who I was. And I guess that why I need to be selfish and ask to not take away Belle. Please? I want all of my friends to be there for the big ending. I...don’t want to think about a world where I have lost one of my friends again.”

With a sigh, she hugged Twilight and walked to the door, “Oh, and Lightning is hosting a big party tomorrow. Hope to see you there!”

Trixie frowned as she looked at the open book. The large tome was opened wide and it’s bent spine showed that it had been opened to the part many times that day. Each scan that Trixie had made with her purple eyes seemed to increase her frown and made her more and more angry. After her fifth such scan, Trixie let out a loud yell of frustration before finally picking up the book and throwing it across the room, “No such luck in finding a way to save Spark and Belle?” Pinkie asked, stepping into the living room of the mansion.

“No, I haven’t,” Trixie said, her rage tempered by a bit of sadness in her voice. “Every one of these stupid books say the same thing, we can’t fuse one of them together without a sacrifice.”

Pinkie sighed and sat on the couch, “I see...”

“What’s more, some of these even say that if we get them together that there is a twenty percent chance that fusing them together will bring back Twilight Sparkle,” Trixie said, drinking slowly from her second bottle of bourbon.

“It...it isn’t fair,” Pinkie whimpered. “We shouldn’t get one friend back by losing another. We should be able to get through this with all of us together! We’ve...done so much.”

“Don’t you think I know that!” Trixie shouted, before looking away, “We beat gods, freed an entire galaxy, and we can’t save the two ponies we care about? Spark is Trixie’s friend too, but now she can’t do a damn thing to save her.”

“Then what do you want me to do?” Pinkie asked, looking up, trying to sniffle and put on her brave face.

Trixie sighed and sat back, “We still have a week before our deadline. Trixie will try her best to save her in that time. If, we get to two more days before everything goes to Tartarus... then Trixie will tell Spark and let her decide if she wants to live the last day as Spark or fuse. You, go and spend the last week with your best friend to its fullest.”

Pinkie Pie nodded and got up. Then she walked over to hug Trixie close, “Thanks Trixie, for everything.”

“What’s with the hug?” Trixie asked.

“Because you needed it,” Pinkie said, smiling at her, “You needed somepony there for you.”

Trixie sighed and hugged Pinkie back, “Thank you.”

Tartarus, said to be many things to the ponies. Hell, a prison for only the most vile of criminals, and the world beyond which none may travel. For the moment, it was less one of its many occupants as a figure in a tattered cloak made his next walk on the outside of the cavern entrance. Smiling, he turned his head to look at the black alicorn that made his way towards him, “God.” the devil said, his voice deep and reverberating.

Titan frowned, “Devil. Or do you prefer Tirek?”

“Tirek, if it’s the best that you want,” Lord Tirek said, pulling back his hood to revealing his muscular physique and his slightly larger centaur frame. Black horns were large on his head and matched his red body. Narrowing his yellow eyes, he asked, “Tell me, god, what brings you to the entrance of my realm.”

“I have heard about you stealing magic from the weakened cities, trying to return to your form,” Titan said, frowning.

“I am but trying to gain what I can from this world before Death takes it all and kills it. You cannot tell me that your pretty daughters will be able to defeat these foes,” Lord Tirek said, chuckling as he extended his arms, “They are staring down Hate and Death themselves. In terms of gods, they are but children trying to best adults in a game.”

“They bested you, did they not? And that was when they were even younger,” smirked Titan.

Tirek frowned as he looked into Titan’s eyes, “That was only thanks to a betrayal by my brother. They have no such advantage now. They only have the elements and even then, they lack the twelfth member. Her soul split in twain, and soon, will be gone forever.”

“You lack faith she will return,” stated Titan, a slight bit of anger in is voice.

“The heart may not want to, the body is willing,” Lord Tirek said, “You think I did not see it? I have seen the young mare and she is scared now, she has been alone and gone from the body too long. This is why they will lose.”

“The five have become stronger,” Titan said, stepping around Tirek, “They can best me.”

“When you were holding back,” Lord Tirek said, “Hatred will not. And, lest you forget, he is still at the peak of his power. That wedding, the victories, all of this, are nothing more than just scars in his frame. He still has enough power to fight the stars and kill them. Do you not remember the prophecy? Conquest will rise when Friendship falls, and the darkness will cover the five lights.”

“But if Heart and Body can unite then the darkness will be pushed back,” Titan said with a roll of his eyes, “I am a well-read god.”

Lord Tirek laughed, “The word that you are leaving out, is If they unite. Near godlike she may be, she is still mortal and mortals are such fickle beings. They can be tempted by such frivolous things.”

“She will not abandon her friends,” Titan said, “Watch.”

Lord Tirek laughed, “Is that why you came here? To make me laugh? Or to fight me? Look at me,” he said, stretching out his arms, “I am but at twenty-five percent of my power. A battle between us would not be what they what want to see.”

Titan shook his head, “No, I have come to bargain.”

“A bargain? Between god and the devil?” asked Lord Tirek. “And what can you offer me?”

“If you promise to leave the mortals alone until this war is over, then I will give you the location of my wife,” Titan said.

“You think me a fool?” asked Lord Tirek. “For all of your might, God, she is your better. Even if I could touch the same soil as her, I would still burn into ash at her mere presence.”

Titan smirked, “Then what do you want Devil?”

“Death,” said lord Tirek.”

“You want to die?” asked Titan.

Lord Tirek shook his finger, “No, I just want a piece of death to hold here in my realm to torment. If these mortal are able to pull of a miracle like you said, then death will be spread to the countless corners of the multiverse. Having a piece of death in my realm will be able to keep me entertained for a decade or so. Then I can make my move on your daughter’s realm.”

“By then, those mortals you mock will be at their peak, near unbeatable,” Titan said, “Are you sure you want to make your move then.”

“Why not?” Lord Tirek said, “The only other battle would be me at full versus you, but you are well past your prime. So, battling the new godlings will be an experience.”

Titan nodded, “I see. Still, I hate to see the devil bored,” he said, summoning a go board, “Shall we play? You do know Go, correct?”

Lord Tirek laughed and sat down, extending his hand, “Very well then. It has been long since I had an opponent here in hell. Corruption, Fear, Doubt, Despair, and Absence are all too mixed up in their own plans to ever want to play.”

“Well then, I am pleased to entertain you, Devil,” Titan said, sitting in front of the board.

“Thank you so much, God,” Lord Tirek said.

Pinkie Pie walked into the Apple barn and looked at the group of four. She had an uncharacteristic look of worry on her face as she approached them. Steeling her resolve, she said, “Hey girls.”

“Pinkie?” Applejack asked, “Why did you call this meeting? Ah thought the big party for Starfleet aint until tomorrow evening?”

“It is,” Pinkie said. With a sighed she took a few steps towards her friends, “That’s not why I called you here. It’s something I need to say and I want you to promise me that you won’t be mad.”

Rarity shook her head, “My dear, whatever you have to say I am sure I speak for us all when I say we will not be mad or take offense.”

“Well, it concerns Belle, and her memories,” Pinkie said, looking down and biting her lip. “I...know where her memories are and who has them.”

“Oh, that’s wonderful!” Fluttershy said, smiling. “Why should we be mad at that.”

“It’s because of how long I knew about it. I’ve known since January, but I had to keep it a secret from all of you,” Pinkie said, noticing the odd looks in her friends eyes. “See, if we reunite Belle with the pony who had her memories then,” she let out a shudder, “she’ll die!”

“What?” whispered Fluttershy in shock.

“T-there’s more,” Pinkie Pie shuddered, “I talked to Trixie about this, and she said that there is a chance that...that...she might be able to bring Twilight back to life.”

“Ain’t possible,” Applejack said, shaking her head. “Ponies don’t come back to life. You can’t do it and it can’t happen.”

“Girls, I’m so sorry for keeping this from you. I just wanted to...wanted to,” Pinkie Pie sniffled, tears threatening to escape. She then gasped as she felt Fluttershy’s and Rarity’s warm bodies hugging her close.

“Oh Pinkie,” Fluttershy said, “It must have been so hard for you to keep this inside for so many months.”

“So, you guys aren’t mad?” Pinkie asked.

Rarity shrugged, “A little peeved that you kept this from us, but I don’t think we could ever hate you Pinkie.”

“It ain’t fair!” Rainbow Dash said, breaking her silence as she floated in the air, “We get Belle with her memories, she dies. And if she dies, we could get Twil-”

“Don’t finish that sentence. Twilight is dead and she ain’t ever coming back,” Applejack commanded. “Dead ponies don’t come back.”

Rainbow Dash growled, “It still isn’t fair! We worked so hard to make sure we all come out of this alive and now you tell me that one of us has to die? It isn’t fair!”

“I know it is, Rainbow Dash,” Rarity said as Fluttershy flew up to Dash and hugged her. With a frown, Rarity said, “We still have a week, are you sure there isn’t anything we can do?”

“No,” Pinkie said. “But, I do know something we can do though...”

Belle walked towards her home in the library, a little frown crossing her face. As she looked up around her and the sight of the Unicornicopians working with the Equestrians, she could feel a small pain in her chest. With a soft breath, she whispered, “I wish I was there.”

“Was where?” asked a voice.

Belle looked up to see Glarity come to her, her mane now a light blue, “Oh, hey Glarity. I was just...thinking about the battle two weeks ago. I was hoping that I could’ve been on the front lines.”

Glarity sighed, “I know how it feels. I was out there with them, fighting and striking fast. It was so, thrilling and exciting. Kind of miss it.”

“No, you don’t!” growled Belle, before pulling back and wincing, “Sorry. It’s just that, you have actually been out there. What have I done for them except twirl my little staff and take out Sombra? Nothing. I haven’t done a thing for them since Neighpon. Just the little librarian, waiting on the sidelines while my friends are risking it all.”

“Well, Spike is on the side-lines and he doesn’t mind it. I don’t, either. I kind of like retirement and playing with my little sis-I mean Clarity,” Glarity said, letting out a small giggle.

Belle let out a deep sigh and lowered her head, turning away, “I don’t. I want to feel useful to them, like I made a difference in their lives. So that if I fade,” she paused and sighed, thinking about her fate, “I’ll feel like I meant something to them.”

Glarity walked up to her and patted her friend on the shoulder before giving her a hug, “It’s going to be ok. They’ll remember you, you have been their friend for a while now. I don’t think they’ll forget you.”

“Do you really think so? Do you know how it feels, scared that you are going to be forgotten or that everything you have done in this world will be pointless?” asked Belle.

“Yes,” Glarity said, resting against the building, “Remember, I am still only a golem. Everything I have, my heart, my blood, my thoughts, were all artificial. If it were not for the love of those mares, then I would’ve been just a little toy to be shoved aside when done. But they made me feel equine and alive.”

“And that is what I am talking about,” Belle said, lifting up her hands and looking at them. Closing her eyes and turning away, she said, “You actually walked with living legends. Me, I’m still walking behind them and being left in the dust. A year has gone by, and I don’t know if I made a difference in their lives.”

Glarity looked at Belle’s flank, at the lone Star that made her cutie mark, “I suppose you have no idea what the means either?” she asked, looking back at her own mark, a copy of Rarity’s. “Almost want to see if my skin can be changed for a new one.”

“No,” Belle sighed, looking at her mark. “It’s a lone star, what does it mean? Magic? I’m not magical in the least? Or is it that I am meant to be a star or something, I don’t know.” turning away from Glarity, trying to walk home, she said, “Glarity, I’m sorry for burdening you with this.”

“Hey,” Glarity said, hugging Belle. “Remember what I said, not too long ago? How we need to stick together? One with fake memories and the other with copied ones? That still holds true.”

“Yeah, thanks Glarity,” Belle said, giving a little sniffle before returning the hug and walking home.

Each step along the new spring grass and whiff of the new flowers began to energize the grey unicorn a little. There was a little warmth in her heart as she remembered helping with the Winter Wrap-Up with her friends, cleaning up the cold to allow her world to be reborn. Looking around the area around her library, she admired how quickly it all seemed that the world had re-awoken from its slumber to begin anew. This made her smile and take a deep breath before opening the door.

As she opened the door, she was shocked to be accosted by darkness. After fumbling for a bit, she flicked on a switch to turn on the light, only to be hit back by a shout of-

“Surprise!”

When her eyes adjusted to the light, she saw a giant cake in the center of the library with a banner above it. In the center of the room were five mares who all had a big smile on their face, “Girls, what is this?”

“A thank you party, silly,” Pinkie said, bouncing over to give Belle a drink and a hug.

“Thank you? F-for what? What did I do?” Belle asked.

Applejack was the first to answer, smirking as she took a drink and leaned against the table, “Saving us, what else?”

“Saving you? How did I save you? I never really did anything but plan and use a little staff,” Belle said, walking into the room and looking at the group.

Rarity smiled and patted Belle’s arm, “You sell yourself short dear. You also helped reunite us in a way. You brought us back together and, in a way, saved us all.”

“What,” asked Belle.

“Sugarcube,” Applejack said, nodding “Ah don’t think you realize this, but before you came into our lives, we were all broken in a way. Ah was so damn preoccupied with being the leader and being the one to hold everypony up, Ah forgot to look after myself. And Ah forgot that these girls were strong enough to stand on their own too.”

“Indeed,” Rarity said, “I was too focused on trying make myself happy and live so brightly, that I...made some errors that almost took me away from everypony I cared about. I thought I might have been useless so I tried to be something to everypony. I forgot how much I could do for the team.”

“I was focused on patrols and traveling that I,” Dash said with a sigh, shaking her head, “got too caught up in it. Like I figured if I was just fast enough, or did enough on my patrols that I could be there for everypony and stop another death from happening. I almost forgot myself for a bit.”

“I let Rhymey break me, weaken me,” whispered Fluttershy, shaking her head, “I forgot how strong I was.”

Belle shook her head, “But, the answers were all inside of you. I...did nothing to help you guys with that.”

“Wrong!” Pinkie said, playfully pressing Belle’s nose. “We might have had it in us, but you helped bring it back out again!”

Applejack nodded and smiled, “It’s kind of like it was with Twilight all over again. With her gone, it was like we were all missing a piece of ourselves. We all knew each other, hung out once in a while, but she made us true friends.”

“She allowed us to be the heroes we were meant to be, by letting us see the inner virtues that we all possessed,” Rarity said, “Because we figured that we needed to do something for that mare who we became friends with. We needed to do something to protect our world, no matter how small it was. You...did the same thing for us.”

“Yeah,” Rainbow Dash said, landing and looking into Belle’s eyes, “You needed us to be there for you, to give you a whole ton of new memories that would’ve made you feel whole. And in return, you brought us all together to help you out.”

“And in return, we rediscovered lost pieces of ourselves,” Applejack said, smiling at Belle and taking a slow drink of cider. “We remembered who we are, and allowed each other to strengthen ourselves back up. You got us back onto our feet and back in the saddle. All because we wanted to be strong and to be there for you.”

Belle could feel her eyes start to water a little, “I did all of that?”

“Yes, you did,” Rarity said, “You, brought back that missing piece for us. And for that, we are eternally grateful.”

Belle sniffled as she felt herself being hugged by each of the five and in return, she hugged them back. There was a warm smile on her face as she hugged them close, enjoying the warmth that they had all brugh her. Quickly, she joined in with the party with her friends.

For the rest of the evening, the six mares enjoyed their company. The warm glow of friendship shined bright in that library, one that had not been felt for a few years now. Laughter, songs, and stories were told between the six as they held their own little party for each other. It wasn’t one of victory over an enemy, it was something more important. It was one between friends who had needed each other, missed each other, and wanted to be there for each other. Belle herself, could feel a warm glow shining from within. And she smiled warmly, seeing what they had meant when they said alone they were strong, but together they were invincible, “We all have weaknesses to overcome,” Belle said to herself, watching as Applejack and Rainbow Dash engaged in an armwrestling contest. Looking at Fluttershy and Rarity talking, she sighed, “From being shy, to being vain or egocentric. But with friends, those weaknesses seem small, and your strengths are allowed to be brighter.”

Belle then looked up and noticed that Pinkie was standing on the balcony, waving to her. Curious, Belle walked up the stairs to see Pinkie Pie waiting for her. Smiling widely, as Belle got to the final step, Pinkie ran over and gave Belle a big hug, “Thank you, for saving my life.” Pinkie whispered.

“S-save you? Belle asked, “Pinkie, you saved my life, remember? You let me into you home and gave me a lif-”

Pinkie put a finger to Belle’s lips to stop her. Then she shook her head, “No, you saved my life.” she said, before pulling away and looking into Belle’s eyes, holding her hands, “Before you came into my life, I was broken. I mean really broken like a badly made cake. Without all of my friends together, with how Starfleet treated me, I...” she turned away and sniffled, “Began to wonder what was the point of me. Why was I around if I couldn’t make friends with these guys or make them happy. I tried to get everypony to look on the bright side, but they just ignored me!”

“And I helped you with that?” Belle asked.

Pinkie nodded, “You reminded me I can still touch ponies’ hearts and that I can help them find true friendship. That I can still make them really happy and laugh again. I thank you so much for reminding me that, no matter what they throw at me, I can still be...Pinkie. Thank you.”

Belle smiled warmly and hugged Pinkie tightly, “No, thank you Pinkie, for being a good friend.”

“Belle,” Pinkie sighed, “I don’t know how to let you go. I don’t want you to go.”

The next Day...

One day until the dawn of Twilight.

Lightning Dawn stood in front of two small tombstones. He was now dressed in a white shirt and blue pants, while he wore a lightning bolt before a rising sun patch as a makeshift cutie mark on his pants. His eyes gazed upon the two marked graves and he sighed before kneeling before the two stones and laying down two roses, “Hey, Mom, Dad. I guess it’s about time I did something like this huh? I guess the reason why I never had a decent talk with you guys was because...maybe I just kept to Grand Ruler’s whole ideal of not letting your emotions get in the way.”

With a scoff, he rubbed the back of his neck and began to sit down, “I think that probably stopped me from becoming the stallion you hoped I’d be huh? A guy with lots of friends and companions, or maybe even a hero.” Then he chuckled before leaning back and stretching his leg, “Well, it took me about twenty years, but I did it. I’m now the hero I think you would’ve been proud of. Just...didn’t think it would take this route.”

“Yep, no longer Supreme-Allied commander of Starfleet. Now I’m just Lightning Dawn, unemployed pegasus of Ponyville. I haven't even been in any of the major battles that have been fought,” Lighting said, pulling at a piece of grass. “Instead, I’ve just been, living. You know, earlier I had actually thought about doing a prank with Dash, can you believe it? And then I wanted me and Artie to just go see a movie together. Amazing, right? I never thought I would actually enjoy just being a friend and having a good time with everypony.”

Lightning shook his head as he pulled out a blade of grass and threw it into the air. Then he laid back a little, to watch the pegasi push the clouds away, “I...don’t know what I am going to do with myself now. I spent so many years being a soldier, a fighter, a warrior, that the idea of being a civilian is kind of scary.”

“But, you never have to be alone, you know,” Krysta said, stepping to look down at Lightning with a big smile on her lips.

Lightning Dawn looked up into his friends deep black eyes and smiled back, “Yeah, I know. And that’s what makes it so exciting. After all, living... is probably the best adventure of them all.”

Krysta nodded and helped Lighting to his feet, “So, ready for the big party tonight.”

“Yeah,” Lightning said, taking Krysta’s hand in his and walking along with her through the park. For a few moments, Lightning and Krysta said nothing, just held each other’s hands as the new spring day warmed their two bodies. As they neared the bridge, Lighting asked, “How’s the non royal life?”

Krysta laughed before throwing her hands in the air, “Exciting! Running missions for her majesty, flying high and doing things for her has been so much fun! I love it!”

Lightning chuckled as he rested his elbows on the railing of the bridge and looked at her, “That’s great.”

“I even found out why you Unicornicopians were forbidden from getting cutie marks,” Krysta said.

Lightning looked to his flank at the patch on his pants, “I was kind of curious, thought it might have been ingrained in our species.”

“No, Grand Ruler used the Orb of Reality to stop them from forming,” Krysta said, sighing. For a moment she looked into the sky and blinked, “I think he might have had a cutie mark he wasn’t proud of, something that made him feel like he wasn’t worth a darn. So, he wanted to make sure his pet project never had cutie marks either.”

Lightning rubbed his flank slowly, rubbing the cutie mark, “At least he had something on his flank. We got nothing.”

“Why the interest in having a cutie mark,” asked Krysta.

Lightning let out a sigh before leaning back, “I guess I just kind of want something to say, who I am and what I am all about now. Kind of want something that will say what is special about me now.”

“You are my best friend. I find that to be pretty special,” Krysta said, holding his hands and looking into his eyes.

Lightning smiled warmly and looked back, “Yeah, and I thank Celestia everyday that we met and for you. You stood by me and saw the inner me and helped to bring it out.”

Krysta put a finger to his lips and looked at him, “You saved me first, remember. All of this is just me paying you back. And besides, Someone out there had to be the one to tell the world about the real Lightning.”

“Yeah, I guess,” Lightning said with a chuckle as he began to take flight. Flying ahead of his friend, he said, “Come on, let’s have a race before the party tonight.”

“Sure!” Krysta said, a little blush on her cheeks as she took off.

Brain smiled at he tightened one last screw on his device, “And that is why Grand Ruler should never be allowed around machines!” he said with a laugh.

Mysterious tried his best to keep stoic through the story as he watched his little brother finished, “How did you survive with that man for so long?”

Buddy stepped down from his ladder, and shook his head. With a sigh, he said, “I guess a part of me just wished that sooner or later I would be known for more than just the ‘crazy scientist guy’ or the man with the plan. But, in time, I just realized that day would never come.” After stepping back fo a moment to look at the giant machine, he smiled as he looked to Mysterious and nodded.

Mysterious smirked and threw a switch that was next to him. With a loud hum, the large generator began to slowly come to life, the blue energy began to glow from within allowing the power to surge forth and blaze on with in. The black stallion couldn’t help but enjoy the warmth of the generator as it pulsated raw power, “And with that, you have provided the town of Ponyville with a clean powersource that doesn’t need the dam.”

“Advancing and using the planet’s laylines to help,” Brain said, stepping back and nodding, “And if worst comes to worse, I can turn it off if it hurts the planet by mistake.”

“So,” Mysterious said, leaning against the wall and putting his hood over his head, “What convinced to you to defect back to El?”

“The Mega Mode incident,” Brain said, looking away. “When I discovered that Grand Ruler took my ideas for increasing the power of their suits and was trying to use it as a method of control over them. I had to get out. I took the plans for the modes, deactivated them, and removed them from their energizers. It was only later that I found out he was using my Serpantari satellite as a weapon to kill,” taking off his glasses, Brain put them to his side and wiped his eyes in regret.

Mysterious patted his little brother on the shoulder, before giving him a hug, “You did not know that he would corrupt your device. He did this to a lot of your friends and allies.”

“Yeah, I know,” Brain said, shaking his head, “But I think the worst thing he did...was pit me against my big brother.”

“I know, I know,” Mysterious said, giving Brain another hug before walking with him away from the new generator, “But, now we have much more time to enjoy each other’s company. Speaking of which, do we not have a party to get to tonight?”

“Yes,” Brain said, “A last hurrah for the heroes of Starfleet!”

Inquirious sighed and shook her head as she left the royal records, a forlorn look in her eyes. Turning away, she slowly walked away and towards the long path to the train station. Then she heard a slight hiss, “No luck huh?”

“No,” Inquirious said, “When I gave birth to our son, the soldiers took him away before I could even name him. I don’t know where they could’ve taken him, or done with him. I can’t even tell if he’s alive or dead or-” she gave a small sniffle, “or if it’s even possible that we can find him.”

“Hey,” Rep said, giving Inquirious a warm hug, before looking into her eyes, “You didn’t know that it would be possible for us to be reunited or that you could’ve gotten home, but here you are.”

Inquirious giggled and smiled, tucking her lover’s chin before kissing his nose, “Optimist.”

“Hey, what husband would I be if I didn’t cheer you up,” Rep said, tickling her a little with his tail.

With a laugh, Inquirious said, “Husband-to-be, remember? We still need to get married by Celestia soon and then have to deal with the trial.”

“Yeah, that thing,” Rep said with a roll of his eyes.

“Is that even necessary? I thought that, with everything you did back during the fight for the planet, you would be given pardons,” said Inquirious.

Rep shook his head, “We still have to answer for some for the things we did under Titan and Conquest. I mean, we didn’t kill anyone, but we still led some of the assaults. It’s kind of a big deal. But, I think, knowing how those princesses work, I don’t really see the punishments being too harsh.”

“Heh,” Inquirious chuckled, “Maybe you might get sent to the moon.”

“Well, as long as you come with me, I won’t mind,” Rep said, kissing her on the lips.

Starla took a few steps away from her old house, many of her belongings as well as Lighting’s were now outside. Taking a deep breath, she brought out her bow and arrow and aimed at the house. Pulling back the arrow, now tipped in flame, she aimed it right at the small house. Focusing her shot, she fired the arrow straight at the flammable material that laid within. Taking one quick step back she sat as she watched the house explode in a fiery inferno, “Are you sure?” Dementia asked, sitting with her daughter.

Starla nodded, watching at the house began to burn a bright red flame, “That house, it holds too many traumatic memories for me. Everytime I stepped in there, all I could see was Conquest raping me, hurting me, and,” she let out a shiver and crossed her arms over her chest, wincing in pain, “I just want to wipe it all away, clean my slate.”

“And burning your home was the best way?” chuckled Dementia, “Where are you going to live? Or did you just want to be theatrical.”

Starla put her hands in between her legs and shrugged, “I did want to be a little theatrical. You know, burn away the pain and all of that. Don’t worry though, I...have back ups. My pension from Starfleet was quite a lot you know and I have been saving up for a rainy day.”

“How much?” asked Dementia.

“Enough to give me a home until I get a real job,’ Starla said, looking down, “And to help with the therapy bills.”

“A real job?” Dementia asked, “Are you really going to be happy with that? Just being an astronomer?”

“I...” Starla sighed, shaking her head and looking up at the afternoon sky, “Don’t know. Maybe? I have spent most of my life wanting nothing more than to be you, to be a hero and kick ass! And yet, it was only after that I walked through hell did I even approach your level of heroism. The rest of my time was just spent crying out for Lightning, getting caught, or waiting for Lighting to save me. Not like you.”

Dementia took her daughter’s hand and held it gently, “You tried. You gave your all to reach the stars and you slipped, but you still tried. And for me...that is enough. I will never be disappointed in you and for what’s it worth, I am proud of where your path has taken you so far.” she then nuzzled Starla. “So if you want to become an astronomer or whatever, I’ll just be happy to see you live.”

“Thanks Mom,” Starla said, continuing to watch the sky, “Do you think Dad is alive? I mean, you lived, why not him?”

Dementia shook her head, “I don’t know. If he is...then I relish the day we can see him again, so you can see what your real father is like. And not that horrible memory you may have”

“I do have plenty of memories of you guys arguing, but I have to wonder how much of that was true,” Starla said.

“We did have plenty of fights, but he was a pacifist and most of that came from worry about me,” Dementia held her daughter’s hand and lifted Starla up, “When you find the right guy, I think you’ll see what I mean.”

“Yeah,” Starla said with a wistful look. Then, she looked to the library and asked, “Do you really think that party is going to fit all of us?”

Dementia shrugged, “I heard that tree held most of Ponyville, I think it’ll managed.”

Rainbow Dash let out a cheer of excitement as she flew around in circles, performing a few loops. Then, with the clouds manipulated into rings, she flew through them to make it all into a giant effigy of her cutie mark. Looking back, she shrugged her shoulders and began to land back onto the balcony to look over the training ground. Many of the Knights of the Wind had gone onto other missions, or gone home, leaving Dash to just enjoy the quiet of the training ground. All around her, she could feel the cool spring breeze just floating on by and brushing her mane.

Ear twitching, she looked to the sky and smiled when she saw a two month pregnant Spitfire fly down from the sky, “Well, hello, former commander.”

“Ha ha,” taunted Spitfire as she shook her head, “Just because I have an additional passenger with me, doesn’t mean that I am formally anything! It just means I am on desk duty for nine months.”

Playfully, Dash tapped Spit’s stomach, “And you are a little slower.”

“Still fast to catch up with the living lightning,” Spitfire winked at Dash, before sighing contently.

“Any regrets?” Dash asked.

Spitfire turned her head up to the sky, “Well, I do miss being with my team, but I still gotta think of my son’s safety you know. Can’t being doing mid-air tricks or dodges and stuff like that while I’m flying for two. But,” shaking her ehad, she rubbed her belly with a warm smile, “The idea of having a little one, teaching it all I know about the air, raising the tyke to be like me...it’s a wonderful thought. Just to be with a family.”

“Guess it is,” Dash shrugged.

Spitfire looked back at Dash, “You and Flutters think about it? Or are you two-”

“Um, well, sometimes Fluttershy would ask me when we cuddle and I sometimes think about it,” Dash said, looking at her wings and adding, “Sometimes I even think about popping the question to her.”

“It’s a great thing to have family, and especially with a legend like yourself. Ya planning on coming back to the Wonderbolts when this is done and you ain’t a Major anymore, or is the Knight too high and mighty to hang out with us lowly little stunt ponies anymore?” Spitfire asked.

Rainbow Dash looked at her with an air of disbelief, “You kidding? Of course I am! Just because I am a fancy-smancy knight, doesn’t mean I don’t love to fly for fun. I need to be out there, to be among the sky, and to show off how good I am.” she then stepped up to the railing and walked along it, spreading her wings to keep balance, “And besides, there is another reason.”

“Is there?” Spitfire asked.

Dash quickly nodded, and then leapt off to do a summersault, “We ain’t getting younger Spits. You, me, Soarin. We are slowly getting older and that sucks. And sooner or later, there are going to be ponies out there who have the same drive that we do. If we don’t keep up, those foals there, they’re gonna end up kicking our asses in raw talent before we know it.”

“Hey, old age is a bitch,” Spitfire said, “I still remember how a certain rookie broke everyone of my academy records on the first day of training.”

“Get my point, Old Fogey?” Dash joked and then crouched on the railing, extending one leg to let the wind flow through her mane, “That’s why I need to be on this team, because I want a rival.” When she saw the confusion in her friend’s face, she continued, “I want to inspire foals out there, to let them know that they can beat the impossible and break their own limits. No matter who they are and where they came from, they can touch the sky and break the limits.”

Putting a hand behind her head, she let out a continued sigh, “I remember, when I was a kid, Mom took me to the Wonderbolts showing and I was so amazed. The tricks, the speed, and all of that was just so awesome that I knew that I had to be up there. You guys were a goal and I wanted to reach it, to get there and be as awesome. That feeling...is what I want to give them, and make them see that there is nothing that they can’t do as long as they work hard and push them through it. No limits, and they make the impossible possible.”

Spitfire laughed a little as she turned to lay her elbows onto the rail, “There’s more, isn’t there? You want a foal that will test you, and make sure that you don’t slack off.”

“Ok, there’s that,” Dash said with a shrug. Then she looked at just outside of the training field, she smirked and got up, “Let me show you something.”

Down below, Scootaloo walked with her mom and dad, a big grin on her face. Looking back up at the guard that was her father, she happily hugged him as if he would disappear, “You aren’t leaving, right Dad?”

“Not this time,” Swift Arrow said, before looking at his wife, “Luna said that the Umbra Circle isn’t really necessary anymore, so there wasn’t a need for a standing army. So there isn’t a need for me to leave for right now.”

“Good,” Rainbow Dash said as she landed on the ground with a few gentle flaps, “Because I think she’s a little happier when you both are around.”

“Rainbow Dash!” Scootaloo said, running to Rainbow and giving her a big hug.

Rainbow Dash smiled and hugged her little sister, “Hey kid. Listen, I need to take you to the track with me, ok?”

“With you, to the track? Sure! Can I, Dad?!” Scootaloo asked, looking at her father. When both nodded, Scootaloo quickly got onto her scooter and ran after Rainbow Dash. After a few moments, the two pegasi were at the starting ling of the track.

Rainbow Dash took one look at Spitfire as she held a stop watch and then back to her little sister, “Ok, Scoots. To the end of the line and back, got it?”

“Got it!” Scootaloo said with a big grin before she narrowed her eyes.

Rainbow Dash smirked cockily, and then gasped before reaching into her pocket, “OH, and I forgot, present for ya.” as Scootaloo put on the goggles, Rainbow Dash gave out a chuckle “Looking good kid. Figured you might need something to keep the wind out of your eyes.”

“Thanks, Rainbow Dash,” Scootaloo said before turning to look at the track with a grin.

“3...2...1...GO!” Rainbow Dash said with a shout, taking off like a bullet. Scootaloo’s eyes opened wide in shock at Dash’s speed, but soon narrowed in determination as she took off soon after. Her small wings beat in determination, flapping quicker than a hummingbird’s.

As Dash flew, she would occasionally look over her shoulder to see how the orange teen was doing behind her. Once, when she looked, her mind for a moment saw a different scene. A little orange filly, crying because she thought she lost the gift of flight forever. Then, her smile when she looked up and saw a wild pegasus doing a powerful trick before landing.

“Why are you crying, kid?” Dash asked. “What, you think that you can’t fly? Look, you are a pegasus, and you know what we do best? Beat the impossible. Now come on-”

“Show me what ya got!” Rainbow shouted above the wind that was being created from her wing flaps, allowing it to create a wind tunnel behind her.

For a brief moment, Scootaloo was pushed back by a gust of wind, and for a moment, she lost herself in doubt. Then she looked through the goggles, and saw Rainbow Dash flying hard, and then smirked feeling her confidence growing back. Energy flowing through her, she beat her wings harder, moving to the side of Rainbow Dash to try and pass her. Leaning forward just a bit, she began to slowly catch up with the cyan mare.

Dash’s eyes opened wide in surprise at how fast the little one was catching up, but then had to smile a bit. What also got to her, was the bits of lighting that seemed to begin to spark and crackle along Scootaloo’s wry frame. Letting out a gasp of pride and excitement, she put on a little extra speed as she made a quick turn to head back to the finish line.

Undeterred by the wind, Scootaloo turned and fought to catch up. With each beat of her wings,she seemed to become faster and quicker. Soon, she and Rainbow Dash were neck and neck as they approached and crossed the finish line together. When Scootaloo finished racing, she threw her arms up and cheered, “Whooo! That was amazing Rainbow Dash!”

“Yeah,” panted Rainbow Dash as she wiped the sweat from her brow and smiled, “It was.”
Scootaloo began to smile as her excitement got the better of her, “I mean, did you see the way I was moving and the speed I was going. It was awesome!!!! But, you were going easy on me, right?”

Rainbow nodded, “Yeah, I was, a little. But, it doesn’t matter because you know what?” she looked into Scootaloo’s eyes and smiled, “You kind of did better than I did on that track when I was your age!”

“No way! Really?!” squeed Scootaloo before taking off, “Oh my gosh, this is so awesome! I actually flew better than Rainbow Dash!” and with that, she took off, not noticing a flash of light on her flank, and the appearance of a little fireball on her flank.

Spitfire, still in shock at the race, smiled a little to herself, “Wow, just...wow.”

“See, that’s what I am talking about,” Dash said, with a little bit of pride, “The kid can’t even fly but she can do thing on that scooter that can put me to shame. She’s that awesome. It’s kind of what ticked me off about Starfleet when they came. They kept on saying to us that we will always be weaker, that we could never be better than this. We were born with what we got and I...just never could stand for that. It goes against everything I was about. And that’s why I love watching and being there for these guys, so I can get them to touch the sky with me.”

Spitfire nodded and walked up to her, “I think I get it. And, personally, I can’t wait to see that little gal in the academy one day. Just remember one thing.”

“What?” asked Rainbow Dash.

Spitfire looked at Rainbow’s wing, “Sometimes, it’s better to live life with a great wing pony at your side.”

When Spitfire flew off, Rainbow Dash looked back at her wings, and gave a slow nod. Then, with a quick turn she flew back down towards the town of Ponyville.

“Hmmm, lets see, model one? Or model two,” Rarity said, quick changing little Clarity from one outfit to the next, using her magic to put on a light blue dress vs a light purple. There was a little giggle as she looked at the confused look in her daughter’s eyes before nodding and switching out with the light purple sundress.

“Isn’t she a little young to be fabulous?” asked Rainbow Dash as she stepped into the store.

As Clarity happily reached out for Rainbow Dash, Rarity stepped to the side and smiled, “My dear Rainbow Dash, one can never be too early for fabulosity. Especially considering the event tonight.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Rainbow dash shrugged and waved her off before walking to Clarity and happily patting her little paws. When she looked up, she saw blueprints for the store in Canterlot and began to ask about it but was interrupted by Rarity.

“So, what brings you to the shop? It can’t be to fix your suit, I just tended to it,” Rarity said, using her magic to pull out some fabric and look at it.

“Actually, I’m here to ask about,” Dash paused, much to Clarity’s curiosity. Then with a sheepish squeak, she said, “Engagement advice?”

“Engagement ad-” Rarity paused, letting the words sink in before letting out a loud squee that made Clarit squee in return. “You’re going to propose to Fluttershy!? Oh my word, this is wonderful, fantastic. Oh, you must tell me your plans.”

“Well, I was thinking of being straight forward and kind and-”

“Rainbow, that poor mare spent months married to one of the worst stallions in the history of ever! You can not and shall not do this half-way!” Rarity said.

Rainbow Dash arched an eyebrow at this, and asked, “How do you suggest, Miss Rarity?”

“Very simple, be romantic,” Rarity said, and then looking out at the afternoon sky, “Luna is going to make it a full moon tonight. That is your perfect opportunity. Go then.”

“Be romantic, that is your advice?” asked Rainbow Dash as she put a hand on her hips in disbelief.

Rarity turned to the little Clarity as she saw her began to whimper a little and sighed. Walking over to her, she picked up her daughter and began to cuddle her, making Clarity smile, “Rainbow, you already raced in like a gallant knight to save her, remember? I think you can manage a little romance for something this big.”

“I guess,” Rainbow Dash said, walking towards the door with a sigh. Taking one last look at Rarity she asked, “Hey, you aint planning on leaving us soon, are ya?”

“No, not all, why do you ask?” Rarity asked, lightly tickling her daughter.

“No reason,” Dash said, shaking her head before walking out the door.

Applejack leaned back against the tree, watching the sun past by her and shining through the canopy. It was, for her, one of the few times she was allowing herself to break and one of the few times she wanted to relax. With a deep breath, she allowed the little bits of sun warm her, make her relax and breathe slowly.

Laying there, letting the grass tickle her bare feet, she would occasionally look over and run a hand through Winona’s soft brown fur. For her, this was her season, the days when she could work hard, get crops, and feel the days of new life coming into being. Applejack let out a chuckle when she thought about new life, “Hey, Winona, since I got a coltfriend, maybe Ah should be getting ya a mate too? Hear Fluttershy just took in a few nice looking ones.”

Winona looked up lazily and gave a little yap in response to this. This made the mare laugh before leaning back against the tree once more. All around her, she could feel the spring just seep into her body, making her feel whole.

Seconds before she could rest, her eyes opened to seeing a little bee flying above her head, “That you Kudos? Yeah, I kind of figured. Bet ya just looking at me, fuming at how Ah’m acting and living. You probably think Ah’m being a weakling and insult to our race for just living like Ah have been. Let me tell ya something, living like this is probably the best thing in the world. Ah have the greatest friends, the best family, and an entire farm to wander. You try and tell me how being a superior being is supposed to top all of that? It doesn’t. And Ah may not have full control of Hamon yet, it just comes and goes when it pleases, but just you wait, Ah’m going to control it fully one day.”

“You talking to imaginary friends?” Caramel asked, smiling as he leaned against the tree.

Looking up at her coltfriend, Applejack shook her head and got up, waking Winona up from her slumber as well, “Nah, just talking to an annoying bug.” she said, glaring her eyes at the bee as it flew off.

Caramel nodded, unable to fully understand her words, and then took her hand in his and began to walk with her through the orchard. The two lovers began to take their time, walking through the field, letting the sunlight their path as the walked. Occasionally, the two had to step over a fallen branch or limb, but mostly the two just kept silent and enjoyed the spring air.

As he took a few extra steps, Caramel looked to Applejack and asked, “So, after tonight, no more Major Applejack huh?”

“Nope, just plain jane Lady Applejack, Knight of the Earth and Bearer of the element of Honesty,” Applejack said, smirking.

Caramel laughed at this, “That doesn’t really sound plane jane you know.”

“Yeah, but it’s better than being major corporal muckety muck of whatever. Ah never felt right with that on my shoulders. Made me feel that Ah had to be a hero or else,” Applejack said, leaning in a bit to Caramel’s shoulder, “Ah hated it.”

“So, what are you going to do after this?” Caramel asked.

Applejack shrugged, “Go back to living the best way Ah know how. Free and farming and following my parent’s path. Yeah, ain't as glamorous, but it’s something.”

Caramel nodded and continued with their walk. He let out a calming breath as he ran his hand through her golden mane and rubbed it. With each step he took, he noticed a new feature in her body that made him fall for her. He let a conted breath of air escape his lips as he held her close to him.

During their walk, Caramel would sometimes find the time to steal a kiss from Applejack, wich made her blush in response. With each step they took, they could feel their little bond grow stronger and warmer. Then Applejack held up her hand, “Wait a minute.”

“What?” asked Caramel, a little curious.

After turning her head around towards the sound, she shouted, “Will you two cut it out! The North Orchard ain't no place for breeding!”

There was the sound of gasping, and fast talking, before a red coated stallion bearly dressed ran out of the field, wearing a pair woman’s pants and a t-shirt on his head. Pausing, Big Mac said, “Don’t be too sure, AJ, ma said that you were conceived in the south orchard!”

Following behind him, was Cheerilee, wearing Big Mac’s yolk around her neck. Turning around, she let out a tiny giggle and said, “Um, sorry. Big Mac just wanted me to come and visit him. Um, see Applebloom at school tomorrow!” and with that, she ran off.

“Dang blasted mare in freaking heat,” Applejack grumbled as she tried not to pay attention to Caramel’s fits of laughter.

As Caramel finished laughing and wiping the tears from his eyes, he looked at Applejack. Seeing the sun light up her beautiful golden mane made him sigh as he gazed at her beauty, and then asked, “Hey, Applejack?”

“Yeah?” Applejack asked.

“Do, you ever wished that you were an unicorn or a pegasus?” Caramel asked, leaning against the tree.

Applejack turned her head to look at Caramel, before lightly playing with her blonde hair and twirling her finger in it, “Ah won’t lie, sometimes Ah did. Sometimes I would look in the sky and think of how great it would be to fly, just once. Or even how much Rarity gets done in the morning and Ah wonder how great it would be to do that. But, then Ah realize that Ah don’t really need it.”

“You don’t?” asked Caramel, leaning back against the tree, looking curious.

Applejack shook her head and began to look down at her muscles,”Nope, not in the least. Because, Ah know that Ah can do things that nopony else can. Making things grow faster, being stronger than any other race, and being able to take a hit better than the others? Those things are what make me really special and Ah like that.”

Caramel sighed and looked away, kicking the ground, “I guess I don’t see it that way. I’m not that strong for an earth pony and I’m not that great for farming.”

“Yeah, but you can still take a pounding and keep on going and you are one resilient son of a gun,” Applejack said, putting her hand on her hips and smirking. “That’s what makes you special. A few weeks ago, Ah had an unwelcome guest,” she said, looking over her shoulder at a passing bee, “ He tried to convince me that Ah was a superior race and that Ah needed to horde my power over the lesser beings. That was what Ah should do as a pony.”

“That would be Kudos, the guy who made you faint that one time,” asked Caramel.

“Yeah, and the monster who killed my parents!” Applejack snarled and clenched her fists. “Ah swear, when Ah meet up with him, he’s gonna pay.”

Caramel put a comforting arm around Applejack’s waist, helping her to calm down, “And do you think that, he’s right and you should be lording over the others? I mean, they kind of see you as a leader already?”

Applejack clasped her hands over Caramel’s and shook her head, “No, not in the least. See, what he don’t get is that we all have our weaknesses, deep inside. Dash is egotistical, Pinkie is emotional, and so on, but the point of being in a group and being a pillar like Ah am, is that you got to realize that we have our strengths deep down inside too. Pinkie is hope, Dash is determination, Rarity is Charisma, and Fluttershy is heart. As for me, Ah’m strength, but without the strengths of the others, Ah’m not much of anything.”

“That’s not true, you’re everything to me,” Caramel said, nipping at her ear.

“Thanks,” Applejack said with a chuckle, “but that’s not what Ah mean. Without the others backing me up, Ah’m not as strong as Ah should be and Ah would fall apart very quickly. Kudos, he thinks that it’s better to stand alone and be strong, but that isn’t true in the least. You need others to be able to hold you up and help you become stronger. That’s what’s living is all about.”

“Do...I help strengthen you?” asked Caramel.

In response, Applejack smiled with a seductive grin, spun around in his arms, and pushed him to the tree. Then she lifted up her back leg while running her finger along his pecs, “Babe, you do. My friends help keep me sane, my family keeps me grounded, and you...make me whole. You’re there when Ah need comfort or a quick pick me up.”

“Y-yeah,” chuckled Caramel, smiling sheepishly.

“And that’s why,” Applejack said, “Ah love you. You are a great partner for me.” she said warmly before leaning up and kissing him softly, letting her lips rest on his for a moment.

Caramel gave out a quiet and soft moan as he accepted the kiss, returning it full bore. For the longest time, the two stood there, embraced in each other’s arms as they shared the kiss. Occasionally, Caramel’s hands would rub up and down her back feeling her well toned muscles and scars through her back.

While he caressed her, Applejack rested her arms on his shoulders, enjoying the feel of his hands on her body. After a few moments of kissing, Applejack broke the kiss and put her forehead to his and rubbed his nose, “Better get home soon. There’ is a party tonight.”

“Y-yeah, a party,” Caramel said breathlessly, trying to regain his strength as Applejack let go and began to walk away. As he watched her sway and walk, he whispered to himself, “I am gonna marry that mare.”

Pinkie Pie smiled as she looked in the mirror at herself and her red and white striped dress that had little pink balls that looked like cotton candy on it. After fluffing up her hair for a moment and then pointing her fingers in a gun shape, she winked at herself as she stood proud in her outfit. Turning around she happily began to bounce out of her room and slide down the banister. Once she landed on the ground, she waved hi to the cakes, “Bye Mr. and Mrs. Cake! I got to get to the party, be back tonight.” she said before turning and walking out.

“Bye Pinkie,” said Carrot as we waved bye to his surrogate. Then he noticed a warm smile on Cup’s face, “Something up, Sugar Plum.”

Mrs. Cake smiled warmly and said with a sigh, “I think she’s been getting better.”

“Better?” Carrot said, “what do you mean?”

“Well, look at her,” Mrs. Cake said, pointing a finger at Pinkie as she glomped Artie who was was dressed in a comfortable jacket with a long pink stripe on the sleeve. “She seems so much more energetic, her attitude seems liviler, and seems like the Pinkie of old.”

“I haven’t noticed, Ginger snap,” Carrot said, draping his arms around his wife’s shoulders.

Cup smiled and said, “I have, and I think I know why.”

Elsewhere, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy walked along the road to the Golden Oaks memorial library, hnd in hand. For a second, Rainbow Dash paused just before the two could get in and Fluttershy turned around. When she looked at Dash, she asked, “Is something wrong?”

“Um no,” Dash said sheepishly as she rubbed the back of her head, “I was just wondering. Since, you know, we go well together and we work so well together. I was thinking, maybe you and I could-”

“Yes?” Fluttershy whispered.

Rainbow Dash gulped a little, finding herself becoming tongue tied, “Well, the thing is, I need a wingpony and I-” then she growled and shook her head, “Oh, frak it. Rarity told me to be romantic and she knows I am no good at that!” with a shake of her head, she reached behind her and plucked out one of her primary feathers. Then she got onto one knee and handed it to Fluttershy, looking up at her with warm eyes, “And I promise ya, it’ll be in a park, surrounded by everypony we care about, and anything else you need.”

Fluttershy looked down at the blue feather and let out a soft gasp. After releasing her hand from her mouth, she reached back and pulled out own feather. Putting the yellow feather on top of Dash’s, she gently clasped her hand with Rainbow’s and nodded, giving out a soft, “Yes. I will. Oh-” as Rainbow Dash stood up, she wrapped her arms around Rainbow’s neck and gave her a deep and very passionate kiss.

Lightning Dawn walked in front of the small group of ponies and bowed, standing in wow at the small group that had gathered. There were the last remaining members of Starfleet, the trio, Knights of Harmony, and some members of the royal guard. With a small grin on his face, he spoke into the mike, “Um, hi everyone. I am not one for making speeches you know, but seeing as I am kind of the last head of Starfleet that hasn’t fully resigned or been killed-”

“Get on with it!” shouted Rep-Stallion. “We want to gorge on the food and drink, we don’t need a long speech!”

“Yeah! Some of us just want to party!” shouted Artie.

Dyno laughed, “Maybe he just wants to make sure that we are all still good guys and not the villains.”

Flash frowned, “I think only about four of the people in this room were ever bad guys.”

Lightning smiled, and shook his head a little in disbelief at the group that had gathered. Taking a deep breath, he continued, “As the last remaining head, I can only think about what Grand Ruler tried to instill in me. He tried to make me think that real strength was in how hard you can hit, that you just needed to believe in yourself, or how to despise friendship and teamwork. Under him, I was a total asswipe who treated compassion like it was worthless.”

“NO SHIT!” shouted the party goers.

“Yeah, like that,” Lighting said, and began to kick the stand a little, “But as the previous year wore on and on, I began to see the truth. That compassion, caring, and being equine were not weaknesses, but strengths. I began to see other sides to me that I never knew about. And I personally thank the knights for bringing that out in me.”

“Hey, thank Pinks!” Dash shouted and fluffed Pinkie’s hair.

Applejack nodded, “Yeah, she was the one who thought that you guys were more than just a bunch of emotionless, uncaring, yahoos who like to invade planets.”

“Yeah, I guess that is true,” Lightning said, nodding, “Thanks for that Pinkie. But I think there is a lot to what Pinkie was doing and what I missed. There is more to being a team than just saying you are a team or friends. It takes caring, it takes compassion, and it takes the understanding of who your fellow ponies are. It takes that to form strong bonds that will help you through.”

Starla smiled and looked to Dementia, “And family, don’t forget that!”

“And love, right you four?” asked Rep as he looked at Fluttershy, Rainbow, Spike, and Rarity. All of whom nodded with big grins.

“Yeah, I was getting to that,” Lightning said, “For the longest time, I thought that family was just something that only mattered if you are related by blood, that Father and Mother only matters if they gave birth to you. But, I look around, and I begin to realize that family and friendship go hand in hand. Because, all of the above that I said, that’s what makes a family. And I see plenty of that, from brotherhood, to mothers and daughters, and finally...sisterhood.”

To this, the six mares all gave a loud shout of victory.

“ And to you guys on my team, both the ones with us and the ones we lost, I think of you as my new family. I am just sorry it took me so long to understand it,” Lightning said, looking down.

Dyno chuckled, “It’s ok! We forgive ya!”

“Wait, does this mean that Rhymey is the black sheep uncle that we don’t discuss at all?” asked Artie with a smirk, making everyone in the room laugh.

“Yeah, I think so,” laughed Lightning in response. Then he shook his head and sid with a big smile, “And so, as Supreme Allied Commander of Starfleet, I do declare Starfleet officially disbanded! We can stop it with the titles and all of that! Now, let’s party!!!”

“YAY!!” Pinkie shouted, bringing out her trusty party cannon and firing it to signal the start of the party.

It was not long before the guest began to mingle and converse, their conversations becoming mixed with the loud music and reverary. Many of the ponies would drink to the memories of lost friends, while others just to enjoy the day and to toast the future wins. Some, like Applejack and Lightning, engaged in games of armwrestling to decide who was stronger while Rep and Pinkie Pie quickly engaged in an eating contest. For the group, the slowly fading specter of war was just that, a specter and nothing more. This was, for them, a group of friends who wanted nothing more than to celebrate their bonds.

Starla stood at a table watching as Rarity walked to the table with a drink and Clarity holding onto her, “I swear, Pinkie is a literal garbage heap. No manners.”

“Rah!” growled Clarity.

Rarity smiled and rubbed the kirin’s belly, “and you are no better little one. You have the appetite of a full grown dragon, and I should know because he is your father!”

Starla laughed at this, and then sighed, “Rarity, I want to-”

“Starla, if this is another apology about how you acted towards me or treated me in the past. I have already told you that it was all in the past,” Rarity said, waving her hand, “You only though what you wanted about me because it was easier for you. It made it easier for you to dismiss me as an airhead and nothing more without getting to know me.”

“It’s not that,” Starla said, shaking her head. “It’s for helping me, and it’s not the bow, it’s everything. You, kind of helped me to make a decision about my life and what it means to be a hero.”

“Did I?” rarity asked.

Starla nodded and looked up at the stars, seeing the group of eleven stars encircling a small purple star, “I always thought, that to be a hero, I needed to join Starfleet. I needed to be strong and a super tough fighter to become like my mother. But, I have begun to realize that I don’t need all of that to be her, I just need the determination and the will.”

“And I’ve given you that?” Rarity asked.

Starla smiled and took Clarity’s hands to play with, “Yes, because you are not super strong, and before Twilight, you were just a seamstress. You are a hero, because you wanted to help your friend and I don’t think anyone could ask for better credentials. So, I want to be an astrologist but still help people however I can.”

“That sounds like a well thought out decision, my little Star,” a very deep and gruff voice said behind them.

When Starla turned around, she gasped at the sight of a very muscular and very tall Unicornicopian with a humongous beard, “No...it can’t be.”

“Is that look of shock any true way to greet your old man?!” Boomed Stellar Shine as he smiled wide.

Dementia stepped over towards the table as she heard the voice, “S-Stellar? It can’t be!”

“Ah, hello my lovely wife! It is so good to see you once more!” Stellar Shine said with a smile as he picked his wife up in one arm and kissed her deeply.

Starla, her eyes opened wide in shock, ran to her father and gave him a giant hug, “Father! You are alive but how?”

“HUH OH! You do not think that a few bulls were enough to kill me? I may be a pacifist, but I am no pushover,” chuckling, Stellar raised his arm and flexed his bicep, letting it ripple. “Come, Galaxia, Starla, you two have much to tell me about your lives and what I have missed.”

Dyno raised a finger in confusion, “Wait, how? But...what?”

“Oh, well,” giggled Pinkie, standing behind Dyno while smiling wide, “Over the past two weeks, me and Lightning have been checking out some of the ponies that lived in Horn Kong. Seems that when Grand Ruler had some of the ponies killed, some of them were actually sent to a holding cell so he might use them later.”

“Ah, I get it, corrupted family for his story or some other cliche to make his lies true,” Dyno said, sighing, “You can read him like a book.”

“Well, while me and Lightning were looking around, I found not only Raven’s hubby, but I saw this weird stallion that looked exactly like Starla! I asked him who he was and then I put two and two together and came up with the fact that he must be her father! So, I invited him here!”

“Any other missing family members?” asked Dyno, looking at Pinkie.

Pinkie sighed and said, “No, he was it. But, I think that was better than nothing, right?”

“You know, a year ago, I would’ve called you loco,” Dyno said, and smiled warmly, “But right now, I have to agree. Considering everything, I think she needs this.”

“That’s why I brought him, silly,” Pinkie said, turning around and bouncing away. As she looked around the room, she saw Belle standing by the table, drinking slowly. Nodding, she skipped over to the back of Flash Sentry and pushed him a little closer towards her.

Flash let out a grunt of surprise as he found himself being pushed to Belle, “Um, Belle! H-hi!”

“Oh, hello Mr. Sentry,” Belle said, putting down her drink. “And, what brings you here?” she asked playing with her purple mane.

“Well, I was thinking,” Flash asked, a small blush on his cheeks as he said, “Maybe you might, like to, um...dance with me?”

“I’m not much of a dancer,” Belle said with a sheepish chuckle, “But I would love to dance with you.” she said, letting Flash take her by the hand and to the floor.

Pinkie Pie chuckled and stepped back, “And that is one couple down for the great and powerful Pinkie Cupid!”

“So, that’s what it looks like,” Artie said from behind Pinkie.

“What looks like what?” she asked, looking back at Artie, smiling.

“Your real smile, that’s what it looks like. I seen and hung around you for so long, that I only knew what your fake smiles looked like,” Artie sad, stepping up to Pinkie before lightly rubbing her cheek. “But now, I have seen what your real smile looks like. One made when you have all of your friends together and when you have made ponies happy. I, think it’s one of the most beautiful things I have seen.”

“Awww, Thank you!” Pinkie said, wrapping her arms around Artie’s neck and giving him a big hug. Then, as she broke the embrace, she turned around, and begn to lift up her shirt, “Hey, check this out.”

“Pinkie, what are you-” Artie began to ask, only to notice that her back was clean and unmarred, “What? Where are the scars on your back from the wings?”

Pinkie slowly put the top of the dress back down and then her hands behind her back as she explained, “Well, Granny Pie used to say that a scar made from a powerful emotion will not go away until the person who caused the scar was appeased. After Grand Ruler forced those wings on us with that Orb of Reality, I fell into a deeper depression. I thought that the only way I could be me was being forced to change into something I’m not. Those feelings didn’t really go away after I cut those wings off to give it to that colt.”

“But, you say you feel better now. Because we-”

“Look around you!” Pinkie said, looking back at the party, “It’s like it used to be. Friends having fun, bonding over things, and laughing at things because it’s silly. We aren’t completely out of the woods yet, but we don’t care right now. We’re just having fun and loving it. No one’s being mean, and no one’s being a downer by saying “We are happy, but this or that is happening.’ for once-”

“Yes,” Artie said.

Pinkie let out a contented sigh before leaning against Artie, “Everypony is seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, and realize that the world isn’t as bad as they think. I can’t be happier.”

“Yeah, and I am glad to see you that happy,” Artie said, hugging Pinkie Pie closely. “And I am totally fine with your love of pans.”

“Pans?” Pinkie asked curiously.

“Well, I overheard from Rainbow Dash that you are a pansexual and I thought it was weird that-”

“No silly,” Pinkie said, shaking her head, “I’m pansexual! That means I don’t care who I like or love. I just enjoy both.”

“Wait, does that mean that you-” before he could ask, Pinkie gave him a kiss on the cheek before skipping to her friends. This made Artie smile while rubbing the side of his cheek.

At the table where the knights had gathered, Fluttershy held Rainbow’s hand as she said, “Girls, I have fantastic news!” she said, before thrusting up her chest and showing off Dash’s blue feather. “Look!”

“Oh my word!” Rarity said, before squeeing and hugging her dear friend, “I am so happy for you two! Oh this is so exciting!”

“Wait,” Applejack said, holding up a finger, “Ah don’t get it. What’s important about a primary feather.”

“Oh, right, earth pony,” Rarity said, shaking her head. “In pegasus culture, when one gives a primary feather to another, they are saying that they will always be first in their hearts and will want to fly with them forever. This means that they are now engaged!”

Applejack’s eyes widen, “Wait, you what? Well congratulations you two!” she exclaimed before patting Dash on the back.

“Thanks, I don't know what I am going to do with this yet,” Rainbow Dash said, looking at Fluttershy’s feather, “Mom and Dad bronzed theirs.”

“Mother and Father keep theirs in a glass case,” Fluttershy said, smiling as she looked at Rainbow’s feather.

“Oh, I can’t wait!” Pinkie Pie squeed as she looked at her friends, “I have so many ideas for bachelorette parties to throw for the two of you. Oh, maybe we can bring some of the others or the Umbra Circle with us. Wait, then maybe-”

“I was thinking of maybe, we’ll keep the group small, really,” Fluttershy said.

Rarity put a comforting hand onto Fluttershy’s shoulder, “Do not worry dear, you’ll be with my group and Rainbow can have her own. But, right now, we need to discuss dresses and...”

Applejack could only smile and shake her head as her friends began to have their deep conversation about the future wedding plans. Taking a deep breath, Applejack walked out of the party room and found a spot to stand by the tree, before crossing her arms under her chest and smiling up at the sky. Letting her green eyes look over the sky, she spotted the circle of eleven stars in the sky and the purple star in particular, “So, Twilight, think we did good? Ah mean, we saved the world in so many different ways Ah don’t think Ah can count. We took down Starfleet, and Ah think we brought in a new era of unity. It ain't perfect, but Ah’ve never thought too nicely about living in a perfect world. Ah just think we are doing our best with what we got you know?”

“Don’t worry about it. You girls are doing awesome, especially that beautiful Rainbow Dash. You should totally give her all of the cider,” Dash said, in a voice that was similar to Twilight’s.

Applejack rolled her eyes, “Funny Rainbow Dash, real funny.”

“Yeah, it was,” Dash agreed before flying up to a branch and laying on it, “Whatcha talking to Twilight about.”

“Our lives, what we doin’, and maybe thinking of the future,” Applejack said, before looking on.

“The future, what are you talking about? I think we know about the future, you know. I’m going to marry my mare, we are gonna kick Conquest’s ass and end the war, and then we go home and back to normal,” Rainbow Dash said.

“And after that, then what?” Applejack said, lightly kicking the ground. “Do we stay together or seperate? Ah mean, our group wasn’t exactly what you call on the same wavelength when it comes to dreams you know. Rarity is a seamstress, Ah’m a farmer, and you are a stunt pony. How are we going to stay together?”

“Guess you’re right, Rarity does have that shop in Canterlot she is planning on opening,” Rainbow Dash said, not hearing Rarity walk up behind her, followed by Fluttershy.

“That I have no intention of letting it take me away from my friends or family,” Rarity said, shaking her head, “Rainbow, I wished you asked about it. I am going to open a Canterlot shop, but I will have workers there to take care of things. I know it can seem hard, but Clarity has taught me an important lesson, that I live to help and that when it comes to the important things in my life, there is nothing that will stop me from helping ponies who need me, especially my friends.”

Fluttershy flew up to the branch and sat next to Rainbow Dash, resting her head on her shoulder, “It might be tough, but I think we can still live our dreams. I was even thinking of opening an animal shelter or nature preserve one day.”

“Hey, tell me when and I’ll help build it,” Dash said, running her hand through the pink mane.

“Girls! Girls!” Pinkie said, bouncing to the small group of friends, “Hasn’t this little adventure taught us the biggest and most important lesson? Our dreams, distance, ad all of that? It’s not going to matter in the long run. We will still be friends no matter what. Twilight helped brought us together, Belle helped rebuild us, and now it’s time to make sure we keep it together.”

“You really think it’s going to be that easy,” Applejack asked, arching an eyebrow.

“Yep!” Pinkie said, bringing each of the girls in for a hug, “Because I know we don’t give up on each other, and we’ll be determined to stick together no matter where we wind up!” she said, finishing it off with a group hug. “We forgot that once, we’re not doing it again.”

“Even, if all of us aren’t going to be there,” Fluttershy said, looking in the window at Belle as she danced.

“She’ll be here,” Pinkie said, pointing to her heart, “Don’t you worry about that.”

Applejack walked away from the party with a warm feeling in her heart. A part of her knew what Pinkie had said was right, but another part of her felt a pang of worry on her shoulders. With a few shakes of her head, she looked at her old barn and made a quick trip there.

Inside the barn, she looked for a ladder and began to climb up into the hayloft. Once she made it into the top, she pulled out a blanket and laid it out to form a makeshift bed. With a little grunt, she laid back onto the bed and looked out to the stars and the moon.

With her emerald eyes focused on the ring of brightly colored stars, she traced a finger along the circle. She raised an eyebrow in curiosity as she looked at the faded purple star, “Enjoyed the party so much that you can't sleep?” Caramel asked, making his way up the ladder.

Applejack shook her head, “Nah. Just thinking about the future.”

“Dark Conquest?” Asked Caramel, taking a seat with her, putting his hand on top of hers and entwining her fingers with his.

“Yeah,” Applejack said, sitting up and looking down, “He can't be too happy with all of these beatings we’ve dealt to his army, hee can't be. And Ah just know he's out there, waiting to make his big strike.”

Caramel looked at her worriedly, “And that scares you?”

“Only failing them,” Applejack said, looking away. “He’s not like those other big bads Starfleet has. He’s an actual threat, and a real monster. He’ll gladly kill one of our family members just to get a rise out of us, or some other trick that’ll get us mad. He is a master at this.”

“Applejack,” whispered Caramel as he looked at her, a range of emotions on his face.

“Ah’ve tried so hard to make sure we came out of this with our entire team together. And now, we might lose one of our own “ she let go of Caramel and wrapped her arms around herself, letting out a shudder. “It would just like him to kill somepony just before we win. Don't rightly know, what Ah’d do if we lost one.”

Caramel patted Applejack’s back, rubbing it gently and running his fingers through her mane, “Applejack, you are one of the strongest mares I know. Anypony else that has been through half the stuff you gone through would’ve broken or given up. But you didn’t, because that isn't you. You are too strong to quit or to let fear take you over.”

Applejack smiled and rubbed her cheek against his palm, “Thanks.”

“That is why I know, you aren't going to lose any one of them, again. Because you won't stop no matter what, and you won't let anything come between you and your desire to save your friends.”

“You really think so?”Applejack asked. “Even with how powerful Conquest is?”

“Hey, his power don't mean a thang to the mare who doesn't know the meaning of the word, quit.” Caramel said, looking into her emerald eyes. “It's why I love you.”

Applejack said nothing to this, instead she chose to lean forward and the press her lips against his. This shocked Caramel for a brief moment, but then he returned the kiss in full. Giving out a soft moan, he deepened the kiss, sliding his arms around her and rubbing her back.

After a moment of kissing him, she broke the kiss and put her forehead to his, “Thanks, you certainly know how to keep a mare’s head on straight.”

“I know how to make them feel better too,” Caramel said, smiling warmly.

“Show me,” Applejack said, putting her lips to Caramel’s and giving him a long kiss.

Caramel smile through the kiss, feeling Applejack putting her arms over his shoulders and holding him close. With tiny sighs and gasps, the two spent a few moments exploring each other's bodies. Their fingers running along their muscles.
Occasionally, Caramel would find a scar or an old wound on her body when his hands ran up under her shirt to feel her coat. Breaking the kiss for a moment, he nuzzled Applejack’s neck for a few moments. This elicited a purr from her throat, before he kissed her once again and laid her onto the soft blanket.

For the two lovers, and all of Ponyville, only Luna’s moon remained a constant watcher over the small hamlet. Making sure that they all could sleep sound. The strong pillar, the gentle dragonslayer and her knight, the generous noble, the hopeful clown, and their friend who had found true happiness. The six rested this evening, not knowing that this would be their last night of peace.

Dark Conquest sat back in his large chair and tapped his claws together as her watched the scenes from Ponyville play out. A cruel smile crossed his lips as he looked at the big board and then back to the screens. Pushing himself up, he got to his feet and cracked his neck side to side, “Ok, time to have some fun.”

Kudos looked up, confused, “Fun, as in attack Ponyville?”

“Of course! I think that these little mortals have had enough fun for right now,” Conquest said, smirking. “Now, it's time for them to remember what hell is all about!”

“You promised that we would have our own opponents, sire,” Rhymey grumbled.

Conquest grinned widely, “And you will have them. After all, chances are high that at least three of them will survive this encounter.” he laughed, teleporting out of the base.

Applejack shot up from her makeshift bed to the sound of distant thunder. As she crawled to the edge of the loft, she could see dark clouds forming over the center of Ponyville square, with lighting beginning to crackle in between the spots of the clouds, “Oh, buck no. Not here, not here!” she whispered before getting up from the bed, revealing her naked body. Quickly, she ran to the pile of clothes and threw on her shirt, vest, pants and boots. After she put on her bandana around her neck, she reached down to pick up her hat and turned her head to look at the stallion asleep in the bed. She let out a sigh at seeing him sleeping peacefully. With a quick flip of her stetson, she straightened her hat and prepared to leap out of the hayloft.

“Applejack,” whispered Caramel as he looked up from the bed, the blanket covering his chest. As he looked at her, standing in the sunlight, he said, “Win this thing and come home.”

Applejack winked, “Will do. Besides,” there was a blush in her cheeks as she said, “Ah kind of want a repeat of last night.” and with that, she leapt out of the barn and began to run towards the center of town.

Meanwhile, the center of Ponyville became ablaze of black magic and fire. After a few moments of energy coursing through, Conquest rose up from the ground, his wings spreading out as he glared at the gathering crowd. After cracking his muscles for a moment and stretching out his hand, he held a fireball in one hand and an orb of energy in the other, “When I think of how often I spared your little dirt hole, keeping it safe from harm and choosing to spare it. It disgusts me to the point where I burn THINGS!” he shouted throwing a fireball in front of the crowd, keeping them cornered. Chuckling, he said, “Oh, do forgive me for this, I am usually more composed. It’s just that right now I am feeling a little... absolutely livid.”

Walking slowly around the trapped citizens of Ponyville, Conquest began to speak, “See, I had planned on letting this small little shit-hole survive for a while, letting all of your hatred of Starfleet simmer and boil while I killed the losers one by one. That way, I would have a fresh sample day in and out. Meanwhile, those five little knights of yours would continue to separate and break away, broken as they were by what was happening to each one of them. In a perfect world, they would be in their little holes crying and moaning about their loss.”

Dark Conquest growled and looked to the Golden Oaks Library, “But, one little BITCH ruined all of that for me. Somehow, she managed to get them together again and had them break through their little weaknesses. And in my pride, I let it happen, because I loved the idea of watching them suffer too much. I underestimated their friendship and how strong those bonds really were. My mistake, sometimes my pride can make me misstep once or twice. But, no more!”

Pointing his open palm with black magic, he formed a barrier around Carousel Boutique, “Let’s make sure that I don’t get sniped by Rarity. Plus, she can watch in joy as I kill her friend.”

“You bastard!!!” Rarity screamed, banging on the barrier, now trapped and watching helplessly.

“Damn straight! Despra one day found a helpless loser in the multiverse and raped him. Then I was born, and then she had me kill him when I was five years old. Greatest birthday present ever! Almost as good as the one that the missus gave me during our honeymoon,” Conquest said, holding up his hand holding a fireball. Narrowing his blood red eyes, he licked his lips as he aimed and chuckled, “And now, to burn that little mare to death. I would pull her out, skin her alive, and then carve her up slowly, but I am not going to let somepony have a big damn heroes mom-”

“Don’t you dare bucking touch her!” shouted Applejack as she decked Conquest in the face, sending him flying back.

Back hitting a wall, Conquest slowly got back up from the impact, wiping the blood trickling down the side of his mouth, “Do you girls just spend your weekends practicing those big damn moments or is it just coming naturally to you?” he asked getting back up.

Applejack stood up, clenching her fists and narrowing her eyes while her ponytail flowed behind her in the wind. With her hat covering her eyes, she said, “Conquest, Ah’m going to make you pay for everypony you hurt, and then Ah’m going to punch you for every life you took.”

“Alone? Really? Or is your friend just waiting in the wings to save the day,” Conquest asked, watching as a gust of wind past them both by, sucking in the flames. Then he smirked when Rainbow Dash landed next to Applejack, lightly bouncing on her feet and getting into a fighting stance. “Oh, hello, Rainbow Dash. Tell me, did you enjoy last night? I mean, I know you did, and boy did Applejack enjoy last night. Good job girl.”

Rainbow Dash opened her eyes wide and looked to Applejack, “Wait, is he saying that you and Caramel-”

“You think you are going to get to me like that?” Applejack said, her cheeks a faint pink as she just glared at Conquest.

“Yeah, I knew you weren’t going to be that easy,” Conquest said, flexing his clawed hand, cracking the muscles within. Looking up at the two, he added, “Now, don’t get too cocky. Just because you have been winning a lot, doesn't mean jack shit in the long run. I still have enough hate from Grand Ruler, Starla, and some of my leftover slaves to allow me to handle the four of you.”

“Good, I was hoping this was going to be a real fight,” Rainbow Dash said, cockily moving her head side to side.

“Oh, believe me, this will be the fight of your lives,” Conquest said, holding out his hand, “Now, which one of you wants to come at me first? I want to know who gets the joy of watching as I kill their friends one by one.”

Rainbow Dash flew right at Conquest, delivering a right hook at him of which he dodged easily by ducking. Not losing her momentum for a second, Rainbow Dash spun around and delivered a rapid series of five kicks at Conquest’s chest. Each of these kicks, he easily blocked with one hand. Then he slashed Rainbow in the back, sending her flying into a small stall of flowers.

Seeing Applejack step in with an uppercut, Conquest leaned back and dodged the blow. However, this left him open for a back kick into the stomach, followed by a crescent kick into the shoulder. As Applejack prepared for an attack, Conquest slashed her chest and stomach before striking her with an ice spear into her tight, making her take a knee. With a laugh, Conquest flew to the top of a house and then looked at Pinkie and Fluttershy coming at him. Horn glowing brightly with light blue, he used a gust of wind that blew Pinkie right into Fluttershy before they could strike.

Conquest then looked down at the two mares as they got back to their feet. With a taunting chuckle, he beckoned them with his finger before taking off into the air. Somewhere, Starla watched on with a look of horror in her house, cuddling to her mother, “Do you think they can do it? Beat him?”

“They have to, I don’t think there’s anypony left who can,” said Dementia.

Trixie, watched the fight from within a stall, “No, no no no no! Not now! Why can’t he wait a bucking week!” she said, shaking her head. Then she looked back at the treebrary, giving out a whimper before she whispered, “I’m sorry Pinkie.” and with that, she made her way to Whitetail Woods.

Conquest landed on the outskirts of Ponyville, the Everfree forest right behind him. Turning around, he watched as Rainbow Dash flew straight at him, a small sonic boom right behind her as she delivered a lighting charged punch at him. With speed that matched hers, Conquest raised his hand and delivered a punch right into her own fist, causing a massive shockwave.

Before Dash could retaliate, she found herself in a stranglehold from Conquest. Try as she might, she could not pry herself from his grip. While he held her neck, Conquest rapidly punched Dash in the stomach, eliciting screams from pain as each blow struck hard and broke one of her ribs. Then Conquest slammed Dash into the ground, opening his palm and then fired a rapid series of fireballs into her back, sending her deep into a crater.

Looking up, he saw Applejack approaching fast to punch him and with a sly grin, he generated a wall of flame to block her. His eyes opened wide when he saw her leap through the flames and, while she was still on fire, punch him hard in the face. With him pulling back, Applejack stuck his side with a hard shin kick. Before she could follow it up with a combo, Conquest laid his palm onto the ground and made a small scale earthquake that shook her off her feet.

With her a little disoriented, Conquest grabbed Applejack by the ponytail and pulled her back. With a chuckle, he slashed her stomach slowly before grabbing her by the head and slamming her face into a tree. Looking to his right, he saw Pinkie Pie, “You don’t think I know my own weakness? You guys are trying to figure me out while you fight and see why I ran back in Manehattan, aren’t ya?” with a smirk, Conquest snapped his fingers and struck a lighting bolt into Pinkie, causing her to scream in pain.

Looking to his back, he saw Fluttershy tending to Rainbow Dash, “And let me guess, Belle came up with a plan that you needed to see which hurt me more, Fluttershy or Pinkie. Well, she is good, but not clever enough!” holding out his hand, he generated a powerful gravity spell around Dash and Fluttershy.

Gasping in fear, Fluttershy quickly formed her shield to try and slow down the effects of the spell. Dash got up, shook her head and helped to pull Fluttershy out of the way of the spell. Breathing hard, she looked up to see Dark Conquest disappear into the forest. Growling, she followed him in, flying in the treeline.

Quickly, she landed on one of the tree branches and stared down Conquest as he leaned against the tree. Without wasting a second, her lighting flared up as she leaped at him from her branch and struck out with a right cross. Nimbly, Conquest jumped out the next branch, “Ohh, the Speed Force? Nice trick, but aren’t you having problems controlling it? That’s ok, Applejack is having problems controlling her Hamon,” with another jump, he moved out of the way of a roundhouse kick that left a mark on the side of a tree. “Ah, performance issues? Those can be a bitch!”

Rainbow Dash let out a growl of rage and frustration as she struck out again and again, each punch and kick striking the branch or tree that Conquest was on and just missing him as he dodged out of the way of her attacks. On the tenth branch, Conquest rammed an elbow into Dash’s face, knocking her back. With her open, he created a powerful ball of wind mixed with lighting and put it to her stomach, blowing Dash through several trees and into Fluttershy.

With a chuckle, he leaped off his tall branch and drove his knee into Applejack's back, hitting with a sickening crunch. Without looking back from his hard blow, he used green magic to summon a vine that grabbed Pinkie by the neck and slammed her against a rock. While Applejack struggled to get back on her feet, Conquest said, “You know that whole speech you gave, about the five of you being invincible? Yeah, ain't gonna matter much in the end when you are all separated. Maybe I should’ve let Rarity join in on the fun.”

“You sick monster,” Applejack said, getting back up and glaring at him, “You planned this.”

“Oh, look at me, I’m a world class tactician who knows how to read his enemies thoughts and emotions,” Conquest mocked before glaring at her, “Of course I planned it. Why did you think I threatened Belle first. That was mainly just to get you four mad while you fight and angry enough at me to feed me. Thank you for that by the way.” Conquest gave a bow.

Applejack let out a growl of rage as she delivered an uppercut and a few hooks, all of which Conquest dodged and weaved, “You see, this is the advantage of learning to respect friendship like I do. I know it makes you girls strong, while at the same time give me enough rope to hang you all. Speaking of which, remind me to bring one of your corpses to Rarity to remind her of how she keeps abandoning you lot for her own selfish desires.”

“You shut up about her!” Rainbow Dash shouted, doing a dive kick right at Conquest. Without blinking, the mad tyrant blocked Dash’s kick with his forearm, while blocking Applejack’s knee. After the block, the two mares began a fierce assault onto Conquest, striking out with kicks and punches to the point where their movements became blurs. Not that this mattered to Conquest as he effortlessly blocked each strike that came his way, and those he didn’t block, he dodged before they could hit.

As he continued to evade the two fighter’s attacks, he looked behind him and launched a stone spike out of the ground that impaled Pinkie’s side and dropped her to the ground, blood oozing out of the wound. To his right, he watched Fluttershy fly to help Pinkie, and sent a series of lightning strikes, electrocuting her.

Satisfied with his impending victory, he grabbed Rainbow’s arm and twisted it, breaking it with a snap. Then he slashed her across the chest, leaving large red gashes. Then he kneed her in the gut and kicked her into the pile with Pinkie and Fluttershy. Applejack, now showing signs of fatigue from the effort and her wounds, tried to punch him but her fist was grabbed and her arm twisted behind her. Holding her arm to her back, Conquest began to mercilessly carve his initials into her backside with his claws, “Well look at this, even with all of you together, you still couldn’t beat me. What does that say about your chances of helping Twilight when she needed you?” reaching to her front, he slashed her stomach, eliciting a scream as he revealed her muscles, “That’s what I thought. The result would’ve been the same, you would’ve failed her. That’s why, right now in heaven, she’s disappointed in you. They all are, Mom, Dad, and... Twilight.”

With a cruel smirk, he kicked Applejack in the back, to lay her down with her friends in pile. Wounded, Applejack struggled to stand back up, her breath coming out in short pants, “Ah...Ah, won't’ quit h...here.”

“Me neither,” Dash moaned, feeling Fluttershy’s hand on her arm, “Even if I don’t think I got anything left to hit him with.”

Pinkie sighed as she could feel her heartbeat weakening, “Well...at least we’re together.”

“Girls, you were the world to me,” Fluttershy whispered. “Thank you...”

“If this is it,” Dash said, looking to her friends, “I’m glad it was you and not alone.”

“Don’t think that, we’ve got a way out,” Applejack groaned, “S-somehow.”

“Please, like some Deus ex Machina’s gonna come and save you.” Conquest chuckled,”I’m afraid this is where your story ends, like all the others.”He formed a ball of black lightning in his hand.

Several minutes earlier...

“Spark!” Trixie shouted, running into the house with a panicked look in her eyes.

Spark looked over her notes, “Trixie, if this is about Conquest, I know. He’s here, and that is why I must find a way to save the girls.”

“No, you don’t understand,” Trixie said, shaking her head, “It’s about-”

“And I must not be interrupted, unless you have something important to tell me I-” Spark was then interrupted by a shout.

“Twilight Sparkle, I found your heart!” Trixie said.

Twilight paused as she looked at Trixie, shocked at what she just said, “What did you say?”

“I...found your heart, her name is Belle Amie and she lives in Ponyville. She’s in your home Twilight and she’s waiting for you,” Trixie said, shaking her head. “I found this out in January.”

“And when were you going to tell me this? Why didn’t you tell me this?” asked Twilight.

“Because, I wanted to find a way to tell you that wouldn’t have killed the both of you. I wanted to try and save you both and be the big hero. All I wanted was for everypony to be happy without losing my friends, like you would’ve. But now...now it’s too late. Conquest is here and unless you do something right now, he’s going to kill your friends!”

“Trixie I...”Twilight paused as she stood up.

Trixie began to sniffle as she asked, “Just, promise that you don’t hate me for hiding this from you. I just wanted to help you.”

Twilight sighed and stood up to her feet, removing her glasses. Then with a calm voice, she said, “Trixie, if I had any real emotions, I would tell you all about how I am feeling right now. But I can’t, and what’s more, now’s not the time. I have to save my friends.” she said, iginiting her horn and disappearing.

Trixie began to sniffle before falling to her knees, tears running down her cheeks. Looking to her side, she pulled out a bottle of bourbon and began to drink quietly to herself as she wept, “Goodbye...Spark.”

Belle looked at the various books, her eyes looking over each book with determination. Each time she pulled out a tome, she would look through the pages and then throw it away in frustration. After the third book, she said, “Come on, there has to be something here that will save them. A spell, a last minute trick, something I can do to save them!” she whispered to herself, not noticing the flash of purple magic behind her. “If only I could do magic, I can be there with them now!” she said, her anger giving way to worry and fear.

When she pulled out one last book, she opened a bookmarked page and gasped, “A soul separation spell?” she said aloud, “If used, one could separate their soul and put it into another vessel while the body has time to heal. If only Twilight knew about this spell, maybe she could’ve saved herself and be here right now.”

“It was a difficult spell to learn,” Twilight said, stepping towards Belle, eliciting a gasp of shock from the grey unicorn. “If Lightning’s wedding day didn’t happen right after I had begun to study the spell and I had more time before my fight with Raven, I might have perfected it. Oh well, these things happen and the best plans are doomed to failure. Hmm, having no emotions do put a new perspective on life.” Twilight looked at the pile of books near Belle.

“How, what, who are you?” asked Belle as she landed on the ground, her eyes looking at Twilight with a mix of wonder and curiosity,” You’re me. But you can’t be, you are not scientifically possible.”

Twilight let out a breath and began, “I am you, and you are me. I am your magic, your memories, and your soul. You are my heart, my emotions, and my body. Together, we are Twilight Sparkle.”

Belle stepped back and shook her head, “No, that can’t be true...That isn’t possible.”

“It is,” Twilight said, looking down, “Something happened after my spell was cast and you were sent far away before I could find you. I should’ve found you a lot sooner than I did, but here we are.”

“But, I can’t be Twilight. That doesn't sound right,” Belle said, shaking her head in disbelief. “ I don’t even know who she is!”

Twilight took a deep breath and held out her hand, “Take my hand, and I will show you.”

Belle paused for a second, trembling with fear and anxiety. Then she took a deep breath and nodded with determination before grabbing her hand and her eyes lighting up in a bright blinding flash.

When Belle opened her eyes once more, she found herself in a large starry void. Turning her head back and forth, she could see countless photos and videos of Twilight living and having adventures. With a look of wonder, she asked, “Where am I?”

A young filly version of Twilight stepped out behind her, her body around the same age she had just gotten her cutie mark, “My... our memories. This was the same place that Celestia took us when I had gotten my wings and I believed that this was the best place to tell you about me... about us.”

“All of our,” Belle whispered, “Memories.”

Twilight nodded and began to speak, “While we were one of the most powerful mages on the planet, we were not without our problems. We were neurotic, and sometimes we could be a little paranoid. Especially when we thought that we would fail Celestia or our friends.”

Belle stepped back when she saw images of Twilight looking crazy or when she heard Twilight screaming, “You’re evil!”

“This would cause some problems, mainly because we were afraid. Scared that if we had failed or made a mistake, we would prove ourselves unworthy of Celestia or all of the things we earned. We could barely do a thing without a list and we had more book sense than common sense. Again this would lead us to mistakes, whether we would be too trusting of others or to the books we read. And, I’ll admit, I never thought too highly of myself.”

“I don’t want ponies to see my power,” Twilight said to Spike as they watched Trixie perform.

“Mainly because I never thought of how strong I was,” sighed Twilight.

Belle looked at these faults and shook her head, “This, looks horrible. I, don’t even think I want to be her.”

“While it’s true, I had my faults, I wanted you to see those to appreciate our strengths,” an older Twilight said, now the same age she was when she was when she first got to Ponyville. All around her, the screens began to show her with Luna, her friends, and with her family. “See, the papers were always wrong, my real strength wasn’t in my magic, but them. My friends and loved ones.”

Twilight then stepped forward, smiling softly as she looked at the screens as they passed. Belle looked on too, watching with awe as the scenes passed by for them to watch, “We were always there for a friend, always willing to help them out. If there was a problem, we never sat back in fear about it, we went out and solved it. Power was tempered by compassion for our fellow pony. Some might call it naive, but I like to think better of my fellow equine.”

“It was on that day, you became my friends.”

“Keep looking up and you might be looking at that same Rainbow!”

“Friendship isn’t easy, but it is worth fighting for!”

“No matter the task, we would find our way to help, and even if my friend made a mistake,” Twilight sighed, looking at the wedding, “I would forgive them.”

“Why?” asked Belle.
Twilight smiled and looked at a large photo of her in a group hug with her friends. All around them, the screens showed all of their friends laughing, hugging, or in the moments of closeness. Even when Starfleet had arrived, she could see images of Twilight supporting her friends, standing up for them and helping them, “Because... they saved me. If I never read that book, made my way to Ponyville, then I know I would’ve died a hundred times by now. If it weren’t for them, I would never have gotten my wings. For all of my weaknesses, all of my faults, they ignored them and helped me realize my greatest strengths.”

“So, what happens now?” asked Belle under her breath, before turning around to see Twilight, now an alicorn.

“You stand on the precipice of a choice,” Twilight said, looking around, “You can either die as you are now, Belle Amie, or you can fuse with me and become Twilight Sparkle once more. I should warn you, this might be the only way we can save out friends.”

Belle sniffled, as tears began to roll down her cheeks. Soon the images changed as she yelled, “THIS ISN’T FAIR! This wasn’t how my story was supposed to end! It’s supposed to end with me finding my memories, learn from them, and live on as myself! I was supposed to grow from this and move on, DAMN IT!” she cried punching the ground as tears continued to roll down her cheeks, “I have friends, a life, a family! How can I lose all of that!!!”

As Twilight looked at the images, all of Belle’s new memories, she sighed and looked down, “I am sorry, but when you fuse into me again, the person as you are now will fade away forever.”

“And what if I don’t want that?” Belle shouted, “What if I chose to die as myself! What if I want to stay as me for the rest of my life!?”

“Then our story ends here. Our friends will most likely die in the battle and the name of Twilight Sparkle will fade into history, remembered only by Celestia and Luna,” Twilight said, shaking her head. “But I want you to think about it, the memories of our friends and the love we shared. Then tell me if it isn’t it worth it.”

Belle stepped back as she looked around her, her memories floating around her.

Rarity doing her mane, talking shop.

Belle sitting with her friends after they had all saved the empire together.

Her and Pinkie drinking and eating the first time she came home, singing a song together.

Rainbow Dash cheering her up when she was feeling down.

Her helping Applejack when she was feeling down.

Slowly shaking her head, Belle saw memories she did not recognize. One was of Spark at the party for the battle of Fillydelphia, “I miss you, I love you.” Spark said, only letting Luna hear her.

Other images showed Spark hard at work, “Can’t see them right now. It would hurt too much.”

“I trust my friends,” Spark said to Titan.

“You...were caring about them this whole time,” Belle said.

Twilight, now an older alicorn with mane flowing with magic, nodded, “Every day I was separated from them, I tried to watch them to make sure they were safe.”

Belle looked around at each image of her friends, each moment she spent with them. Tears flowing down her cheeks, she sniffled and whimpered, gently closing her fists as she cried. Then she sniffled, and rose up, turning around to her other half, “What do I have to do.”

“Take my hand, and you will be whole once more,” Twilight said, holding out her hand.

Belle nodded, her tears rolling down her cheeks as she reached out. For a moment, she hesitated as she looked at her memories, and then at Twilight, “I...was a good friend, right?”

“You were beautiful,” Twilight smiled, taking Belle’s hand.

“Goodbye everyone,” Belle said, “Take care...”

Within the town of Ponyville, everypony within range all saw a bright blinding flash of purple light that shone from within the Tree. For a minute, the power of the light shown and blazed with magical power and electricity. A sharp gust of wind blew out from within the library, carrying with it a magical energy that fixed some of the damage Conquest did.

All too soon, the bright magic faded from within the tree. Within the tree, where once there were two unicorns, there was one alicorn. The purple mare began to look over her new body, watching in awe as bolts of lightning crackled along her arms, legs, and chest. Turning her head, she looked behind herself at her wings. Though mare was not born with them, she had seen them as a gift from her friends that she always appreciated. Smiling, she gave her wings a little flap before walking out of the library.

Once outside, she took a deep breath, to take in the air like she had never felt it before. Then, she closed her eyes and ignited her horn. After using her magic for a moment, she created five strands of magical strings colored orange, white, pink, cyan, and pink. Each a color of one of her friends. After divining their location, she opened her eyes and nodded. Taking a knee,she placed an open palm onto the gorun and began to charge herself with a magical violet aura that covered body. Extending her wings to their full length, she gave a few flaps, “Twilight Sparkle? Y-you’re alive?” Lightning Dawn asked, with the remaining members of Starfleet by his side. When Twilight gave a nod, the unicorpian smiled and said, “I don’t know how, but I am glad you are back. Now... go and kick his ass!” he said, giving Twilight a thumbs up.

Twilight nodded in response, before flapping her wings and pushing herself off the ground in a violet explosion. In her wake, she left behind a burn mark in the shape of a starburst with six stars surround it. Lightning smiled as he said, “Go Twilight!”

“Kick his ass twice for me!” shouted Starla.

Artie smirked and said, “Save them!”

“You can do it Twilight!” shouted Dyno.

In the sky above, Twilight soared with unbelievable speed like she had never known before. In the school house, four fillies were cuddled for safety. Then Sweetie Belle looked up and gasped as she saw a violet and sparkling contrail, “Girls, look!”

“What is it-” Applebloom gasped, “Twilight!!!!! Twilight’s back!”

Scootaloo gasped, “No, it can’t be.” smiling, she looked outside and then yelled, “Twilight’s back!!!!! She’s back!!!” and with the other three following her, they all ran out of the schoolhouse, waving to Twilight.

Twilight looked down and smiled at the foals, sheepishly waving back. As her flight took her over the town, Raindrops ran into the mansion, “Trixie, where’s Spark?”

“She’s gone,” Trixie hiccuped, becoming intoxicated.

“Gone?” asked Carrot Top.

Trixie nodded, “Spark was actually Twilight Sparkle, just without her emotions. She left to fuse together or not, Trixie doesn’t know.”

“That explains the purple contrail,” said Lyra.

Gasping in surprise, Trixie ran outside to see Twilight flying over head, looking more like a shooting star, “Sparkle? Heh, heh, haha! Yes! Yes! Welcome back you miserable bitch! Welcome back home! Trixie hopes you are ready because she is going to kick your ass! HAHA!”

“Is she mad or just happy?” asked Raindrops.

Lyra smirked, “Both.”

“Come, team!” Trixie said, “We must make to Ponyville post haste!” she said running out of the mansion.

Cadence looked outside, smiling wide as she saw a purple contrail flying over Ponyville. Closing her eyes, she sensed the magic within, “Oh, my aunts. Shining! Come quick!”

“What, is it the baby?” Shining Armor asked, before stopping and looking at the contrail. Gasping with glee, he let out the biggest shout he had ever said, “TWILY’S BACK! My little sister’s back!!! Oh, this is the fourth greatest day of my life!”

“Fourth?” asked Cadence.

Shining Armor nodded, “Well, there is the day you said yes, the day we got married, and then the birth of Flurry.”

“That’s a lot days,” giggled Cadence as she kissed her husband. “Now come on, we got to get on the first train to Ponyville.”

Back at Canterlot, Celestia was busy getting her armor on. Turning her head to look at Luna gazing out the window, she asked, “Luna, what on earth are you looking at. We must get ready to attack Conquest-” the rest of the words died on Celestia’s lips as she saw the contrail flying into Everfree Forest. She began to shake her head as tears start brim in her eyes.

“Yes sister,” Luna said, her eyes beginning to water, “She’s back.”

Discord stepped up behind them and smiled, “Well, it’s about time she came back.”

“You knew?!” Celestia said in shock before wrapping her arms around his neck, “Oh, I don’t know whether to slap you or make wild love to you!”

“Why not both, Tia my sweet,” Discord chuckled as he kissed her.

“Ahem! As much as I would love to see you too make out, we have a train to catch to ponyville,” Luna said.

(now)

, “Goodbye, Elements of Harmony!” and with that, Conquest blasted a bolt of black magic at them.

A cruel smile crossed his lips as he watched his spell make a direct hit, but then stepped back when the smoke cleared, “What the-” the words died on his lips as he saw Twilight Sparkle standing in front of her friends. Around the four shocked mares was a pink forcefield that was both protecting and healing them of their injuries. “Ok, that’s not what was supposed to happen.”

Twilight narrowed her eyes, her arm extended out with a palm wide open, holding the black magic bolt in the palm of her hand. She crushed it before glaring at Conquest with open wings. She said, “I heard you have been a busy boy, Conquest!”

Before Conquest could say another word, Twilight focused a rainbow orb of magic in her palm before shooting out a rainbow beam of light from it, striking Conquest in the stomach and sending him flying away. Twilight then turned to her friends and teleported them out.

Conquest screamed in pain as he flew through tree, after tree, after tree, and after tree. Soon, he flew through the rocky wall of the Castle of the Twin Sisters, and then through another wall, and then some broken glass, and then through one more wall until he landed near the dias where the Elements once sat. As he laid here, bleeding and burnt, Conquest let out a moan of pain as he struggled to get up, “She got a good hit. She actually got a good hit and I’m in pain. I am in utter pain from that blow. I guess I should be proud of that bitch for getting me bloodied and hurting me like this. But I guess I am just too filled with overwhelming RAGE!!!!!!!” he shouted, his dark magic flaring up around him and sending debris flying.

Red eyes glaring in anger, he flew back to where Twilight and the others were. He then paused in his flight as he looked on the ground to see a message, accompanied by an image of Twilight’s head sticking her tounge out.

Six days, your place. Be there-TS.

“Oh, I’ll be there, little Sparkle, don’t you worry,” Conquest said, chuckling as he vanished.

Outside the outskirts of Ponyville, was a hill with a tree and a headstone dedicated to the memory of Twilight Sparkle. For a year, it had been quiet with the exception of the occasional visitor and again, the quiet is disrupted by the flash and pop of a large teleportation occuring. Once the light faded, it left behind the figures of five mares, four bunched up in a group together while the fifth stood up before them. Applejack was the first of the four to recover and the first to look directly at their savior.

Looking at the mare before them, she could feel the burning sting of tears welling up in her eyes as she gazed at the purple mare. Putting a palm onto her mouth, she let out tiny whisper, “It can’t be...” she said, shaking her head. Then, with a louder voice, she asked, “Twilight, is that you?”

Twilight Sparkle turned to look at her friends, as if for the first time, “Your mom and dad said hi.”

It was at this moment, that Applejack did something she had not done in years. Something that not even the death of her best friend had done. She had begun to cry nonstop, her tears rolled down her cheeks in rivers. Shaking her head, she sobbed as she ran to Twilight, crying out, “Twilight!!!!!” she then ran to Twilight, hugging her and almost tackling her to the ground from the force of her hug, “We missed you so much! It was so hard getting along without you! Did you know how much we needed you?”

“You bitch!” sobbed Rainbow Dash, running to Twilight and hugging her tightly, “Why didn’t you tell us you had a plan to come back! Then we wouldn’t have spent a year worried about ya!”

“Oh Twilight,” Fluttershy cried, running to Twilight and crying into her shoulder as she joined in the group hug, “It was so lonely without you! It just missed something without you!”

Pinkie Pie said nothing for the longest time, just sat there looking at Twilight. Tears soon began to run down her cheeks as she shook her head. Then, sniffling, she ran to Twilight and hugged her tightly as well, closing her eyes, “Not going to open my eyes, not going to open my eyes. This is how every dream ends. You come home, we all hug and then when I open my eyes you disappear.”

“It’s ok, Pinkie,” Twilight smiled, “This isn’t a dream. I’m back.”

For a moment, Pinkie looked up to see Twilight’s smile. The same face she had met when this mare landed in Ponyville, the face she had joked with when she had ascended, and the mare who had become one of her five closest friends. Crying harder now, Pinkie said, “Welcome home.”

“I’m glad to be back,” Twilight said, hugging her friends. For the longest time, Twilight stood there, hugging the girls. Then she sighed and said, “We should get going... there’s somepony missing.”

Rarity paced back and forth, looking through her equipment and tools. Her face was covered in worry lines as she began to speak, “What was that purple light from the library? Why was the shield lowered. Spike, has Glarity gotten Clarity somewhere safe?”

“Yes, Rarity!” Spike shouted.

“Good,” Rarity said, levitating her clothes and bow to her, “I’ll leave in a few moments. Oh, if I only had a sign that they are all right.”

“Don’t Rarity, they are all right and are waiting outside,” Twilight said.

Rarity sighed, turning to look at Twilight, “Oh thank you so much, Twilight. I was worr-” when she saw the mare, her bow dropped out of her magic as she backed up in shock. Taking a deep breath, she tried to regain her composure before running a hand through her mane, “Twilight, I...” she shuddered, trying to hold back her tears, “I...” she choked back a sob, “do wish you were going to tell me when you were coming home. I... would’ve put on some tea.”

“I can always have some later,” Twilight said, herself on the verge of tears.

“Oh, Twilight!” Rarity cried, running to her friend and giving her a big hug. Rarity's words were now coming out as nothing more than a collection of cobs and whimpers.

Stepping inside, Applejack saw Rarity hugging Twilight and smiled. Tears once more flowing from her eyes, she said, “Oh, hell. Why not another group hug!” and with that, two became three, three became four, four became five, and five became six.Spreading her wings wide, Twilight hugged all of her friends with her wings and arms.

“You’re back, you came back home!” Rarity said.

Fluttershy whispered, “Our team is back together.”

“All of our friends are back together!” Pinkie cheered. “This is so great! We’re all back together again! We’re not broken anymore!”

“Rarity, what’s going-” Spike asked, only to stop when he saw the purple mare in the group of ponies. Watching the group break apart, he began to cry, “Mo-mommy?”

“Spike,” Twilight said, smiling, “You’ve grown.”

“MOM!” Spike yelled, running to Twilight and giving her a big hug. “We have so much to talk about.”

“Yes, a lot to talk about!” Twilight said, crying before breaking apart. Then she turned around and said, “We need to talk, and I think we should back in the Golden Oaks.”

“Yeah,” Applejack said, wiping her eyes, “Don’t think Rarity would take too kindly to us talking war plans in her boutique.”

“Plus,” Rarity sniffed, “I don’t want to clean up all of out tear stains. Spike, come, get Clarity and meet up with us in Golden Oaks.”

“Right,” Spike nodded.

Pinkie Pie happily bounced into the library, her grin so big that it was lighting the room within. Laughing, she looked around and shouted, “Hey, Belle! You’ll never believe this, but Twilight came back!”

“Pinkie,” Twilight said solemnly as the others walked in.

“And get this, she found a way to save you and not have to lose you,” Pinkie said, trying to ignore her friend.”

“Pinkie, I’m sorry but Belle is-”

Again Pinkie interrupted, “Because, That’s what Twilight does best. Make the best out of a bad situation and make the winning play. She...wouldn’t fail.”

Twilight sighed and hugged Pinkie, “Pinkie, I’m sorry. Belle, had to fuse back with me in order to save my life. To save all of you. I’m sorry, but she’s gone.”

Pinkie stood in shock or a few moments, and then wiped her tears as she said, “I’m not gonna cry. I’m not...because that would make her sacrifice worthless. I’m just going to say what I’m feeling right now.” with a deep breath, she said, “Belle, don’t you worry about a thing. We’re all ok and going to be fine. I’m not going to lose my smile again, and will keep on smiling for the both of us!”

“Yeah, don’t worry, we got this!” Rainbow Dash said.

Applejack nodded, “Yeah, so don’t ya become a worthless spirit or nothing. We’ll manage just fine. Thanks for...

“Everything. I don’t think we could have managed without you,” Fluttershy said.

Rarity nodded, “Just rest for now.”

Twilight smiled, and for a moment, her voice became gentler, softer, and more like Belle, “Thank you girls. I’ll miss you.”

Watching Spike walking to a makeshift crib to put Clarity in, Twilight began to speak, “Ok, so the most important thing to get through is how I came back to life. See, for a few days before-” a loud knock on the door interrupted her. “What?”

When the door opened, Trixie wandered in, swaying back and forth. Looking at Twilight, she rested her arm on her shoulder, moaning, “Sooooo. You hid out as Trixie’s friend Spark, long enough to learn her secrets, non? Well, Je regret to tell vous that moi still has some secrets. Soon, Lulamoon will defeat the sexy one!”and with that, she fell onto a couch that Rarity provided for her.

“Sorry, Princess Twilight,” Raindrops said, shaking her head, “She finished off three bottles of bourbon and Luna’s best wine before coming here. She said she wanted to have the best bender before seeing her rival again.”

“Wow, it’s so cool to meet you, Twilight Sparkle, “Ditzy said with a grind. “I mean, I always delivered the mail to you, but never actually had a chance to help you!”

“It is good to see you alive and about, Twilight, “Cheerilee said, bowing to her.

Lyra excitedly squeed, “Oh, this is so exciting! Twilight Sparkle is alive and now we can talk about the items together! After this is all over, you and me are going to have a long talk!”

“Um sure,” Twilight said with a sheepish chuckle, before getting a piece of pie in her magic.

“A welcome back present,” Carrot Top said.

Twilight nodded and put aside the pie. Taking a deep breath, she said, “Now, as I was saying-OOOOF!” she grunted as a white blur shot through the library and tackled her to the ground in a hug.

“TWILY!!!” Shining Armor said, hugging his sister tightly, almost strangling her to death. “Oh, my baby little sister, I am so glad that you are all right and that you are ok! Oh, look, your mane is all a mess and you look tired. Didn’t you eat anything before coming back to life?”

“Hi, Shining,” Twilight squeaked out, before hugging him back.

Flash Sentry let out a chuckle as he stepped in, “Um...presenting the royal family?”

“That will do, Captain Sentry,” Cadence said, putting her little girl in the same crib as Clarity. Then she looked to Twilight with a big grin. Smiling back, Twilight went to Cadence and began to do something that they hadn’t done in years.

“Sunshine
Sunshine!
Ladybugs, Awake!
Clap your hooves,
And Do a little shake!”

Giggling, Twilight said, “It’s so good to see you, Cadence.”

“It’s good to see you, little sister,” smiled Cadence as she hugged her tightly.

After breaking the hug, Twilight began, “Now, as I was saying. What happened was-”

Another knock on the door interrupted her, “Oh, for Celestia’s sake, what now! Whoever it is, better be important!”

When the doors opened, another white blur was seen as Celestia ran and picked up Twilight in her arms and hugged her tightly, “Oh, my little Twilight! You’re ok, and alive again. I missed you so much. My faithful student.”

“Tia, compose yourself,” Luna said, walking in with grace and Illusion holding her hand. “You are still royalty.”

“In the presence of my daughter like this, I think a little grace can go out the window,” Celestia said, hugging Twilight before letting go. “Illusion, wait with the girls.”

“You got it, Mom!” Illusion said, walking to the crib and saying, “Now, listen up you two. I am Prince Illusion! Crown Prince of Equestria, and this means you bow to me!”

This elicited a response of a happy growl from Clarity and a coo from Flurry heart.

“All hail the conquering hero!” Discord said, popping in with a huge mariachi band behind him. Above his head was a large banner that read, ‘Welcome Home Twily.’

Twilight rolled her eyes at this and sighed, “Thank you Discord. Now, if everypony is here-”

“Well, everyone important to the last part of the plot,” Discord muttered.

“-I can begin with how I came back...”

About a few days before Lightning’s wedding, I had found some old books in the library of the Castle of the Two Sisters. All of that knowledge, all of those spells, they were simply fascinating. At one point, I came into contact with a copy of Mimic’s soul spells and spirit channeling. I knew it wasn’t the original, but within were copies of some of her more unique spells. There was one I was really interested in, the soul separation spell. It was a spell that worked exactly like how one would transfer a soul from a body into a soul stone. Apparently, it allowed one to temporarily transfer the soul out of the body and into another vessel until such time that the original was healed. Naturally, I was curious as to the effect and how long I could stay out or if there was any truth to the matter. I was just on the verge of mastering it when Lightning’s wedding happened. I suppose you all remember what happened on that day, when I battle Raven and was killed. For what’s it worth, I don’t blame any of you for staying back under his orders. I believe he did it on purpose just to make sure I died.

During the fight, I found myself without magic and my spells locked. It didn’t take long for me to realize that it was a trap and someone had locked my mana. For a moment, I began to panic and this let Raven get a few hits in. However, I decided to calm myself and focus to clear my head.

Applejack paused and said, “Wait, Lightning said that you were saying out names while Raven was beating the tar out of you...That was you focusing wasn’t it!?”

“Yes,” Twilight said, breaking out of her story and smiling. “I had begun to realize that Cadence’s trick of breathing, while it worked from time to time, just wasn’t all that effective. I still had panic attacks and would go nuts when stressed. However, I began to realize, that if I had started to whisper or say my friend’s names to myself, I began to get calmer and more relaxed. This, helped me to focus and handle my problems.”

As I was saying your names, I began to look into the magical lock that my mana was under. It was a good one, but whoever had made that rune was an amateur at best. I was good enough to hold back my mana for a while, but I still had a few tricks up my sleeve. I won’t bore you with the details, though I would love to tell you about them. The anti-magic lock is a wonderous rune and quiet tricky to break through... shame I had solved something similar when I was eleven.

So, slowly, while I was distracting Raven with my names, I had begun to break through the lock. Sadly, by the time I had all of this figured out, she had me by the throat and was ready to finish me off. I had time for one last spell, the soul spell. I had to use every ounce of my mana to cast it right when she was about to unleash the Uniforce on me. But, as I had cast it, a part of me knew I had done it...and I smiled.

When I woke up next...

Twilight began to open her eyes slowly as she awoke. When her eyes finally opened, she found herself in a large library with books lined up until infinity. She let out a gasp as she looked around, her body now back in it’s quadrupedal state. After looking around, she asked, “Where... where am I?”

“You are in heaven child,” said a white alicorn as she landed next to Twilight, next to her was a slightly younger alicorn.

Twilight looked up, noting that the alicorn who spoke had short cut blonde hair and wore glasses while wearing a medallion around her neck, “Heaven? But, if this is heaven, then that makes you-” she paused as she bowed before the creators.

“No need for formalities child,” The eldest alicorn said with a bow, her cutie mark of a pony under a rainbow showing promently, “You may address me as Bonnie and this is my daughter, Lauren.”

The red headed white alicorn bowed, “It is good to see you, my little pony.”

“Where am I?” Twilight asked.

“You have done much for your world and your friends,” Bonnie said, looking at all of the books. “As your reward, here is every book written or will be written. All of it for you to study if you so chose.”

Twilight looked at all of the books surrounding her, eyes opened in awe and wonder. Then she sighed and looked down, “It’s... wonderful.”

“Is there a problem?” asked Lauren.

“Well, it’s just that. I’m not ready for all of this,” Twilight said, turning around and looking up at the two, “I want to go back! There is so much left to learn, so much left to discover for me. I want to grow old with my friends, see their children, grandchildren. I want a family! They... they need me.”

For a moment, the two gods remained silent and then Lauren smiled up at her mother, “Told ya she would chose her friends.”

“Wait, you knew-”

Lauren interrupted with a nod, “Yes, my little pony. I knew you would chose your friends over paradise, that is why we are willing to send you home.”

“It is not your time, young one. You still need to accomplish much with your friends,” with a wave of her hoof, Bonnie opened the door for Twilight. “Step through that door and you will be home. Be warned, many months will have passed since your death.”

“I see,” Twilight said, turning around.

“Wait,”cried out a female southern voice. When Twilight turned around, she saw a light beige earth pony mare and her husband.

“You’re Applejack’s parents,” Twilight whispered.

Pear Butter nodded and said, “When you get home, could you tell Applejack that we... said hi?”

Twilight smiled warmly and said, “I will.”

“Good, now if you are done being sentimental,” Discord’s voice said from beyond the door, “We got places to go!”

When I had returned, I found myself in a newly formed body and not to far away from Luna’s safehouse in White Tail woods. I soon discovered I was without my emotions and my heart. Somewhere, out there, my heart was waiting for me. I can only assume that when I casted the spell, my soul was split. My emotions were in one part of me and my memories and magic were in another part. I knew that I couldn’t see you guys until I found my heart.

I also knew that if I rejoined too quickly, I would be a target for Grand Ruler. So, what we needed wasn’t Twilight Sparkle, but a spark to set off a revolution. And I was to be that spark.

“Wait, so that explains Spark,” Applejack said, “And if she was just your body, then who was Belle?”

“My heart,” Twilight said.

Discord stepped in, “I might help with this!” he said bringing out a Twilight puppet and a Belle puppet. “See I was the one who guided Twilight’s soul back to the land of the living, but when we arrived, her body was gone.”

“Because Grand Oaf burnt the corpse,” Rainbow Dash said, only to find her nose covered by a giant red wrong button.

“Wrong Dashie-kins!” Discord said, wagging his finger, “Somebody took the body before Grand Ruler burnt it. Somebody with the power to block my sight, so I couldn’t locate the body to put the soul back in.”

“That Death guy!” Pinkie said, “He resurrected the trio so why wouldn’t he want to resurrect Twilight.”

“Which means, had Twilight not used that spell,” Rarity shook in fear, “We might have had to fight Twilight herself?”

Discord nodded and played with the Belle puppet, “But, something went wrong. The Twilight body came back to life thanks to the split and was able to sneak away into our world from the pocket dimension.”

“That explains why she lacked all of Twilight’s color except for her mane,” Applejack said, “Because she was incomplete.”

“And since she was Twilight’s heart, that’s why she went to Pinkie Pie first,” Fluttershy whispered, “Because Pinkie was the first mare she met back in Ponyville when she came here.”

“Since there was no body, I had to reconstruct one of my own! So, Spark,” Discord said, showing off the Spark puppet. “I put that half in here while she looked for her heart.”

“And for that, I thank you,” Twilight said, before walking out in front of the group, her eyes ablaze of determination. As Twilight began to speak, Celestia felt a warmth of pride in her heart at her little student. Smiling, she waited for Twilight to begin. Taking a deep breath, Twilight said, “All right, now I got six days to figure out a way to fight and defeat Conquest.”

“Six days?” Rainbow Dash asked, “Why six?”

Applejack looked confused, “And how do ya know he’ll keep to that time?”

“Because of his pride, he can’t resist a challenge like that. Besides,” Twilight narrowed her eyes, “I hurt him, he can’t resist paying me back.”

“Oh, but you put a target on your back,” Fluttershy whispered.

Twilight nodded, “I know, that’s why I did it. I can actually handle him, I can fight him. That’s why I gave myself six days. I only need that much to study him, figure out a plan, and then take him down once and for all and then end this war!”

This elicited a cheer from the group, and Rainbow Dash smirked, “HA! Told ya! The moment we got Twilight back, he would be over in two days!”

“Six,” Applejack corrected.

“Six, whatever,” Dash rolled her eyes.

Celestia chuckled and walked over to Twilight, hugging her, “Then, we shall leave you to it, my faithful student.”

“Please to meet you, Ms. Sparkle,” Illusion said, following his family out the door.

Raindrops helped Trixie to her feet, “Yeah, good luck Twilight!”

“Wait, Trixie,” Twilight said to the drunk showmare.

“Que est?” asked Trixie.

Twilight smiled and whispered to her, “I’m not mad.”

“BON!” shouted Trixie as she was carried out.

This left only the six left in the library. Applejack smiled and sighed, “So, here we are again. Six mares ready to fight against impossible odds. Only our friendship to protect us as we save our homes.”

Dash smiled and hugged Twilight before flying up, “And wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s just not us when there is only five.”

“Indeed,” Rarity said, picking up Clarity. “Twilight, good luck. Well, not that you need it.”

“Yes, we know you will do this,” Fluttershy said smiling at Twilight.

Pinkie Pie then hugged Twilight tightly, “We missed you, Twilight. And this,” she said, hugging Twilight again, “Is for Belle.”

“Thanks Pinkie,” Twilight said as she watched her friends go out the door, leaving behind Spike. “Spike?”

“Spike Sparkle reporting for duty!” Spike said with a salute.

“Spike, you’re a family man now. You can’t be hanging around here,” Twilight said, shaking her head.

“I know, and that’s what I told Rarity,” Spike said, “But she said that you will need me right now, and I need to be by your side to help with your stuff. And after all, what’s Twilight Sparkle without her assistant Spike to help keep her in line?”

Twilight chuckled at this and then rolled her eyes, “Ok, Spike. Go and get me ‘Multiversal Legends’ ‘Raynor’s Emotional Spectrum’ and, ‘Mimic’s Last Spell.’”

“You got it!” Spike said, running around the library.

Twilight sighed as she walked to her study room, looking around her home with a sense of familiarity and warmth. Though it had been two years, she felt like she hadn’t left her home at all. As she made it into the study, she saw a little book on the desk. When she sat down, she said, “Belle’s diary...” feeling a tear well up in her eyes, she flipped to the last page and wrote down.

‘Thank you, Belle’

...Then she who gives her life for a friend

Author's Note

Thanks to Zolt and Wyvern.

*Sigh*

IT...wasn't meant to be this hard you know. I wasn't suposed to get attached to this OC called Belle Amie, but I did. I really wasn't expecting it at all, it just happened. I remember how I came up with this whole idea. I was talking about the beginning of this story with some friends and they said ,"Hey, why not make an evil Twilight that the Necromancer summons". I thought, why not do something unexpected and bring out two Twilights. One one representing emotions and the other logic (Originally, this was going to be Spark as the emotions and Belle as the logic side. However, as the story went on, I found I wasn't really that good at writing non emotional characters and Belle became more emotional.)

Ok, I figured that was that. Just have her pop up from time to time, wave hi to the camera and then kill her. No fuss and no mess. Then, I did a roleplay with the brther and I came onto a realization. I could care less about Belle, but the characters wouldn't. They would see her as a friend and would bond with her, care for her, and love her. So, I decided to put in more scenes with her, and slowly...I began to care for her too.

It was also that I realized two things. One...this isn't how a story like Belle's ends. Her story usually ends with her finding her memories, making peace with who she is, and moves on with her life. Or, failing that, gains her own body and they both find a way to live on. That couldn't happen here. I had to bring back Twilight.

Second, I was basically defying my own style. I had always been the writer who finds a way to save the livees of characters. I had always found a trick or some loophole but this time I couldn't. There was no third option. I couldn't have Twilight and Belle and that began to make me feel really bad. Then I found the fans liked her, she got some of her own art and I...begun to see her as my own little creation.

It broke my heart to write this, it really did.

Belle Amie 2014-2018 you were a beautiful friend

Other notes...

-The whole war room scene had been in my mind for a while. I wanted a quick montage to show everyone winning. Also the idea of Zecora being a princess had always been something in my head.

-Yes, the red bull is a shout out to Last Unicorn.

-The little colt with bells that was running to Wind Whistler? Yeah, that is Starswirl the Bearded. Wind Whistler is his mother.

-Tirek and Titan's scene was a way for me to give Titan something to do.

-The whole scene with Discord's wedding is just something I had always thought would go down. And yes, Kefka and Sephiroth are my fave villians.

-Conquest beatign the mane 4 and Twilight's resurrection had been the big scene since 2014 when I wrote this. It's just that it was different in the planning stages. Originally, it was Conquest who brought her back, but then things moved on, scenes got rewritten. I took out at least two clop scenes (Back when this was just a clop fic)

-Man, Golden Oaks gets packed...kind of wish they had a castle ;)

-Yes, that's Little Pip from Fallout Equestria.

-There are two DBZA references, the livid joke and Super Storm King's gag. I kind of make their relationship to be Guru and Nail.

Now Twilight is back, it's time for some breather chapter writing before the big final battle chapter.