A day and a half later everypony returned to Canterlot completely exhausted. While they were able to ride the train from Dodge Junction, the march from the cave took a lot out of most of them. Once they arrived the soldiers headed to the base while the rest headed to the castle. Celestia said, "Wow, I didn't know I was in that poor of shape. I wouldn't think that kind of march would tire me so much."

Luna added, "Even we are a bit tired." Luna headed up towards her sleeping chambers and continued, "We are going to retire to our sleeping chambers. Later today we will aid in planning for Starlight's coronation."

Starlight asked, "So how does a coronation work anyway?"

Celestia replied, "Well normally we hold a ceremony here in the throne room and then the new princess goes out to the courtyard to meet with everypony that couldn't get inside but yours will be different as your role is going to be different."

Starlight asked, "So what is my role going to be?"

Celestia replied, "I will announce it at your coronation but you are going to need new armor, a breast plate and a special helmet, one that signifies your royal status."

Starlight got a huge smile on her face. She had a feeling that her suspicions that she would be a military princess would come to pass. Shortly that smile turned to a look of sadness which concerned Celestia. She asked, "Starlight, what is wrong? Suddenly you seem so sad."

Starlight replied, "I just wish my parents could be here. I know they would be so proud of me."

Celestia realized that she needed to do some research on Starlight's lineage. Given her obscure origins, finding her parents and where they live would likely be impossible but she decided to try to find out. She was bound and determined to make the new princess's dreams come true.

Two days had passed and Celestia had finally found the information she was looking for in the vast genealogy wing of the Equestrian birth records so she arranged for a royal train to travel to eastern Equestria and pick up Starlight's parents. She also wanted to make sure that Starlight had the proper regalia. She headed up to Starlight's tower, where she, Spike and her friends had been staying. She knocked on the door and was promptly greeted by Fluttershy, "Uhm, Hi your Majesty. I take it you are here to talk to Starlight?"

Celestia replied, "Yes, I am." She headed in and found Starlight, "Starlight, we need to go to the armory and get you fit for new armor. We also need to get you a new helmet so I can alter it to fit your new status."

Starlight replied, "Alright. Ladies, Spike, I have to get going. Feel free to do whatever you want to do."

Once they left they flew towards the armory. Forgetting she had wings Starlight continued to use her magic to fly. Celestia pointed at her wings, "Starlight, you have wings now, remember?"

Starlight blushed, "Oh yeah. I keep forgetting about that!"

Like other new Alicorns, Starlight had trouble getting used to having wings so her flying was a bit wobbly as they headed to the armory. When they arrived they were greeted by Steel Mane. He said, "Princess Celestia, Star.....wait a minute, Starlight, is that you? You're so much bigger."

Starlight replied, "Yes, it is me. I am here because I need to be fitted for new armor."

Celestia just realized something, she realized that armor can not just be made quickly. She asked, "Steel Mane, could you try to get it made as quickly as possible?"

Steel Mane pointed his hoof at Starlight and replied, "Don't worry your Majesty, Starlight can make some as soon as I give her her measurements."

Celestia asked, "What?"

Steel Mane measured Starlight and gave her the measurements. Starlight levitated the necessary metal into the air and transformed it into armor. Celestia saw this and was stunned, "Starlight, how...how did you do that?"

Starlight replied, "Well when Twilight was trying to force me to make friends, Pinkie took me to Sugarcube Corner. I offered to help Mrs. Cake with her baking and made a cake solely using my magic."

Celestia couldn't help but laugh a bit yet was serious, "Wow Starlight, that is amazing!" She looked around and continued, "Now we just need to find you a good helmet and a good breast plate."

Given that Starlight had made her armor out of titanium, she realized that a helmet and breast plate made out of the same material would be necessary. She looked at Starlight and continued, "Which helmet and breast plate do you think would look good?"

Starlight pointed her hoof at the accessories that she found the most desirable. Celestia continued, "Alright, those it shall be then."

As they left the armory Steel Mane felt a bit bad for initially questioning Starlight when she first came in to get fitted for armor. He had a feeling that Starlight was going to be crowned as a princess and not just that, but become his boss as well.

Two more days had passed and it was the day for the coronation. While the princesses, Spike and Starlight's friends were very excited, Starlight was nervous, very nervous. She worried that she may screw up in the formalities of the ceremony. She headed from her tower to the throne room where she found Celestia and Luna in their special regalia. She asked, "Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, so how are we going to do this?"

Celestia replied, "Rather than holding a normal ceremony in the throne room like what was done with Twilight, I will begin to address the crowd while you and your troops will gather several blocks away. When the signal is given, you will begin to march your troops into the courtyard below the balcony. Upon your arrival, you will fly up to the balcony, using your wings, and then address the crowd."

Starlight breathed a sigh of relief, "Alright, that sounds easy enough. I led a whole army into the southern wastes so leading them into the courtyard will be a piece of cake!"

Celestia replied, "Good. Now I think you need to head over to the base and let your troops know of what the plans are." She tapped Starlight on the shoulder and continued, "Oh, and be ready to march your troops in by noon. That is when the ceremony starts."

Starlight nodded and headed towards the base. Luna couldn't help but wonder why Celestia was referring to the guard as "your troops" to Starlight. She asked, "Big sister, why art thou referring to the royal guard as Starlight's troops? They are just guard ponies, not actual troops."

Celestia replied, "I am doing that because she is going to be in charge of them. She had to transform the unicorn guard into a force that is built to go on the offensive to save us. I'm pretty sure she has the same plans for the pegasi guard and I have a feeling she has plans on how to increase the size of what is now the military."

Luna asked, "But what about the royal guard? Will we no longer have a royal guard?"

Celestia replied, "Little sister, do not worry. We will still have a royal guard, it will just be a matter of them having more training in battle tactics. Personally I think that under her control, they will be far more ready for attacks than they were when Chrysalis and her changelings attacked and captured us."

Luna sighed, "Alright, thou knows what would be best."

It was almost noon in Canterlot as the time had come. Starlight and her troops were lined up at the exit of the base, Celestia and Luna stood at the edge of the balcony while Starlight's friends, Spike and two special guests waited further back.

The clock tower began to sound as noon had arrived. Once it stopped Celestia stood tall and began, "Citizens of Canterlot, I want to thank you for attending this very special event, for it marks not just the crowning of a new princess, but a new era in how Equestria will handle it's enemies. Also, a new era of tougher and stronger guard ponies has arrived."

At the base Starlight could see a bright light shining from the castle balcony. She looked back and said, "Alright troops, that is the signal. Let's march!"

Starlight began to march her troops towards the castle courtyard as Celestia continued, "The royal guard, now known as the military, will be more ready to handle invading forces. I present to you, for the very first time, The Warrior Princess, Princess Starlight Glimmer!"

Rather than cheering loudly like they did with Twilight's coronation, they watched in silence as Starlight led her troops into the courtyard. Once they arrived she ordered, "Halt!"

She gave them a salute and flew up to the balcony. As she arrived the crowd waited in anticipation to see what their new princess had to say. She stood there nervously as Celestia nudged her and said, "Say something princess."

Starlight headed to the edge of the balcony, spread her wings wide and began, "Citizens of Canterlot, ponies of Equestria, I want to thank you for coming to see my coronation." She gulped and continued, "I'm going to admit that I'm not real good with public speaking but here I go. When I was a filly, I will admit, I was naive and knew little about the world outside of my hometown. While I did have some good things happen when I was a filly, I also had bad things happen which led to me being a very unpleasant pony, even one that could be considered a foe of all of Equestria."

When the crowd heard this a couple of ponies booed. While this made Starlight more nervous she knew she couldn't lose her composure, she continued, "It was after I had a nasty battle involving time travel and Princess Twilight that I realized that trying to alter Equestria's future from the past was not the way to do things. Under Princess Twilight's guidance I made plenty of new friends," She turned around and signaled for her friends to step to the front of the balcony. She put her wings around them and continued, "And it was with Twilight's guidance that I became friends with these six, the first ponies that truly cared about me since I was a filly." She hugged them tightly and continued, "Thank you my friends, thank you for caring...." She then looked at Spike and finished, "And Spike, thank you for being my assistant and dear friend. I don't know what I would have done without you. Thank you friends, thank you all!"

The crowd began to cheer loudly as Starlight threw them all a salute before heading in. Her friends surrounded her once they got back inside. Applejack said, "Way to go princess!" Pinkie added, "Best coronation day ever!" Fluttershy continued, "We all love you Starlight!"

Starlight replied, "I love you too ladies."

Celestia nudged Starlight, "Princess, I think there are a couple of other ponies who wish to speak with you."

Starlight followed Celestia to these other ponies. When she saw them she gasped, "Mom? Dad?"

*Starlight's parents, Primrose and Stone Cutter rushed to their daughter and began to cry tears of joy. Primrose cried, "Starlight sweetie, we're so proud of you!"

Stone Cutter added, "Congratulations Starlight, you truly deserve this."

Starlight broke down crying and pulled them close, "Mom, dad, I'm so happy to see you!" She calmed down a bit and asked, "How did you know to come?"

Primrose replied, "A few days ago we had a couple guard ponies come and tell us about everything that happened and brought us here."

Stone Cutter added, "And when we heard that you killed Chrysalis with your bare hooves, we were shocked."

Primrose took a close look at her daughter and realized she had changed, "Starlight honey, you have grown so much, and my goodness you have become an Alicorn!"

Stone Cutter continued, "And that armor looks amazing on you! You have your cutie mark on your helmet and is that a bloodstone in your breast plate?"

Starlight replied, "Yes, it is a bloodstone. Celestia thinks it will give me good luck when leading my troops either into battle or leading them against any attack we may have."

Primrose said, "And when other villains hear about how you took care of Chrysalis, they'll know better than to mess with you and your army!"

Starlight blushed, "I certainly hope so."

Celestia interrupted, "I know you are all happy to see one another again but it is time for the post coronation lunch."

Starlight asked, "Can I bring my parents and my friends to it? It would mean so much more if I can have those I hold so dear to me present."

Celestia replied, "Of course you can! It is tradition for a new princess to have her family and friends present for this."

Starlight smiled at her parents and friends and headed towards the dining hall, "Mom, dad, friends, follow me to the throne room for our meal. I'm sure you're going to love it!"

Everypony headed into the dining hall where they feasted on the largest meal that Starlight and her parents had ever eaten. While Starlight was definitely happy that she had wiped out Chrysalis and became The Warrior Princess, what made her the most happy was that she was able to be reunited with her parents after so many years. She vowed to herself, "From this point on, I will stay in much better contact with my parents and protect Equestria at all costs, to keep them and everypony else safe."

Author's Note

* Starlight's parents are brought up and do play a role in the alternate ending of "An Unlikely Love: The Tale of Two Friendship Students."