Twilight looked up from the balcony of her room as she watched Sunset Shimmer and Moondancer working together to lower the sun and raise the moon. It was a sight she had seen many times before, back when the tasks still belonged to Celestia and Luna. They were her mentors, no her friends. Twilight sighed trying not to break into tears at the memories of Equestria's previous rulers. It had been about 20 years since Twilight was saved from the corruption of Dark Magic and since the bearers of harmony that were created by Celestia,Luna, and Cadence had made the ultimate sacrifice to save her. but it had only been 3 years since Twilight, Sunset Shimmer, Starlight Glimmer, and Moondancer had taken the roles as rulers of Equestria. Sunset took over Celestia's role of rising the sun and teaches at Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns, She seems happy to be back in Equestria sometimes however she'll sit in front of the mirror portal to the human world that had to be permanently seal off after her and Twilight's Canterlot high friends came through to help save Twilight, and wonder how that world is doing. Moondancer took over Luna's duties bringing forth the night and aiding ponies in dreams. She often spent her time in the Royal Library loosing herself in a good book and thinking about her unicorn friends and how much fun they had together. Starlight was given primal rule over the Crystal Empire by Cadence and Shining Armor and along with her husband, Sunburst, who was dubbed The Royal Mage was also given the task to teach Princess Flurry Heart how to properly use her magic since the young Alicorn's Magic was completely out of control when she was a newborn foal so much so that she shattered the crystal heart nearly dooming the empire and crystal ponies. Flurry Heart, who was now a young mare, had just gotten her cutie mark which was the crystal heart itself learned that her destiny was to protect the crystal empire and the crystal heart just as her parents did before her. She rules the crystal empire along side Starlight and Sunburst. Starlight often thought about Trixie and how the Show pony enjoyed her life as a performer. Twilight had taken Celestia's place as ruler of Equestria and had moved back to Canterlot with Sunset and Moondancer and gave her castle in Ponyville to Spike and His Mate Ember who had turned it into a museum where the stories of Twilight and her friends protecting Equestria and their map adventures were told and personal belonging were put on display. But Twilight knew something was missing her friends.
She walked back into her room and collapsed onto the couch. picking up a picture with a familiar lavender aura as she touched it with her hoof, staring at the smiling ponies.
"Oh girls I miss you so much." she said, her voice cracking as she fought to hold back tears.
The picture was of Twilight with her friends, two earth ponies, two pegasi and a unicorn. It had been a few years since they had all gone. Twilight still remembers how each of them passed. Applejack being the last one to go was surrounded by her family. Apple Bloom tried to take over the farm, but had a hard time maintaining the farm, so it ultimately fell on Apple Jack's son Apple Buck and her daughter Apple Flower. Twilight and Spike had come to be by Applejack's side in her final moments. But what pained Twilight the most was hearing Applejack's final words to her echoing throughout her mind.
"Don't cry over us Twi, Equestria needs you. Remember the good times we all had. We will see each other again soon." Applejack said softly as she slowly closed her eyes and drifted to sleep.
When Rainbow Dash passed, the Wonderbolts flew over her funeral in the missing pony formation before landing and standing next to her coffin as the preacher said some prayers. Throughout the ceremony the newly appointed Captain Scootaloo never leaving Rainbow Dash's side as her big sister was lowered into her final resting place.
Fluttershy was buried by her animal friends and Discord using is magic covered her grave site in flowers and her cottage was inherited by her daughter, Paw Print who assumed her mother's position in taking care of all of the animals.
Pinkie Pie was mourned by all of Ponyville even in her old age, she still managed to throw one last party, determined to make it her finest. And it was all of Ponyville came and had fun, her friends each taking turns dancing and spending time with her. But her final dance went to her husband Cheese Sandwich, and their daughter Cherry Bomb they smiled and danced the night away before they took her home. She quietly passed in her sleep that night.
Rarity was the first to pass away, being mourned by Sweetie Belle, her friends and the fashion world. Sweetie Belle took over all three of her businesses and to this day is doing her best to keep up to her sister's standards.
Twilight stood up placing the picture back down and walked down the hall passing the many stain glass windows showcasing key moments in Equestria's history. She looked up at the one showcasing her and her friends defeating Nightmare Moon.
"Don't worry girls we will be together again soon." she said as she continued walking down the hall, until she came across a door with her friends cutie marks on it. Using her magic Twilight opened the door and stepped inside. The room had five statues of Twilight's friends and five stain glass windows of them behind them. Twilight stepped in front of the statues.
"So you finally are calling on me once again?" A voice said quietly, causing Twilight to turn around and stare at the growing shadow behind her.
" Only because I know you can do it." Twilight said bravely, walking towards the shadows.
A pair of red eyes shown like rubies through the shadows as they stared at Twilight, who just stared back unafraid.
"You really want them back don't you?" the voice wondered as the shadows moved around her.
"Yes I do. So do we have a deal or not?" She asked.
" Have the most powerful Alicorn Magic in history in exchange for the lives of five ponies? Hmm. That does sound like a fair trade. You Twilight Sparkle are even more powerful then Princess Luna was, then again she was weak and blinded by jealousy. I never had some pony be willing to give me something in exchange for my help."
Twilight glared at the creature.
"We both know why you want my magic. It's the only magic that has ever been strong enough to defeat you. But don't forget your promise. In exchange for my Alicorn magic and the lives of my friends you are to leave Equestria alone." She said boldly.
" You have my word Princess Twilight." the creature smiled as it lunged at Twilight, latching onto her, as she began to cast a spell.
Her horn summoning dark magic, engulfing it in an eerie black glow as the air around her began to spin. Twilight could feel that familiar pull of power calling to her and she started hearing the sound of the stone statues cracking.
"Almost there girls!" She said as she continued to focus on the growing power.
Suddenly she was thrown to the floor, a sharp pain burning the side of her face. Realizing the spell had been canceled out and the statues of her friends still stood as they were. "Twilight what do you think you are doing?!" a voice growled angrily.
She looked up to see Spike standing there with Ember, pure anger on his face. The purple and green dragon was now an adolescent and still had that scar over his right eye, from when Twilight had been corrupted by Dark Magic and had attacked Spike. Seeing her oldest living friend angry with her, she finally broke down, the tears flowing freely with nothing to stop them.
Spike rushed forward hugging her close to his chest as he collapsed to his knees stroking her mane.
" I miss them Spike. All of them Celestia, Luna, Cadence, Shining Armor, and my friends. Why did this have to happen? Did Celestia have to go through this too? Did she have to watch every pony she cared for wither away by Time's grasp? It's not fair!" she cried.
Spike continued to stroke her mane comforting her, trying to calm her down. "I know Twilight, I miss them too, but they wouldn't want us to grieve over them. Celestia would want you to move on and be the leader you are destined to be." he said smiling as she looked up at him with teary eyes. "Besides have you forgotten who they left behind?" Spike gestured to the door as four young mares and two young stallion walked in behind a white alicorn mare with pink tipped wings and accompanied by Applebloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo . The group hugged Twilight as she smiled at her nieces and nephews, feeling once again happy. The need to call on the Darkness fading away again.
"Spike sent us a letter telling us you needed friends so we thought seeing them would help." said Starlight as her, Sunburst and their dragon, Aqua entered the room behind the young ponies.
"We all miss our Moms too Aunt Twilight but I know Mom wouldn't have wanted to see you like this. She would've wanted you to hold your head up high and press on right Aunt Sweetie Belle . " said a white Unicorn Mare.
"I couldn't have said it better myself Ruby Gem." said Sweetie Belle hugging the young mare.
Twilight smiled, as Sunset and Moondancer enter the room.
"Twilight we all miss our friends but the past is the past the portal closed a long ago but I remember the good times I had with them." said Sunset remembering her Canterlot High friends once again.
Moondancer stepped forward. " Lemon Hearts, Lyra, Minuette, and Twinkle Shine, do you think I don't miss them everyday?"
Twilight stood up. " You're all right I'm living in the past I can't see what a blessing they left me." hugging all of them.
"Come on every pony lets go get some cake! Cake always cheered Mommy and Daddy up" Shouted Cherry Bomb.
"Just Cherry Bomb this time don't put one of your party bombs in the cake." said Apple Buck.
" Yea it took forever to clean up the place last time." said Apple Flower.
"And setting one of them off is scary." Said Paw Print softly .
"Paw Print do I have to kick a Lighting cloud again for you." asked a blue Pegasus colt
" Come on Lighting Bolt you know the rules." Said Scootaloo
"Aw come on Auntie Scoots Mom loved that prank." replied Lighting.
" No buts mister if you want to be a proud Wonderbolt you have to be a proper gentlecolt as well." Scootaloo said.
Every pony laughed as Lighting Bolt blushed and flew out of the room followed by every pony else.
Twilight was the last one out but before she left the room she looked back at the shadows.
" You will call upon me again one day. I'm sure of it." said the creature
"Nice try but I won't go down that path again I have my friends memories and their children to give me strength. So kindly return to the darkness where you belong." Said Twilight as she shut the door as joined her family and Friends for tea and cake.
