~~~

The mare that stood before us was the physical embodiment of otherworldly beauty. She was was aglow with all the colors of the universe, even a few I was certain would never again be viewed by mortal kind. Her mane flowed as if blown by the winds of the cosmos itself. Her coat was well groomed and tended to, like that of an Empress from a far away land. But unlike the other mares of light, this mare's tribe was not up for debate, for she had both wide sweeping wings and long spiraling horn. And the light she omitted was so bright, that it physically felt like we were standing beneath a noon Sun.

Even standing near the edge of the room, she felt like she dominated the whole room with her presence. As if one could hide her under a simple plain cloak, put her in a room full of the world's greatest treasures, and she would still somehow be the most notable thing in the room.

My horn even tingled queerly by just how much magical might she was passively displaying.

If there ever was such a thing as a deity... A trueborn Alicorn... It was her.

Not even speaking with the Moon or the Sun could compare.

The harrowingly magnificent mare opened her eyes with a flash.

If one could ever quantify every mote of magic in the Universe, they would all most certainly be contained within those eyes. To say they were deep would be like tossing a stone into the sky and listening for the resounding noise to echo off the stars. To say they were bright, would be like saying Galineigho's observation of the Sun through a telescope was 'dim'.

“Princess Celestia Unitybringer of Equestria. Sol Invicta. The Daystar. Champion of the Sun. Daughter. Sister. Friend.” The mare chanted with a voice that sounded like every mare, stallion, and foal, stressing the final word as if to give her addressee understanding of that she knew.

“Princess Luna Fiendbane of Equestria. Queen of Bloodstone. The Night Maiden. Champion of the Moon. Daughter. Sister. Hero.” she continued. At the word 'hero' I was hit with all the pride I felt at serving the Ponies as one of their protectors. The feeling of standing before some great evil and knowing that not only were you in the right, but your actions would save countless lives.

My throat suddenly felt extremely dry.

"You have come to ask me a boon." the mare commented idly.

Some instinct deep inside my soul told me, screamed at me really, that this glowing mare was not what she seemed, but she was so, so, so much more.

I had to be delicate when dealing with this mare... If she so wanted, she could annihilate me with merely a thought.

"H-how..." I began hesitantly.

Luna you daft mare! Why did you start speaking?! This mare is not the mare to be rude to-

The mare chuckled.

I felt cold sweat drip down my neck.

Could- Could she hear my thoughts?

"Be at ease." The mare soothed. "You both have passed my tests."

"So... They were tests?" Tia ventured.

"Indeed." the mare answered. With that, the mare of light stamped lightly on the rock below. As if on cue, the five differently colored mares reappeared, flanking the Alicorn on ether side.

I couldn't help but flinch as the light from the yellow mare fell across my face.

"When you first were confronted in my cavern, you were met with greed." the Alicorn of light started. The gleaming white mare stepped forward and bowed slightly. "But Luna was able to see she was starving, and offered her a loaf of bread. Demonstrating the aspect of Generosity."

At the word 'Generosity', the light that made up the gleaming mare collapsed into a single mote of light, which zipped over to me and started to orbit around my head.

"You were next confronted with animosity. But Celestia recognized the absurd baselessness for what it was truly, and was able to laugh it away. Earning the aspect of Laughter." The Alicorn of light nodded.

The Pink mare bounced, and at the apex of her jump, imploded into a speck of light, similar to how the white mare had, the pink speck then went to Tia and orbited around her head.

"Luna was then presented with a choice, let her sister suffer to save herself pain, or protect who she loved by taking all of the pain herself. She chose to take all of the pain despite her injuries, earning the aspect of Loyalty."

The blue mare did a sort of back flip, collapsing into a mote of light as well, and with shocking swiftness, joined the white mote around my head.

"Both of you were then confronted with cruelty. But only Celestia was able to display the care that dispelled it, earning the aspect of Kindness."

The yellow mare did a sort of flinch, and joined the pink speck of light around Tia's head as a mote as well.

I couldn't help but feel grateful that particular mare wasn't earned by me. My wing still throbbed with pain.

"And finally, you were challenged by my most difficult test. The test of lies. However, only Luna saw them for what they were, and told the truth as she knew it. Earning the aspect of Honesty."

The blazing orange mare mimed tipping a hat respectfully, and collapsed as well, coming to join her two sisters around my head.

"This is all well and good..." I interjected. "But what is the purpose of earning these 'aspects'?"

The mare regarded me with an appraising look.

"All in good time curious one." she smiled, like one of the tutors Tia and I had studied under when we took to our thrones, but with a hint of pride. "The aspects on their own are virtues to aspire to certainly, but they are merely fragments of a greater whole." The mare looked to Tia like a proud mother regarding her daughter. "Celestia, while Luna is the sword and shield that protects, you are the one that has forged the tribes of Ponies into a single people. As such, you are worthy of the final piece of the whole." The mare's horn glowed brightly, enveloping the room in blinding light.

When I could see again, the mare of light had her hoof outstretched. Floating above said hoof, was a peculiar violet gem, cut into a six pointed star, and held an inner light that seemed to benignly pulse.

"Apart, the aspects are noble and unique, in their own way. But when rallied to a single purpose they exceed far and above the sum of their individuality. I present to you, Celestia, Princess of Equestria, the aspect of the Spark."

I spared a moment to sneak a glance to Tia.

Her face was lit with the purple glow, her mouth slightly agape in awe.

"The Spark is the most important part of my Elements. Without it, the others can never band together." The mare did a gesture, a sort of gracefully slow toss. The violet gem, with equal grace, floated across the distance and landed in Tia's outstretched hooves.

"The Spirit of Discord is wily and tenacious, by chaos he was summoned, but in my name will he be put back to sleep."

"And... What is your name?" I found myself asking outloud.

The mare turned back to me, a slight, knowing curl to her lips.

"You may call me... Harmony."

Author's Note

Oh oh! Can I explain this? Pleeeeease?

Explain no, but I'll allow you to point out.

Yesssss! Ok! Ahem!

...

...

...

...

Well?

Well what?

Oh for fuck's-... Ok, pay attention to-

Pay attention to the titles that Harmony uses! It'll be important later!

Are you done?

Oh we both know you're only allowing this because my time is limited.