Chapters It's a dark day with a rain of ash coming down from the sky. Royal guards are everywhere. Twilight is locked up in a cell alongside the other elements of harmony. "What has the world become?" says Twilight as she cries. "Both Celestia and Luna are evil. Equestria is starving. Children are orphans. Unicorns and Pegasi are slaves. And here we are in a cell, unable to stand up for them." Her head falls into her lap and she begins to ball. Meanwhile, the royal tyrants sit on their thrones and down cupcake upon cupcake as they are being manicured and pedicured by the spa twins and being sung to by the unicorns and performed for by the pegasi.
"I have to hand it to you sister," giggles Nightmare Moon, "we make these ponies pretty miserable."
"Agreed," cackles Daybreaker. "I love having slaves that answer my every call." She giggles as she pops another cupcake into her mouth.
Meanwhile, in Ponyville, the guards are busy rounding up the mayor and the visiting senators and dragging them off in the cart under a blood red moon. Meanwhile, another group of guards is busy gathering together small groups of rebels that they then line up and shoot one by one nonstop.
"It's a bloodbath out there," says Twilight to her friends. "Ponies have been shot and killed. I can hear their dying screams."
"There's nothing you can do about it, Twi," says Applejack. "This is what the world is now. It's awful but it's never going to change."
A few minutes later, a guard enters the cell that holds the Mane Six and escorts Pinkie, Applejack, Rainbow, Rarity, and Fluttershy out. The guards then throw bags over their heads and lead them to a pit full of water, bind their hooves, then push them in, drowning them and killing them. Twilight is now all alone. First, Spike was taken from her and stripped of his scales, which were then sold. He was then disposed of. Now, the Mane Six had been drowned.
An hour later, Twilight looks up and it finally dawns on her. Her friends are dead. "Why are they keeping me alive?" Twilight says to herself. "Why did they drown my friends? Why did they strip Spike of his scales and dispose of them? Did my mentors really just change on a dime? What happened to the Celestia and Luna I used to know?" Her eyes begin to fill with tears and she cries for hours. A few minutes later, a guard comes and grabs her and leads her to the throne room and push her down on the floor in front of the princesses.
"Why are you keeping me alive?" Twilight asks them. "What do you want with me?"
"We were hoping you'd change your mind and join us after you found out all your closest friends were dead," giggles Daybreaker.
"I'll never change my mind! May hellfire consume your souls!" Twilight responds as she spits in their eyes.
"So be it," replies Daybreaker. She then motions her hoof and the guards drag Twilight back to her cell and lock her up once again. Twilight just can't believe it. The two ponies she used to trust the most had now changed for good and there was no way she could get the old Celestia and Luna she knew back. Now, she had to change her focus. She had to escape the cell and find a way to save the rest of the ponies. It's what her friends and Spike would've wanted.
After several days of digging and digging, Twilight finally digs herself out of the cell and escapes the prison and heads off towards Ponyville, a hood over her head and her back, hiding her wings and horn. A few minutes later, she arrives in town, where she meets up with the few remaining rebels in a hidden area underground. "So," says Twilight to the others, "have we found some way to defeat the royal tyrants?"
"No, not yet," replies one of the rebels, a stallion named Drake.
"We've been on a constant run and they've killed several of our own," replies another one, a mare named Unity.
"Well," says Twilight, finally pulling off her robe completely, "maybe the fact that I am an almighty being like them can help. I can fool them. Pretend I joined their side. Infiltrate the castle."
"That would be fantastic!" replies Drake.
"Great!" replies Twilight. "I'll sneak back in tonight and let the sisters know I want to join their side."
"Sounds good," replies Unity. "We wish you the best of luck."
"Thanks," replies Twilight. "I'm going to need it."
That night, Twilight sneaks back into her cell and boards up the hole loosely and waits there till morning. The next morning, she is taken to the sisters by the captain of the guard, Nightshade.
"Princesses," says Twilight, "I have changed my mind. I want to join you and rule beside you."
"Are you sure about that?" says Daybreaker, somewhat suspicious. "You sure you're not aiding the remaining rebels?"
"Oh never," lies Twilight. "Why would I help them? I'm way above them. Superior to them."
"You have a deal, Twilight, you can rule beside us," says Nightmare Moon, interrupting her sister. Twilight then takes her side beside the two sisters and is given her new crown. It's a silver crown with dark blue moonstones and bright pink sunstones on it with a pink gem shaped like magic on the very front.
A few hours later, while the two tyrants are enjoying a nice aerial performance, Twilight sneaks off and uses a cell phone potion to contact the rebels. "Do they suspect anything?" asks Drake.
"Not a thing," replies Twilight. "Not a thing."
"Good, keep up the good work," replies Drake. He then ends the call and Twilight exits the room and joins the royal tyrants in the main hall and enjoys the aerial show with them. When they clap, she claps along, keeping up the charade. When they cheer, she cheers even louder, which pleases them.
"You truly are one of us," sighs Daybreaker as the last doubt dispells from her mind. "You truly are a tyrant too." Twilight ignores this final comment. All she has to do is keep up the charade for a few more days when the rebels plan to attack the castle. At least, she doesn't have to keep it up much longer because she doesn't know how much longer she can lie to the two tyrants because she already knows Daybreaker is quite wary of her and honestly, that has her scared, nervous, and frankly worried for her life if they find out her ruse.
Chapter 2-Keeping Up a Lie
For the next several days, Twilight keeps up the charade, the lie she is currently living. She's not evil like the regal tyrants and she knows they know it even though they don't admit it. That night, Twilight puts the crown on the table then takes it up in her hoof once again and looks at it. It's not a crown she deserves. It's a crown of a ruler dictator, a tyrant not the kind, loving princess she is. "What was I thinking? Infiltrating the regal tyrants' castle. What have I gotten into?" Twilight sighs to herself as she falls asleep for the night.
Meanwhile, in another part of Ponyville, the rebels are busy gathering weapons to attack the castle. "You sure these guns can take down two full grown alicorns?" asks Chastice.
"They sure can," replies Drake. "These guns can take down everything."
"I hope you're right," sighs Unity as she grabs one out of the box.
The three then take the rest of the box of guns back to their underground area and pass them out to the rest of the rebels. As they pass out the guns, they hear some bad news. "I just got word," says a younger member of the rebel group, "that Gruntess was recently tortured and killed by the tyrants."
"His death won't be in vain," says Drake, "I promise. We're going to take down those evil tyrants. I promise."
The next morning, Twilight wakes up and joins the regal tyrants for a breakfast of hoofmade pancakes. "At least some things never change," whispers Twilight to herself. "Just like Celestia, Daybreaker has the hobby of making pancakes for breakfast every morning." Twilight then cuts a piece and takes a bite. She then takes several more bites then eats another whole plate. She has no idea that the tyrants drugged the pancakes she has been eating and she is soon knocked out and dragged to a dark room, where she is chained to the wall.
A few hours later, Twilight comes to. "Where am I?" she says. "Where am I?"
"You're in containment," replies a guard who is standing outside the door, "now shut up."
"Never!" replies Twilight. "Now let me out!"
"By order of The Divine Rulers Daybreaker and Nightmare Moon, I cannot," replies the guard.
A few hours later, Twilight gives up on calling for help and switches to praying. "Please Drake, please rebels, get me out of here. I can't take much more. Soon they come to kill me. Make haste and come to my rescue. Please."
A few minutes later, the rebels unlock the cell and free Twilight from her change. "Drake, you came!" sighs Twilight as she jumps into his hooves and embraces him in a hug. He then pushes her off and she willingly lets go. She then takes a gun along with her hood, which she puts on. They then sneak through a lower corridor and towards the throne room. Their plan is in action and soon the result will come to fruition. Twilight just hopes that they won't die protecting her, but if they do die, then they'll die in honor of their country...or at least, what used to be their country.
Chapter 3-Storming the Castle
A few minutes later, the two tyrants hear a knock on the door, so they take to the skies, ready to attack. The rebels and Twilight then storm in, under her robe and hood, so the two regal tyrants don't realize it's her. "What is this? Looks like we missed a group of rebels, sister," says Nightmare Moon to Daybreaker.
"Let's blaze them," replies Daybreaker. She then sends a blast of fire their way which they dodge. The rebels then begin to shoot their guns towards the two tyrants. After several shots, a bullet hits Daybreaker in the wing then a second hits Nightmare Moon in the wing. The two tyrants then fall to the floor. Twilight then pulls off her robe and hood and reveals herself.
"Twilight," says a shocked Daybreaker, "how could you do this to us? We took you in, made you one of us, a divine ruler over all."
"I'm not like the two of you, I'm not evil and corrupted like you," replies Twilight. She casts a flight and magic neutralization spell over the two tyrannical sisters. "I'll never be like the two of you. I am their Savior. I'm the one created to save them from you."
Back in a corner behind a curtain, terrified unicorns and pegasi watch as Twilight continues to talk to the two tyrants. "I infiltrated your castle. I helped the rebels. What are you going to do about it? I've neutralized your wings, your flight, your horns, and your magic. I've disarmed you. Face it, you're defeated. I've freed the ponies that serve you." Meanwhile, in the background, the rebels lead the unicorns and pegasi out of the castle and to their underground quarters.
"Why are you helping us?" asks a unicorn mare. "They're going to kill you, then kill us all."
"No, they're not," replies Drake. "Twilight is handling them as we speak."
"I hope your friend succeeds," replies the mare as she plops down into the underground followed by the rest of the pegasi and unicorns that followed behind them. Once safe underground, they keep running towards the main part of the hideout. Once there, the rebels leave the newly freed unicorns and pegasi and return to help Twilight in her fight against the regal tyrants.
Meanwhile, back in the castle, Twilight has locked up the royal sisters in a cell with magic and flight neutralizing walls. Not long after this, the rebels arrive and join her in the dungeon. "Seems like you have everything under control here," giggles Drake. A minute later though, a guard jumps out from his perch behind them and slits the throats of Drake, Unity, and the two other rebels. Twilight flies out the top of the dungeon before she could be harmed by the guard. She then heads back underground with her hood once again over her head and wings. She has to tell the remaining rebels, the unicorns, and pegasi of the deaths of Drake, Unity, and the other two rebels.
An hour later, Twilight returns back to the rebel stronghold underground. There she breaks the bad news. "Rebels, unicorns, pegasi, Unity, Drake, and two of the other rebels were killed by a hidden guard. I barely escaped myself. The good news, the two tyrants are behind bars and unable to escape since I put a flight neutralization and magic neutralization spell on their cell. We're all safe now."
"You truly are our Savior," says the same unicorn mare from other, her name being Gloria. "You truly are the one the prophecies prophesied to us."
"What prophecies?" asks Twilight puzzled.
"Why the prophecies of the great Fraganhoof," replies Gloria with a gasp. "The prophecies state that a princess will rise up and kill the reigning tyrants and that she will then go on to become the Savior and ruler of the ponies."
"Well, I've read Fraganhoof, but I've never heard of these prophecies before," replies Twilight. "Either way, I will definitely take my place on the throne and rule kindly and benevolently with the purest heart."
The next day, Twilight takes her place on the throne with a new crown of pure diamonds. She then begins to pull everything back to how it used to be. She builds an orphanage for all the little fillies and colts starving in the streets. She hands out bread and milk to all the starving ponies. She gives the older ponies both food and blankets for warmth along with any pregnant mares. She gives the unicorns and pegasi new jobs to do and she even allows the formation of a new flying team called the New Wonderbolts. She even builds a theater for proper entertainment. Twilight is glad she can finally do something to help the ponies and she's glad she no longer has to worry about constantly being almost slain and killed by the regal tyrants' guards.
Over the next few months, things begin to continue to look up for all the ponies. While there is still ash in the air, new homes are being built and food is starting to be planted once again in the fields. Twilight smiles as she watches from her throne. Maybe, in thirty years or so, things will be back to how they used to be before, or at least, she hopes so.
Over the next few days, Twilight pours all her effort into getting several hundred more houses built while the Crystal Ponies continue to stay in the Palace of Friendship. While she's busy helping build, Twilight gets another letter. This time it's one from Empress Rightheart of the unicorn kingdom of Mount Reinus. "Dear Princess Twilight of Equestria," reads Twilight, "our kingdom has fallen victim to a radical group of dragons. They've destroyed everything. Can we receive some aid? Or at least, can we come to Equestria, to your castle, until the dragons are dealt with? Sincerely, Empress Rightheart." Twilight promptly pulls out a scroll and writes a response.
"Please come," writes Twilight, "you are free to stay in my castle while I send some of our best warriors to deal with your dragon problem. Sincerely, Princess Twilight." She then uses her mail sending spell to send the letter to the Empress, who immediately once she gets it, reads it and readies her people to head to Equestria.
A few days later, they arrive at Twilight's castle, and Twilight happily provides them with blankets, pillows, and a nice meal before she lets them head off to bed for the night. Once they finish their food and head off to bed in the library on the floor, Twilight returns to the main part of town and helps raise a new insignia in the town square: one of her defeating Daybreaker and Nightmare Moon. She is honored, but she knows it is still going to take time to rebuild, especially now that she has so many ponies that are relying on her for food and shelter. The next morning, Twilight wakes up bright and early and brings around a breakfast of freshly made corn muffins to the ponies, who happily down at least a dozen each causing Twilight go off to bake more and bring them out once again, this time steaming hot. They then happily down the second batch and then even a third and fourth batch. Twilight is glad she can at least feed them and give them a place to sleep until such time as the houses are built.
A few weeks later, all the new houses are built and the crystal ponies move into theirs and the Empress's unicorns move into theirs as well. As for the Empress, Shining Armor, Cadence, and Flurry, they continue to live in the palace alongside Twilight. From there, the five rule all their subjects together. Things continue to be on the up and up for them and for that, Twilight is grateful. Now, all she has to do is manage to keep a steady temperament now that she has to share her ruling responsibilities with four other ponies.
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Chapter 8-The New Kingdom of Star Streak and The Tale of Fuera
A few days later, Twilight goes to visit Star Streak and sees that he has a thriving kingdom of his own. "Hello, Star Streak," says Twilight to the male alicorn.
"Oh, hi Twilight!" replies Star Streak flying up and over to her and embracing her in a hug.
"How's it going here? I see you have several unicorns and pegasi to rule over here," replies Twilight.
"It's going great! Most of them are studying on how to gain alicorn status," responds Star Streak.
"That's great!" replies Twilight. "I'm glad you found a way to revive your kind."
"Me too," replies Star Streak. He then takes Twilight on a tour of his new kingdom which he deemed Unitea.
After an hour time, the tour finally comes to an end and Star Streak thanks Twilight for the visit before she flies off back towards Equestria. He hopes the two kingdoms will have a strong allied bond in the near future. A few minutes later, Twilight lands back on the balcony of her palace and sees a few flames below. "Oh no!" she says as she flies down to see what the fire is. Once she lands, she sees that it's only a ceremonial bonfire. She breathes a sigh of relief. "What's with the ceremonial bonfire?" Twilight asks.
"It's a way we celebrate Fuera, our god of fire," says the Empress. "It's tradition to celebrate her on this day for it's the day of the Festival of Flames for us."
"Oh," replies Twilight. "Please tell me more."
"Okay, sure," replies the Empress turning to face Twilight. "Fuera was the creator of our little kingdom. From fire and sand and dust she created our small kingdom. Every year, we celebrate the day she created our kingdom. Today is that day so we celebrate to honor the goddess who created us all."
"That's cool," replies Twilight. In her head, on the other hand, she mumbles 'that sounds a whole lot like Celestia', but she wasn't going to let the Empress know that. "What else did Fuera do?"
"She protected us from thunderstorms and lightning strikes, prevented famine, and helped with weather in general. She also gave us the gift of light, magic, and most importantly, fire. She then blessed us with a special plant: the fire berry. It's the national plant." She shows Twilight a fire berry seedling. "See. This is the only one we managed to save from our now destroyed home."
"Yes, I do," replies Twilight. "We'll make sure it grows up big and strong. I promise."
"Thank you," replies the Empress. "Now won't you come join the festivities." Twilight nods and joins in the traditional singing of the songs of the Empress and her ponies. They sing songs about Fuera's deeds, her goodness, and the song of their creation and the creation of their land. Once they're done with the songs, they all take a sip of the ceremonial horn berry liquor, which is a combination of honey, fire oil, which grows from the fire berry plant, and the nectar of the crystal tree. As she drinks her portion, Twilight's face winces up a little bit but she doesn't let them see. She swallows the drink then excuses herself back to her castle. For her, that was the most interesting experience of her life, moreso than facing off against villains in fact. She doesn't know what to think about what she just witnessed, did, and heard. She really and truly doesn't.
Once she's back at the castle, she retreats to the library where she is soon joined by Cadence. "Hey Twilight," says Cadence with a smile, "how's your day been?"
"It's been interesting, to say the least," replies Twilight.
"That's nice," replies Cadence with a smile. "What'd you do?"
"Celebrated the Festival of Flames with the Empress and before that visiting Star Streak, Celestia and Luna's baby brother and his fledgling kingdom of Unitea," replies Twilight.
Twilight and Cadence then spend the rest of the evening together before finally going to separate rooms around midnight. Cadence goes to check on Flurry Heart while Twilight goes off to do some late night reading in her bedroom. Shining, meanwhile, in his bedroom, is busy reading his comic books as he holds onto his Gladiator Pony plush from his childhood. A few minutes later, Cadence comes in and he smiles as she gets into bed beside him and turns out the light. Meanwhile back in her bedroom, Twilight does the same. It's been a long day for all of them. As for the Empress and her unicorns, they're still outside celebrating their Festival of Flames well into the next day.
Chapter 9-What is Normal Anymore?
The next day, Twilight is up before sunrise and heads off in the pale sunlight towards an old tree. It's called The Hiding Hole. Once there, Twilight opens the door on the tree and goes down on a silver circle into the main part of the tree. Once in the main part of the tree, Twilight goes over to a screen and pulls up some information. The information is on the goddess Fuera. Twilight then reads the screen in front of her. "The goddess known as Fuera is the goddess of fire and life. She is also the goddess of weather and rebirth. The one gift she left her ponies when she returned to the heavens was a plant known as the fire berry. She also gave them another prized gift before she ascended back into the heavens, a crystal tree. The ponies of the town she founded gladly recognized these as their national plant and national tree. She also promised them that she'd protect them no matter what. The ponies of her village still believe this to this day."
Twilight then looks at the screen puzzled. "I already knew this. This didn't help." She then hops back on the silver tray and it carries her back up the tree and lets her out the door in the tree. She then flies back to the Canterlot library and enters the archives where she soon finds scrolls upon scrolls on Fuera. She reads through these over the following hours before returning with the new information back to her own castle. Once she arrives back at the castle, she helps the Empress plant the fire berry tree in the central garden outside the palace. They then say the Fuera prayer over the flower together before presenting the tree to the ponies. Once this is done, Twilight returns to her library where she is soon greeted by her sister in law and brother.
"Twilight," says Cadence in panic, "Flurry Heart is missing!"
"What!" says Twilight. "We gotta go find her!"
"I have a squad out searching for her right now but with little success," replies Shining. "What are we gonna do? I'm freakin' out!"
Twilight then heads out in search of Flurry Heart alongside Cadence and her brother. They search all over Equestria for her as well as over the other kingdoms including a visit to Star Streak's village. That is where they find her clinging to Star Streak's right hoof. "How'd she get all the way here?" says Cadence puzzled.
"I have no solid idea, but a slight theory on how," says Star Streak. "Young Alicorns have a way of locating others of their breed that older Alicorns don't tend to have."
"Well, wow, I never knew that," replies Cadence. Star Streak then hands the little filly back to Cadence.
"Well, there is a way to curb that need," says Star Streak, "if I may." Cadence nods and gives him the go ahead. Star Streak then casts a spell on Flurry Heart that blocks her alicorn radar ability. Cadence then breathes a sigh of relief and thanks Star Streak before flying off followed by Twilight while Shining runs along underneath them. A few hours later, they arrive back in Equestria and drop Flurry Heart off in her room and lock all the windows and doors so she can't escape again. Once Flurry is handled, Twilight tells Cadence and Shining about her research on the Empress's goddess Fuera that she discovered.
"Wow, that goddess sounds like Celestia," says Cadence.
"I know, that's what I thought," replies Twilight. "But I didn't want to tell the Empress that. I didn't want to be rude."
"You did right," replies Cadence as she puts her hoof on Twilight's shoulder. The three then leave the room and head down to the center of Equestria where they enjoy a Freedom Festival along with the ponies they rule. Things may be far from normal now but even so, Twilight can definitely agree that she's glad she still has her family.
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Chapter 11-An Old Friend of the Princess Twilight
A few days later, Twilight gets a rap rap rap on her castle door. She then promptly opens it then looks out the door in surprise. "Moon Dancer? What are you doing here?" she asks in a still puzzled shock.
"A stray fire kind of burnt my home to the ground," replied Moon Dancer. "Can I stay with you for awhile?"
"Of course," replies Twilight as she leads Moon Dancer inside. Moon Dancer nods as she follows Twilight through the doors and into a spare room in the front of the castle. There, Twilight gets Moon Dancer comfortable and then brings her a nice meal of fried corn balls, hay jerky, and carrot soup. Moon Dancer then happily downs the food put in front of her.
"How'd the fire start in the first place?" asks Twilight once she sees Moon Dancer is done with her food.
"I don't know but I wish I did," replies Moon Dancer.
"Well, I'm just glad you're safe," replies Twilight as she takes the plate and leaves the room so Moon Dancer can get some rest.
After dropping the plate in the kitchen, Twilight goes out of the castle and to the Garden of the Lost, where all her dead friends are buried. There, she sits and cries over the graves of Rainbow, Fluttershy, Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie, and Spike along with the graves of Big Mack, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle. After seven hours of crying at the Garden, Twilight gets up and flies back to the castle where she is soon greeted by Moon Dancer.
"You've been to the Garden, huh?" says Moon Dancer.
"Mmhmm," responds Twilight as she continues to cry. "All my friends are buried there."
"I heard about how Daybreaker and Nightmare Moon killed them and tortured them, for that, I'm sorry," responds Moon Dancer as she embraces Twilight.
"Yeah, I'm still a little bitter about it but I'm over it for the most part. Still, I'm always going to miss my friends. I don't know if I'll ever truly forgive the regal sisters," responds Twilight.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the palace, the crystal pony leaders, princess, and prince are busy in a meeting. They're discussing what they should do now that there is no Crystal Heart to absorb their love and the magic it provides. In the meeting, they discuss how they could find a new heart and infuse it with their magic in love or possibly create a new relic that could absorb their magic that was also in the shape of the heart. "No, no, it wouldn't be the same," says one of the leaders to Shining Armor. "That heart was our history, a reminder of where we came from and who we were as ponies and as a kingdom."
"Well, it's better to create a new heart than not have one at all," replies a second leader. They continue to discuss it for three more hours before finally deciding to create a new crystal heart to embue with their magic. They then go off in search of the clear blue crystal they used in the first one, graph and cut a heart out of it, and embue it with magic. They then take the new heart and set it up in a central area in Ponyville where they can use it just like they did the old one in years gone by.
Chapter 13-The Alicorn Flu Virus
A few weeks later, a horrid virus spreads throughout the land and infects every single alicorn making them incapable of ruling their subjects. Due to this, right now, it's up to Shining Armor to rule Equestria on his own as both his wife and sister are out of commission as are Celestia, Luna, and Star Streak and even Flurry Heart. Flurry worst of all as she's only a foal.
"What am I supposed to do? I've never ruled on my own before!" says a freaking out Shining to his wife and sister who are sitting behind him blowing into tissues.
"First, honey, compose yourself. Breathe. Deep breaths," replies Cadence before sneezing a huge burst of magic out her nose.
"Oh...okay...okay," responds Shining as he takes a deep breath.
Not long after their little chit-chat, Cadence and Twilight are knocked out cold, asleep in their seats. Shining then picks them up and tucks them into bed next to Flurry Heart's crib, where she is happily sleeping. Shining then goes outside and explains everything to their subjects.
"My subjects! My ponies! I have an announcement to make. Currently, an alicorn flu virus has spread throughout the kingdoms and has taken your princesses out of commission. For the time being, I will be your soul ruler. I will do my best at this as I am not used to ruling alone so be patient with me. Thank you."
Meanwhile, in the alicorn kingdom, Celestia, Luna, and Star Streak are crumbled up in balls of pain due to the alicorn flu virus as are all their subjects that have ascended to their alicorn hood already. The still unicorn and pegasi members of their society are currently the ones running everything during this hard time. "What caused this outbreak?" says Celestia to her little sister.
"I wish I knew," responds Luna. "There may be something about it in Starswirl's old journals, but I've never read it." The two sisters weakly get to their feet and go and grab the Starswirl journals and begin to read through them. After book fifty, they finally find the page on alicorn flu. Celestia then begins to read.
"The alicorn flu has recently plagued my dear students, Celestia and Luna. I don't know how long it will last or how to cure it. It can't be cured by magic. I know that much. Believe me, I tried. That was the first thing I tried. Hopefully, their affliction will end soon. Hooves crossed as I pray to the stars above." Celestia then closes the book and passes out on the floor. Luna soon does the same. They, along with every other alicorn, is just going to have to wait for it to pass from their systems naturally.
Two months later, the flu finally passes through their systems and comes to an end. A week later, Twilight, Cadence, Celestia, Luna, and Star Streak are back to ruling their kingdoms and ruling over their subjects. Shinings is so thankful that they're back to good health. Now, he doesn't have to wing it and rule the ponies alone anymore. Now, he can lean on him just like he did before the alicorn flu virus struck.
Chapter 14-A New Flying Squadron
A few days later, Princess Twilight goes and watches as a new flying squadron is installed into Equestrian society. The new squadron is called the New Royale Flight Squadron or NRFS. Twilight then watches as the new squadron takes to flight as they fly up, up and into the heights of the sky. After an hour of tricks and loops, the squadron lands down in front of Twilight. "That was amazing!" exclaims the princess.
"Thank you, your majesty," responds the captain of the New Royale Flight Squadron, Sunshine Ray. "It feels good to fly on our own accord and under my command again."
"I bet," Twilight replies with a smile and a small giggle. "Who all are the members of your team?"
"Only the best of the best flyers," she responds. She then begins to point to them one by one as she lists their names. "Sky Streaker, my second in command. Red Heart. Daisy Diadem. Reese Hardwing. Firefly. June. July. Mayfield. Mayflower. Bright Bolt. Johnny Strideman. Clipper. Sure Shot. Star Eyes. Lilac Summer. Angel Eyes. Rain Dew."
"I know Rain Dew, I knew her mother. Her mother, Rainbow Dash, was my best friend," responds Twilight as a tear falls from her eye.
"We also have Sergeant Coal. Soaren. My sister and support and co-captain Spitfire. Thunderlane. Sky Stinger. Vapor Trail. Spartan. Cloud Dasher. Rainbow Blaze."
"I know him too," responds Twilight, "he's Rainbow Dash's uncle."
"Quiet and let me finish!" says Sunshine as she turns around and snaps at Twilight. "I just have to get through ten more names! Chill out!" She then gets back to listing the final ten names. "Fleet Wing. Colt Sportman. Lilac Daze. Lavender Daze. Sonnet. Sun Song. Moon Song. Candle Lyre. Lady Bird. And finally, Vina Fastwing."
"That's an impressively big team!" says Twilight. "Now, I'll let y'all get back to practice."
"Thanks and I hope you have a good day. Also, I'm sorry I snapped at you!" responds Sunshine Ray before seeing the princess off.
Once back at the castle, Twilight puts her record of the names of the new flight team members on a shelf of documentation and censuses. It may not be the Wonderbolts, but it is definitely a just as good, if not better, team.
Meanwhile, back at the training grounds, the NRFS takes to the skies once again as they begin to go into what their captains call the Megaspiral. It's by far the most complex move in their arsenal. They practice this move for hours on end as they continue to try and perfect it. After around nine hours of practice, they finally perfect the move and move on to their simpler and not as spectacular moves. As they fly, they can't help but smile. Sunshine then whispers to herself, "I'm so glad to be back. I'm so glad we have a flying team we can be proud of once again."
Two hours later, they turn in for the night as the sun has finally gone down. In their barracks, they take off their uniforms and goggles and go off to shower, brush their teeth, and finally go to sleep. It's been a long day and tomorrow will be just as long a day of training as they have their renewal tour in only a few weeks time.
A few weeks later, Coalter moves into his new house with several blankets and a bag of groceries provided by the princess. "Ah," he sighs, breathing in the air around him, "it's good to be in a house again! It's been too long!" He then plops down on the couch and turns on the radio. As soon as it's on, a music channel begins to play. It plays a wide range of musical variety from pop to country and everything in between. He then pulls a blanket over himself and listens to the music. The song playing is a song called "A Time of Need" by Coloratura.
"It's been a rough few weeks, a rough few years. We can do it but we need each other. We need each other in a time of need. We have to stand together in a time of need. As the ash falls from the skies, as the fires burn across the land, we all come together and lend a hoof, lend a hand, and fix everything together. We can do it together. We all help out together in a time of need. If a pony needs a bowl of food, give them a loaf of bread. If a pony needs a blanket, invite them into your house and give them one or even let them stay the night. If a pony is hurt, has any broken bones, or is starving to death, let them in and give them food and bandage their wounds. In a time of need, lend a helping hoof, lend a helping hoof. In a time of need, lend a helping hoof, lend a helping hoof. Right now's the time we all need a helping hoof, so lend a hoof to those in need in this time, in this great time, in this time of need."
A few minutes later, Coalter is out on the couch, fast asleep. About an hour later, he hears a rap on his door. He then gets up and opens it and to his surprise, there's a mare standing there. "Can I help you?" he asks her.
"Yes, I'm looking for Coalter," replies the mare.
"That would be me," responds Coalter shocked. "How do you know who I am?"
"Don't you recognize me?" responds the mare as she removes the hood from her head. "It's me, Melody Bird."
"I thought you were dead," responds Coalter.
"No, I survived the fire that overtook my town," Melody responds. "I'll tell you everything."
"Come on in then," responds Coalter as he leads her inside. He then sits her down, gets her a hot cup of coffee, and then listens as she tells him her story.
"It was a normal day when the fire broke out in our village. Dad smelled the smoke in the air as he guided us out of the house. Alas, he didn't make it out himself. He was overtaken by the flames which took his life. Mom, brother, and I then fled the town and soon stumbled upon Equestria, upon Ponyville. We saw the houses, the fields, we saw ash everywhere but we didn't care. We entered the town and were provided with a house. A few weeks later, I found out thanks to the Princess that you were here, alive. You see, I thought you were dead. I still have the ring you gave me, see," she says showing it to him. "Not long after the Princess told me you were alive, I headed straight here, where she told me I'd find you. I'm so glad I found you. Don't you remember the day you proposed to me? It wasn't long before you disappeared."
"I remember," responds Coalter. He then leans over and kisses her on the lips. "I do remember. Will you still marry me?"
"Of course," responds Melody Bird kissing him back on the lips.
Three days later, the two are wed. Melody Bird then moves into his new house with him. On their first night of marriage, the two sleep together on the couch as they don't have a proper bed yet. Melody doesn't care though. She's just glad she is finally with her Coalter, this time, forever. The next day, however, the two go into town where they buy a bed, some pillows, and some more groceries and dishes. The two now have things for a proper home and as soon as they get home, they put in the bed, cover it with blankets, and place the pillows on it. They then restock their cupboards and fridge. Once they're done with that, the two plop down on the couch together again and turn on the radio and listen to music once again. The two couldn't be happier. Now, all they need to do is start a family of their own, the one thing Melody wants most of all.
Three days after Coalter and Melody's wedding, Twilight gets news from the alicorn kingdom. It's a letter from Celestia and Luna. "Dear Twilight," reads Twilight, "we are glad to inform you that we are happy here. We are both newly married to alicorn males named Star Dust and Galaxy. We're also aunts now for real as Star Streak and his wife just had a son. His name is Julius and he is just the cutest thing ever. We miss you and are sorry for all we did to you. We're seriously sorry though in all honesty. When we were Nightmare Moon and Daybreaker, all our logic and sanity was gone. We're sorry we killed your friends. We're sorry we desolated the planet. Sorry, we killed so many ponies. I hope you can learn to forgive us. I hope the ponies can learn to forgive us. How are you doing ruling Equestria on your own? Your mentors, your friends, Cele and Luna."
Twilight then bows her head and cries. She's glad they're sorry for all they did but she knows the ponies aren't ready to forgive them for their deeds quite yet. However, as for Twilight herself, she forgave the two long ago. She can agree on one thing, there's still hope in this world, this world clouded with dust and ashes, and for her, that means everything.
A few minutes later, Twilight is interrupted by Moondancer. "Hey Twilight," said Moondancer, "come outside. There are two ponies who want to see you." Twilight then nods and follows Moondancer outside. Once outside, Twilight is greeted by the two newlyweds.
"Hey Coalter, hey Melody, how are you two doing?" says Twilight with a smile.
"We're doing well," responds the newlywed couple.
"You had a beautiful wedding three days ago," responds Twilight.
"Thanks," replies Coalter.
"That's so sweet of you to say," adds Melody.
Twilight then invites the two inside and she, the newlyweds, and Moondancer then sit down to lunch together. Over lunch, they talk about things, share jokes, share stories, and most importantly, share laughs. As Twilight looks at Coalter and Melody, she smiles and whispers to herself, "there's still hope in this world." She then takes a sip of her coffee and continues to tell all her stories. A few hours later, the young married couple leaves the castle and returns to their home. Once they're at home, Melody breaks the news to Coalter.
"Honey, I'm pregnant, we're going to be parents!"
"Oh joy!" he says as he swings her off her feet and into the air. "I can't wait to be a father!"
"And I can't wait to be a mother," says Melody giggling and smiling with tears of joy streaming out her eyes. "I just wish the world our child is going to enter wasn't a barren wasteland."
"I know," says Coalter placing her down on the couch and sitting beside her. He wipes the tears from her eyes. "But, at least, he or she will have us. The foal with have a family that loves it. That's what really matters."
"I guess so," responds Melody, a small smile appearing on her face. Coalter then embraces her in a hug and continues to stroke her mane and comfort her. He knows she's right. Their child is going to enter a world that is destroyed, desolate, one of ashes. That's not the place you want to raise a child in. Alas, they know there's nothing they can do to change that.
Meanwhile, back in the alicorn kingdom, Celestia and Luna are happily playing with their nephew, Julius. As they play with him, they can't help but smile. They're happy now and they wouldn't change that for the world. Alas, they still know deep down inside, that they can never win back the ponies of Equestria that they once used to rule. They killed so many. They hurt others. Right now, though, they just want to push that out of their minds because their nephew doesn't know that they ever did any of that. He doesn't know that they used to be evil tyrants. All he knows is that they're his aunts and he loves him. To the sisters, that means everything. Julius and Star Streak are the only things that keep them sane, that keep them at bay, and for that, they are grateful. They also have to admit that family is a powerful thing. That's a lesson they've been needing to relearn for quite a long time and now that they've relearned that fact, they cannot deny the truth behind it. Family is powerful and that means the world to them.
A month later, Twilight wakes up to a riot in the street. As she peeps out her window, she sees ponies with signs that read "Find Celestia and Luna! Hang them for their crimes!" and "Unjustly Dictated: They Need to Go." Twilight then looks around, frightened. She has to let the sisters know but not just through a letter this time. She has to go talk to them in person. Twilight then rushes into the back room, grabs her bags, then flies out the window towards the alicorn kingdom. Once there, she is greeted by Twilight.
"Hello, Twilight," says Luna as she lands. "It's good to see you. How's it going in Equestria?"
"Well," responds Twilight, "the ponies want your heads. They want you hung. Executed."
"But we've changed, we both have," responds Luna as she looks at Celestia then looks back at Twilight.
"But the ponies still don't believe that," responds Twilight. "At least come and stand trial for your crimes. Give them that much."
"I'm sorry Twilight, but we're not going back, ever," responds Luna. She then turns towards Celestia and the two take to the sky and fly away. Twilight, defeated, bows her head and flies back towards Equestria. She'll have to deal with the riot on her own. That's what she's honestly scared of the most.
An hour later, Twilight lands back down on the balcony of her castle. Once there, she sees a hoard of ponies below her. "Ponies, ponies, Celestia and Luna are gone from us. Daybreaker and Nightmare Moon are defeated. Why do you still want them dead?"
"Because they killed my family," one pony finally pipes up. "They killed all our families."
"And I understand that, but ponies change," responds Twilight.
Meanwhile, back in the alicorn kingdom, Celestia and Luna go to the garden and talk to each other in private. "Are you sure we did the right thing telling Twilight off like that?" Celestia asks her sister.
"I don't know. It didn't feel like it was me talking. It felt like it was HER talking," responds Luna. "Maybe we should go stand on trial. Maybe we should be hung for our crimes. I just don't know anymore." She then bursts into tears.
"Oh Luna," says Celestia flying over to her sister and embracing her in her hooves. "It wasn't just you who lost control. It was both of us. It's not your fault this time. It's not just your fault this time. It's both our faults."
A few days later, the two decide to go and stand trial in front of the ponies they used to rule. As they stand on trial, they have nervous looks on their faces. What if the ponies condemn them to the gallows after all? Honestly, for the two, that's the scariest feeling of all.
"Did you, Celestia and Luna, while in your Daybreaker and Nightmare Moon forms, kill several ponies by both shooting squads, drowning, and the like? Did you enslave several ponies?" demands Twilight.
"Yes, all of this is true," reply the two sisters. "We did wrong and we're sorry."
"Did you kill the elements of harmony?" demands Twilight.
"Yes, we drowned them," respond the two sisters. "And we feel awful for that."
"Did you destroy entire towns leaving them in ruins? Were you behind all the fires?" demands Twilight.
"Yes," respond the two sisters, bowing their heads. "Punish us as you see fit, but first know this, we have a family. We have a brother, a nephew, a whole land of alicorns that love us and care for us. We feel bad for taking your families from you, but please, please, please don't take us from our family."
"You don't deserve your family!" responds a pony from the crowd. "After what you did, you don't deserve love from anypony!"
"Hush! I demand it!" responds Twilight dropping her gavel. She then makes her final statement. "Celestia and Luna, I am not going to have you hanged but you are banished from Equestria for as long as you both shall live." A tear falls from her eyes. "I'm sorry. You can go now."
The two sisters then take back to the skies and cry all the way back home. They can't believe they're banned from Equestria for all eternity. They never thought Twilight would turn on them like that. Although to be fair, they did kill her best friends. A few hours later, they touch back down in the alicorn kingdom.
"Well, I see they didn't hang you," responds Star Streak, "but there's still a sad look in your eyes. What's wrong?"
"Oh, my former student just banished me from Equestria for all eternity, along with my sister," responds Celestia. She bursts back into tears and Star Streak does his best to comfort her.
"Well, you still have me and Luna, and your nephew, and that's what matters most," responds Star Streak.
"You're right," sniffles Celestia. "It's just Twilight was always my best student. Now I've lost her forever."
Meanwhile back in Equestria, Twilight stands on her balcony and just weeps. "It was the right thing to do," says Twilight to herself. "After all, they killed my friends. They deserve eternal banishment." She then bursts back into a flood of tears. Why does she feel like she did the wrong thing deep down inside when she did the right thing? Why does she feel so empty, so broken? She just shakes it off. "I did the right thing. End of story." she sighs. She then walks back inside and goes to the library for some peace and quiet time alone. It's the place she goes when she's sad, the place she goes when she needs to be alone, the place she goes when she needs to think. For her, right now is one of those times. Right now, what she needs the most is to just be alone.
Back in the alicorn kingdom, Celestia and Luna happily play with their nephew as their brother watches. As he watches, he sees two smiles peep across their faces. Maybe this is a sign that they're getting over the whole banished forever thing. Alas, he can only hope.
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Chapter 19-Twilight Falls in Love with an Alicorn Kingdom Alicorn named Romeaire
Several years later, Twilight returns to the Alicorn Kingdom where she falls in love with an alicorn male named Romeaire. "Who is that?" she asks Celestia and Luna.
"Oh, that's Romeaire," responds Celestia. "He's the one that has the hots for every mare around here."
Twilight then goes over and talks to Romeaire herself. "Hey Romeaire," says Twilight blushing. "I think you're cute. Are you single?"
"Yeah, you wanna go out on a date sometime?" responds Romeaire with a smile.
"Uh, uh, sure," responds Twilight, stuttering.
"Great, I'll see you Friday for that date!" responds Romeaire with a smile before flying off. Twilight then goes back over and meets up with Celestia and Luna.
"Wow!" says Luna. "That was amazing. I can't believe you actually hit it off with Romeaire!"
"Uh, thanks," responds Twilight with a blush. She then goes on to detail everything for the two sisters.
That night, Twilight returns to her castle in Ponyville. There, she plops down on her bed and begins to think about Romeaire. She can't believe she's going to be dating an actual alicorn soon. She can't believe their first date is Friday. She just can't believe it's really happening to her.
Friday soon arrives and Twilight goes off on her date with Romeaire. They go to Neighagra Falls and watch the Northern Stars, her favorite thing ever. Twilight smiles as she watches the stars, her head on his shoulder. She then lets out a sigh. "Beautiful sight, isn't it? I love how the stars cross the sky here. How they just shoot by you at high speeds and with such grace! Such a phenomenon. Such a sight to behold. Don't you think?"
"Yes, they're absolutely stunning," responds Romeaire as he gives her a kiss on the cheek. He then looks back up at the sky then back over at her. "They really are a rare thing to see and I'm glad I got to see them with you."
"Thanks," responds Twilight blushing. She then sighs then goes back to watching the stars. She remains quiet for the rest of the night until the final stars cross the sky. The two then share a kiss and go their separate ways until their next date. Twilight can't believe she actually found somepony to love again. She never thought it would've happened after Celestia and Luna, well as Daybreaker and Nightmare Moon, killed her previous boyfriends: Flash Sentry and then Fleet Foot. She's just glad she was able to love again. To her, that means the world. To her, Romeaire is her world. That is one thing, she knows, is not going to change anytime soon.
Chapter 21-Luna's Darkening Heart
One day, while they're alone, Luna confesses something to her sister. "Celestia, my dear sister, I have this pain on my insides. I feel my heart darkening. I can't help but fear I might become HER again. What am I to do?" Luna then bursts into tears. "I don't want to become Nightmare Moon again. I want to stop this darkness from overtaking my heart. I don't know what to do and I'm scared. I'm scared."
"Oh Luna," says Celestia embracing her sister in a hug. "I'm not going to let that happen. We're gonna keep you from turning into Nightmare Moon, I promise."
"Well, let's hope that promise isn't broken. Let's hope Nightmare Moon doesn't take control," sniffles Luna as she rests her head on her sister's shoulder.
"Yeah, let's hope," sighs Celestia.
Unfortunately, after a year of keeping her demons and darkness inside, Luna can't take it anymore and Nightmare Moon emerges once again. Seeing her transformation, she flees the Alicorn kingdom and takes solace in the old ruins of the Castle of the Two Sisters. Celestia, scared for her sister, writes a letter to Twilight and sends it. A few hours later, Twilight receives the letter and reads it. "Dear Twilight, it's Celestia," she reads, "Luna has turned back into Nightmare Moon and I don't know what to do. I need you right now more than ever. Your friend and mentor, Celestia." Twilight then looks at the letter. "Oh no!" she sighs. She then takes to the sky and heads to the alicorn kingdom. Once there, she is greeted by Celestia. "Tell me everything," says Twilight. "Everything."
"Okay," responds Celestia. "It started a year ago, Luna felt the darkness growing inside her once more. Why? I still don't know. We were happy here. I didn't know why she would feel darkness growing inside her once again. I promised her we'd fix her together. Alas, that promise was broken as you can now see. I'm here, unable to leave, due to my brother's orders. She's out there, alone, in the Castle of the Two Sisters, abandoned. It pains me that I can't help her. That's why I wrote to you. I need you to save her for me. If you do, I'll be so grateful and indebted to you forever. Please, Twilight, let's put our past aside. Please, save my sister."
"Of course I'll save your sister," responds Twilight putting her hoof on Celestia's shoulder. "I promise."
Twilight then flies off to the Castle of the Two Sisters. There, she finds a broken Nightmare Moon, in tears. "Don't look at me, I'm a monster," says Nightmare Moon.
"No, let me help you, it's me, Twilight," responds Twilight with a calming voice.
"Oh, hello Twilight," says Nightmare Moon turning to face Twilight, "please help me. Take this darkness from me."
"How, how do I do that?" asks Twilight. "The other elements are dead. They died at your hooves."
"Twilight, you are strong enough to wield the elements on your own," responds Nightmare Moon. Nightmare Moon then opens up the floor underneath them, revealing the elements. Twilight then nods to Nightmare Moon and takes the six elements with her horn. She then activates the elements and shoots them at Nightmare Moon, splitting her darkness from her physical body, freeing Luna. Once the two are separated, the darkness goes after Twilight, but Twilight soon sends the darkness into Limbo. She then runs over and helps Luna to her feet.
"Now you can return home to your sister. She's waiting for you," responds Twilight. Luna nods and the two fly back to the Alicorn Kingdom where they are soon greeted by Celestia, Star Streak, and the rest of the alicorns. There, the three embrace in a great big hug.
"I'm so glad you're back," responds Celestia. "I'm so glad you were able to be saved."
"Me too," responds Luna, "and it's all thanks to Twilight and the elements." Luna looks over to Twilight and smiles. Twilight blushes and smiles back. She's so glad she could help Luna and reunite the sisters. Now, it's time for her to head home to rule her ponies.
Chapter 23-A Knock at the Door
A few hours later, Twilight gets a knock on her door. "Come in," she sniffles. Moon Dancer then opens the door and enters the room, then sits in the chair beside Twilight's bed.
"Twilight," says Moon Dancer, "why did you refuse Romeaire's proposal? That's crazy! That's madness!"
"I wasn't ready to marry him," responds Twilight. "We've only been dating for five years. That's too short a time."
"Girl, you wouldn't marry him after dating him for a hundred or a thousand years, I know you," responds Moon Dancer, "there's more to it than that."
"Fine," sighs Twilight, "there is more to it than that. I don't want to leave Ponyville. Ponyville needs me to rule it. I can't run off into the sunset with him, ya know?"
"I guess, but he was going to move here," responds Moon Dancer. "I overheard him tell Celestia and Luna that one day while I was out walking and they were flying overhead. He was going to move here once you married."
"Whoa, I wish I knew that before I told him off," responds Twilight. "I need to go find him." She then goes on and thanks Moon Dancer and flies off in search of Romeaire. A few minutes later, Twilight stumbles upon him at the Glow Ponds. "Romeaire," says Twilight. "I'm sorry for telling you off. I do want to marry you. I just didn't know the whole story. Will you forgive me?"
"Yes," responds Romeaire, "I forgive you." Twilight then flies over and sits by him. He then turns to her and asks her once again. "Twilight, will you marry me? If you marry me, I'll move wherever you want by the way."
"Yes, I'll marry you!" responds Twilight. "You're going to love Ponyville!" She does a backflip in the air and then kisses him. She's so excited. She's glad they were able to do the marriage proposal all over again. She's glad she still gets to have the stallion of her dreams. Now, however, she has a wedding to plan. It's time for lists and that is her favorite thing in the world.
A few minutes later, Twilight returns to the castle, where she is greeted by Moon Dancer. "So, how'd it go? Did he give you a do-over?"
"It went well and yes, he did give me a do-over. We are now engaged and he'll be moving to Ponyville as soon as we're wed. I can't wait!" responds Twilight with a smile.
"I'm happy for you, Twilight," responds Moon Dancer. "I better be your mare of honor."
"Of course, I'd give it to nopony else," responds Twilight with a smile. "Now let's go get some lunch." The two nod and head to the new restaurant The Ponyville Soup Bowl. There, the two happily enjoy their soup. Twilight enjoys a corn soup while Moon Dancer enjoys a nice tomato black bean soup. As they eat, Twilight tells Moon Dancer absolutely everything while she listens eagerly. She's happy for her best friend and now, she can't wait until Twi's wedding.
An hour later, the two return to the castle where they play a game of Ogres and Oubliettes together alongside Shining Armor and Cadence. Twilight's character is a Wood Elf and Moon Dancer's is a fairy princess while Shining's is a warrior and Cadence's is a druid. The four have a blast playing, each taking turns of being Dungeon Master. Twilight is glad to have this time alone with her brother, sister in law, and best friend. She truly wouldn't have things any other way.
Chapter 24-Plotting Against a Princess
Meanwhile, in a dark hole in the middle of nowhere, a group of assassins is plotting to kill Princess Twilight and to bring Ponyville to its final destruction. "We need to kill the princess, if she's gone, we can destroy Ponyville for good, erase it from the planet and history for good," says the leader of the assassins.
"I don't know, Darlett, she's basically immortal," responds one of her captains.
"We'll kill her, we'll kill her for sure," responds Darlett. "I can guarantee you that, Captain Darkheart."
The two then stop talking and get back to their plotting and planning. They want Twilight gone for good and they know, only they can carry that to fruition. After several hours of meticulous planning, Darlett and her assassins go out to a back area and practice their rounds with their guns and practice their knife throwing skills. They continue this into the dark hours of the night and even into the next morning. They are determined to kill the princess. Twilight, on the other hand, is clueless that there is anyone out to take her life as she is busy planning her wedding.
Chapter 25-Killer Wedding Crashers
Eight months after the proposal, it's finally the day of Twilight and Romeaire's wedding. Twilight is happily getting into her wedding dress with help from Moon Dancer and Cadence. "I can't believe you're getting married, Twilight," says Cadence, "I'm so proud of you."
"Thanks, Cadence, that means the world to me," responds Twilight as she embraces Cadence in a great big hug. "especially since it comes from you."
A few minutes later, Shining walks his little sister down the aisle, a tear dangling from his eye that he's forcing not to fall. A few minutes later, he positions her in front of Romeaire and takes his place beside her husband to be as he's also one of Romeaire's best stallions on Twilight's request of course. The ceremony then begins.
"We are gathered here today," starts the mayor but she is soon interrupted by a loud noise in the ceiling. The ceiling then comes falling with a flood as a swarm of assassins enters the room.
"Run!" yells Romeaire to Twilight. "Shining get her out of here!" Shining nods and grabs Twilight and the two dash out of the room. The assassins then head after them, which Romeaire notices then jumps in front of them, taking the bullet that was meant to hit Twilight, wounding him severely. Within a few minutes, he's dead on the floor. There goes his perfect wedding day. At least, his Twilight is still alive. To him, that means the world even if saving her cost him his life.
Meanwhile, elsewhere, Darlett and her fellow assassins are still chasing down Twilight, Cadence, and Shining Armor. "What are we gonna do?" huffs Shining. "They're going to kill us!"
Twilight then looks behind them and notices Romeaire isn't there. "Where's, where's Romeaire?" asks Twilight worried.
"He...he's dead. He took a bullet to save your life," responds a voice. It's one of the guards that was on patrol at the wedding. "My sorry, Ms. Sparkle."
"Another love of my life dead," sighs Twilight as a tear falls from her eye. "Why does it always happen to me?" The guard then looks behind him and stabs an assassin through the heart with his spear. Twilight then looks shocked as she stares at the assassin on the floor. "Why do they want to kill me anyway?"
"I don't know, my Princess," responds the guard, "but down this way." They then head down a hidden staircase and out the church and underground. Once underground, they enter a bunker and seal it shut around them then cast a protection spell on it to keep the assassins out. Twilight then breaks down into tears while Cadence and Shining do their best to comfort her but to no success. She is heartbroken. She is mentally broken. Her husband to be was killed on her behalf and on their wedding day no less. She had finally found love but then it was taken right away from her. She just wishes she could go back and start all over again with Romeaire but she knows, time travel would just screw her over worse and that just makes her want to crawl into a ball and die.
Meanwhile, in the underground area, Twilight is still huddled in the corner crying with Cadence and Twilight still trying to comfort her. She then notices something shiny stuck in her brother's shoulder. "Shining, you've been shot," says Twilight. She then points it out to Cadence who pulls it out with her magic and then bandages the wound. She then ties off the knot and sits back down beside Twilight and Shining.
"There, I'm all better now, sis," responds Shining.
Twilight then turns back towards the corner and returns to crying. She's just so destroyed by the loss of Romeaire. After several hours of quiet, the three royals along with the guards here a strange sound above them. "What's that?" asks Twilight scared for her life.
"It's not pony hoofs, I know that for sure," responds Shining as he puts his ear up to the ground. "It's the sound of claws." He then hears the sound of gulping. "It sounds like it's eating a worm. Now I hear a thud of lion feet on the ground."
"It's a griffon," responds Twilight. "But why is there a griffon above us?"
"I don't know," responds Shining, "but let's not find out." Twilight nods and follows her brother and sister in law down the corridor. A few minutes later, they enter a new underground room. There, they take a rest before continuing their exit of the town. A few hours later, they are out of the Ponyville limits much to Twilight's relief. A few minutes later, they pop out back above ground. "Well, I don't see the assassins anymore but I do see our griffon buddy."
The griffon then flies over and lands in front of them. "Hello Princess Twilight," says the Griffon, "I was sent by my king to fetch you and your family and bring you to safety." Twilight nods and flies off, following him and Cadence does the same. Shining then returns to the first room underground, grabs Flurry, and then catches up with them. The four then head out towards the unknown Griffon Kingdom called Griffonia. Once in the town, the royals sigh a sigh of relief. The Griffon then leads them into the castle where they meet the king and queen of the griffons.
"Hello, Twilight, Shining, Cadence, Flurry Heart," says the king of the griffons, "my name is King Griffonious. The griffon that brought you here is my best warrior Felix Feather." The king then introduces his wife. "And this is Queen Mianna, my wife."
"Well, it's nice to meet you," responds Twilight with a smile. "Now, what do you know about the assassins that are after our lives?"
"Not much, unfortunately, except the fact that they're anti-alicorn. That's really it," responds Felix. "We don't know much more than that."
"Well, I wish we knew more about them," sighs Twilight, "because they killed my husband to be."
"Let me guess, he too was an alicorn," responds Felix.
"Yes," responds Twilight. "But they weren't after him. They were after me. He dived in the way of me at the chapel and took the bullet that was meant to kill me."
"Well, if they're after you, they're also after Cadence, Flurry Heart, Celestia, Luna, and likely even Star Streak and baby Julius," responds Felix.
"Oh no," responds Twilight, "they're heading towards the Alicorn Kingdom next."
"Yes," responds Felix, "and I and several other griffon warriors along with rebel groups of unicorns and pegasi are gonna handle them while you and your family hide out here."
Twilight, Cadence, and Shining nod and take a sleeping Flurry Heart and go into a secret underground room. There, they hide while the warriors and rebels go out to face the assassins. Twilight is glad they are willing to protect her and her family and grateful that they would put their lives on the line for her and her family as well. For now, though, she just has to keep herself and her family quiet so the assassins don't find out where they are and kill them.
Chapter 28-The Significance of Fiery Rose
After returning home after dropping the royals back off in Ponyville, Fiery Rose is greeted by her three little foals. "Mommy! Mommy!" cheer her children as they jump into her arms.
"I'm glad to see all of you again," responds Fiery Rose with a smile. "My little Lilac, Lily, and Jude."
She then takes the three over to the couch and sits them down and tells them about her life over the past few weeks. "So," she explains to them, "I was on an undercover mission within an assassin group to protect several royals from them. It was an experience I will never forget."
"You have the coolest job ever," respond the children in unison. She then picks them up, plops them on her back, and they go outside to play. Outside, the children laugh as they play on the slide and swing on the swing. All the while, Fiery Rose can't help but smile. She's glad to be home and she's glad she's not going to be leaving them again anytime soon as the assassins are all dead.
A few hours later, the four return back inside and sit down to dinner. "Momma, where is daddy?" ask the three foals. "Wasn't he supposed to be home by now?"
"Yes," responds Fiery, "he was, but I'm sure he's fine."
A few hours later, Fiery Rose gets a heartbreaking letter from the mailmare. "I'm sorry, Miss," she says before leaving and returning to her truck. Fiery then opens the letter and reads it.
"Ms. Fiery Rose, we are sorry to inform you," she reads, "that your husband died while on the battlefield. He won't be coming home. He wanted you to have this, it's his medal. Sincerely, your husband's comrade, Maldrick." Fiery Rose then picks the medal out of the envelope and dangles it in the air. She then bursts into tears as she takes the medal inside. Her children look at her confused.
"What's wrong, momma?" asks Jude as he tugs at his mother's leg.
"Daddy's not coming home," responds Fiery Rose.
"Why not?" responds Jude.
"Because he died in battle," responds Fiery Rose. "He died in defense of his country like any other noble pony." She then plops down on the couch and Jude and his sisters plop down beside her and lay their heads on her lap. The four then begin to cry together. These next few years are going to be rough for them. Fiery now knows that much to be true.
A few days later, a thud is heard in the mountains above Ponyville. "What is that?" inquires Princess Twilight.
"The Great Dragon has awakened and he's mad, very mad," responds one of her guards, Golden Sheath.
"That can't be good," says Twilight frightened.
"It's not," responds Golden Sheath. "You can send some of your best warriors to kill it."
"Good idea," responds Twilight, "go get a squad together to go kill the dragon, Golden Sheath."
Golden Sheath nods and goes and sets up a dragon killing squad. Once he briefs them on everything, he hands them their spear guns and they go out and into the mountains to face off against the dragon.
"Please stay safe, Golden Sheath," prays Twilight as she stands in front of the window. "I love you and don't want you dead." A tear falls from her eye to the floor. She then goes into the throne room and sits on her throne and do her duties of the day.
Meanwhile, at the cave, Golden Sheath and the other warriors face off against The Great Dragon. At one point, they get him in his wing and several hours later, they get him in the other wing, making him unable to fly. They then distract him by going through his legs while Golden goes up his back and shoots him through with a massive spear, which kills him. As the dragon falls to the ground, he lets out one last breath of fire from his mouth before falling completely to the ground and closing his eyes. Golden Sheath and the others then return to the princess with the good news.
Once back at the castle, Golden Sheath enters the throne room and tells the good news to the Royals. "Good news!" says Golden Sheath. "We have slain The Great Dragon."
"That's wonderful!" exclaims Twilight.
"Indeed it is," agrees Cadence.
"You did well, solider," says Shining Armor with a proud look in his eyes.
"Thank you, all of you," responds Golden before bowing and leaving the room. Twilight then chases after him and catches him off guard and gives him a kiss on the lips.
"Wha...what was that?" he then says startled as Twilight lets go.
"I don't know," says Twilight backing away and running off embarrassed. She can't believe she actually did that. What is he going to think of her now? She really isn't eager to find out.
Once alone in her room, Twilight plops down on her bed and just cries. She can't believe she actually kissed him. She can't believe she got so carried away. A few minutes later, Cadence enters her room. "Hey Cadence," says Twilight glumly. "Come over and sit down." Cadence nods and goes and sits next to Twilight on the bed.
"Still embarrassed over the little kiss, aren't you?" sighs Cadence sweetly.
"Yeah, what was I thinking?" responds Twilight. "I blew all my chances of actually dating him now."
"Maybe not," responds Cadence, "go and apologize to him."
"Okay," sniffles Twilight. "I will, once I calm down a little bit, that is."
"Okay," responds Cadence as she sits there and strokes Twilight's mane with her hooves.
A few hours later, Twilight goes and apologizes to Golden Sheath, who happily accepts it then asks her out on a real date. Ecstatically and thrilled, Twilight embraces him in a hug and tells him to meet her back in the gardens in two hours time to which he happily agrees. Twilight is just glad they saved their relationship. To her, that means everything.
Chapter 4-Two Former Tyrants, One Cell
Meanwhile, back in the cell, Daybreaker and Nightmare Moon continue to bicker. "I told you we shouldn't have trusted Twilight's quick turnaround," sighs Daybreaker.
"Oh, sorry I thought she was being sincere," replies Nightmare Moon.
"Well, your belief in her turnaround got us both caged up here, powerless, flightless!" replies Daybreaker.
Daybreaker then lunges at Nightmare Moon as Nightmare Moon ducks out of the way, causing her big sister to hit the wall, angering Daybreaker even more. Daybreaker then smacks Nightmare Moon across the face with her right hoof which angers Nightmare Moon who then slaps her back. In the cell, the two continue to tussle and fight and quarrel for hours until they are approached by Twilight.
"So, did you come to gloat about your victory?" huffs Daybreaker.
"Not at all, I came because I was curious. I'm curious about what made you two turn on a dime," replies Twilight.
"Why would you want to know that?" snaps Daybreaker.
"Because I used to think I knew you. I thought we were friends," replies Twilight.
"You were friends, but not with us, but with Celestia and Luna," replies Daybreaker, "but seeing as you have us locked up here permanently, I guess we'll tell you." She then lets out a big sigh. "We used to be Celestia and Luna before we got word that our old home had been bombed and destroyed, our parents and sisters and brothers killed, all dead. When we got there, we saw it was so and it hurt us so much, that it caused us to snap and change into our evil counterparts and remain there, still haunted by their deaths and the grief it still gives us."
"Oh, oh, well, sorry for your losses," replies Twilight.
"Really?" says a puzzled Daybreaker.
"Really," replies Twilight before flying off and leaving the cell. She then flies off towards the old Alicorn city where she views several dead bodies of alicorns both female and male in form and build. Foals lying next to parents, also dead. Their houses and castles were dust on the ground and more sturdy buildings left in ruins. She then lands and dusts off an old mural. She then looks at it with a shocked face. "It's a mural of Celestia, Luna, and what seems to be their mom and dad," says Twilight to herself with her right hoof over her mouth. "I...I can't believe it. I just can't believe it."
"Well, believe it," replies a voice in the shadows.
"Who...who's there?" says Twilight, her voice shaking.
"The lone survivor," replies the voice as its accompanying body lands in front of Twilight. "My name is Star Streak, son of Galitea, former leader of the Alicorn Kingdom of Unitus."
"You're an al...al...alicorn?" says a confused Twilight.
"Yes, all of us here were," replies Star Streak. "We all thrived here. Me, Celestia, Luna grew up together in the castle over there until one day, Celestia and Luna left us to help rule the small Equestria. When they left, mom and dad were in tears. They were heartbroken. They thought Celestia and Luna had deserted them and abandoned their crowns. They didn't know that their daughters were ruling on the other side of the globe, still having their crowns and their titles. I tried to explain the truth to them but to no avail. Not long after that, well, they turned on me and blamed Celestia and Luna's leaving on me."
"Oh, wow!" replies Twilight. "I can't believe your parents would turn on you like that."
"Well, after that, I learned not to trust anypony, not even family," Star Streak responds. "I watched when they were bombed and hid myself way underground where the bomb couldn't get to me. That's how I'm still here."
"Well, Celestia and Luna have changed immensely. Ponyville is now a wasteland with only a few newly built houses and a newly built orphanage. Celestia and Luna are now evil tyrants and I had to put them behind bars. Do all alicorns have an evil form?"
"No, not at all, only royals have a corruptible form," replies Star Streak.
"Aren't all alicorns royals?" asks Twilight puzzled.
"No, not at all," replies Star Streak. "Most actually had common jobs with only three royal families, mine being one of the three."
"Oh, I see," replies Twilight.
"I see you too are an alicorn," says Star Streak. "How'd you gain your wings?"
"By finishing a spell of Starswirl's," replies Twilight. "Once I finished the spell, Celestia bestowed me with wings. She also did the same for my sister-in-law, Cadence, but instead bestowed her with a horn as she was born a pegasus."
"Yep, that sounds about right," replies Star Streak, "alicorns have a special power where they can turn average unicorns and pegasi into alicorns with the same amount of power as a natural born one."
"Oh, wow, that's really quite cool," replies Twilight.
"Can you take me to your home? Let me see what became of my sisters," asks Star Streak.
"Okay, but you won't like what you see," replies Twilight. The two then take to the skies. A few hours later, the two land in the Canterlot castle and go down into the dungeon. There, Star Streak tries to talk to his sisters.
"Celestia, Luna," says Star Streak, "what has become of you? Why are you like this?"
"We are like this because of the destruction of our home and the death of our kind," reply the two sisters in unison. "What are you doing here, Star Eyes?"
"You two know I never liked that nickname," replies Star Streak. "I'm here to see you. Sisters, I miss you." A tear falls from his eyes.
"Well, Luna and Celestia aren't coming out anytime soon," snaps Daybreaker.
"They're not coming out ever," snaps Nightmare Moon.
"Fine," cries Star Streak, "I thought I could change you. Bring you back. Clearly, I was wrong." He stomps his hoof then flies off and Twilight flies after him. She can't help but feel bad for him. On the other hoof, she's proud that he at least tried to talk them back into their Celestia and Luna forms.
A few minutes later, Twilight finds him and sits down beside him. "I'm sorry," sighs Twilight.
"Why are you sorry? You did nothing wrong," replies Star Streak. "I should've known I couldn't change them. Those two have always been stubborn."
"Clearly," replies Twilight with a small giggle. "At least, you tried."
"I guess you're right," replies Star Streak. "I just wish I could've talked them back down. I wish I could've gotten Luna and Celestia back."
"I know," replies Twilight. "Alas, not everypony can change." She then continues to sit there with Star Streak for hours, comforting him as he continues to cry. She just hopes she can help him get over the loss of his sisters to their corruptible forms of Daybreaker and Nightmare Moon...hooves crossed.
A few days later, Star Streak returns to the cell and tries to talk to Daybreaker and Nightmare Moon once again. "Hello sisters," says Star Streak.
"Hello, Star Eyes," reply the sisters.
"Don't call me that, please," shouts Star Streak. "What happened to the nice sisters I used to know? What happened to Celestia and Luna?" he continues to shout as tears flow out from his eyes. "Why turn on the ponies you swore to protect? Why abandon your own brother? Your own mother and father? Why keep the truth from us? Why didn't you tell us you were going to rule a kingdom called Equestria? Why destroy that same kingdom now? Why? Why?" He slams his hoof into their cell. "Why? Just why?"
"You wouldn't understand if I told you," replies Daybreaker.
"Tell me!" screams Star Streak. "I demand you tell me right now!"
Daybreaker then begins to explain everything to Star Streak which takes several hours. After six hours of explanation, Daybreaker finally returns back to her silent state. "Wow," replies Star Streak, "I never thought...I never knew..."
"Yeah, because we purposely kept the secret from you," replies Nightmare Moon.
"But why?" replies Star Streak. "Why hide the truth from me?"
"Because you, when it comes to reactions, you can be, let's say," says Nightmare Moon.
"Unpredictable," Daybreaker interrupts.
"I am not!" replies Star Streak. "I am not unpredictable!" He then stomps his hoof and flies off.
"He's still unpredictable, still a child in manner and mind," says Daybreaker shaking her head.
"Indeed," replies Nightmare Moon. "Why does he refuse to grow up? Why does he refuse to give up on us? Why can't he grasp that we've changed?"
"I don't know," sighs Daybreaker. "I really and truly don't know."
Daybreaker then lays her head down to rest and Nightmare Moon does the same. After hours of just lying there resting, the two tyrants fall fast asleep. Meanwhile, on a hill overlooking the palace, Star Streak stares up at the stars. He then lets out a scream. Tears then begin to fall from his eyes. He can't believe that his sisters are unable to be saved. How he wishes it wasn't so! How he truly wishes it wasn't so!
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Chapter 6-The News of the Fall of the Crystal Empire
A few days later, Twilight Sparkle gets a letter from the Crystal Empire detailing the Empire's fall to the cold weather as the heart had been shattered and thusly destroyed. "Dear Twilight," read the letter, "the Crystal Empire has fallen. The heart has been thusly and utterly destroyed. All the ponies are starving and freezing to death. Those that managed to survive, along with us, need a new home. Sincerely-your brother Shining C. Armor."
Twilight looks at the letter in shock for a moment before writing back. "Sure you can come to Equestria," replies Twilight, "we are in the process of rebuilding, but at least we're not a frozen wasteland." She then sends the letter to him through a new letter sending spell she learned not long after Spike was killed. An hour later, Shining gets the letter and he packs up his remaining things, his wife, and daughter, and the other ponies and they all head off towards Equestria, where they arrive the next morning under a new sunrise.
Twilight soon runs to greet them. "I'm so glad you made it safely!" she says as she embraces her brother, sister in law, and niece in a great big hug.
"We are too, Twily," replies Shining.
"Indeed," replies Cadence.
Twilight then leads her family and the remaining Crystal Ponies into her castle, where she provides them with hot soup, freshly baked muffins, and warm blankets. She then sits down and listens as Shining details everything. "It was horrible. A shock of lightning struck the kingdom, shattering the castle and with it, the heart. Once the heart was destroyed, the winter from outside came into the kingdom and covered everything, soon burying everything and killing several ponies from freezing to death and starvation. Once we knew all hope was lost of saving the Empire, we contacted you and asked you if we could come here."
"I'm glad you survived," replies Twilight, "but I'm sorry for the loss of your kingdom."
"It's okay, little sis," replies Shining. "How have things been here?"
"Oh, not much. I put Daybreaker and Nightmare Moon behind bars. Their brother Star Streak is mad at them. The rest of the alicorns are now dead and their old town is in ruins. Ya know, not much," replies Twilight.
"Wow, we're not the only ones to have it rough, huh," replies Shining.
"That's for certain," replies Twilight. She then goes and gets another batch of hot soup and freshly baked muffins from the kitchen and brings them into the still freezing ponies. The ponies then happily down the muffins and soup. Twilight, on the other hoof, continues grabbing blankets and pillows out of a back room as the ponies aren't going to be leaving the castle any time soon because there aren't quite enough houses to home them yet.
Chapter 10-Flakes of Dust
A few days later, in the magically barriered cell, Daybreaker and Nightmare Moon continue to fight. "We wouldn't be in here if it wasn't for your stupidity!" Daybreaker yells at Nightmare Moon.
"Well, it's not my fault! Let's be fair! She had you fooled too!" snaps Nightmare Moon.
A few minutes later, they hear a thud coming down the hall. Thud, thud, thud. Then again. Thud, thud, thud. A few minutes later, Twilight arrives in front of their cell with Star Streak soon taking his place beside her.
"What are you two doing here?" hisses Daybreaker.
"We came to talk," replies Twilight. "Well, Star Streak came to talk to you, rather." Twilight then backs away and lets the three siblings share a conversation.
"Celestia, Luna," says Star Streak, his voice shaking, "if you're still in there. Can you hear me? Talk to me." His eyes begin to well up with tears. "We used to be so close. Now we've grown so far apart. All I want is you back. I want Celestia and Luna back."
"If you wanted, we could try combining our might and use the elements on them," says Twilight as she puts her hoof on Star Streaks shoulder.
"Yes, let's move ahead with that," replies Star Streak as he continues to cry as he walks away from the cell and far down the hall. Twilight runs down the hall after him.
A few minutes later, the two arrive in the vault where they grab the elements. Twilight takes the three of honesty, magic, and generosity while Star Streak takes laughter, kindness, and loyalty. The two then take them and head off to face Celestia and Luna. Once they return to the cell, they chain up the two and lead them into a back room in the dungeon and chain them to the wall. The two then activate the elements and shoot them at the regal tyrants. Once the two are shot, they revert back to their purified, nonevil states. Star Streak then runs over to them and hugs them. "Celestia, Luna," cries Star Streak, "I'm so glad you're back to normal!"
"We're glad to be back to normal, thanks for freeing us brother, and you too, Twilight," reply the sisters as they hug their brother and then Twilight.
"I'm glad to have you two back as well," replies Twilight, "but good luck getting the right to rule back."
"Well, they can come rule with me again, like they used to, if they want," responds Star Streak.
"We'd like that," replies Luna.
"That would be nice," replies Celestia.
Celestia and Luna then give Twilight a great big goodbye hug and tell her to be brave and to continue her rule before flying off into the dusty sunset alongside their brother towards his new kingdom. Star Streak is so glad to be reunited with his sisters at long last and now, they're going to rule their new alicorn kingdom together for the rest of time.
Chapter 12-Dr. Jenna and Mrs. Hild
A week after Moon Dancer's arrival, Twilight gets a call about a strange pony mare that was wandering around the outskirts of town. As she approaches the pony, the pony introduces herself as Mrs. Hild but later that day, she reintroduces herself as a more disgruntled and angry tempered Dr. Jenna. "What can you make of this?" asks a pony standing next to Twilight.
"She has a split personality for sure," replies Twilight. "But how she got this way, I have no idea."
"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up small voice inside my head!" the mare then starts hollering. "Shut up! Just shut up!"
"It's getting worse," replies Twilight. "How long have you been like this, ma'am?"
"Ten years, maybe twelve," replies the mare. "It all started after I was given a drug that killed off a tumor I had."
"Well, I think I know a spell that can split your two personalities and then send your more rash personality into Limbo," responds Twilight.
"Do it, I can handle the risk," replies the mare. Twilight then casts the spell. A few minutes later, the two halves of the mare are separated. Her Dr. Jenna half is banished into Limbo and her Mrs. Hild half then walks off with Twilight into a new home. There, Twilight sets her up with a bag of groceries, several blankets, and a homemade dinner for the night of corn carrot soup. Mrs. Hild then thanks her and gives her a great big hug. She then goes over to the stove and begins to heat up the beautiful light orange soup.
A few minutes later, back at the castle, Twilight heads into the castle where she is greeted by Moon Dancer. "Hey Twilight, how's your day been? I've just been reading all day. You have so many books. Have you really read them all?"
"It's been good, and yeah, I've read every single one in both this library and the secondary library on the third floor," replies Twilight with a giggle.
"Did you get Mrs. Hild back to her normal self?" asks Moon Dancer.
"Yes, and banished her evil half to Limbo," Twilight responds.
"That's great, now where are your Aquarius book series?" responds Moon Dancer.
"Top shelf," responds Twilight. She flies up and grabs them and brings them down so Moon Dancer can read them. Moon Dancer then smiles as she picks up the first one and begins to read it. Twilight then goes off into her private reading room where she picks up a copy of Daring Do and the Sapphire Statue. It's been a weird day for her and now she's glad to finally get a break.
Chapter 15-One Hoof in the Grave
A few days later, while out on her morning walk, Twilight stumbles across an emaciated, yet still breathing body. "Help me," begged the soul weakly. "Help me." Not wanting to leave him there to die, Twilight helps the pony to his feet and leads him back to the castle with her.
"How did you end up like this?" asks Twilight as she hands him a bowl of oatmeal, which he immediately downs followed by another ten bowls.
"I was kicked out of my home by my family claiming I took up too much space as I had seven younger siblings, all foals with mouths to feed. I understood why they kicked me out. After all, I am already twenty. It was bound to happen sooner or later. Maw and Paw said I was mooching off of them and preventing them from feeding all my younger brothers and sisters."
"Oh, I see," responds Twilight. "Well, you can stay here until you're ready to move into your own home here in Ponyville."
"Thank you so much," responds the stallion. "Now, where is the spare bedroom?"
"Down the hall and to your left," says Twilight, "I don't believe I caught your name."
"The name's Coalter," responds the stallion, "and thanks." He then heads down the hall and takes a left and disappears into the spare bedroom where he soon falls fast asleep. Twilight then goes down the hall herself and turns to her right and into the library. She's truly glad she got to help a pony in need and just in the nick of time as well. Thanks to her, he's still alive. Without her, he would've been dead by now.
Chapter 20-Romeaire my Romeaire
A few weeks later, Twilight and Romeaire go on their second date. This time around they go to the newly formed Glow Ponds. There, they swim together, have a picnic, and even run through the geysers there. All the while, Twilight can't help but smile and laugh. Romeaire can't help but do the same. Twilight is the first mare he's ever truly been happy with. Soon, very soon, he has plans on asking her to marry him. A few minutes later, the two sit down under a glow waterfall and take a rest. "This place is cool," says Twilight, "how did you stumble upon it?"
"I found it one day while I was out flying with some of the other alicorn stallions," he responds with a smile. "After that, I couldn't get it out of my mind. I just had to show you this place. I just thought it was so cool."
"It sure is," responds Twilight, "given the chance, I could write a book on this place."
"Oh, I have no doubt about that," responds Romeaire as a smile bursts across his face and he lets out a giggle.
After enjoying a nice treat of freshly baked muffins, the two get back to swimming in the Glow Ponds. As they swim, the two can't help but smile. A few hours later, the two hop out and dry off and fly their separate ways. As he flies off, Romeaire whispers to himself. "I'm gonna marry her someday, I just wish I knew how to ask." A few minutes later, he arrives back at the Alicorn Kingdom. There he is greeted by Star Streak, Celestia, Luna, and baby Julius. The five then go out and enjoy the Alicorn Kingdom Founding Day together. While at the celebration, however, all Romeaire can think about is Twilight and how scared he is to ask her to marry him as he doesn't want to rip her away from Ponyville, especially not at a time like this, especially not in a time when the kingdom is Equestria is trying to recover from years of tyranny under the rules of Daybreaker and Nightmare Moon.
Chapter 22-The Big Question
After several more years of dating, Romeaire finally drops the question one day while out on a fly with Twilight. "Twilight, I love you," he says as they fly, "will you marry me?"
"Wha...wha...what?" says Twilight startled. "This was so sudden. I'm not ready to be in a relationship yet. Can we give it a few more years?"
"Uh sure," says a disappointed Romeaire. "We can wait a few years. If that's what you want."
"That's indeed what I want," replies Twilight. She then flies off to the castle and locks herself in her bedroom for the rest of the afternoon. Disappointed, Romeaire flies off to the Rockheart Cliffs. There, he sits down and cries. He can't believe Twilight refused his proposal. He didn't think he rushed it. He thought he had given it plenty of time. He remains there for hours on end, continuing to cry. A few minutes later, Celestia and Luna land down beside him.
"Where's Twilight?" they ask.
"Locked away in her castle, I guess," responds Romeaire, "but she refused my proposal."
"Well, you've only been dating for five years, it was a bit rushed," responds Luna.
Meanwhile, back at the castle, Twilight just sits on her bed reading a book. As she reads, she can't help but think about Romeaire and how much he rushed it. She can't believe how bad he rushed it. She's not ready to marry him yet and he shouldn't have forced it. To be honest, she feels they would've been better off if he had never even asked to date her right now. Right now, all she wants to do is run away and be alone. Alas, she knows, she is not allowed to do that. She still has ponies to rule. Maybe in time, she'll marry him, but after today, she's not even sure about that.
Chapter 27-Double Agent Fire Dash
Meanwhile, out in the main courtyard, one of the assassins has seemingly turned on her fellow assassins. That pony is named Fire Dash and she's a double agent. "Why have you turned on us soldier?" asks the captain of the assassins. Fire Dash then leaps over the captain and slashes off her arm and then her leg. She then runs off and retreats back into the shadows. She then heads towards the hiding area to join up with the others that are hiding the princesses and the prince. A few minutes later, she arrives in the hiding area.
"The captain is down, but I think I blew my cover," says Fire Dash.
"Well, they'll be after you as it is," responds Felix, "so lead them away from here."
"Sure thing, sir!" he salutes Felix then heads back off to steer the assassins away from the Royals.
Once he's back out in the field, she heads back towards the assassin headquarters where she is chased down by the assassins and is soon captured. The others then turn on a single light in a dark room, blinding her. "Where am I?" asks Fire Dash.
"Oh, heading towards your doom, traitor," responds one of the assassins named Gusty Glow. She then slices Fire Dash across the face with the knife. She then cuts off Fire's mane and tail and then cuts out her eye. She then pulls the cord and sends Fire Dash towards her doom. Fire Dash then begins to panic. She uses her magic to free herself from the chair then to levitate out of her demise. She then bandages her eye and then goes and kicks Gusty Glow and the other assassins' asses. She then dashes out of there, leaving many dead assassins behind her while a few follow her right on her tail. A few days later, she is out of the realm of the assassins and heads back towards Griffonia, where she meets up with Felix, Twilight, Cadence, Shining, and Flurry Heart and the other warriors.
"All the assassins are dead," says Fire Dash. "You are safe to return to your kingdom, their leaders are dead. They've retreated and they're not coming back."
"Thank goodness," responds Twilight. "Thanks so much Fire Dash."
Fire Dash then removes her mask. "I have something I have to admit," says the unicorn, "Fire Dash isn't my real name. That's just my code name. My real name is Fiery Rose."
"Well, thanks just the same," responds Twilight. Fiery Rose and Felix then return Twilight, Shining, Cadence, and Flurry to their home in Ponyville. There, Twilight and her family safely continue their rule with no more interference from the assassins. They are thrilled to be safe once again, glad to be home once again. They also have a feeling that no pony is going to be coming after them anytime soon. For that alone, they can breathe a sigh of relief.
Chapter 29-Without a Father
A few days later, Fiery Rose and her children go and place flowers under a statue of her fallen husband in the Heroes of Equestria Cemetery. "Oh Blake," she says, "the children and I miss you so." Tears then begin to fall from her eyes when she hears a voice behind her. She turns around and sees a friend of hers back from her undercover corps team. "Oh, hey Felicity, did you come here to honor your fallen husband as well?"
"Yes," responds Felicity, "and my fallen brother. Both were soldiers."
"What were their names?" asks Fiery Rose.
"My husband was Harem and my brother was Cordly," responds Felicity. "I am now raising my own children along with my nieces and nephew myself. They all get along, but all of them miss their fathers."
"And what about your nieces and nephew's mother?" asks Fiery Rose.
"Oh, she died of cancer a few years back, my brother was their only parent left before he died. Now they're my responsibility," responds Felicity.
"What are the names of your children, your nieces, and your nephew?" asks Fiery.
"My own children are named Sweetheart, Pepper, and Junior. My nieces are named Twinkle Star and Lumia. My nephew is named Drake," responds Felicity.
"Well," responds Fiery, "my children are Lilac, Lily, and Jude."
"Well, at least they died serving our country," responds Felicity.
"I can agree to that," responds Fiery Rose. "I can definitely agree to that."
They all then get up from their places under the statues of their fallen family members and all go out for ice cream together. Fiery is glad to have somepony she knows that feels her pain. Now that Felicity is here to support her and she's here to support Felicity, they know they can make it through the storm together and to them, that means everything.
