Monster's Sacrifice

The 6 former elements of harmony stood with the ones that would inherit their will. They stood around the hole that had been left by the closing of the breach, the hole were once the Tree of Harmony had stood. Twilight stood behind Spike, a hand on his shoulder and a smile of pride upon her lips. Pinkie stood with Party Popper, the both of them giggling uncontrollably. Applejack held Applebloom tightly, the younger sibling leaning against the taller. Rainbow had Scootaloo up on her shoulder, the weight of the teen filly no problem for the bigger mare. Rarity and Sweetie Belle stood side by side, with Sweetie stealing peeks at the teen dragon, Rarity's knowing smile the only indication she noticed. Lastly there was Fluttershy, who had one hand upon the shoulder of Eris and the other stroking her hair lovingly, Pride showed on the faces of the older mares as a small glow began to form at the bottom of the hole. Gradually growing in brightness until six familiar gems burst forth. Party Popper getting Laughter, Applebloom getting honesty, Scootaloo getting Loyalty, Sweetie obtaining Generosity, and Eris being adorned with Kindness.

"Thank you one and all" Came a quiet feminine voice. "I thank you all for setting things right once more, the cycle can now continue as it should, without those from outside it disrupting it. I regret that the onus of the choices you all made lied with you. There was no other way I could see through. Now those that took on darkness never meant for them, may find peace. As will the former bearers. I will give you all one chance to say farewell. Nothing I can say will make up for the choices I asked of you. I can only promise that the cycle has been restored and will continue to evolve. Thus life and all things good and wonderful will carry on."

The young bearers looked up to their family members, some of them only just finding each other.

"Spike, I want you to know that I am proud to be your mother. You will grow into a powerful force for goodness and light. I wish I could see it, but the darkness in me is already growing. I already crave the essence of others. I must go back to the cycle. I have no wish to endure as the one who gave me this power did." Turning to the other girls she continued, "Once you are all done saying your goodbyes girls, please join me off to the side. I have some private words for only us."

Walking from the circle she waited just outside of the clearing, were none would hear the final conversation of the bearers.

Pinkie hugged Popper close, "It's okay to be sad on occasion. But our job is to always bring the spirits of others up, and I know that you will be one of the best Party Ponies ever." Pinkie kissed Popper one last time, holding her daughter tightly for a moment more, than Pinkie too went to join Twilight.

Applejack and Applebloom faced each other, "Alright Bloom," Aj started, "I know you will do me proud, you got the best parts of all the Apples. You got a good heart, just remember that a heart that is honest and true will see you through the toughest times. I love you sis." The two Apple Sisters hugged each other one last time, than Applejack joined Twilight and Pinkie.

Rainbow Dash set Scootaloo on the ground. Ruffling the younger Pegasi's head she said. "Remember what i said before we road into battle together," Dash paused for Scootaloo's blush than continued. "You are already one of the most steadfast and true individuals I have ever met. You have been my sister from the moment we met and I will always be your sister." Stooping down Dash held Scootaloo for a moment than kissed her forehead, dried the young filly's tears and left to join the others.

Rarity and Sweetie smiled at one another, then Rarity said her goodbye. "You are my dearest sister, and what you said about being selfish to those awful things was wrong. There is no greater Generosity then to devout one's life to the protection and health of others. No greater love than that. It does not matter if you help one or many, both are acts of complete Generosity. Oh, and when you decide to make a move on Spike, remember, he loves Rubies the most." Winking at her blushing younger sibling the Fabulous Fashionista did one last strut to join those that had always been her friends.

Fluttershy looked at Eris and smiled. "You are everything I could ever want in a daughter. You are strong and true, and have always been full of kindness. You tried to ease Party's suffering all that time. Then when you realized you were doing more harm than good, you tried to lance the poison she had ingested all that time. You are a good inheritor of Discord's and Angel Bunny's spirit. I love you and I will always watch over you." Hugging her daughter one last time Fluttershy went to join her friends for one last conversation.

As Fluttershy joined the girls she smiled sadly at all of them, the returned smiles confirmed that they two had figured out why Twilight had asked them to join her in seclusion.

"Alright," Twilight Began, "I know in the instant I took this darkness I ceased being Twilight. There is just enough of her left that I know that what we are about to do is the right thing. Nothing now will change that, lest we become the monsters that we just destroyed. All of those we leave behind deserve their chance. We have no right to take it from them. However I wish to know the names of the beings my friends became. So that I might say goodbye properly to all of you."

"Dame Erzulie" giggled what had been Pinkie.

"Timberjack" Growled the beast formerly known as Applejack

"Morrigan" The Wendigo pronounced.

"Annabeth" The Ceramic Creature tittered.

"Flutterbat" snarled the Predatory Pony.

"Isis." came the melodic reply, "Now does everyone have those special Daggers that Harmony slipped us after we said our goodbyes?"

All nodded, gathering in a circle they drew the mithril daggers and each held the dagger to another's throat. In one smooth motion all suffering and corruption ended as the souls of the heroes rejoined all that they had lost, in death finally ending the last vestiges of the darkness that had corrupted their world for so long.