Chapters The End And A New beginning
The Grand Occulus shook, causing the girls to huddle closer. The only light in the chamber now came from Cosmos's horn for the map had finally shut down sometime before. They all knew what that meant, no matter how much it hurt.
"That's it then isn't it?" Ivy asked as another rumble shook the chamber, stronger now the last one as rocks began to fall around them. "We're all that's left. There's no one else is there?"
Empress Cosmos, for all that title, meant now, nodded. "This universe is dead. We stand on the only solid ground left now."
Water Lilly chuckled. "With everything we've done, I didn't think it would end like this. I'd thought we'd go out with a bang or something."
That got a chuckle out of everypony. It was true. They had done so much good for all of Equus and beyond. But they had lost so much too. Each and every one of them remembered their families and how much it hurt when they had passed on.
it still hurt for five of them. Crystal, Emerald, Celestial, Orchid, and Water Lilly all hoped they had found peace in whatever afterlife they had gone too.
One none of them would ever see for only now did they understand what the oath they had all sworn meant: To be an Exarch meant never knowing what mortals knew as death. Whatever that meant any for Cosmos hadn't told them what would happen to them.
Not yet anyway. "So what happens now then?" Moon Petal asked.
Cosmos smiled. "Now? Now the cycle begins anew. One day another universe will be born here, one different from what we knew."
"Will they remember us?" Orchid asked.
Cosmos shook her head. "No. No one will ever know of what came before. It is always been like that. For the better, I feel."
"What about us?" Ocean Breeze asked.
Cosmos smiled. "Now? We go to our own afterlife, in a sense. I will return to my full self." Her smile dropped slightly. "And you girls will go to where all Exarchs go when the time comes."
Celestial looked worried as she and Diamond shared a look. "And what about our Oath?" She asked.
Cosmos stepped back and spread her wings. "As of this moment I hold your oaths fulfilled and no longer bind you to them." Her composure broke as she pulled them all into a hug, one they happily returned. "You will always be a part of me, and I you." She sniffed. "We will see each other again one day, I promise."
Crystal sniffed. "We're going to hold you to that." She bit her. "Does it hurt?"
Cosmos smiled. "Not at all. Think of it like going to sleep. When you wake up, you will be there. You will not feel a thing."
Amber giggled. "Sleep sounds good. I haven't slept in a billion years. Literally."
Emerald rolled her eyes. "None of us have for a long time that's for sure. It does sound good."
They all laughed before the biggest tremor yet hit, but this one didn't stop. Cosmos turned grim at this. "It is time." She whispered while she held the girls one last time before she stepped back.
The girls did as well as Cosmos closed her eyes and charged her horn. For a moment nothing happened, but then her eyes opened wide, revealing solid black, as a black light engulfed her horn. Somehow it hurt to even look at it and the girls had to look away. As they did the light filled the chamber, brighter than any sun, to the point the girls had to close their eyes.
The girls held each other close as they felt their bodies begin. But each and every one of them heard Cosmos as she spoke to them. One last time.
"Girls, thank you. For everything. Now and forever. Never forget. I will always love you. Forever."
Everypony smiled as the chamber's roof finally gave way.
And Crystal, Amber, Emerald, Diamond, Celestial, Ivy, Orchid, Ocean Breeze, Water Lilly, and Moon Petal knew no more.
Somepony was poking her, and Crystal didn't like it as she swatted the hoof away. "Five more minutes mom," she grumbled as she turned over in her sleep.
That got a giggle out of her tormentor but she stopped nonetheless. "You might want to see this Crystal," Amber replied.
Crystal groaned but opened her eyes anyway. Around her, the rest of the girls stood looking around at their surroundings. Cosmos was nowhere to be seen. In every direction seemed to be white.
"Is this it?" Diamond asked. "I thought it would be, I don't know, nicer? This is kinda boring. I'd rather take an endless void than all of this."
Even as her voice echoed around them, the white began to vanish, revealing a new vista to them. One that made their jaws drop.
In every direction, in front and behind them, stretched a huge domed area. It reminded them of the malls they had seen on Earth, but on a much larger scale. Every kind of store they could think of, and others they didn't even know filled it. From here they couldn't see what was on the other side of the dome overhead. Off in the distance, they could hear voices talking and laughing.
The girls blinked. "So, where do we even start? If this is where all Exarchs go, where is everyone? It's kinda empty in here," Celestial asked.
"Oh, you will all meet them in a little bit." Came a voice they all recognized. One that brought them up short as the speaker came over to them. A mare they knew rather well actually.
"Twilight?!" They all said in shock.
The mare was indeed Twilight Sparkle. Aside from her lack of wings, she looked exactly as how Crystal, Emerald, Celestial, Orchid, and Water Lilly had first her so long ago.
Twilight just grinned widely. "That's me."
"You're an Exarch?" Ocean Breeze asked, unable to believe what she was seeing. A feeling they all shared.
Twilight nodded. "As Big Mac used to say, eeyup." Her smile faded a little as she saw the looks in the girls' eyes, and her ears fell in sympathy, knowing what it meant. "She was me, wasn't she?"
Orchid nodded. "Yeah. It's just, kinda weird to see you, and know it's not her."
Twilight nodded as their gazes dropped. "You will see her again. She always makes time to come visit us. You will probably even meet another version of her here, but she will not know you."
"Why not?" Ivy asked.
Twilight sighed. "When she does come here, you can feel it's her if you see her. But unless you are part of the group that aspect once knew, she will not know you. Her memories are tied to those five. For the best I feel. It isn't fair to everyone else here, or to that group."
That put an end to their questions for the moment. It was some small comfort to know that much at least. It was better than nothing.
By now the group was beginning to come across other ponies. Every kind and age of pony was all around it seemed. All were happy about one thing or another. At the moment, however, the girls seemed to be the center of attention.
"Why is everypony looking at us?" Crystal asked.
Twilight grinned. "It's a thing for everypony that whenever a new group arrives, we all know about it. And." She paused, smiling sheepishly. "You girls are rather famous among Exarchs."
Now they were really confused. "How are we famous?" Water Lilly asked.
Twilight gasped, but before she could say more, a midnight blue pegasus rushed over to the group. "Are you kidding? You guys are the first time she ever took more than five of us at one time. That's a big deal!"
She looked almost younger than Crystal. Her huge grin and the way she talked reminded them of Pinkie Pie. Her grin grew wider as she looked at Amber. "Oh. My. Gosh! I can't believe I'm talking to you!" She squeed as she bounced in place.
Amber blinked. "What did I do?"
Twilight giggled. "Didn't she ever tell you? You were the first filly she ever took on as one of her Exarchs. Certainly not the last one of course, but that does mean you do stick out."
Amber thought about that for a moment. Now that she thought of it, Cosmos had told her once that she was the first one for her at her age. In all the time since she had forgotten about it. She smiled. "Thanks."
The Pegasus smiled wider as she looked at Crystal. "I'm Midnight Sparkle by the way. I can't wait to show you guys around. They have stuff just for us fillies."
Crystal smiled sheepishly as her stomach growled. "Is there someplace to eat? I haven't been this hungry in, well forever. Literally."
Midnight nodded as she grabbed both their hooves. "I know just the place. Follow me." With that, she faded away and zoomed off. Amber and Crystal shared a look before following the same way a few seconds later.
Twilight rolled her eyes. "Well, we won't see them for a while. Midnight loves doing this for any new fillies she meets."
"Is she related to you?" Celestial asked as they watched the three vanish into the distance. "She has the same last name."
Twilight nodded. "In her universe she was. Her Twilight's younger sister." She smiled. "We come from different worlds and pasts, but I love like she was my sister and Midnight loves me as much as she did her Twilight."
Emerald meanwhile was looking at a sign next to them. Either she was going nuts, or that said what she thought it did. "Does that say what I think it does?" She asked, pointing at it.
Looking around, Twilight grinned. "Dragons R Us? Yep, that is what it says. Everything you can think of for your dragon, and even yourself in that form if you wanted to spruce your pony head up when in that form. I know I have used it several times."
Any further talk was interrupted by a collective growl from the girls' stomachs.
Twilight giggled. "Come on. Let's eat first, and then I'll show you girls around. There is just so much to see and do, that even I can't keep track of it all. And I have tried. Believe me, I have tried. I gave up a long time ago. It's not worth it. Plus it's more fun to find and discover new things. Especially from the Human World."
That got a collective giggle out of the group as they followed the unicorn off into the unknown.
Author's Note
I have a confession to make with this chapter. This is both the final chapter of Long Live The Empress and the first chapter of this story. Hence the beginning with the Orrery collapsing around them. It is always the final thing in a universe to go if an aspect lives there.
Onto the new realm, the girls live in. Twilight's past will be revealed in time. She will be one of the recouring new characters. Others will come and go, but will always be there.
One last thing. There is one section I took out because this is the first chapter. If the site will allow it, I'll add this chapter to Long Live The Empress as the final chapter with that section added. If not, then that section will be in a later chapter and I'll explain why then.
Twilight smirked as she took a sip of her milkshake. To the surprise of the new girls, the restaurant didn't charge them anything for their meal. Good thing too since they didn't have any bits at the moment.
"So. You want to know more about where I came from?" Twilight asked as she put her drink down.
Everypony nodded. "It's just. After knowing you for so long in our universe, we're kinda curious to see what changed," Emerald replied.
Twilight nodded. She was used to this by now. Ever since their master had started using her form, for whatever reason, Twilight had been asked about it more times than she cared to count.
She smiled. "So, where do you want to start?"
The girls shared a look. "What about your family?" Diamond asked.
Twilight smiled. "Night Light and Twilight Velvet were my parents, and of course there was my BBBFF Shining Armor. We lived in Canterlot for as long as I could remember."
"Princess Cadance?" Celestial asked.
Twilight grinned goofily. "Only the greatest foalsitter in the history of foalsitters! And of course, mom to the greatest niece ever in Flurry Heart after she married Shinny."
That got a giggle out of everypony as they remembered the same. "Princess Celestia?" Ivy asked.
Twilight got a faraway look in her eyes for a moment. "I was her student after I saw her raise the summer sun during the Summer Sun Celebration as a filly. And when I tried to take the entrance exam at the School for Gifted Unicorns, I hatched Spike."
That got nods from everyone at the table. Somethings never changed it seemed, but now came the harder part. "Nightmare Moon?" Orchid asked.
Twilight's ears drooped. "Was Celestia's younger sister Luna, returned after her thousand-year banishment on the moon. If it wasn't for Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash, I never would've made it through the Everfree Forest, let alone be able to restore Luna to her former self."
While that eased the girls' concerns, there was still one small thing. "The Element of Magic?" Ocean Breeze asked.
Twilight nodded. "The Prime Magic. Hers alone to bear. I gave it up willingly to its rightful master. In all the time I bore it though, I never once had a bad experience from it. But it was never mine to hold onto."
That put most of their fears to rest. "Discord?" Lilly asked.
Twilight growled at the memory. "I never did get to pummel him within an inch of his life like I wanted to after he tore me and my friends apart during his Day of Chaos. Pumpkin said he was never worth it."
The girls shared a confused look. "Who?" Moon Petal asked.
Twilight blinked before smiling sheepishly. "Oh right. Getting ahead of my story. Pumpkin Spice was an earth pony from Canterlot, and she came from a mostly unicorn family. She was the one who we pledged ourselves to."
For a moment, the girls racked their brains, but they couldn't remember ever knowing a pony with that name back home. Of course, they didn't know literally everypony in Equestria, but they knew quite a few.
Twilight smiled at the long-ago memory. It was still as fresh now as it had been the day it happened. "But some good did come from Discord's release. It was what brought us all together in Ponyville."
"Who are they? Your sisters I mean?" Emerald asked.
Twilight smile grew larger if possible. "Pearl Rose, River Breeze, Lavender Rain, and Rose Quartz. Pearl isn't much older than Crystal actually. My family, and the sisters I love as much as I do her."
Twilight's mind began to return to those long-ago days, and the day their Ascension had finally come.
***
Queen Chrysalis laughed as she threw off her disguise and glared around the Canterlot Ball Room. "Right you are Princess. And as queen of the changelings, it is up to me to find food for my subjects. Equestria has more love than any place I've ever encountered."
She took a step down. "My fellow changelings will be able to devour so much of it that we will gain more power than we have ever dreamed of."
Cadance glared at her defiantly. "They'll never get the chance! Shining Armor's protection spell will keep them from ever even reaching us!"
Chrysalis chuckled. "Oh, I doubt that. Isn't that right, dear?"
Shing nodded mindlessly. "Mm-hmm."
Cadance tried to run over to him, but Chrysalis blocked her path. "Ah, ah, ah. Don't want to go back to the caves now do you? Ever since I took your place, I've been feeding off Shining Armor's love for you. Every moment he grows weaker and so does his spell. Ebe now my minions are chipping away at it."
Chrysalis laughed at the horrified looks she was getting. "He may not be my husband, but he is under my total control now. And, I'm sorry to say, unable to perform his duties as captain of the Royal Guard."
Cadance bit back her tears as best she could, but Twilight could see it nonetheless. "Not my Shing Armor!"
Twilight herself was in no better mood. Seeing her brother like this bit deep. But it was the fact that she had been right that hurt most of all. She hadn't wanted this. She had wanted to be wrong.
And her Ponyville friends? After all that they had done together, everything they had shared, they had abandoned her, and for what? A wedding for ponies they didn't even know?
Twilight still loved them, but the confidence she had in them was beginning to break down. But what about?
She felt others join her and Cadance. Looking around, she found Pumpkin, Pearl, River, Lavender, and Rose giving her comforting smiles, one she couldn't help but give back.
"We're sorry Twilight. This isn't your fault," Pumpkin said.
Twilight shook her head. "I know. But I should have done more. None of this should have happened. I'm sorry I dragged you girls into this."
Pearl giggled. "I'm not sorry. This is more fun than I've had in a while."
River looked over at the girls. "Can't you guys get to the Elements of Harmony? They'll be able to end this."
Twilight looked forlorn as she looked at the floor. "We'd never make it there and back in time. Shining's shield won't hold much longer."
The girls huddled together for a moment. At that same moment, Cadance felt something begin to grow. A new power was coming, and Twilight and these ponies were at the center of it. All it needed now was the final push to bring it into the world.
But no matter what, Cadance didn't feel afraid or scared. In fact, she felt comforted, loved, protected. Whatever this was, it was a force for good. Or at least that's what the overwhelming feeling was.
Chrysalis laughed as she began to charge her horn. "How sweet. I think I'll get rid of you first. For almost ruining everything."
Twilight didn't have time to react as Chrysalis fired, but the magic wasn't aimed at her at all. Without thinking, she threw herself into the beam's path. They all did.
Pumpkin couldn't move as she watched the beam of magic streak toward her. She saw Princess Cadance begin to charge her horn, but it wasn't fast enough. She closed her eyes and waited for death.
But it never came as she felt ponies pile in front of her. Opening her eyes, she found Twilight, Pearl, River, Lavender, and Rose, smiling at her through tears streaked eyes as the hugged her, one Pumpkin was happy to return as the huddled closer.
"Twilight!" Was all Cadance, Princess Celestia, the Mane 5, and Spike could shout as the beam struck home and a bright light filled the room. Chrysalis laughed as the light continued for a moment.
Her laughter died when the light faded. "What?!" She yelled at was revealed. A feeling that all in the room felt as well.
Pumpkin, Twilight, Pearl, River, Lavender, and Rose were alright. In fact, they weren't even scratched. A nimbus of magic surrounded them, protecting all six of them in a bubble. But nopony had cast anything on them. Not even Cadance had been able to get a shield up in time.
A light suddenly appeared above the group. When it faded, the Element of Magic floated down and floated before Twilight for a moment. Nothing was said between them it seemed.
Without knowing how or why she knew, Twilight closed her eyes, bowed her head, and passed the Element of Magic to Pumpkin. Pumpkin herself felt something pass between her and Magic at that moment.
As soon as she touched a hoof to Magic, a shaft of light surrounded her and the girls. It blinded everyone in the room. When it faded, everyone was left in shock.
Pumpkin, Twilight, Pearl, River, Lavender, and Rose were gone.
***
When the girls opened their eyes, they were no longer in Canterlot. They were no longer even in Equestria at all. All around them was a black void. In the distance, faint points of light flickered.
Right in front of them though was a huge wooden door. It seemed to be locked by one silver band.
"Well that's new," Lavender commented. No could argue that.
"But what are we supposed to do?" Rose asked.
"I think we're supposed to open it," Twilight added.
"How?" Pearl asked.
Pumpkin smiled. "Together," and placed a hoof on the silver band. One by one the others did the same and put their hooves over Pumpkin's.
As Pearl put her own over top the others, the band dissolved and the door swung open. Inside, the girls were shocked at what they saw disappear into the distance. Rows upon rows of books. Twilight almost squeed at the sight of so many. But it was what was in the center that held their attention.
A magnificent suit of armor adorned a mannequin in the center of the room. It was a few shades of purple darker than Twilight's own coat. The armor itself was worked to a degree that would make most armorers on Equus green with envy. In the center of the breastplate was a star-shaped indentation, one that looked very familiar.
On the brow of the mannequin, a small crown sat, inlaid with a single ruby jewel, one that would've made Rarity weep just to look at.
As the girls took all that in, the Element of Magic appeared before them and began to back into the armor. Soon it began to merge into the armor. When it was finished, the tiara floated off the brow and floated over to Pumpkin's own brow. As it settled comfortably there, two voices spoke as one.
"Now Punpkin remember. Remember who you are."
And Pumpkin remembered. She remembered it all. She smiled as the armor floated over to her piece by piece and began to attach itself around her form, which even now began to grow.
Even as the rest of the girls watched in awe, and knowing that this was always meant to be, a nimbus of magic surrounded them and lifted them up. And then a voice spoke to them once more. It was a comforting one whoever it was.
"You five have shown that you are willing to risk death itself for Pumpkin. A mare that you still do not know all that well. You put your lives on the line for hers."
"It was the right thing to do," Rose replied. The girls nodded.
The voice smiled, they could all feel it. "Indeed, and that is what makes you worthy. Would you do so again? Would you put aside all other loyalty for her? You are not bound to say yes. No one will hold it against you."
The girls shared a look. It took them all of five seconds to make up their minds. "We would," they replied together.
The voice smiled as the nimbus of magic around them intensified. "Then take the oath, and take your place amongst all those that have come before you and all those that will come after you."
Then the girls spoke as one. "Through darkness and light, through good and bad. We pledge ourselves to her. Mind, body, and soul. To walk with her, be there for her. Until time itself is unmade."
As the final word was spoken, all their eyes lit up with a surge of magic as the room filled with a bright light.
***
The Ball Room stood there in shock for what felt like an eternity before someone said. "What trickery is this?" Chrysalis snarled as she looked at Celestia. "What did you do?"
Celestia glared back at her. "I had nothing to do with that. But now that you have so foolishly revealed yourself, I can protect my ponies from you.," she said as the two crossed horns, pushing against each other.
Chrysalis laughed. "That's a laugh coming from you. You were too blind, too stupid to see what was in front of you this whole time. Your precious student saw right through me. I admit I'm impressed she did. But you refused to even think it was possible she was right."
She chuckled. "Maybe I am doing Equestria a service by removing you."
Celestia bit back a retort. No matter how much she wanted to argue the point, she knew the queen was right. She had failed. Not just as a princess. But as a teacher and friend. She should have at least considered the possibility Twilight had been right.
They had even known a threat had been made against Canterlot. And yet she did nothing.
"Twilight. I am so sorry," she thought. "I don't know where you are, but please be safe."
A sudden light filled the room, causing everyone to shield their eyes as five beams of light descended from the ceiling and landed at the foot of the dais. Celestia and Chrysalis broke off as they took in this new thing. When the light faded, everyone's eyes widened in shock at what was revealed.
Twilight, Pearl, River, Lavender, and Rose stood there, all in a circle, their faces hard as stone. Their bodies glowed with energy and power. As one they spoke.
"This era is over. The sins of Equestria's past will be made right." As one they looked at Princess Celestia. "Your failure to see the truth right in front of you has almost cost Equestria everything. No more. She will make right what you have done."
They bowed their heads. "By the right we hold as her Exarchs, let it be done."
With that, they stepped forward. Turning, they bowed as another beam of light descended from the ceiling. When it faded, everyone's jaws dropped in shock at who was revealed.
Pumpkin Spice now stood as tall as Celestia. From her forehead poked a long horn, and at her sides, six wings lay folded against her sides. Her light golden mane and tail now danced on an invisible wind only they felt.
Across her form, armor of deep purple protected her vital areas, the purple standing out against her pumpkin orange coat. On her brow, a small crown sat. Her eyes were on Chrysalis alone.
The queen laughed. "So you got bigger and an upgrade. It matters not. You will die all the same."
Pumpkin only smiled. "Bring it on Cheeselegs. I'm in the mood for pest control."
The remark infuriated Chrysalis to no end as she charged her horn will all the magic and love she could muster. "Then die!" And unleashed it on Pumpkin, who didn't even flinch as the beam struck her head-on.
Everyone gasped as the beam continued for several seconds, Chrysalis adding more and more magic all the time. When at last she cut it off, she had a smug smile on her face.
One that was quickly wiped away as Pumpkin took a step forward, unharmed and unmarked. "You know what? That kind of tickled," she giggled.
Celestia's heart skipped a beat. There had been enough power in that beam that even she couldn't have taken. Yet this mare took it on like it was nothing. How? And why did she have the Element of Magic?
Looking over at Twilight, Celestia found her student looking back at her with a rather smug look on her face. She didn't seem bothered by the fact that Magic was now with somepony else.
"Can someone please explain what they hay is going on?" Applejack asked as she and the rest of Twilight's friends looked on, just as confused as Celestia was.
Princess Celestia shook her head. "I do not know Applejack. I just do not know."
***
Twilight paused as the girls gave her confused looks. "What?"
"You mean nopony knew about it? About her before the wedding?" Ivy asked. "Celestia and Luna knew about us long before it ever happened in our Equestria."
Twilight nodded. "It's true. No one knew what was coming. I probably took more pleasure in Celestia's look of shock than I should have at the time. But I wasn't in the best mood at the time."
"So what happened to Chrysalis?" Ocean asked. "Cosmos put the whole hive to the sword herself, saving Cheeselegs for last. And that was after we used ourselves as bait."
Twilight was surprised by this. "Really? I mean you guys used yourselves as bait?"
Celestial nodded. "It was our choice too. We weren't told to. Took her a few days to find us too."
Twilight rubbed her chin. "Huh. That's now how it happened for use. But it was fun watching what she did to Chrysalis in the end."
"So what did she do?" Emerald asked.
Twilight smiled. "Well..."
Chrysalis quickly recovered from her shock. "How did you survive that? That would have put Celestia on the ground! How can you, a no one, survive it?"
Pumpkin smiled as she took another step forward. "I could explain it to you, but you are so unworthy of the time and effort I won't. Just know you could have avoided all of this."
"How is that?" Rarity asked.
Pumpkin looked at her. "She brought her hive to Canterlot to feed on our love because they're starving. Equestria has enough love to keep them alive indefinably. It might have worked too."
"What do you mean?" Fluttershy asked.
Pumpkin looked to Twilight, who bowed her head a little. "If Twilight had been as incompetent or as stupid as you have all been these last few days, then the Invasion would have worked."
Chrysalis, for all her fury, nodded. "Your idiocy has proven more helpful than anything else. All I had to do was play the sad bride, and you lot come running."
"Twilight had nothing to back it up," Spike tried to argue, but even he knew it sounded empty.
Chrysalis laughed. "And all I ever did was belittle you and insult you all since you arrived. And you couldn't have cared less and came running to me. Or to Cadance, a pony none of you even knew existed a week ago." She rolled her eyes. "Some friends you are."
That, above anything else, shut the girls and Spike up. None of them could argue the facts no matter what they wanted to say otherwise.
"Ouch," Lilly said as she and the others all winced.
Twilight nodded. "In another time and place, I might have been the one to ask forgiveness or to say this was all my fault. I never did say any of that. We made up of course. But I could fully trust the girls again."
That made all their ears wilt. They remembered well how it had gone down in their Equestria, and the row Cosmos eventually had with the other Elements of Harmony over the same thing.
"So what happened to Chrysalis in the end?" Diamond asked.
Twilight smile grew as she looked back.
Pumpkin turned her gaze back to Chrysalis after a moment. "That aside, you have two choices before you Queen Chrysalis."
Pumpkin spread her wings. "Leave Canterlot now with all of your hive and I will help you find a permanent solution to your love problem. A way that will keep your race fed for all time."
While the thought intrigued her, Chrysalis was still defiant. "And if I don't?"
Pumpkin lowered her head and spoke in a low voice, one that the whole room heard nonetheless. "Then you will not live to see the sunset and your hive will scatter to the four winds. Your choice."
Princess Celestia stepped forward, a frown on her face. "Now hold on. I do not know who or what you are. But you do not have the authority or the power to make that decision."
Cadance finally strode up, a frown on her face as well. "Actually Aunt Celestia, as of now she does. I don't know all of what's happened recently, but I do not have confidence in your ability to lead at the moment."
Celestia shot her neice a shocked look. "Cadance, what are you saying?"
Cadance didn't back down. "You know the law Celestia. If a princess if found unable to properly lead or is shown to not be thinking clearly, power goes to the next in line. Aunty Luna isn't here at the moment and it would take too long to wake her and bring up to her speed."
"So what does that mean?" Rainbow Dash asked.
Cadance smiled as she walked over to Pumpkin and bowed her. "As of now, I transfer all of my powers as a Princess of Equestria to Pumpkin Spice." She gave Pumpkin a quick look. "That is your name isn't it?"
Pumpkin chuckled as she too bowed her head. "It is. And I will hold onto this power for as long as you deem fit."
Twilight giggled. "And has it turned out, that was for the rest of eternity. It took a while for it to get around Equestria, but her reign was marked to have begun on that day."
"So Chrysalis left?" Orchid asked.
Twilight nodded. "Something must have convinced her that Pumpkin meant what she said. By nightfall, Canterlot was empty of changelings. We saw them again, but that's a whole different story."
The girls all shared a look. It was different for sure from what they remembered, but it seemed everything had worked out in the end. "So the wedding still happened I guess since Flurry Heart was born?" Moon Petal asked.
Twilight nodded. "Enough members of the House of Lords had been at the first wedding and had seen everything that they endorsed Cadance's decision. Once Luna woke up and had learned all that had happened, she endorsed it as well."
Her earls wilted at the memory. "At that point, Princess Celestia could not go against it. Not without causing a constitutional crisis for Equestria as a whole. Both the House of Lords and the House of Commons would eventually fully endorse Pumpkin's role once news got out."
The girls decided not to bring up how much they still held a grudge against their own Equestria's nobles. The memories of the failed Traditionalists takeover were still fresh for them.
Twilight could see something about a part of her story stuck home for the girls. But didn't comment on it, seeing as it was still too early she felt to be prying too deep.
And if the girls thought her story was crazy, Midnight's was probably even more so. Twilight herself still had trouble believing all she had done, but she knew they were real.
No Exarch would be found doing less. Believing them, even after meeting the group Midnight was a part of, was still hard for her sometimes. She never told Midnight this though.
Twilight did wonder though where she, Crystal, and Amber had gone off to. There were a lot of places the three of them could have gone. Just for their age too.
Author's Note
Just to be clear about the universe Twilight is from. Celestia and Luna had no idea of what or who Pumpkin really was. No one did in fact. It's more fun that way I feel.
This universe was made so that no one would know this would one day happen. Not even Discord. Cadance felt it the most because she was right next to the girls.
Fun fact. What Twilight, Pearl, River, Lavender, and Rose, heard was what every Exarch hears when the choice is given to them in the Lost Chamber.
Amber let out a delighted moan as she sat back in her seat, her face one of pure bliss. "I swear. I never thought Pinkie's sweets could be beaten. I was wrong. Even she'd say she was in heaven."
Crystal nodded, swallowing her bite. "I know right? I grew up in a family that did this for a living. Mom and dad could make even King Sombra jealous. But this? I got nothing."
Midnight giggled as she took a sip of her drink. The restaurant they were in didn't look that much different from Sugarcube Corner, aside from the lack of Pinkie Pie and the Cakes of course.
The three of them were not the only ones here at the moment either. Several other groups sat at other tables here and there. All of them seemed to be the same age as Crystal and Amber. For the moment, they stayed separate.
Neither Crystal nor Amber thought it was them being rude, but that only Midnight actually knew them at the moment, of those here. They did get the occasional look, but for now, it was just the three of them.
Not that either of them minded of course. They were still wrapping their heads around all of this and everything else they had seen so far. It was a lot to take in for sure.
Amber though, finally had to ask the question that had been bugging her ever since the three of them had met. One of them anyway. "So, if you're Twilight's sister, what about Shining Armor?"
Midnight made a face at the name. "Bleh. Boys are icky. It was just me, Twilight, mom, and dad, though." She giggled. "You should've seen mom's face when she had me."
"Was it bad?" Crystal asked.
Midnight shook her head. "Nope. But nopony expected me to be a Pegasus. I was the first one in the Sparkle Family. That made things around the house fun until I learned how to fly."
Amber giggled. She could imagine that if hers was anything to go by, as she took another bite of her cupcake. "How did Twilight take it?"
Midnight rolled her eyes. "Well. She was already Princess Celestia's personal student when I was born. I think it was the one and only time she missed out on a lesson on purpose, when she went with dad to the hospital."
Amber and Crystal shared a look. "How did Celestia take it?" Crystal asked.
Midnight chuckled. "Well, she knew mom was due me any day at that point, so she wasn't mad at all. Actually, she was one of the first to visit us when she had the chance."
"That was nice of her," Amber replied.
Midnight nodded. "Yeah. I think Twily was still bouncing excitedly in place, shouting "I have a sister! I have a sister!" I don't think she even cared that she couldn't teach me magic. Cadance was more than happy to help me learn to fly."
That surprised the two of them. "Cadance was Twilight's foalsitter still?" Crystal asked.
Midnight nodded. "Yeah. Even if there wasn't a boy involved at all in some way, she always said me and Twily were her favorite fillies to sit for."
That stopped further talk for a time, as Crystal and Amber digested all of that. It didn't sound so bad, all things considered. Looking around the room, Amber's eyes fell on one of the televisions along the wall. She couldn't make sense of what was being shown. It looked nothing like what she had seen in the Human World. "What the hay are they showing?" She asked, pointing at one.
Midnight looked at the screen in question and rolled her eyes. It showed what looked like Pinkie Pie doing things a serial killer might do, to Rainbow Dash. "Universes. Those are universes that never had any chance whatsoever to form. They're so bucking stupid and incompetent in literally every way, that She made sure that they never once had a chance to form."
"So why show them?" Crystal asked as she looked at another screen. One that showed things that made her remember her time under King Sombra's rule. She quickly turned away from it.
Midnight saw her reaction, and her voice softened. "So we can laugh at how stupid they are. Yeah, our worlds needed help in a big way, or She wouldn't have come to them. But none of them ever came to the levels of some. Other multiverses obviously don't have very smart beings in charge if they let these happen."
That made sense, in a way, the girls thought, as Crystal and Amber shared a look. If these were the universes that could never be, it was a load off of their shoulders. Again, the three of them lapsed into silence for a time, and for now, neither Amber nor Crystal minded.
A while later though, Amber finally had another question, and this time she hoped it would lead to better things. "So, what else is there to do around here? I didn't get to see much before we came here, and I wanna explore."
That made Midnight's face break into a smile that would've made Pinkie Pie proud. "Oh gosh. What isn't there to do around here? There's so much to do, I can't even name it all. If you can think of it, it's around here someplace. You just have to find it. But half the fun is exploring this place, and finding things you never expected to."
"Like what?" Crystal asked.
Midnight's smile grew as she looked at Crystal's flank and the cutie mark there. "There's a lava bath not far from here. I go there all the time. Beats the Ponyville Spa any day of the week."
That got Crystal's attention, as she sat straighter in her chair, and felt Blaze stir in her mind. She hadn't felt him in a long time now, it felt like. This was a perfect chance to rekindle that. Amber giggled at the sight. "Where is it?" Crystal asked.
Midnight gave her a knowing look as she finished her drink, the empty cup vanishing as soon as it touched the table. "Just down the street. You can't miss it."
Crystal let out a delighted sigh as she slid into the lava pool before her. She had forgotten how great it felt to do this. There had never been enough time back home for her to just relax like this.
The pool was quite large if she had to guess. It was definitely bigger than any pool she had ever been in before. And that included the ones in the Dragon Lands. Crystal could get used to this.
Around her, other mares were doing the same thing. Some were still in their pony forms, but more were in their Dragon Forms, and some even appeared to be asleep, even if their dragon was still awake.
One thing that Crystal did notice about all the dragons around her, was that they were all Red, and all of them were female as well. That would make things interesting for Blaze.
Speaking of him. Crystal could feel Blaze stretching in her mind. He had been asleep for quite a long time now, for she hadn't had a need to let him out.
Time to change that, she thought with a grin, as she closed her eyes and let her powers change her form. The ponies near her scooted away, giving her plenty of room, as Blaze stretched his wings for all they were worth as he took shape.
Crystal opened her eyes again, sharing a happy grin with her friend and mate, as she settled their body deeper into the lava. Now it was Blaze's turn to sigh in delight.
The mare closest to her giggled. "You must be new here?" She asked.
Crystal blushed. "Is it that obvious?"
The mare nodded both of her heads. "After a while, you get used to knowing what to look for. And there's not a lot of Crystal Pony Exarchs."
Crystal nodded, not too surprised if she was being honest. "I'm Crystal Blaze by the way."
The mare smiled. "Iron Sands." She smiled down at her dragon, who returned the smile. "And this is Inferno." Iron's gaze turned distant for a moment. "If I wish to be pedantic, I am Princess Iron Sands. Though I haven't been a princess for many ages now."
Crystal's mouth dropped in shock. "You're a princess? I didn't think somepony like that needed to be an Exarch. Or did you drop the title before that?"
Iron's gaze fell, as Inferno gave her a comforting look. "My title lost any and all meaning long before I took my Oath. Twilight and Viola used to tease me about it after our Ascension, but they never meant anything by it."
Crystal and Blaze shared a surprised look. "You made your Oath to Twilight too?" Blaze asked.
Iron nodded, a smile coming to her eyes as she remembered those days. "We did, and Twilight kept her name even after her rebirth. I was the one who taught her how to fly." She saw the confusion on the two's faces and giggled. "I'm a Pegasus. I once ruled about the same area as where Somnambula once lived before she joined the PIllars."
Crystal racked her brain but was coming up with nothing. "She never said anything about a Princess Iron Sands in our universe after we let them out of Limbo."
Iron nodded, not completely shocked to hear that. "I seem to have been the only one who ever bore that title, though other versions of me existed."
Crystal looked Iron over. While it was only her head in this form, it was enough. Her dark-colored coat stood out next to Inferno's bright red scales. And if Blaze had to guess, she was much older than he was as well. "So, how did you become an Exarch? If you don't mind me asking?" Crystal finally asked, looking sheepish.
Iron and Inferno chuckled. "I don't mind. I get asked a lot." She looked around at their companions. "We all do eventually. My own started long before I even knew Twilight..."
"... And when I, Viola, Ice, Jade, and Dual Hearts, woke up, we were here," Iron said with a smirk, as she finished her story. "I haven't seen them for a while now. But we could find each other with our eyes closed at this point."
Crystal blinked as the story ended. It sounded much like her and the girls, but also different. She could also feel what it meant to be a pony out of time like Iron and Jade were. She bowed her head. "I know what that's like. Being a pony in time you didn't know a thing about and had to relearn everything."
Iron nodded, her ears dropping. "Jade had it worse than I did since she was frozen for far longer than I was. Twilight and the others always tried to help us. But a part of us never really felt we belonged to Equestria. Our homes, the ponies we knew. Turned to dust by time."
Crystal nodded. It wasn't fully the same with the Crystal Empire since everypony had all been through the same during King Sombra's reign and had all been lost at the same time, but she could feel for Iron.
Blaze and Inferno shared a worried look. This was getting depressing fast, and that wasn't fun at all. "So how did you guys handle your Empress Dragon form?" He asked, hoping to break the mood.
Inferno giggled. "Probably not as bad as you guys did. We did only have to worry about six, not ten, in one body."
Iron giggled as well, happy to be off that topic. "It was a mess for all of us. We couldn't take two steps without one of us tripping over our own four feet. Even Twilight had trouble, and she was the one who got us started."
Crystal giggled as well. That day still stood out for her and Blaze. Aside from their first time together of course. Just trying to get six of them to work together was hard enough. It was only worse when you added in that Orchid and Water Lilly were fused together in their Dragon Forms.
And of course, it only got worse when Cosmos had been forced to relearn how to work together with her first set of Exarchs. A different dragon for her meant it was new for all of them.
But the absolute worse time for all of them? Trying, and failing more times than any of them bothered to count, to make their full, combined, Empress Dragon Form, work. Yeah. It hadn't been pretty for any of them.
Twilight had gotten more good blackmail material to use on Cosmos that day than she ever did for the rest of their time together, and she had never been afraid to use it either.
Blaze just blushed, the heat showing through even his scales. That got another good chuckle out of both Iron and Inferno.
Author's Note
So. What universes were being shown on those screens? Cupcakes should've been obvious for those who know the story. But it's not the only one to be sure.
There's too many to name, but here are a few of them: Rainbow Factory, Fall of Equestria, The Conversion Bureau, every Human in Equestria, and Displaced story that has ever been written, or ever will be. And that's just off the top of my head. Which means I'm missing a few
I have a confession to make. Iron Sands and the story she told Crystal? We will be seeing that in full because that is what I'm working on as my next story.
It's vague here since I don't want to spoil too much too soon. Zeprto678 was the one who helped me come up with the five new Exarchs that will stand with Twilight in it. And yes. Twilight will still keep her name in that story.
Crystal eyed the storefront with a critical eye. Dragons R Us, read the sign. It didn't take a genius to figure out what that meant. But did she really wanna go in? What could they have that she already didn't?
"Can we just go back to the Lava Baths? I was really liking it. I forgot how much I missed it," Blaze grumbled in her mind, earning a smile from the filly. "Besides. I'm perfect as I am, thank you very much."
Crystal giggled as she entered the store. "Says you. I wanna see what this place has. So bear with me." All she heard was a grumble as he curled up and pouted. Which was good enough for her as she looked around.
The store was filled to the brim with shelves full of various items, potions, and what looked like statues. All of them were made for dragons in some way, she could see. But how or for what, she couldn't tell. Each was also marked off for the various kinds of dragons.
Figuring she had to start somewhere, Crystal bounced over to the Red Dragon section and looked over what they had. There was so much that her mind couldn't keep up as she looked at one bottle in particular.
"Aging. Young old, make yourself look like a new Exarch," she read aloud. "What the hay is that supposed to mean?"
A nearby Pegasus, also a filly, giggled. "Pretty much what it says. Either age up into an adult. Or de-age back down into a filly. One swallow will do either. You just have to choose before you take it."
Crystal gave her a look. "Is it permanent? I've been a filly for so long, that I've kinda forgotten what it was like to want to be an adult."
Her companion shook her head. "Naw. You just take it again, and you can change back into whatever age you were before." She held out a hoof with a smile. "Pearl Rose, by the way."
Crystal smiled as well, taking the hoof. "Crystal Blaze. So you've used this before? What's it like being an adult? Or are you de-aged now?"
Pearl shook her head. "Nope. I've been this age for way more years than I can count. I think only Twilight actually kept track of our old we are."
Crystal blinked. "You're with Twilight?"
Pearl puffed out her chest. "Yep. Haven't seen her in a while. But then again, I haven't seen any of the others for a while now. It's hard to coordinate when this place is so damn big."
Crystal wasn't sure how she would feel in that situation. She could still feel the girls. But they too were distant. But what did that mean in a place like this? Her eyes, though, were drawn to an upper shelf and the row of statues it contained. One, in particular, caught her eye.
Pearl smirked as she looked up as well. "Interested? Don't see many using one of those."
Crystal gave her a look. "Why? Is it bad? What does it mean?"
Pearl shrugged. "Exactly like it says on the tin. You gain a second dragon head. It's not a bad thing. But I haven't seen many ponies using it. Depending on which one you want, you can have either two girls, two boys, or one boy and one girl."
Crystal thought about that for a moment. "Well. Blaze is a boy. I wonder what that would be like?"
Pearl nodded, her smile growing as she laid a wing on Crystal's shoulders. "Oh, girlfriend. You're one of a very few like that. Most dragons I've met are girls. I mean, sure, there are a few boys around. But not many. Not like you could tell just from looking at the pony, though."
Crystal nodded. That made sense, as she made to grab one.
Pearl's expression turned serious, however. "Just one thing to keep in mind. This change, if you do go through with it, is permanent. No going back from this one. Which is probably why it isn't used much. Compared to other things at least."
That gave Crystal pause, as Blaze shifted in her mind. Did she want to go through with this? Do that to Blaze? She loved him too much to force him into this. No matter how cool it looked. "How do I even pay for anything? Or is this like that restaurant down the road?"
Pearl chuckled. "You don't need to. I've been here a long time now, and I still don't get how that even works. Every place is like that. A good thing too since none of us seem to come with any bits." She shrugged. "Maybe She designed it that way. I don't know. I never asked."
Crystal rolled her eyes, as she decided to take some of the Aging potion. It would be cool to be an adult for a while. See what it was like. Her eyes lingered on the Multi Headed options, and she bit her lip before sighing. "Screw it," she grumbled as she took one of the Boy and Girl Heads options. "This can't be any weirder than the first time I did this."
Pearl giggled as she led the pair toward the back. "You say that now. It'll get weirder. Trust me. There's a place out back where you can try them out. Saves a trip to one of the Dragon Areas."
Crystal gave her a look. "What about you? What color did you get?"
Pearl just smiled enigmatically. "You'll see."
Crystal looked around the area they had come to. It was a wide-open field. Almost like the one Amber had taken her to on that day so long ago. Weird. "So what now?" She asked.
Pearl flexed her wings before flying a ways off. "Let me slip into something more comfortable, and I can show you." Closing her eyes, she willed herself into her Dragon Form.
Crystal watched with a raised brow. So this was what it was like watching this happen. Interesting. She watched as Pearl changed from a Pegasus into a dragon. When the light had faded, she could see that her dragon was Red in color as well.
Pearl smiled, as she and her dragon shared a look, before leaning down so she and Crystal could talk. Only the dragon's eyes had changed color, now as green as Pearl's own. "This is Scorch. Her bark is worse than her bite."
Scorch rolled her eyes as Crystal giggled. "So how do these things work?" She asked.
Pearl pointed with her snout to the potion. "Just drink this as you change. Not all of it, unless you wanna stay that age for good. As for the statue? Just hold it next to your heart as you change. It'll do the rest."
Crystal wasn't so sure about this. But she trusted that Pearl knew more about this than she did. With a gulp, she opened the potion and closed her eyes, willing herself into her own Dragon Form. As she did so, she took a draught of the potion. Vanilla. Her favorite. As she began to glow, so did the statue, which slowly merged itself into her, the female head smiling happily as she wrapped her head around Crystal's body before disappearing into her.
For a moment, nothing else happened. Crystal wondered if something had gone wrong. And then she felt her whole body shiver in delight as something rammed into her, wrapping itself around her lovingly. Moaning in delight, she let the changes take hold of her.
In her mind, Blaze too felt the lurch as something latched onto him. He felt something different from Crystal, however. Something that surprised him. He smiled as he began to emerge. Wait till Crystal saw this.
As she opened her eyes, Crystal looked around before looking down at Blaze, who only smiled. She felt funny. Looking as best she could at herself, she could see that her mane had grown, as had her snout. She grinned. She did feel older, now that she felt for it. It didn't feel as weird as she thought it would.
But that wasn't the end of it. Crystal winced as she felt a pain in her left shoulder. Looking over, she watched in shock and awe as first, a lump appeared, before growing two eyes and a mouth. Next, its neck extended until it sat at the same height as Blaze's own. Soon enough the lump turned into another dragon head. She was definitely female as she opened her eyes and smiled lovingly over at Crystal. Her eyes soon turned purple, as did her neck scales.
Crystal blinked, as the dragon's mind linked with her own, as well as Blaze's. She could feel, see, and touch, everything the dragoness did. Just as she did with Blaze. To her surprise, however, the dragoness was not as young as he was. In fact, she was quite a bit older, even though she didn't look like it. "This is so weird," she mumbled, as Blaze glared at his new twin.
Pearl and Scorch chuckled. "You'll get used to it in time," Scorch replied. "It's why not many chose to do this. One dragon per Exarch is usually enough. Why add another one?"
Crystal couldn't argue with that, even as she rolled her eyes as her new companion winced under the look she was getting from Blaze. "Will you two place nice? Don't make me put you in time out Blaze," she said, glaring down at the male, who had the decency to look sheepish. Crystal took a few tentative steps around the area, just to get a feel for now having two heads to command instead of just one.
Pearl giggled as she stretched her wings. "You three play nice. Me? I gotta run. Got an appointment I don't wanna miss down in the Hobby section."
Crystal's girl head gave her a confused look. "What is over there?"
Scorch just smirked. "Come on down one day, and Pearl will show you. You have to see it to believe it. Take my word for it."
Pearl nodded, before changing back into her pony form and flying off with an excited look in her eyes. Leaving Crystal curious as to just what could be so exciting down there.
"That pony is weird," Blaze grumbled, earning a giggle from both Crystal and his mate.
Crystal settled down before looking over at her new dragon head. "So. Do you have a name? Cause I can think of a few if I have to."
She nodded, her smile growing. "Cinder is my name. I've been stuck as that statue for a long time. Nopony ever picked me up but you. I watched several others get picked, but not me."
Crystal's ears fell. That wasn't fair at all. "Where do they come from?" She looked down at Blaze, who was also curious. "I thought dragons only came from one place? And it wasn't here."
Cinder nodded. "I don't really know. First I was born, and up until you picked me, I was a statue." Her smile grew as she looked at Blaze. "And yes, I am older than you. Don't ask me how. All I know is that I am. By many years by the feel of it."
Crystal scrunched her nose. That wasn't much to go on, as Blaze snorted a puff of flame. "Well, I'm the boss between the two of us. Older or not, I joined with Crystal first. We've done so much together."
Cinder wilted under his harsh gaze, her ear frills drooping. Crystal's gaze hardened as she looked down. "Blaze. What did I say about you two playing nice?"
He gave her a worried look. "But she-"
Crystal growled as she detached her head and floated around so she could gaze at him eye to eye. "Don't 'But' me, young wyrm. I put you in timeout for a thousand years once. Want me to do it again? How about forever this time? Don't think I won't."
Blaze wilted under the glare he was getting, his ear frills drooping.
The sight made Crystal's heart dop, but this wasn't the first time she'd had to take this tone with him. She sighed as she floated over to Cinder, who didn't look much happier. "You're on probation, Blaze. Either learn to love and work with Cinder. Or I'm cutting you off, and I'll only join with her." Her gaze softened as she merged with Cinder, earning a delighted shiver and moan from the dragoness.
Crystal smiled lovingly down at her, as she turned their heads to look at Blaze. "For now. I wanna see what this is like. It can't be that different from what I'm used to."
Stretching her wings. Crystal took the three of them to the sky. For never being born with them, she had grown used to the feeling of flight and the wind in her mane. As she soared above the plains, she briefly wondered where the others were, and what they were doing.
Author's Note
Have to thank Not Quite Equine for the new cover art first. Was done as a Commission back in May. Now I finally get to use it for something. And yes. Even though Blaze does look like a girl in the art, he is still a boy.
To answer something Archivist Nightwatch said. Yes, I could've waited till Long Live the Empress was done before I started on this one. But I couldn't help it. This won't spoil that story too much anyway. Plus to answer a question from KingChaos. Yes, Fallout Equestria would be in that category.
