Kingdom Of Everfree

Four Weeks later.

Rarity slams through the door and immediately stops her rampage at the curious stares from the Library goers. "Oh, sorry. Just here to see the Librarian." She smiles politely and quickly ducks into the office beside the stairs.

"Oh hi Rarity! What can I do for you?" Twilight greets, setting down a stack of papers.

"She hasn't come to pick up Sweety for three weeks then she has the nerve to quit through a letter!" Rarity complains, slamming aforementioned letter on the desk.

"And there goes number five." Twilight sighs and drops her head into her hands. "Gather the girls. We need to go talk to Royal."

The Mane 6 approach the forest but stop at the threatening growls.

The pack of Timberwolves emerge from the trees and snarl at them. Their fur turning into sharp splinters as their fangs grow, eyes glowing with menace. They advance but avoid Twilight. Pushing the others back and away from the forest.

"Why are they letting you through?!" Rarity calls over the Timberwolves snarling barks.

"I still have Royal's Sight and they can probably feel that. I guess they think since their leaders magic essence is in me I'm allowed in." Twilight answers.

"Yeah! Royal sent the Timberwolves to keep everyone out." Apple Bloom calls, zipping past the Timberwolves on Scootaloo's scooter.

"She said that only those that can truly see may get to me." Scootaloo adds.

Two of the Timberwolves break from the pack and push Fluttershy and Pinky Pie through.

"I'm over this!" Rainbow declares, opening her wings and shooting towards the tree tops.

Only to be intercepted by a group of Wyverns and Phoenixes. They all flap their powerful wings together to create a large wind blast that knocks Rainbow Dash from the sky.

Rarity is the next to be let through.

"Oh! I get it now." Rarity exclaims. "Only those who can truly see! She wasn't talking about the spell on the Forest!"

"She was talking about how you see the creatures in the forest!" Twilight finishes. The two squeal together and high five.

"Look at me. Fashionable and Smart. I do love a good riddle." Rarity says, tossing her hair over her shoulder.

Apple Jack is finally allowed through.

The Cowgirl let's out a relieved sigh. "It's kinda hard tah stop seeing em as monsters when they're growlin' at ya. But when you're able to see past that you start to see em as beautiful creatures just doing what needs tah be done. Especially when there's a rude Pegasus callin' em monsters and going against their beloved leader." This is said pointedly at Rainbow Dash.

The Pegasus rolls her eyes and crosses her arms. "Fine! I may have been a little boneheaded and rude. I'm sorry." Rainbow says.

"You don't sound too sincere. Tah me or tha Timberwolves." Apple Jack says.

Rainbow stands right in front of the lead Timberwolf and places her hand on his head. "I'm sorry. Sorry for calling Royal a liar and you guys monsters. When clearly you are all just loveable, large, beastly creatures that want to be left in peace. Is that better?"

The Timberwolf leaps on Rainbow Dash and licks her face over and over with a mossy tongue, his and the others tails wagging rapidly.

Rainbow shoves the beast off and grabs Twilight's offered hand.

"Now was that so hard?" Twilight asks.

"Whatever, let's go catch up with the girls."

They take the short cut to the Castle ruins. Although, when they get there they can no longer call them ruins. Tall ivory spires twist into the sky from the roof of the newly renovated castle.

They enter and gasp at the homely yet grand decor. All illuminated by the light of the sun spilling in from the arcing class ceiling.

A crash sounds and they watch the helm of an old unicorn armor set rolling in from the corridor. Not three seconds latter Royal dashes in after it and then rushes back into the corridor.

The sound of her placing the helm back on the set floats to their ears and Royal zips back in. She slides to a halt, smiles at them, holds a finger to her lips, then disappears.

Two seconds later the Cutie Mark Crusaders rush in with air soft guns. "How does she keep doing that!" Sweety Belle yells. "Oh hey Sis!"

Rarity waves.

"Have y'all seen Royal?" Apple Bloom asks.

Twilight shakes her head.

"Darn it!" The girls turn heel and speed back the way they had come.

Royal appears behind them. "Hello girls. It's been a while."

"Royal. I'm really sorry for doing what I did. I was just kind of scared for my town and the fear that my home would be crushed before you could control one of the creatures caused me to act brashly. I understand if you are angry." Rainbow apologizes, rubbing her arm as she stares at the floor.

"I stopped being mad the second I returned home. I had a talk with my ambassador and she explained to me what you just told me. Your people are not like mine and don't have the trust in the creatures or me as much as they do. My people always know that if a creature goes on a rampage I will be there to stop it." Royal hugs Rainbow and rubs her back. "I am sorry as well for losing my temper with you."

"Aw! Bring it in big girl!" Pinky yells, squeezing Royal and burying her face in Royal's chest fluff.

The CMCs rush back into the foyer. "We've got you!" Scootaloo declares, firing at Royal.

Royal disappears again, leaving the Mane 6 to take her bullets. Royal appears behind them and teleports a gun to her hand. Hitting each of the Crusaders square in the forehead.

Scootaloo clutches her forehead and groans in faux pain. "Oh no! We have been defeated yet again by the infinite might of the Everfree Empress! My last life was lived well." She falls onto her back and stills.

"Get up Drama Queen." Apple Bloom says, nudging her friend.

"Oh! I'll take you all on a tour." Royal extends her magic to all the lights in the castle before she leads them down the hall. "I tried to make the castle as kid comfortable and friendly as I could think possible. Here is the kitchen. Outfitted with the best appliances from my home. The dining room is just through this door." Royal leads them through the whole castle, showing off renewed murals and paintings, new decor, and rooms she'd set up for them if they ever decided to stay the night. "Oh, this is my favorite." She pushes open the doors to the throne room and the girls gasp. "Yeah. I kind of think I went over board with the thrones a bit, but over all I think it's nice and welcoming."

Seven thrones form a crescent in front of the raised dias of the two renewed original thrones.

The first throne is made of clouds and rainbow steel, shaped into Rainbow's Cutie-Mark. The arm rest of the throne is made of cloud like the cushion and are craved in the visage of Phoenixes.

The second is made from the trunk of an old apple tree. Etched into the high back is Apple Jack's Cutie-Mark and in the side of the throne are two craved Timberwolves, their heads making up the arm rest. The cushion of the throne is made of soft brown leather.

The third is an elegant piece, curving and twisting. The side of the throne is made of two craved women dancing in one of Rarity's dresses. The back, seat, and arm rests of the chair are cushioned and covered in white crushed velvet. Embroidered in the high back are three of the purest diamonds one can find.

The next is obviously made for Royal. The frame is made of hundreds of plates of platinum just like the camera on her back. Royal's Cutie-Mark is emblazoned in multicolored fire, the image reminding them of aurora borealis. It looks oddly wide, like made for two to sit.

The throne next made from a White Oak. The throne craved to look like it's made of each of Twilights favorite book spines. In the high rise of her throne Twilight's Cutie-Mark is made of amethyst and rose quartz. This one is also wide seated.

The next is plush and pink. Confetti and streamers are embroidered in the soft fabric. At the top right under the different colored crystal balloons are the words 'Live, Love, Laugh' written elegantly.

The last is made of twisting roots and strong flowering vines, the cushion made from lush red immortal grasses. At the top three large life like pink butterflies guard over the throne. A tiny throne is made into left arm rest with Angel Bunny's name on the back.

In front of the thrones in the center is a large pit, slow fire burning warmly and illuminating every detail of the room.

Behind the thrones the princesses look down at them with warm smiles from the stained glass beside their thrones on the dais. This ceiling is made from glass just like the foyer but instead of the regular depictions of the princesses or some beautiful Everfree creature a different picture watches over them.

Seven beings unlike any the six have ever seen; behind them lands vast and stunning.

"Those are the first Seven. I thought that they, like the princess, would make any that entered feel safe and welcome." Royal explains.

"You have succeeded." Twilight breathes.

"I call the hot pink one!" Pinky Pie squeals, leaping onto her throne.

"That one's obviously yours, Pinks." Apple Jack chuckles, rubbing the head of one of the Timberwolves on her throne.

"Is this why you wanted me to wait a month to ask Celestia?" Twilights asks, sinking into her throne with a sigh of comfort.

"Yeah. I thought she wouldn't really let a child live in the basement with all the dangerous weapons and tech that, if she were to do something wrong in testing, could explode and kill her." Royal smiles. "I also thought she'd appreciate me cleaning up her childhood home and would go easy on me."

"I'm positive I would after all I've seen." Rarity reassures, rubbing her throne with a giddy giggle. "This throne is absolutely exquisite!"

"Yes, they are so well made." Fluttershy whispers appreciatively.

"It's my sorry for everything. As Empress and being the age I am I should know to control my temper. I've just never had someone call me a liar. I've never told a lie in my life and pride myself on being honest no matter the consequence." Royal rubs her arm nervously.

"Ah understand whatcha mean." Apple Jack says, giving Royal's shoulder an encouraging squeeze.

"So, when do you think she will come." Royal asks Twilight.

"Immediately..." Twilight sinks further into her throne in despair. "Right after I write her the letter about me being a Vampire." She groans and slams her forehead onto the arcing table in front of the thrones. "Ow."