My Little Pony: The Next Generation

by Scroll

Rating: everyone
Tags: Applejack, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Ocellus, Slice of Life
Length: 15455

At the first graduation ceremony of the School of Friendship, Applejack gets healthy reminder what is important.

At the graduation ceremony of the School of Friendship, Applejack is suffering from a midlife crisis. It feels like everything is changing all around her, and the apple bucking farm pony can't keep up. However, with a little reminder from her friends, including the School of Friendship's first valedictorians, Applejack is reminded of the important lessons she has learned and the important contribution she and her friends have offered Equestria. Change is important, and it's easier to settle on that when she knows that the future of Equestria is in good hooves (or talons) with The Next Generation.

Published 2020-01-12 01:20:01 UTC
Last updated 2020-01-12 01:20:01 UTC

Chapter 2: What We Learned

“Fillies, Gentelcolts and creatures of all sizes, may I proudly introduce this year’s very first valedictorians of the School of Friendship. Please give them all a big, warm welcome as I invite them all up to the stage.” Starlight Glimmer's magically voice boomed into the microphone set on the podium on the stage. “Ocellus, Silverstream, Smolder, Gallus, Yona, and Sandbar, get on up here!”

An explosive cheer arose in the air from both their fellow graduates and all other guests gathered to the sides of this ceremony. At the same time, an explosion of party confetti rained down upon the guests and graduates, an explosion that was hidden within the many party balloons that hung in the air. The cheering continued as the ones called collected themselves up on the stage behind the proudly beaming Headmare of the school. When they stood behind her, she gestured for them to approach a little closer. When they did so, they then stood about two feet behind the Headmare.

“These six have all shown overwhelming strength of courage, initiative, kindness, loyalty, honesty, generosity, joy, and the magic of friendship!” Starlight announced onward. “Time and time again they all demonstrated overwhelming fortitude and saved Equestria a dozen times in their own right. Together, they helped save Equestria when magic was draining from our lands, they helped to restore the Tree of Harmony itself, and they rallied each of our allied races to unite against the combined tyranny of Chrysalis, Tirek, and Cozy Glow. I have personally witnessed the miracle of their friendship myself several times, so it is my great pleasure to introduce to you all the well earned School of Friendship very first valedictorians! Give it up for them, every-creature!”

The cheer of the crowd redoubled, and maintained that volume for about fifteen seconds, after which they simmered down again when Starlight spoke again.

“Now, on their behalf,Ocellus has prepared a speech for them all,” Starlight announced. “Let's hear it for Ocellus!” As the crowd rose in cheer again, Starlight stepped off the podium this time and gestured for Ocellus to take her place. The teal-hided changeling with a translucent pink fin on the back of her head and same for wings, clear glassy bug-like eyes and ladybug like shell on top of her back stepped up to the podium. She smiled and waved a bit shyly as several dozen of her fellow changelings rose to cheer for her from the audiences to the sides. After that, she looked back at her fellow valedictorians. They all gave a confident nod to her. Gallus the griffon added a wave of a talon at her to proceed in addition to his proud and confident nod. In response to that, she looked forward again.

“Although these words are coming from my mouth,” Ocellus began, her voice enhanced by the microphone she spoke to. “I want you all to know that this speech is from all my friends, for we all wrote it together.”

“Sort of,” Gallus half agreed with a roll of his eyes. “It was really you that did most of the work.”

“And I want you all to know that I wouldn't be standing up here if it weren't for my friends that stand behind me; Sandbar, Yona, Gallus, Smolder, and Silverstream. All of us togethermanaged every accomplishment that we are praised for.

“We all entered into this academy not really knowing what to expect, or if we'd ever make any friends. I'm sure most of us felt especially nervous for so many different species to enter into the school.” Ocellus swept her gaze among her friends behind her. “We all came from different cultures. We all came from different places. We all had different physiology, and we all had different interests. At first glance, our relationship together seemed to need to build over astronomical odds. To even meeteach other was a miracle in and of itself, but the magic of Harmony works in mysterious ways. It teaches us that we allhave something in common. That we allhave something to contribute. Our uniqueness is exactlywhat made this friendship so special! It was all of our different styles, tastes, and perspectives that taught us all to value each other's differences.”

That part of the speech reminded Applejack of something Twilight once said to a mob of distraught ponies who were complaining over little details about their published “Friendship Journal” shortly after it came out. Thank Celestia that little fad faded away after a few weeks! Most of the critics at the time overlooked the “friendship” part of the journal, but what Ocellus just said was reminiscent of what Twilight had said back then in response to the others' complaints. Applejack and her friends never claimed to be perfect. The differences Applejack had with her own friends were precisely what made her own friendship with her friends stronger. Certainly there were times when Applejack didn’t mesh too well with her friends. Rarity, for example, had a very different perspective on life. So much so it became downright embarrassing when Rarity even attempted to mimic country life, in addition to the fact that it felt revoltingly disingenuous.

Rainbow, on the other hoof, was somepony with whom Applejack had a lot in common. Sometimes too much in common. When both mares ended up liking the same things, sometimes they fought over it, especially if there was only one of that thing. For example, in many games of competition, there is only one first place winner. Obviously Rainbow liked to compete, even against herself at times, by always trying to beat out her own speed records. That’s one of the things Applejack loved about Rainbow Dash. The drive to always try to improve oneself. Applejack also knew that Rainbow Dash worked very hard for that improvement, which was yet another thing Applejack respected about the rainbow-streaking pegasus.

As for Applejack, she’s been in enough rodeos to develop a taste for competition. She doesn’t always win those matches. Usually it wasn’t because Applejack herself was slacking, but because the competition pushed themselves that much harder. Applejack hated to lose, but losing for those reasons was admirable. As long as Applejack’s competitors didn’t cheat then, win or lose, she always respected their efforts. Honestly, the game would be no fun without a worthy opponent.

“I am a changeling,” Ocellus went on which drew Applejack's attention back.“By our very nature, ours was always a species that could disguise ourselves into whatever we wanted, be it a tree, a rock, or a critter. We,” she gestured to herself, “were always the outsiders looking inward at others in secret jealousy tugging at our empty hearts. We used to stand apart from every other species. It was so easy for us to replicate others and yet it was so meaningless of an attempt. When our hearts were empty and we fed off of love, we consumedthe greatest force of all without really understanding it. Without sharingit but, now that I have done this, I can tell you that I have transformed yet again, but not outwardlythis time, but instead in here.” Ocellus gestured to her own chest. “Inside. Thisis where the most remarkable transformation of all occurs. Thisis where the real magic of friendship happens.

“When I first started at this school, I was shy and timid. I didn't want to reveal my true form because it was in my habit and nature to hide it. As changelings, we wore masks that hide nothing beneath. We were hollow. Empty. A shell. Just a mask we wore and nothing more, but together with my friends,” she gestured among them, “I can say today with joy and pride that that which I was is no longer true! I no longer stand before you as just a shell or a mask. I stand here as myself. This is who I am! This is all that I am! I stand before you with no masks on anymore, nor am I afraid or ashamed to reveal my true form. Instead I am proudto display my true form because I want you all to acknowledge and appreciate the gift that stands before you today. So, with the help of my friends, we built a new identity together, and togetherwe are always stronger than the sum of our parts.”

Applejack smiled fondly and proudly at Ocellus. The farm cowpony knew that she, among others, were the principal reasons that Ocellus could say that with genuine feeling. More than anything else, Applejack’s own lessons taught her students the value of honesty, and that includes honesty with oneself. Knowing who you are or what you represent is a far better starting point to mastering oneself instead of doubt and uncertainty.

There were times, in the past, that Applejack felt worried about whether her lessons were really taken to heart, but seeing Ocellus pour her heart out here, like this, really brought a tear to Applejack’s eyes.

“If you choose to befriend a changeling, then you’ll get a little bit of everything. Most of us are not adept at magic, but we are capable of it, and we can fly and, obviously, we can change our forms into whatever suits us. More than that, however, you’ll befriend a race desperately trying to find their own identity. Mimicking others is something we’re good at, but finding our own place in the world independent of impersonating other races is something we could use help with. If you put up with that, I think you’ll find a friend who is quite adaptable. We wantfriendship and acceptance, and might even be a little too eager to embrace it. If you’re willing to give us a chance, you may find, ironically enough, no other race is more willing to be totally authentic with you, because we are donewith living a lie! We are donewith feeling inferior and working to cause others to feel the same. An enlightened race would not soon be willing to shut their eyes again to the world. Join us in our journey, and we’ll explore both our outward and inward world all the more. Friendship literally is our new food source, so you are unlikely to find another race who will cherish it as desperately as we will, largely due to necessity. Remember that when you choose to trot among us.

“And I’m not the only one who feels she has grown in this way,” Ocellus expressed as she put a hoof to her chest for two seconds. “My friends have grown too, and they bid me to express to you exactly how they did, as well as express their heartfelt appreciation for their growth. Changelings are not the only ones who can change, especially not in the most important ways.

“Yona, for example,” Ocellus gestured to a brown female yak with twin pigtails looped back up and tied above her head to help her avoid tripping due to their length. She had a multi-colored gray and dark gray horn, green eyes, and a green blanket draped over her back that kind of resembled a tortoiseshell, “is deeply rooted in her culture, and yet she came here with an open mind. She came here to learn because she wanted to grow. She was neverafraid to experiment, even while reminding herself where she came from. At the Amity Ball, for example, she was willing to undergo a drastic makeover, all for the sake of fitting in with her friends. Some of you might recall how that went.”

Multiple members of Ocellus's audience chuckled somewhat at the recollection, including the changeling herself, Sandbar, and Spike. Yona’s cheeks, for her own part, glowed red with embarrassment.

Applejack chuckled with merriment herself, largely because of her own involvement with that fiasco. All she really tried to do was help guide Yona to make a delicious meal, but yaks, in general, seem to have trouble with anything outside of “smashed” food. Applesauce seemed to be a logical choice, accordingly.

Beside Applejack, Rarity nudged her friend to get her attention. When Applejack looked, she noticed Rarity give a sly and mischievous wink due to the memory.

Yeah, of course. When it came to a fashion makeover, Rarity was an obvious choice to approach first.

“But she told me she was never too afraid to step outside her comfort zone. She was never afraid to experiment. She assured me many times that she often was afraid in each and every case but, to me, that simply tells me how brave she is,” Ocellus went on.

“That because yaks best at EVERYTHING!” insisted a male, blusterous voice. Many other guests gathered here looked to see a bunch of yaks stand up and chanted together, “YAKS BEST! YAKS BEST! YAKS BEST!”

Upon sighting them, Yona cheerfully and proudly waved back to her own people while sporting an adorable blush. This prompted a fond chuckle from a very light green hide with multi shades of teal mane earth pony standing beside her. A pony with a cutie mark of three tortoises swimming diagonally upwards.

“Ponies learn from YAKS!” one of the male yaks corrected and insisted. This one seemed to be a leader, judging from his decorations.

“We certainly have!” Ocellus agreed. Since she was talking directly to the yaks this time in response to what they said, it was obvious to most that this part of her speech was off-the-cuff, proving how quickly she could adapt to her changing circumstances. “Both me and all of my friends have benefited a great deal by learning from Yona. She taught us as much as we taught her.”

Ocellus faced her audience as she tried to get back on topic by saying, “And we're not the only ones who can benefit from this treasure trove of knowledge. If you choose to befriend a yak, you will get a stable and strong ally at your back whose culture is deeply rooted in tradition and, if befriending youhas become one of their traditions, they’ll fight to the death to defend you, if that’s really what it takes. Their hearts are as fierce as their hooves and horns. As adept as they are at tearing things down, they are just as adept at building things back up. If your relationship is among the things that you choose to build up with them, you’ll find they are not so eager to tear that down.

“I warn you not to betray them or even hint at such, but they shall be no less loyal to you either. Image is everything to a yak. When your friendship becomes another symbol of their status, they’ll stop at nothingto protect you. The very earth under the hooves of your enemies will tremble at the approach of an angry yak stampeding. Woe to those who invited that coming storm. If such things must come to pass, I’d far rather be on the side of those they choose notto trample upon. That’s the safest, smartest, and overall BEST thing any creature can do. If they really are the best at everything, which would you prefer; a yak as an enemy, or a friend? The choice is up to you and us all. I strongly advise you to make this choice very carefully, because more than you can imagine is riding upon it.”

In response to that comment, the yaks raised a great, big and boisterous cheer before being simmered down by someone most of the audience couldn’t see in that area, probably because the yaks were so big and thus concealed whomever spoke to them next, especially while the yaks were still busy standing.

“And, of course, she wasn’t the only one who taught us and grew with us,” Ocellus segued smoothly into her next subject (before the yaks start demanding attention again). “Gallus,” Ocellus gestured back to a light blue griffon with white underbelly, yellow eagle-like beak, yellow talons at the front, light blue lion paws at the rear, blue eyes, deeper blue wings and yellow tips on this feathers above his head. “has come from a culture that traditionally has no interest in friendship, but he stands before us as a vivid example of how any creature can learn and benefit from these lessons. Thanks to his strengths; such as bravery, loyalty and sometimes ingenuity, we all have learned from him just how much he and his race have to offer. Gallus has proventhat friendship is not the monopoly of any single race, and even those who find it challenging can still thrive from it. Let him be an inspiration to all griffins out there. You can do this too. Not only will you be stronger for it, but happier as well. He is living proof that the best things in life truly are free.”

“Yeah, whatever!” Grumpy Grampa Gruff rejected with a casual, dismissive wave of a claw while he also rolled his eyes beneath his red fez hat. “You creatures are all so stubborn in your ways.”

“Look who’s talking,” Gallus grumbled under his breath, but Applejack was still close enough to hear.

Which made Applejack try to imagine how much of a challenge it was for Gallus to improve as much as he had with friendship considering the unfriendly society he came from. Applejack did her best to try to encourage the boy, but all of his accomplishments were also in large part because of his own efforts. If he was unwilling to learn, then he wouldn't have gotten nearly as far as he did. This left Applejack curious about what originally inspired the boy to try out School of Friendship. So far the apple-bucking pony assumed it was either Gabby or Gilda, but one thing Applejack learned for sure about griffons over the years was the fact that they tended to be private with their own personal affairs and history, and yet he managed to grow to be warm and open with his own friends.

Applejack found that she agreed with Ocellus. She hoped Gallus’s heroic and brave example would help to inspire the rest of his race, but deep-seated cultural habits don’t just change overnight. Applejack knew that personally, first hoof.

“I urge you all not to judge a book by its cover in this case. That would be only to your own detriment. Friendship with a griffon won’t be easy but, once you have it, it will be just as difficult to lose. This race is starvingfor friendship, far more than most of them know. They put most of their value in bits, but they remain as intelligent and adaptable as any other sentient race. Show them that you have more to offer than money, then suddenly youwill become their greatest treasure. Then, at that point, if you are in danger and hanging off the edge of a cliff, they'll be there for you to pull you up. If you are depressed and you need a sympathetic ear, they’ll be there for you. A griffon mixes a lion’s strength with an eagle's might. When you have that on your side, you won’t want for much ever after.

“So, in conclusion, if you choose to befriend a griffon, you’ll get a surprisingly staunch loyal ally who will desperately appreciate you. You’ll also know that you’ll help to bring further life and light to them. When you become something that precious to them, they’ll defend you, stick up for you, and be there for you under any circumstances. Griffon society was once one of the most prosperous and glorious societies in the world. With friendship as their new focus, they’ll be that much greater. Mark my words!

“Like Gallus, Smolder here also came from a culture that would find this subject challenging.” Ocellus gestured to a deep orange scaled female dragon standing four and a half feet tall upright (and the only one of her companions to do that). She had a dark yellow underbelly which extended up to her chin, same-colored horns flanking both sides of her head that extended to the sides then curved up about six inches past her head. Smolder had a single purple fin behind her head that almost resembled a purple mohawk if the fin was made of hair. Similarly, she had a spade design at the end of her tail which was also purple. Her eyes were teal. Judging from her facial expression at that moment, she seemed a bit nervous to be introduced because of the focused attention, but that sign was a very subtle hint. If Applejack had not been sitting so close to the graduating student, she could have missed that. Instead, what Smolder tried to present was an air of confidence, almost to the point of aloofness. She wanted to give off a vibe of, “Yeah, I’m bad and cool. What of it?” Thanks to the years of association, though, Applejack was able to see a lot deeper.

Applejack listened to Ocellus to see if the changeling confirmed what Applejack was thinking.

“Like Gallus’s culture, dragons are often lead by a capricious sense of greed. They literally sleep and eat gems, so their sense of greed is further spurred on by basic survival need but, in addition to that, her culture is aggressive and competitive. In her culture, a symbol of strength is measured by unrivaled independence. If a dragon can be so strong that they don’t need any creature else, they are considered to be winners in their culture, but Smolder is here to prove there can also exist a different kind of strength for them. One that is born from dependenceupon one another. She has proven that there is no shame in asking for help, and those who ask are ten times more likely to receive it than those who hold their silence.

“Independence is indeedvaluable. That is something Smolder has taught us, but in exchange we have taught her that those who stand united with their friends and allies can beat or at least circumvent any challenge that is placed before them.

“The adult members of her race are traditionally among the most powerful in the entire world. Powerful enough to bring down entire armies with a single breath, but when I look upon Smolder,” Ocellus smiled back at her friend, “I see far more than a formidable ally. I see a friend! A true and loyal friend and that is more valuable than any treasure that they can sleep upon.”

“Yeah! You go, sis!” her older, red-scaled, teenage brother, Garble, cried out in a supportive cheer. Following that decree, he put two clawed fingers in his mouth and blew out a shrill, loud whistle. In response, Smolder blushed a bit but she waved hi back at her brother.

Applejack had never met Garble personally before. Even now she could only view him from a distance. Most of the news she heard of Smolder’s older brother was quite grim until recently. Notably, most of that news came from Spike, who did not have a harmonious relationship with the teenager. Spike had often described Garble to be a bully. What a fortuitous surprise that it turned out he was also Smolder’s older brother, and he also had a soft spot for her. He used to hate ponies, and perhaps he still does, but he loves his sister enough to support her, even in public. Applejack could easily imagine how Garble’s peers cringed in embarrassment at Garble’s public outcry of support for his beloved sister but, surprisingly, he didn’t let that stop him. He cared for Smolder that much, which might have made an unexpected ally out of him.

Dragons, Applejack knew, could live for thousands of years. Several of their kind might be three or more times older than Celestia or Luna themselves. Supposedly alicorns could be immortal. That was an untested theory if they could really live forever but, so far, many dragons trumped any pony lifetime by far. As such, any mentality they had could linger on this world for a very long time to come. As such, it was encouraging to see that one more member of this species probably would not be a problem for ponies, or any other race for that matter, in the many years to come for him and his sister.

But, someday, Smolder is likely to outlast all of her friends. She has a significantly longer lifespan than her friends, so this result is almost inevitable for her. That was a painful thought for Applejack. The sheer idea of outlasting someone as close to her heart as Apple Bloom, and outlasting her by such a significant margin, would be a challenge to preserve the memory, but this circumstance did offer a glimmer of hope, in this case. As valuable as Smolder’s friends are, the lessons she learned are just as valuable. By keeping that at heart, she could make (and lose) many more friends in the multiple millennia to come. That also means that Smolder will continue to be around and pass on these lessons. Since it is apparent that Applejack and her friends need to pass on the torch of hope and friendship to the next generation, then Smolder is a special case that can hold that torch for a significantly long period of time, and most likely that torch will be far brighter during that time than a mere “smolder.”

“So, if you choose to befriend a dragon, you’ll gain a powerful ally who will carry the memory of you well into the far future. The friendship that they can offer is so much more valuable than any treasure they sleep on or consume. Try them for yourself, and you’ll see.

“Silverstream, on the other claw or hoof,” Ocellus then gestured to the next graduating student, a lilac shaded feathered hippogriff with purple foreclaws and purple hind hooves. Her short beak was also purple. Her mane was a blend of light blue and lighter blue. If she wasn’t wearing her black graduation robes, one would have seen her fragment of pearl attached to her necklace around her neck. “comes from a culture that is certainly no stranger to friendship, but they werestrangers to the whole rest of the world. Isolated and alone due to their fear of The Storm King, there they remained for a very long time until The Storm King was finally defeated. After that, both she and her people were overjoyed at the long-overdue chance to explore the rest of the world, but they were literally fish out of water in this case.”

Ocellus’s description caused her to chuckle a bit, as well as Silverstream herself and several members of the audience.

“Everythingwas new to them, and it is a joy to help her explore our world and find her new place in it, which she certainly did. Seeing her now, standing among us as a proud and noble equal, is a testament to that. Thisis her destiny because that is the fate she has chosen for herself.”

Ocellus looked back at her audience after glancing down at her speech notes for a quick second.

“So I tell you from experience, if you also choose to befriend a hippogriff, you will get a friendly, kind, and excitable ally who needs your help to explore the world, much as we all once did when we were first born, but you’ll also get so much in return. Her music and culture alone can make it abundantly worthwhile because they have the ability to examine the world in a whole different way. Trust me, you don’tknow the wonders of the ocean like you would if you only traveled with and befriended a hippogriff.

“Silverstream has bidden me to remind you all that she remains just as open to all of yourfriendships but, even if you don’t choose her, there are plenty more of her people ready and waiting to embrace you with open claws. Um,” Ocellus smiled shyly, “which is much better than it sounds, trust me. I didn’t say they’d embrace you with open beaks, after all!”

Many of Ocellus’s audience laughed for a while, especially Pinkie Pie, shortly behind Ocellus who was on the stage sitting with her friends on the line-up of faculty. Her laughter lingered to the extent that it became just a little bit awkward, but the pink party pony hardly noticed. Ocellus waited until ninety percent of her audience simmered down again, and correctly assumed that resuming her speech would quiet down the rest.

“And finally, last but not least, is Sandbar.” Ocellus gestured and looked to her last friend in line who stood between Yona and Gallus. “His culture is no stranger to friendship, especially here in Ponyville, but the way he has grown over these years is by learning that friendship is not limited to just his race, nor should it be. It is meant for every-creature, and he told me that he felt privileged to watch the flower of friendship bloom before his very eyes in the hearts of every other race that he's personally observed.

“Sandbar himself is a very humble and stable pony. When many of us lost our temper, he offered a calm and sympathetic ear. He’s the stability we’ve all grown to depend upon and gave us a much closer examination at the treasure that ponykind can offer us all. Most of us see them as the bridge that connected us all, and we needed that. That is an extremely valuable lesson to learn. Teaching themselves and growing as individuals have ever been the mark of ponykind. One from which we can all stand to benefit.”

Ocellus looked back at her audience. “Even if you don’tchoose to befriend anypony, it always seemed severely unwise to me to make them an enemy. I mean, this is a race that raises and lowers the sunand the moonthemselves. Where would we all be without that? They also monitor and control the weather, and bring great bounty to the earth. They are deeply connected with nature, which reveals to the wise why the rest of us should respect and appreciate it as well.

“But, more importantly, if you choose to befriend a member of ponykind, it won’t matter which breed they happen to be. The results are always the same, which is the fact that it varies for each individual pony, for the most part. Look at their cutie marks and examine what they do in life. That, more than anything, should tip you off that they are highlyindividualistic race and yet, oddly, they can work so well in groups at the same time. As a result, it’s somewhat unpredictable what you will get with each and every pony you meet, but thereinlies their true value! Within their race alone, they stand as a vivid example of how so many can be so different and yet still get along, and in fact are strengthenedbecause of that difference.”

Applejack grinned. Upon hearing that, it reminded her of the time she first met Starlight in her old village. Back then, the ponies who lived there were perplexed at individual cutie marks and how different personalities of the ponies who wore those marks could still get along. At the time, Applejack was on the other side of the fence, equally perplexed at those ponies' confusion because Applejack grew up with those values all of her life and she had no problem with it.

In fact, to this day, Applejack was still somewhat confused at the villager’s twisted values at the time. Give up who one really is? That is just too antithetical to Applejack’s nature to properly wrap her head around that concept, and she wasn’t the only one who felt that way at the time. She used to think that all ponies felt that way and gladly embraced their destiny. That just goes to show how influential Starlight Glimmer was as a leader. She still is that influential, but it has been turned into a force for good. Thank Celestia!

“And that is what I can tell you about ponykind,” Ocellus went on. “Expect the unexpected. Expect something different from every pony you befriend, and that’s alsowhy this experience has lasting value. They are like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get.”

“OOOOOOoooo! Chocolate!” Pinkie Pie salivated with a drooling expression and a distant, dreamy look to her eyes.

“So every single one of them is a unique treasure because every single one will bring a unique experience. That means befriending ponies will never get boring. It might take some more work in some cases, largely due to their unpredictability, but that’s also their value. Take it for what it is.

“And speaking of befriending ponies, all of my friends here would like to share our profound gratitude to every member of the faculty of the School of Friendship.

“Pinkie Pie, who taught us to never take anything in life for granted, not even the very laws of physics. She taught us to seek joy in each and every situation we encounter. She taught us to never give up hope and to always seek a silver lining to every situation. We are only defeated when we give up in despair. There are profound treasures and lasting value in the simple act of spreading a smile to a friend, for a smile begets another smile. The more we share it, the more we feel it within. She also made it a specific point in how to bake sweets and sing songs, both of which are tools to help her bring joy to others. These aren't the only methods to spread joy to the world, of course. To each, their own path.

“Applejack,” Ocellus went on, which really snagged and focused the orange mare's attention, “who taught us the value of honesty, for how far can we get in life by living a lie all the time? Honesty not just among our friends, but also within ourselves. I felt especially blessed by this lesson, for she taught meto seek my own identity without borrowing it from some other creature. Because of her lessons, I learned that I don’t need a mask anymore, and I also learned that I do indeedhave a face beneath that former mask. Honesty also goes hoof in hoof with integrity, which means sticking to your promises once you make them. If you do, then your friends and associates know that they can depend upon you. If there are a dozen competitors on the market but you are the only one among them who is known for their integrity, guess who’s going to receive the most business? Applejack also taught us the value of appreciating hard work, for it is through hard work that we accomplish the most. In order to accomplish anything truly meaningful in this world, we have to be willingto give it our best effort and, of course, doing that is a whole lot easier with good friends by our side.”

“Aw, shucks!” Applejack exclaimed with a glowing blush. She honestly felt very touched by those words, and so very proud to hear them spoken with such conviction and passion.

“See, Applejack?” Rarity said with an “I told you so” expression and vocal tone. “Your efforts have made a meaningful difference, so you can relax, darling. Our students will see to the needs of the future, and you can rest assured that . . .”

“And Rarity,” Ocellus went on.

“I beg your pardon?” Rarity cried out, a bit startled to hear her name when she was in the middle of her own train of thought. Realizing she was being spoken of next, she glowed for a second then gave Applejack beside her a quick nod and a wink to briefly finish off her point before fully paying attention to what Ocellus had to say about her, for this was definitely something she did not want to miss.

“Who taught us to find beauty in everything, and that everything hasvalue,” Ocellus announced.

“That’s true,” Rarity agreed smugly as she fluffed her hair a bit.

“From her, we have learned to take nothing for granted, for even the most seemingly insignificant thing might hide a treasure trove within it. Rarity also taught us to place value in ourselves and in each other. She taught us that friendship, and even life itself, is to be treasured. She taught us why we should be motivated to be generous because one always polishes their greatest treasures. She taught us that an investment in friendship is to invest in ourselves as well. She taught us that the wisest use of a generous spirit is to look at all sides of the issue and put stock into what’s really important in life. She taught us how a generous spirit can lead to prosperity for us all, and that we can only win this game of life if we play it together, and the same team.”

At that point Rarity’s reaction wasn’t nearly so arrogant. Instead, she was fanning herself with a paper fan that she levitated and waved at herself while deeply moved to the point of being in tears. She would have wanted a fainting couch if she wasn’t already sitting down. She mouthed a silent “Thank you,” to Ocellus.

“We all feel that way, professor!” Sandbar assured Rarity confidently while looking back at her. “Your feelings are well appreciated, and be assured they are shared back to you in equal measure.”

“Here-here!” Yona agreed. “Pony taught Yona to be best yak she can be, so Yona feel teachers among the best friends that Yona can have!”

“We all owe you one, big time,” Gallus concurred back to Rarity, then looked forward again and nodded at Ocellus to continue before this moment could get any sappier.

As it turned out, Ocellus briefly lost her place because of the interruptions. She looked back at her note cards and shuffled through them while muttering under her breath real fast in order to find her place again. When she found it, she nodded in satisfaction and resumed. Luckily for her, she had finished with her main points on Rarity and was ready to move on to the next pony.

As a coincidence, the next pony she was about to speak of just happened to finally arrive on the stage and sat down next to Applejack.

“Hey gals. Sorry it took so long,” Rainbow Dash whispered to her nearby friends upon arrival. “The organization of the cheering squad took longer than I thought. So . . . what did I miss?” Rainbow focused her vision on Rarity as she asked her, “You okay, Rarity?”

“I will be, darling. I just . . . need a minute.” Rarity assured with a sniffle. A white hoofkerchief, embroidered with an elegantly curved purple R, floated right in front of her. The hoofkerchief floated up to Rarity's snout within her blueish magical aura. From there, she daintily blew into exactly once, then she had the hoofkerchief float away again.

“Oh, great timing, professor,” Ocellus mentioned while regarding Rainbow Dash. “I was just about to talk about you.”

“About me?!” Rainbow Dash double-checked.

Ocellus cleared her throat, then resumed. “Rainbow Dash . . . what else can we say about her except Rainbow Dash? As many ponies are oft to say when regarding something surprising, they often make the quote, ‘Oh my Celestia!’ Well, among myfriends, we have a new saying, ‘You’re not as cool as Rainbow Dash’ or ‘That thing is so Rainbow Dash’. In our personal dictionary, it denotes a comparison to something awesome, for what else is Rainbow Dash other than awesome?”

“Yep!” Rainbow Dash agreed as she puffed out her chest with pride (which inadvertently caused her to make a horsey noise) and put her hooves on her hips in a heroic pose, which she pulled off pretty well despite the fact she was sitting. “It’s true. It’s all true.”

“So what comparison can we draw upon when we try to compare Rainbow Dash to herself?” Ocellus went on. “My friends and I wracked our brains real hard for a while there, and the only thing we could come up with is . . . nothing. There isno comparison. Rainbow Dash is Rainbow Dash. That’s the only thing we cancompare her to.”

“YEAH! RAINBOW DASH!” Rainbow Dash’s father, Bow Hothoof, cried out with a megaphone to get his voice booming across the nearby audience which caused them to wince in pain.

“GO RAINBOW DASH! YOU GO, GIRL! WHOOOOOOO-HOOOOO!” Rainbow Dash’s mother, Windy Whistles, very loudly agreed beside her husband as they both cheered for their daughter.

“Oh . . . my . . . Celestia!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed as she viewed her parents in the bleachers with wide, stunned eyes. “That is so un-Rainbow Dash of them!”

“BEST . . . PROFESSOR . . . OF ALL TIME!!!” Bow Hothoof went on.

The next thing they shouted, they chanted it together.

“GO RAINBOW! GO RAINBOW! GO, GO, GO RAINBOW DASH!YEAH!GO RAINBOWDASH! YEAH!”

The next time they chanted those same lines, Scootaloo joined them enthusiastically.

Rainbow Dash slapped her face with a hoof and dragged it down due to her embarrassment, which prompted an amused chuckle from her spouse beside her. Rainbow then asked Applejack with an annoyed tone and tight wince to her face, “What are you laughing about? They’re your parents now too, ya know!”

Upon asking that question, that prompted a bittersweet smile from Applejack as she regarded her new parents. “Believe me, Rainbow, I know. It’s just that . . . it feels so good to see them so happy, and look at Scootaloo, your biggest fan.”

“Yeah,” Rainbow Dash agreed with a fond look passed over to Scootaloo as she was lifted by both parents high into the air. From there, Scootaloo was lowered and raised a bit as the chant continued, and Scootaloo beamed with extreme happiness at all that praise and attention even while she joined them in praising Rainbow Dash. “That’s true. Now that part of this situation is very Rainbow Dash.”

Applejack squinted an eye at her spouse as she said, “Ya know I'm not going to get used to expressing things by your name, right?”

“Oh yeah you will!” Rainbow objected with a wide daring grin on her face aimed at her spouse. “It's the most Rainbow Dash thing you can do, after all!”

That comment prompted a fond and amused chuckle from Applejack.

“Join us, Applejack! It is your destiny!” Rainbow drove on with a cultish and raspy like tone while reaching a hoof to her spouse with a playful smile plastered widely on her lips. “Together, we shall Rainbow Dash everything in Equestria! Then, and only then, the rainbow you will taste!”

“That sounds like either a bribe or a threat,” Applejack noted a narrow stare at her spouse and an equally playful grin.

Rainbow Dash blinked as she shrugged casually. “Eh. Take it as you will. Either way, I'll make it worth it, because that is the most Rainbow Dash thing I can do. Awwwwww yeaaaaaaah! I'm awesome!”

This chanting process of Rainbow Dash's parents continued until Starlight Glimmer interrupted them with a bit of a scolding tone booming from her magically projected voice, but she also had a fond look deep in her eyes. “Okay! That’s enough, please! This isn’t a rock and roll contest, here!”

Among the crowd within the bleachers, Cheerilee appreciated that objection from Starlight because it secretly validated something Cheerilee said under this same circumstance years ago. Cheerilee actually had experience as a cheerleader as well (naturally), but she was also wise enough to know when enough was enough. Rainbow Dash’s parents, however, simply did not seem to have that same social filter.

Miraculously, that scolding from Starlight seemed to work. They even sat back down, but they also continued to wave their hooves above their heads while holding either a rainbow ribbon twirling in the air or a flag with Rainbow Dash’s face on it.

“Well, at least they’re not shooting fireworks out in the air this time,” Rarity teased her rainbow-maned friend, which caused Rainbow to groan at the reminder.

Meanwhile, Applejack regarded the still enthusiastic parents with tears in her eyes. It was mostly tears of happiness, but this was also a painful reminder of something Applejack had lost a long time ago.

“That's exactly the type of response Rainbow Dash tends to evoke,” Ocellus announced with a gesture towards Rainbow Dash's parents. “Those who know her can't help but cheer for her, because she is just so exciting to behold, and it's what we've all learned from her.”

Ocellus swept a look among her friends behind her to see if they still agreed because this part of the speech was altered a bit in accordance with recent extenuating circumstances. They nodded in agreement one by one.

Ocellus looked forward again. “From her, we learned to summon our own energy and drive. We learned to regard life as exciting. We learned to look forward to tackling the challenges of the day and take charge of our destiny. While Pinkie Pie taught us to embrace joy, Rainbow Dash taught us to embrace enthusiasm. She taught us to care about our work, and always give it one-hundred and twenty percent because she always aims twenty percent above the maximum, and it shows. She also taught us to be loyal to whatever is important to us. If we make a promise, we need to be committed to keeping it because our friends are counting on us to do so. While we're at it, we might as well also do it with style, if we can manage it because that attracts attention, and attention can be useful when you know how to properly handle it. The world needs good leaders, and also those who help inspire others to be their best. Rainbow always pushes herself to be her best, and she inspires others to try just as hard.”

“Aw, shucks!” Rainbow Dash rubbed the back of her neck with a hoof, feeling very flattered.

“That's what I said none too long ago,” Applejack quietly informed her adjacent spouse. “Feels good, don't it?”

“You bet!” Rainbow Dash enthusiastically agreed with Applejack then resumed paying attention to Ocellus as the young changeling went on. While that resumed, Applejack leaned in next to Rainbow Dash's body in order to share her love and support to her. Rainbow Dash looked at Applejack for a few seconds. When their eyes met, they shared a quick kiss on the lips then simultaneously looked back at Ocellus. After that, Rainbow Dash also wrapped her left blue wing around Applejack to pull her closer and more securely against each other.

On the other side of Applejack, Rarity passed the cute couple a very happy and fond look for a moment, then resumed regarding Ocellus while the changeling kept resuming her speech.

“Rainbow Dash also taught us to have confidence in ourselves. Without confidence, none of us would have the courage to take a chance in life. She teaches us to believe in ourselves, and that we are already winners just by existing. Just by being born. We don't need to prove that to any creature to feel validated, but if we want to . . . then that is perfectly fine too. By proving to others that we have the power to make our dreams come true, others may start to believe in that for themselves, and together . . . we can all cross that finish line. Together . . . we are all winners.”

“Whoa!” Rainbow Dash looked amazed. “This is one epic speech! It's so Rainbow!”

“She's tellin' y'all right now who helped to inspire her to make this,” Applejack reminded her spouse.

“True,” Rainbow accepted with a small half shrug and a quick grin.

“Fluttershy,” Ocellus resumed after a brief pause while looking back at the winged butter-yellow mare with lavish pink mane and tail. “The one mare who won teacher of the month most consistently, because she never sought out that prize.”

“Now there is a taunt!” Rainbow whispered to Applejack which provoked a quiet laugh from her apple bucking spouse. “Rub it in, why don't ya? Yeah, it's cool.”

“Hey, Fluttershy did do an awesome job,” Applejack quietly reminded her spouse. “She gave so much of herself to this profession. You know she earned it.”

“Yeah, that's true,” Rainbow agreed with a relenting tone. “But dang it! I got a trophy case with a blank spot on it. You know that's not something I can tolerate for long, right?”

“Then I'll make ya a 'Best Wife Ever' trophy. How does that sound to ya?” Applejack proposed.

“Sure,” Rainbow accepted in a casual tone. “I earned it. I'll accept it on one condition, though. You'll have to put both of our names on it.”

Applejack almost responded, but then realized she was missing some of Oclluses speech in the meantime, so she passed a quick, “We'll talk about this later,” look to Rainbow Dash, to which the other mare gave a quick accepting wink.

“Instead, Fluttershy always put her students first, because that is the kind of mare she is. Fluttershy has always been a pinnacle example of her Element of Harmony, which is kindness. She has always sought to become the kindest mare she can be, even to the point of being exhausted. Even if it means staying in class extra long just to explain more of her lessons, or to be there to listen to any of our problems. When Fluttershy says that she'll always be here to help us, she really means it. Even if we end up inconveniencing her, she has never complained. The only time I have ever seen her put her hoof down and refuse to help us is if she had an appointment with someone else that she cared about and promised to help at an earlier point. Fluttershy has always selflessly dedicated herself to her work with all of her heart because she honestly cares for us.”

Applejack leaned forward and gazed far to her left in order to observe Fluttershy's reaction to all of this, but what she saw didn't surprise her in the least. Fluttershy was moved to tears because of the praise, and because she cared so much for her students, which was exactly one of the points Ocellus tried to bring up about the mare.

“This is why her students put so much emotional investment into her lessons. It was because she put so much emotional investment into her students. She also taught us a lot about the animal world and how it affects us or should affect us. Ponies may have an investment in the earth, sky, sun and the moon, but we all have a share in this world together, including the animals. Fluttershy showed us why that really matters, and how it can affect us all. For example, she explained to us how flash bees can help pollinate the flowers that we or some other life form depend up. She showed us all how the chain is connected and that we're all links to each other.

“Fluttershy showed us why caring about something actually matters. How it evokes a more genuine and intense response in others, as well as how it affects ourselves. If you're going to do something, putting your heart and soul into it is like polishing a gem. Without it, its inner beauty is still there, but it isn't revealed to any creature, maybe not even ourselves. Caring for others and our work is the very basis of motivation. Without that, it doesn't matter how logical an action would be. Without any passion, the project won't matter enough to give it a first thought, let alone second or beyond. Emotion is the color that brings this world to life.

“I have personally seen what happens when ponies lose their passion for something. They always grow more gray in color. More dull. This is an important observation, for it is an outward manifestation of what happens to us all in our hearts when we give up in despair. By caring for one another, we guard each other against despair. We reveal how we are not alone in this world. That there really are others who care for you, and there are. Take up this mantle and uphold Fluttershy's heroic example. It's a shining beacon to us all.”

Shifting subjects, Ocellus went on to say, “Twilight Sparkle, the Princess of Friendship and Equestria, the Element of Magic, the librarian, the teacher, the former Headmare of this school, and most importantly . . . our friend. I know she would have wanted to be here today if she could, but she doesn't have to stand in our physical presence to feel her joy. I can feel her pride and joy all the way from Canterlot. That is simply how intense it is.

“Twilight Sparkle, who had the wisdom and bravery to take new chances and share all that she had learned to any creature, regardless of species or gender. She opened the floodgates to all.

“Some had once objected to her plan. Some thought she was crazy. I heard tale that even she thought so at times, but she pressed on with her convictions, and now look at us! Look upon yourselves. Look upon everyone all around you. We are standing here today because Twilight Sparkle did not give up. We are, all of us, reaping the benefits of that action. By opening up a dedicated place to spread this overwhelming good news, she stood as a heroic example for all to follow.”

Ocellus placed a hoof on her chest. “I've spoken to her and written her many letters personally, so I know for a fact that she plans on opening up many more schools like this elsewhere, but first she wanted to demonstrate its effectiveness with us. What do you all think? Did her hopes succeed?”

Ocellus paused a moment as she listened and observed the crowd raise a great, glorious cheer.

During that time, Applejack thought back on the point Ocellus recently brought up. She was ashamed to admit it but, deep in her heart, Applejack had her own doubts about the school project during its first opening, especially with all the tight rules and restrictions Chancellor Neighsay imposed upon Twilight. At the time, another concern Applejack had was how busy she was at the farm and partying with her friends and galloping off to save another relationship whenever the Cutie Map called upon them again. Plus, there was her own family to look after, and that was a huge priority for her. Applejack was already pulled in so many directions that adding yet another challenge into her life seemed like more than she could bear, but her friend Twilight pointed out that it could be the final and best solution to both save and bring harmony to the world. That it would ultimately pay off and reduce their work in the long gallop.

As usual, Twilight was always the best at planning stuff, and things usually worked out in the end because of her leadership. Even when Twilight doubts herself, time and time again Applejack (and her other friends) saw just how much this alicorn could pull off if she only had confidence in herself.

Twilight also had another good point. As an Element of Harmony, Applejack had always felt it to be a sacred duty of hers to help bring friendship and harmony to the world, but Applejack herself was a simple farm pony. She only tended to address a problem that was right in front of her. She could only conceptualize it if she could see it and/or touch it, but Twilight had the wisdom, skills and intelligence to plan ahead. She could see beyond the moment and the present. Twilight had plenty of experience trying to plan for everything, sometimes to a fault. It's like building a track for a train. Once it's set, it cannot be easily changed, so it was important to plot the course carefully the first time. Fortunately for them all, Twilight had proven she could do that nine times out of ten. With leadership that reliable, Equestria did indeed seem destined for prosperity with her on the throne.

Everything Twilight promised both Applejack and her friends eventually came true. It was hard work at first but, as time went on, the students Applejack taught were gradually becoming the teachers themselves. The farm pony could feel the duty and pressure lift off of her soul little by little, eventually to a point where she unexpectedly missed it. It might have been stressful to be the savior of the world, but it also felt good for other creatures to look up to her so much. This was especially true with her younger sister, Apple Bloom. The pride and the joy Applejack felt from her younger sister made everything she ever went through feel worth it.

But now Apple Bloom was becoming a leader and teacher in her own right. It was weird how much Applejack felt the intensive glow of pride for her sister while simultaneously feeling worried that orange farm pony was slowly growing more and more obsolete, or at least that was the way it felt to her.

On the other hoof, there was a part of Applejack that felt tired from all of the stress and worry she had accumulated over the years. Acquiring, then subsequently gaining, distance from dearly loved friends takes its toll on her soul after awhile. Part of her looked forward to the days when she could just get back to basics and only have to worry about Sweet Apple Acres and the family that lived there. It felt like retirement, and that concept alone made her feel even older, but she could not deny any longer that part of her heart craved it. It was like taking a breath of fresh air after holding it for a while. With other champions taking up the heroic mantle after her, she could even retire with peace of mind.

Then all she had to do was wake up in the morning, face the sunrise as it slowly warmed and illuminated her face, breathe in deep the scent of fresh apples in the air, then get to the chores. To do it that day, and the next and the next. Everyday. Day in and day out. The idea of a fixed routine did not scare Applejack. On the contrary, she loved the concept, while at the same time she knew that her other friends would put in just enough chaos to also keep things from getting too boring. In order to keep the “Rainbow” light in her heart, such distractions, on occasion, were truly necessary to maintain a healthy soul.

That concept felt like heaven to Applejack, especially when she imagined adding Rainbow Dash to that picture . . . somewhere. The exact nitty-gritty details on that would have to be worked out over time, but it appeared that was something they were going to get.

Ocellus waited for fifteen seconds for the crowd to revel in the joy of the answer to her last question, then she spoke onward and drew back their attention, including Applejack.

“Then it seems we are all in agreement. Twilight's plan paid off like it usually does. We're all living proof of that, and we should continue to be so for every day that follows this. Twilight planned to use us as an example to the rest of the world, so let us continue to make her proud. Let us reward her thoughtfulness by continuing to spread the message of friendship out to the rest of the world. In every soul we do this too, it plants another seed which grows in their hearts then spreads to another, and another. As long as that pattern continues, the world shall become a better place.

“Then there is all the other staff at this school.” Ocellus swept a gaze back at the faculty behind her. “Trixie, Sunburst, and Starlight Glimmer, just to name a few. Starlight, who guided us all and gave us emotional comfort when whenever we needed it.”

“A little too much, even,” Trixie muttered briefly under her breath in complaint.

“Then she took over as Headmare of the school when Twilight no longer could,” Ocellus went on with her point, “and continued to do an outstanding job.

“Sunburst, who supported her friend Starlight by managing the school as Vice Principal, and filled in for many academic teachers at this campus. Many of his lectures I found highly engaging and illuminating.”

“Thank you!” Sunburst expressed gratefully to Ocellus while his yellow magical aura pushed up his glasses from sliding off his white snout.

“Speak for yourself,” Gallus muttered under his breath to Ocellus.

“I believe she did,” Sandbar quietly whispered to Gallus beside him.

“I didn't add this part of the speech,” Gallus whispered back to Sandbar. “Did you?”

“No, but . . . I kind of agree. Some of his lectures were pretty fascinating,” Sandbar quietly expressed with a slight shrug.

“His lectures were as exciting as reading the dictionary!” Gallus quietly complained. “Sure, he delivered it with a lot of passion, but that doesn't change the content of what he spoke about.”

“As I said, some of it wasn't that bad,” Sandbar argued back. “For instance, I love the way he animates and describes certain events in history. He really brings it to life.”

Gallus rolled his eyes then said, “If you say so.”

While they spoke with each other quietly, Ocellus pressed on with her speech unabated.

“Sunburst has always put in his best effort to support his friend Starlight and the students, and he has made a lot of friends in Ponyville as well. He's just that talented, and we're all lucky to have him.

“And Trixie . . .” Ocellus began.

“Yeah?” Trixie asked with greatly rising interest. Her favorite part of this lecture was just about to come up.

“. . . certainly has, um . . .” Ocellus cleared her throat, looking a little embarrassed, then went on, “. . . a unique way of expressing herself in her counselor duties. If there is one thing we can all agree on about her, it's that her tactics certainly aren't boring!”

“I think I would have used the term, 'je ne sais quoi'.” Rarity expressed with a dramatic wave of a hoof to her white chest.

“But of course!” Trixie expressed boldly, even rising from her seat with a dramatic showmareship to do so. “Trixie always goes big, or none at all! It was a pleasure to save you all from your imminent boredom, and I . . . The Great and Powerful Trixie will always display her best! Behold!”

Seemingly bursting out of her hooves, a stream of fireworks shot and burst into the air, much to the delight of most of her audience.

“Trixie!” Starlight exclaimed in astonished horror at her friend. “You brought live fireworks onto this stage with the other students, and you've been concealing it this whole time?”

“But of course!” Trixie concurred as she fluffed her mane. “It's part of my charm, after all.”

“And technically illegal in this setting!” Starlight complained. “You should have at least warned me that you were going to spring this upon us. There is a time and a place for such things, and this is not it! Besides, it's daylight. It would have shown better in the cover of darkness.”

“Beh,” Trixie gave Starlight a dismissive wave. “I got plenty more back in my wagon. No biggie.”

“It's fine if you have them in your wagon, but to bring them up here . . .” Suddenly Starlight stopped herself by taking a deep intake and outtake of breath, then said in a calmer tone, “Nevermind. What's done is done. Please sit down and allow the rest of the ceremony to continue. After that, we're going to have yet another little chat about student safety procedures.”

“It's fine! Don't worry about it so much!” Trixie said with a dismissive gesture to Starlight as she took her seat again. “Don't be such a Chancellor Neeeeeeeeighsay.” Trixie said the last word with a strong horse whinny expression.

Starlight Glimmer narrowed her eyes at Trixie while her eye pupils grew very small as she said, “OOOOOOOoooooo! You are so going to regret comparing me to him later on!” Starlight then regarded Ocellus far more calmly and proudly then nodded at Ocellus to resume her speech.

Which, Ocellus realized, she was nearly done with, judging from what was left of her notes that were still not said.

“Well, case in point,” Ocellus gestured back to Trixie while still addressing the audience ahead of her, mostly her fellow graduates. “There you have it. The All-Powerful Trixie, the magician and Student Counselor who clearly has her own sense of style with her job. Give it up for Trixie!”

The audience applauded, mostly by stamping their hooves wherever they stood or sat. In response, Trixie could not resist standing up one more time then bowed several times towards the audience with a showmareship flourish.

“Thank you, thank you!” Trixie cried out. “You have all been such an amazing and wonderful audience.”

“Trixie . . . seat . . . NOW!” Starlight growled tightly to Trixie between clenched teeth.

“Relax, Starlight! I was getting to that.” Trixie assured calmly and dismissively while utterly oblivious to just how deep of a hole Trixie was digging for herself later on.

After eight seconds when the audience calmed down themselves, Trixie's nearly uncontrollable habit of bowing for her audience also receded, and so she finally returned back to her seat.

Starlight sighed, then said to Ocellus, “I'm so sorry for all the interruptions, Ocellus.”

“That's okay, Headmare. I can adapt,” Ocellus assured, “and we have all come to expect that from her anyway. Please don't go too hard on her. She was entertaining, and she meant well.”

“I know.” Starlight looked down with a bit of a fond look in her eyes. “You're right.” Starlight looked back at Ocellus. “She needs to learn to follow at least some of the rules while on campus, but I'll keep what you had to say in heart as well. I promise.” Starlight gave a half-smile. “It's just that . . . with everything that has been going on and all the changes and stuff I had to adjust to . . . I wish she could be a more reliable team player for me.”

“She is, in her own way,” Ocellus argued back. “Personally, I like her! I think she's funny and very entertaining!”

“I know.” This time Starlight smiled much more brightly. “I do too.” Starlight waved Ocellus off. “Now proceed on with your speech. We don't have all day,” then Starlight whispered more quietly as she placed a hoof to the side of her mouth, “and it's probably best to keep the parts of Trixie under wraps for the time being. Move on to the next subject of your speech before it draws more attention from her and her uncontrollable ego.”

“Can do.” Ocellus looked back and shuffled through her notes to find her place again, then looked forward again and resumed her speech.

“It was faculty like this that helped to nurture the best in our potential, and I cannot think of a better way to honor those lessons than by spreading this message to others. As we have been taught, so, too, shall we teach to others, and I encourage you all to do the same. Learn from this experience. Be proud of who you are and what you have accomplished, or what you will accomplish. What has started here cannot be contained or denied. The message is as eternal as our need for it should be.

“In friendship, we have created joy. In friendship, we have created harmony. In friendship, we have saved the world. In friendship, miracles are born.

“So, as I stand before you now and give you this speech, let me stand for you as an example of what YOU can become as well! Join us in hoof with talon, claw, paw, fin, tentacle or whatever you have. Don't you see? It doesn't matter what you have! All of us are just a mask we wear. All of us hides within ourselves a much greater and higher truth, and the truth is we are all one! We all share in this world . . . together. As long as our bonds of friendship are created and continue, we will have a better tomorrow than every day that precedes it.

“The great news about all of this is: It isn't hard. Try it for yourself and you'll see. Friendship is in our nature because friendship is something we ALL long for deep inside.

“So whatever you do, and wherever you go, and whoever you are, take these lessons to heart. Perhaps you could accomplish whatever goal you have in mind alone, but only together,” Ocellus smashed her two forward hooves together, “can we feel truly fulfilled. If you ever watched the sunrise, then you know it is beautiful. Watch it with a friend, though, and its potential magnifies. Take it and recognize it for the gift it truly is. The reason we're not born alone in this world is because we're not really meant to be.

“A true friend helps a friend in need to see the light that shines from another true friend. Friends have the power to change the world. Try it, and you'll see.

“Let our example inspire you! Let our example teach you that everything we have ever done, you can do too! This gift is not just meant for us, it's meant for ALL of us! Take this cup, and drink of it deeply!

Ocellus threw up her forelegs in cheer which also indicated she was done with her speech. Accordingly, a great cheer arose from the crowd once again. Many of them stomped their hooves on the bleachers, or whatever appendage they happened to have.

Happy tears rose in Applejack's eyes as she beheld the cheering crowd, and thought of the speech Ocellus gave. She then looked up to the partially cloudy skies above.

Ma, pa, Applejack mentally projected above. Ah . . . think ah’m gonna be fine. The love and strength ya provided me helped me to carry on throughout these long years. Ah did all ah promised, to take care of dear sweet Apple Bloom in yer absence. I want ya to know ah appreciate ya continuin’ to look after me, but ah also want ya to know that y’all are no longer alone in those struggles. Ah really did do a mighty fine job takin’ care of the young’ins, and they ain’t so young now, cuz they helped to remind me what’s really important. Ah helped them to do that. Me’n mah friends. We did this together, so we earned this victory. Ya can relax now, jus' like ah can. The future of Equestria is well in hoof.

Like may dear, sweet, wife.

Applejack looked at Rainbow Dash lovingly, who returned the gesture. Together, they held each other’s hooves.

From now on, I’ll never be alone, nor was I ever. From now on, I’ll remember to let Rainbow remind me to always shine.

Chapter 1: The Good Old Days

Rainbow Dash and Applejack trotted around the large crowd that sat in front of graduate students. The students were facing towards a center stage while the others sat on the bleachers to the sides.The graduates were called up one by one to receive their Friendship School Diploma. During that time a band played the song “When The Saints Go Marching In”. Both mares were a little surprised to discover how late they were to this event. By the looks of it, over two-thirds of the students had already been called to the stage to receive their Diploma.

Spike called the next student to come on stage to receive the diploma.

AJ sighed. Whenever Spike was at the center it usually meant that he's covering for Twilight. "The Princess of Friendship just couldn't be bothered to come, could she?"

“It's about time you two showed up!” Headmare Starlight Glimmer quietly scolded them. It was a rare occasion to see her dressed up. a purple velvet coat that was open at the front which showed a white blouse. She stood at the base of the steps leading up to the stage, the Headmare glowered at the two approaching mares. “What took you two so long, anyway?”

In response, Applejack and Rainbow Dash looked at each other then started chuckling a bit with amusement and embarrassment. Observing this reaction made Headmare Starlight shift her head back and her eyes shrunk in startled realization, then she closed her eyes and slapped her face with a hoof.

“You know what? Um . . . never mind. I don't need to know,” Starlight decided. “Just . . . try to be on time next time, okay? Events like this mean a lot to our students.”

“We're sorry, Starlight,” Applejack apologized as she looked at the Headmare with a regretful expression and pulled her Stetson hat to her chest. “Honestly, we jus' lost track of time, s'all. We're still just gettin' ta know each other in a more . . . um . . . you know. We're still sorting things out. I promise ya, we'll try hard not to let it happen again.”

“What you two do in your own private time is your business, and I'd prefer that you two keep it that way,” Starlight scolded with slightly narrow eyes at the two recently married mares. “Just don't let it interfere with your duties, alright?”

“You're right, Starlight.” Applejack placed her hat back on her head. “It won't happen again.”

“It better not! Now go on up the stage and take your places, you two,” Starlight ordered.

Rainbow lifted a hoof in objection. “Actually, I wanted to check up on the cheering squad one more time. I'll be back in a jiff.”

Starlight hung her head a bit lower as she sighed in annoyance, then said, “Fine! Just be back here before we finish with the Valedictorians. You two have a role to play after that.”

“It would be quicker if I could get some guidance before I left,” Rainbow prompted hopefully. “Do you know where the cheering squad is located?”

Starlight looked at Rainbow in surprise. “What?! But I thought you . . .” Starlight trailed off when she thought of something that might explain Rainbow's ignorance of their current position. The Headmare pierced her with her eyes , and she gave another sigh. “Fine! Pay attention this time. They are right over there” Starlight pointed out the cheering squads location with a hoof.

“Got it!” Rainbow Dash said confidently as she saluted Starlight with her right wing. “Catch you two again in a bit. I gotta dash!”

As promised, Rainbow suddenly zipped away, leaving a rainbow streak following her tail.

Starlight regarded Applejack gestured up the stage. On cue, Applejack trotted past Starlightwhilehaving one final tip of her. Meanwhile, Applejack was burning with a bit of embarrassment. She quickly tried to take her seat so as to cause less disruption to any-creature else in this important and otherwise joyous ceremony. Applejack carefully maneuvered around the ascending line of former students wearing black robes and sporting graduation caps. For their part, instead of looking at Applejack as if she were out of place, most of them nodded and smiled, practically to the point of beaming, when their eyes met with hers.

Applejack smiled back at them proudly. She thought to herself that they sure had earned this, and Applejack herself played no small role in this either.

The orange farm pony maneuvered herself to the rear end of the stage where the other present faculty of the School of Friendship were seated. In this case, Applejack sat on Rarity's right side. Applejack glanced at the empty seat to her right and made a mental note to keep it empty. It was assigned to Rainbow Dash anyway. She just wanted to make sure by keeping an eye on it until Dash would arrive. Rainbow Dash's seat was also the very last in line. Beyond that was the edge of the stage.

“Applejack, honestly!” Rarity lightly scolded upon looking at her late arrival friend, but there was a hint of amusement in her eyes as well which belied how much she probably expected this. “Do you think you could possibly arrive a little later? You almost missed the entire ceremony.”

“I'm sorry about that,” Applejack apologized while privately suspecting she might have to do that a dozen more times today.

The white unicorn with the elegant, curly purple mane and purple eyeshadowcouldn’t help herself from looking at her adjacent friend with a more professional eye. This alerted Rarity to Applejack's disheveled appearance. As the self-appointed fashion police, this was unacceptable to her. Accordingly, she ignited her horn and started adjusting Applejack's appearance with an eye for detail. Applejack's mane got straightened then woven into pig-tails which then got neatly tucked back under the Stetson hat. Rarity also adjusted Applejack's green bolo tie which had a clasp that resembled a red apple and a pair of brown drawstrings that were attached to the top of the apple like a stem. Rarity leaned towards her adjacent friend and sniffed for a few seconds then recoiled in horror. After that, she seemed to magically float a perfume bottle from out of nowhere. The shape of the bottle resembled that of an apple. Before Rarity could spray her friend with it, Applejack pushed it back with a hoof.

“You know I don't like that frilly frou-frou stuff, Rarity!” Applejack remarked sharply.

“You must relax, darling! I brought your favorite kind.” To demonstrate, Rarity sprayed just a bit at the tip of her right forehoof then lifted it to Applejack's snout. Applejack leaned forward to sniff it for a few seconds, then she narrowed one eye at Rarity in suspicion.

“And you jus' happened to keep that bottle hoofy?” “Applejack, please!” Rarity exclaimed dramatically as she closed her eyes and fluffed her mane with pride. “A lady always comes prepared!”

Applejack asked with suspicion. “How'd ya even know I'd be needin' it, anyway?

Were you actually expecting me and Dash to be like this?” Applejack probed further.

Instead of answering, Rarity gave the floating perfume bottle a sharp, emphatic look then looked back at Applejack with an expression that begged for permission.

Applejack sighed as she looked forward, then said in resigned annoyance, “Go ahead, if it means that much to ya.”

“Thank you!” Rarity gratefully sprayed the perfume bottle on her friend a bit.

While Rarity did that, Applejack regarded Spike with regret, then said, “Sure wish Twilight had some time to swing on by. Sure woulda been nice to see 'er, again.”

“Well, you know . . . she's a royal Princess of all of Equestria! Surely such duties would keep her busy, and you know how precise she likes to get with her tasks. It may take her ten times longer than it would for most other ponies, but when she finishes a job, she really gets it done.”

Applejack leaned back in her seat as she bowed her head and closed her eyes. “I know. It's jus' that . . . everythin' seems to be changing everywhere. Twilight has moved to Canterlot and so has Spike.”

Applejack looked at the herd around her,“These are the first students to graduate the School of Friendship. Weren't we just busy teaching them yesterday? Feels like it. Big Mac's married, and Rainbow Dash and I are. She's still busy moving her stuff into mah place. Starlight is the new Headmare, and Trixie has taken up Starlight's previous job, and you,” Applejack opened one eye and aimed it at her adjacent friend, “I hardly ever see you in Ponyville anymore.”

“Well, you know,” Rarity looked downcast a bit, “I've just been so busy with all of my new boutiques. As you know, I've been opening up several more shops that cater to the other non-pony species. With all of those new extra customers, I'm skyrocketing to the head of the fashion industry. Everycreature deserves to be fabulous It really is a lot of work, but also so rewarding, darling.”

“I know,” Applejack acknowledged with a light shrug. “But first Spike and Twilight move away, and now I don't hardly see ya n'more. Everythin' around me is jus' changin' so darn fast. It makes me wonder, who's gonna move away next?”

Applejack's eyes glimmered a bit with tears at her next thought, then said, “Granny Smith has probably got only a few years left in 'er. Soon she'll be gone for good, and that'll mark the end of an era for Ponyville. She was one of the original founders of Ponyville, ya know? I jus' can't stand the thought that I might have to say goodbye to another one of mah family. I suffered that before, and it still hurts.”

Rarity regarded her friend sympathetically. “Well . . . it may be true that your grandmother has only a few years left in her, but she got to live long enough to see her new daughter-in-law marry your brother, and you marry Rainbow Dash. Your family grew, too, over these long years. Don't forget that. She was blessed with many long years of watching others grow up and become confident and strong mares and stallions out on that farm, not the least of which includes yourself. You, me and all of our friends helped save Equestria a dozen times. Do you think your grandmother isn't proud of that? Or your parents, for that matter?”

Applejack smiled a bit. “Yeah, I know. I ain't forgettin' that. It's jus' that . . . I've grown so accustomed to things being traditional. Another day, another tree to buck. Day in and day out, I've grown accustomed to a fixed routine, but lately . . .” Applejack eyed the line of students ahead of her with as she wore a bittersweet expression. During that time they waited for their turn to be announced by Spike. After that, the for Vice Principal Sunburst floated them their Diploma wrapped in a golden aura then give them a proud hoof shake. “. . . I've been' seein' everythin' change around me, and lately it's been making me feel old.”

Applejack looked at Rarity. “At one time we used to be the Elements that everypony in Equestria looked up to, but now our own students are taking on that role. Doesn't any part of you feel sorta . . . ya know . . . replaced?”

“Well, perhaps a bit,” Rarity admitted as her eyes shifted from Applejack to the students ahead of her, “but it wasn't as if we could assume that role indefinitely. There is only so long we can hold the torch of hope, Applejack. Plus,” a fond grin grew on Rarity's lips as she regarded the students, “I can't help but remember the fact that we made this happen! We were the ones who took these students and showed them there is a better way.” Rarity's eyes shifted back to Applejack with a beaming look of pride in them. “As the Elements of Harmony, don't you feel it is our duty to ensure peace, harmony, and prosperity, not to mention fabulousness, for the next generation? These students will carry the torch after us and preserve our efforts to make this a better world. Isn't it a relief to know that the world will remain a better place once we leave this world? What more could one ask of any mortal hero?”

“I s'pose you're right,” Applejack admitted as she looked down and to her left, towards, but not directly at, Rarity. “It's also a relief to get back to basics. Honestly, I love the smell of apples in the mornin' and I love bucking them trees in order to collect them. I love working with Apple Bloom as she helps me to collect them, much as I used to do with mah folks. The cycle goes on, I reckon. The seeds of the last tree plants the next.”

“Exactly,” Rarity agreed as she turned her head to look at Applejack fully with low-hanging eyelids and a small, knowing smile lighting her lips. “Change is inevitable, darling. Like the seasons or fashion trends, things keep changing. Change is important, and we must learn to adapt to it. Be as a willow in the wind!” She leaned her head back over the edge of the chair and raised a hoof to her forehead dramatically with that last sentence.

“But don't ya miss it? The good old days?” Applejack checked as she regarded Rarity curiously.

“Yes of course, darling,” Rarity confirmed as she straightened her head again and lowered her hoof from her forehead. “I'll always cherish the memories we made together, but that won't stop me from enjoying the new changes as well. When Spike moved back to Canterlot, I had to make a lot of adjustments to my own personal life.”

Rarity gazed down a bit with a little look of guilt in her eyes. “I probably took him for granted. I never noticed how useful he had been to me over these years or how much I had grown to depend on him until he started getting busy with Gabby the griffon.” She looked back at Applejack. “In a way, though, that was a blessing in disguise. That lesson helped prepare me for Spike moving away to Canterlot. I've made some adjustments to my personal life and things have been going better than ever, ever since. Not specifically because Spike is no longer here with me, but because of the other changes and expansions I've made in my life. Life has to move forward, darling, not backwards.

“You and Dash, for example. I take it you haven't gotten cold hooves about that or spent any minute regretting that choice?”

“Not a single minute!” Applejack assured firmly.

“Well, there you go!” Rarity cheered with a flourishing gesture to Applejack.

“Speaking of which,” Applejack grinned at Rarity coyly, “you remember that song Spike made for you a few years back on Hearth's Warming Eve? You know he had a crush on you, right?”

Rarity smiled very softly at her friend as she said, “Some things don't need to be said.”

Applejack tilted her head slightly as she said with a bit of concern, “I was just worried you were jus' try'n to string 'im along so you could get free labor from 'im.”

“I did no such thing!” Rarity objected, appalled by the accusation. “Spike made it abundantly clear to me that he didn't mind the work. He wanted to spend time with me just so he could be with me. I was being generous by giving him what he wanted. Well,” she rolled her eyes, “perhaps not all that he wanted, but I had to be generous to my own feelings, too. To me, he'll always be my Spiky-Wikey.”

From the podium up ahead, Spike flashed Rarity a fond, loving smile, likely because of what he overheard,at least partially, what Rarity said, even while he continued his duty to read off the list of approaching students. Rarity matched his expression while also gave him a, “You go on,” dismissive gesture with a white hoof. In response, Spike looked forward again and resumed reading from his long scroll of names.

After noticing that Spike might be able to overhear their conversation and potentially carefully paying attention since his name came up, Applejack decided it was wise to change subjects. She didn't want to get caught in anything too personal, after all.

Besides, there was one other thing that she had been wondering. Applejack leaned back in her seat again as she looked forward. “Actually, I've been wonderin' . . . now that you've been gone from Ponyville so much, who are you going to leave in charge of your boutique here?”

“Well, regardless of how many other shops I open, I always regarded Ponyville as my home base,” Rarity announced. “But you have a point that I've been gone from it for so long, and I have given that some thought. Many years ago I was kind of thinking, and even hoping, that my sister Sweetie Belle would succeed me and take over the shop, but she has enough on her plate with the Cutie Mark Crusaders. I started to think that I might just hire somepony to manage the shop in my ever more frequent absence from it, but for some reason that didn't feel right to me. As an artist, I've always paid careful attention to my feelings, and my boutique in Ponyville has always been my home and, therefore, it has always been close to my heart. Leaving some nameless pony in charge just didn't feel right, but lately I've seen another that's beginning to show growing interest in it.” Rarity regarded someone out in the crowd, but Applejack couldn't tell whom yet. “Believe it or not, I was thinking of leaving the shop in the capable hooves of Yona.”

“YONA!” Applejack exclaimed in shock. “But . . . Rarity . . . smashing things has always been a staple in her culture.”

“Precisely!” Rarity agreed while passing a wise look back at Applejack.

“Now I'm really confused,” Applejack admitted with an expression to match.

“Smashing things is part of Yona's culture, but Yona herself has evolved into something so much more. It's not to say that her race's way is anything bad, necessarily, but Yona herself has taken that aspect of her culture and added to it with everything she willingly chose to learn here, and darling . . . she has expressed a deep-seated interest in fashion. She says she wants to learn everything she can, and maybe pass them along to her herd and make them even more 'best' at everything. I see no reason to impinge upon her noble ambitions. Frankly, I find it quite admirable, and I intend to do everything I can to support her dream. Honestly, if she were a pony, I think she might have found her cutie mark with this business.”

“If you say so,” Applejack accepted a bit nervously, then she gave a fond grin. “I guess it's true that she and her friends have changed a lot under our guidance. If that potential can seed her interest to flower in something like your boutique, then my hat's off to 'er.”

“See?” Rarity's eyes fluttered at Applejack. “Everything is going to work out. You'll see.”

“I guess,” Applejack accepted a bit emptily. “I 'spose I don't mind embracing new changes too much. Inviting Dash into my life is specifically a part of that. It's just that . . . I wish it didn't have to feel like the price of accepting these new blessings is to let the old blessings go.”

Rarity sighed as she glanced down. “Believe me, I know how you feel. It's been hard on me too, sometimes.” Her eyes shifted towards the line of students ahead of her while keeping the direction of her head down a bit. “I think that every creature knows that feeling at some point in their lives. If it's any consolation,” Rarity looked back at Applejack, “you're not the only one to feel this way.”

“Yeah.” Applejack smiled softly a bit. “I guess that does make me feel a little better. More validated.”

Rarity reached to her right with her right forehoof and patted Applejack's rear left thigh as she advised, “How about we just sit here and watch the rest of the ceremony, darling? You don't want this day to be another regret of yours by simply recalling the fact you spoke all the way through it.”

“Yeah.” Applejack grew a look of acceptance. “You're right. The youngins put a lot of effort into this day. The least I can do is pay attention.”

And so they did, along with Rainbow Dash when she eventually joined the rest of her friends.