A few days later...

Within Twilight's Castle, Spike and Starlight took their leisurely stroll down the corridor on their way to the library. With her horn glowing in a cyan-colored aura, Starlight levitated half of a tall stack of papers. While gently flapping his wings, Spike clutched onto the other half, trying to make sure nothing fell off.

"Are you sure you can carry those, Spike?" Starlight asked. "I can levitate the rest for you if you want."

"No worries," Spike replied. "I've got this."

"Okay then," Starlight shrugged.

When they both arrived, Starlight eased one of the crystal doors open and slipped inside while Spike followed suit. Twilight jerked her head up and widened her eyes once the sound of the two doors opening hit her ears. "Twilight! We're back!"

Twilight placed the scroll on the center of the table. "Oh, hey, guys. Glad to see you here."

"Uh... We kinda live here, but yeah," Starlight said, levitating the stack in front of Twilight. "And we've got that scroll paper you've asked for."

"Oh, thanks," Twilight replied. "You know, I have been practicing on giving out my speech to every creature at the coronation."

"But it doesn't start for less than a few weeks," Spike said, placing the rest of the stack on the table.

"I know. That gives me plenty of time to keep practicing until then," Twilight replied, levitating the scroll back up to her face. "Now, then. As Equestria's new ruler, I promise all of you that for every creature in Equestria and beyond, there will be a new era of peace, harmony, and above all, friendship."

"Not bad," Spike said as both him and Starlight clapped their claws and hooves together.

"Are you sure? 'Cause I think that it might be a bit on the nose, right?"

"C'mon, Twilight," Starlight said. "You've practiced this about multiple times. I think you deserve a break."

"Starlight's right," Spike chimed.

Twilight sighed. "Maybe, you're right."

Spike then held her hoof while Starlight placed hers on Twilight's shoulder. "C'mon. Let's go see how our friends are doing. Maybe we could invite them to a picnic to celebrate now that there's no more enemies to fight."

"Great idea!" Twilight galloped out the door while both Spike and Starlight followed her.

The trio trotted into Sweet Apple Acres. Their eyes darted every which way until Spike pointed his claw forward. "There she is!" Applejack was bucking an apple tree with Apple Bloom and Big Macintosh before turning her head towards the group and waving her hoof at them while sporting a smile.

"Hey there, guys. How's it goin'?"

"Nothing much," Twilight replied as she, Starlight, and Spike walked towards Applejack.

"Just wanted to know how you were doing," Starlight added.

"Ah'm doin' great," She answered. "Just bucking some apple trees to make some apple products for the coronation."

"Great!" Twilight said. "Hey, after you're done, do you and the others want to have a picnic?"

"Sure thing,"

"Okay. See you then," Starlight said, walking with Twilight and Spike to the exit.

The group then teleported to a still being repaired Canterlot, where Rainbow Dash zoomed through the air right past them. The momentum from the speed was enough to blow at the trio's manes and spikes, but that didn't seem to bother them that much.

In the sky, both Rainbow and the other Wonderbolts bucked and zoomed into every single cloud until it was completely clear. She then zoomed in front of the group, blushing as she noticed the frazzled manes and tilted spikes on their heads.

"Oh. Sorry about that."

"It's fine," Starlight said before both she and Twilight poofed their manes and Spike's spikes back to normal.

"So, we see that you and the other Wonderbolts are getting ready for the coronation, too, right?" Spike asked.

"Yep!" She replied. "There's still less than a few weeks worth of clouds left to clear, but once we're done, this coronation is gonna be awesome!" Rainbow backflipped in the air.

"Great!" Twilight said. "So, after you guys are done for the day, how 'bout a picnic with us and our other friends?"

"I don't know. I'm gonna have to ask Spitfire about that." Rainbow Dash said, rubbing the back of her head.

"No need," Spitfire said. "You can go ahead with your friends when we're done. You've earned it."

"Thanks."

"Anytime."

"Well, we better check and see how Pinkie Pie's doing. See ya." Twilight and the rest of the group waved goodbye before teleporting away.

The group teleported to Sugar Cube Corner. They pushed the two, wooden doors open and walked inside, only for a pink blur to dash right past them and bounce all across the lobby like a bouncing ball. "Pinkie?" Starlight said.

Pinkie then halted her bounce and leapt into the air. "Woo-hoo! Hey, guys, you'll never guess what just happened!"

"What is it?" Spike asked.

"I've just got... PROMOTED!!!" Pinkie Pie beamed.

"Really?! That's great!" Spike said.

"I know, right? Now, I can finally be able to do most of the stuff that Mr. and Mrs. Cake can do as their assistant manager. This is one of the top ten best things that's ever happened to me!"

"Well, how 'bout a picnic with us and the others to celebrate after you're done with your work? We've already asked Applejack and Rainbow if they could come," Twilight said.

"Are you kidding? I wouldn't miss it for the world!"

"Great!" Starlight said, pointing her hoof at the lobby. "Though, you might want to clean up the mess you've made during your excitement."

Pinkie Pie darted her eyes around before blushing at how much she'll have to clean up. She then let out a nervous chuckle. "Oops. Sorry."

"Anyway, let's go see how Rarity's doing," Spike said.

"Oh, alright," Twilight said, strolling out the door while Starlight and Spike follow close behind.

At Rarity's Boutique, Rarity was sewing on some purple and pink fabric with white trimmings until a knocking sound hit her ears. She then opened the door and widened her eyes when she saw it was the trio.

"Oh, Twilight, Starlight, Spike," Rarity said, standing on her hind legs and stretching her arms out towards the frame of the door. "Good to see you."

"Uh... Hey there, Rarity," Twilight said. "Sorry to bother you while you're working. We just came to ask if you wanted to come for a picnic with us and our other friends once you're done."

"Oh, that would be wonderful, darling," Rarity answered. "Of course, I'll come."

"Great!" Spike said. "... So, what are you working–?"

"No peeking!" Rarity shouted, tilting her hind leg in front of Spike, who peeked into her boutique. The trio all looked at each other with confusion. "I mean... Sorry about that. It's just a surprise for the coronation. It's not ready yet."

"Oh. Sorry,"

"Well then, I guess we'll leave you to your work," Twilight said. She then teleported herself, Starlight, and Spike away in a flash of purple light. Rarity then wiped the sweat off her forehead, walked back inside and closed the door behind her.

Fluttershy was in her sanctuary, next to her cottage. She waved a conducting baton in her mouth while a few birds each sung a beautiful tune in harmonic order. She then placed the baton down. "Great job, everyone." The birds each took a bow as if they were in an actual stage.

"Hey, Fluttershy," Twilight said, walking towards her, along with Spike and Starlight.

Fluttershy turned her head and waved her hoof at the trio. "Oh, hi, guys."

"Are you and your birds preparing for the coronation, too?" Starlight asked.

"Mmm-hmm. We've just finished making the song for it. Take a listen." Fluttershy bit into her baton again. "A one, two, three, and..." She muffled while waving her baton. The birds each let out a beautiful chirp before singing in harmonious order as Fluttershy continued waving.

After a few minutes, Fluttershy placed the baton back down and the bird ceased their singing. The trio clapped their hooves, or in Spike's case, claws, together. "That was great, Fluttershy!" Spike said.

"Yeah, very beautiful!" Starlight added.

"Oh please. You're making me blush," Fluttershy said, bashfully. "But, you don't have to thank me. Thank my bird friends for helping me." The birds all blushed together as well while sporting nervous looks at the trio. "So, why are you three here?"

"Well, we were wondering that, after you're done with the song, maybe you could join us for a picnic before the coronation," Starlight replied.

"A picnic?" Fluttershy asked. "Sure, I'd love to go."

"Great! Meet us at the large field on the outskirts of Ponyville, okay?"

"Sure."

The trio roamed out of the sanctuary while Fluttershy waved her hoof at them. As they kept going, Spike looked down at the long sheet of paper that listed all of their friends' names and used a quill to scribble a check mark next to Fluttershy's.

"Well, we've checked all of our friends and they've all agreed to go on this picnic with us." Spike said.

"Great! Now, we can finally–" Starlight said before Twilight jerked her eyes and spread out her wings.

"Wait! Sorry, but there's one more thing that we need to do,"

"What's that?" Starlight asked.

"Check on the princesses and see how they're doing before their retirement." Twilight replied.

"C'mon, Twilight. We've already completed the whole list, so can't we have that picnic?" Spike asked.

"Sorry. It's just that there's something I gotta do before the picnic, now that it crossed my mind," Twilight replied.

Both Starlight and Spike glanced at each other before giving a nod to Twilight. "Okay."

In a flash of purple light, the trio teleported to Canterlot and galloped across the street. Rainbow Dash turned her head towards the group and gave a good wave. "Hey, guys! How's it..." The trio then passed Rainbows, who then raised an eyebrow at them. "...going?"

At the Royal Castle, both Princess Celestia and Luna were seen bending down and unhooking their saddlebags open. "So, are you excited to get ready for our retirement, Luna?" Celestia asked, levitating a pink and white hawaiian shirt and slipped into it.

"Of course I am, sister," Luna levitated her own dark blue and white hawaiian shirt and slipped it over her body as well. "Though, I hope it doesn't turn out like last time."

"Oh, that was in the past. This time, it will be different," Celestia then levitated a pink scrunchie, held her flowing mane up, and tied it into a literal ponytail.

"Yes, it will..." Luna replied, tying her mane around her own scrunchie as well. "Though, I must admit, it was still fun, minus the arguing, though." Both sisters paused for a moment before letting out a soft chuckle and turning back to their own saddlebags. "Hey, that reminds me. Are you sure that Twilight can handle all of this with her friends?"

"I know she can. They've been through a lot and they've all got each other for support."

"I know, but how are they going to rule over Equestria together? Besides Twilight, they've all got their own occupations to work with, especially at the school, and I'm not sure if they'll-"

"Luna," Celestia wrapped one of her wings around Luna. "It's okay. I'm sure that they'll find some way to rule together."

"Yeah, you're right," Luna said as both her and Celestia hugged each other tight.

Suddenly, slamming open the front door came Twilight, Starlight, and Spike. They both halted in front of the princesses and panted as sweat ran down their bodies.

"Twilight? What brings you here?" Celestia asked as she and Luna let go of each other.

Twilight wiped some stray sweat off of her forehead. "Just wanted to know how you two were doing."

"We're doing fine," Luna answered. "Just packing up our saddlebags to get ready for our retirement in less than a few weeks."

"Oh, that's great." Twilight lowered her head down on the ground and paced her hoof across it.

"Is something wrong?" Celestia asked.

"I-It's just that you've two have taught both me and my friends so much now and..." Tears began to develop on Twilight's eyes as she tried her best to hold them back.

"We understand," Celestia and Luna both walked up to Twilight and paced their respective hooves around Twilight. "Maybe we should reconsider the-"

"No," Twilight finally answered, wiping one tear off her cheek. "It's not that. I-It's just... I'm gonna miss both of you."

Spike and Starlight gave off a warm smile. Spike also placed his claws on his heart as he and Starlight watched Twilight open up her feelings towards the princesses.

"We'll miss you, too, Twilight." All together, the three princesses wrapped their hooves around each other for a great big hug. Tears brimmed down from their eyes as they fully embraced each other. Spike and Starlight looked at each other and then back at the group, still sporting warm smiles. What a beautiful sight to see.

Meanwhile, at the docks of Ponyville, a large, brown boat swam from across the ever-expanding sea. It halted at one of the boat slips and let down the brow. The same gray wolf from earlier walked down to the rock and waved at the sailors.

"Thanks for the lift and the recovery, guys!"

"Anytime!" The sailors saluted together before trudging through the ship. The brow lifted up from the dock and slid inside. The ship then sailed through the high seas and out into the horizon. The wolf then narrowed his eyes again and traversed across the dirt road.

At last, he made it up the steep hill. All around, the view seemed so... different, but in a good way as he gazed at it. The sky looked like a light-blue spectacle from above and everypony sported a pleasant grin on their faces as they walked across the ground from down below. Everything looked so bright and pastel-colored like rainbow-colored candy.

"So, this is Ponyville, huh?"

How could anything be this amazing? Almost like he was an alien that just landed on Earth. But despite the gorgeous look of Ponyville, a strange voice called out from his head.

Remember, my protege! They're counting on you!

Jerking his eyes open, the wolf pounded his head and narrowed his eyes once more with his fists clenched tight. "No! I can't get distracted! I need to continue my mission!" The wolf jumped off of the hill and continued down the road. Whatever mission he was talking about, he needed to move forward in order to get it done.

Author's Note

The reason why I chose this activity for the Mane Six and their friends to do is because I couldn't think of anything else that was related to the themes and conflict later in the story.

Also, one of the ideas that I have for the Mane Six and their friends is to give them a flat character arc due to them having already grown as characters and achieved their own self-actualization and purpose, unlike the wolf antagonist.

Sorry about that. I did the best I could.