The Last Problem: An Alternative Route

Twenty years have passed in Equestria, twenty years since the defeat of the Legion of Doom and the union of ponies and creatures. But after the defeat of the trio, the two royal sisters decided not to retire because of the attack that happened almost caused the ponies and creatures to separate. I mean, they did separate, but in the end, they came together to defeat the trio. But even so, Celestia and Luna decided not to retire any more because their idea of retiring almost caused the species to separate, so for the sake of the next generations, they decided to continue to rule Equestria. And since Twilight, along with friends, the other ponies and creatures came together to defeat the trio, Equestria was even more united than before. And what was to be expected, after a few years, the adult ponies have aged and the foals became adult ponies.

And that happened with the Mane Six too: Rarity’s mane was in some parts white and she wore a shiny dark blue coat with fur, Rainbow had a mane similar to Spitfire’s and she wore a black coat, Applejack had her mane rolled up and wore her grandma’s scarf, Fluttershy had her mane attached by a light blue butterfly clip, Pinkie’s mane expanded and now had party decorations and even a teddy bear, Spike became an adult dragon, and lastly, however difficult to believe it, Twilight wore a light blue scarf with a white star design and on the chest had a pink six-pointed star that held the scarf, the color of her mane had lost its color, some parts of the mane and tail were white and the tail and the mane were attached. As much as they grew older, they continued to live in Ponyville together and each in her homes. The only one who didn’t stay at her house very often was Fluttershy, who spent most days in the land of chaos with Discord.

Twilight and her friends were meeting at the cafe, talking about their lives.

“So, girls? How is your life? Any news?” asked Twilight.

“Discord and I are married,” Fluttershy replied with a smile. “He’s so kind...”

“Me and Applejack are dating,” said Rainbow as she hugged Applejack with her hooves.

“Spike and I are living together at Boutique Carousel. Ah. And we are also dating,” Rarity quickly looked at Spike with a smile. “Isn’t it, Spikey Wikey?”

“Yes, Rarity,” Spike replied with a passionate look as he blushed.

“Me and Cheese Sandwich have a daughter named Lil’ Cheese,” replied Pinkie. “But she is now being looked after by Cheese Sandwich,” she soon looked at Twilight. “What about you, Twilight? Do you have any news?”

Twilight started to blush while smiling. “Well, girls... I do have something new.”

“Which is?” they all asked in an animated tone with the exception of Twilight.

“You know that Luna and I have been together since she announced she wasn’t going to retire with Celestia, right?” Twilight started.

“Of course we know that, dear,” Rarity replied as she lifted a hoof then put it on the table and smiled. “Did something happen to you and her?”

“Yes. Something happened…” Twilight replied, still blushed and looking to the right.

“And what happened, Twilight? Tell it! Tell! It!” asked Pinkie, all excited.

Twilight now looked at her friends and replied, “Luna and I got married and she now lives with me in the castle of friendship. But today she went to visit Celestia at Canterlot Castle to see her again.”

Everypony was happy for Twilight. “And how do you two have fun when you’re together?” asked Pinkie.

“We both read together, go around Ponyville, watch the stars, study astronomy and she even helps me with housework,” Twilight replied with a smile as she put both front hoof knees on the table and the hooves were on her cheeks while thinking about her wife.

“This is so beautiful, dear. You two were really made for each other,” said Rarity as she started to cry happily for her friend, but then she grabbed a handkerchief and wiped away her tears.

“Thank you, Rarity. But I also have another news to speak of,” said Twilight.

Everypony was surprised by what Twilight said. “Do you have any other news?” asked everypony, except Twilight.

“Yes. The news is that I have a new student now,” Twilight replied. “Her name is Luster Dawn. She is now in her room at the castle right now. We can go to my castle for me to introduce to all of you.”

Pinkie got excited and started hitting her hooves. “Yes! Come on! I can’t wait to meet her and be friends with her! I’ll even have a party for her when we get there!”

They got up from the chairs and left the cafe. The ponies and creatures that were seated watched the six mares leave the place.

Twilight started thinking about her student. She wondered how Luster would react when she went to ask that Luster should make some friends. Would Luster accept it or would she deny it?

Luster was in her room, reading a book of spells, to the left of her had other books of the same theme. Her room was light blue with purple and pink tones, her bed was golden and had a light pink blanket, on the left side there was an orange lamp, on the right there was a side table but there was nothing, a balcony well off in front of the bed that you could see the sun in the sky and a light blue diamond window.

Suddenly, Luster heard somepony knock on her bedroom door. She stopped reading and looked at the door.

“Come on in,” said the light pink unicorn.

The bedroom door opened, revealing Twilight and her friends, they were smiling. Luster smiled when she saw her mentor.

“Princess Twilight!” Luster got up from the bed and went to Twilight to bend over.

“I see you’ve been studying magic, Luster,” said Twilight.

Luster looked at Twilight, still hunched over and said, “Yes, Princess. I even learned a new spell.”

Twilight was curious. “A new spell? What is the new spell you learned?”

“I am able to teleport with my magic. Look!” Luster carried her magic until there was a flash and she ended up on the balcony. That done, she walked back to Twilight.

“Congratulations, Luster. But I would like you to meet my best friends: Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie,” Twilight showed her friends with a hoof before looking back at Luster. “They are my best friends since I moved to Ponyville and I think you need to make some friends.”

Luster gaped at what Twilight said to her. “Me? Make friends?”

“Yes, Luster. You can’t just just study. Friendship is also important.” Twilight explained with a smile.

Luster recovered and said, “but why do I need to make friends? Friendship is a waste of time.”

Twilight was surprised by what Luster said. She didn’t think Luster would say that. She couldn’t help but notice that Luster reminded her of her when she was a student at Princess Celestia and that she didn’t want to be friends. But she would explain the good in having friends.

“Because having friends means having somepony you can trust, spending time together, talking and being with you at all times.” Twilight explained.

“For me, books and studies are more important,” said Luster.

Twilight involved Luster with a hoof. “Luster, I understand very well what you’re feeling.”

Luster looked at Twilight, surprised. “You understand?”

“Yes, Luster. When I was a student of Princess Celestia, I didn’t want to know about friendship,” Twilight replied.

“Didn’t you think friendship was important too?” asked Luster, still surprised.

“Yes. Because as I had to study to be good with my magic and my books to read, I didn’t think anything was important besides dedicating myself to my studies.”

Luster started to wonder about something. She looked at Twilight confusedly.

“Princess Twilight, if you didn’t see friendship as something of great importance, what made you change your mind about it?” asked Luster.

Twilight took off her hoof around Luster to speak, she could already imagine the scene in her head. “That’s when I heard my friends called my name. I had realized that I was happy to see them, to hear them, how much I care about them, I was happy to know that they are my friends.” Twilight started to cry with joy as she remembered the scene in her head.

Luster didn’t realize that Twilight cared so much for her friends. She wondered how long Twilight and the others were together as friends.

“How many years have you been together with your friends?” asked Luster, now with a hoof rising.

“Twenty years ago,” Twilight replied.

Luster was speechless with the answer she received. She didn’t imagine that Twilight’s friendship with the five mares was so close and lasted so many years.

“So... even after all these years... are you all still together and being friends?” asked Luster, now looking at the six mares and the dragon.

“Of course, darling. The friendship map from Twilight Castle called us to an Equestria location and two of us went there and solved the friendship problem,” Rarity replied with a smile.

“And the friendship map still calls you to solve friendship problems around Equestria?” asked Luster to the six mares.

“Yes. But as the creatures and ponies are so close together, there are hardly as many friendship problems as before, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t happening anymore. Like, It happens, but it’s not as often as it was in the past,” Applejack answered honestly.

Luster began to reflect on what Applejack told her. So her mentor and her friends solved friendship problems long before they got old? She never imagined that Twilight and the others solved friendship problems. She started to think and wonder if she should give friendship a chance? A part of her wanted to try, but another part denied it. She decided to ask more to be sure.

“But have you six ever fought?” asked Luster.

“We don’t fight very often, but when it does, we soon make up and even learn something about friendship,” Twilight replied.

Luster was now curious. “Do you learn about friendship? How?”

“When I started living in Ponyville, with every friendship lesson I learned, I sent a letter to Princess Celestia,” Twilight replied. “But after I saved the Crystal Empire from King Sombra I stopped sending letters frequently, and when I became an alicorn, I really stopped since I was no longer a student of her. Afterwards, my friends and I made a diary to write what we learned about friendship. If you want, you can send me letters about what you have learned about friendship or you can have a journal to write about what you have learned.”

Luster smiled. She couldn’t help but deny that until it was a good idea. She could share what she learned with her mentor and even keep a diary. Perhaps, she should try to have friends. But even so, she was still unsure whether she should try to make friends. Her ears went down.

“But what about my books? And my studies with you? Am I going to stop reading the books and study about her guardianship?” asked Luster uncertainly.

“You can rest easy, Luster. You will still have your books and continue to be my student.” Twilight assured her with a smile as she approached Luster.

Luster smiled at those words. “Really, Princess Twilight?”

“Yes, Luster. And I can guarantee you one thing: you will spread the magic of friendship together with your new friends just like the six of us and it will grow stronger and stronger,” Twilight replied before starting to sing.

“When i started out, i was insurge,” Twilight started walking. “I thought I knew all that I needed. Didn’t know what to expect,” Twilight’s friends followed her until Twilight and they stopped.

“But when my woes came down, i saw the truth. All along, something was missing.” Twilight approached Luster with a smile. “And i think you’ll see it too.”

Twilight, along with her friends and Spike started walking, Luster followed them. “This is where the Magic happens. This where the Magic lives. Our friendships weave together, stronger. The bonds grow deeper, lasting longer. And the greatest spell you’ll know…”

Spike, Twilight and their friends were now outside the friendship castle. “This is where the magic of friendship grows...”

“And no matter how much time goes by, the party will still be here with some fun new games to try.” Pinkie sang now with Cheese Sandwich on top of Gummy, who was a giant alligator, but still toothless. Lil’ Cheese was with Pound Cake and Pumpkin Cake blowing cat tongues.

“Big adventures waiting, obviously. Long we’re still together, we’ll be flying, happily.” Rainbow sang while flying alongside the Wonderbolts.

Twilight and Luster entered the school and greeted Starlight and Sunburst, who greeted them back. “This is where the magic happens. This where the Magic lives. Our friendships weave together, stronger. The bonds grow deeper, lasting longer. And the greatest spell there is… what the magic of friendship gives!”

Luster and Applejack were now entering Sweet Apple Acres while Applejack sang and approached Big Mac, Sugar Belle and a purple foal with an orange mane. “And it’s something true to pass no down to generations yet to come.”

“And we’ll never stop believing in in the generosity of the friendship we’ve won.” Rarity sang while she, Luster and Spike walked together until they arrived at Boutique Carousel that were next to Sandbar and Yona.

“And because of the love that i feel for every single living creature is something that is real. Friendship happens so naturally.” sang Fluttershy while they were close to Angel and her bunnies that was next to Luster, playing with her mane. Discord soon appeared on the portal and then went to another.

“Oh, how I used to wonder… what friendship could be!” Twilight sang, now flying.

“This is where the magic happens…”

“This is where the magic lives...”

“Our friendship weave together, stronger…”

“The bonds deeper lasting longer…”

“And the greatest spell you’ll know… you’ll know…”

“It’s how the magic of grows….” Twilight, her friends, Spike were now together while the sky was orange and the sun was setting. Luster approached her mentor.

“How the magic of friendship grows...” Twilight smacked her student before watching Luster run to where a griffon, a Kirin, a pony and a Yak were. Luster said goodbye with a hoof and a smile, Twilight, Spike and the other mares were wasted on a hoof before watching Luster leave together with her new friends.

The scene then decreased in size until it formed an image of a book, and the book closed.