After listening to the story of Twilight's coronation, her top student; Luster Dawn, then thought about what Twilight explained. "So the coronation wasn't a disaster and your friendships just faded away over time?" she asked her teacher. Twilight then got up from her throne.
"Not exactly," Twilight said. She approached Luster as the doors opened and Pinkie bounced in.
"Sorry I'm late," Pinkie explained. "But it is so hard to find a sitter with a sense of humor for Li'l Cheese." Li'l Cheese entered the room next to Pinkie carrying Boneless with her. Rarity was the next to enter the room wearing a large blue coat.
"Honestly, I would have been here sooner, but you would not believe how busy Yakyakistan is these days," Rarity said as she approached the others. Rainbow and Applejack were talking right behind them.
"Maybe we could get to places on time if you let me do some of the chores instead of always doing everything yourself," Rainbow said to Applejack.
"Maybe I would if you did them the right way," Applejack added. The two looked at the group in front of them. "Oh. Sorry. We're not the last ones, are we?" A portal opened next to the group and Flutershy stepped out as Discord handed her a lunch bag.
"Discord's headed to an O&O convention or he'd be joining us," Fluttershy said. Luster looked around at everyone in the room and she thought wrong.
"I just assumed that since you all aren't together all the time now---" Luster began.
"That we aren't friends?" Everyone except Luster laughed before Twilight explained something to her. "You just remind me of my old husband I have known for awhile now."
"Who was he?"
"A good friend who also taught all of us about friendship," Applejack said.
"His name was Charming Thunder," Rarity added. "He was once the ruler of Equestria before Twilight and Starshine."
"I know that name," Luster said. "I was told that he died by the hands of his brother; Danny Eclipse, when he fell to the dark side."
"You are correct on that," Twilight said.
"I'm sorry for your loss and all,"
"No need for that," Spike said.
"Why?"
"Cause there was something about him the books forgot to mention," Twilight explained. "You see, it was during the aftermath of my coronation."
Many years ago....
Twilight was alone as she looked at the book of memories as she remembered the good times she had. She then flipped the page to see a wedding photo of her and Charming Thunder. She was happy at first to see this memory, but also sad about it. She misses her husband even though it has been many months without him. She then closed the book with her magic and then attempted to throw it at the wall. It was then caught by a ghostly hoof. Twilight gasped as she turned to look at who caught it. The ghostly figure of Charming Thunder appeared holding the book that was given to Twilight by Starlight and Spike. He took a few steps forward as he looked at the book cover. "A book like this deserves more respect," Charming Thunder said as he slowly turned to look at Twilight.
"Charming?" Twilight said; surprised.
"What are you doing, my love?" Charming Thunder then used his magic to levitate the book back to Twilight. She grabbed it as Charming Thunder came close to her.
"I miss you, Charming." Charming Thunder placed his ghostly hoof on Twilight's cheek and then sat down next to her.
"I may be dead, but I'm alive in your heart. What I stood for and fought for is not gone either."
"I don't know if I have the strength to rule without you." Twilight quietly cried as Charming Thunder placed his hoof on her shoulder.
"You will." Charming Thunder lowered his hoof as him and Twilight heard footsteps.
"Charming, I---" Twilight looked up to see that Charming Thunder has completely vanished as his voice echoed.
"I know." Applejack arrived to see Twilight looking around with tears in her eyes.
"Twilight?" Applejack said. "Are you okay?" Twilight stopped what she was doing and wiped off her tears then turned to face her friend with a smile.
"Everything's fine," Twilight reassured. "Just spoke to an old friend." Applejack smiled and gestured her to follow her back to the others.
Present....
Luster wiped off her tears after hearing a sad story from her mentor. "I'm sure that he is still in your heart if you believe, your majesty," she said.
"You're right," Twilight said. "And here I am now with the strength to rule Equestria just like him."
"Perhaps you would like to see him to give you advice?" Spike asked.
"Is it possible?" Luster asked.
"There is a way," Rarity said.
"It requires focus to bring him here," Fluttershy added. Twilight and the others except Luster sat down on the ground and closed their eyes. After a few minutes of meditation and patience, a voice echoed the room.
"The force will be with you," the voice said. "Now and always." Luster looked around to find the source of the voice and the spirit of Charming Thunder appeared before them. Luster became flabbergasted at the sight as the six stood up. "It has been a long time, old friends." He then turned his gaze to Luster who then became nervous meeting him. "This must be your student, Twilight?" Twilight nodded as Luster approached Charming Thunder.
"I'm uh, Luster Dawn, Charming Thunder," Luster greeted with a bow.
"Rise, young one." Luster rose as Charming Thunder smiled.
"What exactly are you now if I may ask?" Charming Thunder closed his eyes and sighed.
"Perhaps you were not told. I am one with the force."
"The force?"
"The force is more than just magic," Twilight explained. "It is an energy field by all living things."
"It surrounds us," Applejack added.
"It penetrates us," Rarity added.
"And now binds Equestria together," Fluttershy added. "So, we decided to form a Council of Friendship in his honor."
"So, even though everything changed and you moved away from your friends, you didn't grow apart?" Luster asked Twilight. "And this is the Council of Friendship? That's what you're all doing here?"
"Duh!" Rainbow said. "This time every moon." Applejack chuckled.
"What she means is this is how we've been rulin' together," Applejack explained.
"And how we've continued to face every problem and threat to Equestria over the years," Rarity added.
"But mostly, it's how we keep in touch," Pinkie said. "No matter how busy life gets."
"Sometimes friendships can be hard, and it takes work to maintain them," Twilight said. "But without friends, things can be a lot harder."
"Confronting fear is a destiny of whatever you want to be," Charming Thunder said. "That was what Cadence told me when I was young."
"I never thought about friendship being something to work at, and I don't mind work," Luster said. "I guess if they don't have to fade away, maybe making friends isn't the waste of time I thought. But I've been so focused on my studies, I wouldn't know where to start." Charming Thunder and Twilight looked at each other and thought of an idea.
"That's all right, because I know exactly where to send you," Twilight reassured.
"Where?"
"Where an old friend sent me to make friends." Charming Thunder gazed out to the sun about to set as he thought Ponyville would be Luster's first step to understanding friendship.
(Note: Sung to the tune of The Hunchback of Notre Dame's Finale)
Sung by: Charming Thunder and Twilight Sparkle
Dusk comes
To the land I remember
Sing the bells of the legend
Ending the tale
Of your once great ruler
Sing the bells of the legend
And we wish we could leave you some tips
Like a lightsaber you hold in your hoof
But here is a riddle to guess if you can
Sing the bells of the legend
Who was the monster
And who was the stallion
"There's a shuttle in town that will take you to Ponyville," Twilight said as she levitated a shuttle pass for Luster. "We'll see you there soon." Luster nodded and left the throne room with a smile as Twilight and the others watched her leave.
Whatever their pitch you
Can feel them bewitch you
The rich and the ritual knells
Of the bells of the legend
Twilight and the others turned to Charming Thunder as he walked up to the spirit of Danny Eclipse. He stood next to him as Rainbow sheds a tear to the sight of Danny's spirit. Danny saluted her as Rainbow did the same before the two brothers vanished.
"Hey, Twilight?" Pinkie asked. "Our story doesn't have to end there, does it?"
"No, Pinkie," Twilight replied. "I believe that a new adventure has begun for us and my top student."
THE END
