My Little Pony: When Friendship Shimmers

Previously, Twilight & Sunset were joined in the everfree forest by Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash. As they progressed, first Applejack showed her honest nature by telling Sunset to save her mana as much as she could in case they have to outright fight nightmare moon. Second, Fluttershy showed kindess towards a manticore who had a thorn in one of it's paws. As the trees became dense, emphasizing with Rarity being afraid of the dark, Sunset did a small light spell that wouldn't waste too much mana too quickly. This lead to the group discovering the trees had scary faces on them which Pinkie Pie sang a song about laughing away fears. After this, Rarity generiously sacrificed her own tail to fix a sea serpent's mustache. Now the group is approuching the Castle of the Two Sisters but...

"What the heck...the bridge is out!" Sunset observed.

"No worries you guys. I'll go over and fix it." Rainbow Dash said and flew over. Nightmare moon conjured up a group of Shadowbolts to try and tempt Rainbow Dash, which looked like it was working, but Rainbow Dash's loyalty to her friends came first to her.

And that would make loyalty. That's five of the seven elements. Makes me wonder about that Empathy one. Sunset thought to herself. The group soon found the elements, but there were only six out of seven.

"There's only six here, so where's the seventh?" Fluttershy asked.

"Didja forget? Twilight read that the seventh would only appear once a spark unites the others." Rainbow Dash said. "Now what that means I have no idea." She added.

"I'm going to try something." Twilight said and began trying to use a spell on the elements.

"Should we leave her to this?" Applejack asked Sunset.

"We should stick around, just in case Nightmare Moon shows up." Sunset said. As if on cue, that's exactly what happened. "OH COME ON!" Sunset said. Nightmare moon proceeded to steal the elements, and twilight with them. "TWILIGHT!" Sunset said. NO! NOT AGAIN! I WON'T LET SOMEONE ELSE VANISH BECAUSE OF ME! Sunset thought to herself.

"Sunset, look!" Pinkie Pie said, directing Sunset's attention to another part of the castle where light was shining into.

"! Good catch Pinkie Pie. C'mon let's go." Sunset said. Hold on L.S.B.F.F., I'm coming. I won't let you suffer the same fate as my little brother! She thought to herself as she and the elements rushed over to the spot where Twilight was trying to face off against Nightmare Moon. "TWILIGHT, DON'T GIVE UP!" Sunset yelled out as the group was almost there. Twilight eyes went wide as she realized something.

"Nightmare Moon...you really think you can destroy the elements just like that?!" Twilight exclaimed. Suddenly the others burst onto the scene. "Well I'm afraid you'll have to rethink that, because the ponies who represent them are right here!" Twilight said. "Applejack, who told the truth that we might have to fight you to Sunset represents the element of Honesty. Fluttershy who tamed the manticore by removing a thorn in it's paw represents the element of kindness. Sunset Shimmer who was once afraid of the dark, comforted Rarity by using a minor light spell to light the way represents the element of Empathy." Twilight began to explain as the broken pieces of the elements rushed over to her friends.

! I'm the element of Empathy?! Well...now that she brings it up...I guess I am. Sunset said.

"Sunset also showed empathy towards me my entire life by becoming my surrogate big sister. Pinkie Pie who managed to encourage us to laugh away our fears represents the element of Laughter. Lastly, Rainbow Dash who refused to let her own desires come before her friends represents the element of Loyalty." Twilight said.

"But you still don't have the seventh element; the spark didn't work!" Nightmare Moon countered.

"But it did. A different kind of spark. I realized it once everyone came to my aid. Because I realized now that they are my friends!" Twilight said. Suddenly the final element appeared. "You see, when those seven are united by the spark, it creates the seventh element, the ELEMENT OF MAGIC!" Twilight said. Suddenly the broken pieces of the other elements forged themselves into necklaces for Appledash, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash. For Sunset however, hers was forged into a crown as Twilight's element also was transformed into a crown before Nightmare Moon was hit with a rainbow laser.

A bit later, the seven mares woke up.

"My tail is back to normal!" Rarity exclaimed.

"Oh Rarity, it's lovely." Fluttershy said.

"I know! I'll never part with it again." Rarity said.

"No your necklace, it looks like your cutie mark." Fluttershy said.

"Oh?" Rarity noticed this. "So does yours." She pointed out. Everyone noticed this too.

"Gee Twilght, ah thought ya were just spouting nonsense, but ah guess we really do represent the elements." Applejack said.

"Indeed you do." A voice said. Suddenly Princess Celestia appeared as the sun rose and the moon set once more.

"Princess Celestia!" Twilight called out as everyone but her and Sunset bowed.

"Good job my two students. You managed to defeat nightmare moon with the help of the elements and your new friends." Celestia said.

"Speaking of...what happened with Nightmare Moon anyways?" Sunset said, looking towards the remains, seeing a strange younger alicorn there instead of Nightmare Moon.

"She was restored back to the way she used to be thanks to your new friendships. Now if only she would accept mine." Celestia said and approuched the other alicorn. "Luna, it's been one thousand years since I've seen you like this. We were meant to rule together, my sister." Celestia said.

"SISTER!?" Sunset exclaimed.

"Kind of obvious when you know that so called mare's tale. I already deduced that Nightmare Moon had to be Celestia's sister." Twilight said. "I think our use of the elements restored her back to the way she was before she let jealousy overwelm her and turn her into Nightmare Moon." Twilight explained.

"But...she's Celestia's own sister!" Sunset countered. "Why would Celestia banish her own sister?" She asked.

"I think I know...the elements must only be able to do what the wielders want. And we wanted to defeat Nightmare Moon, not banish her. Celestia must have thought irrationally one thousand years ago and this lead to her banishing her own sister." Twilight said.

"You are correct Twilight. I knew you would understand. That's why I wanted you and Sunset to make friends, because with that friendship, you could do what I could not and save my sister." Celestia said. "I was unable to do so on my own...so I secretly entrusted the task to you and Sunset, knowing full well you would not make the same mistake I did." She added.

"Normally I'd critisize that decision but I guess I can't do so. Not like this." Sunset said. "Now if only we could find my brother..." Sunset said.

"Hey Sunset...do you think we should move here to Ponyville?" Twilight asked.

"Why?" Sunset said. Then she realized it. "Oh...that's why. That sounds like a good idea but what about you, Princess Celestia?" Sunset asked. "Would you allow us to move here to Ponyville?" She asked.

"I was planning on letting you two live here anyways so long as you two continue to learn about friendship." Celestia said.

"We'll do our best on that front. Right B.S.B.F.F.?" Twilight asked.

"You bet, L.S.B.F.F.!" Sunset said. And the two surrogate sisters hoof-bumped each other. Brother, wherever you are, I hope you can wait a bit longer. While I stay here in Ponyville, I will not only learn more about friendship, I will also continue my never ending search for you. I will find you, and I will finally bring our mother the closure she needs. Sunset thought to herself.

Who was Sunset's brother anyways? This mystery will remain as such for quite some time...