A Lost Heir: Rainbow Rocks

It was boring having to wait on top of the amphitheater until The Rainbooms started playing. However, I knew that both Twilight and Adagio would be showing up, so it wasn't like I wasn't busy. And I wasn't standing on the roof either. The amphitheater was built like half of a dome and luckily for me, there was a short lip on the top that I could hide behind. So, that's where I was. Halfway sitting and halfway laying down behind the short wall on the roof with my eyes watching the growing crowd for any signs of Twilight and Adagio. Even after an hour of waiting and after carefully watching every single person that came in through the entrance, they were nowhere to be seen. During all that waiting, I remained alone on the roof while the girls remained below. During all that time, Cadence and Sonata continued to mingle and interact with the growing crowd. But without success.

Even as Vinyl began playing, Sonata and Cadence were still mingling among the crowd trying to find them. And I was still frantically looking from person to person. The other students were bobbing their heads and swaying their bodies to the music with no knowledge of the possible battle that could be coming. I was hoping to stop them before it got to that point. Because the last thing that I needed was people getting hurt by magic or flying concrete debris. Which was exactly one of the outcomes that were running through my mind right now as I frantically looked for Adagio and or Twilight without success. So, when Vinyl stopped playing and I had yet to find them, that's when the what-ifs started rampaging through my mind.

After the cheering of the crowd died down, that was when the girls stepped onto the stage. And after a few minutes of getting all their equipment ready, they started playing. My heart started pumping for another reason as they began playing, not to mention my nerves. Especially when their bodies turned into their pony forms with longer hair, long tails, ears, and wings. Up until this point, nobody has seen either Twilight or Adagio yet. And if they wanted to do something, then now would be the time. Now that their bodies have now changed and have accessed their magic, it is now available to be drained. So, without anything else to do, I watched the girls play down below. Their bodies started glowing where they grew their pony's appendages.

Then it happened. About a minute into their playing their pony appendages started fading away. Not only that but they started to get visibly tired. It took me only a second to realize what was going on. Adagio and Twilight were here and that blasted device was now being used to drain their magic. I had to do something. So, I jumped down from my perch upon the roof to land lightly on the stage right in front of Rainbow. The girls stopped playing and the crowd behind me was already starting to murmur and wonder what was going on.

"Why do I feel so weak?" Rainbow asked as I took her arms to hold her up.

"Twilight is using her device to drain you but I don't know where she is," I told her as the others put down their instruments because they too started swaying. Rainbow held onto me as I took a quick look around the stage. "I don't see her anywhere or Adagio." One by one the girls started to sit down on the wooden floor of the stage.

"They've got to be here somewhere," AJ stated the obvious as she was able to put down her guitar before sitting down.

Rarity was already sitting down with her head in her hands, as was Fluttershy, when Mom, Aunt Luna, and Sunset started coming up onto the stage. "Girls are you all alright?" Mom asked as she knelt down between AJ and Rarity. Aunt Luna, meanwhile passed us to help Fluttershy as Sunset knelt down beside Rainbow and I.

"Just weak," Rarity sounded tired as she responded. Even looked it as she sat on the wooden floor. "Now I know how Fred felt when it happened to him."

"But where is Twilight and her device?" Sunset asked as she too looked around.

As the crowd murmured their concern, I had an idea. I got up and grabbed the microphone that Rainbow was using. "Attention everyone. There's a threat against the theater and we need everyone to vacate the area immediately." The crowd did start moving toward the exit but not as quickly as I'd like. Given the fact that all the seats were made from stone with sections cordoned off with iron railing didn't help either. So, because they weren't moving quickly enough, I threw up my hands suddenly and blasted off two large bangs of heat and fire. "NOW!" I had to chuckle a little as that got them moving more quickly without trampling over each other. The next part was easy. As the crowd started to leave, I lifted my hand, activated my magic, and levitated both Sonata and Cadence over the crowd and over to me at the stage.

"Thanks."

"You're welcome, Cadence," I said to her as I watched the girls begin to regain their strength. "Now, I don't know where they are going to emerge. But when they do, try and talk them out of it. If you can't, get to cover."

"Wait! Sister! Isn't there a storage area under the floor!?" Aunt Luna proposed.

As if a direct answer to her question, we heard faint maniacal laughter come from directly below us. I had to do something because even though I didn't know how they got in, there was one frightening possibility of how they would get out. From how it sounded, they were directly beneath Pinkie. But they were just beginning to recover from the drain and couldn't get away in time. "Scatter!" I yelled out while using my wings to quickly jump away from the stage. But that's not the only thing I did. There were the others to worry about. So, as I flew away from the stage, I used my magic to pull Cadence and Sonata with me. At the same time, using it to quickly push everyone away from the center of the stage toward the edge and place a protective shield around them.

And just in the nick of time because the center of the stage exploded in a shower of wood pieces. The rest of the remaining students that were still in the audience section of the amphitheater stopped and turned around in wonder at what caused the explosion. I already knew what caused it and knew that there was going to be a big fight. Placing Sonata and Cadence away from me was vital, so I quickly levitated them away from me back to the ground once more a good distance behind me. No sooner than I set them back on the ground did both Twilight and Adagio flew up out of the hole in the stage.

Yes, flew.

Adagio and Twilight both had transformed due to the influx of magic. Adagio's body was glowing a light purple color and had grown light purple wings. There was also a tail of the same color as her long hair. She was still wearing the same purple dress as before as well. Twilight's body was glowing a deep bright purple with dark purple wings and also a tail. But that's not all that changed with Twilight. Her dress had changed to a tight form-fitting tube dress with a low deep v-cut front that accented her breasts. Her eyes were glowing a deep bright purple along with her transparent horn on her forehead.

"ITTOU SHURA!" Magic exploded around me like a small tornado that swirled around me with crackling magical energy that had my long blond hair swirling in all directions. I steeled myself for any action that they might take as I hovered in the air not too far from them.

"Twilight! It's Cadence! Please, stop! Don't do this," Cadence pleaded with her as she ran up as fast as she could over the concrete steps.

Sonata wasn't far behind as she too ran forward as a last-ditch effort, "Adagio! Adagio! There's a better way! Please, listen to your sister Sonata."

Dark Twilight looked down at Cadence with a crazy maniacal expression as magical energy flowed and crackled around her making her hair blow around wildly. "Why should I stop?" she asked her before laughing with evil glee. "I wanted to understand what this magic was and I found out. It's POWER AND I WANT MORE OF IT."

"WE want more of it!" Adagio echoed Twilight as she too looked down but at Sonata. "You could have had it and more Sonata!"

I watched tears fall from Sonata's eyes as she looked up at Adagio, still pleading. "I don't want power anymore because I've already felt what it's like to feel loved."

Sunset stood up and quickly ran up to the front of the stage and began to shout up at Twilight, "Please Twilight! I've been where you are and know what it's like to feel all that power!" While Sunset was talking, I realized that we had lost sight of Twilight's device. Only to see it around her neck. Now was the perfect time to grab it and destroy it as Sunset was talking. While both Adagio and Twilight had turned toward her. Reaching out with my magic, I quickly grabbed the device yanking it off of her neck, and smashed it against the ground letting it be destroyed in a shower of electrical sparks and parts.

"No!" Twilight zipped down to the ground and picked up the parts.

"This isn't the way Twilight," Sunset pleaded down to Twilight that was just in front of her on the ground in front of the stage. "Fred will be forced to stop you, even kill you. He doesn't want that. We don't want that."

Adagio floated down to stand right beside Twilight as Twilight stood up and looked over at Cadence. "What you don't understand Sunset Shimmer is that we don't want to stop."

By this time, the rest of the students had already left and it was just us. At least none of the other students would get hurt. Though, I couldn't say the same for the rest that was present.

"Either you stop, or I can and will stop you," I told them, narrowing my eyes at them while also lowering myself close to the ground but still in front of both Cadence and Sonata.

Twilight simply shrugged with a wicked evil smirk up at me. "I don't need the device anymore because I have the means to get more power." That grin turned into a wicked evil smile as her eyes went wide with an evil and lustful glee for power. Adagio also turned to me and smiled also. "And I know just where to get more."

Two flaming orbs appeared in my hands as I stood at the ready and glared at them both. "Over my dead body."

This time Adagio grinned wickedly at me, showing her teeth like a wild crazed animal, "That's the IDEA!" At that last word, she attacked me with a powerful fireball that was hurled at me so quickly I barely had time to extinguish my flames and put up my own shield. Even though my shield was up, it was still powerful enough to hurl me backward toward the concrete stands. I heard the girls cry out to me in alarm just before I hit the first few concrete rows of seats. But because my shield was up I not only left an impact against the ground that sent up concrete debris but also bounced me even further back. Finally coming to stop about midway up the concrete stands. "Twilight, now!" Adagio called out just as I was beginning to stand up again.

Their attention shifted to Twilight as she lifted a hand, ignited it with her magic, and pointed it to a spot on the ground between her and Cadence. And with one powerful flash of magic, a portal appeared on the ground. Because of my new vantage point, I could tell where it led. And what I saw both frightened me and angered me.

It was Fluttershy's cottage.

What Twilight said next made my blood boil. "And there are the first ones that I'm going to drain."

"NO!" I screamed at her and used every bit of my magic into one powerful thrust of my wings. And launched myself at her leaving a spiderweb of cracks in the concrete steps behind me. It was like everything suddenly went into slow motion. Cadence and Sonata appeared to be moving really slowly as I flew by them. But right now, there was only one target in my sights. Twilight didn't have a chance to put up any sort of shield before time seemed to speed up again right before my fist hit her chest. Now that Twilight was infused with powerful magic, I knew that just a simple punch wasn't enough to kill her. However, with the amount of power I put into it hopefully, she would be unconscious enough for me to deal with Adagio. When my fist hit Twilight's chest, there was an explosion of heat, fire, and magic that sent her back crashing through the wall of the stage and into the storage underneath. But I didn't stop there and immediately turned toward Adagio.

"ADAGIO!" I screamed at her and sent a powerful fireball her way. It formed and left my hands rapidly, screaming through the air, and pulsing with heat and crackling magical energy. But I wasn't quick enough, so Adagio was able to put up a shield to protect herself. However, it did have enough energy and force to knock her back toward the outer concrete wall. "Cadence! See to Twilight and try to talk her out of it." I had just enough time to look up to the others. "Get out of here! NOW!"

I would have gone after her but I had to stay near this new portal and protect it from either one of them trying to fly into it. The position of the portal was directly over Fluttershy's cottage and looked down upon it as if a pegasus was in the sky overhead. "I'll try to talk with her as well," Sunset said as she got up, quickly jumped down to the ground, and followed Cadence into the hole that Twilight left through the person-high wall of the stage. Right after that, Adagio had recovered and was quickly flying toward me again with a yell that sounded more like a battle cry. I had to keep her busy, so I quickly fired off hot balls of fire at her that crackled with magical energy. "Mom, get them out of here," I yelled out as the balls of fire and energy left my hands one after another. It was like trying to hit a rapidly flying object inside a shooting gallery except this one was also firing back at me.

Adagio was able to dodge or deflect most of them as she flew toward me cackling with an evil laugh. I did get a few hits in that slowed her down. Unfortunately, because I had to protect the portal every one of her attacks hit my shield one after another sparking and hissing with magic and fire. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Mom and Aunt Luna helping the girls up and encouraging them to leave. Luckily, I have yet to see Twilight come out of her whole. "Stop, Adagio!" Sonata pleaded once more. "He'll kill you!"

"Not if I KILL HIM FIRST!" Adagio charged at me, so changing tactics I pretended to be tired in order to draw her in close. Once she was within five feet, I knew there was no chance for her to block my next attack. After quickly producing a basketball-sized orb of sparking magic and fire, I put as much force into it as possible to at least knock her out. My attack hit her like a wrecking ball. She let out a loud oof as her body was engulfed in fire and sparking electrical magic that sent her flying back into the concrete stands. The fire didn't last long after she crashed into the stands, creating a crater underneath her, and sending concrete debris in all directions. Her body was still sparking with magical electrical energy as it was my hope that the magical electrical energy would act like a stun gun and knock her out.

"What in Tartarus...?" I heard a familiar voice coming from the portal. After a quick look down, I noticed that Rainbow was hovering in the air just on the other side of it and looking up with total confusion. With Adagio still out and her body still crackling with electrical energy, I quickly turned and knelt down to address her.

"Rainbow! Go get Twilight and tell her to seal up this portal if she can," I almost yelled at her. It was obvious that she was totally confused, so I brought her out of her stupor by shouting to her, "GO! NOW!"

She saluted, "Got it," and took off with her signature rainbow trail streaming behind her. By this time the electrical energy was already dissipating around Adagio. I wanted to try and restrain her somehow, now that I had a chance. One good thing that was exposed in the stands was the metal steel rod rebar used to reinforce concrete.

"Stay here," I commanded Sonata and with one powerful blast of my wings took off toward Adagio. Quickly using my magic, I lifted five long rebars from the concrete rubble, lifted the still knocked out Adagio, and proceeded to bring the rebar close to her. My goal was to use them as makeshift handcuffs and to wrap them around Adagio's body. That was the idea anyway but I wasn't quick enough. She must have been faking it or something because she let out a battle cry and a powerful wave of energy that sent me, and my rebar, flying back toward the portal and the wooden stage. I landed on the concrete ground with a loud "oof" of my own right beside the portal along with all but one of the rebar.

"Adagio! No! Please!" Sonata pleaded once more but this time she quickly moved to stand in front of me.

"Whoa!" I heard Twilight's voice from the portal just as one of the rebars slid into it. Then immediately heard the very faint sound of Twilight's magic working. "I'm here and I'll do what I can."

Just as I heard Twilight say that, I heard Adagio scream out a battle cry directed solely at Sonata and launched herself toward her. And me. "DIE MY TRAITOROUS SISTER!" I had to stop her right now. Unfortunately, Sonata wouldn't like it. I didn't like it but it had to be done. Because Adagio's focus was on killing Sonata. That gave me all the opportunity I needed to lift three rebars and put all my might into shooting them, like arrows, at the unsuspecting Adagio.

"Adagio! NO!" Sonata screamed at the sight of Adagio being halted in the air as one rebar skewered her through the stomach. Adagio's eyes went wide in shock at the sight of the rebar sticking out of her. The second rebar went through her left breast, more than likely skewing her through the heart. As blood trickled out of her nose and mouth, the third rebar entered through her right breast. Then she fell to the ground. "NO!" Sonata screamed at the sight and ran up to Adagio as blood slowly started pooling underneath her. My own heart felt heavy at the sight of Sonata reaching out to Adagio, grabbing her head, and pulling into her lap. And cried over the loss of her sister. Everything seemed to go quiet and silent with nothing but the sound of Sonata's broken heart crying out. Her sobbing words of, "Why, Adagio? Why?" echoing slightly as she rocked back and forth as if holding a sleeping baby.

I didn't have the luxury of trying to console Sonata because I had this world's Twilight to deal with. So, I got up, turned around, and began walking over to the hole that Twilight left in the wall of the stage. Blood was on my hands again. And I've felt less human because I took another life. But I didn't have the time or the luxury to think about that. Because as I approached the hole in the wall I began hearing arguing inside. It wasn't until I was standing directly in front of the hole that Twilight came screaming out of it directly at me. While yelling out a battle cry, she hit me with the full force of all her stolen power and sent me flying back toward the concrete stands again. And only when I landed did I hear this world's Twilight launch herself at the portal. "Give me your magic!"

I quickly stood up to interfere only to find out that I didn't have to. Equestria's Twilight must have been able to put up a shield barrier on the Equestria's side of the portal. It was obvious when this world's Twilight bounced away from the portal looking extremely upset. "Don't stop me!" she complained, glaring down at the portal. "I want more! Give me more!"

"Never! I won't let you hurt the ones I love!"

It was right then that I noticed the Tree of Harmony herself appear in front of Cadence and Sunset. They had yet to leave the storage space underneath the stage. Both of them looked surprised and in awe of her standing in front of them. Not that I blame them any, she's quite the sight.

"Oh, I won't hurt them," the human Twilight said in a sweet innocent voice with a disarming look to match. That changed to an evil look of madness and cackled out madly, "I'll just drain them of every scrap of magic to keep it for myself!"

The Tree of Harmony stretched out her hand toward both of them and after all three of them glowed brightly, a newly transformed Cadence and Sunset were standing there. I was barely able to make out Harmony saying for them to stop Twilight by holding her tightly and talking to her. No sooner when she said that did they both flew out of the whole, one after another and not at the same time, directly at evil Twilight. And flew at her so fast that evil Twilight wasn't expecting it, so she was completely caught off guard when she was seized by them. Cadence had one arm while Sunset had the other. Both of them had transparent wings and horns while wearing the same clothes with both of their bodies glowing.

"What are you two doing?! Let me go right now!" evil Twilight demanded while wiggling violently in their grasp. Even with all her wiggling and trying to get free, she couldn't. But that doesn't mean she still couldn't use her magic. Her hands started glowing as an indicator that she was about to use her magic. She never got the chance because Harmony suddenly appeared directly in front of her. Then suddenly put her hand against evil Twilight's head. I had no clue what she was doing but it had an immediate effect on her. She stopped wiggling and simply hung there in their grasp. It still wasn't clear what Harmony did until Equestria's Twilight's cutie mark appeared in evil Twilight's eyes.

When that happened, I quickly flew up to them to find out what was going on. That was when I heard Harmony look at evil Twilight and said, "Show her Twilight and let her feel what you feel about him." Harmony then looked over at Cadence, "Remind her of your deep friendship." Then looked over at Sunset, "Explain to her your own experience."

"Let me go," evil Twilight muttered softly. "No. You'll listen to us first," she immediately said after that which I gathered was Equestria's Twilight. "First, the portal needs to be sealed."

Harmony turned around, looked down at the portal, and with one wave of her hand the portal closed and disappeared.

"Listen to me, please Twilight. Remember when I used to babysit you? Remember our friendship for one another."

"The Cadence of my world also was my...baby...sitter," Equestrian Twilight explained as Harmony flew up to me while Cadence and Sunset continued to hold evil Twilight. "We knew each other's memories now. Your lust for knowledge and power has blinded you to what truly matters in life." Evil Twilight now looked my way as Harmony took my hand and encouraged me to land back down on the ground. After I did, she pressed herself up against me and wrapped her arms around me placing her head onto my chest. So, I wrapped my arms and wings around her, loving the feeling of her naked body against mine, and the softness of her breasts against my chest. "Do you feel the love that I have for him?"

After they also landed, I saw a single tear fall from Evil Twilight's face. "I do," she whispered with a slightly shaking voice. "We've been through much together. We love him so much."

"Remember me, Twilight? Cadence? Your babysitter?"

Evil Twilight turned her head toward Cadence, whispering, "Cadence."

"Twilight?" Sunset asked to get her attention and then continued when she did. "When I was infused with the power from the crown, the only thing that I wanted was more power. And until Fred and his friends stopped me, I thought that was all there was to life. But I was wrong, Twilight. Please don't make the same mistake I almost made. Thanks to Fred, I was given a second chance to explore what really matters. Friends and the chance to find love. The same love that your counterpart...um...Equestria's Twilight has for Fred. The same love that the others feel for him."

"We love him," it was evil Twilight that spoke this time while looking at me with another tear falling from her eyes. "Cadence," she looked back at her babysitter and friend again, "we've had such good times."

"And you'll be throwing all that away for even a chance at the power you seek," Sunset told her with her voice going softer and a more somber tone to it. "Look at Adagio, Twilight." Sunset waited until Twilight's eyes saw Sonata holding Adagio's now dead body. Twilight's eyes went wide with fright at the sight. "Adagio wouldn't stop seeking power. And wanted to kill her own sister to do it. What Fred did was necessary in order to stop her. You have the opportunity to stop, right here and now. Let us show you a better way that my friends have also shown me. A life where friends and love matter more than knowledge and power."

"A life where we can be friends again," Cadence pleaded with her own voice shaking with the sound of her heart breaking. "Don't you want that, Twilight?"

"I do, Cadence," evil Twilight said as she looked over at Cadence.

"Isn't a life of love better than knowledge and power?" it was Equestrian Twilight that asked that, so her head looked toward me again. "Do you really want to give up love and friendship for knowledge and power?"

"Trust me, Twilight. Knowledge and power mean nothing without someone you care about to share it with," was Sunset's encouragement. "Especially considering the ultimate alternative."

I watched evil Twilight look at Adagio's dead body and could figuratively see the gears turning in her head.

Out of the corner of my eye, I watched Sonata kiss Adagio's forehead, then stand up, and walk over to us. "It's not worth it, Twilight," Sonata was saying as she approached them. "I pleaded for Adagio to stop just as your friend Cadence was trying to tell you."

Evil Twilight looked over at me with tears starting to fall from her eyes. "I'm sorry," she started sobbing while putting her head in her hands, "I'm so sorry." Cadence and Sunset loosened their hold on her as evil Twilight's form reverted back to her normal human form again. And since the threat was now over, Cadence, Sunset, and I also reverted back to normal again. "I didn't know that love and friendship were so important." Cadence and Adagio were now in a group hug with this world's Twilight as she continued sobbing.

Finally, it's over.

"We'll be waiting for your return," the Tree of Harmony said to me then pulled my head down for a soft lingering kiss before fading away.

I watched the hug fest for a couple of seconds before turning to Sonata, stepping up to her, and gently taking her arms in my hands. "I'm sorry about Adagio," I said while rubbing her arms in what I felt was a weak attempt at consoling her. Tears were still in her eyes as she nodded slowly before breaking down again in quiet sobs. So, I gently pulled her against me, wrapping my wings and arms around her, and simply held her.

And wouldn't you know it, it was during this quiet time that Mom, Aunt Luna, and the rest of the girls started walking back into the amphitheater through the far entrance at the edge of the concrete stands. After they all started walking down the edge of the seats, it didn't take them long before spotting Adagio's dead body at the bottom of the concrete seats. Each one of them looked horrified at the sight with only Mom, Aunt Luna, and AJ seemingly being able to hold their stomachs and most of their composure. The rest of them had to turn away at the sight. I shot them an apologetic look because there wasn't anything around that I could use to cover her up with. AJ decided to stay with the girls while Mom and Aunt Luna walked down the steps and over to Sonata and I.

"I'm sorry that this has ended in a less than optimal outcome," Aunt Luna said more to Sonata than to me when they got close enough.

"Adagio was about to kill Sonata, so I had no choice," I began explaining to them while Sonata continued softly crying in my arms. At least I didn't have a shirt to get wet anyway. "It took the Tree of Harmony's intervention to get through to Twilight. But as you can see, she finally relented after Harmony merged Equestria's Twilight's consciousness with hers. She was then able to show this world's Twilight what it's like to feel love and friendship. Only then were Cadence and Sunset able to get through to her. I don't think there's any danger from her now."

Both of them looked at me as if they had no clue what I was referring to. "What do you mean by merging consciousness?"

I just realized that neither of them knew what the girls and I discovered. "Oh yeah, I haven't had the chance to tell you yet. It turns out that the Tree of Harmony can merge minds between you and your Equestrian counterpart. By doing so, you share memories and emotions with each other." I saw right away that Mom wanted to do just that, so that's why I added, "Why don't we do that a little bit later after we take care of Adagio's body and clean up this mess?"

Mom looked around for a couple of seconds before looking back at me with a somber expression on her face giving me a slow nod. "Agreed."

^_^

Adagio's body was the first to be taken care of and at least that was the easy part of cleaning up. I wanted to give Adagio a proper burial, so after asking Sonata if there was anyplace she liked best, I lifted Adagio's body and Sonata in my magic and flew off. There was a spot just outside of the city on a hill that was the perfect place to watch the sunrise and the sunset. That's where she wanted Adagio to be buried. No, I didn't bury Adagio with the rebar still in her. I took out the rebar before flying off with them.

We weren't alone there either. It wasn't until we got close that I was able to tell who was standing there on the hill looking off into the distance. Aria was standing on the crest of the hill and only turned around right before we landed. It seemed obvious to me that she wasn't expecting us and was only there to think about where to go from here by the look in her eyes. That look in Aria's eyes changed in an instant as we landed in front of her. Her eyes went wide in shock at the sight of Adagio's dead body hovering in my magic beside me. Sonata stood on the other side of me as we waited for Aria to say what was on her mind. It only took a couple of seconds.

"I told her it wasn't worth it," even though there was a growl in her voice as she glared at Adagio's body, there was also a couple of tears from her eyes with her voice betraying the mixed emotions of this moment. "When you dropped us, that was the last straw for me. I knew that you would do this if she didn't stop. And look where it got her. Dead."

"He did it to save my life." Sonata's voice trembled as she spoke and I could tell that she wanted to reach out and hug Aria. She probably might not have known how Aria would take that at this moment. "She was going to kill me for being a traitorous sister."

Aria's face went from shock to pure horror as her head snapped to Sonata with her mouth hanging open as if caught in a perpetual gasp. "I...I can't...I can't believe it." She was finally able to mutter out after a couple of minutes. "You might be annoying at times, Sonata. And even pissed us off when you gave up our secrets, took away our powers, and then returned to Equestria, but...to..." It was clear that Aria would always think of Sonata as a sister even when they rubbed each other the wrong way. That meant there was still hope for their own relationship as sisters, at least.

"I asked Sonata where she wanted Adagio to be buried," I told her with a soft solemn voice. "This is where she led me."

Aria was now looking at me with surprise, "You would do that?"

I walked past her with Adagio still hovering beside me in my magic. "I respect the dead," I told her while gently laying Adagio's body on the ground. Then used my magic to start digging her grave. "You still have Sonata as your sister, Aria," I spoke aloud when the grave was finished being dug. Now that it was dug, I lifted up Adagio's body in my magic and laid her to rest in her grave in a peaceful position. "You still have each other," I continued to say while recovering the grave with the dirt I dug out. "Don't take her for granted. Have a peaceful life in this world. Make friends. Maybe even have a family." When done, I turned around to face Aria with a firm somber look to emphasize my point. Neither of them said anything to me, so I said, "I'll give you some privacy," and started walking away to do just that and give them time to talk.

I walked a little bit of distance away that was far enough to give them some privacy but I was also close enough to keep a watch on Aria. Not that I really expected her to do anything at this point but still better to be safer than sorry later. And watched them talk, although from what I saw and what little I could hear it started slowly. Which was natural at moments like this. However, after some time of quiet talking, it did end well with a long tearful hug. That told me that they were on the road to starting a strong meaningful relationship as sisters.

What I didn't expect was for both Sonata and Aria to start walking back in my direction. I fully expected Aria to part ways and walk off as she did before. She didn't but instead walked with Sonata toward me. I watched her body language and the look on her face to give me clues as to why and what was on her mind. Everything from the look on her face, the look in her eyes, and the way she walked told me that she wanted to ask me something. But was also nervous and apprehensive about it. When she looked up at me after stopping in front of me, however, showed me a humble determination. "I would like the opportunity to return to Equestria, so Sonata and I can be sisters. She's all I got left now. And without our gems, there's no way for me to gain and retain magic anymore."

"No," I said simply. Then held up a finger to silence them both when it appeared they would plead to me their objection to that. "However," I began again after getting their attention once more, "because of the look in your eyes, and yes because there's almost no way for you to get your magic, and especially after finally walking away from all this, and because I know what you mean to Sonata, I am willing to give you the chance to earn it." Even though it was clear that it wasn't the answer either one of them was expecting, it did bring a small thankful smile to Sonata's face. So, I offered my hand to Aria, "Do you accept?"

With a nod and a soft resigned sigh, she shook my hand, "I accept. But how can I earn it?"

"Earn the trust of my friends first," I told her with a growing smile. "Rarity, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, AJ, and Pinkie Pie. Earn their trust and convince them that you really want to live peacefully and will not desire magic ever again, and then you would have earned the opportunity to return to Equestria."

"Alright," she agreed with a nod, "when do we start?"

I waited a split second before wickedly grinning, grabbing both of them in my magic, saying out a quick, "Now," and quickly launching us into the air. I'll admit that it was a little satisfying to watch Aria flail around in fright before relenting and bringing her in close against me where I wrapped my arm around her and Sonata both. While Sonata was having fun and squealing out a happy, "Weeee," as we flew, Aria was trying to hit my chest like a bongo drum while cursing at me the whole way for frightening her.

^_^

"Fred! That wasn't nice scaring Aria like that," Rarity chastised me with a slap on my arm that was more playful than anything. We finally found them at an empty and closed Sugarcube Corner where there was pizza already waiting for us. Thank goodness because I was really hungry. Naturally, though, that had to wait when the hail of questions of why Aria was with Sonata and I. Rarity chastised me after explaining everything to them. And while the girls agreed with Rarity all but Rainbow and AJ tried to hide their giggles and amusement at my little stunt.

"No but I bet the look on her face was priceless," Rainbow laughed in her chair as everyone sat around the largest of the tables. This world's Twilight was even present and sitting between Cadence and Sunset while holding in her own set of giggles.

"Ha ha very funny," Aria stood there pouting a little with her face blushing slightly in embarrassment.

"Aww, don't worry about it sugarcube," AJ waved off Aria's pout with a dismissive hand before motioning to the empty seat next to her. "Come on, sit down, and have some pizza."

"Yeah, go on," I encouraged her with a friendly pat on her shoulder before I walked toward the back stairs. "I'm tired and hungry but the first thing I want is a shower." I was just about halfway toward the stairs that led up to Pinkie's apartment when my ears picked up Rainbow's teasing question.

"Hey, stud? Did you bring another pair of shorts or something else to wear because those look a little beat up?"

I stopped and simply hung my head with a soft sigh at the teasing implications of what she just asked. "No, Rainbow, I didn't bring anything else to wear." And with that admission, I started walking toward the back stairs again. Even Mom and Aunt Luna took the hint at what my very near future because I heard two chairs scoot against the floor.

"Well, I don't think my son wants me around when he's going to be walking around naked very shortly," I heard Mom say with amusement and mirth in her voice and a short giggle that she couldn't quite keep in.

"Indeed, sister," I heard from Aunt Luna as I reached the stairs. "However, I do request that they give us all the details later. Speaking of later, your mom and I want to spend time with you tonight."

I gave them a wave behind me saying, "I promise," to them before walking up the stairs. That fight took a lot out of me, my wings needed preening badly, and Rainbow was right that my clothes were a mess that needed a good washing at the very least. And I also knew that someone would be up soon to grab them away while I was in the shower being soothed by the hot water. Mom and Aunt Luna apparently knew that as well because they left.

Unfortunately, because this was the human world and not Equestria, it took a good few minutes for the water to heat up. Undressing while I waited. But once I was in the shower and felt the hot water flow over me, it started to ease the soreness in my muscles and joints and the bruises that were bound to show up tomorrow. So, I leaned forward against the wall underneath the showerhead to simply enjoy the hot water.

And sure enough, a good few minutes later, I heard the bathroom door open. Someone stepped in and then shut the door behind them.

As my wings fluttered to get them wet, I turned toward the opaque shower curtain of the tub slash shower. "Alright, who did they send to steal my clothes?"

Whoever it was, waited a few seconds before answering which is why I thought it was Fluttershy at first. But it wasn't. "Um...It's Twilight." Her voice sounded like Fluttershy when she was nervous. There was also a great deal of regret in her voice as well. "I volunteered," she admitted softly. Because the shower curtain was opaque, she couldn't see me. Nor could I see her. "I wanted to tell you how sorry I am for my actions." I could tell by the sound of her voice that she wanted to say more. So, while waiting for her to continue, I brought my wings forward and started preening them. My guess was that she wanted to collect her thoughts which explains why she started speaking slowly as if in thought. "I thought that research and knowledge was everything I needed. Until my mind combined with the other one...that is. When that happened, I saw into her memories and even experienced her memories. I never knew that friendship could feel more important than knowledge and research. I felt her love for you. Experienced her love for you. Experienced everything from the time you two first met until now."

It was getting hot in the room and definitely steamy. But I kept silent and listened to her while preening my other wing. "I never knew that love could feel that way. That it was more important than any knowledge in the world. That Sunset was right. What good is all that knowledge and even all that power without someone to share it with?" She paused while I heard the sound of clothes rustling which told me that she picked up my clothes. "So, thanks for not killing me."

Without pausing what I was doing, I said to her, "I didn't have to because you came to your senses. So, you're welcome." Then there was nothing but silence for the next minute or so which told me that she must have left.

I was wrong.

Not only did she not leave but when she opened up the curtain, she was naked. That wasn't all either. Her eyes had Equestria's Twilight's cutie mark in her eyes. The look on her face had soft bedroom eyes and a matching soft smile. She put a hand to my chest and pushed gently to encourage me to step back and let her in. After stepping in, she brought my head down in a soft gentle kiss. "She's never known the love of a man." It was Equestria's Twilight that was talking. And she spoke softly in that alluring voice that always drew me to her, she trailed one hand down my chest, down my stomach, and gently took my semi-hard cock in her hand. "I know that you have mixed feelings about this, especially after what happened earlier." I looked down at her as she slowly pumped my cock and my hands gently took her arms. "But I want her to really experience, first hand, what it's like to feel loved by you."

She was right, I did have mixed feelings about this. Sure, I was attracted to her because she looks exactly like Equestria's Twilight did when she was here. Even with all my mixed emotions about this, I knew what she was really saying and asking. To love this world's Twilight like I love her counterpart so she could experience it first hand instead of just through a memory. Because she knew me so well, she saw how unsure I was by just the look in my eyes. But she trumped me when she used her other hand to place it on my cheek and pleaded softly, "For me?"

Damn it.

She sealed her request with my compliance with it with another soft kiss. I returned the kiss with one of my own while telling myself that I was loving Equestria's Twilight. She moaned into my mouth while slowly and gently stroking just the tip of my now hard cock. My heart began to pound in my chest with my body started heating up with passion. But if she wanted to feel loved then she needed to turn around. So, I gently pulled her hands away from me, put my own hands on her shoulders, and gently encouraged her to turn around. After she did, I wrapped my arms around her, placing my hands on her stomach, and then wrapped my wings around her when her hands rested up on my own. Her head barely reached the top of my chest. Her hair tickled my chest as she backed up against me making my hard cock press up against her lower back. As one hand lowered to cup her pussy between her legs the other went north to hold her breast.

With a long moaning sigh, she turned her head and pressed her cheek against my chest as the hot water flowed over our naked bodies. Her legs spread apart giving me more access to place the palm of my hand against her pussy lips, gently massaging them possessively. But I didn't stop there but also used my middle finger to rub against those already wet lower lips, parting them slightly. When my other hand cupped her breast over her heart, she placed her hands over mine. And encouraged my middle finger inside her while encouraging the other to massage her breast while also using two fingers to gently squeeze and twist her hard nipple.

"Relax into him, Twilight," Equestria's Twilight whispered to her counterpart because Twilight's body seemed nervous. Her breathing was heavier and quicker with her body shaking slightly when Equestria's Twilight wasn't talking. When Equestria's Twilight was talking, her body calmed down. "It's alright, Twilight. Feel the love for him." She paused while I felt Twilight's body start to relax and calm down. "That's it. Take some deep breaths." While Twilight took a few deep breaths, I continued my ministrations against her pussy and breast. "Yes, Twilight. Relax, it's alright. Feel his love for us, our love for him. Enjoy his touch on our body and his wings around us."

What I think Equestria's Twilight was doing was taking her through her first experience. And it was working because Twilight's body seemed to be completely calm and relaxed. She was taking slow deep breaths with soft moans with her hands squeezing mine in gentle encouragement. But it wasn't just the physical encouragement but also the mental encouragement. That was evident when this world's Twilight spoke softly. "This feels so different, so good." Equestria's Twilight spoke up after that. "When you love somepony...sorry...someone, you'll want his touch. His kiss. His love." She paused for another second or two before emphasizing, "To invite him inside of us. Deep inside our body. This is what love is, Twilight. It's more than a feeling. It's action. It's being patient with him when he rubs our fur the wrong way." She lightly stomped my foot with her heel with a slight giggle that I think was echoed by this world's Twilight. "Love is a choice. The choice to love him in return. Are you ready, Twilight?"

"I think so," was her response, so after I opened my wings and removed my hands from her, she slowly turned around. Her eyes glowed with her cutie mark as she reached up wrapping her arms around my neck. My wings wrapped loosely around her with my hands resting on her hips. After looking into her nervous eyes, it appears up to me to lead. So, I lowered a hand slowly down the side of her butt cheek and down her leg. Her eyes never left mine as she pressed herself up against me. "Hold onto him, Twilight," Equestria's Twilight suggested as I lifted one of her legs to wrap around my butt. My cock was pressed against her lower stomach when her hands shifted to grip my shoulders. And with both my hands holding her waist again, I slowly started kneeling down to line myself up with her pussy.

"This is my first time," this world's Twilight whispered while the earlier nervousness returned to her eyes. As the head of my cock started parting her lips, Equestria's Twilight shushed gently, "It's alright, Twilight. He'll be gentle. Just take some deep slow breaths, relax, and invite him inside our body." As I stood up and my cock went deeper inside, I watched her eyes widen and her mouth hung open as if in a silent moan. My own heart pounded in my chest with my body feeling as hot as the water that flowed over me. I stayed slow, letting her warm wet walls surround my hard shaft.

"Oh god, he feels so deep," she whispered with her wide eyes still locked onto mine. I let my hands slide down to cup her butt cheeks, massaging them gently and slowly. "So full."

"I feel so empty when he's not inside me," Equestria's Twilight whispered while slowly moving out of her again. "I love him, Twilight. I love the way he makes me feel. The way he loves me." Twilight moaned as I started sliding back inside of her again. "The way he stretches me as he slides himself inside. I'm his, Twilight. And I want you to experience it as well. So, let him love us." After saying that, she leaned forward pressing herself against me, and laid her head against my chest as she took me all in once more.

And so I loved her. I stayed slow with short strokes when she whispered, "Just like that, right there," to me. I loved her until we came together with the hot water showering us, showering her as if blessing her with a fresh start on her life.

^_^

(Hours later, Mom's house)

As soon as I walked into my old house, Mom wrapped me in a big hug. And wouldn't let go for a few minutes. So, with a chuckle, I stood there enduring it until she finally let me go with a happy hum and a quick, "Alright, I'm done."

Aunt Luna was already there and waiting for us to sit down on the couch where I'm sure I'll take my proper spot between them. Once Mom let me go, that's exactly where she pulled me. Right up to the couch for me to sit down between her and Aunt Luna. Both of them put one arm around me, turned toward me, and both of them also put one leg over me in a comical fashion. "Now you can't get away, nephew," Aunt Luna mimicked an evil laugh in a silly way. "You are captured and must tell us everything that happened earlier."

After an amused sigh and a slight roll of my eyes, I began to tell them what happened. "After you left, I went upstairs to take a shower in order to wash up for dinner. I knew that they would send someone up to grab my clothes to make me walk around naked. I wasn't expecting Twilight."

"Twilight? Why?"

"Through the bonding of the minds of both Twilight's from this world and Equestria's, the Twilight of Equestria wanted this world's Twilight to feel love," I told them as they listened intently. "Considering it was one of the things that helped her let go of her evil ways, Twilight wanted her to actually experience it for herself. That's why they sent her up there."

"What is this bonding that you speak of?" Aunt Luna asked with both of them now very curious about it.

"When she opened the shower curtain, not only was she naked but there was a symbol in her eyes. That symbol was Twilight's cutie mark. Every pony in Equestria gets one eventually," I told them while tilting my neck to emphasize my point. "That's when you know that the bonding has taken place. The bonding is a joining of both minds where the memories and emotions from both are exchanged."

"I want to do it but what do I do? How do I start?"

From the second she was told about it, I knew that she wanted to experience the bonding between them. With a smile on my face that also echoed of the inevitable embarrassment to come, I said to her, "Just close your eyes, and with all your heart ask the Tree of Harmony for it. That's what the others have done, so..." I ended it with a slight shrug because I truly didn't understand how the whole thing works.

Mom closed her eyes, however, and spoke softly with all her heart in it, "If this Tree of Harmony is listening, I want to bond with her. Because of our son." There was a couple of seconds of silence before she gasped softly. And when she opened her eyes again, Mother's cutie mark was there. And while we sat there and watched her reaction to the bonding, it was like I could see the memories flashing through her mind by her reaction to them. So many emotions flashed on her face in the span of a minute that I was worried that this particular bond might just break her. During the whole time, her hands went to her face as she went from crying softly to shaking with rage. What's a son to do but put an arm and a wing around her to comfort her? When she looked at me again, her hands were still covering her mouth and she was still crying but there was also a look of pride in her eyes as well. Then she reached out and pulled me into an almost bone-crushing hug.

"My son," Mom was speaking and as I wrapped both arms and wings around her, she was crying her pride against my cheek.

"My Sunshine boy," Mother spoke this time with the same prideful tone in her voice.

As I held her, they spoke at once, "We are so proud of you."

For the next minute or so, I just held her as she cried softly her pride for me with her body trembling slightly because of all the memories and emotions they are experiencing. That was until we all heard Twilight's voice. Or rather, the Tree of Harmony's voice. "Would you like to as well?" When Mom and I pulled back to see, we saw the Tree of Harmony standing naked in front of Aunt Luna with a smile on her face. And when Aunt Luna gave a firm nod, Harmony reached forward and touched Aunt Luna's forehead with her hand. A couple of seconds later, she too had a cutie mark in her eyes.

Harmony then turned toward me, and with a wide prideful smile of her own, she reached out her hand. After taking my hand she urged me to stand up which I did after letting Mom go. Even though there was a smile on her face and pride in her eyes, and even when she let go of my hands to cup my head in her hands, I just felt the need to kneel on one knee in front of her. So, I did. And only after that, did she speak while still holding my head in her hands. "You've come a long way since that fateful day when Twilight's crown came into your possession. And I've watched you ever since. You have gone through many trials and hardships. But you have also earned the love of others and a family of your own. You have earned their love and mine. And living up to your name Justice. Because true justice knows when to strike to protect others and when to give mercy. You have shown and lived both by protecting the ones you love, showing regret at taking a life, turning foe to friend, and forgiving others. I am proud that you live up to your name. For you will need these tools and experience for the future trials that await you in both worlds. And as long as you live up to your name, as long as you live and fight for harmony, then I will always be by your side."

"As will I, my son," Mom said and echoed by Mother as she finished with, "my Sunshine boy."

"As will we, our nephew," Aunt Luna confirmed as well with both of them looking at me with smiles filled with loving pride.

"For now, enjoy this time of peace. Enjoy this time with your family and friends here and your family and friends in Equestria." With that said, she leaned down, kissed my head, and then disappeared. We stayed silent for a few seconds before I stood up and turned back toward them again.

Aunt Luna's eyes still had her cutie mark in them when she clapped her hands together with a squeal of mischief. "Now then, dear nephew, about those details of what happened earlier?"

With a sigh, I walked back to the couch and sat down where they trapped me again until I told them everything. Some things I just can't get away from.