You make up your mind. Surely any given person makes up their mind about countless things every day, but this one means something a little extra. An elecrtic thrill runs through you, exciting and dreadful all at the same thing. The urge to drop to all fours is overwhelming, but you're literally in the car, so you hold that off until you get home and hurry inside, to Nick's confusion.

"What's the rush?" He trails after you into the house. "Bathroom emergenc---oh." He stops in place as you crash to all fours inside, wings spread, horn raised and a glow shimmering across the room around you. "Neat... What's with the light show?" He has the sense to close the door behind you. "And is this related to what they were going on about?"

With your mark glowing with fierce determination, you feel like you could tackle the world. You might not win that contest, but you felt ready to try, and that was a heady feeling all by itself. "Call the others. I know it's soon, but it's time for a pony meeting to end all pony meetings."

You float your phone over and press buttons rapidly. You know the numbers of some ponies, so you get the ball rolling. Little Arrow and Moon promise to be there at the house quickly, lovely souls they are. "Big Shot, time to stop playing idle defense."

"You are joking, but please tell me you're not," came the deep voice of that large pony a call away.

"No jokes. What am I, a laughter? Get everyone you know over to my house, the sooner the better. I have huge news to throw down."

"Better not be messing with us." He hung up, but he hadn't said no.

Eager wasn't hard. "Woah, seriously? You survived the visit then? I want to know what you learned." And that was that. He was coming just to find out what the mage meeting turned up.

Nick watches with bemusement as you make a rapid flurry of calls while magic crackles the air. Soon responses filter in from the contacts you've established - curiosity, excitement, and no small skepticism mix in their replies. But they're coming without argument.

As the last call concludes, Nick clears his throat. "Not to doubt your pony passion back in action, but um, you sure you wanna drop a herd of horses in our living room without warning?"

He scratches his head, eyeing your glowing regalia. "I mean I'm with you in spirit, but we might wanna tidy up a bit before-"

Three sharp knocks at the door cut him off. You both turn to see Moon Streak's grinning face in the window, waving eagerly with Little Arrow bouncing beside.

"No time like the present hm?" Nick moves to let them in. "I'll grab some snacks..."

Soon more hooves are clopping down your halls as word spreads rapidly through the local herd. Big Shot shows up cracking his knuckles with a toothy grin. "This better be big like you claimed. Folks were ready to tan my hide for stirring panic without cause!"

You assure all it isn't causeless as the living room fills to standing room only. Finally when it seems no more will arrive, you float to the room's center, horn aglow. Nick kills the lights so all attention fixes on your luminous form.

"Friends, we stand upon the cusp of a new era!" you declaim. "Too long have we wandered without purpose or unity. But at last the time has come...to take back our power!"

Murmurs of surprise ripple through the herd. Moon Streak and Little Arrow cheer eagerly. Clearing your throat, you prepare to drop revelations that will change everything.

"Let me start with apology. I was challenged, last meeting." You nod towards each knot of ponies gathered there. "And I backed off, not wanting to take it, but things have changed, and I keep having it mashed into my face."

I reach to your chest and tap at the dangling butterflies. "I will accept that crown. I will take that responsibility. It is the kind thing to do, but it will take some times where it doesn't look kind." The butterflies glimmered, then vanished. "What?"

The other ponies gasp at that, whispering wild rumors a moment before the shine returned, a tiara popping into being over your head and falling right between your fuzzy ears for all to see. You expand in a strange sensation, like you're being pulled in all directions and your body's going along with it as inches pour onto you.

Big shot snorts softly. "Did you call us over here to watch your glam-up? Not a bad look, but...?"

"No." Wow, your voice really carried there. You straighten yourself out, wings unfurled wide. "My fellow ponies. I ask that you accept me. I will guide you all as best I can. It's time we put our hooves in the dirt and start marching. If we sit and wait, we're just waiting for the end to come to us. We can choose which way we trot, and I'll take that over wallowing in the mud."

Gasps of shock and disbelief meet your startling transformation and rousing call to action. All eyes fix on your wings and tiara, the unmistakable marks of ascended royalty amongst ponies. Surely this is no mere flight of fancy, but destiny unveiled.

You draw a deep breath as hushed astonishment blankets the room. But words of address die upon your tongue as a lone clopping resonates from the corner. Moon Streak, defiant yet regal, strides forth to meet you eye to eye.

One could slash tension with a blade as everypony awaits her reaction. Will she bend knee in recognition of your new station? Or issue challenge against what some might interpret as a coup of questionable legitimacy upon ponydom's ragged but proud remnants? Her next actions may sway the herd to balk or rally at this pivot point.

She halts mere inches away, searchingly meeting your expectant gaze...then slowly sinks into a deep curtsy. Little Arrow mimics the obescience with comical exaggeration.

"The Princess honors us with her presence," Moon Streak proclaims, broad grin ascending. "All hail!"

The room erupts with cheers and frenzied shouts of your hastily-dubbed title. Big Shot bows despite his bandaged arm. "We heard your call and we goddamn came, Princess! Lead the charge and we got your six!"

Nick whistles loudly and waves from the stairs. "What he said! Though someone explain what's happening later, yeah?"

Even Eager Step grips a forelock and dips head in salutation. They came at a word, bereft yet hungry for direction, unity, revived magic and light....

And whether prepared or not, destiny has deposited that mantle squarely upon you. The future awaits, uncarved but bright with potential. There are kingdoms yet to build, battles yet to wage, and shadows yet to turn toward the sunrise at long last waxing anew.

The room crackles with reckless energy, joyous stamping drowning your voice unheard as all proclaim the awakening Princess of Ponydom, and you can feel your tiara almost vibrating in response to both your acceptance and the crowd's. "I will not let you down... We have to play the big game. We may be little ponies, but you're my little ponies, and I have your back, all of you."

You take a slow cleansing breath. "It's time to look outside ourselves. This world needs us. Let's start with the state, but it's not the end goal. Do you have friends inside Florida but not standing in this room? Time to reach out. This entire state should tremble under the clops of pony hooves. We are taking it back, one desperate person at a time."

Moon stifles a giggle. "Wow, look at you, but... Not to be a bummer, but that's going to take a lot of resources. You know, money? Manpower, the works? We can't just think good thoughts at people that need help."

You reach with a wing to pet over Moon's back. "We don't need manpower, we have horsepower." Groans rise at the pun. "We've been sitting on a solution for a long time, all of us, together. We are not alone in this dark world." You point at a pony. "You. You've made friends with the werewolves, haven't you?" They nod shakingly. "If a werewolf doesn't count for some 'man' power, not sure what does."

You turn on Eager. "You're friends with a few mages. They're kinda crazy, but they know you and they don't dislike your fuzzy butt. It's time to start calling them. They all make big noises about reshaping this world, time to put their money where their mouth is."

You turn a hoof on yourself. "I've already made friends with some changeling, and they have a surprising amount of money, and their own problems. Friendship flows both ways! We will help our fellow denizens of the dark corners, and we will call on them! We are not alone!"

Hooves stamp in rousing approval at your rallying proclamations, ponies neighing in excitement. Already their stunned stupor at your ascension shifts toward galvanized purpose.

Moon Streak grins admiringly. "Well now, listen to that royal 'we'! I knew you had fire in ya, but damn if it isn't bright now."

Little Arrow bounces in place yelling "Yay Princess!" as the energy swirls. You catch Big Shot punching the air, Eager Step nodding firmly, and other ponies whispering spiritedly, ready to commit might, magic, and passion wherever directed.

Truly they are catalysts awaiting but a bold vision to transform idle potential into kinetic change. The slumbering giant of Equestrian heritage, though fragmented and weary in this age, yearns toward awakening once more. If called by a voice of conviction, perhaps they shall find power still yet rippling in their limbs.

Raising a hoof for order, you continue. "Too long have we endured the shadows alone, each struggling to survive. But no more! Together we shall walk proudly as befits our kind - bringing comfort through adversity and light where darkness falls!"

Electric purpose courses the air as all stir restlessly, manes bristling, tails kinking with anticipation. Though the details remain veiled, trusting you possess guidance from realms beyond the mundane herd's ken, none now doubt radical upheaval fast approaches.

"You all bless me with courage equaling your own!" you trump out across uplifted faces. "With compassion steming despair's bitter harvest, we shall make this land anew - a sanctuary fusing magic born and made!"

Your voice rings with harmonic power that captivates mortal and fae souls alike. "Will you lend your gifts to realize this future with me, O ponies mine?"

A great cry shakes the beams above. "AYE!!!"

"Then it begins TONIGHT!" you bellow, raising your head regally as thunderous adulation greets Equestria's Princess reborn...!

Author's Note

It is time to wear that crown.

Listen to their cheers. It is the start of a new age. Oh, the equinity of it all.

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