Twilight frowned, as she looked out the window to Ponyville library, her expression distant. Though her reflection looked back at her, she did not gaze at it, as her mind was elsewhere. If she did look at herself she would have gazed upon the visage of a mare changed by the passage of time.

Though few, those alterations were noticeable, as for one she was much taller, having added several inches to her height. She had also lost some weight, gained some muscle mass, and generally looked a little stronger than before. Gone was the pudgy body of a librarian who had barely been outside, now Twilight looked the part of a princess.

“They’ll be here,” remarked a masculine voice. “They wouldn't miss today.”

Twilight sighed. “I know. But I can't help but worry about them.”

“Pinkie Pie has Applejack, and Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy,” Spike pointed out.

“I know,” Twilight repeated. “This is a hard time of year for everyone though.”

“I know,” Spike echoed. “But we survived Tirek didn't we? Were stronger than that.”

“I suppose,” Twilight murmured, turning around and gazing down at her draconic assistant. “Are all the preparations done?”

The taller, slimmer Spike nodded, the dragon scratching his chin with a sharp, clawed hand. He would have stood over most ponies, but Twilight was not most ponies. Even then Spike could just about look the alicorn in the eye and was only an inch or so away from doing so. Now sporting draconic wings, and a far more angular visage, the drake was an intimidating sight to most.

To Twilight, however, he was a welcome sight, one that set her heart at ease.

“I think so,” Spike replied. “I have to take the cake out of the oven in a few minutes, but other than that we are all set for our little get-together.”

“Ahh yes. The annual gathering of the elements, or at least most of them,” Twilight muttered bitterly.

“Would you cut it out? We're all heroes!” Spike exclaimed.

“It took us three months to take down a single foe and his allies. What great heroes we turned out to be,” Twilight muttered.

“Seriously, stop,” Spike demanded. “I know that this is a hard time of year for you, but it's a hard time for all of us and you don't see anyone else complaining.”

Twilight sighed. “Sorry Spike. I just wish Rarity was here. She would know what to do to fix the damage Tirek wrought. She would have at least done a better job than us anyway. After almost three years of peace, what have we to show for it?”

Twilight gestured out over the blasted countryside. “Equestria is still in ruins.”

“But we're alive,” Spike replied, gripping one of Twilight's forehooves. “We made it through that nightmare, and so long as we keep working we will return everything to the way it was.”

“Not everything,” Twilight sighed once more. “I know I say this a lot but I’m sorry Spike. I’m feeling better now, really. Just had, a lot on my mind you know?”

“I know, really. We're all thinking it,” Spike repeated, squeezing the mare’s hoof.

“Thanks,” Twilight murmured.

The alicorn pulled her hoof from the dragon’s grip and turned to the window once more. Again her vision swept out over the blasted landscape that had once been Ponyville proper. Like the library, most structures were new, blocky, and built without any of the styles of the old ones. Which still stood, but were far rarer, and almost all sported at least some manner of repair or alteration.

Much like the land around the town, which sported dozens, if not hundreds of massive divots. Explosions the likes of which the town had never seen before had carved deep bowls into the earth. Most of these had since filled with water that fell from the sky in scattered clouds, the weather having long since returned to mother nature’s control.

Though one might assume the town had shrunk, the opposite was true, and Ponyville had grown. The largest growth was found on the edges of town where the Canterlot refugees gathered in their clean, but small shacks. Whole families or multiple families had piled into the hastily constructed structures, happy despite the close proximity.

A sudden knock drew Twilight from her musings, and she glanced over her shoulder towards the door. Like the rest of the newly constructed home, it too was white and sported a simple silver handle on one side. Twilight was swift to trot over to it, slipping past the couches arrayed in the center of the room for guests of the library.

“Can ya get that?” Spike shouted from the other room.

“Already on it!” Twilight called back.

Twilight used her magic to pull open the door, allowing her to see who was standing upon her stoop. Rainbow Dash stood there with a smile on her face, the pony almost completely the same save for a jagged scar over her right eye. Exempting that small change, she too was a bit tougher, a bit stronger and a bit older, with the first signs of age visible on her face. Fluttershy on the other hand, was completely unchanged, save for her mane which was slightly longer than before.

“Well hey there Twilight,” Rainbow Dash greeted

“Sorry, was thinking of something,” Twilight apologized.

“No worries at all. Fluttershy and I are glad that you were up to hosting again. Our own place is a bit of a mess,” Rainbow Dash explained, leaning in close. “Mister bear came over with his new kids and things got a little hectic.”

The hooded yellow mare nodded slowly. “He means well but his kids are young and rambunctious little things.”

“It's no problem at all. The new library might be a bit smaller, but it's still big enough for us six,” Twilight replied, stepping to the side. “Please, come in. It must be cold out there.”

“The wind is a little nippy, but hey it could be worse,” Rainbow Dash added.

“It's so… boxy,” murmured Fluttershy as she looked around. “I keep forgetting that.”

“Once everyone is homed then we can think about creating more aesthetically pleasing environments,” Twilight explained.

“Yeah yeah,” Rainbow Dash dismissed. “Me and Fluttershy can't help but imagine Ponyville as it used to be though ya know? Then we walk into one of the new places and the acoustics are all weird.”

“Have you had a chance to check out the new concert hall yet? It sounds pretty nice in there, even if it looks a little plain at the moment,” Twilight offered.

“Nah. Flutters doesn't like the crowds, even if it would be a good excuse to show off my cool scar,” Rainbow Dash replied with a shrug. “It's fine though.”

“Sorry,” Fluttershy muttered.

“It's all good Flutters,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, nuzzling the other mare. “I’m more of a music-at-home kinda girl anyway.”

Twilight hummed thoughtfully but said nothing.

“Hey is that Rainbow Dash?” shouted Spike from upstairs.

“Yup!” yelled the pegasus in question.

“Hey, would ya look at that,” Spike declared, the dragon standing at the top of the stairs leading to the second story. “If it isn't the ugliest pony in Ponyville and her friend, Fluttershy.”

Rainbow Dash erupted with laughter. “You better not say that! My girlfriend will beat the snot out of you.”

“Rainbow Dash,” hissed Fluttershy, a blush crossing her face. “I would not.”

Spike landed at the bottom and swiftly walked up to Rainbow Dash, clasping her hoof. “Eh who am I kidding, that scar is cool as heck, and at least you can't smell me coming, like someone we know.”

The pair glanced over to Twilight, who frowned. “Hey! I’ve showered… recently.”

“That was yesterday,” Spike pointed out.

“I…” the pony sighed. “Should probably do that before everyone shows up.”

“Ahh, it's not that bad,” Rainbow Dash retorted, giving the air a sniff. “Though I’d use a bit more shampoo this time. You smell like you barely used any of the stuff.”

“Were out, again,” Twilight murmured. “Another train derailed between here and Manehatten.”

“Again?” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

Twilight nodded. “Heavy rains washed out the track. No injuries thankfully, but somewhere out there there's a bunch of real fresh-smelling fishes.”

Fluttershy giggled, holding a hoof over her mouth.

“Heh, good one Twilight,” Rainbow Dash added.

A series of three short, quick knocks on the door alerted everyone that there were more guests to be welcomed.

“I got it,” Twilight offered.

As she trotted over to the door, Twilight's guests sat down in the rough semi-circle of couches in the middle of the room. While they got comfortable, Twilight turned the knob and smiled the second her eyes landed on the pink and yellow shapes beyond. Like their friends, the earth ponies were stronger, older, and slimmer than before, with Pinkie Pie having lost a little more weight than Applejack.

“Hey, Pinkie Pie. Applejack, you guys made it,” Twilight proclaimed.

Pinkie Pie bobbed her head excitedly, her long twin pigtails bouncing along with her. “Yuperdoodle! We wouldn't miss this for the world, right Applejack?”

“No way,” Applejack declared.

“Well come on slowpoke let's get inside, I smell cookies!” Pinkie Pie proclaimed, tugging the other pony along.

Applejack chuckled. “You got it Pinks.”

Twilight smiled, and stepped to the side once more, allowing the two mares to enter the room and find a spot. Once they were inside and were exchanging pleasantries with the other guests, Twilight closed the door. She then turned the lock, not out of fear of anyone who may stumble inside, but because she didn't want to be interrupted.

“Hey Dashy, how's my favorite flier doing?” Pinkie Pie greeted.

“Oh, just taking it one day at a time ya know?” Rainbow Dash replied, hugging the pink pony tightly.

“I know how it is. And Fluttershy?” Pinkie Pie asked,

Who shrugged noncommittally. “You know how today is.”

“Probably about the same as how you all feel,” Rainbow Dash offered.

“Well, I know one thing that will lighten the mood. Cookies, pie, sandwiches, and fresh-squeezed orange juice,” Spike proclaimed, the dragon walking off towards the kitchen.

“Ahh heck yeah,” Pinkie Pie exclaimed. “I am going to chow down on some cookies.”

“Some orange juice would be nice,” Applejack exclaimed. “It's not as good as apple juice, but we haven't had anything fresh for a while, what with all the farms just now rampin up production again.”

The room was quiet and stayed that way until Spike returned with a large tray of food as well as a jug of orange liquid. He placed it all in the middle of the circle, laying it on the coffee table, and grinning at the small crowd.

“Well, dig in!” he proclaimed.

The group was about to do just that when Twilight suddenly sat bolt-upright in her seat. Several large, magenta sparks shot from her horn, nearly lighting an open book on fire.

“What is it? More growing pains?” Spike whispered.

“No. Someone’s using very powerful magic centered very close by,” Twilight exclaimed, rising from her seat. “I think it's a teleportation spell, but not like any I’ve ever felt before.”

“What are-”

“There!” Pinkie Pie shouted, the mare pointing to the door of the kitchen.

All heads turned, and all eyes landed on the bright green glow coming from within.

“Stay here!” Twilight barked.

The alicorn sprinted into the kitchen, the rest of her friends in tow, despite her order. By the time they arrived, the small rectangular kitchen was a mess, with cutlery flying everywhere and cupboards flapping. A deep, unearthly howl filled the room and made the pits of everyone’s stomachs fall out.

“What's going on?” Spike shouted over the cacophony of noise. “Is it Tirek?”

“No, he's gone!” Rainbow Dash shouted.

“He is still in Tartarus, right?” Pinkie Pie asked.

Their questions only multiplied when a flat greenish-blue circle opened up in the middle of the room. The second this happened the howl grew louder, the pressure increased, and several strange symbols appeared. The first of which was a rapidly turning eight-pointed wheel that had on the end of each point a jagged, spikey edge.

Within the churning miasma of twisting green energy was another symbol, this one much different than the other. It was more simple and was a circle with a spoke coming off it, which at the end was what looked like a moon. Upon the spoke was another moon, only this one was crescent and wrapped around the circle at the end.

“How do we stop it?” Shouted Rainbow Dash.

“We can't! Get ready for anything!” Twilight yelled back.

Her friends either assumed battle stances, cowered, or stuck out their tongues at the portal. Together they waited for whatever was coming, though thankfully that didn't take long. For movement could be seen from the other side, movement which resembled the gait of a quadruped.

The first thing to emerge was a long, slightly bulky black-clad hoof that ended with a cap of purple metal. A second limb followed closely after the first, followed by the tip of a long, armored, and whiplike fleshy tail that sported an organic needle sticking from its tip. More questions were had when a long, tubelike object emerged, one that sported two circles at the end.

Made from a strange material, no one present knew what exactly the weird object was, though they soon discovered its owner. For Rarity emerged a moment later, or at least someone who looked quite a bit like Rarity anyway. For now, the mare stood taller than even Twilight and had a long, rigged black horn that curved backward ever so slightly.

Her eyes were alight with energy, and shimmered slightly, a faint pinkish trail of wispy energy coming from the twin orbs. Her mane was cut short, but was no less eye-catching, in fact, she seemed more attractive than ever. Despite the noticeable alterations to her physical form, the mare was stunningly beautiful, and beyond any comparison.

The rest of her soon followed, Rarity’s entire body covered in the same armor that her hooves were. Though where the armor around her knees was thinner, and allowed movement, the section around her torso was much thicker. Especially so around her shoulder pads, which bore the mare’s familiar cutie mark of three gems.

Before she even finished exiting the portal her expression morphed from one of readiness to one of confusion. When her back hooves and her long, whiplike tail emerged fully, she wore a strained frown on her face. The second her final hoof touched the ground, the portal snapped shut, the wind stopped howling and the levitating cutlery fell.

After the half-second of clatter was over, Rarity turned the tubelike object skyward and smiled.

“Oh my stars above,” she murmured. “Are you guys real? You’re not changelings, holograms, or hallucinations, right?”

“Here, let me check,” Pinkie Pie volunteered, the mare chomping down on her tongue. “Nope, still real!”

“Is that Rarity?” Rainbow Dash asked, aghast.

“Oh,” Rarity exclaimed. “It seems like someone had a bit of an injury.”

“Speak for yourself,” Twilight declared, pointing to the mare. “What happened to your tail, and your eyes, and your horn!”

“Oh, this? It's well… a long story,” Rarity muttered.

“What are all those things on you?” Applejack asked, pointing to Rarity’s side.

“These are some weapons I’ve collected over the years,” Rarity replied, touching the barrel of a truly enormous shotgun as well as a trio of grenades. “But don't worry. I don't need them anymore.”

“Well, what are you waiting for? Let's hug her already,” Rainbow Dash offered.

“We should check if she's a changeling first. It wouldn't be the first time something like this has happened,” Twilight wanted, holding out a hoof.

“Yeah but this is clearly the real Rarity,” Rainbow Dash replied. “None of the others ever got her voice quite right.”

All questions vanished when Fluttershy suddenly sprinted forward and wrapped her hooves around Rarity’s shoulders. The unicorn only panicked for a moment before dropping her pulse rifle and hugging the other pony back. Fluttershy and Rarity were swiftly joined by the rest of their mutual friends, including a misty-eyed Spike. The group hug lasted nearly a minute, the quiet broken by an occasional sob, sniff, or someone wiping their face of tears.

“I never gave up on you,” Pinkie Pie whispered. “But please don't blame those who did. It has been hard, without you.”

Rarity then gave Pinkie Pie one final pat on the back before rising to her full height once more.

“Before the deluge of questions begins, I have one of my own,” Rarity began, holding up an armored hoof. “Where is Discord?”

“He's in the capital’s dungeon,” Twilight answered. “Why?”

“No reason… no reason at all,” Rarity exclaimed with a wide smile. “Now then. Please send a letter to my family and ask that they meet us in Canterlot. I will speak only once of my adventures, and I want them present for that.”

“Uh, Rarity. Canterlot was destroyed,” Spike remarked.

Rarity blinked. “Destroyed?”

“Yeah the whole mountain got flattened by Tirek,” Rainbow Dash offered.

“Really…” Rarity frowned. “It seems as though I am not the only one with a story to tell.”

“I got this,” Pinkie Pie exclaimed, inhaling a deep lungful of air. “Without you, we had to fight Tirek with this other force we discovered but it wasn't as strong as the elements of harmony. So the battle lasted days and ended only when we managed to free some of the magic Tirek had stolen. After that, it turned into a three-month-long fight where Tirek repeatedly attempted to steal all the magic and we fought him. Nopony died, but a bunch of folks got hurt and plenty of stuff got blown up.”

“That about sums it up,” Twilight admitted.

“That is… a lot to process,” Rarity murmured. “Is Sweetie Belle-”

“Your parents and sister are all okay,” Twilight quickly replied.

Rarity relaxed, her shoulders slumping. “Where is the capital of Equestria?”

“Everfree city,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed. “I know it's kinda weird, but Tirek couldn't steal magic from the forest so it was the only place we could hide out.”

“That makes sense,” Rarity admitted. “Well then. Could we please head in that direction? I would like to tell my tale and see my family as soon as possible.”

“We were just about to eat lunch,” Applejack muttered.

Rarity rolled her eyes. “Fine then. Lunch first, then the story, and no I will not be answering any questions until after I have had a chance to tell my story.”

“Damn,” Twilight cursed.

Author's Note

If you would like to see what this chapter almost looked like, take a look over here.