Born a Princess: Forgiveness is Magic

by Nebbie

Rating: everyone
Tags: Drama, Moondancer, Spike, Comedy, Adventure, Princess Celestia, Main 6, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Alternate Universe, Nightmare Moon
Length: 10456

Twilight the alicorn ex-princess comes to oversee the Summer Sun Celebration, but a griffon named Gloomy Dash has her on edge. Trusting such a predatory creature to face Nightmare Moon will certainly be interesting.

What if Rainbow Dash was born a griffon, and Twilight an alicorn princess? A seemingly small change to two, but with significant ramifications.
Twilight lost her crown over her response to an incident involving griffons' predatory nature, but now she'll have to trust one of them, on top of braving an Everfree full of creatures even more happy to eat ponies, to defeat Nightmare Moon...and it won't be quite the picnic it was in the show.

Expect content akin to No Second Prances (depressed Trixie Manticore mouth dive episode), i.e. somewhat heavy drama/topics and ponies being gobbled up.

This is an entry for Choices: A Species Change Contest.

Published 2022-11-22 03:10:00 UTC
Last updated 2022-11-22 03:10:00 UTC

Coming to Ponyville

Author's Note

Griffons in this version of Equestria are for the most part the same, but their size instead of varying drastically and ending up on on the low end (Gilda actually ends up even shorter than Pinkie by the time of the Griffonstone episode), is consistently quite large, like when Gilda roared at Fluttershy.

Coming to Ponyville

A lavender alicorn with a dark blue mane with a magenta stripe galloped up a tower's outside staircase and swung open the doors of the library at the top.

Inside, a small lavender and green dragon was too close, being flung aside.

"Spike! Spike! ...Spike?" the alicorn called.

"Ugh...Twilight, knock next time, you're not even supposed to be here right now, mandatory break from studying, remember," he replied.

"Yeah yeah, whatever, can you find me that old copy of Predictions and Prophecies?" Twilight asked with a smile as she helped him up with her magic.

"Uh, sure," he said, hopping on the bookshelf ladder, but then paused. "Nothing's on fire, right?" he asked.

"Well, not yet, but..." she assured him as she gave his butt a hard nudge with her head.

"Alright, alright, hold your horses..." he muttered as he climbed up the rest of the way and grabbed the book. "Right here," he said, holding it out in one hand.

Twilight immediately grabbed it in her magic, yanking it away, making Spike flail before falling off the ladder and onto her back belly-down, with his tail draped over the back of her mane.

"Woopise," Twilight said and giggled before kissing his side.

"Blegh, you've spent too much time around Cadance; kissing really doesn't make it better. And...is there a reason you're being so...careless?" Spike asked as he got up.

"It's the thought that counts, give our big sister a little more credit. And uh, I'm just a little on edge," Twilight said as she patted his spines. "Now let's see...Elements of Harmony...see 'Mare in the Moon'?" Twilight said as she flipped through the book. "Hmm, Mare in the Moon...defeated by Elements of Harmony and imprisoned in the moon, 1000 year solstice will have stars aid her escape... Oh no! Spike, take a letter."

Spike sat up, slid off via her tail, then grabbed some nearby paper, a quill, and an inkwell. "Ready."

Twilight cleared her throat. "My dearest teacher, my studies have led me to believe we're on the precipice of disast-"

"The what now?" Spike asked.

"Just...say the horse apples are about to hit the fan," Twilight said in frustration before turning around.

"Right..." Spike replied as he wrote with his tongue sticking out. "And?"

"Nightmare Moon, who is the Mare in the Moon, is going to return to Equestria on the day of tomorrow's Summer Sun Celebration, and bring with her eternal night! We have to do something. I await your response. Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle," Twilight said confidently as she looked out her window at the rest of Canterlot.

Spike wrote for a bit longer before putting down the quill. "Got it."

"Well what are you waiting for? Send it," Twilight said as she turned back to face him.

"Uh..." Spike stammered. "It's just that Celestia's really busy right now preparing. Maybe we could...wait a few hours?"

"Every hour we wait is an hour less for her to prepare for Nightmare Moon coming tomorrow! Send it, or I'll fly there myself!" Twilight shouted as she pressed her nose to his.

"Okay..." he said before puffing out a bit of green fire from his mouth, sending the letter off as sparkly smoke.

"Fly where yourself?" asked Moondancer as she trotted in.

"Oh, just to warn Celestia about Nightmare Moon," Twilight responded with a confident pose.

"Uh-huh. I'm sure that old mare's tale will fascinate her just as much as hearing that you snuck back into the library while I was doing errands in direct defiance of her orders," Moondancer said with a smirk.

Twilight laughed nervously.

Suddenly, Spike's mouth bulged and he belched, sending out dragonfire that swirled and popped into being a rolled-up letter. He grabbed it and unrolled it.

"2 bits says it's a reprimand. Whaddya say, Spike?" Moondancer said while putting out her hoof.

"I'm not making that mistake again, you only make bets when you know something..." he replied, arms crossed, before clearing his throat and looking at the letter. "My dearest and most faithful student..."

Twilight stood proudly and closed her eyes.

"...you know I value your concern, but you simply must stop spending all your time with dusty old books!" Spike continued.

Twilight gasped. "I-I...s-she...d-dusty?"

"Here it comes..." remarked Moondancer with a grin.

Spike looked uneasily at Twilight before continuing. "To teach you there's more to life than studying, I'm sending you instead of Moondancer to supervise preparations for this year's Summer Sun Celebration in Ponyville. Moondancer's position running the tower library will become permanent. Additionally, I'm tasking you with a more important task: Make some friends there, and don't read any books until you do! The royal chariot will be there shortly t-."

Twilight fainted, hitting the floor with a thud.

In a chariot flying high away from Canterlot, Spike waved a hand over Twilight's face as she laid on her back.

"Ugh, I'm fine, Spike, just a little down in the dumps. So...where are we staying?" Twilight asked as she got up.

"At the library. Apparently the old librarian got eaten by a...griffon," Spike said with a disturbed look as they came over Ponyville.

"Ugh, really? Celestia should've listened when I warned her," Twilight groaned.

"Well, Moondancer's notes say she was tasked not only with running the library temporarily, but making absolutely sure that there wouldn't be anymore problems between griffons and ponies there," Spike replied as he put a claw on her shoulder comfortingly. He promptly gave Twilight the notes and a lavender fanny pack with her cutie mark on it.

"Of course Celestia sent her, because I'm just not trustworthy! As if taking away my princess title wasn't enough," Twilight huffed before putting on the fanny pack.

"I'm sure she trusts you, it's just that well, your history there isn't the best. Now look on the bright side, just chat up a pony or two and then you can read all the new books Ponyville has to offer!" Spike said with a smile.

"You're right!" Twilight said as her wings suddenly spread, knocking him over. "Uh, sorry."

"Oof...well, here we are," Spike said as the chariot landed, and hopped out.

Twilight followed and bowed before the two pegasus royal guards. "Much appreciated, sirs."

"Any time, princess!" one of them replied, making the other and Twilight cringe.

The other guard whispered to him.

"Oh, uh...my apologies, miss Twilight Sparkle. I wasn't aware of the uh, status change. You still do carry yourself like a princess," he nervously said.

Twilight gave him a hug. "Thank you, really. It's good to know I'm still respected." She broke the hug shortly after and watched the chariot head off.

Spike tugged at her tail, making her turn around, and gestured to a pink pony with a fluffy pink mane coming up to them. "Hey look, a potential friend!"

"Um, hello?" Twilight asked as she rubbed one hoof with another.

The pink pony gasped loudly and bounced up into the air before running off in a flash.

"Maybe we should try that after ponies have gotten used to seeing an alicorn on the streets..."

"Right, well, first on Moondancer's list is the catering: Sweet Apple Acres!"

One incredible assault of apple-based food and names later, Twilight trotted slowly back into town with a belly twice its normal size. "Ugh, that was too much pie..."

"I'll say. Now, there's supposed to be a...griffon named Gloomy Dash in charge of the weather," Spike replied.

"Huh, I knew they could walk on clouds, so I suppose it makes sense they can move them around too," Twilight said with a hoof on her chin.

"Says here she's the best weatherp-creature in Ponyville. You uh...you want me to handle this one? I mean..." Spike trailed off, sounding uneasy.

"Hey, I can handle myself, trust me. Besides, she sounds like she's grea-" Twilight started, but was slammed into by a huge azure and grey blur hitting her from the side.

When she landed, she was in a large mud puddle snout underwater and butt up, with a griffon on top of her side, who had an azure mane and grey body, and was over twice her height.

Twilight spent a moment groaning before opening her eyes, then pulling her head up.

The griffon got up and looked back, with a few bits of mud slopping off, before giggling. "Uh, 'scuse me?"

Twilight groaned again and sat up, covered in mud as Spike stifled a snicker.

"I'll get it!" the griffon said as she brought over a cloud and jumped on it, drenching Twilight.

Twilight simply sighed and stared.

"Right, next step..." the griffon replied, before zooming around Twilight, who went wide-eyed and stood up, shaking slightly.

After a moment, the griffon stopped, leaving Twilight with her mane and tail poofier than the pink pony earlier.

"No need to thank m-...heh...hehe...bahahaha!" the griffon broke out laughing to the point of tears and fell backward, with Spike soon following atop her.

"So...you're Gloomy Dash, huh?" Twilight asked.

"The one and only!" Dash replied as she got up, sending Spike flying, and held a claw to her chest proudly. "Say, what's with the belly?"

"Applejack," Twilight replied with a look of annoyance.

"Heh, same here," Dash said as she put a claw on her own belly, which seemed slightly bulging.

"Huh, well I'm Twilight Sparkle and this is Spike, Celestia sent us here to check preparations. Looks like you're...not ready yet," Twilight said, pointing up at the many clouds.

"Yeah yeah, but I've got all day, and I can do it in 10 seconds flat!" Dash boasted as she hopped on a cloud and laid back. "...just as soon as I'm done practicing to be a Wonderbolt"

"A griffon like you in the Wonderbolts? Pfft" Twilight chuckled a bit, snorting.

Spike and Dash went wide-eyed and dropped their jaws, then looked at each other a moment.

"Um, Twilight..." Spike started.

"Oh don't get me wrong, some griffons are great, but you just slammed right into me for no reason. You could've hurt me. Tartarus, what if your mouth had been open? I mean, with a griffon there could be...accidents, and well, that's just not what the Wonderbolts, the protectors of ponies in the sky, are looking for..." Twilight said with an eyeroll.

Dash growled and sat down. "Y-you...you take that back! Moondancer promised past accidents wouldn't be held against me! And now you come here also under Celestia's orders to...to what, toy with me for her?"

"Wait, I didn't know Moondancer promised tha-...I mean, I'm sorry, I just..." Twilight said as she started to sweat.

"Twilight, no more," Spike said as he put a finger to her lips. "Dash, look, I think you'll be a great Wonderbolt, but right now, we just need the weather. You said 10 seconds flat, well, prove it! Show Twilight she's wrong!" he said with an air punch.

Dash groaned and stood up. "You know what? Yeah, you're right. Time it!" she said as she bent her legs, ready to spring off.

Spike grabbed a stopwatch from Twilight's fanny pack. "Go!"

Dash sprung off the cloud with a kick that tore it apart and began kicking cloud after cloud. Just as it was coming on 10 seconds, she did a loop-de-loop and soared down in front of Spike. "Well?"

"9.85 seconds, wow!" he said as he offered a high-five and Twilight just stood slack-jawed.

Dash accepted immediately with her claw, knocking him over, then stood up on her hind legs and wiggled her hips side to side while pushing out her arms. "Ah yeah, ah yeah, who's the best?"

Spike giggled as he mimicked her dance, and bumped hips with her, sending him into a nearby wall.

"I...think I owe you an apology, if you're willing to listen," Twilight started, eyes closed and head down.

Dash smirked. "Yeah, yeah, but you can kiss my butt and make up later, I've got practicin' to do! See ya, Spike," she said as she zoomed off.

"See ya!" he replied. "Um, and your mane looks kinda pretty like this, Twilight."

Twilight huffed and began trotting on. "Let's go find the one in charge of decorations..."

A while later, Twilight, with her mane back to normal, went into the library and slammed the door shut, not even taking time to turn on the light first. "Ugh, those two were worse than Dash..."

"Hey, Rarity was dreamy!" Spike rebutted.

"Yeah, if your dream is to be constricted to death by jewel-encrusted fashion statements without your consent right after getting your belly stuffed," Twilight groaned back, patting her stomach, which wasn't quite back to normal yet.

"Oh come on. What about Fluttershy? She was nice, and it was really rude to lie to her," Spike said as he pointed a claw right in front of her face.

"Spike, she made me tell her how you were potty-trained, and I really thought I wouldn't have to describe that ever again," Twilight said with a shudder.

"You're just jealous I got a friend first, and one who actually likes all the ways I can shoot fire," Spike retorted with a giggle as he crossed his arms.

"Eugh, look, I need to be alone for a bit without any crazy ponies...or griffons, so where's the light switch?" Twilight asked as she started looking around.

The lights suddenly came on, revealing dozens of townsponies, along with everyone she met earlier except Applejack, and Fluttershy who was probably still just outside the door, crammed into the room. "SURPRISE!" they shouted in unison, releasing balloons and blowing noisemakers. There was even a blue and white DJ playing music.

Twilight froze. Spike however looked around with a smile before going up to a bright teal unicorn swinging her rear back and forth to the beat. "Lyra!" he said as he waved with his claw. "Good to see one of Twilight's old classmates still here. We just moved in."

Lyra smiled and bumped hips with him. "Hey little guy! I hardly even go to Canterlot much anymore, so...you can't escape me that easy!" she said with a giggle.

Twilight just watched awkwardly as Spike then ran up to a nearby Gloomy Dash and another griffon, who had a brown coat and a white mane. The three immediately started doing the dance from earlier in time with the music, while ponies seemed to keep their distance from them, except Lyra and Fluttershy.

Twilight's eye started twitching. "Is that...Gilda?" Twilight breathed heavily for a moment as her eye continued to twitch.

The pink pony from earlier suddenly zoomed into place in front of Twilight, making her back up and fall onto her rear. "Hi! Yep, that's Gilda; she can be a little mean sometimes, but she's a great partier, and she Pinkie promised this time not to do that thing she did the last time you were at a party with her. Oh, speaking of Pinkies, I'm Pinkie Pie. I set up this party just for you! Were you surprised? Huh? Huh?" she asked, bouncing up and down.

"Uh...very, very surprised. You know, libraries are supposed to be quiet," Twilight said with a disgruntled look as she eyed up a table with glass bottles whose label showed some kind of martini-like cup with bubbles and promptly began trotting towards it.

"Well that's bor-ing! I knew you two needed a party when you first got here because you're new in town, and everypony has to get a welcome party! And Dashie said that you were all serious business and needed cheering up!" Pinkie said as she bounced alongside Twilight.

Twilight rolled her eyes and grabbed the nearest bottle in her magic, pouring it and taking a huge sip immediately, only to suddenly find her mouth hot and her eyes tearing up, rearing up as fire practically came out of her mouth.

Spike came over and looked at the bottle. "Uh, that was hot sauce, not the sparkling applejack..."

Pinkie shrugged and covered a cupcake in the hot sauce before eating it, much to the shock of Spike, Fluttershy, Gloomy Dash, Gilda, and Rarity nearby.

Twilight meanwhile galloped to the bathroom.

Later in the bedroom, Twilight was face-first in a pillow, holding it to her ears while the sound of the party in the main room could be heard.

Suddenly, the door opened, revealing Spike with a lampshade on his head holding it open. "Hey Twilight! Dash is doing something weird with Pinkie in a game of spin the bottle! Wanna come watch?"

Twilight groaned and raised her head, putting the pillow atop it. "No! It's nearly sun-up Spike, I haven't slept at all, and everyone in this town is nuts! For all I care, Dash can eat Pinkie; it'd be one less problem I have to deal with!"

"Whoa, hey, you should lighten up, it's a party. Everyone just wants to be ready for when Celestia raises the sun. It'll happen in only ten minutes!" Spike said.

"Wait, ten minutes? It's a 2-minute walk to town hall, we've gotta get going so we're not late!" Twilight said as she got out of bed. She took a look at the moon, with its horse head pattern, and the twinkling stars, then galloped out of the room.

At town hall, Twilight trotted in with Spike standing on her back. Looking to Dash and Gilda bumping chests to her right, she headed left and took a position next to Rarity.

"So, I take it decorating went okay?" Twilight asked.

"Oh, absolutely, darling," Rarity replied.

"You look great," Spike said. "Er, I mean, it looks great. Real...fancy."

Rarity hmphed and smirked, then trotted over to a set of stairs in the back.

Suddenly the birds started singing triumphantly, and a pale brown mare with a grey mane came onto the stage. "Fillies and gentlecolts, as mayor of Ponyville, it is my great pleasure to announce the beginning of the Summer Sun Celebration! In just a few moments, our town will witness the sun rising to begin the longest day of the year! And now, it is my great honor to introduce Princess Celestia!"

The crowd cheered, with Lyra even bouncing up and down. The mayor gestured towards a balcony, where Rarity pulled the curtains, revealing...nopony.

"Um, one second, everypony," Rarity said as she trotted behind the curtains. A moment later, she came out. "She was just here, but, it seems she's gone!"

Gasps erupted from the crowd, intensifying when a wispy blue smoke came out from next to Rarity.

Rarity quickly dived off the balcony, and was caught by two brown earth pony stallions, one lighter with a CM of three blue horseshoes, the other darker with a CM of an hourglass, that she gave a smirk to.

Twilight flew up above the crowd to the height of the balcony, but kept her distance. "Spike, you know what this means?"

Spike simply gulped as he grabbed tightly onto her neck.

The blue smoke expanded rapidly and parted in the middle, revealing a dark purple and black alicorn with a mane and tail formed by the smoke itself. "Oh my beloved subjects, it's been so long since I've seen your precious little sun-loving faces."

Dash flew up next to Twilight angrily. "What have you done with our princess?" she asked as she prepared to attack.

Gilda grabbed Dash and whispered. "Hey, I love a good fight, but let's not pick one with a pony that took out Celestia without making a sound..."

The alicorn chuckled. "Why? Am I not royal enough for you? Don't you know who I am?"

Spike nervously chuckled. "Uh...you wouldn't happen to be uh...Black Snooty, the fun-loving mean queen of darkness who's just here to fill in for Celestia?"

Twilight facehoofed. "Spike, she's obviously Nightmare Moon, formerly the mare in the moon, who's been imprisoned for a thousand years!"

Everypony gasped.

"Well well well, somepony actually paid attention to the signs and legends; then you also know why I'm here," Nightmare Moon said with a grin.

"Yes...you're here...to...to bring eternal night..." Twilight said with a look of sadness.

Nightmare Moon giggled. "Indeed I am. Remember this day, little ponies, for it was your last. From this moment forth, the night will last forever!" She finished with a cackle as lightning struck from her now-swirling ethereal mane.

Into the Woods

The mayor stepped forward. "Guards, seize her!" She shouted while pointing at Nightmare Moon.

A trio of royal guard pegasi flew forth, while two royal guard unicorns shot beams up at the balcony.

Nightmare Moon rolled her eyes as she shielded against the beams, then blasted the guards away. and finally casted a spell that instantly put them all to sleep.

Gloomy Dash leapt into action with a roar, only for Nightmare Moon to transform into nothing but ethereal mane and float away out the doors.

"Get back here you coward!" Dash shouted as she flew out of town hall, followed by Twilight and Gilda, only to find Nightmare Moon long gone.

Gilda just shook her head and shared a momentary awkward glare with Twilight before flying off.

Twilight sighed. "It's no use, even if she wasn't so fast, she can just teleport, Dash."

Dash panted a bit before sighing. "Great, so now what, smartyflanks?"

"Well...we could read a book," Twilight said with a nervous smile.

Dash groaned. "How about you do that, while I watch and make sure you aren't behind all this, huh?" Dash flew up to Twilight, putting her beak to her nose.

"Y-yes of course, of course, now calm down," Twilight said, sweating as she gulped and began to trot towards the library.

"That's her solution to everything, by the way," Spike remarked as he held on to Twilight's mane.

Dash stood there awkwardly as Twilight and Spike hurriedly looked over books. "So um...are you in charge now that Celestia's gone?"

Twilight shook her head. "No, I think technically, my older sister Cadance is, but she's not really ready for something like this."

Fluttershy slipped in quietly behind Dash.

"Oh, but like, don't you have some authority, as a princess?" Dash asked.

Twilight sighed. "Celestia took away my title two years ago. I'm surprised you didn't hear about it. After what Gilda did, I started lashing out in public at griffon diplomats and one day I...kind of stormed your people's embassy and left the ambassador cowering behind a broken desk. Can't say I wouldn't have revoked my title in her place, given their response was to seize the Griffish Isles..."

Dash and Fluttershy both cringed a bit.

"Um, right, sorry to bring it up, I just wasn't on the best terms with Griffonstone either at the time," replied Dash.

Rarity cleared her throat as she trotted in. "Um, would there happen to be any books about good fashions for extended periods of darkness outside?"

Twilight glared briefly before resuming the search.

"Just...asking, you know, in case that somewhat fashionable alicorn is our ruler...permanently," Rarity added with a nervous smile.

Dash rolled her eyes, while Spike simply grabbed another book. "Aha! The Elements of Harmony: A Reference Guide."

"Gimme!" Twilight snapped as she turned around.

Spike recoiled a bit before holding it out.

Twilight gave a nervous chuckle before gently grabbing it and flipping through it with her magic. "Hmm, it seems there's six elements that all work together, but...only five are known, and the sixth will be revealed by them to a wielder that's worthy. The five are Kindness, Laughter, Generosity, Loyalty, and Honesty. Their last known location was in the ruins of the ancient castle of the two sisters, in the Everfree Forest."

"Ugh, really?" cried Dash as she crossed her arms, while Fluttershy cowered behind one of her legs.

"W-what's so bad about the Everfree?" asked Spike.

"Oh, not much darling..." Rarity started with a chuckle. "Just that it's...you know, known as the place where a pony needs to go with two friends: One to watch your backside for a monster gobbling it, and the other to generously feed to the monster so it'll agree to let the remaining two of you live."

Spike started shaking atop Twilight's back, and was gripping her hips so hard his claws were leaving marks.

"You're...not speaking from experience, right?" asked Twilight as she gave him some soothing back rubs with her magic.

"W-well, it's just a saying, darling," Rarity replied with a shocked look. "Under normal circumstances, three ponies, a griffon, and a baby dragon would be quite safe traveling together. Unfortunately, we've been up all night and there's a particularly nasty pony out there who I imagine wouldn't feel too upset if the ones trying to stop her ended up as nothing but...uh...what would we be, Fluttershy? You're the nature expert."

"Oh, um, well, in the forest, nothing goes to waste, not even bones really, and it all gets processed into fertilizer for the trees. We'd be...trees, I guess? It's kind of comforting to think we'd be trees," Fluttershy replied with a warm smile.

Rarity rolled her eyes. "Yes I suppose that's true dear, but before that, we'd be 'fertilizer'. The less said of why I would rather not be that, the better!" she finished with a shudder.

"Hey!" Dash shouted as she flew to between Twilight and Rarity. "I'm not running away from a fight just because of some trees and wild animals!"

Twilight sighed. "I like your courage, and someone has to stop eternal night, but let's not rush into this. Let's all grab whatever we think might be useful surviving in there for a day or so and meet back at the edge of town nearest the forest in fifteen minutes, okay?"

As they entered the forest, Twilight, with only her fanny pack and a very tired-looking Spike on her, looked to Rarity, who was sporting two full saddlebags. "So...you sure you need all that? It's not that long of a walk to the castle."

"Trust me dear, everything in here is important, and not just for fashion reasons. You'll thank me later," Rarity replied as she flipped her hair.

Dash, who was carrying nothing, put a claw on Twilight's mane. "Don't worry, this is packing light by her standards. She probably didn't even bring the emergency inflatable stallions this time!" she chuckled as she jabbed Twilight's side a bit with her elbow.

Rarity simply groaned as she trotted ahead, stopping at a nearby bush and leaning to look over it. "Hmm, Fluttershy, what kind of plant is this?"

Fluttershy, who had only a light sack at her side, trotted up to meet her. "Um, well that's odd, I think it's a...wait..."

Suddenly, a large lion-like creature with sharp teeth, bat-like wings, and a large scorpion tail stood up where the two were looking.

Everyone froze, except for Rarity. "MANTICORE!" she shouted as she shrugged off her saddlebags and assumed a bipedal fighting stance, throwing a few feigned punches.

"Wait..." said Fluttershy meekly while Twilight and Dash started to move towards the manticore.

However, it let out a loud roar that left both of them standing in place to Rarity's left side.

Rarity jumped at the manticore with her horn and hooves ready...only for it to lean forward, mouth open, and close its lips around her waist in an instant. Her rear legs rapidly kicked, and let out a squeal, while her rear made a squeaky sputtering noise and her tail wiggled.

Twilight froze completely and started hyperventilating while Spike jumped off her and cried out. "Rarity!"

Dash meanwhile started giggling uncontrollably and fell backwards, while Fluttershy stifled a chuckle.

With one fluid motion of raising its front and using its tongue to push Rarity in, the beast swallowed the rest of her, then put a paw to its chest and belched.

Fluttershy gasped. "Um, I thin-"

Dash suddenly put on a more serious look, glaring at the manticore with a growl. "You let her out or I'll force her out!"

Fluttershy raised a hoof. "Wait! I-if he wanted to hurt us, we'd all be stung by now. Something's got him upset, and he only ate Rarity because she attacked him, and you should know as a griffon what that's like," Fluttershy said as she turned to the manticore and gently put a hoof on its shoulder. "Now what's wrong, big guy?"

The manticore turned a paw over, revealing a thorn stuck in, and Fluttershy promptly pulled it out.

It roared in pain for a moment, before licking Fluttershy's mane.

Fluttershy giggled. "Oh, you're just a big softy, hehe. See, this was all just a big misunderstanding."

Dash rolled her eyes. "Yeah, the misunderstanding here is that the pony who once lost to a pickle jar thought she could take on something my size, and the only thing she broke was wind!"

Rarity groaned, albeit muffled, from inside. "Dash! Can you please save embarrassing me for after you've saved me?"

"Yeah yeah, I'll get right on it. It wouldn't be any fun anyways to tell everyone you tried to fight, but could only fart, if I couldn't see your reaction!" Dash replied with a giggle. "Hey Spike, wanna take bets on how many hits it takes to save miss gas bag?" she asked with a smug smirk as she assumed a boxing stance.

"Uh...t-two?" he replied meekly.

"Absolutely not!" Fluttershy shouted, getting between Dash and the Manticore. "Can you please let our friend out, big guy?" Fluttershy asked the manticore, who promptly stepped back and, with some effort, coughed her up.

Twilight slowly trotted up to Rarity, still breathing heavily.

Rarity was covered in slobber and in the fetal position with some scrapes from the beast's teeth, with her mane flattened entirely and with some stray frayed hairs, but her tail mostly normal. After coughing a bit and taking in a few breaths, she got up and checked herself in a hoof mirror. "He...ruined...my...my MANE!" she cried, tears forming a waterfall, as the manticore ran off deeper into the forest.

Dash rolled her eyes. "Oh come on, that's your concern, even after nearly becoming nothing more than somecreature's tasty walking marshmallow dinner? Kinda making me tempted to give in to my instincts and finish what the manticore started!" Dash said with a lick of her beak. "...besides, don't you have everything to fix a mane in your bags?"

"Only a BRUU-UUUSH!" cried Rarity.

Spike went up to Rarity, quickly getting her brush out of her bags and trying to use it on her mane, along with bandages for her scrapes.

Twilight finally returned to breathing normally, then trotted up to Dash slowly, put her magic around the griffon's neck, and slammed her against a tree. "Are ponies nothing but prey to you, you sick griffon!?"

"...n-no, as tasty as ponies are, I don't..." Dash said, having trouble breathing out the words. "P-please, about Minuette...l-look, I wasn't lying when I told her I'd spit her out, b-but then Gilda pressured me!" Dash replied, looking nervous.

Twilight dropped the magic chokehold on her...and promptly grabbed a nearby tree in her magic, ripping it up out of the ground in a second and levitating it over to above Dash. Twilight's eyes started to glow. "THAT...WAS YOU?" she shouted in a booming voice that shook the ribcages of everyone nearby, and the trees around them.

"N-no no no, please, please, I'll do anything, d-don't..." Dash pleaded, closing her eyes and starting to cry as she cowered.

Spike stepped between the two suddenly. "Twilight, please...you're scaring us..."

Twilight turned to look to her right, and noticed Rarity sat shivering, with Fluttershy completely flat on the ground, hooves over her head, behind her.

Rarity in particular seemed like she was about to cry again, her eyes watering.

Twilight took a deep breath and put the tree down back near where it was uprooted, letting her magic dissipate. "I'm so sorry...I just lost control for a moment because they way that manticore got Rarity...it just brought me back to the last time I saw Minuette and Lemon Hearts and...I'm a bad friend, aren't I?" She hung her head low.

Rarity came forward and put both her front hooves to Twilight's side. "Darling, I read about the whole thing. I can't imagine what it would be like to lose two friends in one night and then to have to confront one of the perpetrators. Trust me, as one of Dash's friends, that she knows better now. She may not be the most respectful of individuals, but she genuinely does mean well, deep down, under the thick crust of muck, if you really loo-"

"OKAY SHE GETS THE IDEA!" shouted Dash.

"I see..." said Twilight as she took another deep breath. "So...why are you and Fluttershy friends with Dash, anyways?"

"Well for me, it's simple, darling: I let Dash make fun of me all she wants, and she has to model for my larger outfits and give me an honest opinion on my designs. You see, in the fashion industry, it's hard to find anyone who won't blow smoke up your backside as they kiss it; at times I feel like I'm simply a fabulous ivory smoking pipe accessory being passed from one rich client to another," Rarity replied.

"Eugh, that's one mental image I could live without," remarked Twilight as she pushed Rarity away and beckoned Fluttershy.

Fluttershy stepped forward slowly, with her mane hiding half her face. "I know a lot of ponies don't trust griffons because of their um, tendencies, but deep-down Dash is really a sweetheart just like a lot of pony-eating predators I've met. Even Gilda means well, she just has trouble overcoming her nature. And well, both of them aren't afraid to tell me the truth even when everypony else will lie to protect my feelings. Plus Dash is always there for me when I need a shoulder to cry on," Fluttershy finished by leaning against Dash for a hug and nuzzling her, earning a weak pat back.

Dash stuck out her tongue and made a disgusted face. "Okay, let's cut the sap before the trees get jealous. So are there any wipes in those saddlebags? I hate to admit it, Raritoots...but I guess I'm in a similar boat to you, that alicorn murder magic uh, kinda scared the pee outta me."

Rarity gave a polite chuckle and came over. "Of course, darling, I'll get you cleaned up, and won't tell anypony if you try to keep my own little slip-up from ending up frontpage news," she said as she reached into her bags.

"Deal," replied Dash as she hugged Rarity. "And don't tell them I got huggy, either!"

Twilight awkwardly shuffled away, while Spike patted her side before hopping up on Rarity's back and putting the last few bandaids in place.

As the group moved, they soon found themselves in an especially dark area, with trees closer together than usual.

"Hmm, know anything about why the canopy just got so thick, Fluttershy?" Twilight asked.

"Uh, well, I'm not really an expert on how trees grow...but I really don't like this darkness. I can barely see my own hooves," she said as she stepped on Rarity's hoof. "Sorry."

"It's okay darling, but do be careful, my hooves were just done yesterday," Rarity replied.

Suddenly a branch swung down and scraped against Rarity's back all the way to the base of her tail. "Um...Dash, now is not the time to be acting creepy with your claws," she said.

"Uh...Rarity, I'm in front of yo-," Dash started, before falling on her face. "Alright, who tripped me? Wait...AH! The trees are attacking!" She shouted as she pointed out incoming branches from the left.

The other 4 stopped and got into a circle as branches came from all directions.

"We're surrounded!" Spike yelled as he tried to breathe fire to protect Rarity's back, but could barely put out a little puff that only took off a tiny twig from a branch.

Twilight put up a few mobile magical shield pieces, moving them about to deal with the branches.

Suddenly, Pinkie's distinctive giggling, albeit muffled, could be heard from Dash's direction.

"OH HEAVENS NO, Pinkie's already back!" cried Rarity as she started ruffling through her saddlebags.

"Wha-?" questioned Twilight as the giggling got more intense.

Dash clutched her stomach in apparent pain and suddenly hurled, but instead of vomit, out came Pinkie curled into a ball, alongside some confetti and streamers.

"Are you silly fillies and dragon just gonna let a bunch of trees boss you around?" Pinkie asked as she began dancing.

"B-but wait, so Dash ate you...but you're still...how?" Twilight asked as she deflected an incoming branch effortlessly.

Rarity levitated up five sets of earplugs, putting one into her own ears then offering the others. "Hurry, use them, she's about t-"

Pinkie suddenly started singing, crouching, and wiggling her rear as she pronked about. "When I was a little filly, and the sun was going dooo-ooown..."

Fluttershy put in her plugs, then Spike and Dash followed suit. Twilight meanwhile stared slack-jawed. "Is she really gonna...?"

Pinkie continued, popping out from random trees and dodging their attacks from branches as well as sharp-teethed mouths. "The darkness and the shadows they would always make me frooo-ooown!"

"Always does...gist of it seems to be that the trees' bark is worse than their bite," Rarity replied with an eyeroll before she nudging Twilight.

Twilight promptly put in her set of earplugs.

After brutally smashing every tree branch in sight while giggling at the idea a few scrapes and splinters could stop them, Twilight finally pulled out her earplugs. "Well, that went pretty well, but uh...you were inside Dash since the party?"

"Yep! I napped for most of it, but I think I got the important bits. We're trying to stop Black Snooty, a manticore knocked the wind out of Rarity's rear end," Pinkie replied, stopping a moment to giggle. "...Dashie's afraid of trees, and for some reason, ponies still don't want to bring up the one big question that Gilda won't answer about what happened: Did Lemon Hearts taste like lemons, or was her name a lie!?" Pinkie glared off to the side and put a hoof to her chin.

Twilight stood looking stunned. "I don't even know where to begin with that."

"Darling, it's best if you don't question it, trust me," Rarity said with a hoof on Twi's shoulder as the group stopped at a river they could barely see the other shore of. "Now what do you all say to setting up camp for a bit and trying to sleep before we cross this?"

"Right, and we definitely need our rest. Hey, Dash, you knew she'd be okay when she went in, right?" Twilight asked.

"Well, she Pinkie promised. Last time a pony didn't trust a Pinkie promise, they got party blacklisted for a whole month!" Dash said with a slight shudder.

"A terrible fate I'm sure," Twilight remarked in a sarcastic tone as she helped Rarity roll out three double-wide sleeping bags, one styled sky blue and grey like Dash, another various shades of purple including Rarity's mane and Spike's scales, and a third pink with yellow and blue highlights. "Did you...make the purple sleeping bag today?"

"Of course, darling! When I saw little Spikey Wikey, I just knew that I'd need to make something perfect in case me and him ended up in the woods together," Rarity replied with a smile as she got into it with Spike and held him close.

Twilight shrugged and got into the sleeping bag next to Spike, hugging him from the other side. "Right, a very normal thing to plan for immediately after meeting someone...anyways, let's all get some shut-eye, except...Pinkie, since she got sleep earlier, she can stand watch."

Pinkie simply nodded as she bounced around.

Trusting Each Other

Twilight awoke to Pinkie jumping up and down atop her. "Aah! What the hay!"

Spike and Rarity groaned, but kept in their little embrace as they opened their eyes.

"Twilight, wake up, the river and wind went crazy!" Pinkie said as she bounced over to the now-raging river, a howling wind blowing her mane to the side.

"Well great..." Twilight replied with a yawn.

Dash stretched and got up. "I'm sure I can just fly you all over," she said confidently before flying a bit above the river, but found herself moving erratically in the wind, and fell into the water, struggling to swim against the current or even keep her beak above the water. "Help!"

Fluttershy screamed and sprung into action, flying over and and barely managing to grab Dash's claw, pulling her to the shore.

Dash rapidly clawed her way back ashore and coughed up water. "Okay, just give me a moment before I try again..."

Rarity slipped out of the sleeping bag and set Spike atop her back, then got to work packing the sleeping bags back into her saddlebags. "Darling...I love that you're willing to carry us, but after seeing that, I think the chance of even you getting across, let alone ferrying all of us, is far too low for my tastes."

Twilight stood up and put a hoof to her chin. "Perhaps I could teleport us?"

Spike shook his head. "To a shore you can barely see? Come on Twilight, I know you're capable of a lot, but you know what could happen if you miss..."

"Ooh, ooh!" Pinkie piped up as she leaned over the edge of the water. "What if we ask the big purple sea monster who looks upset?"

Twilight squinted, then lit her horn as she saw a huge serpent rise from the waters just upstream. "Pinkie, get back! I can take him!"

The purple serpent with orange hair and a long mustache that stopped short on one side suddenly started crying. "What a world, what a world!" he shouted between sobs.

"Um..." Fluttershy started as she trotted closer to the shore and upstream. "Is there something we can help with, mister...?"

"Steven. Steven Magnet. And I doubt that, I was just swimming here, minding my own business, when suddenly, this tacky little indigo cloud of smoke whisked past me, and tore half of my beloved mustache clean off! And now...I look simply horrid!" he replied with a dramatic fall into the water, splashing everyone, before resting his head against the shore.

"Oh come on, really? A mustache? Of course we get a cool-looking giant serpent, and instead of being a cool monster trying to eat us, it's just another Rarity," Dash remarked with a frustrated tone.

"Hmph, rude, even for you. Multiple of me could accomplish much better things than simply playing cat and mouse with ponies," remarked Rarity as she came up to Steven and inspected his lips. "...but he is indeed 'cool', with such lovely luminescent scales, an expertly-coiffed mane, and a fabulous manicure!"

"Oh it's so true!" sniffed Steven.

"But it's all ruined by missing half of a beautiful mustache...Mister Magnet, I believe I have a solution to this crime against fabulosity! Unfortunately I don't have any comically large scissors so...would you mind coming close for a moment, darling?"

"Oh, I'm hideous!" Steven shouted as he threw up his arms. "Do what you must! Anything to end this nightmare!"

Rarity nodded with a look of determination, then bit into one of his scales, and pulled it out harshly, then rapidly swung it, cutting off a bit of her own tail.

"Oh dear! The violence," Steven cried. "Why would you do something so awful to your lovely luscious tail? Is this...solidarity with my hideous state?"

"Oh heavens no, darling. Short tails are...in this season, and I just realized my tail is the perfect length...now hold still," Rarity said as she levitated her tail into place and then tied it in with what was left of the right side of Steven's mustache.

"Ooh, my mustache! How wonderful! How can I possibly repay you for this selfless act of sacrifice?" he asked.

"Ferrying us across the river so we don't drown would be quite fine, darling," Rarity replied as she put on her saddlebags.

"Oh, it would be my pleasure, but I'm afraid my scales are much too slippery for that," he said.

Pinkie bounced up to his ear and whispered.

"Well, if you're sure..." Steven said, before suddenly grabbing the group in his hands, raising them up, and dropping them into his mouth.

All but Pinkie, who giggled, screamed as they fell.

Pinkie went in first, and pulled an umbrella from her tail that she opened in his throat, blocking it. Rarity and Spike landed next to her, with Twilight, with Fluttershy and Dash behind.

Twilight spat as Fluttershy slammed into her stomach, and a split second later, Dash's rear slammed into her face. Her eyes went wide and she groaned.

"Whoa, hey back there...guess we're even now that ya kissed it," Dash said with a chuckle.

Twilight pushed the griffon's rear off with a forehoof and wiped her mouth for a moment on the fur of the other one. "Eugh, look, we need to get out of here, for all we know, Steven Magnet made a deal to stop us, and that umbrella won't last forever...I just need to cast a teleportation spell..." She took a moment to concentrate, but her horn, having just the slightest spot of sea serpent spit on it, fizzled out. "Oh no..."

"Twilight!" Spike shouted. "You're scaring us, more than this little surprise. Just trust Pinkie and Rarity on this, please."

Twilight sighed, and suddenly, everything shifted, with the whole group launched up and out by a hacking Steven Magnet.

"There you are. Sorry to give such a fright, the pink one said you liked surprises!" Steven Magnet said as he began swimming away.

Twilight blew a bit of her mane out of her face before getting up.

"Au revoir!" Rarity called back to Steven. "Spike, how's the tail looking back there? That little trip didn't make it worse, did it?"

"Uh...I did what I could, but it's a little ragged," he replied. "And if you wouldn't mind, could I take a nap? I didn't exactly get all my baby dragon sleep back there, with all there is to worry about..."

"Of course, darling, we're all a little scared. Well, except Pinkie, but eternal night promises lots of parties. I'll keep you well and safe," Rarity said as she patted him.

Within moments, Spike was snoring softly.

"Speaking of needs..." Twilight started. "I'll catch up later, I need to see a tree about a pony."

"We'll slow down a bit darling, but don't take too long, these woods are clearly treacherous," replied Rarity.

Twilight nodded and trotted into the foliage.

A while later, Twilight sighed and stepped forward, only to find her hooves stuck in a pool of muck and sinking fast. "Ugh, and now quicksand? Well, a little spell can take care of th-"

Suddenly, vines latched onto her horn, blocking it from charging. She tried to flap her wings next, but they too were restrained.

"Oh no! Help! Somepony!" Twilight cried, looking around in fear.

"Twilight!" Spike replied as he ran up to her, then blew a puff of dragonfire that burned away the vines from her horn.

Twilight took a deep breath and casted a spell that blew away the vines and quicksand, letting her gently fly to Spike and give him a hug. "Oh Spike, I shouldn't've gone alone..."

"Ya got that right. Rarity insisted I give you your privacy or I wouldn't be getting any more cuddles, but...well, I remember the last time I left you alone in a bathroom for one minute and we had to buy the restaurant new walls," Spike replied with a deadpan expression.

"Hey, it was two minutes, and that griffon had...right, right," Twilight admitted sheepishly before hurrying to catch up with the group, Spike in tow.

When she'd caught up, she saw them looking at a chasm with a bridge that was out, and on the other side seemed to be the castle. "So, we fly across and bring up the other side of the bridge, right?"

Dash spread her wings. "Probably faster than ferrying all of you over...and Fluttershy can coordinate pretty well with me, so...you up for it, Fluttershy?"

"Mm-hmm", Fluttershy replied as she gently took off.

"This'll only take a minute," said Dash as she followed suit, disappearing into the fog with Fluttershy.

Rarity turned to Twilight. "So, I trust Spike found you alive and well?" she asked with a grin.

Twilight cleared her throat. "He saved me from drowning, actually. Now look, I like that you two get along, but he's my little brother, so don't try to control his behavior toward others or I might just have to acquaint your fanciest brush with a part of your body it should never meet."

Pinkie popped in between the two. "She means your b-"

Rarity jammed a hoof in Pinkie's mouth. "I am well aware what she means, thank you. I'm...sorry Twilight, truly, I was out of line and you nearly paid the price for it. When we're back from all this, I promise I'll buy you both a day at the spa, to make it up to you."

Twilight smiled and levitated Spike onto Rarity's back. "That sounds wonderful. Hmm, shouldn't those two be done by now?"

Spike put his claws up to his mouth. "Oh no, what if there are enormous eels that pop out of the chasm and...got them?"

Twilight rolled her eyes. "Enormous eels, on land? Spike, that's silly; they're probably just having trouble seeing the rope," Twilight remarked.

Pinkie took Rarity's hoof from her mouth. "Oooor, Black Snooty's super special team of unicorns is offering Fluttershy her dream position of being a star in her mane if they betray us and join the Lemon Hearts flavor conspiracy!"

"Darling, I don't know if it's a mushroom you ate, some kind of poison from those pukwudgies that attacked while we waited for Twilight, or whatever was on my hoof, but you clearly had too much of it," Rarity remarked.

"I'll go check on them..." Twilight said, flying over the chasm.

On the other side, she landed behind a rock, and with the combination of fog and darkness making it hard to see, promptly used a spell to outline nearby living creatures. She could see Rainbow Dash...with Fluttershy's rear end sticking out and flailing, much like Rarity with the manticore earlier.

Twilight panicked and hid fully behind the rock, breathing rapidly for a few moments, then cautiously peered out.

"Oh, uh, hey Twilight!" replied Dash. "Fluttershy's uh..."

"O-off trying to find some rope, I'm sure..." Twilight said with barely even a hint of nervousness.

Dash sighed. "No, I can't do this...I...she's in my stomach."

A muffled sound came from Dash's belly. "Wait, I consented and fed myself t-!"

Dash slapped her side. "Fluttershy! Don't lie to protect me! Good gravy. Look, Nightmare Moon's minions made me an offer and..."

"Dash, use the thing she gave you, hurry!" Fluttershy added.

Twilight's eyes went wide.

"They said if I proved myself with Fluttershy, then used some knockout powder on you, that they'd make me top Shadowbolt. And well...I just can't lie like that." Dash said with a scratch of the back of her neck, and a head hung low, as she dropped a little bag to her side.

Twilight put a hoof on Dash's shoulder. "It's okay. I can't blame you for being scared. Now can we get the bridge put up before worrying about Fluttershy? I don't entirely trust those three together to stay safe."

Dash laughed and flew to bring up one corner, while Twilight followed and brought up another.

As the other three came into view, Twilight casted a spell, and Dash began upchucking.

Spike cringed from atop Rarity's back as Fluttershy came out looking much like Rarity did earlier.

"Good heavens, her mane!" shouted Rarity.

Twilight used a spell to dry Fluttershy. "Nightmare Moon was behind this. I'm suspecting now that every single problem we ran into was her doing," replied Twilight.

"Oh, she's named Nightmare Moon? Well no wonder none of her pranks were any fun!" remarked Pinkie.

Fluttershy flipped her mane back to normal effortlessly. "Um, if she's been watching us all this time uh...shouldn't be prepared before we go in the castle? Or uh...perhaps consider surrendering?"

"Fluttershy, please darling, we're all a little scared of facing her, but if the worst she can throw at us was back there, I'm sure we'll be fine even if we were to...lose. Anyways, there is definitely one thing I need, and that's to use the little filly's room...excuse me," Rarity stated as she trotted away with Spike still on her back. "Uh, little dragon's room too..." he added.

"Me three!" Pinkie happily shouted as she awkwardly trotted behind the two.

Dash looked to Fluttershy and cleared her throat, and soon Fluttershy quietly followed behind Pinkie.

"Wow, all four of them at once?" asked Twilight.

Dash rolled her eyes. "You eggheads are always bad at reading the room. Fluttershy hasn't had to go since I pounced her."

"Oh...ew...um, but...then why did she...?" asked Twilight with a look of confusion.

"Look, I just wanna be sure we're on the same page here...I'm really sorry I nearly sold out, okay?" Dash said with a sad look.

"Oh. Well, I'm new to this whole 'friendship' thing, but what comforts me is that you couldn't go through with it. I mean, it shows that you aren't just putting on a display for us like some ponies might be, that you really do have that heart of gold Rarity thinks you do, even if it is a little buried in there," Twilight said with a grin.

"Heh, I guess I do... And uh, about Minuette..." Dash replied, not meeting Twilight's eyes.

Twilight took a deep breath. "We can talk to Gilda about finally apologizing for what she did once this is all over. You know, thinking on it, it isn't easy being a griffon with those instincts, is it?"

Dash breathed a sigh of relief and shook her head. "Nope. I've gotta come clean with you, I ran into the previous librarian and well...it was just like what you thought could happen if my mouth was open and...then she kept making jokes about it and I didn't feel like interrupting her to spit her out right away, and with a full belly...I kinda fell asleep, but I really didn't mean to! I just wasn't thinking an-"

Twilight put a hoof to Dash's beak. "Dash, I already decided to trust you. I know you meant well." Twilight then cleared her throat and looked over Dash's shoulder. "Alright, I can see all four of you are done with things and just waiting in the bushes!" she shouted.

Rarity trotted out first, with her usual disarming polite chuckle, and Spike again on her back. Pinkie pronked out behind her, and Fluttershy slowly trotted out last.

"Everyone ready?" Twilight asked.

With nods all around, except for a thumbs-up from Spike, she charged ahead to the castle.

Inside the castle, the group entered a large room to see five orbs held up by spokes on a pedestal.

Dash flew up and grabbed an orb, bringing it down. "So, any idea how we get them to show the sixth?"

"I don't know how we prove we're worthy, it might be a test of ability," Twilight replied as she carefully levitated an orb down.

Fluttershy grabbed a second orb as Dash did the same.

"Maybe you could use your magic!" shouted Spike as Twilight brought down the last orb.

"It's worth a shot...but stand back, everyone!" Twilight said as she charged her horn and the others got behind her.

Suddenly, the wispy indigo smoke of Nightmare Moon's mane swirled in a tornado, moving the element orbs away from Twilight, before she appeared and stomped down, reducing them to fragments. "You little foals, thinking you could defeat me! Now you will never see your princess, or the sun. The night...will last...forever!" She finished with a maniacal laugh and teleported away.

"Oh no, what do we do now!" cried Spike.

Twilight pondered a moment, looking to the five orbs and her five friends, then a nearby part of the castle being lit up. "Hmph, she only thinks she's won. Let's give her a nasty little surprise...everyone grab some of those fragments and follow me!"

The others looked to each other, confused, but did as she said, and galloped with her into another part of the castle, up a spiral staircase, and into what looked to be a throne room, with a smirking Nightmare Moon seated at the far end. "Here to grovel for positions in my court? The offer's still on the table, Dash, with the change that the ones you have to...dispose of, are that mayor and a few ponies in Canterlot."

"You thought you could destroy the elements of harmony just like that?" asked Twilight. "The spirit of the elements is right here!"

Nightmare Moon blinked as the orb fragments started to levitate around the ponies. "What? No, no, that's impossible!" she growled, then glared as she fired off a bolt of magic right at Twilight.

Twilight gasped as the bolt raced for her, only to be blocked by Spike diving in the way, a loud bang heard as it struck, looking to be right in his belly. "SPIKE!"

Spike rolled over, groaning. "Ow...my back. This floor's really bad for landings." The fragments he had carried swirled around him, seeming to form a shield.

"Wait, WHAT? That should've torn you to pieces!" screamed Nightmare Moon. "He's..."

"The embodiment of the element of loyalty!" Twilight barked back at Nightmare Moon with a glare and a grin. "He'd never leave my side, even if it meant taking a hit to his! And he's not the only one here who embodies an element... Fluttershy calmed an upset manticore with her kindness, Pinkie boosted our morale with her laughter, Rarity got the aid of a kindred spirit with her generosity, and Dash couldn't let us down with her honesty!"

"But...you still don't have the sixth element!" cried Nightmare Moon.

Twilight grinned. "Oh, but we do! The sixth element is...the magic of friendship!" The six of them levitated up as an orb formed above Twilight. "And it unites them all!"

A rainbow formed from the six, and swirled around Nightmare Moon.

"Noooo!" she cried as she glowed and seemed to shrink in place.

The six meanwhile landed on the floor with several thuds.

"Ugh, my head," said Dash.

"Ooh, my tail...no longer has split ends. Well, can't win 'em all," stated Rarity.

"At least you've got a lovely necklace that matches your mane, and has your cutie mark," said Fluttershy.

Rarity inspected it. "Hmph, well, these elements have a good fashion sense."

Dash checked hers and smirked. "Awesome."

Suddenly, the sun came up, shining through the windows. "Thank you, my little ponies!" said Celestia's voice as an orb of light came out of it, revealing the princess.

"Celestia!" Twilight shouted as she ran up to her, while the others bowed.

Celestia patted Twilight's shoulder. "You did quite well, Twilight. You and your friends should be proud of yourselves!"

"Thank you, princess," Twilight replied, while Dash did her dance with Spike.

"Now, about my dear sister..." Celestia said as she trotted to where Nightmare Moon was.

Among smoldering bits of Nightmare Moon's regalia was an indigo alicorn who whimpered in fear.

"I suppose you're feeling a little less maniacal without your head saturated in dark magic, Luna?" Celestia asked.

Luna sniffled and nodded. "I'm so sorry...I was...awful. I just wanted recognition, but...not at that cost...all of Equestria would've suffered."

"It's okay. I'm just glad that you're finally back. 1000 years may have been necessary to drain most of your dark magic, but it was a long time to be without my sister," Celestia said as she laid next to Luna, and put her muzzle against her sister's neck.

Luna cried a bit and nuzzled Celestia back, standing up as Celestia did the same, and the two hugged.

Back in Ponyville, Twilight watched happily as Celestia and Luna trotted through the streets to cheers from happy townsponies.

"Well Luna, I think they quite like you now that you're a little more...approachable," said Celestia.

Luna nodded.

Pinkie popped up in front of the two. "And you know what you're getting now that you're new in town?"

"Uh..." Luna started...looking nervous.

"A PARTY!" Pinkie replied as Lyra jumped up and down nearby.

"Um, princess, one last thing before Pinkie has us stuffed full of cupcakes and cider," said Twilight.

"Yes?" replied Celestia.

"About my status..." Twilight started, rubbing the back of her neck with a hoof.

"Just being an element bearer won't make you a princess again, but it's quite a good bit of progress. Plus I think a pony who can bear the element of friendship, with a dragon and a griffon friend, would be quite perfect for mending relations with those two races to prove she can be a ruler," Celestia finished with a smile before resuming trotting through the streets.

Dash landed next to Twilight. "Well well well, sounds like you need me..."

Spike came up to her other side. "And me, I guess."

"I wouldn't have it any other way," Twilight said confidently as she put a hoof around each, with only Spike returning to make it a full hug as Dash just grinned.

"Hey y'all," Applejack shouted as she approached the three, looking to be covered in a bit of dirt. "What'd I miss while I was uh, incapacitated?"

"Uh, a lot, but why were you...?" Twilight asked, looking to Dash. "Did you..."

Dash nervously chuckled. "See uh, Moondancer wanted me to test something, you know, so there aren't any accidents... AJ's a good friend and volunteered as the guinea pig."

"I see...well, I think I can make one more friend today. Whaddya say, AJ?" Twilight asked with a smile.

"I reckon that'd be swell as a pig in mud! Oh but, speakin' of, I should clean up first. You go on ahead, and I'll be there to give a hoedown at the party!"

"I'll meet ya there!" replied Twilight.