Universe 99999

20 years later

“So… Today’s the day…” Shining Armor whispered contently, gazing up from where he sat. It had been 20 long years since they beat the council, hadn’t it? The stallion was noticeably older by the looks of his numerous wrinkles. Age had worn him down; however, he still considered himself a strapping young man. Currently in his late forties, his body was still well-built and sturdy. Around his neck was… the element of loyalty. “We’re stepping down,” He revealed.

The unicorn was in the Canterlot Castle’s garden, specifically the one behind the castle. It had been open to the public in the past, but not anymore… because of what could be found there. A wall and a magical barrier surrounded the garden, only allowing certain individuals to go in or out. It was an additional measure to prevent some ponies from escaping that garden… or to prevent someone from coming in and finishing the job. Indeed, Shining Armor had been talking to the statue of his sister and her friends. The Council of Harmony was still frozen, their expressions stuck just as they were 20 years ago. Nothing had changed except the moss and vines growing over their statues. No one bothered cleaning them, and frankly, why would they?

Shining Armor had been coming here regularly to talk to them, specifically to his sister. He didn’t know if she could hear him or not nor if he even wanted her to hear him.

“You know… We were so afraid we would turn out like you at some point… When we were told we should rule as a council like you because we bore the elements, we were scared we wouldn’t want to give up on the power once it was time…” Shining muttered, recalling how it went. At first, ponies suggested offering the throne to Cadance, making her the princess of both Equestria and the Crystal Empire. However, others argued it wouldn’t be a good idea to put in charge a princess who sat idly by while the Council did whatever they wished. Instead, they needed a new council, one who would listen to the citizens, and who better than those who defeated the previous rulers? Nevertheless, Cadance was still given a seat in it as the element of Kindness. “It was surprisingly much easier than I thought it’d be…”

It was always meant to be temporary as Equestria had always been a kingdom. Ultimately, it would need a princess to lead it. When they were chosen to be the rulers of Equestria, they all knew they would have to give it up eventually. Of course, they weren’t the only ones who feared the power would go to their heads. Many citizens believed they would be just like the Council of Harmony, and that they would use the elements to shape the world in any way they liked.

Yet, they remained incorruptible. They tore down the massive statues of the previous council, their posters, and propaganda. They removed their ridiculous rules, such as the constant obligation to wear a uniform or to smile in public. The ponies who had their whole lives scheduled were suddenly free to do as they wished of their work hours.

Even then, there was still much to be done to restore Equestria to what it once was, or at least, a semblance of what it was. Some things were now a part of their history and they couldn’t do anything to change it. The Council wiped out all the changelings and used their lands to expand Equestria. While some nations had friendly or neutral relations with the Council, many had negative opinions of them, and they included Equestria in their spite. Rebuilding those relations was difficult, but they persevered.

“So much has changed, hasn’t it?” Shining Armor asked with a faint smile. “Since Cadance hasn’t needed the amulet containing Princess Celestia’s magic to move the sun and the moon in years, she has been wondering if she should destroy it or hide it somewhere. It’s ironic, we had the same idea, actually,” He chuckled lightly. “She… She doesn’t talk a lot about you. I can understand why. Mom and Dad are still heartbroken,” The stallion lowered his gaze. “Mostly about the fact we fought each other, how you’ve changed, how… They’ll never see you talk or walk again,”

Calculating the Council’s crimes and their sentence was harder than they believed it to be. Some things were obvious, sure; however, others were more ambiguous. Shining firmly believed the genocide they committed on the changelings should be added to their already immense sentence, but many ponies, even among the rebels, thought otherwise. Changelings weren’t liked or even welcomed in Equestria, and many didn’t consider their young would be any different, so the killing of children didn’t affect their opinions. It was argued that it was a war so it couldn’t be helped. However, Shining considered there was a difference between soldiers and the whole swarm.

However, it was ultimately decided that the Council of Harmony would remain in stone for at least 1,500 years. It was a lot, but the least they deserved. That also meant he nor his parents would ever talk to Twilight again as if she were dead. The same went for the rest of the Council’s families. Sweetie Belle had broken down, blaming Shining and the others for her sister’s imprisonment, which she believed wasn’t deserved. While Sweetie was against many of the council’s policies, she never wished for her sister to be hurt, simply assuming that taking their power away and giving them their old life back should be enough. Her friends believed the same. Unfortunately, the three fillies were still too young to understand why such a punishment was dealt.

“Anyway… Now that we’ll have more free time, Trixie opened a school for gifted unicorns. You know… Since you closed Princess Celestia’s,” Shining stated awkwardly. “I bet you’d be still wondering how she even managed that, but… I think I can safely she’s getting better than you. Sure, it took some time, but… She is. To think you didn’t believe her capable…” He mused. “You didn’t believe much in anypony really, now that I think about it. I mean, except for your friends, of course,” He gestured to the other stone statues. “You all probably want to tear my head off right about now,” The stallion chuckled. “As for your cousin, Applejack… He’s been doing his best to give the relatives who lost their farms back to them, and the same for their lands. You’ve done a lot of damage to your family and even other farmers, but they’ve received a lot of help from Canterlot. In a few more years, maybe things could go back to the way they were for some of them,”

Braeburn never hated Applejack for helping their friends, but he still couldn’t forgive her. All he could do was keep the Apple name from being tarnished any further. The Apple family as a whole had faced a divide since some had been on Applejack’s side, and while Braeburn had fixed a few bonds over the years, a handful of them were still bitter and didn’t wish any contact with the rest of the family.

“That’s only for the material damage though. The lives lost… We can’t ever bring them back. Derpy and Cheese’s charities and shows helped, of course, but… Some things will never be healed. The scars will remain. Still, those two ponies have tried, alright? Derpy has spent most of her personal funds setting up orphanages, and centers to help single mothers, and those still stand to this day! They still help ponies in need! And Cheese hasn’t lost any of his optimism throughout all we lived through! Even after everything, he can genuinely smile and make ponies happy!” Shining rose to his hooves. “And you thought those ponies were worthless, that they didn’t have a place in your Equestria! I… I just… I wish I could understand why… Why did you do this?”

He had asked that question to himself more times than he could count. The six of them became monsters, the likes of which Equestria had rarely seen. What could have pushed them to this? Even if his sister had always been different, she had never done anything so vile in the past. Even after the ordeal with the changelings, he had witnessed her do unspeakable things while she didn’t even bat an eye!

“Did Princess Celestia hurt you THAT much? Was your hate so great that you were willing to sacrifice anything to satiate your need for revenge? Or what… Was it really because you thought the world was broken? That you were its only hope somehow?” Shining questioned, knowing she couldn’t answer him anyway. “I… I just can’t wrap my head around it. I don’t think I’ll ever understand, but… I’m done searching for an answer. I visited you every day for 20 years. I… Still love you, but it’s time for me to go now. I have a life to live, or at least, the remainder of a life… And my place is with my family,” The stallion looked down dejectedly. He started to get old, and he also began thinking that he couldn’t let Twilight hold any power over him anymore. No more guilt. No more shame. His sister would remain in stone until he died, so his time should be spent with ponies, not statues. “I am not getting any younger… I’ll live out my life by my wife’s side, so… This is goodbye, Twilight,” He sighed, accepting this was the last time he’d see her. “I don’t know when you’ll get out of here… Maybe in 2,000 years, or maybe even ten thousand, but I hope that the world you wake up to is one that you and your friends will finally accept,”

Shining Armor stood proud, not shedding any tear. His sister wasn’t dead, but it made little difference considering his situation. He refused to mourn her any more than he already had.

“Dad!” A voice suddenly cut him out of his thoughts. Shining turned around, facing none other than his daughter: Flurry Heart. She had grown into a fine mare, who inherited traits from both her mother and father. Her pale pink coat looked like it was shimmering, and her tail and mane were a mix of lavender and blue waves. Of course, her most prominent features were her horn and wings. She wore an elegant dress, made up of various pieces of jewelry. It looked more ceremonial than something you would wear at the gala, though. His daughter would be 20 in four months, which meant she was an adult and ready to handle what the Council of Friendship had been preparing for. “Are you still talking to Auntie Twilight? You’re going to miss my coronation talking to a statue that can’t even answer, you know?”

“I know, I know. Don’t worry. I’m just finishing up some things here. Daddy would never miss his little princess’ coronation,” Shining Armor grinned playfully, enjoying the sound of the groan coming out of his daughter’s throat.

“Can you please not call me that, Dad? I’m an adult now,” Flurry rolled her eyes.

She was an adult, and that meant Equestria would finally have a princess as its ruler again. That was why the Council of Friendship was stepping down.

“You’ll always be my little princess, you know that,” Her father chuckled before walking over to her. As he said, he wouldn’t miss her coronation for anything.

“We’ll see if I’m still your little princess when I decide to reform them,” Flurry Heart smirked confidently as she walked by his side, gesturing to the statues behind them.

“We’re not doing this bit again, Flurry,” Shining warned her.

“Fine, fine… I’ll wait for a few decades,” The alicorn smiled amusedly.

“Flurry!” Her father narrowed his eyes, clearly no joking.

“Fine, fine! I was just joking, Dad,” Flurry playfully rolled her eyes. “Besides, it’s not like I can do anything without those,” She used one of her wings to point at his element. “I still doubt they work, by the way. You… aren’t going to wear that at the coronation, right? You rarely take it off, so it’s probably not very clean,” She recoiled, slightly grossed out.

“Oh? That old thing?” The stallion held the element of loyalty as if it were a mere trinket. “Nah. I think I’ll just throw it in the basement or something. It’s about time,” He casually declared.

“Good. It really doesn’t fit with your suit,” Flurry nodded approvingly as Shining Armor laughed.

The elements were too dangerous in the wrong hooves, so they would be placed in the Canterlot Castle’s deepest and most protected safe, where they would remain until someone deemed it fit to finally release the Council of Harmony. Why would they place them there instead of finding new bearers? After all, those were Equestria’s most powerful weapons…

It was obvious, wasn’t it? They weren’t needed. Flurry would now protect Equestria alongside her mother even after Shining was long gone, and he trusted them with every ounce of his soul. His friends believed the same. As long as ponies remained united, and didn’t forget the past, they would overcome any threat they faced.

As for the elements? Shining and his friends only used them once. And in the last 20 years since then… They were never used again.

Author's Note

There is only one chapter remaining! Only one chapter and this fic will end!