Rise of Ruinous

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic: RISE OF RUINOUS

Chapter 44: Homecoming

The Bearers of Harmony smile as they land one-by-one in Ponyville and armor down.  As soon as Applejack and Rarity powered down their armor, they get glomped by their sisters.  The four fillies laugh, hugging each other.  Even Rarity getting a bit dusty didn't dampen her mood.

S.Belle: SIS!

Rarity: Aw, you!

Both laugh as Apple Bloom and Applejack roll around a bit, laughing as well.  As the four got up.....

???: Rarity!

Rarity whirled.  In ran Photo Finish with an amazed look on her face, followed by Hoity-Toity.  Photo Finish took off her sunglasses as she addressed the fashionista.

P.Finish: Rarity, you're OK!

Rarity: Aw, Photo Finish.  You know, I actually felt you while I was battling Ruinous with my friends.

S.Belle: "FELT" us?

Rarity: Why, your SPIRIT, Sweetie Belle.  I felt you and *looks at Photo Finish* YOU and Hoity-Toity, Jet Set, Upper Crust, Fancy Pants, Fleur-de-Lis, EVERYpony I ever met!

???: Rarity!

Rarity blinks as she spots an approaching Prince Blueblood!

P.Blueblood: I-just.....

Rarity: You just what?

P.Blueblood: I heard about what happened when you were fighting that HIDEOUS Ruinous!  Look, I thought about what Nightmare Moon said and..... I'm sorry about how I treated you.

Rarity: You SHOULD be.

P.Finish: She has the MAGICKS more than you can realize!

Hoity-Toity: And not just dressmaking, although I MUST say, the ensemble you made for Nightmare Moon made her look just alluring!  I mean her OTHER job, as the Element of Generosity.

Rarity: I do this all the time.

P.Blueblood: And for all you do, YOU deserve the posh title.

Prince Blueblood bows to Rarity, then turns around, running smack into Queen Chrysalis.

Q.Chrysalis: And you don't?

P.Blueblood: Uh..... *sighs and lowers his head*  I called you an insect at the anniversary, remember?

Q.Chrysalis: Oh?  I don't remember that anymore.

P.Blueblood: Compared to you, I'M the insect, I.....

Queen Chrysalis puts a hoof on Prince Blueblood's mouth.

Q.Chrysalis: NO!  Don't talk about yourself like that.  We all have our moments of weakness.  It takes strength within to rise above it.  I have it, and so do you.

Prince Blueblood nods and smiles, heading off.

Rarity: Nice one.

Q.Chrysalis: Thanks.

The two high-hoof as Applejack walks up.

Applejack: Ya know, I felt everypony I met as well.  My family.....

A.Bloom: Aw, sis.

The two hug up, happy tears in their eyes.  Applejack's family walked up and hugged the two.  Winona barks and begins licking Applejack's face, making the farm pony laugh.  The other pets began heading to their masters, Opalescence giving Rarity a little respect for once.  Malphorius screeched as he flew overhead, landing on Nightmare Moon's back.

Trixie: Boy, he WAS facing us all.....

Trixie grunts as Rayzor tackles her off her hooves.  Spike rushes up to Twilight Sparkle, only to slam on the brakes!

Spike: Twilight!  WOW!

T.Sparkle: Yeah.  *blush*  Apparently, absorbing all that power for the Harmony Strike made me a princess.

P.Celestia: This is an amazingly rare occurance.  The last time this happened was when Equinous himself wielded the Elements.

Zecora:

Quite a long time in the past!

Who benefitted from that blast?

P.Luna: That would be me.  Equinous' use of the Elements of Harmony so close to me gave me wings before my time.  Unfortunately, it didn't give me the level head I now have.

N.Moon: She got amazingly jealous about ponies sleeping through the night.  That was the first 1,000-year cycle of both of us going to the moon and back.  Thing is, the last time the Elements of Harmony were used on me, something weird happened.  My grip on Princess Luna WAS shattered - along with my body, apparently - but it also separated my spirit from Luna's.  As you ponies had nightmares, taking them from your sleep aided my return.  Then, Virtuna saw me that night in the Everfree Forest, and, well, look at me now!

P.Celestia: One that can wield the Elements of Harmony.

N.Moon: When I saw Trixie's ice sculpture of the original Elements at the Grand Galloping Gala, I had a thought that I would be forgiven by them.  I never thought it would lead to so much.

T.Sparkle: Aw, Nightmare.

The two alicorns nuzzle up, smiling as Trixie hugs Twilight Sparkle.

Trixie: Princess Twilight Sparkle..... Not bad.

N.Moon: Better than Princess Trixie?

Trixie: *blush* Walk first, gallop second.  Trixie isn't going to let Trixie's power go to her head ever again.  Besides, the magic of friendship you share with everyone you know and knew is far stronger than any spell Trixie can cast.

R.Dash: Far as I'M concerned, YOU got a good start on it.

The two high-hoof, then Rainbow Dash gets sky-glomped by Gilda!

Gilda: DASH!  Oh, my gosh!

R.Dash: G!

Gilda and Rainbow Dash hug up, sobbing a bit as the Wonderbolts land nearby.

Spitfire: I had no idea about this whole friendship thing, then I sensed you were in trouble, Dash.

Soarin: It was surreal.  Every Wonderbolt and ChangeWing just felt as one.

R.Dash: The ChangeWings were there, too?

JetStream: Rainbow!

JetStream comes in for a landing, hugging Rainbow Dash.

R.Dash: Heya, bud.  *sniff*  Not bad, eh?

JetStream: I'm so glad you beat him at last.

R.Dash: This is gonna sound funny, but while we were whupping Ruinous' hindquarters, I actually..... felt ya.  The ChangeWings, the Wonderbolts, everyone I knew.  It's as if my Element of Harmony reacted to all of you.

JetStream: Facing THAT amount of power, I wouldn't be surprised if it happened.

Rainbow Dash nods, then nuzzles JetStream.  Virtuna saw this and looked at Princess Celestia and Prince Shiftshape.  Instantly, the gamer pony began laughing.  The two rulers blink as they look at the laughing pony.

Virtuna (laughing on pauses): Hang on, hang on.....  When we were... walking through the sewers,..... Queenie asked Twilight "Other than reinstating the ChangeWings, establishing a peace with Equestria and falling in love with your princess, what else has my son done to make me so proud?"..... That's..... That's..... *Princess Celestia and Prince Shiftshape look at each other, sheepishly smiling and blushing* That's silly, right?  I mean,..... I had no eye in the Transformian sky, but CERTAINLY.....

Virtuna blinks as the two look at each other.

P.Luna: Sis?

Q.Chrysalis: Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?

Virtuna: No..... way.....

P.Shiftshape: Princess.....  *He kneels down, making Shining Armor and Princess Cadence's eyes pop wide open in shock*  I have admired you from afar for a long time, and I really admire you now, up close.  Princess..... Will you marry me?

Princess Celestia nodded, nuzzling Prince Shiftshape.  As everyone cheered, Xylo jumped onto a nearby table and began playing "The Wedding March."

Q.Chrysalis: WOW!  This is..... *hugs the newly-engaged couple*  I actually got to see the two most important ponies in my life get engaged!?

S.Armor: Yeah!

P.Cadence: This'll be interesting!   You guys really turned it around!

Q.Chrysalis: From enemies to friends.

Xylo: Ain't that how it SHOULD go?

P.Celestia: Oh, yeah.

As the two nuzzle up, Virtuna blinks, looking around a bit.

T.Sparkle: What is it, V?

Virtuna: I'm gonna ask what USED to be a VERY dangerous question: *looks around*  Anypony seen Nightmare Moon?

Everypony at the party blinks, looking around a bit.  Nightmare Moon was heading through the Canterlot Memorial Gardens.  She bowed down at a few markers, looking around for somepony..... There she is!

N.Moon: Princess!

The Mare in the Moon rears up, then gallops towards a large, elaborate altar.  This was Princess Shimmer's resting place.  Nightmare Moon smiles as she bows down, then approaches Princess Shimmer's casket.

N.Moon: Princess Shimmer?  It's me, Nightmare Moon.  I've got your Element of Harmony.  *blush*  And we beat Ruinous for ya.  I KNOW you wanted to see it, to stand side-by-side with Princess Celestia and the others you knew.  *Twilight Sparkle slowly walks up*  From what I heard, you were the most beautiful of the princesses.  I know I'm *Applejack walks up, silenced by Twilight Sparkle* probably gonna catch a lot of flak from Celestia AND Cadence for that, but from what I saw in the vision of you when I got my Element, you were the most beautiful princess.

*Pinkie Pie walks up next*  First a bit about me.  I was the evil, jealous side of a friend of yours, Princess Luna.  I was born of her jealousy at Princess Celestia.  Legend was the ponies frolicked and played in Princess Celestia's day, and slept through Princess Luna's night.  One day, Princess Luna wouldn't let Princess Celestia raise the sun, thus was born me, Nightmare Moon.  Princess Celestia used the power of the Elements of Harmony to seal me on the moon and she then took control of BOTH the sun and the moon.  Every 1,000 years, *Fluttershy* the stars aid my escape, bringing with them the power to seal Princess Celestia in the sun as well as the power to bring nighttime to Equestria forever.  This only lasts until I get blasted with the Elements of Harmony.

*Rainbow Dash lands by Twilight Sparkle*  THIS time, when I got nailed with the Elements, something..... peculiar happened.  Princess Luna was freed from my influence - evil at the time - and is still helping Princess Celestia, she's not jealous and she's actually rather pleasant about ponies sleeping through her nights, but for some odd reason - well, odd to me at the time - I stuck around.  I was in the Everfree Forest ever since the last time the Elements of Harmony needed to be used against me.  *Rarity walks up*  I was alone, mis-directed, almost a lost soul.  I really didn't know where to turn.  Then, one day, I heard a voice.

*Virtuna walks up*  It was full of understanding, friendship..... I dare say, even love.  *Virtuna smiles a bit*  She actually told me she could help me.  I had no idea if I COULD be helped, then.....  Then she actually told me it'll be OK.  She actually got Twilight and her friends to talk to me, then, that night - I guess it was because I had more of Princess Luna in me than I thought - I jump out into the middle of town and start absorbing everypony's worst nightmares.  Twilight and her friends, their families, even the princesses.  *Trixie walks up*  Once I saw their dreams in their sleep, the weirdest thing started happening: I started working to make their dreams a reality.

I'm sure you'd've done the same thing.  Helping Rainbow Dash be a Wonderbolt, Rarity get respect from Photo Finish, and my gosh!  Didja see Fluttershy!  Faster than the Wonderbolts?!  Who'd've guessed?  *Corinne strides up*  Certainly nopony gathered, and especially Fluttershy.  I can't remember feeling better than that day.  And that wasn't all I did: I started putting the stars up in the sky.  My wake left the skies twinkling at night.  At first I thought it was because Princess Luna did the same thing, but I read one of Twilight's books on her and *Pitstop lands by Rainbow Dash* it didn't mention Princess Luna putting the stars up.  It was weird, though: The more I helped those little ponies, the more stars I could put up and the stronger I felt.  *Jalapeno walks up*  I don't think I'd've smacked around Queen Chrysalis the way I did without that extra light I felt in me.  *giggle*  The Mare in the Moon, talking about inner light.  But it's true!

I felt so outstanding everytime I helped somepony, and I was always blown away when it happened.  Now I know the reason: It's because it's how YOU would've been.  *Zecora walks up*  I read up on you after hearing about how you were and everything I've been doing ever since that day Virtuna found me..... It's uncanny.  Running around and making everypony's dream a reality, putting the stars in the sky, wielding the Element of Hope and generally being a nice pony to have around.  Everything that is me now was you back then.  *Star Chaser lands by Zecora*  I only wish I could've met you - before that vision - and told you how honored I am to be like you.  It's almost as if I sense your prescence all around me.  And I had no better reminder of that than when I was cheap-shot by Ruinous.

*Discord walks up*  I heard them, all my friends.  They called out to me, lifting me from my depression, lifting me from the darkness, lifting me from my despair.  Everything I helped them with, they remembered.  They helped me to realize I was their shining beacon, their wishing star, their Element of Hope.  *Queen Chrysalis walks up*  Then when I came back and faced Ruinous after meeting you in that vision, Ruinous freaked out!  *Prince Shiftshape and Princess Morphina walk up*  He actually thought I was you!  Looking at your regalia compared to mine, I guess I can see why he'd think that.  *The princesses walk up*  Because I have been nothing short of a perfect match to you, and it was all because I heard the small caring voice of a small grey pony one night in the Everfree Forest.  If not for Virtuna and her caring heart, I don't think I'd be anywhere near where I am now.  I never thought I would say this about anypony - especially those that wielded the Elements of Harmony against me - but I am so proud to call them my friends.  *Virtuna, overcome with emotion, lets out a barely-audible sniffle*  *smirk*  Even if they ARE a bunch of screwballs!  *She turns around, laughing with all her friends*  How long have you all been standing there?!

T.Sparkle: Long enough.

P.Celestia:  That was a beautiful speech, Nightmare Moon.

P.Luna: And to think you used to be my dark side.

Virtuna smiles as she trots to the black alicorn.  The two nuzzle up as the rest of the ponies applaud.

N.Moon: I guess..... I just needed a light to shine my pathway.

Virtuna: Daw, shucks, just glad I could help.

N.Moon: You helped me more than I can quantify.  Thank you.

Virtuna: Just doin' my job.

Both laugh and hug up, murring.

Q.Chrysalis: Tomorrow, there's going to be a party celebrating Ruinous' defeat and my son's engagement to Celestia at the castle.

T.Sparkle: Which one?

Queen Chrysalis and Twilight Sparkle laugh, blushing.

Q.Chrysalis: May as well be both.

P.Pie: An engagement, a coronation, beating Ruinous...... I gotta go!

Pinkie Pie zips off for HER version of an all-nighter - baking a TON of treats for the triple celebration to come.

P.Celestia: *chuckle*  C'mon, let's get ready.

Everypony nods and leaves, Nightmare Moon leaving last.  As soon as she trots off, Princess Shimmer appears in spirit, looking the same as she did in the vision she had in Discord's present.  She giggled and smiled, then disappeared.....

TO BE CONTINUED