“It looks… different,” Luster Dawn remarked as the carriage parked in front of the castle. Irradiance could recall guards speaking about different stained glass windows, an increase of crystal motifs after Twilight’s reign… guess he’d never stopped to consider that Luster Dawn would have remembered the differences, too.

“Yeah,” The stallion sighed, awkwardly laughing. “I guess a thousand years locked away means you’ll miss out on the construction. Maybe that’s a good thing,” Irradiance nudged Luster with a crystalline hoof, trying to joke. Based on the Alicorn’s expression, though, the joke fell flat.

“Would you like an escort, Irradiance?” Spearhead asked, helping Hibiscus and Marigold out of the carriage, eyes not leaving the purple stallion.

Opening and closing his mouth, Irradiance considered the pros and cons. He settled on the fact it might make Luster Dawn uncomfortable or untrustworthy, “No, I think we’re alright, Spearhead. But thank you,” He smiled. The guards were such good friends when Irradiance was in the castle alone, most of the time. Or when Leviathan wasn’t hiding as one of the guards before revealing he’d come to visit.

The walk into the castle was nerve-wracking. Irradiance could feel the anxiety emanating from Luster Dawn’s frame. His friends could, too. They all shared a few looks before finally turning their heads forward to the castle door, meeting Leviathan and Amber, who had been waiting.

“Are you ready, Luster Dawn?” Marigold asked the Alicorn, who shook her head.

“But we should go in anyway. Twilight would say I’m ready,” Luster Dawn steadied her expression and walked forward without further accompaniment.

Irradiance felt a pang of jealousy strike him as he followed in behind Luster Dawn and the others. He’d been picked to be Twilight’s student, right? And Luster Dawn had since graduated! She wasn’t a student anymore. And yet, Irradiance couldn’t help but worry that Twilight would put Luster first in her studies. She would need to relearn the magic of friendship, wouldn’t she?

“Hey,” Leviathan was always by his side in times of anxiety, wasn’t he? Ruby red eyes sparkled as they looked at Irradiance.

“Hey,” The purple stallion, rolled his eyes, letting out a deep breath. “I’m fine, I promise.”

“You’re always so stuck in your head, Irradiance. We’re here for you, you know.” The Changeling gestured to the other creatures in front of Irradiance. His expression was firm but caring.

“I know, I know. I was just alone for so long. Feeling secure in everything around me isn’t something I’m used to. Or, not completely,” Irradiance avoided looking at the stallion, embarrassed at his lack of comfort after a year of living in Canterlot.

“It’s okay to feel like you don’t fit in. I’m still getting used to being in my Changeling form in front of all the Canterlot ponies,” Leviathan empathized, switching to Emerald Shield as he walked past a few guards in the castle. They saluted as he passed, still recalling his time as a member of the royal guard.

“Do you miss being part of the guard? I can’t remember if you’ve been reinstated,” Irradiace changed the subject as he recalled the original form he’d met his partner in.

“Being the ruler of the Hive is more important to me, right now. I’m free to come and go as I please within the guard’s staff but…” Leviathan switched back to his Changeling form, insect wings fluttering once he’d transformed, “I prefer to visit just for you, rather than for Twilight’s guard.”

Irradiance smiled at that. He was lucky to have such good friends, lucky that Cobalt and Hibiscus had stumbled upon him in the Everfree Forest a year ago. There was something that seemed to keep drawing him back to the forest and Irradiance hoped that the next adventure he and the others were drawn to wasn’t Everfree. He needed a break from curses.

“How is Abbadon, by the way?”

“Do you know you’re allowed to have fears and doubts?”

“Yes!” Irradiance dismissed. “How is Abbadon?”

Leviathan sighed, giving up and letting the topic finally pass, “He’s fine. Finally giving in to the ‘making your own magic’ deal. A lot of the Changelings have taken to forms of art. If we could have Cutie Marks in the hive I’m sure half of them would be creatives.”

“Is Abbadon one of them?” Irradiance quirked an eyebrow, unsure if the answer he’d been given was related.

“He secretly enjoys poetry. He’s also found himself a lovebug in the Hive–”

“Presenting Princess Twilight Sparkle, the princess of friendship and ruler of Equestria!” A cacophony of horns sounded, cutting off the pair of stallions’ conversation.

Twilight looked tired if Irradiance had to put a name to the expression. Her eyes had bags under them and her body language was slower and far less alert than it had been. As her indigo eyes passed over the collection of creatures, they lit up once they recognized Luster Dawn was a part of them.

“Luster Dawn?”

“Hello, Twilight,” Luster Dawn’s ears were pressed back against her head, shrinking in on herself as she looked up at her mentor and fellow royal.

The violet Alicorn rushed down the steps from her throne, gliding down the last few stairs before embracing her student in a tight hug. Luster looked extremely confused at the response, but eventually reciprocated the hug nonetheless.

“Oh, Luster!” The princess cried, tears beginning to prick the corners of her eyes, a smile splitting across her face as she sobbed, “I’m so sorry I sent you away!”

As though the tears were contagious, Luster began to tear up as well, pushing herself further into the arms of her superior.

“No, it’s okay, Twilight. I wasn’t right. I thought I was entitled to more than just leading alongside you after I’d earned my wings.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t teach you better, Luster,” Twilight pulled back, indigo eyes staring into Luster’s golden. “You were my first student that was meant to graduate to become a princess and I failed you. I didn’t show you what the true magic of friendship meant.” Twilight pulled away finally, eyes downturned as she thought back to her methods of teaching the younger pony. Luster looked appalled.

“It’s not your fault Twilight,” She insisted, looking up at the purple Alicorn, “I had pushed away friendship– or even the idea that I should make friends– ever since the start of my studies. I never let myself open to the idea of friends or ruling alongside someone else…” Luster turned to the six creatures behind her, where Irradiance was beaming. Luster continued, “Irradiance and his friends showed me what the magic of friendship can truly mean, though. They finally freed me from my solitary way of thinking.”

Twilight brushed away a few tears before turning away from Luster Dawn and facing Irradiance and his friends. She smiled upon them all before she spoke with confidence and finality, “Thank you, Irradiance, for defeating Luster Dawn and returning her to her rightful place as princess of Equestria.”

“Of course!” Irradiance fought the urge to bow to the princess, catching himself mid-movement before feeling the weight of his crown nearly tilt over. “Ah!” Irradiance caught the headpiece with his magic, allowing Twilight to transition into her next lecture to the group.

“I see you all unlocked the Element Tree’s elements,” Twilight looked over all six creatures, seeing the necklaces upon each and the crown upon Irradiance. “I, too, once wielded the Elements of Harmony with my friends…” She turned to the stained glass image that depicted the defeat of Nightmare Moon, Twilight, and her five friends shown, each with their own necklace and the princess with her crown.

“Is that what these are?” Irradiance asked, “The Elements of Harmony?”

Twilight chuckled lightly, reminiscing. “No, the Tree of Harmony has long since disappeared. It had transformed into a new structure for some of my students to stay in, but as of now, I believe it has returned to the ground below.

“The tree you harnessed your elements from, however,” Twilight paced for a moment, recalling one of her textbooks, most likely, “It’s certainly another Element Tree. The magic that was imbued with Luster Dawn’s magic must have given it the boost to create its own elements. Once you all showed that you were worthy of wielding them, well,” Twilight lifted a hoof to gesture to the elements now resting upon each of the creatures.

“So what are our elements, then?” Cobalt asked, stepping forward to address the princess. “I mean, if we’re not the Elements of Harmony… can we pick our own theme?”

“Ooh! We should be called the Elements of Peace!” Marigold chimed, grinning as she looked at her necklace. Twilight sighed, amused at the eagerness of the group to hold a title of good, “I believe a better title might be the Elements of Polyphony. It was one of the names of the Elements of Harmony in one of the translated textbooks I’ve read. It seems they produce much the same effect so a similar name suits you all.”

“The Elements of Polyphony,” Irradiance whispered, a sense of accomplishment filling his heart, mouth splitting into a grin.

Twilight nodded before turning to Luster Dawn once more, who seemed nervous, her hooves shuffling on the ground. “Now, you’re all welcome to stay in Canterlot castle for as long as you’d like, but I believe Luster and I have a few things to catch up on,” Turning with a whoosh of her wings and tail, Twilight escorted Luster through the hall of the castle and into the main corridor through the doors to the right of the throne. The younger Alicorn was clearly still quite nervous, but still managed to look back and give a thankful look at the group of creatures that had freed her from her toxic way of thinking.

With the swooshing of the doors closing, Irradiance and his friends were left with only the royal guards as companions in the throne room.

“Elements of Polyphony,” Hibiscus mused, looking around the room. “Do you think we’ll get our own stained glass portrait?”

“I hope!” Cobalt exclaimed, looking around at the many portraits within the throne room. The coronation of Flurry Heart, the defeat of Nightmare Moon, and the return of the Ancient Pillars were just a few.

“I don’t think earning a portrait should be what we’re aiming for,” Irradiance smiled, admiring the glass artwork as well, “Feels selfish.”

“Excuse me for wanting to be immortalized!” Cobalt joked, “Not all of us already have memorials in our childhood schools or were granted with near-immortality!”

Irradiance flinched, understanding that, no matter how long the group stayed as friends, they would never last forever. In fact, Leviathan and Amber would live for thousands of years, but Irradiance, Cobalt, Hibiscus, and Marigold would one day fall victim to the curse of mortality. Maybe a portrait wasn’t too selfish of a goal to want after all.

“Okay, fine. Long term goal can be helping enough ponies and other creatures to earn a portrait in the Canterlot castle. But that can’t be the only reason you harness your element!” Irradiance scolded, “You literally declined the offer to escape those caves in favor of staying with Hibiscus– with all of us!”

The blue Pegasus shrugged, pulling the pink Unicorn close to him, “We’ve known each other forever, what can I say?” His face split into a devious grin as he suddenly began laying kisses across the mare’s face, who broke out into laughter, “And she’s just so good-looking!”

“Cobalt!” Hibiscus giggled, “Stop! Oh, my Celestia, you’re embarrassing me!”

“No, come on, element of empathy! Understand my love for you!” Cobalt and Hibiscus devolved into laughter. The rest of the group couldn’t help but smile at the display of affection.

Tearing his eyes away from the pair, Irradiance gazed upon the rest of his friends. “How long do you all plan to stay in Canterlot? Or, I guess how long do you plan to rest before returning to work?”

Marigold shrugged, “The apothecary isn’t in the highest demand right now, and I have a few friends who wouldn’t mind taking over for a week or so,” The yellow Earth Pony smiled, always happier than most these days. It made Irradiance happy knowing the mage was feeling welcome in society after having been exiled so long ago.

“The Dragonlands aren’t something I can leave for long. I would love to stay longer, Irradiance,” Amber spoke with some sadness in her voice, truly feeling guilty that her position caused her to stay away for longer periods than the others, “But the Dragons don’t take well to a lack of leadership.”

The stallion nodded, finally removing his crown and placing it in the saddlebag he still had with him. “I understand, don’t worry.”

“The Hive should be okay without me for a day or two,” Leviathan spoke up, always in support of Irradiance. He was the one welcome in the Unicorn’s room as per the princess, after all.

“We’ll be nearby, don’t worry,” Hibiscus finally addressed the group, still stuck in Cobalt’s embrace. She was still smiling ear-to-ear.

Irradiance nodded, considering what to do next. Amber would be leaving as soon as she could, Leviathan would be here for the next day or two, and the others would be nearby for most of the time, likely a week or so. The stallion’s ears pricked up as he suddenly remembered all of the jewelry they were all sporting.

“Should we find a designated place for the elements?” Irradiance suggested, causing a deliberation to wash over the group.

Amber removed her necklace first, handing it to Irradiance with a clawed hand. He took it gently, holding it with his magic rather than placing it in his bag, “The Dragons will eat the gemstone if I bring it back home. If another emergency comes up, I’ll return here and get it.”

“Yeah, you do live in the castle, Irradiance,” Marigold removed hers next, “I think it’s best if you hold onto all of the elements. You can do your research under Twilight about how to properly use them. We only just discovered that they even existed!”

“Okay… okay, yeah. I’ll keep them safe here and talk to Twilight about how we’ll use them in the future. Hopefully, that won’t be anytime soon,” Irradiance joked, but with their luck, it was likely another evil would arise sooner rather than later.

The other creatures removed their necklaces as well and Irradiance collected them, placing them all in his saddlebag for now, making the mental note to find a better case for them all. He’d ask Twilight later.

“Well,” Leviathan spoke up next, walking beside Irradiance to press against him, “Since Amber’s leaving soon, how about we all get dinner? Have a final gathering together before we start going our separate ways?”

“Sounds great! I know just the place!” Marigold beamed, hair bouncing as she hopped in place for a moment.

Irradiance grinned, happy that everything had worked out and he hadn’t wound up in the infirmary after this adventure. He’d enjoy a meal with his friends and return to his studies with Twilight soon enough. For now, he simply relished in the moment. Friendship truly did seem to be enchanting.

Author's Note

HE SAID IT!!! HE SAID THE NAME OF THE SERIES!!!!
okay so this book was shorter than the other one but idk. not all stories need a billion words to be told, yk? this one concluded itself in about 30k words rather than 40k and that's okay :) i do have a third book being planned out but I'm not promising anything!!! bc college and all. I'm literally taking dynamics rn. though these books are a form of therapy for me. writing is so fun!!!
one chapter left (epilogue) and then that'll be it for the Shadows of Everfree! also fun fact: chatgpt helped make the name. obviously i wrote everything else, but its not so useless of a tool!