Cookie rested her head on her husband's chest after having crept into his bed before he woke up. The late morning sun had finally floated above the window so the curtains were open. They were roommates now at the hospital.

“At least while I was in a coma I didn't have to worry about Rarity,” breathed Hondo.

“Yes but you didn't get to do this either.”

“That's true.”

“And now I don't have to worry alone.” She ran a hoof up and down the rough plaster of the cast on her husband's hind leg. “We shouldn't be here much longer. At least we can go home and see Sweetie Belle soon. It might be a struggle to get to the train station though,” she thought aloud. “You should try to take advantage of the book cart before we go. I saw some titles you'd like.”

“Mom? came a voice from the door. “Dad!” Their eyes shot open to see none other than their daughter Sweetie bounding to the foot of their bed. She scrambled up onto the mattress, forgetting about the injuries in the excitement, and plopped down between them

“Sweetie!”

“Careful,” groaned Hondo, trying to hug her sideways.

“You're awake. How are you feeling?”

“Pretty good for falling out a window… which I don't even remember. I actually lost a lot of that day but at least I took lots of pictures… according to your mother.”

“Did you come all the way here by yourself?” asked her mother with a hint of worry.

“No.”

“Knock knock,” announced Twilight on cue, slipping cautiously into the room.

“We got you some balloons to go with the flowers,” said Rainbow Dash as she spat out a trio of weighted ribbons tied to bobbing mylar balloons.

The rest of Rarity's closest friends filed in and crowded around them with smiles and gifts.

“Hey, y'all.”

“This whole thing might be a little late,” began Twilight.

“But it's better late than never,” added Fluttershy, holding up a fruit basket.

“And you can't enjoy cake if you're unconscious,” scoffed Pinkie, presenting a vanilla sheet cake in a plastic container. She pointed to the sentiment written in blue frosting. “I couldn't decide between ‘Get well soon’ and ‘Welcome back’ so I wrote both.” She grinned widely.

Cookie ran a hoof through her daughter's mane and smiled. “Thank you, all.” - - -

The morning after the three princesses had successfully influenced the Unity Crystal and awakened its ultimate power all the Kirin still looked like unicorns and were unable to change back.

They had no clue of the crystal's range of abilities or that their wish would manifest in such a way. At first it was difficult to see how this strange turn of events would help facilitate their vision for the Kirin but amongst the chaos of everyone they knew suddenly looking like complete strangers, citizens found it difficult to observe their long held prejudices and easier to greet a new face who didn't seem to belong to anyone. No longer could they tell from looking where someone was from and slowly it started to not even matter.

Queen Equinox left on an emergency speaking tour of the cities to personally explain what had happened and to reassure the citizens though she wasn't even certain of the future herself.

Officially freed, Autumn Blaze returned to Ash Forge with her and tried to convince the citizens of her identity, connect with allies and reestablish herself as a ruler after a long absence and occupation by the Ice Clan.

In White Glade Rarity and Winter watched a school recess as complete nobodies and not a guard in sight. The school foals played free-for-all in the field without boundaries or reservations.

“I've made up my mind,” began Rarity. I'm going to stay and rebuild Sky's Edge and rule there if I can, If they'll accept a strange long lost princess dropping in from out of the blue, but I'm going to need a lot of help to do that.”

Winter looked at her skeptically. “You're not just wanting to stay because you feel obligated to by birth or some kind of prophecy-like recognition from the crystal, are you?”

Rarity shook her head. “No. Well that is part of it,” she admitted. “I get the feeling that I'm supposed to be here whether I like it or not and I don't know what happens to everyone if I reject my title. On the other hoof though, I can't explain it but I feel a profound calling to do this, like I'll never feel right if I just leave. I don't know how that crystal works or how it reacts to our touch but I want to believe its more than just the title we received by birth. It's what's inside us. I think the crystal even recognized that in me before I did.”

She leaned on a fence post as she reminisced with a sigh. “It's strange. It wasn't that long ago that I looked just like this all the time and I was living a successful life in a pony world. I knew exactly what I was doing and where I belonged. I had it all figured out and then I came here and I had to reevaluate everything.”

“You’d just leave everything you know behind?”

“Oh no. I could never do that, I mean, not completely. I'd have to at least go back and visit sometimes and maybe someday we'll have ponies or other creatures visiting here. There are some good things about being isolated but I think it would be good for everyone if you at least met your neighbors and became a community with the outside world as long as we maintain our culture and sovereignty.”

“What's it like in Equestria?” asked Winter absently as she watched the foals kick a ball across the lawn.

“It’s different all over and it's so big. Where I grew up it wasn't too different from here but there are places out there with buildings taller than five castles high and hundreds of ponies in them. There are radios and hot air balloons and boats and trains and deserts and the ocean.”

Winter considered all this fantastical imagery for a moment and smiled. “I want to see it someday.”

“That would be fabulous,” gasped Rarity. “All three of us could go and I could show you Manehattan. And if we go looking like this, no one will stare at us. We can talk about that later but right now there’s so much to do. Before I start on any of it though, I need to go back to Equestria and see my friends and family and it's a long trip. My mother has probably been on pins and needles every waking hour since I left. Ugh, and my refrigerator is probably a nightmare.” - - -

It was weeks before any Kirin found that they could return to their non animus form. Many had just assumed that the change was permanent and they would learn to live with it. Even after it became voluntary, Kirin in animus form remained a more common sight in the cities.

Rarity returned to Equestria and told everyone, including a very emotional Spike, the craziest story she'd ever told as she enlisted friends to come back with her and oversee reconstruction.

Lightning Kirin trickled back into Sky's Edge, some of them looking to pick up right where they left off in the very house they'd been forced to leave years ago. Rarity made it a priority to contact the Kirin who had left their homeland entirely to escape and sent word out over Equestria about the changes back home hoping it would somehow reach them and encourage them to come back.

After all the casts and bandages came off, Rarity's friends and family came and helped with the rebuilding of Sky's Edge. They acted as both laborers and ambassadors of Equestria and ponykind. It was a relationship Rarity was emphatic about fostering, wishing to live figuratively on the border of the two worlds. The new princess took pleasure in restoring and redecorating the castle. Her mother, though it wasn't her thing, hung around for the stay and helped there, still not wishing to visit her home city.

Applejack brought seeds and produce, introducing new agriculture and drawing attention to the best crop rotations that would give them more options for renewing their soil and reclaiming lost productivity. She returned home with a couple of new crops to try herself.

In White Glade, construction stalled on the unification monument as workers were diverted and a final decision was made by Winter and her mother on an appropriate alternate direction for its development. It didn't seem right to make it a shrine for any one Kirin and Winter wished that it had a greater functionality for all citizens. After brainstorming with Rarity she suggested making the structure into a public library inspired by how Winter had rediscovered the Unity Crystal by researching and translating ancient tomes. She had to explain how public libraries worked but once she did, Winter was immediately on board with the idea. When Rarity mentioned it to Twilight, the Princesses of Friendship offered to make a huge donation of either books or building materials, whichever they preferred.

Though they would miss her, Rarity's family was ambivalent about moving to be with her in the castle or Sky's Edge. Sweetie Belle didn't want to leave Equestria or her friends which made Hondo lukewarm on the idea. Her mother felt strange and inexplicably anxious the whole time she was there but for once not for her daughter. It seemed Cookie was finally ready to let go and sleep at night. Rarity had thoroughly proven herself capable and independent. Capable and independent enough to incite a revolution in service to creating a better world. She had no doubt she could tackle any problem without her continued hovering over her shoulder.

While the Lightning Clan rebuilt their homes the Fire and Ice Clans ventured into woods to begin restoring and beautifying the ancient plaza to make a meeting place where all Kirin could commune in kinship and trade. Next year they would hold the first Unity Festival that anyone could remember.

Author's Note

Hold on... We're not done yet.