My name is Ava Car...- I mean, Twilight Sparkle!

Chapters

Chapter 5: Summer Sun Deception
Chapter 1: This isn't happening!
Chapter 2: Magic for Dummies
Chapter 3: Apple cider... Vinegar?
Chapter 4: Friendship 101
Chapter 6: Harmony.
Chapter 7: Well... I guess this is it, right?

Chapter 5: Summer Sun Deception

A heavy, echoing silence filled the darkness around me as I walked forward, my hoofsteps the only sound breaking the stillness. I was in a black void, endless and empty, stretching on in every direction. I couldn’t see the ground beneath me, but with every step, I felt a solid surface, sending ripples of sound into the nothingness.

I didn’t know where I was going, but something in me said I had to keep moving.

As I walked, my mind was oddly calm, like I was in a dream I’d been dropped into by accident. Just keep moving, I thought, feeling strangely detached, like none of this was actually happening. Like I was... watching myself. But as I moved further into the void, another sound—gentle, quiet hoofsteps—joined my own.

I looked to my side and froze. There, walking alongside me, was... me. No, not me—her. The real Twilight Sparkle, her face solemn, her eyes set on the path ahead as she silently matched my pace.

We didn’t speak. For a few long minutes, the only sound was the rhythmic clop of our hooves, echoing into the void around us. What am I supposed to say? My mind raced with questions, but none of them felt right. Somehow, I just... kept walking, as if I’d been expecting this all along.

I snuck a sideways glance at her, feeling the strangest mix of tension and familiarity. Is she angry? Does she know what I’m doing in her body? Does she want it back? My mind ran through question after question, but none of it seemed to faze her. She was just... there. Walking beside me.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Twilight broke the silence, her voice soft and distant. “You know... your mother really misses you.”

The words hit me like a punch to the chest, a sharp pang of something I hadn’t felt in days. My mother. I could picture her clearly, sitting at our kitchen table, looking over her coffee cup with that warm smile. I swallowed, trying to push away the ache in my chest, but the memory clung to me like a shadow.

“Yeah, well,” I muttered, forcing a weak smile. “Can’t exactly text her from here.”

Twilight’s gaze remained steady, and we continued walking side by side. The silence thickened between us again, and I felt the weight of something unsaid pressing down on me, like a heavy blanket I couldn’t shake off.

Finally, I took a deep breath. “So... are you, like... in my body? Are we doing a swap thing? Are you walking around as... well, me?”

She didn’t respond immediately, her expression unreadable as she looked into the darkness. “I’m... somewhere,” she said vaguely, her tone offering neither confirmation nor denial.

“Well, that clears it up,” I muttered, my voice tinged with sarcasm. I glanced over at her, searching for any hint of emotion, but her face was as still and calm as the void around us.

I took another deep breath, the question I’d been avoiding bubbling to the surface. “Can I go home now?” My voice came out softer than I intended, almost a whisper. “Or... is this it?”

Twilight’s eyes met mine, her expression softening just slightly. “Once the timeline aligns... maybe your soul will find peace.”

Peace. The word sent a chill down my spine, as if it was hiding a deeper meaning. Does that mean I’m... dead? Or is this just some twisted dream?

I wanted to ask, but the words died in my throat. Part of me didn’t want to know the answer. Instead, I turned my gaze back to the darkness ahead, trying to ignore the uneasy feeling gnawing at the back of my mind.

Twilight’s voice cut through the silence again, gentler this time, almost... apologetic. “You don’t have much time left. I... I can’t lend you my body for long. If there’s something you need to do, you need to hurry.”

I felt a flicker of panic rise in my chest, the weight of her words sinking in. Not much time left? What did that even mean? How much time did I have? My heart pounded in my chest, a sinking feeling pooling in my stomach.

And then, out of the darkness, something appeared—a mirror, standing alone in the void, its edges illuminated by a soft, ethereal glow. Twilight stopped, gesturing silently for me to look.

I took a hesitant step toward it, my hooves echoing as I approached. My reflection stared back at me, but it wasn’t Twilight’s face I saw. It was my face—Ava’s face, my human self, looking just as I remembered. I could see every detail—my hair, my eyes, even the faint scar on my eyebrow from when I was a kid.

I reached a hoof toward the mirror, the glass rippling as my hoof made contact, and a wave of strange, bittersweet emotions washed over me. It was me... but not. Somehow, I felt both close to and worlds away from my reflection, like I was looking at a stranger who just happened to look like me.

As I stared into my own eyes, the image wavered, fading slightly until it was just... gone, leaving me staring at my reflection as Twilight Sparkle once more.

“Wait—” I whispered, my voice barely audible. I reached toward the mirror again, but it had already vanished, swallowed back into the void. I turned to Twilight, desperate for answers, but her expression remained as calm and unreadable as ever.

The silence settled over us again, thicker than before, and before I could think of what to say, a strange drowsiness washed over me, dragging me down, pulling me under.

I jolted awake, gasping for air as I blinked into the dim light of the Golden Oak Library. My heart raced as I struggled to catch my breath, the memory of the void slipping away like sand through my fingers. I tried to hold onto it, to remember the details, but all I could recall was the faint image of Twilight, her words echoing faintly in my mind: Not much time left.

And somewhere, deep within me, I could still feel the lingering presence of... something.

“Ugh,” I groaned, stumbling over to the mirror. My reflection stared back, looking every bit as miserable as I felt. But as I smoothed down my mane, trying to tame the mess of bedhead, I had to admit that Spike had been right to force me to get some sleep. For the first time since I got here, I actually felt... mostly human. Or... mostly pony? Whatever.

I yawned, running a hoof through my mane one last time before heading downstairs, my stomach growling louder with every step. The library was dark and quiet, the moon casting long shadows across the floor as I shuffled into the kitchen. The whole town was partying out there. I surprisingly didn’t care; all I could think about was food.

“Okay, let’s see what Ponyville has to offer,” I muttered, throwing together a quick sandwich with whatever I could find. The last thing I’d had to eat were those apple-stuffed crumplets at Sweet Apple Acres, and let me tell you, they were not as filling as they sounded.

I took a massive bite, sighing with relief as I chewed. It was plain and definitely missing something, but at that moment, it was the best sandwich I’d ever had. “Mmm,” I mumbled through a mouthful of bread and cheese. “Could kill for some bacon right now.”

As I swallowed, I glanced out the window, noticing the moon still hanging high in the sky, casting a faint glow over Ponyville. A small shiver ran down my spine. The moon looked... weird tonight. Bigger, brighter, almost like it was watching me back. I turned to the clock, realizing that it was almost six in the morning.

Six in the morning... The pieces suddenly clicked, and the memory hit me like a freight train. Oh, crap. I was supposed to stop Nightmare Moon!

In my panic, I inhaled sharply—too sharply—and the sandwich went down the wrong way. “Oh shit—” I choked, clutching my throat as my eyes bulged. I tried to cough, to breathe, to do anything, but all that came out was a strangled wheeze as I staggered around the kitchen, my vision starting to blur.

I stumbled against the counter, knocking over a glass, my heart racing as I tried to dislodge the bite of sandwich. This is it, I thought, gasping desperately. I’m going to die in Equestria choking on a sandwich.

“Twilight?” Spike’s groggy voice came from the doorway, and he blinked, rubbing his eyes as he looked at me. “Uh... what are you doing?”

I tried to respond, but all that came out was a horrible squeaking sound. I flailed, pointing frantically at my throat, my eyes watering as I tried to signal that I was very much not okay.

His face went pale, and his eyes went wide as he finally registered what was happening. “Oh my gosh, you’re choking!”

He ran over, panic written all over his face. “Twilight! Okay, uh... oh, geez... what do I do?” He glanced around wildly, looking at me, then the kitchen, then back at me. “You’re really choking! Okay, okay, stay calm. You just have to... you just have to...!”

I wheezed, motioning frantically for him to do something, but he looked about as helpful as a cardboard box in a flood.

“Oh! Right! Hitting your back!” he shouted, slapping my shoulder in a series of frantic, completely ineffective pats.

I wheezed harder, my vision starting to blur as I tried to pull air into my lungs. “Spike!” I gasped, but it came out as a muffled squeak.

“Right! More force!” He finally stepped back and, with a solid whack, slapped me between the shoulder blades, and the sandwich dislodged with a glorious pop, flying out of my mouth and splatting against the wall.

I collapsed against the counter, gasping for air as I tried to regain my bearings. My chest hurt, my throat felt like it had been sandpapered, and the taste of that traitorous sandwich was still clinging to my mouth.

“Thank God,” I croaked, clutching my throat and taking in a shaky breath. “I thought I was a goner.”

Spike stared at me, his eyes wide as he tried to process what had just happened. “Twilight, you were... really choking! I thought you were going to die!”

I gasped, coughing and wheezing, my eyes still streaming from the near-death experience. “Thanks... Spike,” I managed to croak.

He rolled his eyes, crossing his arms. “I can’t leave you alone for two seconds, can I?”

I wheezed a laugh, still trying to catch my breath. “Apparently not.”

Spike gave me a flat look, clearly unimpressed by the whole situation. “Why were you freaking out, anyway? I heard you choking, and then I saw you staring at the moon like it was about to attack.”

I wiped my mouth, still catching my breath. “The moon... it’s up.”

Spike blinked. “Uh, yeah? It’s nighttime. That’s kind of what happens.”

“No, Spike!” I said, standing up on shaky legs. “The moon! Nightmare Moon! She’s coming!”

Spike stared at me like I’d lost my mind. “Twilight, you’re doing it again. You’re getting all worked up over nothing.”

I shook my head, the panic rising in my chest. “No! This isn’t nothing! I missed something—I missed everything! The Summer Sun Celebration is tonight, and that means... she’s coming back! We have to go. Now!”

Spike sighed, rubbing his temples like he had a headache of his own. “Twilight, can we please get through one day without you freaking out?”

I shot him a look, my heart still racing. “Spike, I’m not freaking out—I’m trying to save Equestria!”

“Alright, Twilight, something’s up with you.”

I blinked, lifting my head to see him marching toward me. His eyes were narrowed in suspicion, and in his claw, he was holding a comic book—which, apparently, he had rolled up like some kind of makeshift weapon.

“Wha—what do you mean?” I stammered, my heart rate spiking. Oh crap, does he know? He can’t know, right? There’s no way he knows. I was doing my best to keep my cool, but the pounding in my head wasn’t making it easy.

Spike pointed the comic book at me like it was a sword. “You’ve been acting weird. Really weird. First, you start drinking at a party—which, by the way, you never do. Then, you show up two hours late for a lesson, blow up a quill, and now you’re wandering around Ponyville acting like the world’s gonna end because somepony named ‘Pimpie Spy’ didn’t throw you a party!”

“It’s Pinkie Pie,” I grumbled, more out of reflex than anything else.

“And then,” Spike continued, ignoring my correction, “you grab a book called Magic for Dummies—like seriously, Twilight, since when do you need a book like that? You’re Twilight Sparkle, for Celestia’s sake! Magic genius!”

I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly dry. He was getting too close to the truth. “Look, Spike, I—”

“AND,” Spike cut me off, waving the comic book dramatically in the air, “you missed out on your studies and choose to write to Princess Celestia about a Nightmare Moon, which you’ve been going on and on about like it’s the end of Equestria!”

I bit my lip, feeling the panic rising in my chest. He’s onto me. He knows. This is it. I’m toast.

Spike narrowed his eyes, leaning in close like he was about to accuse me of being a changeling spy or something. “But I know what’s going on.”

My heart stopped. Oh God. This is it. He knows I’m not Twilight. I’m done for.

There was a long, excruciating silence. Spike stared at me, and I stared back at him, my heart pounding in my chest. I could feel the sweat forming on my forehead as I waited for him to drop the bomb.

You’re acting like this because... they discontinued Dusk Glow!” His voice was filled with dramatic certainty, and he pointed the book at me like it was a royal decree. “Yeah! That’s it. You’ve been moping and freaking out because they stopped making that dumb book series about bat ponies and unicorns!”

I blinked, thrown completely off balance. “Wait... what?”

He nodded, the certainty growing on his face. “You’re obsessed with those books! You used to read them like a hundred times a day. And when they discontinued them, you lost it. Admit it, Twilight—you’re just losing it over Dusk Glow!”

I stared at him, my brain struggling to catch up with the absurdity of it all. Twilight and vampire love triangles? Why am I not surprised? A laugh bubbled up in my throat, and despite everything, I couldn’t help but let it out. “Wait, wait... so you think I’m acting like a lunatic because they canceled some... vampire love story?”

Spike shrugged, finally lowering the comic book. “Hey, it’s the only explanation that makes sense. I mean, that series was basically your life.”

I chuckled, rubbing my forehead as I tried to hide my relief. Of course Twilight’s a vampire book nerd, just like me. Maybe we really aren’t so different. “Yeah, Spike. You got me. I’m just devastated about Dusk Glow. Can’t imagine going on without it.”

Spike rolled his eyes, but there was a small smile on his face. “Well, just try to keep it together, alright? Last thing we need is you going completely nuts in front of Princess Celestia.”

I forced a smile, nodding as I patted him on the head. “Don’t worry, Spike. I’ll... keep it together.”

“Good,” he muttered, setting the comic book on the counter and heading toward the stairs. “Just try not to choke on any more sandwiches. You’re giving me a heart attack over here.”

As he trudged upstairs, I let out a long breath, shaking my head at the ridiculousness of it all. Me and Twilight, both obsessing over vampire books. I stared at my reflection in the window, and for just a second, I could’ve sworn I saw a flicker of my own face staring back at me—a face that didn’t belong in Equestria.

I blinked, and it was gone.

The clock ticked quietly on the wall, and I glanced up at the time. 5:35 AM.

I took a final look around the kitchen, catching my breath and trying to shake off the lingering weirdness of... well, everything. The black void, the choking, the “Dusk Glow” conspiracy—it was all a little much to process before dawn. But I could feel the pull of something important, something I couldn’t ignore.

The clock read 5:36 AM. Just a few more minutes until sunrise.

I took a deep breath. “Alright,” I said, feeling my heart pick up a beat. “I’m gonna go watch the sun rise.”

As I turned toward the door, a thrill of nervous energy ran through me, my heart racing as I prepared myself for what was coming. This is it. This is where it all starts.

The streets of Ponyville were still and silent as I made my way to the town hall, but there was a strange electricity in the air—a feeling that something monumental was about to happen. My heart hammered in my chest as I approached the building, the soft glow of lanterns spilling out through the windows, illuminating the crowd of ponies gathering inside.

“Alright, Ava,” I muttered to myself as I trotted up the steps. “You’ve got this. Just... stay calm. Don’t panic.” But I could feel the nerves bubbling beneath the surface, threatening to unravel me at any second.

Inside, the hall was alive with chatter, laughter, and excitement. Ponies filled every corner, eagerly awaiting the big moment when Princess Celestia would raise the sun. Banners and streamers hung from the rafters, casting colorful shadows across the room, and everywhere I looked, ponies were smiling, laughing, and chatting happily.

Great. Just your average, blissfully unaware crowd about to get their entire world turned upside down. I scanned the room, spotting some familiar faces—Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow Dash—all mingling with the crowd.

Just then, the music began to swell, and the ponies around me grew quiet as Mayor Mare stepped up onto the platform, a wide smile on her face. “Fillies and gentlecolts,” she announced, her voice carrying through the hall, “as mayor of Ponyville, it is my great pleasure to announce the beginning of the Summer Sun Celebration!”

The crowd erupted in cheers, and I forced myself to smile, even as my stomach twisted into knots. Come on, Celestia. Don’t leave me hanging here.

“And now,” the mayor continued, her voice brimming with excitement, “it is my honor to introduce to you the ruler of our land, the very pony who gives us the sun and the moon each and every day—”

I held my breath, my heart racing as I stared at the curtains, waiting for Celestia to step forward. Please let her be there, please let her be there.

“Princess Celestia!”

The curtains were pulled back, and a collective gasp echoed through the hall as the empty space behind them was revealed.

My heart sank. Here we go.

The crowd began to murmur nervously, and I could feel the tension in the room spike as ponies glanced around, whispering to each other in confusion.

“Where is she?” I heard somepony ask.

Rarity, who was standing by the stage, looked around with a panicked expression. “This... this can’t be good.”

And then, in the middle of the commotion, a dark, swirling mist appeared on the platform, coiling and twisting like smoke as it took form. The temperature in the room seemed to drop, and a feeling of dread washed over me as I stared at the figure emerging from the darkness.

Nightmare Moon.

She stood tall and imposing, her dark, flowing mane filled with stars and shadows. Her eyes glowed with a cold, piercing light, and a wicked smile played across her lips as she surveyed the terrified crowd.

“Oh, my beloved subjects,” she sneered, her voice smooth and dripping with malice. “It’s been so long since I’ve seen your precious, sun-loving faces.”

The crowd cowered, ponies shrinking back in fear as Nightmare Moon’s laughter echoed through the hall. But I forced myself to stand tall, clenching my jaw as I took a step forward. Come on, Ava. Don’t back down now.

I swallowed hard, then raised my voice. “Nightmare Moon!”

Her head whipped around, her eyes narrowing as she locked onto me. For a split second, I felt like I was about to be flattened on the spot, but I pushed through the fear, meeting her gaze with as much confidence as I could muster.

“That’s right!” I said, my voice steady. “I know who you are, Nightmare Moon. I know what you’re here for. And I’m not afraid of you.”

A murmur ran through the crowd as everypony turned to look at me in shock, their expressions ranging from confusion to outright horror. But I didn’t flinch. I kept my gaze locked on Nightmare Moon, my heart racing as I stared her down.

Nightmare Moon raised an eyebrow, a flicker of surprise crossing her face before she quickly masked it with a cold smile. “Oh? Not afraid, are you?” She took a step forward, her mane billowing around her like a dark storm. “Then perhaps you would like to enlighten your friends here. Tell them... who I am.”

I held my ground, my voice unwavering. “You’re the Mare in the Moon. You’re Princess Luna.”

A ripple of gasps spread through the crowd, and I saw the shock and confusion on the faces of the ponies around me. But I kept my focus on Nightmare Moon, watching her reaction closely. For a split second, I thought I saw something flicker in her eyes—a flash of recognition, maybe even... pain?—but it was gone as quickly as it had appeared.

Nightmare Moon’s smile widened, her eyes narrowing as she studied me. “Well, well,” she purred. “It seems somepony remembers me.” Her voice was filled with mock amusement, but I could feel the cold fury simmering beneath her words. “Then you also know why I am here.”

I clenched my jaw, feeling the weight of the moment settle over me. “You’re here to bring eternal night.”

She laughed, a chilling sound that echoed through the hall. “Correct, my little pony! For too long, I have been cast aside, forgotten by my own subjects. But no more!” She raised her head, her voice booming. “From this moment forth, the night will last... forever!”

The crowd erupted into panicked murmurs, ponies backing away in fear as Nightmare Moon’s laughter filled the hall. I could feel the terror around me, the weight of her presence pressing down on everypony in the room.

But I took another step forward, refusing to back down. “You don’t have to do this, Luna,” I said, my voice barely a whisper, but I knew she could hear me. “This isn’t the way to be remembered.”

Her gaze snapped back to me, her eyes flashing with anger. “You think you know me?” she snarled, her voice dripping with contempt. “You know nothing! I am not some forgotten relic of the past—I am Nightmare Moon!”

She flared her wings, her mane swirling around her like a storm as she glared down at me. “And you will remember my name for all eternity.”

With that, she let out a blast of dark energy, the room filling with a cold, swirling mist as her laughter echoed around us. I stood my ground, feeling the chill seep into my bones, but I didn’t look away.

“Hold it together, Ava,” I whispered to myself, the weight of the situation settling heavily on my shoulders. You started this—you can finish it. Just stick to the plan.

As Nightmare Moon’s laughter faded into the night, I took a deep breath, steadying myself. This is only the beginning.

I practically skipped back to the library, barely able to contain my excitement. The town hall was buzzing with the aftermath of Nightmare Moon’s grand entrance, and everypony in Ponyville was in a state of complete panic. And honestly? I couldn’t have been happier. Because, finally, the timeline was back on track.

“Not bad, Ava. Not bad at all,” I muttered to myself, a smug grin spreading across my face as I entered the library. Everything had gone exactly as I’d hoped! The whole Nightmare Moon scene had been intense, terrifying, and—well, totally epic. And I’d faced her down with all the confidence of a hero! Take that, Twilight Sparkle!

I closed the door behind me, trying to look calm and focused, just in case anypony wandered by. After all, I had a reputation to maintain as Twilight Sparkle, the newly serious scholar of Nightmare Moon lore.

I strolled over to a nearby shelf, grabbing a few random books and stacking them on a table for my “research.” “Alright, any minute now... they’re gonna come here,” I said, barely able to contain my grin. I glanced over at the clock. Just wait for it, Ava. They’ll be here. Rarity, Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie... they’ll show up, just like they did in the show.

I settled into a chair, flicking open one of the books as casually as I could manage, even though my legs were practically buzzing with excitement. Every few seconds, I’d glance over at the door, just waiting for the inevitable knock. My mind raced through every possible line I could use, every cool, collected thing I could say when they arrived.

Maybe I’ll throw in something mysterious, like, “So, you want to know the truth?” I smirked to myself, feeling like I was a character in a movie. This was going to be perfect.

I waited... and waited... and then waited some more.

The clock ticked past ten minutes, and my enthusiasm started to fizzle, replaced by a growing sense of... doubt. “Come on, you guys,” I muttered, drumming my hooves against the table. “You’re supposed to be here by now. I practically handed you the mystery on a silver platter!”

Just as I was starting to wonder if I’d somehow missed a crucial step, I heard it—a soft knock at the door. My heart leapt, and I jumped to my hooves, grinning ear to ear. This is it! Showtime!

“A-AH!” I blurted out, rushing toward the door, feeling like a kid on Christmas morning. I straightened my mane quickly, took a deep breath to calm myself, and pulled the door open, ready to greet my destined friends.

Except... it wasn’t them.

Instead, standing at the doorstep, with wide smiles and bright eyes, were Moondancer, Lyra, Lemon Hearts, Minuette, and Twinkleshine. The Canterlot crew. Not exactly the pony dream team I was expecting.

“Surprise!” Minuette beamed, waving a hoof excitedly. “We couldn’t let you be here alone, Twilight! Not on a night like this!Shouldn't the sun be up by now?”

I froze, the excitement draining from my face as I stared at them, completely thrown off balance. “Uh... hi, girls?” I stammered, trying to muster a smile that didn’t look as fake as it felt.

Moondancer adjusted her glasses, smiling shyly. “We thought you might need some company. You seemed... a bit tense back in Canterlot.”

“Right, so we all decided to come down and check on you!” Twinkleshine added, her eyes glinting with that familiar sparkle.

I nodded slowly, my mind racing as I tried to comprehend what was happening. Why are they here? This isn’t supposed to happen! They’re not supposed to be here!

“Oh, uh, yeah,” I said, forcing a laugh as my mind scrambled for a way to handle this unexpected twist. “Thanks, everypony. It’s, uh... great to see you.” I glanced over their shoulders, hoping against hope that maybe the Mane Six would be strolling up the path behind them.

But no. It was just the Canterlot girls.

I felt a strange sense of dread settle in my stomach as I held the door open for them, my mind racing with questions. This wasn’t part of the plan.

What the hell is going on?

Author's Note

A little longer than usual chapter, so it did take me much longer to write and correct and edit!!

But I sure do hope it lives up to your expectations!

Well.. I think the timeline is right again.. or... a little bit, at least?

Chapter 1: This isn't happening!

I should’ve known better.

I mean, really, what kind of idiot climbs into a car with a bunch of drunk friends, thinking everything will turn out fine? But there I was, doing exactly that.

It wasn’t like me to worry, though. I’ve always been the life of the party—the girl who never misses a chance to have fun, to live loud and love louder. And tonight? Tonight was supposed to be no different. Another night of dancing, laughing, and forgetting about life’s responsibilities for a while.

Maddie waved her keys at me, wobbling slightly on her feet. “Relax, Ava! We’re only ten minutes from home. I got this.” Her grin was as wide as it was unconvincing, but that’s Maddie—always acting invincible, like the world just bent to her will.

I hesitated for a split second, biting my lip, the quiet voice of reason scratching at the back of my mind. Maybe we should’ve called a ride. Maybe I should’ve been the responsible one for once.

But no. I couldn’t be that person. I was Ava Carter—never the buzzkill, always down for whatever.

The engine roared to life, and I forced myself to relax into the passenger seat. It was fine. It had to be fine.

I stared out the window as the streetlights blurred into streaks of gold against the dark sky, trying to shake off the unease settling in my stomach. The music was loud, Maddie was laughing, and my other friends were shouting things from the backseat, but I wasn’t really listening. My mind was wandering somewhere else.

Honestly, my secret escape—the thing that always made me feel like a kid again, like everything would be okay—was My Little Pony. Yeah, I know, ridiculous, right? But I loved that world, the friendships, the magic. It was silly, but when life felt too big, too loud, too out of control, watching those colorful ponies saved me.

I never told my friends about it. They’d never let me live it down. The parties, the social life, the constant noise—I needed that, but at the same time, I craved something softer. Something like My Little Pony, where the worst thing that could happen was a dragon stealing your gems or someone forgetting a party invitation.

I stared out the window again, the trees flashing by. If only life could be more like that… safe, fun, magical.

Then it happened.

The screech of tires, the sharp, sudden lurch of the car, the world tilting on its axis.

I didn’t even have time to scream.

Everything went black.

I jolted awake, my heart hammering in my chest, gasping for air. It felt like I’d just been ripped out of a nightmare, my pulse racing, my body cold and stiff.

But something wasn’t right. No, everything wasn’t right.

The first thing I noticed was how warm and soft the world around me felt. I blinked, trying to clear the haze from my eyes, expecting to see the broken wreckage of Maddie’s car. But... I wasn’t in the car.

I was in… a bedroom? And not just any bedroom. This was, without a doubt, the fanciest, most magical-looking place I had ever seen. High ceilings, tall windows, and bookshelves filled with old scrolls and ancient-looking tomes.

Wait. What?

I tried to sit up, but my body didn’t feel like my body. Something felt… off. I looked down and—

“What the...?” I gasped, my voice sounding small and high-pitched, nothing like the one I knew. “Where are my hands?!”

Instead of hands, I had... hooves. Hooves. My brain scrambled to catch up with what I was seeing, but it wasn’t just the hooves. I was covered in purple fur. And was that a tail? I whipped around, nearly tripping over myself as I realized I had a long, dark purple tail with a pink streak running through it.

“No. No, no, no, no...” I muttered, stumbling to a nearby mirror. My eyes locked onto the reflection staring back at me, and I almost passed out on the spot.

I was Twilight Sparkle.

Like, from My Little Pony.

This couldn’t be real. I was dreaming, right? Had to be. Maybe I hit my head really hard during the crash, and this was all some twisted coma fantasy.

But the more I looked at myself—the lavender coat, the horn sticking out of my head, the familiar book-filled room—I couldn’t deny it. I was in Canterlot, Twilight’s room, before she even left for Ponyville.

“Oh, this is bad. This is so, so bad,” I muttered to myself, pacing in a tight circle. “How did this even happen? What am I supposed to do?”

Panic welled up inside me, a tangled mess of fear and confusion. But underneath it, somewhere deep down, I felt a flicker of something else. Excitement? No, that was ridiculous. I couldn’t be excited. I’d just died. Or had I? I didn’t even know anymore.

“Okay, Ava,” I said aloud, trying to calm myself down, “just... think. You’re Twilight Sparkle now. The unicorn. The introverted bookworm who studies all day and lives for magic and... Oh no.”

I groaned, flopping onto the bed dramatically. Twilight Sparkle was nothing like me. She was shy, studious, and obsessed with reading. I was the complete opposite—I barely made it through high school with my “who needs to study when you can socialize?” approach. I hated sitting still. And now I was supposed to be her?

I looked at the pile of books on the desk across the room and felt my stomach churn. There was no way I could do this. I wasn’t cut out for research or studying or spending hours buried in magical theories. But if I didn’t, wouldn’t everything fall apart? What if I changed something in the timeline? What if—

“Twilight? Are you okay?”

I jumped, nearly falling off the bed as a small voice broke through my panic. My heart raced again, and I turned to see the source.

It was Spike.

The tiny dragon waddled into the room, a worried expression on his face. He looked exactly like he did in the show—small, green, purple scales, and way too cute for his own good.

“Uh, yeah,” I blurted, my voice shaking. “Just, uh... having a moment, Spike.”

He gave me a weird look, and I realized I had to be careful. I couldn’t just act like myself—I had to act like Twilight. But how was I supposed to be a quiet, introverted bookworm when I’d never been quiet a day in my life?

“Well, if you say so,” Spike said, shrugging before turning to leave. “Just let me know if you need anything.”

As soon as he was gone, I let out a long breath and flopped back onto the bed.

This was going to be a disaster.

I laid there on the bed for what felt like hours, staring up at the high, vaulted ceiling, trying to wrap my brain around the situation. My heart still pounded like I’d just run a marathon, and every time I caught sight of my purple hooves or that stupid horn sticking out of my head, I felt the panic rising again.

This couldn’t be real. There was no fucking way this was real.

I brought my hooves up to my face—hooves, not hands—and let out a long, frustrated groan. “Oh, come on! This has to be some kind of fucked-up dream, right? I mean, there’s no way I just... died and woke up in a cartoon!”

But as much as I wanted to believe that, everything felt way too real. The soft bed beneath me, the slight breeze coming in through the open window, the warmth of the sunlight filtering in. Dreams didn’t feel like this. I wasn’t floating or waking up every few minutes like when I had nightmares.

Nope. This was real. Or at least, as real as things could be when you wake up as a fucking unicorn.

I let out a long breath, trying to calm down. “Okay, Ava, think. You were in a car accident. You definitely died. And now you’re... here. In Canterlot. In Twilight Sparkle’s body.”

It was so absurd. Ridiculous. Insane. And yet, here I was, purple fur and all.

“Shit, shit, shit,” I muttered, rolling onto my side and burying my face in the pillow. The soft, lavender-scented fabric muffled my groan of frustration. Why did I have to end up as Twilight Sparkle, of all ponies? Couldn’t I have been someone more fun? Like Pinkie Pie or Rainbow Dash? At least they know how to have a good time.

But noooo, I had to be the introverted book nerd who spends her life studying in a fucking library. I glanced over at the massive bookshelf that dominated one side of the room, stuffed with dusty old tomes and scrolls that screamed "boring academic life."

“Great,” I muttered to myself. “I’m in nerd jail.”

Suddenly, a knock on the door snapped me out of my self-pity spiral. My heart leapt into my throat, and for a moment, I completely forgot where I was. I sat up quickly, and almost tumbled off the bed in my haste. “Shit!”

The door creaked open, and a small, familiar face peeked in. Spike. Of course. I should’ve known it’d be him, checking up on Twilight—me. He had that wide-eyed look of concern, and for a split second, I forgot I was supposed to be Twilight and just stared at him like a deer caught in the headlights.

“You okay, Twilight? You’ve been acting... weird,” he said, his voice innocent but probing, like he was trying to figure out what the hell was going on.

I forced a smile, one that probably looked more like a grimace. “Yeah, Spike. I’m... good. Just... you know. Thinking. A lot.” I waved a hoof vaguely, trying to act casual, but with hooves, it just felt awkward. “You know, magic stuff. Studying. All that fun shit.”

Spike raised an eyebrow. “Since when do you curse?”

My stomach dropped. Oh, crap. Twilight doesn’t swear, does she? Nope, definitely not. The real Twilight Sparkle would never let a “shit” slip out, let alone anything stronger. She was all proper and well-mannered.

I laughed awkwardly, rubbing the back of my head with my hoof. “Oh, uh... yeah, I guess I’m just... stressed. You know, studying for the princess and all that.”

Spike shrugged, clearly confused but deciding not to press the issue. “Well, okay. Just let me know if you need anything.”

“Sure, sure,” I said quickly, desperate to get him out of the room before I made things worse. “I’m good. All good.”

He gave me one last skeptical look before disappearing back into the hallway, closing the door behind him with a soft click.

The second he was gone, I collapsed back onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling again. “Holy fuck, this is gonna be harder than I thought.”

How was I supposed to pretend to be Twilight Sparkle? I didn’t know anything about magic. Hell, I barely passed high school science because I spent more time texting in class than paying attention. And now I was supposed to be some magical genius who was Celestia’s personal student? I was so screwed.

I rolled onto my side, glancing over at the giant pile of books stacked on the desk. My stomach churned just looking at them. “Ugh, why did I have to end up as the nerd? Studying is literally the last thing I want to do right now.”

What was I supposed to do? I couldn’t just... not study, right? This was Twilight Sparkle. The real one would be nose-deep in a textbook by now, practicing spells or reading about Equestrian history. Meanwhile, I hadn’t opened a book willingly in years, unless you counted flipping through a magazine while getting my nails done.

I stood up—well, tried to. Moving on four legs was still a weird experience. Every time I thought I had it figured out, I’d trip over my own hooves like some clumsy foal. I took a shaky step forward, then another, feeling like Bambi learning to walk for the first time.

“Oh for fuck’s sake,” I grumbled, carefully making my way toward the window. Once I reached it, I stuck my head out and took in the view.

Canterlot stretched out before me, a beautiful city of marble towers, lush gardens, and distant mountains. It was exactly like I’d imagined from the show—majestic, pristine, and oh-so-magical. But seeing it in real life? It was something else. The air was fresh, the colors brighter than I thought possible, and the distant sound of hooves clattering on cobblestone streets made it feel so... alive.

Part of me wanted to be excited. I mean, I was here. In Equestria. This was the dream, right? But the reality of being stuck in Twilight’s body, with no clue how to get back to my old life—or if that was even possible—was enough to kill the joy.

“What the hell am I supposed to do now?” I muttered to myself. “I can’t just sit here pretending to be Twilight. Sooner or later, someone’s gonna notice I’m not her.”

The thought of facing Princess Celestia sent a chill down my spine. What if I screwed something up? What if I accidentally revealed I wasn’t the real Twilight Sparkle and Celestia banished me to the moon or something? That was a thing, right? Getting banished to the moon? Or maybe she’d just turn me into stone, like Discord.

Fuck, I didn’t even know enough about this world to be sure what would happen. I knew the show well enough, sure, but that didn’t mean I knew all the rules of how Equestria worked.

I groaned, sinking down onto the floor. “I’m so fucked.”

Just then, there was another knock on the door. I froze, my heart racing. Please let it not be Celestia. Please let it not be some magical test I’m supposed to pass. I wasn’t ready for any of this!

“Twilight?” came Spike’s voice again, much to my relief. “Princess Celestia asked me to remind you about your studies today. She said she’d check in on your progress later.”

Fuck. Of course she did.

“Uh, thanks, Spike,” I called out, trying to sound calm while inwardly screaming. “I’ll get right on that.”

I waited until I heard him walk away before slamming my face into the nearest pillow. This was a nightmare. No, this was worse than a nightmare. This was some kind of cosmic prank, and I was the punchline.

I was going to have to study. A lot. Or at least pretend like I was. And I had no idea where to start.

“Well, shit,” I muttered into the pillow. “I really hope magic is as easy as it looks on TV.”

Chapter 2: Magic for Dummies

Walking on four legs was harder than I’d expected. Actually, everything was harder without hands. The stupid saddlebag strapped across my back kept slipping to one side, and I had no idea if I tied the straps right. It felt like trying to put on a backpack in the dark—with hooves. I'd spent what felt like twenty minutes just trying to figure out how to get the thing on. No magic, no fingers, just pure struggle.

Now, as I wandered the halls of Canterlot Castle with this lopsided saddlebag stuffed full of books, I couldn’t help but wonder if I’d grabbed anything even remotely useful. I didn't even know what half of the titles meant. Advanced Magical Theory for Young Unicorns? Practical Spellwork for Intermediate Mages? For all I knew, these were meant for ponies learning how to tie their shoes, or, in my case, tie a fucking saddlebag properly.

But that wasn’t the worst part. No, the worst part was that I had absolutely no idea where I was going. The castle was a fucking maze. All these grand hallways, towering windows, and endless corridors... and not one damn map. It wasn’t like the show ever gave us a detailed layout of this place! I’d always imagined Twilight knew it by heart. But me? I was just trying not to trip over my own hooves.

“Okay, think, Ava,” I muttered to myself, glancing around nervously. “You’ve seen the show. You know what’s coming. The Summer Sun Celebration is happening soon, and then... Nightmare Moon.” Just saying her name sent a jolt of panic through me.

I stopped walking for a moment, chewing on my lip. Nightmare Moon. That was, like, the big bad. If I remembered right, she was going to show up, banish Celestia, and plunge Equestria into eternal night. Then, Twilight was supposed to stop her with the Elements of Harmony and save the day.

Except... I wasn’t Twilight. I was just me, a random human girl who’d watched My Little Pony religiously but couldn’t perform magic to save her life. I could barely make this stupid saddlebag stay on. And the Summer Sun Celebration? How close was it? Was I already too late? What if Nightmare Moon showed up tomorrow? Or worse—today?

“Shit, shit, shit,” I whispered, starting to panic again. “I need to figure this out. Maybe I could, like, warn Celestia ahead of time? Tell her what’s coming? No, no. She’d think I was crazy.” I shook my head. Right, brilliant idea, Ava. Tell an immortal goddess that you’re not her faithful student, you’re a human stuck in a unicorn’s body who happens to know the future because you watched it on TV.

Yeah, no. That plan was doomed from the start.

But I couldn’t just do nothing. I knew what was coming, and if I didn’t help stop Nightmare Moon, who would? Was it too soon to start preparing for that? Could I change things without messing up the timeline too much? Could I even handle that?

My mind spun with possibilities, trying to latch onto something—anything—that made sense. Should I start practicing magic so I wouldn’t completely blow it later? Should I try to befriend the other ponies early to make sure we could form the Elements of Harmony?

My thoughts were swirling so fast that I almost didn’t notice when I passed the same statue for the third time.

I froze mid-step, my eyes narrowing at the stone figure. It was an armored pony, striking a heroic pose with a banner raised high above its head. A statue I’d definitely passed before. Twice.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” I groaned, slapping a hoof to my forehead. I had been walking in circles.

The realization hit me like a brick. I was so lost in my head that I completely lost track of where I was supposed to be. I didn’t even know where I was going in the first place. What time was it? Was I late? Oh God, I was late, wasn’t I?

I glanced around, feeling the heat rise in my cheeks. The grand hall was empty except for a pair of guards standing at attention near one of the archways. I had no choice but to ask for directions.

Taking a deep breath, I trotted over to the guards, trying to look confident—or at least like I wasn’t completely lost.

“Uh, excuse me,” I said, clearing my throat awkwardly. “Can you, uh, point me to where Princess Celestia is expecting me for, um... my lesson?”

The two guards exchanged glances, both of them raising their eyebrows. It was like they didn’t know how to react to Twilight Sparkle asking for directions in her own castle. Great. Even the guards think I’m an idiot.

After what felt like the world’s longest pause, one of them pointed down a hallway to the left. “You’ll want to take the third door on the right, Miss Sparkle.”

I gave them a tight, awkward smile. “Oh, right. Of course. Thanks.” I quickly turned and hurried off in the direction they’d indicated, trying to ignore the burning sensation of embarrassment creeping up my neck.

Nice job, Ava. Way to blow your cover.

By the time I reached the right room, my heart was pounding. The large wooden door loomed ahead, and I could already feel the anxiety building. What was I supposed to say? That I got lost in my own castle? That I spent the last hour wandering around like an idiot, thinking about Nightmare Moon?

I took a deep breath and pushed the door open. Princess Celestia was waiting inside, sitting gracefully at a large, ornate desk, her ethereal mane flowing gently despite the still air in the room. She smiled warmly as I entered, but her words made my stomach drop.

“Twilight, you’re two hours late.”

Two hours. TWO HOURS? How had I managed to lose track of two whole hours?

“Oh, um... I... well...” I stammered, my brain scrambling for a believable excuse. What would Twilight say? She was a perfectionist, so she’d never want to be late. Maybe... maybe she had a reason? “I... I lost track of time! I was... uh... studying!” I blurted, trying to sound like I’d been doing something responsible.

Celestia raised an eyebrow. “Studying?”

“Yeah! Yeah, I was reading up on, uh... advanced magical theory and... you know, the usual.” I smiled nervously, praying that she would just buy it and move on.

For a moment, Celestia said nothing, her gaze calm but piercing, like she could see right through me. Then, with a gentle nod, she motioned toward the desk. “I see. Well, let’s not waste any more time. Today’s lesson is important.”

I let out a silent breath of relief and trotted over to the desk, carefully setting my saddlebag down—well, more like letting it slide off since I never strapped it on right in the first place. As I fumbled with it, trying to keep my cool, Celestia continued.

“We’ll be covering some key concepts today—harmony and balance, crucial for understanding not only the magic of Equestria, but the balance that maintains peace in our world.”

I nodded like I understood what she was saying, but internally, I was screaming. Harmony? Balance? That sounds important as hell. Don’t screw this up, Ava.

“Please take out your quill and prepare to take notes,” Celestia instructed.

I froze. Right. A quill. Because ponies didn’t have pens, of course. My eyes darted to the quill sitting on the desk. Simple enough, right? Except I had to pick it up... with magic.

I swallowed hard. “Right... the quill. Sure thing.”

I stared at it, trying to remember how unicorn magic even worked. Focus, harmony, energy... My horn sparked faintly, and the quill trembled slightly.

Okay. Good start. I was doing it. Now I just needed to—

BOOM.

The quill shot into the air and exploded in a puff of smoke. Papers scattered everywhere, a few books toppled over, and a nearby candle nearly went flying. I gasped, taking a step back, my heart racing as I stared at the chaos I’d just caused.

“Damn,” I muttered under my breath before I could stop myself.

Celestia blinked, her serene expression barely faltering, though I could see the surprise in her eyes.

“Twilight... perhaps a day or two off might help you regain your focus,” she suggested gently, her voice calm as ever. “You’ve been working very hard lately.”

My brain short-circuited for a moment. Days off? That might give me time to figure out how to use magic—or at least get my shit together. But... wait. Wouldn’t that mess with the timeline? Twilight never took days off! What if something important happened and I wasn’t there to stop it?

“No, no, it’s fine!” I blurted quickly, shaking my head. “I’m fine! Just a little... uh... off today. I’ll be good tomorrow. Promise.”

Celestia watched me carefully for a moment, then gave a small nod. “Very well, Twilight. Let’s continue tomorrow.”

As I gathered my things and stumbled out of the room, my thoughts were spinning. How was I going to survive this? I dont know if I have much time before Nightmare Moon arrives, and I still couldn’t even pick up a damn quill without blowing it up.

I was so screwed...

Sitting under the shade of a large tree in the Canterlot gardens, I was feeling... well, completely out of my depth. The sun was setting, casting a warm golden light over everything, and a gentle breeze rustled the leaves above me. It was beautiful, peaceful even. But I was too preoccupied to enjoy any of it.

In front of me lay the book I had desperately hoped would save my ass: "Magic for Dummies: Every Single Step if You Just CAN'T Do It."

It wasn’t exactly the most confidence-boosting title, but at this point, I’d take whatever help I could get. I mean, seriously—exploding quills? How was I supposed to stop Nightmare Moon if I couldn’t even lift a quill without blowing it to pieces?

I took a deep breath and focused on the small leaf lying on the grass in front of me. The book said I should start small—really small. That’s what I was doing, right? Baby steps. Maybe magic wasn’t so different from learning to walk. Only, you know, with way more chances to accidentally set something on fire.

“Alright, leaf,” I muttered under my breath, narrowing my eyes at it. “Prepare to be amazed.”

I focused on the leaf, my horn tingling as I tried to summon the magic. The book had said to picture the object in my mind, focus on its weight, its shape, and then... gently lift.

For a moment, nothing happened.

Then, slowly but surely, the leaf started to tremble. My heart skipped a beat as I felt the magic flow through me. The leaf wobbled slightly, then—holy shit—it lifted off the ground.

I blinked, barely able to believe my eyes. “Oh my God... I did it! I actually did it!”

I stared at the floating leaf, my mouth hanging open in shock. I, Ava, a girl who had never done a single magical thing in her life, had just lifted a leaf. With my mind. Well, my unicorn magic, but still! It was a miracle I hadn’t blown it up. I was so thrilled I almost let the leaf drop out of sheer excitement, but I quickly refocused, holding it in the air for a few more seconds before gently lowering it back to the ground.

The sense of accomplishment hit me hard, and I couldn’t help but grin like a total idiot. “Look at me! I’m doing magic! Actual, real magic!”

For the first time since I’d woken up in Twilight Sparkle’s body, I felt like I wasn’t completely useless. I could do this. Maybe not the big stuff, like battling Nightmare Moon or, you know, saving all of Equestria, but this? This was a start. And if I could learn to control my magic, maybe—just maybe—I could actually make a difference here.

My mind raced with possibilities. If I was going to be stuck in this world for a while, maybe I could use my knowledge of the show to make things better. There were so many events I knew were coming... what if I could change things, make them less dangerous for everypony? Maybe I could warn Celestia earlier about Nightmare Moon, or find a way to prevent certain disasters from happening at all.

But why was I here in the first place? Why me? Why Twilight Sparkle? Out of all the ponies, why did I end up in the body of the main character?

As the thought crossed my mind, my excitement faded. The image of the car crash flashed before my eyes, and the weight of it all hit me like a ton of bricks. My friends, my family... my life—was it all gone? Was I dead, or... could I still be alive somewhere? Was my body lying in a hospital bed with tubes attached, my mom sitting next to me, hoping I’d wake up?

The thought made my chest tighten. I wasn’t ready for this. I hadn’t been ready to die, and I definitely wasn’t ready to live someone else’s life.

I let out a shaky breath, pushing the thought away. It wasn’t like I could do anything about it now, could I? I was here. In Equestria. In Twilight’s body. I had no idea how to get back, and no idea if I even could.

Before I could sink too deep into that rabbit hole of existential dread, a voice suddenly broke through my thoughts.

“Twilight! There you are!”

I jumped about a foot into the air, heart racing, and swore without thinking. “Jesus f—Spike!”

Spike was standing there, looking up at me with wide eyes, clearly startled by my reaction. I quickly realized what I’d said and cringed. “I mean, uh... Spike! You surprised me. I wasn’t expecting... anyone.”

He raised an eyebrow, looking me up and down with concern. “You okay, Twilight? You’ve been acting... really weird lately.” His eyes drifted to the book sitting in front of me, and his expression shifted from concern to confusion. “Uh... what are you reading?”

My heart stopped for a moment when I realized what he was looking at. I snapped my head toward the book, panicked. Shit! Before I could think, I instinctively reached out with my newfound magic and yanked the book toward me, stuffing it back into my saddlebag in a rush. The leaf trick had been one thing, but managing to grab the whole book? I nearly cheered at the success—except for the fact that I had to keep my cool.

“Nothing! Just, uh, some light reading,” I said, forcing an awkward smile. “Totally normal... for me.”

Spike blinked at me, still looking suspicious. I could practically see the gears turning in his head. “Since when do you need a ‘Magic for Dummies’ book?” he asked, crossing his arms. “Is everything okay?”

“Yeah! Yep! Totally fine! Just... you know, brushing up on the basics. Gotta keep those skills sharp, right?” I gave a weak laugh, trying to steer the conversation away from my complete and utter incompetence. “So, uh... what’s up? Why were you looking for me?”

Spike seemed to let it go, though I could tell he was still suspicious. He reached behind his back and pulled out a small red box with a shiny gold ribbon tied around it. “I came to remind you about Moondancer’s birthday party tonight.”

Moondancer? The name rang a bell. Then it hit me. Moondancer’s party—that was the one Twilight skipped in the show! The one that eventually led to Moondancer becoming all bitter and angry about losing her friendship with Twilight.

“Her party... is tonight?” I asked, staring at the box in his claws.

“Yeah,” Spike said, giving me a weird look. “You knew that, right? We talked about it yesterday.”

Of course I hadn’t known. I’d barely gotten through the day without blowing my cover, and now I was expected to remember things that the real Twilight had done? Great. But then another thought hit me—what if I went to the party? Maybe if I showed up, I could stop Moondancer from feeling abandoned. If I prevented that whole mess, maybe I wouldn’t have to deal with it years down the line when I was supposed to come back and rekindle our friendship.

But... would going mess with the timeline? Twilight didn’t go to the party in the show. She was too focused on her studies, which led her to discover Nightmare Moon’s return. What if me going changed everything?

Then again, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to make things easier for myself. After all, if I was stuck here for who knows how long, I might as well not be totally miserable. And besides... I could really use a drink and some music right about now.

Spike was watching me, waiting for an answer. “So... are we going?”

I hesitated, chewing my lip. “You know... maybe we should drop by, just for a little bit.”

Spike’s eyes widened. “Really? I mean... you don’t usually go to parties.”

I scrambled for an excuse. “Uh, yeah, well... I’ve been working really hard lately. Thought I could use a little break, you know?”

Spike looked at me like I’d just told him the sky was made of marshmallows. “You never take breaks. Like, ever.”

Crap. He was right. The real Twilight would never say that. But I was too far in now, so I doubled down. “Well, I’m trying something new! You know... work-life balance. Gotta take care of myself if I want to be at my best, right?” I threw in an awkward laugh for good measure.

Spike narrowed his eyes at me for a moment, then shrugged. “Okay, I guess. If you say so.”

I let out a quiet sigh of relief. “Great! So... I’ll meet you at the party?”

Spike nodded and handed me the gift box. “I’ll go ahead and set everything up. See you there!”

I watched as he waddled off, leaving me alone under the tree with my thoughts. I couldn’t believe I’d just agreed to go to a party. Me, in Twilight Sparkle’s body, going to a party. But the truth was... I kind of needed it. And who knew? Maybe showing up wouldn’t completely screw everything up.

Maybe.

Chapter 3: Apple cider... Vinegar?

I was lost. Again.

Canterlot was officially a maze, and I was starting to lose hope. Every street looked identical, every fancy house seemed like a copy-paste version of the one before it, and none of them had house numbers. Who the hell designed this city?! If I had hands, I’d be pulling my hair out right now.

I adjusted the saddlebag that had slipped off my back for the hundredth time, half-dangling by one barely tied strap. “I swear to God, if I don’t find this stupid party soon, I’m just gonna start screaming.”

Why am I even going there? It's not like not having them as Twilight's friend affect Equestria's fate, right? Or would it? Like, what if Twilight never went to make amends with them, they could have turned on her, Starlight style!!

My hooves clattered against the cobblestone as I glanced around wildly, hoping for a miracle—or at least a friendly pony who could tell me where the hell I was. I was about two seconds away from giving up when I spotted three familiar ponies trotting down the street, laughing and chatting like they didn’t have a care in the world.

It took me a second to recognize them—Lemon Hearts, Lyra Heartstrings, and Minuette. The exact ponies I was supposed to know but totally didn’t remember until this very moment.

I didn’t care how awkward it would be. These ponies knew Moondancer. They knew where her house was. They were my lifeline, and I was not about to let them slip away.

Without thinking, I broke into a run, shouting, “Hey! Hey, wait up!”

All three of them stopped in their tracks, turning to look at me with wide eyes. I probably looked like a lunatic charging down the street, but I didn’t care. I skidded to a halt in front of them, breathing hard and trying not to look like a total idiot.

“Twilight?” Minuette said, blinking at me like I was an apparition. “What’s going on?”

I struggled to catch my breath, waving a hoof toward them. “Thank God I found you guys!” I gasped. “I was, uh, trying to get to Moondancer’s party, and I kinda got... lost.”

They exchanged confused glances, their mouths hanging open. Lemon Hearts leaned in, her eyebrows practically disappearing into her mane. “You’re going to Moondancer’s party?”

“Uh, yeah!” I said, probably a little too enthusiastically. “Totally going! Why wouldn’t I? It’s a party!”

Lyra tilted her head, looking at me like I’d just told her the sky was green. “You... never go to parties, Twilight.”

Oh, great. This again. Apparently, “Twilight Sparkle” going to a party was like a fish learning to fly. I forced a smile, trying to ignore the knot of awkwardness building in my chest. “Well, you know... I’m trying something new. Gotta, uh, get out more. You know... socialize.”

The three of them stared at me like I’d grown a second head. For a second, I thought they were going to ask me if I’d hit my head recently, but then Minuette smiled.

“That’s awesome!” she said, her grin stretching from ear to ear. “We were just heading there now. You should come with us!”

“Oh, thank God,” I muttered, feeling a wave of relief wash over me. At least now I wouldn’t have to wander the streets of Canterlot like a lost tourist.

“Did you just say, ‘Thank God’?” Lyra asked, her face scrunching up in confusion.

“Uh, no! Nope! I said, ‘That’s good!’ You know, because it’s... good. That you’re going to the party. And I’m going. With you.” I was rambling at this point, but they didn’t seem to notice—or they were just too polite to call me out on it.

Lemon Hearts raised an eyebrow but didn’t press the issue. “Well, come on, then! We don’t want to keep Moondancer waiting!”

I followed the three ponies, finally feeling like I wasn’t going to spend the rest of the night lost in the endless labyrinth that was Canterlot. As we walked, I tried to act casual, like I wasn’t a total mess on the inside.

“So,” Minuette said, glancing over at me with a curious smile, “you’re really taking a break from your studies to come to a party? I didn’t think we’d ever see the day.”

I let out a nervous laugh, trying to think of something semi-believable. “Yeah, well, you know... work-life balance and all that. Can’t spend all day in a library, right?”

Lemon Hearts giggled. “Moondancer’s gonna freak when she sees you! She’s been hoping you’d come for ages.”

Great. No pressure or anything. I could already feel the guilt creeping in. Yeah, Moondancer’s only been waiting for Twilight to show up for, like, years. And if I don’t fix this, she’s gonna have a total meltdown in the future. But no big deal.

As we walked, I couldn’t help but notice how excited the other ponies were. They kept chatting about how great the decorations would be, how amazing Moondancer’s cake was, and how much fun they were going to have. Meanwhile, I was trying to mentally prepare myself for what was probably going to be a cupcake-filled, balloon-decorated, G-rated nightmare.

“You’ve gotta see the decorations,” Lemon Hearts said, practically bouncing with excitement. “We helped Moondancer set everything up yesterday!”

“Yeah,” Lyra added, nodding eagerly. “It’s gonna be so cute.”

“Cute,” I repeated, trying not to sound too horrified. “Yeah... that sounds... nice.”

In my head, I was already preparing for the worst. I could see it now: a room filled with balloons, streamers, and no alcohol whatsoever. No loud music. No dancing until you could barely stand. Just polite conversation and maybe some pin-the-tail-on-the-pony.

Oh God. What have I gotten myself into?

Minuette must have noticed the look on my face because she gave me a curious glance. “You okay, Twilight? You look kinda... nervous.”

I plastered on the best fake smile I could manage. “Nope! Not nervous at all! Just... really looking forward to all the... fun.”

They all exchanged amused glances, clearly thinking I was just being weird old Twilight. But I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was going to be one of the most awkward experiences of my life. Well, at least I had a gift, thanks to Spike.

Stepping into Moondancer’s house was like walking into a sugary wonderland. The place was decked out in balloons, streamers, and a giant cake that took up most of the table in the center of the room. It was colorful, cheerful, and, okay, not the wild party I was used to back on Earth—but honestly? It was still kind of cute.

I looked around at all the happy faces, the unicorns laughing and chatting, and I couldn’t help but smile. Sure, this wasn’t exactly a nightclub with loud music and flashy lights, but hey, a party’s a party, right?

Moondancer looked at me with wide, hopeful eyes, clearly nervous about whether or not I’d enjoy myself. “Do you like it, Twilight? I, uh, didn’t know if it was too much.”

I grinned, shaking my head. “No way! This is great, Moondancer! You went all out. It looks... super fun.” And surprisingly, I wasn’t even lying. The innocent vibe of the party actually had a certain charm to it. Maybe I was just relieved that I wasn’t lost anymore.

But, something was missing. My mind buzzed with possibilities. Wait... A mischievous idea popped into my head. If I was going to be here, I might as well make it really fun, right?

I trotted over to Moondancer, a playful grin tugging at my lips. “Hey, I’ve got an idea,” I said, lowering my voice conspiratorially. “How about we kick this party up a notch?”

Moondancer blinked at me, clearly caught off guard. “What do you mean?”

“Ever heard of apple cider?” I asked, giving her a wink. “The good stuff.”

Her eyes widened. “You mean... from Sweet Apple Acres?”

“Exactly.” I turned to the others, raising my voice. “Hey, who’s up for some strong cider? We can turn this party into something really special!”

Minuette and Lemon Hearts exchanged confused glances, but Lyra’s eyes lit up like I’d just handed her the moon. “Cider? I’m in!”

Moondancer hesitated, then smiled shyly. “Well... okay, if you think it’ll make the party better!”

I grinned, my heart racing with excitement. Let’s do this.

The night had escalated fast.

What had started as a simple birthday party with polite conversation and cake had turned into something much more... intense. Turns out, Sweet Apple Acres’ famous cider? Way stronger than expected. And now everypony was feeling it.

Minuette was draped over a couch, giggling uncontrollably as Lemon Hearts tried (and failed) to balance a stack of cupcakes on her head. Lyra was off in the corner, dramatically singing a ballad about something ridiculous, her voice cracking every few words. And Moondancer? She was laughing so hard she could barely breathe, her glasses slipping down her nose as she tried to wipe away tears.

Me? I was having the time of my life. Or at least, my current one.

“Oh my God, this cider is insane!” I shouted, my face flushed as I stumbled around, trying to avoid knocking over the table. “Who knew ponies could make cider this strong?”

“Woohoo!” Lyra yelled, flailing her hooves in the air. “This is the best party ever!”

Moondancer, still red-faced from laughter, grinned at me. “Twilight! You’re amazing! This is so much fun!”

I threw a hoof around her shoulders, grinning like an idiot. “Told you we’d kick it up a notch!”

Spike, however, was less enthusiastic. He stood off to the side, arms crossed, watching the chaos unfold with a deeply unamused expression. “Twilight, this is getting out of control,” he muttered, shaking his head. “You guys are going to regret this in the morning.”

I turned to him, swaying slightly. “Aw, come on, Spike! Lighten up! We’re just having a little fun! You’re the one who said I needed to be more social, right?”

Spike sighed, pinching the bridge of his snout. “Yeah, but I didn’t mean getting everypony drunk on cider and doing... whatever this is.” He gestured toward Lemon Hearts, who had just collapsed into a pile of cupcakes, her mane now covered in frosting.

“We’ll be fine!” I said, waving him off. “What’s the worst that could happen?”

As if on cue, Minuette stumbled over, giggling hysterically as she pointed a hoof at me. “Twilight! You should totally use your magic to make more cider!”

I snorted, waving my hoof dismissively. “Pfft. I.. well.. you knooooow... Sure YES thats a great idea!"

“Do it!” she insisted, her giggles turning into full-blown laughter. “What’s the worst that could happen?”

Spike groaned, his claws covering his face. “Please don’t.”

Just when I thought the night couldn’t get any better, I overheard two ponies chatting by the window. I wasn’t paying much attention at first—mostly because Lyra was now trying to juggle empty cider mugs—but then something one of them said made my ears perk up.

“So the Summer Sun Celebration’s in two days, right?” one of the mares asked.

“Yeah, and it’s in Ponyville this year! Can you believe it?”

My brain screeched to a halt. Oh shit. Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit.

Two days. The Summer Sun Celebration was in two days. That meant Nightmare Moon was coming. In two days.

I’d been so wrapped up in the party that I’d completely forgotten about the timeline! I hadn’t written the letter to Celestia yet, I hadn’t gone to Ponyville, and Nightmare Moon’s return was literally two days away.

“Oh my God!” I blurted out suddenly, making everypony turn to stare at me. My eyes went wide with panic, and I started pacing in circles, completely losing it. “Two days?! How did I forget? Oh no, no, no, no! I haven’t even written the letter to Celestia about Nightmare Moon! And then I’m supposed to go to Ponyville! And Pinkie Pie’s supposed to find me—oh God, what if I missed Pinkie Pie?! The timeline is already screwed! I’ve missed everything!”

Everypony in the room was staring at me like I’d just announced I was actually a dragon in disguise.

“Twilight?” Moondancer asked, her voice uncertain. “What are you talking about?”

But I couldn’t stop. My brain was spiraling, and everything was falling apart. “I missed the part where I’m supposed to warn Celestia! And now we’re doomed! Nightmare Moon’s going to show up and banish Celestia to the moon! And then we won’t have the Elements of Harmony because I won’t meet Twilight's - I mean..-my friends! This is so bad!”

The other ponies exchanged worried glances, whispering to each other. Clearly, I had lost them somewhere around “banish Celestia to the moon.”

Before I could make things even worse by accidentally spoiling the entire show, I spotted Spike walking toward me with a confused look on his face, holding a plate of cake. Without thinking, I grabbed him with my magic—because apparently I could do that now—and yanked him toward me.

“Spike! We have to go! NOW!” I shouted, my voice rising to an almost hysterical pitch.

Spike yelped as he was suddenly lifted into the air, cake flying out of his claws. “Wha—Twilight?!”

I didn’t wait for him to ask questions. I spun around and bolted for the door, Spike still floating in my magical grip. “Sorry! Gotta run! Thanks for the party, Moondancer! Bye!” I shouted over my shoulder, racing out the door with Spike flailing behind me.

The last thing I saw before the door slammed behind me was Moondancer’s utterly baffled expression.

By the time I skidded to a halt outside the castle, my heart was pounding in my chest, and my brain felt like it was going to explode. Spike finally wiggled free from my magical grip and landed on the ground with an oof.

“Twilight, what the heck was that about?!” Spike demanded, brushing cake crumbs off his scales. “You just ran out of there like the building was on fire!”

“Spike! We have a huge problem!” I blurted, my voice rising in panic.

He raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. “The cider? Yeah, I figured that out.”

“No! Not the cider!” I snapped, waving my hooves frantically. “The Summer Sun Celebration! Nightmare Moon! It’s happening in two days! And I haven’t done anything yet! I haven’t even warned Celestia!”

Spike’s eyes widened. “Wait, what?”

I started pacing, my thoughts spiraling out of control. “This is so bad! The timeline’s completely screwed! I was supposed to be in Ponyville by now, but instead I’m here, drinking cider and—Oh God, what if I don’t meet Pinkie Pie? What if everything falls apart?”

Spike pinched the bridge of his snout again. “Twilight, calm down. You’re not making any sense.”

“No, you don’t understand!” I practically screamed, grabbing him by the shoulders. “Nightmare Moon is going to banish Celestia to the moon! And then we’re all going to be stuck in eternal night! And I missed the whole letter thing! And I didn’t meet Pinkie, or Rainbow, or—”

“Twilight!” Spike shouted, shaking me out of my rant. “You need to chill. We’ll figure it out.”

I let out a shaky breath, my heart pounding. “Right. Right. We’ll figure it out. But we need to act now!”

Spike raised an eyebrow. “Now?”

“Yes! Right now! We need to write to Celestia and tell her about Nightmare Moon, and then we need to get to Ponyville! Immediately!”

Spike groaned, but he followed along. “Alright, alright. But I really hope you’re not just overreacting again. Ill get the quills.”

“I’m not overreacting!” I yelled as I paced in circles, leaving the cider-fueled chaos behind. “We’re literally on a timeline here!”

I watched him waddle off, my mind racing a mile a minute. The timeline was messed up. I was supposed to have warned Celestia by now, supposed to have been sent to Ponyville. But now? Now I had no idea what was going to happen.

All I knew for sure was that I needed to fix this. Fast.

Spike came waddling back, quill in one claw and a scroll in the other, looking more confused than ever. “Okay, Twilight. I’ve got the quill and the scroll. So... what was so important that you had to run out of Moondancer’s party like that?”

I stood there, heart still pounding in my chest, trying to catch my breath. My mind was racing. What was so important? Oh, you know, just the small matter of impending eternal night and the possible collapse of the timeline! No big deal!

I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. Okay, Ava. Keep it together. You can’t freak out in front of Spike. He’s already suspicious as hell. “I, uh, needed to send a letter to Celestia. Like, right now. This is... it’s... super important. Life-or-death kind of important.”

Spike tilted his head, scratching behind his ear. “Uh, okay. About what?”

I swallowed hard. I had to be careful. I couldn’t just blurt out everything about Nightmare Moon like some raving lunatic. I had to make it sound... official. Think like Twilight. Think like Twilight. How would she write this?

“Alright,” I started, clearing my throat and trying to look composed. “We’re going to write to the princess and tell her that... uh... she needs to send us to Ponyville. Like... now.”

Spike blinked up at me, his confusion deepening. “‘Send us’? Don’t you usually write, like... more politely than that?”

I froze, my stomach twisting. Shit. He’s right. Twilight wouldn’t demand anything from Princess Celestia. She’s all ‘respectful’ and ‘proper’ but... She is the kind of pony who shouts at Spike to write a letter about world-ending crises. I let out a shaky breath, feeling my composure slipping.

Come on, Ava. You’ve seen this show a million times. You know how Twilight writes. You just... forgot. Yeah. You’ve totally got this.

I forced a smile, then cleared my throat again. “Right, yes, of course. Ahem. Let’s start... properly.”

Spike raised an eyebrow but shrugged, quill poised to write. “Okay, shoot.”

“Okay, um... ‘Dear Princess Celestia...’” I said, watching as Spike scribbled the words down. So far, so good. I could do this. Just keep it simple, right?

“Dear Princess Celestia,” Spike mumbled to himself as he wrote.

I paced a little, trying to remember how the letter was supposed to go in the show. Twilight had written about Nightmare Moon, but it had been forever since I’d watched the first episode. My memory was foggy, and the details weren’t coming back fast enough.

“Okay, write this,” I continued, trying to sound confident. “‘I have reason to believe... that... uh... something bad is about to happen. Like, really bad.’”

Spike paused, glancing up at me with a confused frown. “Uh... ‘something bad’?”

“Yes! Something bad!” I snapped, feeling the panic rising again. “Look, Spike, it’s complicated! I can’t explain everything right now, but just... tell her that Equestria is in danger! And... and we need to bring a stop to it before it’s too late!”

Spike stared at me, quill hovering over the scroll. “Okaaay... but, like, how do you know all this?”

Crap. I hadn’t thought that far ahead. There was no way I could explain how I knew about Nightmare Moon without sounding completely insane. “Just... don’t worry about that. Let’s keep going.”

Spike nodded slowly, still looking skeptical but continuing to write. I could practically feel his suspicion growing by the second.

“Alright, let’s add, um... ‘I believe Nightmare Moon is returning. Soon.’” My voice wavered slightly as I tried to remember what came next. There had been something about the Elements of Harmony, right? But I didn’t remember when Twilight had figured that out. “And, uh... something about the Elements of Harmony... yeah, that too.”

Spike’s quill scratched across the scroll as he wrote. I could feel my anxiety creeping up again. What if I was getting this all wrong? What if I messed up the timeline even more? Twilight had been sent to Ponyville for a reason, and I hadn’t even met the other ponies yet. What if I missed Pinkie Pie or something?!

“‘Elements of Harmony’... got it,” Spike mumbled, glancing up at me again. “Uh, Twilight? You sure about this? You’re not... I dunno, getting a little carried away?”

I could feel my patience fraying, but I tried to stay calm. “No, Spike! I’m not getting carried away! I’m trying to save Equestria, okay?! This is... this is huge! Just... just finish the letter.”

Spike gave me a wary look, but he nodded and continued. “Okay, what else?”

I chewed on my lip, trying to think. The show had made it look so easy. Twilight had written to Celestia, Celestia sent her to Ponyville, and everything worked out. But here? In real life? I felt like I was flying blind. “Uh... write... ‘Please send me to Ponyville immediately so I can investigate.’”

“Ponyville?” Spike asked, his quill pausing mid-air. “What’s in Ponyville?”

I flinched, my brain scrambling for an answer. “Um... cupcakes? Just—Spike, trust me! We need to get to Ponyville. That’s where... everything is going to happen.”

Spike’s face twisted with confusion, but he kept writing. “Alright, then. ‘Send me to Ponyville immediately.’ Got it. What else?”

I hesitated, trying to think of how Twilight would normally end a letter. Then it hit me—her signature. She always signed her letters the same way. “And, uh, finish with, ‘Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle.’”

Spike scribbled the final words, then rolled up the scroll with a neat little bow. “Okay, that’s it. Now what?”

I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of what I was about to do. This letter was going to change everything. If I was wrong, if I’d messed up the timing or the details... well, let’s just say things could get really bad.

But what other choice did I have? Nightmare Moon was coming, and if I didn’t act fast, it could mean the end of Equestria as we knew it.

“Send it,” I said firmly, trying to keep my voice steady. “Send it right now.”

Spike raised an eyebrow but didn’t argue. He held the scroll up, took a deep breath, and with a small burst of green flame, the letter was gone.

I let out a shaky breath, the adrenaline starting to wear off. “Alright. Now we wait.”

Spike stared at me for a long moment, his arms crossed. “Twilight... what’s going on? You’ve been acting really weird all day. You never run out of parties, you never write letters like that, and you’re freaking out about this Nightmare Moon thing like you know something we don’t.”

I forced a smile, even though I felt like I was about to collapse from sheer anxiety. “I’m fine, Spike. Really. Just... a lot on my mind.”

Spike didn’t look convinced, but he sighed and shrugged. “Alright, if you say so. But this better not be one of your freakouts over nothing.”

I watched as he turned and walked back inside, leaving me alone in the gardens. The evening air was cool, and I could hear the distant sounds of Canterlot bustling beyond the castle walls.

I stood there, staring at the spot where the letter had vanished, my mind racing with a thousand thoughts. Had I done the right thing? Was this what Twilight would have done? And more importantly, was I completely screwing up the timeline?

I had no idea.

All I could do was wait—and hope that I hadn’t just made things worse.

Author's Note

Looks like Ava.._ um... Twilight's got herself into quite a big pickle here, shouldn't she have left hours ago already?? Hopefully Celestia is not in bed yet and can respond to her fast!

I guess we'll seeee :twilightoops:

Chapter 4: Friendship 101

“‘My dear and faithful student Twilight Sparkle,

it has come to my attention that you have not been feeling quite yourself lately.

I have heard that your recent activities have left you rather... under the weather, and I believe a change of scenery may be just what you need.

The bustling village of Ponyville is preparing for this year’s Summer Sun Celebration, and I believe that some time spent in the fresh air, away from your studies, will do you a world of good—’”

*B L E C H !*

Before Spike could finish the sentence, I lurched forward, my head hanging over the side of the carriage as my stomach decided it had had enough. My face paled as I hurled everything I’d consumed last night over the side, watching it disappear into the wind as the carriage continued its flight.

Spike stopped reading mid-sentence and just stared at me, deadpan, as I emptied the contents of my stomach overboard. I wiped my mouth with the back of my hoof, groaning. “Ugh...”

Spike sighed, rolling up the scroll and crossing his arms. “I tried to tell you drinking all that cider was a bad idea.”

I weakly raised a hoof in protest. “I’m fine... I just... needed to get that out of my system.” I gave him a half-hearted grin that was probably more pathetic than reassuring.

Spike raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. “Yeah, sure. ‘Fine.’ You’ve been sick the entire trip.”

“I’m fine,” I insisted, even though my body clearly disagreed. I wiped my mouth again, trying to keep it together as the carriage bobbed and swayed in the air.

Spike rolled his eyes, letting out a long-suffering sigh. “Right. And now, back to the letter.” He unrolled the scroll again and cleared his throat, clearly ready to finish what he’d started.

“‘I have arranged for you to stay at the Golden Oak Library during your time there, where I trust you will find the peace and quiet you need to recover. I also recommend that you take this opportunity to relax and enjoy the company of the friendly townsponies.’”

I barely heard him. My mind was still spinning from both the hangover and the fact that I’d just vomited over the side of a flying carriage. “Peace and quiet,” I mumbled. “Yeah, sounds nice.”

“Are you even listening?” Spike asked, raising an eyebrow. “There’s more.”

“Yeah, yeah, I’m listening,” I muttered, trying to wave him off. “Golden Oak Library. Peace and quiet. Got it.”

Spike continued, his voice picking up where it left off. “‘I believe that this time away from your studies will help clear your mind and give you the clarity you need for future endeavors.’”

Clarity. Sure, because what I needed right now was “clarity,” not, you know, some aspirin and a lot of water. I let out a groan, slumping back into my seat. “She really doesn’t think I’m up to anything, does she?”

“What do you mean?” Spike asked, glancing at me over the top of the scroll.

“I mean, there’s nothing in the letter about overseeing the preparations or... making friends,” I said, rubbing my temples as my headache pulsed in rhythm with the sway of the carriage. “It’s all just... ‘go relax in Ponyville.’ But that’s not what’s supposed to happen. I’m supposed to, like... stop Nightmare Moon, right?”

Spike gave me a confused look. “Nightmare Moon again? Twilight, I think you’re overreacting.”

I shot him a look. “I am not overreacting, Spike. I know what’s coming. And this letter... it’s not what I expected. I’m supposed to be preparing for something big, but Celestia’s acting like I just need a vacation!”

Spike let out a snort of laughter. “Maybe because you’re hungover and she figured you could use a break.”

“Not helping,” I grumbled, closing my eyes and leaning my head back. The headache, the lack of sleep, and the whole cider situation was messing with my ability to think straight. I couldn’t even focus on the details of the show anymore. What had Twilight actually done when she first got to Ponyville? She’d written a letter to Celestia about Nightmare Moon, right? Or was that before she even got there?

Everything was a blur.

“Well, I guess we’ll figure it out once we get there,” Spike said, folding the scroll and tucking it away. “Maybe the fresh air will help clear your head.”

I groaned. “Right. Fresh air. Because that’s totally what I need right now.”

Spike shot me a sidelong glance, clearly unimpressed. “You should probably try to sleep. Maybe by the time we land, you’ll be a little less... miserable.”

“Not a bad idea,” I muttered, closing my eyes again, even though the swaying of the carriage wasn’t helping my nausea. My head throbbed, my stomach still felt queasy, and now there was this whole “Nightmare Moon” situation hanging over my head. Was I already too late? Had I screwed up the timeline by staying in Canterlot too long?

I groaned again, leaning my head against the side of the carriage as we flew through the sky. “Yeah. Sleep sounds good.”

Spike sighed, leaning back in his seat. “I hope Ponyville’s ready for this version of Twilight.”

The royal carriage glided down through the sky, dipping lower and lower as it neared Ponyville. Below, the village stretched out in its quiet, picturesque way—quaint cottages, winding dirt paths, and colorful ponies wandering around, going about their business without a care in the world. The sight would’ve been relaxing if my head weren’t currently throbbing like a drum.

I leaned out of the side of the carriage, my face still pale from the nausea, watching as the ground got closer. “Oh thank God... land.”

With a soft thud, the carriage touched down in the middle of Ponyville, and before the two stallion pegasi had even finished slowing to a stop, I practically flopped out of the carriage, landing face-first in the dirt. “Yes, solid ground!” I groaned, hugging the dirt like it was my long-lost friend.

Spike groaned from behind me. “Oh, come on, Twilight! Get over yourself.” He jumped down from the carriage, landing with ease before shooting me an exasperated look. “You’re acting like you just survived a trip through Tartarus.”

I didn’t care. The dirt felt amazing compared to the horrible, nausea-inducing ride. “Spike... you don’t understand. Solid ground is everything right now.”

Spike rolled his eyes, then turned to the two pegasi stallions, who were still hooked up to the carriage and looking mildly concerned about my dramatic performance. “Thanks for the ride!” he said, giving them a small wave. “She’ll be fine. Just... you know... hungover.”

The two pegasi exchanged glances before nodding politely. “Of course, sir. Take care, Miss Sparkle.” With that, they spread their wings and took off into the sky, leaving us standing in the middle of Ponyville.

Spike knelt down beside me, nudging me in the side. “Alright, come on, you drama queen. Up you get.” He grabbed one of my hooves and pulled me up to a standing position, brushing some dirt off my mane. “You look like you’ve been rolling around in a sandbox.”

“I feel like I’ve been rolling around in a blender,” I muttered, swaying slightly on my hooves. The headache was still pounding in my skull, and the nausea wasn’t completely gone, but at least I wasn’t on that flying death trap anymore.

“You need rest, Twilight,” Spike said, dusting off the rest of me. “Let’s just get to the library, and you can sleep off the rest of your hangover.”

“No,” I said quickly, my voice cracking a bit as I shook my head. “I need to... I need to wait for Pinkie Pie.”

Spike gave me a confused look. “What? Why?”

I glanced around the village, my eyes darting back and forth as I scanned the streets. “If I don’t meet Pinkie Pie, there won’t be a party... and if there’s no party, the Elements won’t unite... and if the Elements don’t unite, Nightmare Moon will destroy the world.” My voice came out flat, almost robotic, as I recited the dire consequences in between throbs of my splitting headache.

Spike stared at me for a long moment, his face twisted in both concern and confusion. “Twilight, are you even listening to yourself? You sound insane.”

“I’m not insane!” I shot back, but the effect was ruined by how weak and tired I sounded. “I just... I need to wait for her, okay? This is important.”

Spike pinched the bridge of his snout, clearly trying to keep his patience. “You need rest, not a party with a pony that may or may not exist!”

“She exists,” I grumbled, swaying slightly on my hooves. “And she’s supposed to throw me a party the second I show up.”

Spike crossed his arms, looking at me with a mix of frustration and sarcasm. “Oh, is that so? Well, if you insist, then I guess we’ll just wait here for your ‘Pimpie Spy.’” He plopped down on the ground, his arms folded. “Go ahead, Twilight. Let’s just sit here and wait for her to pop up out of thin air.”

I glared at him, too exhausted to correct his butchering of Pinkie’s name. “Her name’s Pinkie Pie,” I muttered, sitting down beside him. “And trust me, she’ll show up. Any minute now.”

Spike rolled his eyes but didn’t argue, settling in for what was clearly going to be a long wait. I stared down the road, my eyes peeled for any sign of Pinkie’s bright pink mane bouncing toward me.

And we waited.

And waited.

Where is she? My mind was racing as the minutes ticked by. By now, she should’ve appeared out of nowhere, gasped dramatically, and dashed off to start preparing for the party. That’s how it had gone in the show, right? I wracked my brain, trying to remember the scene exactly, but the more I thought about it, the foggier the details became.

I looked over to see Spike yawning, looking at me with one raised eyebrow. “Uh, Twilight, you’ve been out here all morning. Are you planning on just waiting out here all day?”

“Maybe,” I muttered, a little sharper than I meant. “I’m waiting for a pink pony to throw me a party so I can actually get this timeline on track.”

He stifled a sigh. “Right. Well, if you’re planning on just sitting out here waiting for her, then I’m gonna go grab a nap. I’ll need my energy for tonight”

I shrugged, nodding. “Fine, Spike. Go get some rest. I’ve got this.”

He blinked, clearly relieved. “Okay, see ya later, then. Good luck, Twilight… for whatever you’re doing.” And without a second glance, he trudged back inside, leaving me alone on the steps.

The sun had climbed to its peak in the sky, beating down on the village like it was out for revenge. Sweat dripped down my forehead, and I was on the verge of collapse. My stomach growled loudly, reminding me I hadn’t eaten all day, and my mouth was dry enough to make swallowing feel like a workout.

This was officially ridiculous.

My eyes scanned the nearby rooftops, alleyways, and every corner for Pinkie, but there was still no sign of her. So much for instant party magic. Thanks, Pinkie.

I squinted at the town square, my stomach rumbling again, and a flash of memory suddenly struck me: Sweet Apple Acres. That’s where Twilight had met Applejack. And didn’t Applejack invite her over for a giant lunch? Apple fritters, pies, fresh apple cider...

I could practically taste it. A rush of determination surged through me as I staggered to my hooves. “Alright, enough waiting. Time to go find them myself,” I muttered, the promise of food giving me the energy I needed to push on.

Ponyville Meet and Greet (Ava-Style of course!)

The walk to Sweet Apple Acres took longer than I’d anticipated, mostly because I had no idea which direction it was in and ended up doing a full circle around the market before finally spotting the big red barn in the distance. I trotted over, my mouth practically watering at the thought of fresh apple treats.

As I entered the orchard, I spotted her right away: Applejack, lugging baskets of apples around like it was no big deal.

“Applejack!” I called out, trotting over as casually as possible, trying not to look like I’d been half-baked in the sun for hours.

She turned, tilting her head as she looked me up and down. “Well, howdy there, sugarcube! You lookin’ for somethin’?”

I grinned, trying to keep my cool. “Yeah, actually! I’m Twilight Sparkle. Just got to Ponyville today and wanted to check in on, uh, all the preparations for the celebration.”

Applejack tipped her hat, nodding approvingly. “Well, nice to meetcha, Twilight! I reckon you’ve come to the right place. Sweet Apple Acres has got ya covered when it comes to food for the celebration. We got apple fritters, apple pies, apple cider... you name it.”

I felt my grin widen, and before I could stop myself, I blurted out, “Oh, I know! You’re famous for it! All those apple pies, apple cakes, apple cobblers—you’ve even got a cousin named Braeburn who’s all about apples too!”

Applejack’s friendly smile faded just a little, her eyes narrowing. “Now how in the hay do ya know ‘bout Cousin Braeburn?”

My heart skipped a beat. Oops. “Uh... heard it in town?” I replied, trying to play it off like it was no big deal.

She gave me a skeptical look, but then shrugged. “Well, I suppose word travels fast ‘round these parts.” She gestured toward the barn. “Ya wanna join us fer a taste test? My family’s inside helpin’ out with all the bakin’.”

“Oh, I’d love to!” I replied, probably a bit too enthusiastically. I cleared my throat, trying to act normal. “I mean... sure, that sounds great.''

Target #2: Rarity

After practically stuffing myself with every apple treat Applejack offered, I had one more destination in mind. My second favorite part of the celebration prep: decorations. And that meant finding Rarity.

With a full stomach and a little more confidence, I headed toward Carousel Boutique. This time, I didn’t hesitate—I strolled right through the door, trying to look as casual as possible.

Inside, Rarity was busy adjusting ribbons and fabrics, her face set in serious concentration. She looked up as the doorbell chimed, her expression brightening when she saw me.

“Oh, hello there, darling! How can I help you?” she asked, her voice lilting with that high-society flair.

I gave a polite nod. “Hey! I’m Twilight Sparkle, here to check out the decorations for tonight!”

Rarity’s eyes sparkled, and she immediately set to work pointing out various fabrics and arrangements. “Yes, yes, of course! Everything has to be simply perfect for Princess Celestia’s arrival, don’t you agree?”

“Oh, totally!” I said, admiring her work, and before I could help myself, I added, “I mean, you’re the one with the best eye for design in all of Ponyville. Your outfits are legendary. I know your boutique in Manehattan will be a huge success”

Rarity froze, her eyes widening slightly. “Manehattan?... How do you know about that?”

Oh no, here we go again. I chuckled awkwardly. “Uh... rumors? You know, Ponyville’s got... uh, excellent gossip?”

Rarity gave a small, polite laugh, but there was a hint of suspicion in her gaze as she tilted her head. “Well, I must say, Twilight, you certainly seem well-informed for a newcomer.”

“Oh, just... doing my homework!” I replied, backing up slightly. “Anyways, uh, decorations look great! Keep up the good work!” And before she could question me further, I ducked out of the boutique, mentally smacking myself. Calm down, Ava. Don’t give away every detail you know about these ponies.

Onward to Fluttershy Easy peasy

After that awkward encounter, I decided to lay low a bit as I made my way to the outskirts of town to find Fluttershy. She’d be at the edge of Ponyville, probably by the woods or by the bird nests. I strolled past the cottages and found her exactly where I expected—gathered around a flock of birds, cooing softly as they chirped in perfect harmony.

“Fluttershy!” I called, giving her a wave as I approached. She looked up, her eyes wide with surprise, as if she’d been caught in the act of something.

“Oh... um...,” she whispered, barely audible.

I grinned, feeling the excitement building up again. “I’m Twilight Sparkle. I just got here today, and I heard you’re the one helping with the music?”

Fluttershy nodded, her eyes flicking nervously to her birds. “Oh.... I..-. The birds... they sing for the princess.”

She sounded so shy, so polite, and so... exactly like the Fluttershy I’d imagined. “That’s so cool!” I said, barely able to contain myself. “I mean, your talent with animals is amazing. I bet you can talk to bunnies, squirrels, bears—even dragons, right?”

Her eyes went even wider, her face paling slightly. “D-dragons?”

Oops. “Oh, I mean... hypothetically!” I waved my hoof, trying to laugh it off. “You just seem like the kind of pony who could befriend a dragon, you know?”

Fluttershy blinked, staring at me like I’d just told her the moon was made of cheese. “Um... I suppose so?”

“Exactly! Keep up the good work!” I said, backing away again before I could dig myself in deeper. “You’ve got this!”

I turned to leave, groaning internally. I’ve got to stop freaking them out. I’m supposed to be getting them to trust me, not making them think I’m some crazed fan!

Final Target: Rainbow Dash The best pony!

By the time I made my way back to town, the sun was high in the sky, and I was this close to giving up. But no. I had one more pony to find: Rainbow Dash. And sure enough, there she was—dozing on a cloud just above Town Hall, completely unaware of my approach.

I cleared my throat, trying to sound casual. “Hey! Rainbow Dash, right?”

She cracked one eye open, lazily glancing down at me. “Huh? Oh, yeah, that’s me,” she said, yawning. “Who’s askin’?”

“Twilight Sparkle! Just got to Ponyville today and wanted to meet the... coolest ponies around,” I said, winking up at her.

That got her attention. She straightened up a bit, smirking. “Coolest ponies, huh? Well, you definitely came to the right place.”

I grinned, and before I could stop myself, I was fangirling again. “Oh, I know! You’re practically the most awesome flier in Equestria! I mean, the Sonic Rainboom? I’ve seen it in action!”

Rainbow’s smirk faded, and she gave me a weird look. “Wait, how do you know about that? I didn’t do that here.”

I gulped. “Oh, uh... word travels fast?”

She stared at me for a second, clearly skeptical, then shrugged. “Well, as long as you know how cool I am, that’s all that matters.”

After a long day of fumbling introductions and awkward small talk, I finally found myself standing in the middle of Ponyville square, hoof to my forehead, trying to make sense of the mess I’d created. Each attempt at making a good first impression had just... flopped. And not just flopped, but flopped spectacularly.

I let out a sigh, feeling the weight of it in my chest. This is weird. I’m good at making friends. I’m practically the queen of it, I thought, slightly panicked. Back on Earth, I could win anyone over with a joke and a smile, yet here, I’d somehow managed to make each of them look at me like I was an alien. I shook my head. What am I doing wrong?

My gaze drifted to my hooves, and I rubbed them together, the foreignness of them sinking in deeper. Something’s different, I thought, a strange unease building in my chest. Something’s... off. But what?

I tried to shake off the feeling, but it lingered, and a faint, almost ghostly thought flickered through my mind: I can’t put my finger on it. Or... hoof? I let out a dry laugh, but the hollow feeling didn’t go away. Whatever it was, it felt like I was losing something important—like the Ava I used to be was drifting further and further away.

I sighed, trying to refocus. Think, Ava. Think.

After today’s failed attempts, I knew I had one last option to bring these ponies together, and it was a long shot. In fact, I knew exactly how it would go: just like Twilight had done it in the show. She’d waited until everyone was gathered at the town hall, then made a huge scene by announcing that Nightmare Moon was coming. It worked for Twilight. Maybe... it could work for me, too.

The idea sent a chill through me, like ice water trickling down my spine. Every instinct told me that announcing Nightmare Moon’s return in front of the entire town was the last thing I wanted to do. But... it’s my only shot.

I sighed, resigning myself to the only plan I had left. Alright. Against everything I believe in, it’s time to wait. I turned, heading back to the library to prepare myself, hoping that when the time came, I could actually pull it off.

Author's Note

Well, I guess its one thing to try and save the world, and another to make friends. Looks like our party girl is losing her touch !! :facehoof:

Let's hope she figures a way to unite them all before it's too late! :twilightoops:

Chapter 6: Harmony.

“The Elements of Harmony?”

Lyra’s voice was filled with curiosity and a hint of disbelief as she looked at me with wide, questioning eyes.

I glanced around the library, taking in the faces of the girls sitting around me—Moondancer, Lyra, Minuette, Lemon Hearts, and Twinkleshine—all of them staring at me with a mix of confusion, anticipation, and in some cases, barely concealed worry. I cleared my throat, trying to gather my thoughts, even as my mind kept drifting in a strange fog.

“Yes, the Elements of Harmony,” I said, doing my best to sound confident. “They’re... well, they’re ancient magical artifacts. They’re our only chance of stopping Nightmare Moon.”

“Wait, wait,” Minuette interrupted, leaning forward with an intrigued glint in her eye. “So, these ‘elements’ are, like, super powerful? Enough to stop a literal evil alicorn who’s trying to throw the world into eternal night?”

“That’s... exactly it,” I replied, nodding slowly. “The only way to stop her is to find and use the Elements of Harmony ourselves. At least... that’s how it’s supposed to work.”

The others exchanged glances, clearly a little unnerved, and to be honest, so was I. This was all supposed to make perfect sense, yet somehow, the details were slipping through my mind like water through my hooves. Why can’t I remember? I know this. I’ve seen it all before...

My stomach twisted with unease as I tried to piece together the hazy memories. I was supposed to unite the five friends—the Mane Six—to activate the elements, but now, here I was, with a whole new group of ponies. Would this even work? Could it?

“Twilight?” Moondancer’s voice cut through my thoughts, her eyes narrowing thoughtfully. “What exactly happened with Nightmare Moon at the town hall?”

I hesitated, the memory of the encounter flashing in my mind—the cold darkness, Nightmare Moon’s mocking smile, the thrill of confronting her head-on. “She’s... she’s real. And she’s not just a story. She’s Princess Luna, Celestia’s sister, transformed by bitterness and anger. She’s been waiting for a thousand years to take revenge by casting the world into eternal night.”

A shiver ran through the room, and Twinkleshine clutched her hooves to her chest, her expression pale. “Wait... so what does that mean for Princess Celestia?”

I took a deep breath, steadying myself. “It means... Princess Celestia is gone. Nightmare Moon has already taken her.”

A gasp rippled through the group. Lemon Hearts’ ears flattened, her face paling as she looked around at the others. “Princess Celestia... gone? But she can’t be! She’s... she’s always there for us!”

I felt a pang of guilt at the fear in her eyes. This isn’t supposed to be happening like this. The Mane Five should be here. I’m just supposed to be guiding them, not... doing this myself. The reality of it was starting to sink in, that maybe, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t put things back exactly how they were. It was just... me. And them. But even as doubt gnawed at me, I couldn’t let it show. They were all depending on me now.

I forced myself to stay calm. “I know this seems impossible, but we’re not powerless. If we can find the Elements, we might be able to stop Nightmare Moon and bring Celestia back.”

Moondancer straightened, her expression resolute. “After you left Canterlot, I started studying, Twilight. I read all about the Elements of Harmony and the legend of the Mare in the Moon. I thought it was just... research, you know? Just another old story. But now... it’s real.” She stomped her hoof, her eyes fierce. “We can’t just sit around doing nothing. We have to try.”

Her confidence was contagious, and I found myself nodding, even as doubt flickered in the back of my mind. She’s right. You’re in this now. There’s no going back.

Lyra frowned, still looking uncertain. “So... where exactly do we find these ‘Elements’? Are they just, like, lying around somewhere?”

I managed a small, somewhat shaky smile. “Not exactly. They’re hidden in the Castle of the Two Sisters. It’s an old ruin deep in the Everfree Forest.”

“The Everfree Forest?” Twinkleshine gasped, her face paling. “But... but that place is dangerous! Nopony ever goes in there!”

“I know, and it won’t be easy,” I admitted, my voice dropping to a more serious tone. “The forest is... unpredictable. There are things in there that don’t play by normal rules. But it’s the only place that might hold the answers we need.”

The girls exchanged nervous glances, and I could feel the tension growing. But then, Moondancer stepped forward, a determined glint in her eye. “I’m in. If the Elements are our best chance, then we’ll go find them together. We can’t let fear stop us.”

Minuette nodded, her cheerful expression taking on a more serious tone. “Same here! Besides, with us all together, it’s like a field trip... but, you know, with magical artifacts and evil alicorns.”

Lemon Hearts straightened, her face tense but resolute. “And if Princess Celestia’s life depends on this, I won’t let her down. Count me in.”

Twinkleshine swallowed hard but nodded, her eyes fixed on mine. “I’ll go too. We’ve... we’ve got each other’s backs, right?”

I looked at each of them, a strange warmth swelling in my chest as they all stepped forward, ready to take on this impossible journey together. For the first time since this whole mess had started, I felt something like real hope. Maybe we can do this. Maybe I don’t have to remember everything perfectly. Maybe... just maybe, we’re enough.

I cleared my throat, trying to keep my voice steady. “Alright, then. If everypony’s in, we leave now. The forest isn’t safe, but if we stick together, we can make it to the castle by sunrise.”

With one last, determined nod, we all headed toward the door, my heart pounding with both fear and excitement. As I stepped outside, the fog in my mind seemed to grow thicker, the details slipping further from my grasp. But I forced myself to keep moving, holding onto the belief that somehow, this would work.

One step at a time, Ava. Just take it one step at a time.

The Everfree Forest closed in around us, its twisted branches casting long shadows that twisted and crept with every step. Fog wrapped around our hooves, muffling our footsteps and giving every rustle of leaves a sinister edge. I glanced back, taking in the faces of my unlikely band of allies—Moondancer, Minuette, Lyra, Twinkleshine, and Lemon Hearts—all of them following me with wary but determined eyes.

“This... isn’t so bad,” Minuette muttered, her attempt at optimism betrayed by the way she kept glancing nervously over her shoulder.

“Right,” I said, keeping my voice steady. “Nothing to worry about. Just a creepy, unpredictable forest known for its deadly creatures, random magic, and… probably everything else that wants to kill us.”

“Nice pep talk,” Moondancer muttered, giving me a sideways look. I forced a smile, trying to hide my own nerves. Come on, Ava. You know how this goes. Just... stay focused.

But as we moved deeper into the forest, I felt my thoughts growing fuzzy, memories slipping through my mind like water through my hooves. Names, faces, moments I’d relied on to guide me—they were fading, and I could barely remember the next step. Stay with it, Ava. But a faint shadow of exhaustion tugged at me, and I shook it off, trying to ignore the creeping darkness edging into my vision.

The path led us into a misty clearing, where the fog was so thick it was hard to see even a few feet ahead. The others huddled closer, their eyes scanning the shadows with wary anticipation.

“This doesn’t feel right,” Moondancer whispered, her eyes darting around. “Every instinct I have is telling me we should leave.”

Just then, the mist shifted, swirling around us until shadowy figures took form before our eyes—figures that looked exactly like Moondancer. There were three of them, each shadow reflecting her in a different way. But something was wrong. Their expressions were twisted, their eyes hollow, each one a haunting mirror of Moondancer herself.

“What... what is this?” Moondancer asked, her voice cracking. She took a step back, and the shadows moved with her, mimicking her every motion.

One of the shadows leaned forward, its voice low and taunting. “You really think they care about you, Moondancer? Look at you. You’re nothing to them—a background character. Forgotten, left behind.”

Moondancer took a shaky breath, her eyes flicking to us, and I could see the pain in her face, raw and deep. “That’s... that’s not true,” she whispered.

The second shadow spoke, its voice a cruel echo. “Oh, isn’t it? When was the last time anypony reached out to you? Or even remembered you existed?”

Moondancer’s shoulders slumped, and she looked away, her voice barely audible. “I... I don’t need their approval. I... I know who I am.”

“Do you?” the third shadow whispered, its voice chilling. “Or are you just lying to yourself?”

A heavy silence filled the clearing, and Moondancer’s face twisted with anguish, the hurt in her eyes almost too much to bear. But then, slowly, she lifted her head, her gaze steady as she looked at each of us.

“I don’t need to prove myself to you,” she said, her voice trembling but resolute. “These ponies are here with me now. They chose to be here. And that’s all that matters.”

The shadows wavered, and with a final, defiant look, Moondancer stepped forward. The fog around us cleared, and the shadows faded into nothing, leaving us in silence.

“Moondancer,” I said, my voice soft. “That was... brave.”

She shrugged, forcing a small, shaky smile. “Thanks. I… I needed to say that. For myself.” She gave me a look, and I felt a strange sense of gratitude settle between us—a mutual respect.

~~*~~

The path twisted and turned until we entered a maze of twisted trees, the branches above twisting into shapes that seemed to move as we walked. The silence grew heavier, pressing down on us, and the others huddled closer, their faces tense with fear.

“This place is... awful,” Lemon Hearts muttered, her voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t like it here.”

The silence felt like it was pressing on my chest, my breath coming in shallow gasps as the darkness grew thicker. I could feel the panic rising, the oppressive weight of the forest pressing down on me.

But then, out of nowhere, Minuette let out a loud, exaggerated snort. “Oh, come on! This place has nothing on Canterlot Library during exam week!”

The others blinked, glancing at her in surprise, and Minuette just grinned, her voice loud and cheerful as she continued. “I mean, seriously! At least here we don’t have to worry about running out of ink, or forgetting a date, or getting trapped in that dreadful labyrinth of shelves. Remember that time, Lemon Hearts?”

Lemon Hearts cracked a small smile, her eyes lighting up with amusement. “Oh yeah, we couldn’t find our way out for hours!”

Minuette threw her head back, laughing as she mimicked the expressions of the librarians, exaggerated and silly. “Oh, Celestia forbid a scroll goes missing in Canterlot!”

Slowly, one by one, the others started to laugh, their giggles echoing through the maze. The oppressive darkness lifted, the maze’s shadowy walls dissolving as Minuette’s laughter spread among us.

“Thanks, Minuette,” I said, feeling a bit of the tension ease as we pressed on. “Remind me to invite you to every haunted forest I go through.”

She just winked, giving me a playful nudge. “Anytime, Twilight.”

~~*~~

Hours seemed to pass as we trudged deeper into the Everfree Forest, the dim light filtering through the thick canopy above, casting shifting shadows across our path. The dense trees and vines seemed to press in around us, making every step feel heavier. My stomach growled, reminding me it had been hours since I’d eaten more than a mouthful of stale bread, and I could feel the fatigue settling over us, each of us quiet as we pushed forward.

Twinkleshine trudged beside me, her expression tense, but there was a determination in her eyes, a kind of quiet resolve that made her stand a little straighter than the rest of us. But she was paler than I’d ever seen her, her movements slowing as her head began to dip, her steps growing shaky.

“Twinkleshine,” I murmured, noticing how she seemed to wince with every step. “You alright?”

She glanced over at me, brushing a hoof through her mane, trying to keep her voice casual. “Just... need a little break, maybe. Not a big deal.”

I frowned, taking in the pallor of her face, the way she kept glancing at the canteen hanging from her saddlebag, half-empty. It wasn’t a lot, just enough for one good drink, but it was more than the rest of us had, and I could tell she’d been rationing it carefully.

The path was getting rockier, the vines thick and twisted, and I could hear Minuette struggling for breath behind us, her face flushed, her lips dry and cracked. She kept her gaze ahead, her steps unsteady as she stumbled over a root, her hooves slipping in the damp earth.

Without a word, Twinkleshine pulled the canteen from her saddlebag, turning to Minuette and holding it out. “Here. You need it more than I do.”

Minuette’s gaze shifted to the canteen, her eyes filled with both longing and hesitation. “Are... are you sure?” Her voice was a rasp, but her words were laced with worry as she looked back at Twinkleshine, noticing the exhaustion etched on her face.

Twinkleshine just smiled, her voice soft and reassuring. “I’m positive, Minuette. You’ve been doing a lot to keep our spirits up, keeping us all moving. I can manage a little longer.”

Minuette hesitated, her hoof hovering over the canteen as if it were a lifeline, but there was a guilt in her eyes too, a reluctance that came from knowing Twinkleshine needed it just as badly. “You... you’re sure?” she asked again, her voice barely a whisper.

Twinkleshine gave a firm nod, the gentle pride in her eyes unwavering. “Yeah. I know what I can handle. And right now, it’s more important that you have this.”

There was a brief, loaded silence as Minuette finally took the canteen, her expression a mix of gratitude and guilt as she drank slowly, trying to make it last. I glanced at Twinkleshine, seeing the way she turned back to the path, her focus on the goal ahead, and felt a warmth settle over me—a deep appreciation for the quiet strength she carried, the kind that didn’t demand attention or praise, the kind that existed because she needed it to.

“Thanks, Twinkleshine,” I murmured, giving her a small nod as we started forward again. “We’re lucky to have you.”

She shrugged, brushing off the gratitude with a modest smile, but I could see a flicker of pride in her eyes, a glimmer of something steady and strong, something that made me realize just how much we depended on her quiet resilience.

~~*~~

We’d been pushing through the Everfree Forest for what felt like hours, our legs dragging, each breath getting harder, the weight of fatigue settling into our bones. It was like the forest itself was a test, watching and waiting to see who would break first. The canopy above was so thick that only thin shafts of pale moonlight pierced through, casting eerie shadows over the twisted roots and jagged rocks littering the path.

“Is that…?” Twinkleshine muttered, her voice breaking the silence as we stumbled to a halt.

Ahead of us, looming out of the darkness, was the castle—or, what was left of it. Jagged stone towers thrust up like skeletal fingers, half-hidden in the mist, and beyond it, a deep chasm yawned open, cutting a vicious path through the ground, separating us from our goal. A single, rickety bridge spanned the gap, its wooden planks worn thin and frayed ropes swaying slightly in the breeze.

I looked down at the chasm, my stomach twisting as I stared into the dark abyss below. “Well, isn’t this just fantastic,” I muttered. “One wrong step, and it’s game over.”

Lemon Hearts squared her shoulders, stepping up to the edge with a determined look in her eyes. “If this is what it takes, then we’re doing it,” she said, her voice steady as she took the first cautious step onto the bridge.

The wooden planks creaked under her weight, the ropes straining, but she kept moving, each step careful, controlled, her eyes fixed on the other side. The rest of us followed, one by one, each step a delicate balance between caution and desperation. The bridge swayed beneath us, the boards splintering in places, and I could feel my pulse hammering in my throat, my palms sweaty despite the cool air.

We were halfway across when the entire bridge shuddered violently, a loud crack splitting the silence as one of the ropes snapped, whipping against the air with a harsh, echoing snap.

“Shit!” I yelled, grabbing onto the rope handrails as the bridge swung wildly, throwing us off balance. I felt my hooves slip, panic flaring as I clung to the rope, the dark chasm yawning beneath me.

Lemon Hearts’ voice cut through the chaos, sharp and steady. “Keep moving! Go on ahead! I’ll get you across!”

She turned, planting herself firmly in the middle of the bridge, her hooves gripping the swaying boards as she reached out, her voice filled with an authority I’d never heard before. “Minuette, take my hoof. You next, Twilight!”

Minuette stumbled forward, her face pale as she clutched Lemon Hearts’ hoof, steadying herself before crossing the last few feet to safety. I followed, my heart racing as I grabbed onto Lemon Hearts, her grip strong and unyielding. She braced herself, holding me steady, her gaze fixed on the other side as she guided each of us across.

“Lemon, get off the bridge already!” I shouted as I made it to solid ground, my chest heaving. But she didn’t budge.

“Not until everypony’s across!” she called back, her voice fierce and unyielding. She planted herself like a damn rock, her eyes narrowed with focus as she reached out to Twinkleshine, pulling her forward, inch by inch, until she was safe.

By the time the last pony had crossed, the bridge was on its last legs, boards splintering, ropes fraying. But Lemon Hearts still hadn’t crossed. She was standing there, making sure every single one of us was safe, even though the bridge was literally falling apart under her.

“Come on, Lemon!” I shouted, my voice breaking. “Get your ass over here!”

She looked back at us, her face pale, a flicker of fear in her eyes. But then, with a determined nod, she took a step forward—and just as she did, the final rope gave way, snapping with a horrible, echoing crack.

The bridge lurched, swinging down into the chasm, and Lemon Hearts stumbled, her hooves slipping as she reached out, grabbing onto the last frayed rope with all her strength. I could see the strain in her face, the determination as she clung there, suspended over the abyss.

I didn’t even think. I ran forward, reaching out, my heart hammering as I leaned over the edge. “Grab my hoof, Lemon!”

She looked up, her eyes wide, her face set in that determined, unbreakable expression. “I’m… not letting go,” she muttered, her voice a rough whisper, her hoof reaching up to mine.

With every ounce of strength I had, I pulled her up, dragging her over the edge and onto solid ground. We collapsed in a heap, gasping for breath, our chests heaving as we lay there, the sound of our pounding hearts filling the silence.

I looked over at her, my voice thick with something that felt like relief, like awe. “Lemon… you didn’t have to do that. You could’ve… you could’ve died.”

She gave me a tired, shaky smile, her face pale but her eyes bright with that fierce loyalty, that unyielding resolve. “I wasn’t going to leave anypony behind,” she said softly, her voice filled with quiet conviction. “Not ever.”

I felt my chest tighten, a strange warmth spreading through me as I looked at her, seeing the depth of her loyalty, the strength of her spirit. This wasn’t just bravery—it was something deeper, something that went beyond just being strong. She was here because she wanted to be, because she cared. Because leaving any of us behind simply wasn’t an option for her.

“Thanks, Lemon,” I murmured, my voice hoarse. “You’re… you’re a hell of a friend.”

Finally, we entered the ruins of the Castle of the Two Sisters. In the center of the hall, resting on a moving stone platform, were the Elements of Harmony—five ancient, stone spheres arranged in a circle.

“We did it!” I whispered, feeling a surge of triumph as I approached the platform.

But before I could take another step, a cold laugh echoed through the chamber. Nightmare Moon appeared in a swirl of dark mist, her eyes gleaming with cruel amusement.

“Do you truly believe you can stop me with these?” she sneered, glancing at the Elements with disdain.

I took a shaky breath, trying to hold my ground. “You don’t scare us. We know who you are, and we’re not letting you win.”

But as Nightmare Moon studied me, her eyes narrowed, something seemed to click in her expression. She laughed, her gaze piercing as she looked directly at me. “Oh, Twilight... or should I say, Ava?”

The words sent a jolt through me, and I felt a shiver of dread settle in my chest. “I... I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I managed, though my voice sounded weak.

“Oh, but I think you do,”

Nightmare Moon’s smile grew sharper, a glint of dark satisfaction in her eyes as she circled around me, her voice smooth and mocking. “You’ve been hiding something, haven’t you?” she purred, her gaze intense. “You’re not a little pony… you’re something else entirely.”

I forced myself to keep standing tall, but every word sent another wave of panic crashing through me, the exhaustion settling deeper in my bones. My vision flickered, the edges growing darker as her words echoed in my mind. “I… I’m Twilight,” I stammered, but my voice was barely above a whisper, the lie sounding weak even to my own ears.

“Oh, no, I don’t think so,” Nightmare Moon sneered, her laughter cold and cruel. “You’re nothing but a shadow pretending to be something you’re not.”

Before I could react, she raised her hoof, dark magic swirling around her as she summoned a powerful blast of energy. The ground shook beneath us, and with a horrible, echoing crack, the platform holding the Elements of Harmony shattered, scattering the stone orbs into dust.

“No!” I gasped, my heart sinking as the fragments of the Elements crumbled to the floor. I reached out, as if I could somehow pull them back together, but it was too late. Our only hope was gone.

Nightmare Moon’s laughter rang through the hall, and with a flick of her horn, she sent a powerful shockwave through the ground, cracking the floor beneath our hooves. The stone crumbled, and before I could even scream, the ground gave way, and we plummeted into darkness.

I hit the ground hard, pain jolting through my body as I struggled to catch my breath. The others landed beside me, groaning and wincing as they pushed themselves up, blinking through the dust and debris. We were in some kind of dungeon, deep underground, with thick stone walls and no visible way out.

I forced myself to my hooves, my head pounding, the exhaustion pressing down on me like a lead weight. My vision blurred, flickering in and out as I struggled to stay upright, my body feeling heavier with every passing second.

“Everypony okay?” Moondancer asked, her voice shaky as she glanced around, taking in the dim, musty room.

“We’re... alive,” Minuette muttered, brushing the dust off her coat. “That’s a start.”

Lemon Hearts went to the wall, pressing her hooves against it, her face pale. “We have to get out of here,” she whispered, her voice thick with fear. “We... we can’t just stay here and do nothing!”

They all started searching for an escape, their hooves scraping against the stone as they tried to find any crack, any crevice that might lead to freedom. I wanted to join them, to help them search, but my legs felt like lead, my mind swimming as I struggled to stay conscious.

“Twilight?” Lyra’s voice cut through the fog, and I looked up to see her watching me, concern etched across her face. “You’re... not okay, are you?”

I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could find the words, a flicker of light danced at the edge of my vision. I blinked, my breath catching as an image flashed before my eyes—a faint reflection, as if I were looking into a mirror. But it wasn’t me. It was... her. Twilight Sparkle.

In the vision, her face twisted into a silent scream, her eyes filled with pain and fear as something dark wrapped around her, binding her, holding her back. I felt my pulse quicken, a horrible realization settling over me as I watched her struggle, her form flickering, merging with my own.

She’s still here, I thought, a cold shiver running down my spine. She’s still fighting... and she’s going to take her body back.

The vision flickered, the image of Twilight’s face merging with my own, the lines between us blurring, twisting together in a grotesque, tangled mess. I could feel her presence, pressing against me, trying to break free, to reclaim what was hers. And a voice whispered in the back of my mind—a voice that was both mine and not mine.

You don’t have much time left.

A surge of panic shot through me, and I pushed the vision away, forcing myself back into the present. No. I’m not ready. I can’t... I can’t go back. I didn’t want to admit it, but the truth was clawing at the edges of my mind—I was terrified. Terrified of letting go, of fading away, of losing myself to the void. I can’t go back.

“Twilight?” Moondancer’s voice jolted me back, and I looked up to see all of them watching me, their faces filled with concern, confusion, and a hint of fear.

“What did Nightmare Moon mean?” Moondancer asked, her voice quiet but insistent. “She said... you’re not Twilight. What... what was she talking about?”

I opened my mouth to brush it off, to give some excuse, but the words died in my throat. I could feel their eyes on me, the weight of their trust, their friendship pressing down on me. I wanted to hold it together, to keep pretending, but the truth was clawing its way out, raw and painful and impossible to hold back any longer.

“My name’s... not Twilight,” I whispered, the words barely audible. “My name is Ava.”

They stared at me, stunned, and I could feel my chest tightening, the shame and guilt swirling inside me like a storm. “I’m not from Equestria. I... I was human. I had a life, a family, and... I lost it all. I died, and then... I woke up here. In her body. I thought if I just... followed the story, if I made everything happen the way it was supposed to, maybe... maybe I could go home. Or maybe I could bring her back.”

The silence stretched on, heavy and thick, and I could barely bring myself to look at them. “I knew... I knew about Nightmare Moon, and I thought I could fix it. But now... now I don’t know if I can.”

I looked down, feeling the tears prick at my eyes as the weight of it all crashed down on me. “I’m sorry,” I whispered, my voice cracking. “I thought I could handle it, but… I’m scared. I’m so scared.”

For a long moment, no one spoke. I could feel their stares, the disbelief and confusion, the weight of everything I’d kept from them pressing down on me, suffocating me. I wanted to disappear, to fade away, to escape the shame and regret clawing at my heart.

But then, slowly, I felt a gentle hoof on my shoulder. I looked up to see Lyra, her eyes soft, filled with a gentle understanding that took me completely off guard.

“You’re... human?” she whispered, her voice tinged with awe and compassion. “I... I always thought maybe they were real. I just... never thought I’d meet one.”

Before I knew it, she’d pulled me into a hug, her warmth wrapping around me, grounding me. “Thank you for telling us, Ava,” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. “You didn’t have to carry this alone.”

One by one, the others stepped forward, their expressions softening, understanding and acceptance in their eyes. Minuette reached out, a small smile breaking through her shock. “Hey, Twilight or Ava… whoever you are, I think we’re in this together. You’re still our friend. That’s what matters.”

Lemon Hearts took a shaky breath, her hoof brushing against mine. “You’re... not alone, Ava. We’re here with you. No matter what.”

I looked around at each of them, my heart swelling with a warmth I hadn’t felt in so long. They knew who I was, what I’d done—and they hadn’t turned away. They were still here, standing with me, their trust and friendship unwavering.

In that moment, something deep inside me shifted, a spark igniting within me. It was the magic I’d been searching for, the bond I hadn’t understood until now. It was real, and it was ours.

The light grew brighter, filling the room as each of the girls stood together, their Elements shining—Moondancer’s honesty, Lyra’s kindness, Lemon Hearts’ loyalty, Minuette’s laughter, Twinkleshine’s generosity. And at the center of it all, I felt something powerful stir within me, something that connected us all.

This was the magic of friendship.

“Alright, Ava,” Moondancer’s voice cut through the silence as she examined the room. “You brought us this far. How do we get out?”

I forced myself up, surveying the walls. There was a narrow crack in the far corner, crumbling at the edges, barely wide enough for me to squeeze through—but it might just work. “Over here,” I said, trotting over to inspect it. “If we can widen this… we might be able to break out.”

The others crowded around as I pressed my hooves against the edges of the crack, feeling the weak stone crumble beneath my touch. I put all my weight into it, pressing harder, and, bit by bit, the stone gave way, breaking off in chunks. “Everyone, back up a little,” I instructed, and with a final shove, I managed to widen the crack enough for us to crawl through.

One by one, the girls scrambled through the hole and into the open air of the night, the moon casting a pale glow over the twisted forest. I followed last, taking a deep, bracing breath as I dragged myself out of the dungeon’s darkness.

As we looked up, I spotted her—Nightmare Moon. She was at the top of the tallest tower, her horn blazing as she channeled dark magic into the night sky, the swirling shadows around her coiling like a storm about to break.

“There she is,” I said, squinting up at her dark silhouette, my heart racing. “Big, bad, and apparently too busy showing off her doomsday magic to notice we got away.”

Minuette snorted. “Oh yeah, she’s definitely compensating for something with that lightning show.”

“Alright, alright, enough with the commentary,” Moondancer said, though a faint smirk played at her lips. “If we’re going to take her down, we need a plan.”

“Got it,” I said, nodding as I mapped out what needed to happen in my head. “Nightmare Moon’s busy up there. We split up—I’ll go for what’s left of the Elements and get them back to the tower. If they’re gonna work, they’ll work best if she’s distracted.”

They nodded, their expressions resolute. I couldn’t believe it—they actually trusted me to pull this off. Even I wasn’t entirely sure I could pull this off. But if I could just keep moving, maybe I’d find a way.

I gave them one last nod and took off toward the ruins, the fragments of the Elements somewhere within reach. The castle hall loomed in front of me, the columns casting long shadows under the high, fractured ceiling. The fragments glittered on the platform, remnants of what Nightmare Moon had destroyed.

I gathered them quickly, feeling the weight of each piece. Come on, Ava. Just a few more steps.

But as I turned to leave, a strange shimmer flickered at the edge of my vision. I froze, my breath catching as a form materialized in the dim moonlight, an all-too-familiar face. It was her—the real Twilight Sparkle. She looked exactly as she had the day I’d first seen her on TV, her expression a mix of sadness and determination. She didn’t belong here, in this place of darkness and ruin—and yet, here she was, staring at me like she knew every lie, every selfish thought, every piece of me I was fighting to protect.

“...Twilight?” I whispered, the word tasting strange on my tongue.

Twilight’s expression softened, but there was something else there too—a pleading, a kind of desperation I couldn’t ignore. “Ava,” she said, her voice calm but insistent. “The connection between us is failing. You need to let me back now. I can’t hold on for much longer.”

“Let you… back?” My throat went dry, the weight of her words settling over me like a curse. “Twilight, I… I can’t.”

She took a step closer, her eyes filled with an almost painful compassion. “Ava, this was never your world. You helped set things right, and you brought the timeline close enough. I can take it from here.”

The words echoed in my mind, but they didn’t feel real. They felt like a death sentence, like the final toll of a bell. “No,” I said, my voice breaking. “No, I’m not ready for that! I don’t want to go. I don’t want to die again, Twilight.”

Her face softened, but she didn’t step back. “I don’t know if that’s what will happen,” she said gently. “I don’t know if you’ll find peace, or… or if there’s anything else. But you can’t stay here. This body, this life… it was never yours.”

I felt a surge of anger well up inside me, hot and fierce. “You think I’m just going to give it up? Just… hand it all over?” I scoffed, clenching my jaw as I took a step forward. “I have friends here, Twilight. Real friends who actually care about me. I’m not just going to disappear.”

“Please,” she said, her voice trembling. “I want to see my friends again, Ava. I want to be with them, to be with Spike and Celestia. I want my life back.”

For a moment, her words hit something deep inside me, and guilt twisted in my chest, an ache that pulsed with every beat of my heart. But even as that guilt tried to take hold, something stronger, more selfish burned it away. “No,” I said firmly, shaking my head. “No, Twilight. I’m not going to disappear so you can just waltz back in and take my life from me.”

She looked at me, her eyes filling with tears, and something in her gaze, something raw and pleading, made my chest tighten. “Ava, please,” she whispered. “Don’t make me beg.”

I felt a flicker of doubt, a moment where I almost gave in, almost let her have the last word. But then the thought of my friends, of my life here—my real life now—pushed that doubt back down, burying it deep.

“No,” I said again, my voice barely more than a whisper. “I’m staying.”

She took a deep, shuddering breath, and I could see the pain in her face, the weight of what I’d just taken from her. For a moment, she stood there, looking at me like she could still find some sliver of the person I used to be—the person who might have cared enough to let go...

I turned away from her, the fragments of the Elements clutched tightly in my hooves, and walked forward, leaving her fading form behind. I could feel her gaze on my back, the ghost of a presence that lingered even as I forced myself to push it away. But somewhere, in the darkest corner of my mind, a tiny flicker of guilt stirred, a whisper I couldn’t quite silence.

What have you become?

I shoved it down, burying it beneath the thrill of survival, the rush of being here, of being alive. I had a plan. I had friends. And I wasn’t about to let go of any of it.

The girls were waiting for me just outside the staircase to the tallest tower, each of them visibly tense, but the worry in their faces softened the second they saw me approach. Minuette rushed forward, her grin as wide as ever, though I could see the relief in her eyes.

“Ava! We were starting to think you’d ditched us!” Minuette teased, her voice light but carrying a hint of genuine worry.

Twinkleshine smiled, her face alight with gratitude. “You had us worried. You doing okay?”

“Better now,” I managed, swallowing down the mix of guilt and fear still swirling inside me. I forced a confident smile, but it felt fragile, like it would crack at any second. But I couldn’t afford to waver—not now.

“Let’s finish this,” Moondancer said, her voice steady, her eyes focused and unwavering.

With a shared nod, we pushed open the doors to the final room. Inside, Nightmare Moon stood at the center of the chamber, her dark, swirling magic coiling upward in violent arcs, filling the air with a sinister hum. She was laughing—a deep, resonant sound that echoed off the walls, chilling and triumphant.

We moved as one, stepping into the room with our heads held high, and I could feel the strength radiating from each of the girls around me. We’d made it through the forest, survived every trial, and we were here now—together.

Nightmare Moon’s laughter died away as her gaze landed on us, her face twisting into a smirk. “Well, well, well. Look who managed to crawl out of the shadows.”

I took a step forward, standing tall, my voice steady. “Yeah, we’re here. And you’d better get used to it, because this is the end of the line for you.”

Nightmare Moon’s expression darkened, her eyes narrowing as she studied me. “Still hiding behind a borrowed face, are you?” She tilted her head, her smirk growing. “Do you think you can fool your little friends? Or are you just fooling yourself?”

I stiffened, a flash of anger mingling with the guilt simmering beneath the surface. But before I could respond, the girls stepped forward, forming a circle around me.

“Doesn’t matter to us who she is,” Moondancer said, her voice firm, her gaze fixed on Nightmare Moon. “Ava’s our friend. She’s the one who brought us together.”

Lyra nodded, her expression filled with quiet determination. “We trust her. She’s been there for us every step of the way. That’s what matters.”

I could feel a swell of gratitude as they defended me, their words filling me with a warmth I hadn’t expected. But Nightmare Moon just chuckled, a low, mocking sound that sent a shiver down my spine.

“Oh, it would be quite the story, wouldn’t it?” she said, her voice laced with satisfaction. “Except for one small problem.” She took a step closer, her gaze piercing. “This Ava of yours—she isn’t the last Element. She’s nothing more than a thief, clinging to a body that was never hers, keeping the real Twilight Sparkle trapped in the dark.”

The words hung in the air, cold and heavy. I felt a sharp pang in my chest, the shame pressing down on me like a weight I couldn’t shake. My friends glanced at me, their faces a mix of confusion and hurt, the doubt settling over them like a dark cloud.

I could see the satisfaction on Nightmare Moon’s face, the twisted glee as she watched the doubt settle in, and for a moment, I felt like giving in, letting the guilt consume me. But something inside me refused to let go. I couldn’t give her the satisfaction—I couldn’t let her win. Not now.

With a steadying breath, I stepped forward, my gaze locked onto Nightmare Moon’s. “You’re wrong,” I said, my voice steady. “You think you can break us apart by dragging up my mistakes, by showing them my flaws. But that’s not who I am. That’s not who we are.”

The girls turned to me, their expressions a mix of confusion and hope, and I felt a surge of determination swell within me. “You want to talk about the Elements of Harmony?” I said, turning to face them, my gaze landing on each of my friends in turn. “Then let’s talk about them.”

I looked at Moondancer first, my voice filled with conviction. “Moondancer—who faced her own shadows and stayed true to what she knew in her heart. She didn’t let fear define her. She is the Element of Integrity.”

Moondancer blinked, surprise flickering across her face before a faint, resolute smile curved her lips. I turned to Minuette, my heart warming as I met her eyes.

“Minuette, who made us laugh, who fought back against the darkness with her courage and her smile. She is the Element of Confidence.”

Minuette’s grin widened, her eyes bright as she nodded, her usual cheerfulness tempered with a new, unshakeable strength.

“Twinkleshine,” I continued, meeting her steady gaze. “You were willing to sacrifice for us, to give more than you had, just to make sure we could keep going. That’s altruism. That’s what makes you our Element of Altruism.”

Twinkleshine’s eyes softened, and she gave a small nod, her face filled with quiet pride.

And then, I looked at Lemon Hearts. My voice softened, the admiration evident. “And you, Lemon Hearts—you risked everything to make sure we all crossed that bridge safely. Even when the ropes snapped, you didn’t leave us behind. You were willing to put yourself on the line for us without a second thought. That’s devotion. And that’s why you’re the Element of Devotion.”

Lemon Hearts’ eyes filled with a quiet pride, her face glowing as the shimmering light of her element encircled her, her cutie mark etched into the gleaming gem at its center. She gave me a small, resolute nod, the loyalty in her gaze unwavering.

“And Lyra,” I said, my voice breaking slightly as I looked at her, the warmth of her kindness radiating from her. “Lyra, you saw me for who I really was. You didn’t care about what I’d done—you showed me compassion, even when I didn’t deserve it. You’re the Element of Compassion.”

Lyra’s face broke into a gentle smile, her eyes shining with unshed tears as she nodded, her hoof resting on my shoulder.

As I looked around at each of them, I felt the fragments of the Elements begin to glow, each one reflecting the light of the ponies they represented. I could feel the magic building around us, a warmth that wrapped around my heart, filling me with a sense of purpose, of belonging.

And then I looked at the final fragment, the one in my hooves. I swallowed, feeling the weight of my own words as I held it up, the truth settling over me like a heavy, inevitable tide.

“For so long, I took my old life for granted,” I said, my voice barely more than a whisper. “I thought… I thought this was my second chance, my do-over. I thought if I just played my cards right, I could make this life mine.” I looked up, meeting Nightmare Moon’s eyes, and I could feel the shame, the regret, but something stronger too—a deep, unshakable gratitude.

“But that’s not what this was,” I continued, my voice stronger. “This wasn’t a second chance for me. It was… it was a gift. A chance to meet each of you. To be a part of something bigger. And if there’s one thing I can do right, one thing I can leave behind, it’s this: I’ll protect you. All of you. Even if it’s the last thing I do.”

I took a steadying breath, feeling the power thrumming through me as I held up the final fragment. “I’m not perfect. I’m not Twilight. But I am… your friend. And that’s enough.”

The final fragment glowed, and with a brilliant flash, it transformed into a golden crown, the Element of Friendship shining brightly. I felt the magic surge within me, the warmth and strength of our bond radiating outward, surrounding each of us in a protective aura.

The girls began to float, each of them surrounded by the shimmering glow of their Elements, the symbols etched into each jewel matching their cutie marks. As the magic intensified, I felt myself lifted, the crown settling onto my head as I closed my eyes, surrendering to the power coursing through us.

A brilliant light filled the room, and I heard Nightmare Moon scream, her voice a twisted, furious wail that faded as the light grew brighter, enveloping everything, washing away the darkness and leaving only the pure, radiant warmth of harmony.

I closed my eyes, a sense of peace settling over me as everything faded to white.

''I'm ready'' I whispered...

Chapter 7: Well... I guess this is it, right?

Everything was quiet, soft, and light. Slowly, I opened my eyes, squinting against the white glow surrounding me. I felt… different. Lighter, somehow, like a heavy weight had been lifted off me. I blinked, letting my vision clear as I looked down—and saw them.

My hands. My human hands.

I gasped, my chest filling with a strange, almost overwhelming joy as I held them up to my face, running my fingers along my skin, my fingernails, the scars I knew so well. I looked down, noticing the bare skin, my legs, my feet—my body. I was myself again. I let out a shaky laugh, bringing a hand to my face, feeling the warmth of my own skin against my cheek, the soft, short hair falling loosely around me.

Everything I’d taken for granted before—everything—felt like a blessing now.

And then, out of the soft fog surrounding me, a figure began to appear. She was small, purple, with bright eyes and a gentle, loving smile. Twilight Sparkle.

For a moment, we just stood there, looking at each other. Her gaze was soft, compassionate, and as I looked into her eyes, I felt everything settle. She understood. She’d seen it all, and she understood.

Twilight took a step forward, and I dropped to my knees, reaching out to her. Without a word, she galloped toward me, wrapping her hooves around my shoulders, pressing her face against mine. I felt the warmth of her fur, her breath against my neck, and I hugged her back, the tears spilling over as I held her close.

“I’m… I’m so sorry, Twilight,” I whispered, my voice cracking. “I should have let go sooner. I should have… I was so selfish.”

Twilight pulled back, shaking her head, her gaze warm and full of forgiveness. “You don’t have to apologize, Ava. I already forgave you… the moment you were willing to go into the unknown to let me come back. That was all I needed to know.”

Her words cut through me, both comforting and humbling, and I felt another tear roll down my cheek as I smiled at her, a soft, grateful smile. She had every right to be angry, but instead, she forgave. She understood, even when I hadn’t.

Just then, another figure emerged from the fog—a young mare, smaller than Celestia but with a calm strength in her presence. Her dark blue coat was striking, and her short blue mane framed her face, no magic flowing through it, just a simple beauty. Princess Luna.

She stepped forward, placing a gentle hoof on Twilight’s shoulder, giving her a nod. Twilight looked at me, her eyes soft and kind, and I felt the familiar pang of farewell. She stepped back, giving me one last warm smile. “Goodbye, Ava. Thank you… for everything.”

A portal shimmered into existence behind her, cast by Luna’s magic. I watched as Twilight stepped through it, and just like that, she was gone.

Luna turned to me, her gaze steady but kind. “Ava,” she said, her voice like a soft melody. “Because of you, I was freed from the darkness. And now, as my duty once more, I can guide souls to where they belong.”

The white void around us faded, the light dissolving into a gentle golden glow. The fog lifted, revealing a beautiful, rolling prairie stretching out in every direction, the air filled with the sweet scent of wildflowers. I looked around, my heart catching in my chest as I recognized it. The prairie where I’d spent so many summers as a kid, playing near my grandparents’ farm.

I let out a soft laugh, my voice thick with nostalgia. I could almost feel the scratch of tall grass against my legs, the warmth of the sun on my face. I’d gotten that scar on my eyebrow here, playing tag with my sister and tripping over a tree root. I ran a finger over the scar, feeling a bittersweet ache.

I glanced down, realizing that soft, comfortable clothes had appeared on me—jeans and a T-shirt, my favorite outfit from before.

Luna walked beside me as we wandered through the field, the wildflowers swaying gently in the breeze. “There is no place better to go than a place that brings you peace,” she said, her voice soft.

We walked in silence for a moment before I felt a surge of emotion rise up, one I hadn’t allowed myself to feel before. “Luna, I… I feel like I wasted so much time. My life before this... I barely appreciated what I had. I gave my parents such a hard time, I didn’t spend enough time with my sister. And now…” I swallowed, feeling a tightness in my throat. “I miss my grandparents. I never told them how much they meant to me.”

Luna was quiet, listening with a patience that made it easier to keep going.

“I… I was so wrapped up in wanting more, in feeling like I had all the time in the world,” I continued, my voice barely above a whisper. “I didn’t realize how much I’d left undone until it was too late.”

Luna placed a gentle hoof on my arm, her gaze understanding. “Life is fragile, Ava, and often we don’t realize what we truly have until it’s gone. But this journey, this adventure—you made choices to protect, to love, to help others. You honored your heart.”

I looked down, feeling a mix of gratitude and regret swirling in my chest. “I just… I wish I could go back. I wish I could tell them all how much they meant to me.”

Luna gave a small nod, a gentle smile on her face. “Perhaps you will have the chance, Ava. No life is meant to end with regret, and sometimes, the things we fear most are simply illusions.”

I looked over at Luna, my voice soft but urgent. “Luna… the friends I made back there, the girls—they know who I am now. All the mistakes I made, all the selfishness. Do you… do you think they’ll hate me for it?”

Luna stopped, turning to face me fully, her gaze gentle and knowing. “Does it matter?” she asked, her voice calm, unjudging.

I opened my mouth to answer, but the words caught in my throat. I closed it again, letting her question sink in as I gazed across the field, remembering each of them: Moondancer’s unwavering honesty, Lyra’s kindness, Minuette’s humor, Twinkleshine’s selflessness, Lemon Hearts’ loyalty. Memories of them laughing, fighting, risking their lives alongside me—moments that felt realer and more precious than anything I’d known.

I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the truth settle within me. “Even if we never see each other again… I’ll always care enough for it to matter.”

A soft, warm smile spread across Luna’s face, and she placed a comforting hoof on my arm. “And that’s why they won’t hate you,” she said, her voice like a balm, easing the ache in my heart.

The simple truth of her words soothed me, filling me with a quiet sense of peace. Whatever came next, whether they remembered me fondly or forgot me altogether, the love and respect I held for them would always be real. And maybe, just maybe, they’d feel the same.

I turned to her, swallowing down the emotions caught in my throat. “Luna… is it scary? Letting go, I mean?”

Luna gave me a steady, comforting look. “Nothing is scary if you are ready to face it.”

I felt a calmness settle over me, a quiet strength that made the fear fade away. She gestured forward, and as we walked further into the field, a door appeared in the middle of the prairie, shimmering faintly in the golden light.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself as I approached it. “Thank you, Luna,” I said, my voice barely a whisper.

With a gentle nod, Luna stepped back, watching me with a serene expression. I reached for the door, my hand trembling slightly, and with one last steadying breath, I opened it, stepping into the darkness beyond.

For a moment, it felt like I was falling, the darkness swallowing me up, twisting around me in endless shadows. My breath caught in my throat, panic flaring as I tumbled through the void. But then, slowly, the darkness began to fade, replaced by a warm, familiar light.

I opened my eyes, blinking against the bright lights above me. The sterile smell of antiseptic filled the air, and as my vision cleared, I realized I was lying in a hospital bed, tubes and monitors hooked up to me, beeping softly.

My heart raced as I tried to take it all in, my chest tight, my body feeling heavy and strange. I shifted slightly, feeling the stiffness in my limbs, and as I turned my head, I saw them—my mom and my sister, both asleep on the couch beside the bed, looking worn but peaceful.

A soft smile broke across my face, and a tear slipped down my cheek. I’m home.