Balance within Harmony

Princess Celestia stood over her old foe “It has been a thousand years since I have seen you like this. Time to put our differences behind us. We were meant to rule together, little sister. Will you accept my friendship?”

“I'm so sorry! I missed you so much, big sister!”

The bearers of the elements were in shock, looking at each other and looking at themselves. Clearly everything had changed in so many ways, not least they were still glowing from wielding the most powerful magic artefacts in the whole of the kingdom.  And the ruler of the kingdom Princess Celestia and her nemesis Nightmare Moon being sisters? This was simply too much to take in and they stood in the formation of the elements, dumbfounded.

Celestia herself was even distracted from her sister reappearance and family reunion. Despite waiting a thousand lonely years to see her sister again, to see these young mortals impacted as they were tore at her caring nature. It was unfair for them to have to be involved in such matters, especially given how she thought most of them have led very normal lives up to now. (The source of all those Rainbooms had yet to be found, as had the new major supplier of gemstones threatening to destroy the whole economy)

“Sister Celestia” Luna enquired “Based on everyone’s reactions, I am not certain that the elements did what you meant for them to do?” Her face dropped as she wondered if being saved wasn't the aim and further banishment was her sisters intentions. Or perhaps even worse...

The bearers of the elements heard this and despite the personal turmoil they found themselves in, their natural instincts took over:

“Nufing for you to be concerned about ya Highness” Applejack insisted whilst replacing her Stetson, which in the current circumstances was the honest truth. What the hay?

“Your we-we-wellbeing is our gr-greatest concern” kindly stammered Fluttershy hiding behind her hair. Oh my, how has this happened?

“Bringing the Royal Princesses back together is a privilege” the element of loyalty added, floating a few feet above the floor in a very guarding like pose. I’ve never felt this powerful before, it seems to suit me!

“Are you okay, do you need anything?” Rarity asked as she looked in her saddlebags for a drink to give to the princess. Just don’t stare, it’s not Ladylike

“Don’t be sad” giggled Pinkie “We should be celebrating your return, among other things” and winked at an empty wall.

Rarity found two bottles of fresh apple juice, and levitated them towards the two princesses. A yellow glow encased the both as Celestia brought them over to herself and her sister.

After gulping down her first drink in a thousand years, Luna looked at her confused sister sipping her juice, and then towards these younglings milling around. They looked so young to be the bearers of such power, but there was something else. Being transformed back into flesh and blood left her unable to use any magic to work out what was wrong and her alarm was still clear for all to see.

“Princess Luna” Twilight Sparkle softly spoke as she approached the pair of princesses “As Princess Celestia’s personal protégée I can say that I haven’t used this level of magic before, let alone any of my new friends.. We are a little overwhelmed by the use of the elements, and their side effects. But we wish you Princesses focus on your reunion rather than our minor issues”

“Twilight Sparkle is right” Celestia hummed “Let’s get out of this ruined castle and back to Ponyville where we can sort everything out”

The two princess, and three fillies trotted out of the old Canterlot castle, followed slowly by three colts; a Cyan Pegasus with Rainbow mane, a Purple unicorn and Orange earth pony with Stepson .

***

A few days later Fluttershy and Rarity were relaxing on their weekly spa session, having not missed one for over two years. They were enjoying relaxing a mud bath when suddenly

“CANNONBALL” screamed Pinkie as she plunged into the mud.

Fluttershy winced as a massive wave of mud approached her but Rarity had already cast a spell to control the mudsplash in order not to ruin the spa, or her friend delicately applied facial mask.

“Oh Pinkie, can you not act as a lady sometimes” Rarity said with her usual sigh.

Pinkie swam about doing backstroke in the mud “Don’t be silly, of course I can but I thought the idea was to enjoy yourself!”

“Oh yes” whispered Fluttershy gently “I do enjoy our weekly spa session after caring for the animals throughout the week. I’m so glad that nothing happened to prevent us from enjoying our session together”

Picking up on the hint Rarity responded “Oh, well, that’s not really true as there are treatments available for Gentlecolts as well us as Fillies you know”

“Yes” said pinkie as she dived in and out of the mud like a seal “But when did you last see a colt in here. Colts just don’t like the same thing as us fillies...silly”

“Well, except possibly three of course” Fluttershy quipped

The three fillies stopped and looked at each other.

“Rarity, did we even invite them to the spa today?”

“No, I don’t think we did. That’s not very… generous is it?”

“Or kind”

“You didn’t invite me!” pinkie snorted as she squirted mud out of her nose.

“We didn’t need to darling” Rarity cooed as she passed a towel to pinkie “You just know when to pop up” especially where its physically impossible

“Well, it doesn’t matter too anyway. Twilight told me that they were meeting up for a catch up today” Pinkie told her friends as they made their way towards to massage rooms “It also sounded fun but I think they needed to sort some things out so I wasn’t too disappointed”

***

The same afternoon Twilight, Rainbow Dash and Applejack met up in Ponyville Park.

Hey guys twilight said as she approached the pair. “So glad you could met me for a chat”

“No problem” Dash yelled as she whipped past “I needed to get out and stretch my wings a little”

“Apple Buckings ahead of schedule and I could do with somepony to chat about what happened back in them ruins”

“Yeah, I mean it’s not like you have a brother and sister, and one of the oldest and wisest ponies in town to speak to or anything is it” Rainbow responded gruffly.

“Its not the same Dash. I have Spike and the Princess to speak to, but this is different. This is powerful magic that no-pony had ever been subjected to before”

“Yeah, and it’s not like Mac is the most talkative of Brothers, Apple Bloom has her own problems to overcome at school being a blank flank and Granny is…well just Granny “

“Even so, at least your best friend isn't avoiding you because of what happened” Rainbow mumbled

“Well, imagine how I feel. I’ve turned up and within a day the whole country is now aware of our powers and that we reunited the Princesses. But not only that I turned two innocent ponies into Colts”

“That’s amazing sugar-cube…errr. We absolutely loved being able to help the princess. It shows dem city folks that us country bumpkins can just be as special as anypony else.”

“Yes, but you two must hate me. I come into town and turned your whole life upside down. I ruin everything wherever I go, that’s why I have no friends…”

“You stupid egghead” Rainbow laughed as she interrupted and rubbed the unicorns head roughly “You have five of the closest friends in the world here in Ponyville, let alone accounting for two Princesses and a dragon who care for you deeply”

They were interrupted as a hoofball (or soccer ball as a small part of the kingdom called it) came crashing down between them. The looked over towards the direction it came from and saw 19 colts warming up before a match.

“Hey you three” Called over one of the players “we need a three more players to have a proper game. And if you’re not too busy saving the world again or something perhaps you could show us what you’re made off? Unless you like wearing necklaces and tiaras instead!"

The three friends looked at each other, and laughed.

“Being invited to different sort of events, we better get used to that I guess” quipped Twilight as the three colts run off to join in on the game. I can't see Rarity playing such games of course!

***

As the three fillies left the day spa, looking relaxed, rejuvenated and practically sparkling, they ran into Rainbow, Applejack and Twilight returning from the match, covered in mud but looking victorious.

“Oh my, what happened?” Fluttershy gasp as she saw her three colt friends, backing away slightly.

“We gave them a good ol’ pounding” Applejack shouted, bucking into the air

“We totally kicked their butts” Rainbow added doing a back flip.

“Hoofball” Twilight explained, looking at herself in a puddle. “But I guess we should get home and clean ourselves up a bit”

“We looked like that an hour ago” Laughed pinkie “But you didn't have to pay for it”

After planning to meet up in Sugarcube corner in a few days. the six friends trotted, or flew, off towards their homes, all picturing how specifically one of the others had looked…

***

The Princesses were relaxing at the royal castle after a busy couple of days of touring some of the major cities. Celestia wanted to make sure the whole country could see that her sister has returned back as the Princess once loved by all their subjects.

Luna was still recovering from the assault of the senses being struck by the elements of harmony, but was making a recovery. Her magical sense was slowly returning and she suddenly felt her sisters emotions, an immense sorrow. She looked over and saw Celestia was looking at a picture of her faithful student.

“Celestia, is there really nothing we can do for them?”

“Dearest Sister, I know you blame yourself but we knew so little about the elements when we used them ourselves against Discord.”

“Or when you used them against me?” Luna whispered

“Not you Lu-Lu, Nightmare moon” Celestia corrected as she wrapped a wing around her little sister “But we have no idea who the original six owners are. Now that each element has bound itself to an individual obviously they have seen it fit to alter the bearers to suit their powers."

“So, do you think that the elements of Loyalty, Honesty and Magic were created by three stallions, and Laughter, Generosity and Kindness by mares. Of course, if they were made by pony folk at all?”

“I don’t know, it may be to do with the sense of balance. It surely cannot be a co-incidence that each the pairs of Earth, Pegasus and Unicorn ponies each now have a mare and a colt? All I do know is that the elements are too powerful to be overcome by our magic or anything anypony could cast. The only pony who has a chance will be Twilight as the element of Magic, but we can’t tell her…not yet”. Celestia of course knew more than this, but didn't want to overwhelm her sister too much already.