The sun-kissed summit of the Drackenridge Mountains. Described as the roof of the world, it surely is the highest point in all Equestria. Here, so high that even breathing became difficult, the air shone pure and clean. A flat plateau, untouched for millennia, there were much easier routes for ponies looking to trek across.

It was here that they appeared, looking regal and grand. Princess Celestia strode forward, authoritatively, to the centre, and focused her magic. The beams of sunlight in the area coalesced into a lance, Celestia using this lance to brand a massive glyph into the summit.

Twilight stared, she had seen this inscription in passing within a relic of a tome. It was written in the Old Tongue, too difficult for even her to attempt to study its contents.

"So, this is where it ends?" asked Rainbow Dash.

"Seems like it, sugarcube," said Applejack.

Fluttershy gazed, entranced, at the view. Speckles of clouds adorned the summit, and bountiful fields stretched out in all directions, far below.

Pinkie's excited cries drew all their attention to the stunning cloud city of the sky, Cloudsdale, gleaming majestically in the distance. Founded soon after the unification of the three tribes, it majestically graces the skyline, a testament to that which love and peace could accomplish.

Twilight turned away, to face her friends, making eye-contact with each of them. "Girls, I wanted to thank you. Before I met you, my life seemed so full, but it was merely an illusion. Each and every one of you taught me the true magic of life, and I know I wouldn't change anything. You complete me."

"We'll still be together, you'll see, and then I can finally get you to help me bake!" confidently said Pinkie Pie.

Rarity added her voice, her tone soft, but sure, and laced with sadness. "I wanted to thank you, Twilight. Because of your friendship, I was able to meet the rest of you, and for that I am eternally grateful. Truly we are a merry band, are we not?"

"Ya sure got that right, hun," Applejack responded. "Even though we didn't always get along, together, we're unstoppable."

"Yeah! If I hadn't met you all, I don't think that I would ever have achieved my dream of another Sonic Rainboom!" Rainbow Dash said.

Fluttershy said, "I'm so happy to have you girls as my friends. Your encouragement and support have been my North Star, and I'm grateful for your faith and assistance."

Princess Celestia, regrettably, had to interrupt them. "Ladies, the opportune moment has arrived. Are you ready?" said she, simply.

Twilight looked around, each of her friends nodding at her. "Yes, Princess. And Princess... thank you, for believing in me. Thank you for your guidance and love... I'll always remember..."

Princess Celestia had lived for an extensive amount of time even before the thousand year banishment of her sister. Seeing countless generations of ponies rise, grow, and pass on, her heart had hardened itself against such torment. The memories of long dead ponies, her subjects, in her mind. Seeing these six young mares in their prime, giving up their lives, managed to sink blades into the scar-tissue of her heart. Her student's words, the words of one whom she loved like a daughter, broke her shell, bringing with it a wave of heartache.

She wept, the sun itself dimming, the entire world awash with the mournful light. Sharing a final embrace, their relationship transcended words. Eventually they broke apart, understanding the inevitable.

Destiny waited for nopony.

The Princess gave them a proud smile, and they felt the striking rays of the sun shine warmly upon them, imparting strength. She began to chant in the Old Tongue, each pony feeling the stirring magic of the Elements, their minds focused on how their actions would make the world a better place.

The Elements of Harmony activated in a brilliant pink flash. The Bearers rose, and formed a hexagram, a pony at each point of the star.

Celestia teleported away, unable to protect herself from the raw force at such a close proximity.

Twilight Sparkle, however, held in her heart a desire to communicate directly with the Core, her resolve unwavering. Her thoughts completely focused on the Earth. She saw in her mind's eye an amorphous ball of light to which she could appeal.

The world froze.

Twilight stepped into a plane between worlds, where time is but a word, and physical laws, a fallacy.

She experienced a vision.

She saw the world, as it was over one-thousand years ago. Her eyes widened in shock as she bore witness to the titanic clash between the Royal Sisters and the Master of Chaos, Discord.

Celestia and Luna shone with radiance as they confronted the menace for the last time in that age. Channelling the power of the Elements of Harmony through six ponies, Bearers, resplendent in finery, Discord was petrified, defeated.

Twilight could sense, however, that the defeat was hollow consolation, feeling and seeing the malign and utterly devastating effect that the rule of the draconequus had on Equestria and the world.

In utter defiance to the disorderly god's will, those six Bearers offered themselves. Burning brighter than a supernova, their light shone across the entire world... And the Earth was born anew. The scars of pandemonium wiped clean. The horrors experienced, reduced to long-lost memories.

And Twilight finally knew. She knew why the statues in the Canterlot palace gardens were so life-like. She now knew that each of them was, like she is now, a Bearer of an Element of Harmony.

The aftermath of colours on Discord's fall washed over her, and the world dissolved around her. Then, she was floating, marvelling at the majestic planet below. Its shimmer dimmed at the loss of the Bearers.

Shadows of blackest night seemed to creep across the Earth, darkness slowly coalescing again. She saw the deepness happily exploiting the misgivings of the younger ruler, and in that life-filled vacuum of the Bearers, Nightmare Moon was born.

And she ravaged the world. Twilight's face ran wet with tears as she, from her godlike perspective, saw the wounds inflicted on the world and the ponies felled.

Finally, after an eternity of bearing witness to the Alicorn's rampage, a scene to be forever etched upon her soul played out before her.

"My night, Celestia, shall last forever! And you, who ponies admire, who lords her admiration over me, shall be laid low!" screamed Nightmare Moon. She began to summon energies of pure hate, it building to a crescendo.

"I'm sorry, sister, forgive me my blindness." whispered Celestia, her voice the sound of dying embers. The Elements adorning the six magnificent pony statues flew to her, ready to do her bidding. Without the six True Bearers, they lacked the power to cleanse Luna of Nightmare Moon. Celestia realised this, and committed herself to a grave sin.

She wielded the Elements like a battle-worn champion, and Nightmare Moon, fallen protector of the night, was bested, her energies blocked by power beyond measure. Celestia looked into her sister's eyes, and for the first time, she saw fear. With a thunderous roar promising retribution, the goddess was banished to the moon.

Collapsing, Celestia used the last vestiges of the power to give life to four stars. The four stars which would shatter her sister's sepulchre in an age when peace prevailed and the name 'Luna' had faded into obscure myth. The Solar Princess lay there, mourning, as the vision faded.

When next Twilight opened her eyes, she saw, not the royal pony palace of old, but that which she had envisioned.

"Twilight Sparkle, Element of Magic," a voice, akin to that of the dream pony, lightly said. "You have sought us out with all your being, and we have answered. Tell us of that which you wish, and we shall judge.

"Praise Celestia, it worked," stammered Twilight, softly, still shaken from her vision.

She shook her head, mane swaying, and then stood tall, ready to persuade, bringing all her mental faculties to bear, and appealing for eloquence.

"Greetings, Earth. I have come to ask you to please spare the lives of my friends. You can't take all our lives," she said. "To do so would fail harmony."

"Explain yourself, Twilight Sparkle, your conviction apparent."

The enormity of her situation caused the pony to falter for a mere moment, before soldiering on. "Is the Earth not most at peace when harmony prevails? By taking all our lives you destroy that harmony, because these ponies, my friends, are the epitome of their Elements, and none better can be found. Darkness and negativity thrive when Harmony is absent. The Earth would fall again."

The sphere pulsed as the Earth spoke. "Peace is that for which all beings should strive. Whether the Element Bearers perform the spell or not, the Earth will continue to exist. Even if all of its inhabitants were not to exist, the Earth would remain. The lives of all beings, not that of the Earth, dependant on your actions. Why then should the Element Bearers be saved?"

"I understand that we are the cause of this, but you need us. All the beings of this stunning world exist for a reason. How can one know one's beauty, if not shown? How can an omnipotent being such as yourself experience life, but through others. We are your senses, and you, our guide. If all the Element Bearers died today, there would be no bulwark against the darkness, and you would be rendered blind and deaf as negativity prevailed."

"Your words... resonate with truth, Twilight Sparkle. The Sun Goddess' faith well placed. However, there can be no cleansing without sacrifice. Of that, what do you propose?"

"My life. I offer my life."

"A certain amount of energy is required for the spell to be thriving. It then fails to stand that you, but one pony, will be able to make a difference. It is certain that the efficacy of the spell will be reduced."

"I know, but I trust in my friends and I believe that every day their hearts shine, they will strive to make Equestria better through their thoughts, actions and inspirations. I've studied the magic of friendship, and come to realise that the power to change the world lies within us, within each pony and strengthened by our bonds, not ensconced in a meretricious facade. We, I, choose a different path than our predecessors."

There followed a contemplative silence. "Though that may be, child, without the Element of Magic, the others are left inert. By your very reasoning, will not harmony fail?"

Twilight smiled peacefully. "That is the key. The Element of Magic lives because the five other virtues exist, without those, no progress is possible, but with all five, Magic can be awoken with a spark. So even with me gone, when the need arises, Magic will be born."

For the first time since creation, the Earth truly awakened. An ancient being, its ways ingrained, a roaring torrent, diverted by a unicorn of epic stature. "We see. Your will be done, Twilight Sparkle."

Twilight felt immense sorrow-tinged gratitude at that moment. Her friends would live on, and so would the Earth, at the cost of her life. She had never seen herself as above anypony, whether they looked up to her, or not. She was modest, some would say too modest in her accomplishments, such that she felt that this concord was worthwhile.

She bowed to the Core. "Thank you... Earth."

"Ascend, Twilight Sparkle, and live on in memory."

Time unfroze; the world unfroze.

From the core of that six-pony-pointed hexagram, a column of blinding radiance shot upwards, piercing the heavens. An innumerable number of rainbows flowed from the spire.

The rainbow shower reached every corner of the globe within seconds. Every single being on the wondrous Earth was uplifted as the wave passed through them. On that mountain top, the glowing saviours, conduits for the Earth itself, spoke as one.

Let this be a world where all beings are at peace, and harmony prevails.

Let this be a world where all children are loved and educated to develop their special talents.

Let this be a world where the heart is more important than the head, and wisdom is revered over riches.

In this world, may laughter, kindness, loyalty, generosity and honesty enhance the magic of life.

May the light grant understanding, courage, and humility.

May all the world ascend.

So be it.

Every being heard the message, and their hearts opened to embrace harmony. Prejudices were dulled and forgotten, hatred and anger gave way to love and tolerance. Gratitude flowed abundantly as each being realised the futility of strife.

The volley of rainbows slowly faded, leaving in its wake a shimmering magical residue.

As if rising from a long, nightmarish slumber, the Earth awoke. Fauna and flora gambolled and swayed with great enthusiasm, the very air radiating calm.

The warlords in Dragonia called a sudden ceasefire and both sides began to rely on diplomacy to end the conflict.

The Griffons rejoiced, the Windigoes' grip on their lands being dealt a shattering blow. New energy was given life, and the militaristic way of the sentient avians began to fade.

The Zebra succession, descending into chaos, was concluded, miraculously, peacefully.

The disasters threatening to reduce Equestria to a complete and utter wasteland, lost their potency, and slowly, painfully, ceased.

The changelings, forever seeking to prey off the love of other nations, realised that true love comes from within. And their kingdom was forever changed, bonds of love and unity forming among the lost children of the Earth.

Make no mistake, the damage to the world and its children was severe. The immediate future looked filled with hardship, but tomorrow... tomorrow was brighter than ever.

Back in Canterlot, Luna screamed as the field passed through her. The world fell away. In her mind's eye she saw the final shreds of Nightmare Moon, the manifestation of her own negativity, annihilated. For the first time in centuries, she felt truly at peace, her aura radiating harmony. She turned her gaze towards the mountain, tears of happiness warming her face.

Conscious thought trickled back.

"Hey! I'm alive!" cried Rainbow Dash, never more joyously.

"We didn't die like Princess Celestia said! Yeehaw!" shouted Applejack, euphorically.

"But... does this mean that it didn't work?" asked Fluttershy, happily, but worriedly.

Rarity conjectured, "Darling... I think that that message came from the Earth itself. If it did not work, I do not think that we would have been gifted with such a lovely affirmation."

"Hey, guys! You do know what this calls for, right?" excitedly cried Pinkie Pie, hugging each of them in turn. "A super-duper-luper, we-lived, party!" The bubbly pink mare suddenly froze. Looking around, she hesitantly asked, "Girls, where's Twilight?"

The celebration ceased as all their gazes turned to the spot where Twilight had stood, in the flesh. That spot was still occupied by Twilight, a most beautiful statue of Twilight hewn from stone, resplendent with authentic detail. A feat even a master stonemason would struggle to replicate.

"No... this cannot be... Twilight... TWILIGHT!" sobbed Rarity, rushing towards the petrified unicorn.

"Oh no..." Fluttershy moaned, her eyes moistening.

"But... how is this possible?" quietly questioned Applejack. "We're fine, why is Twilight..." She trailed off, stunned.

Rainbow Dash fluttered close to Twilight, laughing nervously. "Twilight, you can stop with the prank now. You really scared us good. I promise never to make fun of you again. Come on, Twi, you can release your spell!"

"Dashie... she's gone," Pinkie Pie mournfully said, trying to comfort the stricken pegasus. "It's not a prank..."

In between sobs Rarity stammered, "I never told you... I never told you how much you..." She railed at the heavens for this injustice, before collapsing.

The others looked on, realisation dawning. They too wept with Rarity.

Fluttershy wrapped Applejack in a vice-grip hug, the earth pony experiencing a flash of insight, her emotions swinging between joy and sorrow.

Rainbow Dash spread a wing over the weeping Pinkie Pie. They looked into each other's eyes, and saw a mirroring light.

A voice, akin to which they had heard in their dream, spoke gently from the ether. "Heroes of the world," it began. "You have once again rendered a great service to Earth. Tales will be sung of your bravery and sacrifice, but none more so than the that of the Element of Magic, Twilight Sparkle. It was her will to seek us out and sway us, which we granted. In the end she convinced us that Harmony would be best preserved by allowing you to live, and to continue your legacy. Uphold her faith with all your might! May every being have the privilege of seeing this summit, marked forever until time immemorial."

The summit shuddered as an object began to rise from the ground. Once fully exposed, everypony could see that it was a marble tablet with an ornate edging of intertwining flowers and leaves. Inscribed upon it in glowing cursive was the holy affirmation. Upon closer inspection, one could see the following new lines etched into the base:

Sing and celebrate in the Bearers of the Elements of Harmony.

Sing of Applejack, the honest, and always be truthful.

Sing of Rarity, the generous, and always give.

Sing of Rainbow Dash, the loyal, and always have faith.

Sing of Pinkie Pie, the bringer of laughter, and always share happiness.

Sing of Fluttershy, the kind, and always care.

Sing of Twilight Sparkle, the magical, embodiment of all virtues, and always strive for betterment.

Their names are hereafter forever recorded. Rejoice, for the dawn has arrived.

The Bearers were bowed in reverence to Twilight, seeking solace at her feet, her sacrifice giving them life. Princess Celestia, shaken by the events, but never prouder of her protégé, and Princess Luna, vowing to uphold Twilight's selflessness, would later proclaim that day, the Day of Rebirth.

Some distance away, a weary, but joyful unicorn couple rested. Within their loving hooves they cradled a wondrous coral foal.

Her mother leaned over, softly nuzzling her. "Welcome to Equestria, Dawn."

Fin

Thank you very much for reading!

All comments and/or constructive criticisms are welcome.

Author's Note

I would like to express my gratitude to Lauren Faust, the talented people behind Friendship is Magic, and all the awesome artists, authors, bloggers, composers, developers and musicians of the fandom. Your boundless creativity and ingenuity inspired me to pick up the proverbial pen, and craft this tale.

Many thanks to my wonderful family for listening to and assisting me with this story, and believing in me.

I would also like to thank SnowflamePony on dA for granting me permission to use his wonderful artwork, and thanks to hlissner on dA for his brilliant map from which I made use of some city and town names. Lastly, a big thanks to Equestria Daily pre-reader SordidEuphemism for his assistance and guidance.

Life is a gift, treasure every day, and remember, the power of thought is real.