"Now this calls for a drink!"

The six elements laughed tiredly at the idea. The adrenaline was fading and the weight of their accomplishment was beginning to truly set in. Octavia chuckled before falling on her haunches. She was surprisingly tired, a fact which she had not realized with all excitement going on around her.

The first lights of dawn shone across the land, bringing with it a sense of peace after the near advent of total destruction. It was refreshing and warm, especially after the last few hours. Octavia smiled as the castle was slowly illuminated by the light.

"Well … that was intense, wouldn't you agree?" Fleur said.

"More like amazing! Look at us! We are the Elements of Harmony!" Flitter added excitedly "Look at them! They are beautiful!"

"Speaking of them ..."Berry said, checking her flank and the element. "I hope I'm not the only who noticed that they look just like our cutie marks."

Minuette tapped the necklace, but nothing happened. The magic had done its work and so it faded away until it was needed again.

"Does this mean that it was fate that brought us here?" she asked. "Or just a coincidence?"

"Choice brought you here ..."

Octavia snapped back to attention as the familiar voice reached her ears. She looked up, eyes wide in hope and disbelief. Wings flapped as the royal form of Princess Twilight landed in front of her. Her jewelry was gone and her mane was a mix between being messy and slightly burnt.

"Princess!" Octavia jumped at her, hugging her tightly.

"Octavia … you are alright ..."" The princess whispered as she returned the hug. As they broke the hug, Princess Twilight noticed the tiara that adorned the head of her student.

"The Elements … you managed to use them!"

"Let me tell you, it was insane!" Berry said. "The Warlock Stallion was there and shouting stuff about war and we were here, and then he suddenly took Octavia away, but we found them and then we-" Minuette placed a hoof on Berry's mouth.

"You were saying princess?"

"Thank you. Fate didn't bring you here, nor it was coincidence. It was your choices alone that did it. Octavia chose to go find the elements, you five chose to follow her here and lastly, the Elements chose you as their wielders."

"You mean they are alive?" Flitter asked.

"I don't think alive is the right term." she explained. "The Elements command forces that even after all this time have yet to be understood. They could be perhaps the solution to all problems or cause massive destruction if overused. Who knows?"
"So we were chosen by sparkling stones. That makes so little sense, but it’s awesome!" Berry exclaimed.

"Barely ..." Octavia said. "The only reason they worked was because I had them with me." She pointed a hoof at her friends, who smiled at the recognition.

"That … that sounds wonderful." The Princess replied, sitting down, visibly tired.

"Princess? Are you alright?" Octavia asked concerned.

"Just a bit tired. My brother had me … occupied for a while ..." she rubbed her wrists unconsciously. "Hugin told me where you six were headed to, so I immediately flew after you as soon as I had freed myself."

"Speaking of your … brother … where is he? Did we seal him again?" Octavia asked.

Almost in response to her question, a groan filled the air. It was low and simple, but effective enough to freeze everypony around. From behind the platform, a single white leg appeared, grabbing on the edge. Another one soon followed. A grunt followed before a blue mane appeared. With a final effort, an an alicorn climbed on the platform. He was white snow, while his mane was two tones of blue, very similar to the princess.

He panted a little before sitting up, folding his wings. Fading traces of red magic were clinging to him before disappearing completely. His cutie mark was a royal shield.

"Excuse me ..." Princess Twilight said before walking to the platform. Nopony said anything as she walked to the alicorn stallion. He slowly raised his head she approached him.
"Tw-twilight ..." he murmured. His voice was raspy from all the earlier shouting. "I … I am so sorry ..."

"Shining." Twilight started. "Its been a thousand years since I've seen you. You have hurt a lot of creatures, done a lot of damage, a lot of which can still be felt today."

Twilight kneeled before Shinning, revealing that she was actually smaller than him, even with his evil magic gone, a fact that Octavia was genuinely surprised by.

"Even after a thousand years, you were still so deeply immersed in your hatred and lust for battle that you almost finished what you started." She explained. "You blasted me into unconsciousness and nearly killed my beloved protege, all because you were so deluded under the corruption."

Shinning looked at the ground in shame. He had no words to justify himself.

"But not anymore. Octavia here and her friends travelled through all the perils that you placed on their way and used the Elements to free your mind from the clutches of the anger that filled you. Against all odds and hopes, they defeated you."

"More like shot a killer rainbow beam." Berry said to Minuette.

"They have given you one final chance Shinning. A chance to redeem yourself. A chance to truly defend Equestria." The princess placed a hoof on his shoulder. "A chance to be my brother once more."

Shinning looked at her.

"What do you say? Will you be my BBBFF again?"

"What?" Shinning asked.

"My big brother best friend forever." Twilight smiled. "Will you?"

Shinning looked at her. Then at Octavia and her friends. She was visibly wary of him, though she was trying her best to hide it. Her friends were no different, even with all the optimism and light heartedness they were displaying. His sister was still smiling, appearing as least threatening as possible.

"I ..." He hesitated, giving everypony one final glance "I … I will try."

He was immediately scooped by Twilight, who was crying with joy and and laughing gleefully. Every muscle in his body creaked from exhaustion.

"Oh this is wonderful! We need to put an official notice! Change the records! This going to be incredible!" The princess squealed as she spun her brother around. Octavia sighed in relief, having been tense all the time, ready for a possible counter attack by Shinning. The entire group was smiling at the heartwarming scene.

The alicorn siblings had been reunited at last.

It took a whole five minutes for the princess to finally calm down. By the end of the extended hug, Shinning was dizzy and with a mess for a mane. Nothing a quick spell from Twilight couldn't fix.

"All this has been very beautiful and stuff but ..." Berry coughed loudly. "How are we supposed to go back home? The bridge is out."

"And who do we have to thank for that?" Minuette replied.

"Everypony stand close to me." Twilight extended her wings. "I hope none of you has eaten anything lately. Teleportation has a knack for messing with ponies stomachs, if they are unused to it.”
Octavia climbed on the platform, standing right next to her mentor, soon joined by the rest of her friends. Purple magic flowed around for a few seconds before a flash of light covered their eyes, followed by a brief but extreme sensation of weightlessness, ending with the sudden feeling of the cold hard ground. Octavia was barely managing to stand, having to support herself on the princess. Berry wasn't so lucky, as she was completely sprawled on the ground.

"Okay … I'm never asking for the way out again ..."

They had appeared right in the middle of Ponyville, where the locals were already working in cleaning up the disaster. Tents were being folded and seats were being pulled away, while carts filled with games and food were being pulled. Everything stopped dead in its tracks as everypony noticed the eight newcomers that had appeared.

The princess cast a quick spell, fixing her mane and her overall appearance, along with that of her brother, disciple, and friends.

"Citizens of Ponyville!" she said loudly. "It is my pleasure to announce that the emergency has passed!"

Cheers erupted immediately. Octavia could barely follow as the town managed to pull out a small yet heartwarming celebration on such a short notice. Drinks were shared and conversations were made. Her friends were laughing. The Princess was making small talk with some ponies while her brother waited besides her.

"This is all beautiful, but there is somepony else I need to see right now ..."

Berry noticed Octavia trying to excuse herself and quickly climbed atop a table.

"Alright folks! Here's the story of our brave journey!" she exclaimed, immediately grabbing the attention of half the town. Octavia silently thanked the earth pony as she walked through the mass of bodies, soon leaving the crowded town plaza. The rest of the town was mostly empty, making her walk faster. She looked at the houses, at the trees and the sky, but no matter how hard she searched, there was no sign of.

"I'm right here."

Her head turned towards a small fence, where, standing right in the middle, was Hugin. Just as her eyes were visibly tired, his feathers were visibly rustled, probably from flying all around town looking for the princess.

"Heck of a night, right?" He asked. Octavia sat in front of him.

"Indeed." she answered. Neither said anything for a couple of minutes, choosing instead to listen to the laughs and cheers of the small celebration of the town.

"So … what now? We go back to Canterlot?" he asked. "We don't really have to stay here anymore."

"I know."

"And?"

Octavia glanced at him. She smiled.

"And I am staying." She answered. "I didn't want to come because there was nothing here to keep me or for me to do, but there is now. My friends are here, and I don't want to leave them. I get to have a break from the castle and have good company while I’m at it."

"Is that so?"

"It is." she explained. "I'm going to stay in the tree house. Some changes will be made to it though. You can stay or you can leave with the princess. What will it be?"

Hugin glanced at her, then at the town. He sighed.

"Somepony has to look out for your bow ties." He flew to her back. "Besides, how are you going to communicate with the princess without me?"

Octavia smiled once more before setting off to rejoin her friends.

"Hey, Octavia ..."

"Yes?"

"I'm glad you’re safe."

Octavia nearly halted, but managed to hide her surprise behind a warm smile.

"I'm glad you are safe too, Hugin."

Author's Note

And with that ends episode 1!
Thanks to all you readers for being here for the whole duration of it. Now this is the end of the first episode. But you better stay focused, because the adventure is just beginning!

A thousand of thousand of thanks to AuthorGenesis, for having the patience to check this and edit this. You should check him out!

On the next episode: Octavia has finally moved all her things to Ponyville and is eager to start playing her beloved cello, and she would, if she wasn't interrupted all the time! Her money is gone, stuff just keep arriving at her house and nopony can tell what is going on!

Coming up on the Octavia verse: Strings.