Scootaloo sat under a tree near the edge of Ponyville and watched as the preparations for the summer sun celebration were finished. as she watched the last banners go up and the finishing touches being put on the stage she thought back on the whirlwind of a year she's had. First she gets a changeling for a parent, Ponyville is attacked, she gets kidnapped, then she gets a second changeling parent, her two biggest enemies join her group of friends and to top it all off her birth mother comes into her life. Scootaloo could only shake her head and grin as she went over it all again.
Is this what Rainbow and her friends go through all the time with their crazy adventures? Now I understand why she naps so much. After a few more minutes of watching ponies go about their work Scootaloo got up and flapped her wings. After a couple of beats she was up and flying at a leisurely pace toward Silver Spoons home. Since the incident in Gene's tunnels Scootaloo had felt closer to Silver and would often go over to hang out with her. And Silver seemed to really enjoy the one on one time with her newest friend. Or so Scootaloo thought given the small smile she always saw on her friends face when she was over.
When Silver Spoons house came into view Scootaloo veered up and hovered outside her friends' bedroom window, tapping on it to get Silvers' attention. The grey filly inside turned toward the window, noticing Scootaloo she trotted over and opened it with a smile.
"Hey Scootaloo. What's up, besides you?"
Scootaloo rolled her eyes at the well used joke. "Just came over to see if you wanted to hang out. Applebloom, Sweetie Belle and Diamond are all helping their families with some part of the celebration and I figured we could go have some fun since we're free."
Silver nodded and put her forehooves on the window sill. "Sounds good to me. Think fast." As she said this Silver Spoon hopped up and out the window at Scootaloo who caught the grey filly while rolling her eyes.
"You're lucky I expect you to do that now. The first time I nearly dropped you."
Silver Spoon giggled. "You caught me once so I know you'll always catch me. Besides anyone would want their own flight service."
Turning in the air, Scootaloo started in the direction of the crusader clubhouse. "You're the only one I do this for."
Silvers' smile turned into a smirk and she cocked a brow up at her friend. "And why is that?"
Scootaloo flushed slightly and cleared her throat. "Well I.... it's cuz well....... Shut up."
Silver Spoon giggled again. "Take your time feather head. I can wait."
Scootaloo huffed exasperatedly. "I could just drop you ya know. That'd solve a lot of my problems."
Silver Spoon gasped dramatically and put a hoof to her forehead. "How cruel of you! And just because I wanted to fly with you and share a part of your world. You wound me."
"I really regret letting Sweetie Belle talk us into doing those acting classes. You're such a ham."
Scootaloo landed and set Silver down at the base of the clubhouse ramp. The grey filly smirked and started up the ramp while throwing one last comment over her shoulder. "I'll quit being a ham when you admit what we both know about why you let me fly with you."
Scootaloo watched Silver Spoon go inside before she sighed and cracked a small smile. "I'll tell you as soon as I actually figure it out myself."
Wanting to get back to more familiar territory, Scootaloo trotted inside and the two began trying to find ways to spend their time before the summer sun celebration started in a few hours.
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Twilight walked through town checking off items on her list as the preparations were completed and chuckled to herself. "Wow, total deja vu." Scanning her list she shouted up to a few ponies on the stages' scaffolding. "Are the lights ready?"
A stallion holding a wire splitter in his magic aura shouted back. "Nearly there. Just a few more connections and we'll be good to go."
Twilight nodded and thanked him before continuing on to see how the other ponies were getting on in their work. As she neared the edge of the town square Lighting flew up to Twilight and handed her a scroll. "Spike said that the princess and our 'special guest' will arrive on time and that this is the speech they're going with."
Twilight unrolled the parchment and read it over, nodding once she was finished. "Ok, that should be fine. Could you tell Spike he can take the rest of the day off before you get back to weather detail?"
Lightning gave a little salute and smiled. "Sure thing."
As the changeling flew away Twilight took a moment to look at all the ponies and changelings working together to get everything ready and a soft smile spread across her muzzle. "Look how far we've come. And with a little luck we'll go even farther." As she said this she noted the time and started making her way to Pinkies'. After all, what was the summer sun celebration without the all night party?
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The party was in full swing, DJ Pon-3 was blasting music all throughout the town square and Pinkie had set up tables of food at the east side of the square. Everyone was dancing, talking and living it up as the night went on and gave way to the first traces of dawn. As the sky grew lighter and changed from navy to purple and pink there was a bright flash that caught everyone's attention. The music faded and as the sun came up over the horizon the light flared outwards and as it died down Celestia hovered above the stage with Luna by her side. When the two touched down on the stage the crowd of ponies and changelings let out a cheer that lasted until Ceestia waved a hoof and the roar slowly bleed into silence.
Celestia looked out across the square and beamed as she spoke. "My subjects, it is with the utmost joy and pride that I stand here and see how you have accepted our new allies, friends and citizens, the changelings. I had not thought we could come together as quickly and smoothly as we have but again I am impressed and humbled by the friendship and acceptance you've shown. For that I commend and thank you."
Celestia bowed deeply and held her position for a few seconds before rising. "With what I have seen I feel confident that Equestria will continue to grow not only as a nation but as a people and that we can continue to show the same amazing qualities I have witnessed form you so we might inspire others to do the same. With that in mind I have an announcement."
As Celestia said this she stepped aside and let Luna take center stage. But instead of speaking, Luna erupted in emerald fire and when it subsided, Chrysalis stood in her place. Gasps issued from the crowd but before anyone could voice themselves Celestia held up a hoof and spread her wings to keep them silent. Though the ponies and changelings murmured and chittered they stayed relatively quiet and when she was sure no one was going to speak out Celestia spoke.
"I know this may come as a shock but Chrysalis has surrendered herself, both Luna and myself have accepted her and would wish you to do the same. But before you decide anything I ask that you hear her out."
Another round of muttering went through the crowd but again they stayed mostly quiet. Seeing this as a good sign Chrysalis cleared her throat and addressed them.
"You all know who I am and what I've done so I won't waste time on that. What I want to say first and foremost is that I am sorry for what I've done. What happened was the result of my foolishness many years ago that led me down a dark path. One where I would do anything to gain power. I'll admit that I was mad, mad for power, mad to obtain all the power I could. I could have made other choices, could have caused things to go differently but what's done is done and we're here now and must move forward in some way. I hope that when we do it can be with mutual understanding. I accept that I won't be forgiven easily, if at all, but I will try and be better then I was. I will try to be as good as the ponies and changelings I see now. And I hope one day you can call me friend."
The crowd stood, unmoving and silent for some long moments before, from somewhere in the mass of bodies a filly flew above the others and made her way toward the stage. As she came closer Chrysalis stepped back, giving her room to land. Chrysalis recognized the filly as Scootaloo, the child she'd captured. The two just stared at one another for a time until Scootaloo walked up to Chrysalis and held out her right hoof.
"I'll call you friend."
Chrysalis's eyes widened a bit in surprise but she still had the presence of mind to step forward and take Scotaloo's hoof in her own.
"Thank you."
After the small exchange the crowd surged to life and began clapping their hooves and whistling in approval. As the noise rose so did the emotion in it and Chrysalis was amazed at the feel of it. It was like a swirling mass of equal parts joy, excitement, and apprehension. But even so the former queen could tell that the apprehensiveness was tinged with optimism and it caused her to smile widely.
"Sometimes your best friends are the ones you'd never expect."
Chrysalis looked down at Scootaloo, who had taken a seat beside her on the stage, as the filly met her eyes and spoke.
"And when you give them a chance they can be some of the most important parts of you."
Chrysalis nodded and smiled warmly at Scootaloo. "Very profound for such a young filly."
Scootaloo smiled wide enough to show her teeth and scratched the back of her head. "I might be young but you'd be surprised what I've learned in the last year."
Chrysalis nodded and her smile widened. "True enough. Any advice on what I should do now?"
Scootaloo tilted her head in thought before giving Chrysalis a thoughtful look. "Never let what you're afraid could go wrong stop you from trying to be better or asking for help. Take my word for it, you'll save yourself a lot of trouble."
Turning back to look out at the crowd chrysalis nodded again. "I'll keep that in mind."
Scootaloo stood and fluffed her wings. "Cool. See you around, I've gotta get back to my friends. The party ain't over yet." Giving a short wave Scootaloo launched herself off the stage and flew to a group of fillies before they all ran off to join in on the fun still going on.
Chrysalis sat there, looking out over all the ponies, changelings, a few mules and even a large sea serpent that were enjoying themselves. She wondered if this could last, if so many people who were all so different could stay together. She knew there would be problems. That even though they had all agreed to try that things could still go wrong. But for the first time in a long time. Chrysalis was optimistic. She knew, somewhere inside herself that this could work. That one day, maybe someday soon or many years in the future any differences all these seemingly different people had could be overcome because in the end they were all the same. On the most basic of levels where it mattered most, they were all beings of emotion. And through the good and the bad they could come together in harmony.
"Are you ok?"
Chrysalis turned her head at Celestia's whispered question. The solar mare had a look of slight concern on her face and Chrysalis figured that was due to her long moment of silence as she was lost in thought. Now that she was back in the moment she smiled and lightly brushed her muzzle against Celestia's
"I am. I'm the best I've been in a while." Chrysalis stood and smirked at Celestia. "Now let's enjoy the party. I bet I can eat more cake then you."
Celestia mirrored Chrysalis's smirk and narrowed her eyes playfully. "You're on." And the two raced to the food tables and began shoveling cake into their mouths as onlookers cheered them on.
Fin