“… and when Sombra was banished, he put a curse upon the Crystal Empire…”
“What curse?”
“A curse that makes it vanishes with him for a thousand years. When it reappeared, Mom and everypony had to help Uncle Shiny and Auntie Cadance to help save it!”
“So, what did they all do there?”
“While everypony tried to make the crystal ponies happy, Mom tried hard to search for the Crystal Heart, which can save the Crystal Empire. But she got trapped in the process and Spike had to help her deliver it to Aunt Cadance!”
“Wow… So everypony in the Crystal Empire hailed Spike as the hero?”
“Exactly! But the credit goes to Mom and her friends.”
“Cool…”
Malinae enjoyed learning from Melody Aurora. To her, she was her mentor, as becoming a princess was a dream. Melody gladly offered her lessons for free on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and she was really eager to learn.
“I guess you’re pretty interested in learning history, huh?” asked Melody.
“Yup!”
“Can you remember what you have learnt at school?”
“Yep!”
“Very good! I’m sure you’ll be a bright pony.”
“Thanks, Melody. You’re the best teacher I could expect!”
“Heh-heh, you cute little girl,” giggled Melody, stroking Malinae’s mane.
Then Twilight Sparkle entered the room.
“How’s today’s teaching, Malinae?”
“It’s perfect!”
“She’s got no problem in learning today as usual,” reported Melody.
“I see about that. Anyway, are we ready?”
“Ready? To what?”
“I’m going to visit Applejack to discuss some issues with my friends. Would you like to come along?”
“Well, maybe…”
“But wouldn’t that be boring?” objected Malinae. “You all talking adult stuff while we’ll just sit there and do nothing…”
“Don’t worry. Your friends and seniors are coming as well.”
“*gasp* Really?” Malinae gasped. She had always wanted to be with her dearest friends.
“Then what are we waiting for?” asked Spike who suddenly appeared. “Let’s go!”
“Yay!”
As Melody and her friends chatted in the orchard, Twilight talked with her friends in the barn.
“I suppose we have something really important to discuss with. Am I right, darling?” began Rarity.
“That’s right. And that concerns on what happened back to our younger days,” replied Twilight.
“Like those days when we had adventures together?” asked Pinkie Pie.
“That’s too many,” chuckled Twilight. “But I need you all to remember one of the important events that happened which is making us being cautious.”
“The Equestria Games?” asked Applejack.
“The invasion of Lord Tirek?” guessed Rainbow Dash.
“The time when somepony came from the future?” inquired Fluttershy.
“Nope, nope,” rejected Twilight. “But Fluttershy has made the best guess.”
“You mean the time when another Melody came from the future to warn us about somepony named Queen Myra?” clarified Rarity.
“That’s right! Do you all remember the events that happened?”
Everypony nodded in agreement.
“I remember Melody being the center of attraction to all foals!” began Spike.
“I remember her taking out all of Myra’s minions with her magic,” recalled Applejack.
“I remember her revealing that she’s Twilight’s daughter!” added Rainbow Dash.
“I remember her dying after the other Queen Myra’s battle, and telling us what would we have in the future,” reminisced Rarity.
“Give me a second,” said Twilight. She was in deep thought for a moment. “I remember now! What she said mostly came true!”
“Like how I made her dress for the Grand Galloping Gala,” replied Rarity.
“Nailed it!” beamed Pinkie. “Looks like Pepper Flake and her brothers had me and Cheese’s traits!”
“And my marriage to Discord,” said Fluttershy.
“I remember the Greenie she’s talking about now. Greenie Hats!” said Rainbow Dash.
“And there’s one thing I managed to remember. Do you know what it is?”
“Huh?” asked Spike. “What’s that?”
“The time we returned from the Crystal Empire, Princess Celestia gave me Future Melody’s horn!” She pondered for a moment. “Until now I don’t get what the other Princess Celestia meant, saying it can be used for emergency purposes.”
“Twilight, you finally reminded me of something now,” Nikula Alder, who was sitting on the couch listening to the conversation spoke at last. “Just hold on for a moment.”
Niku went upstairs, then returned about a minute later with a sharp, conical rod.
“What’s that?” asked Pinkie.
“Wasn’t that your late mother’s horn?” asked Applejack.
“Yeah. That’s what I got when she died. I happen to read that those who are descendants of unicorn ponies have the ability to harness the magic.”
“In that case, your mother, huh?” asked Rainbow.
“Yeah. Now, watch this.” Niku aimed at a chair. By concentrating hard, he levitated the chair, to everypony’s surprise.
“Reminds me back to the days we stopped some evil force,” said Applejack.
“Well, sort of,” said Niku, blushed. “I can also use it to teleport. In fact I once used it to save Apple Bloom.”
“What!?” shrieked Pinkie.
“He’s right,” said Apple Bloom who appeared. “I was really grateful to him.”
“If you say so…” said Twilight. “In that case, I suggest that we’ll be going to the old sisters’ castle to do some research this Saturday. Would anypony like to come?”
Everyone looked at each other.
“Me!” They agreed separately.
“Count me in. Maybe I can help,” volunteered Niku.
“Then that’s settled,” decided Twilight. “Maybe you can ask your children whether they can come, too. I might ask Melody.”
“Cool!” agreed Rainbow Dash.
“Hadn’t been visiting it for ages. Time to dig in some adventure!” continued Applejack.
“I’ll see if my children could come,” said Fluttershy.
That night at the castle…
“Good night, Mom.”
“Sweet dreams, Melody,” replied Twilight, kissing her on the forehead.
After closing the bedroom door, Twilight didn’t enter her bedroom straight. Instead, she headed downstairs towards the library.
Spike who was inside reading a comic book was surprised when he saw her.
“Twilight! What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be off to bed?”
“Not quite soon,” Twilight replied. “I’m here to find out something. Wanna come with me?”
“Sure. I’m interested to know.”
Twilight made her way through the shelves of books. She eventually came across a safe located at a remote part of the library.
“Man, that’s like not being touched for a long time,” said Spike.
Twilight didn’t answer. Using her magic, she unlocked the combination lock and opened it. Inside was a pink, conical rod.
“See that, Spike?” She took out the rod. “It’s Future Melody Aurora’s horn. Princess Celestia gave it to us from her future self. She told us that it can be used in the event of an emergency.”
“But until now there’s no state of emergency!”
“Tut-tut! We’re lucky that she’s not attacking us now! But there was one occasion that Melody could’ve been Queen Myra’s slave now!”
“What is it?”
“Remember the time she was a little filly, and she kidnapped her?”
“… yeah! And I remember she got her cutie mark, too!”
“Anyway, I’m going to see if what Niku says is true. Somepony born from a unicorn can use a horn. I wonder if I can do the same to an Alicorn’s, too.”
Twilight aimed a row of books with the horn and concentrated. Just as she expected, she managed to levitate out some books with the horn!
“Wow…” cried Spike with awe.
“I guess Niku really was right!” smiled Twilight. She put the books back. “I’m gonna take it on the day we go to the old castle.”
“Really? I mean… is anything going to happen?” Spike shivered with fear.
Twilight glared at him with an annoyed look.
“O-okay, we’ll bring it… just in case…” That pacified Twilight.