In the two days after contacting Luna, Screwball forgave her dad for spilling the beans about the Spell of Eternal Youth. She attributed the grudge to her hormones and vowed to never let it happen again. Skyla and Flurry Heart also spent some sister time together like Discord prescribed. As the two sisters built their bond, Skyla became less worrisome about her place among ponies and began loving her sister again, if only a little. However, the same could not be said about Blaze and Nova Rose. They were still on edge about their moms’ history and every interaction they had was just as awkward as the last. This made Blaze conflicted between yearning for Nova and outright despising her.
What could he say to her? She was the daughter of his mother’s captor, but at the same time, she was his lifelong…acquaintance, to say the least. They weren’t very close friends, but they knew each other ever since they were little. Blaze was a little jealous that she had so much potential with her magic even though she hadn’t been trained the way he had. Still, it made him admire her a little. Given the recent development, however, his semi-crush on her got whittled down to the size of a small flame. He wondered if that flame would burn out completely or grow again; he wasn’t sure.
Could Blaze really forgive Starlight for foalnapping his mother all those years ago? His mom forgave her former “guardian”, so why couldn’t he? Whenever he tried to muster the forgiveness for Starlight, the revelation of his mom’s past with her stung him. He didn’t think he could face Nova or her mother at the Crystal Gala, but he could be willing to talk to Professor Sunburst. After all, he could just pass it off as guy talk.
In her guest bedroom, Nova tried reading the books she got from the castle library, but she found that she could hardly concentrate on the words. All she kept thinking about was Blaze’s attitude towards her. She knew he always spited her, but that one generous act at the train station surprised her a little. How could a colt who always treated her so horribly be a generous prince? She didn’t understand him at all.
But for all the kindness he had shown her in that one moment, her chances of befriending him virtually disappeared when he bluntly stated that he didn’t like her. Now that she learned about her mother’s past with Princess Sunset, she assumed that the likelihood of Blaze being nice to her again were very much nil. She knew that she would never get that kind of attitude from him again. At least, not with her.
And then there was her mother. Nova looked up to her, adulated her, and thought highly of her. The pedestal on which she put her mom suddenly fell apart the moment she heard that Starlight once kidnapped a princess. Of course, this wasn’t just any princess, but Blaze’s mother! Nova didn’t need any more of Blaze’s spite towards her, but it seemed like it had doubled now. She didn’t know if he would forgive her mom, let alone Nova for being her daughter, but she most certainly would forgive Starlight.
She admired Sunset for not holding a grudge against her mom, even for everything Starlight did to her. Her mother was definitely a different pony than she might’ve been in the past, so Nova couldn’t hold anything against her. Besides, Starlight was truly sorry for her actions, so this gave her daughter no reason to hate her. She was ready to forgive her mother, but she wished Blaze could do the same thing.
Three days after Luna told them everything about the Tree and Gem of Harmony, Starling, Flurry Heart, Skyla, Blaze, Apple Butter, and Dignity and his family waited patiently at the train station.
Flurry said to Blaze, “You know, I’m surprised you were willing to come to the train station with us.”
Blaze shrugged, “Well, you know me. I’m game for meeting up with my relatives.”
Flurry thought to herself, Or to get away from Nova.
Mauve pointed to something emerging from the horizon and cried, “Look! I think I see the train now!”
The ponies held their breaths in anticipation as the train slowed into the station and came to a complete stop. When the doors opened, the first ponies to step out were…
“Gemstone! Seam!” Dignity exclaimed with ecstasy.
Gem giggled as her brother embraced her and her husband, “Dignity! It’s so good to see you!”
Blaze asked with a smirk, “Come on. Did you miss us?”
Just then, another pony stepped off the train and answered, “Well, I can definitely say that I missed a certain pony very much.”
“Zealot!” Apple Butter cried as she threw her arms around her coltfriend. “How was Manehattan?”
“Overwhelming, but fun. When I offered to help out after Gem got morning sickness, I didn’t know what to expect. The crowds made me nervous, but Manehattan overall is absolutely marvelous.”
“See? Told you you’d like it.” She kissed him on the lips.
Gem held her niece Opulence as she cooed, “Oh, you little darling! You’re getting to be so big!”
Blaze pointed to Gem’s slight-bulging belly and remarked, “And so are you.”
Skyla sternly bumped his side for his comment.
However, Gem didn’t seem to mind and said, “I see you’ve noticed. Yes, it appears I’m showing earlier than expected.”
Dignity suggested, “Either you’re having twins or a really robust baby.”
Flurry shrugged, “It could be twins. Aunt Scootaloo had twins and Great-Aunt Celestia had twins.”
Blaze agreed, “It’s true. I’ve read that genes for a twin pregnancy can run in the family, though not always in the immediate family.”
Zealot smiled, “In the event you do have twins, let me offer you my most sincere congratulations, Your Highness.”
Apple Butter giggled, “Zealot, don’t call your friends ‘Your Highness’.”
Zealot chuckled in light-heartedness, “Sorry. Habits are hard to break even after a year or two.”
Gemstone, Seam, and Zealot were greeted with a warm welcome, even surprise at Gem’s early baby bump. Some, like Dignity, suggested that she was carrying twins. The couple said that they’d consider such a possibility and prepare for two foals just in case.
Before dinner that evening, Flurry asked Gem, “Star told us you guys were coming, but she didn’t tell us why.”
Gem chuckled, “That’s a surprise for the dinner table.”
Zealot said, “Well, I don’t know who’s going first: you or Discord.”
Both of the girls faced Zealot and asked, “Discord?”
He nodded, “Yes. While you were busy unpacking the luggage, Discord told the rest of us that he had something special planned for tonight.”
Flurry said, “Hmm. I wonder what it could be.”
When everyone was seated at the dinner table, Flurry looked all around for Discord, who was absent from the room. If Zealot was right, then Discord could have something up his sleeve.
Whirl asked, “Hey, guys? Where’s Discord?”
Just after he asked, the room went dim and spotlights moved across two curtains now covering the doorway.
As an invisible drum roll began, a voice projected, “Announcing the princess of fashion, the diva of style, the queen of couture! All the way from Canterlot, heeeerrre’s Rarity!”
When her name was mentioned, Rarity stepped forth from behind the curtains, still as radiant as she was in her youth.
Gem gasped, “Mother?!”
Rarity returned her gaped expression and exclaimed, “Gem?!”
Discord popped his head out from the curtains and cried, “Gem?!”
Dignity also cried, “Discord?!”
Star, also surprised like everyone else, cried, “You?!”
Discord waved his hands and said, “Hold up! Hold up!” He snapped his fingers and light returned to the room. He walked out from the curtains and asked, “What’s Gemstone doing here?”
Dignity said, “I could ask why you brought Mother to the Everfree Kingdom.”
Rarity explained, “I agreed to design your outfits for the Crystal Gala.”
Gemstone exclaimed, “But that’s why I’m here!”
“But, darling, in your condition, you shouldn’t take on work like this!”
“Everyone keeps telling me that ever since I got pregnant, but it’s not going to keep me from doing what I love!”
Seam started to point out, “Actually –“
Screwball touched his hoof and whispered, “Stay out of this.”
Skyla suggested to Rarity and Gem, “Well, since you’re both already here, how about we make a compromise? Aunt Rarity can do half of the outfits and Gem can do the other. That way, Gem does less work while doing what she loves.”
Rarity said, “You know, that might absolutely work!”
Gem smiled, “It’s perfect! Mom won’t worry about me overexerting myself and I can still enjoy making outfits for my family!”
Flurry praised her sister, “Great compromise, Skyla! You’re already a queen before you even become one!”
Skyla smiled with pride and thought to herself, Yeah…I guess I am.
After Gem made a gorgeous dress for Flurry Heart, the alicorn returned to her guest room while Skyla was being fitted for her gown. She was getting ready for bed until she heard a knock on the door.
She said, “Come in.” When it opened, she turned to see – “Oh, Zealot! I thought you were my sister!”
Zealot apologized, “Forgive me, Flurry Heart. I didn’t know you were preparing for bed.”
“I guess my sister was right about one thing: always state your business before you enter.”
“Oh, in that case, I request an audience with the princess.”
She giggled, “Granted.”
After he entered the room, he said, “I came by to ask you how life was in the Crystal Empire.”
“Oh, same old, same old. Well, except for my magic going haywire. That was pretty new.”
“What exactly happened, or would you rather not talk about it?”
“I’d rather not, thank you, but I’ll give you the gist of it. When I was a baby, my magic was uncontrollable, so my parents put a spell on me to control it. Days ago, the spell wore off and I caused a lot of damage. Luckily, nopony was hurt, but the Gala decorations had to be redone, so Skyla, Blaze, Nova, and I were sent to the Everfree Kingdom to see our cousins before the Crystal Gala.”
“Have you had fun here since?”
“Well, it’s a mix of shocking and exciting.”
“How so?”
“We learned that Nova’s mom kidnapped Aunt Sunset when she was one year old.” Zealot gaped at that. Flurry continued, “Then we found the Tree of Harmony and the Gem of Harmony down in the ravine. Grandma told us about the Elements of Harmony and how they were blended into the Gem of Harmony. And it has to stay in the tree, too, or the magic’s going to die with it.”
“Oh, wow. Sounds like you went through a lot since you got here.”
“You have no idea.”
“I’m surprised you haven’t got your cutie mark yet.”
“Blaze thought I would get it when I had my magic burst, but I don’t want to cause accidents for the rest of my life. You were lucky to even get yours when you first came to Marendelle.”
“Yes. Being a slave doesn’t allow you certain freedoms, even finding a cutie mark. Many slaves go their whole lives being blank flanks.”
“That’s terrible.”
“I know, but you’re able to try different things to find your destiny.”
“I already know my destiny: being a princess. As romantic as that sounds, it’s really boring. I’d rather be somepony else, like an adventurer or…something.”
“Oh? And what do you wish to be?”
Flurry began to sing, “I guess I’d be a hero – with sword and armor clashing…looking semi-dashing…a shield within my grip…Or else I’d be a pirate…and live a life of derring…while smelling like a herring…upon a pirate ship…
“I’d sail away…I’d see the world…I’d reach the farthest reaches…I’d feel the wind…I’d taste the salt and sea…and maybe storm some beaches…That’s who I’d be…That’s who I’d be…"
She magically grabbed a quill and a piece of paper as she sang, “Or I could be a poet…and write a different story – one that tells of glory…and wipes away the lies…” She went to the window and sang, “Into the skies I’d throw it…The stars would do the telling…The moon would help with spelling…And night would dot the I’s…
“I’d write a verse…recite a joke…with wit and perfect timing…I’d share my heart…Confess the things I yearn…and do it all while rhyming…” She then put down the paper and quill as she sang sadly, “But we all learn…But we all learn…
“A royal always hides…A royal’s fate is known…A royal always stays behind walls and all alone…So yes, I’d be a hero…and if my wish were granted…life would be enchanted…or so the stories say…Of course I’d be a hero…and I would scale a mountain…to save a hot stallion…and carry him away…
“But standing guard would be a beast…I’d somehow overwhelm it…I’d get the guy…I’d take a breath…and I’d remove my helmet…” She faced the mirror and imagined a colt standing in front of her. “We’d stand and stare…We’d speak of love…We’d feel the stars ascending…
“We’d share a kiss…I’d find my destiny…I’d have a hero’s ending…A perfect happy ending…That’s how it would be…A big bright beautiful world…but not for me…”
In his guest room, Blaze sang sadly, “A royal always hides…A royal’s fate is known…”
In their separate rooms, Blaze and Flurry sang, “A royal always stays behind walls …”
Zealot sang, “You’re all alone…”
“All alone…”
Blaze sang, “And I’d wipe…”
Flurry sang, “So yes, I’d be a hero…”
“All her tears…”
“And if my wish were granted…”
“’Cause there are rules…”
Zealot sang, “All alone…”
Blaze sang, “And there are strictures…”
Flurry sang, “Life would be enchanted…or so the stories say…”
Zealot vocalized, “You need a pal…”
Blaze sang, “I believe…”
Flurry sang, “Of course I’d be a hero…”
Zealot sang, “My calendar’s open…”
Blaze sang, “The storybooks I read…”
Flurry sang, “And I would scale a mountain…”
“By the candlelight…”
“To save a hot stallion…”
Zealot sang, “You need me…”
“And carry him away…”
All three finally sang, “A perfect happy ending…That’s how it should be…”