Twilight yawned and rubbed her eyes. She had been going nonstop to do damage control, striking down the invading force, finding the injured, and looking for a cure. Now that things were calm her adrenaline was wearing off.
Discord had taken care of the cleanup, which made her job easier, but she couldn’t sleep just yet. She still had to address her subjects.
“Come on, everyone,” said Twilight. “We’re going to Town Hall.”
Discord didn’t miss Twilight’s fatigue. “Something wrong, princess? Feeling a little run down?”
Twilight shook her head. “No!” she said defensively.
Discord mimicked her gesture. “That sounds more like your pride talking. Or, I’d hazard a guess, your guilt and desire to make up for not being here from the start.”
Twilight flushed, looking at the floor. “Well… well, maybe it is. So what? I can’t take a break just because I’m a little tired. All I can do now is try to inspire hope in the people and apologize for not being more prepared for the worst.”
“My, my, you’re stubborn. I’ll give you a little energy to perk you up.”
Twilight looked up at him, waiting for the catch. There always was one with him.
“I quite liked when you bowed to me before. Why don’t you do that again?”
Fluttershy gave him a dirty look. “Knock it off, Discord.”
“It’s okay, Fluttershy,” said Twilight. “It’s a small price to pay to be there for my subjects.”
Bowing to him she said humbly, “I require your assistance, Discord.”
Discord smirked. He probably would have dragged it out a little longer, but Fluttershy was still glaring at him. He didn’t want to provoke her, not the least of which because Mayhem would give him a hard time for upsetting Fluttershy.
“Very well, since you asked so nicely.”
Discord snapped his claw, and Twilight’s weariness disappeared on the spot.
Twilight let out a breath, standing up. “Thank you, Discord.” She walked up to him and hugged him. “I don’t know what we’d do without you. It’s an honor to be friends with you.”
Discord looked around uncomfortably. He was feeling grateful for her praise, but didn’t want to admit it. “Okay, okay,” he said, feigning disgust. “That’s enough of that.”
Twilight released him, then with a poof she was gone.
All of them could hear Twilight’s magnified voice echoing around Ponyville, telling everyone to come to Town Hall.
“Well, then,” said Carrot. “Let’s go.”
Discord snapped his claw again, getting rid of their casts. “I don’t think you want to go out in that.”
“Fair point,” said Cup.
Pound sat on his mother’s back, while Pumpkin sat on Carrot’s. Together, all of them walked to Town Hall, seeing other similarly healed ponies joining them as they filed out of the hospital.
Over the next half hour the crowd grew bigger and bigger around Town Hall.
Twilight was standing at the podium, trying to keep a brave face on. Discord had healed the physical damage sustained during the attack, but there was still the emotional and psychological pain to deal with. She had to embody strength for them now.
Near the podium were the other Elements of Friendship, Discord, Mayhem, and the four Cakes.
When she thought that the crowd was as big as it was gonna get she cleared her throat and spoke into the mike.
“Good evening, everyone,” she started, keeping her head high. “As I’m sure you’ve noticed Ponyville has been fixed up by none other than Discord, saving us weeks of work. He also healed the injuries of the ponies wounded in this attack.
“He is truly a credit to Ponyville, and I am proud to call him a friend. Can we get a round of applause for him?”
Discord had an awkward look on his face as they complied. Even though his friendship with Fluttershy was deep, it was less so with the rest of their circle, and barely there for anyone else besides that. He wasn’t used to receiving genuine praise and admiration.
Fluttershy nudged him, and he looked down to see joyful tears in her eyes. “You see, Discord? You’re loved by so many ponies now. Isn’t it wonderful?”
Mayhem grinned at him. “Yeah, Daddy. You’re pretty cool.”
Discord fought a brief internal war between his pride and his affection for Fluttershy. The latter won out, and he put an arm around her, holding her against him.
When it quieted down Twilight continued, “This was a crazy day for sure. Princess Celestia requested my presence for an important meeting, which is why I wasn’t here during the beginning of the invasion.”
Her vision grew blurry with tears. “Her request, and Discord’s magic in the aftermath, does not negate my negligence at not having failsafes in place for a situation like this. At the time when I was desperately needed, the ponies that should have been under my protection were instead left helpless, terrified, and injured.
“I know that nothing I do can take back the harm you all suffered, and for that I am truly sorry.”
Moving to the side of the podium so her body was fully visible she bowed to them. “I’m sorry!” she called out, taking in a sharp breath.
Most ponies were taken aback, seeing royalty bowing to them for a change, and they weren’t sure how to respond to her declaration.
Her friends tried to reassure her, but Twilight stayed in her submissive position.
Cup looked at Pound on her back. “Pound, do you feel brave enough to talk into the microphone? I think our princess needs a reminder of what you told her in the hospital.”
Pound nodded instantly. “Of course I do!”
She smiled at him, before turning forward and going to the podium.
Pound leaned over in front of the microphone and said, “Every pony can make some big mistakes, even princesses. Even if Twilight was a little late, we all would have been bug food if she hadn’t arrived to save us all.”
Twilight turned her head slightly to Pound, and now everyone was looking at him too.
“Twilight is an amazing princess who has taught me to be a better pony. I forgive her. Can you forgive her too? I mean, you don’t want her to quit being our princess, right?”
Twilight looked back towards the audience, not denying Pound’s suggestion that she was thinking of quitting. It dawned on them that Twilight was waiting for their judgment, and that her bowing was a sign of her humility and genuine grief. When they understood that the answer came easily.
“I forgive you!” said a stallion.
“Ponyville wouldn’t be the same without you,” said a mare.
“We love you, princess!” “We think you’re amazing.” “Don’t beat yourself up.”
Twilight heard the support of her subjects, and slowly rose up. They were still willing to accept her. It only doubled her determination to ensure that such a thing never happened again. She would be there for them if there was ever another invasion.
She took in a deep breath, wiping the tears from her eyes as Cup moved to give her her spot back. Standing at the podium again she said, “Thank you, everyone. I truly appreciate you for giving me another chance.”
She didn’t yet have a solid plan for the future. There were spells she could explore that would alert her when danger reared its head, or perhaps a way to make it so that anyone could call her with the Cutie Map. Perhaps she could create a new spell that was similar to it and put it in a common object. There was also the magic journals that Sunset had that wrote whatever was in one into the other one.
In any case, now wasn’t the time to delve into it. She still had business to attend to with her subjects.
“Now, while I was away from Ponyville there was another who stood up to protect the citizens in my absence. For those of you that weren’t there to witness it yourself this may seem odd, but I must give a big congratulations to a certain filly.”
Pumpkin froze, trembling as her father walked toward the stand. If she could speak she would have told him not to go. If she could move she would have jumped off his back and gone running as far away as she could.
She gulped as she looked upon all the faces staring at her, most with confusion.
“Pumpkin!” a voice called out, and out of the crowd came Storm Walker flying right at her, nearly knocking her right off Carrot’s back.
Pumpkin’s eyes grew misty as the filly hugged her, nuzzling her chest.
Twilight beamed. “For those of you that are not aware, Pumpkin Cake here unlocked her magical talent in the midst of this awful situation, granting her a powerful spell that could be used both offensively and defensively.
“Although just a child she took on a job meant for adults, escorting families to safety in my castle, protecting them from harm with shields and taking down as many of the bugs as she could along the way.”
Ponies in the audience moved from their spots until they were in the front of the crowd, and Pumpkin recognized quite a few of them as being the ones she had protected and brought to the castle. They began clapping and whooping for her, expressing their gratitude. Blue Diamond clapped the loudest.
Pound clapped along with everyone else, but he couldn’t help but feel a little jealous at the praise Pumpkin was getting. A few tears came down his eyes. He guessed he was fated to just always be in Pumpkin’s shadow.
Pumpkin didn’t feel nearly as nervous now, especially with Storm hugging her. She lifted up the microphone with her magic. “T-thank you, everyone. I really appreciate your admiration, but… I can’t accept it.”
That got her curious looks.
She looked to the side, seeing Pound’s downtrodden look. She gestured to her mother to come stand next to them. When she did Pumpkin put a hoof around Pound’s shoulder, pulling him closer to her. “If you really want to know who to thank for saving you, it’s my big brother Pound Cake.”
Pound’s eyes widened.
“I didn’t do anything special. I thought I lost everyone I loved in this invasion. When I was terrified, and thought I couldn’t handle things, all I had to do was think of how my brother is the bravest and strongest pony I know, and I could keep fighting.
“Pound is the real hero here, not me. He saved me right near the start by flying me away from Town Hall before it fell on me. Without him I wouldn’t have been able to help as many ponies as I did.”
Summoning an orb she created a platform and floated Pound onto it, flags waving and little fireworks going off around him. “It was his example I was following throughout all of this, so if you’re going to clap for me then you have to clap for my number one hero too.”
Pound blushed as he got his own share of applause, happy tears coming down his eyes now as his bitterness faded.
“Yay for Pound!” Storm Walker called out. She had seen Pumpkin’s strength firsthand. If she was just modeling herself after Pound she had him to thank for Pumpkin saving her.
Cup and Carrot put their heads together, delighted at their children being recognized.
After Pound was placed back on his mother’s back Twilight took the microphone again. “As the Princess of Friendship it always brings me joy to see young ponies coming into their potential and helping others.
“Sometimes we don’t even need the pony we admire next to us to become stronger. Following after our personal heroes can lead us to becoming heroes ourselves.
“In the wake of this latest incident I vow to do my best to avoid a repeat of leaving Ponyville near-defenseless. I can’t count on pure luck like Pumpkin’s awakening to keep this town safe.
“I think the rest of this evening would be best spent unwinding with loved ones. I know that I intend to do so.”
Most of the ponies dispersed once Twilight finished talking and dismissed them, but quite a few stayed. Namely, the families Pumpkin had protected.
Pumpkin met Storm Walker’s mother, Cloudy Day, and her father, Tornado Bolt, both pegasi like her.
“We just wanted to express our sincere gratitude for protecting our daughter,” said Cloudy, hugging her.
“That’s right,” said Tornado. “We won’t forget this. You’re always welcome in our home.”
Pumpkin meekly grinned, hugging the mare back. “Thank you.”
She went through the rest of the ponies, until only Blue Diamond was left.
Pumpkin took the initiative this time, quickly hugging him. “Thank you, Mr. Diamond.”
Blue chuckled, putting a hoof around her. “What are you thanking me for, you crazy kid? I was useless.”
“Not at all!” she said, looking up at him. “When they broke through my spell and I was knocked out you kept watch over me until I woke up.
“Not only that, you stayed with me the whole time. My brother was fighting with me on the inside, but you kept me company on the outside.
“And you told me the truth that I was being foolish trying to do everything alone. If it hadn’t been for you it probably would have been nearly impossible to convince any other ponies to leave their homes to come to the castle.
“I think you’re also a hero for sticking by my side throughout everything.”
Blue teared up. “Well, thank you, Pumpkin. I really appreciate that.”
Releasing her he gestured to a mare, who walked over to stand next to him.
Pumpkin recognized her as the one that had been attacked right before she had met Blue Diamond. “You’re Mr. Diamond’s girlfriend?”
She nodded. “At first I thought he was kidding when he told me a child had saved him and kept him safe.” She bowed her head. “I am truly grateful to you for protecting him from harm.”
“You’re welcome. I’m just sorry I couldn’t save you too.” She looked away, biting her lip. “If only I had been a few seconds earlier…”
“Don’t be ridiculous!” said the mare. “You did way more than enough for your age. I’m an adult, and I couldn’t picture doing anything but running or hiding myself. Don’t let what happened to me weigh on you.”
Blue Diamond sized up Pound. He was about the same size as Pumpkin. On the surface he didn’t look like anything special, but seeing what Pumpkin had done had taught him not to judge by appearance.
“It’s hard to believe that a kid as young as her was fighting like an adult, spell or no spell.” He held a hoof out to the colt. “Your sister really looks up to you, Pound. She tried to throw all the credit for her actions onto you. I trust that you’ll continue to be a good inspiration for your little sister.”
Pound met his hoof with a strong nod. “You bet!”
With the last of the ponies gone it was finally time to head home themselves.
Pumpkin was feeling in high spirits as they went inside. Pinkie, in her usual way, called for a party to celebrate. She was all for it at first, thinking of all the ponies she had aided probably doing the same. Their faces flashed through her mind, but her euphoria was snuffed out when she looked at Twilight’s and thought of the offer Twilight had made to her.
The weight of the decision she had to make felt almost crushing, and it destroyed any desire to be lively. Just the idea of what had gone on over the course of the day was too much to think about all at once.
"Look," she started, "all of you can party if you want, but I'm not in the mood. I just... I need some time alone." Not giving them a chance to respond she ran up the stairs, heading to her room.
Pound watched her go, walking towards the stairs himself. "I've got this," Pound said to his parents. "Don't worry."
But, of course, they were worried. Pumpkin had been through a huge ordeal. They only hoped that Pound would be able to get through to her, as he had done so many times before.