//------------------------------// // Epilogue: A Brand New Day // Story: Ace Combat: The Equestrian War // by PolishValsion //------------------------------// When the flames of war will diminish, Peace will rise again to embrace the world. Some dreams come true if the desire is strong. A stray soul will finally find its place among her friends. Epilogue “A Brand New Day” June 14th, 2019 0900 hrs Ponyville The sun had graced Equestria with its warm light. Several small clouds were leisurely scudding across the blue skies. Rainbow Dash was slowly making her way to Fluttershy’s cottage. She was in need of her help. Landing on the ground, she winced. The last night became almost a sleepless one for Rainbow. She walked up to the door and knocked on it.         “Fluttershy! You’re home?” The door opened as Fluttershy peeked from behind it. She wasn’t expecting a guest so early in the morning.         “Oh, Rainbow. Good morning.”         “For you, maybe,” Rainbow replied with a gruff voice. “Can I come in?”         “Um... sure.” Rainbow slowly walked inside the cottage, groaning. She appeared to have difficulties with just walking. Fluttershy looked at her, uncertain.         “Rainbow, are you hurt?”         “Ooohhh... grgh... my back... My back is killing me. The pain...” the blue pegasus whined.         “But... How can it be? What exactly happened?”         “Well... Last week, I got a letter from Spitfire. She wrote that she would like to see me perform an air show of my own before her and the Wonderbolts after the celebration that will be held to solemnize the end of the war,” Rainbow Dash explained. “You know, it will be in Canterlot today, at noon.”         “Right,” Fluttershy remembered. “I’m guessing you were excited.”         “You bet I was! I could barely control myself! I knew that this could be my best chance to show them I can be a Wonderbolt, too! So I started practicing without delay. I’ve been doing many different tricks, the wildest acrobatics, the biggest stunts... I was training everyday. Everything was going smoothly... until yesterday evening.”         “What happened?” Fluttershy reiterated.         “I was just doing a triple spinning screwdriver... one of the tricks I came up with lately... when I suddenly felt like something stung me in the back. I was momentarily paralysed from pain. I landed on a cloud, trying to catch my breath, but I could barely move... Argh...” Rainbow managed to keep her balance, but it was obvious she was suffering.         “I hoped that if I’d get some sleep, it will go away... but it still hurts! Owww... pony feathers...! Fluttershy, can you help me with that?” “But... What if it’s a broken spine?!” Fluttershy asked worryingly. “I think you should go to the hospital first...” “Fluttershy, if I had a broken spine, I wouldn’t be able to fly,” Rainbow said, slightly irritated. “Besides, I don’t feel too comfortable in that place... y’know what I mean.” “Yes, I think I do... Then, how can I help you?” “How about... a massage or something? I heard you’re pretty good at this...” Fluttershy was genuinely surprised to hear that from Rainbow, of all ponies. She thought about it for a second. Knowing how important it was for her friend to perform before Spitfire, Fluttershy agreed. She first asked Rainbow to lie down on the floor on her belly and stretch out her arms.         “Alright, let’s see... Where does it hurt, Rainbow?”         “Urgh... I don’t know... Somewhere in the back, that’s all I know.” Fluttershy started moving her hoof around Rainbow’s back, trying to find the pain center. Rainbow tried to guide Fluttershy.         “Ah... a little lower... on the left... your left, I mean. Uhhh... almost... a little higher...! OW! That’s it! That’s the spot...! Arrrghhh... horse apples... It hurts!” the rainbow-maned pegasus groaned.         “It’s not the spinal column, so you didn’t break anything,” Fluttershy asseverated. “You probably strained a muscle or two while you were training...”         “Heh... so I guess I overdid it, huh?” Rainbow asked. Fluttershy turned a little upset.         “It’s a miracle you were actually able to reach me. I haven’t seen anypony carrying so much tension in a long time! You really should have come to me sooner, Rainbow! It could have been bad for you... Don’t worry, I’ll help you. But... um, you should grit your teeth... this may hurt for a second...” Rainbow did as she was told. Then, Fluttershy pressed her hoof firmly against Rainbow’s back, causing her to growl loudly.         “What are you doing, Fluttershy?!” Rainbow nearly yelled at her.         “I’m sorry, Rainbow! But I had to make sure. Now... just relax. Leave the rest to me.” Fluttershy begun rubbing Rainbow’s back with her front hooves as gently as possible before slowly moving them across the spine. Rainbow initially felt a bit of discomfort, but, over time, she actually started to feel better. Getting used to the pressure, Dash loosened up.         “Yeah... I can feel that working already,” Rainbow said.         “Mmmm... nice... OUCH!”         “Oh! Rainbow, did I hurt you? I’m sorry!” Fluttershy jumped in scare.         “No, it’s not that... It’s just that the pain moved from the back to the arms...”         “Oh... In that case, it’s nothing serious. Don’t worry, Rainbow. Once I’m done massaging your back, I’ll take care of your arms as well. You need to be in top condition after all.” “Heh... with you doing the stuff? I’ve got nothing to worry about.” As Fluttershy continued the massage, the only thing that was heard in the silence was Rainbow’s occasional soft moans of pleasure. The yellow pegasus was glad to help her friend, knowing that Rainbow would really visit her and ask for help rather than go to hospital or, at least, the spa. Fluttershy pressed her left hoof against Rainbow’s back now and started rubbing it.         “Y’know, Fluttershy... I think you’ve got the best hooves for massage in whole Equestria,” Rainbow stated. Fluttershy blushed, hearing those words.         “You’re flattering me. I’m just helping out a friend in need,” she responded.         “I’m being serious.”         “But nopony gave you a massage before, did they?”         “No... you’re the first... and the best,” Rainbow chuckled. “If I’m going to become one of the Wonderbolts, I might recruit you as a personal masseuse.”         “I don’t think that would be right, Rainbow...” Fluttershy said, while rubbing her friend’s back with her left hoof.         “I mean, the other Wonderbolts may not like it.” Rainbow remembered when Spitfire told her that, in their team, there are certain rules that everypony must follow. She figured that having Fluttershy as a personal masseuse could make her seem more important than the rest. And she wanted to avoid that.         “Well then, how about this... Have you ever considered getting a job at the spa, here in Ponyville?” Rainbow suggested.         “Like, a part-time job, once a week or two? You could always earn some extra credit. Lotus and Aloe could use your assistance. Besides, if you’d be working there, it could be a reason for me to actually go there with Rarity and the rest,” the blue pegasus added with a laugh.         “Um... It’s true, I once thought of applying there...” Fluttershy started. “But... who is going to take care of my animals when I’ll be away?” Rainbow was about to say that her animals did just fine while they were fighting during the war, but realized they certainly missed Fluttershy. After all, until last month, she’s been away from her cottage for over half a year.         “Hmmm... In that case, maybe you should get an assistant?”         “Like who?” Fluttershy asked, placing her right hoof next to her left one and rubbing Rainbow’s upper body with them.         “Everypony I know among our friends already has a job. Lightning Bolt and Cloud Kicker are working in the Weather Factory, Derpy delivers mail and Firefly... well, forgive me, but I don’t think she’s cut out to be an assistant in animal care.” “You got a point. Firefly is more of a mare of action,” Rainbow agreed. “Hmm... What about Medley?”         “I... don’t think she actually has a job,” Fluttershy said slowly.         “Well, there we go! Since we need to round up the girls before we head for Canterlot anyway, we might just as well ask Medley about helping you with the animals.”         “Do you think she’ll be interested?”         “You bet! I can already imagine her being all excited about it...” Rainbow and Fluttershy hadn’t seen their friends since the war came to an end. It was clear to both of them that they needed some time for themselves to recover from the traumatic experiences. Derpy and Firefly were especially in need of that. The pink mare already told Rainbow Dash that she will come to Canterlot just before the ceremony will begin, as she still had some “unfinished business” to do. Rainbow figured that it probably had something to do with Black Star.         “I guess we can try...” Fluttershy’s voice interrupted Rainbow’s thinking.         “But before we go, let me finish the massage, alright?”         “Sure... no hurry...” Rainbow suddenly lifted her head.         “I can’t believe I just said that!” Fluttershy giggled.         “It’s OK, Rainbow Dash. I’m almost done... There.” She finished rubbing Rainbow’s back.         “I’ll take care of your arms now. Can you take a sitting position?” Rainbow got up and sat on the floor, allowing Fluttershy to tend to her arms. The blue flier closed her eyes, feeling the pain gradually go away. After a few minutes, Fluttershy was done.         “There. How do you feel, Rainbow? Better?” she asked.         “Better? I feel divine! No pain at all! Woohoo!” Rainbow made a backflip.         “Awesome! No trick is too hard for me, now! Thanks, Fluttershy. I knew I could count on you.” Fluttershy smiled wide. Rainbow was eager to go and see their friends now. It was getting on to ten o’clock. Before they left, Fluttershy called Angel who instantly approached her.         “Please look after our friends until I get back,” she said to the bunny.         “Of course, if any of you would be interested in going to Canterlot, you are free to go. Just stick close to Angel.” Several animals reacted positively. Angel even gave Fluttershy a salute. Rainbow looked at him, surprised.         ‘Is it just me... or is Angel actually being... nice?”         “Angel missed me a lot,” Fluttershy explained. “Just like all of my friends. I guess he was feeling lonely without me.”         “Who would have thought...” Rainbow said under her breath. ========== 1015 hrs As the two pegasi left Fluttershy’s cottage, they were now heading to Ponyville town center, where Medley was living. Along the way, they noticed how the natural environment improved since the last few weeks. The flowers were blooming once more, the trees grew larger and all the animals had returned to their habitats. Fluttershy’s heart became filled with bliss.         “Look, Rainbow. Isn’t it wonderful? Equestria is slowly coming back to normal.”         “Yeah. It’s hard to believe there was nothing but burned ground there just a month ago,” Rainbow pointed her hoof to a nearby meadow.         “It’s good to know that most ponies chose to rejuvenate Equestria rather than risk starting that mess all over again...”         “But it saddens me that we have lost so many friends,” Fluttershy said in a low voice.         “Life is brutal, Fluttershy,” Rainbow replied. “But let me tell you something: some of our friends may be gone, but memories of them will never die.” Fluttershy nodded silently. She then said:         “Rainbow... I believe you have really matured during the war.”         “You think?”         “Yes, you’ve become a very responsible pony. And you were a great squadron leader.” Rainbow didn’t respond to that praise, but she was glad to hear Fluttershy say that. Moments later, they noticed Medley’s house. Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash landed before it. Rainbow knocked on the door. They could hear Medley’s muffled voice from behind them:         “Who in the wide world of Equestria is banging on the door so early... Alright, I’m coming!” Medley opened the door.         “Yes, what’s the—Oh!”         “Hey, Kid!” Rainbow Dash greeted her.         “Rainbow Dash! Fluttershy!” Medley smiled broadly, hugging her friends.         “Oh, it’s so great to see you girls again! How are you doing?”         “We’re doing fine, thanks,” Rainbow anwsered. “What about you?”         “I’m doing alright, too. What brings you here at such an early hour?” Medley inquired.         “Did you forget?” Rainbow asked. “There’s gonna be a celebration in Canterlot on occasion of the end of the war in about two hours. We’re rounding up our squad to go there together.” Medley smacked her forehead.         “Aw, pony feathers! I almost forgot! This peaceful atmosphere almost made me lose track of time!” Fluttershy and Rainbow giggled. It was good to see Medley in her usual energetic mood.         “By the way, Medley, Fluttershy has a little offer for you,” Rainbow added. Medley’s eyes widened. She asked Fluttershy what kind of offer she had in mind.         “Well... I was wondering if you would be interested... in becoming my assistant? You could be taking care of my animal friends if I happen to be away...”         “You’re kidding!” Medley exclaimed.         “I’ll understand if you would not be—”         “Of course I want to!” Medley’s squeal interrupted Fluttershy.         “I’ll be happy to help you with your animals! I remember you have a lot of cute critters there... Aww, I can’t wait see them all! I promise you, I’ll be a great assistant!”         “Told you so,” Rainbow whispered to Fluttershy’s left ear. Fluttershy welcomed Medley’s will to help her with a wide smile. The green pegasus was now ready to go with the two friends.         “So, now we’re going to Derpy, right?” Rainbow asked Fluttershy. She let out a short “Mh-hm”, but before they flew up, Medley stopped them.         “Girls... there’s no need to. Derpy is already in Canterlot. She left about two hours ago... and she took Dinky and Pipsqueak with her. She told me that she wanted to visit Carrot Top and Raindrops...” A brief, uneasy silence fell among the three ponies.         “How is Derpy holding up?” Fluttershy asked. “Did she get over their deaths?” “I think she did,” Medley replied. “But... I don’t know... sometimes she still seems absent... I think she still has difficulties in letting it go.” “Poor Derpy... She suffered the most from us during the war...” Even Rainbow felt sorry for Derpy. Fluttershy remembered that Princesses Celestia and Luna decided to erect a statue in memory of the ponies who fell during the conflict, as well as to create a separate section in the Royal Gardens, which became a resting site for all those buried there, soldiers and civilians alike.         “We’ll be sure to check the Royal Gardens before we go to the city. Derpy is probably there. She could use a little company,” Rainbow decided. The three ponies then took off in the direction of Cloudsdale. They were heading there to pick up Lightning Bolt and Cloud Kicker. The two mares were now living together. As Medley pointed out, the war strengthened the bonds between them, and now they became something akin to sisters. ----------------- 1040 hrs Cloudsdale         “C’mon, Cloud Kicker! You’re being too slow!” Lightning Bolt cried to her friend.         “Oh, just wait! I’m gonna get you!” The two ponies were playing tag. Cloud Kicker got closer to Lightning and was about to catch her, but she rose her altitude a bit, making the purple pegasus fly right below her. But Cloud made a front flip and used her legs to rebound from a wall, straight into surprised Lightning Bolt. They both fell to the ground and started laughing.         “Haha, see? I got you!” Cloud Kicker grinned.         “You sure did!” Both pegasi then heard someone calling their names. They got outside and saw Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and Medley. After a joyful reunion, Lightning and Cloud Kicker were offered to come with them to Canterlot. The two friends were more than happy to follow Rainbow’s group. Just as all five pegasi were making their way to the capital, Lightning Bolt turned to Rainbow.         “Say, are your friends already in Canterlot?”         “Yeah, they’ve been helping with preparations for the past few days. Twilight’s organising everything, as always.”        “So how come you and Fluttershy aren’t there?” Cloud Kicker wondered.         “They said I should come on the day of the ceremony. When I asked why I can’t come earlier, they said it would ruin the surprise. Dunno what they meant by that.”         “They must be preparing something for you, Rainbow,” Medley guessed.         “If so, then why keep it a secret?” On that nopony had an answer. Medley additionally asked about Mobius, Sky Eye and the Garuda team. Fluttershy told her that they were also helping everypony with preparations, and in the past few weeks, they’ve also aided several ponies in adjusting to a new situation. They already announced that they would return back to their countries after the celebration, seeing as their assistance in battle was no longer required. Rainbow frowned a little when she thought about Mobius leaving. Even though he never said a word, he was a likeable fellow. The five winged ponies had finally arrived in Canterlot’s airspace. Rainbow then stopped as they were passing by the Royal Gardens and pointed her hoof down in silence. Her friends understood the message. They descended slowly. ----------------- 1120 hrs Canterlot Royal Gardens Upon landing on the ground, they immediately saw a big statue. It depicted a female pegasus with spread wings, as if it was about to fly. An earth pony and a unicorn were standing next to it on the sides. Rainbow got closer and read the words on the statue: “In memory of all brave ponies who had paid the highest price to protect Equestria from danger. Glory to the fallen.” Glory to the fallen... It sounded so tragically solemn. Fluttershy examined the statue closely and noticed something. The pegasus had a short mane and a melancholic eyesight. The yellow flier knew only one pegasus who had such looks...         “Blueberry...?” she wondered aloud.         “Girls, that earth pony... Isn’t that Carrot Top?” Medley asked. The pony’s smile and curly mane were indeed reminiscent of her... For a few seconds, the pegasi stood there, thinking about their friends before they headed into the newly build section. It was called the “Garden of the Fallen” by its visitors. One thing that caught their sight upon entering was the gravestones scattered around the place. If someone would call it a “burial site,” it wouldn’t be too far from the truth. The Equestrian War has claimed the lives of over 1000 ponies. No less than 600 of them were civilians. Walking among the graves, a feeling of bitter sadness awoke in the ponies’ hearts, despite the sunny weather gracing Equestria on this day. Every gravestone was unique in that it not only had the pony’s name engraved into it, but it also had its picture and a cutie mark of the deceased one. If it happened to be a soldier, it even contained their codename and unit’s name. After a few moments, Fluttershy’s eyes suddenly widened as she darted toward one particular gravestone. Others followed her. She stopped before it. Her lips quivered when she read the epitaph. Here lies Blueberry Clover 1 A model fighter until the end All ponies lowered their heads in grief. Fluttershy covered her face with her left arm.         “Hey, Fluttershy... are you all right?” Cloud Kicker asked her.         “Yes, I’m fine... but it’s a terrible day for a rain,” Fluttershy replied with a shaky voice.         “It’s not raining...”         “It is...” When she looked at Cloud Kicker, Fluttershy’s cheeks were wet from tears. The purple pegasus understood her pain, whispering "It really is..." and gave Fluttershy a hug. Rainbow Dash checked around and found a couple of graves that became a resting place for Sunburst’s companions from Phoenix squadron, Chrome Plate’s Stingray squadron, including himself, and even members of Tornado Swirl’s Burner squadron. Overdrive’s comrades, with Sea Spot among them, were laid to rest a couple of meters away. Medley turned her head around and quietly called others to follow her. A few seconds later, they found their friend. Derpy was standing before Carrot Top’s grave, with Dinky and Pipsqueak being close to the grey mare. Raindrops had her own grave almost right next to Carrot’s. Derpy put a couple of flowers and carrots on the graves, smiling sadly and closing her eyes, undoubtedly reflecting upon the days she had spent with her friends in the past. Not wanting to disturb her, Dinky motioned Pip to come with her. When they were some distance away from Derpy, Dinky said:         “Mommy needs our support, Pip. I think she was badly affected by auntie Carrot’s passing.” Pipsqueak nodded with a grumble. Dinky saw that tears were flocked in his eyes.         “What’s the matter, Pip? Are you saddened, too?” the little filly wondered.         “Yeah... I... I was just thinking about my parents... Do you... do you think they are somewhere out there, too...?” He pointed to the sunny sky.         “I’m sure they are, Pip,” Dinky replied, trying to cheer him up. “They are in a better place, where there are no such things as pain, suffering or sadness... and, one day... we will all go to that place... And when we do, we will meet those we miss... I’m sure of it. But, for now... we must focus on the present. Don’t be sad, Pip... I’m here for you. I’m your sister, after all” Those words heartened Pipsqueak a little. He promised Dinky that he would be a good brother, to which the filly responded with a warm smile, giving Pip a hug. A loud sob was heard in the silence. The two little ponies turned around.         “Cloud Kicker! Try to control your emotions!” Lightning Bolt scolded her friend.         “I can’t! I feel like my heart is going to break... I have a soft spot for that kind of stuff.”         “Angels! The Angels had come!” Dinky exclaimed happily. But her cheery expression vanished when she saw they came out with one flier short.         “... Where is Miss Firefly?”         “She’s already in Canterlot, Dinky,” Fluttershy anwsered. “I’m sure she’s waiting for you... and us, too.” Derpy came, looking for her kids.         “Dinky! Pip! Don’t go wandering... Oh.” The sight of Rainbow Dash and the rest of her friends from Mirage squadron surprised Derpy.         “Hello, everypony... What brings you here?”         “You didn’t think we would leave you alone like this, did you?” Rainbow Dash wrapped her arm around Derpy’s neck and bared her teeth. The grey mare didn’t say a word, but she was moved by her friends’ genuine concern for her. She told them that she begun to slowly accept the new reality she found herself in. Derpy embraced Dinky and Pipsqueak, giving out a most sincere smile.         “I’m sorry to had you worried so much. Let’s go to Canterlot, now.” Shortly after her friends took off, Derpy took Dinky and Pipsqueak on her back and was about to take flight as well. Suddenly, she felt an irresistible urge to look at the graves of Carrot Top and Raindrops once more... and then... She saw faint images of her friends standing before the gravestones. They were smiling.         “Stay strong, Derpy. I will be watching you and your kids”, the pony with a curly mane promised.         “You will never be alone,” said a pegasus with a light gold coat, cyan mane and pretty, turquoise eyes.         “Carrot Top...? Raindrops...?” Derpy wiped her eyes, but only saw Carrot Top and Raindrops’ graves, their images gone. She looked up at the passing clouds. Was it only in her imagination?         “What’s wrong, Mommy?” Dinky asked.         “Nothing... Nothing’s wrong, dear. I’m fine. Let’s go. Hold on tight, kids!” Derpy went up into the sky. Dinky and Pipsqueak were very excited all the way until they reached Canterlot. The grey pegasus felt great relief inside her heart.         “Thank you... Carrot Top... Raindrops... I won’t let you down.” ========== 1140 hrs Canterlot The majority of the pegasi Rainbow met during the course of war were already in Canterlot, preparing themselves for the big celebration. Streets were decorated with streamers and flowers. Many were already arriving on the castle grounds where the main event would take place. Overdrive was also there. She kept on tapping her hoof in growing impatience.        “Tornado, what’s taking you so long?” she said to herself. “You really wanna get late?”         “Sorry to keep you waiting, Overdrive!” Tornado Swirl descended to her a few moments later. He carried a small leather bag with him.         “I’ve been on a little shopping. And I have something for you, too.” Tornado searched his bag for a small pink gift box and handled it to Overdrive. She looked a little bewildered.         “For me? What is it?”         “Why don’t you open it and see for yourself?” Tornado suggested.         “OK... but if this is some kind of prank, then I promise I’ll give you a... Oh!” She didn’t finish the sentence. When Overdrive unpacked the box, her eyes gazed on a pretty yellow ribbon. Tornado said he picked that color because it blended nicely with her eyes. Giggling, Overdrive put the ribbon in her mane.         “How do I look?” she asked.         “I dare to say... you look lovely,” Tornado replied.         “Hehe... Thanks, Tornado. That’s really sweet of you... But you didn’t had to.”         “No... but I wanted to.”         “Oh, come here, you...” Overdrive leaned toward Tornado’s right cheek and kissed him.         “You deserve it.”         “Heh. That ribbon cost me fifty bits. But getting a kiss from Overdrive is a priceless feeling,” Tornado Swirl thought to himself. Both ponies soon spotted six familiar figures flying down. Rainbow Dash and her friends landed right before them. They were greeted with a certain sense of respect.         “Well, looks like our stars have arrived, along with their princess,” Tornado commented. No pony had an idea what he meant. Overdrive poked him in the flank.         “Err... I mean, nice to see you again, girls.”         “Likewise,” said Rainbow. “We’re not too late, are we?”         “Nah, the show will start in about half an hour. That reminds me...”         “Oh, Overdrive! What a pretty ribbon!” Medley interrupted his sentence.         “Thanks,” the lavender mare said. “It’s a gift from my boyfriend.” The six pegasi looked into each other for a while before they could understand the meaning of those words.         “Boyfriend? Wait... So, that means...!” Lightning Bolt guessed.         “Yep.”         “That’s right.”         “We’re a couple now!” Tornado Swirl and Overdrive spoke one after the other before saying the third phrase in unison.         “No way!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed. “When did that happen?” Tornado and Overdrive briefly told about their exchange of confessions during the liberation of Canterlot. It was then when they realized how much they care for each other.         “Tornado, you lucky foal! Such a fine girl you’ve got!" Medley commented.         “What’s wrong, Medley? Are you jealous?” Derpy asked.         “No, I’m just saying.”         “In any case... Rainbow, Fluttershy,” Tornado turned to them. “Your friends are waiting for you at the castle grounds. Flash is there, too.”         “I see... thanks for telling us. Girls, if you don’t mind, Fluttershy and I will go ahead,” Rainbow said to her companions.         “Sure. We’ll meet up later,” Lightning Bolt agreed. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy flew up and headed out to meet Twilight and the rest of their friends. The blue pegasus also hoped to speak with Firefly for a while. ----------------- As expected, Twilight had everything under control. All ponies worked hard. The last few preparations were almost at a completion. When Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy got there, Firefly greeted them. She seemed to be a little insecure, but Dash could guess why.         “Hey, did you knew?” Pinkie Pie suddenly squeaked. “Princesses Celestia and Luna are going to receive a visit from a griffin delegation!”         “Right,” Rarity sounded slightly more upbeat. “It is said they’ve already crowned a new king. And it’s supposedly someone you know well, Rainbow.”         “Huh...” She didn’t seemed much interested in this particular manner.         “Did anypony saw Spitfire?”         “She and the Wonderbolts will be here soon,” Firefly told her.          “But for now we have different guests here.” The pink pegasus pointed to the north. A group of ten griffins were on their way to the castle grounds. All ponies present seemed troubled, but Princesses Celestia and Luna had just left the castle to welcome the invited guests. As the half lion-eagle creatures landed and came face to face with the Royal Sisters, each of them made a bow. The one who led the griffins wore a red cape; a symbol of royalty in the Griffin Kingdom. Rainbow got a glimpse on his image. There was something in his sapphire eyes and orange feathers that seemed familiar...         “Princess Celestia... Princess Luna... Wise rulers of Equestria,” the griffin said slowly.         “We have come as per your invitation. Let us mark this day as one of unity rather than grim memories of the conflict that tore our two countries. On behalf of my soldiers, I humbly request your acceptance in reforming our alliance. May Equestria and The Griffin Kingdom become friends once more.” This proposition came out suddenly. Some ponies were superstitious about it. But the two sisters seemed confident. They nodded. Princess Celestia spoke:         “It is our pleasure to accept your offer, King Valdar. We are more than glad to welcome the griffins as our allies once more.”         “The skies belong to everyone,” Princess Luna added. “Your presence on this celebration is more than desired. This will be a new beginning.” The griffon that was referred to as Valdar then told the Princesses about the judgments he passed on the griffins who survived the war. Most of them were sentenced to prison or, in worst cases, banished from the kingdom for a given time. Those who were directly responsible for the start of the conflict were either dead or already redeemed of their crimes. Rainbow Dash and her companions came closer. They recognized the new griffin king.         “Zeakros?!” Rainbow exclaimed.         “Ah, imagine meeting you here, Mirage 1... or should I say, Rainbow Dash,” Zeakros intimated. “I see all your friends are present, too.”         “So the griffins chose you as their new king?” Cloud Kicker wondered. “Won’t you be bored with such responsibility? I thought you are more of a soldier than...”         “They thought I was the most auspicious choice. I have allowed them to refer to me by my actual name. Valdar is just a name given to me as a king. I am still Zeakros and you may call me that,” the griffon explained.         “My troops and I will go and speak with the princesses now, before the celebration will begin. In the meantime... Rainbow Dash?”         “Yeah?”         “There’s someone who wants to talk to you.” Zeakros motioned to the back row of his delegation. A single griffon emerged from it. Rainbow’s eyes widened. “Gilda?”         “Yo, Dash...”         “I will leave you now. Either come join us later, Gilda, or leave and do what must be done.” She gave a slight nod before Zeakros and his troops left with the Royal Sisters. Twilight also motioned her friends to go with them. They were going to welcome another set of guests. Rainbow Dash and Gilda kept on staring into each other’s eyes, even though the griffon barely manage to maintain her composure.         “How... are you doing, G?” Rainbow started.         “Can’t complain... They revoked my status as a refuge so long as I will be willing to help them in the deconstruction of the remains of Fortress Intimidation,” Gilda said.         “That’s why I only have a short time to attend here... Dash... I...” Gilda suddenly turned around and was now facing Rainbow with her back.         “I wanted to say... I’m... sorry...” Rainbow Dash was not expecting those kind of words to come out of Gilda’s beak. She didn’t shoved it in Rainbow’s face, but she felt disgusted, having to apologize to her.         “There. I said it. There’s no point for me to stay here anymore. I’m outta here.”         “Gilda, wait!” Rainbow exclaimed.         “What? Are my words not good enough for you? You want me to humiliate myself even more? Listen, Dash, you may be a better flier than me, but I still have my pride!”         “Gilda... you still don’t understand...” Rainbow shook her head, coming a bit closer to her old friend.         “It doesn’t have to be this way. There’s no need for grudge between us.”         “What are you talking about?” Gilda squawked, clearly annoyed.         “You know... there is another face of pride...” Rainbow stretched her right hoof toward Gilda.         “...It’s called forgiving.” Fluttershy and the other ponies, especially Firefly, were dumbfounded. Did Rainbow...?         “What...? You... would forgive me?” Gilda couldn’t believe what she just heard.         “But... But I tried to freakin’ kill you! I tried to kill your friends! How could you possibly forgive me for that?!” Rainbow breathed calmly.         “It’s true that you did a terrible thing by betraying me, G... I know there are some ponies who wouldn’t hesitate to make you sorry... I actually thought of doing things like that, too... But I wonder... what would they do to me if I was in your shoes?”         “Huh?” Gilda didn’t seem to understand what Rainbow meant. She wasn’t the only one; other ponies gathered around also looked puzzled. Rainbow carried on.         “What I’m trying to say is... We’ve all screwed up in a way, but if your friends are worth fighting for, then I can’t pretend you haven’t been my friend.” Gilda gave out a choking laugh before quickly wiping her eyes.         “...You’re too kind to be an ace.”         “No, Gilda. That’s just the way I am. That’s why I represent loyalty. I never forget about my friends... or ex-friends, in your case. But... it’s never too late to change that.” Rainbow sounded very confident, like she thought about this for quite a while now. She made up her mind. Gilda wasn’t certain what to do... but then, a small grin appeared on her face.         “Huh... Y’know... That last battle with you, Dash... It helped me realize something. I was wrong. I guess ponies aren’t as dweeby as I thought... You are actually kind of... cool.” Rainbow started laughing. It was a sincere laughter, one that was usually shared among good friends. She stated that hearing those words out of Gilda was like getting a praise from Princess Celestia herself. The other ponies felt relieved when the griffon joined in the laugh. It seemed the tension fell down.         “So, what do you say, G? Wanna start over from square one?” Rainbow asked, stretching her hoof out once more.         “No...” Gilda couldn’t bring herself to look at Rainbow for a moment. She frowned. But after a few seconds, the griffon turned her sight back to Dash, extending her right claw to grab Dash’s hoof. Her expression instantly lightened up.         “From square zero.” Rainbow Dash and Gilda reconciled. Unfortunately, the griffon said she couldn’t stay here any longer, as she had decided to aid the others in restoring the southern boundary of the Griffin Kingdom. She thought of it as a kind of “duty”. Rainbow understood that well.         “That’s a good first step, G. I just hope we’ll see other again.”         “You can bet your tail we will,” Gilda replied, turning around and getting ready to fly. But she folded her wings back and looked at other ponies.         “Oh yeah, before I forget... Which one of you is Medley?”         “I am...” the green pegasus said sheepishly.         “Look, uh... Sorry for breaking your wings back then. And all the trouble I gave you, gals. ... I wasn’t really planning that... but the things worked out that way and not other... so... sorry.” To hear an apology from Gilda was the last thing Medley could expect. But she decided that there was no point in condemning her for her actions now that she excused for them. “Well, at least you didn’t ripped my wings off, like you originally intended,” Medley said with a carefree tone. Everything was now well between Gilda and Rainbow Dash. Only Firefly was still unable to comprehend how could Rainbow actually forgive her former tormentor. Fluttershy seemed uncertain about it, too, but Gilda stretched her wings, ready to go.         “Hey, Dash, one more thing. If we run into each other again... I hope you’ll become even stronger than now... because I won’t be slacking off.”         “I’ll hold you to that, G,” Rainbow replied.         “Then... see you around... buddy.” Gilda flew up with a squawk and left Canterlot a few minutes later, hoping Zeakros would understand the decision she made. Rainbow Dash followed her with her eyesight. Her friends then came closer and started assaulting Rainbow with questions. They wanted to know why she forgave her.         “I already said why, didn’t I?” the blue pegasus responded with a smile.         “Come on, let’s get ready for the show, girls.” When she ran off in the direction Twilight headed earlier, Firefly wondered aloud, chuckling.         “I hope that by saying we’re messed up... she meant it in a good way.” The remaining pegasi laughed as well before they followed Rainbow Dash.  ========== 1200 hrs Canterlot Castle Grounds In the meantime, Twilight, Pinkie, Rarity and Applejack received a most unexpected, but wonderful surprise. Their families and relatives came to attend the ceremony as well. Applejack was already speaking with a few of her cousins that came from different parts of Equestria. Rarity and Sweetie Belle were having a conversation with a pair of unicorns, their parents. Rarity’s father wore a big hat and a fancy shirt, while her mom had a big, red dress. Fluttershy already played alongside her animal friends that decided to accompany her, with Angel in the lead. Pinkie kept on entertaining Pound Cake and Pumpkin Cake. Since the Cakes evacuated from Ponyville, they were getting slightly anxious about Pinkie’s safety. The kids missed her a lot. However, none of the ponies were as happy as Twilight Sparkle. Not only did she get to see her beloved parents, she even got to see a pony she hadn’t seen for a while, one that she feared she would never see again. As Twilight noticed a big coach reaching the castle grounds, a white stallion with a striped blue mane came out of it. Staring at him in disbelief, Twilight recognized her big brother, Shining Armor. Ignoring everything else, she dashed toward him, screaming “SHINY!” to catch his attention. The stallion immediately reacted to that voice with a big smile, extending his arms and allowing Twilight to throw herself into his embrace.         “Shiny... It really IS you! I missed you so much, B.B.B.F.F.”         “I missed you, too, Twily,” Shining Armor said.         “You’re probably wondering where we have been all this time, hm?”         “We?” Shining Armor helped a pink-coated winged unicorn get off the couch. It was Cadance, Twilight’s former foal-sitter and a princess herself! The purple unicorn beamed instantaneously. Together with her husband, Cadance explained that they were being in Dreamstone Castle, a vacation residence for the Royal Sisters near Fillydelphia. It was the place they chose for their honeymoon. Since said location was on the southern end of Equestria and one of few cities completely spared from the ravages of war, the guards stationed there never had to fight. Additionally, all information sources were blocked, so Fillydelphia and its surrounding regions had been pretty much cut off from the rest of Equestria. Shining Armor wanted to return to Canterlot when he and Cadance heard about it being captured by the griffins, but Princesses Celestia and Luna informed them that everything was under control. The captain of the Royal Guards believed them at that time. He seemed relieved that these words ended as true. Princess Cadance also told Twilight that they are planning to get a secondary apartment in Canterlot, close to one where Twilight’s parents were living. They would stay there during vacations. Once Twilight grasped everything she just heard, she cried in joy. Her mother, father, brother and sister-in-law hugged her and each other tight.         “I’m so happy... You’re all here together... I’m so happy...” Twilight whispered. Rainbow Dash watched the entire reunion, smiling. She knew her dad as a “globetrotter” type; he liked to travel around the world, stopping in Equestria on occasion. Rainbow wasn’t troubled by his absence.         "If he happened to be around right now, he'd probably say something in the likes of: 'That's my girl! I'm so proud of you!' and fly away after a while..." she thought to herself. Firefly, on the other hand, felt some sort of inner turmoil as she observed the scene. She noticed that Applejack was talking with her younger sister, Apple Bloom. Firefly couldn’t see the orange pony’s parents anywhere. She decided to talk with her. As she started coming closer, she heard snippets of conversation between the two sisters.         “Ah gotta get goin’, Applejack. The concert is going to start soon, an’ we’re gonna perform the first number!” Apple Bloom said, excited.         “Ah can’t wait to see it, AB. Run along,” Applejack replied.         “Hey, Applejack... got a moment?” Firefly asked her. The orange pony turned around and saw Rainbow’s friend. She had a slightly drab expression.         “Sure thing, sugarcube. What’s up? Is something botherin’ you?” Firefly didn’t said anything at first. She couldn’t bring herself to spit out her thoughts. But Applejack seemed to know what was going on.         “Lemme guess... yer still missing your parents?”         “Yeah, I do... I know that I lost them forever... but I can’t stop thinking about them... When I’m alone, I still imagine them before me... Sometimes I think their deaths were my fault...” Applejack’s face looked like she just lost her favorite hat. She, of all ponies, knew the pink pegasus’ pain well.         “Y’know, Firefly... you’re ain’t the only pony that lost her parents as a filly. Ah can relate to you, in a way.”         “What?” Firefly lifted her head up. “Are you saying that...?”         “Yeah... My ma and pa are dead, too.” Firefly was shocked.         “I... I had no idea. I’m sorry...”         “It’s fine. It happened so long ago... after I came back to Sweet Apple Acres from Manehattan,” Applejack told her.         “Granny Smith told me that my ma and pa were terminally ill. Probably a bad case of pneumonia... but Ah’m not even sure of that. They were really overworked, too... I still got the opportunity to show them mah cutie mark... and then, after a few hours... they passed away in their sleep.” Firefly frowned. She had no idea anypony else beside her would lose parents as a filly.         “It must have been very hard for you.”         “It was. For all of us... We buried them in a tiny wood behind the Acres. We’ve had a hard time... But I didn’t give mahself into despair. Because I knew that I’m not alone. I had... and still have Big Macintosh, Apple Bloom, Granny Smith... my cousins... and when I met Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie and Twilight, they became my very best friends. I even think of them as mah own family... I’d want to stay with them as long as possible.” Suddenly, a bell on the castle has sounded, causing Applejack and Firefly to almost jump.         “The big concert is about to begin!” Applejack exclaimed. “C’mon, Firefly. This is gonna be a great show. Let’s go to the stage!”         “Sure.” But as they were trotting alongside other ponies, Firefly drowned in her thoughts.         “There’s one difference between us, Applejack... You still have a family. But my parents were the only family I had... I have nopony left... except my friends. And it’s not the same...” ----------------- Spike already waited on the scene when ponies from all sides started coming closer. He received a microphone and said:         “Fillies and gentlecolts! Before we begin the concert, please give a warm welcome to our beloved rulers, Princesses Celestia and Luna!” As the two winged unicorns descended on the stage, standing next to Spike, a small cheer echoed through the crowd. Both Celestia and Luna did not need a microphone to speak loudly. Their voices were clean and adamant.         “My dear little ponies,” the solar princess begun.         “Those past few months were an important trial for us all: a trial that we did not expect. The days were sometimes dark for us. Those were the days when we could have lost faith, days when our allies turned against us. But those days had gone by, like the wind. Much has happened.” Princess Luna spoke next.         “Today, we stand here together. It is clear that many a heart still hurt. Many tears were shed. But we had overcome the difficulties and emerged from the darkness to the light. We believe that we are closer to each other than ever before.”         “We would like you to remember one important thing,” Princess Celestia continued.         “Though the griffins had been our enemies, many of them were dissuaded by Red Cyclone’s manipulations. Yet they were able to see through his twisted ambitions. Today, the griffins are no longer our enemies. Let me ask you this: is there such a thing as a constant, timeless enemy?”         “No, there is no such thing,” Princess Luna responded.         “Our enemies are only enemies in relative terms. They change, just as the time itself does. Even those who may appear to be clad in darkness can have a small ray of light in their hearts.”         “That is why we are more than pleased to announce that our neighbors from The Griffin Kingdom had become our allies once more,” Princess Celestia rose her wings. Zeakros had stood up and lowered his head before the two princesses. All griffins who were accompanying him did the same. This gesture convinced ponies who gathered that the tension between the two nations was dealt with. Some even started cheering. Princess Celestia, along her sister, left the scene, leaving Spike on it. He announced:         “Now, I believe it’s high time that we begin the show! We’ve got a couple of great songs for you to perform by our artists. First off, Cheerilee and her students from the Ponyville Elementary School will present you with a nice number that is sure to lift your spirits up! The scene is all yours, Cheerilee!” Spike then left the scene. Cheerilee emerged from behind the curtain. When she bowed before the crowd, the drums started to play and the music commenced. The curtain rose, revealing over twenty fillies standing in for a choir, as well as Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, Dinky and Pipsqueak in front. They were marching in place to the music before turning around and starting to sing. “The dark clouds are swimming away And the sun shines again Upon the land that we call home It's just another day No bullets flying through the air We’ll always carry on We won’t turn our sights away Should danger come again When we stand together There's nothing to fear Side by side forever That's when we all win Some tell us everything's alright And we just go along How can we fall asleep at night When something's clearly wrong But friends are always by our side And we are not alone So let us stand here, side by side United once again We must stand together There’s no giving in Standing strong forever That's when we all win The right thing to guide us Is right here inside us No one can divide us When the light is nearly gone And just like a heartbeat We will always carry on When we stand together There's nothing to fear Side by side forever That's when we all win!” The whole crowd had joined the young singers during the third reprise of the chorus. Rainbow Dash and all ponies from the Mirage squadron sang especially loud. They easily understood the message hidden in the song. It seemed quite obvious to others as well. Everypony was cheering for the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Derpy whistled loudly. Dinky and Pipsqueak then yelled “We love you, Mom!” at the top of their lungs, waving to her. Derpy was deeply moved. When Cheerilee and the fillies left the scene, Spike resumed calling for other singers to come and perform. The concert continued. All songs had one thing in common: they were warming up the hearts of the ponies. About halfway, the Wonderbolts sang a song about “the wind of hope,” as a sort of tribute to the fallen fliers. Several pegasi, including their former allies during the war, got misty-eyed. They would forever remember one particular moment of the song: “We see the sorrow in your eyes They are waiting in the paradise Don’t be afraid - we will meet them one day We'll always find our way Once in the morning, tender and warming, Wind of hope will wake you up. Follow our motion, over the ocean Of the clouds that swim through the sky.” Upon hearing the song, Rainbow was actually surprised how well Spitfire and Soarin’ could sing. More surprises came for her later when she was called by Spike to come, alongside Fluttershy and all pegasi from the Mirage squadron, on the scene. Those they had befriended over the course of war were already there. A heartwarming melody, sounding very solemnly, echoed from the big speakers. As Rainbow and her friends were swinging to the music, Sunburst, Quick Chaser, Flare Star, Thunder Flicker, Tornado Swirl and Overdrive sang a song for them: “When the skies turn dark, when the clouds cover the sun Seven brave souls will take flight high above Each of them is different, each one has a distinct trait But together they form a one of a kind team Behold the Mirage! Flying in the sky, they descend in an instant Never hesitating to take on their enemies Always together, they are supporting each other They are our angels, winged heroines of our land Behold the Mirage!” Rainbow Dash couldn’t resist to step ahead on the scene along with Fluttershy to drop in some words of their own: “When the dangers come upon you We’re never too far away. Watching from the skies above you Like guardians, we protect the land we call home.” When the song ended, a great applause sounded. Each of her friends were enjoying every last moment of the concert, but it was slowly come to an end. The sun was slowly nearing the horizon. Spike motioned to Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Rarity and Pinkie Pie to go behind the curtain and await for a “given signal.” Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy were also told to go there. Princesses Celestia and Luna had a wonderful song left for the finale. One that everypony knew, as it was tied to the Elements of Harmony. As they waited behind the curtain, the princesses placed the Elements on them, wishing them good performance. Everypony heard Spike’s voice again:         “Our show is coming to an end. So, we need a truly majestic song to end it properly. With our dutiful Royal Guards at the choir and six additional singers, we present you a song which message we should always remember: The Anthem of Harmony!” After a brief cheer, the orchestra, kept on the right side of the scene, started playing a melody that sounded strangely ominous at first, but, with every new chord, it became more and more triumphant. The guards, with Shining Armor leading them, begun the song: “When the darkness comes When the shadows return Six lights will awake Guided by their friendship With the power of Harmony within them Together they will Bring an end to evil!” The orchestra begun a part that grew consistently more imposing. With every line, the pony whose Element of Harmony was being referenced, entered the scene. As soon as Pinkie appeared, they joined the guards in singing: “Honesty will fight against any lies Kindness will aid those overwhelmed by anger Laughter will wither all sadness away Generosity will help those in need Loyalty will strike bravery into the hearts Magic will then make everything complete! Rise forth once more! O Lights! O Harmony! With the sun and moon guiding their way They will always prevail! Together. Honesty! Brave ones Kindness! Fear not Laughter! You will find your way! Lift us through Generous! Our goal Loyalty! lies ahead Magic! In souls and hearts! Rise forth once more! O Lights! Spirits of Harmony Reborn!” A few ponies, including the Cutie Mark Crusaders started jumping in place during a brief instrumental interlude. But that was only the first half of the song. As orchestra started playing louder and louder, Twilight and her friends were now singing alongside the guards. The crowd joined soon after the chorus begun again. After all, they knew the words well. “When the darkness comes When the shadows return Six lights will awake Guided by their friendship With the power of Harmony within them Together they will Bring an end to evil! Honesty will help stand us firm as mountains Kindness will save us from the sorrow and despair Laughter will wash away every tear and frown Generosity will never let us down Loyalty will not abandon friends in need Magic then will make everything complete! Rise forth once more! O Lights! O Harmony! Nothing is impossible for them When they will all head in! Together. Honesty! Our path Kindness! We shall find Laughter! strength in friendship today! It's our way Generous! Lead on Loyalty! shunning wrong. Magic! Unite as one! Rise forth once more! O Lights! Harmony restored on this day!” During the final part, all six Elements of Harmony gave out a light, creating a pillar of rainbow at the center of the stage. It soon turned into an array of smaller, blinking lights. The orchestra and the choir had reached the climax of the melody. Applejack, Fluttershy, Rarity, Pinkie, Rainbow and Twilight Sparkle sang the final line together, as loud as they could. “May the power of friendship always Be with you!” Their performance was showstopping. All performers let out a big grin as the music hushed down. The crowd gave them a thunderous applause, screams of joy echoed for quite a while until every pony’s’ throats turned sore. When the curtain fell, ending the great concert, Twilight gave the Elements back to Princess Celestia. Talisman, Shamrock, Mobius, alongside Sky Eye and Mirage’s companions came to see them and congratulate for a wonderful performance. Outside, all ponies were diverging. The griffins had also flew away, back to their kingdom. Spitfire came as well, to see Rainbow Dash. She told her that she would be waiting for her behind the castle. Rainbow’s time had come. Now she would find out if she had what it takes to become a Wonderbolt. Within thirty minutes, she gathered her thoughts and left, ready to begin the test. ========== 1900 hrs Besides Spitfire, Soarin’ and Firebolt, Rainbow’s friends, her companions from the squadron and the foreign aces were also present on the field which the fiery-maned pegasus chose for Rainbow. Everypony seemed excited. The blue flier was just finishing stretching herself.         “Gimme a sign when you’re ready to begin, Rainbow Dash,” Spitfire said. Rainbow felt a little nervous. But she received support from none other than Mobius himself. He placed his hoof on her shoulder and smiled. This gave Rainbow the confidence she needed. She returned the smile. Blood started pulsing in her ears. She stood on her rear legs and started ascending. It was the sign. Rainbow was ready. She began her routine. Every maneuver, every trick, every daring stunt... all those moves she practiced for the past few days could now be shown to Spitfire and her wingmen. Feeling the rush of wind blowing in her mane, Rainbow felt an onrush of wild glee. Ah, what a wonderful feeling it was! Nothing limited her any longer. There was no one else but her in her kingdom: the sky. As she performed the tricks, ponies on the ground tried their best to follow Rainbow with their eyes, but her insane speed and agility gave Rarity a mild headache. Pinkie kept twisting her neck back and forth, all the while jumping in joy. Rainbow suddenly dived down; it seemed she was about to crash. But right before she touched the ground, she used her wings to stop in place. This move fomented some dust, but it vanished when Rainbow darted upward again. After three minutes of her performance, Rainbow went in for the triple spinning screwdriver. This time, it worked without any problems. She spun wildly while swooping down. Finally, she made a flip and landed on her hooves, posing before the spectators. The ponies were cheering for her. Spitfire, Soarin’ and Firebolt were clearly impressed. They all approached Rainbow Dash. She could barely contain her emotions. Did she succeed? Or...?         “Nice going, Rainbow,” Spitfire praised her. “I think that was one of the best performances I’ve seen so far. Smooth moves.”         “So I guess that means she’s one of us now, huh?” Soarin’ wondered.         “Soarin’, you know we can’t accept Rainbow the normal way.” Those words were a cold shower for Rainbow. They can’t?! But... why? What was the reason?         “Yeah, I know,” Soarin’ said.         “Her duties are more important...” Rainbow asked them if they meant the fact she was working as a weather control pony in Ponyville. But the reason for Spitfire’s decision was different.         “I mean that you represent one of the Elements of Harmony. If you’re going to join us, you may not be able to see your friends again. They need you to protect Equestria from danger. Being a part of us and being a pony who holds the power of the Element are two totally different things. And... I’m sure you would never want to leave them behind.”         “No...” Rainbow said with a dejected voice. But its volume rose a moment later.         “My friends are the one thing that matters to me the most. I would always stay by them... even if it means giving up on my dreams...” Applejack, Twilight and Pinkie were especially shocked to hear that. Rainbow pursued her dream all this time... and she wanted to give up on it like that? But suddenly Spitfire beamed.         “That’s what I wanted to hear, Rainbow Dash. You’ve passed your final test.” Rainbow didn’t know what the Wonderbolt captain meant. She motioned to Firebolt to bring something up. The white pegasus returned with a badge that looked exactly like the symbol of Wonderbolts as well as a bright blue bodysuit with yellow stripes resembling lightning on the legs and back. Spitfire passed it over to Rainbow.         “We haven’t got a chance to thank you for saving our lives on a lot of occasions... including that Best Young Flyer Competition a while back. But I think now the time is right. There’s no need to take you through all the procedures... Rainbow Dash, I am proud to dub thee honorary member of the Wonderbolts!” Rainbow’s heart jumped. Her eyes quivered. Was it really happening? Did Spitfire really just told her that...?         “Honorary... member...? Somepony pinch me... This must be some kind of dream...” she muttered.        “If this is a dream, Rainbow, then it’s a dream that came true. You have earned it,” Spitfire said to her.         “Come on, everypony! Let’s hear it for Rainbow Dash!” Twilight, Applejack, Pinkie, Rarity and Fluttershy approached the blue pegasus and flung her into the air several times while they chanted, along with Lightning Bolt, Cloud Kicker, Derpy and Medley:         “Rainbow Dash! Rainbow Dash! She’s the Princess of the Skies!” Princess of the Skies... When Rainbow returned to the ground, she looked around on her friends. So this was their surprise for her. A big grin formed on her face.         “Whenever you’ll don this costume or wear the badge, you are free to join us on any air show we’ll be on,” Soarin’ stated. Rainbow looked into the sky before suddenly leaping into the air, squealing in joy. Flinging her arms, she flew upward, spinning. She did it.         “THIS IS... THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE! WOOHOO! YEAH! HAHA!” The blue pegasus became overcome with an overwhelming bliss. Those on the ground cheered for her loudly. But a few moments later, Rainbow’s joy withered a little when she heard that Talisman and Shamrock were returning back to Emareia. Fluttershy slowly approached the green pegasus. “Shamrock... I’ll be missing you,” she said bashfully. “I’ll miss you too, little angel,” Shamrock replied. However, he expressed hopes that Fluttershy and her friends could visit Emareia one day. Lightning Bolt and Cloud Kicker seemed enthusiastic about this proposition. Fluttershy and Shamrock shared a tender goodbye hug. Talisman smiled dimly at this and said to Rainbow: “We’ll be sure to tell our countrymen about a brave princess from the sky who protected her homeland alongside her companions.” These words made her blush a little. When the two pegasi that made the Garuda team left, Sky Eye and Mobius were about to leave as well. Rainbow thought that this could be her only chance. She called the blue stallion’s name and came closer.         “Mobius... I know you’re not going to say anything... but I just want to let you know that... It’s been an honor to fly alongside a living legend like yourself. I've learned a lot from you. Thanks.” Mobius indeed didn’t say a word. He didn’t have to. He took Rainbow’s left hoof and kissed it before lowering his head. This was, without a doubt, a sign of respect. Rainbow’s cheeks turned all red, but when Mobius gave her another smile, she did the same. Sky Eye explained that Mobius’ action means he considers Rainbow Dash as his equal. Rainbow nearly teared up from hearing so much praise about herself, but managed to suppress her emotions. When Mobius and Sky Eye flew up, they both waved to the ponies on the ground. Right after they vanished on the horizon, Rainbow became surrounded by her close friends. Medley suddenly realized something...         “Hey, did anypony saw Firefly?” ----------------- 1932 hrs Firefly walked on the ground after a period of flight. She headed away from Canterlot. Turning her head around, she smiled to herself.         “Great job, Rainbow Dash. Your dream came true... But I am not so lucky. I didn’t wanted to do this... but I can’t find my place here..." She looked up. “Mom... Dad... Oh, if only you would be here... I need you...” Lowering his head, a feeling of grief struck Firefly again. A few tears dripped to the ground.         “Don’t be sad, dear.” Firefly’s ears perked when she heard that voice. It was a warm voice of a mare... but... there was no way...         “Who’s there?” Firefly exclaimed.         “There is no need for sorrow anymore, Firefly” another voice sounded. It was different familiar voice... one Firefly hadn’t heard in years...         “What the...? Am I hearing ghosts talk!?” A bright light flashed before Firefly. She covered her eyes to not be blinded by it. She noticed two figures emerging from it... they seemed transparent... but she could see them clearly. The pony on the left was a pegasus mare wearing a light blue coat and a straight, violet mane. She had brilliant purple eyes. They had the same shape as Firefly’s... The one on the right was an adult stallion with a brown mane and dark orange coat. Firefly came a bit closer.         “Mom? Dad?” Both pegasi nodded. Firefly was absorbing them with her sight, feeling a strange blend of happiness and poignant sadness. She tried to reach her hoof out to touch her parents... but it only passed through them. They were smiling on her. Minutes felt like ages.         “My, how you’ve grown, dear,” her mother said softly.         “She became a fine mare, indeed,” her father added. Their voices were otherworldly, but Firefly was certain they belonged to her parents.         “Mom... Dad... Are you really here...?" Firefly whispered, shaken.         “No, dear,” her mother answered. “We are merely apparitions brought up by your depressed thoughts. We have come to comfort you before departing to the other side.”         “Although... Our assistance may not be required any longer,” her father said. “You have already fulfilled your promise to us by defeating the one who took our lives... But what is more important is that you didn’t killed him in retaliation. You actually forgave him.” Firefly looked down. Would they berate her for her inability to finish Black Star off?         “I think we can agree, dear, that no parent could be as proud from its children as we are from our Firefly," the stallion said to Firefly’s mother, ”         “Indeed, darling. Firefly...” She turned her attention back at the pink pegasus who just stood in place, unable to move a muscle.         “What Princesses Celestia and Luna said to you was absolutely true. We have never abandoned you... We guided you through your life. But you have become a responsible, adult pony. It is time for you to move on. Know that we will always be in your heart...”         “Hear us out, my daughter,” her father said. “Equestria is your home. This is where you belong. There is no need for you to fight anymore. You are no longer alone. We know you can feel it. There is a certain pony who would do everything to make you happy. Don’t push it away.” Firefly wasn’t certain if she was imagining it all, but those voices were so real... the images of her parents weren’t illusions... The two ponies looked around and gazed at the setting sun.         “Look, darling. I have almost forgot how beautiful the sunsets can be," the mare said.         “It’s a nice sight for us to remember as we will depart,” the stallion said.         “What?” Firefly exclaimed. She noticed the images of the two ponies were becoming less and less visible. They were vanishing, leaving for the pony afterlife. Firefly started running after them, crying.         “No...! No, please! Don’t go! Please, don’t leave me!”         “We will never truly leave you...”         “MOM!”         “You’ve become so strong, Firefly...”         “DAD!” A few seconds later, they disappeared. Firefly stopped running and slumped to the ground.         “Mom... Dad... please, don’t go...”         “We will always be with you...”         “Be strong, dear...” Firefly only heard faint echoes of their voices now. She got up from the grass and gazed at the sun. So her parents came to her and gave her their last words. They praised her... it meant so much to her... Now they could rest and await her coming in the world they departed to... As her mind was swarming with questions and doubts, she heard familiar voices behind her. Her companions from the Mirage squadron were approaching. She turned to them.         “Firefly!” Medley yelled. “How dare you do this to us!”         “I’m sorry, gals... I needed some time. I had to make a choice,” she answered. She told them about the spirits of her parents appearing before her eyes. While they didn’t seemed to believe it at first, Rainbow didn’t doubt for a moment she was telling the truth. Firefly rested her eyesight on the blue pony.         “That was some great performance there, Rainbow. You totally deserve to fly alongside Spitfire and the other Wonderbolts.”         “Only as long as I want to. I didn't think I would've come this far...” she said.         “Don’t lie to me. You were perfectly capable of doing it.” Lightning Bolt asked Firefly did she made a choice on what to do next. She did. Rainbow sighed. She came closer to her friend.         “I’m not gonna blame you for leaving Equestria, but... it won’t be the same without you...”         “Who said anything about me leaving?” Firefly asked with a miffed tone. The pegasi fastened her eyes on Firefly. She grinned. They smiled as well. It could mean only one thing.         “I’m staying. This is my home, after all. I may not have found a place here yet... but I’ll find it eventually.” But Rainbow Dash put her hooves on Firefly’s shoulders, giving her a most sincere smile.         “Why don’t you live with me? My house is big enough for the two of us.” Firefly’s expression was that of utter disbelief.         “Besides, you can help me as a weather patrol pony. We’d had twice less work to finish together. And...” Rainbow suddenly hugged Firefly. She still appeared to be stunned by Rainbow’s words.         “Y’know... back when you helped me against the Talon squadron... I had a feeling that we share a lot of things in common.” Lightning Bolt looked at the two ponies.         “It’s true. You’re both brave, fast, confident... somewhat reckless,” she finished, giggling.         “Hey... now that you’ve mentioned it... They even look similar! Like twins!” Derpy exclaimed, when her crossed eyes rested on Rainbow and Firefly.         “Except for the fact Rainbow is more colorful,” Medley chuckled. Rainbow looked into Firefly’s eyes.         “Firefly... It may seem kind of awkward to you, but... I grew attached to you. You’re like... like an older sister I never had! It would be awesome if you would decide to—”         “Not another word!” Firefly said loudly, interrupting Rainbow’s sentence. The two stared briefly at each other. Firefly lowered her sight for a second. When she looked at Rainbow again, the pink pegasus could feel her eyes were watering.         “... Yes.” Rainbow seemed positively surprised. Firefly smiled at her through tears.         “I want to stay with you, Rainbow Dash!” The two pegasi embraced. Their friends watched the scene with expressions of genuine happiness.         “Now I know what my dad was trying to tell me...” Firefly said in a low voice.         “You and I, Rainbow... You are my family. You all are. My friends are my family... Now I understand. I’ve been running away from this the whole time. But no more. Rainbow Dash... I would be very happy to be your twin sister.” However, the emotions didn’t end there. Twilight’s group alongside Princesses Celestia and Luna caught up to them. Then, Princess Celestia revealed that Rainbow and Firefly are actually cousins. She tried to tell them that earlier, after Canterlot recovered, but due to increasing turmoil from Red Cyclone’s plans to escalate the war, they didn’t have the right opportunity.         “So, that means Firefly is both my cousin... and my older twin sister,” Rainbow said.         “If you want to call Firefly your sister, then we have no objections,” Princess Luna ascertained.         “They are sisters? I knew it! That resemblance between them! It’s too uncanny!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed. Everypony present started laughing. Then Rainbow asked Pinkie:         “You still have enough gas in you to make another party? One to welcome Firefly in Equestria?” Pinkie was overjoyed to hear that. She initially planned to throw up a farewell party, when she learned that Firefly could leave Equestria to continue her journey. But an idea of a welcoming party was very desired by the pink pony.         “Come on, everypony! You’re invited to the Sugarcube Corner! We’re gonna party ‘till we drop!” Princesses Celestia and Luna promised to transport the ponies to Ponyville in an instant, using their magic. They said goodbye with genuine smiles on their faces before casting a teleportation spell. ========== June 15th, 2019 0500 hrs Ponyville As Pinkie has promised, the party lasted the entire night. When the ponies were about to return to their homes, tired but happy, Rainbow and Firefly headed to the clouds, where the blue pegasus’ house was. Upon seeing it, Firefly let out a mild “whoa”. Just as they got inside, Firefly’s sight rested on a small pile of books next to Rainbow’s bed.         “You’ve got books here?” she asked.         “But not just any books”, Rainbow said, showing Firefly’s the cover for one of them. It was the first part of the “Daring Do” series, Rainbow’s favorite novels.         “Daring Do and The Quest For The Sapphire Stone? Sounds interesting...”         “If you'd like, feel free to give’em a try. Twilight taught me that reading is not just for eggheads like her.” Both pegasi yawned loudly. Pinkie’s party put them through their hoops. Yet the expressions on their faces were nothing short of joyful. As Rainbow laid on the bed, Firefly snuggled right next to her. Rainbow laughed.         “That bed will easily fit both of us. We gotta get some rest. Because, from now on, you’ll be helping me with weather in Ponyville. We’re gonna have our first joint weather patrol today at noon. I’m sure you’re gonna enjoy it.”         “Yeah... I can’t wait...” Firefly yawned.         “Y’know what, Rainbow...”         “What is it?”         “You said this was the best day of your life... I think I can say the same. I never felt so happy before... Thank you, Rainbow. Thank you for everything.”         “Hey, that’s what friends... and sisters are for, right?” Dash said, baring her teeth in joy.         “Yeah... you’re right... Good night, Rainbow Dash.”         “Good night, Firefly.” As the two pegasi drifted to sleep, the sun slowly rose on the horizon.         “Mom... Dad... I’m home. I’m finally home. My journey is finished. And I am not alone,” Firefly thought as she slowly fell asleep beside the pony she would now call her sister. The sun shined brightly on the Equestrian sky, giving a start for a brand new day. THE END