//------------------------------// // Episode 4: "The End is Only the Beginning, Part 4" // Story: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Season 10 // by twilightsparkle3562 //------------------------------// PREVIOUSLY ON "MY LITTLE PONY" … Gentle Gust: As you sleep we're going to be monitoring your brain activity. If the lines are zigzagged, then that means that your brain activity is irregular, a sign that you're mental health is badly damaged. In any case, we're going to be the ones who say whether or not your coronation can be held. Twilight Velvet: Now it's just a matter of what exactly Twilight's diagnosis should be. Twilight Sparkle: Who are you? Luster Dawn: I'm actually somepony who is enrolling at your School of Friendship. Gentle Gust: Who did this to you? Princess Luna: Discord, the spirit of chaos, you are hereby placed under arrest. Princess Celestia: You gave her psychological damage that she may never recover from! You need to see the damage you've caused first hoof. Discord: I promise to never do these unintentional actions on her again. Rainbow Dash: Supposedly, they've been gathering throughout the night. Gentle Gust: We have come to the conclusion that Twilight Sparkle has, among other issue, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, otherwise known as PTSD. … "My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic" theme song … All of Twilight's friends and family were shocked and dismayed by what they had heard. Twilight Sparkle, the pony who was an inspiration to them all, diagnosed with a severe mental health illness of which there was no known cure. "But…but I thought PTSD was something only military ponies could get!" Rainbow cried out in dismay! "Anypony can get it, Rainbow Dash," Twilight glanced over at her friend weakly, while Celestia rubbed her hoof gently. "Even princesses. Trust me, I've studied it." "That is correct, Twilight," Gentle Breeze answered. "Last night, Gentle Gust and myself performed an operation where we went inside your mind to extract all of the memories of recent that you've been harboring." Twilight let out a small groan, having now realized that she'd been operated on. "But how?" Pinkie Pie asked, dashing over to Twilight and pointing down at her head. "I don't see any stitches or anything!" "We didn't touch Twilight in any way," Gentle Gust replied, chuckling slightly. "All we did was take these memories and place them all in this folder." Opening the folder, Gentle Gust laid the pictures inside for them all to look at. Twilight began to feel queasy seeing the pictures of her recent memories. "This was from when you made your announcement, Princess Celestia," Rarity commented, looking at a picture of Twilight hyperventilating. "Look at Twilight going crazy." Draping a wing in front of Twilight to prevent her from seeing the picture, Celestia studied it as she was tinged with regret for how stupid she and Luna were in initially throwing Twilight into the position of supreme ruler. "And here's one from when we saw our friends bein' brainwashed by Sombra," Applejack added, wincing at the vision of Ponyville's population under Sombra's control. "Ugh, I don't ever want to see this again!" "Me neither!" Pinkie Pie added, snatching the pictures from Applejack. "That cake he forced the Cakes to make was disgusting! I can't believe he made them do it, it's a disgrace to their baking reputation! And the twins were just children, they never did anything to him to deserve that!" "This is from when we confronted Sombra in the throne room and Discord was faking his injury," Fluttershy commented, holding up another picture showing them all around Discord after he had been hit by Sombra's magic. Still being hidden behind Celestia's wing, Twilight tried to see what was happening. Meanwhile, all Celestia could do was shake her head in disbelief. "And all the others are from when we fought Chrysalis, Tirek and Cozy Glow," Rainbow Dash remarked, looking down at a stack of pictures. "This is from the throne room after Tirek and Chrysalis showed up." Suddenly, she came across a rather disturbing picture of Celestia and Luna lying on the ground after Cozy Glow had drained their magic with Grogar's bewitching bell! At that moment, Twilight began to whimper quietly. Put them away! Put them away!" She cried, causing everypony in the room to stop what they were doing. "Please, I don't want to look at them! Celestia! Luna! No!" Frantic and in tears, Twilight was placed in Celestia's grasp as she panted and sweat came down her already disheveled face! Taking the pictures off of the bed, Gentle Gust placed them back into the folder where they belonged. "It would seem," Gentle Breeze commented, taking the envelope from her partner. "That's the one memory we took that's had the greatest impact on you, Twilight." "It's more than that," Twilight cried out between sobs. "It's everything from when they attacked the throne room. I had to leave all of you to the mercy of them! I thought that you'd all be killed!" Then once again losing control of her emotions, Twilight threw herself into Celestia's chest. "But, we made it out all right, didn't we, sugarcube?" Applejack asked as she instinctively tried to ease Twilight's pain. "And we saved Equestria again, right? Isn't that what matters most?" Twilight didn't answer Applejack's question, keeping herself on Celestia's chest. "Oh, my little girl. Even now you hurt, and there's nothing I can do to make it better. Not that I won't try." Twilight Velvet whispered, pulling Twilight away from the princess and letting her cry on her mother's shoulder. … … When Luster Dawn awoke the next morning, the memories of seeing Twilight bedridden continued to flow through her mind at an alarming rate. She couldn't help but wonder just what exactly had put Twilight in this position, but there was something nagging at her. "Good morning, Luster!" Moon Dusk greeted as he prepared breakfast for the family. "How'd you sleep?" Not wanting to reveal to her parents that she'd played hooky and saw Twilight, Luster kept her true actions internalized. "Fair, to an extent," She replied, yawning slightly. "Actually, can I ask you something?" "It's not about asking us to move back to Canterlot, right?" Moon Dusk immediately questioned. "No, this whole thing with Princess Twilight in the hospital, it got me thinking," Luster Dawn explained. "Do you think that maybe, you may have been so caught up in us getting out of Canterlot, that you never really took my feelings into account?" This made both Moon Dusk and Fire Blaster look at each other with a confused stare. "What do you mean?" Fire Blaster asked, looking back at her daughter. "it's just that, I don't think Twilight ever had any warning prior to Celestia and Luna's announcement to retire, kind of like how you just said that we were moving to Canterlot without any warning given to me," Luster answered. "I mean, there's only so much that a pony can process. The night before we left Canterlot," Luster added. "I spent the entire night just crying, wondering why the life we had just suddenly changing like it was nothing. It makes you wonder, what if Twilight, despite the preparation, may not have been mentally prepared to rule Equestria?" The more that her parents listened, the more they realized that Luster had a point. "I mean…think about it," Luster continued. "I had a routine when we were in Canterlot, I would get up, go to school, come home, do homework and go to bed, aside from any special events of course." "What does that have to do with our decision to move?" Moon Dusk wondered. "I mean I'm doing it in reverse," Luster Dawn countered, looking down at her breakfast of pancakes. "Take this pancake for example, pretend it's like my mind before we left Canterlot. It's whole, it's intact. But, once you cut into it, my mind is cut as well." "Okay, we're following you somewhat," Moon Dusk nodded, looking slightly confused at the down-the-middle cut Luster had made into the pancake. "Go on." "Now, let's look at this pancake," Luster Dawn replied and continued her demonstration. "This is Princess Twilight's mind. I take my knife and cut into what her mind was like after she became an alicorn. As you can see, it's probably just a few cuts, she gets to stay in Ponyville and gets her own castle in Ponyville after Tirek's first rampage. But, watch what happens when I cut into the pancake…" Taking several deep cuts, Luster Dawn forced her parents to watch. "Her mind is forever broken into many pieces," Luster Dawn grimly explained. "Supposedly, the cracks started to form right after the library was destroyed. But now that Tirek, Chrysalis and Cozy Glow carried out their assault in Canterlot, those cracks are deeper and one wonders if she will ever fully recover. My cracks may have been there, but they aren't as deep as Twilight's." A tense silence filled the kitchen as Luster's parents tried to absorb what they had just listened to. Getting up from the table, Luster left for them to look at the cut up pancakes that remained on the table. … … With each passing minute, the citizens of Equestria had all descended on Canterlot hospital, hoping for the best for Twilight. They had all come for her coronation, but now were there in solidarity. "Any news on Princess Twilight?" Fancy Pants asked as he walked up to Moondancer. "Nothing yet," Moondancer replied, looking deeply concerned. "We've been waiting for hours and haven't got any news, Fancy Pants." ... Meanwhile, inside the hospital Rainbow Dash and Rarity watched from Twilight's window at the growing crowds of ponies gathered outside, trying to process all that was being said. The only sounds heard were the sounds of Twilight sobbing into her mother's chest. "You know, it's making me wonder about something," Rainbow Dash said as she turned away from the window and walked towards the close knit group of ponies, especially the princesses. "I'm wondering if Twilight is even fit to rule Equestria by herself, if that's what you were intending her to do in the first place. I mean, you did say that we were all going to rule alongside her, right?" "Well, I mean…" stuttered Luna. "Yes, of course. You are all so strongly connected to one another, but don't you all have other passions and your own lives to follow as well?" "Yes, but none of that matters right now," Applejack firmly declared. "Sure, we have our own lives to follow, but after what we have been experiencing the past few days, we're more than willing to give up our own lives to…" "NO!" Twilight cried in a loud and ragged voice, causing everypony in the room to recoil in shock. "Why would you do that? You can't sacrifice yourselves for me!" "Look, Twilight," Rainbow Dash spoke in a firm tone of voice as she hovered over Twilight. "Like Applejack said, we may have our own lives to follow, but does that mean we have to let our friendship just end? It's as we said to you before, we don't want you to leave Ponyville forever. In fact, why don't you just split your time between Ponyville and Canterlot?" Wiping her eyes, Twilight struggled to process what had been said. "But, but why?" she stuttered. "Isn't it tradition for the ruler of Equestria to rule from Canterlot? Strict tradition in fact?" "Some traditions can be broken, Twilight Sparkle," Luna declared. "You're right that it's always been a tradition for the ruler of Equestria to rule from Canterlot, but you forget my sister and I once ruled from our castle in the Everfree Forest before I was banished. This is the first shift of royal power in a millennia. But now, we're more than willing to make Ponyville and Canterlot shared capitals of Equestria if necessary." A hushed silence fell over the hospital room. "Ponyville and Canterlot? Shared capitals of Equestria?" Rarity remarked. "How is that even possible? How are the other nations going to react to this? Let alone the citizens of Ponyville itself?" "They will all realize that this decision is for the best for everypony," Celestia declared. "For 1,000 years, Canterlot has been the capital of Equestria, but if there is anything that will make Equestria stronger than it has been, it is a shared capital. With Ponyville being so close to the Everfree Forest and the Tree of Harmony in its new form, not to mention Twilight's school that has proven be of great importance to Equestria, it truly deserves to share the role Canterlot took away from it after Luna's banishment." "Let me get this straight," Pinkie Pie questioned. "You're splitting Equestria's capital between Canterlot and Ponyville just for Twilight's health? That seems a little crazy even to me." "To me that seems like a way for the transition to be easier for everypony and everycreature," Gentle Gust remarked. "Some changes, even though they are difficult, can be for the good. This could be one of them. I've seen how Canterlot has become distracted by its title, losing sight of what's truly important. Sharing it with another city would motivate the citizenry to adjust their ways." Twilight, meanwhile, laid back down on her hospital bed with a look of relief plastered on her face. "Still, that doesn't sugarcoat what you've gone through lately, Twilight," Gentle Breeze strongly cautioned. "Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is something that someponies never truly get over unless they have the support they truly need. What you need right now, is support from everypony in this room, ourselves included. Gentle Gust and I will let you have your coronation on the condition that you take time out of your schedule to visit us once a week. That way any problems or issues that you have you can tell us about, and we can help you with them so that things like what transpired yesterday don't occur again." Sighing deeply, Twilight accepted what had been given to her. "Very well," she whispered, grateful to finally be given the help and support she desperately needed as she turned towards Celestia. Touched by the emotions that had been displayed, Rarity dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief. " Now, I understand why you're staying in Ponyville," she said to the princesses. "Just because Luna and I retiring from ruling Equestria doesn't mean we are retiring from being there for you, Twilight," Celestia reassured Twilight. "We can visit Silver Shoals at any time, but you and your mental health are more important to us than anything." Knowing that this was a perfect time as any, Celestia activated her magic and produced the five gold crowns that she had created. "What in tarnation are those?!" Applejack cried as the rest of Twilight's friends gathered round, amazed at what Celestia was doing. "Princesses, what's goin' on?" "Five crowns?" Fluttershy observed in brief confusion. "Are you serious?!" Rainbow Dash added, her voice filled with shock. "I… I can't believe it!" Rarity gasped! "You're making us…PRINCESSES?!" Pinkie Pie shouted, leaping into the air! "But, why?" Starlight wondered. "Because I believe that Equestria's newest ruler will need her friends just as much as her friends need her," Celestia explained, holding the crowns high over her head. "My last decree as ruler of Equestria will be to establish a council, a council of princesses that will aide Supreme Princess Twilight Sparkle in governing Equestria while also working to continue spreading the magic of friendship across the land!" Stepping forward, each pony bowed to Celestia as she placed a crown on their head. One by one she declared to each: "Applejack, you are hereby known as the Princess of Honesty! Fluttershy, you are hereby known as the Princess of Kindness! Rarity, you are hereby known as the Princess of Generosity! Pinkie Pie, you are hereby known as the Princess of Laughter! Rainbow Dash, you are hereby known as the Princess of Loyalty!" With their newly minted crowns on their heads, the five newly appointed princesses rose to their feet, accepting all that had been given to them. However, Pinkie Pie realized that something was missing. "Uh, where are the wings and the horns? Shouldn't we all become alicorns like you?" she questioned. "I don't think that matters, Pinkie Pie," Celestia chuckled. "Not every princess needs to be an alicorn." … Meanwhile, Discord sat in his cell in the Canterlot Dungeons when he suddenly felt a sudden vibration flow throughout his body. The vibrating was stronger than anything he had experienced before, to the point that he ended up looking like he was having a seizure. "What in…I've…I've never felt anything like this before!" He gasped before rising to his feet. Quickly snapping his fingers, he produced a magic mirror. "Mirror, mirror, in my hand, what is happening in the land?" However, the mirror didn't respond right away. "Hey, you want me to give myself seven years of bad luck? Because I will!" Discord impatiently fidgeted. Before he could throw the magic mirror onto the ground, it turned itself and showed Fluttershy being crowned by Celestia. Discord couldn't believe what he was seeing. "Fl..Fluttershy? A princess?" he gasped. "And I wasn't there?!" Leaning back against the wall of his cell, Discord stared up at the ceiling, wondering what could have been if he was there for this moment in time. But he had to remember why he was in this position, all because of his actions meant to boost Twilight's self-confidence that blew up in his face. … … "My friends? Princesses?" Twilight whispered, her face filled with shock and amazement. "I…I…" "Twilight, this is the last act I will ever make as ruler of Equestria," Celestia gently replied. "Because whatever you face as ruler of Equestria, you will not face it alone." With those words, Twilight's friends gathered around her bed, each placing a hoof on either side of it. The more Twilight absorbed, the more she felt her anxieties leave. "Well, how about it, Princess?" Applejack laughed, playfully nudging Twilight on the side. "Guess you won't be the only princess in town." "And I won't just be the royal party planner!" Pinkie Pie added while laughing excitedly. "I'm now the princess party planner!" "Wait till the Wonderbolts get a load of me, a princess among their ranks!" Rainbow Dash remarked, somersaulting in the air with excitement. "We love you, Twilight." Fluttershy declared as the six mares came into an embrace. "I love you too, girls!" Twilight cried as Celestia and the others watched the moment play out, before she, Luna, Gentle Gust and Gentle Breeze left them for a few moments alone. Standing outside the room, Celestia, Luna and the two doctors still had one more matter to take care of. "Well, sister," Luna sighed, taking in a deep breath. "You've done it. You've passed your last decree as ruler of Equestria." All Celestia could do was sigh in relief. "I think the time will soon come for Twilight to be crowned as supreme ruler, correct?" Luna asked the two doctor ponies. "That is, if you think she's mentally prepared for the coronation." "I can say to both of you," Gentle Gust replied, going back to the door and listening in to the happy sounds coming from Twilight and her friends. "That with your help, Twilight can take the first of many steps towards recovery. Everything we've done for her, such as you two taking up residence at her castle in Ponyville, helping her realize that she can live in two places at once, crowing her friends as co-princesses, will all benefit her in the long run." "Thus, if Twilight is mentally prepared for it," Gentle Breeze added. "We can allow her coronation to take place, under the condition that the ceremony be held in Canterlot and the reception be held in Ponyville." Taking those words to heart, both Celestia and Luna looked back into the room, grateful that all the work to help Twilight was paying off. "So, what happens now?" Luna asked. Celestia was unhesitant in her response. "We bring Twilight Sparkle home to Ponyville, where she belongs." ... Thus the decision was made, Twilight Sparkle was coming home to Ponyville. Although still weak to walk, she was helped out of the hospital by her family and friends to the cheers of her subjects who gathered to see her. Waving to them, Twilight felt grateful to be back outside again and was even more grateful to be going home at last. Boarding the coronation train, Twilight could only reflect on the hard journey she had been on for some time. "How are you feeling, Twilight?" Celestia asked as she came into Twilight's private car. "A little tired, Celestia," Twilight sighed, looking her mentor in the eyes as she sat next to her. "But also grateful for everything that's happened. My friends becoming princesses, me not having to live in Canterlot full time, you and Luna moving in with me. But I can't help but wonder about something." "What is that?" Celestia asked, feeling slightly confused at Twilight's remark. "Well," Twilight began. "I guess I just never really understood how fragile my mind can be sometimes. Sure, I may have gone crazy a few times, but this is the first time I realized that I need to start paying attention to my mental health." "And you will, Twilight," Celestia reassured her former student. "Everything that we're doing is for your health and your well-being, to ensure that you have a more stable mentality going forward. Luna and I will be there for you and your friends, just as you have always been there for us." Pulling Twilight into an embrace, Celestia also felt her own weight lift off of her shoulders. A crowd of Ponyville's citizens waited on the platform of the Ponyville train station eagerly awaiting Twilight's return home. And at that moment, Luster Dawn and her family arrived on the scene, having heard what had transpired. "We had to come," Luster Dawn panted to her parents. "I didn't want to miss this!" "Neither did we," Fire Blaster gasped for air. "Looks to me like all of Ponyville wants to be here." Luster Dawn looked around and saw the welcome home signs made for Twilight. Little did she know of the adventure that she was about to undertake. … While Twilight was being taken home to Ponyville, Discord continued to sit in the Canterlot Dungeons, upset over having Fluttershy be crowned a princess without being there. Then again, he knew that it was for a good reason. As he continued to think what could have been, he heard hoofsteps coming down the stairs. Looking out of his cell, he saw Princess Luna standing in front of him. "Princess Luna," he whispered. "Discord," She replied in a low voice. "I have come to release you." Discord was confused to hearing this. "What? You're freeing me? After all I did? Why?" "Because you have learned your lesson, Discord," Luna explained. "And we feel you've been punished enough." "But, why arrest me in the first place, then?" Discord questioned "It was only a formality," Luna explained. "Now we are to bring you to Ponyville, where you will greet Twilight Sparkle as she arrives." Grateful to be freed, Discord snapped himself and Luna to the Ponyville train station just as the coronation train pulled in. … … Twilight looked out the window and saw her fellow Ponyvillians on the platform, cheering in excitement. She sighed happily, grateful to be back home. The door opened and Twilight was helped to her feet. "Happy to be home, Twilight?" Spike asked, only to get a small nod from his best friend and mother-figure. Closing her eyes, Twilight stepped off the train to the cheers of all present. She had never felt so happy in her entire life. "Welcome home, Twilight!" The Cutie Mark Crusaders cried, holding up a welcome home sign for their close friend and occasional tutor. The Princess of Friendship silently acknowledged them with a warm smile as she walked by. Then, Twilight saw Discord. But being a mare of good character, she showed no disdain towards him. Greeting him with a warm smile, Discord realized that he was being somewhat forgiven. "She… not angry with me," Discord whispered to himself with a look of confusion on his face. "I put her in this situation and I expected her to go bananas on me." "Maybe she's started to forgive you for your actions," Luna whispered back to him, remembering when Twilight helped her get over her own demons with the Tantabus. "Believe me, I know how that feels, learning how to forgive yourself for what you've done in the past. The wounds never fully go away, but with time they dull and become manageable." Gulping nervously, Discord took in what the Princess of the Night had to say. Still, he had a more personal matter to attend to. … … Twilight was soon back home at her castle, her home, where she truly belonged. All she could do was sigh in relief, grateful that her nightmare was over. However, she was quick to take notice of something. "Wait a minute," she remarked. "Where are all the boxes? There's supposed to be boxes everywhere." "That's not important right now," Celestia replied, draping a wing over her soon to be crowned successor. "What is important is you're back home and where you belong, Twilight." Hearing this from her mentor, Twilight slowly walked towards her castle's throne room with the friendship map and the roots of the Golden Oak Library hanging from the ceiling. As she walked in, she felt herself grow even more stabilized. Sitting down at her throne, Twilight looked up at the Golden Oak Library's roots, admiring all of the ornaments on them. "Let's let her have a few moments alone." Celestia suggested, urging everypony to move out of the room as she shut the door. Closing her eyes and sighing deeply, Twilight continued to absorb the feeling of being back home, free from the burdens of her mental health. But she wasn't alone for very long. Twilight felt another presence in her throne room and sure enough, she saw Discord sitting in Fluttershy's throne. "Welcome home, Twilight," The spirit of chaos said with a warm smile on his face, producing a bouquet of roses for her. "I know what you're probably thinking, that I should be turned to stone along with Tirek, Cozy Glow and Chrysalis. But that wasn't my…" "Discord," Twilight interrupted. "I think I'm beginning to see now why you did what you did. You wanted me to be tested." "Of course, I did," Discord explained, lying on the friendship map in front of Twilight. "But I didn't know it would have such an impact on your psyche. All the other times I tested you, it didn't appear to do so." "Most of those times were moments of inconvenience," Twilight replied. "But I think Celestia saw that you were needed, to prepare me in ways that she couldn't do herself. Furthermore, I take back what I said about the events of recent being the last battle Equestria would ever fight in." This caused Discord to stop writing in a book he had produced. "Uh, what?" He immediately questioned. "What do you mean? Wasn't that the whole point? I'm writing in here that facing off with Queen Cheese Legs, Princess Power Hungry Filly and King Vorak's unsatisfied offspring was your last great challenge. It's all in your biography, isn't it?" Discord shoved the book in Twilight's face with the title Twilightlicious: An Autobiography on the cover. "Why would I even write an autobiography?" Twilight remarked, getting up from her throne with her eyes locked onto the Golden Oak Library's roots. "My story would only end if I leave Ponyville forever. But since I'm splitting my time between here and Canterlot, I feel that my story is continuing. In fact, there's something else." "What is it?" Discord pondered "When I was in the hospital," Twilight answered. "There was a pony who came into see me. She's a student enrolling at the School of Friendship, and even though I was mentally unstable at time, I couldn't help but connect with her." "What was her name?" Discord asked. "She didn't say," Twilight shook her head. "But she was a unicorn, like I once was. I don't know about you, but I feel like she and I are destined to connect." "'I meet a pony with no name that I feel will be a student of mine,'" Discord whispered as he wrote in Twilight's "autobiography." "One day, I hope this pony with no name will succeed me as ruler of Equestria." The more that Twilight listened to Discord, the more she began to remember about the pony in question. She needed to see Luster Dawn again. Just then, she heard a commotion at the front door and went to investigate while Discord stayed behind. "I'm sorry, young filly," A guardspony firmly insisted. "Princess Twilight only just got back today, she's in no mood for visitors. Come back later." "But you don't understand!" Luster Dawn pleaded as the guards pushed her back while her parents watched. "I've come to wish Princess Twilight well. You must let me in!" "Now I remember why I put off having guards for so long," Twilight muttered to herself before intervening. "Let her in." The sounds of command in her voice caused the two guards to stand at attention. Luster Dawn looked up and saw Twilight standing in front of her, not knowing how to react. Both Moon Dusk and Fire Blaster bowed to Twilight in respect, but Twilight waved them off. "There's no need for that," Twilight said, motioning for them to rise. "We don't do that here, only in Canterlot." "I…see," Moon Dusk remarked, backing away from Twilight along with Fire Blaster. "Yes, of course." "H-hello again, P-Princess Twilight," Luster Dawn stuttered. "I-I only came to welcome you back home. But if you don't want me to be here…" "No," Twilight shook her head. "You're more than welcome here. The Castle of Friendship is always open to everypony, even you. What is your name?" Taking a deep breath, Luster looked up to Twilight and calmed herself. "Luster Dawn, I'm enrolling at your School of Friendship and…" "You used to be at Celestia's School of Magic, yes?" Twilight asked. "In Canterlot? I remember now, I saw you a short while back. While I was founding the School of Friendship, I toured that school and you were one of Celestia's students, correct?" "Yes, just like you once were," Luster Dawn nodded her head. "I mean, my family and I just moved here from Canterlot and…well, part of me doesn't want to be here." Twilight felt confused at this remark. "Why?" "Because I feel that magic is more important," Luster Dawn firmly answered. "Friendship is just a waste of time to me." Right away, Twilight began to get the sense that Luster Dawn was like she had been once, a pony who cared more for magic than friendship. "Friendship is never a waste of time, Luster Dawn," Twilight said, sitting down on the grass. "A wise pony once told me to get my head out of the books and start making friends. It seems to me like you are a pony with potential, but you need guidance." Right away, Luster Dawn realized what was about to happen. "Luster Dawn," Twilight continued. "I'd like to make you my personal protégé." Luster's mouth dropped open! She couldn't believe it, she was going to be a personal protégé of the Princess of Friendship herself. "Well? Is that okay with your family?" Twilight asked as Luster turned back towards her parents, both nodding with forced smiles on their faces. Feeling excited, Luster ran up to Twilight and hugged her tightly, causing Twilight to chuckle warmly! Lying up on a cloud, Discord watched the whole episode transpire before him. "Well, it seems that you have another student to teach the magic of friendship to, your majesty," Discord remarked, munching on a moon shaped cookie. "All the more reason for you to split your time between here and Canterlot, eh?" … … On the day of her coronation, Twilight Sparkle felt excited and relieved knowing that her mental health was stabilized again. Standing in front of a large mirror and dressed in a yellow bathrobe, Twilight was being prepared for her coronation ceremony. "Let's go light on the makeup," she suggested as a servant pony applied light blush on her cheeks. "I need to look important, but not over the top." "Of course, Princess Twilight," The servant pony replied while chuckling nervously. "As you command." "Don't be nervous," Twilight answered, sounding confident while looking at her reflection in the mirror. "Nopony should be nervous today. Not after what I've been through. If I can get through this, I can get through anything." Twilight then rolled up the sleeve of the bathrobe and looked at the needle marks she had obtained as a result of her stay in the hospital. She had her battle scars, a sign that she had survived the nightmare of her mental health crisis. "Princess, would you like me to cover those marks from the needles?" Another servant asked. "Your gown does have short sleeves after all." "No," Twilight firmly answered. "I want them to see that I was able to overcome my crisis, just like all the other times. That like them I was vulnerable and suffered a collapse. And I came out of it a stronger pony." "Very well then, princess. If that's what you wish," the other servant nodded and backed off. ... At that moment, there was a knock at the door and in stepped Rarity, wearing the purple dress and hat she wore at Twilight's first coronation. In her aura was Twilight's blue coronation gown. "Hello, Twilight," She chipperly greeted. "I've taken the liberty of making some final adjustments to your coronation gown. How do you feel about a sash on the bodice?" Twilight looked and saw a light blue sash with a gold pin containing her cutie mark on it. "I think its fine, Rarity. Not that I'm competing with Shining Armor." The two mares shared a light laugh upon hearing this remark. "After all, we did technically both lose to Spike as sibling supreme," Twilight chuckled as Rarity pulled the gown away. "Anyways, how is everypony else doing?" "They are all excited, obviously," Rarity explained. "Everypony whose anypony is coming to your coronation ceremony. Still, I can't get over the fact that I am a princess myself. It's a lot to take in" "You all are, Rarity. Not just me," Twilight corrected. "We need each other more than ever. And there will be plenty of adventures for us to undertake now that we're all princesses of our respective elements." Rarity listened as she removed Twilight's bathrobe and began to dress her in the gown. Once Twilight was dressed, Rarity then proceeded to work on doing her mane, trying to get it done up. "Sure, my life will have to be more stable now that I'm supreme ruler," Twilight went on explaining. "But nothing's really going to change. The only major change is Ponyville and Canterlot becoming shared capitols, and that's a change we might all benefit from. I mean think about it, two of your three boutiques are in the same union for a start. And who knows? Maybe you'll get some inspiration after all is said and done." Rarity then began to think of the young colt she'd met at Sweet Acorn Orchard last Hearth's Warming who longed to be a fashion designer. She had invited him for fashion week, but perhaps like Coco Pommel she could take him under her wing and help mold him into what he longed to be? She thought about this for a while as she kept working. ... At that moment, the door opened again and this time it was Celestia, also wearing her dress from Twilight's first coronation ceremony. The retiring princess couldn't help but feel touched at the sight of her daughter figure looking radiant. "You look beautiful, Twilight," Celestia commented as Twilight saw her own reflection in the mirror, and turned around to acknowledge Celestia, by hugging her. "We're all so proud of you after all you've been through. How are you feeling?" "Better than I have been in a long time," Twilight sighed, looking warmly at Celestia as they pulled apart. "Thanks for being there for me." "You know that I will always be there for you, Twilight," Celestia firmly declared. "Besides, Luna and I might enjoy living in the Castle of Friendship. Sure it's not like Canterlot, but at least it will be home for us. And you're going to need to have somepony keep an eye on the castle while you and your friends are away on important matters." Both mentor and student chuckled at this amusing remark. "I got to admit," Twilight commented as she stepped into four silver slippers. "I think that my anxiety attack was a sign, a sign that it's time to leave behind the old and embrace the new." "As was mine when I wondered whether to keep you in Canterlot or send you off to Ponyville," Celestia replied. "Still, it will be nice to relax and enjoy life the way you and your friends do. By the way, do you know of anypony who enjoys ziplining?" Twilight's eyes widened upon realizing that perhaps one of her first acts as ruler would be to get her mentor acquainted with a ziplining fanatic. "By the way, there's something else I've been meaning to ask you, Twilight." Celestia continued. "What is it, Celestia?" Twilight blinked. "Luster Dawn, your new student," Celestia commented in obsevation. "Do you think that maybe you and her will be like we once were?" "Well," Twilight paused, looking at herself in the mirror again. "In a way, she kind of does remind me of how I once was, putting studies before friendship. Maybe her coming to Ponyville was another sign that I'm needed in Ponyville just as much as Canterlot. She'll need me just as much I might need her. But time will tell, of course." ... At that moment, the door opened once more. Twilight Velvet and Night Light came trotting in. Both parents felt tears of happiness forming in the corners of their eyes upon seeing Twilight in her coronation gown. "Oh, my baby!" Twilight Velvet cried while wearing a white pearl necklace. "You look so beautiful!" "I couldn't agree more with your mother," Night Light added with a sincere smile. "We're both so happy for you, honey." The more kind words that were spoken, the more Twilight felt free from the burdens of recent. "Thank you," Twilight whispered. "Where are Cadence and Shining Armor?" "Taking their places for the ceremony," Night Light answered. "Got to tell you, they're just as excited for you as we are, sweetheart. We'd better go join them, but we wanted to see you before the ceremony." Hugging her parents one final time, Twilight watched as they left the room. "As should we," Celestia added, excited but sounding cautious for Twilight's mental health. "Are you prepared for the ceremony, Twilight? Because if you're not…" "I'm ready," Twilight interrupted, taking a deep breath. "I'm ready, Celestia." … In the newly rebuilt throne room of Canterlot Castle, a large crowd gathered in front of the throne that Twilight would rule Equestria from, surrounded by stained glass windows depicting recent accomplishments. With Twilight's friends at their left like before and wearing their coronation dress like before, Celestia and Luna began the ceremony immediately while Twilight waited outside, with her processional entourage right behind her. "We are gathered here today in celebration of a momentous occasion," Celestia spoke up as she opened the ceremony. "My sister, Princess Luna and I, have ruled over Equestria for a long time now. But change comes much like the rising and lowering of the sun and the moon. Today, it is with some regret that we step down as rulers of Equestria, and pass the mantel onto a pony who has always been there for us and will continue to do so." As Celestia spoke, Twilight Velvet, with tears in her eyes, rested her head on Night Light's shoulder. "Together with the help of her five friends," Luna continued, beckoning the audience to turn their attention to them. "We believe that this pony shall rule Equestria with the compassion, devotion, charity, optimism and the leadership that a true princess is known for." "Fillies and Gentlecolts," Celestia declared, her voice projected loud enough for all to hear. "May we present the new supreme ruler of Equestria, Princess Twilight Sparkle!" The doors opening in front of her, Twilight entered the throne room as her processional sang behind her the same words at her first coronation: The Princess Twilight cometh, behold, behold A Princess is before us, behold, behold, behold Behold, behold, behold The Princess Twilight cometh, behold, behold The Princess is, the Princess is here! Stepping up to the throne and turning around to face the audience, Twilight stood at attention as Celestia and Luna removed their respective crowns, and using their magic combined them into one single crown that was picked up by two of Fluttershy's swans and gently placed on Twilight's head. It was official, Princess Twilight Sparkle was now supreme ruler of Equestria with her friends as her fellow princesses. … … With the pomp and circumstance of the crowning ceremony behind her, Twilight returned home to Ponyville, where her reception was to be held at her Castle of Friendship. As she arrived at her castle, the Wonderbolts flew fast overhead, performing the special aerial stunt Rainbow Dash requested of them. "Princess Twilight, we love you!" Silverstream and Ocellus cheered, as they stood in front of the Castle of Friendship with the rest of their friends dressed in their finest for the occasion, holding up a sign that said "Congratulations, Princess Twilight" with the word "Headmare" hastily scratched off. "You rock, Princess Twilight!" Smolder called, wearing a light blue toga and sandals while shooting off some fire into the air. "Thanks everycreature," Twilight commented as she hugged her six students. "I hope you're all ready to party tonight!" "Are you kidding?" Silverstream chirped. "We're more than ready! Glad to see you're feeling better, though." ... "Fillies and Gentlecolts," Spike announced over the microphone at DJ-Pon3's station. "At this time, it is with great pleasure that I now present to you your new ruler of Equestria, Princess Twilight Sparkle!" Stepping into the banquet hall of her castle, Twilight was greeted by the sounds of cheers and whistles of those ponies who were closest to her. Standing up in front of all in attendance, Twilight waved a few times before taking the microphone from her newly minted royal advisor. "Thank you, everypony and everycreature," Twilight spoke as the crowd quieted down. "I just want to say that…I'm beyond overwhelmed at all the support I've been receiving over the past few days. While I was in the hospital, dealing with my mental health issues, so many of you came out to see me or just show your support for me. And for that I thank you. But today is more than just a coronation meant for me, it is the ending of one chapter and the beginning of another. For this day isn't just about me." A few ponies murmured in confusion upon hearing what Twilight had said. "No," she continued, getting the crowds attention again. "There are a group of ponies who have been there for me and will continue to be there for me. This celebration is about them too, and without even mentioning their names, I ask for them to come forward." Realizing what their friend was trying to say, the five element bearers stepped forward, followed by the now retired Celestia and Luna, and the new School of Friendship headmare Starlight Glimmer. "Without the support of these ponies and many others," Twilight spoke, noticing Gentle Breeze and Gentle Gust in the audience, giving them a wink. "I would never have gotten over my mental heath crisis and this day would never have happened. When I was first coronated, I considered myself to be the luckiest pony in Equestria. Today I reaffirm that realization. Thank you friends and thank you, everypony!" The crowd cheered upon hearing those words and the reception began with Twilight heading down to the dance floor to meet her dad, Night Light. "At this time, everypony," Spike said into the microphone. "The newly crowned Supreme Princess of Equestria and her dad will share a father and daughter dance." As light classical piano music played on the speakers, Twilight and her father looked at each other with warm glances and embraced as they began to slow dance on the dance floor while everypony and everycreature watched, some with happy tears in their eyes. Everything seemed to have fallen into place for Twilight Sparkle who sighed happily as she danced with her father. Now with her inner demons conquered and her mental health in check, she could look forward to the promising future that lay ahead for her and her close friends and family. … END OF EPISODE ...