After Twilight, Shining Armor and Cadence expelled the changelings. Luna helped Celestia to her hooves. The monarch noticed Twilight and sighed in relief.
“Oh thank goodness! You’re awake my faithful student. I’m sorry!” Celestia said as she approached Twilight with a smile. Though that smile quickly died as she thought back to the last words she’d said to Twilight. “If… if you no longer wish to be my student I understand. The way I told you had a lot to think about and-
Twilight cut her mentor off with a hug. This surprised Celestia.
“You taught me that we need to learn to forgive,” Twilight said. “I forgive you. All of you.”
Celestia managed a small smile as she teared up and nuzzled her student gratefully. All of Twilight’s friends put their hooves over their hearts in relief.
“Thanks Sugarcube, I swear we’ll make this up to you somehow,” Applejack said.
“It's okay girls. I'm just glad I'm awake now. While I was under the curse in the deep sleep, I had an awful nightmare where you all banished me from Equestria for what I said to Cadence." Twilight said, with a shudder as she recalled her nightmare. “Then I think I heard your voices and it stopped.”
Celestia wrapped her wings around her student.
"I would never do that to you, Twilight. Not over something like being possessive of your brother. I was disappointed, but I wouldn't have done that. I would have forgiven you once you realized your mistake and apologized. But it turns out it was all of us who made a mistake. A terrible mistake that nearly cost us the pony we love so much." she assured Twilight.
"We wouldn't do that either darling." Rarity added.
They all gathered around Twilight and embraced her, assuring her that they would never do what they did to her in her nightmare. After they were done, Twilight looked at Cadence.
"Is it really you?" Twilight asked hesitantly.
Cadence smiled and approached her.
"Sunshine, sunshine, Ladybugs awake! Clap your hooves and do a little shake!"
Twilight grinned and hugged her former foal sitter.
"It is you!"
"I'm so glad you're okay Twilight." Cadence stroked her mane. "I'm very much looking forward to calling you my sister."
“Me too,” Twilight said.
Flash stood by and watch the proceedings silently, letting his marefriend reconcile with all her friends and family. She’d been through a lot it seemed since she’d come to Canterlot. She deserved a moments peace.
That moment was cut very short.
A loud roar pierced the air. And suddenly a large black dragon seemed to grow like a tree out of the ground.
“Maleficent!” Celestia exclaimed.
“M-Maleficent?” Fluttershy questioned. “But she’s a-a-a dragon!”
The dragon Maleficent laughed. “Yes! This is my true form! Cower before me little ponies! First I shall crush, burn and eat all of you… then I shall find Chrysalis and make her pay for betraying me!”
Fluttershy shivered at the sight of the dragon approaching them with thundering steps. But Rainbow Dash wasn’t.
“Come on girls! We can take this dragon, or fairy! Whatever she is! Let’s make her pay for cursing Twilight!” Rainbow Dash said.
She flew at the dragon.
The cyan Pegasus hit Maleficent’s head, but the scales were hard, harder than armor. Rainbow’s hit did nothing, not even push the dragon.
Maleficent snapped her massive jaws, nearly sinking her fangs into Rainbow Dash who managed to dodge, though even as brave as she was she now had a look of fear. Down on the ground, Twilight, Rarity, and Shining Armor all fired beams of magic while Celestia, Luna and Cadence did the same up in the air. Maleficent grunted slightly but the magic appeared to do her no harm.
“You can’t beat me without your elements of harmony!” Maleficent said. “At least Chrysalis managed to prevent you from getting to them. Now destroying you will be easy… especially you timid one.”
She then looked down at Fluttershy who was still cowering at the sight of a dragon. Maleficent brought down a massive paw to crush the yellow Pegasus like an ant.
“Fluttershy!” Applejack yelled.
She pushed the timid pegaus out of the way, avoiding the paw. Maleficent then opened her mouth wide and unleashed a breath of fire on the two ponies. They would have been cooked if not for Shining Armor throwing up a shield to protect them.
Flash looked around. He was still just a recruit in training, but there had to be some way he could help. The scales were too thick for their hooves or magic to pierce. But the dragon’s belly seemed to be made of softer stuff. If only he had a weapon of some sort. Then he noticed a royal guards spear lying on the ground, he quickly flew over to it and took it in his hoof.
Suddenly a scream sounded, Flash looked over and saw Twilight running from a trail of fire. He flew at top speed after Maleficent as she walked after the unicorn who ran into a corner.
“Nowhere to run, Twilight Sparkle!” Maleficent said with a grin as Celestia and the other magic users continued to shoot magic at her back. “Now I’m going to finish what my curse would have. Prepare to die!”
She opened her mouth a took a massive breath.
“Twilight!” Shining Armor and all the others yelled.
“Hey!” Flash shouted.
Maleficent looked at the orange Pegasus as he came out in front of her.
“Stay away from my marefriend!” he yelled before throwing the spear.
His aim was true, all his efforts of hard work finally came into fruition for the first time. The spear sunk into the softer flesh and into the heart. Maleficent let out a wail and began to lose her balance. She fell forward, toward Twilight, seeing this… Flash flew at his marefriend now as the immense form came at them.
“Twilight! Flash!” Shining Armor yelled as the dragon fell at them.
For a moment everypony was sure the weight would crush them. But when Maleficent hit the ground, her body vanished, leaving only her empty robes. Twilight and Flash stood hugging each other with their eyes closed. They opened them after a moment and looked relieved, likewise, all their loved ones sighed in relief as well.
"It's finally over,” said Shining Armor.
With Maleficent gone for good, the ponies could finally have the wedding. Twilight was reinstated as Best Mare, and Flash was Best Stallion. They stood by her brother's side on the altar as they waited for Cadence to arrive. Twilight looked at Shining Armor lovingly, then noticed the badge on his chest was out of place. She readjusted it for him with her magic, causing him to give her a smile.
"Oh thanks sis." Shining said to his sister.
"How'd you miss that detail?" she asked.
Shining Armor sighed. "Probably cause I was feeling guilty about what I did to you."
"It's okay. It's all over now. I'm free of the curse, Maleficent's dead and you are going to marry Cadence." Twilight said.
Shining smiled.
“Thanks for letting me be Best Stallion, Captain.” Flash said.
“Least I could do,” Shining said. “You may not have woken my sister up. But you did save her life and kill Maleficent. Thank you.”
Music filled the hall, the bride to be then entered.
"How did you ever get her to marry you anyway?" Twilight asked.
"I told her she wouldn't just be gaining a husband, she'd be getting a pretty great sister too." Shining replied.
Twilight beamed. Cadence approached them. Both bride and groom said "I do." Then went to the balcony and waved to the crowd below.
Celestia put a hoof on Twilight as she watched. "Ever since I first laid eyes on you that day after the curse was casted, I knew you were destined for great things. Your coltfriend may have been the one to kill Maleficent, but it was his drive to protect you that allowed him to do it. This was your victory too."
Twilight nodded. "I'm glad I didn't lose any of you."
“You never will Twilight, we’re all going to be friends forever,” Applejack promised.
Rainbow Dash flew into the sky and created a Sonic Rainboom. Then Twilight sang at the reception and danced with Flash. It was the best wedding ever.
Finally, the time for Shining Armor and Cadence to depart.
"Twilight! I'm so glad you're alive!" he said, hugging her. "I always feared the day that if the curse came to pass, I would lose you forever."
"You'll never lose me, BBBFF. It's over now," Twilight said.
Shining looked down. "Again, I'm really sorry for what I said to you. I love you Twily. I promise... I'll never treat you like that again."
Twilight smiled. "I guess no pair of siblings can ever go without a fight. It's okay Shining Armor. I love you too."
They embraced each other one last time.
He then looked at Flash. “You take care of my sister, okay?”
Flash nodded and put a foreleg around Twilight. “You got it Captain.”
Shining Armor got into his carriage with Cadence. The newly-weds left happily, knowing they know had a future to look forward too. One that would surely include Twilight, now that the curse was over and Maleficent gone for good, Shining knew nothing would tear him from his little sister again. Soon he might have a brother in law as well. Who knew?