//------------------------------// // Chapter 14: Where the Magic Happens // Story: Luster Dawn Friendship Successor // by SamSwordsman123 //------------------------------// Twilight approached her student and started a song. “When I started out, I was unsure. Thought I knew all that I needed. Didn’t know what to expect.” Her friends approached her, and she put her large wings around Applejack and Rarity. “But when my walls came down, I saw the truth. All along something was missing.” Twilight leaned down, looking directly into Luster’s eyes. “And I think you’ll see it too.” With a flash, Twilight teleported all of them to the special place where she had learned everything. Ponyville. “This is where the magic happens. This is where the magic lives.” Luster looked around her in surprise. Her hometown of Ponyville, she’d known Princes Twilight had lived here for many years before becoming the ruler of Equestria. But she’d always considered it to be an ordinary place with nothing magical happening. “This is it?” she asked. “This is where I can learn friendship, back in my hometown?” “Just let your walls down like I did,” Twilight said in a normal voice. “If a pony says hello and waves to you, do the same. Just be friendly. When I first came here, I was just like you were right now. I thought that the fate of Equestria did not depend on me making friends. But then I met these five and when I let the spark of friendship into my heart, we defeated Nightmare Moon. It was then that I knew friendship was the greatest magic of all. From that moment-” She sung another line, looking at all of her friends. “Our friendships weave together stronger.” A white Earth Pony with a brown mane and roller skate cutie mark passing by stopped and waved at Luster, who waved back nervously. Then came a light purple Pegasus pony with a golden mane who also waved, seeing these simple gestures of being friendly caused Luster’s heart to be filled with a warm feeling and she managed a wide smile. “Hello, welcome to Ponyville!” the Pegasus said. “Thanks, but I’m actually from here,” Luster said. “Though it looks like I need to actually look at it.” “What have you never seen it before even though you’ve lived here?” the Earth Pony asked. “I need to look at it from a fresh perspective it seems,” Luster said. “I spent all my time here just staying at home.” She looked over in the distance where her home was. Twilight’s old castle that she had left Luster’s mother Starlight in charge of. Whenever Luster was here in Ponyville she always tended to stay there in her room studying, isolating herself from this small town and the ponies within it. “You lived there?” the Earth Pony asked. “Cool! What’s your name?” “Luster Dawn.” “I’m Sunflower Flap,” the Pegasus said shaking her hoof. “Blade Runner,” the Earth Pony with the roller skate cutie mark said. “It was nice to meet you Luster. Sorry, but we got to be going someplace. Maybe we’ll see you around.” They walked and flapped off. Luster looked down slightly. “Guess they didn’t like me,” she said. “I wouldn’t say that Luster. Everypony in town has things to do. You’ve only made an acquaintanceship with those two. That’s how a friendship can start sometimes. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t become best friends with them or somepony right away. I was annoyed with practically all my friends when I first met them,” Twilight said. “But then they became my true friends. If you find true friendship… the result is this… She sang once again. “The bonds grow deeper, lasting longer. And the Greatest Spell you’ll know is how the magic of friendship grows.” Pinkie Pie lead them to Sugarcube Corner as Little Cheese jumped on her back. Once they reached it, the Party Pony took over the song. “And no matter how much time goes by, the party will still be here with some fun new games to try.” Her son got off and ran to Pound and Pumpkin Cake who were waiting outside along with Pinkie’s husband Cheese Sandwich who was riding on Gummy. Pinkie Pie’s pet alligator was not so little anymore. He was now a massive alligator large enough for both Pinkie and her husband to mount. The cake twins ruffled Lil Cheese’s hair, and Pumpkin Cake levitated a cupcake with her magic while Pound Cake blew a party straw and Lil Cheese whistled. “But what’s the party for right now?” Luster asked. “Why… to show you a good time!” Pinkie said. “You got to have fun with friends in order for it to be a real friendship.” “Yeah!” Little Cheese said, stepping forward and taking Luster by the hoof. “Come on, lets have a one-minute party!” He gave her to Pound Cake who forced her to dance while Pinkie and Cheese Sun sang a song unrelated to the one coming in lines to Luster. “Here in Ponyville we two party lovers who also love each other, work to make every creature smile and laugh. What is life without fun? Boring! You don’t wanna spend your days all bored, because that’s not fun! So, live a little!” Luster grinned as Pound Cake spun her under his hoof. That brief moment filling her with joy just like when those other ponies had greeted her and she did something she could not recall doing very often. She laughed. “You laughed!” Pinkie said excitedly. “Well, yeah. Cause this is fun!” Luster said. “That is one of the elements of harmony. The one Pinkie represented. Laughter,” Twilight said. “I remember when we went into the Everfree forest in search of the elements of harmony and she made a bunch of scary looking trees. Now, Rainbow Dash? If you wouldn’t mind showing us to Cloudsdale?” The Pegasus grinned. “Follow me!” Twilight, Spike and Fluttershy both spread their wings, with Twilight lifting Applejack with her magic, Spike carrying Rarity. Pinkie Pie blew up a load of balloons which she took and Fluttershy took hold of. Luster, meanwhile, used a flying spell her mother had taught her a year ago when she’d been on summer break. Her pinkie body became surrounded in gold magic similar to that of Princess Celestia. They flew up to Cloudsdale where Twilight and Rarity cast cloud walking spells on everypony and Spike. “Welcome to Cloudsdale, greatest city in the sky,” Rainbow Dash said. There were places like a weather factory surrounded by storm clouds, a rainbow waterfall. Luster had never had the opportunity to see the places Pegasi lived. “Sure the weather and rainbows are amazing, but this is the best place!” Rainbow Dash said as they arrived at the Wonderbolt Academy. “Hey, Rainbow Dash!” somepony in a blue outfit and goggles shouted. Rainbow Dash narrowed her eyes at him and cleared her throat. He grinned nervously. “Uhh… sorry. Captain Dash! Ma’am!” She softened her look to a smile. “You guys better not be lounging around when your captain is away on Friendship Council business!” “No ma’am!” the pegasi said. “Good, cause you guys are gonna need to stay in shape if you want to be as cool as the Wonderbolts from my generation were!” she said pointing her hoof. “And we will work hard, ma’am!” “Good. Now, assemble the others! I want to put on a little private show!” “At once!” Rainbow Dash turned to Luster. “You just watch and see what we flyers can do when we put some teamwork together!” “Teamwork?” Luster asked. “Is that another form of friendship?” Rainbow Dash nodded. “The Wonderbolts back in my day weren’t my best friends, but they were friends, nonetheless. We worked as a team for our stunts and performances just like all of us worked as a team to save Equestria.” Soon they were sitting the stands. And Rainbow Dash began to flap her wings while the others sat down and watched. “No matter whether you’re with your best friends… or a team for that matter… there can always be- She flew up into the sky and through a set of hoops while singing. “Big Adventures waiting, obviously. As long as we’re still here together. We’ll be flying happily.” She flew through the hoops at great speed, was suddenly in front of them again in the stands until the new generation of Wonderbolts flew by. Rainbow Dash then flew at top speed, leaving a trail of rainbow behind her momentarily. She caught up with them, forming a straight line before the other four broke apart and she flew up higher so that her silhouette appeared in the sun. The new Wonderbolts flew spectacularly, performing great maneuvers and aerial acrobatics. They moved so fast! Luster could hardly believe her eyes, and Rainbow Dash left a rainbow whenever she flew at top speed. Though eventually even the amazing Pegasus was left panting slightly. “Good work troops! I think that’s good enough for today! Rest your wings!” Rainbow Dash said. “Yes ma’am! Thank you! ma’am!” the four members of the Wonderbolts said as one, saluting her with their wings. As they left the Wonderbolts Academy and Cloudsdale, Luster asked Twilight, “Where to next?” “My old school of friendship,” Twilight said. “Oh, where my parents are,” Luster said with a small smile. “Yes,” Twilight said, grinning nervously just as Luster had when she’d come into the throne room. “Oh, I hope Starlight’s not gonna be mad at me for failing to teach you friendship till now.” Luster sniggered as she flew. “I doubt my mother could ever be mad at you, Princess.” They all landed in front of the walkway over the pond in front of the school, resuming their song as one. “This is where the magic happens. This is where the magic lives.” As they walked up to the door, Silverstream suddenly emerged from the pond, the fins she had turning to talons. “Hey, look who it is!” she shouted excitedly. “Welcome back, professors!” “Thank you, Silverstream,” Twilight said. “We’re here to show Luster the school.” The hipprogriff eyed the unicorn. “Luster, you’re Headmare Starlight’s daughter! How come I’ve never seen you here before?” Luster smiled. “Guess I tended to avoid anything with the name friendship in it. I just got so annoyed with it. Never actually set hoof in this school.” “Well time to change that I’d say!” Silverstream said as she opened the door. Starlight and Sunburst were inside talking. They looked in the direction of the door as it opened. Sunburst still wore his usual wizard-like garment with the stars on it. Starlight had taken to wearing an outfit as well. A black dress with burgundy sleeves and a light blue collar. As the group entered, the couple waved, and Twilight nervously stood beside Starlight as both she and Sunburst turned to their daughter who smiled. “Hi Mom, hi Dad,” she said. “Hi honey! We didn’t expect you here!” Starlight said as she approached Luster and hugged her. “What brings you back home?” Sunburst asked. “It seems I’ve… failed to teach Luster something at my school of magic,” Twilight confessed. “She needs to learn friendship more. So… I’m sending her back home so she can learn more about it. You two will help supervise her progress, and she will send letters to me as well.” “Just like you did for Princess Celestia back in the day, huh Twi?” Spike nudged her playfully. She nodded. “Yes, just like I did.” “Well, if you’re going to learn about friendship here. Why don’t you come meet some of our students?” Starlight suggested. “Come on.” Luster stayed near her parents as they lead her down the hall where she caught a glimpse of her Aunt Trixie leading a very small griffin somewhere. Trixie looked over in their direction. “Luster!” she said. “Coming to visit Auntie Trixie, are you?” “Here to learn about friendship,” Starlight said. “Seems Twilight couldn’t get the message through herself.” Trixie sniggered softly. “I heard Luster was your top student. Ah well, guess even the Princess of Friendship can’t teach everypony about friendship the right way.” Twilight scoffed back at her old rival playfully. “Well, come meet some of the students,” Starlight said as she led them into a class room past two mares, a yellow Earth Pony with a red mane and bow as well as a scarf, and a white unicorn with a purple and pink mane. Applebloom and Sweetie Belle were now grown up just like Spike. They were no longer the little fillies they’d been when Twilight had lived in Ponyville. They waved at Twilight and the Mane 6 as they approached. Inside were several ponies, as well as a larger black griffin, and a brown Kirin with red eyes and matching horn, as well as a puffy blue mane. There was also an orange Pegasus with small wings leading the class, she took role, calling out the names of the students as she pointed to them. “Riversong,” Scootaloo said, pointing to the Kirin as Luster entered the room. “Here,” the Kirin replied with a friendly smile. “Iggy!” Scootaloo pointed to the smaller griffon that had been with Trixie moments ago. “Here,” the little griffon said with a nervous smile. “Well, that’s every creature accounted for,” Scootaloo said before looking off to the side. “Oh, Headmare Starlight!” “Hello every creature,” Starlight said. “I have somepony here, I would like all of you to meet. My daughter, Luster Dawn.” Luster smiled and waved her hoof. “Hello, everypony… er creature.” “My daughter has been away in Canterlot studying magic under Princess Twilight. But it seems she has not yet learned the importance of friendship.” There was silence at this. Then the Kirin named Riversong laughed. “Hasn’t learned the importance of friendship? But you lived in a Castle of Friendship! Your mother teaches at a school of friendship, Princess Twilight is the Princess of Friendship!” Riversong said. “Yeah, that’s just it!” Luster said. “Ever since I was a filly it was always friendship this and friendship that! I just wanted to become a gifted spell caster like my mom and dad! I wanted to someday become famous like them! I thought friendship was a distraction, but now. I want to give it a try.” Riversong smiled and got up from desk and spoke in enthusiastic manner, approaching Luster. “Well look no further! I have a feeling you, Georgia, and I are gonna be great friends.” “Georgia?” Luster asked. “That’s me,” the black griffin said raising a claw. “How about you come hang out with us after our lessons are done today?” Luster blushed slightly, she looked at Princess Twilight, who nodded. Then, smiling, she said, “You really want to hang out? Okay.” “Yay, new friend! New friend!” River Song exclaimed, padding her hooves to the ground excitedly. Luster smiled. Starlight then looked at Scootaloo. “Would you mind accompanying us as we show Luster around the school? I think it would be best to have all three of the very first friendship tutors with her for this.” “Okay,” Scootaloo agreed. “But who’s gonna watch my class?” “I will!” Silverstream volunteered. They walked outside, with the two mares that had been outside the classroom, Applebloom and Sweetie Belle joining in. “Friendship has six things to it, kindness, laughter, generosity, loyalty, honesty, and of course the thing that gives it power… magic,” Sweetie Belle said. “They can be easy to do, but betray one even for a moment than it can damage friendship.” “Honesty is always important,” Applebloom said, looking at her big sister. “My big sister is the most honest mare I know! You have to always tell the truth to a friend, even if the truth might hurt. Because if you lie, even if its for some good reason, it can never lead to good things happening.” “My sister’s element is generosity!” Sweetie Belle said. “Not only is Rarity the most beautiful mare there is in Ponyville- “Was the most beautiful mare! I can hardly qualify as that anymore with this gray strand!” Rarity said, running a hoof through her mane. “You’re still very beautiful, sis!” Sweetie Belle said. “And you’re willing to give to those in need, which can also coincide with kindness.” “And you are very kind,” Rarity said, smiling at Sweetie Belle. “Compliments are an example of that.” “As are simple gestures,” Scootaloo said. “Loyalty of course means you don’t abandon your friend and stay true to them. My sister Rainbow Dash would never abandon her friends.” “Ah shucks!” Rainbow Dash said, patting Scootaloo’s head. “And last, there’s laughter! Which is the part that makes friendship fun, like I said before!” Pinkie said. “Wow, this is a lot to take in,” Luster said. “Indeed, but perhaps it would be good to actually witness one of these things in action,” Rarity suggested. They walked into the Courtyard of the School of Friendship. Just in time too. Ocellus the changeling, now full grown like the Cutie Mark Crusaders, Silversteam and Gallus, had a cup of coffee in her hoof which she flew up with to the top of a tree. On top of the tree was an orange dragon slightly smaller than Spike. Smolder had not grown much since her days starting at the school of friendship. She had a rare case of slower growth among dragons. But Smolder didn’t complain, an advantage to being a small dragon was that she wouldn’t have to worry about becoming to large to enter buildings or even crushing them for a while. She was looking through a telescope, a notepad in her lap, when Occellus brought her the coffee. “Oh, thanks. I was starting to get tired,” “You could probably use a break from studying those stars. You’ve been at it for hours,” Ocellus said. “Yeah, you’re probably right,” Smolder replied, flying off. Luster smiled. “That was nice. Just watching that makes my heart feel fuzzy.” “Those two have been friends since they first started going to school here back when I first opened this place,” Twilight said. “They another example of how- “Our friendships weave together stronger, the bonds grow deeper lasting longer. And the greatest spell there is. What the magic of friendship gives.” Next, Applejack lead Luster to her family farm. “We’re not going to be around forever. Everypony leaves this world at some point. But our mission remains, the magic of friendship that will defend Equestria. And its something true to pass on down to generations yet become.” As she approached the farm where her brother Big Macintosh and his wife Sugar Belle were working, their son Big Sugar jumped out of a barrel of apples and hugged his aunt. “We didn’t expect you to be back so soon Applejack!” Sugar Belle said. Applejack chuckled. “Turns out Twilight’s Friendship Council business had to be moved to Ponyville.” “Well, we’re having hayburgers delivered here for lunch,” Sugarbelle said. “Yep, you want to have some?” Big Macintosh asked. “The delivery pony can is fast, ah there he is!” There was a flash as a light-yellow Earth Pony with a hayburger cutie mark ran up at amazing speed. Luster’s mouth fell open as she recognized him. “Galloping Hayburgers cooked and delievered in just ten minutes no matter where you are in Ponyville!” The Earth Pony said he handed Big Macintosh a sack. “Thank you Gallop,” Big Mac said as he handed a few bits to the delivery pony who was about to run back the way he came. “Hold on, we might have another order!” Gallop looked and saw Applejack and Luster. Twilight and all her friends were approaching as well. Gallop gasped at the sight of the group approaching. Luster thought for a moment he was shocked to see Princess Twilight but instead he exclaimed. “Sweet Celestia! You’re Rainbow Dash!” he said, looking at the Pegasus. “That’s right!” Rainbow Dash said. Gallop J. Fry grinned. “I can’t believe its you! You’re the best flyer ever! Hey, if you want a hayburger or anything, I’ll run and get one right now for free.” Rainbow Dash grinned. “Aw shucks! There’s no need for that! But I think we could all use a little lunch right now, so I’ll definitely take a hayburger!” “I believe I will as well,” Rarity said. Princess Twilight and all her friends agreed. Twilight looked over at Luster. “How about you, Luster? Care for a hayburger?” Twilight asked her student. “Um… sure.” Luster said, not entirely eager as she looked at Gallop. The fast food pony looked at her. “Hey, I know you! Didn’t I beat you in a race once than rub it in your face?” Luster frowned. He remembered her. This was the pony she’d first tried to befriend at her mother’s request, and it hadn’t ended well. She merely nodded. Gallop sighed. “Your name was Luster right? Look, I’m sorry if I was a bit of a jerk to you back then. I shouldn’t have been so cocky. Let me make it up to you, you can have your hayburger for free.” “Really?” Luster asked. “Yeah!” Gallop nodded before looking around. “Okay, eight hayburgers coming up. I just got to dash over to Yelena.” “No need!” A large Yak pulling a cart full of Hayburgers behind her walked up. If Luster had not heard that the voice from the Yak was female, she would have assumed it to be male at first glance. “Oh, Yalena you finally managed to catch up!” Gallop said to the Yak. “Just in time for a break!” “You’re the speed I’m the muscle,” the Yak said. “Well glad you could catch up finally, we got eight hayburgers coming up right here!” Gallop shouted as he ran into the cart and in a flash was making the orders, putting together hay, bread, and condiments. He then put each one on plates and passed them to everypony. All of them but Luster handed him bits. They then sat on tables, with Twilight and her friends sitting at their own table, Big Macintosh, Sugar Belle, and Big Sugar at another, while Luster sat her own with Gallop and Yelena whose break time happened to be now. “So, I haven’t seen you since we kids, what you been up to?” Gallop asked Luster. “Yeah, I went to study magic at the school for Gifted Unicorns,” Luster reminded him as she levitated her hayburger. “Oh yeah, I teased you for focusing to much on magic and not enough on athleticism. Sorry about that again.” Luster paused for a moment, then sighed. It was probably best to let bygones be bygones. “Well, see how fast you moved when you arrived and how quick you made those burgers, you sure got fast like you wanted. And I’ve gotten really at magic myself just like I wanted,” Luster said. “So, are you all done at the school of magic?” Gallop asked. Luster nodded as she swallowed a bite of the hayburger. “I’m gonna be spending time here studying a new form of magic. At least… new to me. Friendship.” “Friendship?” Gallop repeated. “I’m gonna try and make friends, the Princess says it’s the greatest spell there is. Some students at her old school and I are going to meet tonight at sunset and hang out. I think their names are Griselda and Riversong.” The yak named Yelena gasped. “Georgia and Riversong! Those two Gallop and Yelena’s best friends!” Luster was stunned, and dropped the hayburger onto her plate. “Really, you two are friends with them?” Gallop nodded. “Guess if you’re hanging out with them, you’re hanging out with us. Well, we better get the rest of our deliveries done Yelena!” The fast food pony sped off with the Yak walking far behind. Luster watched them go. Once everypony had eaten their lunch, they resumed Luster’s friendship tour of Ponyville. This time Rarity lead, showing Luster to her boutique. “With every friendship we win, beautiful things come from it. Ponies and other creatures will do generous things to help each other. The friendships can blossom into something deeper as well. And we’ll never stop believing in the generosity of the friendships we’ve won.” As she approached her original home base shop and knocked, Yona, now a very large adult Yak emerged with her pony husband Sandbar. The friendship they’d had developed into true love now. Luster was surprised for a moment, seeing a pony and yak actually married. But she shrugged, it seemed love could happen between any creature, whether they were the same species, or even same gender. She’d heard of such things before. Though it seemed strange, it was not up to her to judge. The last stop was at Fluttershy’s cottage. Which was more full of animals than ever. Deer, snakes, and all other kinds. “And because the love that I feel for every single living creature, is something that is real. Friendship happens so naturally.” A bunch of bunnies jumped upon Luster as though they liked her. Then when Fluttershy approached, the bunnies went over to her. Luster lost her smile momentarily at losing her new friends, but they weren’t in any way lost forever. Just going over to somepony else. One of the bunnies remained on Fluttershy’s head, and a portal opened, showing Discord who grinned at Luster before flying off somewhere. Twilight flapped her wings and sang once more. “Oh, and how I used to wonder… what friendship could be.” Gathering together on the hill overlooking Ponyville, the Mane 6 finished their song together. “This is where the magic happens. This is where the magic lives. Our friendships weave together stronger, the bonds grow deeper lasting longer. And the greatest spell you’ll know is how the magic of friendship grows.” “How the magic of friendship grows,” Twilight concluded as she nuzzled Luster a final time. "Thank you, Princess," Luster said. "I feel like... like I might enjoy friendship after all." "Good," Twilight said. "Now go." The sun was now setting over Ponyville, and Luster’s new friends had gathered below the hill, waiting for her. Her student ran off to the four new friends she’d made. Gallop, Georgia, Yelena, and River Song. One less than Twilight had made when she’d come to Ponyville so many years ago, but that didn’t matter. Five, six, seven, friendship was strong no matter how many it was among. The Future Five than walked to Ponyville while the Mane 6 and Spike watched proudly. Today was the dawn of a new era for Luster, and the beginning of her true journey. Twilight could only hope that it would go well as she watched her student wave goodbye and walk off to spend some time getting to know her new friends.