//------------------------------// // Chapter 1: A Sun Dies and Another is Born // Story: Luster Dawn: New Days of the Magic of Friendship // by SamSwordsman123 //------------------------------// Twilight Sparkle, ruler of Equestria for the past five years, faced the crowd that had gathered for the funeral of two great ponies, ones that she'd admired so very much and thought would never leave. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. Both princesses bodies lay in the open coffins on the stage before Twilight who gazed upon them both with a forlorn expression. Twilight was no longer the smallest of the Alicorn Princesses. Now she looked just like Celestia. She’d grown to the exact same size and had the flowing mane as well. It was as though she’d actually become her mentor. “Hey, Twilight?” a voice asked. She felt some creature touch her. Twilight looked over and saw Spike, her adoptive dragon brother, royal advisor, and ever faithful number one assistant. He was not the same baby dragon he’d been for all those years. He was now nearly the same size as her even in her new “Celestial” form. “It’s time to start your speech,” he reminded her gently. “Right,” Twilight said. She looked ahead and saw the crowd of ponies that had gathered in Canterlot Cemetery for the funeral. Many of the ponies looked at her uncertainly, for this was an uncertain time. Their former rulers were no longer among them. The rulers they had seen as being close to divine and all powerful. That was going too far of course, if Celestia and Luna had been divine and all powerful, they would not have been defeated so many times and needed Twilight’s help to save Equestria. Their control over the elements of harmony had been lost when Celestia had been forced to banish Luna to the moon when her younger sister transformed into Nightmare Moon. They were powerful still, but bad luck always seemed to follow them and they never could do anything against the villains that Twilight had faced. With them no longer here, ponies felt uncertain. They’d always had faith in Celestia who’d ruled them for over a thousand years, and Luna made them feel even more secure once she returned. Now, there were only two of the four Alicorn Princesses left. True, Twilight as well as her sister-in-law Cadance remained, as did Princess Flurry Heart. But Flurry was still a foal, a very gifted foal, but she was still no fighter. The ponies of Equestria were all saddened by the loss of their former rulers, and felt less safe without them here. But among them, sitting in the front row of seats were Twilight’s best friends- Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy. They looked up at Twilight expectantly, and she looked back at them. The ones that had shown her the greatest magic of all, the Magic of Friendship, they were her life. Putting that aside, Twilight levitated a scroll which she began to read. “We are gathered here today to say goodbye to… the most wonderful ponies… Equestria has ever seen!” Twilight said. “Celestia and Luna have both dedicated their lives to keeping…” Twilight stopped, feeling ready to cry. She took a breath, that had to wait. Keep it together Twilight, she thought before continuing. “Keeping Equestria and the lands beyond safe. They…” but she broke off, unable to continue. Tears fell down her cheeks as she looked at the faces of the two ponies in the open coffins. She crumbled the paper and shouted out to the crowd. “I’m sorry!” she said. “Ever since I learned they were dying, I was preparing for this moment! I wrote that speech months ago, revised it a thousand times, but only now I see it doesn't give them the justice they deserve!" Water flooded Twilight's face. She looked at Celestia and Luna's coffins on the stage, hoping that this was all a bad dream, that the eyes of the two alicorns were going to open. But the bodies remained still, like two beautiful sculptures. She looked at Celestia first. "Y-you weren't just a princess, ruler, and protector. You were a normal pony - with dreams and desires. Sometimes you were harsh, sometimes you were a childish prankster, other times you were…" Twilight smiled through her tears as she nuzzled her mentor’s body. "A good source of information to rely on," this one earned her a nod from the crowd. "But most of all, you were… my friend... my mentor, my other mother. And f-for that…" She sniffled. "I t-thank you…" She then looked at Luna. “When I first met you, Luna, you were a different pony who got taken over by darkness… and lived with the remorse of it for the rest of your days. I remember how you came back to us modern ponies and had to learn to adjust to us. You were harsh on Nightmare Night, but you won the hearts of everypony in the end! Celestia may have been my mentor for all my life, but you hold a special place in my heart as well, Luna!” she said. “I’ll miss you both!” Someone got on the stage with Twilight, it was Applejack. “It’s okay Sugarcube, we know how close you were with em.” She put a foreleg around Twilight. Now that the Princess of Friendship was larger, Twilight had to bend down to return the hug. Spike as well as her four other friends got up on the stage and surrounded Twilight to comfort her. Twilight managed a smile as she felt the warmth of their touch. “Are you going to make new alicorns to take their places, Princess Twilight?” one stallion asked from the crowd. “We need new alicorns to protect us!” another mare stated. Twilight was silent. Many different shouts came after. “More alicorns!” “Quiet!” Rainbow Dash said. “You think you need alicorns? I say all you need is us! We were always the ones saving the day! The princesses never did anything useful! Well maybe an occasional something! But we’re all you ponies need to protect ya!” The Element of Loyalty’s intimidating voice caused everypony to be silent. Twilight took a breath, “Thank you… Rainbow Dash.” She looked at Celestia and Luna’s bodies once more. Twilight just kept hoping that this was all a bad dream, that the eyes of the two alicorns were going to open. But this was real. They were not coming back. “I… I assure you all, even though Celestia and Luna aren’t here anymore. We shall make sure Equestria is safe, just as we always have. I will do my role… as Princess!” “Celestia ruled us well for a thousand years! May your rule be just as long!” the same stallion that had asked if she intended to make more alicorns said. Twilight didn’t respond to that. She had no intention of ruling for a thousand years if she could help it. She looked at her friends… her true friends. Without them, life would mean nothing to her. They were still young, but the years would go by and time would change them. They would be in coffins like Celestia and Luna, but she would continue to remain this way. The thought of living without them for a thousand years twisted Twilight’s stomach. Still the duty to protect Equestria came first. “Well…” Twilight said, finally managing to recollect herself. “Celestia and Luna would encourage us to smile. They’ve both done so much for all of us, and we must remember them. We shall make sure Equestria will never forget them no matter how much time will pass! The Festival of the Two Sisters will come every year during my reign. I promise that!” “To the former princesses!” Pinkie Pie raised her hooves. The coffins were closed upon the princesses. Soon, Rarity and Starlight Glimmer walked while levitating them across the cemetery to their selected resting place. A large monumental stone had been prepared with statues of the two ponies on top. As the coffins neared their resting place, a flock of royal swans flew overhead guided by Fluttershy. They circled several times in a beautiful fashion. Once they were done, Rarity and Starlight placed the coffins in the ground and Applejack and Pinkie Pie tearfully pushed dirt on top of them. Twilight then performed her final role for the funeral. Lifting her horn to the sky as more tears fell from her cheeks. Since her coronation as Equestria’s new ruler, she now had the power to control the sun and moon without the aid of the amulet she’d initially needed. The sun remained in the sky, but it grew darker as the moon overlapped with it and a solar eclipse occurred. The sky darkened as though night came early. As it darkened, Rainbow Dash prepared herself for her part of the funeral. Slowly as she too felt the tinge of sadness for Celestia and Luna, the Pegasus flapped her wings and shouted out as she performed a Sonic Rainboom. “Goodbye, your majesties!” The sky lit up with Rainbow Dash’s Rainboom and silence followed for a long time. Twilight kept the eclipse remaining for half an hour. Her friends gathered around her as she sobbed… remembering all the times that she had shared with her beloved mentor. How Celestia had inspired her to learn everything she could about magic, all those lessons she’d taught at the School of Magic, being congratulated by the princess for being the top student in her class every year. All those times the princess said she was proud to have her as a student, that she’d believed in her. There were some bad memories as well, such as at her brother’s wedding when she’d said Twilight had a lot to think about. But those bad ones were nothing compared to the joy Twilight felt with her. Now, she would never hear the princess say she was proud again. Celestia would not be here to guide her. “I would not be the pony I am today without you, Celestia! Thank you!” Twilight said through her tears. “I will never forget you or Luna, and neither will Equestria!” She continued crying for a while in front of the monument, then felt a hoof on her. “You okay, little sis?” Shining Armor asked, looking up at her. Most of the other ponies had left, but Twilight’s family had remained. Twilight Velvet and Night Light were both looking elderly now. Cadance was still the same size and possessed an ordinary mane. Flurry Heart was bigger. She had a heart shaped cutie mark surrounded by a fluffy cloud. They all looked at Twilight with concern. Normally, Twilight would have cracked a joke about her current size now and said, “Little sis? I'm bigger than you now!!” But she had no heart for a joke. “I don’t know. It just feels strange… knowing that they’re both gone.” Shining Armor nodded. “I thought they would last for eternity.” Twilight Velvet approached her daughter. “I know how much you admired them, especially Celestia. She was probably more a mother to you than I was. I mean, I’m so rarely around.” “Don’t say that, Mom!” Twilight exclaimed. “Sure, Celestia was around more. But you raised me in a loving home and encouraged me, I wouldn’t be the pony I am today without you any more than her.” “You look like you could have been her daughter now more than ours, given your appearance!” Night Light pointed out. “You never did tell us how that came to be! What caused you to grow into that anyway?” Twilight could remember it clearly. That day when she’d learned the full extent of the transfer of power during her coronation. Flashback 4 years ago: Twilight waited patiently as her royal chariot was pulled through the sky by two Pegasus royal guards. Spike sat at her side, the baby dragon she’d hatched with her magic years ago wasn’t a baby anymore, and he was only going to get bigger in time. Within a few decades, or perhaps when she passed, he would be as large as a house. She was bigger too. Twilight thought she was fully grown when she'd moved to Ponyville long ago. But when she woke up this morning and rose the sun, she'd looked in her mirror to see a great difference. She used to be the smallest of the Alicorn Princesses, but now she was bigger, as tall as her sister-in-law Cadance. But more, her mane was flowing and sparkling faintly like that of her predecessors. Twilight needed to get some questions answered regarding this, and there were only two ponies that might know what was happening. The carriage finally descended into the Silver Shoals retirement home. It hit ground and Twilight climbed out, her guards and Spike following. She heard a soft chuckle behind and was surprised when Spike suddenly jumped on her back. He hadn’t done that in a long time. After he'd gotten his wings, she'd given him fewer ponyback rides. She still chuckled. “Spike!” “Hey, you’re bigger now! Just thought I’d relive some of the good old days when I could do this!” “Okay, but only till we get inside. Don’t get used to this. Maybe I’ll only be like this temporarily.” The ride ended very quickly, but Spike didn’t complain. As soon as they were at the door to the retirement home, he jumped off. The place was filled with mostly elderly mares and stallions. A few younger ones were present, visiting their older relatives and enjoying each other’s company. Families consisting of grandparents, parents, and foals all laughing and smiling together. Twilight smiled as she watched these moments. Several ponies noticed her presence. Their eyes widened at the sight of their princess and they bowed respectfully, saying “Princess” or “Your Highness” as she passed them. Twilight waved and smiled in return as she made her way to the top floor where the ponies she sought lived. She came to the right number and knocked. “Come in!” a familiar yet different regal voice said. Twilight and Spike entered the room while the royal guards remained outside. Once they were inside, their mouths fell open at an unexpected sight. Celestia and Luna, the two ponies who had ruled Equestria for the longest time and remained young while doing it were now looking… old. Celestia and Luna were different. Luna looked a lot like she did when Twilight first saw her after she and her friends defeated her when she was Nightmare Moon. Her coat was the lighter shade of blue that Twilight nearly forgot about. Her mane no longer sparkled; it was a lighter blue as well but also had some streaks of grey. Celestia, meanwhile, had a form completely unlike any Twilight had seen. Her coat was the same white, but her multi-colored mane now only bore a pink, with even more gray than Luna’s. Wrinkles were also forming on both former princesses’ cheeks like they would on older mares. Twilight stood there with her mouth open. “Prin-Celestia! Luna!” Twilight exclaimed. She’d almost said Princess, even though these two were no longer royalty. “My Twilight… your mane,” Celestia said with a smile. “It’s beautiful.” Twilight paused at the compliment then said, “Th-thank you. But do you know why it’s become like this? And why…why do both of you look like this? Luna, you look like you did when I first met you… but older? Are you both alright? Are you ill?” Luna shook her head. “We're fine, Twilight. We've merely lost the last remnants of the power we passed on to you. Soon we ourselves will be passing on.” Twilight was silent for a moment. Not believing what she was hearing. “Passing on? You mean-“ “Yes, Twilight. Our time is coming,” Celestia said. Twilight was silent for a moment. “But… but I thought you were both going to live forever!” Tears began to fill her eyes. “You two can’t die!” “Nopony lives forever, Twilight. Though I suppose we could have... but we don't want to. We’ve lived long enough and had good lives... despite... our hardships.” Celestia got up from her sofa and walked toward her former student. She moved slower than Twilight remembered. “We likely would have passed on the throne to somepony else a thousand years ago if not for my transformation into Nightmare Moon,” Luna said. “So many of our friends and the subjects we grew close to during our early years ruling long ago have passed," Celestia said as she approached Twilight and put a hoof on her. "We had talked about finding a worthy successor back in those days when our first loved ones were growing old. But when I had to banish my sister to the moon, I could not bring myself to pass on alone. I wanted her back!” Celestia sniffled. “So, when I discovered that Nightmare Moon would return, I decided to wait… and find a worthy successor once I had my Luna back.” She looked at Twilight with a teary smile. “And I found that successor. You.” “But… Celestia. Luna. You can't! Please, take your power back from me!” Twilight shrieked. Celestia shook her head. “Twilight, please try to understand. I've ruled for over a thousand years. In that time, I've watched many ponies that I grew to care about pass on. Students I taught at my School of Magic, friends that I would spend time with, servants who aided me. All ponies and other creatures I care about. I've been to more funerals than anypony. Life is a gift, but I've had my fill of it. Death is a natural part of life, and we must accept it. Immortality is a heavy burden, not a gift." Twilight was at a loss for words. She couldn't imagine all the losses her mentor had kept buried deep. She looked down in silence. Celestia took her chin and made her look up. “Don't despair, Twilight. We still have a few years left, and you are always welcome to visit us. But you came to ask about why your mane is like that and why you are suddenly bigger?” Twilight nodded as she looked back at her purple mane which flowed behind her. “It usually only did this when I was channeling a lot of friendship magic. But now it’s doing it on its own. I’ve only seen you, Luna, Sombra, and Mistmane with manes that move on their own.” “Well… I believe it is because of all the magic you wield which has built up inside you. Since we passed our powers onto you at the coronation, you now harness the power of the sun and moon. You also have the friendship magic you’ve spread across Equestria. When alicorns… or unicorns… delve into a rare and powerful magic like our cosmic energy which controls the sun and moon, or Sombra’s darkness, and Mistmane’s own good heart we acquire these manes permanently through practicing powerful types of magic.” “Will I continue growing?” “Perhaps. Depends on how powerful you become. You could become as large as I am," Celestia said. “Or perhaps even more so.” “But does that mean I’m going to be immortal?” Twilight asked. “Yes, you now have our immortality which comes from our powers over the sun and moon,” Luna said. “But it is up to you whether you keep it or not. This is your choice alone." Twilight hesitated. Sure, living forever did sound nice. She wouldn't have to be afraid of growing old. But she knew that would come at a price. “I would have to watch all my best friends go and never be able to follow them. Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy.” "Yes," Celestia said. "If you choose to keep it." Twilight shook her head. "No, I don't want it. I want to live, but losing everypony I love is not a price I would pay to do so. I’m fine with a normal pony lifespan." “We understand, Twilight. I had to watch many of my students whom I grew close to, some that could have succeeded me before you… pass on. I miss them all dearly and hope to reunite with them in the next life,” Celestia said. “So… what can I do?” Twilight asked. “I believe I can think of a way,” Celestia said. “Search for a successor of your own. One who will be responsible for raising the sun and moon, as well as maintaining the friendship in Equestria. When the time comes, pass the power to them.” End Flashback: Twilight shook her head. “I don’t feel like talking about it. Excuse me, I need to take a walk.” She trotted among the other graves. Wondering if any she passed contained the friends of Celestia and Luna. As she did so, she saw a pair of young unicorn fillies playing carefreely. They were apparently bored by the quietness around Canterlot and snuck away to play ball, tossing one back and forth with their magic. Twilight smiled at this sight for a moment, so much fun. But that was such a simple trick to be able to levitate a ball like that. What she needed for a successor was someone with beyond simple talent in magic to be able to take over the duties of the sun and moon. Celestia said some worthy successors came during her reign, but Twilight was a special case. She’d been able to hatch a dragon egg with raw magic power. That kind of potential wasn’t seen very often. The only other unicorn Twilight might have believed capable of such a feat (besides herself when she had been one) was Starlight, who had been able to fight her evenly despite her ascension to alicornhood. Hay, Starlight even managed to hold her own against Chrysalis when the former Changeling Queen had been empowered by Grogar's magic. Twilight sighed. If only Starlight were a filly now, she might have been able to groom her to be a worthy successor like Celestia had done for Twilight. But Starlight was just about the same age as Twilight herself. That wasn’t going to work, Twilight couldn’t give her the power and immortality. She needed a younger student to take her place, so that that student could do the same if they so choose. But even if she found one with that much ability, would that pony turn out good? Celestia had been faced with a betrayal from Sunset Shimmer, her protégée before Twilight. And Twilight herself had also been betrayed by an even worse student, Cozy Glow. Would she be able to find a successor that had the power and compassion to be a good ruler? Twilight wanted to be able to pass on with her friends, but she still had a responsibility to her people. She couldn’t let somepony take her place unless she was absolutely certain that pony would be a good ruler. What if she had to wait for a hundred years? Two hundred? Or even a thousand before she found one? What if something happened to make her need to stay like Celestia had for Luna? What if Equestria still needed her? Starlight might have been worthy. Her villainous days were long behind her. She was doing a good job as stewardess of the Castle of Friendship as well as Headmare at the school along with her husband Sunburst. If only she were younger. “Hey!” A voice called behind Twilight. The princess looked over her shoulder to see Starlight herself coming. Twilight stopped and allowed her first ever pupil to catch up with her. “Here to try to pull me out of my depression like you did when the school got closed by Neighsay?” Twilight asked. Starlight blushed and put a hoof on her stomach. “I might as well try. You look like you could use some happy news today.” Twilight sighed. “I’d love some.” Starlight motioned for her to come close. Reluctantly, Twilight put an ear out. Her mouth fell open when Starlight spoke. “I’m pregnant.” Twilight was silent for a moment. Then her lips grew into the largest smile she’d made since hearing of Celestia and Luna’s passing. “Starlight that’s… that’s wonderful! You and Sunburst are having a foal! Oh, I could only imagine what it’ll turnout like!” Starlight gave a small chuckle as she patted her stomach. There was yet to be a foalbump going down to the ground, but the baby was there. “Well, hopefully it won’t turn out like I did after losing a single friend. Though I’m hoping it’ll be pretty good at magic at least. I mean, I’m pretty good at it. Sunburst is a genius on its theory, and we choose Trixie to be godmare. So, who knows? This could be Equestria’s next Starswirl the Bearded?” Those words caused Twilight to smile slightly as an idea entered her head. “Well… let’s hope.” … Months later, Twilight walked through the Canterlot Cemetery once again. She saw the statues of the two sisters over the graves of Celestia and Luna. She looked upon them for some time, then suddenly she heard a voice. “Twilight?” Twilight looked over her shoulder and saw a purple dragon. “Oh hi, Spike. I was just visiting Celestia and Luna’s grave.” “I can see that,” Spike said, “But we need to visit the others as well.” “Others?” Twilight asked. “You know… your best friends?” Spike asked. “What?” Twilight exclaimed. “Don’t you remember them? Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie?” Spike reminded her. “But they’re not- they can’t be!” Twilight exclaimed. “It’s only been nine months since Celestia and Luna passed!” “They’re dead, Twilight!” Spike said before pointing. “They’ve been dead for centuries! Look, there’s their graves!” Twilight looked, and her eyes widened in horror as she saw the five gravestones with cutie marks that all belonged to her best friends. Diamonds, butterflies, a lightning bolt with a rainbow coloration, balloons, and apples. “No! No! No!” Twilight screamed. “They can’t be gone!” “Hey, it’s alright Princess!” another voice said. Twilight looked and saw another group of unfamiliar ponies there in the cemetery. “Who- who are you?” Twilight asked. “We’re your new friends,” another of the ponies said. “We’re their replacements,” a third said pointing to the five graves. “Replacements?” Twilight repeated. “No! Nopony can replace them! I belong with them!” “You belong on the throne! You’re the ruler of Equestria, we need you here! We’ll always need you.” We’ll always need you. We’ll always need you. Twilight woke with a start. She took in her surroundings, the royal room of Canterlot Castle where she’d taken up residence permanently. Her pet Owlouisous lay on his perch, hooting at her in concern when her saw her wake up. “It’s okay, Owlouisous. I’m okay, I just had a nightmare.” “Who?” “Me,” Twilight sighed. If only owls could say something besides 'who'. She looked down at the bed as she went over her nightmare. The life of an immortal, having to watch all her best friends, the ponies who had made her the princess she was today, die. It was too terrible. She couldn’t bear the thought of that. She belonged with them. True, she could make new friends since she was the Princess of Friendship after all. But would those new friends be true friends? Celestia had not been able to make new friends after Luna was banished, at least not on the same level. All the ponies had seen her as more of a royal goddess to serve than a friend, and she'dlost control of the Elements. Now, Twilight could be in for the exact same situation. The ponies of Equestria looked to her to lead and protect them. Especially now that the two sisters were gone, they felt more insecure than ever. True, there hadn’t been any villains since Tirek, Chrysalis and Cozy Glow had been defeated, which was a problem for Twilight. If no villains came, there would be no way for her to test a possible successor to train in order to take her place someday. She never thought she would actually need villains. Twilight sighed again, then levitated her favorite book of all over and opened it. It was the memory book Starlight and Spike gave her when she’d moved back to Canterlot. She opened it and saw the moving pictures of her and all the others laughing together. Her precious memories that she would always treasure. But that was not enough. She didn’t want to merely remember her friends even if they weren’t part of her everyday life anymore. She wanted to always be with them, even if it was in death. But she had her duty to protect Equestria, and she would not hand it over to any pony until she was absolutely certain that pony was the one for the job. She would wait, and hope a successor came before her friend’s lives ended. She was going to do what Celestia had done. She would find a successor… somepony who could take care of Equestria, the sun, moon, and the magic of friendship in her place. Unlike Celestia who had stayed to get her sister back, Twilight had no reason to rule for a thousand years and endure endless funerals and losses. That had been Celestia’s greatest pain which she’d kept hidden so well. There was suddenly a knock on the door. “Twilight! Wake up!” a familiar voice called. “I am awake, Spike!” Twilight called. Her adolescent dragon assistant entered her room carrying a scroll. “Starlight’s gone into labor!” he told her. Twilight got to her hooves with a grin. “Then I guess we better go to Ponyville! I don’t want to miss the birth of my first pupil’s child!” They ran outside of the castle and took off on their wings. Princess and dragon soared through the night sky across Canterlot to the small town that had been their home for the best years of their lives with five other special ponies; Ponyville. Twilight saw the many houses and familiar buildings including Sugar Cube Corner. Overlooking the town was the Castle of Friendship, the castle that had served as her second home after the destruction of the Golden Oak Library at Tirek’s horns. Now the castle was the home of her former student Starlight Glimmer who was now its stewardess and Headmare of the School of Friendship connected to it. But Starlight wasn’t there in the castle. Twilight flew to the Ponyville Hospital where she found Starlight’s husband Sunburst and best friend Trixie Lulamoon in the waiting room. Also present were her five best friends, all of whom looked at her and Spike as they entered the room. “Twilight, you’re here!” Applejack said in joy as she and the others raced over to embrace the pony who had become a lesser part of their lives. “You didn’t think I’d miss this, did you?” Twilight asked with a small smile. “How are you holding up?” Applejack sighed. “Well, Rainbow’s been there for me a lot since Granny Smith died. So, I’m coping. It’s not like I’ll never see her again.” “Yeah, just until we pass into the ether ourselves,” Twilight agreed. I just hope I don’t have to watch all of them go first. She thought. There was a ring. Everypony knew what that meant. Soon Nurse Redheart entered the room. “Excuse me, Mr. Sunburst? Your wife has given birth. Congratulations, you have a filly.” Sunburst grinned and began stomping his hooves. “Yes! Yes! I’m a father! I’m a father!” “Father party!” Pinkie screamed and blew her confetti canon, covering Sunburst in confetti. He stood there with a frown. “Darling, do make sure to keep it down,” Rarity told her. “Remember what happened when you wouldn’t be quiet after the Cake Twins were born?” Pinkie sighed, “Oh right.” She wore a big grin as they made their way to the room where Starlight sat in bed holding her newborn foal to her breast. “Oh, hey Twilight!” Starlight said with a grin as her former mentor entered the room with everypony else. “Hey, Starlight,” Twilight said as she bent down to get a look at the baby. It was a pink pony, brighter pink than Starlight. Her mane was orange and yellow like her father’s coat. “Oh, she’s beautiful,” Twilight said. “What are you going to name her?” Starlight thought for a moment, then glanced at the clock nearby. It was 6 am. “Well I-“ Twilight gasped as she realized something. “Oh! I need to raise the sun!” The Ruler of Equestria lit up her horn and then light began to shine through as dawn occurred and the sun rose for first light. Everypony smiled at the light pouring through the window. Starlight smiled weakly as she watched. “That’s it! I’ll name her Dawn! Luster Dawn!”