//------------------------------// // The End Is Just The Beginning... // Story: Descendants of the Isle // by Melody Song //------------------------------// “Sister?!” the kids all exclaimed at Rising Dawn's question. The mare opened her eyes and sat up, gasping. She was an alicorn with a deep purple coat, sapphire blue eyes, and a mane that swirled with purple and blue like a galaxy, or the other astronomical cloud she was named after. Her cutie mark was stars that formed a constellation of a crescent moon. “Rising Dawn?” she hugged her, and Rising Dawn hugged back. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry!” she sobbed "M-Mom?" Luna stepped forwards, and the strange alicorn looked to her. "Luna... my sweet little moon..." "I... I don't understand..." The alicorn, Nebula Star, stepped forward, wings fluttering. She looked down at Luna, who looked up at her. "I grew jealous of Rising Dawn being worshipped for her good deeds, while no one seemed to know I existed. I came to the awful conclusion that I must either be the second best at being good... or the best at being evil." "B-But I thought-" "I am your mother Luna. I always have been. I was simply in another form... one that made me see you as a curse, instead of the blessing I knew in my heart you were." Luna covered her mouth with a hoof, eyes overflowing with tears, then she threw her hooves around Nebula. "M-Mommy..." After the two embraced, Rising Dawn led Nebula away. She and Luna's reunion was drawing news reporters. Luna and Celestia looked at each other as their mothers walked away. “Does this... does it make us... cousins?” Luna asked “I guess so.” Celestia smiled hesitantly. “Sister-cousins?” “I’ve always wanted an alicorn sister...no offense Tempest.” “None taken.” Tempest replied, lifting the crown off her head and passing it to Gallus. Rising Dawn had Nebula Star escorted away by guards, who would take her to Rising Dawn’s castle and welcome her to Equus. Other guards were dealing with the statue of the Storm King, and the chained Gruff and Chrysalis. Gallus walked up to Rising Dawn and held out the crown. “I think this belongs to you.” he said shyly. Rising Dawn smiled kindly and unstuck the pin from the crown. “And I believe this,” she fastened it to his suit, “Belongs to you.” Tempest and the others walked up, Luna and Celestia supporting Snowdrop. “You have all earned yourselves an A in goodness class, and it seems we have some new students.” Rising Dawn smiled at Thorax, Ocellus, and Gilda. “You mean we get to stay?!” Ocellus asked, and Rising Dawn nodded Thorax and Ocellus tackled Pharynx, hugging him. Gilda nudged her brother gently and smiled at him. Rising Dawn then looked to Celestia and beckoned for her to follow her. Celestia hung her head and followed her mother to a corner of the room. “You were amazing Gallus.” Sandbar said, trotting up to the griffon, his parents behind him. “You weren’t so bad yourself.” Gallus said, ducking his head and nuzzling up under Sandbar’s chin. Sandbar smiled and hugged him. “Tempest…” Pharynx trotted up to her, Thorax and Ocellus by his side. “You... you were…” Tempest pulled him in and kissed him, making Thorax and Ocellus grin. They broke apart and blushed. Then, Tempest looked over at Rising Dawn, who seemed to be sternly talking to her daughter. “Um, will you excuse me for a minute?” Tempest released Pharynx and trotted to Rising Dawn and Celestia. “I love you Celestia, and I know you helped to take down the villains, but you are in a major time-out for what you did.” Rising Dawn said sternly, as Tempest approached. “Um, Rising Dawn?” Tempest asked, and the named alicorn turned. Tempest draped a hoof over Celestia’s shoulders. “Don’t be too hard on Celestia, I’m the one who put all those crazy ideas in her head about being beautiful. And in the end, she earned that mane and cutie mark herself.” Tempest then looked at Celestia. She offered the alicorn a small smile, and Celestia smiled back. “You are beautiful, inside and out. Your mom got that right.” “...I guess I did get pretty lucky in the parent department.” Celestia giggled softly. “Yeah, you sure did.” Tempest replied, then looked at Rising Dawn. “I don’t know what will happen next, Rising Dawn, but I promise, my friends and I will be there to help protect Equus.” “Thank you Tempest.” Rising Dawn smiled at her kindly. Suddenly, Tempest saw a glowing light out of the corner of her eye and turned. Her friends followed her gaze as she used her wavering magic to lift up her dress. A cutie mark had appeared on her flank. “You were a blank flank too?” Celestia asked “Why do you think she always wears that cloak?” Luna responded “Oh Tempest, it’s beautiful.” The mark was two lightning bolts coming down and casting shadows. The shadows formed a cross that resembled spears. Tempest smiled and dropped her dress back around her flank, looking up at Rising Dawn. “I guess that proves it.” “Indeed it does.” Rising Dawn laughed slightly “Well, are we gonna get this party started or what?” Gallus asked Sandbar, as Monarch wandered up to him. Gallus picked up the kitten in his claw. “Alright then!” Sandbar smiled, and they all laughed. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Out in the courtyard, the real party began. Gallus and Gilda took turns holding Monarch so the griffon boy could dance with Sandbar. Pharynx and Tempest laughed and danced together as well. Celestia and Luna stood together, talking, until Snowdrop, her glasses repaired by Rising Dawn, walked up and asked Luna to dance. Thorax and Ocellus then joined Celestia, making small talk until Ember walked up. “Hey.” Ember said. She had ditched the golden armor she'd sported during the coronation, and was wearing a golden dress with a long half-skirt. Thorax looked at her and blushed. “Hi…” “You want to dance?” Ember asked him, and Thorax looked over at his sister. Ocellus was nodding encouragingly. “Okay.” he said, turning back to Ember and taking her claw, letting her pull him onto the dance floor. “Looks like we have two new ships to set sailing.” Celestia said, taking a sip of her drink. “What?” Ocellus asked, and Celestia smiled “I’ll explain later.” As the group had fun, dancing and laughing, Gallus encountered Yona. He bowed to her, she curtsied back, and they nodded before going their separate ways. Gallus was then pulled along by Sandbar to the center of the dance floor, where they began to waltz, not caring that they were rather bad at it. “Well, what did you think of the coronation?” Sandbar asked “It was a lot of action.” Gallus leaned against Sandbar, closing his eyes slightly. “You know what I’m ready to do after all that?” “Heh, no, what?” “Sleep.” he yawned, and he felt Sandbar kiss his forehead. “You know, since I'm King now, you are too, in a sense. If you want to sleep, we can end the party now.” “Oh, no, everyone’s having fun. I’ll be fine.” Gallus said, smiling “You sure?” “Positive. Besides, I want to show Gilda mangoes. You put some out, right?” “Of course.” Sandbar smiled back. “Shall we, my King?” “Yes we shall, my King.” Gallus said. He quickly leaned over and nipped Sandbar behind the ear affectionately, making him blush as they headed for Gilda, who was holding a squirming Monarch. Tempest and Pharynx were dancing together too, and when the song changed to a more energetic number, their friends all joined them. Luna and Snowdrop bounced around together, while Ocellus and Celestia swayed to the beat, smiling. Thorax and Ember faced each other, moving in sync and beaming. Gilda danced beside her brother, who was holding Sandbar’s hoof. Oh! I was having so much fun I almost forgot… Tempest glanced over her shoulder and grinned knowingly, winking. You didn’t think this was the end of the story, did you?