The next thing Twilight knew, she was waking up, the victim of yet another magical surge. This time however, she didn’t feel like she was just run over by a chariot. She heard her friends talking amongst themselves, noting how their new artifacts looked like their cutie marks. She couldn’t see hers, so she looked to the closest pony instead.
This happened to be Sunset; she bore a golden necklace with a brilliant topaz cut into a sun-shape. However soon Twilight's eyes drifted upward, and she gasped.
“Sunset, your horn!”
“What! What about my horn?” She tentatively tapped a hoof against it, and gasped when it didn’t send a burning pain into her head. “What happened?”
“It’s healed!”
The rest of the ponies turned to gasp and congratulate her on her fortune.
Sunset basked in the attention for a moment before smiling. “I...don’t know what to say, Twilight. When Nightmare Moon mentioned her prophecy, I thought she might have been right. I really did consider betraying all of you, but when I truly thought about it I just...couldn’t. I couldn’t betray my friends like that, and I’m glad. When I was sent on this quest, I never thought the Elements would be like this, but we really do represent the spirits of harmony.
“Indeed you do.” It was a motherly voice that echoed through the room. One that everyone knew immediately. Through a window, a brilliant sunrise rose from the horizon, and a blinding light flew in from outside, coalescing into the majestic form of Princess Celestia. Nearly everyone immediately bowed in respect to the monarch. Sunset, however, simply approached Celestia.
“Sunset Shimmer, my determined student. I knew you could do it.”
Sunset cocked her head. “Did you really?”
If Celestia was insulted by this, she didn’t show it. “Even in your darkest moments, you were capable. I always believed in you. Though since you have lately given my lessons a true effort I was more confident than before, yes.
“You have impressed me greatly, and have proven to me that you are ready. Now, hopefully, another will show they have learned as well.”
The ponies looked to both of them for clarity, but only saw a mixture of guilt and regret on Sunset’s face. Celestia didn’t elaborate on what she meant, instead turning towards where Nightmare Moon once was.
“Princess Luna!”
The lot of them winced when the pile of blue hair groaned in pain, but that vanished when their former enemy decided to finally stand.
The Nightmare was still there.
And yet, not. No longer was she the tall and impressive alicorn urserper. Her fur had lightened to a mere charcoal black, instead of pitch. No longer did her mane and tail blow in an ethereal wind. Her armor was gone, surrounding her in shards, leaving bare fur. Her horn had shrunk to that of a unicorn’s, and her wings were as small as a pegasus’. Her eyes, while still an eerie teal, had normal irises, and her teeth had flattened to that of an herbivore.
All in all, she was a smaller, softer Nightmare Moon.
“Luna died a millennium ago, sister,” she spat, and Celestia stilled. There was a long moment of silence before Celestia spoke.
“I see,” she said simply, though her neutrality was rapidly losing to sorrow. “So, you will not accept my friendship? I would have you by my side again, if you agreed.”
Nightmare sneered. “After your century of neglect? Of basking in the adoration of our subjects while I wallowed in their hatred? After suffering a rotation of madness and clarity from a thousand years of solitary confinement?!”
Celestia drooped her head. “I cannot express the regret I feel for all of that. Not truly. Not without insulting you. I did not know, sister. I didn’t know! I was blind and prideful in our youth. I didn’t know what the elements would do. I only sought to try and cure you of your madness!”
She winced as soon as soon as the word left her mouth.
“Madness?” Nightmare said quietly, dangerously. “Is it madness for a pony to lash out when all blame is on her, for no reason? Is it madness to want a single scrap of appreciation for all she does? Is it madness to cry out for attention from the only family she has left?!”
Tears welled in Nightmare’s eyes, as she stood there, panting. As soon as she realized, she grit her teeth and looked away in disgust.
“I’m sorry, sister,” Celestia said quietly.
Nightmare glared. “Yes, you are.”
Celestia flinched.
A sigh. “But...I can see that you at least regret what has happened. That is more than I saw before my...rebellion.”
Celestia looked to her sister, hopefully. “L-Luna?”
“That is not my name,” she stated. “Luna is dead. She will never come back. However, seeing that the Elements have stripped me of my power, and seeing that you truly regret your actions, my anger has...cooled.”
She narrowed her eyes. “I have served my sentence on the moon. I have been punished by the Elements. I declare my banishment over, my payment exacted. I name myself Selene, Princess of the Moon. Make no mistake, I have not forgiven you, Celestia. I may never forgive you. But...I am willing to see if things have truly changed. I will return to your side. I will aid you. I will behave.”
She smirked. “For now. However long that lasts is up to you and Equestria.”
She walked forward towards a slowly smiling Celestia, only to coldly walk past, ignoring the offered hug. All ponies in the room stared for a moment in silent shock, or sadness.
“That could have gone better,” Pinkie said, to the glares of the others. Still, she had a point.
“Are we really just going to let her go free?” Rainbow asked.
“Lu- Selene was correct. She served her banishment, and the Elements have stripped her of her power for her recent actions,” Celestia explained. “There is nothing more to do but heal.”
Rainbow frowned, but gave her a polite bow. “As her Highness wills.” The age old response when a guard disagrees, but won’t protest.
“So, what happens now?” Twilight asked.
“Now I ask what you are doing here,” Celestia asked, but with no heat. Still, Twilight shrunk a bit. “I sent Sunset here to awaken the Elements and hopefully help my sister from her...darkness, and yet here you are, Twilight Sparkle, bearing the Element of Magic, and my student is wearing something entirely new. Where there were six, there are now seven. Would you care to explain?” She waved a wing for the group to follow her out.
Twilight laughed and smiled nervously. “Uh, well, you see…” She explained what she had done. How she had ‘happened’ across the legend of the Mare in the Moon and researched it herself, then came to Ponyville to see what she could do. How she didn’t want Sunset to be left out, and how she pulled on the Elements to extend their power to the seventh pony. In between the beginning and end, the rest of her friends chimed in, adding their own perspectives or narrating their own parts in the story. Sunset had even willingly added her own failures, including how she ignored the important parts of her instructions, and inadvertently got Philomena killed in a manticore ambush. Celestia was quite shocked at that, but was happy to find that the newly reborn chick was happily asleep in Sunset’s mane, somehow oblivious of the events that had recently taken place.
“And then, well...I’m not sure what happened. I kind of blanked out, and when I woke up, you were there.”
“That is quite the story, Twilight Sparkle,” Celestia said with a smile. “You know, for some time I had you pegged as a possible candidate for the Element of Magic. It’s a shame that you declined the offer to become my protegé.”
The entire group gasped and exclaimed their surprise.
“You...you said no to Princess Celestia?” Sunset asked.
Twilight smiled. “Well, with my own studies, I didn’t really have the time.” A quick look at Sunset made sure exactly what she was studying was clear. “Besides, I learned what I needed. She taught me enough about friendship to know how to help you.”
Sunset snorted. “True, but it was still a mistake.”
Twilight rolled her eyes. “I used to be such a shut in. Can you imagine what I would have been like if I didn’t have a normal school experience? I would probably be some kind of book-obsessed perfectionist know-it-all!”
The lot of them laughed at that, just in time for their arrival back at Ponyville. Without Nightmare Moon twisting the paths and adding obstacles both big and small with her power, the way out was much more straightforward.
===
Their return was triumphant, with the citizens of Ponyville cheering for the saviors of the day and their princess. They were immediately set upon by the local guard, making sure that, yes, Princess Celestia was okay and, no, the familiar looking pony named Selene wasn’t Nightmare Moon.
Selene herself looked quite surprised at Celestia’s covering for her, but did not protest, instead maintaining a stoic silence.
It was easy for Celestia to convince the mayor to allow her to commandeer the town hall for an announcement. Celestia and the Elements stood there, proud and tall, while Selene stood back slightly, eyes keen and observing.
“My faithful subjects. It is with great pleasure that I announce that the evil Nightmare Moon has been defeated!”
A roaring cheer responded.
“Of their own volition, these seven ponies learned of the tale of the Mare in the Moon, and sought out the artifacts of good that they now wear, the Elements of Harmony. They braved trials both of the Everfree, and of Nightmare Moon herself. However each and every one of them were overcome, and through this, a bond of friendship was formed. When they finally reached the old capitol within the center of the forest, they retrieved the Elements, defeated the Nightmare, and purged her corruption from my sister, Princess Selene!”
She gestured to the side, where Selene slowly approached. She gazed upon the cheering crowd with a cool eye before eyeing Celestia in bemusement. Her idle interest turned to a cruel smile for a split second, just enough for Twilight to realize that something was wrong.
“Citizens of Equestria!” Selene announced. “It is with great pleasure that I finally return to you. However, there is something that I must let you know.”
“Oh no, please don’t…” Celestia whispered.
“My sister has lied to you.” This led to predictable gasps amongst the audience. “While I...appreciate...her attempts to make this transition smoother, I cannot in good conscience allow such dishonesty pervade my political persona.” She paused a moment. “I was Nightmare Moon.” More gasps, some screams. “However, through these heroines, I have been shown the error of my ways. I will rebuild my reputation through loyalty to my subjects, good cheer at their accomplishments, and honesty to all. I will not begin my new life on a lie. I will earn your admiration, not cheat for it.”
She gazed upon the crowd.
“I still see fear. Understandable. I have given you much to fear me for. However know this, I love Equestria. I would never harm anypony without due reason. You need fear me no longer, for my ire no longer burns for my sister, but instead for the ills that plague Equestria. After a thousand years, I return to find nothing has changed. Stagnation has taken root. In order for Equestria to grow, we must change, and I will create that change. I will bring Equestria out of its rut and into a new golden age, where it is the envy of every nation on Arcadia. Mark my words. When I am long dead and history is set in stone, Equestria will forever remember this night as the turning point in our history. The night that we turned our backs on the status quo, and embraced the future!”
Silence, utter and complete. The ponies in the crowd stared at her with shock, awe, and confusion. For a moment it looked like Selene’s speech had fizzled out.
Then someone started stomping their hooves.
It was like a plague. Stomping, cheering, whistling, and yelling spread virulently. There were many holdouts, but soon they too had been swept up in the raw inspiration that Selene had invoked. With a bow to the crowd, Selene stepped away and over to Celestia with a cocky smile, not even trying to hide it. The group of them waited until they retreated to a back room before Celestia spun around.
“Did you have to do that? How is that behaving?” Celestia asked.
“I am merely embracing the virtues of harmony, sister. Or did you forget I once bore the Element of Honesty?” Applejack started at this.
Celestia sighed. “I purged records of you so you could start anew, and you throw it all away in a second!”
Selene shrugged. “Oh well. I meant what I said. I’m not going to be the perfect little sister you used to know. I will win the admiration I deserve, and I will do it legitimately this time.”
“And upset the entire country in the process.”
“Uh, should we be here?” Twilight quietly asked Sunset.
Sunset shook her head. “Not...really? But they’re not asking us to leave, and this seems important.”
“You can’t just purge the nobility!” Celestia shouted.
“And why not? They are useless, yes? Exist only to collect taxes and whine to the crown.”
“They delegate so we don’t have to handle everything-” Celestia groaned and rolled her eyes. “Later. We’ll discuss this later.”
“So you’ll support my efforts, sister? We must show a united front.” Selene had a shit eating grin.
“I will support what I believe will help Equestria, but later.” She turned and addressed the Element bearers. “I’m sorry you had to see that. It seems that my sister and I have some discussions in our future.”
Selene snorted.
“Anyway, I have a reward for all of you. While I sent Sunset on this quest, and she will get the reward she requested, you six went beyond the call of any ordinary citizen to aid Equestria in its trying times. All of you will be added to the Hall of History in the palace, a national holiday will be created, and each of you will receive the Equestrian Pink Hearts of Courage.
“However, I realize that personal risk to yourselves deserves something material as well. You need simply ask and, if it’s within reason, it will be granted to you.”
Everyone started excitedly chatting to one another for a few moments.
It was Rainbow Dash that spoke up first.
“I’d like some new gear for my job. The best weatherpony bodysuit, goggles, the works.”
Applejack said, “I could use a bit of an endorsement in Canterlot. I always have trouble getting new business contacts on account of being, quote ‘an upstart.’ Unquote.”
Fluttershy raised her hoof. “Ooh! I’ve always had space issues with larger animals. Can I get some land so I can set up a large animal area?”
“I could use some new art tools,” Pinkie said. “You know, diamond tipped chisels, hammers with enchanted handles, that kind of stuff.”
“I’d like a tour of Canterlot, if that’s alright,” Rarity said. “I know I’ve been there once, but only for a field trip. I’ve never seen the upper districts.”
One by one, each of their requests were granted. And then there was Twilight, and she had an amazing, slightly devious plan.
“Two things, if it’s not much trouble,” she said. “One, enough money to start a spell weaving business. I can’t get any loans or interviews in Canterlot because I’m not connected to nobility.”
“Easily doable, and I know you have the skills to make it succeed so it won't be a waste,” Celestia said. “The other part?”
Twilight waved a hoof. “It shouldn’t even cost anything. Just your signature.”
Celestia’s eyes narrowed. “I see. What is it you want?”
“I’d like a license to freely practice chaos magic.”
Complete silence.
“And how long have you been using chaos magic, Twilight Sparkle?”
She shrugged. “Long enough to prove that it doesn’t drive you insane. However the real question is how fair would it be if you granted your personal student permission to use dark magic, but disallowed a heroine of Equestria to use chaos magic, as long as she did it in a responsible manner? A heroine, mind you, that was deemed worthy to use the most powerful artifacts known to ponydom?”
More silence, broken by Selene’s chuckling. “I knew I was right to try and recruit you. Well, what will it be, sister? Hypocrisy, or generosity?”
Celestia’s face was threatening to permanently wrinkle, with the expression she was wearing. “That’s how you got past the wards when you were younger, isn’t it?”
Twilight smiled with a fey twinkle in her eyes. “Uh uh. That’s not what we’re discussing.”
The rest of the ponies were just staring at her in horror at her blatant disrespect, and her audacity to trap the Princess in such a way.
Celestia finally relented. “Very well. As long as you maintain a level of control and exercise your power responsibly, I will grant this boon.” She stepped forward. “But know this, chaos mage. My sister and I stopped the likes of Discord. We can absolutely stop you, should you prove a threat.”
Twilight gave her a gracious bow. “Terms accepted.”
“My offer is still open, by the way,” Selene added.
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Twilight replied.
The two and Celestia stared at each other for a full minute before Celestia sighed, and turned to Sunset.
“As for you, my determined student…”
Sunset raised a hoof. “Actually, Princess, I’m going to have to decline.”
Celestia’s eyes bugged out. “W-what?”
Selene started snickering again. “It is so funny to see you lose your composure.”
Sunset glared at her for a moment before returning to Celestia. “I’d like to stay in Ponyville, if that’s alright. I know I went on this quest with the promise of princesshood, but I learned a lot here in Ponyville. I learned that power isn’t the end-all, be all. I learned that what I was missing in my life wasn’t authority, but instead…” She gestured to the other six. “Friendship. And if I’m granted a princesshood, I’ll have to go back to Canterlot, and probably won’t see them again. So! I’m going to have to decline. At least, until I’m truly ready. That’s what you’ve been trying to teach me, right? Responsibility?”
Celestia was just staring at her, mouth agape.
“Uh, Princess? Are you going to-mmph!” Sunset suddenly found herself pressed against Celestia’s chest, a pair of legs squeezing her tight.
“Daww!” Pinkie chimed in.
“Sunset, you don’t know how proud of you I am right now,” Celestia said with silent tears. “When you...when we had our fight, I thought I lost you forever. I hoped...hoped with all my heart that would find your way back home. I’m so sorry I thought I had to bribe you to come back.”
Sunset’s arms were squeezing her just as tightly. “Well, you kind of did at the time, but I’m glad I let you.”
Everypony watched the fuzzy scene, sharing the warmth it seemed to radiate to the room. Even Selene seemed to appreciate the sight, though she would later deny it when someone pointed it out.
And all was good.
===
Twilight Sparkle finally made it to her bedroom after a thorough tongue lashing and hug session from her brother and parents. It was expected, vicious, and cuddly.
With a sigh, she flopped on her bed and stared up at the ceiling, her brain starting to wind down from all the adrenaline and overtiredness. Apparently their trek through the Everfree had taken twelve hours which, combined with the day’s work prior, meant they all had been up for about a full day and a half running around, and another half dealing with the aftermath.
She was completely exhausted.
“Totally worth it,” she quietly said, bringing her rewards back in sight. A check worth a hundred thousand bits, enough to purchase a storefront in Ponyville and buy supplies for her plans. She ultimately chose to move out of Canterlot for two reasons. One: her friends were all in Ponyville. She would visit her Canterlot friends from time to time, but she doubted it would hurt anyone if they slowly drifted apart. Two: she was certain that if word got out for what she wanted to invent, a squad of tribalist unicorns would show up at her shop at night, burn it to the ground, piss on it, then burn the ashes.
The real gem was the document. A royal decree that authorized one Twilight Sparkle to use chaos magic without restriction, with the only exceptions being if she broke the law or otherwise destabilized lives, a town, the country, or the world. It was needlessly wordy, but it all boiled down to one word: behave.
“I couldn’t agree more,” said a familiar voice. Twilight banished her prized possessions to a secure location and looked up to find Discord floating above her with a huge smile.
“Where have you been?” she asked.
He waved it off. “Oh, here and there. Celly and Selly have a nose for my brand of magic, and if they got wind I was near you, they would have you imprisoned within a second. I wanted to make sure you weren’t in any danger.”
Twilight smirked. “Aww, and you say you don’t care about me.”
Discord sighed. “Yes, I guess it’s time to face the truth. You’ve infected me with friendship, Twilight Sparkle. Until I met you I couldn’t have cared less about anypony other than myself, but you seemed to grow on me. I sought out a pawn, and ended up a parent, sort of. Never thought that would happen.”
“Well, I’m glad you tried to corrupt me and succeeded, sort of.” Twilight shrugged. “I was serious when I was saying I’m glad I never ended up as Celestia’s student. You taught me how to actually live.”
Discord smiled, and swept Twilight up in a hug. “Is this what friendship feels like?”
“Well, seeing as I’ve been cultivating it for the past two days, I’m pretty sure that’s a yes.”
He dropped her, but obviously wasn’t sincere about how callous it was. “I’m not sure if I like it. If this keeps up, I’ll care about other ponies. I’m not sure if that works with my schtick.”
Twilight hummed. “Well, we can cross that bridge when we come to it. I’m sure if you don’t cause too much trouble, Princess Celestia won’t try and sic us on you.”
Discord slowly met her eyes. “You wouldn’t, would you?”
Twilight’s expression went hard. “No. Never! You’re my friend, Discord. My first friend. I’d never betray you!”
His gaze softened, and he patted her on the head. “I’m glad to hear it. Now, onto your progress report.” He summoned a television screen, which quickly sped through the entire ordeal, and cut right to the chase. A summary screen filled with numbers and words detailing score, but the end result were shining platinum words that read ‘Rank: S+’.
“Not only did you stop dear Moonbutt from conquering Equestria, you also sowed so many seeds of chaos! You modified the Elements of Harmony, you somehow didn’t purge Selene of her darkness, you trapped Celestia in a choice between logic and virtue, you gained free reign to use your power, and you have the ear of one of the princesses of the land! Not a bad haul if I do say so myself.”
Twilight clopped her hooves in response.
“Now, where Celestia had her reward, I have my own.” He snapped his fingers, calling forth a spell scroll.
Twilight took it, eyeing it over. “What does this do?”
“Quite simple, my dear. This will grant you very limited access to the chaos realm, where I draw my power from.”
Twilight’s eyes went wide. “You mean-”
He nodded. “Yes. Your power will be technically infinite, but the rate you can call on it is limited. You won’t be able to alter the world like I can, but you’ll be able to cast small cantrips constantly, and you’ll never tire from it.”
Twilight looked at him with a bit of bemusement. “I’m grateful, definitely, but why not just grant me full access?”
Discord laughed. “Greedy. No, the real reason is that Celestia’s fear of chaos magic isn’t unfounded. The fools that lose themselves to it dive too deep, too quickly. If I did that, you would be no better than the examples they use to warn you at school. No, it’s best to get used to it, slowly and carefully.”
Twilight mused on that for a moment, and it made sense. “Alright.” She unfurled it, and with reckless abandon, cast the spell. A flash filled the room, the scroll was gone, and Twilight was looking around expectantly.
“Um, nothing happened.”
Discord rolled his eyes. “Of course something happened. If you felt it, then I would know something went wrong. Go ahead, try to...say...conjure something to eat.”
Twilight beamed, and snapped her tail, conjuring a hayburger. She waited for the quick onset of hunger, but it never happened. The power hadn’t come from her own reserves.
“YES!” she took the treat and immediately devoured it, savoring each bite. “Thank you, Discord!”
He smiled. “Anytime, my dear. Once you prove you can handle this, we’ll slowly increase the flow. But that’s for far-future us to worry about. What are your plans for the near future?”
Twilight smiled, and started explaining, weaving in illusions into her demonstration.
Discord just sat there, eyes wide at just how much chaos her idea would bring to Equestria. She had no idea, either, just pure idealism and vision for a better future. It was possible that it would all work out, of course, but he knew pony nature. Once she revealed this to Equestria at large, everything would change, and there would be no going back.
Chaos would smother Equestria, and he wouldn’t have to lift a finger.
It was delicious.