But when they arrived, it looked very much like the party had already ended.
They were in the Celebration Area in upper Canterlot. Beneath looming, cloud-filled skies, fierce winds tore across the marble plaza, ripping away the last of the bunting and carrying off anything that hadn't blown away already. Confetti and other scraps of paper whistled through the howling air like flying knives.
The six ponies skulked in the lee of a statue, peering up at the huge roaring cyclone enshrouding the Royal Palace.
"I think we know where Tempest is," Twilight shouted over the wind. "But how do we get to her?"
"Especially since none of us have wings," Moondancer agreed. "And levitation would be useless against this wind! We'd burn out our reserves before we got a dozen yards."
"What do you think, Starlight?" Twilight asked. "Could we teleport up there?"
Starlight shook her head. "Wouldn't want to risk it. Too much flying debris for a clear signal. We'd end up scattered over half of Equestria."
"Never enough bars in an crisis..." Sunset grumbled, then grinned at the others. "Remind me to explain cellphones to you some day. Maybe we could use the Field of Harmony?" she suggested. "Punch a hole through the storm, teleport us all up there?"
Twilight shook her head. "That might make her feel we're attacking her. We need to get up there quietly, if we can."
"So..." Moondancer said, "maybe we go back through the portal and try again? Cheese, what do you think?"
He shrugged. "My cheesy-sense should have brought us to wherever Tempest was in the first place. Something here must be blocking it."
"Her armor..." Twilight whispered. "Just like with Discord."
"Oh great!" Starlight said. "And how are we supposed to deal with that? Even assuming that by some miracle we manage to get ourselves up there in one piece?"
Trixie blinked... and then grinned.
"Oh, who needs a miracle, bestie? Not when you have the Great and Powerful Trixie! Now, for this trick, I'm going to need a few helpful assistants from my audience. Like all of you. And I'm also going to need... that!"
She pointed at the huge party cannon, still standing on the edge of the Celebration Area, encrusted with stray cake icing.
Sunset stared at her. "You're not serious, Trixie?"
Trixie ignored her. "We are going to perform..." She gestured with her hoof. "... the Moonshot Manticore Mouthdive!" Then she looked around and shrugged. "But, since we don't have a live manticore, the cannon part of the trick will have to do..."
"Trixie..." Starlight said nervously, "tell me you've done this before..."
"Nope, never have!" Trixie giggled. "Always wanted to, though! Oh, come on!" She nudged Starlight with an elbow. "Together, we can make it work!"
"We?"
"Sure! I'll use my firework spell to fire it off, and you provide the extra oomph! Just like with the statues!"
"The ones that wound up in a million pieces?"
"That was practice!" Trixie waved a hoof dismissively. "I'm sure we'll get it right this time."
"Anypony have a better idea?" Moondancer asked. "Seriously -- like, anypony have a better idea?"
None of them did. Struggling across the Plaza, the ponies managed to reach the cannon, get it pointed in roughly the right direction, then load themselves into it.
"Everypony ready?" Trixie asked.
"Gimme a minute, Trix..." Starlight grumbled. "My life's still flashing before my eyes and I'm only up to this morning."
"Look, just do it, already," Sunset said, her eyes shut tight. "Put me out of my misery."
"I'm not sure we're lined up exactly." Moondancer peered up at the Palace. "A little more to the left?"
"We only need to get up there," Twilight said. "Through the storm-wall. We can use our levitation magic to fine tune at the other end. Spells at the ready, everypony! Sunset, you and I'll look after Cheese."
"Got you, Twilight!"
"Starlight?" Trixie hinted, nudging her.
"Yeah, yeah. I know. Just... don't go ga-ga, Trixie." Starlight's horn flared, as she remote-cast from her reserves.
Trixie grinned at Cheese. The party-pony grinned back at her excitedly.
"Let's light this birthday cake!" they chorused.
Trixie raised her hoof, brought it down sharply.
------------------------------
It was dark, in the Grand Audience Hall of the Royal Palace. Cold, gloomy, and echoing from the howling wind outside. The gloom perfectly complemented the mood of the hall's single occupant, seated on the one undamaged throne on the dais.
Its single ambulatory occupant, to be precise...
"All that power..." she murmured, "wasted on parties. When there are far greater uses..."
The maroon unicorn suddenly paused, lifted her head, flicked an ear. There were voices down at the far end of the Hall, coming though the half-open doors from the corridor outside.
Annoyed voices, by the sound of things.
"Ow. Could somepony please turn off the ringing in my head?"
"I said we weren't lined up properly!"
"Details, details! The tree in the garden broke our fall."
"Trixie, our magic was supposed to break our fall. That branch nearly impaled me!"
"You're saying we should go back and try again?"
"Do you mind, Trixie? I'm trying very hard not to think of the word 'again' right now!"
"Shhh! We're here. Now let me do the talking."
Six pairs of eyes nervously peered around the undamaged half of the door frame.
"Tempest?" Twilight called. Cautiously, she stepped into the Hall, followed after a moment by the others. They made their way through the chilly gloom, up the length of the scorched, torn red carpet. Then they abruptly collided and came to a stop. Twilight had suddenly halted, and was staring up in shock at the four petrified shapes looming before her, two on either side of the Hall.
It was the Princesses: Celestia, Luna, and Cadance, frozen in crystal with expressions of dismay and horror on their faces. And with them, there was a fourth Princess. Twilight gulped. It was herself, as an alicorn Princess, wearing a star-shaped crown much like the one Discord had materialized on her head. And she was petrified, frozen in crystal, just like the others.
From the shadow-shrouded throne on the dais, a voice spoke, warily.
"Princess?"
Twilight gasped. That voice... it was both welcomely familiar and coldly, brutally unforgiving.
A gem-tipped staff hung in the air beside the throne, suspended in a chill, electric-blue magic field... a field projected by the whole, unbroken horn of the throne's occupant. The staff tipped down, aiming like a spear directly at the group of ponies. It twitched back and forth agitatedly, as if seeking a target.
"Tempest..." Twilight breathed, "It's me."
"Princess?" Tempest repeated, glaring at her. "But... that's not possible. I petrified you. You're..." Her gaze took in the other ponies behind Twilight. "No... I thought it was only a dream. Only a very pleasant dream..."
"It's not a dream, Tempest. It's real! We've come to bring you back with us... back through the portal."
Tempest growled. "You mean you've come to rob me of my dominion? Now that I've finally taken what should have been mine by right?"
"Tempest!" Twilight stared at her, mouth open. "What... what's wrong with you?"
"It's Sacanas," hissed Moondancer.
"What?" Twilight looked at her.
"The armor, the spells on it... she's acting out the sorceror's last wishes..."
The maroon pony scowled down at them suspiciously. The staff twitched threateningly.
"What are you two whispering about?" she demanded. "Plotting, scheming against me. Just like Celestia and Luna! Just as they did, right before they... before they..."
She gasped, her eyes wide.
"... before they took her from me." Her face twisted in agonized loss, tears welling in her eyes. "I'm sorry, Princess! I couldn't stop them..."
"Tempest, listen to me!" Twilight said. "You don't have to stay here. It doesn't have to be like this. We can go back, back to how things were. All you have to do is come with us!"
Tempest shook her head, then looked away. "I wish I could, but..."
"But what? Tempest, why don't you --"
"Because I want this, Twilight!" Tempest snarled, glaring angrily at her. "I finally have what I should have had, ages ago! I have my horn back! I have power once again! I've finally taken what should have been mine."
She laughed, long and harsh and unrestrained.
"The 'Storm King' thought that he could trick me. He thought he could use my magic, my army, my mark! What a pathetic fool. He's out on the balcony. He'll make a nice conversation piece. I really should have him moved to the Sculpture Garden, though, just so no one trips over him. Have to think about that, pick a really good spot. Maybe right next to Discord, once I finally track him down, the traitor! They'd make a nice matched set..."
Twilight edged cautiously nearer, trying furiously to think of what to say, what to do, to bring her friend back.
And then she froze, seeing the staff swing round to aim directly at her. It thrummed dangerously, magic overspill building up and wreathing the gem's surface like glowing steam.
"No more games, Princess..." Tempest glared down at her. "No more lies. No meddling pony Princess will ever get in my way again! Give me one reason why I shouldn't turn you back to stone right now!"
Twilight stared up at her. Then she hung her head, her voice quiet and helpless.
"I'm... I'm sorry, Tempest."
"What?"
"This is all my fault," Twilight went on. "I should have paid more attention, should have listened. Should have made certain you were happy. Should have made certain for all my friends. But I didn't. I let Discord rush me." She shook her head. "No, wait, that's not right. I did this. I wanted it to end. Wanted it to be all over, because..."
She stared up, at the cold glare of Tempest's eyes.
"Because I thought I was losing my friends, one by one. Including my first and very best friend... you, Tempest."
Tempest stared back, astonished.
"Twilight..." she whispered.
"Please, Tempest." Twilight grimaced miserably. "Let me help! Let me make it up to you."
"But..."
"I... I just want to bring you back home!"
Tempest's eyes went wide. She gasped.
And the staff hit the marble floor with a thunderous crash. In an instant, Tempest was down off the throne, her forehooves wrapped around Twilight, hugging her fiercely, protectively.
"Twilight, I'm sorry!"
"Tempest?" Twilight asked, a little muffled. "Is it really you? Not..."
"Yeah." Tempest replied. She sat back and smiled weakly at Twilight. "It's me."
"What happened?"
Tempest shook her head. "I'll explain later, now's not the time. But, you have to know, Twilight, I would never harm you. Not in a million years."
"I know that, Tempest. But... you've been wearing that armor for like forever. Why hasn't it affected you before?"
Tempest looked puzzled by that. Then realization dawned. She peered up at her horn -- her whole, unbroken horn.
"Because of this," she said. "With my horn broken, magic doesn't come easy to me. I have to think about it, whenever I use it. It's enough to keep the armor's magic from twisting my thoughts around. Though I suppose, over a long enough time without friends like you around, it might have some effect..." She looked at Twilight again. "But you don't have to worry. It's me again, Twilight."
"Good," Twilight said. "Because I wouldn't want to head back without you."
Trixie looked around at the others. "Is that it?" she asked. "Did we just win?"
Starlight smiled. "You sound disappointed, Trix."
"Just making sure," Trixie said, "there's no last-minute villains popping up from behind the scenery to take a pot-shot at us."
"That only happens in the movies," Sunset said. "Uh... doesn't it?" She glanced around worriedly.
"Let's go home, just to be on the safe side," Twilight suggested. Then she looked up at Tempest's horn.
"If you're okay with that, Tempest?"
"Totally okay, Twilight. But there's one last thing we should do," Tempest said. "Just to fix everything."
Taking up the staff in her magic, Tempest trotted over to the central slot of the mandala that she'd chalked on the chamber floor, with the four Princesses set at its corners. Slotting the staff into place, she twisted it, triggering the return flow of its stolen magic, back to its rightful owners.
"I think we should leave now," Tempest added. "Quickly. To avoid any awkward questions."
Then she glanced around. "Where's Grubber got to?" She grimaced. "Oh, crap! We'll have to swing by the kitchens on our way out..."
------------------------------
On their return through the portal, Twilight's team found, instead of the Golden Oak Library, the main workroom of the Advanced Projects tower in Canterlot. It was waiting for them, every book, every scroll, every exam-paper, just the way they'd left it. The ponies from Ponyville were there as well, as were Spike and Grubber. So was Discord, though the draconequus had been unusually quiet ever since Tempest's return.
After a round of greetings and hugs, everyone gathered around the main worktable. And they held an impromptu ice-cream party, each of them provided with a bowl or cone of her or his favorite flavor, which Pinkie Pie had ordered in from the local sweet-shop.
"So," Sunset asked Tempest, "how did that happen anyways? How'd you go from a happy childhood with your horn restored... to that?" She gestured at the mirror portal, and by extension the ruined-then-restored Canterlot beyond it.
"It happened..." Tempest sighed, "because I wasn't really happy. It's what I was worried might happen, when this all started. Sure, it was nice for a while. I thought having my horn back would be the best thing ever, and for a while it was. But it wasn't, really. Having my horn back, having my friends back... it didn't change who I was. I was still an abandoned filly, living in a small-town Foal Center, with too much magic and nopony to teach me how to use it properly. Still the weird pony, the outsider. Still frightening to the other kids. No matter how hard I tried to fit in, that didn't change. I was exactly the same pony I've always been."
She sighed.
"I am not a nice pony," she said. "Not a kind pony. Not a gentle pony. I don't think I ever will be. It's not who I am. So, one day, it all got to be too much and I ran away. And then I fell right back in with the wrong crowd, just like I did before. And when the Storm King showed up, looking for someone to serve as commander of his army, I went with him. The only difference was that this time, without my broken horn to hold me back, I fell completely under the sway of Sacanas's armor. I took down the four Princesses of Equestria... including you, Twilight. I'm so sorry about that."
Twilight nodded. "I know, Tempest."
"And I took down the Storm King," Tempest went on, "when he tried to betray me. With my full magic available, he didn't stand a chance! In fact, if you hadn't shown up, Twilight, I'd probably still be there. A magic-wielding despot, ruling a shattered capitol city, my armies in charge of the entire dominion of Equestria... and that would just be for a start."
She laughed, humorlessly. "Sacanas, in all but name... restored to life again..."
At that, Discord stared at her uneasily, but he said nothing.
"So, what brought you back?" Twilight asked. "How did I get through to you? Uh, just so I know for next time?"
Tempest nodded. "You reminded me that when I met you, Twilight, when the two of us became friends, I finally had the one thing I'd been missing all along." She smirked. "A home. A place I can call home, somepony I can regard as family, even if only informally. I needed that, Twilight. And, in a way, so did Sacanas. I could feel it, almost. When you offered to bring me home, to give me back the home I'd wanted, all my life... suddenly, the armor had no hold on me. The blinders were off, I could see clearly again. Because this is where I feel the happiest, Twilight. As your guardian, and B.S.B.F.F."
The Ponyville ponies stared at her, puzzled.
Tempest rolled her eyes. "Big Sister Best Friend Forever?"
"Oh!" they chorused, smiling understandingly.
"Well, that goes for me, too," Starlight said. "Because this is where I'm happy. Being able to cut loose with creative spells, and help save Equestria in the process. Yeah. That's what I've really wanted."
"The Grrreat and Powerful Trrrixie is happy wherever she travels with her spectacular magic show!" the showpony intoned. "So long as it's Trixie's magic show, and nopony else's. But, even so, I am happiest here, with ponies I can wow with my amazing feats of legerdesabot. And ponies I can be besties with!" She hugged Starlight with a hoof.
"And I'm happiest," Sunset added, "being able to pitch in with a group of like-minded ponies who are just as much into magic and learning as I am. Being able to provide advice and support, and have it actually do some good! And yeah, being able to save Equestria while I'm at it -- that's a nice bonus."
"Hear, hear!" Moondancer said, with feeling. "My research means nothing to me unless I'm using it to help ponies. And as part of this group, I can do that. I can make it happen. I can make a difference. That's happiness to me!"
Cheese looked around at them all, and grinned. "I'm just a party pony," he said. "So I'm happy pretty much anywhere I am -- it's part of the job. But I do need to make as many other ponies happy as I can. And keep them happy, even when life is boring or hard. And if I can do that with all of you, and help save Equestria from time to time... yeah, that works for me!"
"And we're happy to be your friends too, Twilight," Applejack said. "Sure, maybe we're not the Heroes of Equestria like y'all, not the Elements of Harmony. But that's okay! We got our own homes and families and lives to look after. We'll always be glad to pitch in, if and when you need extra hooves around here. But the rest of the time, it's good for us to know there's a dedicated bunch like y'all lookin' after things up here, so we don't have to worry."
"So," Twilight summed up proudly, "It sounds to me like we're all happier as we are. And Equestria is certainly better off for it. We may not be the bearers of the Elements, not exactly. But we're the next best thing. And we're the ponies Equestria needs when there's a problem that needs solving."
"Here, here!" added Spike, gesturing with his spoon.
"Speaking of problems," Tempest said, evenly. "What do we do about the current one... the cause of all this mayhem?"
They all looked at Discord. The draconequus glanced around at all of them nervously.
Then he deliberately set down his ice-cream bowl, stood up, and adopted a resolute expression, his lion paw over his heart, saluting with his eagle-claw.
Trixie stared up at him. "Uhh, what are you doing?"
"Why, posing, of course!" Discord sighed. "So that when you turn me back to stone, at least I'll have a more photogenic look on my face." He looked around at them. "After all, I blew it again, didn't I? And somehow, even worse than the last time. I'll spare you the details, no point going into it. Like Tempest, I doubt I'll ever really change. So, you might as well lock me up again, just for safety's sake."
He materialized a target on himself, and a blindfold. "I'm prepared, ladies! You may fire when ready..."
"Oh!" Fluttershy said, sadly. "Do we really have to?"
The ponies all looked at each other. Then Sunset sighed, exasperatedly. "Just tell me why, Discord," she said. "Help me understand. And maybe I can get past it. Why did you put us through all that?"
Discord stared at her. "Well, as I said, I wanted to try to provide a learning experience for all of you. The same way Princess Celestia does. I envy her skill at that, I really do. And even with my eons of experience, I still don't have her knack for it." He shrugged. "I may be able to rip the fabric of reality to suit myself, but even I have a thing or two to learn about being a teacher and mentor. And apart from that, I really like feeling needed from time to time. And having a gang that I can pal around with, now and again. You ponies certainly fit the bill."
He became somber, and looked at Fluttershy.
"But more than anything else, I missed having a friend. The first real friend I ever had. And now I feel like I've lost her forever..."
Tempest and Twilight looked at each other.
"I think I know how that feels," Twilight said quietly.
Discord nodded. "You're a perceptive pony, Twilight. I've always thought so. But even so." He looked mournfully at Fluttershy. "After what I did, I don't suppose I can really ask you to be my friend now, can I?"
"You don't have to." Fluttershy smiled. "I already am."
"What?" Discord stared at her -- as did everypony else. "You... you mean it, Fluttershy?"
Fluttershy laughed, in her quiet, hummy way. "I can't remember my home being so lively, not until you came along. And I do like having such pleasant company for tea. When the two of us are chatting, somehow I don't feel at all self-conscious. I can just be myself. And I'd be glad to do it again sometime."
"Like... maybe Tuesdays?" Discord asked carefully, clearly worried that he might be pushing his luck.
"Yes, that sounds fine," Fluttershy said. "Provided you behave yourself from now on," she added seriously. "You are supposed to be reformed, you know."
"You mean it, Fluttershy? Tuesday tea is back on?"
"Mm hmm!"
Discord boggled. And then he leapt in the air, turning a somersault.
"Yahoo!"
And suddenly, in quick succession, the ponies were...
... lying on deck-chairs at a sea-side resort...
... sitting on couches and chairs in a suburban living room...
... standing at the railing of a cruise airship...
... sitting at control consoles on a huge space cruiser...
... and finally being chased by bizarre alien-looking creatures through an ancient and crumbling temple on a planet with three moons...
... before Discord suddenly went wide-eyed, and hurriedly snapped his claw.
They were all back again, sitting around the table in the workroom. And everypony somehow wound up with a fresh serving of ice-cream.
Discord coughed into his paw, apologetically.
"Sorry. Bit of high spirits there. Won't happen again..."
------------------------------
Later that day, they were all assembled in the Audience Hall of the Royal Palace. Discord stood on the red carpet before the Sun Throne, surrounded by the ponies from both Ponyville and Canterlot.
"Yes, Princess," Discord said, bowing to Celestia. "I'm prepared to use my magic for good, instead of evil. Except of course," he added quickly, "when a good prank is what's really called for..."
"Congratulations on your success, ponies," Celestia said. "I definitely sense a significant change in Discord. Though I shall leave it to you, Twilight, to apply whatever disciplinary measures you feel are appropriate in future. And, Fluttershy, my congratulations to you in particular. I understand your befriending Discord was instrumental in resolving this whole matter so smoothly."
"It wasn't too hard," Fluttershy said. She smiled up at Discord. "He already wanted to offer friendship. He just needed somepony willing to return it." Then she nudged the draconequus.
"Go on, say it..."
"Oh, all right..." Discord drew himself up. "Friendship... is not Magic. Twilight and her group had it right all along. Friendship is making friends and being able to keep them. It really does stand alone, brings all the other elements together. So Twilight and her friends... her Canterlot friends... are the new Elements of Harmony." He shrugged. "Or near enough it really doesn't matter."
"You see?" Fluttershy said happily. "He can be a real sweetheart when he wants to be!"
The ponies all looked uneasy at that, Princess Celestia included.
Applejack leaned closer to Trixie. "Five bits says he don't last the week."
"You're on!" Trixie whispered back, grinning.