Fluttershy was still in a state of confusion as she was trying to comprehend the events that had led up to her seeing Rainbow Dash in her cottage, tied up and inside of a cauldron with a bunch of animals surrounding her. Apparently, it had all stemmed from a decision Twilight Sparkle had made the night before.
Said decision had begun with Princess Celestia opting to send her star student the old personal journal that had once belonged to Starswirl the Bearded, something that Princess Luna had raised concerns about. "You really believe Twilight Sparkle is capable of doing what even Starswirl could not?" She had asked.
Celestia had sought to reassure her sister by saying. "She has shown an ability to master magic that rivals even that of my own. She continues to exceed even my highest of expectations." But even so she had seen fit to write in large letters "DO NOT OPEN WITHOUT ME!" on a note that was sent alongside the journal. Unfortunately, Twilight had ignored those warnings and ultimately cast an incomplete "master spell" from the journal.
The consequences of that decision hadn't become known until morning when Twilight had woken up, gone outside and been shocked to discover Rarity with Rainbow Dash's cutie mark and doing Rainbow Dash's job. "I've always had this cutie mark and this has always been my job. I've never set hoof in a boutique and even if I did I wouldn't know the first thing about how to run one." Rarity had answered when Twilight had questioned her.
And similar answers were given by each of Twilight's friends when she and Spike went around town, trying to understand what was happening. Things were only made worse by a startling discovery on their way to see Rainbow Dash! "It looks like the Everfree Forest is taking up way more land than it normally does." Twilight had noticed.
Princess Celestia had soon afterward discovered what had happened, and she was anything but pleased. "Twilight Sparkle, what have you done?!" She'd demanded!
Twilight ultimately ended up confessing to her mentor upon being struck with a grave realization! "I must've cast the spell accidentally without even knowing it!" And it wasn't just the Everfree Forest that had been affected by her mistake.
"The spell must've altered the Elements of Harmony in some way, and only the caster was unaffected." Celestia had suggested upon noticing the elements were all in a different color except for Twilight's Element of Magic.
As a result of it all, Twilight had become consumed with guilt. "What am I going to do? Everything's all wrong now, because of me."
Fortunately, Princess Celestia and Spike were more than up to the task of giving Twilight a much needed pep talk. "You've never given up before. I'm sure you'll figure something out." Spike had encouraged.
And indeed, Twilight ultimately did seem to figure out a solution as her body had briefly been taken over by a most unusual glow. "They mean more to me than anything else. My friends..." Then she'd declared. " I may not be able to just remind my friends of who they are or rather who they used to be, but I can show them what they all mean to each other." Which led to her scooping up the Elements of Harmony and tossing them into their storage case.
Satisfied that Twilight knew what to do, Celestia had simply reassured her student. "You leave the forest to me for now. Once the elements have been restored, you and your friends should be able to calm down the forest."
Twilight's plan was soon put into action when she came across Fluttershy just as the pegasus was preparing to move back to Cloudsdale. "I was just wondering if you might be willing to help me with Rainbow Dash."
That led Fluttershy to accompany Twilight to the cottage at the edge of town, and that was where the two had found Rainbow Dash about to become the animals' next meal!
"I'm trapped! Somepony help!" Rainbow Dash had shouted!
Yet Twilight only encouraged Fluttershy. "Rainbow Dash needs your help, not mine."
And indeed, Fluttershy had known what to do. She was able to calm down the animals, and in the process had come to something of a realization. "I... I feel all strange and tingly, like... like this is what I'm actually meant to do, like this is who I really am!" Soon afterward, her body had started to glow and Twilight had floated over the Element of Kindness, which was all it took to restore Fluttershy's memories to what they should be.
"My plan's a success!" Twilight had happily declared upon seeing Fluttershy get her normal cutie mark of three pink butterflies back. "I need your help if we're going to save the rest of our friends!" She had promptly told her pegasus friend afterward.
And so now it seemed that Twilight was going to undo everything she had messed up by casting that spell. But even she could not have known where it would all lead.
"So, did I get everything right? This was all the result of you casting a spell?" Fluttershy asked Twilight as she slowly tried to process the information. It was a lot to take in all at once.
Twilight nodded quite slowly. "Much as I wish it wasn't, it is. But now you see why I had to get you to come here and why I said only you could help. It was the only way I could think of that would remind you of who you used to be, who you were meant to be. It was a risk to be sure, but it looks like it all worked out."
Spike eagerly agreed. "Yeah, it sure seems like it. We've got one friend back, and now it's time to get the others back too! Then you girls can do what you always do best: Save the day!"
"You really think it's possible? How do we know what happened with me isn't just a fluke or something?" The shy pegasus nervously asked.
Twilight protested with a shake of her head. "It was no fluke, Fluttershy. It was the magic of friendship. It brought us together before and it can do so again!" And she then declared. "Together, you and I are gonna make things right, and the rest of our friends are going to join us!" She then proceeded to start singing, which sounded something like this:
A true, true friend helps a friend in need.
A friend will be there to help them see.
A true, true friend helps a friend in need.
To see the light that shines from a true, true friend.
"Uh, hello, girls?" Rainbow Dash called out from the cauldron. "Friend still trapped inside here, remember?"
Fluttershy and Twilight blushed as Fluttershy apologized. "Oh, sorry." And she quickly went about freeing her trapped fellow pegasus.
"Alright, let's go find Rarity!" Twilight declared once Rainbow Dash was freed.
Rainbow Dash blinked. "Why her?"
"Everything will make sense once we find her. I just hope we're not too late." The unicorn replied and led both Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy out of the cottage.
Sure enough, the trio found Rarity a short time later. She was frantically rushing about, struggling to get the weather under control.
Twilight took the lead in singing:
Rarity needs your help!
She's trying hard, doing what she can.
Fluttershy then sang in encouragement:
Would you try, just give it a chance?
You might find that you'll start to understand.
And indeed, once Rainbow Dash approached the clouds it all became like second nature to her. In no time at all she had cleared away the adverse weather conditions and brought back sunny skies. The brash speedster was a tad bit exhausted when all was said and done. Yet for some reason it all felt natural to her, like this was what she was meant to do instead of worrying herself with animals.
When this realization settled in, a bright red glow enveloped Rainbow's entire body. Without hesitation, Twilight floated over the Element of Loyalty and watched as memories flashed in her rainbow maned friend's eyes. When they had finished the Element of Loyalty was back to the way it was supposed to be.
Rainbow's mind was still in a bit of a daze though. "Um, what just happened?" She inquired. "Why's Rarity trying to do my job? Did I miss something?"
"I'll explain later," Twilight replied. "But for now we've got a bigger problem. Applejack's trying to make dresses, and she's doing so bad that Carousel Boutique is about to go out of business."
Even though she normally wasn't one for fashion, Rainbow Dash still declared! "Not on my watch! This is obviously a job for Rarity! Leave everything to me."
Rarity was soon accompanying the others to Carousel Boutique, and sure enough it was possible to see that poor Applejack was having a hard time trying to keep up with the demand. It was clear that she didn't belong in a boutique.
Rainbow Dash quickly instructed Rarity through song:
Applejack needs your help!
She's trying hard, doing what she can.
Would you try, just give it a chance?
You might find that you'll start to understand.
With Rainbow Dash's encouragement, Rarity quickly took over from Applejack and it wasn't long before she was setting things right. She had the sewing machines humming nicely, dresses of the finest quality were being produced and the unicorn felt like she'd discovered where she truly belonged. Not with weather but with fashion.
As the realization settled in, a bright purple glow enveloped Rarity and as it did the Element of Generosity was floated over to her. Memories began to flash in the fashionista's eyes as she slowly started to remember everything. And soon, the Element of Generosity had been restored to its original, proper state.
Rarity blinked in what seemed like disbelief as she saw some rather horrible looking dresses before her. "Oh my, what a terrible dream I just had," She declared. "Or maybe I'm still having it. Does somepony wanna clue me in on what I was doing? Or why in the wide world of Equestria Applejack was trying to make dresses instead of me?"
"It's a long story, Rarity," Twilight spoke up. "And right now we've got a bigger problem on our hooves. Pinkie Pie's about to lose Sweet Apple Acres, the whole farm and everything! We need Applejack's help if we're going to save it."
The fashionista quickly stood up! "Lose the farm?! We very well can't have that happen, now can we?!" She then looked across to Applejack. "Come on, we've got no time to lose!" And she then began to sing:
Pinkie Pie is in trouble!
We need to stand there at her side.
We can try to do what we can now.
And together we can be her guide!
Sweet Apple Acres was in a very poor state when Applejack and the others showed up to help. Pinkie Pie was so grateful for the extra set of hooves that she quickly forgot to be grumpy.
And it wasn't long before Applejack was leading the way in restoring the farm to what it used to be. The rest of the Apple family pitched in as well, glad to have Applejack back and to have somepony less frightening to work alongside. And their combined efforts were enough to turn things around.
The hard work touched off a realization deep inside Applejack. How could she have forgotten? Fashion wasn't her calling, not even close. It was farm work that was her true calling, her dedication to her family. And it was that realization that caused her to glow a shade of orange even brighter than her coat.
Twilight was quick to float over the Element of Honesty, watching the memories flash through Applejack's eyes as the Element of Honesty itself turned from purple to orange. Just like that, Applejack was back!
"Yeehaw!" Applejack happily declared while briefly flinging her stentson up into the air and then catching it! "I'm back to my old applebuckin' self again!" Then she looked to Twilight. "So what's next, sugarcube? I reckon we ain't done just yet."
The studious unicorn nodded in agreement. "Indeed we aren't, there's still something very important we need to take care of. The ponies in town are quite upset and for good reason," She then specified to her farm friend. "We need to get the old Pinkie Pie back so she can cheer up the town before it's too late."
Applejack smiled and winked. "And here I thought you were gonna ask somethin' difficult of me. This'll be easy. I know just the thing." And she looked across to Pinkie Pie.
Soon afterward, the pink coated earth pony was being led into town while Applejack was explaining in song:
The townsfolk need ya,
They've been sad for quite a while.
They march around, face a-frown,
And never seem to smile.
So if you feel like helpin',
We'd sure appreciate a lot!
If you'd get up there and spread some cheer,
From here to Canterlot!
Without warning, Pinkie Pie felt herself be shoved front and center before a hastily assembled crowd of ponies! In fact, it was so abrupt that she didn't have time to properly brace herself. She tumbled and fell face forward to the ground.
At first nopony said a word, shocked by what they had seen.
But Pinkie slowly picked herself up, brushing off the dirt while she said. "That... that actually didn't hurt that bad," And she found herself starting to giggle a little. "C-come on, you gotta admit that was sort of funny, right? Right?"
A few ponies started to chuckle ever so faintly. But it wasn't long before their laughter became contagious, spreading to the entire crowd and then even to those not in the crowd.
"Hey, that actually feels... kind of good," Pinkie Pie declared as something began to stir inside of her. "Maybe... maybe this is what I've been meant to do all along. It feels... right somehow." And it was that realization that caused her to be surrounded by a bright blue glow. She didn't even hesitate or ask questions when the Element of Laughter was floated over to her and placed around her neck.
Memories began to flash in Pinkie's eyes and mind! It all suddenly came flooding back to her! She realized now what her true calling was! And as her mane and tail poofed back to how they should be, she stood up and said to the crowd. "Come on ponies, I wanna see you SMILE!"
At once, several ponies in the crowd stood up and cheered while they happily shouted! "PINKIE!"
The pink party pony gave a hearty laugh. "Yup, the one and only! I'm back!" And just like that, the Elements of Harmony had been restored to how they had been originally.
And with Pinkie's encouragement, the whole town began to burst into song, singing something that had up to this point been confined to just the six mares and Spike. And the singing sounded something like this:
A true, true friend helps a friend in need.
A friend will be there to help them see.
A true, true friend helps a friend in need.
To see the light! Yes the light!
That shines!
From a true, true frieeeeeeeeennnnnnnnnnnnnnddddddddd!
And as the singing ended, Twilight happily embraced all her friends as a powerful purple glow enveloped them all. Never in all her life had the unicorn been so happy to have friends like this. And she would never again take having them for granted. No, this entire experience had taught her just how precious and valuable her friends truly were. And every day spent with them was worth cherishing.
Of course, Twilight and Spike knew that things were not completely back to normal just yet. There was still one thing that needed to be taken care of, and it was an urgent one at that. "The Everfree Forest! I almost forgot!" Twilight gasped as the joyous celebration from earlier drew to a close.
"Hold on there just a minute, sugarcube," Applejack blinked in concern and confusion. "What's all this about the Everfree Forest now?"
But Fluttershy seemed to realize the problem when she noticed the one thing that still had yet to be addressed. "The animals shouldn't be wandering through town the way they are now. Something must be wrong with their homes."
Twilight nodded. "That something is the Everfree Forest itself. When I cast the spell that swapped your cutie marks, it also somehow made the forest act up and start trying to take over Ponyville."
"Oh, so that's why those animals were trying to cook me up for lunch," Rainbow concluded. "So now we have to somehow restore the forest to the way it should be? Has it really been running loose this whole time?"
Spike corrected. "No, Princess Celestia's been holding it back as best she can. But even she can only do so much," And he looked around, noticing a few vines that seemed to be encroaching on the outskirts of Ponyville proper. "And judging from what I can see now, I'd say she needs our help now more than ever. If we don't act fast, there may not be much of a Ponyville left to save."
So the group of recently reunited (in a sense) friends took off with the Elements of Harmony still on them. There was a good chance said elements would be needed in order to tame the Everfree Forest.
Twilight and Spike secretly hoped that things weren't as bad as they seemed to be (or worse for that matter). Princess Celestia had shown vulnerability before, but surely she had been up to the task of keeping an aggressive forest in check for a while, right?
Well, would soon find out as they reached the new entrance to the forest, which was now not even at Fluttershy's cottage but in fact was the very edge of Ponyville proper. Already, some ponies were desperately packing up and preparing to leave the houses that could be overtaken by the Everfree.
And there was Princess Celestia right in the middle of it all, using her magic to repel vines and branches that tried to advance. She made it look so easy, lighting up her horn and casting that bright yellow glow associated with her magic. Yet it seemed that for every vine or branch she destroyed, two or three more took their place. Slowly but surely, the forest seemed to be gaining ground even as the sun princess showed no signs of physical exhaustion (at least outwardly).
"Oh no, this is bad!" Twilight gasped in horror! "The forest is advancing way faster than I hoped! Even Princess Celestia can't keep it in check."
Pinkie Pie looked down at her Element of Harmony necklace. "Well, I guess it's a good thing we still have our elements on us. Obviously, they're part of some plan you have. Right, Twilight?"
But the studious unicorn nervously confessed. "I don't have a plan. My whole plan up to this point was getting you all back and bringing you here. I didn't really have time to think about what we'd do once we got here."
Rarity frowned. "So we came all this out here only to be told that you have no idea what-so-ever? We're to just stand around here while all of Ponyville gets taken over by the forest?"
"I figured the Elements of Harmony would be involved somehow, but they haven't activated at all yet," Twilight commented. "They've always come through for us in the past. But I never got around to learning how they worked."
"Well in the mean time, there's no way I'm just going to stand idly by and let the Everfree Forest take over!" Rainbow Dash dramatically declared! "I'll teach that forest a thing or two!" And she flew forward, delivering a mighty kick that took out some vines and branches. "That's right, Everfree Forest! You're not taking over Ponyville on my watch!"
Yet as fast as the vines and branches had been destroyed, more took their place. Princess Celestia quickly took notice of this as she turned to Rainbow Dash. "You'll never hold back the forest like this. The forest is responding to a magical imbalance."
At that, Twilight's eyes lit up like stars in the night sky! "Of course, that was so obvious! Why didn't I think of it before?!"
"Think of what, Twilight?" Spike asked the mare.
Twilight was quick to explain. "The Everfree Forest has to have a magic of its own if it can make plants grow and have weather behave all by itself. And whatever that magic is, casting such a powerful and incomplete spell would affect that magic. If the spell was powerful enough to affect the Elements of Harmony, then the Everfree Forest's magic would be upset too."
Fluttershy then asked. "So how do we fix it?"
Princess Celestia pointed out the suggestion. "The only way possible," And she turned to Twilight. "You must complete the spell and cast it. Once fixed, it should be able to calm down the forest in a way that normal magic cannot."
The studious unicorn stepped back, shaking not unlike a leaf! "Cast the spell again?! I couldn't! It would only make things worse!"
The sun princess sought to reassure her nervous pupil. "In its current state, yes. But if there's anypony who can figure out how to succeed where even Starswirl could not, it's you. You're strong enough and smart enough, I know you are. Everything I've taught you and everything you've learned about friendship up to this point has been leading up to this moment: The moment when the student must surpass the teacher."
Applejack was the first to put a hoof around Twilight in order to try and calm her nerves. "If that's what it'll take to get everythin' back to normal, I know you can do it, Twilight. You did what nopony else could when you helped this town get winter wrapped up on time for once."
Fluttershy chimed in with her own support. "You've helped us all to grow simply by being there for us and encouraging us. Now it's our turn to do the same for you."
Pinkie Pie bounced over and added! "Yeah! You've done so many incredible things, Twilight, it's not even funny! You can definitely fix that spell."
Rarity then declared. "You may have made a mistake but it's hardly the first time you've done so. And every time you've messed up you've ultimately found a way to do better. This will be no different."
And Rainbow Dash swooped down to join the others as she threw her own support in! "So go ahead, Twilight! Put that egghead brain of yours to good use and figure out the solution! We're all behind you, we know you've got what it takes!"
Spike was the last to speak up, and he encouraged. "Don't be worried, Twilight. You know what not to do now. And take it from someone who's been by your side for longer than anyone else, you can do this! You used to not know anything about friendship, but now you know so much you were able to save our friends when they needed you most. That's something even Starswirl the Bearded probably never could think of. So use that experience in writing your own part of that spell."
Princess Celestia then instructed. "If you still doubt yourself, Twilight, then look deep inside your own heart. It's there that you'll find the answer you seek."
So it was that Twilight reluctantly took a deep breath and closed her eyes, quickly becoming deep in thought. "They're all right. I have to draw on my own experiences for once." And soon after she had thought this thought, the answer came to her as the words of the incomplete spell echoed in her own mind: "A mark of one's own destiny, singled out alone and fulfilled."
Slowly, Twilight opened her eyes as a realization came to her! "I've got it! I know how to complete the spell!" She declared and lit up her horn! "I'll be right back!" She disappeared in a flash, returning a few seconds later with Starswirl's journal and a writing quill. "Everyone stand back! I don't know what will happen! I'm ninety nine point nine percent sure this will work!" She confessed before flipping to the page where the incomplete "master spell" was and read aloud: "From one to another, another to one. A mark of one's destiny singled out alone, fulfilled," Then she added while writing it down with the quill. "From all of us together, and together we're all friends. With the marks of our destinies made one, there is magic without end!"
The last line was delivered with a mighty stroke of the quill! And as soon as it had been written, the "completed" spell triggered a reaction! The Elements of Harmony seemed to take on a mind of their own, all of them glowing brightly and suddenly shooting out beams of energy that were directed at Twilight!
"What's happening to me?!" Twilight gasped in horror!
"Twilight, make it stop!" Spike frantically pleaded!
But Twilight called out. "I... can't! It's not under my control!"
Even Princess Celestia became worried! "Twilight, are you sure you're believing in yourself?!" She called above the roar of winds that the elements seemed to generate. "You must believe in yourself for the spell to work!"
The studious unicorn appeared to take those words to heart as her worried look seemed to melt away. It appeared that she was accepting whatever it was that was going to happen, even as her friends were looking on with concern even though they were powerless to stop the elements from reacting.
All of a sudden, a bright and blinding flash of white light enveloped the entire surrounding wilderness! Everyone shut their eyes!
The flash faded almost as quickly as it had materialized. All the vines and branches had disappeared, the Everfree Forest had been repelled and all appeared to be as it should've been.
But when the fives mare, Spike and Princess Celestia opened their eyes they were shocked and horrified to see that where Twilight had been standing there was now only a smoking crater! And inside of said crater was a black scorch mark roughly in the shape of Twilight's cutie mark!
"Oh my goodness! What happened?!" Fluttershy gasped with dismay! "Did we do this because of the Elements of Harmony?!"
"No, we couldn't have! There's no way!" Rainbow Dash insisted even as her tone of voice betrayed her intended optimism.
None took the discovery worse than Spike, however. He could only stare in the crater as tears worked up in his eyes and fell without end! "Mom! Mom!" He sobbed over and over again! "Please come back to me! Please!"
Fortunately, Princess Celestia was quick to reassure everyone as she said in a warm and gentle tone of voice. "There's no need for you all to worry. Twilight isn't gone forever. She's still alive."
Spike slowly wiped away his tears and sniffled. "She is?" When he saw the sun princess nod in confirmation he then frantically asked. "Well, where is she then?! She's not here!"
The alicorn explained. "She has gone to a place that only one pony has gone to before. A place that only I can access," And she prepared to light up her horn. "All of you just relax and rest easy. Twilight will be back soon enough, I promise." She then thought to herself. "I didn't think this was possible. Yet again, Twilight, you have exceeded my greatest expectations."
Soon, Celestia's horn glowed brightly with its yellow glow and then she too disappeared. Spike and the five remaining mares could do nothing at that point. Reluctantly, they went their separate ways for the time being with Spike returning to a now vacant Golden Oak Library. "Please be okay, Twilight," He said to himself as he entered the library. "And please come back. Things won't be the same without you. I'm not ready for us to be apart."
Twilight didn't know where she was or why. All she knew was that one moment she had been surrounded by more magic than she had ever known or seen in her life, and the next she had been brought to the place she now found herself in. A seemingly empty void of stars that stretched on for as far as the eye could see.
There didn't seem to be a sign of life anywhere, but the studious unicorn still called out to the vast emptiness anyway. " Hello? Is anyone there?" Despite not getting a reply she called out again. "What is this place? Where am I? Please, someone answer me. I need to know!"
Suddenly, the empty void was disturbed as a familiar voice replied in an echo. "Congratulations, Twilight Sparkle. You have done the impossible." And then, who should show up but Princess Celestia herself?
Twilight was grateful to see a familiar and friendly face in an otherwise empty place, but she was still puzzled and a little bit worried. "Princess Celestia?!" She responded! "What is this place?" Then she looked at herself and gulped, swallowing hard. "Am I dead?"
Princess Celestia shook her head. "Of course not, Twilight. You are still alive and well," And she sought to reassure the frightened unicorn. "You need not worry. You've proven that you are indeed worthy of the great power that will be bestowed upon you."
"'Great power'?" Twilight asked. "Was this a part of the advanced studies?"
The sun princess replied. "No. This is something that only one pony has achieved before: Princess Cadence. But even she did not accomplish what you accomplished," And she then proceeded to explain. "She merely reversed a spell that had already been cast. You, on the other hoof, created new magic. What you did is something that even the great Starswirl the Bearded could not accomplish. There's a reason why he could never complete that master spell of his, and it's not because he disappeared so suddenly."
The studious unicorn questioned. "What does that have to do with me? Starswirl did most of the work, I merely finished what he started."
Celestia shook her head again. "No, Twilight. The intent of the spell was different under Starswirl, and because it was incomplete it didn't work as it was intended. I suspect Starswirl wanted to find a way to harness the magical power behind cutie marks, hoping to find out just what it is that makes them appear and why," Then she smiled as she brought forth the old journal and held it open, proudly display the page that featured Twilight's written additions. "What you did just recently involved tapping into a different kind of magic: The magic of friendship. It's the very magic you've been studying and learning about since I sent you to Ponyville all that time ago. And it's because of all the lessons you've learned that you've proven that you are ready."
A slow blink came from Twilight's eyes as she looked up at her mentor and simply asked her. "Ready for what?"
Smiling, the majestic alicorn gestured a hoof to what looked like the end of the void. "Come with me, Twilight. All will be explained. You will not be going back to Ponyville the way you were. The old you is no more, a new you has been created."
Twilight reluctantly followed the princess until she was trotting side by side with the very pony she'd looked up to and had always admired. To her great surprise, the void seemed to expand so that a new end appeared. And when that end drew close another end took its place, and the process repeated itself over and over again. Yet what caught her attention the most was that a series of screens appeared on either side of her. Screens depicting numerous accomplishments in her life. And all of them, she quickly realized, were from her time officially studying the magic of friendship. Every triumph, every setback and every little step in between.
Princess Celestia smiled and began to sing while accompanying Twilight past the screens. Her singing sounding not unlike a proud mother. And to this day Twilight insisted that what she heard the princess sing sounded something like this:
You've come such a long, long way.
And I've watched you from that very first day.
To see how you might grow,
To see what you might do,
To see what you've been through.
And all of the ways that you've made me proud of you!
It's time now for a new change to come.
You've grown up, and your new life has now begun.
So go where you will go,
See what you will see,
Find what you will be.
'Cause it's time for you to fulfill your destiny!
Even before the singing had finished, Princess Celestia unfolded her wings and displayed them proudly before her student. Twilight's eyes went wide as she seemed to realize what her mentor was trying to tell her.
Then, the violet-red star from Twilight's cutie mark seemed to take on a mind of its own! It leapt off her flank and expanded, quickly surrounding her in a bright purple glow!
Princess Celestia smiled. "It's time for you to return to Ponyville. Everyone's waiting for you."
To the shock of everyone, the skies above Ponyville were suddenly darkened! And yet from the darkness, a bright and massive violet-red star appeared! The star slowly descended from the sky, drawing attention to it before it finally touched the ground.
Most ponies didn't know what to make of such an unusual lights show, but five mares and a dragon suspected something was up. The star looked just like the star on the flank of a certain unicorn they had known. "Could it be?!" They thought to themselves and all ran outside, rushing to where they had seen the star touch down.
As the group drew close to the star's location, they could barely see anything due to the bright glow it gave off. But it seemed like there was a pony standing underneath said star. A pony that looked incredibly familiar. "Twilight, is that you?" Applejack asked.
"Oh please, please let it be you!" Spike hopefully pleaded.
The glow slowly faded, allowing everyone to see that it was indeed Twilight Sparkle. But she wasn't exactly how they remembered her being. She now looked a tad bit taller. And more noticeably, she now bore two wings that were unfurled to either side of her. Everyone gasped! The presence of wings meant only one thing!
Twilight Sparkle had become an alicorn!
Applejack was the first one to overcome her speechless shock as she managed to force out! "I-I've never seen anythin' like it! Is this a dream?"
"If it is, it sure as hay feels real. And it's one we're all having," Rainbow Dash declared. "And dream or not, Twilight having wings now is so awesome! Looks like I've got a new flying buddy!"
Rarity then commented. "Twilight, is this true? Have you become an alicorn? I didn't even know it was possible!"
Pinkie Pie proceeded to cheer! "We've got throw you a celebration! Just wait 'til everypony gets a look at you!" Then she swung from a rope while blowing on a kazoo! "Alicorn party! Woo hoo!"
Fluttershy spoke up next. "This is amazing, Twilight. You look just like a princess."
"That's because she is a princess," The familiar voice of Princess Celestia declared as she suddenly appeared in front of the ponies. "You are the first to lay eyes on Equestria's newest princess: The Princess of Friendship."
The news came as a shock to all! And Pinkie Pie expressed their shock better than anyone else could've when she exclaimed! "Twilight's a princess now?! Hold on a second!" She proceeded to take a drink from a glass of water and then spit out the water.
Princess Celestia smiled. "Indeed. I know it must seem like a shock to you all, but your eyes do not deceive you. In a sense, the Twilight Sparkle that you all knew is gone. And in her place is the Twilight Sparkle you see before you. However, you need not worry. Deep down, she is still the same loveable Twilight that you all knew and befriended."
Twilight was still quite uncertain as she commented. "Me? A princess? Of friendship no less? This is all so sudden!"
Smiling again, Celestia said to her new fellow alicorn. "I know it's a lot to take in, Twilight. And I know what you must be thinking. But you are worthy of your new title. Ever since your studies began here in Ponyville, you've displayed the charity, compassion, devotion, integrity, optimism, and of course the leadership of a true princess. As a result, you have earned your new wings and your new title. You are just like Luna, Cadence and I."
Twilight gulped as a new thought struck her and she expressed it aloud. "But then... does this mean I won't be your student anymore? Does that mean I've graduated from friendship studies?"
"In a way, yes," The sun princess answered. "Though that doesn't mean you'll stop learning all together. There's always more to learn about friendship, and about being a princess. I will still be here to guide you as needed," Then she proceeded to bow to Twilight while declaring. "However, as of today we're all your students now too, Twilight. You are an inspiration to us all, and always will be."
The young alicorn then began to worry aloud. "Is that so? Well, I'm honored and everything, but... what am I supposed to do now? Is there a book about being a princess I should read? I can't help but feel woefully unprepared for all of this."
Princess Celestia giggled. "Don't worry, there will be plenty of time for you to get used to your new role and your new body."
Pinkie Pie then protested. "But wait a minute, Twilight being a princess means she's gonna have to leave Ponyville forever! That's not fair, we're never gonna see her again!"
Twilight shook her head! "I'm not leaving Ponyville! I won't abandon my friends!"
"I'll say!" Applejack stubbornly spoke up. "If you think you're just gonna move on back to Canterlot and forget all about us, you've got another thing comin'! We ain't about to say goodbye to you just yet, sugarcube."
"If anypony were to even think of moving to Canterlot it would be me! And I'd never do that in a million years despite how much I might feel at home there." Rarity insisted.
And even Spike commented. "Ponyville's our home, Twilight. I know we may have lived in Canterlot and that it's Equestria's capital city, but surely we could work something out with Mayor Mare so we can stay here. You know, at least for now while we figure things out."
Fortunately, Princess Celestia was quick to reassure everyone. "Twilight's not going to be moving back to Canterlot, not even temporarily. It wouldn't make much sense to take the princess of friendship away from the very heart of friendship itself, now would it?"
"Huh," Rainbow Dash remarked as the reality slowly settled in. "Can't believe I didn't think about it like that. It makes so much sense."
Fluttershy, meanwhile, breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh thank goodness. Without Twilight, Ponyville just wouldn't be Ponyville. And even if we could always come to Canterlot to see her, it wouldn't be the same."
"Still," Princess Celestia went on to say. "There is the matter of a coronation. Everypony in Equestria and non-ponies are going to have to be made aware that another princess now exists. And as much as I might like to have the coronation in Ponyville, given the short notice of it I don't think Mayor Mare would be able to provide a suitable location for the crowd that will come."
"Well, before any coronation gets held," Twilight spoke up. "There is one thing I want to take care of. My first royal decree if you will," She then turned to Spike and the five other mares. "I'd like to make you all my official royal advisors. 'Cause what would the princess of friendship be without them by her side?"
"Us? Royal advisors?" Rarity slowly blinked. "Darling, you shouldn't have."
But Spike just raced up and happily hugged Twilight. "I didn't think I could be any happier than when you made me your son! Rarity's right, you didn't have to do this. But I'm glad you did."
The young alicorn smiled. "I figured you especially could use some recognition, Spike. Without you by my side, I honestly don't know where I'd be or who I'd be," Then she looked to her friends. "And the same goes for the rest of you. No matter what comes next, I want you all to stay by my side. I could never have become the princess of friendship without you."
Pinkie Pie cheered! "Wherever you go, Twilight, we'll go too! We'll be the best of friends forever!"
"I'd like that very much, Pinkie," Twilight happily replied before turning to Princess Celestia. "Now, about my coronation..."
Celestia smiled anew. "All will be taken care of, Twilight. You'll see."
And indeed, all was very much taken care of. The coronation was held the very next day as word quickly spread about the arrival of Equestria's newest princess. And even though it was not the first royal coronation in Equestria's history, just about everypony was anypony made it a point to be there.
A massive crowd gathered that day in Canterlot, ponies packing the castle so that there was barely room to move.
Princess Celestia and Princess Luna had gotten all dressed up for the occasion (as had everypony else). Celestia had a light purple dress with golden trim and wore a crown with five purple beads on the top. Luna had a similar dress except it was a dark purple in color, and instead of a gemstone it depicted a crescent moon. In addition, she was not wearing a crown of any sort.
When the designated hour had arrived, Celestia addressed the crowd with perhaps the biggest smile she had ever worn. For her, this was an occasion to remember. "Mares and gentlestallions, colts and fillies of all ages," She announced. "We are gathered here today in celebration of a momentous occasion, perhaps the greatest in our lifetimes. My most faithful student, Twilight Sparkle, has done many extraordinary things since moving to Ponyville. In fact, is to her that I owe my joyus reunion with my sister, Princess Luna."
Luna spoke not a word when addressed, she just smiled while looking across to her elder sister.
Celestia then continued her speech even though she had planned for her younger sister to say a few words. "But just recently, Twilight did something truly extraordinary. And considering her long list of accomplishments that's no easy feat. She created new magic out of existing magic, proving without a doubt that she is ready to be crowned Equestria's newest princess. And so, it gives me great pleasure to present to you all for the very first time: Twilight Sparkle, the princess of friendship!"
The doors to the throne room promptly swung wide open and in stepped Twilight herself, all dressed up for the occasion. She wore a long, flowing dress similar to Celestia and Luna's, except hers was a lighter yellow in color around the edges and did not look like armor. The dress itself was a pink color with a purple button in the center. Accompanying her were a few members of the royal guard and some pegasi that were an angelic white in color with heavenly yellow colored manes.
With beautiful music and chanting going in the background, Twilight made her up the steps to stand before her fellow alicorns. She soon received her new crown, which housed the Element of Magic inside of it just like the old tiara had done before.
The young alicorn proceeded to step out onto the balcony to a cheering crowd of ponies that stretched all the way to the horizon (and maybe even beyond). It was incredibly overwhelming to say the least.
Princess Celestia promptly encouraged her former student. "Go on. Say something, Princess Twilight. They're all waiting for you."
"Oh," Twilight blushed in realization, only now wishing that she had thought to prepare a speech ahead of time for the occasion. But after looking back across the balcony, she found that she had no need for such a thing. She knew at once what she wanted to say and cleared her throat, addressing the crowd as she motioned for all in it to be silent. "A while ago, more than two years in fact, my teacher and mentor Princess Celestia sent me to Ponyville. I was originally just supposed to be there for the duration of the Summer Sun Celebration, but those plans would change."
Twilight briefly paused to gather her thoughts, not wanting to bore the crowd with a long and winded speech all about her path to princesshood. So when she resumed speaking she simply said. "Something I never imagined possible occurred on that fateful Summer Sun Celebration. Something I had previously never really cared for would become important to my life: Friendship. It's that very friendship that has led me here today, speaking to all of you. Yet now, I can honestly say that I wouldn't even be standing here if not for some very special friends. And I'd like those friends to come out here and join me."
Waving a hoof, Twilight called over all of her Ponyville friends as well as Spike. Each of them had gotten dressed up for the occasion. Spike wore a simple black tuxedo and matching bow, while the five mares had all gotten lavish dresses to match Twilight's.
Applejack had a light blue dress with orange ribbons and had even swapped out her usual brown stentson for a blue one to match her dress. Fluttershy wore an outfit a simple green in color with a white flower necklace in the center, and red and white flowers circling her head for a hat. Rarity had a beautiful dark purple dress with a lighter purple shade around the neck and a purple gem in the center almost like the Element of Generosity itself, plus a matching purple and light purple hat with a purple feather. Pinkie Pie had a light blue and white dress with pink ribbons, complete with a matching colored hat that had a fake ice cream cone on it. And Rainbow Dash wore a bluish-green dress with white cloud like fixtures on the outside, as well as a lightning bolt symbol in the middle. For a hat, Rainbow wore a bluish-green hat with yellow stripes that led to a yellow feather.
All of Twilight's friends bowed briefly before standing besides her, smiling and waving to the crowd. Then Twilight herself resumed speaking, though this time she looked back to her friends. "Each one of you has taught me something about friendship in the time I've known you. And for that, I will always be grateful," Turning back to the crowd she concluded her speech by saying. "Today, I consider myself the luckiest pony in all of Equestria. Thank you, my friends. And thank you, everypony!"
As soon as the speech had concluded, the crowd erupted into a chorus of claps, cheers and whistles!
Twilight then stepped back into the castle in time to see none other than her brother, Shining Armor, approaching her while wearing the same outfit he had worn to his own wedding just a few months prior. "Twily! Oh, I'm so proud of you!" He happily exclaimed! "And so are Mom and Dad! Seems like only yesterday you were born and yet look at you now, all grown-up and officially a princess!"
"Thanks, B.B.B.F.F," Twilight smiled before noticing something on her brother's cheek. "Are you crying?" She asked him in a bit of a teasing tone of voice.
Shining Armor immediately moved to wipe away the tear while denying. "Me? Crying? Of course not. It's liquid pride, totally different thing," He then giggled. "Now I can say I know two princesses personally. Gosh, I feel so old."
"Well who knows? Maybe someday you'll become an alicorn too," Twilight teased in reply. "Anything's possible." And then she hugged her brother as he hugged her back.
Shining then left as Applejack promptly cheered for her friend! "Way to go, princess!"
"Best coronation day ever!" Pinkie Pie happily proclaimed!
Fluttershy then added. "We love you, Twilight."
"I love you too, girls!" Twilight declared with a smile. "And you too, Spike. I meant what I said on that balcony. None of this would've been possible without you all being there for me."
Spike couldn't help but remark (even while joining in on a group hug). "Twilight, please, you're gonna make me blush!" Then, after a moment of composing himself he asked. "So, what's next? I mean, besides your carriage ride to officially conclude your coronation of course."
The young alicorn simply declared. "I don't know, but whatever it is I know I'll have my best friends by my side. Today is not truly the end, and neither is the beginning of the end. Today is but a new beginning, a new chapter in my life and our lives."
"Well, I hope that means you'll have time for some flying lessons," Rainbow Dash spoke up. "You've got wings now, Twilight. And you're gonna have to learn how to use them one way or another."
Twilight gulped, she was not looking forward to any kind of lessons from Rainbow Dash. But she forced herself to smile as she replied. "I guess you're as good a teacher as any, Rainbow Dash. After all, even if I'm a princess there's still going to be lots that I'll have to learn."