//------------------------------// // Episode 21: Twilight Alone Part Three // Story: The Pony Guard (Season 4) // by MXCDarkHorse2020 //------------------------------// Episode 21: Twilight Alone Part Three Back at the Canterlot Throne Room later that night, both Luna and Kyoga have arrived where Princess Celestia along with King Simba, Queen Nala, and the rest of the Guard were expecting them hoping they managed to least have some success in finding their fallen friend. “Well, sister…” Celestia asked her who likewise returned an apologetic look in return to indicate that it didn’t go as well as they hoped. “…any sign of her?” “The good news is we found her.” Luna began. “That’s great!” Bunga excitedly pumped his fists up in response before seeing the others eyeing him given that the princess wasn’t finished yet. “And the bad news…” “She’s not coming back to Equestria.” Luna finished earning her surprised and saddened looks from the team. “But why?” Kion was the first to ask trying to understand that. “Because she feels undeserving of it after everything she did under Scar’s wing. And even knowing she’ll be back to want to defeat Scar and get her revenge, she has no plans of staying full-time here in Equestria or the Pride Lands.” Kyoga explained. “You mean…?” “Yes, dear Kion.“ Luna nodded. “…after Scar has been dealt with, she’ll be running and flying away from here. Running, Flying, running and flying away to never return.” “But we need her…” Bunga further insisted on wanting her back feeling like he is going to cry if that's going to really happen. “…without her the Lion and Pony Guard is nothing.” “I’m sorry, Bunga.” The dark blue alicorn sincerely apologized. “But I highly doubt that Twilight is going to change her mind even we were to apologize and forgive due to her sense of friendship undergoing more heartache and pain that she truly deserves.” “So you’re just going to leave all the way out there?” Spike worryingly asked. “All alone in the dark with nopony to help her!” Fluttershy added in the same tone. “I’m afraid so.” Kyoga replied feeling there is no other choice here if they want any chance of getting her back. “We’ll be able to meet with her a month from now ready for the proper approach in helping us defeating Scar and his army but after that, that’s it.” Spike unable to take it anymore ran out of the room crying at the thought of never seeing the pony he sees as a mother again. “Why not?!” Rainbow pressed them for another way other. “You’re seriously just going to let this happen?!” “Rainbow Dash!” Simba barked leaving the brash pony snapping to his attention at his stern glare. “Of course we are, otherwise then we’ll just be forcing it upon her.” “Simba’s right.” Nala spoke up in agreement. “If we ever want Twilight to change her mind and want to come back to us then we need to be patient with her. It’ll take time for her to accept what has happened.” “But we still got to do something!” Rainbow further protested with tears threatening to come out of her eyes. “Who’s going to be there for her when she needs flying lessons or a pony to lead us when we need it?!” “And we will when Kyoga and I meet up with her one month from now.” Luna assured. “But for now we just need to focus on giving her time until she is ready to come to us in open arms since anything might potentially further devastate her very fragile mental state if not allowed to properly balance itself.” Rainbow Dash still didn’t like the idea. “I know that it’ll mean the world to her if she can give herself time to properly reflect upon it.” “I just hope that Twilight will be ready to want to talk to us by then.” Kion hoped while respecting her wishes. “Hopefully…” Fuli said hoping she could wish for the same too. “But what can they do?” She secretly thought in her head since it’s not easy to warm up a friendship gone cold. It would have to take something huge, something bold that’ll brighten the rainbow in Twilight’s mind into restoring her faith in friendship, something that’ll help her put the past behind her and that something is what Kion's father is thinking about right now. Right now he is secretly torn inside because on one hoof she did lie to everyone and committed treason against both Equestria and the Pride Lands, but on the other hoof he felt there was something inside of her that she had that truly doesn't want to see to it that Twilight should remained in exile. He ended up thinking back to when Scar convinced him that he was responsible for his father's death and thought that approach his evil uncle had used might have been how he managed to convince Twilight to do his bidding when she was feeling at a true low point in her life after verbally biting into her skin to where her pain truly hurts. Even though it turned out he was innocent this whole time, he still felt like he was responsible for it and even then he hadn't completely gotten over it as evidenced by the having that nightmare all over again almost every other night. "Maybe she needs to hear from someone who's been down that road once before..." He thought to himself as he set out to find Princess Luna to talk to her. In the following weeks, Twilight has been continuing her training with Tempest Shadow in combat training and mentally preparing herself for the biggest fight of her life. She’s been practicing hard brushing off tears and sweat throughout all of this time. During this time, she has been secretly making trips to Canterlot and Ponyville where she’s been spying on the Lion and Pony Guard along with the other alicorn princesses to make sure they’re okay and holding up the fort so far. All while no bearing to muster the courage to come out of the shadows and meet face to face with them because she truly can’t look them in the eye and expect a warm welcome in return. All while regretting every word she’s said and everything she did to them while following Scar’s paw prints. After everything she’s been through, she is now determined to serve justice to the lion who manipulated him into helping him take over the Pride Lands and then proceeded to turn it into his own liking at the expense of everyone else. Especially since she’s the one who managed to maintain the Pride Lands the way both Simba and Mufusa have managed to keep it in its beautiful state in an effort to actually help Scar be a better leader. After listening to his backstory of how he got his scar and his desire to overthrow Mufusa and become king, she came to see they truly are all that similar deep down. And that had her thinking that maybe after they’ve succeeded in achieving total victory she might help him share both his brother and nephew’s wisdom at what it means to be a true king. What it truly means to be a true leader just like Celestia taught her. Little did she realize up until it was too late that Scar has secretly known that she is still retaining her good side and viewed it as a threat to his reign and had arranged to distract everyone so he can conquer Diamond Valley along with forcing her into a position where she gives up all of her dark magic in exchange for everyone’s lives. The worst part about it, she never saw it coming and had never foreseen that he would actually betray her like this after everything she has done for him and did nothing to get on his bad side throughout it all. She had no intention of backstabbing when it was all over and this is the thanks she gives for living up to the Elements after all they’ve been through. To her, he now has made this personal between him and her and she is not about to let him get away with it and after this is all over she will go and live out the rest of her life outside of Equestria and the Pride Lands. Whether her new purpose in life is to search for a life of adventure, or crusading the open world, or protecting life around her as a solo protector who always has everyone’s back in ensuring they’ll be safe under her wing, she’ll decide how to live life on her own. Regardless, she has no plans on returning to resume living in Equestria or go back to resuming her Pony Guard duties on account of the treachery she committed there along with the Pride Lands. Even if she was given forgiveness from her closet friends and family what will that prove to her? Just a traitor who’s getting off easy for stooping as low to what Scar has done in the past and she can’t change it even if she wanted to. While motivated to doing her part in defeating Scar she deep down truly isn’t happy and is truly heartbroken and devoid of emotion due to the pain she suffered along the way. Deep down she is just a mare with nothing to lose who can only blame herself for helping the wrong guy take over the Pride Lands and is now on the verge of conquering Equestria with new dark and demonic powers at his disposal. It was bad to the point she sometimes cries herself to sleep almost every other day. A month after a surprise rendezvous with both Luna and Kyoga which didn’t go very well mostly on both Luna and Twilight with the former calling the latter on her desire for vengeance on Scar due to her phrasing it in a way that Luna herself regretted with how she came across. Sure she was concerned and Twilight didn’t even deny and refuse to accept blame for her actions, but truthfully neither one of them meant to get a little heated with each other back there. Now that she is agreeing to meet with them so they can discuss the best approach in dealing with Scar, both Luna and Kyoga are hoping they can try to reach out to her and get her to come back and rekindle her friendship with everyone there. But the question is how? How else can they properly reach out to her along with Twilight coming to listen to them into really wanting to come back to Equestria? The question itself is something that the two personally discussed before flying on over to the beach where they’ll be meeting with Twilight with Luna’s moon yet to rise to the sky as Celestia’s sun is set to be set. “So…” Kyoga started. “…any ideas of how we’ll be able to talk to Twilight?” “Other than what battle strategy to agree on, not much…” Luna admitted she’s got nothing. “…other than trying a different approach to reaching out to her.” “Right.” Kyoga realized. “That approach. Sure she’ll like comparing herself to Scar along with admitting to it?” “No.” She shook her head. “Me and her since like with Midnight Sparkle, Nightmare Moon is a very similar pony who succumbed to her inner darkness. Up until Nightmare Night I never bothered to show my face to everypony in Ponyville and it is thanks to you and Twilight that I was able to finally feel accepted and forgiven by everyone there. Maybe now it is time for me to return the favor.” “Perhaps you’re right.” Kyoga agreed after giving it some thought. “Thanks to her and the others I was able to warm up to friendship. Not only that she respected my wishes from the start, we both managed to see eye to eye in regards to each other’s privacy.” “Maybe that’s what we need to tell her.” Luna suggested before thinking of something else. “And maybe one more voice is in order. Someone who knows what it’s like to be in her hoof steps or paw prints in his case back when he was outcast from his home…” Coincidentally, both Simba along with Spike both just happened to walk into the room to where both Luna and Kyoga are standing with the former feeling he has something to say that can help them out with that. Later that night, Twilight had flew back over to the same spot on the beach where she last saw both Princess Luna and Kyoga. Since her training with Tempest was complete for the day, she was free to fly around without worry. Upon landing, she decided to pass her time pacing around the ground deep in thought. Half of it was focused on how to combat Scar, and the other half was wondering if Luna and Kyoga don’t have any ill will towards her for what she said the last time they met. Back then, they were just trying to help her properly cope with her wanting to defeat the lion who double-crossed her and were concerned with her mental well-being. From the day she got her scar, dark magic has influenced her into becoming the opposite of what she normally is. A kind and compassionate pony who embodies friendship to a bitter and vengeful pony who embodies both Scar and Nightmare Moon put together. Now she is just an empty and lonely pony who just wants this whole nightmare she helped out with come to an end. While she was reflecting of what had transpired to herself she once again took a look at herself in her reflection from the flowing water washing up and down at the shore of the beach. All she saw in herself was the pony who has nothing but a strong drive to fight for what she believes is right, only that she now truly knows what the true approach is yet deep down is really is unhappy and sad that she allowed this all to happen. “Must be painful coming to realize of how far you’ve become…” Luna’s voice said to her while standing behind her yet in view for Twilight to see her reflection. “…and knowing that it’s very hard to atone for said sins that have been committed.” “Luna…about what happened a month ago…” Twilight tried to say before being gently interrupted with a raised hoof. “…I haven’t forgotten about it and to be fair what I said back then came out wrong.” Luna walked up beside her and placed a gentle hoof around her back. “And for that I owe you an apology, Twilight Sparkle.” “Really?” Twilight spoke feeling like her heart is getting further shattered as she retracted her back from Luna’s hoof. “You didn’t have to…?” She wiped away a lone tear that escaped from her eye. “…I don’t deserve it! If anything I should be apologizing to you and Kyoga! For hurting you both!” “But Twilight…” Luna tried to speak but the younger alicorn wasn’t done ranting there. “But what?!” She cried rather exasperated trying to resist crying yet her voice still waivered as she speaks. “You’re not the pony who helped Scar take over the Pride Lands, nor were you he one who helped orchestrate the plan to help him do so along with carrying out most of his heavy lifting up until he took over Diamond Valley and turned against me as soon as I longer in his interests to have on his side.” “Twilight…” “Compared to me Midnight Sparkle has done worse than Nightmare Moon ever did and that was all done in less than a few months not to mention even had the choice to not to go through with it all!” She further screamed leaving Luna and even Kyoga slightly surprised by her outburst. Thankfully it didn’t last longer as her anger flashed into immediate regret for losing control like that. “I’m sorry for that I just…that came out wrong too.” She buried a hoof into her face unable to look at the alicorn she just screamed at in the eye. “It’s actually quite all right, Twilight…” Luna calmly assured that there is no hard feelings before moving to once more retain her gentle grip on her so she can finally get more than a word in. “…best to let any bottled up feelings you’re holding in out before they wreak havoc on everyone else.” Twilight’s mood failed to improve. “And if it’s any comfort, you’re not the only pony who ended up having a role in all of this.” “Let me guess…” The lavender mare figured what she is going to say next. “…it has something to do with Scar’s return doesn’t it?” “Yes…” She said knowing that she already knows the truth about her role in Scar’s resurrection. “…I’m the pony who brought him back to life and the one who granted him his new powers thus setting off the unfortunate catastrophe we are now facing.” She then shut her eyes solemnly. “I’m the pony that ended up unleashing havoc on everyone by bringing back the Pride Land’s worst enemy here in Equestria and of course being the main reason why you now have that scar on your face and why you felt motivated to turn against us.” She opened her eyes at the same time Twilight gained the courage to look at her in the eyes. “Even though I may not have committed crimes on your scale as Nightmare Moon, you’re not the only pony feeling this very burden. If only I hadn’t gave into my anger towards my sister, you never would have gotten hurt because of it and you never would have betrayed us.” “But…” Twilight now unable to keep herself from crying. “…I did have the choice even when I had this scar bugging and tempting me into doing what I did, I still had control over my actions! I still had the choice not to go through with all of it and betray everyone in taking control of the Pride Lands in Scar’s name!” She further sobbed uncontrollably before turning away and placed a hoof on her face to futilely wipe away all of the tears falling out of her face. “Twilight, it’ll be okay…” Kyoga tried to say. “No it’s not! I ruined everything! Because of me, Scar is now more powerful than ever, there’s no hope of taking back Equestria and the Pride Lands, and there’s no hope of saving everyone else there! And it’s all my fault!” Kyoga for once had a rare moment of speechlessness unsure of what and how she can help her overcome her depression. Normally whatever comes to mind just comes out naturally. But since it’s usually blunt and curt to borderline brutal honesty like Applejack, she couldn’t quite say it this time. “Twilight…” She said after much thought. “…I know how you feel.” But this inadvertently triggered her anger once more. “Oh, really…?!” She sharply glared at her back leaving the lioness to stumble backwards in response. “…compared to a pony who betrayed an entire country and worked alongside an evil mastermind after getting scarred by him, what do you have that says that we are the same?!” “These scars along with one lost leg and living a lonely life up until I met you, Kion and the rest of the Guard.” She calmly replied while presenting said marks around her body. Twilight’s face froze before her anger simmered down into shame. “Right…right…” She then said after calming down before pulling out her hidden crystal cream from her mane before treating her scar once more. “Twilight…” Kyoga spoke to her just as she was putting it away. “What? Want to berate me for snapping at you?” “No, no…” She shook her head before saying. “…what was that you just put on your face?” “What? The cream…” She realized as she pulled it out from her mane to show it to both her and Luna. “oh,oh, this…Crystal lotion back from the Crystal Empire. It helps calm me down whenever my scar has been bugging me. Ever since I lost my dark magic I’ve hadn’t had the need to use it as much, at least not when I’m upset.” “Really?” Luna asked to make sure she is hearing her right as she turned away and sat down on the ground. “As in every day?” “Yes.” She calmly answered to confirm yes she did have control over her actions and that whenever she was actually nice it was genuine. “I mean compared to Scar, I’m not that heartless, just went about doing what I thought was right in the wrong way.” “How come you never told any of us that?” Luna asked with this revelation in light. “Considering I was lying to all of you most of the time since the wedding along with following in Scar’s paw prints, would you have believed me if I told you back then?” She replied as she turned to face her. “Honestly, no.” She admitted unable to say otherwise given the circumstances at the time. “Fair point.” “But it doesn’t matter.” Twilight said as she turned her head back towards the ocean water to gaze at her scar. “What’s done is done and there is no way I’m going to welcomed back the next time I set foot in Equestria and the Pride Lands even if were to go back and apologize for what I did.” “But Twilight…” Kyoga tried to speak before being interrupted. “Kyoga, please don’t…” Twilight won’t hear any more of it. “…like I said before, I had no excuse for what I did and have nothing to justify being as cruel and cold-hearted as Scar in our efforts to achieve our own goals in life.” As she gazed at her reflection just when Scar’s reflection appears beside her own. “I too ended up pursuing revenge on those who had hurt me in the past after a falling out with those who befriended me and let it turn me into the mare you’re seeing now all the way out here and all alone.” Both Luna and Kyoga silently nodded at each other before the former used her magic to conjure a portal where two figures emerged and have had every word she had just said. One of them was a familiar muscular lion with gold-colored fur and a bright red mane, and the other was a familiar purple baby dragon with green scales. The former has a strong urge to express his utter disappointment in Twilight for her actions, couldn’t help but feel empathy for her and the latter was practically begging to try to say whatever it’ll take to get the pony who raised him to come on back and rekindle the friendship she once had before. “You sure about that?” Simba first spoke up gaining the alicorn’s attention yet she still didn’t turn back to face him. “Not even the two that came all the way out here to find you?” “Simba…” She spoke breathlessly and dryly. “Along with your favorite dragon!” Spike added trying to sound encouraging with the hopes of a happy reunion. “Spike…” She said still in the same tone as she addressed the lion king. “Congrats. You both found me too. So now that you’re both here, go ahead.” She motioned her right hoof to give them permission to do whatever is on their minds. “Tell me off, I wouldn’t hold against either of you.” Simba sighed as he first approaches her and walks up beside her sitting on the edge of the beach. He knew from Luna to expect this given everything that she has done and is more than ready to accept not being forgiven or being welcomed back. So he decided a more reasonable approach. “Well…” He started a little hesitantly before continuing. “…it’s true I am disappointed in you, but that’s not really what’s on my mind.” “If so, then why are you really trying to talk to me about?” Twilight curiously asked with her eyes slightly turned towards Simba yet still not looking at him. “About why? Why did you do it?” Now it was Twilight’s turn to take a deep breath to retain her steely composure before answering this question no matter how hard the truth is for her to admit it. “Initially I didn’t want to but Scar wasn’t taking no for an answer and convinced me to by playing on when I was vulnerable back at the wedding.” She recalled the very memory it happened just after protecting the Crystal Empire. “He just knew where to hit me where it hurt and he knew that it would work. And I let him fool me into doing his dirty work and thinking that he was the true king of the Pride Lands.” “And what made you think that?” He curiously asked. “Because he told me himself.” She replied while thinking back to the day Scar shared this with her. “He told me of how he went underwent a similar falling out with his friends due to them over-trusting a stranger they just met trying to act all friendly and polite and how because of it, it lead to him getting scarred, losing his mother, and turning on his friends and brother in return.” “Really?” Simba said feeling surprised himself about his early suspicion being correct along with the others with this revelation in light. “Are you sure that’s true?” He asked to make sure she’s telling the truth. “He could have been lying to further manipulate you.” “I’m sure…” She gently replied finding it a fair question. “…I mean I could be wrong but I really have a strong feeling he was being honest with me when he told me all of that.” To further back up her claim she showed them a flashback of a young Scar in tears just after losing his mother and gaining his scar after the fight in the Pride Lands cave. “…and this is how I have that feeling he was telling me the truth back then.” She then quickly added. “And why didn’t say that before you might ask is because I wasn’t in my right mind at the time and you wouldn’t have believed me if I told you back then.” Simba was left processing all of this while thinking there may some kernels of lies somewhere in that but at the same time she could tell that Twilight was being honest with every word she was told back then and that was enough for him to continue trying to be gentle in getting through to her when he recalled a time where he was at his lowest point. “Understandable.” Simba spoke before sitting beside her. “But that doesn’t mean that…” “I know.” She gently interrupted knowing what he is going to say. “And I don’t plan on using it justify my actions. I take full responsibility for my part for further accelerating all of this.” “…yes. But keep in mind I’m only telling you this is because your actions led to some subjects of mine being killed the day Scar took over the Pride Lands and mainly because I care about you.” He places a paw on her shoulder and nuzzled her head to head. “I don’t want to lose you.” The further touch of heart strings had Twilight finally look at Simba eye to eye seeing that he still values her as family. “Even after what I did you and Kion?” She asked feeling astonished and hopeful she isn’t being baited into a verbal trap. “Of course, Twilight.” He nodded. “It was unquestionably heartbreaking the day that it happened when you helped Scar conquer the Pride Lands. For a while you actually seemed to be embracing with everything he had ever taught and told you and it seemed like we never lost you the last time we saw you at Diamond Valley.” “You don’t have to tell me twice.” She replied in a resigned manner expecting to hear that statement. “And what had you deciding that I was a pony worth reaching out for as opposed to Scar when he did the same thing?” “Because of the one thing that Scar didn’t have when he destroyed his Lion Guard and you had.” He answered while looking in the direction of Twilight’s heart. “Your compassion towards others, the ones who you never sought to hurt.” He said with emphasis by placing a gentle paw on her chest. “Even when you were bad, you still held on to it and treated everyone outside your inner circle like you were still the same pony we know and loved, especially your future sister-in-law and my daughter.” “I’m assuming Kion told you about that?” “He and both Kiara did.” Simba calmly replied. Twilight felt relieved somewhat with this talk but even still wasn’t really up to wanting to go back to living in Ponyville like nothing had ever happened. “Glad to hear and everything between them worked out.” But some of her lingering doubt still surfaced. “But even with your forgiveness, I still can’t find it in my heart to return and continue living in Ponyville and the Pride Lands.” She then looked back at the water to see her reflection with her scar and messy and disheveled mane in her face. “Especially when I still resemble your worst enemy.” Simba smiled before passing on some wisdom he was once given back when he was in self-exile himself. “Maybe so…” He then gestured her to look at the water once more. “…but if you look harder and really look into your heart…” The reflection that was once hers and Scar’s rippled and warped into two new reflections. Two that resembled Princess Celestia along with herself appearing much like the pony who truly mentored her. “…you’ll see who you are truly meant to be and what pony you truly are. A pony destined to do great things under the right guidance.” “Truer words have never been spoken Simba…” His father’s voice praised from up high earning the crowd’s attention when clouds formed in the sky with his head appearing for all eyes to see. “Mufusa…” Twilight whispered in his direction just when the majestic directed his attention towards the youngest alicorn down on the edge of the beach. “Yes, Twilight Sparkle, and it’s been a long time since we last spoke to each other.” He warmly greeted. “I know.” The mare said with a slight shrug. “And I suppose you know why?” “Yes I do.” He nodded as the alicorn looks down in shame as he addresses her in a stern manner. “And I’m glad you turned yourself around when you did because when you turned against everyone else you came to have forgotten who you are and by doing so you have forgotten me.” Twilight had no words to counter argue with that statement. “You are more than what you have become. You must take your place in the Circle of Life and in the Elements of Harmony.” “But Mufusa…” Twilight said still having a strong sense against doing so. “…to actually go back and have to answer to everything I’ve done since the Canterlot Wedding is truthfully so much so soon. How can I go back and resume being a princess and the bearer of the element of magic after all of that? I’m not the pony I used to be when I was properly introduced to friendship.” “True.” He nodded in agreement. “But true friends always forgive each other no matter what and so will everyone else you have hurt if you show them you are truly repentant of what happened back there. Just take this advice going forward. Remember who you are. You are Twilight Sparkle, the Pony Guard’s first fiercest leader and the one true princess.” Twilight was left watching on in awe as she takes in this heavenly wisdom. “Remember who you are…” He repeated before disappearing back into the clouds. “Remember…remember…remember…” After Mufusa’s voice quieted down, so did the clouds in the sky returning it to it’s clear and cool dark blue sky with Luna’s moon in the sky shining over Twilight’s body. “Wow.” Spike said once more amazed with what he saw. “What was that?” He chuckled. “The weather. Very peculiar, don’t you think?” He asked Twilight as he walked up beside her before adding in Simba’s direction after remembering what he just said. “Sorry.” Simba didn’t take offense, preferring to focus on the alicorn deep in her thoughts with what his father had told him. “Yeah.” Twilight replied thoughtfully like she is getting a push in the right direction. “Looks like the winds are changing.” “Change is good.” Simba commented in agreement. “Yes, but it’s not easy.” Twilight replied. “I mean I know what I have to do but…going back means I’ll have to face the music. I don’t even know how they’ll react once they see me again.” In response to that Simba playfully nudged Twilight face-first into the wave. “AAH! WHOA!” She found herself standing up before coming face to face with a small wave coming right at her that sent her riding back to shore. The waves pushed her right up to the lion king himself who playfully grinned at the now soaking mare. “Simba! I get that I had that coming but why?” “It doesn’t matter.” Simba shrugged in response. “It’s all in the past now.” “I know.” Twilight acknowledged while still having water drip from her body. “But you could have hurt me had that been a much larger wave.” “Yes, the past can hurt.” Simba said in a consoling manner. “But a wise mentor you know once said you can either run from it or learn from it.” Acting on instinct Twilight quickly flew up in the air leaving behind a dust cloud to dodge the attempted push into the water by Spike who was just right behind him. “See what I did there? So now Twilight, what are you going to do now?” “First…I’m going to meet up with someone nearby who’s been training me during this time while I was away…” She answered while flying off in the opposite direction from Equestria sparking uncertainty amongst the group until she added. “…then, I’m coming back!” The group smiled hearing this knowing that they got her to reconsider to the point she is going to move to rekindle her friendship with the others back home and least consider resuming her role as leader of the Pony Guard. Simba was the most proudest of them all seeing that Rafiki’s past advice proved useful when he shared it with Twilight. “For once in my life, I owe it to that crazy monkey knocking sense into me when he did.” He said to himself just when he was suddenly greeted with a whack to the head courtesy of Rafiki standing right behind him. “Ow!” He turned to see the mandrill who laughed and before disappearing back the portal Luna had briefly summoned all while shifting her eyes to the side taking some slight amusement to the sight. “Ugh. I mean good old Rafiki.” He said with a smile while rubbing the bump on his head. A few minutes later, Twilight managed to meet up with Tempest Shadow who is currently expecting her with a bag of equipment in tow. “Twilight Sparkle, welcome.” Twilight saluted in response “Thank you, ma’am.” The taller mare gently handed her said equipment she has packed for her. “Here is everything you need in order to complete your mission since your training is now complete. Do you think you can use this to your advantage?” “Of course.” Twilight nodded. “I’ll definitely treasure this gift…” She then pulls out her bottle of crystal cream so she can give it to her in return. “…as much as I hope you’ll treasure this as my way of saying thank you for helping put me on the right path.” “What is it?” Tempest inquired while inspecting said gel she squeezed onto her hoof. “Crystal cream from the Crystal Empire created to help soothe tension in cuts and marks that really get under your skin.” The alicorn explained while gently administering it on her scar and horn stubble. What started with an initial expression of confusion and discomfort turned into one with a much more relaxed one as its crystal wonders did its magic on her. During these few brief seconds of feeling much calmer and being less tense than usual she actually gave Twilight a genuine smile in return for her act of kindness. “Thank you, Twilight. I will definitely treasure this.” The two shared a firm and friendly handshake before accidentally pulling themselves into a hug together when they accidentally didn’t let go of each other’s hooves in time. “Oh…um…excuse me…if you could just…uh…watch it…” The two said to each other at the same time while stumbling in their footing a little and accidentally found themselves sharing a kiss together, lip to lip. “Oh!” The two blushed at each other before finally breaking apart from each other. Once they were properly separated and recomposed themselves from this awkward moment they accidentally shared together, the two shared one last salute together before turning and going their separate ways. Deep down while flying off ahead back in Equestria’s direction, Twilight was very thankful of everything the unicorn has done as it really helped her look at herself in a mirror more and was hopefully that they’ll meet again soon with the strong hope that they can be friends together. More so, should she come to Equestria. Throughout the rest of the night and through the very early morning, Twilight flew as fast as her wings could fly her, all while sporting a confident and determined expression to return and make things right. Busa From 0:58 to 1:18 By the time Celestia raised her sun up into the sky shining all over Equestria she spotted the lavender mare making her way towards the castle entrance. Seeing this had the white alicorn smiling in relief and delight to see her coming back as she flies inside. Twilight flew her way through the hallways and up to the doors where the throne room is. Knowing that Princess Celestia is already in there having expected her to show up she took a moment to take a deep breath much like Cadance instructed her to do before preparing to face the music with whatever the eldest alicorn princess has in store for her. After composing herself she opened the double doors where she finds herself meeting face to face with the pony who taught and raised her like any good mother would. At first the two were seeing eye to eye when Twilight was making her towards the throne where Celestia stood tall on the top of her throne although the former was still visibly nervous of what would happen now that’s she back especially when she was currently sporting a serious expression directed at her. But none of the less, she still pressed forward with it, with the single goal of at least seeing eye to eye with their current crisis on hoof. “Princess Celestia…” She began. “…long time to see, although you of course know why...” She internally groaned at her awkward introduction before continuing. “Anyways, I know that ever since the Canterlot Wedding that I was not the pony you’ve known me well for and I won’t hold anything against you for whatever you think of me now. What was going through my head was just being unable to forget about the memory of when I was at my lowest and Scar used that to his advantage to convince me to side with him and for that I blame myself for giving into that. I shouldn’t have given into it no matter how much that very moment hurt me and I shouldn’t have hurt everyone else around me because of it. I was cold, cruel, bitter, and very wrathful.” She then looked aside briefly as she cringed and said that part. “All I want now is to able to put an end to all of this and ensure that everyone from the Pride Lands and Equestria don’t suffer because of my mistakes.” She turned her back up to Celestia with regained composure. “And I accept whatever punishment you have in store for me for betraying you and everyone else all while hoping that I can regain your trust and forgiveness in time. If not, once this is all over I’ll just go and you’ll never have to see me again.” Just when Twilight turned her head ready to turn around and walk out as an unwanted outcast she was stopped when Celestia floated right in front of her and gently placed a hoof on her chin to get her to continue looking at her with an intent and firm expression leaving the former uncertain of what’s going to happen next. At least until she warmly smiled and had this to say… “I’ve missed you, Twilight.” Twilight was relieved yet still very remorseful. “I’m…I’m so sorry.” The two shared a warm embrace together with great assurance that all is forgiven between the two of them. “And you can be sure that you’ll always be my faithful student now that you are back.” She further assured. “Good to hear even after betraying you, the whole kingdom and family…” She sighed as she once more dwells on her most recent regrets. “…after hearing and learning more about Scar I began to see more and more similarities in the guy. I even placed my servitude and loyalty into him and after all of that, I get rewarded for it by being stripped of my magic. How could he do that?” “I don’t know, Twilight.” Celestia replied unsure of how to answer that question given of how tricky he can be in that regard. “Scar is just a complicated guy who just doesn’t value and comprehend friendship like you and I do.” “I just don’t know of how everyone is going to forgive me after what I did. The Pride Landers, every pony in Equestria, and my once closet friends in the Lion and Pony Guard.” She said still uncertain if she’ll be able to redeem herself in their eyes. “It’ll take some time but I’m sure as long as you stay true to who you are and prove to everyone that you truly are a changed pony they’ll come around. They always do.” She said still certain that things will work out in the end. Upon seeing that Twilight still has yet to smile and feel the same way she had this to add. “And you can make a good start with your now closet friends and family…” She moved to gesture Twilight to turn around to see the Mane Five, the Lion Guard, along with her brother and sister standing right at the doorway, having all just arrived ready for that reunion. “Girls, guys, Cadance, Shining Armor…” Twilight spoke with sudden surprise upon seeing them all. “…what are all…I mean…how long have you all been standing there?!” “Long enough to hear every word you just said and of course…” Fuli replied while approaching her with a teasing grin before deliver a hard punch on her right arm. Twilight didn’t flinch when it happened due to her recent training but still accepted it regardless having expected that from her. “…that’s for not being very nice.” “I know…” She is then interrupted with when the cheetah wrapped her arm around her back and neck to hug her. “And this is for turning yourself around.” “Thanks.” She smiled while straining slightly from her tight embrace. “I couldn’t have asked for a better welcome from someone as tough as you.” “Aww, thanks.” Fuli said feeling flattered by the compliment. “Oh, and welcome back, Twilight.” Next up is Fluttershy who is the most hopeful that she truly is in better spirits after being alone for nearly the last month. “Um…like what Fuli said…welcome back Twilight…and I hope you’re done being so mean to us.” Fluttershy expressed somewhat meekly and timid to her. “Yes I am, Fluttershy, and thanks.” Twilight said while understanding of the Pegasus’s nervousness. “Also…” She moved her right arm towards her. “…feel free to take your best shot.” “Oh…um…” Fluttershy moved to do so after a few moments of hesitation before giving her a little tab on her arm. “Ow. I think I was better off not taking that shot.” She said while rubbing her hoof. “It’s okay.” Twilight gently assured while gently patting her on back before pulling her in for a hug to which she greatly returned. Next up was Rainbow Dash who was quick for an opportunity to take her best shot at the alicorn to which she was quick to freeze her just inches away from her face. “Aww, come on, Twilight. You said I could take my best shot!” She complained. “I said to Fluttershy. I didn’t give you permission and you wasted your chance by jumping the gun again.” “Not even a little Fluttershy-like punch…?” Fluttershy frowned. “Hey!” “Nope.” Rainbow groaned before Twilight released her. The blue Pegasus turned away while slumping and floating in defeat before quickly darting right back at her. But Twilight expected that and had already conjured a magical shield that Rainbow flew face first into. “Gotcha…” She said with stars circling around her before dropping face first into the floor while passing out. Twilight shook her head before turning to the next reconciliation in line who is also shaking her head looking pretty amused herself. “Good ole Rainbow Dash! Always charging head first without thinking ahead…” But Bunga is suddenly frozen mid-swing when he tried to get a sneak punch onto her chest. Realizing that he is caught, all he could do was give a nervous grin and accompanying laugh before being pulled in close with her magic while the mare looks directly at him with a devious smirk. “Okay Twilight…whatever you do, don’t…” He is interrupted when instead of getting the worst, he is instead receiving a hug from her by wrapping a single hoof around him. “Oh…um…” He didn’t know what to say since she never hugged him before. “Good ole Bunga! Always there trying to be sneaky, funny, and brave at the same time.” She teasingly returned before speaking in a more sincere and heartfelt tone. “And I’m sorry for the way I acted towards you after getting scarred.” “Eh, Hakuna Matata.” Bunga smiled and shrugged when the alicorn placed her back down on the ground. “I’ve seen worse like the mean tough green scales of a crocodile when I was young.” “A croc like Makku?” She inquired with a raised eyebrow. Bunga was stunned of how accurate her guess was to the point he just chuckled nervously while his cheeks had slight tints of pink of them. “Anyways…” She said before moving on towards Applejack. “…Applejack…” But Applejack raised a hoof to silence her. “I know what ya gonna say, Twi, but there’s really no need to apologize…we all know that Scar fella has been really pulling your strings into turning hard on us like a black snake hiding in the desert.” “No…” She said before floating over her to offer an open hoof for her to punch. “…actually I was going to offer you a free punch. I’m ready.” “Okay…” Applejack was unsure whether she should but went along with it for her sake. “…if ya’ll serious…” She whipped around and bucked her hardest kick right at her arm. But instead of a normal punch, she ended wincing in slight surprised pain when reeling her hooves back when she felt like she kicked the strongest tree in Equestria accompanied by a small wave of vibrations felt on the floor when it happened. “Hoo-wee…that’s quite an arm you got there.” “Sorry.” She apologized while the farm pony shakes the pain off. “Part of a long painful ordeal I went through while I was away.” She said while flexing her arm. “The other part was actually getting to see myself in the mirror after running away. The most truly painful part.” “How so?” “Just coming to see of how awful I was in treating you the way I did. Honestly, I can’t find any other better words than I’m sorry and how wrong I was to…” She is suddenly interrupted when Pinkie zipped over and hugged her. “I’m sorry too.” Twilight returned the hug. “Friends mess up sometimes but we should never let it ruin our friendship because if we do then it’s just rotten chocolate milk with sour and bitter strawberry sizzle straws.” “Right, anyways…” Beshte said before moving forward with his turn to speak to the purple alicorn. “…we know that it wasn’t you talking back then, it was your scar bugging you into bringing out your bad side.” “Along with Scar taking advantage of you when you were very vulnerable.” Ono added. “I know but please…” Twilight felt the need to protest and stop him there with a raised hoof. “…I get it. But I still committed a lot of evil actions and let my bad side turn me into a pony that’s not worthy of forgiveness. I mean I just got back after nearly conquering Ponyville and endangering everyone over a month ago and here I’m already being showered with praise I don’t even deserve yet.” She then turns to both Rarity and Kion. “Especially after what I did to you two.” “Twilight, darling…” Rarity first spoke while approaching her while speaking in a kind and understanding tone. “…it’s all right. I’m still the same pony as I was before the whole Nightmare Rarity incident and I’m perfectly normal...” Both Applejack and Rainbow Dash along with Bunga snickered in response before finding themselves glared at by the fashionista. Turning back to Twilight she continued still soft-spoken. “…Anyways, we’ve all said and did things we regret and I’m sure you really weren’t in your right mind when did and said all of those things.” “No, but I did have control and the choice not to do all of those things which I didn’t do. And there’s nothing than not even an apology can make all of that be forgotten.” “True…” Rarity agreed. “…although if anything when I was looking you in the eyes underneath all of that dark and creepy exterior when we last saw each other I saw one thing that stands out and shows your true inner Twilight.” “And what would that be?” She asked expecting a random answer in return. Rarity approached Twilight and placed a hoof on her chest. “Right here?” Twilight blinked in confusion. “Your heart?” “My heart?” “Yes, darling…” Rarity nodded while recalling her at Rainbow’s party dancing happily along with cheering for her and Fuli’s racing relay teams, trying to keep the changelings from getting themselves killed when learning a forbidden secret, and her quality time with both Princesses Cadance and Kiara. With help from Luna’s magic the past flashbacks were there for all eyes to see. “…and if you do recall, you were actually having fun back there, even when being the princess of darkness.” “Maybe…” She said half-truthfully. It took her a second to realize that Luna and Kyoga both figured those parts out and had relayed this to them beforehand. “…although princess of darkness is a thing of the past. A terrible thing of the past I never want to relive.” Realizing her mistake she had backpedal a little bit. “Oh, um, what I meant to say is when you were…” She moved her hoof around in the air trying to say a more appropriate word until she thought of something else. “…not being our friend at the time…yes…that’s more fitting, don’t you think.” “Rarity…” Twilight eyed her with a raised brow. “…you don’t have to hold back on how terrible I was. We all know that I was not the pony you knew and befriended back there.” “Well you were a big b…” Rainbow Dash began before finding that Twilight along with everyone else is heatedly glaring at her knowing what word she was going to say. “…I mean…” Rainbow laughed nervously before giving up in defeat. “Sorry, too far.” “Anyways…” Twilight said with her attention back towards Rarity. “…I really appreciate what you’re trying to say but I think we all know that for all anyone can know is that it could have just been me using it as a cover of some scheme I did in the past. I think I real question I should ask you all here is if I truly was being genuine in still valuing friendship what key thing did I truly keep that proves that I still do?” “Your compassion towards others is why.” Kion answered right off the bat. “Your compassion still showed during your interactions with those who had never crossed you before along with that there was that one time where you showed to someone who assisted Scar with one of his schemes back when we were all at Diamond Valley.” “Spike and later Chrysalis?” She asked knowing exactly who he’s talking about. “Yes, Twilight.” Spike spoke up in agreement with the leader of the Lion Guard. “Nopony else would have done the same and that goes to show that you’re not as mean and nasty as the lion who tricked you into doing his bidding. And we’re sorry he broke your heart.” Now Twilight was starting to get a little touched inside more than usual. “Spike, Kion…” The latter said still assuring her that things will be okay in the end. “I know you feel like you’re not worthy of it, but you still have friends, Twilight. Friends who are willing to help you through this every step of the way no matter what. You may think you’re alone, Twilight, but you’re not.” "Kion's right, Twilight." Cadance said in encouragement. "You have us all here to help you out." She moved to approach her and placed a hoof on her chest. "And no matter what happens I will still love you as a friend." "And the same can be said for me too, Twily." Her brother added while wrapping his hoof around his little sister. "No matter what happens you'll still be my L.S.B.F.F." Now Twilight was left very touched and very remorseful over these heartfelt words, more so when it was coming from the friend who she had severely hurt more than once before. So she moved to wrapped her hooves around Kion to hug him (along with pulling Spike in for good measure) before hugging her brother and her future sister-in-law while she was at it. “Aww…” Pinkie remarked feeling overwhelmed by the heartwarming reunion to the point she cried and had gushers of tears coming out of her eyes. When the five break apart from their hug, Twilight moves ahead towards the balcony on the side of the room where the portal towards the Pride Lands lies with a sadden yet determined expression to at least make things right. “I know we have a very tough fight in front of us but I will promise you all, no matter what happens, we will defeat Scar!” She vowed to everyone behind her with Kion walking up to stand beside her. “And I can promise you that we all have your back on this, no matter how bad things get, Twilight.” Kion also promised to Twilight just when the rest of royal family and the Guard all walk up to join them. "And can you promise we fix up your mane when we get back to Ponyville and right on over to Carousal Boutique, Twilight? Pretty Please?" Rarity gently implored of her while batting her eye lashes and giving her a pleading pout and buttoning up her blue eyes with a heavily great desire of not wanting to have her continue walking around town with that messy appearance. "Of course." She gently responded immediately knowing that she wouldn't take no for an answer like she did when they first met. If she has to push and drag her every step of the way, she will do it. At the same time, Scar is looking on at the same portal from the other side at the edge from Pride Rock, still confident that he will cement his victory for the years to come with no one to ever stop him ever again, not even the mare he just betrayed a little while back. “So Scar…” Tirek’s voice said to him while approaching him along with Ushari. “…with the pony princess now back with all of those ponies in Equestria along with the Lion Guard, what does that mean for us since she’ll definitely be coming back for you?” “She still won’t be problem even if she were to come back here right now.” Scar replied still looking ahead. “But what about those keys to the Elements of Harmony?” The muscular demon pointed out still uncertain. “We don’t even have those, Princess Twilight does. How are we supposed to find them before she does?” “We don’t.” Scar asserted while turning around to face him and Ushari. “She will find them herself as long as she knows that I’m looking for them and will do everything in her power to keep me from getting them. But not to worry…” He moved towards the centaur that towers over him. “…with the way things are all going according to plan, we will have them along with all of Equestria under my control in no time.” “Your’s?” He glared at the lion face to face “Yes, mine.” He glared back with no fear. “Do you have a problem with that?” Tirek wanted to protest this but after reminding himself of how he got his freedom in the first place, he had nothing worth arguing with him for. “No.” “Good.” Scar gestured towards the cave behind him. “Now get some rest, you’ll need it for the coming weeks in order to build yourself back up to full strength.” “Of course, Scar.” Tirek said in resignation to the lion-alicorn hybrid. “I won’t forget.” As soon as Tirek retired inside the cave for the night with Ushari slithering inside to join him, he turned back to the edge of the slanted slab where the moonlight is shining on him thinking back to a time when he and Twilight were standing there together just after taking over the Pride Lands. Out There (Scar's version) Scar sang while caressing the alicorn while carefully placing one of his claws on her fuming scar to pull out some of that dark magic messing with her mind before forming it into an electric ball of sparking lightning while guiding her inside of the caves to further assure her that everything will work out as long as he remains loyal to her to the end. A vow that Twilight planned to uphold. At the same time back on the balcony, Twilight was reflecting back to that moment and was finding herself opening her eyes more and more to the lies Scar told her back then since he still went through with betraying her when he longer needed her to further his conquest of Equestria. Out There (Twilight's Verison) To him she ended up turning out to be an expendable pawn rather than his equal and apprentice as originally planned. So she moved to fly out and up and around the castle along with flying overhead the skies of Ponyville to oversee how everyone is doing, specifically the Pride Landers with most of them predictably giving her a mixed set of both fearful and frightened reactions upon seeing while others gave her scornful frowns and even turned their backs on her. All but the kindest souls along with Makku feeling deep down she’s not a totally irredeemable pony, just someone who really needed to be reminded of who she truly is. As Twilight continued singing while making her way back towards the castle balcony she expressed in a solemn yet hopeful tone that she will be able to redeem herself for her sins while smiling once her song and flight ended. Unbeknownst to her from the nearby hallway was Kion, her brother, and the remaining alicorn princesses were all secretly watching her arrival with an expression that agrees with her hopes and dreams, now that she is no longer alone and back home…for now.