//------------------------------// // Elements of Harmony // Story: Back Home in Equestria // by FujiwaraJunko //------------------------------// “Are you serious? You defeated Tirek and even befriended Discord?” Sunset said incredulously as she listened to Twilight and her friends talk about their adventures. The train ride back to Ponyville was quiet, and out of boredom, Sunset asked about everything she had missed out on. “Well, technically, Fluttershy was the one who befriended him first. I wasn’t too keen on the idea at first.” Twilight admitted. “No kidding, he’s the Lord of Chaos. I’d have second thoughts about befriending him too, if it were me.” “He’s actually nice if you get to know him.” Fluttershy piped up timidly. “Only you can tame him like that, Shy.” Sunset grinned. “I see you’re getting along quite well already.” Celestia smiled to her as Sunset shrugged. “I guess.” She turned her gaze to Luna, who sat quietly next to Celestia. “Um… Princess Luna?” Luna looked to her. “Yes, what do you need from me, my dear niece?” Sunset looked down with a shy smile. ‘My dear niece’, huh… She’s not so different from the other Luna. “I was wondering if it’s ok if I call you Aunt Luna? I mean, you are mom’s sister after all.” Luna just smiled. “I’d like that, Sunset Shimmer.” Luna suddenly looked out of the window and stood up. “We’re here.” She announced to the rest as the train came to a stop. As they alighted, Sunset made a mental note to tell Celestia and Luna about her own adventure once this issue with the Elements of Harmony was settled. And maybe they might be able to figure out why and how I got my wings too… She added in her mind. “Here we are, at the Tree of Harmony.” Celestia said as they crowded around the tree while Sunset gaped in awe at it near the back. “And look, there are the Elements!” Rainbow Dash pointed out. “Luna and I discovered it some time ago.” Celestia revealed. “We felt a strong burst of magic one night, so strong that Luna even returned from the Dream Realm to find out the source. And look carefully.” She smiled as she pointed to the Elements. “There are…seven Elements of Harmony?” Twilight felt her jaw drop as she counted and recounted again to arrive at the same number. “B-But…how is that possible? I thought there were only 6 Elements of Harmony!” “That was what we have thought too, Twilight Sparkle, but magic works in mysterious ways.” Luna said. “Although we only knew of 6 Elements of Harmony, nopony said there couldn’t be a 7th, or an 8th, or even a 9th Element of Harmony. The Tree of Harmony is, after all, a tree.” “But… But… Who does it belong to?” Twilight asked. She could identify all the Elements but one, which was shaped like a sun. There was a nagging feeling at the back of her mind that she had seen this mark just recently, but she couldn’t seem to recall where. “That looks awfully similar to your cutie mark, Your Highness.” Rarity commented as Celestia chuckled. “It does look similar, but it’s not mine. I do know, however, of another pony who bears a sun as her cutie mark.” “Me.” Sunset whispered as the rest of them looked to Sunset’s flank, confirming that her cutie mark did indeed match the 7th Element of Harmony. “But I never did anything to earn it! It’s just like my wings too! I didn’t earn them!” She said, aghast, as she flared out her wings before folding them again. “If you didn’t earn them, then why do they exist?” Celestia asked, though her smile suggested she already knew the answer. “Sunset, the Elements of Harmony would never choose you to be their Bearer if they do not think you deserve it. You have proven yourself worthy of an Element, and it has chosen you as its Bearer. As for your wings, I’m afraid I’m not sure how you ascended, since Luna and I usually help with the ascension of a pony, but I do know that you’ve earned them, just as you’ve earned the right to bear the Elements of Harmony.” “How? I was asleep for the past 30 moons, and before that, I was a horrible pony! I didn’t listen to you, and I didn’t make any friends either! It doesn’t make any sense!” Sunset exclaimed in disbelief. “But you know, you did say that you solved the problems of other ponies in the other world!” Pinkie chirped in suddenly. “And you helped our sisters and prevented them from giving into corrupted magic too.” Applejack added. “Plus, you defeated Nightmare Moon and befriended Princess Luna!” Rainbow Dash said. “And helped the other me make friends and extended your friendship to her.” Twilight listed. “You even helped Princess Celestia there.” Fluttershy joined in softly. “It wasn’t real!” Sunset snapped. “All those were just a dream! A fake! In this world, the real world, I was asleep!” “I speak from experience when I assure you; you are worthy of your wings, as well as the Elements of Harmony.” Luna spoke up as she walked to Sunset’s side. “After all, you had wings when you wielded the Elements of Harmony before, or have you already forgotten that?” “How do you know that?” Sunset asked, her eyes wide in shock. “You’ve never even met me before today.” She hadn’t told Luna and Celestia about what had happened in the other world. She had only told Twilight and the others, but even then, she hadn’t gone into detail, so they couldn’t have told Luna anything more than what she told them. And yet, how did Luna know what only she should have known? Luna seemed to read her thoughts as she met her gaze with a mysterious smile and a twinkle in her eyes. “That may be what you think, but this is not the first time we’ve met, Sunset Shimmer.” She said while Sunset was busy gaping at her. “Before I found out that you’re my niece, you were my friend.” “Y-Your friend? When? How?” Sunset asked. “The same way you befriended a group of ponies who were fighting amongst themselves over a misunderstanding, three little fillies who tried to ostracise you, a pony who tried to bring eternal night to Equestria, and a pony who had fled in guilt and remorse after banishing her sister to the moon.” She said, watching as realisation began to dawn on Sunset. “Sometimes, to be a friend…” “…a little empathy is needed.” Sunset finished in a whisper, her eyes widening even more. Now, the moments when Luna had spoken familiar words to her made sense. “Of course. You’re the Alicorn in charge of the Dream Realm. You were there.”