Nightmare Moon continued cackling as thunder and lightning sounded. The Mayor pointed at her.
“Seize her, only she knows where the princess is!”
The Pegasus Royal Guards flapped their wings and flew at the dark alicorn. She glared at them with glowing eyes. “Stand back, you foals!”
They stopped at the sight and were soon zapped by lightning. She cackled and turned back into the blue mist. She moved incredibly fast, the ponies screamed as she did so but instead of harming any of them, she simply opened the front doors and flew out. Fire Sword flapped his own wings and took off after her. At the same time the light blue pony with the rainbow mane followed, pulling her tail free of the restraining mouth of the orange pony with a hat.
Fire Sword was fast, but Nightmare Moon was even faster. She got away before he could catch up, and soon he was bumped into from behind by the pony with the rainbow mane.
“Sorry!” she said before looking around. “Night time? Forever?”
Fire Sword looked down. This was not how he thought things were gonna turn out! Now his mother was where only she and Nightmare Moon knew.
“Mom,” he muttered worriedly.
Then the sound of hooves galloping filled his ears. He looked and saw Twilight Sparkle running out of the town hall.
“Where’s she going?” the rainbow maned mare asked.
“Who are you?” Fire Sword asked.
“Oh, uh… I’m Rainbow Dash,” the Pegasus said. “Sorry about your mom. If only I hadn’t been held back, I might have been able to catch that smoke pony! But there’s something strange about that other pony!”
She pointed to Twilight who continued running away. “I’m gonna get my friends and follow her! If she’s involved in this, she’s gonna regret it!”
Twilight Sparkle, involved with the princess’s disappearance? That was ridiculous! But Fire had no chance to tell that to Rainbow Dash before she took off.
“Hey, wait up!” he called.
She was fast, quite a bit faster than him. He had mainly focused on magic, but he was still as fast as most of the Pegasus royal guards in flight, though his stamina was another matter. He couldn’t fly full speed over long distances. He followed Rainbow Dash back into the Town Hall.
“Follow me,” the Pegasus said to a group of four other ponies. “I think that new pony in town, Twilight Sparkle, is up to something!”
Fire Sword watched. The gears in his head began to click. His mother had mentioned something about a group of special ponies in this town that Twilight would run into, could this be them? Were they the ones that she thought could defeat Nightmare Moon?
He looked over and saw his own four friends. All of them were mares. Man, maybe he should find a stallion to hang out with? He mentally shrugged, that didn’t matter right now. First, he had to try and find his mother.
Flying over to Moondancer and the others, he said. “I’m gonna try and help stop Nightmare Moon, you girls get somewhere safe.”
They nodded.
“Be careful,” Moodancer said.
“Stay safe,” Twinkleshine said.
Fire Sword nodded and then heard another sound of running hooves. The other group was already making their way out. He ran after them, if they were going to be the ones to defeat Nightmare Moon and save his mother, he had to help however he could.
They ran to a building made of a tree. It had a sign reading Golden Oaks Library in front that was just visible in the moonlight. They entered and found Twilight going through book after book.
“Elements! Elements! Ughh!” she sighed in frustration. “How can I stop Nightmare Moon without the Elements of Harmony?”
Rainbow Dash flew into Twilight’s face. “And just what ARE the Elements of Harmony?” she asked in a suspicious voice. “And how did you know about Nightmare Moon huh? Are you a spy?”
Suddenly the same orange pony in the hat took a bite of Rainbow’s tail again and pulled her back. “Simmer down, Sally!” she spoke in a country accent. “She ain’t no spy, but she sure knows what’s going on, don’t you Twilight?”
Twilight hesitated a moment then saw Fire behind the mares. “Prince Fire Sword!”
“Twilight Sparkle,” he greeted with a small frown.
While he was normally friendly with her, thinking back to how Moondancer had been devastated when she hadn’t come had caused him to feel a slight bit of resentment toward her for the moment. He looked around at the other mares.
“So, you’re Rainbow Dash,” he said pointing to the pony he’d briefly flown with. “Who are the rest of you?”
“Oh, it's such an honor, Prince Fire Sword!” the white unicorn said before bowing. “I’m Rarity, and these are my friends, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and… well, you said you met Rainbow Dash.”
She gestured to each of the ponies as she spoke their names. Applejack was the orange Earth Pony with the hat who had a trio of apples for a cutie mark. Pinkie Pie was a pink Earth Pony, her cutie mark was balloons. Fluttershy was a yellow Pegasus with a light pink mane and butterflies for a cutie mark.
“Um… nice to meet all of you,” Fire Sword said.
“Yeah yeah, so what is it you know, Twilight?” Rainbow Dash said.
“I read all about the predictions of Nighmare Moon. Some mysterious objects called the Elements of Harmony are the only things that can stop her. But I don’t know what they are! Where to find them. I don’t even know what they do!”
Suddenly Pinkie Pie spoke out looking at one of the shelves. “The Elements of Harmony, a Reference Guide!”
Twilight ran over and knocked Pinkie out of the way. “How did you find that?”
“It was under ‘E’!” Pinkie said happily while bouncing.
“Oh,” Twilight said embarrassed at the obvious mistake she’d made.
She took the book in her magic and began flipping through the pages and reading rapidly.
“There are six Elements of Harmony, but only five are known. Kindness, Laughter, Generosity, Honesty, and Loyalty. The sixth is a complete mystery, it is said that the last known location of the five elements was the castle of the royal pony sisters.”
Little did they know a certain blue mist was watching them through the window. Fire Sword looked at it, but it vanished before he could see it.
“It is located in what is now-“ Twilight continued.
She led them out to-
“The Everfree Forest!” some of the other mares exclaimed.
The forest before them had trees that were unlike those in Ponyville or even Canterlot. It looked dreary, and spooky.
“Wee! Let’s go!” Pinkie Pie said.
“Not so fast!” Twilight said. “Look, I appreciate the offer. But I’d really rather do this on my own.”
“No can do, Sugarcube!” Applejack said. “We ain’t letting no friend of ours go in there alone!”
She and the other mares began trotting along the path. “We’re sticking to you like caramel on a candy apple!”
“Especially if there’s candy apples in there!” Pinkie said before looking back at Fire and Twilight who both gave her weird expressions.
Twilight and Fire Sword looked at them as they went ahead. Fire Sword then glared at Twilight. “The book didn’t mention this, but I know something you don’t. You can’t use the Elements of Harmony without friends. And no offense Twilight Sparkle, but you really suck at that!”
Twilight’s mouth fell open at that.
“What?” she exclaimed.
“You ditched Moondancer’s party!” he growled as he walked after the five new mares. “She was really devastated! That party was for you you know!”
“I don’t have time for that sort of thing!” she said coming after him. “My studying is-
“Not everything in life is about studying!” Fire Sword snapped. “Didn’t my mother tell you that? I enjoy reading, but at least I make an effort to be with friends! Cause without them, you’ll only get so far. Books can only teach you so much.”
Twilight felt as if she’d been roasted.
“Maybe I’m not the one who can defeat Nightmare Moon then,” she said looking down. “Maybe I should go back. If the Elements require friendship, then I’m not the pony for the job.”
Uh-oh. Fire had tried to just get to her understand as well as stand up for Moondancer’s feelings.
“Hey, I’m sorry. I was just angry you hurt Moondancer!” he said, remorse filling him. “I had to cheer her up at her party when you didn’t show! I know you probably didn’t mean to hurt her, but you should be more sensitive to the feelings of your friends and spend time with them! But it's never too late to try again.”
Twilight sighed, though it was an uncertain one rather than an annoyed at the idea of friendship one. She then walked further ahead of Fire to stand with the five mares. They walked for a while as the stars continued to shine above.
“So, none of you have been in here before?” Twilight asked.
“Oh, heavens no!” Rarity said. “Just look at it!”
She gestured to the trees around them. It looked spooky in the dark.
“It's dreadful!”
“And it ain’t natural!” Applejack added. “Folks say it don’t work the same as Equestria!”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Twilight asked.
They were suddenly on a cliffside.
“No pony knows!” Rainbow Dash said as she flew out of the shadows and spoke in a scary manner before landing on the cliff and crawling creepily. “You know why?”
“Rainbow! Quit it!” Applejack said.
“Because no pony who’s ever come in,” Rainbow continued as she stalked towards Rarity, Fluttershy, and Pinkie. “Has ever come out!”
At that moment, the cliff they were on suddenly cracked and fell. Twilight, Rarity, Applejack and Pinkie all screamed as they fell. Meanwhile, Fire Sword and the two Pegasus mares flapped their wings and avoided the fall. They looked down at their falling friends!
“Fluttershy! We got to catch them!” Rainbow Dash said as she flew after them.
“Yeah!” Fire said as he followed her.
“Oh, my goodness! Oh, my goodness!” Fluttershy exclaimed.
Rainbow Dash managed to grab Pinkie, Fire spotted Rarity struggling to stay on her hooves. He caught her by the waist like before.
“I got you!” he said lifting her off the uneven ground and picking her up bridal style.
“Oh, thank you, my prince!” she said with a blush. “That’s twice in one day… or night… that you’ve gotten me out of harm’s way!”
She hugged him appreciatively, he offered her a smile in return. Then Fluttershy zoomed past them, diving for Applejack who was the next closest pony. Fortunately, the cowgirl pony managed to catch herself by biting onto a tree root. Unfortunately, Twilight was further down, and was close to end of the cliff below that all the ponies were sliding towards.
“Help!” she screamed.
Fire set Rarity down on some even ground then flew toward Twilight. At the same time, Applejack let go of the roots and slowly slid down to her. “Hold on! I’m a coming!”
She took hold of Twilight’s hooves when she reached her.
“Applejack, what do I do?” she asked.
Applejack tried to pull but couldn’t do it. Then she looked up and saw something.
“Let go!” she said.
“Are you crazy?” Twilight asked.
“No, I ain’t! I promise you’ll be safe!”
“That’s not true!”
“Now listen here, what I’m saying to you is the honest truth! Let go and you’ll be safe!” Applejack said.
Honesty, Fire smiled. His mother had picked the right group. At least, one of them was right. He flapped his wings along with the other two flying by his side. Twilight closed her eyes and let go, screaming as she fell for only a few feet before Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy caught her before she could hit the ground far below. Fire watched as Twilight let out a breath of relief. Then suddenly they began falling again for a moment. Fire prepared to catch them if necessary but the two Pegasi managed to steady themselves.
“Oh, sorry girls,” Fluttershy said, apparently the cause of the near fall. “I’m not used to holding anything more than a bunny or two!”
Applejack leapt gracefully from the sides of the cliff. Fire flew over to help if she needed it, but she landed safely at the bottom. Fire then flew over to Twilight.
“See? You wouldn’t have made it on your own back there,” he said.
She sighed, “You’re right. I guess, maybe I was wrong about… not needing friends. I’m sorry. When I get back to Canterlot, I’m gonna make things up to Moondancer.”
Fire nodded with a small smile of forgiveness. They continued forward.
“You were pretty cool there, Prince Fire!” Rainbow Dash said in a bragging voice. “Grabbing Rarity and carrying her off like that! But me and Fluttershy really saved Twilight!”
“I know,” Fire said with a little annoyance. While he enjoyed friendship well enough, he didn’t like bragging behavior.
Suddenly something big blocked their way. A giant golden lion with devil like ears, red wings and a scorpion tail.
“A manticore!” Twilight yelled in fear.
The beast roared ferociously. Fire put himself in front of the six mares.
“We’ve got to get past him!” Twilight said.
The manticore leapt at Rarity and swiped at her with his claws. She dodged though and landed a leaping hoof kick on the beast’s face.
“Take that, you ruffian!” she said.
He roared in her face, getting slobber all over it and the sound messing up her mane.
“My hair!” she said before looking back at the beast who merely stared her down. She squealed in fright as she saw this. “Aah!”
She hid behind Fire who put up a red shield as the manticore leapt.
“Wait,” Fluttershy said too quietly for them to hear.
The beast landed on the shield which cracked under the immense weight. The manticore dug its claws in, but Fire soon added another part to the spell and his shield lit aflame. The manticore cried out in pain as its front paws were burned.
Applejack took the opportunity to leap on the creature's head.
“Yeehaw! Get along little doggie!” she said.
The manticore began leaping around trying to throw her off.
“Wait,” Fluttershy said again.
The manticore soon flung Applejack into the air. She looked at Rainbow as she flew without a hint of worry and said, “All yours partner!”
“I’m on it!” the Pegasus saluted.
She passed Fluttershy who said “Wait,” again, then surrounded the manticore in a fast-speeding rainbow. For a while it looked trapped then the manticore lashed out with its tail and hit Rainbow Dash who yelled.
“Rainbow!” Twilight exclaimed.
The Pegasus hit the ground, injured. At least she had only been hit with the side of the tail and not the stinger. The other ponies looked at the manticore who kicked the dirt behind him, steam flared from Twilight and Fire’s nostrils as they and the others kicked dirt behind them as well. Rainbow got up and Rarity and Pinkie came to stand beside them as they charged, ready to fight the manticore with everything they had.
They got closer to the beast but suddenly…
“Wait!” Fluttershy yelled, finally speaking loud enough for them to hear as she put her hooves up.
They stopped, confused. Fluttershy then turned to the manticore and walked over to him. He growled and raised a paw to strike. The girls closed their eyes while Fire narrowed his and stepped forward, lighting up his horn. A red sword blade projected from it, ready to stab the manticore if it hurt Fluttershy.
“It’s okay,” she said nuzzlings its left paw.
The manticore's gaze slowly softened and he opened the paw to reveal a large thorn in it. Fire’s mouth fell open at the sight as he realized this creature was just hurt. He sheathed his magic conjured sword, the signature spell he’d used since he was a colt.
“Oh, you poor poor little thing,” Fluttershy said as she saw.
“Little?” Rainbow exclaimed.
That was certainly not an adjective to describe that big hulking beast. Fire made to approach it as well, but it growled as he did so.
“Now this might hurt just a little,” Fluttershy said.
She pulled the thorn out and the manticore roared, picking up Fluttershy in his paws.
“Fluttershy!” the other girls said.
But the manticore, instead of harming Fluttershy, began licking her in thanks. She giggled.
“Oh, you’re just a little old baby kitty, aren’t you?” she asked. “Yes you are!”
The other five mares continued forward. But Fire approached the manticore as he noticed that though the thorn was gone, the burn from his… fire when he’d protected himself and Rarity remained. He lit up his horn, the manticore saw him and backed away.
“Easy, I just wanna help,” he said.
Sensing the gentleness in his voice, the manticore lifted his paws to Fire. The alicorn prince ran a little magic through them. While his special talent was combative magic to match his cutie mark of a flaming sword, he had studied healing as well since that was a necessity in the event he got injured in a fight. He wasn’t the best at it, but he did manage to soothe the manticore's wounds. The beast nuzzled him in return.
“Ah, you’re welcome,” Fire said. “And I’m sorry.”
The beast made a forgiving growl. Fire and Fluttershy whose mane was now messed up from the saliva continued on. Twilight waited for them.
“How did you know about the thorn?” she asked Fluttershy.
“I didn’t,” she said. “Sometimes we all just need to be shown a little kindness.”
Twilight smiled after a moment. They continued on.
“Ugh! My eyes need a rest from all this icky muck!” Rarity said.
It was true, this wasn’t an attractive place to be in. But as long as Fire could save his mother, he’d go through just about anything. Suddenly, as they continued, the moon seemed to lower and forest got darker, so dark they couldn’t even see anything in front of them.
“But I didn’t mean that literally,” Rarity said.
“That ancient ruin could be right in front of our faces and we wouldn’t even know it!” Twilight said.
The ponies then began bumping into each other and-
“Oh wait! I think I stepped in something!” Applejack said.
Fluttershy screamed.
“Its just mud,” Applejack said before she looked ahead to see a monstrous looking tree. “Aah!”
She rejoined them and suddenly they were surrounded on all sides by monstrous looking trees. Fire stepped forward, though the trees looked scary he knew they were wood, and he was named after something that was the very bane of wood.
“Looks like some scary trees need to be burned down!” he said as he lit up his horn which turned from red to orange as he was about to unleash a flame.
Suddenly something grabbed hold of him and he was sucked underground.
“Can’t have you interfere with me,” the voice of Nightmare Moon said. “You’re the greatest threat as a fellow alicorn!”
…
“Prince Fire Sword?” Rarity asked.
The trees around them had vanished, but it was still very dark. Then the monstrous images returned. They all began screaming, certain it was over.
Until they heard another sound. The sound of laughter. They looked and saw Pinkie laughing at the scary trees and soon making faces at them.
“Pinkie, what are you doing?” Twilight asked. “Run!”
“We don’t have the prince to protect us anymore!” Rarity cried.
“You’re the main one he seems to be protecting!” Rainbow Dash said.
“I’m sure he would do the same for any of you! He is most noble!” Rarity said. “But we most certainly must run!”
“Oh, girls don’t you see?” Pinkie said before starting to dance and sing. “When I was a little filly and the sun was going down...”
“Tell me she's not...” Twilight started.
“The darkness and the shadows, they would always make me frown.” Pinkie continued to sing.
“She is,” said Rarity.
And Pinkie sung.
"I'd hide under my pillow
From what I thought I saw
But Granny Pie said that wasn't the way
To deal with fears at all."
"Then what is?" Rainbow asked
"She said, Pinkie, you gotta stand up tall! Pinkie replied and continued her song.
"Learn to face your fearsYou'll see that they
can't hurt you
Just laugh to make them disappear."
Ha! Ha! Ha!
So, giggle at the ghostly
Guffaw at the grossly
Crack up at the creepy
Whoop it up with the weepy
Chortle at the kooky
Snortle at the spooky
And tell that big dumb scary face to take a hike and leave you alone and if he thinks he can scare you then he's got another thing coming and the very idea of such a thing just makes you wanna... hahahaha... heh...
Laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaauuuugh!"
Pinkie’s song caused the other five mares to laugh at the spooky trees which ceased to be spooky.
“Come on,” Twilight said. “Let’s save the prince and princess.”
…
Fire Sword was flung into an area he didn’t recognize. But he could tell what it was when he looked. A small room with stone floor and ancient looking iron bars next to it. A prison cell, he must be in the dungeons of the ancient ruin! Nightmare Moon then appeared on the other side of the cell.
“This should keep you out of the way long enough for me to deal with those lesser ponies,” she said as her horn lit up.
And darkness consumed his sight. He could now see things going outside this castle. He saw the six mares he’d been traveling with through the forest crossing a bridge next to the castle. But the bridge broke and they all fell.
“No!” Fire Sword yelled.
“Your mother will never return again!” Nightmare Moon said with a cackle. “I will rule for all of eternity!”
“No!” he yelled again.
Nightmare Moon laughed. Fire Sword then saw Canterlot and her sitting on the throne that was his mother’s by right.
“No! No! Noo!” he yelled.
“Prince Fire Sword!” a voice called.
“Hey wake up!”
Baam!
“Ow!” Fire Sword said as intense pain shot through his face.
“Rainbow Dash! Don’t hit him!”
Fire looked up to see all the mares there with him. The cell door was open now. Though as he looked, he noticed one of them was missing.
“Where’s Twilight?” he asked. “What happened?”
“Nightmare Moon took her and the Elements! We got to hurry!” Rainbow Dash said.
“The Elements, you found them?” he asked.
“Dang nabit no time to explain! We gotta move!” Applejack said.
They ran, as they galloped out of the dungeon, they entered the ancient armory. Out of the corner of his eye, Fire spotted something.
“Rarity, your tail!” he said as he looked at her.
“Oh, I had to cut it off for somepony… or rather some serpent,” she said. “Don’t worry it will grow back.”
That was generous of her, she seemed like a good mare. They continued, then Fire spotted another thing. A sword, an ancient rusty sword to be sure but it might still make an effective weapon.
“That could be useful,” he said as he used his horn to levitate it to himself.
They continued on with him following the mares.
“Twilight!” they yelled.
Soon they arrived and saw Twilight looking at the passage they came out of with wide eyes. Nightmare Moon was right behind her. Twilight grinned and turned to face their foe.
“You think you can destroy the Elements of Harmony just like that?” she asked.
At the feet of Nightmare Moon were some crystal fragments. What had happened while Fire was under the spell and separated from the mares?
“Well, you’re wrong, cause the spirits of the Elements of Harmony are right here!” Twilight said as the other five mares came by her side.
Fire stood off to the side a ways. This was their battle. Suddenly the crystal fragments at Nightmare Moon’s feet began to levitate.
“What?” she exclaimed.
“Applejack, who reassured me when I was in doubt, represents the Spirit of Honesty,” Twilight said.
Some of the crystal fragments flew toward Applejack and began circling around her.
“Fluttershy, who tamed the manticore with her compassion, represents the Spirit of Kindness!” Twilight continued. “Pinkie Pie, who banished fear by giggling in the face of danger! Represents the Spirit of Laughter!”
That must have happened after Fire was separate from them. But there was still-
“Rarity, who calmed the sorrowful serpent with a meaningful gift, represents the Spirit of Generosity! And Rainbow Dash who could not abandon her friends for her own heart’s desire, represents the Spirit of Loyalty!”
So, they were the Elements of Harmony. Fire looked at Rarity, imagining her giving a sad serpent a gift that would calm it. It caused him to blush.
“The spirits of these five ponies got us through ever challenge you threw at us!” Twilight said.
“But you still don’t have the sixth element! The spark didn’t work!” Nightmare Moon said.
“But it did! A different kind of spark!” Twilight said before turning to her friends. “I felt it when I realized I was wrong, and how happy I was to hear you, to see you, how much I cared about you! When I realized that you all… are my friends!”
There was a flash of light and the sixth element appeared above Twilight. It hovered for a moment as Nightmare Moon closed her eyes. “When that spark ignites in the hearts of us all, it creates the sixth Element, the Element of magic!”
The sixth Element exploded and all the others transformed, binding themselves to each pony around the neck. They took on the forms of necklaces that matched each pony's cutie mark. Except for Twilight whose element took on the form of a crown on her head. The six of them began to levitate in midair as Fire watched. Rainbow magic began to coil around them and fill the room This was it, they would defeat her and save his mother.
Or so he thought. Nightmare Moon looked at him and suddenly he was enveloped in her magic once again. He yelled as he was pulled forward, still grasping his sword. The rainbow laser came toward Nightmare Moon, but she stuck him… her own nephew out in front of herself to use as a pony shield. Fire yelled out in pain and the laser hit him.
The six mares gasped and Twilight ceased the flow of magic. They fell to the ground.
“Ugh! My head!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed as she rubbed it.
Nightmare Moon laughed. “You think I would fall for the same trick twice? My sister defeated me last time, but I’ve learned since then! It was a good thing I had a pony to use as a shield! And you won’t be able to do that a second time, at least not if I can help it!”
She flew toward them and sent out a wave of magic that knocked all of the mares back. They hit the wall and grunted, Twilight’s crown fell off her head and Nightmare Moon quickly took it in her magic.
“If I keep the Magic Element away from you, you can’t use it anymore!” Nightmare Moon said.
Fire pushed himself to his hooves. Nightmare Moon advanced on Twilight as the young mare lay helpless before her. Fire then picked up the sword in his magic.
“Leave them alone!” he shouted.
Nightmare Moon looked at him as suddenly a light filled the room. Fire looked at its source and saw the sword was glowing, it transformed, the rust vanishing and a shining steel blade emerging. The hilt turned gold and showed a flame above the cross guard. The flame then lit up and traveled through the blade of the sword. It was just like Fire’s cutie mark just like the necklaces around the girls' necks and Twilight’s crown.
“What?” Nightmare Moon exclaimed. “A new Element of Harmony? But how?”
Fire looked at the sword as it traveled into his hoof. It pulsed in his grasp and he felt as if he heard it speak.
“You created it Nightmare Moon, when you used me as a shield against the Elements!” Fire said, relaying the swords words. “They sensed I was their friend, and that they needed help! Now I am the seventh Element of Harmony! The Element of Balance! I will be there for these mares when the tables turn against them and they need someone to level the playing field and protect them from threats like you!”
He raised the sword at her and charged. Nightmare Moon aimed her horn and shot a burst of dark magic at him. But he raised the sword and blocked it before sending it back at her with a swing of his sword. Nightmare Moon was pushed back with a scream. She struggled to get up as he charged at her. There was no choice, she was his aunt, but she was still a threat to Equestria. If only there were a way to redeem her, his mother had wanted that.
He swung the sword. Nightmare Moon gasped, but remained completely intact, no cut on her body. Fire Sword looked at the sword in confusion, had it just passed through her? Then suddenly Nightmare Moon began to be surrounded by the same rainbow magic from before, but this time it came out of her. She looked at in fear as it surrounded her, spinning rapidly.
“Noo!” she screamed.
It was over, Fire Sword looked back at the mares. They all got up and Twilight levitated her Element that Nightmare Moon had dropped back onto her head.
“Oh, thank goodness!” Rarity said waving her tail which had grown back.
“Why Rarity, it's so lovely!” Fluttershy said.
“I know! I will never part with it again!” Rarity said hugging her tail.
“No, your necklace, it looks just like your cutie mark!” Fluttershy said.
Fire had noticed that already, but then he’d not been in the battle initially so they must not have noticed.
“Oh, so does yours!” Rarity exclaimed before looking around. "And Fire's sword as well!"
Applejack turned to Twilight. “Gee Twilight, I thought you were just spouting a lot of houie! But I reckon we really do represent the Elements of Friendship!”
“Indeed, you do!” a regal voice said.
Light shined into the ruins now, sunlight! Looking through a nearby window, the ponies saw the sun rising. It grew brighter and then she emerged. Princess Celestia. The five mares bowed to her while Fire Sword and Twilight each let out a breath of relief.
“Mom!” Fire said running to hug her.
“Princess Celestia!” Twilight spoke in a similar tone.
“Fire Sword, my son! And Twilight Sparkle, my faithful student!” she said as they got on either side of her and she nuzzled them both. “I knew you could do it!”
“But you told me it was all an old pony tale!” Twilight exclaimed.
“I told you that you needed to make some friends!” Celestia said. “Nothing more!”
“My mom saw the signs of Nightmare Moon’s return,” Fire explained. “And she knew it was you who had the magic to defeat her. But only once you let true friendship into her heart.”
“But I didn’t do it!” Twilight said. “You did!”
“Indeed, that was an unexpected turn!” Celestia said. “But then, it’s never been known of the Elements of Harmony having to be used on somepony twice. Still, while my son was the one to defeat her, you did awaken the Elements once you let the spark of friendship into your heart. Now, if only another will as well.”
She looked back where Nightmare Moon had been, only to see a different pony lying there with solid remnants of magic laying around her. The pony was blue with a moon cutie mark.
“Princess Luna!” Celestia said as she approached and the pony opened her eyes. “It has been a thousand years since I have seen you like this! It is time to put our differences behind us! We were meant to rule together, little sister!”
“Sister?” the mares exclaimed.
“Will you accept my friendship?” Celestia asked.
Fire and the mares watched. Pinkie Pie lost her balance and fell over comically. “Whoa!”
Tears escaped Luna’s eyes and she got up. “I’m so sorry!” she said as she hugged Celestia. “I missed you so much, big sister!”
Tears escaped Celestia’s eyes as well. “I missed you too!”
Fire smiled and walked forward. “Welcome home, Aunt Luna.”
He joined his mother and reformed aunt in their hug. Pinkie Pie cried then smiled.
“Hey, you know what this calls for?”
They got that answer when they were back in Ponyville. “A party!”
Party confetti flew and the ponies gathered to see the Princesses on their chariot. There wasn’t enough room for Fire with both on there, so he flew above them. They stopped in front of the crowd with the six mares at the front. Spike ran out and hugged Twilight while Fire’s other group of mares that he’d come here with, Moondancer, Minuette, Twinkleshine, and Lemon Hearts all ran to him.
“You’re alright! And you got the princess back!” Moondancer said.
They all hugged him, and he smiled. “Yes, and Twilight understands the importance of friendship now! So, you can bet she’ll come to your next party!”
“Oh, thank you Fire Sword!” Moondancer said.
Fire turned to Luna and saw her looking down in remorse for her actions. But then a pair of young Pegasi flew forward and put a necklace of roses around her neck. She smiled after a moment and looked at her sister. Fire then turned to Twilight who was looking sad.
Celestia noticed this as well. “Why so glum, my faithful student? Are you not happy that your quest is complete, and you can return to your studies in Canterlot?”
“That’s just it,” Twilight said. “Just when I learn how wonderful it is to have friends, I have to leave them.”
Celestia smiled. “Spike, take a note please.”
Spike drew a scroll and began writing as she spoke.
“I, Princess Celestia, decree that the unicorn Twilight Sparkle will take on a new mission for Equestria. She must continue to study the magic of friendship and report to me her findings from her new home in Ponyville.”
That caused Twilight’s mood to brighten up considerably. Her new friends surrounded her with happy whoops.
“Oh, thank you Princess Celestia!” Twilight said. “I’ll study harder than ever before!”
Cheers filled the area and Fire walked forward.
“If I’m the Seventh Element now, I think I should stay as well,” Fire said as he joined them.
“Very well, we will have to set up a place for you to stay then,” his mother said.