Applejack and Rainbow made their way to the breakfast table where Celestia, Twilight, and the others were all waiting for them. Rarity had still not brushed her mane in its usual style and let it hung plain these past few days.
“Rarity, you don’t have to stop being beautiful with your mane just cause you’re feeling guilty,” Twilight said to her fellow unicorn. “I know how much you love looking your best!”
“Indeed, but I feel so ugly right now,” Rarity said. “I was tempted to cut my mane all the way down or have you throw mud at me! This will just have to do for now. Until I feel I’ve made amends for what I’ve done, my formerly beautiful mane will be just plain. You can call me Plainity from now on!”
She stopped and giggled. “Ooh Plainity! That’s good, I’ll have to remember that if I ever go undercover somewhere! And with my main like this it would certainly be plain.”
Twilight sighed. “Alright have it your way, Plainity. But I’m not throwing mud at you!”
“But I deserve it!” Rarity exclaimed dramatically.
Twilight ignored that and looked at her other friends. “Are any of you feeling better today?”
“A bit,” Rainbow Dash said. “Still pretty unawesome but I’m just glad this is the last day we have community service.”
“I second that!” Pinkie Pie said with a just a little cheer. Her mane had returned to its puffy state and she had a smile. “Come on girls we can’t stay sad forever. Twilight doesn’t want that does she?”
“No, I don’t,” Twilight said hugging the pink pony next to her. “I want all of us to be able to move past this. I know it won’t be easy. But we have to try.”
Celestia nodded grimly. “If your friendship does break apart, then the elements of harmony will no longer be able to function. Finding new bearers will not be easy.”
Twilight looked at Applejack. “We can’t let that happen.”
The Earth Pony nodded with the others. Before they could say anther word though, the door to the dining room opened and Princess Luna entered looking very tired. She yawned as she sat across from her sister at the other end of the long table.
“I hope everypony had peaceful dreams,” the princess of the night said.
“Not really,” Applejack said. “Had my third nightmare in four nights.”
“I didn’t sleep too well either,” Fluttershy said. “I saw myself being mean like I was after the assertiveness seminar with Iron Will. Though it was me being cruel to me, telling me I’m an evil mare.”
“I know how you all feel,” Luna said. “I still carry the guilt of betraying my sister, and I will for the rest of my life. We all make mistakes, and we must work to rectify them. Many ponies were terrified by the attack and are having nightmares of the changelings. I’ve been battling many nightmares from ponies that were in Canterlot.”
“That’s our fault then,” Rarity said. “If we’d-
“Blaming ourselves is not going to change anything. We all made our mistake of not listening to Twilight,” Celestia said. “There is no changing the past. Unless we used time travel, but that is a forbidden spell with good reason. If I were to go into the archives and send myself back a week to warn myself to listen to Twilight, who knows what could happen? Cadance might still be left in the caverns and we might not find her in time.”
She sighed. “We must carry on.”
Luna nuzzled her. “I wish I’d been up during that time of the day. I could have helped you take on the queen, Sister.”
Celestia nodded and returned the nuzzle. “I’m sure we would have triumphed together, even without the elements. But nopony lost their lives, for that we should be grateful.”
They ate their breakfast and then Twilight and her friends went to their community service. Twilight used her magic to fix a window on a house. Rarity used her own to remove the scratches and spruce up the garden in front of the house, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy lifted a new roof on. Finally, Applejack hammered the last nail into the roof and Pinkie applied a final bit of paint to the tile. Around them other teams did more or less the same things.
“Phewie! All done!” the cowpony said.
“And perfect if I must say so,” Rarity said with a smile before remembering her current bed head state. “Unlike me.”
“None of us are perfect, Rarity,” Twilight said.
“Yeah, you can admire the fanciness of this here place but I’ll be glad to be back in little ole Ponyville soon,” Applejack said.
“I suppose it will be good to be home,” Rarity said.
“You sure you wanna face your customers looking like that though?” Spike asked his crush.
“Oh, it’s not too bad is it?” Rarity asked.
“I think its fine,” Applejack said. “Of course, fashion ain’t my cup of tea. But you don’t look bad Rare. At least not by my standards. Looking plain is fine!”
“Oh, thank you Applejack,” Rarity said with a bit of sarcasm.
“I miss all my animals as well,” Fluttershy said. “I just hope the sitter didn’t mind the extra time she had to spend with them.”
“We still have to do one more thing though,” Pinkie Pie said.
They all looked down except for Twilight.
“The public apology,” they said as one with remorse.
They made their way back to the castle where Celestia planned to hold a gathering and apologize to her citizens. Since they were responsible somewhat, the Mane 5 intended to apologize as well.
…
And so Princess Celestia gathered every pony in Canterlot for a royal announcement. A large portion of the population assembled in the hall. Celestia stood at the head along with the Mane 6 and Spike.
“Today, the repairs from the changeling attack have been completed,” Celestia said. “I am pleased that no pony lost their lives in the attack. We did have injured but thankfully no casualties.”
There was a joyful cheer. Celestia smiled for a moment but then bowed her head.
“But I must apologize to all of you. I have a responsibility to protect this city and the rest of Equestria, but I failed to see that the Changeling Queen had disguised herself as my darling niece Princess Cadance. One little pony, my faithful student, Twilight Sparkle, saw there was something off about Princess Cadance. She tried to warn us at the wedding rehearsal, but we coldly walked out on her, thinking that Cadance’s behavior was the result of stress and she was being possessive of her brother Shining Armor.”
Gasps and mutters of surprise and outrage filled the room.
“Twilight Sparkle saw the princess was a fake?”
“Maybe she should lead us instead!”
“They walked out on her? Some friends!”
“How could they dismiss a friends concerns like that?”
The words were heard by the Mane 5 and Celestia who felt a fresh surge of shame and remorse.
“Everypony please!” Celestia put a hoof up. “Yes we all made a big mistake that day. Had we listened to her and I had questioned Cadance or seen the signs perhaps we could have averted this disaster and nopony would have been hurt. I can only ask your forgiveness as monarch and promise to try and do better in the future. The same goes as a mentor to Twilight whom I value very deeply and am ashamed to know I hurt.”
Celestia barely managed to maintain her regal posture before turning to the Mane 6. “Now, the bearers of the Elements of Harmony would like to say a few words as well.”
She stepped out of the center and Applejack stepped forward.
“We also wanna apologize to y’all for the damage we caused. We should have listened to our friend Twilight and been there for her. I’m the Element of Honesty and believe everypony should own up to their actions and be truthful. I thought I was doing the honest thing going to comfort a pony that had just got her feelings hurt. But I was a fool and fell for the lies of that imposter.”
She then looked at Twilight. “I failed as a friend and an element, as well as a big sister. My younger sister Applebloom was put in danger here and things could have been a lot worse if the changelings had been after something else besides love. I’m lucky to have such a forgiving friend in Twilight. But speaking honestly, I don’t feel I deserve her forgiveness.”
Twilight smiled in appreciation at the first few sentences but it faltered at the last one.
“I abandoned her for somepony I just met, and I failed to uphold a promise I made to her a while back on taking a friend’s concerns seriously,” Applejack continued. “I… don’t feel I deserve her forgiveness, even if she’s given it to me. But I can’t turn my back on her and ask her to find a better friend, as that would possibly destroy the bond of the elements of harmony which Equestria needs! Therefore, I feel must earn the right to call her my friend again for myself! I must own up to my actions and make amends. I’m sorry I let y’all down that day, but words aren’t enough I know. I hope to be able to make up for it someday soon.”
Applejack stepped back and let the next pony come up. Rainbow Dash walked on the floor rather then fly.
“I’m the Element of Loyalty, but I was loyal to myself on the day of the wedding and invasion. I just thought about doing my part where I could show off my stuff. I’m sorry to you everypony, and especially to you, Twilight. I know you’ve probably received a lot of apologies over the last few days but like Applejack says words aren’t enough. Action is the only way to fix this mistake. I promised your brother that I would never abandon you again! And I intend to keep that promise as the most loyal pony!”
Twilight managed a smile again. Now it was Rarity’s turn.
“I am the Element of Generosity, but I chose to be generous and give a bride the benefit of the doubt. Yet I did not extend the same courtesy to my friend,” the unicorn said as she looked at Twilight. “You are the most wonderful friend a pony could ask for, Twilight. You have a pure heart that is perhaps… no, even more generous than mine by the fact you forgave us even after what we did!”
Rarity’s eyes let out a small bit of tears as she said those words. “I only hope that I prove myself worthy of your continued friendship as we go on more adventures together. You are a pure sparkling diamond while I’m one that’s been tainted with dirt that I will strive to clean off!”
Pinkie Pie’s turn was next. “I’m the Element of Laughter, and I wanted to make sure everypony had a good time at the wedding. Yet I didn’t try and cheer up Twilight and along with the others went to cheer up that mean imposter. I guess we were all party-poopers even we tried to make sure it was perfect. I hope all of you are happy right now since your homes are all fixed and throw yourselves a big party when you get home!”
Then Fluttershy who cringed at the heavy crowd but took a breath knowing she had to own up to her actions. “Um, I’m the Element of Kindness…” she said looking down at the ground. “But I was not kind enough to support a friend when she needed it. I’m sorry, to all of you and especially to Twilight.”
She looked her friend in the eyes. “I hate the fact that I hurt you and I feel like a worse monster then I was to Rarity and Pinkie Pie back when I learned to be assertive from a certain… somepony.”
That was a small lie as it had been a minotaur that taught her but that didn’t matter right now. Fluttershy’s eyes teared up as well before she took her place back with her friends and Twilight watched sadly.
Spike tried to come forward but Twilight pulled him with her magic and shook her head.
“You were the saddest about leaving me,” she said. “And you’re a baby dragon. You’re the most bound to make mistakes.”
She came up and faced the gathered ponies.
“I am relieved everypony is safe now that the changelings are gone,” she said. “I know my friends have made a mistake. But the one who is truly to blame is the Queen of the Changelings. She is a creature of manipulation and trickery, please don’t blame my friends for falling for her treachery. I didn’t make my accusation with proof when I tried to expose her. I’ve always prided myself on being smart and resourceful but I did not investigate and find real evidence to support my claims. I recently solved a mystery of another sort with those methods but my anger toward the imposter and fear for my brother’s safety blinded me. But in a way, what happened was a good thing as it allowed me to bring the real Princess Cadance back to us. Everything worked out in the end. I know these wounds will take a time to heal, for all of us. But they will in time, I know.”
As Twilight concluded her speech the crowd cheered.
“Twilight! Twilight! Twilight!”
“You’re our hero!”
“I love you, Twilight!”
The unicorn blushed at those words but couldn’t identify the source.
“Thank you everypony for your forgiveness,” Celestia said. “Now please, let us go back to enjoying life in our wonderful city! New threats may emerge, but we have these little ponies to deal with them, even when they or even I might not be at our best! Love and light will always conquer darkness in the end! Princess Cadance and Shining Armor’s love was what stopped the invasion, and it was all thanks to Twilight Sparkle that she was found! She’s the true hero today and I couldn’t ask for a better student.”
That returned a smile to Twilight’s face. The ponies facing them nodded and gave an “Aww.” Then slowly began to leave the hall and make their way back home or to their everyday lives.
The Mane 6 and Spike watched them all go then turned to Celestia.
“I hope you all have a pleasant train ride back to Ponyville,” the princess said. “It was a truly marvelous wedding and you all did wonderfully in your parts. You also did an equally wonderful job on your work repairing the city. For that I thank you all my little ponies.”
They beamed at her.
“If you need anything at all, Twilight, you have but to ask,” Celestia said. “Now, return home with all haste. I’m sure your local friends and family miss you. Also, I will expect a report within a week from all of you on what you’ve learned from this experience.”
They bowed and made their way to the train station. As they walked, Twilight looked at her friends. There was silence.
Then Applejack spoke. “Twilight, are you sure you’re not feeling even a little angry at us, Sugarcube?”
Twilight looked down. “A bit,” she admitted. “You were right, what you all did was pretty horrible and could have easily led to our friendship being destroyed. But like I told Shining Armor, I was afraid I’d lost you when you left. I don’t want to cause that by not forgiving you. I’m still mad at you though, at least a-“
“Don’t even say a little!” Fluttershy said as she looked with angry tears in our eyes. “That was one of the single most cruel things I’ve ever done!”
“Most uncouth of me,” Rarity agreed. “You should be mad at us, Twilight!”
“But I don’t want to,” Twilight said.
“No pony can help the way they feel, Twi,” Applejack said. “But actions are another matter. We all have a lot to make up for and we will strive for it when we get back to Ponyville.”
“I’m gonna throw three parties tomorrow for just the seven of us!” Pinkie declared. “A victory party, an apology party, and a my friend’s brother got married party! You’re the guest of honor Twilight!”
The unicorn smiled at her.
“We’ll all bring a batch of ‘I’m sorry’ gifts,” Applejack said.
“Sounds like a good way to start,” Twilight agreed. “I don’t know what I’d do without you girls.”
“Me neither,” Spike said. “I bet the libraries got a bit of dust so I’ll have to clean up. Then I’ll make your favorite dinner, Twilight!”
“Oh, thanks Spike!” Twilight hugged her assistant.
They got to the train and boarded it, happy to be going home to Ponyville. This had been perhaps the most guilt ridding of their adventures so far but they would pull through, somehow.