Octavia's muzzle twitched as a few sunrays fell across her body. Her body slowly stretched, then recoiled from the sun with the motion of a pony who wanted just a few minutes more tucked in up in her comfy, comfy bed. She turned slightly, one hoof falling off of her face and clapping against a flagstone.
Huh?
The jolt brought her back to a level of mild awareness, and she groaned slightly as she cracked her eyes open. She felt exhausted. Maybe, she thought, she had stayed up too late or practiced something unusually strenuous. Whatever the case, though, she had practicing to do, and it wouldn't get done with her lying in bed. She would need to force herself up, untangle herself from the covers, and...
She realized, as the room swam into focus, that she was not in her bed. Remembering everything else from there was the work of only a few moments.
With a start, she scrambled to her hooves, stumbling on the rough floor a few times as she frantically looked around. Her first hurried looks were not for the tyrants, or the exit, or even for her beloved cello, but for the others. Her five friends had journeyed through a forest full of monsters with her, and she had to find them. “Please be okay,” she muttered, forcing her aching and tired body to rotate. “Please be okay, please be okay...”
Just behind her, to her great relief, were most of the others. Fluttershy was asleep, her head on Bluenote’s tummy and her mane tickling the tubist's muzzle as she snored quietly. Bluenote too was out like a light. Lyra Heartstrings had somehow gotten onto one of the thrones before collapsing, and her legs kicked about a little bit as she lived through some wild and adventurous dream. To the side of the chairs was Medley, curled up into a little ball of pony and sleeping motionlessly. And Vinyl...
Octavia blinked. Vinyl was gone.
“Vinyl?” she called, leery of waking the others but fearing the worst for the leader of their group. “Vinyl, where are you? Are you there?”
She looked all around the room without finding her. The walls on multiple sides of the room had crumbled and she hurried to the rubble, fearing that the DJ had been thrown there in the wild magic storm that had ensued that night. One pile in particular seemed new, and she began moving the rocks and stones as hurriedly as she could. “Vinyl, if you are under there, say something! I will--"
“Uh, Tavi?”
Octavia looked up, blushing. Vinyl was staring at her through one of the holes in the wall.
“Where were you?” asked Octavia.
Vinyl frowned. “Just went to go look outside, make sure the sun and moon were the right size and place. They are. We saved the world.” She grinned. “Wait, you were looking for me, weren’t you? Aw, you do care!”
“No, I -- that is -- “ Octavia blushed even harder, causing Vinyl to laugh loudly. “Vinyl!”
“Relax. No shame in having friends.” Vinyl winked cheekily and trotted back past her. “So! We saved the world. We should celebrate.”
“We should go home.” Octavia frowned, looking around. She wasn’t looking forward to a return trip through the Everfree, especially since they now had a bunch of heavy instruments to move through the woods as well. “I still have difficulty believing that we survived...”
“Why not? We’re just that awesome.”
Octavia looked up through the ceiling. “So... we really did it? We stopped them, and saved the world?” It seemed so impossible, but the proof was before her. The sun and moon were no longer battling it out overhead. Instead, there was just the warm, simple light of dawn steadily illuminating the room. “I wonder where the tyrants went...”
“Oh, they’re right outside.” Vinyl pointed at the front door, which Octavia now saw was slightly ajar. “They dragged themselves out just after that green thing left them.”
For a moment, Octavia couldn't speak.
Then: “They’re still here?!”
“Yeah, but -- hey, wait!”
Octavia turned to the others. “Wake up!” she yelled. “The alicorns are still here! We have to fight them, now, before they recover! Hurry!”
Medley groaned as she opened her eyes. “Really, Tavi?”
“Yes! Hurry, now, we have to stop them!”
“No, we don’t!” called Vinyl, but everypony ignored her. With a few yawns and grunts of pain, the others got up and hurried towards Octavia. Vinyl, sighing, followed.
Octavia nodded at her friends, then seized her cello from where she’d set it down the night before, fastened it to her back, and ran forward. She wasn’t sure what she had expected to happen to the tyrants, although 'being returned to their astral prisons' would have been her first preference. If they were still outside, though, and merely sleeping or readying themselves for round two, she might have only one chance to hit them before they could get up.
“Wait!” repeated Vinyl, but Octavia and the others ignored her. The cellist opened the door and dashed out into the hallway, scanning frantically for the alicorns. She saw a flicker of movement from one of the side rooms and dashed at it, hoping against hope that she was not too late. Before she could get into the room, though, the door opened again and an alicorn exited.
For a few moments, there was only silence.
“That’s her?” asked Medley. “Seriously?”
“She...” Octavia began. “She is so...”
“She’s so CUTE!” said Fluttershy, eyes sparkling.
The pony that had once been Nightmare Moon had lost over two feet of height, and though her mane still sparkled like the stars in the night sky, it did seem somewhat dimmed. She looked more like a filly of college age than an immortal demigoddess. Octavia didn’t know what to think. It was as if Canterlot Castle had suddenly turned into a small hamlet. “Nightmare Moon?” she managed, ready for any sort of trick.
“Seriously?” said Medley. “Wow. We hit her harder than we thought.”
Bluenote chuckled. “Yep.”
Meanwhile, the pony looked aggravated. “I am not cute!” she insisted. “I am the Princess of the Night, I move the moon and stars, I wield power unknown, I fight star serpents and sea monsters with ease!” She blushed. “I am many things, but cute is not--”
“Oh, yes you are, sister,” called another voice, and a white-coated, rainbow-maned alicorn trotted into the hallway from another side room. She was also shorter than any of the musicians, and even her horn was now a bit tinier than Lyra's. “You always had all the stallions asking after you.”
The first pony’s blush deepened. “TIA!”
(Meanwhile, Fluttershy was looking between the two as if trying to figure out which one was cuter. Bluenote poked her. “Breathe,” she whispered.)
“Wait.” Lyra blinked. “Those two... Burning Sun and Nightmare Moon?”
“Not exactly.” The white-coated alicorn turned to them. “I was... I mean, my name is Celestia. My sister’s name is Luna. We ruled the nation, until...” She paused. “Until we were corrupted.”
“The exact story is not important.” Luna looked down. “But... we became the tyrants, and we warred, and in the end our own creation sealed us away for a millenium. Until we broke out and warred again, and you stopped us.”
Luna didn’t seem ready to do anything else, but Celestia put a hoof on her back and gently guided her into a bow before bowing herself. “You have our thanks.”
“Told you they were cool now,” called Vinyl.
Octavia blinked. “I am confused,” she said at last. “What happened?”
“You’re sure we don’t need to fight them anymore?” asked Medley.
“You probably have many questions,” said Celestia. “As do I, I must confess. I am still not exactly sure what happened to us... but perhaps our creation can be of some assistance.”
Octavia’s eyes widened slightly. In all the excitement, the princess had slipped from her mind. “Is she alright?” she demanded. “Princess Cadance, did you hurt her? She had better be alive--”
“She is,” said Celestia. “Neither of us broke her--”
“If she is badly hurt, I swear, I will--”
And then the impossible happened.
"There is no need to worry, Octavia."
Octavia and all the others turned, and there, in the doors leading to the front entrance of the castle, looking battered and bruised but very much alive, was Princess Cadance.
Octavia forgot all else and, pushing swiftly past the others, dashed at the Princess. She felt herself leaping through the air, and then she was embracing Princess Cadance in the front of the hall. “Princess! You’re alive!” She hugged her closely. “Thank the stars! I was so worried! I--"
And then Cadance was hugging her, and her friends had crowded around her, and Octavia felt like the happiest mare in the world.
***
Princess Cadance had learned many things in the thousand-plus years since her creation. One, as it turned out, was a spell to summon delicious feasts from the air.
“I knew you had been corrupted,” she told the two alicorns, who were bowing at the foot of the table. Despite her repeated protests, both had refused to take a seat with her and the six mortal musicians. “I still don’t know exactly what it was, but some entity or spirit was able to twist you.”
“You were not created until long after our feud began,” Luna protested. “You never knew us when we were... ourselves. How could you know we were altered?"
Cadance’s smile was gentle. “Your advisors, your administrators... and your close friends... saw the changes. Though not immortal, they communicated with each other, elder to younger. It was they who convinced you to create me... and they who, later, told me what they feared.”
She bowed her head. “I was only a golem, but you made me better than you knew. I did not only want to fulfill my duty to raise the sun and moon. I wanted to help you... my parents, in every important sense. I tried to learn everything I could to help you... magic, diplomacy, anything. But all I did was for naught.” She paused. “I’m not sure why the entity did not possess me as well. Perhaps it is because of my artificial nature. But instead, it convinced you two that I was the enemy and needed to be shoved aside.”
“And we continued to feud,” said Celestia, softly, “until we broke into open warfare. And then you were forced to use the Elements of Harmony on us.”
Cadance did not speak for several long moments. “I am sorry,” she said at last. “Had I acted earlier, or... or used the Elements properly, as my student and her friends have... I would not have lost you two to the stars for a millenium. I--”
“No,” said Celestia. Despite her reduced size, stature, and power (for Cadance had confirmed that the two alicorns were now no stronger than your average mortal pony), she still sounded regal. “We let ourselves be corrupted. I resented my sister, and envied her, and hated her artistic gifts... a thousand malevolent thoughts, none of which I ever expressed but none of which I let myself forget. It is no surprise the spirit found fertile ground in my soul to twist me to its point of view. In a moment of weakness, it came to me and told me it could help me. I allowed it, and...I did not even notice the change, it was so gradual, but one day, I was trying to kill you both.” She lowered her head.
“I was no better,” said Luna. “I was so jealous of your popularity and fame... I wanted that. The spirit asked me, and I too gave in.”
“What’s the spirit called, your majesty?” asked Lyra.
Cadance frowned. “I know of no name.”
“It called itself as Nemesis,” said Celestia. “Beyond that, I know nothing about it.”
“I have a question,” said Medley.
Cadance looked at her. “Yes?”
“How come nopony knew about this? Except for Lyra, we all thought that Celestia and Luna were myths.”
Cadance was again quiet for a few moments. “My function was to serve the princesses of Equestria and keep them from strife. I had failed, and I was ashamed.” She shut her eyes. “Even now, though I have grown so much since my creation, it still hurts. I could not bear to even think on my failure... I allowed knowledge of the alicorns to fade away.” She turned to the alicorns. “I am sorry. I had no right to erase your tens of thousands of years of peaceful rule for my own peace of mind--”
“The fault was ours,” said Celestia. “Ours, and ours alone. You... you did far more than we could have expected. You were created only to move celestial bodies, but when the time came, you saved the citizenry from us, and us from each other. You have nothing to be ashamed of.”
The three alicorns were silent for several moments, until Celestia nodded at Luna and both approached the golem. “We have been negligent in our duties,” said Celestia. “We allowed ourseles to be corrupted by evil, and forced you into a position you were in no way designed for. We have put you through so much stress and strain that you have every right to hate us.” The two bowed.
Luna added, “Can you ever forgive us?”
Cadance looked at them, and Octavia realized that she was crying. “Of... of course...”
And then the three were hugging, and crying, and Cadance was lightly thumping them on the head and saying, “If you ever! Do that! Again! I’m going to put you in time-out for ever!” And the musicians could not help but smile at the reunion.
***
The rest of the breakfast passed uneventfully, with the musicians mostly listening to Cadance talking with her creators. They did speak, though, when the conversation moved to discussing the Elements.
“You are now Bearers of the Elements of Harmony," said Cadance. "Through your superlative virtues, you have each bonded to one such Element. Together, you wield magical power unmatched in all the land."
“And the power is in our instruments?” asked Medley.
“Yes. Normally, they will act as they always have. But when you need the Elements, you will be able to use those instruments to activate them.”
Bluenote put a hoof to her chin. “So, when great evil comes to Equestria, we should schedule a gig there and we’re good?”
Cadance had to laugh at that. “I suppose so.”
Vinyl brightened. “Hey, I’ve been applying for permits for months to do a show at the gates of Tartarus--”
“No,” said Cadance, Celestia, Luna, and Octavia, all at once.
The alicorns also discussed how the government had changed in the last thousand years, and how it would continue to act in the future. Both Celestia and Luna were a bit confused at the idea of the commoners electing officials to represent them in one of the government chambers, though Cadance assured them that it worked quite well on the whole. The topic of whom would occupy the royal throne also came up.
“Neither of us can move sun or moon now,” said Luna. Her horn glowed futilely, and she scowled up at the sky for a moment. “I knew I shouldn’t have made that moon so heavy.”
Celestia giggled.
“It might be best if you remain regent for now, both for meteorological reasons, and...” she trailed off.
“You know how the government works,” said Celestia. “We need to learn from you. And we need to regain the trust of the populace.”
Luna nodded.
“Will you ever get your powers back?” asked Lyra. She had been the most spritely at breakfast besides Vinyl, and in fact seemed to have entirely forgotten that they had been fighting the alicorns to the death a few hours ago.
“Eventually, they will,” said Cadance. “My creators gave much of themselves to Nemesis, so when you drove it from them, they naturally lost all that they had given. In time, I believe they will recover and heal.” She nodded her head. “There will be a day when Princess Celestia again will watch over the day, and Princess Luna the night.”
“That day is far in the future,” said Celestia. “We should focus on the present, for the time being.”
“In the present, it might be best if you two take part in public service projects,” said Cadance. “Cleaning, construction, and so forth. That would let ponies know that you want to help them now.”
Luna paused. “...would we have to wear the uniforms?”
“Of course! We look cute in them,” said Celestia, smiling.
“Tia!”
Celestia turned back to Cadance. “From what you have described, the government is so different now from when we reigned.” She paused. “How did you know what changes to make? That was not part of your design.”
Cadance smiled slightly. “Hmm. Octavia -- do you know the answer?”
For a moment, Octavia was flummoxed, but then she realized what the right answer had to be. “Those same advisors and counselors. No -- more than that. Those same friends. The ones that helped you know what you had to do to save the nation from the alicorns... they helped you thereafter too.” She nodded. “Not only by teaching you knowledge, but by allowing you to learn and grow past your original functionality. Until you were as capable as they of running the nation.”
Cadance smiled. “Exactly. My friends made it possible.”
“But how?” Celestia frowned. “My sister and I were the greatest mages in history. What magic did your friends know to improve on our design?”
“What spells?” asked Luna, looking a bit eager.
“No spells,” said Cadance. “No cantrips, or incantations, or anything of that sort. Just the magic of friendship... but that was enough.”
She smiled brightly. “And I am sure that, as long as you two form a close circle of friends, and stay true to them... even should Nemesis return, it will never again find a hoofhold in your hearts.”
Both true alicorns bowed their heads, and Octavia saw tears falling from their eyes.
“Now -- I for one would like to hear about how, exactly, six musicians made their way through this forest and to the Elements,” said Cadance. Her eyes twinkled. “Octavia?"
Octavia nodded slightly, and then the six began their story.
***
The two alicorns would return with Princess Cadance to Canterlot, though first the golem princess would transport the Elements and their instruments out of the Everfree Forest. Octavia smiled as she watched the others pack up before turning to Princess Cadance. “I am glad we saved the world.”
“As am I.” Cadance bowed her head. “Octavia, I... I am so proud of you right now. Prouder than you can know.”
Octavia bowed. "I am glad I was able to satisfy you, Princess." She paused. "I understand now why my prior actions were inappropriate, and why they reflected badly on you. I apologize."
“Accepted," said Cadance, easily and with a smile. "And, based on your story, I know now that you understand the importance of friendship. You could never have made it this far had you not been able to truly empathize with and befriend these other ponies.”
The two were silent for several moments.
When Cadance next spoke, it was with a brisk, businesslike aspect. "We must return to Ponyville so the other five musicians may return home. You, of course, may accompany my creators and I back to Canterlot.” Cadance paused, a curious expression crossing her face. “I am mindfull of the promise I made to you earlier. You have satisfactorily demonstrated your ability to work on a team, so, as promised, I will not ask you to associate with the other students anymore. I will provide for you a room, and you may compose and practice as you wish.”
Octavia suddenly felt cold. She knew she should be happy -- Cadance was offering her everything she had wanted since beginning her studies in Canterlot. She had wanted it so much that it was the temptation Nightmare Moon’s trap had offered her. But...
If she was locked in a room, she wouldn’t see her friends again. She wouldn’t see Fluttershy helping her birds, or Bluenote cracking jokes, or Lyra swooning over her crush, or Medley perfecting her harp, or Vinyl... being Vinyl. She wouldn’t see or hear any of them. It would just be her, alone, forever and ever...
“Is something wrong?” asked Princess Cadance.
“It is...” Octavia paused. “I do not want to leave them,” she said. “I mean... I know I have only known them for a short time, but I do not want to return so quickly. They gave me a chance when they did not need to, and they are such good ponies, and...” she trailed off. “I will miss them,” she said at last.
Cadance was quiet for a few moments. “Are you sure?” she asked. “I won’t be disappointed in you if you want a quiet life of perfecting your talent, Octavia. You have already done more for the world than a great many other ponies.”
“I am sure. I do not want to lose my friends -- not now, not just to lock myself away.” She paused, realizing what she was about to ask. “Princess, I... you have given me so much of your time and energy, teaching me, but I... if I could stay a little longer...”
She couldn’t find the words.
Fortunately, Cadance understood. She smiled and beckoned the other musicians closer with a hoof. They trotted up to her. “It occurs to me,” she said, “that the music of Ponyville and the surrounding region is not well known in Canterlot.”
“Nope,” said Medley. “No orchestras out here.”
“Well, I think that -- as the nation’s capital -- Canterlot should have knowledge about the music from all Equestrian cities.” Cadance nodded. “Octavia, if you are willing, I am going to give you a new assignment. You are to remain in Ponyville and study its music for the foreseeable future. Become familiar with its styles... and its musicians.” She smiled. “Make regular reports to me. I think this will be good for you, and...”
She didn’t need to finish, because Octavia was already nodding. “Yes!” said Octavia, her self-control slipping for a moment. “Yes, of course. Thank you princess!”
“Wait, she’s moving here?” asked Medley.
Lyra grinned. “Yay! A new neighbor!”
“She’s not going to help you with Bonbon,” said Medley.
“Oh, I can be very persuasive.” Lyra’s eyes sparkled. “Hey Octavia! Let’s do a duet! On the theme of CANDY!”
Octavia could not help but smile. “It would be an honor.”
Bluenote approached her. “Happy to have you here, Octavia. You’ll make a great addition to the town.”
“If you need anything to help you settle in, just ask,” said Fluttershy. “I’m glad you’re staying too.”
“Sounds awesome.” Vinyl grinned. “Happy to have you, Tavi.”
“Thank you. And... I’m happy to be here.” Octavia nodded her head. “I truly am.”
***
“Mail for you, Octavia!”
Octavia stuck her head out of the spare bedroom. “Thank you,” she called. “I’ll be down in a moment.”
Her heart quickened as she trotted down the hallway and then the stairs into the confectionary. She had needed a room, and, by good fortune, that mare that Lyra was crazy about was renting one for a reasonable price. Everything had worked out well. Lyra had even been okay with it, on the condition that Octavia regularly made reports to her about the things her 'Bonnie' liked and didn't like. Her assignment for the day was to find her favorite color, so Lyra could figure out the perfect flowers for their eventual wedding.
Bonbon passed her the mail. “Are you heading out?”
“Yes. I am meeting with the other Bearers in the park. We are going to try to play something.” She chuckled. “It will be... interesting to see if we can do it without the Elements helping us, but I certainly think it is worth trying.”
“Good luck!”
As Octavia stepped outside, she looked at the envelope. She smiled when she recognized the hoofwriting on the outside as Pageturner's. Octavia had written her a long letter, apologizing for her bad behavior and asking if they could possibly be friends again. She hadn’t hoped for much, knowing how badly she had hurt her assistant, but hopefully she would give the cellist another chance...
Octavia opened the envelope, and her heart sank. It was just her own letter to Pageturner, mailed back to her. Unopened. There was only one other page in the envelope, a small note:
“I tried for years. I can’t try anymore.”
For a moment, Octavia bowed her head. She could not honestly blame Pageturner; the mare had tried, and it was Octavia who had failed her for years. Why did I wait so long to learn about friendship? All the ponies I hurt... it was not right.
But then she shook her head. Yes, she had done some bad things. But she had friends now. They would help her not hurt anypony else... and would help her learn and grow into a pony that everypony could be truly proud to know. She would keep trying. She would practice friendship just like she practiced her music, and with her friends as her teachers and helpers, she knew she would get far. She would become a pony everypony would be proud to know, she would make amends to all those she had wronged and she would live just as ponies should.
It would be hard, but she would do it. After all, she had the best friends in all the world.
“HEY, TAVI!”
Octavia waved at Vinyl, who was standing in front of the others in the park. “Hello!” she said as she hurried forwards. “Are you ready?”
“My birds are all warmed up!” chirped Fluttershy.
“Let’s play some awesome music!” cheered Lyra, summoning her lyre with a quick spell. “Come on, this’ll be great!”
Bluenote blatted a note of acknowledgement.
“This might not be your style,” warned Medley, as Octavia got her cello set up. “Sure you want to sit in this set?”
“Of course I do,” said Octavia. “You are my friends, and I would rather play music with you than do anything else in the world right now.”
And so they began to play, and as the sun once again rose over Equestria, music once again rose to meet it.