The princesses, along with the rest of the audience, applauded as the preceding performance ended. All of Ponyville, as well as a number of ponies from other towns, was sitting in the town’s central square, which had been transformed into an outdoor theater.
A large, temporary stage with a professional setup of lights and similar grade equipment had been constructed on one side of the plaza that surrounded the town hall. The rest of the area was packed with ponies and lit by long strings of paper lanterns that arched from building to building. The members of the audience were packed tight and were all eagerly waiting to see the next scheduled performance. Yet the princesses, Spike, and their friends were not amongst the crowd on the ground. Instead, they were in what was being called the VIP section, for “Very Important Ponies”, which had been established on the second-floor balcony of the town hall.
"That will always be a classic if you ask me." A white unicorn mare, with purple hair, ocean blue eyes and a cutie mark of three diamond shapes, commented while batting at a bit of her mane.
"I'm certainly glad I wasn't made a fool." A cyan pegasus mare, with rainbow hair, magenta eyes and a cutie mark of a rainbow bolt, sighed with relief. "I still think Scootaloo did it better!"
"You gotta give them credit for trying." A yellow pegasus mare, with bright pink hair, aqua eyes and a cutie mark of three pink butterflies, argued.
"Hey, I just call it as I see it."
The lavender alicorn mare, with three-tone purple hair, purple eyes, a cutie mark of a single magenta six-point star surrounded by some smaller white stars, wearing a pink, yellow and white dress and a tiara bering the element of magic, couldn't help but giggle at the small argument. Even after all they'd been through, her friends didn't always agree with each others opinions about something. They weren't that keen on being in the presence of her, her brother and the other princesses, but after some performances they were well used to it.
"So, what's next on the program, sis." A white unicorn stallion, taller that the mare, with two-tone blue hair, cerulean eyes and a dark blue kite shield cutie mark with a medium pink six-point star, wearing a special red suit, asked, a bit eager to see the next performance.
"Let's see. Ooh! This is the performance I've been most curious about. My daughter said she was gonna perform some special songs for me." The lavender princess replied with enthusiasm.
"I take it you've kept wondering about this, Twilight." The white princess commented, knowing that her student sometimes doubted about the future.
"Uh, yeah. You could say that." Twilight, the lavender princess, replied. True, she had been told about the special performance, but she wasn't doubtful all the time.
It was then the Mayor Mare of Ponyville, Ivory Scroll, walked out to the center of the stage, once more playing her part as the Anniversary’s Master of Ceremonies.
“Fillies and gentlecolts,” The khaki-colored earth pony, with gray hair, blue eyes and a tan scroll tied with blue ribbon cutie mark, began with her usual flair, “I am now proud to present your guardian of Equestria, performing her first concert in a celebration!”
The crowd applauded, the parents in the crowd with noticeable vigor, as the mayor stepped off the stage and the curtains opened. Amidst the musicians that stood on stage, a purple magical mass was floating in the center, in the spotlight, behind a microphone. The cloud drifted to the floor of the stage, then swirled up and left a solid form on stage, while it converged into a flowing mane and tail of magic.
The sight on stage was met with Oooo's and Ahhh's. A black alicorn mare, with turquoise reptilian eyes, purple magically flowing hair and a night blue kite shield with a crescent moon cutie mark stood before them. Twilight couldn't help but chuckle a little. Ever since her daughter had remastered her unique abilities, she had been the occasional show off.
"Ponies of Equestria, it has been a glorious 30 years since the day that history was made. I am well pleased with how the turnout came." The tone of voice the black alicorn used was strong and loud, but not threatening. She felt she was pouring her heart out to everypony as she continued, her voice lowering a bit in volume.
"Earlier this year, some of you were here to celebrate my 32nd birthday. I had very little knowledge that we were also going to celebrate this jubilee much later while I had fun. I, along with the six others that are now sitting in the VIP section, thought that I would never see my mother again after what happened in the library. But it turned out that, she left us as a unicorn student, and returned as an alicorn princess. So the morning of the day she was coronated, I was proud of her. She's come so far, reforming three of the most feared beings in Equestria(one became our prince and one became my father), spreading love and hope everywhere and studying so much about friendship. And for all that, I sing for her as her proud daughter, Nyx."
Tears began to form in Twilight's eyes as the musicians begin to play, one dragon taping away on the piano keys, and another strumming the guitar.
Miracles happen, miracles happen
I can't imagine living my life without you now
Not ever having you around
We found our way out
(on you I can depend)
Don't have to look back to realize how far we've come
There are million reasons
I'm looking up
I don't want this to end
Nothing
Nothing should ever bring you down
Knowing what goes around will come around
You showed me faith is not blind
I don't need wings to help me fly
Miracles happen, once in a while
When you believe
(miracles happen)
You showed me dreams come to life
That taking a chance on us was right
All things will come with a little time
When You believe
There is no question we found the missing pieces
Our picture is completed
It's fallen into place
(it's fallen into place)
This is our moment, you and I are looking up
Someone is watching over us
Keeping me close
Closer to you everyday
Nowhere
Nowhere on earth I'd rather be
No one can take this away from you and me
You showed me faith is not blind
I don't need wings to help me fly
Miracles happen, once in a while
When you believe
(miracles happen)
You showed me dreams come to life
That taking a chance on us was right
All things will come with a little time
When You believe
Nyx, the black alicorn sang her heart out, providing one of the best performances anypony ever heard. Twilight's heart was fluttering, the lavender princess had never felt so much happiness in 30 years.
When you believe
The soul is a shining light
When you believe
The heart has the will to fight
You can do anything, don't be afraid
We're gonna find our way
At that moment one of her backup singer's horns glowed and fireworks exploded in the sky and just above the stage. If that wasn't enough, confetti began to shoot from above and snowed down on the audience. This would definitely top the light shows that always upped other concerts, which had been used here. The tear of joy on Twilight's face were slowly streaming down her cheeks through it all.
Oh yeah
Miracles happen
(miracles can happen)
Miracles happen
(miracles can happen)
You showed me faith is not blind
I don't need wings to help me fly
Miracles happen, once in a while
When you believe
(miracles happen)
You showed me dreams come to life
That taking a chance on us was right
All things will come with a little time
When You believe
The crowd roared in applause as the song ended. They had all been astounded by the performance and couldn't wait for the next song. Of all the ponies, Twilight and her friends were cheering the most, Pinkie Pie, a pink earth pony with sky blue eyes and a cutie mark of three balloons, enjoyed the fireworks and confetti the most, while Rainbow Dash, the cyan pegasus, whistled and cheered the loudest of the group. Even Celestia, the white alicorn princess with magenta eyes, muti-hue mane and a sun cutie mark, whistled and cheered. The others were applauding too, Twilight being the happiest of the bunch.
All the songs, including the ones that followed, were all dedicated to the newest princess, despite many of them being taken from musicals and films. Nyx's performance felt like her heart and soul were put into it. Twilight's heart was touched, but not as much as the last song that was coming up.
"I have enjoyed singing to you all and especially to my mother, our newest princess. My last song is especially for her, a song that brings hope for a bright future, even in troubled times."
Nyx's announcement was followed by one dragon's slow taping on the piano. Eveypony settled in as the music began.
Don't lose your way
with each passing day
You've come so far
Don't throw it away
Live believing
Dreams are for weaving
Wonders are waiting to start
Live your story
Faith, hope and glory
Hold to the truth in your heart
If we hold on together
I know our dreams will never die
Dreams see us through to forever
Where clouds roll by, for you and I
Souls in the wind
Must learn how to bend
Seek out a star
Hold on to the end
Valley...Mountain
There is a fountain
Washes our tears all away
Words are swaying
Someone is praying
Please let us come home to stay
If we hold on together
I know our dreams will never die
Dreams see us through to forever
Where clouds roll by
For you and I
When we are out there in the dark
We'll dream about the sun
In the dark we'll feel the light
Warm our hearts...everyone
If there was point where Twilight shed the most tears, this was it. The song was very touching, filled with hope and had given her so much happiness.
If we hold on together
I know our dreams will never die
Dreams see us through to forever
As high as souls can fly
The clouds roll by
For you and I
A heart-felt applause followed the ending notes. Many hearts were touched and many lives felt renewed. All had well enjoyed the performance. The loudest, and most happiest, applauding was Twilight, the princess of friendship had enjoyed the performance the most. Her daughter's singing had sounded special, the songs were well chosen and touching and the backup singers, one being her student, had done their job well. After a few bows from the performers, the curtains closed to signal the beginning of an hour long intermission so the ponies could refresh themselves with some dinner.
"Sis, did I do good?" A white unicorn mare, with strands of a pink and lavender mane, palm green eyes and a cutie mark of a musical note and a microphone crossed over each other in front of a heart, asked her sister, the white, purpled haired unicorn, who she now matched in size and stature.
"You shone like a star, Sweetie!" Her sister answered, throwing a hoof over her shoulder and hugging her. Twilight's group had gone backstage after exiting their seats. It hadn't taken too long for them to find the ponies and dragons they were looking for. Nyx and her group were congratulating each other when Twilight and the others had found them.
The cyan pegasus was next to speak. "Awesome work on those drums, Scootaloo! You really hit the beat!"
"Ohmygosh!Ohmygosh!Ohmygosh!Ohmygosh!Ohmygosh!" An orange pegasus mare, with magenta hair, lavender eyes and a cutie mark of pegasus wings on a scooter wheel on a lightning bolt, rattled off, overwhelmed by the fact that she was getting such a compliment from her personal hero.
“How about me, big sis?” A yellow earth pony mare, with red hair that was curled in a pigtail or a short ponytail and had a magenta hair ribbon bow in a few places, orange eyes and a cutie mark of a half-painted wooden apple and a few apple blossoms, asked
“It was like lookin’ in a mirror at the hearth's warming pageant, sugarcube,” An orange earth pony mare, with blonde hair that was styled similar, a wide-brim hat, green eyes and a cutie mark of three apples, praised, giving her sister a little noogie. "Great work to you too, Babs." A gamboge mare, with amaranth hair, spring bud eyes and a cutie mark of three seeds, beamed with pride.
Twilight approached Nyx and, a few feet from having closed the gap, she launched herself towards her daughter. The embrace was heart-filled. Every hug they'd get into was passionate. They seemed to enjoy this the most out of everything they did together. All this time, only a few words came out of it: "Thank you."
The two eventually released each other and Nyx gave a quick hug to her dad, a brown alicorn stallion, with spiky light brown hair, green eyes and a tri-force cutie mark. They then turned to one of her backup singers, a blue coated unicorn mare with white and silver hai and lavender eyes. She was wearing a light purple, pointed hat and cape. Both articles of clothing were decorated with silver and gold colored stars. If only her flank wasn't covered by her cape, then everypony could see she had a crescent moon and magician's wand on her flank.
"And a great choice it was for giving my faithful student, Trixie Lulamoon, a spot in you backup choir. She did an amazing job on those fireworks and such, and... Oh! That singing! I'll admit, I could never get tired of that."
"Th-thank you, princess." Trixie replied. She had been Twilight's personal protege for 30 years, having been requested to a few tests some days after the coronation. The spell that she pulled off to pass her final test had turned an apple into an orange and given Rarity a dress she adored instead of criticized. She had been surprised at Twilight's physical change, but thankfully didn't make an outburst. She wouldn't feel jealous, not when she was allowed an opportunity to follow Twilight's old path. Being a student of a princess was not as big an honor as working in her maid service, castle staff or royal guard, but it was still an honor.
A quick hug followed Trixie's reply, a shy sounding, yet upper class voice spoke up as it happened.
"And... what about us?"
The two mares separated and turned to the source of the voice, a pink earth mare, with regal lavender and white hair, blue eyes and a tiara cutie mark. She was wearing a tiara, like the one her cutie mark had. Next to her was silver earth mare, with light gray hair, pigtails mane, purple eyes and a spoon cutie mark. She was wearing turquoise glasses and a pearl necklace.
"Yes, Diamond. You and Silver were wonderful too."
Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon cracked a smile. Despite being near the last in the choir of backup singers to be praised, they enjoyed it. Years ago, it had taken time, especially with there being a new princess, but the two had given up bullying in the end. They had made up for those wasted times by helping their, at the time, new friends in crusading for cutie marks. Babs Seed had been the last to accept their friendship, after she received her cutie mark.
After paying their praise to two more mares, one purplish grey with a small group of stars on her flank and the other cream coated with two candy canes in the shape of a heart on her's, and a white and brown stallion, with a compass on his flank, the group made their way towards a well-deserved meal.
"*yawn* What a night!" A tired but happy Princess Twilight managed to say. Her family was walking back to the library, her parents, brother and sister-in-law were on their way back to Canterlot, after a long but fun-filled night. Their dinner had been at the same restaurant as the spring festival, although seating may have been a little different, and the rest of the jubilee had included stories, reunions and some fun activities. Now, they were all about ready to hit the hay.
Nyx, however, felt a little uneasy walking back home. She had fun at the jubilee and was glad her mother had enjoyed her performance. She even had won a bouquet in a head-to-head multi-game challenge and had given it to Twilight. But something after that was floating around her mind.
Minutes before the challenge, a strange pony approached her. He had a sky blue coat, royal blue mane that was partially covered with a top hat, a monocle over his right eye, jet black tuxedo over a white shirt with a bow tie, and a cutie mark of a cross-forks. He had lead her towards an empty space near the Everfree forest, where they could have some privacy. His words to her were short, but puzzling:
"Days are running short, so this must be brief. A spell from long ago might help a hostile race."
It was brief, but what was he talking about? "Days running short" was another way of saying "Time is running out." "A spell from long ago", that must mean something like the spell used in her creation! But, what would it do to "help a hostle race?" What was the race?
Clearly she would have do research on such things. She would find the spell and the race, connect the dots and complete this quest. She would have to start in the morning, however, for she was, by now, in her room in the mansion and ready to hit the hay. She slipped onto her full-sized bed, levitated her blanket over crouched body and fell asleep.