//------------------------------// // Chapter 12-One Last Surprise // Story: Nightmare's Dream // by Tinyweasels //------------------------------// Party's End and One Last Surprise "Enjoying your first party, Night?" Trixie asked, walking over. "It is quite interesting. The cake is to die for." "Yes, Pinkie Pie is quite the excellent baker. So you'll be staying here now?" "It would seem so." "I'll miss you, Night." "Miss me? Why? Oh, right, you will be with the circus." Celestia cleared her throat and came up behind then, gently resting a wing over each of them. "Pardon my nosiness, but it's hard not to overhear things in such a small gathering. I have an idea. Twilight, may I speak to you for a moment?" "Of course, Princess," Twilight said happily as she trotted over. "Twilight, I have been thinking, perhaps it is time you took a student of your own." Twilight face went blank for a moment at the thought. "B-but I'm not a teacher. I can't train anyone!" "This is an unusual case, Twilight. Your student wouldn't be a novice. While you have great expertise in the theoretical aspect of magic, you do not yet have much practical experience. Your student has a great deal of practical experience, but almost no formal academic training in magic." Trixie looked to Twilight and then to Celestia. "You want me to be her student?" "You have a lot to learn from each other. I think it would help both of you immensely. It will help you round out your knowledge and powers." Twilight and Trixie both looked unsure as they pondered Celestia's suggestion. "Well, Princess, if you think it's a good idea, I suppose its okay," Twilight said hesitantly. "The Great and Powerful Trixie is not sure either, but for Celestia herself to say it would be for our benefit, it would be unwise to pass on the opportunity." Night watched as the others continued to discuss the issue, pleased that Trixie would be able to stay around. She smiled, feeling a contentment deep within herself. She had a family now, friends and a home. A loud gasp from Pinkie Pie interrupted the festivities. "I just had an amazing idea!" she exclaimed. "Since the princesses were planning an overnight stay in Ponyville, what if we had a super duper royal slumber party!" Twilight's eyes lit up with excitement. Pinkie Pie and Twilight rushed up to Celestia and Luna and gave them big quivering anime eyes. "Please say you'll come!" they pleaded. "Oh, I've heard of this ritual. Please, can we attend, Celestia?" Luna asked excitedly. "Come on, it will be funner than fun!" Pinkie Pie assured them. "Well, I suppose," Celestia said, "This would be my very first slumber party as well. What is required?" "I've got a book that explains everything!" Twilight said with unrestrained glee. "Sweetie Belle would never forgive me if I didn't ask if she could come to a royal slumber party," Rarity said. "And if she goes, Applebloom will wanna go to and if those two are there, Scootaloo will wanna go too," Applejack said. "That's a great idea!" Pinkie Pie said. "The fillies will love it!" Pinkie Pie trotted up to Trixie and Night. "What about you two? This will be the best slumber party ever!" "You're inviting us?" Trixie asked in astonishment. "Sure!" Celestia walked over and smiled. "Trixie, your little sister is about the same age of the fillies that will be attending. Miss Pie, would there be room for one more to attend?" "You bet! Just like cupcakes, there's always room for one more!" "Then by all means, Trixie, invite young Abbie to join us." "Thank you, your majesty. She'll be thrilled." "What sorts of things occur at a slumber party?" Night asked. Twilight stood up, looking very scholarly, beginning to list things from the book. "...Making smores. Playing truth or dare. Telling scary stories." Nightmare Moon laughed at bit at the last one. "I think I have an unfair advantage over all of you on scary stories. I'd be willing to bet I'd make even Celestia's mane stand on end." Celestia laughed good naturedly and took a dramatic pose. "Challenge accepted! I know a few spooky stories of my own." "Very well. This will be a very interesting night indeed," Night replied with a smile. "I-I don't think I'm going to be sleeping very well tonight," Fluttershy muttered nervously. ######### The party broke up a few hours later, everyone now walking to the circus as it officially opened. Celestia watched Luna, who was so unsure of herself around these mortal ponies. While she was more than a thousand years older than them, in maturity and emotional development they were peers and she clearly was hoping to be accepted by the girls. From what she'd seen of things so far it was working. Luna had been hesitant and withdrawn most of the time and the girls worked hard to put her at ease. Over the course of the party she had begun to relax and open up to their efforts. They now chatted and laughed together like old friends, which is what Luna needed more than anything. Even Trixie and Night had been hesitantly allowed to join their little group, though true acceptance would take time. Pinkie Pie stopped suddenly. "Pinchy knee, rapid eye twitch, itchy scalp... I either need to switch shampoos or... um, guys, I'll catch up to you later. There's something I need to do." "Should we be afraid?" Spike asked, covering his head with his hands. "Ah don't think so, Spike," Applejack said. "If it were dangerous she'd have warned us." Celestia recalled Twilight's letter regarding Pinkie Pie's "Pinkie sense" and what was odd is that she herself had felt something at the same moment. A presence she hadn't felt in many years. Someone she owed a great deal to. "I too need to take care of something as well, if you will excuse me," Celestia said with a smile and began trotting off. "Okay, now should we be afraid?" she heard Spike ask. For the sake of privacy, Celestia created a small pocket of space around her that made her invisible to the ponies. She followed her senses, letting them lead her to a beautifully ornate cart and there sat an old mare in a shawl and glasses. She looked up, as if sensing Celestia's presence. Celestia stepped forward and enveloped the old pony in the privacy bubble. "Well, well. It does my old heart good to see you again, dearie," the old pony said, beginning to transform, her apparently advanced age changing until she was now a middle aged alicorn. Celestia smiled and hugged her. "Aunt Dawn," Celestia said, tears running down her cheeks. "Celestia, dearest. So good to see you again." "Everything came true, just like you predicted. I couldn't have done it without you. You gave me Luna back. You made it all possible." "I wouldn't be much of an aunt if I didn't look after family, would I? I only wish I could do more. Confound these powers, it would be so much easier if I could just look through time rather than having to travel back and forth through it, but I'm finally back and can see you, dear little Luna again and all the others so dear to me." "I don't know what I would have done without your help. I was so lost when it all began." "I just wish I had been able to act before it all went wrong." "You did what you could. Predictions & Prophecies has helped me many times over the centuries and for that I am eternally grateful." "You are quite welcome, dear. I was quite surprised when I encountered Night. I would never have imagined that you'd give her a chance like that." "The shadow of Luna was still within her. I had failed Luna. In a way, it was a second chance to try to save a lost soul before it was too late." "And you did a good job. She seems to be a fine girl." "Thank you, even I had—" *Gasp* Celestia and Sunset Dawn turned to see Pinkie Pie standing nearby, somehow looking right at them, despite her sphere of privacy they were in. The pink Pony rushed forward, impossibly entering their little pocket of space. She ran up to Sunset Dawn and threw her hooves around her tightly. "Granny Pie!" Pinkie shouted. "Pinkamena!" Sunset Dawn said, happily embracing her granddaughter. "Granny Pie?" Celestia asked in astonishment, looking between the two. "I knew you were around here somewhere, Granny Pie. I've missed you so much!" Pinkie said excitedly. "Granny Pie?" Celestia muttered again in shock. Sunset Dawn smiled and looked to Celestia. "I do have a life outside of being a seer, you know." "Oh, hi again, Princess Celestia!" Pinkie Pie said and gave a quick bow. "Granny Pie, how long will you be in town? Will you visit the farm? We all miss you a lot! Do you know the princess? She's really neat! And she's got all kinds of cool powers and stuff..." Pinkie said, beginning to recap the events of her life since she last saw Granny Pie as a filly. "Granny Pie?" Celestia continued to mumble. Sunset Dawn patted her niece's cheek to get her attention. "Yes, she is my granddaughter. She and her family are part of our family." "This explains sooooo much," Celestia said with a laugh. "I love them all, but of my son and his children, only Pinkamena inherited the gift. She's an alicorn born with our powers, but without wings or a horn to help her direct and focus those powers, so she's found her own way to channel them into something useful and from what I have foreseen, It is best to just let her remain as she is and all will work out for the best." Pinkie Pie snapped out of her discussion with herself about cake vs. cupcakes upon hearing she was related to Celestia and she threw her hooves around the princess. "Can I call you Auntie Celestia now?" Pinkie Pie asked with a huge smile. "Of course, dear. Welcome to the family," Celestia said with just as big a smile, returning Pinkie Pie's hug. ############## Princess Twilight sat alone on the grand throne of the stars in Castle Canterlot on what should be the greatest day of her life, but she had spent most of it crying. It had been five centuries since Celestia had imbued her with her celestial powers and transformed Twilight into an alicorn, grooming her to one day be princess of Equestria. The ceremony of transference had been elaborate and meaningful, the first change of leadership in over 1,500 years. That had been less than a week ago and the princesses had left, gone on a journey they wouldn't explain, but they assured her they'd be back in "just a few centuries." Tonight was the Grand Galloping Gala, and while it might seem an ideal time to celebrate such a momentous even, it only brought tears. She missed her friends and family. All that was left to her now was Spike, who was half way through his thousand year life cycle and Night, who seemed as ageless as the princesses. Celestia had shared a glimpse of the future with each of her parents before their passings, so they could see that their daughter would one day be ruler of the world and she took comfort in that. She missed her friends just as deeply, as they had become family to her, the sisters she never had. Anguish gripped her again as she recalled the passing of each of the Elements. She took the elemental crown off her head and looked at it. As each of her friends had passed on, their elemental gem had taken its place on her crown. For some reason, when Trixie had passed, a stone in the shape of her cutie mark had appeared on the crown as well; perhaps there were more than six Elements. She stared at the gems that represented her friends and her tears ran down her cheeks and fell onto the crown. "We were supposed to be best friends forever," she sobbed. She gave a cry of alarm as the crown began to glow brightly and it levitated from her hooves. The elemental gems detached themselves and floated in front of her. "Oh mah stars, is that Twilight?" a distant voice asked. "Twilight Darling, so good to see you... five centuries and you still haven't changed the style of your mane!" "Oh yeah, she's got wings now. I'd say that makes her 19.7 percent cooler." Energy began radiating out from each of the gems and took on pony shapes. "What's going on? Is it really you guys?" Twilight muttered. "Sure as shootin', sugarcube!" "You don't think we'd leave our bestest best friend all alone, just when she needed us the most!" "Twilight, you're princess of Equestria. Yay," Fluttershy cheered. "I suppose the title of "Great and Powerful" is deservedly yours now," Trixie huffed. The forms began to fill out and there stood her closest circle of friends. "How can you be here? I watched... when you all... " her voice trailed off. "And it was mighty thoughtful of ya' to be there with each of us at the end, Twi." Pinkie Pie bounced around the throne with a big smile on her face. "Remember when I made that wager with the Angel of Death? Well, now I remember what he offered! He said when you became Princess of Equestria, we'd be able to be there and help you out." "But that means this crown is holding you prisoner, keeping you from moving on," Twilight said, looking at the crown with concern. "Darling, it is nothing of the sort," Rarity said. "Each of us was given a choice to stay and help or move on, and knowing you'd be princess and we'd have the chance to be there for you, it was an easy choice." "Right, Princess Twilight," Pinkie Pie said with delight. "We'll be with you as long as you want us around. There's plenty of time for eternity later." Twilight smiled and her tears of sorrow became tears of joy. "Do you know what today is?" she asked. The others looked at her, smiles all breaking out. "This is going to be the best night ever!" Pinkie pie shouted and started dancing. ############ Dearest Celestia, My friends are with me once again, thanks to the magic of friendship. When each had passed on they became part of the elemental crown and their gems weren't just momentos, but a part of each of them, and now they are by my side. It was wondrous to be able to see them all again. Somehow I have a feeling this won't come as a surprise to you, seeing as it was you who told me to wear the elemental crown rather than the royal jewels. Thank you. You have no idea how much this means to me. The Grand Galloping Gala was a huge success! I'm happy to report that the fire was put out quickly and didn't last long enough to do any serious fire or smoke damage, the water damage on the other hand is another matter. Rainbow Dash pushed a storm cloud inside the ball room to put out the fire, but then it was raining inside the castle and then there was the lightning and hail as well. Unfortunately, the ancient statue of you and the newer one of Luna were both heavily damaged, again, and will need to be restored. I am thankful to say that all the reported injuries were minor, and the doctor told me that Spike will get the cast off his tail in a few weeks. My Great-great-great-great-great goddaughter Derparella was the belle of the ball, and caught the eye of the handsome prince Fetlock. Doctors assured me that the surgery went well and he'll just need to wear an eye patch for a few weeks. Despite the injury, he was quite taken with her, especially when she saved him from that part of the roof collapsing when the floor caved in and toppled that pillar. I can say, with my friends once again by my side, it was the best night ever! Your faithful friend, Princess Twilight Sparkle