//------------------------------// // The Princess Fluttershy Cometh, Behold // Story: Fluttershy Is Made a Princess Instead of Twilight // by CartsBeforeHorses //------------------------------// “...From a true, true friend!” The ponies all landed back on the ground after their musical number and mid-air magical hug, and Twilight Sparkle spoke. “Wait, that’s it! I understand now! I know how to fix the spell!” Twilight ran back off to the library, her six friends following closely behind her. She went back into the library, picked up the book in her magic, and wrote with her quill. “From all of us together, together we’re friends. With the marks of our destinies made one, there is magic without end!” Suddenly, a bright flash of light shone… ...as Princess Celestia appeared inside of the library. “I got here as quickly as I could,” she said. “Spike sent me a letter letting me know that things weren’t right in Ponyville.” “Oh, hi, Princess Celestia!” said Spike. “It’s okay,” said Twilight, putting her hoof to her chest. “I fixed it! I completed the spell!” “That’s good, Twilight,” said Princess Celestia, “I appreciate you fixing your messes this time instead of relying on me or somepony else. Though this all could have been avoided had you heeded my warning. Did you read the back of the letter I sent you?” Twilight’s pupils dilated. “There was a back of the letter?” “Yes,” said Princess Celestia, smiling. “I admire your enthusiasm, but you really must learn not to rush into things, Twilight. The back of the letter gave a warning to you not to cast the spell until you had completed it and fully understood it, lest the consequences be disastrous.” Spike grabbed the letter from the previous evening and turned it around. “P.S.,” he read, “Don’t jump horn-first into this spell. Make sure that you research it diligently before casting it, or it could have dire results. I’m counting on you to not mess this up. Thanks.” “Oh,” said Twilight, shirking back and blushing. “It’s quite alright, Twilight,” said Princess Celestia, chuckling. “I’m sure you’ll learn in time that magic can have unintended consequences if you don’t fully understand the spell that you’re casting. Even though you didn’t learn that lesson with the parasprite incident, the friendship letter incident, or the time travel incident, I’m sure you’ll learn it in time.” A tear ran down Twilight’s cheek as she grabbed Celestia, hugging her. “I’m sorry! I just wanted to get this spell done as quickly as possible so that I’d impress you!” Celestia put her wing over Twilight and spoke. “There, there. I took you under my wing and made you my personal student because you have incredible magical talent, but no knowledge of how to control it. I’m glad I did this, or else you may have destroyed Equestria by now!” Everypony in the room laughed, except for Twilight of course. “Come on, Twilight, lighten up,” said Spike. “Everypony makes mistakes,” said Rainbow Dash. “And after all, you did fix it. And with a quite dazzling musical number, I might add,” said Rarity. “I’m glad that you’re such a true friend to us all,” said Fluttershy. Twilight chuckled, glad she had such forgiving friends. Princess Celestia walked towards the center of the room. “Now, I have some very exciting news. I was going to wait to deliver this news until later, but since you all seven are in the same place, I figure that I will let you know now.” “Ooh, ooh! Are we getting a fourth season?” asked Pinkie Pie. The other ponies looked at her, raising their eyebrows in confusion. “Are you moving the capital from Canterlot to Ponyville?” asked Rarity. “Are you gonna make an extra long growin’ season this year?” asked Applejack. “No,” said Princess Celestia. “I am appointing a new princess of Equestria. She, in fact, is in this very room. She is somepony who is quite special to me, and to you all as well.” Twilight’s eyes widened. “She is someone who has saved Equestria on multiple occasions.” A mile-wide grin spread across Twilight’s face. “She is in fact a friend to everypony: pony, dragon, and animal alike.” Twilight lifted herself into the air with her own magic as her heart raced. “The new princess is… Fluttershy!” Twilight fell to the ground with a thud. Everypony in the room stomped their hooves on the ground in applause. “Woohoo! Congratulations, Fluttershy!” Pinkie exclaimed, jumping up and down. “You’ve sure earned it, sugarcube, ‘specially after you reformed Discord,” said Applejack, patting Fluttershy on the back. Fluttershy blushed, smiling. “Even when all of us thought he was too evil and too far gone,” said Rainbow Dash. “That’s what a true friend does: she never gives up on her friends.” “A true, true friend—” Twilight started, before being interrupted. “Oh, and don’t forget that unhygienic snoring dragon. And when she saved my sister from the Cockatrice by staring at it,” said Rarity. “But… but…” Twilight stammered. “And boy, you’re a hard worker, Fluttershy. Takin’ care of all the animals in Ponyville by yourself? I admire that sort of labor,” said Applejack. “But I’m a librarian—” started Twilight, but Spike elbowed her and pointed towards himself and the feather duster that he held in his claw. He had just finished feather dusting the whole library and assisting ponies with checking out and returning books. “Fluttershy’s also really nice,” said Pinkie Pie. “She makes me smile.” “Thank you, Pinkie,” said Fluttershy. “Thank you all, and thank you for this honor, Princess Celestia. I’m kinda scared, but I’ll do my best to be a princess and—” “No!” Twilight exclaimed. “This isn’t right! I was supposed to be made a princess! It’s my destiny!” The other ponies in the room chuckled, except Fluttershy and Twilight Sparkle. “Well, you can be a princess if you really want to, Twilight. You obviously really want it, and I’d hate for you to be sad,” said Fluttershy. “That sort of selflessness and kindness is exactly why you get to be a princess, Fluttershy,” said Princess Celestia. “A true princess thinks nothing of herself, only of serving her subjects. She is kind, gracious, and always listens. She is a friend to all living things. She is also willing to stand up to threats to her kingdom, but with a careful and deliberative manner which serves to de-escalate the problem and promote peace and harmony rather than aggression. You have done all of these things over the past few years.” “But I invented new magic!” Twilight shouted. “So did your friend Rarity, and the magic she invented is far more useful,” said Princess Celestia. “Today, she invented a new weather control spell. Now, instead of entire teams of pegasi, every town can just have a single unicorn manage the weather, saving the taxpayers thousands of bits in pension costs. At the princess ceremony, I will also be awarding Rarity a Neighbel Peace Prize in Magic.” Rarity blushed. “It was really nothing,” she said. “But I’ve been working my whole life on magic!” said Twilight Sparkle. “It’s my special talent!” “Jeeze, Twilight, will you just stop it already?” asked Spike. “You’re ruining this special moment for your friends.” “Yeah, it’s not always about you,” said Rainbow Dash. “It’s about me!” Everypony laughed, except for Twilight Sparkle. “Oh, it can be about Twilight, if she really wants it to be,” said Fluttershy, shrinking back. “It’s about you, Fluttershy,” said Princess Celestia. “You’ve earned it. And don't worry, Twilight. Someday, if you work hard enough, you too may be a princess.” Twilight sighed. "You're right," she said. She reached her hoof over to Fluttershy and patted her on the back. "Congratulations, Fluttershy." The next day, there was a grand parade. The newly-crowned Princess Fluttershy stood atop the float as the crowd sang to her. “The princess Fluttershy cometh, behold, behold. The princess Fluttershy cometh, behold, behold.” Fluttershy powered up her new horn, levitating pieces of candy off the float and into the crowd. “Thank you all so much!” she said.