Of Sunshine and Laughter

by M1Garand8

*4* Preparations

Foreword: I do not own My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. It belongs to Hasbro and Lauren Faust.

Two sets of hooves echoed in the near empty halls of Canterlot Castle. One set pale lavender and the other nearly pristine white; they belonged to the Royal Secretaries of both Princess Luna and Princess Celestia. Countless sculptures and tapestries flew past as they galloped towards the personal bed chambers of Princess Celestia.

The two white statuesque pegasus stallions of the Royal Guards crossed their wings just as Sharp Quill, the white unicorn and Wind Chime, the pale lavender pegasus skidded to a halt. They brushed their messy and tossed respective brown and two toned blue mane away from their eyes.

“Let us in.” Sharp Quill pointed a hoof at the guard off to the door.

“Princess Luna—”

“Is missing, Stout Heart,” Sharp Quill cut him off. “The Captain of the Royal Guard has put out a search party for her.” She adjusted her black rimmed glasses. “And I am invoking Article III of the Succession Laws.”

Stout Heart shared a look with his partner. His partner nodded. Their wings uncrossed and Sharp Quill threw open the purple sun emblazoned door with a burst of magic and stepped in. Wind Chime followed after a moment of hesitation.

In the dim interior of Celestia’s bedroom, the loud buzz saw of a snore greeted them. Wind Chime leaned in and whispered: “Celestia snores?”

Sharp Quill shook her head. “She doesn’t. Not usually.”

“I’ll be the bestest party princess ever…”

Sharp Quill and Wind Chime shared a look. “Um, your highness?” Sharp Quill took a step forward. “We are sorry to interrupt your rest but—”

“Best party ever!” Pinkie Pie bolted up on the bed.

Sharp Quill and Wind Chime reared up as the earth pony in an alicorn yawned and smacked her lips.

“Oh, this is the best sleep I had in months! Actually, it feels like I have been sleeping for months!” Pinkie blinked at the two wide eyed ponies in front of her.

Wind Chime stepped up. “Um, your highness—”

“Oh, I haven’t seen you ponies before!” Pinkie popped up in between Sharp Quill and Wind Chime now. “And do you know what that means?” Pinkie’s grin was very wide.

Sharp Quill and Wind Chime’s startle were arrested by a pair of legs, each upon their withers.

“What?” Sharp Quill stared at the princess had grown another head.

“H-how?” Wind Chime shrunk at the disturbingly wide smile on the princess.

Pinkie threw up her hooves. “A party!”

Wind Chime shrunk even further. “A-a party?”

She found Pinkie’s snout pressed against hers.

“A party!” Pinkie repeated.

“Your highness.”

Pinkie turned to the not amused face of Sharp Quill. “Yes?”

“This is a serious emergency, princess.” Sharp Quill backed to a respectful distance from Pinkie. “Princess Luna is missing and the ponies need you to raise the sun.”

Pinkie gasped. “What?!” She was in the face of Sharp Quill. “Princess Luna is missing?”

Sharp Quill backed away again and a solemn look crossed her face. “Yes, your highness. … I know it’s going to be hard for you to accept right now but we really need you to be about,” she shot a look at Wind Chime over Pinkie’s withers, “and reassure the ponies of Equestria.”

“But Princess Celestia would be so sad!” Pinkie pulled a handkerchief out of nowhere and blew her nose on it.

Sharp Quill and Wind Chime blinked. “But you’re Princess Celestia…” they said in unison.

Pinkie stopped suddenly. “Oh, yeah.” The handkerchief disappeared somewhere into her back. “Well then, let’s get to the raisin’!”

Wind Chime jumped as Pinkie sped past her in a blur of white towards the balcony. She stared wide eyed at her diarch as Sharp Quill galloped to her side.

“Are you sure the princess should be doing this, Sharp Quill?” Wind Chime whispered. “She seems… delirious.”

Sharp Quill sighed. “I’m tempted to invoke Succession Laws and recall Princess Cadance back but,” she pointed a hoof at Pinkie, “as you can see, she is up and running.”

Wind Chime shot Sharp Quill an angry look. “’If both Princess Celestia and Princess Luna are incapacitated or unable to discharge their duties, the office and duties of the crown shall devolve to Princess Mi Amore Cadenza and she shall assume the crown as Regent to the courts of Equestria’,” she said.

It was a quote of Article III, Section IV of the Succession Laws. Drawn and ratified more than one and a half millennium ago when Celestia and Luna ascended the throne of Equestria as princesses. It was amended twenty years ago with the coronation of Princess Cadance, styled Princess Mi Amore Cadenza. The laws governed the succession of Equestria’s rulers in times of emergency.

“Princess Cadance should remain in the Crystal Empire lest the problems with the princesses spread there,” Sharp Quill shot back. “Besides, the princess isn’t incapacitated or unable to discharge her duties.”

Wind Chime narrowed her eyes. “I question that ability with her current state of mind.” She turned and trotted towards her diarch.

“You have no idea how much stress the princess has been under, Wind Chime,” Sharp Quill said to the back of her counterpart and trotted after her. “Maybe this is her way of venting.”

Wind Chime’s ears turned down. “… Maybe.” She was quiet for a moment. “But acting like a completely different pony? I find it hard to accept…”

Sharp Quill stopped for an instant. “I… Well, I don’t know.”

Presently, Wind Chime and Sharp Quill joined Pinkie at her side, who was bouncing like she wont to do.

“So I just use my horn like Twilight and the sun will just,” Pinkie made a whooshing sound, “into the sky right?”

Sharp Quill tensed at the question. Wind Chime can’t be right… could she? However, the princess’ current mannerism and speech were giving that theory a lot of credit. “Um, I guess so?”

With a scrunch of her face, the very long white horn slowly shimmered and then lit in a yellow glow.

“Oh! Oh! Oh!” Pinkie said. “Look at my horn!”

The bluish-purple twilight gave way rapidly to deepening blue as the moon zipped into the sky.

“Uh wait, that’s not the sun…”

Sharp Quill and Wind Chime shared a worried look as Pinkie’s horn lit once again brightly. The moon did a figure-eight and coasted below the horizon. As soon as it disappeared below the horizon, it reappeared, rolling slowly upwards into the sky.

“Um…” A drop of sweat trickled down Pinkie’s brow. “Minor technical difficulties!” A nervous laugh escaped her.

Wind Chime leaned in towards Sharp Quill and whispered: “Able to discharge her duties right, Sharp Quill?”

Sharp Quill adjusted her glasses curtly. A sense of unease welled in her. “Well…”

Pinkie lit her horn again. This time the horizon went straight from deep blue to white as the sun popped into existence in its “noon” position.

“Oops, um, too much oomph!” Another nervous laughter escaped Pinkie.

Sharp Quill and Wind Chime stared and their jaws dropped. Now, they watched as the sun eeny, meeny, miny, moed slowly back to its correct position of eight o’ clock.

Pinkie threw out her fore hooves and turned to the two Royal Secretaries, a huge grin on her face. “See, Auntie Tia has it all under control!”

Sharp Quill snapped her mouth shut and then said: “Um, right… your highness.”

Pinkie was in her face again, Pinkie’s snout pressing into Sharp Quill’s. “So what do I do now?” The grin never disappeared from her face.

Sharp Quill straightened up. “If you are feeling well enough, princess, we can reopen the morning court.” Her eyes drifted from Pinkie and she scuffed a hoof. “The ponies need assurance right now and performing your duties would help greatly.”

“Oh, sure!” Pinkie’s face pressed into Sharp Quill’s. “So, what duties do I do? Huh? Huh? Huh?”

Sharp Quill backed off a step, a frown on her face. “The morning court,” she began, “is where you listen to the ministers regarding the important issues of the day and deciding upon their actions. It is in two hours’ time. They will surely attend if I announce that you are up and running the court again.”

Pinkie’s grin got wider. “Ohhh, a gathering of ponies? Are they like those snooty moody no-funners at the Grand Galloping Gala?”

Sharp Quill shrunk back and her eyes darted around, looking for an escape from the unnerving face of her diarch. “Well… they are serious ponies interested in the wellbeing—”

Pinkie’s face inched closer. “That means they’re a bunch of stern faced stodgy ponies who just need some cheering up!” She suddenly drew back and tapped a hoof on her chin, her expression serious. Then she threw her fore legs out and declared: “A party is in order!”

Sharp Quill stiffened. A jolt of coldness shot through her. She can’t be serious, right? “Your highness, the morning court—”

She and Wind Chime found themselves being pushed towards the double doors. “Now, now, Auntie Pin— I mean Auntie Tia needs to plan so the party will be super fun!” Her gaze fell on Wind Chime. “You will be attending the party too, um…”

“Wind Chime, your highness,” the pegasus said. “But I am not supposed to attend the court as I am Luna’s—”

“No buts, Windy!” Pinkie’s face filled Wind Chime’s vision. “You’re invited too!”

“Uh…”

That was all she could muster before the door open and the ponies being shoved out. Just as the door closed there were these muffled words:

“See you two at the party!”

Sharp Quill and Wind Chime sat in a daze before the former slowly raised her gaze to the latter. The hard look on Wind Chime made Sharp Quill avert her gaze.

“Able to discharge her duties, Sharp Quill?” Wind Chime asked.

Sharp Quill sighed. “Maybe we should ask Princess Cadance to return…”

This day was going to be disastrous.

“Hmm, how can I get my party supplies in two hours…?” Pinkie tapped her chin. “Guess it’s time to hunt down all the emergency party supply stashes!”

Just as Pinkie paced the space between the bed and the balcony, a pink swirling magic erupted in the center of the room. When it dissipated, a lean translucent magenta pony-like figure stood in place.

“Hello… Pinkie,” Cassia said.

Pinkie whipped around. “Oh hey, you’re the voice from two days ago!” She zipped up to the spirit. “Are you here for the party too?”

A little smirk appeared on Cassia’s face. “Not… exactly. But it sounds interesting.”

Pinkie bounced on her hooves. “Yep! We’ll have cakes, music and pin the tail on the pony!”

Cassia’s smirk got wider. “Yes… it does sound interesting. I… shall be there in…” she trailed off.

“Two hours!” Pinkie did not cease her bouncing. “With the ponies at the morning court! I don’t know what a morning court is but I’m sure it’s some boring snorarific meeting!”

A soft laughter escaped Cassia. “Only… the morning court?” She patted Pinkie in her shoulders, or at least held her hoof and let Pinkie connect each bounce. “Why not… the entirety of the city? You… are the Princess of Parties now, aren’t you?”

Pinkie landed with a muted clunk. “But a princess has wings and horn— Oh! This is why I’m in Princess Celestia’s body!”

Cassia smiled. “As… powerful wishes are, they will never have enough power to fuel physical transformations.” She set a hoof on Pinkie’s chest. “And… you will find the desire in you has taken on certain powers.” There was a flash of magenta in her pink eyes which was echoed in the blue eyes of Pinkie. “Use it… wisely.”

Pinkie tilted her head to one side. “But what about the Princess?”

Cassia waved dismissively. “Princess Celestia… gets the vacation she wished… in your body.” She walked past a frowning Pinkie. “Now… if there’s anything you need, I can help you with it.” Cassia looked back with a small smile. “And I… look forward to the party, Pinkie.”

There was another flash of magenta in Pinkie’s eyes. A burst of music rang through her head. Music! Images of ponies, from the snooty rich ponies of Canterlot to her good friends in Ponyville and then to ponies she wished to eventually meet in the other cities, flashed before her eyes. Everypony! Confetti, balloons and streamers fell upon all of them and they rejoiced, stomping their hooves on the ground. Party!

“Okay!” Pinkie said. “Let’s get going!” She turned to the purple door of Celestia’s bedroom.

“I’ll… be right behind you.”

With her head turned, Pinkie never saw Cassia’s eyes change, replaced by a pair of pink draconic eyes.

“Soon,” Cassia whispered, too low for Pinkie to pick up, “everything will be mine again.”

Neither did Pinkie see the wicked grin on Cassia’s face.

"So, what's your name?" Pinkie asked as she threw open the door.

"Cassia..." Her grin widened. "My name... is Cassia."

Twilight’s bedroom had been quiet and peaceful for the past week. It had to be, with only Spike and herself occupying it at various times throughout the days of the week and with the nightly visit from Owlowiscious. Of course, that was no longer the case as Twilight lay upon her bed, muttering words that were too soft to make out.

Overlooking her supine form were a pink earth pony and a white unicorn. A little frown held on the forehead of the pink pony as she scrutinized the pink glow that enveloped Twilight. The unicorn simply stood watching with a worried expression.

“… I do good, princeeeess?”

Celestia cringed slightly at the insistent tone of Twilight’s briefly audible speech. Rarity, standing off to the presently earth pony’s right cleared her throat to mask the simultaneous embarrassment and mirth bubbling up inside her. A curt look from Celestia drove those emotions away and Rarity visibly composed herself.

“Let’s try this again,” Celestia said.

“Um, right.” Rarity’s horn lit in a light blue glow.

As she concentrated, Celestia’s voice started to speak in her mind.

Step one: Focus. Her horn glowed brighter.

Step two: Let the magic wash over the spell. Rarity let loose the gathered magic over the supine body of Twilight.

Step three: Find the anchors. The sounds of rapid glass clinking echoed in her consciousness, each of them a reverberation of an anchor.

Step four: Unknot or rip them out of the spell matrix. Rarity extended her senses and poked at the spell. The anchors—more knots than anchors—were arranged in layers, doubling as they went further inwards for three levels. The first layer was simple—the anchors were arranged along the long axis and undoing the layer was akin to unknotting a doubled ended bundle.

The second layer resembled a four-pointed jewel, it cardinal directions wreathed in unquenchable flames. Undoing those anchors involved dousing those flames with simultaneous torrents of water. A visible strain slowly grew in Rarity’s concentration as she poured magic into the anchors.

The flames burned brighter and brighter in her mind’s eyes until all of them went out in a pop and release of magic. The layer broke apart into solid segments that crashed noiselessly onto the wooden floor. A shake started in Rarity’s hooves that slowly crawled up her legs and towards her body. Her head grew heavy as pressure built at the bottom of her horn.

Her magic hit the final layer, which reverberated in metallic quality. The anchors of the third layer were arranged similarly—four in the cardinal directions and four in their diagonals. Unlike the previous anchors, these felt like heavy metal bolts when she probed them. The bolts were screwed not just tight. Its threads were glued over and the whole bolt frozen over.

The anchors did not budge when Rarity pulled on them. Her legs were weak now. She gritted her teeth as she fought the swimming of her head. Summoning the last bit of her magic reserve, Rarity poured it against the anchors and attempted to rip them off the mounts. The magic simply rebounded off and back at her horn.

Rarity yelped and collapsed onto the floor. A breath she did not know she held whooshed out of her. Panting heavily, she lifted a hoof to her forehead.

… How does Twilight do all this?

“It’s no use, princess,” Rarity said as she watched the pink glow of the spirit’s spell washing over Twilight once again. “This spell is simply too strong for me.”

A pink hoof rested on her withers. “It’s alright, Rarity. You’ve tried your best,” Celestia said.

Rarity’s head turned to her left to the sight of a weak smile. She would have never thought Pinkie would have such a low, motherly voice and expression if it was not for the fact that Princess Celestia now possessed her body. A wan smile formed on her face.

“And indeed, the final layer seems near impossible to break through brute force for an average pony.” A serious expression fell on Celestia’s face. “I think we should look for an alternative. Maybe Luna could help.”

Celestia turned her eyes to Rarity, then down at Applejack and Rainbow Dash and finally Fluttershy, noting their unfocused, bloodshot eyes. “And all of us haven’t gotten much sleep last night.”

Rainbow Dash chose this time to let out a big yawn. “Yeah, I missed my nap time too.” She flopped and hovered on her back, her eyes closed and her fore legs crossed behind her head.

“Rainbow!” Applejack rounded on the light blue pegasus. “Don’t ya go disrespectin’ the princess here now!”

“It’s alright, Applejack.” Celestia covered her mouth with a hoof as her face also split in a wide, open mouthed yawn.

Glancing at the clock on Twilight’s nightstand, she said: “It’s seven thirty-five in the morning. Please meet back here in two hours and we’ll prepare to head to Canterlot.”

“Yes, princess,” Twilight’s friends chorused.

The deep purple twilight caught Celestia’s eyes. “Luna, why hadn’t you raised the sun yet?” she muttered.

As Twilight’s friends turned to the bedroom doorway, a youthful voice floated through:

“Twilight! Twilight!”

“Spike?” Rarity asked. It was quite clear whom the voice belonged to.

“Twilight! Are you awake yet? This is bad!”

Everyone except Celestia shared a look. Soon, Spike darted into the room and flung himself at the fore legs of Rarity.

“Rarity, is she awake!? We need to get the princess back!”

A young southern accented voice piped up from the hallway beyond the door:

“Don’t worry Twilight! We’ll save ya!”

Spike got to his feet and waved his clawed hands. “Wait, don’t—”

A blur of yellow and red leapt in and tackled Celestia to the floor.

Applejack’s eyes widened. “Apple Bloom?”

“Sis! Sis! Are you alright?” a squeaky voice called out.

“Sweetie Belle?” Rarity was nearly bowled over when Sweetie Belle tackle-hugged her.

“Yeah! Did we get the imposter? Did we?” Scootaloo leapt into the room as well, her wings abuzz as an orange blur.

“Kid?”

“Rainbow Dash!” Scootaloo gushed at the sight her adoptive sister.

“Alright! Where’s tha real Pinkie Pie at!?” Celestia stared cross eyed at the small yellow hoof of Apple Bloom jabbed in her face.

The little filly’s display of righteous fury was so adorable and Celestia could not help but smile. A chuckle escaped her and she said: “In my castle, of course.”

“Ya better tell us ‘cause we won’t take no for—” Apple Bloom did a double take. “Wha?”

“Pinkie Pie is in my castle… Apple Bloom, was it?”

“Yeah… Wait,” Apple Bloom’s hoof jabbed again, “what do ya mean in your castle? Whoa—”

Apple Bloom was picked up by her scruff off Celestia. “Apple Bloom! I told ya to stay back in the barn!” Applejack said when she set Apple Bloom down beside her.

“But sis, there’s an imposter Pinkie Pie runnin’ around Ponyville!” Apple Bloom pointed a hoof at Celestia.

Celestia chuckled again. “You have an adorable little sister, Applejack.”

“Uh, thank ya kindly, your highness. But she’s a hoofful at times.” Applejack shot a glare at Apple Bloom.

“Wait, what do you mean ‘your highness’?” Sweetie Belle piped up.

Nervous laughter escaped Rarity. “Well… Pinkie Pie here is not an imposter, Sweetie Belle.”

Sweetie Belle frowned. “But Mr. and Mrs. Cake told us Pinkie Pie wasn’t Pinkie Pie.”

“Yeah,” Apple Bloom hopped on her hooves, “Mrs. Cake said it was um… compli… com…”

“Complicated,” Sweetie Belle finished for Apple Bloom.

“Yes, ‘complicated’ would be apt to describe the situation, Sweetie Belle,” Rarity said. She shuffled her hooves and her next words came out in rapid fire Equestrian Common: “Because Princess Celestia and Pinkie Pie swapped bodies.”

“… What?” Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo chorused and stared blankly at Rarity.

Celestia got on her hooves. “Simply put, Pinkie is in me while I am in her, my little fillies.”

There was a pause and the CMC shot each other glances. “So, lemme get this straight, ya say Pinkie is now Princess Celestia and Princess Celestia is now Pinkie?” Apple Bloom finally said.

Sweetie Belle rubbed her head. “My head hurts…”

“Yeah, me too,” Scootaloo said, grimacing.

“Yes, and it is very important that we get the princess back in her body as soon as possible.” Rarity nudged Sweetie Belle. “And run along now, Sweetie. All of us need to rest and then try to get help for Twilight.”

“Oh yeah, Mrs. Cake said she’s under a curse or something.” Scootaloo buzzed off the ground for a short moment.

“A Desire spell, actually.” Scootaloo looked at the pink form of Celestia.

“Wait, ya mean like the Heart’s Desire, princess?” Apple Bloom turned her eyes to the lying figure of Twilight.

Celestia frowned. “The Heart’s Desire… Twilight mentioned it in her comments for your Friendship Report, Apple Bloom.”

“Yeah, according to Zecora, the Heart’s Desire makes any natural talent of anypony come true,” Apple Bloom said.

“But it instead made what Apple Bloom desired came true…” Celestia muttered. Turning to Rarity, she said: “Is this Heart’s Desire grown locally, Rarity?”

Rarity nodded. “Why yes, your highness. Roseluck grows a small patch of them here in Ponyville.”

“Ask her where she got the original seeds or the plant.” Celestia trotted past the Cutie Mark Crusaders, with a serious and worried look on her face. “I believe this may be linked to our mystery spirit.”

“Right.” Rarity let out a little ladylike yawn. “After our rest?”

“Yes, I fear that we are losing enough time as it is.” Celestia trotted out of the room.

Rarity waved to her little sister. “Come now, Sweetie Belle. You can stay with me.”

“Apple Bloom, let’s go.” Applejack placed a hoof on her own little sister.

“Wanna spend some time with your cool and awesome idol, kid?”

Scootaloo was starry eyed in an instant. “Of course, Rainbow Dash!”

The Cutie Mark Crusaders were ushered out by Rarity, Applejack and Rainbow Dash. Fluttershy followed with Spike riding on her back after a moment.

Pinkie squinted at the small festival of balloons just off to the right of the throne. A smidgen to the left towards the waterfall… Two white hooves framed the balloons, measuring the precise location for maximum cheeriness. Then Pinkie noticed the size of her hooves. Oh wait. My hooves are half as big now! Never mind!

“Perfect…” Her hooves clomped onto the carpeted.

In the past two hours, the throne room of Canterlot Castle had been transformed. Colorful streamers of red, blue and yellow adorned the tall stoned ceiling. Multiple balloons lined the side of the carpet in groups up to the throne.

Pinkie bounced to the gramophone, grinning the whole way. Flicking the needle on the record, a polka started playing. Bobbing her head to the beats a few times, her grin got wider and she bounced to the large golden double doors.

The doors flew open to a hallway packed with ponies of assorted colors. At the sound of opening doors, they turned as one to the sight of their princess grinning widely.

“The Morning Court Party is officially started!” Pinkie announced.

The assembled ministers looked at each other. The Minister of Agriculture, a plum and blue earth pony mare with a cutie mark of a screen and a plum leaned towards Sharp Quill and whispered: “You are sure Princess Celestia has recovered? She seems off…”

Sharp Quill adjusted her glasses. “Well… she was well enough.”

“Hey, what are you two talking about?” Pinkie popped up between them.

The minister let out a gasp while Sharp Quill rolled her eyes and sighed. “Princess, I must reiterate. The morning court is a serious matter—”

“Of course!” Pinkie said. Her face was a mask of seriousness and determination. “Parties are serious business!”

Sharp Quill slammed a hoof on her face.

Pinkie wrapped her forelegs around Sharp Quill and the minister. “And just because the court is something serious doesn’t mean you can’t have fun while doing it!”

At the wave of a hoof, the two ponies’ attentions were directed towards the doorway. The other ministers were already ushered in by the princess, intent on having her party and morning court. Sharp Quill sighed as she and the Minister of Agriculture were shuffled into the throne room. Why did I ever sign up for this job?

Inside, she immediately caught sight of her counterpart: Wind Chime. The pale lavender pegasus had looked haggard Sharp Quill last saw her a couple hours ago, now she looked as though she would fall over any second.

“Hey, Sharp Quill.” Wind Chime let out a yawn.

Sharp Quill bit off a yawn welling inside her. “So, I guess you couldn’t run away, huh?”

“I tried to…” Wind Chime shuddered. “The princess uh, appeared in my bedroom and uh, butted me to the castle.” Her cheeks flushed red.

Sharp Quill stared at Wind Chime. “All the way through the city?”

Wind Chime nodded.

Sharp Quill rubbed her temples and sighed. We should include an insanity clause for Article III at this rate.

“And it seems like the princess has gotten a new assistant,” Wind Chime said.

What? Sharp Quill looked up to the dais of the throne where Wind Chime pointed her hoof to. A magenta pony too lean and tall to be a local stood beside Pinkie as she bounced on her hooves to the beat of the music. Ministers who were not mingling spoke in quiet tones with the Princess, obviously discussing pressing issues of the day with her.

How did a Saddle Arabian appear in the city without me knowing? I’m the Royal Secretary, I should have been informed of this! Sharp Quill frowned. The Saddle Arabian mare seemed off, actually. She looked as though she was translucent. A pink glow suffused her pristine white mane, carried power not unlike the Princess herself. I don’t recognize her. Maybe she’s royalty? To date, only the Sultan of Saddle Arabian had made official visits to Equestria.

The Saddle Arabian leaned in and whispered something to the Princess, who nodded in reply. Everyone present stared in shock as she halted in mid-air without a levitation spell. Pinkie straightened up and announced:

“As your princess, I have heard your problems and I will do my best in fixing them! But first, we,” Pinkie bounced once on her hooves, “shall,” twice, “be,” three times, “happy!”

Blinding pink light blossomed from her eyes. Pinkie’s voice rose an octave as she continued:

“And to be happy, there shall be parties! First in Canterlot, then all of Equestria!”

The light washed over everyone. Sharp Quill felt a wave of elation hit her. Polka music echoed loudly in her head. Then, a series of scenes of many ponies dancing to the tune followed. Finally, confetti and streamers fell upon and they rejoiced. A wide grin slowly shaped into view on Sharp Quill’s muzzle. She never noticed the colorful streamers and confetti falling from the high ceiling of the throne room.

There was only one word echoing in her mind: Party!

No one saw the draconic eyes on Cassia as the light spread across the entirety of Canterlot.

Everyone rejoiced and got down to party.

The gentle morning sun shone down on Celestia as she walked on the street to Roseluck’s house. After a two hour nap, she, Rarity, Rainbow Dash and Applejack were refreshed enough to get on with their as of rather minimal plan. Fluttershy had elected to stay behind to look after the quietly sleeping Cutie Mark Crusaders, Spike and the unconscious Twilight.

Barely five minutes into the walk, Celestia noted the hushed whispers of the ponies already about and their curious glances whenever they passed her. She frowned. Had something happened while we napped?

The sun had risen by the time they awoke from their rest, for which she was glad. The spirit might have gone after Luna while she was here, incapacitated by virtue of being stuck in an earth pony body. I hope that means Luna was simply swamped with taking over my duties…

A voice broke Celestia out of her reverie.

“Guess the townsfolk never seen a day where Pinkie would walk around Ponyville all dignified, like,” Applejack said, waggling an eyebrow.

“Well, it’s rather refreshing to see Pinkie walking as a lady should, your hi—” Rarity paused. “My apologies.” She covered her embarrassment with a smile. Twilight’s friends had agreed to dispense with Celestia’s honorific to obfuscate any rumors no doubt started by the Cakes and spread by the Cutie Mark Crusader as they went about to “free” Pinkie Pie.

Celestia smiled in return. “I do remember she was always bouncing and dashing around when I was at the bakery two years ago.” It was also the first and last time she would bring Philomena out of Canterlot Castle when the phoenix was near the end of her cycle.

“So, what’s with the glowing Crystal-Saddle Arabian pony back at Sugarcube Corner?” Rainbow Dash asked as she flapped her wings above the group.

Memories of thousand years past flashed. In an instant, cries of anguished and grieving ponies came and went. Celestia’s face hardened at once at the question. “That thing,” she said, “was a Wisher.”

Three pair of quizzical eyes stared at her.

“I presume all of you still remember the Windigoes of the Hearth Warming Eve pageant?”

"Uh huh." Three heads nodded.

“They are spirits, entities that feed on emotions.” Celestia looked at each one of them in turn. “There are five of such entities and as you remember, the Windigoes feed on hatred.”

Once again, three heads nodded.

“The Dust Devils fed on despair and desperation, the Sirens on sadness, the Rustlers on anger and finally, the Wishers, as the one who swapped Pinkie Pie and myself, fed on desire.”

“They sound utterly dreadful, these spirits,” Rarity said.

The hard expression on Celestia’s face softened in sadness for a brief moment. “They were dreadful. They spread misery and chaos everywhere,” she said. “However, they have largely disappeared after Discord’s defeat at the hooves of Luna and I… until now.”

The three ponies shared a look. “I simply can’t believe how just one of this ‘Wisher’ caused so much mayhem in just two days,” Rarity spoke up. “And that’s including all the various antics and mishaps that have happened around these parts.”

Celestia sighed. “The spirits are serious, dangerous adversaries. They were as bad as Discord had been when they had the numbers.” She looked at the worried faces of Twilight’s friends. “The one we faced is acting erratically, or maybe even holding back but we can’t let it run rampant much longer.”

“Mmhmm,” Rainbow Dash, Rarity and Applejack agreed in unison. “Don’t worry, princess! We’ll blast it all the way back to where it came from when we get to Canterlot and get the Elements of Harmony!” Rainbow Dash said.

A small smile appeared on Celestia’s face. “That would be a fine solution but first, we need to know more about this spirit.”

“And knowin’ more about this Heart’s Desire would get us closer to gettin’ this spirit?” Applejack asked, scratching a hoof on her head.

Celestia looked uncertain for a brief moment. “I fear this may be a deeper, systemic attack on the kingdom than what we are being led to believe. Besides, this flower had somehow slipped underneath the notices of so many botanists and myself. It is troubling.”

“And the answer may lie with Roseluck,” Rarity said.

Celestia nodded. “That is correct.”

“Looks like we’re coming up on her house now,” Rainbow Dash said, pointing at a thatched two storied house, the third one down the street. “Time to go get some answers!” She disappeared in a blur of cyan and rainbow in that direction.

Celestia, Rarity and Applejack galloped to catch up. They reached the door just as it opened and a quizzical Roseluck popped her head out.

“Hello, Rainbow Dash. How are you doing?” the cream and maroon earth pony asked.

“Where did you get the seeds?”

Roseluck tilted her head. “Uh, what seeds?”

“The seeds for the purple flower!”

Before Roseluck could answer this time, Rainbow Dash disappeared off the side of the doorway and was replaced by Rarity and Applejack. “Sorry ‘bout that. Rainbow’s always been a touch impatient,” Applejack said, an awkward grin on her face.

“Don’t I know it?” Roseluck gave the two ponies a knowing look. Rainbow Dash reappeared, hovering behind the two with a frown on her face. “So, what’s this about a purple flower? Was she talking about my latest batch of orchids?”

“We were wondering where you have gotten the seeds of the Heart’s Desire from,” Rarity said. “Or even the actual flower itself.”

Roseluck’s face twisted in mild disgust. “That silly flower that got Apple Bloom sick with the Cutie Pox? Why would you want to know?”

“Please, Roseluck. It is important.” A worried look crossed Rarity’s face. “You have probably heard what happened to Twilight.”

“Yeah, like she was cursed or something?”

Rarity gave a nervous laugh. “Well, not exactly but we think it’s related to the flower. Please, Roseluck, we really need to know.”

“Yeah, tha sooner we know, tha better,” Applejack joined in.

Roseluck paused, scratching her chin absently. “Hmm, it was Hollow Shades, I think. I got the flowers from a vendor. He wouldn’t tell me where he got them though.”

Applejack’s eye widened. “Hollow Shades, huh? My cousin’s been livin’ there her whole life and she never mentioned a lick of it.”

“Not many ponies know about it anyway. I wouldn’t have until I took a wrong turn into a side street while visiting the place,” Roseluck said.

“It is an obscure magical flower after all, Roseluck and we thank you for this information.”

“No problem!” Roseluck beamed. “I hope Twilight’ll be okay.”

Rarity smiled but it never reached the worry in her eyes. “We all do, Roseluck. Goodbye.”

The foursome waved to Roseluck and turned back to the direction of the library.

“Now, we bring Twilight to Canterlot,” Celestia said when they were out of earshot. “By the stars, I hope Luna’s keeping things together at the castle.”

The rest of the walk was silent as Rarity, Applejack and Rainbow Dash stared in shock at Celestia’s oath. They had not caught sight of what Celestia saw of Canterlot while they were talking.

Luna stirred. Her eyes slowly peeled open, taking in the surroundings. They were already accustomed to the dark but with the emptiness of inky blackness stretching forever before her, there was nothing to see. Blinking her aching eyes, she realized that her cheeks were stained.

Had I been crying? A hoof rose to rub her eyes. Luna stopped as she noted the color of her hoof. It had turned purple-blue once again, instead of her midnight blue coat. Her eyes flicked up. The bangs of her mane were purple-cornflower blue, like it was in her youth, or two years ago when she was saved from herself.

“What… what happened?”

A few fleeting pictures of memories flit through her mind. They were images of her time shortly before her transformation into Nightmare Moon and meeting…

Cassia! Luna’s head swiveled around.

“Ah, I see that you are finally awake,” a voice said, deep, yet gangly at the same time.

Luna froze. In an instant, she felt her blood turned into ice. Her breath came out, shallow. The voice was not unfamiliar to Luna. She had heard it the moment she felt Cassia’s spell descended upon her all those years ago. He had been whispering into her ears for her entire “tenure” as Nightmare Moon.

“Chaos…”