The mere fact the original star seed were losing its light began to affect the world. In Canterlot, dark clouds filled the skies, thundering clouds with dark electricity scrolling through them. In the throne room of the castle, Celestia and Luna were watching that dark sky.
"I don't like this, sister" Luna said to Celestia. "Those clouds are full of dark power."
"I know" Celestia said. "I just hope this is not what I'm thinking."
It was then from the clouds came out lightning which managed to enter in the throne room and hit the two princesses who groaned in pain. Then the flowers containing their star seeds appeared and opened. The two sisters’ star seeds appeared, being that Celestia’s was golden and Luna’s was moderate cobalt blue. The two began to blink and lose their respective light in the same way as the original star seed. While this was happening, whether the Sun and the Moon were losing their light as well, due to their connection to the two sisters’ star seeds, wherever they were, starting to plunge the world in a vast darkness.
But that wasn't all. In the Crystal Empire, another lightning hit Cadance, before Shining’s concerned look that tried to help her, but in vain. Her star seed also revealed itself, displaying its pale blue light and, like Celestia’s and Luna’s, it also started losing its light. At the same time, the crystal heart started slowing its rotation and lost its luster that made it unique, making the crystal ponies began to lose their crystalline coat.
The Lord of Chaos seemed immensely amused, while stealing the light from Twilight’s star seed.
"When the last vestige of this damned seed goes out, the same thing will happen with all the good magic of this world" he said. "The darkness will rule. I will rule this world!"
And gave a lot of laughs.
Noting that, Fire Punch also smile. So the Lord of Chaos had conquered the world, he was sure he would be rewarded with everything he dreamed. In addition to that, he felt so good seeing Twilight suffering. After all, besides the fact that she was his worst enemy's sister and his second worst enemy’s wife, she was one of the largest obstacles in their rise to power, because of what had happened at her wedding with Blue.
Twilight, in turn, tried to handle the immense pain she was feeling. She was trying to stay awake as long as possible, however, she didn't know how long she would resist. It seemed that the Lord of Chaos would get what he wanted.
No! her inner voice yelled. You can't give up. Think of all those who depend on you. Think about your friends. Think about your family. Think about Blue ... Your baby.
Those words gave Twilight forces to resist. Thinking about those she loved most, she focused within her all the energies she had. The Element of Magic crusted in her crown began to shine. Seeing that happening, the Lord of Chaos increased the intensity of his power, trying to absorb the light from the original star seed as fast as he could. But then the Element of Magic started carrying the star seed with the energy that it was accumulating, something that seemed to prevent star seed’s light from going out.
"Master, what's wrong?" Fire Punch asked, seeing the difficulty that his superior was having.
"I don't know" the Lord of Chaos said, continuing to try to increase his attack’s power. "She is offering resistance. It's impossible!"
It was then that the original star seed, thanks to the Element of Magic’s power, has increased the intensity of its light in such a way that it freed itself from the Lord of Chaos’ magic and struck him strongly.
"No, that's impossible!" he shouted. "Nobody can beat my power! No! No! Noooo!!"
And then the Lord of Chaos disappeared into the light. It happened an explosion of light that has spread everywhere. It hit Fire Punch and the dark beings that were there, which screamed with pain. The same happened with the dark ponies who were on guard duty in the Light Kingdom. The light released spread through the rest of the world, moving away the dark clouds. Celestia, Luna and Cadance’s star seeds recovered their lights and got back into their respective ponies, making the Sun and the Moon regain their light and the crystal heart started rotate at the same speed and the crystal pony recovered their crystalline coat. Everything was backing to normal.
The Generals of Order’s star seeds, once freed from the Lord of Chaos domain and driven by the light explosion, went to the Great Hall, where were their hosts. Each one went to their respective General and placed themselves on top of their heads and unleashed their light. That made the stone begin to crack and then it simply disappeared, being then replaced by coat. Their flower appeared, opening up, and the star seeds placed themselves there, disappearing then. The six Generals then regained consciousness and then looked around, then for themselves and only then to each other, showing an immense happiness.
In the throne room of the castle of the Light Kingdom, Twilight’s star seed came back to her and she let herself fall to the ground, sitting, rebounding breathtaking. She had succeeded. She had defeated the Lord of Chaos. She looked at her friends and saw the dark roots appear and involve them, disappearing shortly. The ponies and the dragon had returned to normal. Their star seeds turned from black to their normal light, returning then to the inside of the flower which closed and disappeared. They started waking up and then Blue noticed in Twilight.
"Twilight!" he called, advancing to her, followed by the other. "Honey, are you okay?"
"Yes" Twilight said. "I just need to rest."
"And the baby?" Blue asked. "Is he okay?"
"He's okay, Blue" Twilight reassured. "You don't have to worry about him."
"Wait a minute" Applejack said. "But did we hear well? Blue jest said baby?"
The others were equally curious. Before those glares, Blue and Twilight exchanged a smile and the alicorn replied:
"The truth is we didn’t tell you anything before because of everything that was going on. Only me, Blue, Cadance, Shining and Heartbeat knew about this, but... I'm pregnant."
Her pony friends were immensely enthusiastic when they heard the news, beginning to congratulate Twilight. Spike went to Twilight and embraced her, saying:
"I am very happy for you."
"Thank you, Spike" Twilight thanked, returning his hug.
"No…" Fire Punch’s said, coming from across the room. "No! It can't be!"
They turned all to him and saw him pass the hooves through his head. They could see that his horn had disappeared.
"My horn!" he exclaimed. "Without it and my wings sacrificed, I'm just... a simple earth pony."
But, when he saw the other's stares on him, he hastened to get up and escape from there. It was then that he bumped with something solid and fell to the ground. When he looked at where he bumped with, he was immensely scared. Golden Paladin got in imposing in the throne room, looking coldly to Fire Punch.
"Oh crap..." he said.
"Going somewhere?" Golden Paladin asked.
"I…" Fire Punch stammered. "I was going to..."
And then Golden Paladin carried his horn with magic, sending a huge yellow light that blinded everypony. When the light was gone, Fire Punch had disappeared.
"Where did you send him?" Rainbow Dash asked.
Golden Paladin looked at her and replied:
"To a place where he can't do any more harm."
He then turned to Twilight and approached to get close to her, made a bow and said:
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Princess Twilight Sparkle."
"You know who I am?" Twilight asked.
"Now I know" he replied. "Heartbeat explained everything. You are the bearer of the original star seed, the star seed that once belonged to you… when you were Princess Aurora."
"What?!" Twilight’s friends asked.
"Yes, well..." Twilight said to her friends. "Apparently, I'm Princess Aurora’s reincarnation and that's why I have the original star seed. I’m sorry if I didn’t say anything."
"You didn't have to say anything if you don't want, my love" Blue said. "I know this should have been hard for you when you found out."
"Thank you, Blue" Twilight replied, nuzzling him.
Golden Paladin then gave some cough to get attention by making all turn to him, and said:
"I apologize for interrupting, but I think we have more important issues to attend to."
"Of course, the Light Kingdom" Twilight said. "We have to wake it up, now that the Lord of Chaos is now no longer a threat and the Generals of Order were brought back."
They followed then Golden Paladin to the Great Hall. When they entered, they found Heartbeat there with the other Generals of Order. When they saw Twilight, they were pretty flabbergasted.
"Amazing" Leaf Mane said. "She is really just like..."
"It’s clear that they have some differences, but..." Melody said.
"But the similarities are striking" Purple Smoke completed.
"I have to agree" Mirror Coat said.
"You see?" Heartbeat asked. "I told you. I think you owe me some sweets."
"But I think it's better to leave it for later" Golden Paladin said. "We have more important issues. Now that we're all released, it's time to release the Jewel of Life."
The others waved and then the Generals took their respective place in the circle. They then concentrated the magic in their horns which began to shine. Then, one after another, casted a beam to the center and, at the point where the beam culminate, a circular hole appeared and a pillar appeared with the Jewel of Life. Golden Paladin took the jewel with his magic and then approached Twilight, extending it to her. She picked the Jewel with her magic and then the General of Peace told her:
"Follow me, Princess."
And he then left the Great Hall. Twilight followed him and Blue went after her. Twilight’s friend wished to follow them, but then Heartbeat asked:
"Didn’t you want to come with us? We'll send the ponies transformed by Fire Punch back home and thus you will be able to see the show."
"The show?" Rainbow Dash repeated.
"Oh, I love shows!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed.
"I'm glad of hearing that" Melody said, approaching. “Because this is one of the best you will ever see."
"Yes, and have my personal touch" Purple Smoke said in a somewhat proud tone.
"Don't forget that we all collaborate" Melody fixed. "I've done the music."
"Yes, but I made the architecture" Purple Smoke replied. "Something that is much more important than those little songs of yours."
"Your..." Melody started.
"And if we were going" Leaf Mane suggested. "Come on."
She then made Melody and Purple Smoke coming out with her of the Great Hall, both avoiding the gaze of each other. Twilight’s friends went behind them, curious about the show that the Generals were talking about.
"When will those two get along well?" Mirror Coat asked. "Seriously, even after a thousand years of sleeping they don't stop fighting."
"Do you know when they going to start getting along well?" Heartbeat asked to Mirror Coat. "When they respect each other's work, which will be... Let me think... Never."
And then she headed to the exit and Mirror Coat followed her.
Twilight and Blue followed Golden Paladin to the foyer, where Gold Paladin there began to climb the stairs that led to one of the great towers. They climbed the spiral stairs, with the Jewel of Life accompanying them in the air involved by Twilight’s magic. While they climbed, Twilight and Blue noticed that there was a huge cylinder in the middle of spiral staircases, at the top of the tower they were climbing, containing aligned strings of various sizes, each one containing a hammer in position, like a piano.
When they were near the top, they entered in the bridge that linked the two towers. Through the windows, Twilight could see the Generals of Order, accompanied by her friends, teleporting the ponies corrupted by Fire Punch back to their homes. It was then that Twilight, Blue and Golden Paladin arrived to the spherical division in the middle of the bridge.
It was a division mainly occupied by a large round platform with stairs where there was a machine with sprockets on the edge with a spherical base in the vertical, where there was a round groove in the center and four around it. The grooves that were around had spheres, as petrified as rest. Besides that, the machine had a large lever.
"The great towers of the castle of the Light Kingdom are perhaps the most important things" Golden Paladin exclaimed. "All the Generals of Order contributed to their construction. Purple Smoke was the architect and Melody has made them in a musical instrument, by placing striking strings at the top of each tower, so they could produce songs according to the sphere that was placed into the groove in the center. Heartbeat conceived energy, while I, Mirror Coat and Leaf Mane gave our touch the the ultimate defense of our kingdom."
Hearing him telling that, Twilight then realized the true purpose of the Jewel of Life.
"So, the Jewel of Life..." Twilight started.
"It's a music sphere" Golden Paladin concluded. "A very special one. It was the first one to be played by the great towers of the castle. Being the bearer of the original star seed, it's up to you, Princess Twilight, insert the Jewel of Life and make it play."
Twilight looked at the Jewel of Life and then to the machine. Then, she felt a hoof touch on her shoulder and saw that it was Blue, which was smiling affectively. She returned the smile and then advanced. Using the magic, she put the Jewel of Life in the central groove. As soon as she did this, the Jewel of Life began to shine and the same happened with the whole division and then with the whole castle. Those who were downstairs noticed that and then saw the stone involving the castle to crack and then disappear, becoming so in very beautiful golden polished stone. All were impressed with it.
"The show is about to begin" Mirror Coat said.
In the circular room, Golden Paladin made a nod to Twilight. She then addressed the lever and pulled it. But it didn't happen.
"What's wrong?" Twilight asked. "It's not working."
"It’s missing the energy" Golden Paladin said. "We've got to load the machine."
"How do we do that?" Blue asked.
"Taking into account that it was Heartbeat who took care of it, I think the answer is obvious" Golden Paladin replied.
Twilight thought. Heartbeat was the General of Affection, so the power should have to do with it. Then, she realized. The energy should come from their emotions and feelings, more precisely love, her stronger feeling. Twilight looked Blue and then she grabbed his hoof. Feeling the great love of her life, the young alicorn began to concentrate. Her star seed’s flower appeared and opened, revealing the original star seed. She then launched a beam to the Jewel of Life which began to shine with more intensity. The star seed came back into their flower and disappeared.
It was then that the sprockets began to rotate, progressively increasing their speed. The hammers began to play the strings and a song began to soar. It was immensely beautiful and harmonious and could be heard throughout the kingdom. All turned to the castle and saw it beginning to radiate a golden light, giving it a much more stunning aspect.
"What's happening?" Applejack asked.
"The show began" Heartbeat replied.
The music continued.
"This music is very beautiful" Fluttershy said.
"Thank you" Melody said. "I'm the one who created it."
Inside the division, Twilight, Blue and Golden Paladin saw the division becoming illuminated. It was then that Golden Paladin regained his luminous coat and Twilight also began to radiate light, the same light as Princess Aurora’s. The other Generals of Order also began to radiate their respective light.
Then, on each side of the four smaller towers and on the outside of each of the great towers, came from their insides structures, which gave the impression the towers have wings, and on the outside of the top of each of the great towers appeared three big pointers. On each tips of the structures appeared branches that stretched and made appear flowers that opened and released lights that began to accumulate in the structures of the great towers until they take the form of two huge wings made of light that opened, spreading the light, something that made a lot of sighs.
Those wings made of light began to leave a lot of white star seeds that began to insert themselves in the streets, buildings and plants, making the rock covering them to crack and disappear. Other star seeds went to the animals and to the light ponies, getting back into their flowers and disappearing, freeing them from their stone prison. After regaining consciousness, their attention turned to the castle and, seeing the wings of light of the castle with the music created by the strings and their hammers playing, they made a bow. The five Generals of Order that were there also made a bow and their lights intensified, as well as in whole kingdom. It was then that the wings of light disbanded and the music began to stop.
As it stopped, the flowers closed and disappeared, while the branches collected themselves, followed by the structures. When they were gone, the music was playing their last notes. The music then stopped. Once that happened, Golden Paladin turned to Twilight and told her, making her a bow:
"Thank you, Princess Twilight. Thanks to you, our kingdom came out with all their light."
"Well, it could not have been otherwise" Twilight replied. "But I couldn't have done it without the help of my friends... and Blue."
She and Blue nuzzled each other.
"Princess, I have to tell you something" Golden Paladin said. "Now that the Light Kingdom woke up, it will need the original star seed... and the pony that has it. We need a leader and neither I nor my brothers and sisters can occupy that place. We wouldn’t dare. What I mean is, we need you, Princess Twilight. Please, accept being our princess as Princess Aurora was. I'm sure that you will do a job as good as hers."
Twilight had been caught unawares with that request.
"I… I don't know what to say."
She didn't know if she wouldn’t accept. It was her duty as princess and the bearer of the original star seed, but she thought maybe she wouldn’t be able to do it. It was then that she looked at Blue, whose eyes and smile conveyed her security. She then turned to Golden Paladin and answered him:
"Golden Paladin, I accept with pleasure."
"And I will be here by your side to help you, my love" Blue said to his wife.
"I know that" Twilight replied, hugging Blue.
"Perfect" Golden Paladin said.
He then progressed to the existing balcony in the division and then spoke to all the ponies, which were raised:
"Dear light ponies, today is a glorious day to the Light Kingdom. Finally, after a thousand of years, we wake up from our stone sleep. A lot has changed during those thousand years, including the loss of our dear and beloved… Princess Aurora."
That made all the light ponies remain silent and, for a few seconds, no sound was heard. Golden Paladin continued:
"But, despite Princess Aurora's great sacrifice, her star seed, the great original star seed, chose a new regent to the Light Kingdom, a pony who is her reincarnation. Fillies and gentlecolts, allow me to introduce the new leaders of the Light Kingdom, Princess Twilight Sparkle and her husband, Prince Blue Sword!"
Golden Paladin pulled away, leaving Twilight and Blue to appear. The light ponies hailed their new regents with a lot of enthusiasm. Twilight’s friends and the Generals of Order joined them, wooing more enthusiastically. Twilight and Blue waved them, returning their worship.
From that moment on, the Light Kingdom came back to share its light with the rest of the world.
--------------------------------------
In the throne room of the Lord of Chaos, he left one of the mirrors, looking completely weakened. He was leaning on his spear and gasping. The Lord of Chaos advanced to his throne, walking up the stairs one at a time. When he reached the top, he sat on the throne, relieving his tiredness.
"They'll pay for this" he said. "No one hurts me this way. Nobody!"
And, full of anger, he released a black lightning from his spear, hitting on one of the walls, causing some damage that was repaired.
"They will feel my revenge and I'll cause them so much suffering that will last for all eternity."