//------------------------------// // 10 years later edited // Story: A second chance // by MagicalEntaty //------------------------------// …Nothing stays the same for long But who wants it to… Sunlight danced on Twilight's eyelids, like it was trying to pull her from sleep, and she had to admit it worked. Slowly opening her eyes, she saw her stone bedroom window that was carved into the right wall. Getting to her feet, she looked around her room. From the inside, no one would have known that it was carved out of a mountain. It had been 10 years to the day that she was banished from Equestria, and she didn't have any problems. Well, almost. Twilight still missed her dear friends and family, and of course her number one assistant and brother-son Spike. But she could not think of that today because it was a day of celebration. Today was the anniversary of the founding of this land! There was a surprising amount of ponies banished over the years from Equestria as she was. Twilight went to the balcony that her subjects made for her, and looked out. The village was now twice the size of Ponyville, the crystal apple farm was flourishing, and ponies routinely went around with smiles on their faces. The farm was next door to her newly-constructed "castle", which was actually a carved out mountain that the ponies did for her without her knowledge. The homes were mostly single-story wooden huts but no pony cared because they made each home unique and special for them. There was a small hut across from Crystal Fields: it had attempted to be painted blue with blueberries, and it half worked; the original brown had blended into the deep blue streaks of the blueberry dye. The windows and roof had been decorated with flowers of many colours. In this hut lived Twilight's student: Ocean Star. Twilight met this young unicorn when she went and explored the forest. She thought back … ****** After Rises was created, the forest just seemed so much more alive like darkness was being lifted from it. Rays of golden light broke through the trees and refracted, making a glow that reminded Twilight of sunlight shining on a book. The rocks seemed to glow like crystals, and every color was so vibrant. The forest itself had few flowers but those that grew glowed like the moon. Twilight was just looking for food because the crystal apple trees hadn't quite grown up yet. She was looking up at the treetops, thinking of flying up there just to see Equestria again when she heard a loud roar of a hydra in the distance. It sounded as though it had just found its lunch. Bursting into a gallop, she ran to see if somepony needed her help: blasting her way through the tree line. She eventually came upon a lake. The water sparkled clear blue, a small cliff could be seen across the clearing and the grass was different shades of green, waving gently in the wind. She was surprised that she never seen it before, being so close to her new home. Hearing a bloodcurdling roar, Twilight saw the hydra standing atop the cliff. Apparently the hydras out here were nothing like the ones from back home in Equestria. Tree Crystal, Sky Flower and Crystal Apple had told her all about them. These ones had black armour-like scales, poisonous green fangs and blade-like claws. This one was young because it only had one head: the rest wouldn’t grow until much later into its life. From what Twilight could tell, it looked mad! That must mean its prey got away, but what happened to the cliff was not a good sign. It was cracked and slightly crumbled from the monster’s attack. Focusing her magic, she shot a beam of purple light at the hydra, making it roar. It shook its head, roared a second time and then stormed away into the forest. Extending her wings, Twilight flew down to the base of the cliff and found two unicorns covering something. Squished between the two adults was a little filly. She had a deep blue coat and a sea green mane. As the alicorn watched, the filly’s eyes opened and looked at Twilight: beautiful aqua eyes. As for the parents it was already too late so Twilight laid them to rest at the base of the cliff. She brought the filly back with her to the little village. She named the little one ‘Ocean Star’. ****** Twilight smiled at the memory. She had had a lot of fond memories already: like during the time of Hearth's Warming on Twilight’s first year of Rises. She’d wanted to celebrate it of course, but it was the holiday for Equestria so not many ponies here would have wanted to join in on the "fun". This night was the longest night of the year, and in the wild that was a very bad thing because on this night the worst monsters of all, the ones that sleep the rest of the year away awoke hungry. It turned out that their favourite food was ponies, and on this night they suddenly attacked! Twilight fought long and hard to keep them back but they just kept coming; wave after wave of monsters. Twilight thought that she and her little band of ponies were finished but she fought on with all her might! But when she cast a light spell to see where some of the bigger enemies were, as soon as the spell was active, they all ran back to the darkness. Thinking quickly, Twilight gathered everyone under the biggest tree and cast her most powerful light charm ever. It needed to be put on an object, so she cast it upon the tree. The ponies around Twilight watched in awe. It looked as if the stars had been pulled out of the sky and placed on the tree: shining with the brightest light ever over the small area that everypony was in; protecting them from the monsters. The light was a blessing but they were unable to sleep because it was sooo bright! So to pass the night, they crafted gifts. It started with a few as a thank-you to Princess Twilight, and then everyone, even Twilight, made things and exchanged them. When the sun rose the next day, all the monsters retreated back into the shadows where they’d come from. All the ponies celebrated with food and games. It was the biggest breakfast any of them ever had. Every year the monsters would try to attack their little country, but on the day before everyone always prepared for it by decorating the trees on the edge of their land with light crystals and light charms. They also made gifts for other ponies, then as the sun set: their princess would light up the large tree that they hid under on their first year, right in the middle of their land. In the morning afterwards, they would celebrate their survival with food and games. The ponies decided to call this night: "The Night of Starlight." ****** Twilight walked back into her room and started to get ready for the great day to come. She sat in front of her mirror: still surprised at how many talents ponies had could be used in a small place like this, and looked at herself. Over the last few years, her appearance had changed greatly. She was now as tall as Luna and had a similar build, her hair was still the same colour but it now contained sparkles that were like shining stars in the cosmos. Her hair’s coloured streaks rippled a little too. Resting upon the wooden desk was a light shawl, with a pin attached to it. The shawl was woven to such a fine degree that when the light hit it: the fabric would glow like a rainbow. She was told by her adoring little ponies that when she flies with it on she looks like a goddess with an aura of pure light and colour. The pin was in the shape of her cutie mark: which the ponies of Rises have come to know as "The Star of Unite". It became the royal symbol, and was placed on their country’s flag, which they hung in the centre of the town. At first, Twilight was unsure of herself being in the position of royalty, leading a land, and every time they did something like this she felt even more so. Well that was until they made her a crown. The crown presently rested on a small shelf right above the shawl. It was in the shape of a vertically-placed ring, and from a distance you would think it was a flower crown but the flowers themselves were made up of different gems of different colours. The vines that connected the flowers together were made from gold and silver, with ribbons the colour of deep blue, light purple and pink that went to her shoulders. Twilight was amazed that they were willing to risk dying to make this for her as a gift for the first year of protection. Thankfully no one died, and Twilight soon became as sure of herself as the ponies around her. She pulled the shawl over her shoulders and secured the pin to keep it from falling off. The fabric was light and airy, and even when the light wasn't touching it, it seemed to glow. She levitated the crown onto her head and then she was ready. Looking out the window, she said "Let's see what today brings!" and flew out to her subjects