When the trio finally got to the kitchen, they were more than relieved to reach it. Both hunger and frustration were the culprits for the tension in the air as they entered the kitchen. Thankfully, only three ponies and a dragon were in the room. One Aurora was familiar with right away. The second mare, a timid butter-colored Pegasus, took a little bit to sense that it was Fluttershy.
The third mare was totally new to Aurora. She was bubblegum pink with a dark pink mane and tail, both wavy. On her flank was a trio of balloons in blue and yellow. For some reason, Aurora got the idea that the pink Earth Pony should actually be more cheerful than that. Maybe it was her hunger getting to her brain.
The fourth figure caused Aurora to freeze temporarily, for the fourth figure was an honest-to-goodness dragon. He was about the size of a human teenager and had green and purple scales. Immediately, Aurora figured that this dragon was this "Spike" she had heard about from Applejack.
The quartet shifted their attention to the child and the two ponies with her. If she wasn't too preoccupied with reaching the nearest source of food with a body she wasn't used to, Aurora would've been shaking in her place. Applejack smiled at her as she motioned to a nearby table.
"Good to see you doing well, sugar cube. I've made my Granny Smith's apple pancakes with hot cinnamon syrup for ya."
Much to Aurora's embarrassment, her stomach growled loudly in response, causing a red blush to appear on Aurora's cheeks.
"Heh-heh. Sorry. I guess I'm real hungry."
Applejack just smiled as she let Aurora eat while she and the others talked about how she was doing so far.
"Is she doing alright?" She asked.
"She is an absolute darling. Although she shook like a leaf when I told her that Princess Celestia wanted to meet her." Rarity spoke.
"She seems ok in my book, so far. I won't lie that it'll be a pain teaching her how to walk, but she does possess her mom's brain." Rainbow Dash spoke.
Rarity turned to her friend.
"You mean when she slid down the banister at the stairs? I will admit it made things easier, but we can't let her do that for the rest of her life. It is simply not ladylike."
Applejack got in between the two before a fight broke out.
"Now hold on, you two. Let's not fight in front of her. The important thing is that we make her feel welcome. Besides, whether or not she stays in Equestria is her choice, after all."
As the three talked, Fluttershy, Pinkie, and Spike joined Aurora in breakfast as they talked to the hybrid.
"Hi! I'm Pinkie Pie and like everypony here I'm a friend of your mother's. Do you like parties? What's your favorite treat? Color? Hobby? Cupcake?"
Pinkie chattered until Spike pulled an Applejack and stuffed an apple in her mouth to get her to stop talking. Aurora was surprised at the recovering hyper pony, but smiled as she complied.
"Nice to meet you, Miss Pinkie Pie. As for your questions: yes, lemon poppy seed muffins and chocolate anything, any color actually, shell collecting, and of course chocolate."
Pinkie beamed at the answers as Fluttershy spoke.
"Your mother told us you love to hunt for shells and that you have a large collection. I'd really love to see it sometime."
Aurora was about to answer until she saw Spike bite into a large sapphire and ate it like it was a brownie. Seeing Aurora's surprised look, Fluttershy smiled.
"That's what I was like when I first met a certain baby dragon twelve years ago."
She then turned to Spike, who got the hint. He set his sapphire down as he held out a claw to Aurora.
"Nice to meet you, Aurora. My name's Spike. I was hatched by your mother and was her assistant."
Aurora was hesitant, but shook the dragon's claw. Surprisingly, he was quite gentle with her hand.
"Nice to meet you too, Spike. Did you say my mom hatched you?"
Spike grinned proudly as he proceeded to tell her.
"Yep. When your mom was a filly, she had to pass this super-tough magic exam. For her, it was to hatch me."
"And she did it?"
"Of course. Got her Cutie Mark the same day, too."
Aurora raised an eyebrow.
"Cutie Mark?"
Pinkie finished her apple and proceeded to explain.
"A Cutie Mark is a magical marking that shows what a pony's talent is. Like with parties for me."
She then showed her Cutie Mark to Aurora who saw that it was an image of three balloons.
"And Fluttershy's is taking care of animals, so she has three butterflies."
Fluttershy shyly showed her Cutie Mark to the curious child as she spoke.
"And what's my mom's talent?"
"Magic!" Pinkie called out, confetti flying from her mane.
Aurora blinked.
"Magic? How could she get a Cutie Mark in magic?"
Pinkie pointed to Rainbow Dash, who was still talking to Rarity and Applejack.
"She got startled by Rainbow Dash's first Sonic Rainboom and lost control. Princess Celestia sensed Twilight's magical capabilities and enrolled her as her student."
"And she was very talented in studying magic. I wouldn't be surprised if she wants to teach you. I mean…if you can, that is…"
Aurora knew what Fluttershy was slowing down about.
She didn't know if she could do magic.
But as Aurora was about to wonder, she remembered the light from the night before.
"I…think I can use magic."
This caught the interest of the trio before her.
"What do you mean?" Spike asked.
Aurora proceeded to explain.
"When that…thing…took Mom, something happened to me that caused it pain. It was a light coming from above me. I think it came from my forehead."
This was a new development for the group. If Aurora could perform magic, then what? Hearing the conversation from the table, Rarity approached the girl.
"I'm sure if this is true, Princess Celestia can find a teacher for you. I'd be willing to teach as well, but the final word is the princess'."
That reminded Aurora why she was originally anxious. Looking at her plate, she found that she already finished eating and stood up.
"I…wanna try walking alone again."
The ponies and the dragon looked at each other with concern before Rainbow flittered toward her and held out her hooves, seeing the kid was determined to walk on her own.
"Ok, kid. Let's get you into position."
With Rainbow's help, Aurora was able to turn around until she faced the entryway. Giving a nod, she let go of Rainbow Dash's hooves. Rainbow fluttered back as Aurora stood at attention.
"You can do it, kid."
Aurora took a deep breath and picked up one hoof.
"Alright. 1…2…3…4" she repeated in her head as she walked again.
It was slow, but this time, she wasn't falling. Instead, she kept up the beat as she moved forward. She couldn't help but smile widely.
She was walking on her own once more.
Pinkie went into a cheer-fest followed by the others as Aurora reached Rainbow Dash with little trouble. Rainbow grinned at her student.
"Atta girl! Finally got you walking. But we've still got a long way to go before graduation."
The fact she was walking on her own was enough for Aurora.
It was just the first step of what she really wanted to do: find her mother.
It took some time, but the Mane Five, Spike, and Aurora were able to reach the throne room. Much to their shock and relief, the princess wasn't there. Rainbow Dash breathed a sigh of relief.
"Phew! We made it."
Rarity did not share her enthusiasm.
"But…what if we were late enough that the princess grew impatient and left?"
Aurora raised an eyebrow.
"Sounds like something Mom would say."
Just then, a gentle voice caught their attention.
"My apologies, everypony. There was an urgent matter that couldn't wait."
The girl froze as an alicorn mare that had fit the description of the Sun Princess to a "T" approached her. With a smile whose warmth could rival the sun itself, the mare spoke.
"Welcome to Equestria, Aurora. I am Princess Celestia. I was your mother's teacher once upon a time."
Gulping, Aurora did her best to bow. Granted, she still had little control of her legs, but at least she didn't fall flat on her face.
"It…it is an honor, Your Highness."
Celestia smiled at the nervous child as she used her hoof to lift the child's chin up.
"You need not to fear me, Aurora. You are among friends."
She then removed her hoof before speaking.
"But the reason I called you here is because of what had happened. My sister, Princess Luna, told me you were attacked. But I wish to hear the story from you."
Aurora knew this was coming. She proceeded to explained what had happened to her and her mother, about the living sludge, and what her mother looked like after exiting the portal before she got to the finale.
"…and when that thing covered my mom, something happened. I don't know what, but I was able to see a light coming from my forehead. Whatever the light was, it caused the sludge pain. It disappeared with my mom when it couldn't take it anymore and I passed out."
The princess took in every word of the story and found that her assumption was correct. Aurora did possess magic like her mother. Maybe even stronger? She would have to figure out a way for Aurora to unleash her magic again so she could analyze it. But that would have to be another day. For now, the child's fate was at stake.
"Rest assured, Aurora, that we are doing everything in our power to find your mother. But for now, there's another matter I wish to discuss."
This was another thing Aurora was expecting.
"Yes?"
Celestia proceeded to speak.
"I am certain Applejack has told you that the Gate is only opened for three days every twelve years. I do not know when we will find your mother, but we are willing to have you stay in Equestria. But it is not our place to decide for you."
Aurora nodded.
"I understand, princess. I have laid out my options and I have already made a choice."
"And that is?" Celestia asked.
Aurora gulped.
"I think it would be best if I stay in Equestria. If I stay home, I'll be sent to an orphanage at who-knows-where. But if I stay here, I might be able to find my mother. So if it is alright, I want to stay here."
Celestia nodded approvingly. Aurora's logic proved correct. She would be better in Equestria with friends than at home alone.
"Then you should take today to return and gather your possessions. Your new friends can help you."
The Mane Five and Spike nodded as Applejack approached Aurora.
"Come on, sugar cube. Let's get going."
As the seven left, Celestia remained in the throne room before looking out towards a stained glass window. It depicted the defeat of Nightmare Moon by the new Elements of Harmony. She approached the window as her eyes fixated on the purple unicorn in the window.
"Soon, Twilight. Soon."
She then turned her gaze to the door, her thoughts on the girl that had just left. It bothered her greatly that there was a chance this child is their salvation from whatever foalnapped Twilight Sparkle. She read the legends.
Could they be true?
Meanwhile, in the Crystal Empire…
Princess Cadence sighed as she stepped out of another meeting. She had been running the empire for twelve years and the meetings and summits were still tiring her out. She had expected this since Princess Celestia had taught her all she knew about running a kingdom. Of course, she had the duty of tutoring Shining Armor about how to be a prince. Day by day, they would go about their duties and still continue with their happy lives. But today, things were dim.
Because it was the Anniversary.
Even after a while, Shining Armor still hadn't fully recovered from what happened to Twilight Sparkle. Even though he tries, the guilt still ate at him from the inside out. She couldn't blame him. Twilight was his little sister, after all. And after what she had heard about what the changeling queen did, she understood the guilt that was consuming her husband.
But she felt that it won't be enough. Not unless Twilight comes back.
Cadence was soon pulled from her thoughts as a mail pony arrived.
"Princess Cadence? I have a letter from Princess Celestia."
Cadence took the letter and thanked the mail pony. Once he was gone, Cadence opened the letter and read its contents.
She was very surprised at what she had read.
"We have a niece…"
She ran off with the letter to the courtyard, where Shining Armor was. He was drilling the guards as usual when he saw Cadence approaching him. He gave the signal to take a break before he approached his wife.
"Where's the fire?" he asked amusingly.
Cadence handed him the letter.
"Read this."
He did…and he was surprised.
"My little sister…has a daughter?"