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// Unexpected guests edited 
// Story: A second chance 
// by MagicalEntaty 
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There will always be pain...
...but hope is just as eternal


Twilight flew gracefully through the sky, the light shining on her shawl. The ponies below waved to her and smiled at their beloved ruler. Seeing the joy on their faces lifted her heart even higher, knowing that she was the one who started all this. Twilight landed gently on the dirt path that led through the town and looked around with a smile.

"Princess Twilight!" Several excited yells rang out as a group of young fillies and colts of every shape, size, and colour ran up to her.

"Hello little ones, what's got you so excited?" Twilight said with a playful smile. A little colt with a maroon coat and dark blue mane spoke up. His eyes were green and he didn't have his cutie mark yet.

"Um... we would like... if you want to... Can you help us with the flower garden?"

"Of course, I'd love to help. All you had to do was ask."

All the children cheered as they lead Twilight to an untouched patch of dirt that was reserved for this year’s garden. The adults watched as the little ponies galloped, skipped, and bounced through the town. Some of the adults wanted to help with the planting but they mostly just supervised to ensure that no one got hurt in the process, and left it for the colts and fillies to do.
For the annual planting, the towns ponies would have a competition to see who could come up with the best idea on how to plant the flowers chosen. This year’s idea was rather simple: plant young wildflowers and let them grow … easy yes, but the different colours and type of those flowers made it simply … stunning. The group dug until all the little sprouting flowers had been planted.

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By the time they were done, the fair was all set up and the booths open: streamers and small flags the colour of Twilight’s coat and mane hung throughout the town. Everyone agreed that today was a joyous day, where they celebrated the day that all of them got hope once again: the day their Princess came to them. Before Twilight came, they all thought that they were going to die out here; but she gave them not only hope, but a home again.

But for Twilight herself, today was both one of great joy, and one of anguish. This was the day she knew that she could truly make a difference in the lives of those who needed her. It was also the day that she lost everything in her old life: her family, her friends, everything… Lost in thought for a moment, Twilight stood still, and then shook her head. Right now was not the time to show it, she could mourn her old life that night but now was to celebrate her new one.

Everything was in full swing: dancing, laughing, singing, all the ponies here were smiling. Whenever Princess Twilight walked by, ponies nodded politely but today she was just like everypony else: playing games, enjoying the food, or just goofing off. This was the one time that Twilight could unwind without worrying about anything troubling. Then, whatever force out there that loved ruining her life, suddenly decided it was play time.

Suddenly, out of the forest came a group of five ponies. They looked a little dirty, and more than a little hurt. Even though they looked like they’d just been through an apple crusher, determination burned in their eyes. The group was made up of two Pegasi, two earth ponies, and a unicorn, all of whom were very familiar to Twilight Sparkle.