"It is just too wonderful. I think I killed two birds with one stone.” he said.
"What are you talking about, old man?" asked Lir confused.
"Amalthea! The parallel universe! It exist! I can't believe it. Guys, this is the portal to the human world. It almost looks like this place. It's simply wonderful."
Mabruk had fulfilled the promise and found a new accommodation for Molly, Schmendrick, and Lir. As all looked to each other, they knew that the time had come to say goodbye.
"So, Amalthea. You really want that we do that?" asked Schmendrick again.
"You heard her. Only the unicorns can stay. Who knows what happens if we would stay." said Molly.
"Oh, I can tell you. You and Lir would simply disappear with time. But for you, Schmendrick, something different would happen to you: the magic would try to turn you into a different creature. When it fails with that you will end up as a hideous creature, more specifically a chimera. You want to let that happen to you, a disfigured creature for the rest of your life? I mean, that doesn't bother me, I always wanted to know how it is to live as a magical being, but I cannot expect the same from you..."
The three humans understood the problem. But before she steps through the portal, Schmendrick went quickly back to say goodbye to Amalthea.
"Magician, what are you doing? You will turn. I would like to no blame for what will happen to you."
"It’s okay, Amalthea. I wanted to thank you for, what you've done for us and the unicorns. You've developed yourself from the ‘last’ unicorn to a magnificent alicorn. It suits you to rule over this land. Lead with Luna the unicorns to a new era, Queen Amalthea."
Amalthea blushed on both cheeks.
"Please...I’m not a queen." That sounds too pretentious. But if you want to still call myself a high title, then say Princess, please. That sounds younger. Now, get to safety, magician. It’s too difficult to say goodbye to you. t was to meet you an honor."
Schmendrick nodded and turned back to Molly and Lir. Suddenly Luna ran to Molly and pressed herself against her.
"I'm so thankful that I could meet you. We will never forget you."
"We won’t also. Thank you for everything." Molly said as she stroked Luna over her mane one last time.
Then Luna went slowly back to Amalthea, and stood next to her big sister. And so the three humans crossed the portal on the search for a new life, far away from their original home country, which was now ruled by Princess Amalthea and Princess Luna. They knew Amalthea would take good care on the country and the unicorns. When they all had passed the portal, Mabruk began suddenly to light.
"What happens with you, Mabruk?" asked Amalthea.
"The metamorphosis, my dear. I said it earlier: I'm staying here, and if I must transform into a hideous creature for it. I become one with the magic!"
Mabruk rose up into the air and disappeared in a bright light cone. The transformation didn't take long. After a few moments, the cone of light dissolved. Amalthea couldn't believe their eyes. Mabruk had really changed. But something was wrong. At the first glance, Mabruk now looked like a chimera. But something about him was different: he looked more like a dragon. In addition, he looked partly like an eagle. His face graced a white eyebrow/goatee combination. He looked kinda funny, Amalthea is found. She had to just chuckle when Mabruk came to.
"What is happening? How do I look? ", said Mabruk as he went to the mirror of the portal.
"Oh my goodness, what happened to me?" yelped Mabruk.
"You chose your destiny, sorcerer. The magic has just done what it wanted."
"Oh, I'm not talking about the chimera’s body. I mean this eyebrows/goatee combination! I look like King Haggard. Simply disgusting! How could the magic gave me just that haircut?"
"Your body exudes a pretty big ‘discord’ and you're worried about your hair?"
"Discord? No, I'm feeling fine. To tell you the truth, I've felt never better. Look how flexible my body is now. Excellent! I can fly! I can fly!"
Amalthea and Luna were happy that Mabruk enjoyed his transformation. At least one of her human friends would remain at her side.
"You did very well, Mabruk, very well." the magician praised himself. You could tell that he lisped due to a crooked tooth that was grown. "I wonder what else I could do with this body. I think I'll investigate a little bit."
Then the magician disappeared flying to the library. Probably, he would read the books now for information on chimeras. However, many books were no longer there, she disappeared with the memories of King Haggard. Only those who met the King personally would still remind him, Amalthea suspected. However, the later generations wouldn’t remember any of this timeline where humans lived here. Schmendrick, Molly and Lir... They all now left as a memory of Princess Amalthea. As she and Luna went on the way to the other unicorns, they expected Amalthea with longing. They quickly realized that Amalthea and Luna were to two particular unicorns.
"Hello Amalthea, Hello Luna." Are you okay? You look so changed!" one of the unicorns noticed.
"Yes. You recognized it correctly. The reason is that we've turned into something special. The humans called me an alicorn."
"Alicorn? Is that really true, Amalthea? This means, that you two the most powerful Unicorns of the whole country."
Amalthea and Luna chops ran red with as much recognition the other unicorns gave to them.
"Is she a Princess now?" asked the little Luna.
"Princess? Are you thinking about leading us, Amalthea?"
"The people gave that title to me. I will watch over you, my brothers and sisters, guide and protect you, as I did at first too. If you want to have me as your leader, it doesn't change. But now I have the responsibility to take care of the daytime and the weather with Luna by my side. I am responsible for the Sun, Luna for the moon."
"My dear princesses. It would be an honor for us if you would take this place. This also applies to you, little Luna. You both are our princesses now. "Princess Amalthea and Princess Luna." Luna looked at Amalthea with a leaning look from the side. She was thinking about something...
"Since the people are gone now, I think Amalthea needs a new name."
Amalthea was surprised. She had not even thought about that. This name was given to her by the humans. But to forget the past faster, she should change her name maybe.
"Good, Luna. What do you suggest what my name should be?"
The little Luna was thinking deeply. But also the other unicorns were thinking about a new name. They came up with names like: Theresa, Maria, and Nova... But for the most unicorns this names still sounds very human. Then, Luna spoke again:
"So I think it should have something to do with her strength." Remember, she is now the most powerful unicorn of all of us. Therefore her name should sound heavenly."
That brought Luna to an idea.
"Another word for heavenly...celestial...celest...I got it!'
"What did you find for a name for me, little sister?"
“I will call you...Celestia!"
Celestia! What a lovely name, thought Amalthea. Then she nodded to Luna and the Unicorn, which still stand in front of the two alicorns. It announced the following:
"So be it. On behalf of all present unicorns here we hereby appoint you both to Celestia, Princess of the Sun and Luna, Princess of the night! ", said the Unicorn, and bowed itself in front of Celestia and Luna.
Followed by all other unicorns, who are also bowed themselves towards to the two alicorns. It was a very emotional moment for the two princesses. While all of their recognition in HUF patter expressed, Celestia and Luna in the arm took themselves, and Celestia thanked her sister again.
"Thanks for this beautiful name, my little sister. I love you."
"And I love you, big sister Celestia." Luna winked at her.
The celebration lasted till the end of the day. However, the sun still stood up the sky. Celestia realized that she was now responsible with Luna for the day and night cycles. She just hoped that Luna was already so far to fulfil her task. Now she wasn’t a little filly anymore. She was now quite a fully grown mare, but Amalthea thought that Mabruk’s spell helped her a little so she could fulfil her task as the ' Princess of the night’. In fact, Luna was almost a fully grown Alihorn.
And so the time passed until something new happened. Celestia and Luna ensured that the weather and the time of day went to a regulated procedure, rising the sun and moon up, and she brought the clouds to rain, which helped to make the country flourish again. The other unicorns started to evolve slowly. They began to build small houses, where they raised their children after that. Mabruk was left for a long time, thought Celestia and Luna. But as long as he did no chaos, as he had prophesied, everything was fine.
Then a very long time passed away where nothing happened. However, Celestia watched her herd slowly growing, but the unicorns who she knew since the beginning of the new era, aged and died later. Of course there are enough young Unicorn descendants, but it hurt Celestia and Luna when they had to bid farewell to a well-known Unicorn. But that was just the circle of life. The old passed away and new life emerged.
Then, after a very long time something happened in the "Everfree Forest" again. A few of the unicorns, which had separated from the Group since a long time, returned now. The Pegasi unicorns but also the Earth unicorns. They came with a very important message. Celestia noticed that the Pegasi and unicorns Earth wore no Horn at all and were now significantly smaller. Apparently, the horns disappeared with time, but the magic was still inside them. After a short introduction of the new visitors, one of the Earth Unicorns started to talk:
"It has happened much since we left this place here. At our home we were responsible for the food, while the Pegasi controlled the weather which was necessary for the growing of our food plants. Since the transformation happened to the country, they demanded a share of the food in return for their services. This brittle relationship lasted as long until a terrible snow storm went over the whole country and brought a food shortage with it. We had to find a new home to grow food again. However, we found a suitable piece of land beneath the great mountain over there, and on our way to this place our nations met again. We could not agree with each other, who should admit the country. Is this piece of land yours?
"It belongs to us all. You're here at home as we do. But at first, please tell me who you are." Celestia said quietly.
The two unicorns from the first group began to introduce themselves.
"My name? My name is Chancellor Puddinghead. I'm the leader of the tribe of the Earth ponies."
"I'm Smart Cookie, Secretary of Chancellor Puddinghead."
Celestia had to giggle at that name, but then she turned to the Pegasi.
"Commander Hurricane, I’m the leader of the tribe of the Pegasi by"Cloudsdale."
"And I'm Private Pansy, subordinate of Commander Hurricane."
There were also two unicorns from the last group:
"I’m the Princess Platinum, daughter of the King of the unicorns and leader of the tribe of the unicorns. We come from the North from the
"Crystal Kingdom". King Sombra claimed this piece of land to his kingdom. "
"And I am the Clover, the Clever, the adviser of Princess Platinum."
"So, that we finally introduced you to each other, nice meeting you. I am Princess Celestia. I control the Sun and the moon with my sister Luna. May I know why you call yourselves 'Ponies'?"
"You're Princess Celestia and Princess Luna? It's an honor to meet the two legendary alicorns. Centuries we talked about you. Unfortunately, many of the old unicorns are deceased over the time. Since then, our peoples are increasingly younger horses. Also our bodies have adapted to the work over the years and our horns degenerated, too. Therefore we call us the race of the earth ponies. Apparently you have more young horses than older ones in your group, too."
The earth pony was right. Since many years there are more young unicorns left in the Group of Celestia and Luna.
"…but the ravages of time are not visible on you as alicorns. That pleases us. Now, about that piece of land..."
"If you want our country, you must provide us with food as well.” noticed a Unicorn from Celestia's group. But this was very unhelpful and fueled the discussion.
"Say what? We come here to you in a case of emergency and so would you like to help us, unicorns? Well, if that’s your opinion then you leave us no other choice but to take this piece of land. I hereby claim, as the Chancellor Puddinhead, this piece of land and call it "Mud city"! “
"Mud city? We better call it 'Earth'! ", Smart Cookie interjected but Chancellor Puddinghead agreed with that idea.
"This is going too far. We will claim this land for us Pegasi and I hereby call it 'Pegasopolis'." Commander Hurricane interjected.
"No. This Kingdom belongs to our King. We call this land 'Unicornia'."
The dispute flared up. Celestia and Luna did not interfere in the discussion, later they notice three ghostly horses who surveyed the groups from above through a cloud gap. Celestia was sure: These creatures were Windigos. Celestia had read about them. Windigos are winter spirits who nourish hatred and hostility. Apparently, the groups were often in dispute earlier. Celestia and Luna didn't know how they should resolve this dispute. The storm was getting intense and the temperature dropped sharply. Celestia and Luna took as many ponies as possible in the castle of the two sisters to protect them from the snow storm, but the other ponies went into a hidden cave in the forest. Celestia and Luna watched the storm from the castle. It looked like the Windigos and the snow storm went into the cave, too. The Princess could not help the other ponies in there because she didn’t know a spell against the Windigos. The wind blew out the torches in the Castle. It was getting colder as the Windigos flew in the cave. Before the complete environment was starting to freeze, something happened in the cave. A bright purple beam lit up the entire cave and later the complete forest. The wind was getting weaker and the freezing stopped immediately. The storm was slowly pulled back and the warmth of the sun broke through the frigid clouds again.
"They did it! The storm is over!" said Princess Celestia, as she felt the first rays of sun on her skin again.
The ponies came out of the cave. Celestia decided to do the same and left the castle with her herd. They met each other again on the peace of land beneath the great mountain.
"I see you have come to a solution?" Celestia asked the ponies.
"Yes. We have a deal. We have noticed that you were right. This is our country. We all live here, together as unicorns, pegasi and earth pony. In fact, we are almost all ponies. ", laughed Clover, the clever.
"It is very nice to see that you are all in friendship now. You know, we thought to give a name to this new country. Do you have an idea for this?"
"Yes, we have already thought about this..." said Clover, the clever and whispered the name into Celestia’s ear.
"So be it. I, Princess Celestia, call this country, which is now known as the home of unicorns, pegasi and earth ponies, 'Equestria'!"