"A storm is coming," Princess Star gazed into the distant horizon. Her concerned gaze gravitated toward the sky above her, and then back towards the horizon. Dark red clouds reflected off her eyes while she stood on the castle's balcony that faced towards Canterlot. "To think my wish to be forgotten would cause such misery to so many, including my little star ponies -- this is truly my fault."
"But you'll fix it." Twilight said.
Princess Star cracked a slight smile towards the pony at her side. Her unnerved gaze relaxed at the sight of the three fillies that stood in front of her.
Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo let out a nervous gulp before they stepped forward. Their withers twitched. They smiled at their big sisters who stood behind them.
"I know you three can do it. I'll be right here." Aegis said, transforming into her bat pony form. "I'll stay behind with Princess Star and Zecora. We'll protect Princess Cadence."
Twilight illuminated her horn. A brilliant light enveloped the ponies. They materialized on a grassy field outside the Crystal Kingdom.
In front of the group, a red sea crept forward. Eyes flashed red in succession, one after another. Mares, stallions, fillies and colts galloped forward, clad in dark armor.
"Fluttershy, you know what will happen if I interfere in this event." Discord said, rubbing his tail. He gave his pegasus friend a hug before placing her back on the ground. "Still," Discord materialized several thick vines that surrounded the perimeter of the empire behind him, "that doesn't mean I can't have a little bit of a claw in this historical event."
Discord vanished. In his place stood Granny Smith and Big Macintosh.
"For Apple Bloom" a note pinned to Big Macintosh's harness read.
Apple Bloom and Applejack latched onto their family. Little time was given for their reunion. Green eyes dotted the dark spaces in-between the thick vines. A dark shadow rolled forth behind the dark red cloud that crept towards the group.
One-by-one the Cutie Mark Crusaders materialized their armor. Twilight stood near her friends and illuminated her horn. Crystal guards stood behind the groups. Granny Smith took off Big Macintosh's harness, the stallion stretching his neck.
A red beam of intensely focused, magical energy tore through the vine barrier. Apple Bloom materialized her shield around the group. Scootaloo bolted into the air. Sweetie Belle focused her magic. Twilight floated into the air, her eyes glowing in brilliant white light.
King Sombra's fiery eyes took in the sight of the open field as Nightmare Star floated to the ground beside him. His maniacal laughed echoed into the distance. The unicorn stallion's hoof rose into the air. Tense moments passed while it seemed to freeze. He pointed it towards the ponies before him.
Armor clad equines and changelings charged forth, their eyes flashing red. Big Macintosh snorted. He dug his hoof into the ground, picked up a large rock, and chucked it towards King Sombra and Nightmare Star. The rock disintegrated into chunks that slammed against several ponies and changelings.
More of the Facular Empire's troops poured forth. A small platoon floated into the air on top of Apple Bloom's shield. Scootaloo launched herself towards the aerial brigade and slammed them into the shield. Sweetie Belle turned her gaze towards the troops imprisoned inside the ethereal shield. Red spheres of light floated out of them, soon disappearing.
Placed on the ground, the ponies removed their armor. They gazed at the oncoming swarm in shock, soon fleeing towards the safety of the Crystal Empire.
"We can't keep this up." Twilight said. She floated towards the ground, "We're facing all of Equestria."
"That's when we dig in deep, right Twilight." Rainbow Dash said, chucking a pony into another shield created by Apple Bloom. "If we can stick to the plan and keep this up, we'll have them done in no time."
"The girls can't do this forever, Rainbow." Applejack said. She bucked a pony into the shield before it sealed up. "Still, keep it up you three! We got your backs."
King Sombra snarled. He pointed his right hoof towards the fillies, and Nightmare Star vanished from his side.
A fiery trail rocketed toward the fillies, and then stopped. Nightmare Star pushed against the starry, ethereal shield in front of her. Her hooves pounded against it.
"Princess Star, ah thought you were protectin' Princess Cadence." Apple Bloom said.
The princess shook her head, pressing against the shield. Sweat dripped forth from her brow. Princess Star's horn aglow in a furious light, she launched Nightmare Star into the air. She bolted after the corrupt princess. "Princess Celestia, remember your subjects!"
Nightmare Star remained silent. She raised a hoof, vanished, and then reappeared near Princess Star, slamming her hoof into the alicorn's quickly materialized shield. "No pony shall escape the light of day!"
Twilight rocketed into the sky with her friends. A brilliant glow surrounded them.
King Sombra appeared in front of Nightmare Star. Thick, dark, viscous liquid escaped his red horn. The shadows raced towards Twilight's group, blocked by Apple Bloom's shield. He turned his vicious gaze towards the filly.
"I will not allow you to harm those fillies!" Princess Star yelled, her eyes glowing. She rose into the air and fired a powerful beam of coalesced magical energy. The beam of glittering light collided with King Sombra's own red beam. "It was my own fault for freeing you. Even worse, I allowed myself to be consumed by jealous. Today, I will right my wrong."
King Sombra screamed, Nightmare Star evading the blast. The stallion fell to the ground below and landed with a heavy thud.
Nightmare Star floated above the stallion. She smirked at him. Her hoof touched King Sombra. The mare's eyes followed the pony who rocketed towards the vines, soon encased by them. Nightmare Star's hooves and wings tensed up. "With Helios as my will, as my soul, I seal the away, Nightmare Star!"
Embers coalesced into a brilliant fireball that surrounded Nightmare Star. The fireball turned into a towering inferno. From the inferno, pillars of flame zapped the armor clad ponies and turned their armor to ash.
"It's not over yet! Stay on guard." Princess Celestia said as she emerged from the fireball.
A dark mass materialized behind her. Wings shot forth from it. Princess Luna crept forward. "I am ready when you are, sister."
King Sombra fell to the ground. The Cutie Mark Crusaders, Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, Twilight and her friends, and Princess Star marched towards the stallion that struggled to his hooves. In a snarling voice he said, "Clever, pretending to assume the form of Nightmare Star. All your actions even had me fooled. I think it's time to reap the benefits of a bountiful harvest sown into the soil of Equestria."
Red spheres bubbled from the ground. They hovered above the ground, and then zipped into the air. The large crimson sphere plummeted to the ground and landed on top of King Sombra. It vanished.
Cracks formed in the ground. Ethereal wails followed. Streams of wisped white smoke emerged. A whinny echoed throughout the area.
"What are those things?" Granny Smith said, pointing her hoof at the ghostly equines.
"Windigos," Princess Celestia said, adjusting her neck piece. She illuminated her horn and unfurled her wings. "King Sombra has revived them, just as I feared. Now they're more powerful than ever and do not require a host to feed upon."
A dark ethereal coat materialized around King Sombra. He floated towards the ground with the Windigos at his side. "Such beautiful creatures, are they not? It was a shame to believe the tales they had been destroyed so long ago. Their power is beautiful, almost intoxicating."
One unicorn pushed against an earth pony. A pegasus mare stuck her tongue out at a unicorn and earth pony below her. Frost covered the ground beneath their hooves.
Princess Celestia and Princess Luna darted towards the ponies. Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Twilight, Fluttershy, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie floated towards different groups.
Princess Star and the Cutie Mark Crusaders turned their gaze toward King Sombra.
"That's enough out of you." A voice said.
"Discord!" King Sombra said. He growled. "How dare you interfere."
Discord chuckled. The Windigos retreated back into the ground. "I'm just 'leveling' the playing field," a box of popcorn appeared in front of him with angel sitting on top, "and now to watch the show unfold."
"Filthy misshapen creature." King Sombra said as Discord disappeared. Red mist escaped his open mouth with each breath. The gem embedded into his horn glowed in a fierce light. "I loathe you all!"
The ground shook. A giant shadow stood before the ponies, enveloping them one-by-one. Furious green eyes appeared on the shadow. Guttural growls and snarls came from the dark mass that rolled toward the Crystal Empire.
A beam of magic zipped through the shadow. Princess Celestia stood her ground, along with Princess Luna.
"Princess Cadence, you should stay in the castle." Princess Star said.
"I must play my part in protecting my subjects." Princess Cadence said. The crystal heart in her magical grasp glowed in a soft light. She embraced the stallion that appeared in front of her, the two turning a stern gaze toward the shadow.
"Who's the new princess?" Shining Armor said.
"Umm, long story, but it's my mother." Princess Cadence said.
Beams of magic from unicorns and alicorns pounded the shadow. Pegasi gathered clouds and sent forth bolts of lightning. Earth ponies pushed several large boulders against the shadow, forming a circle around it.
"You'll never succeed." A voice said.
"Wrong!" The Cutie Mark Crusaders said. A brilliant light enveloped each filly. They floated into the air in the middle of the other ponies. A gem emerged from the center of Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo. Their armors vanished, and three gems encircle the shadow.
Green eyes locked onto them. Thin beams of glistening light connected each crystal shard. Princess Cadence and Shining Armor focused on the Crystal heart, sending its magic towards the gems. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna followed suit.
King Sombra materialize inside a magical cage created by the gems. The deafening sound from his hooves pounding against the walls of the crystal cage echoed in the ponies' ears.
"Go back from whence you came, King Sombra. Never plague these ponies with your heinous actions again!" Princess Star said, leading a final charge.
The gem in the unicorn stallion's horn shattered as he screamed. His ethereal prison collapsed on him, and a dark red gem fell to the ground. Princess Star levitated the crystal in front of her before materializing a box. After the gem was placed inside, the box disappeared.
Cheers and roars of applause erupted from the freed unicorn, pegasi, and earth ponies. Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo fell backwards, being caught by their big sisters. Princess Luna smiled at the three fillies, along with her sister.
"Did. We. Win?" Scootaloo panted.
"Yea squirt. We won." Rainbow Dash said with a smile.
"You three have performed admirably." Princess Celestia said. She walked toward the Cutie Mark Crusaders, giving them a profound bow. "If it weren't for your efforts, our victory could not have been achieved."
Applejack placed her hat on top of Apple Bloom's head. Granny Smith patted the filly on the back while Big Macintosh stood near her side. "Thanks ya'll."
"Your efforts were superb, Sweetie Belle." Rarity said as she levitated her little sister onto her back.
Twilight smiled at her friends. She raised an eyebrow, "Wait. You turned yourself back to normal, Princess Celestia?"
"Yes, sister. I would like the particulars behind that as well." Princess Luna said.
"All of us have questions. Isn't that correct?" Princess Celestia said as she turned toward Princess Star. "You seem familiar to me."
Princess Star nodded. She raised her hoof at the blinding light that came from the defeated changelings. Tears welled up in her eyes. "My little star ponies..."
"Princess?" One pony said, stepping forward. The mare rubbed her forehead. She looked behind her, and then towards Princess Star. "Is the nightmare over? Are we free?"
"Yes." Princess Star said.
*** *** ***
Ponies crowded the Canterlot Gardens, banquet room, and throne room. Fresh tapestries hung in the Canterlot Castle throne room. Brilliant moonlight came through the cleaned, repaired, stained glass windows. A new window was fitted into a space; the stained glass window depicted three fillies with beams of light coming from their chests, targeting a vicious shadow with green eyes.
Apple Bloom chuckled at Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. The three chased one another around the Canterlot Garden. They stopped, gave a sheepish grin towards Twilight, and stood on top of the platform near her.
"I'd like to welcome one and all to the second annual, Fall Fling Festival." Twilight said. She nodded to the fillies that stood near her. "Also, I dedicate this event to the one year anniversary since the triumphant victory of the Cutie Mark Crusaders over King Sombra. If it weren't for their efforts, we would not be here today to celebrate this event. Here's to a bright and hopeful future."
Cheers and adulation erupted from the crowd in front of the group. Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo darted towards their big sisters. Twilight descended the steps and looked up to her big brother, and Princess Cadence.
Princess Celestia walked towards the group, waving a polite hoof at them. She smiled as Princess Luna and Princess Star stood by her side.
"Hi... mom." Princess Cadence said.
"Still awkward, honey?" Shining Armor said.
Princess Cadence smiled at Shining Armor. She raised her hoof and pressed it against Princess Star's raised hoof.
"If you want it to be like old times, I could turn into Queen Chrysalis and try to steal Shining Armor from you." Princess Star said, sticking her tongue out at Princess Cadence.
"Mom, your embarrassing me." Princess Cadence said, blushing.
Princess Star rubbed a gentle hoof against her daughter's mane. As Princess Cadence walked toward the Cutie Mark Crusaders, soon introducing the fillies to her new son and daughter, the princess wiped away a slight tear. Her gentle smile reflected off of Princess Celestia's eyes.
Princess Celestia placed a gentle wing over the pony at her side. "I may have lost those cherished memories about you, but that doesn't mean we can't forge new ones."
"Yo, watch this!" Rainbow Dash said.
"Don't you dare, Rainbow Dash. That dress took forever to get right." Rarity said, her words going unheeded.
The ponies chuckled at their friend's exasperation. Above, three succinct booms happened, followed by three circular rainbows.
Scootaloo gazed on in awe. Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom cheered at the pegasus who came down. Twilight cheered her friend on with Fluttershy giving a quiet, polite "yea" to her. Pinkie Pie raised her hoof, and then gulped down a cupcake still in her mouth after a nudge from Applejack.
Princess Star smiled as the night carried on, soon holding her grandchildren in a gentle magical grasp. She laid on the ground near the little foals who played with one another. "Apple Bloom. Sweetie Belle. Scootaloo. I know it's been said before, numerous times for that matter, but I thank you again for what you have done. If it weren't for your actions, my star ponies would never have been freed, and I would have remained cursed."
"No problem." Scootaloo said, Rainbow Dash coming behind her.
"We're glad to help out." Sweetie Belle said, Rarity placing a gentle hoof over her shoulder.
Apple Bloom nodded to Princess Star while Granny Smith, Applejack, and Big Macintosh stood behind her. She tilted her head and raised an eyebrow at Princess Star. "Ya seem pretty quiet tonight."
Several "oos" and "ahhs" came from the crowd of ponies. Stars traipsed across the sky, their brilliant tails illuminating the gardens below.
"Made my wish!" The Cutie Mark Crusaders said to one another.
"What ya wish for?" Apple Bloom said as she faced Princess Star.
"A selfish wish." Princess Star said, ending with a slight chuckle.
"What is it, my dear star?" Princess Celestia said as Princess Luna, Princess Cadence, Shining Armor and the others came behind her.
"To be happy." Princess Star said.
Rainbow Dash shook her head, "A little sappy there. Besides, there's no fun if things aren't 'exciting.'"
"I couldn't agree more," Princess Star said, mimicking Queen Chrysalis's voice. The ponies snickered at the athletic pegasus who bolted into the nearby tree. In a quiet voice the princess said to herself, "With all my heart, I wish that these happy times will never end."