From a television screen, the news channel buzzes again, motion graphics came and went, and the spotlight shines upon the anchorwoman once more. A video feed from a helicopter shows the destroyed Estes Park. To the public, their assumption would be an earthquake. To the citizens themselves, it was their own little secret. Relief and construction teams are hard at work repairing damaged buildings, replacing destroyed buildings, filling up the large pot holes, and towing destroyed cars.
"Just yesterday at three PM, a massive earthquake struck Estes Park. We aren't sure if this has to do with the SWAT siege that happened a few hours earlier, nor were we able to get a live feed, but witnesses say that it was one that should end all earthquakes. As we see, the destruction is tremendous and have left many without a home. Some have even volunteered to help Red Cross employees with temporary housing. But for some, it is already too late. Among the victims found, Tirek, warden of Tartarus Penitentiary, is confirmed killed in action. A funeral will soon commence, followed by Scorpan appointing himself. Relief teams hired by Dazzling Industries have done a great job in cleaning up the mess. It's expected that the town will be restored by the end of the week. That's what I have today. Olly?"
The TV screen switches to the newscaster in the outside world looking at the monitor.
"Thanks, April. In other-"
The screen turns off. Placing the remote down, Tremor leans back on the couch, his hands on his bony knees.
"And that's the way it is." He mutters before looking over the head rest. His bandaged grandchildren, now looking more human than a beast, were sleeping soundly. His oldest wrapped his arm around his younger brother, letting out a yawn before wrapping his head closer to his shrinking tail.
Further away, Zipper, Diver, and Chelsey slept in their homes as well, the last of whom also joined by Tex as he rests his head on her body. Further away still at the Carousel Boutique, Sweetie Belle held Opalescence like a teddy bear as she slept soundly in her bed. For Rarity, there was always one last dress to make, but she could sleep on that for now. Big Mac went inside the barn to grab a few buckets when he spots his sisters sleeping by a haystack; it's a surprise Big Boy didn't run off while they did. The eldest sibling forsook his chore and sat down next to them. Scootaloo slept on the chair in the foster home lobby, subconsciously holding her medal with an iron grip. Little did she know, Rainbow watches from the front door, giving her fan a warm smile before she closes the door. Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie slept in the first's apartment; Angel Bunny and Gummy snuggled on their laps. Sunset Shimmer, having some bruises and cuts of her own, is at the cemetery sitting by Night Dancer's final resting place. She looks to the journal, pleased that it wasn't damaged in any way. Not that she's ungrateful that Twilight was unavailable that day, being a rather unexpected turn of events as a whole, but there leaves the question that boils in her mind. She grabs her pen, flips to the next empty page of her book and writes,
Dear Princess Twilight,
Sorry that I haven't been writing to you at this time. We had... Problems. We're doing well now if you wish to ask. Our graduation is coming soon, and we couldn't be any more happy. And yet, I wonder, that if we leave our home, who would protect it, who would keep our little secret? The others can only hold out for so long in fewer numbers before being overrun. If it's the same to you, should we close the portal all together?
Your friend,
Sunset Shimmer.
She closes the book, raising part of her blue shirt to inspect the bandaged bullet wound. Luck appears to be on her side that time, any closer would have severed an artery, and who knows what the future would become if that happened. Before she could go on the computer to check the status of her friends, the journal flashes once more. Sunset opens it, raising a brow that the sender wasn't Twilight or her Equestrian Counterpart.
Dear Sunset Shimmer,
I haven't known much about what goes on in your world, but the teachings I have learned astound me. When I was tasked with finding new friends, what worried Twilight, my Twilight, is what company I would bring. It caused problems, but it turns out that she just needed faith. Friendship is based on trust; it's risky, but it can be beneficial to all of us. I'm sure your younger friends can hold out on their own; our Spike certainly did.
Hope we talk again,
Starlight Glimmer.
Starlight Glimmer? Must be a new face around in Equestria; Princess Twilight did mention a pony trying to disrupt the space-time continuum but never told them her name. From the sound of the response, this Starlight Glimmer must be Twilight's own student. Still, she has a point; it will be time to pass on the torch. She grabs her cell phone and dials the most logical suitor.
"Hi, I'm not available at the moment." Cosgrove's voice sounded through the phone. "If you leave a message, I'll get back to you."
After the beep, Sunset immediately replies, "Hey, Cosgrove. I'm guessing you're still asleep after yesterday. I just wanted to call to say... Thank you. Thank you for what you've done to help. If you never moved here, I have always thought of killing myself if I ever spent one more day at Hydia's home. You and your friends kept taking the bullet for me, yet you stayed by my side. There is something I want to know: was I ever pushing you too hard? Did I forget the safety of your brother for the sake of the mission? Please, just-"
Sunset hears a beep, following by shallow breathing. Cosgrove sat against the wall and delicately held his phone while coming up with an answer.
"It was these times that we've been pushed to our fullest, Sunset. We never expected this to happen, but it did. Have we made mistakes? Yes. Even you have made them since the Battle of the Bands. I know we made a promise, but we never counted on being happy. I didn't have to be nice to you. I could have easily turned a blind eye from you anytime. But that's the thing with 'easily,' it's never the right way. Perhaps we'll be in this city forever, guarding our home as we always have. I don't know if it was God's plan, but somehow, it's better this way. We're gluttons for punishment who deserve a good rest. Just don't take things too hard, okay?"
Sunset took these words to heart, nodding her head before she says, "Take care now."
"You too." Cosgrove hangs up the phone and curls back up. Before he goes back to sleep, he looks up a particular phone number, studying it closely before drifting to his slumber.
A long week came and went as the town was repaired once more. The rubble is cleared, burn marks washed away, wrecked cars towed to junkyards, and giant reptilian footprints long since covered with cement. In the silence, the echoes of cheers filled the air, getting the birds to find more quiet havens. This was it, the graduation of the Canterlot Class of Two Thousand-Sixteen. Among them, seven soon to be graduates, holding their diplomas, and their younger peers and relatives were bandaged top to bottom. Without any Zap Apples, it may take half the summer vacation for them to fully recuperate. Right now they are being handed out diplomas. Pinkie Pie grabbed her diploma before bounding away in excitement, very much the opposite of her stoic parents and siblings.
"Rainbow Dash," Celestia announced, her sister giving the diploma to Rainbow's left hand for her right hand was fractured in the fight with the monster.
"Rarity," Celestia announces next, the fashionista flicking her tassel with style after she received her just reward.
"Sunset Shimmer," She announces with a pause between the two words.
"Trixie Lula-"
"The Great and Powerful Trixie, if you please, ma'am." Trixie huffs; while she wasn't completely at fault, her actions at Camp Everfree did cost her the chance of the honor roll, thus her frustration. With a roll of her eyes, Trixie takes her reward anyway and sits on her chair.
"Twilight Sparkle," Celestia announces next, giving out a gentle smile as her sister hands her the diploma. Sitting back on the chair is short lived. For Twilight, having completed every course in Crystal Prep early with the highest grades possible, earned the honor to deliver the valedictorian speech and is called to the stage soon after the diplomas are handed out. Before a crowd of people, Twilight made an embarrassing cough; she really should have taken Sugar Coat's advice to be a public speaker.
“When I first came to Canterlot High for the Friendship Games, I had no intention of making friends. I always thought they were just a nuisance. No offense.” Twilight looks down, watching her friends flick their hands and groan. “But then I was shown something I have missed in my high school life. I felt… happy. Transferring here was the best decision I have made in my life. I loved being with my friends in Christmas, the adventures we had together. What I ask of those who are still here and to those who will come to this school. Take your time; don’t slack off, but don’t work too hard. High school is only fleeting, make the best of it.”
As she walked back to her seat, her relatives, her classmates and their relatives clapped. Shining Armor and Cadance, so proud of their little Sparkle, clapped the loudest. Principal Celestia takes the stand, positioning the microphone to her mouth.
“Thank you, Twilight Sparkle. Now, some of our Sophomores have volunteered to sing the graduation song. Please hold your applause until the end.
Such sophomores, the Crusaders, and the Maximals gathered on the stage. Out of all of them, only Dapplewood and Diver were in good enough condition to play instruments. The overweight Maximal begins with a few notes on the piano, then Dapplewood joins in with his saxophone. Zipper is the first to take the microphone.
Throughout the song, flashes of the very near future are brought forth. Twilight, unable to bring Spike to the dorms, lent him to Shining Armor being a backup should something go wrong. At the same time, Scootaloo hugs Rainbow Dash as she readied to enter the car. A distance away, after they packed her stuff. Sweetie Belle bawled as she hugged her sister, feeling the comfort of the graduate brushing her hair. Applejack finishes loading up the truck, looking at the home she and her family tended to since the day she was born. She enters the vehicle at the same time Sunset Shimmer entered the red Portia. As she pulls out the driveway, Sunset looks from a rear view mirror to the people that have brought her from the hell hole Hydia raised her in. She drives, watching her childhood friends grow smaller and smaller as she left Great Valley Drive, then out of Estes Park, then out of the Centennial State.
When the song ends, their relatives and peers gave them a round of applause. Celestia takes the stand one last time. She looks to her graduating class, the aching feeling in her heart of losing the best class she ever tended to so far. There will be others, especially the class two years away from now. She swallows her sadness, looking at the audience and spreads her robed arms.
“Ladies and Gentlemen. Boys and Girls of all ages. It brings me great pleasure to announce: The Class of Twenty-Sixteen!”
The graduates flung their caps in the air, filling the sky with tassels and hollers of victory. Applejack adds to this by flinging her stetson into the air. Their time in this high school is over. And they have a new adventure awaiting them.
It’s now the middle of August, and the pressure of vacancy is creeping for some. With Rarity gone, the apartment at the top of Carousel Boutique has since been renovated and her possessions returned to the fashionista’s family. Sweetie Belle took possession of some and made a memorial in a corner of her bedroom. Opalescence also felt miserable with the loss of her mistress as she curls up next to the memorial. Back at his home, Dapplewood watched the silent neighborhood. With no monsters to fight at the moment, he took the time to collect his memories. One became as clear as the sun; when he was four years old, he hid in Lion Tamer’s hedge mazes. His pursuer took so long that he just fell asleep. It was five minutes later when Sunset found the boy. Wanting to be in the shade as well, she lifted him up, resting his little head on her lap.
When the memory faded, Dapplewood lowered his head, about to weep over the departure of one of his closest friends since the day of his birth. Then he felt something wrap around him. He opens his eyes, finding a pair of red and yellow boots. He slowly followed the details from the red blossom at the top of the boots to a familiar face. Apple Bloom has done some wrong with her friends seven months back and is slowly making up for her crimes. Having overheard her sister's conversation with his brother, playing "the big sister" would be a great start, now that Sunset's gone. They both stand up, holding hands as they walked towards town. Amongst the places, they walk by a dance studio, where all but one danced in pairs, for he wasn't that keen with dancing on stage before a crowd of people.
Scootaloo, Diver, Chelsey, and Tex wasted no time in finding recruits. Among their choices, Rumble, Dinky, Indigo Blue, Snips, and Snails were their top candidates so far. They are lined up side by side, being inspected like Spitfire would inspect her classmates while on substitute duty. The two doofuses gave a chuckle, though what they’ll be doing is far from silly. Chelsey gave a snort, crossing her arms as she readied her oral syllabus. Scootaloo lifted the medal she wore around her neck, feeling determination as strong as Rainbow’s as she gripped the award tighter.
“You work with us,” - Chelsey steps forward, poking Rumble in the chest - “you go by our rules. One, you give us everything you got. Then, you give us more." - She then looks at Snips, using her height to emphasize the rules - "We make the rules. Understand?"
"Yes, Ma'am!" Snips and Snails, using their soldier experience from Trixie, stood straight, giving the tall Maximal a salute.
Cogsworth stood on the roof of Crystal Prep, watching his section of the town with vigilant eyes.
“One chapter is over, but the story goes on.” Cogsworth narrates as he notices Zipper’s shadow fly over him. His head follows the flying beast towards a more forested section of the town. Darksteel, on patrol at the time, crouches down to vault after the flying reptile. "Stand down, Darksteel. We will have no more conflicts. As long as we keep quiet."
Skystalker walks to him, turning his small head to his boss. "The possibilities of another monster attacking are five to one."
"Yes." - Cogsworth closes his eyes. - “ Like it or not, our journey is not over. We could only hope that whatever change happens, big or small, we’ll be there. We will make our own mark, our own story, our own conflicts. ”
Turtle Park, the place where it all started. Pigeons, doves, and geese scurried far away from the shaking trees as they took to the air. Emerging from the trees, the beastly Cosgrove climbs on the back of the stone softshell turtle. He lets out a small growl as he watches the landscape of the city. Rising on his hind legs, the Maximal lets out a roar that startles several more birds and small mammals. Hearing it from a distance, Chelsey and Diver donned their beasts modes and howl at the sky. Zipper lands on the bell tower of an old chapel, letting out another howl as he spreads his largest pair of wings. Dapplewood, despite having no vocals cords to howl from, made due with a loud whistle. His call answered over and over, Cosgrove lets out an even louder roar; a warning to those who dare do harm, even with their older peers far away.
They are not alone. Few but strong. This is their home. This is their kingdom. And God as their witness, they will defend it.
In the darkness, several bright square objects fly in and break up the negative space. It was the Rainbooms baby pictures, showing each of them being held in their parent's arms. The exception to this is Sunset Shimmer; the closest she has to a child photo is one photographed on the day of her birth before Hydia adopted her as per her wicked terms. As their preschool photos are displayed, so too are the baby pictures of the Crusaders and the Maximals. Among their preschool pictures, Cosgrove, still living in Ashley Valley at the time, is shown sneezing at his former classmates on accident. Come their kindergarten years, with photos taken by Photo Finish no less, they are shown in their own separate cliques, the exceptions being the group photos of the entirety of Great Valley Elementary. Other photos include one taken by Granny Smith of Big Mac literally lifting Cosgrove, wearing bike gear head to toe, on a younger Flea Biscuit and one of Sunset Shimmer embracing Night Dancer in the nick of time after she was adopted. This is then followed by newspaper snippets regarding Night Dancer's tragic accident, and the depression it caused to Sunset and the Maximals. Shortly after comes the graduation photos of then the Middle Schoolers before they joined their older peers and siblings at Canterlot High.
Then came the year when things started getting weird. After the first set of school pictures came a few last minute photos shot by Photo Finish before she was under Roma's mind control spell. The remaining evidence of magic taking a hold comes from Sci-Twi's seismic readings and photos. Subsequent photos that Princess Twilight viewed after her first library was destroyed show them making snowmen, throwing snowballs, and honoring Night Dancer on Thanksgiving. As the snow melted the following Spring, the school prepares for its annual music concert when the Dazzlings enter the fray. We are then shown the tournament roster, gradually the number of contestants are marked off one by one before we come to the Rainbooms and the Dazzlings. The ending was a spectacle that was only photographed by one Sci-Twi as evidence. The fighting over, our heroes enjoy their victory in song as they prepare for summer vacation.
Following a few selfies of the Rainbooms, their younger peers, Aria, and Sonata after the Tsuchigumo attack in Camp Friendship, things seem to go back to normal with the Friendship Games in mind. They are wrong, when the space-time rift pops up, giving them an opportunity to look into a world populated by sapient dinosaurs. With Princess Twilight's help, they moved the rift to the lake in Sweet Apple Acres. Big Mac would take a photo of our heroes joined by the humanized version of the Gang of Seven. Later on, Sunset and Twilight would explore this world. Using a camera like the one used to capture wildlife, Sunset captures the behavior of these majestic creatures. But when they enter the Mysterious Beyond, danger is never too far from them; one of the photos show an Albertosaurus turning his body towards the two before they ran for their lives. In real time, they managed to escape using a large body of water for Bruiser Sharpteeth can only swim so much as a dog trying to get a toy.
Now comes the Friendship Games once more after four years. After months of training, twelve Wondercolts are ready for the big games. That is until one of the Shadowbolts is revealed to be their Twilight Sparkle. Her curiosity in tracking the source of magic has lead to damages that could have proven catastrophic. Some of Canterlot's structures such as the Wondercolt statue are damaged but are easily repaired in a few weeks. This marked the first time the Friendship Games ended in a tie; one in many wins for Crystal Prep, the first time for Canterlot High. But one thing became clear: magic is here and here to stay.
And the influence of magic has attracted other parties such as Victor Veloci and Scarab. But life is an arms race, as the Crusaders and Maximals have developed the ability to transform. We are then shown distasteful comments of material posted by the Crusaders under the guise of Anon-a-Miss. Such academic dishonesty has placed a mark on them as probation. Starting in January, we see footage from surveillance drones of the attack on Valentines Day, the escape on the big rig, the safaris between the three parties to hunt for magical relics, Cosgrove and Cogsworth's fight in the Morrison Basin, and the one final struggle between our heroes and antagonists. As the newly appointed warden of Tartarus, Scorpan has since destroyed these records in light of Governor Thunderhoove's orders. Other pictures include those of the Rainbooms, and a select few, in their stay at Camp Everfree.
Which brings us to the present day. The school yearbook shows pictures of the graduation ceremony. Many are joyed, some so much that they are bawling. Soon after, footage taken from smartphones show the Rainbooms leaving the city they lived in for parts unknown. As the summer rolls on, the Crusaders and the Maximals undergo a small transformation. On one hand, it's their physical stature, appearing to be much taller than they once were; Chelsey appears to the same size as Cadence. Scootaloo now has a similar shaped head as Rainbow Dash, Sweetie Belle keeps the same head shape as in her Freshman year, with Apple Bloom appearing in the middle. Diver is still the overweight one, but not as much as Snips. Cosgrove, Zipper, and Tex have similar proportions as that of Sandal Wood, Micro Chips, and Big Mac respectively. Dapplewood still retains his normal size, but there is still a key development. Small patches of yellow-white hair dot the underside of his chin.
With new sizes come new clothes. Scootaloo wore a deep violet jacket with light blue chevrons as Sunset's, her skirt is lime green and her sneakers are blue. Sweetie Belle has similar attire as the clothes she wore, it's just Rarity's last gift before leaving for college. Like her sister, Apple Bloom wore a button up shirt but with pink shoulder straps instead of green, which didn't matter anyway as she wore a denim jacket over the shirt. Cosgrove no longer wears his usual violet shirt, but now a deep forest green t-shirt overlapped by a yellow cloak with black shoulder pads; his striped khaki's are easily tailored to fit his new stature. It is Zipper who wears the violet clothing, here a sweater with a red hood on top. Diver wore a blue shirt with a whale on the front with the words, "Living Large." Jeans aren't easy to find for a waistline that large, but they did find one nonetheless. Chelsey, still a fan of stretchy clothing, wore gray and beige clothes her sister donated to her family. Dapplewood kept to usual clothes: a torn up orange jacket overlying a white shirt with green shoulder pads alongside beige pants, boots, and above all, his sunglasses; new additions are a shark tooth necklace and gauntlets with metal buttons wrapping around them. Tex still wore his usual clothes, including his blue polka dotted scarf, but with one, odd, key inclusion: a green hat.
They look up at the sky from the soccer benches, thinking about the things to come. The future is not fixed, and their choices are their own. And yet, in a sick force of irony, they find that they have no choice at all. They are no longer children, but adults, men and women alike. All they can hope is that they can handle just as well without their older, more powerful peers. As the day fades into the night, a patch of cloud slowly dons a human form. A harp materializing beside her, she plays a lovely tune. The gentle breeze brushes the trees and bushes, giving peace to the land that has been the epicenter of a techno-magic war.
In the middle of one such night, the moon shined brightly over Estes Park. Unknown to its sleeping people, the moonlight seemed to move on its own, illuminating the insides of houses as it passes like a UFO ready to pick up cows. The direction the light was heading to was a large house ten blocks away from Canterlot High. Like their Equestrian counterparts, Celestia and Luna share one household, with each of their possessions labeled by their names all the way down to a cake labeled "Celestia." Luna continues her nightly rehabilitation of an injured possum she found in Camp Everfree when the moonlight shined through the windows. She looks at the window, standing up as if on command. Tiberius, as Luna calls the possum, watches his foster parent walk towards the window before she stands and stares at the moon like a moth to a spotlight. Though not as harmful as staring at the sun, looking at the moon for prolonged periods can be uncomfortable, yet Luna continues to look. Tiberius curls back as Luna turns around and goes out the door. Scurrying to the window, Tiberius notices Luna's shadow begin to wrap around her. She takes a deep breath when she is encased in a ball. In her bedroom, Celestia hears a gentle hum before the lights sparked out. She rises from her bed, turning on a flashlight to inspect the empty kitchen. The schoolmaster finds the generation of magic peak before shrinking out of her view. By the time Celestia looks out the window, the shadow ball begins to split.
When the ball disappears, the result shows a much taller Luna; appearing to rival her sister in height. Her skin is a much darker blue, almost pitch black. Her hair is now longer two shades of blue, but one cloudy mass that pulses back and forth, stars twinkling at the center. Another distinguishing feature is a pair of wings that soon fold against her sides. She opens her eyes, which now look predatory all the way down to her narrowed pupil. She begins to chuckle, showing her sharp teeth. Tiberius curls back as his foster parent lifts her head to cackle at the night sky.