Elementals of Harmony

by FanOfMostEverything

Epilogue: It Never Fails

From The Friendship Reports: Royal Correspondence of the Bearers of Harmony, Unexpurgated Edition

Dear Princess Celestia,

Today I learned that you should never assume that your friends can't help you with a hard problem, even if it seems outside of their experience. Not only can a fresh perspective sometimes be more valuable than seemingly essential knowledge, you may be surprised by what ponies you thought you knew are really capable of when they put their muzzles to the grindstone.
I also learned that you should always keep your heart open to ponies who have made mistakes in the past. You never know what they've been doing since, or how they've tried to correct their past wrongs. Sometimes, these efforts can be incredibly draining, and they can seem pointless when those ponies are surrounded by others getting along just fine. Then more than ever, these repentant ponies need a friend, and you should be there for them, ready to forgive, forget, and forge a new bond.

Your faithful student,
Twilight Sparkle

P.S. I am so, so, so sorry for messing with your mind. Please don't imprison me or banish me or imprison me in the place where you banished me.

---

Canterlot Archives, Twilight Sparkle Wing, Document #L-038

To my faithful student Twilight Sparkle,

Firstly, let me assure you that I have no intention of punishing the actions you took while not in your right mind, especially not through imprisonment, exile, or a combination thereof.
Secondly, I feel that there is much that can be learned from this experience beyond insights on the magic of friendship. The creatures that came into being today taught us a lesson that is all too easily forgotten; that a virtue exercised immoderately becomes a vice. Furthermore, while I hope it will never come to pass, it is entirely possible that today's events could repeat themselves in the future. If those events are willingly forgotten, then it is almost guaranteed. As such, I humbly request that you, the other Elemental Bearers, Ms. Doo, and Ms. Hobbitses collaborate on an updated edition of the Guide to the Elements of Harmony, noting the perils of each Element when taken to extremes and vulnerabilities of each element when incarnated.
In light of the Harmonic Normalcy Initiative we have discussed in the past, I strongly recommend that you compile this new edition under a pseudonym. I will personally edit the manuscript and push it through the Academy press. There is no deadline or due date. Please don't feel pressured to churn out something as quickly as possible, but by the same token, don't horde your friends' submissions in the belief that only that which is already perfect can be allowed to grace my gaze. I have no desire to cause you undue stress, my faithful student, nor that you cause it unto yourself or anypony else. In short, have fun with it.

Your mentor,
Princess Celestia

---

Fluttershy Poseysfilly
87 Everfree Road
Ponyville, CS 17069

Dear Ms. Poseysfilly,

At the recommendation of Her Royal Highness the Princess Luna and in recognition of acts of uncommon valor, conviction, and ingenuity, we are pleased to bestow the prestigious honor of the Order of the Electrum Eclipse to your pet rabbit, Angel Bunny. As per tradition, the presentation of this award will take place on the day of the next equinox, the twenty-second of Harvember, at the grounds of Castle Canterlot.

Our sincerest congratulations,
Solar Wind
Champion of the Sun
Witching Hour
Champion of the Moon

---

Messrs. Wind and Hour
Castle Canterlot
Office of the Royal Champions
Canterlot, CS 00001

To the esteemed Champions of the Sun and Moon,

I thank you for the honor of such a storied medal as the Order of the Electrum Eclipse, but I must repectfully decline. I mean no offense to you or to your exalted patrons, but it would be most unbecoming were I to accept an award for acting as member of my race would under the circumstances. Futhermore, the Council of Warrens does not look kindly upon those under its auspices accepting the accolades of those it regards as the "lesser races," i.e. any nonlagomorph. Please understand that I do not subscribe to this bigotry, though I owe my fealty to those who do.

With the utmost respect,
Archon of Virtue, Who Punches Evil in the Face
Known to ponies as Angel Bunny
Champion of Kindness

---

Incantessa Octavia Pie
26 Eighth Avenue
Apartment 44C
Manehattan, NY 46543

Dear Inkie,

Hi! It's Pinkie! Well, you probably knew that from the envelope, but it still seemed like a good idea to say so, just in case. Anyway, you might have had a pinchy knee on Tuesday morning. I just wanted to let you know that it was in Ponyville, we took care of it, and nopony was hurt.
I'm so happy to hear about Beauty and Fred's engagement, and the invitation was beautiful! But on that note, I'm going to give you some sisterly advice: It seems that a certain special somepony has been bitten by the marriage bug, because she's been dropping hints more often than the bass. You should probably come for a visit before she proposes on air.
Gummy's doing well and Mrs. Cake is entering her third month. It's so exciting! I can't wait to find out if I'm going to be a godmother or a godfather! Say hi to the band for me. See you at the Gala!

Your loving sister,
Pinkie

---

Mistral Lace
5 Cyclone Circle
Las Pegasus, CA 90055

Dear Ms. Lace,

Six years ago, your husband was lost in an accident in the Cloudsdale weather factory. That same day, your daughter disappeared without a trace before your eyes. I write to you today not to open old wounds, but to offer resolution. You see, I am your daughter.
I apologize for not contacting you before now. It's a long, complicated story, one I plan on telling you in person. Suffice to say, when I made it back to Equestria, I was focused on establishing some kind of stability for myself. Then I found love, and then I lost it, and then love found me. I just got too wrapped up in my own life and my own problems to even think to reach out to you until now. I hope and pray you can forgive me for my selfishness.
If you'll have me, I'll be glad to visit you at a moment's notice, along with your son-in-law, your granddaughter and a whole lot of stories.

Your loving daughter,
Ditzy

P.S. I know it sounds too good to be true. The enclosed photo is offered as proof. If that's not enough, the secret to your extra-fluffy lemon poppy seed muffins is to use cloud condensate instead of table salt.

---

Go Postal 2GGG
Sorcery
Whenever a creature you control deals combat damage to a player this turn, draw that many cards.
Neither rain, nor sleet, nor dark of night, nor dogs, nor hail, nor big green things with teeth, nor rogue chaos gods, nor savage natives, nor Mrs. Cake will stay these messengers from their daily rounds.

Thank you for reading. The story continues in Sideboard of Harmony.

Comments

[Anon E Moose]

LOL, I'd love to have that card.

... wait, I thought Ditzy's husband perished? How can she take him and Dinky to see her mother?

[DreadedCandiru2]

379944
Well, now that she knows how to get to him, she can take her mother there.

[Necrovore]

Fun while it lasted, and a nice ending to boot.

[FanOfMostEverything]

366225 That's... actually correct. Both the Lyra stuff and the mystery agent. Well done. Now would you kindly stop reading my mind?

378072 I quite agree. You'd think Dash-Chubbie would've ricocheted through a few stories.

379944 All will be made clear in the sideboard.

[Griffin2x]

Nice ending, waiting to the end to comment but loved all the magic references (been playing since the dark). All in all a great story looking forward to future work.

[green oni]

Very good job mate.

[DeusExIgnis]

Discworld references warm my heart.

[Starscape]

Had me hooked the entire journey. Now off to read the continuations!

[Warhammer of Fillyhoo]

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand I finally finished it!

And. It. Is. AWESOME! The references, the characterization, the emotion, the action, the humour, the EVERYTHING... Ohmigosh I'm ranting. Sorry.

[InMyMind]

This was very fun!

4/5, would read once more.

[Bugsydor]

Thanks for writing this story combining two of my great loves in a non-clumsy way. You even managed to pull off members of the Mane 6 as antagonists in a way that didn't make me hate you or the story, and that is no mean feat. Just goes to show that Tropes Are Tools, right?

On a semi-related note, is Phtisis is Magic's rewrite on the front burner or the back burner. I'll totally understand if it's not on the forefront at the moment; Luna knows my back burner is a pretty crowded place itself.

[Snowy]

What have I been doing with my life?

Well, not reading this story until now, for one. I regret everything.

[Pvt PartyPooper]

Man this story was weird.

[Alchemystudent]

The grammer and plot of this was wonderfully well done. Ditzy came off as strong but not so much that she took away anything from the manesix.What I love most about this story is that it was done well enough that I was not confused by the addition of Magic.

Told you I would finish this sucker. Andno,w, here is the first chapter of the finished product.

[Malandy]

It seems that a certain special somepony has been bitten by the marriage bug, because she's been dropping hints more often than the bass. You should probably come for a visit before she proposes on air.

Octavia X Vinyl Ship! Hope they get married!

I can't wait to find out if I'm going to be a godmother or a godfather!

Wait... So she's gonna undergo a gender bender? *shrugs*