Ella was just an average girl living in New York. One day, everything changed...
Ella loved My Little Pony. One fateful day, the owner of one the biggest companies on Earth, Winter Industries, asked her if she wanted to go to Equestria. There was no way she was going to pass this up.
Note: This story contains OCs that were at one point primary but have since become background OCs, so this is the only time certain characters will have leading roles (Eg. GARVIS, Andrea, etc.) Also, certain places are only featured here (Eg. Sanctuary). I wrote this awhile back, you can probably tell by comparison to my newer stories, but this is the first one I completed.
This is also the intro story for my OC, Princess Ella.
My friends told me about My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic awhile back, but I didn’t pay much attention until Ted, my boyfriend, took and interest as well, saying it was all about friendship and magic and stuff. I thought it was a baby show before I watched the first episode, but I’m getting ahead of myself and going too far back, my name is, or WAS, Ella Moonstone.
This story started a few months ago, when Ted heard a rumor about one of the security guards at the studio where they do MLP: FIM had gone missing after posting a delted scene video on the internet. My friends and I all managed to download it before someone took it down, removed it without a trace. Eventually, my friends, including Ted, started to disappear, too! One by one, after watching the video, poof! A note saying they were going on a trip somewhere and probably wouldn’t be coming back. Eventually I was the last one, and decided to watch the video like everyone else had. I thought ‘might as well see where everyone went?’
The Episode was Luna Eclipsed, the one about Luna trying to change her bad-pony image. Oh, how I loved Luna, despite her dark past. It played through like on tv, but near the end it read a total of fourty-five minutes when the whole episode took less than half an hour. Confused, I watched on as the end came with Twilight’s voice over. Then a man in a blue royal coat appeared, saying he wanted to have a few keepers for him and his wife. The confusion this caused was added to by Luna’s hair changing back to when she first appeared and the man and Luna playing the games with the other ponies. I was dumbstruck. A HUMAN!? My Little Pony wasn’t REAL, right? I’d heard rumors about it maybe being...but they were RUMORS!
Right?
A knock at the door snapped me out of my panic-attack. I straightened out my bra and walked to the door and opened it. A man in a black suit stood before me. I stood there gaping. Behind him, a black limo was parked with another man, similarly dressed, standing beside an open rear door.
“Ella Moonstone,” asked the one in front of me. I nodded slowly. “Come with me,” he said. I followed him quietly, not wanting to make a scene, and stepped into the limo. In it, I saw what I thought was impossible.
Across from me sat Princess Luna with her original hairstyle and the strange man from the scene I’d just watched. I just sat there with my mouth agape.
“John Winter,” he said, reaching out his hand, “CEO of Winter Industries. I trust you’ve seen my wife, Luna, on the show we allow to be filmed?” I nodded as I shook his hand, remembering the company name from the oven I’d bought a month ago. “I suppose you’re wondering how I was in an episode of a show that doesn’t exist looking exactly as you see me now,” he asked. I nodded, though I already feared I knew the answer, which I did. “I wasn’t born here, on Earth,” he began, “I was born in Equestria. It’s a real place on a planet beyond the edge of the Milky Way Galaxy. I would take a very long time to simply fly from here to Equus, so I have a teleporter. I also thought I'd bring my dearest with m as proof.” He gestured to Luna, who I nodded at.
“So,” I said at length, “It’s all real?”
“Every last bit,” he said, “And that’s why I’m here.”
“What happened to my friends,” I asked.
“Same thing that’s happening to you right now,” John said, “I made them the same offer I’m about to make you. They’re all in Equestria as little fillys and colts.”
“Really,” I said after taking some time to soak it all in. My friends were in Equestria, without me, or this was a ruse before I got thrown into solitary confinement. I felt a hoof under my chin and saw Luna looking at me with a worried look on her face.
“Your friends really miss you,” she said.
“Shouldn’t be too hard to find them," John said, “Especially with my unlimited mana pools. I could levitate crumpets around Celestia’s head for days, most I’ve done so far is a week,” he added, making Luna giggle a bit. “So now I make the same offer to you I made them,” He continued.
“What is it,” I asked.
“We could take you to Equestria,” he said, “I’m Equestrian, so I am like this anyway. But you, you’re an Earth-born human.”
“So,” I said at length.
“So,” he said, “If you go, I’d recommnd that I turn you into a pony. Judging by your magical potential, you may become someone of great importance.”
“Do you mean like,” I said expectantly.
“Princess Ella has a definite ring to it, don’t you agree,” he said with a smile, “I recommend you think this through, though. The spell to change you will be slow, but permanent.”
I sat for a moment to think. Do I do what my friends did, go to Equestria and live like royalty, or stay here without friends, knowing they’re having a blast in Equestria. The choice was obvious. “I’ll come with you,” I said, “Freedom in Equestria sounds nice compared to lonely boredom here. Besides, I’ve always wanted to see more of Equestria.”
“And so you shall have an eternity to do so! Alicorns are immortal, after all,” he said. I squealed with excitement 'I’m going to live forever’ I thought, but piped down when John continued.
“Now, I’ll have to use blood magic,” he said, “It’s a forbidden art, but the humans of Equestria think very highly of it’s nearly limitless applications, though it is still very dangerous and takes decades to master a single spell. Fortunately, I’ve had over six thousand years, immortality, thought-magic control, and an unlimited mana pool, and so have mastered all the spells.”
“Thought magic control,” I asked, confused.
“I focus on a spell, it happens,” he replied, “Don’t worry, it only works if the though includes the want to enact a magic response, and one of my hands must be raised, as I lack a horn. Now, I’ll need to concentrate for this spell, as blood magic requires concentration regardless.”
He raised his hands, which started to glow blue. Luna knocked on the glass with her horn and the limo took to motion. A few minutes later as we arrived at the docks, John lowered his hands. The door opened and one of John’s security guards appeared.
“Just in time,” he said, “Sun’s coming up in a few minutes. Better to have Luna on Sanctuary before it comes up, right,” the guard said.
The three of us got out onto the pier. I’d heard that Sanctuary was an island that had appeared off the northern coast of Russia, near St. Petersburg. Then again, Berk from How to Train Your Dragon had appeared in the Pacific, Eggmanland in the South Atlantic, Pyrriah, a land from the Wings of Fire book series, had appeared in the Mid Atlantic, and Soleanna between Sanctuary and Pyrriah, all at the same time a few months back. I looked around the dock, but saw it was completely abandoned before realizing there was no way we could get from New York to Sanctuary in less than thirty minutes.
I saw Luna and John standing at the edge of the pier, and ran to catch up. I made it, panting as I got there. “I’ll be back in a moment,” said John. I gave him a quizzical look as he bent his knees as if about to jump and...disappeared.
He was gone as a blast of air came up from behind me. As I blocked the dust in the air from reaching my eyes, another blast hit me from the front, nearly sending me flying backwards. I looked up to see John standing their again with his hand reached out toward me. “Your turn,” he said. I carefully took his hand as I walked up to him. He lifted me into a position a knight would hold his princess. “Hang on tight,” he said as he bent his knees. I braced for whatever happened next.
The wind was nearly deafening as we flew from New York to Sanctuary in under five seconds. John put me down and dusted me off. “Luna’s already inside,” he said walking past me. ‘Already inside’ I thought as I turned around to see Ryan Manor before me. I quickly followed John, thinking ‘so this is the secret home of the great Andrew Ryan’. Upon entering, I found John talking to a Renamon, of all things. Two others were seated nearby, along with a Russian with a chef’s coat on. I walked over to John as he finished talking to the Renamon.
“Ah, you must be Ella,” said the Renamon, “I’m Andrea. That’s Felicity and Destiny.” The other two Renamon nodded one after the other to indicate which was which. “To bad Aurora isn’t here,” Andrea continued, “She might have wanted to have met a friend her age. Oh well.”
“Uh, John,” I said.
“Hmm,” he said, “Oh, this is Andrea, or as you probably know her, Andrew Ryan. Bit of my handiwork turned him into a her.” At that, Andrea began to shift until she resembled Andrew Ryan.
“Not many people are as priviledged to have a friend like John here,” Andrew said, “And I think you, Luna and all the other ponies will get along just fine, though I doubt your old friends will remember you. The demanded I wipe their minds! Probably to forget their old lives.”
“I can understand that,” I said solemly. Most of them had been social outcasts and shunned throughout their schoolyears. I had too, but embraced it, as it made me feel stronger. “No thanks,” I said, “I’d rather remember why I left so I don’t make he mistake of wanting to come back.”
“Smart choice,” said Andrew, “I told them somthing along that line, but they insisted.”
“Indeed they did,” John said sadly, “Sad how people are treated just for liking something others don’t. Come on, then. Let’s get you to Equestria.”
“Tell Celestia Andrea says hi,” Andrew said as we walked to the basement.
“Why are we going down here,” I asked.
“Ryan Manor was conveiently built atop the Fire Nation Palace, which ended up beside my lab here on Earth. A few inches more, and the wall would be my lab!”
We arrived in the Palace Garden and I saw what he meant. The door to his lab was mere millimeters from the cave wall. Any further and it would’ve been the cavern wall. (On a side note, the door looked almost like a Forerunner artifact from Halo, which John explained was due to the humans of Equestria having so perfectly blended magic and technology to create wonderous structures.) We proceeded into the lab. It was dark, but the lights inside turned on automatically, showing how big the complex really was. I could barely see the far end, and all the inventions and tools lying everywhere made it even harder to seen. John noticed my awestruck face.
“It’s the same for the next nine hundred sub-levels,” he said, “Except Sub-Level Two, which are my private quarters here at the lab, though I rarely use them. Follow me to the elevator. GARVIS.”
A voice suddenly sounded, who I assumed was GARVIS. “Yes, sir?”
“Bring the elevator to Sub-Level One,” John said.
“Right away, sir,” said GARVIS we arrived at the elevator, which immediately opened.
“Equestria Gate Room,” said John. The door closed, opening not two seconds later to a room with a strange ring-shaped structure in the middle. A decal on the wall said SUB-LEVEL 900-EQUESTRIA GATE ROOM. Luna was waiting for us.
“Sorry for taking so long,” said John as him and me stepped out of the elevator.
“It’s okay,” replied Luna.
“How did we get here so fast,” I asked.
“Turbo Lift,” said John, “One of great many accomplishments of the Humans of Equestria. Now, GARVIS, activate the Equestria Gate.”
“Yes sir,” GARVIS said as a portal opened in the ring in the center of the room.
“Why does it have a ring,” I asked.
“Discord mastered inter-dimensional travel via portal years ago, as did I,” John said, “Thing is, a portal created with magic will only close once you use the spell to close it. This does all that for me. Convenient, isn’t it?”
I steppded through the portal after Prince Winter and Princess Luna. A warm breeze flowed over me as I came out the other side.
“Open your eyes, Ella,” said John. I’d closed them as I’d gone through the portal because I’d felt a sharp pain in my forehead that still lingered, but I opened them. Everything looked too real! I was in Canterlot, the walls gleaming brightly with their gold inlays in the morning sun. The marble was whiter than on eathe, and the gold was shinier! It was amazing! I ran over to the nearby balcony to look out over Equestria. I saw the Royal Gardens below me, and fields that seemed to go on forever, looking more vibrant than any field back on Earth, an offf in the distance, I saw Ponyville, no mistaking Sweet Apple Acres for any other orchard. I stood there, taking it all in. I didn’t notice John walk up beside me in my stupor.
“Magnificent, isn’t it,” he said, to which I nodded very quickly. “See that village over there,” he continued before I interupted him.
“Yeah, Ponyville,” I said.
“Very good,” he said with a smile, “I also see your horn is coming in.”
I gave him a quizzical look, and reached up to my forehead. Sure enough, a horn had grown about ten inches out from my forehead. “I felt that. Why didn’t I notice it until now,” I said, moving my hand across it.
“Well, it could be because, being a master, the process of your transformation should be slightly less painful,” John replied. “
“How bad,” I asked.
“Hard to say,” he replied bluntly, “These things differ from person to person, but it is usually agonizing for alicorns. I’m actually suprised you didn’t pass out.”
“Really,” I asked, wiping some blood from may face that came from my.
“Quite indeed,” he said, “But that tells me it will be far worse later on, or it happened when you stepped through the portal.” I stood for a moment, coming to terms with what John had just said, and hoped it wouldn’t be as bad as he thought.
“Come,” John said, “Luna’s already with Celestia in the throne room. This way.”
I followed John into the throne room to find Luna and Celestia chatting. Cadence and Shining Armor were also there, along with a strange white alicorn with white hair and a white-star cutiemark who I wasn’t familliar with. We stopped before them.
“Princesses of Canterlot, Northhold and beyond,” said John, “I present to you Ella, the newest edition to the Equestrian throne.” All four princesses nodded at me.
“Welcome to Canterlot, Ella,” said Celestia kindly.
“Ella,” said a voice from behind me. I turned to see a familliar face jumping toward me.
“Teddy,” I exclaimed as he landed on me, “I thought everyone had their memory wiped!”
“Not me,” he replied with a smile, “I wanted to remember my friends!” Ted rolled off of me, and I got up to look him over. His hair had already changed to a mane and he’d already grown a tail, both blue, and a horn, so he’d either be a unicorn of an alicorn. I also noticed he had gotten taller.
“Age reversal and progression,” John said, reading my face, “Reversal usually happens to those at and under twenty years of age, so expect to come out an alicorn filly.”
I nodded, starting to feel a bit dizzy. “Looks like more changes are starting,” said John, “It seems their’s a bulge in your pants. Guards, help Ella to the guest room, before she passes out.”
“No, take them to my quarters,” said Luna, “I’d prefer to watch over them with Winter until Ella wakes from the fever dreams I sense coming.” A guard nodded and came over to me.
“I’m fine,” I said, almost falling over, “Er, maybe not.”
“Don’t worry,” said Ted with a smile, “I’ll show you around when you’re feeling better. I’ve only been here a few hours, but Cadence gave me a tour.”
We arrived in the Luna’s room a little while later. It, like the rest of Equestria, looked too real. The purple silk that hung from the ceiling, the purple banners with a cresent moon emblazioned on them, too real. The guard set me down on the bed, which felt very soft as I ran my fingers across it’s silk covering. I lay ther for some time, taking in the softness of the bed. I noticed then that a strained layer of skin still covered my horn.
“It’ll hurt when it comes off,” said Ted, “I’ll be here for you, though.”
“So will we,” said John as he and Luna walked in, “It is our room, after all.”
At this point I passed out from exhaustion and was quickly lost to the fever dreams Luna had predicted.
The cheese man said that when people don’t change their minds, their minds change them. I nodded in agreement as he went up and a ball of flame, turning into a dragon and eating me. I landed on a giant ice cream mountain in a sea of chocolate pudding. I saw Discord off in the distance, saying that gravity is a lie, and the act of skating up a slope is as normal as any other thing before I was pushed onto the rollercoaster. It went round and round until I landed in a giant jello filled with gummy sharks. I tried to swim away, but the candy corn spider wouldn’t let me. Suddenly, everything went dark as four eyes appeared, the shape of a pony and a human appeared.
“Don’t worry,” said Luna, “You’re waking up.”
“Only a few more minutes,” said John as they faded away. I was suddenly cornered by the candy corn spiders. I look around to see the cheese man laughting while skipping rope with entrails.
I sat bolt upright in the bed, screaming. I looked around, screaming “WHERE IS THE CHEESE MAN!” A boy with white hair appeared, a horn sticking from his head and wings from his back, with one eye slightly larger than the other.
“Calm down,” he said as I tried to push him away. I suddenly felt somthing soft and fluffy and purple drape itself over me. Luna looked at me with a worried look on her face.
“Be calm,” said Winter from behind her, “Luna and I will be with you, go back to sleep.”
I complied, drifiting off into a deep slumber, dreaming of tea parties with the Winter, Luna and the cheese man, who they constantly called Sheogorath.
I awoke to the bright sun in my eyes. It suddenly disappeared as Luna used her wing to shield me while Winter closed the curtains.
“Feeling better,” Celestia asked. I hadn’t noticed her standing beside Luna until she spoke.
“Yes,” I replied simply. I immediately felt someone embraceing me, and turned to see Ted hugging me despite being covered in bloodstained sheets. He had shortened since, wait, how long had I beem out?
“How long was I asleep,” I asked, turning to Luna, Winter and Celestia.
“A whole day,” said Winter, “We were worried you weren’t going to wake up until around midnight, when you did just that.”
“Your horn bled alot,” said Ted, “But Prince Winter said that was only because that Starlight’s blood magic would appear to love causing you trouble.”
I blinked at this, “Wait, Starlight? I thought John initiated the changes.” “First, call me Winter, not John,” Winter said, “And secondly, I was making sure that Starlight performed the spell correctly on you. She became a bit rushed as we closed in on her, and you were one of the last to be affected.”
“You mean that new pony fashion trend isn’t actually a fashion trend,” I asked.
“Indeed,” said Winter, “More of a misinterpretation of something very bad. A few of her more recent victims have died due to pains like you are experiencing, but only because of an error in the spell. They all died, but the spell Starlight performed on you seems to have been executed properly. Must be due to your high magical potential.”
I nodded, acknowledgeing the fact that he was probably right. “Doesn’t make it hurt any less, though,” I said.
“Oh, I’m sure a nice trip to the spa will help ease the tension,” said Celestia, “We can have lunch together afterwards.”
“Okay,” I said, “That sounds nice.”
I took a moment examine my new horn. The bone was showing, but still white. I reached to touch but was stopped by Winter. “Your horn is very sensitive right now,” he said, “It would be wise to leave it be for a few hours.” I nodded in agreement, placing my hand on the side of my head instead. It was then I noticed a violet hair in front of me. I tried to brush it away, but it returned. I then tugged on it, and yelped as a pain made itself known in my forehead.
“I would not recommend pulling your hair,” said Winter. So, purple hair, I thought, at least it’s not pink with purple polka-dots. I later learned there were strands of white in there, too.
Discord suddenly materialized in front of the bed. Truthfully, after seeing a real Celestia and Luna, I expected him to look worse than he did. “Your highnesses,” he said hurriedly, “Starlight has been captured.” The room went quiet for a good while after this.
“How many others did she get before we got her,” asked Winter.
“We don’t know, but Zecora has begun searching.”
“So, no spa and lunch then,” I said at length.
“No, that’s still on,” Winter said, “I’ll have my agents begin searching for the affected, and have them inform Andrew Ryan and Tsar Nicholas to look for the affected as well.”
“Wait, the Tsar Nicholas? As in the Grand Tsar of Russia Tsar Nicholas,” Ted asked.
“Yes,” said Winter, “Him and me go way back to the First Age. He’s an immortal, you know, and so can visit Equestria without the need to change into a pony.”
I pondered this for a moment, “Why do we need to become ponies when we come here?”
“Well,” said Winter, “Humans are still a rare site in Equestria, though ponies in Solstice very common. Ponies are already familliar with me, but not with the Tsar. He only is allowed here, in the palace, and can only leave if he is a pony. The ponies can tell if one is not native to Equestria, and those who do not change tend to be shunned. I’m one of the first natives of Equestria, so I’m good, and turning you into ponies makes you a native and gives you a place here in Equestria.”
“I see,” I said, “Change us because there’s no other way to normally fit in.”
“Exactly,” Winter replied, “Now, I do think a trip to the spa as Celestia recommends is now the best course of action. Me and Luna will see you two there, the last few months dealing with Starlight have been a real strain, and I do think a victory massage is in order.”
“Man, my legs feel wierd,” Ted said as arrived with our escort at the spa a short while later. The guards left us as we entered the spa.
The spa was quite large and extravagant, as one would expect from a palace. There were private baths as well as communal baths, as well as hot tubs of both the private and communal type, all made from completely white marble. We saw a few Nightguards were in the communal baths. I had noticed them throughout the palace, something I hadn’t seen in the show.
We arrived at the private baths to find two Nightguards and two humans guarding the entrance, but they let us through. Luna and Winter were already there, Luna in one of the baths while Winter had just finished getting a massage.
The ponies that had been attending to Winter came over to us. The were both pegasi. One had rose fur, white hair and a rose bud cutiemark, the other had cream hair, black hair and an apple blossom cutiemark.
“Hello,” I said, “I’m Ella, this is Ted.” He nodded as I said his name.
“My name is Rose Bud,” said the pony with the rose bud cutiemark, “This is mt sister, Blossom. This way to your baths.”
Ted followed Blossom to the bath on the far wall. I decided to sit in the middle, between him and Luna.
“Would you please remove your clothing, miss,” asked Rose Bud before I stepped in. I looked over to Ted and saw he‘d already removed his clothing to reveal two chestnut wings.
“Great, I’m going to be a walking chocolate bar,” he joked as he entered the bath. I stripped down and entered the my bath after.
“What to you think of my Nightguards,” asked Luna as I lowered myself into the tub.
“They do look odd,” I said, “I’ve always thought bat wings on a pony looked weird.”
“I know,” said Luna, “But doesn’t it make them look fiercer?”
“Indeed it does,” I replied, and she was right. A flying pony was one thing, but one that looks like a giant bat? In the dark, one would probably wet themself if they didn’t know what it was.
"But what about the two human guards," I asked.
"Oh, that's Captain Stormcry and Corporal Frostbite," Winter said, "They're members of the Solstice Royal Honor Guard, highly trained guards tasked with protecting me and doing anything I command them without hesitation, which is how they differ from the regular Solstice Royal Guards."
I nodded and turned my attention to Rose Bud. “It must be strange to have a human like me here,” I asked.
“Oh, not at all,” she said cheerfully, “Prince Winter and his personal guards comes here all the time! And Tsar Nicholas sometimes comes on his visits. He once said, and I quote, ‘The spas of Equestria are the greatest in all the galaxy’ you know.”
“You know what,” I said, sinking into the tub, “I think he was right.” I looked over as Ted pulled out one of his cigars. He was about to light it when Winter intervened.
“Light that in here and I’ll turn you into a filly in body and mind,” Winter said.
“Yeah? What about Ella,” he shot back, looking over to me.
“She’ll braid your mane and tail.” He put his cigar away at that as Winter took out his own.
“Now these,” he said, “Are some of the finest in Solstice. They have flavour but no smell or smoke, and are used to cure cancer instead causing it,” said Winter.
“What flavour,” said Ted as Winter came over gave him one.
“Chocolate,” Winter said, “Also non-poisonous to ponies.”
We sat talking for some time. Luna joined in whenever we hit an interesting topic, and Ted seemed to be enjoying himself too much to even care. After awhile, I began to drift off when Ted screamed.
“What’s wrong,” I asked, turning to face him.
“My legs,” he said, “I can’t feel them.” He lifted one f his legs from the water as it finished turning into a pony hoof and rear leg.
“Well, that’s new,” I said jokingly.
“Ha ha, not funny,” Ted shot back, “How am I supposed to walk?”
“You’ll be fine,” I reassured him.
“Okay,” he said, calming down.
I turned to Luna and Rose Bud. “Men,” I said sarcastically, making them both giggle.
The spa was quiet for the next while, save the conversations of the Nightguards coming from the communal baths. I started to feel a pain in my back, but shrugged it off as just my back beginning to ache from being against a hard stone wall. The pain came again, sharper this time, making me wince.
“Somthing wrong, miss,” asked Rose Bud.
“Yeah, there’s a pain in my back,” I replied.
“Let me take a look,” she said. I complied and turned around to hear her tell Blossom to find Zecora. I turned back to face Rose Bud.
“Wings,” I asked as another wave of pain surged through me.
“Indeed,” she replied, “Only the bones, though.”
“Looks gross,” said Ted with a smirk. I turned to reply, but another wave of pain surged through my body, this one not going away. Winter saw I was losing control of my body, and ran over to the side of my bath to keep me from slipping under the surface.
Ted joined him seconds later, saying somthing I couldn’t hear as I was focused on the pain in my upper back.
Zecora and a few other ponies arrives a few seconds later. Zecora approached the bath and placed a bottle with a strange liquid to my lips while Celestia took over holding me up, using her magic to do so.
“Drink, child,” Zecora said. I did as instructed, finding it hard to argue when you feel nothing but pain. I suddenly didn’t feel the pain any longer, and noticed I had begun to float out of the tub. I turned around to see myself, still int the tub, shaking violently from the pain. I looked around the room. The only ponies and people here were Luna, the two spa ponies, Ted, Winter, Zecora, Celestia, and a few Nightguards who came to see what all the commotion was about. Zecora motioned to Blossom, who nodded and lifted her wing. I looked back over to myself to check on my wings. The long bony fingers of my wings were extending from behind my shoulders whenever a spasm passed through my body. I looked back to Zecora and Blossom as Blossom lowered her wings to her sides. Wait, her sides! I looked back to my body as another spasm passed through it. My wings were growing from my back, not from my sides. As the spasms became less violent, my wings stopped growing and muscle began to cover them, followed by fine orchid feathers. I admired myself, noticing the white strands in my mane. So, lavender fur and an orchid mane and tail with white highlights. It looked very nice, actually. I started to feel the pain again as I drifted back to my body. I took one last look before I returned to reality.
Though a lot of pain still lingered, the brunt of it had passed, and my wings were done.
“Is it over,” I asked.
“I wish I could say it was,” said Luna, “But it’s far from it.”
I laid my head on the side of the bath, “Somepony shoot me.”
Everypony except Luna, Winter and the spa ponies left after a little while.
“Your wings look very pretty,” Ted said as he lifted his black wings, “A lot nicer than mine.”
“Oh, you’re just being paranoid,” I said, “Look.” I spread my wings with a great amount of pride before realizing I was naked, which brought me down from the feeling of pride.
“Somthing wrong,” asked Ted.
“Well,” I said, “I’m naked.”
“Silly,” he replied smartly, “Everypony in this room is naked.”
“Well at least you all have fur,” I said. At some point since Ted’s legs had changed and now, they had grown a fine black fur to compliment his black wings and white mane and tail.
“Rose Bud,” said Ted, “Anywhere we can get some clothes?”
“Oh, I’m sure we can find somthing for Ella,” Rose Bub replied, “But you I’m not so sure about.”
“I have some old pants in Luna’s room you can use Ted,” offered Winter, “Not like I fit them anymore anyway. I’ll go get a pair.”
“Thanks,” said Ted as he helped me out of the bath. I looked at my old clothes. I noticed a pile of rags but a lack of pants. “Um, what happened to my pants,” I asked.
“Well, I had a bit of a field day and pretty much tore them up,” Ted said, “Funny you only just noticed. Then again, they probably didn’t pull your tail when they came off, being so torn up, and wouldn’t fit you now, seeing as you’ve gotten a bit shorter.”
I had noticed that I was a bit shorter, as Winter said I would get due to being only eighteen, but had hoped nopony would bring it up.
“Well, I should be off to meet up with Celestia before lunch,” said Luna.
“See you there,” I replied. I turned to Rose Bud, who had been waiting paitently. “So, any ideas on what I should wear,” I asked.
“Hmm, how about a skirt,” Rose Bud suggestd.
“Good idea,” I said, “My old shirt should still work, being a tanktop.”
Rose Bud gave me a quizzical look, but shrugged and sent for the court tailor.
After Winter returned with some pants for Ted and the court tailor and a unicorn named Nestor, who looked as much like a stereotypically gay fashion designer as anypony possibly could, got me some clothes, we headed to the dinning hall where Celestia, Luna and Winter waited for us.
We arrived to find a table full of foods of every kind imaginable, and a few from beyond imagination. Besides Me, Ted, Celestia, Luna and Winter, there were twelve guards, four along each wall, two at doors on the far side of the room and the two who escorted us, takinging positions on either side of the door we’d just came through. Me and Ted bowed, spreading our wings.
“Thank you for not letting me drown, Princess Celestia.” I said.
“Please, call me Celestia,” Celestia said, “After all, you are a Princess too. Now please, take a seat so we may begin lunch.”
Ted had seated himself before Celestia finished speaking, causing Luna to laugh a little. I prominently walked and sat down beside him. Celestia sat across from us beside Luna, Winter sitting on the other side of Luna.
“Please, take as much as you want,” said Celestia, more directed to Ted, “The court cooks can make more if we run out.”
“And if you want somthing that isn’t here already,” added Winter, “I can get the cooks to make it.”
I nodded as Ted leapt from his seat, almost knocking me over with one of his wings as he rushed around the table grabbing one of everything.
“It seems your friend is developing a complete disregard for manners,” Celestia said with amusement.
“Yeah, and a complete disregard as to what it is he’s eating,” said the strange white alicorn as she entered the room.
“Oh my,” said Celestia, “I forgot you would be joining us, Snow.”
“It’s fine,” the alicorn known as Snow said as she sat down beside Winter, who patted her back.
“Is there somthing going on between you two,” I asked.
“Oh, Snow here is my daughter of sorts,” said Winter thoughtfully, "She came to me as a filly without a home, so I raised her like a daughter."
"That's very kind,” I said as Ted sat down again, “That’s alot of food.”
“Don’t worry,” he said as he dug into the mountain on his plate, “I’ll manage.”
The three ponies and Winter were using their magic to bring all kinds of foods from across the table to their plates.
“Hmm, it seems you haven’t taken anything yet,” Winter observed, “Here, try some of this.”
He filled a glass with milk and leevitated it over to me. I sniffed it, finding a sour odor eminating from it.
“What is it,” I asked.
“Mother's milk,” said Celestia, “A delicacy in Equestria. It is donated by mares who begin to lactate months before a foal is born. The solution before now was the for the stallion to drink it, but this usually caused a drunken state due to the high amount of salt in the milk.”
After the explanation, I took a sip and found it was salty, not sour! In fact, the salt added to the taste. “It tastes delicious,” I exclaimed.
“Good,” said Winter, “I knew you’d like it! But just remember this, you’re a pony, and salt is like alchohol to ponies. Too much, and you’ll end up in a drunken stupor.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” I said as I put down the glass which a piece of cake promptly fell into. I sighed, turning to Ted, “Ted, watch where.” I stopped. Where Ted had been sitting a moment ago, a black stallion with a white mane and tail sat with a half empty plate before him.
“Watch where what,” he asked, “Um, Ella, why are you staring at me?”
“Get me a mirror,” Luna said to a guard, who ran off and quickly returned with one.
Luna lifted it with her magic and placed it in front of the alicorn Ted.
“What the,” he stammered, “Damn I’m sexy.”
“You sure are,” I said.
“It seems eating increases the rate of change,” said Winter.
“But, I drank some of that milk,” I said as I put my hands on my cheat to find my breasts had disappeared.
Winter saw the look on my face and explained, “A mare’s breasts are located between their hind legs.” I felt along my stomach and sure anough, I found my breasts between my hips.
“I didn’t feel that,” I exclaimed.
“Well, you are probably a little drunk,” said Winter, “Do you feel dizzy?”
“A little,” I answered, moving closer to Ted.
“Wait, does this mean I can use magic now,” asked Ted.
“Theoretically, you should both be able to use your magic,” said Winter. Ted immediately tried to lift a bowl of salad, spilling the contents all across the floor, causing the three princesses and Winter to laugh.
“Practice,” said Winter, being the first to come down from his laughing fit, “It makes perfect, you know.” A minute later everyone had calmed down.
“Ella, lift this,” said Celestia as she levitated a daisy, placing it in front of me. “Picture what you want to happen,” said Celestia.
“Okay,” I said as I focused, picturing what I wanted to happen.
A whole five minutes went by and nothing happened.
“Oh well,” said Winter as Celestia was laughing hysterically, “Maybe once you’re transformation is further along.”
I nodded as a tingeling sensation made itself known it my legs.
Ted looked down at me. “You’d better eat somthing,” he said, “And don’t try to stand up.”
I looked up at him and followed his gaze. My legs were beginning to boil and bubble as the first twinges of pain coursed through my legs. I grabbed my glass of milk. “Damn the consequences, I don’t wanna feel this,” I yelled before downing the entire glass.
My head was throbbing as I woke up. I groaned in misery as I opened my eyes to see where I was.
I was back in Luna’s room. Ted was sleeping beside me on my arm, which looked to be still human. I looked toward the window.
It was dark out, the moon lighting up the landscape. A light appeared by the window as Ted began to glow and was lifted off my arm. I pulled it out as he was set back down.
“Thanks,” I said as Luna and Winter appeared from the darkness beside the window.
“I didn’t want to wake him,” Luna said softly, “He’s having the most pleasant dream right now.”
“Right,” I nodded, now feeling the pain in my head. Winter came over with a glass of water.
“Drink this,” he said, “It will help clear that hangover.”
I drank while Winter held the glass for me, as I would’ve spilt it everywhere.
“Thanks,” I said as I finished.
“Don’t mention it,” Winter replied.
“You must be hungry,” said Luna, “After all, you didn’t eat anything at lunch.”
“Well,” said Winter, “I hate to pry, but what is the last thing you remember?”
“I was sitting beside Ted, and then...OH!” I flung the covers off. My legs were like Ted’s had been in the spa, and were actually longer than Ted’s had been, which was confusing. “What happened next,” I asked.
“Well, after the pains of the changes subsided, you began dancing on the table,” said Winter, “I must admit, it was funny. The guards were too preoccupied with their laughing to try to stop you.”
I blushed with embarrassment.
“After that, you raided my prize winning flower beds,” said Luna, “If you’re feeling a stomach ache, that’s why.”
I poked my stomach, placing a hand over my mouth as I burped.
“There’s a reason some flowers are mean’t for looking pretty and not eating,” said Luna with a smirk, “I would not recommend eating Nightshade, for example.”
“Noted,” I said, “Um, Luna, I have an odd question to ask.”
“Yes, what is it,” asked Luna.
“Um, I’ve kinda always dreamt of giving you a hug, you know,” I said awkwardly.
“Well, I know you dream of it,” said Luna, looking at Winter, who nodded, “Okay.”
I slid off the bed. Luna and Winter were now slightly shorter than me.
“Um, why did I get taller,” I asked.
“In a few words, I spiked your milk,” said Winter, “I enchanted it so you’d be a full-grown alicorn, but if you want to be a filly at any time, I can teach you a Blood Magic spell that will turn you into a filly for twenty-four hours.”
“Why not a permanent one,” I asked.
“Because you would have to age naturally, if at all,” said Winter.
“I see,” I said, nodding, “That’ll do, then.”
I gave Luna the hug I was going to before. Her fur was so soft, and I could feel the seperate hairs of her mane.
“It feels nice, doesn’t it,” asked Winter.
“Yes, it does,” I replied, knowing very well that Luna probably had no problem with him doing this, “I just want to do it while I still have the fingers to do it with.”
“Just a side note, I also know a spell to turn alicorns, and only alicorns, into humans,” Winter said, “I did some messing with it and made a temporary version that only lasts twenty-four hours.”
“Thanks,” I said, “I’ll be sure to pay attention when you teach me it.”
I let go of Luna, who smiled as I did so. At that moment, I realized something.
“I’m naked, aren’t I,” I said.
“So,”said Winter, “Nopony else is up and about save the Nightguards and a few of my Honor Guards.”
I calmed down when Luna put her wing around me. She felt safe. Winter felt safe.
“Safe from the salt spiders,” I said, recalling my dream of giant spiders made of salt blocks, which made Luna smile.
“It’s not often someone remembers their dreams,” said Luna.
“Indeed,” said Winter, “Now, I made some sandwiches before we came up, shame to let them go to waste.” He walked over to a box near the dresser and motioned me and Luna come over. We came over as Winter pulled the lid off.
I walked over and grabbed a sandwich. Luna did the same. We sat there, talking about magic techniques and how Luna had become Nightmare Moon because of her resentment of her sister. At one point she began to sob quietly, but Winter wrapped his arms around her, all the while I ate. I felt ashamed, but I was so hungry! Luna regained her composure as I finished the last sandwich and started to feel a pain surge through my entire body.
They watched in silence as the rest of the changes to my body progressed. Thankfully, the blood coming up my throat from the internal changes muted my groans so Ted wasn’t disturbed. This went on for about half an hour. Once the pains stopped, I slowly stood up on my new front legs. I admit, it felt different but normal at the same time.
“I see you’ve already gotten used to the new legs,” said Snow as she walked in, “You look nice.”
I looked in a mirror at myself. My fur now covered my whole body with an elegant shade of Lavender, and my mane and tail an elegant shade of orchid, retaining the white highlights.
“Thank you,” I said.
“You’re welcome,” Snow said before turning to Luna and Winter, “Celestia has sent for Twilight. She will be here in the morning.”
“Well now, it’s about time I met the esteemed Twilight Sparkle, don’t you think,” Winter said.
“You haven’t met her,” I asked.
“Nope,” said Winter, “One of the few ponies I haven’t yet met. She isn’t around whenever I’m in Ponyville, and I’m usually in Solstice when she’s here.”
“Well, I best go get some rest before the night’s out,” Snow said before leaving.
“You should get some rest too,” said Winter, “Don’t worry, me and Luna will clean up the mess.” I noticed somthing, Luna looked slightly smaller.
“Looks like I’m taller than you,” I said to Luna, who nodded.
“You look to be a little taller than Cadence, but shorter than my sister.”
“What about you,” I asked.
“I’m the shortest next to Twilight,” Luna replied, “After all, I was banished to the moon for a thousand years, but you should really get to bed now.”
I nodded, proceeding over to the bed.
Winter cleaned the blood from my fur, which tickled a lot. I then slipped into the bed beside Ted, who I now saw was smaller than me and probably Luna. I wrapped my forehooves around him as I fell asleep.
I woke up just after Ted. He was practically yelling about my changes and how beautiful I was, which kinda made it hard to stay asleep. Luna and Winter had stayed the entire night, and Luna was now busy trying to calm down Ted.
“Don’t bother,” I said as I rolled out of the bed, “Once he gets excited about something, he doesn’t stop until I kiss kim.” At saying that Ted calmed down and stood still.
“I see,” said Luna.
“Indeed,” said Winter in agreement, “Now, let’s go to the dinning hall. The others are waiting for us.”
“Others,” I asked.
“Oh, you know,” Winter replied as he oppened the doors to the hallway, “Celestia, Cadence, Shining Armor, Twilight Sparkle, Snow, you know, the royals.”
“Of course,” I said, wanting to facehoof, “Who else?”
We proceeded down the hallway toward the dinning hall. The guards were about to open the door when Luna motioned for them to wait.
“There’s somthing I must ask of you,” she said, but I already knew the question.
“Don’t worry, Luna,” I said, “I’m not that kind of girl. I promise.” Luna smiled at me, acknowledging the fact that I knew what she was afraid of.
“Well, this is going to be a first,” said Winter.
“First,” I asked curiously.
“Well, this is the first time I’ll be meeting Twilight,” Winter replied, “I’ve been all around Equestria and Ponyville, but I’ve never run into Twilight. Wierd, right?”
“Wierd indeed,” I said with a nod as the guards opened the doors.
In the hall were Celestia, Cadence, Shining Armor, Snow, and Twilight Sparkle. As I’d expected, Ted sat down right beside Cadence, causing Shining Armor to mumble something under his breath as Ted said somthing that made Cadence laugh. Luna and Winter took up the seats the had the day before, and Celestia and Snow were already seated where they were the day before.
“Um, may I sit beside you,” I asked Celestia.
“Please, do,” Celestia replied with a smile. I walked over and sat down beside Celestia.
“Um, what is that,” Twilight said, motioning toward Winter.
“I am a species native to the far north,” Winter said.
“Oh,” said Twilight, “And what species would that be?”
“Human,” Winter replied bluntly as he levitated a sandwich to himself, “And for your information, I am Prince John Winter.”
“Oh my,” said Twilight, shocked, “You’re Prince Winter?! I..I..I’m sorry for being so rude, I...”
Twilight, it’s okay,” Winter said in a sweet voice, “I expected you to react the way you just did. No harm done.” A look of relief passed over her face. I remember from the show that Twilight has the tendency to feel bad about making bad first impressions.
“Perhaps we should eat before beginning this meeting,” suggested Winter. Everypony nodded in agreement.
I examined the food on the table. There were flowers, paistries, things one would expect a pony to eat for breakfast. There was also a jug of milk.
“More mother’s milk,” I asked, turning to face Celestia.
“No, just normal milk, also donated,” she replied. I moved some flowers and bread onto my plate, and filled my glass with milk.
I suddenly heard Celestia begin giggling as I drank some milk. I looked up to see almost everypony staring at me with a puzzled look on their faces. I lowered the glass away from my mouth, “Did I do something wrong?”
Celestia was preoccupied in a laughing fit and had fallen over, Luna had a smile on her face and was looking at Celestia, Shining Armor and Ted were staring at me with a look that seemed questioning, and Twilight’s jaw was hanging open, which left only Cadence and Winter.
I lowered the glass to the table, “Cadence, Winter, would one of you care to tell me what’s going on.”
“Celestia just finished telling us you didn’t yet know how to use your magic,” Cadence said, “And you just made yourself breakfast.”
I looked down at my plate and realised she was right.
“I expected as much,” Winter said, “Blood Magic does have it’s perks. Increased development is one of them, but your mana expenditure was very low. It seems you have a great amount of magical potential, but let’s discuss that after we eat.”
It took awhile for everypony to come back to their senses, and then we resumed breakfast as if nothing had happened.
“So, down to business,” WInter said once everyone had finished eating, “We must first decide what to do with Ella and Ted.”
“Could I stay here,” Ted asked. Winter looked at Cadence and Shining Armor, who both nodded their approval, “You may stay, Ted. Now, what about you, Ella. I think you might need a lesson in Equestrian history.”
“What about Ted,” I asked.
“He gave us a recital of my book without even reading it,” Winter said, “I think he’s covered.”
I thought for a moment before turning to Twilight, “Would I be able to stay with you, Twilight?”
Twilight blushed when I asked her the question, but nodded, “I would be honored if you’d stay with me in Poyville.”
“Then it’s settled,” Winter said, “Now, Ella, Ted, you two wait outside, we must discuss on how to deal with Starlight, the one responsible for turning you and many others against their will.”
We waited for about an hour before Winter, Luna and Twilight exited the Dinning hall.
“So, what’s going to happen to Starlight,” I asked.
“She has learned her lesson already,” Winter said, “Her time on Earth has changed her. Now, Twilight will be taking you to Ponyville.”
“Okay,” I said, “It was a pleasure to meet you.”
“Likewise,” said Winter, “Oh, and take this.” He handed me satchel containing a book with strange markings on it.
“What is it,” I asked.
“My book of Blood Magic spells,” Winter replied, “Only the ones that aren’t harmful or permanent, though. The temporary age regrression can be used for you to attend school if you wish.”
“Thank you,” I said gratefully, “I’ll make sure I learn it.”
“Good,” said Winter with a smile, “Now Twilight has asked me to give her a tour of Solstice, and I’ve decided their’s no time like the present. Would you like to come with us?” I nodded, “I do kinda wonder what human architecture in Equestria looks like.” He motioned for me to follow and the four of us went to the balcony.
Winter did the same thing he’d done to get me and Luna to Sanctuary back on Earth, and I have to admit, it was kinda fun. I was the last one to go, but was ready for the trip this time. Once we arrived, Winter told me to open my eyes. I did as I was told, and was awestruck at what lay before me.
In front of me was a wall at least five hundred meters tall, made entirely of white marble with gold inlay. A gate made of solid gold with very intricate markings rising three quarters the way up the wall opened as we approached, making very little noise despite it’s size. The inside of the city was a mix of colonial-style marble buildings and high-tech spires, all designed to be symmetrical to the city enterance. I stopped to take it all in.
We were standing on the main street, which must have been at least four kilometers long, at then end of which I could barely see a gold gate past all the people walking about.
Winter noticed the look on my and Twilight’s faces and turned to face us. “Ella Moonstone and Twilight Sparkle,” Winter said, “I welcome you to Solstice, last of the great cities of the Imperial Kingdom of Solstice, and it’s Imperial Capital.”
“This,” Twilight sputtered, “This is amazing!”
“I know,” Winter said as he began walking downthe street with Luna.
The people cleared a path for them. Me and Twilight quickly followed after them.
“This city was the center of the Kingdom until the other great cities declared war on each other and Solstice,” Winter continued as we walked, “The assault on Solstice was the worst, destroying most of the city’s outer limits. And when the Wendigoes came, almost everything was lost. I managed to save Solstice iteself, and temporarily exiled my citizens to protect them, but the others two cities were lost,” Winter paused to take a breath, “After the Wendigoes finished reducing the other two great cities to the snow-filled ruins they still are today, they left for Equestria. I began rebuilding my city and restoring as much of the land as I could. At least the lands within and surrounding my city are as they were before. My people returned as soon as the Wendigo threat passed, and have created firm trade routes with Equestria in recent years.”
We arrived at the golden gate fifteen minutes later. The gate was almost half as wide as the street, and resembled that of the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg. In fact, the whole palace looked like the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg, only that the gate and outer wall were bigger. The Solstice Guards that were there opened the gate and the four of us walked in. Winter turned to face me and Twilight.
“This is my home, the Winter Palace or Hall of Solstice.”
“It looks beautful,” Twilight exclaimed, unable to hold her excitment.
“Indeed it does,” said Winter, “Now, follow me and we’ll go inside.”
We followed Winter and Luna through the doors of the palace. The interior was a lot like the exterior. White marble with gold inlays. The ceilings depicted scenes from Equestria’s history, which struk me as odd.
“Um, Winter,” I asked.
“Hmm,” Winter said as he turned around.
“Why do the ceilings depict scenes from Equestrian history instead of Solstice’s history,” I asked.
“They weren’t originally painted,” Winter said, “I actually painted them about a decade or two ago, after I joined the Council of Equus.” I nodded and we proceeded onward.
“This is the Winter Hall,” Winter said as we entered a large ballroom. There were stairs at the far end with a throne on the first landing. We headed toward these stairs, climbing the set that led left from the landing. It lead to the Royal Bedrooms and Library. Only one door in the hallway was closed.
“Winter, what’s in there,” I asked.
“Why, my transformation devices,” Winter replied, “The final prototypes for the ones I sell on Earth. Want to have a look?”
“Sure,” I said.
“Twilight, would you like to take a look,” Winter asked.
“No thanks,” Twilight replied, “I’ll continue on with Luna.”
Winter nodded and Luna and Twilight walked off down the hallway, turning a corner out of sight.
Winter pulled a key from his coat and unloked the door. We went into the room. There were pedastals at regular intervals all around the room, of which I counted twenty in all, each differing in size, and each had something placed on it. I walked around looking at the devices. They varied in type and size. One was a costume that turned you into whatever the costume was, another was a labeled bottle telling you what you’d transform into by drinking the contents, and another was a necklace that transformed you using an enchantment bestowed upon the necklace. There were others, rings, darts, strange gems, but the one that seemed the most interesting was a small handheld on a pedastal in the center of the room.
“Ah, the TF Device,” Winter said when he saw me looking at it, “I put a high price tag on this as it can turn you into anything either temporarily or permanently. It also allows gender change, once again, temporary or permanent. This device allows you to do anything the other things in this room can do, really.”
“Wow,” I said in awe, “This is cool.”
“Cool indeed,” Winter said, “Let’s go, don’t want to keep Luna and Twilight waiting.”
Luna and Twilight were waiting with Snow, who had just arrived, in the palace dinning hall, which was huge.
“This place is gigantic,” Twilight said to me as Winter and I approached.
“I can see that,” I said.
“I’ve finished showing her around,” Luna said.
“Good,” Winter responded, “Now then, you look tired, and so do you Snow. You two go get some sleep while I take these two back to Equestria.” They nodded and began walking to the Royal Bedrooms. Winter motioned me and Twilight to follow.
We made our way back to the city gates.
“It was nice to have visitors,” Winter said with a smile.
“It was nice to be here,” I replied. Twilight nodded in agreement.
Winter placed his hand on the back of Twilight’s neck and they vanished in a gust of wind. Moments later, another gust signaled Winter had returned.
“Your turn,” he said as he placed his hand on th back of my neck. I felt the wind rush past me for a moment before all was calm. I opened my eyes when I heard a bird chirp. Winter was standing beside me.
“I’ll be visitng with Luna soon,” he said, “Nightmare Night is next month, after all.” I nodded. It was early September, and school hadn’t started yet. I wondered if anyone would miss me, but decided it didn’t matter.
“See you then,” I replied. Winter nodded before disappearing in a gust of wind. I turned to see Twilight waiting for me. I looked around to get my bearings.
I was in an orchard, but there were numerous orchards in Equestria. I glimpsed a sign as I reached Twilight. I decided to investigate, Twilight following.
I examined the sign and instantly knew where I was. The sign read Sweet Apple Acres. I was in Ponyville at last.
I followed Twilight to her tree house at the center of town, and I must admit, the real thing looked spectacular. I quickly followed Twilight in, thankful I hadn’t encountered Pinkie Pie, yet.
“Spike,” Twilight called as she shut the door behind me, “”I’m back.”
Spike came running down from the second floor. He was even cuter in person, too.
“Hi Twilight,” Spike said before turning to me, “Who is she?”
“I’m Ella,” I said, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Spike.”
Spike smiled and blushed at the same time.
“Uh, Rarity asked me to come over to her place,” Spike said, “She said she has somthing she wants to give me.”
“Okay,” Twilight said, “But no going crazy if it’s a jewel or something, and don't sty out too late, okay?”
“Yes Twilight,” Spike said as he hurried out.
“He’s just how I’d imagined him,” I thought out loud.
“Indeed he is,” Twilight said, “Now, take a look around town if you want. I’ll be in my room if you need anything.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” I said, “But where will I stay?”
“I’ll talk to Mayor Mare to see if there’s a house you can buy,” Twilight replied, “Winter put a fair amount of money in your satchel, so you should be able to buy whatever’s available.”
I lifted the bag and opened it. Sure enough, it contained about one million bits along with the spell book.
“Okay,” I said hesitantly as I closed the satchel, “I’m going to look around. I really hope I don’t run into Pinkie Pie, though. I’ve watched the show, so I do know how she gets.”
“Noted,” Twilight said, “Keep an eye out for anything pink with a balloon cutiemark.” We both laughed before I walked out, right into Pinkie Pie’s snout, much to my and Twilight’s dismay.
“Ouch,” Pinkie Pie said, rubbing her muzzle, “Do I know you?”
Thinking fast, I came up with a brilliant idea. “Umm, I think so,” I replied. I’d watched the show enough to know all the characters quite well.
“Okay then, see you later,” Pinkie said as she bounded off. I let out a sigh of relief and looked at Twilight through the open door, a look of relief on her face as well.
I closed the door and began exploring the town. I met the school teacher, Cheerilee, first, as I hoped she’d ignore the fact that I was an alicorn.
She did just that, and we talked for awhile about numerous things, including my enrollment at the school.
“Oh, Prince Winter mentioned that when he visited a few hours ago,” she said, “He said you’d look a lot younger during school hours. How do you plan to do that?”
“Magic,” I said with a wink. Cheerilee nodded and I left to meet the rest of the ponies.
I wandered around for most of the day. Everypony just generally stared at me. I noiced a few that were obviously my former friends, though they did not recognize or remember me, and avoided me like the rest of the ponies. I made my way back to Twilight’s house as the sun was going down.
I had been at Sweet Apple Acers before now, and had a nice chat with Granny Smith, who didn’t mind the slightest that I was an alicorn. I was still depressed, though. My friends were here but had no idea who I was and everypony avoided me for fear of saying the wrong thing and being banished or something. I arrived to find the lights all darkened and the door slightly ajar.
“Hello,” I said as I cautiously opened the door, “Twilight? Spike? Anypony?” No answer. I stopped when I heard somthing behind me, and turned as the door closed, plunging the room into complete darkness.
Suddenly, the lights came on to reveal everypony in Ponyville yell “Surprise!” I almost leapt out of my fur, but still fell over. Applejack and Rainbow Dash helped me up.
“Thank you,” I said, “I must say, I wasn’t expecting somthing like this until at least tomorrow!” Everyone laughed at that joke.
It turned out that Twilight had been trying to figure out how to restore some of my friend’s memories, and had made a breakthrough, partially restoring their memories, enough so that they remembered me.
Tim, Ellen, Carl and Wendy were now Buck Wild, Rainboom, Scribe and Wind, all fitting names for their personalities and all pegasi, so we could still do just about anything together.
Tim, now Buck Wild, had a stong build, black fur, a grey mane and tail, and a crossed swords cutiemark. He was the first to come, and had already made a name for himself all across Equestria as a great and honourable adventurer. Ellen, now Rainboom, looked a lot like Rainbow Dash, but with a full rainbow coloured mane and tail, but with the same fur and cutiemark. She had been creating Sonic Rainbooms on a daily baisis, causing havoc with the filming of the show. Carl, now Scribe, had brown fur, a cream mane and tail, and a paper and quill cutiemark. He’d turned his house into a public library, and had written a few books himself already. Wendy, now Wind, had light blue fur, a dark blue mane and tail, and a Tornado cutiemark. She could fly as fast as Rainboom, but not cause the sonic boom, basically a ninja of the skies.
Twilight, Rarity, Fluttershy, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow Dash joined our conversation. They were a bit unnerved about some things the show had shown us, but were only upset by it. We promised not to tell, and the conversation resumed as if nothing had happened.
The party lasted well into the night, but everypony had gone home by about midnight, Rarity was the last.
“You know darling, you could use an update to you wardrobe,” she suggested.
“I could use a wardrobe bottom line,” I said, “Once I get a place to stay, I’ll be you’re newest customer.” Rarity smiled as she left.
I turned to Twilight, “So, find anything?”
“Actually, I have,” Twilight, “It’s an old, run-down mansion on the far side of town.”
I loved the idea of living in a mansion, but it sounded like Twilight was holding something back.
“What aren’t you telling me,” I inquired.
“The mansion is rumoured to be on the site of a large moonstone deposit.”
‘And,” I asked, “My birthstone is moonstone.” I only just remembered the Moonstone amulet necklace my mother had given me before her and father had died in a car accident. I turned away, ashamed I’d forgotten it.
“Oh, I almot forgot,” Twilight said as she levitated a familiar rosewood box toward me. I took it from her magic grasp and placed it on the floor.
I carefully opened it. Inside was the moonstone necklace my mother had made me, with a note. I lifted it carefully and read it. It was in her mother's handwriting.
“My dearest Ella,” it read, “I hope this gift brings you great happiness on your adventures in the far away land I know you are now. otherwise, this note would still be invisible. Take care in Equestria, as I, too, came here, and am not gone, but am here, somewhere. With love, Othelia Moonstone.”
I teared up a little, and lowered the note to see the necklace had transformed into a collar, much like one Luna wore, but with a circular moonstone emblem. I levitated out of the box and put it on. It fit perfectly.
“Now, what’s so special about moonstone,” I asked Twilight.
“In Equestria,” Twilight said, “It has a vast amount of magical properties, and enhances your magic if worn. That must be why your mother made the necklace from moonstone.”
“I see,” I said with a nod, “I think I know what the mansion is called.”
“Moonstone Manor,” Twilight said, confirming my suspicions, “But let’s woory about that tomorrow. I’m tired.”
I nodded and made my way to a makeshift bed twilight had made. I used my magic to transform it into a proper bed before falling into it and falling fast asleep. The first thing I dream't of wasn’t a dream, but a late night visit from Luna and Winter.
“Oh, hello Luna, Winter,” I said, “Somthing tells me you two are in here for a reason.” I pointed to my head, and Winter nodded.
“Moonstone Manor,” Winter said, “I heard you may be planning to buy it.”
“I do,” I replied.
“It may not come as a shock, considering the note,” Winter said, “But Moonstone Manor was her residence here in Equestria.”
“Really,” I asked, “I should have known.”
“You do now,” Winter said, “She is the only other pony to have ever visited my kingdom. She made a record of her travels, writing a short poem. It is in a book somewhere in the Manor’s library.”
“Let me guess, keep it hidden,” I asked.
“No,” Winter said, “Everypony knows where Solstice is. I just think you should know the poem.”
“Oh, okay,” I nodded, “I’ll find it.” Winter nodded, and he and Luna faded away, letting my dreams begin.
I woke up the next morning with the meeting still in my memory. Twilight was already up, and Spike had made us breakfast.
We quickly ate and made our way to the town hall.
“I think there’s a reason you want me to buy Moonstone Manor,” I asked.
“Well, yes,” Twilight admitted, “I kinda would like access to the moonstone mine that’s rumoured to be in the basement.”
“Granted,” I said, “And if you need a room, just pick one. My mom built the place, so it’s probably huge.”
We met with Mayor Mare and did the paperwork. After I was given the deed, we made our way to the manor.
I was right, though, it was large, but easy to miss, as it was a little way into Everfree Forest, but not as far as to make it dangerous.
It was obviously made from white marble and had gold inlays, but it was all stained with time, and was more of a grey color in most places, though a few spots still gleamed and were white.
We proceeded to inside, using a key Mayor Mare had given us.
The interior was a wreck. The chandiler that once hung above the first landing was on the landing, and the one above us was barely hanging on. I decided we should explore the manor.
I lead the way, Twilight close behind as we moved through the many rooms of the house. The dinning table was broken in half, the kitchen was a mess, the living room needed reupholstering. We moved to the second floor. Same story up there. Wrecked beds, cracked baths, but the rest of the furniture was majorly intact. We then proceeded to the basement, but found the door locked.
“Look around,” I said, “The key must be around here somewhere.”
After a short while, Twilight found the key and unlocked the door.
We used our magic as torches and proceeded onward.
There were a lot of boxes, and the timbers supporting the floor above were severely rotted, splitting in places. I used my magic to reduce their age, restoring them.
Suddenly, I heard somthing fall further in.
“Did you hear that,” asked Twilight.
I nodded, “Let’s check it out.”
We cautiously navigated through the maze of boxes, looking for the source of the mysterious noise. We saw a dim light coming from around a corner on the far side of the room.
I looked at Twilight, who nodded nevously, and we slowly moved forward. We turned the corner to find a very, very old pony, an alicorn, in fact, laying on a makeshift bed. She saw us and smiled faintly, so we moved to stand beside her. She had light grey fur and a white mane, and a cutiemark identical to mine.
I realized who the pony before us was.
“Mom,” I said slowly, “Is that you?”
“Yes, Ella,” she said weakly, “I’m glad you made it here in my lifetime.”
“Wait, what do you mean,” I asked frantically.
“There was an accident,” she said, “Your father didn’t make it, and I was badly injured, so I came here, but not even my magic is enough to keep me much longer.”
“We can help,” said Twilight.
“Oh Twilight,” said Othelia, “You were such a cute little filly. I was there when you were born, you know. That’s when I knew you’d be as you are now, an alicorn.” She smiled weakly at Twilight, “If you believe you can save a poor old woman, please do try.”
We carried Othelia to the hospital in Ponyville. The doctor said she had sustained numerous fracturred ribs that had healed at odd angles, and had damage to her internal organs. The doctor said for us to wait outside while he did what he could.
“Do you think he can save my mom,” I asked Twilight with worry.
“Of course he can,” Twilight said, draping a wing over me.
The news came a few hours later, Othelia Moonstone had survived and was now recovering. I almost fainted when I heard the news as I’d feard the worst.
“When can I see her,” I asked hurriedly.
“Give her a week or two to recover a bit,” said the doctor, “She has sufffered major injuries, and it is a miracle she survived this long without proper medical aid.”
We left the hospital a short time later. I was thankful my mom would be alright, but I had to focus on other, more urgent, matters. Moonstone Manor was barely standing. My repair of the lower floor would slow the process, but if something wasn’t done soon, Moonstone Manor would collapse.
I turned to Twilight, “Do you know anypony that could help me repair Moonstone Manor,” I asked, “From what I’ve seen, It’s a miracle that it hasn’t collapsed already.”
Twilight nodded, “I know a few ponies that might be able to help.”
By the end of the week, Moonstone Manor had been restored to it’s former glory. The outer walls only needed a polish, and a few ponies were able to degress the age of the timbers within.
Really, everything only really needed a good cleaning, though the structure was another story.
Some beams were too far gone for magic to repair, so had to be replaced. Thankfully, this only happened a few times.
It turned out that there was in fact a moonstone mine in the basement, and the boxes were all full of bricks of moonstone, much to the delight of Twilight.
I ordered clothing from Rarity, as I said I would. It arrived within a day, and I was astonished at the quality. It was simply beautiful! There was not a single flaw in any of the dresses, and all twenty had been made in twenty-four hours. I thanked Rarity for them and decided to pay her double, just because I could, and because she’d also upholstered the furniture with a beautiful lavender silk.
School was starting in a few days, so I had to get the age regression spell correct. I nailed it on the first try. It wore off after about eighteen hours, so it was sufficient. I tested the spell again the next day, suceeding once again, and decided I would be going to school.
The sun was just coming up when I woke, giving me plenty of time to get to town. Though the path through the forest was dark, the ponies had relaid it, adding lamp posts about every ten meters, making it easy to navigate.
Believe it or not, walking a striaght line in the dark is harder than one might think.
I made myself breakfast, daisy sandwiches, but saved a few for lunch. I locked the front door behind me and proceeded down the kilometer long path to Ponyville.
I arrived a good while before the bell rang for the beginning of the day. I had been considering attending as a student, but realized I knew almost everything there was to know about Equestria. I still knew more than my friends, too, and had started reading Winter’s History of Equestria Complete Edition, which included human history in Equestria, and I must admit, it was very detailed.
I walked into the school.
“Oh,” said Cheerilee, “Hello, Ella.”
I nodded, “I’ve decided not to attend,” I said, “But I do know a great deal about Equestrian history, so if you want to take a day off sometime, I could fill in for you.”
“Thank you for the offer,” replied Cheerilee, “I’ll keep it in mind. Oh, Rarity was looking for you, but she was acting rather strange, compleely unlike herself, and was with Trixie, of all ponies.”
“Do you know where she is,” I asked.
“Well, I think she was on the way to your manor,” Cheerilee answered, “I directed her there. It’s like she’d never been here before, imagine.”
I thanked Cheerilee and headed back to the manor.
Sure enough, a purple-maned, white-furred unicorn in an elegant purple dress was waiting for me at the front door, but somthing seemed off about her.
“Hi Rarity,” I said as I got a bit closer, “What’s going on?”
She looked me with a face that bore somthing along the lines of disbelief, which confused me.
“Why does everypony keep thinking I’m her,” Rarity said, obviously annoyed, “I mean, I do look and sound identical to her, and have similar tastes, if not better tastes, in fashion as Rarity, but that doesn’t make me her, right?”
I stopped and stared at her, realizing I’d only seen four of my six friends, and only one of my friends was a fashion freak.
“Marcus, is that you,” I asked in awe.
Marcus, despite only graduating two years ago, always wore somthing fancy, usually one his black tuxedos. Actually, I’m pretty sure he was wearing a tuxedo on the first day of kindergarden, too!
“Finally somepony recognizes me,” Marcus said with a sigh, “I’ve been running around for months looking for someone else from back home. But if I may ask, who exactly are you, then?”
“I’m Ella,” I said, “I didn’t recognize you with out your tuxedo.” We both laughed at that.
After a little while, Marcus explained what happened.
“There was a party at the factory,” Marcus explained, “Edvard, my boss, invited me. I decided that it might be a good idea, so I went. When I got there, everything was set up but the place was deserted, except for sketch pads and designer clothes lying everywhere. I should have noticed the sketches depicted the clothing that was everywhere, but missed it. So I decided to work on some of my drawings, the ones of Rarity, you know the ones, right?” I nodded and he continued, “I waited about half an hour before I started getting thirsty, and went over to the buffet table. I looked around and found a bowl of punch that was almsot empty with a boxboard sigh that had 'drink me’ written on it. I did just that, and started to feel dizzy. I fell over, barely awake. I managed to make my way to the bathroom and looked in the mirror to see this looking back, the exact thing I’d been drawing for months. I heard somone come in and ran to the main room to confront whomever was responsible. There was a pony, dressed in a black hooded robe, so all I could see was her long, back mane. She said this wasn’t supposed to happen here and her horn began to glow when everything began to fall away. I suddenly felt myself falling and saw clouds fly past me. I looked down and saw the ground fast approaching, then I blacked out. When I woke up, it was morning, and I was here, in Equestria.”
“And then what,” I asked.
“I started exploring,” Marcus said, “I may like my fur gleaming, but that doesn’t mean I’m afraid to go on a little adventure when I feel like it, unlike the real Rarity. Then I remembered that Twilight might be able to help me, so I jouneyed here from the far side of Equestria, hence the time I’ve been here, and went to see Twilight, and she directed me to you.”
I sat for a moment to take this all in. I felt she was holding somthing back, but decided not to inquire just yet.
“Um, Marcus,” I said.
“Yes,” she said paitently. “Well, seeing as you are an exact replica of Rarity,” I said, “I was wondering if I could...” She cut me off.
“Very well,” Rarity said, “I’ve actually always wanted to be like this, but you already knew that. I guess I needed to be with someone from back home to calm me down.”
“Hey don’t worry,” I said, “Tim, Ellen, Carl and Wendy are here, too!”
“Really,” asked Rarity.
“Yeah, but they go by Buck Wild, Rainboom, Scribe and Wind now,” I said.
“Could we maybe go to town,” asked Rarity, “I’m eager to see anyone from back home.”
“Um, Ella, could I tell you something I’ve never told anyone,” she asked.
“Sure,” I said, “You know I can keep a secret if I want to.”
“Well, you know all those tuxedos I wore back home,” She asked.
"Yeah, what about them," I said.
“Well, I kinda made them.”
I stopped and turned to face her. “You made your own tuxedos without me knowing,” I asked with superise, “Even the ones in kindergarten?!”
“Even those,” she replied, lowering her head, “I’d always looked up to Rarity like an idol ever since I was two, and did everything she did. And now I’m my version of her! This all feels so strange, you know?”
I nodded, “The change does feel wierd, but once you get to know other ponies, it seems better.”
She smiled at me, which made me smile back. Truth be told, Marcus was actually my little brother, but he’d inherited the family fortune and moved out when he graduated, leaving me, his big sister, behind. It appeared he missed me as much as I’d missed him.
“You know you could have just bought them,” I said.
“I know,” She replied, “But mom and dad would’ve said no, and it was funner to make them myself.”
We were just arriving in town when three fillys came running at us. I recognized them immediately, because it was hard to mistake the Cutiemark Crusaders when they were wearing their cloaks. The three of them stopped in front of us.
“Hi Rarity,” said Sweetie Bell, “Wait, weren’t you just back at home?”
Rarity looked at me expectantly, but for once I was at a loss for what to say.
“That’s not ‘er,” said Apple Bloom, “She’s one o’ them doppelganger things.”
“You mean a look alike,” asked Scootaloo. “Yeah, that,” Apple Bloom responded, “Anyway,we came ta see ya, Princess.”
“Me,” I repeated quickly and nodded. I turned to Rarity, “You go find Twilight, okay?”
Rarity nodded and galloped off towards Twilight’s treehouse.
“Who was she, princess,” asked Sweetie Belle.
“Coincidentially, her name is Rarity,” I said, “She’s my little sister.”
“What is all this commotion about,” asked Rarity as she came out of her shop.
I must admit, two Raritys was going to be a bit confusing, but it’s not unheard of for two people with the same name to live in the same place. Unfortunately, there is usually a last name.
“Nothing too important,” I said to Rarity, “Just introducing these fine fillies to my sister, whose name is also Rarity. Weird, right?”
“I must say darling, your parents must have been very professinonal ponies to have given one of their daughters such a fine name,” declared Rarity, “I'll see you all later.” She went back to her shop, no doubt to work on the next big thing in Equestria.
“So, I suppose you want to know how to get your cutiemarks,” I asked, turning to the three fillies. They all nodded excitedly.
“Truth be told, it’s not simple,” I said, “You must figure out what it is on your own.” They all lowered their heads, thinking I couldn’t help them.
“But, I will do my best to help you figure out what your cutiemarks are not.” They all yelped with glee and ran off.
“See you all tomorrow,” I called after them.
“See you tomorrow,” Scootaloo called back.
I proceeded on to Twilight’s treehouse. I knocked on the door.
“Oh, hello Ella,” Spike said as he opened the door, “Twilight and Rarity have been waiting for you.”
I followed Spike in. Twilight and Rarity were in the study talking.
“You really had to pick Rarity as a name,” Twilight asked.
“In my defence I do look exactly like her,” Rarity defended, sounding like the real thing.
“You’re starting to talk like her too,” I said as I entered the study.
“Really,” Rarity asked, “I didn’t even notice!”
“It’s fine,” I said, “As long as nothing changes mentally, Starlight should consider herself lucky.”
“Indeed,” Twilight said, “I hope you’ve been practicing your magic.”
“Of course I have,” I answered, “What abou you, Rarity?”
“I have been experimenting since I got here,” She said, “And did a few spells without even a book.”
“Like what,” asked Twilight.
“Well darling, the most noteable would be the one that turned Trixie into an alicorn until I figured out the spell to undo it,” Rarity said.
“Wait, and alicorn transformation spell,” asked Twilight.
“Yep,” Rarity replied, “Trixie still doesn't understand how you can stand being so tall.”
We left a while later. It was getting dark so we hurried back to manor.
When we arrived, we found the door slightly ajar.
“Stay close,” I said to Rarity.
We slowly entered the manor and looked around. There was nothing out of place, except some kind of liquid on the floor. I examined it more closely, and raced away, following the path it made.
It was blood.
It led to the living room, where we found Winter and Luna. Luna was covered in blood and holding Winter, who looked like he was under a great amount of pain, with her forehooves.
“What happened,” I asked.
“It wasn’t Starlight,” Winter said, “It was never Starlight.”
Suddenly I heard a crackeling as Winter and Luna looked out the window.
Me and Rarity turned, a look of terror passing over our faces as the windows shattered, the flames flooding through.
Equestria was burning. And there was nothing I could do.
Twilight, Rarity, Ponville, even me, were all gone. But then why could I still feel the heat?
I opened my eyes to find I had draped myself over Rarity. She looked up at me, tears in her eyes.
“Ella, are we dead?”
I lifted my head and looked around. We were still in the manor, but it was completely burned out, save a small area where me, Rarity, Winter and Luna were standing.
“Mom,” I said, realizing what this might mean. I quickly ran out the gap where the door used to be an ran though the burning forest towanrd Ponyville.
I arrived to a sight from hell.
Every building in Ponyville, including Twilight’s treehouse, was burning.
There were bodies of dead ponies littering the streets, all charred beyond recognition. I looked around to see Othelia emerge from the burning hospital with a magical shield around her. She had Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo and Trixie with her. I galloped over.
“Mom, you’re alright,” I said, embracing her.
“I’m sorry I can’t say the same for everypony else,” She replied.
We looked around at the carnage, and saw Spike dragging Twilight out of the treehoue, still in one piece. We ran over to help him wake Twilight up.
Winter, Luna and Rarity arrived, and Winter checked Twilight’s pulse.
“She’s still alive,” Winter said, lifting a hand to heal her.
“What happened,” I asked.
“It was never Starlight who was transforming humans,” Rarity said, “She was saving the transformed ponies from being controlled by the person who was transforming them, her sister, Darklight.”
“How do you know this,” asked Winter.
“She rescued me,” Rarity replied cautiously, “I was really with her brother and other sister before I came to Canterlot.”
“I see,” said Winter, “So Sunlight is the brother?” Rarity nodded.
“Anyway, Darklight used them to make an army and attacked the Winter Tower,” Luna said, resuming the earlier conversation, “Winter called in his Russian friends, but they never made it.”
“There was a force left on Sanctuary to stop them,” Winter said.
“So, it’s over,” I said, “Equestria is gone.”
“Not nessisarily,” said Twilight as she woke up.
“What do you mean,” asked Winter, “Are you really proposing...”
“The Time Spell,” Twilight finished for Winter, “Yes I am. It is the only way.”
“But you know only a pony can use that spell, and none of you have enough mana except Ella.”
“Exactly my point,” Twilight said, turning to me, “Ella, we can still save Equestria, but it will come at a cost. Do you know the time travel spell?” I nodded.
“You will be able to go back to stop Darklight from using the Winter Spire with that spell,” Winter said with concern, “But you will more than likely be a one way trip, erasing you from history in the process.”
I looked around at the desolation around me. It took me only a moment to decide. “For Equestria,” I said, casting the spell.
~~~~~~~~~~
A strange room suddenly appeared around me.
I saw Winter and a strange black pony on a sort of stage in the center of this large room. I realized I must be near the top of the Winter Spire.
“This is madness, Darlight,” Winter yelled above the wind, “You would destroy your own kind, and for what, a bit of cruel fun?!”
“Yes, I would,and I am,” She fired a magic bolt at Winter as he attempted to raise a shield, sending him flying off the tower. “I suppose you want some to,” She said, firing a bolt at me. I reflected it back at her, throwing her back.
“I will not let you do this,” I yelled defiantly.
“How did you do that,” said Darklight, “It’s impossible!”
“Impossible,” I yelled, “I was a human girl a few days ago. Try me.” I jumped onto the center of the stage and fired the most powerful magic beam I could right through the core of the spire, causing a small fracture in the crystal focus gem.
“NOOOOOOOO,” Darklight screamed as she was disentegrated by the blast from the explosion. I closed my eyes and let whatever happened next happen unhindered.
A bright light bloomed from the top of the Winter Spire. The tower and ground around it began to shake as the magical energy from the crystal poured out. After a few seconds, a massive wave of energy was discharged from the crystal as the fracture repaired itself. Below, as the wave passed over them, Darklight’s servants slumped and fell, all dead. Their minds had been wiped and linked to Darklight’s, so when she died, so did they.
~~~~~~~~~~
Rarity sat in Twilight's Treehouse, talking with her and Spike. They had been waiting for Ella. She had just come into Twilight’s treehouse after talking to the Cutiemark Crusaders when she suddenly vanished. At the same time, Rarity and Twilight’s memories flooded with the events that had happened between then and the time Ella had traveled back to stop Darklight, Starlight’s evil sister.
But that meant she was gone, erased from existence!
But, then why did Rarity and Twilight still remember?
The Cutiemark Crusaders and Trixie were listening to one of her stories, or had been before the memories flooded in.
Rarity galloped over to her mother, crying because her sister was gone forever.
Winter and Luna, both beat up, arrived soon after. Winter said he’d seen Ella in the spire with Darklight just before Darkilight blasted him out. The spire expelled a magical pulse moments later. He hadn’t seen her or Darklight leave before the pulse.
They held a funeral for Ella some time later, and dedicated a monument in her honor.
~~~~~~~~~~
Rarity was walking through the forest after the service.
Coincidentally, so was I.
I had been thrown clear by the pulse, riding the stage out. It disentegrated from underneath me, but I managed to get my wings open. I felt myself dying, but at the same time somthing was pulling me from death’s cold embrace. I realized it must be my dedication to and love of my little sister.
I landed in the Everfree Forest, not caring where as I was tired from my journey and my weakened state from being so close to death. I heard sompony, or somthing, coming. I decided to try my luck.
“Hello,” I managed to all weakly, “Is somepony there? I’m over here!”
The rustling got closer and closer, and I kept calling. Suddenly, a white unicorn with curled purple hair emerged from the bush.
“Ella,” Rarity said with astonishment. I nodded before passing out.
~~~~~~~~~~
I woke up in the hospital.
“Ah, you’re awake,” said the doctor.
“Did I do it,” I asked. “Do what,” the doctor asked back, “Because whatever you did left you pretty beat up.”
“Riding a magical pulse tends to to that to a pony,” I said.
“So, it was you, then,” The doctor said, “We were always taught that the time spell erased the user from history. You, my dear, are living proof that whoever thought that was wrong.” I nodded in agreement.
“How long was I out,” I asked.
“A couple of days,” said the doctor, “You’re fine now, though, so you can leave whenever you so please. Oh, and Twilight told me to tell you to meet her at her house if you woke up.”
I nodded again. “I’ll head over there right away.”
I was out of the hospital a few minutes later. They had taken off my collar, which I collected and put back on, then proceeded to Twilight’s treehouse.
I knocked on the door.
As always, Spike answered. “Oh, hi Ella,” Spike said, somewhat shocked, “Nobody thought you’d be up already.”
“Can I still come in,” I asked kindly.
“Uh, yeah,” Spike said, ushering me in, “Twilight’s asleep. You may have rewritten time, but she still has a headache from that bookcase falling on her in the fire.” I nodded.
“It seems rewriting history doesn’t erase everything,” I said, “Somthing’s bound to make it through.”
Spike nodded in agreement. “She should be up in about an hour,” Spike said, “Just grab somthing and read it if you feel bored. I’ve been reading Daring Do books in my spare time.”
I was busy reading a book about Equestria’s history. It wasn’t History of Equestria, and missed a lot of details Winter’s book didn’t, but it was good to pass the time. Suddenly there was an knock on the door. Spike went to answer it.
It was Rarity and Trixie. Rarity looked really happy to see me. She jumped right across the room, landing on me, which caused me to fall off the chair with her on top of me.
“Ella,” She said, happy and sad at the same time, “I thought I’d lost you forever.” She hugged me.
“Me too,” I said, hugging her back. We got up as Twilight came from her bedroom.
“Sorry if we woke you,” I said.
"It’s okay,” replied Twilight, “At least I managed to sleep off that headache.”
We chatted for a long time. “Turns out, the erase factor of the Time Travel spells was a rumor created by a scientist years ago who believed events that have happened should stay as they are,” Twilight said.
“I would tend to agree with his statement,” I said, “But only on events long past.” Twilight, Spike, Trixie and Rarity all nodded in agreement.
Another knock on the door distracted us from our conversation.
“Spike,” said Rarity, sounding like the real thing, “Did Twilight invite anypony else?”
“I don’t think so, Rarity,” said Spike, looking at Twilight.
“I don’t remember, either,” said Twilight, “Well, go see who it is, anyway.”
Spike opened the door to reveal a mare with a jet black mane and tail, blue fur, and a shooting star cutiemark. This was Starlight.
“Hi,” she said.
Twilight jumped back in shock, but me and Rarity were expecting her.
“Hello Starlight,” I said, “I had a feeling we’d meet at some point. I’m sorry about you’re sister.”
“You did what needed to be done,” Starlight said, “May I come in?” Twilight nodded and Starlight came at sat between me and Rarity, who draped a wing over her.
“She was deranged,” said Starlight, “Completely out of her mind. She wasn’t always that way, though. She once used her power over darkness and shadow for good with me, Sunlight and Moonlight.”
“You two weren’t just sisters, then, were you,” I asked, “Abilities that contradict each other means you must have been...”
“Twins,” Starlight finished for me, “Yes. But I was then as I am now. She was over-powered by the darkness that gave her her power. So, in an attempt to at least slow her down a little, I saved Marcus, now your sister, Rarity, from becoming another of Darklight’s mindless minions. She is one of only a few I reached before it was too late. Winter got to your friends before me or Darklight, and were some of the few whose memories were not lost permanently. They and Rarity here are the only ones I know of having kept their memories, along with you and Prince Ted.”
I nodded, realising how lucky we were, out of so many who knew nothing other than being a pony now.
Starlight then explained that she had been sent to collect me, Twilight, Othelia, Trixie and Rarity for a Coronation Ceremony in Canterlot.
“My understanding is that you are now to be recognized as a Princess of Equestria,” said Starlight with excitement, “Isn’t that exciting?!”
“It is,” I replied, “But wouldn’t I gain a lot of attention after the coronation?”
“Well, ever since me and Darklight were fillies, we wanted to be Princesses of Equestria,” Starlight admitted, “While I went around doing good and spreading love, Darklight delved deeper into the dark arts until she lost herself, seducing anypony she could find to do her bidding. I worked for years, quietly cleaning up her messes and setting everything right again.”
I put a hoof on her shoulder, “It sounds like you deserve to be a Princess more than anyone,” I said to her wih a smile. She smiled back.
“Let’s go,” I said, “I’ll see if I can get Celestia to make you a Princess for all the good you’ve done.”
“Mares and Stallions of Equestria,” said Winter loudly and with authority, “Today marks a historic day in the history of Equestria and Solstice. Today, we crown a new Princess of Equestria!”
The entire court cheered like there was a sale at a really expensive clothing store.
“And now," Winter bellowed, "I give you the newest Princess of Equestria, Princess Ella!”
The doors opened and I walked down the aisle, closely followed by Rarity and Othelia. The court was cheering my name so loud I couldn’t hear myself think, and then there was the fanfare as well.
I stopped in front of Winter as the fanfare came to an end.
Rarity and Otherlia stood on either side of me and turned to face the crowd. I finally noticed that Twilight, Celestia, Luna and Cadence were seated in their thrones, and were all looking at me. Twilight was whispering somthing to Celesia, who nodded. I hoped she was asking about Starlight. She deserved a ceremony like this at least to acknowledge what good she’d done if not to make her an Alicorn Princess.
Winter lifted a gold crown, similar to Luna’s, off a pillow a guard had brought. I bowed my head.
“By the powers vested in me by the Princesses of Equestria and the Kings and Queens of Solstice, I name you Princess Ella.” He placed the crown on my head. “Rise now and claim the mantle.”
I rose, to which the entire court cheered. I turned to face them, and saw Starlight with a guard on either side of her near the rear of the room. I had always been a good judge of character, and knew that Starlight had been sincere when she said that she’d only helped the ponies of Equestria and the people of Earth. It made me sad to see her this way.
“Rarity, please step forward,” said Winter. This caught everyone’s attention, even Celestia and Luna’s.
She stepped forward slowly, and I moved out of the way, confused.
“I have watched you in your journeys across Equestria to find your family, and admire the great lengths you’ve gone to help others along the way," Winter said, "I know that you fought off a Wendigo to save a child from a village nearby, and that you also fought and ursa minor and sucessfully drove it off."
I looked at Rarity. Her face said ‘how does he know’ quite clearly.
“For these great deeds, I offer you the title of Princess," Winter said, "Is there anypony in this court challenges my authority to do so.”
A silence followed, only broken when Winter resumed. “Do you accept this offer, Rarity?”
I looked at her. She already was an alicorn, but she seemed unsure.
She looked at me with a questioning gaze, and I nodded. She nodded in turn and bowed her head.
“Then by the power vested in me by the Princesses of Equestria and the Kings and Queens of Solstice, I name you Princess Rarity.” Winter’s hands glowed and a purple amethyst crown appeared in his hands. He placed it on Rariy’s head. “Rise now and claim the mantle.” As Rarity rose, she spread her wings, making herself look very grand and important.
She folded up her wings and moved back to her spot as Winter continued. “Today, we have had two new Princesses grace us with their presence, but I believe there is one more in this hall who deserves to be a Princess, and has wanted to since she was a filly.” I’d mentioned this to Winter before the ceremony, and he’d agreed with much enthusiasm. “Starlight, please step forward.”
The entire room went complete still, except for the waving of the banners.
“Starlight, please step forward, now.” Still nopony moved.
“Starlight, as your Prince, I command you to step away fro the guards on either side of you and approach me, now.”
Starlight did as she was told. The two guards tried to stop her, but Winter used his magic to freeze them. This turn of events sent the entire court into an uproar.
“SILENCE,” Winter bellowed in the Royal Canterlot Voice, causing the entire court to fall dead silent.
“Starlight, for centuries, we have believed it was you who caused devastatiaion all across Equestria and Solstice when you were only trying to undo the damage of Darklight, your twin sister. For this, Princesses Ella and Twilight have requested I bestow the title of Princess upon you.”
“I challenge this,” said about half of the court.
“And there is not one thing on Equus or on Earth that will stop me,” Winter continued, angered by the oubursts from the court. They all shut themselves up quite quickly after that. A crown of platinum appeared in his hands.
“You’re just going to let him do this,” one pony cried.
“Yes,” replied Celestia bluntly.
“By the power vested in me by the Princesses of Equestria and the Kings and Queens of Solstice, I name you Princess Starlight.” He placed the crown on her head. “Rise now and claim the mantle you’ve yearned for so long.” Starlight rose, and as she did so, she grew. A blinding light washed over the entire room. When it disappeared, Starlight stood as tall as me, and had grown a pair of beautiful wings.
The entire crowd was murmuring about Starlight even after they all left.
“Thank you for this,” Starlight said after everyone had left.
“It’s the least we could do after all you’ve done,” said Twilight.
“Really,” I said, turning to Rarity, “An Ursa Minor?”
“And a full grown adult one, too,” Rarity said, “I’ll admit, I was never so scared in my life! It was HUGE! And when I say huge, I mean ‘makes the Empire State Building look tiny’ huge.”
“Can you verify this,” I asked Winter. “It was smaller than the Empire State Building, and it was a young adult by our standards.”
“It was still really big,” defended Rarity.
“Indeed,” Winter agreed. “Well, I best be off to Solstice.”
“See you soon, then,” I said as he walked off.
“You can count on that,” He said as walked out, Luna close behind.
Something told me that the adventures were just beginning.