The Invite

Prologue: A New Student

A young woman in her early to mid-twenties was walking down a purple crystalline hallway. She had purple hair was with streaks of light purple and pale grayish aquamarine, her eyes were Persian blue, done with most going back over her left and a rightward part of it. She wore brown boots that went just short of the knee, a dress that went past the knee, near the bottom of her left side were two streams of two different tones of light blue that taper to a four-pointed star a lighter shade of purple than the dress with a long sleeved magenta shirt with a pink jacket that sleeves covered over most of the shirt with golden trim. On her left shoulder was a metal guard with a purple four-pointed star on an inverted white four-pointed star, with a sash that was made of two sashes of two different tones of light blue. On her forehead was a focus gem, unlike the black bar-shaped one she wore before, it was purple gem cut to look like a four-pointed star. This was Starlight Glimmer and she was in the Castle of Friendship and searching for a particular room. She sighed as she realized she was pretty much lost. “Okay.” she sighed again, “Let’s see library” She continued down the hall, as she passed each door she opened them revealing mostly empty rooms, one or two were closets for cleaning supplies. “Where did is the library?” She asked no one present. As she opened another door to nothing. She sighed and went to the next door, “Library?” she asked as she continued. After about five more doors on each side, she gave another sigh. “How is this place so big?” She shook her head as she got to the next door, “This place looked a lot smaller on th the outside.” She opened one more door on her right to reveal a purple-scaled bipedal reptile with green spines along its back, about the size of a thirteen-year-old boy wearing a towel around his waist looking into a mirror bathroom sink mirror brushing his teeth. The room itself was a bathroom, toilet, bathtub and all. Starlight swiftly shut the door. “Whoops! Sorry about that Spike.” Starlight sighed as she let her slide down to the floor. “I am just so lost. Looks like even though I managed to break into this place once and I have moved in…”

The identified Spike opened the door and was no longer wearing the towel or brushing, he was now wearing a pair of denim jeans and red shirt. “Like the new look? Normally I’m not one for clothes, but it’s been over a year since I became bipedal.” Spike seemed to have dismissed Starlight’s intrusion like the event was commonplace.

“You look like a kid.” Starlight answered as she tried to find the best way to answer Spike's question. “If you’re trying to impress Rarity, it’s not going to help, but if you wanted to be a kid, it fits.”

“Oh, and the library is right, here.” Spike said as he walked to the door across the hall from the bathroom he was using and pointed to the sign over the door that read, ‘Library, Castle Occupant Entrance’ and had a big image of an open book. Spike then opened the door to the library, “I’ll draw you a map of the castle after I clean up the bathroom.” Spike then went to the closest closet and took cleaning supplies out of it.

Starlight then went to the door, “Th…” she started.

“Don’t mention it.” Spike waved his talon as he put on industrial grade cleaning gloves and started to clean the bathroom.

Starlight sighed and walked into the library, in sided was a woman about her age with dark sapphire hair with two streaks, one was rose and the other was violet, with violet eyes, and metallic wings purple and gold in color which seemed to float behind her and yet also come from her back with two amethyst six-pointed stars functioning for the wings like her arm's shoulder balls. She wore a headband with a horn-like amethyst focusing gem on her forehead, with a dull blue robe with large golden cuffs, pink pants and brown boots that went up above her ankle. Around her neck was a triangle-like amulet that was colored like a rainbow of orange, yellow, cyan, alabaster, pink and purple. This was Princess Twilight Sparkle, Twilight for short. Twilight seemed to be forming a list. Next to her were several stacks of papers. “Um, Twilight, I am sor…”

Twilight stopped and looked at the time, “Shoot!” she groaned, “I’ve only just finished this. I am sorry, the first day of teaching and I don’t even my first lesson plan together.”

“Well, I could get lost in the castle again for an hour… or three.” Starlight tried to joke, but it went up like a (Author looks over his shoulder) rock.

“HEY!” Starlight and Twilight heard Pinkie’s voice echo in anger from nowhere.

“Okay… what was…”

“It’s Pinkie Pie, the rule of thumb around and concerning her, don’t question it. It will save your sanity.” Twilight informed as she wiped her forehead as if she completed a difficult task. “Well, there’s no sense in dwelling on the past. Okay back to selecting a lesson plan.”

“Okay… well, I see you actually did narrow the lesson plans considerably.” Starlight said as she pointed to the smallest stack of papers, which were in a box labeled ‘Approved Lessons’

Twilight looked at the stack and had a little giggle, “These are just the A's.” Twilight then turned to twenty-five other stacks, all of them reached the half-way mark of the bookshelves. “I still need to do the B's, C’s, D’s, E’s, F’s….” Twilight continued to cite the alphabet as she pointed to each stack of paper. Starlight’s right eye twitched when she saw the number of stacks and their size. She made a note to probably be wary when Twilight asked if she could do a few things for her. From the looks of things, Twilight’s definition of “a few” was much different than most other people out there. Starlight, could only nervously laugh.

Chapter 1: The Invite

After Twilight had finished the list of stacks she flew back to Starlight. Starlight picked up the stack of the approved lessons for A and gave a slight sigh, and skimmed through them, “I know this is the first time in my life learning about friendship.” She placed the stack down then looked to all the other stacks of the unsorted piles. “but there are so many lessons, more than I ever imagined for anything.” She then hung her head in defeat.

Twilight looked at Starlight then to all the stacks of paper, “Well, maybe I should go through these again and narrow them down before we actually start.” Twilight gave a light chuckle as she looked back at Starlight. After she took a second to think. “Well, the Summer Sun Celebration is tomorrow and my brother Shining Armor and my sister-in-law Cadance are expecting their baby any day now.Perhaps you can go to the throne room and help the others plan.” Twilight suggested. “It will take me a little bit before I can join up with you all.” Starlight nodded and started to leave the library, Twilight saw the door Starlight went to, “Wrong door.” Starlight stopped and turned back to Twilight. Twilight then pointed to the door that was behind her (Twilight), “It’s the door under the sign of my Aura Mark with my friends’ as the five smaller stars on a circle.”

“Oh... thanks…” Starlight then went to the identified door. “Guess I’m still trying to get my bearings. Spike said he’d draw me a map. But thanks for the directions.” Starlight went through the doorway and found herself in a short hallway that led to the throne room. In it were five women about her age each sitting on a throne. Starlight first noticed the woman seated in the throne with the rendering of the rainbow lightning bolt, had hair that was like a rainbow in color and that was done in a high ponytail with a hairpin that looked like a stylized cloud and a tri-colored rainbow of red, yellow and blue, with cerise eyes. She wore black sock-like boats that went above her knees, with a dull purple skirt and light a dull blue shirt with white and gold wing styled sleeves. On her waist was a quiver and a bow and from her ankles came ethereal wing. Also on her shirt was a pin of a stylized lightning bolt with wings, the wings were gold in color while the lightning bolt had the coloration of a rainbow of orange, yellow, cyan, alabaster, pink and purple. This was her youngest closest friend, Rainbow Dash.

The next woman that Starlight noted had long deep-magenta hair with a small tiara on her head with three sapphires cut as kites, this was Rarity, she had azure eyes, and she wore a long alabaster gown with some pinkish-purple with a long shawl that was composed of two rainbows in color, a traditional rainbow going the length of the shawl save for the width of one of the shorter edges which running perpendicular to the rest of the shawl was a rainbow of orange, yellow, cyan, alabaster, pink and purple, going around her back and hanging from her elbows and sat in the throne with three sapphires cut as kite.

Next was a blonde woman with green eyes, named Applejack. Her hair was done in a low ponytail and was dressed in brown pants, brown boots, a red leather jacket with some pieces of armor most notably pauldrons with stylized apples, brown gloves, a scabbard with a longsword in it. Around her neck was a black cord that had a coin with a rendering of apples on both sides but looked like a rainbow of orange, yellow, cyan, alabaster, pink and purple. Her throne had three apples similar to the ones on her pauldrons.

After her, was a woman shorter than all the others with bouncing cotton pink hair, blue eyes, this was Pinkie Pie, she wore a bear legged leotard with blue cruelly toed shoes a pink jester coat and a dark pink jester’s hat with three balloons, one was yellow and two were blue and on her jacket’s waist was a rubber chicken called ‘Boneless’, unlike other rubber chickens his right leg wasn’t the regular orange but a rainbow of orange, yellow, cyan, alabaster, pink and purple. Pinkie’s throne had three balloons that matched the ones on her hat.

The last woman in the room, and the oldest of them, also had pink hair and teal colored eyes, but her hair was lighter shade of pink and her eyes were teal, she was Fluttershy she was dressed in a green, yellow and light blue dress with a stylized pink butterfly as a brooch for her hood, and above her left ear was a blue flower but one of its pedals was a rainbow of orange, yellow, cyan, alabaster, pink and purple. On her throne were three butterflies much like her brooch.

Rainbow was clearly annoyed, “Come on! We should leave on the next train!. I don't want to miss the Crystalling!”

Applejack rolled her eyes, “Wah got the Summer Sun Celebration to prepare for. Don’t ya remember it’s tomorrow!” Applejack replied with a groan. “Wah can’t leave until the day after at the earliest. And wah don’t know when the baby will be born, it could be today, tomorrow, Wednesday or next week.” Applejack seemed to quite on point with the argument. “Also, wah know next tah nothin’ about a Crystallin’. Even if wah get the invitation.”

“Um, what's a Crystalling?” Starlight asked this was not a term she knew, in fact, she wasn’t sure if anyone knew this

“Well, that's just it, darling.” Rarity pointed out, “As Applejack had just pointed out and likely Twilight have most likely informed you,”

“That her brother and sister-in-law are expecting their baby any day now.” Starlight completed, “But what does that have to do with what I asked.”

“Well from Ah been able to gather, it involves a newborn, the Crystal Heart, some sorta energy…” Applejack turned over to Pinkie and nodded to her.

Pinkie inhaled and then screamed as she pulled out one of her party cannons, “A PARTY!!!” and she fired the cannon off.

“Yes, yes, a party.” Rarity dismissed. “And there is the fact that Krystalopolies had vanished over one thousand five years ago and returned about a year ago. So to most of us in Mystica, the lost city’s customs are a bit… well... murky.”

At that moment Spike came in with a vase, a book and a piece of paper, He walked up to Starlight, “Here’s one map of the castle.” as he handed Starlight the piece of paper “It’s enchanted to be self-orientated, so you’ll never get lost.”

“Thanks, you are a god among men.”

“Nay, I am just your friendly neighborhood dragon,” Spike seemed to dismiss as he walked to his throne, which was the one closet to Twilight’s throne, which itself was denoted by having a purple six-pointed star with a white six-pointed star that was inverse of the purple star and surrounded by five white stars, and smaller than the others. However, his smirk revealed he loved the praise as. He took his seat on his much smaller throne and placed the vase on the table. Depicted on the vase were several images, “It's actually very easy to understand.” Everyone raised their eyebrows at that, Spike then gave a nervous chuckle, “Well maybe after a bit little of research on the matter.” Spike couched, “Well, the starting point for understanding a Crystalling is an infant baptism, like the ones Big Mac performed on the Cake Twins.” Spike started with a comparison to something five of the young women knew.

Applejack then spoke up, “Let the record state, the Cakes’ asked for an infant baptism, given how old the two were when they had them.”

“But Sweetie Bella was baptized as an infant, and Granny Smith didn’t have a problem performing it.” Rarity chimed in.

“Yeah, my sisters and I were all baptized as infants,” Pinkie added.

“Fair enough, but Big Mac is the one doing baptisms now, and he while he understands the reasonings for an infant baptism, he prefers to do adult baptisms as they are old enough to make an informed choice for themselves, something babies and most children aren’t old enough to have the maturity to make them. He’ll do as young as thirteen years old willingly, but under than that.” Applejack stopped as it was clear that she agreed more with her brother than her grandmother on the matter and that it was hotly contested subject in the family.

Spike coughed in an attempt to get everyone to focus away from Applejack and back to the topic at hand, “Well, you see whenever a baby is born in Krystalopolies, the parents bring him or her before the Crystal Heart.” Spike pointed to the vase, specifically to an image of two parents with an infant, holding the child to be seen by others present. Spike then turned the vase to show an image of the couple and infant with a third adult with a crystal in his hands. “With the purest shard of crystal they found, and a crystaller,”

“Is that something like a godparent?” Rainbow Dash interrupted as she tried to wrap her head around the concept of the cyrstaller.

Spike shrugged his shoulders, “Pretty much. Now the parents present the baby to everybody who comes. Then they all share the light and joy they feel, very much like a Crystal Fair,” as he spoke he turned the vase to an image of people kneeling much like they do at the end of a Crystal Fair with crystalline blue magic flowing to the parent’s feet. Spike the turned the vase to show the Crystaller putting the crystal on the ground to abord the magic and then placing it on the child’s crown for a second. Spike then turned the vase once more to show an image of the crystaller placing the crystal in the dip at the top of the Crystal Heart. “The energy collected and the crystal that collected it, are then joined to and merge with the Crystal Heart and the Heart’s power increases.” Spike then put the vase aside, “And since this Crystalling will not only be the first after a Crystal Fair in over one thousand five hundred years, it will also be the first Crystalling for a child of Krystalopolies’ princess, Mi Amore Cadenza, And its on the week of the Summer Sun Celebration, it might even be on that day. That means the whole city will show up!”

As the five seated on their thrones were caught up in cheer over the upcoming event, something caught Starlight’s attention. The power of Crystal Heart, she was not unlearned on relics, as her ability to pass off a stick as a ninth Mage Meadowbrook artifact. So she knew about their power, but an artifact increases in power, that was something that made almost no sense to her. “Spike, could you explain what you meant that a Crystalling increases the Crystal Heart’s power?”

Spike thought about it at first, “No idea how, maybe with each person that takes part of the Crystal Fair, it absorbs more love and light and while a Crytal Fair is an annual thing, and not everyone who was in attendance for the last one will be there for the next one, while for a Crystalling there is a guaranteed increase to the number of people that can give their love and light to the heart.” Everyone could Spike was winging it, but they really couldn’t question it as it was a plausible answer

“Okay,” Starlight commented, “But do they need to increase the power of the Crystal Heart?” She knew there had to be a reason for a ritual, people don’t just things for more no reason, it’s not always a good reason, as she could attest to, but there is a reason.

Spike opened the book he had and after he read through a few pages much faster than most expected, rivaling Pinkie and Twilight. “Well from what I can gather, its so that increases the energy the Heart emits and uses to protect the city and the surrounding area.”

“But protect it from what?” Fluttershy asked the question on everyone else’s mind.

“Yeah Sombra was blasted into like a trillion pieces, I doubt even his focus gem could have survived his explosion.” Rainbow Dash added. “Pretty awesome explosion by the way.”

“Who?” Starlight asked, she was not familiar with the name, nor much of the world outside of her village, save for the absence of the ‘Maiden in the Moon’, but she chucked it up to the moon had spun on its axis to show a part of it without the image, Nightmare Moon was a myth after all.

“An old foe of Princess Celestia from a thousand and five hundred years ago. He returned along with the city and tried to reclaim it.” Rarity began her answer as she levitated the book Spike had to herself and flipped it to the pages that she knew would talk about the tyrant. As she looked, “He ruled Krystalopolies with an iron hand and was banished below the ice of the north for his crimes.” Once she found it she levitated the book to Starlight, who read the text as Rarity continued to speak after walking over to be next to Spike. “Spiky-wiky is a real hero.” She said and gave him a kiss on his cheek. “He helped Twilight deliver the Crystal Heart to Cadance and saved the city. You should read one or two of the recently printed history books and a few articles from the Krystalopolies and Chantalot newspapers, Darling.”

“Um, okay, I’ll do that sometime,” Starlight said as she put the book down, having gotten the shorthand of the topic, not enough to claim any real knowledge on the topic, but enough to get a basic understanding. “but I am with Fluttershy, if not from Sombra, then what or who does the Crystal Heart protect Krystalopolies from?”

Spike shrugged his shoulders, “No idea, that knowledge seems to have been lost to the sands of time.” Starlight was not sure how to take that. If the Heart existed before Sombra, then Sombra’s apparent death had to be an off-warranty use of the Heart, what could possibly need the love and light of an entire city reflected in a crystal to be driven back.

“Well, I am going to let Twilight know what you girls decided, she’s still…”

“She still tryin’ tah find thah perfect first lesson?” Applejack asked.

“Yes, how did…”

The five women and the dragon all giggled before Fluttershy spoke, “Twilight’s a bit of a perfectionist. It’s good for when a plan can take a week or more to form before action is needed, but…”

“She’s kind off slow when action is called for.” Rainbow Dash completed Fluttershy’s statement.

To which everyone but Starlight said in unison “I’M COMING, DARING DO!” and had a laugh at that as they began to leave the throne room and the castle, save Spike.

“I knew I shouldn’t have let Twilight tell the story.” Rainbow pouted as she flew after them.

Starlight was about to ask but elected that now was not the time, she still had to meet with Twilight. After she re-entered the library, “Well the footnotes are that Spike explained as best he could about the Crystalling and that Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy will be staying here for the Summer Sun Celebration which is tomorrow, and can’t attend the Crystalling unless it’s after that.”

“Oh,” Twilight said in a defeated tone, “I had hoped that they would attend. This would make the second time we were separated on the anniversary of our friendship.”

“Um, how long have you…”

“Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy go back to their childhood, Rainbow couldn’t have been older than nine, as do Applejack, Pinkie, and Rarity, think back to the Sonic Rainboom. As for all five have been friends, they have been friends since Rainbow and Fluttershy moved to Magiville four or five years ago, Rainbow was seventeen then. But for all five of them with Spike and me, this would mark the second year.”

“Your friendships seems to be a really important to you.” Starlight then noticed that Twilight had three pieces of paper on the table in the library. Starlight sighed with relief, maybe Twilight accepted the otherwise universally accepted meaning of ‘a few’ after all. However, Starlight had to voice a concern. “On an unrelated subject, there’s something I would like to ask you about Krystalopolies?”

Twilight’s eyes dilated in delight, “YAY, oh thank Celestia it’s true that great minds think alike. Because I was going to ask you something about Krystalopolies too.” Starlight could only tilt her head to her right slight and leave her mouth slightly agape. Twilight then levitated the three pieces of paper, “As you can see, I have successfully narrowed your first friendship lesson down to three options. And my friends thought I couldn’t do it!” Twilight then went to the window opened it and called out. “TWENTY MINUTES! I TOLD YOU I COULD HAVE IT DONE IF I HAD AN EXTRA HOUR!!!”

Rainbow Dash’s voice was heard almost cursing, “BUCK!!!”

Twilight then shut the window and returned to Starlight, “Sorry about that, but Rainbow and I made a bet and I just won. Anyway, back to the lesson.” Twilight then gave the pieces of papers to Starlight, “As you can see one of the lessons is in Krystalopolies!”

Starlight was not sure which lesson Twilight was talking about as the one on top was about the CMC. “Really?” she asked as she looked at the second one, which was about visiting Gryphonstone.

Twilight nodded her eyes closed as she flew over to a stack of what looked like yearbooks with the words ‘Celestia’s School for the Gifted’ printed on the spine. “You see, I found out that's where the first person you ever cared about lives!” Twilight was so happy with herself as she pulled out of the stack, the yearbook of the first year Twilight attended and flipped it to the photos and hand it to Starlight.

Starlight accepted the book and saw a picture of a boy…. “You don’t mean you found Sunburst?” she asked utterly at a lost.

Twilight giggled, “Well, of course, I found him, Celestia has kept details on all the students of her school and the information is available to everyone who attended the school, in case you want to meet up with someone before your class reunions or visit an old friend.” Twilight then changed gears, “Of course, that's just one idea….” Twilight’s voice faded to Starlight’s ears and was replaced with a high-pitched ringing, as Starlight dropped the book and the papers as she was hit with the realization… she was going to have to face not only Sunburst but more importantly and more dauntingly, her past. Starlight was trapped in her fears until, “Starlight?” Twilight asked backing Starlight out of what she experienced. “Something wrong?”

Starlight did a double take, “Oh, no, everything’s fine.” she lied as she tried to collect herself as she picked up the book and the pieces of paper. “It’ just that all three options sound perfect to be the first lesson!” She cheered with a closed-eye smile on her face as she got back up.

“I know!” Twilight cheered as she took the book and the pieces of paper. She took a moment to look at the three lessons. “Hum, I guess you were right –” she then flew back to the table and took out a pencil, and another piece of paper “It is gonna be hard to choose one! Better do pros-and-cons. Guess your first lesson will be later today than I expected. Well, time marches on. While I am doing this, why don’t you check on Spike.” Twilight then looked down at the lessons and started tapping the table with the eraser on the pencil as she began to think.

Starlight could laugh nervously before she left. It took her fifteen minutes to find Spike’s room, which was her best time ever, she knocked on the door. “Hey Spike, can we talk?”

In less than a second Spike open the door, he had taken off the red shirt, “Before you say anything, I was feeling that everything was going to fast.”

“Too fast?”

“Reptiles, well all exothermic animals don’t feel the heat like endothermic animals, when it’s cold, for us it feels like everything, especially us, are slowing down, which why reptiles in deserts are able to run as fast as they do. So what can I do for you?” Spike said as we walked back into his room. On the wall were various posters showing his various interest, a bookshelf with all the books for playing Ogres and Ogiletes, a stack of comic books, and on a nightstand at the bedside was a bowl of gems and stones, a desk, and chair. The room actually fairly organized. Spike jumped back onto his bed.

Starlight sighed before answered as she took a seat on the chair, “Well Spike, Twilight’s still figuring out that she wants my first lesson to be.”

Spike rolled his eyes, “She still at it. I know better than most that she likes to have her ducks in perfect little rolls but this is ridiculous.” Spike sighed, “How many did she narrow it down to?”

“Three.” Starlight answered.

“Three stacks that reach the library ceiling, far from ideal but it’s …”

“No, she narrowed down to just three options.” Starlight interrupted Spike.

Spike’s jaw dropped. After it hung open for a second, “Well, I’ll be. I would never have guessed that.” Spike then looked to his comics, “Good thing I didn’t take Rainbow up on that bet.”

“Wait Rainbow likes comic books?”

Spike shook his head, “There is a graphic novel that’s part of the Daring Do series, it’s actually the introduction of the character, written by Twilight’s mother by the way, and I have one of the few surviving copies of it.” Spike said as he got off of his bed and went to get the graphic novel in question to show Starlight, “And before you ask, the differences between a graphic novel and a comic book, are 1) is it serialized, if no, it’s a graphic novel by default. If not, then 2) what’s the page count? Because once you have about… pages it’s no longer a comic book.”

Before Spike could actually get the graphic novel, “I’ll take your word for all of it.” Spike shrugged his shoulders and went to his bed. “But back to Twilight’s lessons, well you see…” Starlight was not exactly sure how to continue.

“You not to keen on at least one of them, so which one is it?” Spike asked in a slight deadpan.

Starlight took a breath, “Twilight would like for me to reunite with my first friend, and my only friend during my childhood, Sunburst.” She then dipped her head in sorrow, she didn’t really want to face Sunburst, but more so what Sunburst was a symbol for, her past. “You see, as kids, Sunburst and I would study magic almost all the time. He knew pretty everything. I was a bit of a dunce.” Spike narrowed his eyes at that, he didn’t believe that for a second, this was not unnoticed by Starlight, but her focus was on Sunburst, on her past. “He always knew what to do, or at least was able to figure it out like greased lightning. Left to my own devices, it would take me days if not weeks to figure out what Sunburst could learn in an hour.” Starlight chuckled a little before a tear formed in the corner of her left eye, “But he was always able to explain and show me in a way I could understand. He was always there to help me…” Starlight stopped, it wasn’t that she couldn’t continue, but she didn’t want to. She didn’t want to face the part of her life that followed.

Spike, however, contined where Starlight left off, he wasn’t going to let Starlight runaway from this, she had to face it head on if she ever wanted to move forward into the future she wanted she had to accept the past for what it was, “And when he discovered his aura mark and was sent to Princess Celestia’s School For The Gifted, you blamed the mere existance of aura marks, stripped a village worth of people of theirs, and when Twilight and her friends stopped you, you plotted for the better part of a year to go back in time stop Rainbow Dash’s first Sonic Rainboom and make Twilight watch it, which almost led to Mystica and likely the world’s destruction. I think that about sums it all up.”

Starlight wiped the tear away, “Yeah, pretty much.” She sighed, “I am not eager to tell him about all that.” She then looked at the band on her wrist. “I used my magic to such terrible things and now I cut off from it for likely most of the rest of my life. He’s probably some powerful and important wizard now.” She then looked at the piece of paper in her pocket as another tear formed in the corner of her eye, “and I need a map to find my way around my own home.” She lowered her head in defeat.

Before she knew it, Spike had wiped the tear from her eye and gave her hug. She returned it. Once it was over, Spike placed his right talon on her left shoulder, “Well, if your right and Sunburst is that good at magic,” Spike sincerely doubted it, he never heard of Sunburst before the whole time-warp thing and if he was a powerful wizard he would have graduated from Celestia’s School For The Gifted, which would be something he’d remember. However, Spike elected to not challenge that notion. “then he'd admire your, uh…” Spike had to clear his throat as he tried to find the most tactful way to say it.

“I know they were terrible actions,” Starlight said with a deadpan. However, it shifted to a smile, “But thanks for trying.”

Spike nodded as he took a step back and headed to the door, “Look Starlight, you’re not going to get anywhere on the subject just by talking with me on it, at best I am a soundboard. What you need to do is talk to Twilight about it. She’ll hear you out and will give some think about.” Starlight then got up to follow Spike as the two headed towards the library “Heck maybe she’ll say it’s too soon for your reunion, but in any case, I'm pretty sure she wants to hear your opinions.”

“I know, Spike.” Starlight down to the floor, “But what if I make her think that I’m not ready? What if I come off as ungrateful for everything she and you have done for me and are doing?” She turned to Spike and looked at him like she was a lost child and maybe he was the path home, desperate. “I really don’t want either of those.”

Before Spike could respond to Starlight and attempt to ease her concerns, “SPIKE! STARLIGHT! COME QUICKLY! TO THE BALCONY!” the two heard Twilight call so load that she could be heard anywhere in the castle. The two ran and arrived in less than five minutes, mostly because Spike knew his way around, but Starlight was clearly getting better. As the arrived they heard a north wind blowing.

Starlight shivered a little, “Why is it so cold all of a sudden?”

Before she got an answer a fairly large snowflake drifted towards Twilight, who flew up and caught it and brought it with her back to the balcony. “Is that a Crystalling invitation?” Spike asked.

Twilight then read the snowflake, which was large enough to be a letter or invitation. A massive smile grew on her face. “I'm officially an aunt!” Twilight shouted before she gave the message to Spike and Starlight, “Well, it is settled!” She then turned her attention to Starlight, Starlight knew she was not going to like where this was going, “Since we're going to Krytalopolies, your first friendship lesson will be…”

‘Please send me to Gryphonstone.’ Starlight muttered in an attempt to pray, ‘I’ll take working with the CMC, anything but…’

“Reuniting with Sunburst!” Twilight finished and hugged Starlight. She then broke the hug, “We got to pack. If we're fast enough we can catch the next train in two hours. Come on Spike!” Twilight then flew back into the castle laughing gleefully as Spike followed her leaving Starlight on the balcony alone.

Starlight gave a nervous laugh, “Yeah, great…”

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The train started to roll out of the station. Despite how quickly the three packed, they missed the train Twilight wanted to catch, but missing it allowed for them to collect a few things. Once on the following train Twilight sat down across from Starlight and Spike, with their bags in the overhead compartments. Starlight checked the time, “Looks like we’ll be arriving tomorrow morning.” it was then that she noticed a rustic crib was placed next to Twilight. Attached to the crib was a mobile made of rainbows, clouds, and lightning bolts and in the crib was a white bejeweled blanket that was themed to match the north and looked very pretty, there was also a stuffed parasprite with a little felt accordion sown to it, “What’s all that?”

Twilight looked to the items, “Oh,” Twilight pointed the crib first, “you see one of the family traditions of the Apples is to hand craved a crib from apple trees for newborns in the family. I am an honorary Apple, so Applejack made this crib to give to the baby.” Twilight then pointed to the mobile, “Rainbow made this Cumula-themed mobile for the baby, just for a dash of ‘awesome’.” Twilight then pointed to the blanket, “And Rarity would never miss a chance to add make things a little more…” Twilight paused for a second, “fabulous.” Twilight then pointed to the parasprite, “This was Fluttershy’s idea, I know parasprites can be a problem, but they are so cute, and Pinkie Pie added the little accordion. They are some of the best instruments to drive them away.” Twilight then began to smile and could barely contain her excitement, “Uw! Shining and Cadance will love all these gifts for the baby!” Twilight then coughed as she focused back to Starlight and Spike, “But I think they're happier we'll be attending the baby's Crystalling.”

“Too bad Pinkie can’t attend, she would have loved to see the all the light and love empower the heart,” Spike commented. “Too bad Magiville has her booked for the Summer Sun Celebration, in advance too.”

“Speaking of empowering the heart, what does the Crystal Heart protect Krystalopolies from?” Starlight asked.

“The Wendigo,” Twilight answered as she got her bag and got a book to read, it was in a rather slight dismiss of the matter.

“Wendigo?” Starlight asked taken aback at that. Wendigos were a myth from like two thousand years ago, they couldn’t be real… could they? “I thought they were a myth.”

Spike rolled his eyes at Starlight’s comment, “There is a literal dragon sitting right next to you, we have as our queen in all but name a solar demigod, with her co-ruler being a lunar demigod, there is a demigod sitting three feet in front of you. There is a werewolf psychotherapist back in Magiville. You were able to travel through time like we normally travel through space and alter it. Seriously, you accept all that but the idea of spirits of the cold that are drawn to people fighting each other and freezing them to death to feed on them is utterly outrageous?” Spike asked rhetorically.

Starlight couldn’t counter that, “Fair enough, but if the story was true didn’t the Fire of Clover drive them off?” Starlight asked.

“Well yes and no,” Twilight started as she projected a map of Mystica in front of the three, “Clover’s Fire stopped the Wendigo from going from what is now Borealton south, what most of us consider Mystica.” Twilight’s magic presented a flame in the shape of a heart that was in the area of Dream Valley and the light of the fire covered most of the map up to where Borealton was in the north. Twilight then moved the map to focus on Krystalopolies, “However, to the north, in the area of Krstalopolies, it was the finding of a crystal that absorbed and reflected the love and light of those around it and was shaped into a heart by the first monarch of Krystalopolies.”

Starlight was impressed with the history of the Crystal Heart, and the myth of its finding, and if the myth of the Wendigo was true, then that explained the importance of the Crystal Heart, “Wow, this Crystalling sounds pretty important.” Starlight then took a second, if the Crystalling was such a critical thing, “I'd understand if you wanted to... you know... wait to do a different friendship lesson when we get back.”

“Are you kidding?” Twilight asked almost jumping out of her seat in pure excitement. “This trip is perfect!” She then turned to her book, which was a notebook and began writing in it at lightning speed,“Not only do I get to see the baby and take part in the ceremony that helps maintain the magic of Krystalopolies, but I'm starting my new pupil off with the most amazing friendship lesson ever!”She stopped and looked at Starlight with massively dilated eyes with stars in her pupils. “I can't wait!” She shouted before she went back to her notebook.

“Yeah”... Starlight nervously laughed.

Spike went to the bags and took out three blankets and three pillows, “Well,” Spike then yawned “we better get some sleep. Big day tomorrow.” Twilight accepted the pillow and blanket, wrapped herself in the blanket, placed the notebook in the crib, rested her head on the pillow and fell to sleep. Spike also wrapped himself in his blanket and rest his head on his pillow.

“Yeah…” Starlight wrapped herself in the blanket but she did not let herself rest, as she looked out the window, seeing the moon rise, “big day.” Reluctantly Starlight fell to a dreamless sleep.

The next morning as the train was about to reach the Borealton Station after the three had freshened up and were waiting for the train to arrive. Just as they saw the station, Starlight knew she had to tell Twilight her concerns, “Um Twilight?”

“Yeah Starlight?” Twilight asked as she seemed to finish writing something.

Starlight rubbed her left arm nervously, as she looked at the floor of the car, “I am a little… maybe… kinda a lot...worried about meeting Sunburst again.” She slowly raised her head to see that Twilight had finished her writing.

Twilight hugged her student, “Oh, trust me. I know what it's like to see old friends.”

“Yeah, and you didn’t even remember their names at the time.” Spike chimed in as he walked back with a bagel from the dining car.

Twilight glared at Spike before she continued, “But I'll be right there to help things along. I've broken the whole lesson down into a few easy steps to ensure this reunion goes off without a hitch!” It was then that she showed Starlight what she (Twilight) wrote, which was a step by step to do for the reunion with Sunburst. Starlight could only nervously laugh in response as the train came to a stop. As the three exited the train, Twilight began to read off her guide. “Step one, head to Sunburst's house and get you two started on the right foot. Step two, get to the castle with enough time to visit the ba—” Twilight was engrossed in her notebook until she bumped into someone. As she lost her footing she was helped back up.

“We seriously got to stop bumping into each other than this,” came a very familiar voice, Twilight turned to see a man about her age with blue hair, blue eyes. He was dressed in a leather jacket over a white shirt with a blue heater shield on the front with a yellow lightning bolt on the shield. He also wore blue denim pants and a pair of sneakers. At his side was a sword in a scabbard, on the pommel of the sword was a rendering of Twilight’s Aura Mark, and on his back was a bronze colored figure-of-eight styled heater shield with a four-point star with stylized wings above an olive branch etched into it and a guitar.

“Flash!” Twilight shouted and hugged the man. “What are you doing here?”

“Well I was on leave and I thought I'd attend the Crystal Faire, Summer Sun Celebration, and the Crystalling.” Flash answered and then looked down, to the ground, “But your brother has been… well … from what I gathered it’s not easy being a first-time parent and Shining seems to be the worse-faring of the two, Cadance is a demigod and she has Celestia and Luna here as someone to guide her…” Flash stopped as he allowed Twilight to infer the situation.

“My parents haven’t arrived yet?” Twilight asked in shock. Flash nodded in silence. She turned to Starlight, “I’m sorry, Starlight, but I guess combining your first lesson with this visit wasn't such a good idea. My big brother could really use…”

Starlight brushed the concern aside as if it didn’t matter, in truth she was relieved, this was a welcomed reprise and escape from the reunion. “Oh, uh, don't be ridiculous! You're an aunt now! That's way more important than some friendship lesson.” Starlight stepped behind Twilight and began pushing her in the direction of the castle, or what Starlight assumed was the castle, Krystalopolies was a short walk from Borealton and was visible.

Twilight looked to her book and then to Flash than to Spike and then to Starlight, “I just wish there was a way to do both.” She said with a sigh.

Spike took the notebook from Twilight, noticing on the first page was Sunburst's current address. “Actually there is!” He did a quick read of the section that was the checklist of the steps that Twilight wrote, which covered most possible choices. “You've already done the legwork for Starlight's lesson with this list.” He then shut the book and took Starlight’s left hand, “All Starlight and I have to do is follow it!”

A huge smile grew on Twilight’s face before she hugged the dragon, “Oh Spike, you're a lifesaver! That was absolutely genius!” Twilight then kissed Spike on the top of his head, “I am so proud of you!” She ended the hug to wipe a tear from her eye.

“Yeah…” Starlight laughed nervously before she gritted her teeth and was about to scowl at Spike, “genius.”

Twilight nobbed and then turned back to Flash as she handed to him her bag. “Then it's settled! Flash and I will head straight to the castle,” Twilight then turned to Spike and Starlight, “and you two can head straight to Sunburst's!”

“Aye-aye, Princess!” Spike saluted with his right talon and started to the residence section of Krystalopolies. Starlight nervously agreed with an ‘Uh-huh.’ before she followed Spike.

Twilight then turned back to Flash, “Alright, Flash, let's go see the baby!” Flash chuckled nervously but escorted Twilight to the castle.

About half an hour later as Spike and Starlight were in the center of Krystalopolies. Around them were the residences of the city, mostly Earthborn, with the occasional Skyborn but no Magicborn that Starlight could see, all of whom had what appeared to have a crystalize over-skin, which gave them their moniker of Crystalborn. Spike could not help but notice that Starlight was looking at the ground forlorn. “I know you're a little worried about this reunion,” Spike broke Starlight’s stuper and got her to look at him, “but I'm sure Twilight's got everything covered.” He tapped the notebook.

Starlight gave a sigh, “Yeah, she must have gotten everything.” Starlight then looked at the sky, “Everything except how I'd rather do absolutely anything else.”

Spike chuckled at that. If he knew Twilight, Starlight didn’t, but Spike did factor that Starlight didn’t want to do this, but he wasn’t going to let Starlight know. “Oh, I bet she's taken that into account too. It's all part of the lesson.” He then pointed to the notebook, “Trust the lesson.”

All the while the two had continued their walk towards Sunburst’s home they came across a large statue of Spike holding the Crystal Heart. Starlight reluctantly had to agree, “Right…” Starlight then trailed off as she looked around. It was then that Starlight saw the statue. “Hey, i-is that... you?” Starlight asked as she ran to the statue and walked around it. She had gathered that Spike made a big deal about the Crystal Heart but she seemed to have underestimated how big a deal it was.

Spike saw the statue and leaned against it, as he looked at his claws and then rubbed them against his chest, not unlike any boy or young man who was both accepting the praise offered and trying to ‘play it cool’, Oh, yep, it sure is!” Spike started to leave the area, “Now, according to the list, Sunburst's house is—”

“Why is there a statue of you in Krystalopolies?” Starlight asked as she remained at the statue, she both really wanted to know, but she hoped that if she could play to Spike’s ego then perhaps he would tell the story and be so wrapped up in it that he would forget about the lesson when it came time to attend the Crystalling and end up forgetting about the lesson and Starlight could avoid the whole thing.

“Because Spike the Brave and Glorious saved all of us from King Sombra!” Starlight’s question was answered by a young woman about Starlight’s age. The woman in question was Crystalborn. “And then again during the Mystican Games!” Another young woman who was also a Crystalborn added rushing in.

It took Starlight a second or two recovered from the sudden invasion of her personal space, by both women before she could question farther, “Really?” She could see the whole finding of the Crystal Heart was a big thing but was the Mystican Games all that big a thing?

“Really!” A passing by man, again another Crystalborn said as he walked up the gathering, slowly joined by other residents of the city. He then turned to Spike, “Big fan.” and shock the dragon’s talon.

“Um, when were you going to tell me about this?” Starlight asked as she walked up to Spike. Neither seemed to notice the ever-increasing attendance of the Crystalborn.

Spike shrugged his shoulders, “Later, it's no big deal.” He said with sincere modesty. He had his gloat earlier and he had a mission to accomplish.

“It most certainly is!” All the Crystalborn that surrounded the two cheered as they, more or less, formed a semicircle around Spike and Starlight.

Starlight was first shocked at this but then realized what she could do, “That's it!” Starlight declared as she joined the others encircling Spike, she sat down along with the children, “We're not going anywhere until I get the whole story!” Everyone then sat down and looked at Spike, all wanting to hear the story.

About the same time as Spike and Starlight reached the statue of Spike, Twilight and Flash had arrived at the castle. There to greet them were four people, one man, and three women. The man wore a set of gauntlets which looked akin to heater shields, depicted on them were a six-pointed star, similar to the one that part of Twilight's own mark. He also had white elbow guards with three blue stars, white castle turret themed pauldrons, brown boots with white and gold knee guards, blue pants, a purple open coat with blue padding, a rising sun like guard over the center of his chest and on his head was a unique helmet, which while exposed his hair and the top of his head, it kept his focus gem, a light purple gem cut like a pyramid, right in the center of his forehead. His hair was sapphire blue with two streaks of different shades of lighter blue, and his eyes were light blue. This was Twilight’s older brother, Shining Armor. The woman closest to him had hair that was tri-colored light yellow, dark pink and royal purple. Her eyes were light purple. From her back came a set of metallic wings from like Twilight, but while Twilight’s wings were a set large star and a few smaller ones, the woman's were half-heart with crystals. The main mark of her magical specialty was a large crystal heart that was mostly the front torso of her dress. This was Twilight’s sister-in-law, Cadance. Both she and Shining looked ragged and sleep deprived as their eyes could not remain open for long. The other two women both looked older than Cadance but also gave off an aura of agelessness. The taller had long hair that seemed to be a rainbow of two shades of light blue, a shade of light green and pink and it seemed to float even with no wind present. She had purple eyes and from her back, like Twilight and Cadance came two metallic wings, but hers were golden and white and had as the center of them a sun. She wore a long alabaster gown that even covered her feet. This was Princess (in name only, and Empress in all but) Celestia. Next to her was a slightly shorter woman, who was still taller than Cadance, with metallic wings as well, but they were black and dark blue with a crescent moon as in lue of the sun, heart, and stars. Like Celestia, her hair seemed to float but was like a starry night devoid of any terrestrial based light pollution, she also had cyran eyes. She wore a dark blue gothic dress that went just below her knees, a black choker with a silver crescent moon, and black and silver boots. This was Princess Luna and Celestia’s fellow diarch.

“Twily, you made it,” Shining said as he greeted his sister, or so he thought as he rushed over to embrace his sister only to hug Flash Sentry.

“Um, Shining-dear, to your left,” Cadance said as walked up to Twilight. “Moonbeam, Moonbeam, Fireflies awake, Clap your hands and do a …” Cadance tried to do the two’s meet and greet only to fall asleep standing up.

Twilight turned to Celestia and Luna, “I figured that they were tired,” she said as she pointed to Shining and Cadance as the snored themselves awake. “ but…”

Celestia turned to Luna, “Sister could you escort the new parents to their bedchambers, they need to get some sleep.”

“Wait I still have to interview the honor guards, choose the purity crystal, and pick a crystaller!” Shining shouted as he started to panic and hyperventilate. “What am I going to do!”

“Wait, didn’t I pick the guard?” Cadance asked confused. Cadance then looked to the sky, “Oh no the Crystalling is today!” She then started to hyperventilate as well. Before anyone could say anything Flash had his guitar and had started to play it. The music was a slow, meditative lullaby that Twilight had heard before, but always on Hearth’s Warming Eve, often as it came time for children to go to bed.

“Silent Night?” Twilight asked as Flash continued to play the song until Cadance and Shining were leaning against each other. Once Flash finished, Luna held her hand out and wrapped the two in her magic and had them float as she left, taking them to their room.

Flash shrugged his shoulders as he put the guitar back on his back, “Hey if it can get an army of the most excited kids to go to sleep on Hearth’s Warming Eve, then two sleep deprived adults are a drop in the bucket.” Flash then chuckled a little, “Seriously, I told you that you should hear me play ‘Silent Night’ on Hearth’s Warming Eve.” Flash then bowed to Celestia, “You’re Highness.”

“Commendable effort in helping the Crystalling come together, Commander, even interviewing the honor guard and selecting the purity crystal, all the while on leave,” Celestia said with a nod. Celestia then turned to the castle and guide Twilight in, “Now I think we should see the child before the Crystalling.”

As Twilight and Flash followed Celestia, Twilight turned to Flash “Commander? You were promoted. Again? Why didn’t you tell me?” Twilight asked as utterly confused. She assumed that this was something that Flash would have told her.

Flash gave a nervous laugh, he then looked away from Twilight, “Well it’s been the better part of a year since we spoke, the whole Dazzling thing.”

“Oh,” Twilight said as she looked down and away from Flash.

“You both are aware that a Sentinel cannot defy whom or what he or she is devoted to, lest they lose their boons and with each boon a Sentinel received the more intuned they are to the wants, desires, and commands of whom or what they are devoted to,” Celestia said not looking at the two but caused Twilight and Flash to blush a near purple-red and looked at each other only to look away coughing nervously. Celestia could not help but smile, knowing what was going on between the two. “It’s a good thing that the Summer Sun Celebration is tomorrow.”

“What? I thought it was today!” Twilight asked utterly confused about the dates.

Celestia couldn’t help but laugh, “My dear pupil, never change. But you should consider checking a calendar more often or get a new one more often.” Celestia then had another laugh as she led the two. After a few minutes, they arrived at the bedroom for the infant and were joined by Luna.

Luna looked to Twilight, “Before we go in, We think that you should be advised that you are in for a shock.”

Twilight opened the door, “I’ve seen plenty of babies, Princess Luna. There is no way that this precious wittle-wone is going going to shock me.” Twilight walked in and looked in the crib that was already set up, in it was a baby girl, closer to a toddler than a newborn, but still an infant. The baby’s hair was a gradient of light cerise to grayish violet with highlights of light arctic blue. It opened its eyes to reveal the irises were light opal Twilight then picked the baby up and gave it a kiss, “Good Morning, Wittle-Wone, I’m your Auntie Twilie, and I will be your Best Aunt Ever.” It was then that the baby stretches its arms and it’s … metallic... wings freeing itself from the blanket wrapped around it. The wings seemed too similar to Cadance’s, but they seemed to have no theme and no heart or star or moon like the four adult demigods. The baby was dressed in a purple and crystalline blue onesie. Twilight gasped at this revelation. The baby then cooed and giggled at Twilight. “Of course, I could be wrong.” Twilight had to admit as she came to grips with this fact as Flash joined her. The baby then babbled happily. As Flash took the baby, who started to play helicopter with it, Twilight turned to Celestia and Luna, “The baby is a demigod?!” Twilight asked in a near panic.

Luna nodded, while Celestia actually answered, “Indeed she is the newest demigod. This is a momentous event as the birth of a demigod is something Mystica has never seen!” Celestia stated. She had a deal of emphasis on the end of that statement.

“It is beyond even Our understanding,” Luna added.

“The vagueness of those statements is not very reassuring, your graces,” Flash called out but didn’t turn his attention away from the baby.

Luna looked to Twilight after she gave a cough, “Celestia was born before Mystica was founded, and We were born outside of what was Mystica at the time of its founding and Celestia was still a very young child at the time, the magnitude of Our birth was something she wouldn’t have understood at the time, beyond that she had a baby sister. Remember when We showed you and your friends when Clover the Clever found Our Sister and Us?” Luna asked.

Twilight sighed, “Yeah, I remember it.” She then turned to Flash and the baby, “But even then, how can Cadance and Shining be so spent?” As if on cue the baby sneezed, which cause light yellow magic to project out of her nose and strike the wall, leaving a very profound scorch mark on it. This caused both Flash and Twilight to look at the wall, then the baby, each other and circled through that three times until the looked at the royal sisters. The baby then burbled happily. Celestia and Luna seemed to be unphased.

Celestia took a breath before she addressed the shocked Twilight, “Yeah…naturally born demigods have similar outbursts of magic, like Magicborn and sporadic flight and fight-like abilities like Skyborn, but as you can tell…”

“Okay, so should we call it off?” Flash asked before Twilight turned to glare at him, “What? We have a potential natural disaster here.” This earned glares from Celestia and Luna as well.

Celestia shook her head, “For now we will proceed with the events as planned, do you mind looking after her while Luna and I inform the crowd currently gathered.

Twilight smirked, “I had to look after a newly hatched dragon at ten. With Flash’s help, I got this covered.” Twilight then took the baby from Flash. “Who wants to play with Auntie Twilie?” she sing-sang and got the baby to babble happily.

Luna then left with a nod, “We’ll have Shining and Cadance woken for the event in a couple of hours.” Celestia informed as she left after her sister.

“Uh-huh, a couple of hours, got it,” Twilight said with her focus on her niece.

Back at the statue of Spike holding the Crystal Heart, Spike had just finished the story of how King Sombra was defeated, “...and that's how we found the Crystal Heart, defeated King Sombra, and saved the city.” Everyone, even Starlight cheered, even she got caught up in the story, how Sombra was able to plan all that he did shock and impressed her. What also impressed her was how narrowly Cadance and by extension Twilight were able to almost literally snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. One of the Crystalborn shouted, “We love you, Spike!" Another than yelled, “Yeah. Tell the one about the Mystica Games!” After everyone calmed down after second, Spike chuckled, “Well, as much as I love reliving my heroic deeds,” He looked back to that statue and smiled. He then turned back to the audience, “But Starlight and I have an important lesson to do,” he taped the notebook that he had. He then stood at attention like a soldier, “ by order of the Princess of Friendship!” He declared. Everyone pouted, the children going “Awwww!” as they all looked to the ground sad that they could not hear the next story.

Starlight panicked slightly, she had to find a way to get Spike to forget about the lesson, “Aw, come on, Spike!” Starlight exclaimed as she tried to make Spike sit on the base of the statue. “I want to hear about the Games too!”All the children’s eyes shot open and dilated in joy.

Spike shook his head, “Sorry everyone. I can’t now. But I can after the Crystalling.” Everyone seemed to begrudgingly accept that and went able their way. Spike turned to Starlight, “I know you're nervous about seeing Sunburst, but it says right in step 3,” Spike opened the notebook to mind the step in question, “to, uh,” He found it after another second, “ ‘Deal with your fears by facing them, not by putting it off.’” Spike then headed to Sunburst’s house.

It took about twenty minutes for the two to arrive at Sunburst’s house, which seemed to be out of place, looking not unlike a green mushroom. Starlight groaned before the two climbed the short flight of stairs to the front door. “Ugh. Let's go get this over with.”

As Starlight climbed the stairs and was about to knock on the door, “Wait!” Spike exclaimed which caused Starlight to stop before she knocked the door.

“Huh? What?!” Starlight asked as she turned to look at Spike as he climbed the stairs to

“Knocking on the door isn't the next thing on the list!” Spike said as he pointed to the entry of the notebook in question.

Starlight facepalmed herself and groaned, “Seriously?” she asked as she looked at the list and then to Spike.

“I know Twilight can be a little nit-picky,” Spike said as he closed the notebook, “Seriously I lived with her for over thirteen years, I know her better than most.” Starlight rolled her eyes. Spike ignored that and continues, “but this is your first lesson as her pupil, and it's important that we do it right!”

Starlight shook her head, “Fine. What's the next thing on the list?” she asked as she didn’t read the entry for step number four.

Spike reopened the notebook, and cleared his throat before he read, “Before they see each other, be sure to highlight the importance of the meeting.” Spike then shut the notebook again.

Starlight waved her hand dismissively, “ I'm pretty sure we can skip that.”

Spike shook his head, “I don't know…” He then looked at Starlight, “I mean if we skip it, the whole lesson could go south!” Spike then grabbed Starlight by her shoulders and brought her face to be close to his, “And then you might end up taking a giant step backward instead of forwards!” He then let go and seemed to hyperventilate and panic, “Maybe you'll never be able to learn anything about friendship at all! It's almost like your whole future depends on this moment.” Starlight force in terror, as the gravity of the situation sank in, this was a pivotal moment in her life, she was going to face her past, what if she failed? Starlight started to hyperventilate and panic. “‘Step four, Highlight the importance of the meeting’” Spike read off as cool as a cucumber, “ – check!”, he made a check next to that step. He then knocked on the door before stepped down the steps, “And that’s for trying to derail the lesson by having me tell the story.”

Starlight then recovered, “You knew! Why you litt-” she was about to lash out at Spike when she heard the door open.

“Um, hello ma’am?” came a soft tenor voice. Starlight turned and saw a man about her age, he was slightly thinner than most, as to be expected of men that delve deep into text, be the text for the hidden knowledge of the fabric of the universe or the hallowed scriptures of the Divine’s teachings. He wore glasses which didn’t hide his eyes, which were a gradient of various shades of blue dark cornflower blue to moderate cyan. His hair was two shades of vermilion, both vivid and brilliant, with a matching goatee. He wore a bright gamboge shirt with his Aura Mark, an an orange sun bursting with four yellow rays of two different shades of yellow on the sun’s left side with six blue stars of two different shades of blues around the sun’s right side, a set of pants matching most of his shirt, on his hands were a set of white gloves on his hands. He wore over his shirt and pants a light blue cloak with a light green lining of the trim and a series of light green five-pointed stars, and clasping the cloak was his focus gem, which was a light green circle sun with white rays pointing to his right, with a small white four-pointed star in the sun’s double right corner.

Starlight didn’t fully recognize the name, but she recalled him after a second, “Sunburst?” she asked just to be sure.

“Yes, what can I do for you?” the recently identified Sunburst asked as he didn’t seem to recognize Starlight.

“It's... It's me, Starlight.” Starlight as she tried to get Sunburst to recognize her, “We used to be friends.”

Sunburst took a second to look at Starlight and tried to think back to his childhood, as he recalled who Starlight was,“Oh, of course! S-Starlight!” it was clear to both Starlight and Spike that Sunburst was nervous about this, clearly Twilight didn’t bother to give the poor guy a heads up. “My goodness, it-it's been a long time! What, uh, what have you been up to?” He asked as he looked at Starlight.

“Me?” Starlight asked not fully wanting to answer the question, “Oh! You know, some of this, some of that, different... stuff.” She trailed off as she waved her hands left and right as spoke. “Right now, I'm sort of Twilight Sparkle's new pupil.”

“The Princess of Friendship?” Sunburst asked surprised at what Starlight was currently engaged in and with whom.

“Heh... yeah…” Starlight laughed nervously as she looked away, “that's actually kind of why I'm here. I mean, I know you're probably very busy.” She finished hoping that maybe Sunburst might not be able to help with the lesson.

“What do you mean?” Sunburst askes legitimately confused at that.

“Well, I figured after graduating Celestia’s School for The Gifted, you'd go on to do important wizard work, but…” Starlight trailed off as she held her right upper arm with her left hand, not sure what to do.

“Oh. No.” Sunburst started but then stopped, Starlight didn’t notice that he was actually nervous about the subject of his status around Celestia’s School, “Y-Yes! Uh, y-yes, that's me, yup.” He trailed off to chuckle nervously. “ Important wizard! Really busy with lots of, uh, wi-wizarding... stuff.” There was a pause as he looked around, “Right. Uh, well... good to see you.” He then closed the door.

“Huh.” Spike said with a shrug as he looked over the notebook and the list written therein, “Maybe we should have skipped highlighting the importance of the meeting after all.”

Starlight then started to leave the front steps and head to the castle, “Well, I guess that's that!”

Spike rolled his eyes as he grabbed Starlight by her should which prompt her to turn around, “Starlight, come on! We have to at least explain what Twilight wants!” Starlight groaned before she ascended the steps once more and knocked on the door again, which was opened by Sunburst, again.

“Yes?” Sunburst asked.

“Can we talk inside?” Starlight asked.

At that moment from the stage set up to present the baby for the Crystalling, which also had the thrones Celestia and Luna would use for the Summer Sun Celebration the next day, Celestia spoke, “Thank you all, for coming on this special day, the first Crystalling since the banishment of the city. Not only those of you who have lived in Krystalopolies all your lives, those that have moved here since its return and then those from all over Mystica that have come here for the Crystalling.” Everyone in attendance cheered at that. Celestia raised her hand and everyone fell silent. “I am certain that you are all as thrilled as we and the happy parents, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza and her consort Marshal Shining Armor are for this Crystalling, but please recall that the baby is a demigod as such we all must be alert.” Everyone seemed to cheer at that.

Celestia turned to Luna, “We shall wake Shining and Cadance, We just hope Twilight and Flash are faring well with the baby.” Luna said and left to get the parents.

At that moment, in the chambers where the baby, Twilight, and Flash were, the baby was flying around, dragging Flash who was trying to fly in the opposite direction while still holding the baby. The baby was burbling happily, “Well... at least one of us is having... fun!” Flash commented before the baby sent a magical blast which was intersected by Twilight.

“Flash, hold her still!” Twilight ordered as the baby was dragging Flash around.

“What do you think I’m doing? Baking a cake!” Flash all but shouted back.

At that moment, Sunburst, Starlight, and Spike were inside Sunburst’s house and were seated at a coffee table. Sunburst just returned from the kitchen with teacups on saucers, a sugar jar, a small thing of milk, a set of teaspoons, and a kettle on a tray. Aside from the trio, the entire place was full of books. Some on bookshelves, some stacked on other tables. “So... the Princess of Friendship wants you and I to be friends again?” Sunburst asked as he placed the tray on the table.

“Heh, I know. Weird, right?” Starlight asked as she helped Sunburst with passing the teacups.

Sunburst shook his head as he prepared to pour the tea from the kettle, “Uh, I don't understand.” he first poured Spike’s tea then he poured Starlight’s, “Did something happen to you after I left for Celestia’s School?” He asked as he offered the sugar jar to Spike, who took two lumps before he passed it to Starlight who put it back on the tray.

“What?” She asked as she accidentally hit the table with a thump almost knocking her teacup off the table. She narrow caught it, without spilling the tea, “No! I-I don't see what that has to do with anything.” She then drank all the tea in the cup, “W-Why would you even ask that?” Silently Sunburst refilled her cup and then poured his own cup. “I mean, did something happen to you after you left for Celestia’s School?”

“What?” Sunburst asked as he all but jumped back almost pouring the tea all over the place. His hands shook as he placed the kettle back on the tray. “Um, no. L-Like you said, I'm a,” He cleared his throat as he began to stir the empty air with his teaspoon, “i-important wizard.” After a second he realized what he was doing and after giving a nervous laugh as he put his teaspoon down. Sunburst and Starlight looked away from each other and tried to avoid eye contact.

All the while Spike was reading through the notebook, “I'm sure there's something on Twilight's list that can help here,” he muttered.

About half an hour later, Shining Armor and Cadance each gave a stretch that the well-rested would as they greeted the waking world. They were standing next to Luna and Celestia right next to the Crystal Heart. “That was good,” Shining said with a blissful sigh, and thanks to Flash we got the honor guard and the purity crystal.”

“And with Twilight here, we have our crystaller,” Cadance added as she smiled like she was able to sleep a thousand years. “All we need is Twilight and the baby.” There was a moment of silence as Shining and Cadance looked to Celestia and Luna, then to each other and then around.

“WHERE’S OUR BABY?” the two parents screamed as they started to frankly search for their child.

“She’s right here, with her Auntie Twilie!” Twilight called out as she arrived with a bubble of purple magic around the baby and Flash. The baby was flying around the bubble in all three dimensions as Flash could only hold on. “We're here!” all the while the baby was burbling happily.

“She's a really strong flyer!” Flash informed before Cadance made a magic bubble crystalline blue in color to surround the baby inside the one Twilight that surrounded Flash and the baby, separating the baby from the Sentinel and bring the baby to her mother. Once the baby was separated from Flash, she began to sniffle as she tried to reach out to him. After a couple of seconds, she began to cry loudly. The cry caused a shockwave that burst the bubble she was in and continued to resonate as it struck the Crystal Heart. The Heart had been spinning since it was placed where it was. The Heart stopped for a second. Everyone watch terrified about what could happen, even the baby was scared at that as she floated into her mother’s arms. The Heart then cracked and shattered into eight million and one fragments. Everyone then gasped in horror. Flash walked over to where the Heart was and looked over the fragments of the Crystal Heart, “And she’s extremely powerful in magic.” Flash commented, earning him glares from the two parents and the two much older demigods. Flash gave a nervous chuckle as he rubbed the back of his head, “Well, that’s going to make it just a little harder to do the Crystalling.”

“It's worse than that,” Twilight said as she ran over to a window and pulled open the blinds to show forming black clouds. “Without the Heart, Krystalopolies is about to be buried under a mountain of ice and snow!” The baby then buried her face in her mother’s bosom with a whimper, freighted about the big scary black clouds.

Author's Notes:

A few things;
The music of the 'Silent Night' was originally written to be played on a guitar, as shown here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlJsQ_SyhBw

and yes the guitar did exist when the song was written, in fact, the instrument itself has been around since at least the 1200's. The lyrics of version Flash plays would be this one :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNv_2WDu9yQ

I am more of the original German and English translations, but hey.

Yes, I have Flash filling in the various roles of the rest of the Mane6 and some of Shining's role. I have plans for the ladies and I will get to it... later rather than sooner...

Oh, something I forgot from the last chapter, I am Roman Catholic IRL, and so there is an importance made concerning baptism, both for infants and adults. Now today normally baptisms are performed on infants, this dates back to the high infant mortality rates of the Roman Era, the Middle Ages, the 'Renascence', etc. Now it should be noted that in Christianity a baptism was first meant to symbolically die via drowning and then rebirth, it has been to extent retranslated to be washing away Original Sin. Now real world religion aside, to me, an infant baptism is the best comparison to a crystalling.

A Failed Attempt

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As everyone began to recover from the shattering of the Heart and joined Twilight at the window. “Well, looks like we’ll have to put the Crystalling on ice.” Flash tried to joke, only to earn glares from the other adults. “Too soon?” He asked and was answered with nods. “So what do we do?”

“Without the Crystal Heart, there is nothing to stop the Wendigo, and even though there is not the anger and animosity that would normally attract them, they are starving and desperate for food,” Twilight said as she flew over to the heart.

“Come again?” Shining asked, “But when Sombra ruled and before you and Spike found where he hid the heart, there wasn’t a Wendigo attack.”

“I am surprised that any would still be alive, I know their spirits, they can’t be immortal,” Cadance asked as she looked at Twilight.

“There is much of this world that even Celestia and Us haven’t even the smallest of a clue about. But the Heart, while not empowered was still in existence and still emitting the love and light stored within.” Luna exposed after a moment of thought.

Cadance looked at her baby then to her aunt, “Aunt Celestia, what do you think I should do?” She paused, “I want to see if we can restore the heart, there has to be a way to do so. But I am also concerned if we can't.”

Celestia said nothing at first as she looked out into the gather storm clouds. Soon a stern scowl formed on her face. “Two hours.”

“What?” the other adults asked in confusion.

“I can hold them off for two hours, you have that much time to find a way to restore the heart. During that time, I would advise preparing your subjects to evacuate the city.” Celestia did not look at the others there as she spoke. “I almost failed to protect my sister from them,” Celestia said as she turned to the others, with her focus mostly on Luna. She then turned to look at the baby, “I will die before I let them have any of my children.”

“You shalln’t face them alone, Sister!” Luna declared. “We might not be able to help expand the timetable you presented, but We are not the infant they hunted all those years ago,” Luna said as she stepped forward to look Celestia in the eye, a fire burning therein. Celestia smiled and nodded and the two flew towards the clouds.

Cadance turned to Flash, “Commander Sentry, I know you are on leave, but I want you to prepare the city to evacuate, you have one hour thirty minutes to get all the civilians to the southern gate. You are to wait there for the order to come back for ten minutes if no order arrives then get the civilians to Borealton as quickly and as safely as you possibly can.”

“But to do that..” Flash started.

“I, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, the Crystal Princess, in order to preserve the lives of my subjects hereby declare a state of Marshall Law to be executed by Commander Sentry of the ESM within the Autonomous City-state of Krystalopolies of the Everfree Principality of Mystica in Dream Valley for the next twenty-four hours or until otherwise rescinded by myself, my Consort, Marshall Shining Armor, Princess Luna and/or Princess Celestia.”

Flash nodded was about to fly off to carry that order but his wings glowed purple and refused to move, causing him to fall to the ground. “That’s odd,” Shining said as he looked at the wings. “Celestia just advice for us to evacuate the city..”

“It’s because Flash is no longer a Sentinel to Auntie Celestia,” Cadance said as she walked over to see the wings. She then turned to Twilight. Cadance knew that at something was off, “Twilight, I need not only your help to find a way to restore the heart, but I need someone to head the evacuation. I need to leave the baby in Shining’s hand and Flash is the next highest officer here. Please. I know you don’t like the idea of Marshall Law, and you want Flash’s hands to be clean of that mess.” Cadance pleaded to Twilight.

Twilight sighed and she looked at Flash, “Please be a merciful and civil as possible.” She asked as gave a sad nod. Flash nodded in turn and headed to his temporary quarters to get his armor. Twilight then turned to Cadance, “Let’s get to the library.”

Before Twilight and Cadance left, “Let me take the baby.” Shining said as he took his daughter into his arms. “I’ll keep her out of the library, don’t want to run the risk of her power accidentally destroying the book with the spell you need.” Shining then turned to his daughter. “Hey, do you want to see what your grandparents look like?” The baby seemed to nod.

At that same time, Spike was still looking at the list in the notebook, “There's gotta be somethin'...” he asked as he neared the end of the written section of the notebook.

All the while Sunburst and Starlight had seemed to play with there teacups, saucers and teaspoons, not really looking at each other as they seemed to be at a lost of what to do. Eventually, Sunburst spoke after a cough, “I know Princess Twilight is keen on the two of us rekindling our friendship,” Starlight then turned from what she was doing and looked at Sunburst as he finally met her eye-to-eye “but…” Sunburst paused as he thought back to the past, “it's been so long. I don't see how anything on that list is going to help.”

“I know, right?” Starlight said with a laugh as it seemed to her that this was a bust, “It's not like there's some spell that would magically compel us to pick up where we left off.” She then laughed with her eyes closed.

Sunburst then got up from his seat and started to go to the various books he had, “Well, actually, there's several.” He then levitated a book with a stylized cloud of mist rendered on what Starlight thought was the back cover, “There’s Mistmane's Material Amity,” Sunburst said as he opened the book going right to left and found the spell he was looking for and pointed that it was written in another language, mostly characters and written in columns going from the top down.

Sunburst then got another book with a Valknut on its cover and opened it to show that the texts were in a form of runes and opened the book to the spell in question, “Rockfoot's Rapport,”.

Sunburst then picked up another book with a depiction of a blue feather over a rendering of mountain peaks, “Flash Magnus' Fellow... ship…” Sunburst trailed off as he saw the horror on Starlight’s face that there were so many spells and shocked by his knowledge of them. He gave a cough as he placed all the books down, “But I-I get the feeling the princess isn't looking for a spell.” Sunburst and Starlight both laughed nervously.

“Definitely not.” Starlight said after they finished their laugh as she looked at the band on her wrist. She then looked up to Sunburst and was about to say something.

“Got it!” Spike shouted as he found something in the notebook. He cleared his throat before he started to read from the notebook, as he read he looked to the two as he finished, “And if all else fails, ask them to share an embarrassing moment from their past, maybe even something they regret!”

There was a moment of awkward silence as the Sunburst and Starlight looked at each other and then turned away from each other. Sunburst rubbed the back of his head as he looked at the ceiling, “Uh, I don't see how that would help.”

“Uh, yeah!” Starlight strained as she looked at the floor. She then got up and looked towards the door, “We should just get out of your hair. It's pretty obvious this isn't going how Twilight hoped, and I'm sure you have plenty of important work to do…” She trailed off as she turned to look at Sunburst and then to the floor.

“What?” Sunburst asked at first as he tried to understand what Starlight was saying. After a second recalled, “Oh! Right, yes, heh-heh!” Sunburst muttered as he went back to his books and began to organize them. “Uh, no rest for the wizardly.” He then started to look through other books.

Starlight sighed as she looked at the ground again and turned to the door, “Come on, Spike.” Starlight said as she opened the door. Spike groaned as he got up and the two exited the house. After the door closed, Starlight turned to Spike as they began to walk away, “Well, Spike, looks like my biggest fears came true.” Starlight then looked at the ground and away from the dragon, “I wouldn't be surprised if Twilight decides to give up on me entirely.”

Spike tried to comfort Starlight, “Aw, it's not your fault. I'm the one who said all we needed was this list.” Spike tapped on the notebook before he huffed out a small flame.

Starlight didn’t see the huff or notice that Spike was moving a little slower than normal, “It's not the list, Spike.” She then turned her attention from the ground to in front of the two, “Or you. Or Twilight.” she continued to list off, as she wanted to make sure that Spike didn’t feel like he was responsible or unintentionally blame Twilight, “I'm the one Sunburst doesn't want to be friends with.” Starlight sighed as she looked towards the sky.

It took a little longer than normal for Spike to respond but it was not noticed by Starlight or anyone else there, “I don't remember him saying he didn't want to be friends.

“He didn't have to say it.” Starlight said still not looking at Spike and still fairly oblivious to Spike’s reduced speed in his response.

Spike gave a few huff of fire to warm the air around him, which still went unnoticed by most, once it seemed warm enough, “Well, Twilight obviously thinks you're worth being friends with! And I do too!” The dragon declared as he took Starlight’s hand.

Starlight finally turned to face Spike, a small smile forming on her face, “Thanks, Spike. At least I have two friends,” She hugged the dragon and then smelt the air, she ended the hug and tried to brush the air around her nose to get rid of the scent, “even if one of them has dragon breath.”

Spike turned and exhaled a slightly larger and longer flame then he had previously. Once it was done, “That's not dragon breath. I am trying to warm the air. It's got to be freezing because I am feeling really slow.”

Starlight then began to shiver slightly, “Oh, you're right!” Starlight’s eyes then widen in terror, as she began to realize what to what going on, “But I thought the Crystal Heart was supposed to keep the Wendigo and the cold weather out.”

“It is…” Spike said as he thought for a second, “unless something's happened! Come on!” Spike then began to run to the castle, Starlight not far behind him.

At that moment, Flash stood in front of the residence, wearing his golden colored armor, “I am Commander Flash Sentry of the ESM, and by order of Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, the Crystal Princess, in order to preserve the lives of her subjects has declared a state of Marshall Law to be executed by myself within the Autonomous City-state of Krystalopolies of the Everfree Principality of Mystica in Dream Valley for the next twenty-four hours or until otherwise rescinded by Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, her Consort the ESM Marshall Shining Armor, Princess Luna and/or Princess Celestia. In accordance with that, the city is to prepare for evacuation and gather at the Southern Gate within fifty minutes.”

Flash ordered as the guards began to prompt the crowd to leave there were one or two had to be dragged away but reluctantly they began to head to their homes to collect their thing. Flash could only sigh in sorrow, he hated to do this, but such was a soldier’s charge. He flew down to the ground and looked towards the sky, the clouds had vanished from view but like with the Shadow King Sombra, Flash knew the Wendigos were just beyond his sight and their cold was starting to creep in.

He then turned to see Spike and Starlight walk through the crowd towards him. “What’s happening?” Spike asked.

Flash was not sure how to answer, “Follow me.” Flash said as he led the two towards the castle library.

Inside the library, Twilight and Cadance were sifting through a tome on magic after tome. As Twilight shifted through she listed their title, “Bridle Buck's Boat Chants, Hayhand's Intonements, Mystic Maps and Mazes…” Twilight groaned as she went to look at more books, “Anything up there?”

Elsewhere in the library Cadance was also searching through books but was flying as Twilight was closer to the ground, “Not yet! I'm not even sure how these are organized!”

At that moment Starlight, Spike and Flash arrived in the library as the two princesses were sifting through book after book, “What is going on?!” Starlight asked as walked towards Twilight, “Flash wouldn’t tell Spike and me but led us here.”

Cadance turned from the books she was looking at and through to see Flash, Spike and a woman she didn’t recognize but she “You must be Starlight?” Cadance asked and received a nod in response, “Sorry but proper introduction will have to wait.” Cadance then continued to go through more and more books.

“With all due respect, that really did answer my question.” Starlight pointed out.

“May I answer it?” Flash asked as he turned to Twilight. Twilight nodded and return to her search. Flash then turned to Starlight and Spike, “The long or the short version?”

“Short?” Spike and Starlight answered after they took a second to look at each other not fully following what was going on.

Flash took a breath, and as quickly as he could speak, “The baby's a demigod and she accidentally destroyed the Crystal Heart, so Twilight and Cadance are looking for a spell to put it back together and save the city from being lost to the Wendigo.”

Starlight and Spike were dumbfounded at that answer, but before either could say anything for a follow-up or clarification, “Trotter's Tome of Reliquary, if any book would have a spell to repair a relic, it’s this one.” Cadance then started to look through it. “Found it! The Spell of Relic Reconstitution!” Cadance then flew to Twilight and opened the book to the spell in question.

“It's a good thing, too!” Twilight said as she took the book and ran to where the Crystal Heart was, with everyone else following her. Once they arrived at the heart, Twilight’s hands glowed purple as she sent her magic to the heart, Twilight screamed as she cast the spell that she and Cadance hoped would work. The fragments of the heart began to float and collect reforming the heart. It looked solid for a second before it shattered again. Everyone looked at the remains utterly broken again. Twilight fell to her knees in greater shock than the others, “The spell failed.” She then turned to the others, “I don't know what else to do.”

Starlight looked around and tried to think of something, “Is there anything I can do?”

Twilight reluctantly got back up and sighed as she shook her head, “I don't think so. We couldn’t fix the heart, we have to leave.” Twilight then focused her full attention on Starlight, “I'm just sorry about your lesson.”

“Oh, that doesn't matter now.” Starlight brushed aside as she knew that her lesson was much less important now with the whole shattered Crystal Heart, “Sunburst and I don't have anything in common anyway.” Starlight began her … well incomplete explanation, even factoring that this all was from her point-of-view. “He's a big important wizard! And I'm re-learning everything I ever thought I knew.” Starlight declared, “We should…”

“Sunburst?” Cadance asked as she thought about the name, “I don't recognize the name, but if he's an important wizard, as you claim, you must bring him here. Maybe he'll know what to do since the spell failed."

Starlight gasped as she recalled all the books that Sunburst had, “Of course!” she then ran away heading out of the castle and towards Sunburst’ house.

Before Starlight was out of sight, Twilight turned to Spike, “You better go with her, Spike.” Spike nodded and ran after Starlight.

“Maybe if we try more than one demigod,” Cadance said as she turned to Twilight. “And if it works, we can have the Crystalling.” Twilight had to nod in agreement. “I’ll get Shining and the baby.” Cadance then flew to get the two.

Twilight turned to Flash, “If you can, please get Celestia and Luna to return,” she ordered. Flash nodded and flew to get the two princesses. Twilight then sighed, “I hoped that this all works.”

The Crystalling

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Celestia and Luna stood in the frozen wastes not far from Krystalopolies, at the same time in Krystalopolies, Shining had taken the baby so that Cadance and Twilight could find a way to restore the Crystal Heart. Celestia’s hands glowed golden as Luna’s hands glowed silver. “You hunted us down before!” Celestia shouted to the black cloud as it landed and morphed and took form, or rather forms.

“But that tables have turned! We are not the helpless children we were!” Luna shouted as the sisters witness the forms become recognizable. They looked not unlike humanoid bipedal wolves with bare antlered skulls as heads, and their chests were empty rib cages.

One walked forward, it was the largest of the lot and had many prongs on the racks of its antlers, it gave a deep guttural laugh, “Foolish girls, you are fools to think we will be driven back so easily. Once we are finished with you, not even that bitch's spell will save her brood.”

Celestia’s hair began to shift towards looking much like a flame, as Luna’s shifted to be reminiscent of Nightmare Moon. “You think you can break me?” Celestia laughed, “I break the very dawn!” Celestia then blasted all the Wendigos with her golden magic, which caused them all to drop to their knees and clutch their chests in pain.

“You think you frighten Us?” Luna asked, “You know nothing of nightmares!” Luna then sent out her blast of argent magic and forced the Wendigos back. The two continued this assault, never once letting the Wendigo get back up to their feet, Celestia burning them with the power of the sun, while Luna reflected it back onto them like the moon. The two had no idea how long they had been at that until they took a break.

As the Wendigos slowly began to get back on their feet they saw the two princesses bathed in a merger of gold and silver light as they floated above. The two’s eyes were field of white, “WE ARE THE DAUGHTERS OF CLOVER THE CLEVER, TAUGHT BY SMARTCOOKIE AND PANSY, STAR SWIRL THE GREAT’S LAST STUDENTS, WE ARE THE HEIRS OF PRINCESS PLATINUM OF THE MAGICBORN, SUCCESSORS OF CHANCELLOR PUDDINGHEAD OF THE EARTHBORN, BEARERS OF COMMANDER HURRICANE OF THE SKYBORN, THE DIARCH PRINCESSES OF THE EVERFREE PRINCIPALITY OF MYSTICA IN DREAM VALLEY, WE ARE CELESTIA AND LUNA, WIELDERS OF THE SUN AND MOON. AND SO LONG AS WE HAVE THE MEANS TO STOP YOU…” The two listed as the raised their right hands in unison and point at the Wendigos, in Celestia's palm an orb of golden light formed, and one of silver light formed in Luna’s. “YOU SHALL NOT PASS!!!” the two shouted as the orbs changed to beams. As the beams flew, they were drawn together and spun around each other until the merged as they made contact with the Wendigos.

Celestia and Luna then allowed themselves to float down, “did we do it, sister?” Luna asked.

“Killed them? No. If anything we really pissed them off.” Celestia said as the two turn toward the clearing smoke.

Starlight ran through the city, Spike barely at her heels. She didn’t need to see all the people had packed pretty much all of their smallest and lightest possessions and were making their way to the southern gate. She didn’t need to see that the Crystalborns’ skins had dulled. She didn’t need to feel the slow but unmistakable increasing cold. She knew that things were bad, but maybe, just maybe, with Sunburst things would be fixed. She threw open Sunburst’s door startling the wizard, as noted by him falling to ground after she shouted “Sunburst!”. As Sunburst got back to his feet, Starlight ran to the nearest window, taking Sunburst by the hand, “Haven't you looked outside?!” She asked as she pointed to (re)forming storm clouds, with hints of snowfall.

“Snow?” Sunburst asked as he adjusted his glasses and then turned to his books to see what he could find anything about it, “That's... not right. The Crystal Heart—”

“It’s gone!” Starlight cut Sunburst short in order to answer this question, just as Spike walked in and shut the door behind him, “The baby to have the Crystalling– Shining Armor and Princess Cadance's baby –she’s a demigod!” Starlight continued to answer as she all but shouted.

Sunburst nearly tripped over his books at that revelation. He turned to Starlight and adjusted his glasses again utterly befuddled at what he just heard, “Really?”, was all he able to ask.

“Really!” And her magic is a little berserk, and well, she destroyed the Heart!” Starlight answered before she took hold of both of Sunburst hands, holding them close to each other in front of Sunburst’s chest, “Twilight tried to fix it with The Spell of Relic Reconstitution found in Trotter's Tome of Reliquary, but it didn’t work with her casting the spell by herself. Princess Cadance thought you could help!”

“Me?” Sunburst shouted as he broke free of Starlight’s grip and stumbled backward almost tripping over a stack of his books.

Starlight helped Sunburst regain his balance, “Of course!” She then pointed towards the door, “You're an important wizard here! It just makes sense!” She said as she tried to drag Sunburst with her towards the door.

“Right... right... right right right.” Sunburst stammered as he managed to get out of Starlight’s hold and went to his books and started to move the books around again, “You know, I'd like to help, I-I really would. I-I just have so much, um, important wizard work to do around here,” As he spoke he reorganized the books he just moved around which was not unnoticed by Starlight and Spike.

Spike and Starlight both went “Huh?!” at that Starlight then walked up to Sunburst and made him turn to face her, which caused the wizard to almost fall in the clutter of his home. “Sunburst, I know you're busy, but did you hear what I said?” She asked as she grabbed him by his shoulders.

Sunburst tried to break away as slight panic was heard in his voice, “I heard you, but-but like I said, when you're an important wizard, the work just piles up.” He looked to a stack of books almost pleading for Starlight to drop the topic.

“Sunburst!” Starlight shouted as she was not having any of whatever Sunburst was offering at that moment.

Sunburst looked away and to the ground and sighed, “Look, Starlight, I want to help. I do. But I can't. I wish I could.”

“What do you mean?!” Starlight all but shouted as she shook Sunburst in an attempt to make him look at her.

Sunburst managed to break free of Starlight’s hold and walked away, “Fixing an ancient relic? I-I can't even come close to doing something like that!” he said as he looked at the ceiling.

Starlight’s mouth was agape as she stepped backward,“But I thought you were an important wizard!”

Sunburst turned to face Starlight but looked at the floor with his eyes closed, “Well, you were wrong, okay?! I'm not an important wizard! I'm not even a wizard at all!” He shouted, but both Starlight could tell that it was not out of anger at Starlight, but ashamed of his past. “I dropped out of Celestia’s School for the Gifted,” Sunburst confessed as he opened his eyes and looked at Starlight, a few tears forming in the corners of them. He took a breath as he wiped his eyes, he looked to the floor as he hung his head in shame, “I know it's hard for you to understand, but not all of us end up achieving greatness.”

“What?” Starlight asked as she and Spike were caught off guard, she shook her head not believing what she heard, “Why wouldn't I understand that?”

“Really?” Sunburst asked not believing Starlight, “You're the protégé of the Princess of Friendship! I don't think she picks just anybody for that!” Sunburst proclaimed as he pointed out how he viewed Starlight based on what he was told.

“Technically, she's more of a student than a protégé,” Spike pointed out to make the distinction between the two.

“Whatever.” Sunburst said as he started to walk towards the kitchen, “I'm sorry I'm not the big important wizard you were expecting.”

Starlight ran up to Sunburst and took hold of Sunburst’s shoulder, and tried to turn him around to face her, “I don't care if you're a wizard or not. I'm just surprised.” Once Sunburst turned around, “You always knew so much about magic when we grew up.” She then spread her arms out to gesture to all the books in the room, “I mean, look at all these books!”

Sunburst looked around and the room again and then dipped his head in shame, “Yeah, well, reading about magic is one thing, but you don't know what it was like at Celestia’s School!” His voice rose as he tried to more or less shout Starlight and Spike out of his home, “To know so much and not be able to do any of it!”

Starlight was done with Sunburst, as tears of anger formed in the corner of her eyes she pointed at Sunburst, getting his attention, “Well, you don't know what it was like to be left behind." She called out the wizard. She could no longer hold back, "And then getting so bitter that you steal the aura marks from an entire village worth of people and then get defeated by Twilight and her friends." Sunburst seemed to freeze, which was lost on Starlight as she continued. "Which would lead you to travel through time to get back at them, but they beat you again and teach you about friendship, but your so terrified people will find out what you did that you can't make any friends!” Starlight finished and was about to run away in tears, but before she left she looked up to Sunburst.

There was a long pause as Sunburst’s glasses slide down the bridge of his nose and his mouth hanging open. After the pause, Sunburst re-adjusted his glasses and closed his mouth,“Did you really travel through time?” he asked like a child.

Spike smirked as he elbowed Starlight, “See? I told you he'd be impressed.”

Sunburst sighed and looked down at the floor slightly ashamed about his past,“I'm sorry we lost touch. Maybe if I had reached out, you could have helped me in my classes, and I could have helped you to…” He trailed off, as he didn’t know how to phrase the next part with tack.

“Not become totally evil?” Starlight asked as she looked at the floor and sighed. She then looked up to Sunburst and reached out her right hand towards Sunburst, “Let's just say I know what it's like to have something you're not exactly proud of.” For Starlight it wasn’t just a handshake, it was a symbol of her reconciling with her past, both before and after Sunburst left.

Sunburst reached his right hand out and shook Starlight’s, “When you showed up thinking I was some big wizard…” He trailed off a little as they ended the handshake, he sighed, before he looked Starlight in the face, “I'm sorry. I should have told you the truth. Can we start our friendship again?”

“Yes. Let’s us,” Starlight said with a nod before they hugged each other, “It's fine, I sorta set this up. At least we worked it all out.” Starlight said, happy that she was able to bridge that gap, “I think Twilight would be proud of us.”

“Well, if you ever want to tell her about it, we should probably leave now!” Spike said as he opened the door and pointed towards the gathering civilians as they were preparing to evacuate the city.

Starlight gasped as she recalled why she was there in Sunburst’s house, “I forgot to tell you! They're evacuating the city! We need to get to the train station unless you've got a spell here that will drive back the Wendigo and fix the Crystal Heart so the baby can have her Crystalling?” Starlight said as she prepared to exit.

“Crystalling...!” Sunburst said as he taught for a moment, dipping his head down as he seemed to look into the void in front of him. He gasped as he went over to his books and grabbed a couple of them, “Of course!”

At the same time as Starlight was heading towards Sunburst’s house as Twilight ordered to get the wizards, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna continued to blast the Wendigos with a magical missile version of the spell Clover the Clever used to save the two all those years ago. The Wendigos were each blasted and their forms were forced to dissolve back into a cloud and had fallen back, save the one that spoke up to the two, “How?” it asked as it fell to its knees.

Celestia and Luna smirked and blasted the Wendigo without a word. “That might will hold them back for a few more hours,” Celestia said as the last Wendigo returned to the cloud with the rest of the Wendigo and seemed to drift back.

Luna turned back to the city, “We hope that Twilight, Cadance, and Shining have found a means to repair the Crystal Hea...Is that Commander Sentry?” Luna asked as she spotted Flash Sentry flying towards the two at speed of light.

Celestia turned to see what Luna pointed out, just as Flash landed in front of the two. “Princess Twilight has an idea, but she’ll need your help.” Celestia and Luna looked at each other and nodded and flew towards the city, with Flash following them.

Within minutes the three arrived at the spot of the Crystal Heart and Twilight, also joining them was Cadance, Shining, and the baby. “All right, what’s the plan?” Celestia asked.

Cadance walked to be with Twilight, “Twilight tried using the Spell of Relic Reconstitution, it failed, but maybe if two of us demigods it might work.” The two younger demigods’ hands glowed light crystal-blue and purple as they sent their magic to the Heart, Twilight and Cadance screamed as they cast the spell. The fragments of the heart began to float and collect reforming the heart. It looked solid for a second before it shattered again. Everyone looked at the remains utterly broken again.

“I thought that if two demigods tried it would work,” Twilight said as tears started to form in her eyes.

Just then Starlight, Spike, and Sunburst came running in, “I HAVE A PLAN!” Sunburst shouted as he approached the demigods. Once he arrived at where the Heart was he stopped and panted, “Oh sweet(pant) I need to (pant) the gym.” After Sunburst collected his breath, he looked and saw the baby in Shining’s arm, and then to the fragments of the Heart, “The baby did this?!” he asked as he looked to the other adults (and the lone dragon) in the room.

Everyone nodded, Twilight then presented the Trotter's Tome of Reliquary and turned to the page with the Spell of Relic Reconstitution. “We tried this, once by myself and once by Cadance and myself.”

Sunburst read the page, “Relic Reconstitution.” he stated before he lowered the book, “That won't do it. The Crystal Heart is a relic that has been around for almost two millennia, carved from a larger crystal almost a million years old.” He then looked over the fragments again as he took out the books he had, “Restoring a relic like this is way beyond one spell. Even with one demigod casting it.” He then took the hand of Twilight and guided her and then did the same with Celestia and Luna and then Starlight to form a square around the Heart, “In order to use a spell like that on a relic like the Heart, you need at least three demigods, and a binder to binder the three spells together.”

“How did you know I am a binder?” Starlight asked.

“Before I left for Celestia’s School for The Gifted, I didn’t, but there I looked up the various arcane magic users and found that the Binder was the closest to your magic back when we were kids. You had a hard time learning spells, but once you learned it, you could easily bind it to other spells you knew and so much more than I could with just that spell.”

“But I can’t bind three copies of a spell-like Relic Reconstitution, especially when cast by three demigods.” Starlight shouted as she pointed to her wrist,”This band on my wrist is enchanted to prevent me from using my magic beyond the most basic of spells and I can only bind together a maximum of two spells. And I will have to wear it until a time equal to the total time I used my magic for evil on others.” Starlight informed. Starlight knew it was only partly true and only part of the truth, but she didn’t feel that she was in a place where she could tell Sunburst that there were a means around her penance.

“That’s not the full truth,” Twilight started to inform the others there, “if the people you have wronged at any point think, say or write that they forgive you, the remaining of the time of the people who forgave you will be commuted.” Twilight then turned to her fellow princesses, “And Princess Cadance, Princess Luna and/or Princess Celestia can override the magic of the band for an hour.”

Celestia then sent a small beam of golden magic that floated to the band on Starlight’s wrist. The golden magic caused the timer on the band to stop and over it, another timer formed that read 60:00 and then started to decrease. “Go on, my old student,” Celestia ordered.

Sunburst nodded and continued, “Even with the three demigods casting the spell, given the nature of the Crystal Heart, we still need to combine it with something else. Something unique to the relic itself. Something that strengthens it and provides it with power...?” He stopped as he was asking the others in the room.

There was a moment of silence, before everyone else answered, “The Crystalling!”

Sunburst nodded and began to dig things out of his bag as he walked over to Cadance, Shining, Flash, the baby and Spike, “Thus combining the three spells with the light and love of everybody in the city for the ceremony,”

“We ordered an evacuation of the city.” Flash called it, “Unless you can teleport everyone else in the city to where the baby will be…” He stopped as he looked at the others there, “oh yeah four demigods and a binder, and one of the four demigods bore the Element of Magic. Never mind.” Flash conceded before he was scolded over it. In silence, the four demigod’s eyes flashed gold in the case of Celestia, silver for Luna, crystalline blue for Cadance and purple for Twilight. After the flash was over, Flash flew over and saw everyone else in the city was collected in the area to witness the presentation of the child. “They’re all here.”

Sunburst nodded and then walked over to Shining and Cadance, “and a little Fledgling's Forbearance for the parents…” Sunburst said as he handed the scroll with the spell. Cadance then cast the spell on the baby, “That should curb the little one's power fluctuations during her infancy.” The baby giggled as she saw the smile on Sunburst’s face.

“You must be Sunburst.” Cadance said as she offered her hand to greet the wizard, “Starlight said you were a powerful wizard.”

“Oh, I'm no wizard,” Sunburst said as he accepted the scroll back and put in back in the bag he brought with him.

“What?” Everyone but Celestia and the baby asked in utter shock. The difference was that the baby was just as shocked as the others, while Celestia seemed to shake her head as if she was disappointed in Sunburst.

Starlight, however, turned to the three demigods that with her made the square around the Heart, “But he studied magic his whole life! You should see his house!”

“I know, he was my student.” Celestia vouched on Sunburst’s part and confirm Starlight’s testimony. “Now let’s try this, what do we have to lose?” Celestia asked as her hands started to glow.

Shining looked at Twilight and opened his mouth, but before he could ask the question forming in his mind Twilight nodded as her hands glowed. Shining then turned to Sunburst “I had planned on asking Twilight to be our crystaller, but since it seems like she'll be busy…”

Sunburst smiled with a slight blush of modesty as he was given the purity crystal from Twilight, “I'd be honored!”, the baby giggled as she seemed to like Sunburst. Sunburst, the parents, the baby, Flash, and Spike headed towards the stage for the presentation of the baby for the Crystalling.

Twilight, Celestia, and Luna nodded in silence and sent beams of magic, gold from Celestia, silver from Luna and purple from Twilight, each casting the Spell of Relic Reconstitution which in turn caused the fragments of the Crystal Heart to reform. Starlight then sent from her hands two beams of turquois magic that wrapped around the three other beams and the Crystal Heart. All four straining to keep the Heart together.

At the same time, Sunburst was in front of Shining, Cadance and the baby, as Spike and Flash seemed to take on the role of the guards. “Citizens!” Sunburst announced and got the attention of all in attendance, “Sorry for the delay and the sudden change in plans.” He then coughed to clear his throat, “May I present the newest residence of Krystalopolies!” Shining then held his daughter aloft for all to see her. The baby laughed as she looked at everyone there to see her. The crowd cheered as they kneeled to the ground as their love and light flowed from them into the ground towards the stand. Sunburst took the purity crystal and touched the ground with collecting all the love and light before he brought it to the baby and touched her chest with it, making her laugh. He then as quickly as he could run to where the Crystal Heart was and levitated the purity crystal into the dip of the Heart where it lowered into and merged with the Crystal Heart.

The Crystal Heart then began to spend all on its own and soon sent out a wave of love and light that gave everyone a shining transparent looking crystalline shin.

As everyone cheered and embraced each other the love and light wave continued to spread where the Wendigos in their cloud form was. The wave struck it the cloud and for a second there was a cry of pain before the Wendigo cloud began to change into the Wendigos that Celestia and Luna fought, only for them to fall to the ground with whatever amount of life they had snuffed out.

Back in the city, as Twilight and Luna left to join Shining and Cadance with the baby. Starlight turned to Sunburst and hugged him after they broke “For a person who isn't great at magic, you did pretty well.” she said as she elbowed him in his arm playfully.

“Indeed,” Celestia said as walked up to the two. She turned to Sunburst with a smile, “I'm glad to see you've found a way to share your unique gift, Sunburst. You may be more of a wizard than you think, my old student.” Celestia then conjured a few pieces of paper which were an application for Celestia’s School for The Gifted and a copy of his transcript of completed work, “You are welcomed back should you seek to complete your degree, which you can do here, there are personal study courses and Cadance is certified to administer exams.” Celestia then turned from the two, to be with her family, “The choices are yours.”

The following day, after the lowering of the Moon and rising of the Sun, at the train station in Borealton, Shining Armor, Cadance, Twilight, Spike, Starlight, and Sunburst were standing on the platform. The train came to a stop and after a few seconds people began to exit the train, two waved at and went to Shining, Cadance, and Twilight. One was a Magicborn woman old enough to be Shining’s mother, just, she had light artic blue eyes and her hair was stripes of purple and whitish gray. She wore a long gray dress with the purple five-pointed stars embroidered on near her heart and a simple focus gem on her forehead. This was Shining’s and Twilight’s mother Twilight Velvet or Velvet for short. Next to her was a man old enough to be Velent’s husband. He had amber eyes and dark blue hair. He wore a grayish azure coat and pants and a simple focus gem on his forehead. On his coat was a pin of two crescent moons, one much smaller and in the crescent of the larger one, this was Velvet’s husband and Shining’s and Twilight’s father, “You would not believe the crazy weather that delayed our train. There was this blizzard that came out of nowhere, went on for miles.” Night Light said as he hugged his children, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter with Velvet in a big group hug.

As the two new grandparents ended the big hug of their family, “But it was all worth it to see this peaceful little angel!” She then turned her attention to the baby who was reaching out towards Velvet as if she wanted Velvet to pick her up. “Awww, she’s so sweet!!”

“We have Sunburst to thank for that,” Shining admitted as he pointed to Sunburst. “He was able to help us find a spell to help with the magical outbursts of newborn Magicborn. And you have no idea how useful it was.” Shining continued as the wizard waved nervously to Night Light and Twilight Velvet. The two nodded approval of the young man in the role he was given.

“I hope he takes his role as crystaller seriously,” Cadance said as she got her mother-in-law and father-in-law back to her and the baby. “Something tells me the baby will need a person like him to look to for magical advice.

Velvet took her granddaughter into her own arms and had a little laugh, “Cadance, darling, aren't you going to name the poor little dear,” She started before she rubbed her face affectionately on the baby’s, making her laugh and giggle. As she looked back to Cadance and then to Shining, “or are we going to spend our entire visit just calling her "the baby"?”

Shining Armor turned Cadance as if he was silently asking her something as he rocked his head to Twilight. Cadance nodded before Shining turned to Twilight, “I wanted you to be the Crystallier. But would you mind naming our little girl?”

Twilight thought about it for a second. “Flurry Heart, to remember the occasion” Twilight then leaned in to speak to just the recently named Flurry Heart, or Flurry for short, “Not that we’re ever going to forget it.” She then kissed Flurry and the baby giggled happily.

“Well, I think it’s a lovely name.” Twilight Velvet said as she and Night Light started towards Krystalopolies. “Now let’s go see the city with grandma, Flurry.” Flurry giggled and babbled happily at that.

Elsewhere on the platform of the station, Starlight and Sunburst were standing next to each other. Starlight looked to the train and then back at Sunburst, “Well, I think you're Krystalopolies' big important wizard, whether you like it or not.” She said as she gave a playful shove.

Sunburst chuckled at that as he recovered. He took a breath and he looked to see Flurry with her grandparents, “I don't know if I'll have time for any wizarding. I'm a crystaller for a member of the royal family now.” He turned back to Starlight and closed his eyes as he lifted his chin up with a small smirk forming on his face, “That's a big responsibility.”

Starlight smiled and shook her head at first, “I can't think of anybody more qualified. Just…” She paused as she looked at the ground and began to spin her foot on the ground nervously, “promise you'll stay in touch?” She asked as she looked up to Sunburst.

Sunburst smiled and nodded before he replied with a ‘Hm,’ “I will never lose touch with my oldest friend again.” He replied as he hugged Starlight. “I am sorry I never wrote.” Starlight returned the hug.

From within the train, after Spike and Twilight took their seats, the dragon noticed that Twilight was looking at Starlight and Sunburst and then to the notebook she wrote her lesson in. The frown on her face was unmissable.

“What's wrong, Twilight?” Spike asked electing to not beat around the bush.

Twilight sighed before she looked at Spike, “I don't know, Spike.” She turned back to watch Starlight and Sunburst end their embrace. As Sunburst was about to leave to join Twilight Velvet and Night Light with Flurry but was stopped as Starlight grabbed him by his shoulder turned him around and kissed him on his lips. “I think I have a lot to learn about being a teacher.” Twilight as she turned to look at Spike.

“What are you talking about?” the dragon asked clearly confused. “Your lesson achieved its goal. Starlight and Sunburst got over their past and rekindle their friendship.” Spike continued. “And if that little exchange was anything, “Maybe a little more,” Spike said with a wink and a smirk not unlike in response to when Twilight denies something about her and Flash.

“No thanks to me,” Twilight replied as Starlight and Sunburst waved goodbye and the binder boarded the train. Twilight sighed, “I know a lot happened. I just wish I could have given my pupil the attention she deserves.”

Spike took a second to think as he noticed that Starlight had taken a blank notebook and began writing in it, likely to tell Twilight what she had learned in a text form, like some sort of homework assignment, “Well, I know she needed to be put on the right path,” Spike commented as he returned his attention to Twilight. He then thought back on to many of the most pivotal lessons Twilight learned that were issued by Princess Celestia. The elder demigod was extremely hands-off in her methods, knowing that the lessons Twilight needed to learn could only be best learned if Twilight had the space to make her own choices and that teaching style ultimately worked for Starlight. “but giving her the space to make her own decisions worked pretty well. Isn't that how Celestia taught you?” Spike asked as he finished his thought.

Twilight took a moment to think about how Princess Celestia taught her, sure when it came to the academics and such Celestia was an extremely hands-on, right there to answer teacher but for the lessons in Friendship which Twilight had to learn Celestia pointed her in a direction and gave a means to find what she needed and allowed Twilight to come to her own conclusions, “You know, I never thought about it!” Twilight answered as she finished her stroll down memory lane, “But I guess it is!”

“Maybe you're a better teacher than you thought,” Spike said as he leaned back in his seat with a triumphant grin on his face. He then turned to see Flash enter the train. “Although there is someone that you should really have a heart to heart with,” Spike said as he waved to Flash, beckoning him to join Spike and Twilight. As Flash sat down Spike left the two and walked over to seat with Starlight.

After Flash sat down, “I guess we need to talk?” Twilight said with a nervous laugh as she looked away.

Flash looked to Starlight then back at Twilight, “I see you have elected to take on a student, so what brought that up?” Flash asked as he taught he found something that could break the ice.

Twilight turned back Flash, “Well you see after my friends and I got back from Midnight Castle from the battle of the bands against the Dazzlings…” Twilight started her tale as the train started to leave the station.

Epilogue: A New Home

In the outskirts of Krystalopolies, in the wastes were the now lifeless husks of the Wendigos dissolved into the snow and ice, an androgynous black insectoid looking human with insectoid wings. It had eyes that were mostly fields of blue which gradually faded into a white circle from the outside in, with fairly pronounced fang-like canine teeth. Once it found a place to sit down, in enveloped itself in a blue fire to reveal its true form, a humanoid male with long pointed ears, grayish skin and green eyes with white circles separating the green ‘whites’ from the pupils. It wore a black long sleeve shirt, dark gray pant, with what looked like three green bands that gave his torso an insectoid appearance. Over his shoulders was a shawl-like green cloth that looked like the wings he had in his previous form. “Looks like this place will do for now,” it said revealing itself to be male.

My Little Mages: The Anointing

by Foxhelm

The Invite

Reveals

A Failed Attempt

The Crystalling