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Her heart pounded fiercely.

Winterglaive, Nuzzledark, and Arbalest were at her side, but she was terrified gazing down at the citizens of Dream Valley. Since her birth, they had always been her people, but now, they were her subjects. She knew, from this moment on, that she was their queen and she was to step into her mother's shoes as their protector and leader. She bit her lip nervously.

Lightfoot, her mother's Hand, smiled serenely at her, the wrinkles beside his old eyes crinkling. He had guided Majesty through countless trials and his advice had never failed her. Now, he would be Pearl's Hand.

"Are you ready, my child?" he asked quietly, so that only she could hear.

She smiled wide. "As I'll ever be."

"You'll be strong. You've got your mother's heart and head."

The pale yellow unicorn carried an ornately gilded crown. Jewels of all colors dazzled across the golden diadem. Pearl lowered her head and the wise old pony placed the crown on top of her head.

The crown was heavier than she thought.

She paused a moment, exhaling slowly, before she rose her head to greet her people as their queen. The massive crowd erupted into joyous cheers and happy song.

Lightfoot's voice echoed over the castle to the ground, far louder than one would expect from an old pony. "Ponies of Dream Valley! I give you, Queen Pearl!"

And she was no longer a princess.

Queen Pearl gazed upward toward the sky and said a silent prayer to the sun goddess, Aria, letting the sunshine soak her face. Keep us safe, she pleaded. She looked down to the thousands of faces on the lawn below, gazing back at her with love and admiration. She would protect them at all cost, just as she had promised her mother. Majesty would have been proud of her.

She stepped forward to the balcony railing, the wind catching her snowy white mane.

"My ponies," she began, her usually soft voice strong and sure. "In light of the tragedy that claimed our Queen Majesty's life, we have all come together here, from the farthest reaches of this kingdom, to exercise an ancient rite. The rituals endured today spawned in an era unknown to measured time, and they continue now before you. I thank you all for being here today. I thank you all for being here with me throughout my entire life. You have all seen me at my greatest, and you have all seen me at my worst. I stand before you now—never mind my high perch or this golden crown—I stand before you as a pony, like you, with a heart that beats just as yours does, and four hooves to race across our beloved valley, just as yours do. I stand before you all, humble and meek, on this day of my coronation.

"My mother was perhaps the greatest queen to have ever reigned over Dream Valley, and I have been most fortunate to have had in her an example that will set my course as queen in a confident, successful direction. It is my pledge to you on this sacred day that I will serve and protect you, and in time, though this new purpose in life is daunting, I pray that you will trust me as your sovereign.

"Now, my ponies, as my coronation comes to an end, I stand before you not as a pony. I stand before you as a symbol. For my entire life, I have been driven to this point, to pledge my heart and soul, flesh, blood, and bone to all of you. I am Dream Valley. Guided by Aria's light, I live only to serve you and this land. The sun will set on this day and rise again anew, with a bright hope and vision of peace to come to this land and our neighbors throughout.

"I thank you from the—"

Something ripped through her shoulder. She cried out and staggered to the side, staring at the gaping wound in her flesh. An arrow pierced the stone floor of the balcony only feet away from her, glistening with red. Her guard rushed over her and some flew away. Screams erupted from the audience below, and she heard them panic and scatter, thousands of hooves trampling in every direction. Blood seeped from her shoulder and ran down her white coat. The wound burned.

"I'm fine," she groaned through the shouting all around her. "If we are under attack, protect my ponies."

Then her legs began to feel numb and her head grew light and dizzy. Her vision blurred. Winterglaive's armored face was close to hers.

"My lady! Pearl!"

Then his face vanished and all that remained was blackness and cold.