Over the ensuing months, Ponyville, along with the rest of Equestria, did its best to rebuild from Midnight's hell. New cottages were busily being constructed, and the Ponyville Hospital was overflowing with volunteers and extra doctors to help the sick and wounded. Fluttershy's animal sanctuary had been completely demolished as well, so the same crew that built it the first time was called in, only they listened to her a lot better this time around.

The town was buzzing with activity, and Twilight was very proud. As the residing Princess, she had ordered a town wide "Month of Help," where everypony did something to help another pony out. She never realized that the response would be so enormous. Everyone got involved and soon, the things that had been taken by Midnight's wrath were being replaced. Applejack and Rainbow Dash directed the rebuilding efforts, and Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Fluttershy all helped out when they were needed.

Pinkie oversaw the reconstruction of Sugarcube Corner. She knew the old building inside and out and wanted to make the new one just exactly as it was, with a couple of small changes here and there. One day, Applejack strolled by on her daily inspection and checked out the building. "OK! BRING IT IN!" She heard Pinkie call out. Applejack's mouth fell open as one of the largest containers she had ever seen was dropped into the new front area of the store.

She quickly ran inside, worrying that the new structure wasn't sound enough to handle such an enormous package. "Pinkie, what the hay are you doin'?! That thing's bigger than my entire family!"

"Yep! I know," the pink mare responded cheerfully, "it's one of the new additions that's gonna make Sugarcube Corner even more amazing than it was before!"

"I don't know, Pinkie. As the manager of this whole rebuildin' operation, I don't know if I approve…"

But then, Pinkie opened the box. As the gigantic sides fell away and the top tumbled over, Applejack stared in awe. Standing before her was one of the biggest cake mixers she had ever seen. "The Cake Maker and Pie Preparer 5000!" Pinkie announced happily. "It'll make baking yummy cakes and delicious pies even more of a breeze! I mean, can you imagine the huge and wonderful apple pie we could make with the apples from your farm, Applejack?! IT WOULD BE AMAZING!"

"Yeah, it would, only…"

"Only what?"

"My orchard was burnt to a crisp when Midnight attacked. I don't think we'll have a harvest this season. I've planted new seeds, but they aren't sproutin'. I think Midnight did some kinda damage to the soil, and that's why it just ain't givin'."

Pinkie Pie grasped the surprised farmer in a hug. "It's OK, AJ! We'll just have to make some amazing pies after your crop comes in!"

"It may not be for a while, Pinkie."

"Oh, I don't care. We'll still get to make other kinds of pies, and LOADS of cake!"

Applejack smiled. Pinkie always did a great job at brightening up a horrifying situation, and this was no exception. Her bright eyed optimism could cure any depressed pony. She was feeling better just for being there and being around her. "Thanks, Pinkie," she said, "I needed this."

"Yep! No problem, AJ!"

With that, Applejack left the store and trotted back towards the Castle of Friendship. The castle had been the only thing left standing in Ponyville, and Twilight and Flash had let hundreds of ponies stay there until their homes were rebuilt. Needless to say, it was a rather hectic environment. Thankfully, a lot of the cottages had been done and Applejack had given her stamp of approval for ponies to live in them. So the castle guests had been depleted rapidly, until only Shining Armor, his family, and one or two other families remained.

She walked inside the castle and went up the main stairs to report to Twilight. She thought she might find her in the throne room, so that's where she went. When she walked inside, she found a sobbing Twilight and Flash and Starlight desperately attempting to console her. She quickly bounded over.

"Flash?! Starlight?! What the hay's goin' on?!"

"Twilight went to the doctor again today…" was all Flash said. Applejack backed up a bit. "Oh…" she said in understanding. Now she knew why Twilight was crying so hard. For the months since Midnight's death, she and Flash had been trying to have another foal. Twilight wanted to be a mother again so badly. "So…I take it the visit was…"

"Yes," Flash said, "Twilight just can't conceive right now and I don't know why."

"I know exactly why!" Twilight sobbed, "I'm being punished for being such a bad mother to Midnight!"

"Twilight, you can't say that!" Flash said, "you're not a bad mother at all!"

"If I'm not a bad mother, then why couldn't I stop her without killing her?! Why did she turn evil in the first place?!"

"Twilight, darling, I will never understand the fate of a pony. But what I do know is that you loved that little filly with all your heart, as did I. If that's being a bad mother, then I'm Princess Celestia."

He bent down and nuzzled her lovingly. She returned the gesture with affection of her own and the two kissed. "It'll be alright, Twily," Flash said as he hugged her, "we'll have another one, you'll see. But you've got to stop thinking you were a bad mother to Midnight. Everything you ever did was for her."

"But I…drove her away from friendship! I'm the Princess of Friendship…"

"And the Princess of Friendship is going to make mistakes! Twilight, listen. You shoulder such a huge burden, and a lot of it you put on yourself. I hate seeing you so stressed out when there's no reason to be. I firmly believe that we will have another foal, and we'll just have to keep trying until it comes."

Twilight nodded and smiled as Flash wiped her tears away. She really felt warmer with him just standing there holding her. This was the stallion she had fallen in love with, and she didn't want to go through this trial with anypony else. She backed away from him and looked at Starlight and Applejack, who both gave her supportive smiles. These were her friends, and she trusted them more than anything. She knew they would have her back through this rough time in her life. She was so thankful for them, so grateful that Celestia had sent her to Ponyville all those years ago.

A couple more weeks went by and Twilight went to the doctor again when she got up one morning and proclaimed that she was feeling "a little off." When she returned, she was absolutely beaming. Her face shone with the sun of Celestia and she ran into a surprised Flash's embrace and kissed him. She didn't even have to tell him. They were going to have another foal.

The news quickly spread around Ponyville and Equestria. Well-wishers came in their hundreds to visit the pregnant princess and her family. They sent her letters and gifts. Her friends showered her with presents and kind words every time they visited the castle. It was made even more special by the fact that Shining Armor, Cadance, and Flurry were living there through the entire gestation period. Twilight was happy, if a bit uncomfortable, and the ponies rejoiced with her.

Soon enough, the time came and Twilight was rushed to the hospital. Shining Armor found himself pacing the same carpeted floor he had three years earlier when Midnight had been born. Cadance and Flurry watched him pace. Flurry turned up and looked at her mother. She thought about asking why he was pacing, but she knew. After all, she was 8 years old now. "Mom," she asked, "can't you get Dad to stop pacing? He's giving me a neck ache!"

"Now, Flurry," her mother said, "you know very well that your father cares for your Aunt Twily a lot. If he wants to pace, let him pace. He's just nervous."

"And you aren't?"

"Of course, I am. But I've been through this before, multiple times. Twilight's a strong, able bodied mare. She'll pull through this with no problems."

"I wish we could be in there with her."

"I know, sweetie, but she's only let Flash and Starlight in with her right now. We'll get to go in soon enough."

Just as Cadance said that, the door opened and Starlight peeked out. The three ponies all rushed over and Starlight smiled at them. "It's another filly!" She proclaimed happily. "Can we see her, Aunt Starlight?" Flurry asked expectantly. She had been absolutely thrilled when she received the news that Starlight and Twilight were sisters, and had taken to her new aunt very well. She and Starlight had been inseparable.

Starlight nodded down at the filly, "yes, but only if you promise to behave and be quiet."

Flurry nodded excitedly and they all went in. They saw Twilight holding a small bundle and breathing steadily. Flurry trotted over to where her other aunt lay. "Auntie Twily?" She whispered, "can I see her?" Twilight looked over and smiled. "Of course, Flurry," she said as she pulled the small wrap back. There lay an extremely adorable little filly. She was completely purple, with a small white patch on her face. She carried a mane that was purple with a blue streak running through it. Her eyes were shut tight as she slept soundly.

"What's her name?" Flurry whispered as she gazed on her new cousin with affection.

"We're naming her Sunlight Dawn, because her light shall shine forth throughout Equestria as the future Princess of Friendship. The Dawn part of her name comes from the start of a brand new day, and this is the start of a brand new life and another chance for your Uncle Flash and I to raise a foal of our own."

Flurry smiled. The name fit the young one absolutely perfectly. Suddenly, the tiny filly opened her eyes and sneezed. The ponies in the room all smiled at how cute the newborn was. Flurry stood on her hind legs and peered into its eyes. They were blue, just like her father's. "Hi, Sunlight," she said softly, "I'm your cousin, Flurry Heart. We're gonna have lots of fun together when you grow up. You just wait and see."