"Excuse me? I never lied to you ever!", the white woman tries to protect herself but only provokes Pinkie Pie that way who joins the dispute.
"As if! Miss Perfect is always right and correct isn't she? She would never do such things!", the pink girl imitates her friend, who becomes even more angry and a little bit sad.
Spike, who watched them and heard the awful things about Rarity, protects her and fight for her.
"How dare you! How dare you say such things about Rarity! She is one of them most generous and kind Mares I have ever met and you just spread lies! How dare you!"
It feels like not only the effected ponies became a little bit bitter but also everygirl and Dragon else! Twilight, who tries to separate her friends, suddenly feels the strange sensation again and it became even worse!
"There... is that feeling again! Something is going on here and it is tearing our friendship apart! I have to stop it."
The woman moves between her friends and her horn begins to sparkle and glow in the usual color but suddenly a bright shine fills the room and everygirl and Spike see their favorite moments they had with their friends and all the good memories return. As the light slowly disappears the room is silent except for Twilight's gasping because this spell takes a lot of concentration and strength. Each of them looks at each other and even Fluttershy stopped crying but there are still some tears and wet stripes underneath her eyes. Slowly Rarity moves her glimpse towards the floor before she excuses herself.
"I'm sorry for saying such terrible things... I'm sure it wasn't my intention to hurt your feelings... Can you forgive me?"
Pinkie Pie answers with a hug and a nod.
"I'm sorry too Fluttershy", the Element of Loyalty takes her turn and walk towards her yellow friend, who watches her, "I don't know what came over me. Of course I don't feel this way and I know you don't like flying fast... I hope you can forgive me one day."
"How about today?", she answers as she wipes her tears of and gives her a hug, which she gladly accepts and returns.
Spike and Applejack also excuse for overreacting a little bit but a new song isn't what they want right now. "Maybe we should take a break to calm down and take a few breathes? I think it would be the best for all of us", the Princess suggests and everyone agrees.
"We will meet in our main hall for the presents in twenty minutes... Does everygirl agree?"
Again everyone nods and split up to get some time alone. Before Twilight also leaves the room she creates the roll of paper again and uses a magical feather to cross out the activity ''Sing Hearts Warming Eve carols''. After that both objects disappear again and the woman walks through the door leaving Trixie all by herself.
"Everything goes like I planned it", she says after carefully and slowly creeping out of her hiding spot and takes a quick look out of the door, "Slowly they start to hate each other. Fluttershy tears were pure joy and wasn't it adorable how Spike tried to protect his maiden is distress? Oh the knight in a shining armor! What a laugh..."
A smile appears on her face as she remembers every little moment she just witnessed. It was like a dream coming true but... somegirl ruined it!
"Twilight Sparkle!", the woman mumbles as her horn starts to glow again and her smile transforms itself into a angry but also devilish grin, "You always have to play the hero, don't you? First you showed off and told everygirl I'm a fake and a liar and then you took my power away from me! I had to do the dirtiest and most humiliating duties to buy me an apple or a hay-burger while you became an woman and enjoyed your life in this castle... It is just not fair! What makes her so special? Why is she the one who gets all this and not me, the Great and Powerful Trixie!"
Silence. She closes her mouth and starts to think before she raises one hoof into the air and rams it back on the floor with all her might, creating a loud sound before she begins to giggle again.
"Before the sun rises tomorrow... Your friends and you will wish you never met me and never ruined my life! I'll make all of you pay... I'll make you pay, Twilight!"
A red force-field surrounds her and, as she burst out in an almost insane laughter, she disappears, leaving behind a broken floor right underneath her.
Twenty minutes went by and the the Princess already awaits her friends in the main hall, sitting on her throne. Slowly one after the other enters the room and takes her or his place on her or his thrown.
"Okay everygirl", she starts", I know that the evening isn't going the way we wished for but can we just leave everything behind us and forget it? It doesn't matter what one of us said because she or he is sorry and we know that. What do you say?"
A short period of silence fills the room which Rarity breaks with her agreement.
"You're right. And I just want to apology again for what I said. I also want to forget it."
The woman smiles at her friends, who smile back and nod.
"Forgive and forget", Spike suggest and these words really take the biscuit.
He is right and all the Mares agree. "Okay! What was the next thing on the list again?", Pinkie Pie asks to open a new topic and to get the next event started.
Twilight thinks for a few seconds and then announces, that the presents are coming up next.
"Everygirl gave me a present for each of us and I stored them in my castle's closet so no girl and no Dragon could open them and peak. Now I will bring them here and give everygirl his or her presents. The pale purple horn begins to sparkle and forty-two colorful boxes fly into the room and six of them land next to each throne.
"I think Rainbow Dash should start. After all she was the first one who gathered all her stuff. Does any girl disagree?"
Luckily no disagrees and the rainbow-haired Pegasus Mare picks her first present, a red one with a green bow.
"Let me guess... Applejack? This present looks totally like an apple", she guesses and seems to correct as the orange Mare smiles and nods.
"This is my chance!", Trixie, who waits outside of the room right next to the door, thinks as she takes a look into the room. She has to be very careful or else she might get caught!
"First I will change the present..." She uses her magic to swap the inside of the box, which is a big jug of RD's favorite cider and replaces it with a bottle filled with nothing at all. Without hesitating the Pegasus opens her present and sees the empty bottle, looking at it confused and a little bit disappointed.
"What is that? Why do you give me a bottle with nothing inside?" But before AJ can answer Trixie uses her power to switch bodies again! The dark dust dives into her chest and the orange glow disappears in the woman's body. Twilight, who feels the strange sensation again notices the fogs and observes the orange one until it leaves the room.
"Isn't it obvious?", ''Applejack'' answers and a evil grin appears on her face as she says these words, "I gave an empty bottle to symbolize your head. Because, just like the bottle, your head is also empty and your brain most likely very lonely... At least if you have a brain or is It just a pea? Do you even understand what I say or should I speak more slowly? Is it better that way?"
Wow... That is mean! And Rainbow Dash can't believe her ears either. Why would Applejack say something like that? Is it revenge for Fluttershy?
"Oh now you made me angry so you better be prepared to feel my wrath!"
With these words she flies off her seat and targets Applejack. But before she reaches her and drags her off her own Trixie uses the chance and reverses the spell. That way a completely clueless AJ gets attacked by one of her friends.
"Girls! Stop it!", the woman tries her best to stop the fight but they don't listen.
Rainbow Dash is just furious and the Earth girl tries her best to defend herself and her pride. Luckily every punch and kick misses it's target and, with the help of Rarity's and Twilight's magic they can separate the two opponents and force them on their thrones before they try again to find a solution.
"What's gotten into you?", Rarity asks Applejack, who still watches the Pegasus with an anger in her eyes and a fast breath before she answers the woman's question.
"What the hay are you talking about? I just sat here and suddenly this crazy Mare leaped onto me and tried to hit me! She lost her mind!"
"You started with you super-lame and super-insulting gift! You can keep your stupid empty bottle and leave me alone!"
Rainbow seems even angrier than before and tries her best to fight against the magic that prevents her from moving but no chance. The magic of an woman is very powerful after all.
"What? I never gave you a bottle! And surely an empty one! Are you going nuts or...", the orange Mare replies but stops as her sight captures the mentioned object made of glass.
"This...", she slowly calms down and tries to reach out for the bottle, which the light blue Mare almost smashed on the table in front of her.
Rarity notices the sudden change and, after she looked at her woman friend and gained a nod, released the cowgirl.
"Was this in my box?", she asks and takes the bottle.
"Yeah duh! Why are you even surprised? You gave it to me after all!", RD answers but just gains a shaking head as an answer.
"My gift was a jug of apple cider because you like it so much..."
"That must be it! Someone swapped it! And I bet it won't be the last time! Someone tries to ruin our holiday by sabotaging our fun and friendship. Someone tries to destroy our friendship! But we won't let it happen! Our friendship can't be destroyed that easily. Our friendship survived many, many tasks and only grew stronger and stronger. We will always stand together because our friendship is-", Twilight explains before a somehow familiar but at the same time totally unknown voice interrupts her.
"So important and so much better than every other friendship in the world. No one can break the band that connects all of us and protects us from every danger and harm there is. Blah blah blah!"
Trixie, who can't take it anymore, steps into the door-frame and slowly walks into the room.
"Trixie! What are you doing here and... what happened to your voice?", Rarity asks but only gains an insult in return.
"Oh shut up Miss Oh-so-picky! Don't act like you're sooo surprised to see me. After all you and everygirl else here ruined my life! And now I will ruin yours... But why should I make my hooves dirty if I can easily...", Trixie explains as she comes closer and targets Twilight.
Her horn underneath her head begins to glow again and so does the rest of her body as she laughs devilish and raises herself into the air.
"Use your hooves!"
With these words a red and black aura surrounds her and a few black and red-glowing lightnings spread through the entire room, hitting Pinkie, Applejack, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy and keeping them in their place. Spike seems to be safe because Trixie had none of his scales so she couldn't add it to the potion. He can't be attacked! Then a big thunderbolt unleashes itself towards the woman Princess, who tries to dodge it but is a little bit to slow. The same aura slowly surrounds her and a echoing laughter travels through the room as both Mares start to turn black and only a few seconds later the entire hall turns pitch-black.
"Twiligh!", Spike shouts but he and nogirl else can see even their hoof or, in Spike's case, his claw before his eyes.
But they can hear a scream! And Twilight is the one who revealed it followed by a second scream which belongs to Trixie.
"What the hay is going on there?", Applejack asks her friends but trying to see something is no use at all.
The darkness seems to fight against them and provides every picture to get through to them. But suddenly it disappears! The darkness faded away but the ponies still can't even move one muscle except their mouth and eyes. But the scene above them causes them to wish for a chance to leave or at least fight for her friend. Twilight isn't there anymore... at least not the Twilight they know. The pale purple Mare grew and her hooves are covered by black shoes which carry a reddish gemstone formed like a star. Her mane became longer and almost looks like Celestia's except for the colors. Twilight's natural mane color stayed but a few black, grey and red highlights appeared and made her whole expression scarier and more dangerous looking.
"What happened! Twilight? Twilight?!", the Dragon shouts and gains his "friend's" attention, who grins and shoots a black beam at him, which hits directly and forces him to his knees and claws, panting in pain.
"Twi...light...", he mumbles but a laugh drowns his voice before a second beam hits him and flings him a few feet away until he hits the wall right next to the open door.
"Twilight! Stop it!", Rainbow Dash shouts angrily as she notices the pain her friend has to endure right now.
Rarity, who can't believe her eyes, only begins to cry.
"You fools!", the woman's voice, which became darker, echoing and the same accent can be heard that Trixie had, scares the Mares as she begins her speak, "The Twilight you know is not in this body anymore. The only Mares here are Trixie and me, Gloomy Witchcraft! The most dangerous and feared Mare who ever took a breath in Equestria! And now I am back to finally take over the world and no girl can stop me!"
"What have you done to Twilight!", Pinkie Pie demands to know and Fluttershy also wants to hear some information.
"And to Trixie!", she almost shouts in anger, scaring her own friends.
"Why do you even care?", RD asks the Pegasus, "She is the one who is responsible for everything here! Why do you care about her?"
Fluttershy stays silent but before she can answer Applejack decides to tell her friend why.
"Because I know it isn't her fault. It is true that she used the spell to ruin our friendship but she never wanted to harm anyone physically. But I also agree with you Rainbow. Before we worry about and save Trixie we must rescue Twilight!"
Again the grown Mare laughs and laughs while she listens to the words the Mare speak.
"You are truly fools. There is no hope for Trixie. Her heart and soul are trapped inside of this body and my power suppresses them! She can't talk, can't make a move and will never control this body. It is almost like she doesn't exist anymore. And Twilight is also a Mare you will never rescue! It is true that Celestia and Luna defeated me and I passed away many, many years ago but my soul still lived on in my spell book. I heard about the new Elements of Harmony, I heard about Twilight being the Element of Magic and I know that without her you can't use them! You can't defeat me."
"Of course we can! We will just contact Celestia and Luna and they will defeat you again!", the almost aggressive blue Pegasus screams as she tries to free herself but there is no way she can escape.
The spell increased Twilight's magic by 300%! She couldn't escape her spell before so she surely can't escape now.
"Oh... Celestia and Luna? You must be kidding right? They only defeated me because I wasn't as strong as I am now. Also... They only defeated me because of Star Swirl. Without his help I would have beaten them and taken over Equestria! So don't think they can help you now..."
The situation seems hopeless and slowly the Mane 5 realize their current situation.
"This is horrible...", the white woman thinks before another tear rolls down her cheek, "How could it end like this? How?"
Tear after tear rolls down her and the other Mares cheek but Spike, who slowly regains his consciousness, looks around the hall and tries his best to get up but something seems to hold him down. Is it the sorrow his heart feels as his family attacked him, the pain he feels in his body. Or is it the missing hope he lost as he noticed how helpless he is.
"Twilight... Why?", he whispers as he also begins to cry.
"Tonight I will get rid of the remaining Elements and then I will get rid of every woman in Equestria... And finally I will rule and my reign of darkness, pain and sadness will last FOREVER!"
As her laughter echos through the entire castle a second voice, whispered and weak, reaches the little Dragon.
"Spike... Psst! Spike..." This voice is a voice he heard only a few times before but he will always recognize it.
Slowly the male lifts his head a little bit and takes a look to his site, noticing a Mare with a coat and a hat. It is Trixie!
"Tri...Trixie?", he asks but no. It isn't Trixie he is talking to right now.
It's Twilight! The spell did the same to her it did to the other Mares. Her soul ended up in Trixie's body while Trixie is trapped in her's.
"No, It's me... Twilight. I ended up in this body somehow and I think it is connected to Trixie and Gloomy Witchcraft. Celestia told me about her when I was younger. She is truly a very powerful Mare and now... She can't be stopped."
"What do you mean?", Spike asks quietly but Gloomy Witchcraft notices their conversation and tries to stop it. "You two! Be gone!", she screams as she shoots a third beam towards the Dragon but Twilight uses her magic to teleport them away.
A bright flash appears and the two are gone, leading the beam to miss them and hit the ground, burning it a little bit. "Run... Run! You can't stop me after all so run!", the woman screams before she burst out in her crazy laughter once again.
Far away the two reappear in a greenish brown, dark area.
"Where... where are we?", Spike asks before he falls on his claws and knees again.
The damage the villain did still forces him to prevent standing.
"In the Enchanted Forest. I couldn't teleport us all the way to Canterlot because my magic is now weaker. I can't use my woman magic anymore so I had to stick to my woman magic... And the first idea that came to my mind was this place. Maybe we can ask Zecora for help-"
"The Tree of Harmony!", the male interrupts his friend who just stares at him with a confused expression. "What?"
Spike, who tries his best to get on his feet and actually makes it takes a look around and remembers this place.
"We are near the Tree of Harmony... We can use it's power and defeat Gloomy Witchcraft! There is still hope-"
"There is no hope Spike...", Twilight mumbles and stops Spike that way.
He can't believe what he just heard. The Princess of Friendship, the Mare who always has a plan and always knows a way out says there is no hope.
"Of course", the Dragon replies a little bit annoyed, "We can use the Elements and-"
"We can't use the Elements Spike! We can't use the Elements because my Element of Harmony would miss... Magic isn't my Element anymore... It's her now", the blue Mare almost shouts as she turns her back on her friend, walks a few steps and sits down.
Quiet sobs can be heard as the first tears roll down her cheeks. Tears... hopeless tears.
"What happened to her? She seems so sad, so desperate... Twilight, there is always hope...", Spike thinks before he decides to visit the Tree and try his best to rescue his friends and save Equestria.
There is always hope after all. The walk only takes a minute or two before he reaches the path that leads into the canyon which hides the glory Tree.
"I can't give up now... I can't give up!", he speaks to himself as he comes closer and closer until he stands right in front of the tree.
He gulps before he opens his mouth and starts his speech. "Tree of Harmony... I ask you for a favor. Please give me the Elements of Harmony! I know they are parts of you know but we need them to save the world. All of my friends lost their hopes but I can't just stand there and watch while some Mare destroys my home... I beg you... Help me and give me the Elements so I can give my friends the hope they lost when the light disappeared and darkness appeared!"
The last sentence leads the Tree to sparkle and shine in a pleasant light. Spike, who started to sob and cry looks the tree in surprise and a smile appears on his face as the colorful stones slowly moves and actually leave the Tree. The Elements decided to help Spike and his friends! Every gems sparkles in their particular color but without the necklaces and the tiara they aren't powerful enough and can't unfold their true power. Suddenly a root starts to make his move towards the baby Dragon and a white flower grows as it stops. A big, white flower which grows bigger and bigger and, in the end, opens itself to reveal the 6 golden objects.
"The necklaces and the tiara... Why are they here? I thought they are hiden in Twilight's castle...", the pale purple Dragon whispers as the golden artifacts starts to float and move towards the Elements of Harmony.
Accompanied by colorful sparks and a bright light the gems take their places in their socket to restore the usual Elements. The six objects slowly approach Spike, who opens his claws and holds them only seconds later tightly.
"Thanks... Now we will defeat Gloomy Witchcraft and prevent her from taking over I must tell Twilight about i-!"
Before he can end his sentence he finds himself in the castle, a few feet away from main hall's entrance alongside the blue woman, who still cries.
He takes a few looks around before he finally remembers this place.
"We are back! And I have the Elements! We can defeat her Twilight. Follow me!", he tries to motivate his friend but sadly he has no success with his attempt.
She still sees no light in the darkness and no hope in the current situation.
"Twilight...", he repeats a little bit quieter and a sudden sadness can be noticed in his voice.
But this emotion gets replaced by a huge amount of frustration and anger as he takes the woman by her tail and begins to draw her with him.
"I don't want to be rude but you're making me sick right now! Just because you aren't yourself that doesn't mean we can't win! We have to believe in each other and in our friendship. You said it before: Our friendship can't be broken and defeated."
The two enter the room and notice that the other Mares aren't paralyzed anymore. Now they are standing next to each other a few steps away from the door. They look sad and paler as they stare into the air and watch the purple woman, who destroys beloved things while her laughter fills the hall. Rarity's outfit is also gone, most likely Gloomy Witchcraft destroyed it already.
"Everygirl... Fluttershy? Rarity? Pinkie Pie!", the Dragon but they can't hear him or at least it looks like that.
Maybe they just ignore him or can't even notice anything anymore.
"Fast Twilight!", he says to his friend, who also starts to watch Gloomy Witchcraft as she destroys one of the crystal which contain happy memories.
The destroyed one was their first Grand Galloping Gala. The male also notices her actions and, after shaking his head, he drags her into the hall and places her next to Rainbow Dash, who doesn't even move one muscle. After that he gives everygirl their Element and turns his attention towards the villain. She is just about to destroy a picture that shows Spike and the Mane Six together smiling.
"Hey Gloomy Witchcraft! I give you one last chance to surrender or we will force you and destroy you for good this time", Spike shouts and surprises the Mare, who looks at the seven characters and begins to smile.
"Oh... the brave hero is here to save everyone. That is just stupid! Do you really think you can beat me? You may have the Elements of Harmony but I'm still the Element of Magic. Without me the Elements won't work and are useless and so are you!"
She closes her eyes and concentrates her magic to create one of her most powerful attacks. Spike turns his glimpse towards the ground and his claws begin to shake as he hears her words.
"No...", he mumbles over and over again until the woman unleashes her orb of destructive magic.
"I am not useless! I will give my friends the hope because...", he says a little bit louder until he just screams his last words, "The Elements are not connected to their body!"
The magic comes closer and closer but before it can hit the baby a pink shield parries it and shoots it back at her. She dodges but can't believe her eyes.
"How... How is that possible?", she thinks as she watches Spike and her friends, who are surrounding and looking at him.
Their expressions aren't really sad anymore! They look confused but not hopeless and sad. The words he said really touched their heart and defeated the darkness that surrounded it.
"No one can survive my spell... No one! I can't let... I can't"
Gloomy Witchcraft's mind is running wild as she notices that she can't harm him anymore. Out of desperation she unleashes one beam, sphere, orb and thunder and aims for the baby Dragon. Every spell gets shielded by the pinkish aura around him and his friends.
"Spike?", Fluttershy asks, "What do you mean with the Elements aren't connected to our bodies?"
"The Element is not connected with all of you because you were born in this body. Your heart, your soul and everything about you is the reason for that. Not your body made you generous Rarity. You became generous because you love to see someone happy and you are glad if you can help. And Fluttershy: Your heart is the kindest thing in your entire body. You are able to love every creature and you always try your best to keep everyone happy and safe. Everyone of you carries her Element with you all the time. It is a part of you and it can't be stolen. That's why Twilight is still the Element of Magic and Gloomy Witchcraft isn't. I realized that you all lost your hope and stopped believing in you. You thought that you can't do anything because the Elements can't help us. But the Elements chose all of you for a reason. They knew that you six can overcome every obstacle if you just stand together!"
Spike is right! He tells the truth and the six Mares know that.
"You are right Spike", Twilight says but only gains a strange look from her friends.
"What is Trixie doing here? I thought she is stuck in Twilight's body...", Rarity asks but there is no time to waste now.
"I am Twilight but I will explain it later. No we must use the Elements and defeat her!"
"Alright!", the other six answer and they line up in a row while Spike stands behind them and cheers.
The gems starts to glow and slowly the six Mares rise into the air as they form a heart. The magic of the Element of Kindness, Generosity, Loyalty, Honesty and Laughter flows into the star-shaped gem, the Element of Magic. A colorful rainbow raises into the air, crashes through the ceiling once and a second time as it crashes down onto Gloomy Witchcraft.
But, much to everygirl's surprise she fires a beam and actually fights against the Rainbow of Harmony! And it looks like she will win!
"See! I told you the Elements of Harmony can't defeat me! My power is undeniable and I will reign forever after I finally destroyed all of you! There is no hope! Not anymore!", the Mare in Twilight's body exclaims as she notices that destiny is still on her side.
Twilight also realizes that and tries her best to enforce her and her friends magic but it seems like their last chance is no more.
"We... can't let her... win!", the woman babbles but how can they still win?
Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Rarity, Pinkie Pie and Applejack use every little bit of power inside their hearts and bodies to overpower the villainous Mare but slowly her dark magic pushes the Rainbow back into the sky. It won't be long until her beam reaches the Mane Six!
"Don't give up everygirl! Don't let her win! We can't lose now... we just can't...", Spike tries his best to cheer his friends and be useful but it doesn't seem to work out very well.
He closes his eyes and shouts with all his strength his last sentence before Gloomy Witchcraft will beat the ponies. "We can't give up hope!" Suddenly his entire body starts to glitter and green flames surround him. He opens his eyes and, almost scared to death, notices the sensation around his body.
"Twilight! Twilight! Something is happening! Twilight!", the baby Dragon shouts as he rises into the air and slowly moves until he hovers in the center of the heart while the green flames grow stronger and stronger and fills the entire inside of the shape.
"What is going on here?", Pinkie Pie asks and the others seems as surprised as she is when they notice her friend, who begins to shine in a bright, white light.
"What is this Witchcraft? What have you done?", the woman asks as she concentrates on the purple and green male who seems to slowly drain her attention.
"Spike?", Twilight asks but she has no chance to say another word before the light fills the entire room for a few seconds.
And after it vanished... Spike is not the Spike we know and love. He is wearing a golden helmet with a green gemstone in the middle of his forehead. The stone is shaped like a flame and it sends out a green beam that aims for the Element of Magic! Suddenly the Rainbow of Harmony gains a seventh color right next to the yellow and white of Fluttershy and Rarity. And, as if the new power declared Equestria's survival, the colorful force breaks the dark beam of Gloomy Witchcraft and crashes down on her.
"No! No way! That's can't be! Noooooo!", she screams as the magic surrounds her and, after a flashing light of different colors appeared and faded, bans her soul for ever in the book, which slowly decays and finally vanishes.
Panting and sweating the six Mares and the little Dragon sink back until they touch the ground. The fight is over, Equesria is safe and Trixie is rescued, at least they hope she is.
"Trixie? Are you... okay?", Fluttershy asks but the Mare right next to her answers!
Trixie is back in her own body.
"Yes... Thank you", she answers before she sits down and focuses the floor as the others run towards the unconscious woman Princess.
"Twilight!", Spike shouts before he reaches her and hopes for at least one move but no.
She doesn't move a muscle.
"Is she... okay? Or is she...", RD wants to asks but she can't do it!
The thought of losing Twilight like that is too horrifying...
"No! She isn't! She is just sleeping! She is just... tired..."
Spike's voice is filled with despair and anger as he answers the pegasus's questions.
"She can't be gone... She's my family! She can't just disappear! I need her... We all need her..."
But despise all his attempts to wake her up she doesn't. Maybe it is really too late... Rarity steps closer and lays her hoof on the Dragons head before a tear leaves her eye and runs down her cheek.
"Spike... I know you can't understand that but Twilight won't wake up agai-"
"Of course she will!", the male responses shouting with tears in his eyes and an obvious fright in his voice, "She will wake up! She must wake up! I will never lose hope... She will wake up and... she will see that we did it..."
Slowly he places a claw on the purple girl's chest before he sobs again and closes his eyes.
"I don't want this thing here!"
He uses the other claw to throw away the helmet before he places the claw next to the other one.
"Please... wake up Twilight..."
This thought repeats itself again and again as one tear after the other rolls down his scaly cheek and land on the cold floor, his own body or Twilight's. He closed his eyes and just wishes for her return. Applejack takes her hat off before she wipes away a tear or two. Even Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie can't keep their sadness inside. Suddenly the Element of Magic lands next to the Dragon's claws. Trixie must have levitated there because she knows it doesn't belong to her. This seems to be the missing part in this trick! Slowly all the other gems leave their place and begin to shine and sparkle before each one of them covers Twilight in a gentle light. The green flame also participates in this action and adds a green shimmer to it. But it doesn't last long and only a few seconds later the Elements return to their sockets.
"What happened?", Pinkie asks but the answer is obvious as Twilight starts to move slightly and to breath.
Everygirl can't believe their eyes! Twilight lives! Twilight Sparkle lives!
"S...S...", she begins to mumble as she notices the slightly pressure on her chest and, after risking a look, his assistant's and best friend's claws.
"Spike... What happened?", she asks quietly.
The baby Dragon instantly opens his eyes in shock and turns his glimpse towards the woman, who slightly smiles at him.
"Twi...light...", he babbles as tears continue making their way from his eyes across his cheeks, "Are... you..."
He can't finish his sentence anymore. The happiness and joy he feels right now overtakes him and forces him to hug his woman friend and his dearest family member.
"I missed you...", he whispers and gains a giggle in return.
The other Mares still can't believe their eyes as they watch the two friends.
"Twilight", Rarity starts her sentence but stops as first Rainbow Dash, Applejack and finally Fluttershy each at a word to it, "is... really... back!"
They move towards her and give her a hug before they help her on her hooves.
"What happened?", the woman asks and Pinkie Pie takes her chance to explain.
"We celebrated Hearts Warming Eve but Trixie manipulated it and activated a magic spell which gave her the ability to switch bodies with everygirl she sees. She tried the spell on you but suddenly Gloomy Witchcraft appeared who seemed to be the creator of the spells. She overtook your body and used it to defeat us. But Spike and Trixie brought the Elements of Harmony and we all used it to defeat her but we were not strong enough until Spike joined us with this super-duper-cool helmet over there. We finally defeated her but then you were lying here and we thought you were not anymore. We cried and cried but now you are here with us and I still can't believe it..."
As she says the last words she starts to cry again and gives her friend another big hug.
"Really? I was not anymore...", Twilight repeats and seems a little bit frighted by the thought.
"Yes but you are here now and that's what counts!"
Rainbow Dash tries her best to cheer her friend up and she has success. Spike leaves the group for a short moment and moves towards his helmet, which he takes into his claws.
"What is that? Is it... an Element?", whispers before he walks back to his friends.
"What is that?", he repeats his question but this time louder as he shows them his object.
"A green flame... It looks like an Element of Harmony but it can't be one. There are only six Elements", the white woman answers as she takes a closer look at it.
"But", Twilight replies as she also takes a closer look, "Maybe it is an unknown Element... An Element that was hidden until today? I heard Princess Celestia talked about five more Elements of Harmony which were hidden by evil siblings... I think they called themselves Hel and Fenrir. Hel was a selfish and narcissistic Mare while Fenrir was one of the most aggressive and ruthless Stallions Equestria ever witnessed. They fought Luna and Celestia but were defeated. They escaped but found the five missing Elements: Hope, Love, Forgiveness, Unity and Justice. They took them away and destroyed them. But the sharps are still out there and they can form the Elements of Harmony just like it happened to us when we gained them. Maybe this gemstone is also one of those Elements!"
"But which one?", the Dragon asks as he focuses the green flame.
"I think I know which one", Rarity answers, "You are the reason why were able to defeat Gloomy Witchcraft. You are the reason why Twilight is still here. You never gave up hope and shared it with all of us. Your hope is the reason why we are still here. This Element must be the Element of Hope!"
"That actually makes sense", Rainbow Dash says and nods, "You gave me back my hope when I thought we had none left. And I think everygirl agrees with me."
Applejack, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie nod in agreement and even Twilight, who can't remember anything, agrees.
"You always gave me hope...", she answers, "Since I first met you. I never lost hope thanks to you."
"I'm sorry to interrupt this but what should we do with Trixie?"
Applejack excuses herself before she turns around and focuses Trixie, who still sits there and deals with her guilty feelings. Rainbow doesn't hesitate and wants to unleash her anger.
"Let's take care of her. She deserves it!"
Everygirl agrees and moves forward until they stand right in front of the woman, who raises to her hooves and waits for her punishment.
"I'm sorry for what I did and I know you can't let me leave like that. I will accept every punishment you plan for me", Trixie declares without raising her face. But Spike understands Trixie and why she did all that.
"Wait!", he shouts and runs towards Trixie, who focuses him with a surprised facial expression and waits, and turns his back on her.
"We can't punish her!"
This sentence shocks everygirl but Rainbow and AJ seem to be the most surprised Mares.
"What? She almost caused Equestria's destruction and Twilight's dead! How can we not punish her?", the cowgirl answers and gains a nod from RD.
Spike gulps and understand how stupid he sounded but he can't let them punish her.
"I know she did something wrong but haven't you listened to what she said before? She was hopeless, she was frustrated. We took everything from her even though we did it to protect others. We didn't even asked her if we can help her out after we defeated her. We forgot about her. She was lonely and desperate... She had nothing left! I know how that feels like... Even though I am always with you I sometimes feel useless and powerless. You have your Elements and I had nothing until today... But I have you but Trixie. She has no girl she could call a friend... And maybe this is what she always wanted and still wants, a friend."
Spike turns around with a smile on his face.
"Here Trixie, take my claw and be my friend, be our friend. Join us today and celebrate. And tomorrow you are free to leave and try your luck somewhere else or you can stay in girlville. We will stay your friends and you will be always welcome in this castle."
Twilight smiles as she hears her friend's words. So wise and so kind. He saw something in Trixie she and her friends couldn't see. A lonely Mare who would everything to have at least one friend.
"Take my hand", the Dragon repeats, "and let's forget about the past and create a better future together. The eight of us bonded by friendship."
The dressed woman can't believe what she hears. All her life no one tried to be nice to her and now a baby Dragon is?
"I...", she babbles as her eyes begin to glitter slightly and a single tear makes it was across her blueish coat, "I don't know what to say... I... I'd like to be your friend, Spike..."
She begins to cry as the Dragon embraces her in a hug and smiles.
"We want you as our friend", Fluttershy answers and also gives the woman a hug.
The other five Mares repeat this action.
After the womans and the woman fixed the castle with their magic the seven Mares and Spike make their way outside. Everything looks like nothing even happened. Luckily the other ponies didn't noticed what happened or else there would've been chaos. They take their places on a close hill and watch the dark sky. Thousands of stars decorate the dark blue surface and create a piece of art. Colorful pictures and sparkling explosions join them and get accompanied by loud noises as the firework starts.
"Spike... I really hope the future will be much like this night. Ponies and Dragon united as one, enemies become friends and every evil force will be stopped and destroyed... I really hope one day we will make this dream come true...", the Princess of Friendship whispers and gains a giggle in return.
"All we can do is hope for it", the Dragon answers as a giant rocket creates a big and colorful heart, "and never stop hoping..."