Chapter 12
Back to Normal
Neo had just defeated Hellraiser, and he didn't do it alone, he defeated Hellraiser with the help of the mane 6. It was their friendship and teamwork that helped them send Hellraiser back to Hell where he belongs. After Hellraiser was vanquished, the chamber shook and the entire forest was turning back to normal, the vines with sharp chains disappeared and the Everfree Forest was no longer a labyrinth of pain and suffering, it was back to a normal magical forest.
The vines with sharp chains that had been wrapped around the Tree of Harmony disappeared and it was free at last, and the chamber they were in was no longer a chamber of pain and suffering. It was now a normal cave where the Tree of Harmony could spread harmony throughout the Everfree Forest.
The princesses were now free and the entire land of Equestria was back in harmony once again. The ponies were so relieved that they had saved Equestria once again.
Princess Celestia walked over to Twilight and said, "Congratulations Twilight, you and your friends have once again saved Equestria from evil. I am so proud of you, you're gonna be a wonderful princess."
Twilight blushed and said, "Thank you Princess Celestia. I'll try to be the best princess I can be."
Princess Celestia smiled sweetly and said, "I know you will."
Then she looked at Neo, she smiled and walked over to him. Neo gasped and she approached him.
She smiled at him and said, "And I must congratulate you my sweet little boy. You have once again helped your friends save Equestria, your friendship is what will always give you the power to protect Equestria."
"Thank you Celestia, I'm just so happy that you and Luna are alright."
Princess Luna walked over to Neo with a smile, she said to him, "Neo, my love, you've saved my sister and I, and you saved our precious kingdom. And most of all, you stopped that monster from turning me back into Nightmare Moon. You are my hero."
Princess Luna gave Neo a kiss on the cheek, making him blush.
"Thank you Luna."
Then Princess Celestia gently nuzzled Neo's cheek and she gave him a kiss on the cheek as well, making him blush again.
She said to him, "You are such a special boy. We will always love you."
Neo had just been kissed by both princesses, and to him, it was the most wonderful feeling.
Then Princess Celestia told the ponies that in order to keep the Tree of Harmony safe from harm again, they have to give it the Elements of Harmony. The ponies were reluctant to do so. They thought if they gave up the Elements of Harmony, they would no longer be able to protect Equestria.
Twilight reminded them that the elements may be what keeps them connected, but their friendship is forever. The elements are what brought them together and as long as they have their friendship, they will always triumph over evil. She said that the only way to ensure that the Tree of Harmony will be safe from now on is to give it the Elements of Harmony.
Princess Celestia loved what she heard, she was very proud of Twilight. Twilight and the ponies went over to the Tree of Harmony, Twilight took the jewel from the ponies' necklaces and the jewel from her crown. She gave the jewels to the tree, Neo took the cross that was on his necklace and he gave it to the tree as well, he wanted to give the tree of offering and also to give it his protection as well. Twilight thought it was very noble of Neo to give his cross to the tree.
As Neo gave his cross to the tree, he said a prayer for God to protect the tree and all of Equestria.
The Tree of Harmony glowed for a second and magic beams went around it for a second, showing that the elements were now protecting the tree from future threats.
After it was done, Princess Celestia said to Twilight, "I know it was difficult for you to give up the elements. It took great courage to relinquish them."
"I know, but I know that our friendship will always help us succeed in our future missions," said Twilight.
Then Twilight turned to Neo and said, "And thank you for giving your cross to the tree, that was very noble of you Neo."
"Thank you Twilight," said Neo. "I want to protect Equestria just as much as you do, it's my home now."
"It sure is," said Twilight. "This will always be your home and you and I will always be friends. And if you really think of me as your sister, then I can be your sister as well."
Neo and Twilight shared a hug, the ponies and princesses awed at the sweet moment. But as they were hugging, Neo suddenly fainted.
Twilight and the ponies got worried, they all came to his aid. Twilight gently shook Neo to wake him up, but he didn't wake up.
Princess Luna looked down at him and said, "Neo my love, please be okay."
Princess Celestia said to her sister, "Don't worry dear sister, he'll be okay. All that energy from fighting Hellraiser and energy he gave from giving up his cross to the Tree of Harmony has really taken a lot out of him. He needs rest."
"Let's take him back to the castle and see that he gets some rest," said Luna.
But suddenly, magic from the Tree of Harmony caused a flower to sprout at its roots, the flower bloomed and revealed a box with six locks, requiring 6 keys to open.
The mane 6, Spike, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna looked at the flower.
"What's inside this flower," asked Twilight. 'Where are the keys to open it?"
"6 locks require 6 keys," said Luna.
"I do not know where they are," said Celestia. "But I do know that it is a mystery you will not be solving alone. Now, let's all go back to the castle. The Summer Sun Celebration is tomorrow and we should let Neo sleep for now so he can join us at the celebration. It's the least we can do to thank him for helping us to save Equestria."
Everypony agreed, so Princess Celestia used her magic to levitate Neo and Princess Luna decided to carry him. So Princess Celestia used her magic to put Neo on Luna's back. Then the mane 6, Spike, Chucky and the princesses left the Everfree Forest and went on their way back to Canterlot Castle to get ready for the Summer Sun Celebration and to let Neo rest.
End of chapter 12.
