Chapter 22:
Twilight's A Hero!
Back in the village, Tai Lung sat before Twilight, completely dumbfounded as to what had just happened.
The only thing Luna had told him about the Wuxi Finger Hold was that it sent its victims to the spirit realm, with no chance of return. Yet, here he was, still in the mortal realm. And… he blinked in shock. He was no longer angry! All the malice and hate that had infected his body for the past twenty years… was all gone.
All that was left, he realized with a throb in his heart was despair.
"Tai Lung?" A familiar female voice asked.
The snow leopard vaguely looked up to see Twilight sitting on her knees before him.
"How? How did you do that?" Tai Lung mumbled. He couldn't believe that he was still alive.
Twilight smiled as her gaze drifted to the Jade Dragon Library.
"Master Wuxi may have developed the finger hold in the third dynasty. But Starswirl the Bearded perfected it with his magic. By pouring raw magic into someone, Starswirl theorized it was possible to separate one's impurities from one's being. But it only works if they have something good still in them," She recited as she rested her hand on Tai Lung's heart.
Tai Lung reached for her hand, but then he saw the bruises and dirt marks still across her body. All marks from the fight he had given her, his hand dropped.
"What should be done with me?" I've done so much wrong… I attacked this village, I attacked you! I attacked my mother…How can there still be good in me?" He whispered, bowing and gripping his head.
"Leave him alone!" a voice suddenly cried.
Twilight and Tai Lung sprang to combat stances, just in time to see a flash of green light. They jumped away from each other, the resulting green explosion forming Urtica, who took a defensive stance, defending Tai Lung from Twilight.
"You caught me off guard once! But not this time!" Urtica hissed at Twilight.
"Urtica," Tai Lung said, catching the changeling's attention as her stance faltered when she saw that he was not primed for battle.
"It's over," Tai Lung said gently.
Urtica blinked as she looked between him and Twilight, "But…" She tried to say.
But Tai Lung rested his hand on her shoulder; on the one person whom he knew he had not hurt. And with his motion, the fight went out of Urtica as well.
"Twilight, I think… think...I'd like to go home now," Tai Lung said, drawing the unicorn's attention.
Twilight nodded and replied, "Of course….".
Twilight almost moved to aid Urtica as she gently helped Tai Lung towards the Celestial Palace… but then all three of them heard voices.
"Place doesn't look too destroyed…" Pinkie's voice said, hopeful and positive.
"We haven't reached where that flash was. Keep moving!" Rainbow's voice replied.
Twilight glanced in the direction of their voices before turning back to Tai Lung and Urtica. She didn't want any unnecessary fighting any more than they did.
"Go. The Five won't understand until I explain it to them," She told them.
The two nodded, and Urtica hauled Tai Lung away into the mist that had formed from the flash. Meanwhile, Twilight turned in the direction of the voices. Striding forward, she started to see the faint outlines of the villagers.
"Look! The Celestial Warrior!" One of the Villagers yelled, pointing her out.
Twilight chuckled. She didn't think she matched the image of a Celestial Warrior. Battered and bruised, with a GI that was ripped and in serious need of a wash. Yet, as she strode out of the mist, and beheld the ponies of Ponyville, the cheers they gave her were fit for a Kung-Fu Master regardless of their appearance.
Twilight's heart melted at the sight of the crowd, cheering for her all the same. She saw ponies that walked by her library, and never spoke to her except to ask for books, all regaling her as a hero. But most importantly… her eyes locked on the purple scales of Spike, who did not cheer, but instead pushed his way through the crowd to her, his smile brighter than Celestia's sun.
"That's my sister! That smart, loving, wonderful kung-fu warrior is my sister!" Spike announced with a proud smile.
Moving forward as well, Twilight parted the crowd with her presence alone, allowing her and Spike to run into each other's arms for a hug.
"Thanks for believing in me, BBBFF," Twilight whispered.
Spike chuckled and tightened his hug, "What are brothers for?" He replied.
Twilight would have been content to remain in Spike's arms for hours. But when she looked up, she noticed the Furious Five striding up to her. And for the first time, since she got the honor of meeting her in person, Twilight saw Rainbow Dash with a friendly smile. Directed at her, of all things.
Nervously, Twilight lets go of Spike and rose up to meet her fellow masters.
"Hey…Masters…." She mumbled, before awkwardly bowing to them.
Rainbow huffed a small laugh, "You don't need to do that," She noted.
Twilight looked up at her, quickly pulling out of her bow. Her eyes widened further as Rainbow Dash bowed to her.
"Master," Rainbow Dash added with a grin. Behind her, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Applejack copied her bow.
"Master," They all said in unison.
Twilight covered her mouth, fearing that she was going to cry. Then… she remembered another master.
"Master Luna!" Twilight exclaimed.
With a yelp, Twilight flared her horn, teleporting to the palace… and slamming into the anti-teleportation field. Shaking it off, she trekked up the stairs and raced to the reflecting pool. Luna lay where she had fallen, the rise and fall of her chest still the only sign of life.
"Master?! Luna, Luna, are you okay?!" Twilight whispered, turning Luna to her back. She was rewarded when Luna's eyes fluttered open and fixed on Twilight with recognition.
"Twilight? You're alive? Or we're both dead," Luna whispered as her lips curled up in a smile before her grin faded.
"No, Master. None of us died. I defeated Tai Lung and saved him from his darkness," Twilight explained to her.
"You…saved Tai Lung?" Luna asked.
Twilight smiled. Before she could answer, she heard the sound of footsteps behind her. Briefly turning to confirm her suspicion, Twilight lifted Luna's head, letting her see her son limp inside, aided by Urtica.
Where before, Tai Lung had gazed on her only with resentment, now he limped forward with both happiness… and so much sorrow. He was glad his mother was alright, but would she forgive him?
"Tai Lung?" Luna whispered.
Tai Lung stopped, resisting Urtica's attempt to bring him forward. Tears welled up in his eyes… before Luna held a hand out to him. Gasping back his tears, Tai Lung limped forward and took her hand.
"Mother…" Tai Lung got out and fell to his knees. The guilt and remorse pulled him down like an anchor in an ocean.
"The pain I've caused you… there is no…" He rested his head against her hand.
"I'm so sorry. Can you ever forgive me?" Tai Lung asked, hoping his mother would give him another chance.
Luna said nothing. With all of her strength, she lifted herself up and put her other arm around her son, putting him in a hug.
"My great dragon…I already have," Luna whispered with tears in her eyes.
Then Luna turned to Twilight and said, "It is as Celestia foretold, you really are the Celestial Warrior, Twilight. You have brought peace to this valley and to me and Tai Lung too. Thank you,".
Luna and Tai Lung continued their mother-son hug, feeling greatly happy to be together again after all these years. And it was thanks to Twilight, the Celestial Warrior.
And as Mother and Son embraced each other, Urtica and Twilight gave each other a mutual look.
"You want to go read a book and let them have their moment?" Twilight asked in a whisper, turning to Urtica.
"Hmmm, yeah," Urtica replied, as they backed up slowly to let Tai Lung and Luna have their moment.
THE END!
Author's Note: End Story Credits will be coming soon along with a certain song too.