My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic

Night

Chapter Thirteen: Redemption

At last, the true night had come, and Princess Luna watched as the young were put to bed. Under the gentle glow of her Moon, which now existed without the mark of the Mare in the Moon, the Alicorn saw the comfort the fillies, colts, and yearlings took in the more quiet hours. Even after everything that had happened, the ponies of Equestria no longer seemed to fear the night, or its princess. Allowing herself to smile, taking in the feeling of being loved, Luna closed her eyes as her stars sent their promise of protection to all who lived. Surely, the stallion was among them now, though he held no anger as she shined alongside his lost loved ones. Now, all that remained was the welcoming party, and the end of a thousand years of sorrow.

Standing side-by-side, just as they did as fillies, Princesses Luna and Celestia stood before a massive crowd of their subjects as the mares and stallions of Canterlot and Ponyville cheered. Violent Rose stood alongside her unit, with Shining Armor and his stallions guarding the opposite side of the stage. Upon request, the Cutie-Mark Crusaders walked onto the stage and placed crowns and necklaces made from roses and the thread of silk worms upon Luna and Celestia before bowing and returning to their families. Deeply honored, Princess Luna bowed to her subjects while trying to hold back her tears of joy and mourning for the lost years.

"No more need to hide, sister," Princess Celestia gently whispered. Smiling and nodding slightly, the Princess of Night allowed the tears to fall from her eyes. As her sister had said, a princess needn't be strong all the time.

Watching the ceremony from afar, Twilight Sparkle nuzzled her head against Princess Cadance's neck, just as she did as a foal. "I'm sorry you had to see me like that," the young Unicorn declared to her former foalsitter. "But thank you…for not leaving me."

"I'd never leave you, angel," Cadance warmly replied as the wind blew her mane. "I guess you're getting tired of me calling you that. I still can't get used to the fact that you're all grown up."

"I don't mind," Twilight answered without a second thought. "Not from you. So…are you sure you wanna propose?" Even now, her childlike curiosity shined.

"I am," the Princess of Love sweetly answered. "He's unlike any other stallion I've ever met. Besides, I have my maid of honor in mind already. Now come on, Twilight, you've got some friends to get back to. I promise I'll say goodbye before I have to go this time."

"I love you, Cadance," Twilight warmly declared.

"I love you too, angel," the Alicorn replied, her voice full of affection.

As the two parted ways, Applejack and Pinky Pie spoke amongst themselves, free to return to their normal lives once more. "Yer sure about this, Pinky?" the orange Pony asked her friend.

"Absolutely, positively, definitely sure," the pink Pony excitedly answered with a bold smile.

"Applejack!" Apple Bloom called out as she ran towards her sister. "Howdy, Pinky. Applejack, can you show my friends a rope trick? Please!"

"Sure thing, sugar cube," Applejack answered, playfully mussing her little sister's mane. "Wanna be mah assistant, Pinky?" Nodding with great enthusiasm, Pinky Pie joined Applejack, Apple Bloom, Rarity, and Sweetie Belle towards the center of the festivities.

"Scootaloo," Rainbow Dash finally spoke as she and her surrogate little sister sat upon a white cloud just above the trees. The little Pegasus looked up at her friend with hopeful, wide eyes. "Look, I just wanna let you know, before anything major happens…"

"What's up, sis?" Scootaloo asked, fluttering her tiny, orange wings with curiosity and excitement.

"It's just…I know you want me to be, like, your big sister," the sky-blue Pegasus began, no longer feeling sure of herself. "And I'm gonna try my best to be the sister you deserve…It's just…" The little, orange Pegasus' eyes began to reflect her growing concern. "I cuss, I mess up a lot, my emotions get the better of me way too often, and I can be…really hard to get along with sometimes. You're…you're sure you want that in your life?" For a moment, neither of the ponies spoke.

Then, without need of speaking, Scootaloo tightly hugged her mentor. Being a filly, she knew neither how nor when to hold back, making her firm embrace all the more precious. "You don't need to change anything, Rainbow Dash," she happily declared as she nuzzled her face against the young mare's upper chest. "You're awesome and perfect just the way you are. I'm so proud to have you as my family."

Her strong and bold heart giving way and easing into a loving flutter, Rainbow felt both fear and joy well up inside of her as she wrapped her hooves and wings around the little one. "And I'm proud of you, too, kiddo," she finally replied, closing her eyes and smiling. Once their hug was over, the two Pegasus glanced down at Equestria below them from atop their own little cloud.

As Octavia and her orchestra completed their last song, the crowds cheered and stomped their hooves. Walking over to DJ Pon-3's booth, Fluttershy saw her friend getting ready for her first set. Vinyl had both her sunglasses and headphones on, but she seemed her usual, calm self. "Fluttershy!" the hidden Alicorn called out. "I wanted to say thank you for…earlier."

"You're welcome, Vinyl," the sunny Pegasus warmly answered. "I'm glad you're feeling better."

"I am," the white Pony assured her friend. "You and Octy really got me through a bad night. Sounds like you and your friends had one of those, too. I'm glad it all worked out okay."

"Evening, fillies," Octavia greeted her friends as she carried her instrument case over her shoulder. "I'm really glad you could all make it, Fluttershy. Vinyl and I arranged a special song for your group. It's the least we could do."

"You're both too sweet," Fluttershy blushed slightly. "I'm just glad you're both okay."

"You know, Vinyl was telling me earlier that she made a pretty big decision," the gray Pony announced, being careful not to say too much.

Fluttershy looked to the DJ with an interested grin. Readying herself, the Pony put her hooves in the air. "Ready?" she asked before slowly removing her glasses and exposing her beautiful scarlet eyes. "How do I look?"

"Beautiful, as always," Octavia blurted out before catching herself and covering her mouth.

"You have the most beautiful eyes, Vinyl," the Pegasus warmly added, hoping to ease Octavia's embarrassment. "You're sure about this?"

"Well, I'm not gonna give 'em up for good, but…" the Alicorn began. Carefully parting her blue and white mane, Vinyl displayed her horn for the first time in a long time. "I guess, if I ease in, I won't have to wear them all the time. I'm working on seeing things with my own eyes, like you said. Thanks, fillies." Setting her sunglasses in her bag, the white Unicorn set her record on the turn table and grabbed her microphone. "Fillies and gentlecolts," she called out, getting everypony's attention. "DJ Pon-3 here. Wanna welcome Princess Luna and her big sis, Princess Celestia back to Equestria: Back to the land of the living. I'd also like to dedicate this first song to the Mane 6 and their pal, Spike. Let's give 'em all a big hoof, alright?" The crowds clapped and stomped their hooves for their heroes and rulers. As the applause reached its height, Vinyl slid the needle down and let the music free the spirits of all who lived.

"Did you hear that, Twilight?" Spike asked with childlike excitement in his voice. "They're playing a song for you ponies."

"They're playing it for you too, Spike," Twilight happily replied, placing a hoof on her friend's shoulder. "We couldn't have done this without you." The Unicorn gently stroked Spike's scales down across his arm. "I'm so sorry about all those terrible things I said, Spike." As hot tears began to well up in Twilight's eyes, she felt a painful lump forming in her throat. "I love you…more than anything in the whole, wide world. And I am so proud of everything you've done, and the wonderful pony…dragon you're growing up to be."

"Nopony blames you for that, Twilight," the baby dragon assured his best friend. "I'm proud of you. You saved everything. And I love you, too. You're the best mother-sister-friend anypony could ever ask for." The two hugged one another, as if the war never even happened. Everything was exactly as it was supposed to be. Suddenly, Spike belched out a flash of red fire that formed a note. "It's from Princess Celestia."

Opening the letter, Twilight quickly read it over and folded it back up. "She says for all of us to meet her back at our place," she explained. "Race you there."

"You're on!" Spike excitedly accepted the challenge.

The two readied themselves, and then charged towards their home. As they ran, Zecora watched from a short distance, keeping her cloak tightly pressed to keep her from becoming chilled. "All is at peace," she declared just above a whisper. "It's over for now, at least." Smiling to herself, the Zebra went about her way, letting the others enjoy their party.

Racing through the door, Twilight and Spike had no time to decide the winner as Princesses Celestia, Luna, and Cadance stood before them, with Shining Armor, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rarity, and Pinky Pie standing off to the side. "Your majesties," the Unicorn greeted her superiors as she bowed respectfully. Spike did the same, not sure of what was happening. "Shining Armor, everypony…what's going on?"

"We were hoping you'd know," Rainbow Dash answered. "They just told us to meet you here."

"After all that has happened," Princess Celestia began. As she stepped forward, the glistening Alicorn's words resounded like church bells. "You have all proven yourselves to be true, courageous, kind, generous, loyal, and the truest of friends to one another as well as the rest of Equestria. Though you still have much to learn, I am proud to call each of you the champions of our kingdom. Twilight Sparkle, please step forward."

Turning to her friends for a second, the Unicorn grew nervous as she approached her beloved princess and bowed with humility. "My princess," she declared, too afraid to open her eyes.

"At ease, my good student," the Princess of Day lovingly replied. As Twilight stood up and looked to her mother-figure, Cadance and Luna stepped outward beside Celestia. "Twilight, from the moment I gazed eyes on you, I knew you were destined for great things. Watching you grow into the strong, loving, selfless mare you are today has been one of the greatest joys of my life. Even in your darkest hour, you and your friends remained strong, and protected the innocent in my absence. I have never been more proud of you, my child."

"In my exile, as we spoke in dreams, I saw the pain you hid inside of yourself," Princess Luna continued, her voice bold. "But you refused to unleash that pain on others, and you shared it with me instead of hiding from it. In the end, it was you who shattered the darkness. You and your friends have achieved the impossible time and time again since I came to know you. Even in the most hopeless of times, your light shined through the shadows. Through your actions and virtues, you have all rekindled the Elements of Harmony, paving the way for light forever more. I am proud to call you my friend, Twilight. I hope to come to know your companions as well."

"Even though you never saw it…" Princess Cadance stepped forward. "You have always been a hero and teacher to those around you. Even as a foal, your heart had such power and capacity. After all these years, I still see that same little filly, but you have grown so strong in your years. Though the voice tried to take you away from us, you returned time and time again."

Blushing, Twilight tried to hide her eyes as they began to water with humble tears. She had never come to expect such praise. However, as she raised her hooves over her eyes, Celestia took them gently in her own, and smiled at her student. "You needn't be afraid any longer, Twilight," the princess declared. "You have proven yourself to the world so many times… Although I can never truly repay what you have done, there is something I have been waiting to give you, even before you were a dream."

The princesses stood in a triangular formation around the young Unicorn, and each bowed in turn. As their horns began to glow, Twilight looked down to see her Cutie-Mark shining with its own light. Afraid at first, she chose to trust her loved ones, and closed her eyes as a great and warming light flooded over her body. Her mane flowing wildly as she rose off the ground, Twilight felt her heart begin to flutter, and the joy and peace the light gave her brought her to laugh like a foal once more. Then, in a moment of complete empowerment, the Unicorn opened her eyes, shattering the orb of light, and flared out her large, beautiful, and eternally free wings. Spike, Shining Armor, and the rest of the Mane 6 gasped as pure shards of light blew around the newly-awakened Alicorn, whose eyes flowed with holy and magical light. Gently flapping her wings, Twilight Sparkle lowered herself to the ground as her eyes returned to normal. Awestruck, everypony began to clap and stomp their hooves as a great and unseen chorus seemed to sound its trumpets and horns.

"The Tetrarchy of Princesses is, at long last, complete," Princess Celestia declared. "All hail Princess Twilight Sparkle…The Defender of Friendship." Shocked, the new Alicorn looked at her wings and gasped with joy and surprise as everypony in the room bowed respectfully to their new majesty.

"They couldn't have chosen a better pony," Spike whispered, unaware that his friends could all hear him.

Following the coronation, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rarity, Pinky Pie, Spike, and Shining Armor hugged their beloved new princess. "I'm so proud of you, Twily," the Unicorn stallion warmly declared. "My baby sister's a princess now."

"Thanks, big brother," Twilight lovingly answered. "I had a lot of great examples. Princess Celestia said I won't officially become a princess until the Celestial Blessing, but it means so much that you were all here to see this. I still can't get over it."

"Same here," Rainbow Dash declared. "I mean, we all know you're awesome, but…wow."

"We're so happy for you, sugar cube," Applejack added. "But…are you still gonna be here in Ponyville?"

"Like I'd ever leave my best friends?" the Alicorn happily answered. Crying out with joy, Pinky jumped up and tightly hugged her friend. "Pinky…I love you, but you're crushing my wings."

"Oh, sorry," the pink Pony said as she took a step back.

"We always believed in you, Twilight," Fluttershy happily sobbed. "I'm so glad you're getting what you deserve."

"You'll be the most fabulous princess in all of Equestria," Rarity added with a bold smile. "But now I'm the only Unicorn in our group. Oh, well."

"And…will you still need an assistant?" Spike nervously asked, keeping his claws clasped behind his back.

"Spike, no matter what happens, no matter how much changes…you will always be my best friend and the world's best assistant," Twilight promised, giving her friend a warm hug and wrapping him in her wings.

"There is one last thing, Twilight," Princess Celestia announced. Her voice seemed grave and laden with sorrow. "It's a confession on my part. I'm afraid it's been a long time coming…Twilight, my most beloved student…A great wrong has been done to you, without my knowing." Growing uneasy, the young Alicorn looked at her princess with concerned eyes. "Before you were born, elders made a decision…Had I known, I would never have permitted it." As if ashamed, Celestia closed her eyes.

"My princess…" Twilight nervously replied. "What are you saying?" Opening her eyes and shedding tears, Princess Celestia looked back at her student.

Upon hearing the awful secret, the Mane 6 were rendered silent. "…What am I?" Twilight finally said.

"You were changed by an ancient spell that has been lost for generations," Princess Celestia confessed. "Before you were born…before your own parents held you…You were given a destiny that was not your own. Because of them, you were always meant to one day become me. Their race was lost long ago, and rightfully so. In time, even the memory of their existence will fade from Equestria…But you, Twilight…You have proven to me that you have grown beyond what they tried to make you. Somehow, despite all they did, you have risen above, as you always have, my student."

"How could they do something like that?" Fluttershy asked, deeply troubled by the very idea.

"Easy, Flutters," Applejack answered, her voice sinking. "They were afraid. They didn't know what was goin' tuh happen, an' they lost faith in who we could be…So they tried to make a copy of somepony they already knew could do the job. Ah'd say they got more than they expected, though. Nopony could've made Twilight who she is today. Not with magic, alchemy, or anythin' else."

"I could not agree more," Princess Celestia replied. "I never told you, Twilight…I was afraid that, in your youth, you would not know how to handle what had happened. Now, I beg your forgiveness."

Gathering her bearings, Twilight looked at herself for a moment, then turned to her old friend. "You don't have anything to apologize for, my princess," she warmly declared. "You never lived through me. You let me grow and change on my own…You and my friends and family gave me the strength and freedom to be whoever I chose to be. If I am more like you…then I'm glad to have those genes to carry with me." Turning back to her friends, Twilight smiled her own smile. "Thanks, everypony." Relieved, Princess Celestia allowed herself to smile as well.

Come dawn, Princesses Celestia, Luna, and Cadance parted ways with their friends and returned to their kingdoms, leaving Twilight Sparkle to say goodbye to her beloved big brother. "Twilight, no matter what they tell me, nothing's gonna change," he declared lovingly. "You're never gonna be anything but my baby sister, and that's something nopony can top."

"Thanks, Shining," Twilight replied, giving her brother a hug. "Oh, and congratulations."

"Huh?" the Unicorn said. "On what?"

"Oh, nothing," the new Alicorn smiled, tapping her brother's shoulder with her wing. "Love you, bro."

"Love you too, Twily," Shining Armor replied before departing to join his team. Watching her brother leave, Twilight stood in the doorway of her and Spike's home, feeling calm for the first time in a long time.

"Hey, Twilight," Rainbow Dash greeted her friend. "How's it all going?"

"Better," Twilight answered with a warm voice and a relieved smile. "Thanks to all of you. I apologized to everypony, but still…Sorry for all those things I said and did as Nightmare Twilight."

"Don't sweat it," the Pegasus replied. "None of that's on you. I'm just glad to have the real Twilight back. By the way, I love the wings. Maybe we can race sometime."

"Maybe, yeah," the Alicorn smiled. "It'll take awhile before I get used to these, but I think I'll figure it out."

"Ah hate tuh interrupt somethin' this sweet," Applejack stepped in. "But y'all better grab a seat before breakfast is ready. You know how Pinky is with those pancakes."

"Sure thing, AJ," Rainbow chuckled. "We'll be right in."

"After all this, it's nice to know some things will never change," Twilight declared with a smile towards the rising Sun. Turning away, the Alicorn let her tail brush up against Dash's cheek. "Race you inside."

Caught off-guard, Rainbow Dash quickly composed herself. "Oh, it's on, princess!" she playfully declared.

One by one, Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Pinky Pie, Rarity, and Spike rushed to the table as Applejack prepared her apple-spiced pancakes. As always, Spike pulled Rarity's chair out for her, and Twilight helped the baby dragon into his own chair. Though the horizon would never be truly clear, one thing remained: Friendship is Magic.