Author's notes

Glad to be back. I tell ya, I'm having a hard time concentrating on this fanfic.

For those who have just tuned in from last chapter, that was an April Fool's joke. I revealed that at the last paragraph, but I'm stating that now to avoid some confusion. Please don't hate me.

I've read the synopsis for the season 4 finally, and here is all I have to say… WHY!?

For those who haven't heard, the synopsis is that they will face an enemy; and in hopes to defeat him, Celestia and Luna will have to give their powers to Twilight Sparkle… No, you read me right. Celestia and Luna will have to give their powers to Twilight Sparkle.

I'm very displeased with this, I don't want Twilie turning into a marry sue. I love the princesses, I don't want their powers taken away! Worst yet, this may be Hasbro's way of giving them the boot. Alicorn Twilight was one thing, but actually kicking very adored characters out of the show; that's another thing entirely. I hope we're just misconceiving this, I really do.

I honestly think it's going great so far, Alicorn Twilight worked after all… I still hate it, but it works.

Anyways, shoutouts:

Randomreader: Ah, the fake pregnancy gag; the oldest trick in the book. My dad tried to pull one by telling me he has been fired from his job. Good thing I keep track of the calendar. Next year I might pull one by telling them that I've turned gay.

Angel Cake20: Why, your quiet welcome! XD

Elemental Hybrid: that was exactly what I feared, and I immediately noticed it in the comments. So, the Equestia Girls bonus is dropped. What I'm going to do instead is a lot better, and will only involve the main characters. I knew I shouldn't have mentioned the anime characters.

Zatcherythehedgehog: Really? So I'm not the only one having this fan fiction invaded by Angry Birds… I don't even play the darn thing! Worst yet, my mother is trying to get three stars on all of the stages!

Back to the story, for real this time… Honest…

---

The next morning

As everypony in Equestia knows; death is an unfortunate occurrence in their society. In this era of peace as the princesses established, death has made himself scarce. When death strikes, however; he doesn't change his mind, nor cares of what matter of demise his victims suffer.

As true to the old folk tale passed by farmers, death is blind; making absolutely no discrimination against any pony or creature. Whether it be from the smallest rat or a colossal hydra, everything is destined to shake the hand of death. Since Celestia and Luna have claimed their throne, ponies have thought what the farmers of old have passed down was proven false. They never aged, and they hold power beyond anything a unicorn could dream. No pony knew if death favored them, or fears them for their power over the sun and moon.

But as everypony have discovered that dreadful day, the tale has been once again proven true. The funeral held in Canterlot was evidence of death's indiscrimination against the living. Mourning eyewitness looked forwards of the long and wide walkway of Canterlot's street, watching their deceased princess slowly being carried by the Royal guards. Her body was reserved in a golden casket, with a screen displaying her body so clear that ponies sworn that the casket itself was open. She was ready to be buried, along with the many alicorns, pegasus, earth ponies, and unicorns alike that has once ruled this land; long before even Equestia was born.

Before her burial, though; her memory must be honored. The funeral was being held in the center of Canterlot, where originally the Royal Guards who were slain in the line of duty was going to be held, but the palace itself was destroyed by Shadow's rage. The guards rest the casket down on the podium, right next to where the ponies close to her were to give their speech. It was dark outside, with Luna's moon still high up in the sky to provide whatever light it could for the ponies below.

Luna, along with the bearers of harmony, will give their written speeches to the public. The mares as Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Applejack had only a page or two for a speech on Celestia's behalf. They have never knew her personally as Twilight have. The unicorn had almost twelve pages.

Fluttershy did not have scrip at all. No matter how much they tried to coax her, she could not stand in front of thousands upon thousands of ponies and give her testimony. It wasn't the biggest reason she couldn't give her speech, however. Every time she looked at the princess's peaceful, slumbering body; she breaks down into uncontrollable tears.

Rainbow planned to give her speech, but insisted that she didn't need a script. Even though Sonic and his friends, who were standing right behind them, begged for her to write a least some notes down; she refused Because of her still present super form, it was nabbing a lot of unnecessary attention; spectators were whispering in awe of her radiating white body. Normally she would be head over hooves for the praise she was anonymously receiving, but she could find no joy in it… knowing that she'll have to give a parting speech of a dead leader has long killed it.

Luna was in the middle of her speech, fighting back the emotions that were building inside of her as memories of her sister flooded through her mind.

"I have known her for thousands of years since we were born in this land. We were together since birth, and she has been a part of me as I was a part of her. We shared our pain, our ambitions, our passions, our desires, and lastly… Our love for this Kingdom."

Some with a keen eye could see tears as she read her papers.

"When she died, I have lost something that was a part of me. When I look over my balcony and behold our subjects going on with their daily lives, I will no longer have my sister to look over with me."

"All we have left is the mark she has left, and her memories," She concluded, "The things she has sacrificed for her little ponies, and her heart she has poured will last forever."

She began to slowly trot offstage, with a guard escorting her out of sight and onto a safe spot. She knew how to handle her emotions, keeping herself determined and compassionate in front of her subjects… She now had a time to let her emotions seep through her façade, letting her tears soak the soil beneath her hooves.

The mourning audience awaited their next speaker. The six mares that stood on the sidelines waited for their next speaker, either too grieved or nervous to immediately take the stage. When Twilight saw no one going up, she reluctantly trotted behind the pulpit. The papers levitated in front of her, stiffing as Twilight began reading with an unsteady voice.

She began with her early childhood, before she met the princess and ultimately became her pupil.

"I've always heard of Princess Celestia when I was just a filly, my mother and father would tell me fables and stories about the goddess of the sun before I sleep in my bed. I've heard heroic tails of her leadership leading this kingdom from hardships like yearlong famines and enchanted diseases, the sacrifices she has made for the sake of her ponies."

She flipped to the next page.

"Those tales have always inspired me. It was what pushed me through kindergarten when I was bullied. I would think of those tales, putting myself in Celestia's hooves of carrying onward, regardless of the storms she has faced."

Twilight took in a deep breath as she flipped to the next page and continued reading.

"It was when my parents took me to my first Summer Sun Celebration when she truly stood on my pedestal. When she raised the sun with her magic, it was a defining moment when my passion for learning and understanding became the center of my life. I wanted to learn magic, I wanted to understand magic, I wanted to weld it and use it for the very passion that ignited in my heart."

Wishing to skip details pertaining to the dragon egg, she skimmed through a couple of pages and read on. The other elements were intensely listening. They have been told of her background before by their close friend, but they have never heard this side of the story.

"It was a wish come true when Princess Celestia accepted me as a student. When I studied under her wing, she was exactly as I imagined her to be. She was wise, kind, passionate over her subjects, and the greatest teacher that I ever encountered. When she read a book to me, my mind just absorbs every little word she says."

She paused, as if catching her emotions from spilling as she flipped to the next page. Sonic found himself lost in her memoir as well as the others, and by a quick curious glance to his side, he could tell that Tails was listening to every word she was saying; just intensely as the elements were.

"But as the years went by, as a part of my childhood pass under her studies, she became more than just a teacher to me. When we weren't studying, we would just talk as other ponies would. I would share my heartaches with her, and she would with me. She would talk about the very little time she would have to herself. Her sister would be the only comforter and company, and she was forced to banish her away from a thousand years to the moon. For a thousand years, the only pony she could only rely was on herself. For that long, she did not have a single pony to be by her side."

She paused again, closing her eyes and taking in a deep breath as she read on. Her voice became less steady, cracking with every breath she took.

"When our lives crossed, when I became her student, I have filled that void for her. She trusted me, she could open her heart to me and I would be right there for her. When I left Canterlot to continue my studies, I no longer saw her as an immortal hero."

Tears began to spill.

"She was my friend."

She put a hoof to her lips to catch herself, holding her sobs to the best of her extent as she read the last page.

"When Luna was freed from her dark emotions that drove her to insanity, Celestia only had just a short few months to cherish her time having her gap fulfilled once more. More fulfilled in fact. I could-"

She suddenly began crying, out loud, with her will no longer able to hold back her emotions. The papers that were levitating in front of her were slung behind her, being carelessly carried by the wind as the unicorn took in another deep breath to speak.

"She was miserable by herself, absolutely miserable! She couldn't sleep for weeks when her sister was forcefully banished from this planet! She would suddenly cry during broad daylight for her sister! Her maidens and whatever relatives she had tried to sooth her, but they didn't understand! They did not understand a bit of her pain! Ponies desired her power; she couldn't share her heart with anyone! She had to guard her heart in for generations! Every time she raised that sun, she had to watch her sister disappear over the horizon!"

Twilight caught herself, and began calming herself down. When her emotions were somewhat under her hoof, she continued speaking; unscripted.

"Years after Celestia accepted me, she was no longer alone; she no longer had to guard her heart when she trusted me… She cried on my shoulder when she talked about Luna's banishment, she has literary cried on my shoulder. After all of those years holding it in, she could finally let it out… It was a very joyful day when Luna came back to her. During this very short time she had afterwards, she was the happiest pony either I or Luna has seen in her."

With another deep breath, she concluded her speech. The crowd was dead silent, not a peep could be heard over the thousands of ponies who have come to pay their respects.

"I'm just grateful that I could share my life with her."

She began to trot away from the stage, hiding her face as she began to sob again. Luna, who have witnessed the entire speech from the very beginning, escorted her off stage with her wing blocking her from the audience below.

Tails had his head down, hiding behind his friends with a hand over his face. Sonic was the only soul who heard him weeping, and he; as well as everyone else around him, gave him room to keep him undisturbed. Knuckles was just behind the hedgehog, and he leaned in so only he could hear.

"Wow. I never thought she had such strong feelings for her. I mean I understand that Celestia was her teacher and all, but… Who would have thought, huh?"

"I thought Celestia was a bit distant from her too," Sonic whispered back, "Everybody did."

"Now I can never imagine her forgiving Shadow," The echidna added.

Sonic cast an understood glance at him, "He's going to have to keep his profile low until we get ready to leave."

"I highly doubt he'll willingly show up in public to begin with," Knuckles snorted, "He's always been a loner; we don't need to worry about that."

The hedgehog cast his eyes towards the stage again, seeing Rarity going up as she began to give her speech, "I hate it, though. Isolation isn't doing him any more good than it did back on Earth. I thought once we knock Shadow to his senses that he'll mingle with some of ponies around here. Maybe make some friends, even. I thought that if he made some friends, he'll be... I don't know," He sighed and shook his head, "Happier."

"That's never going to happen now, and no amount of words is going to change that."

The two tuned in back to Rarity, and they just caught her giving her finishing lines as she began to trot back to her friends. She wasn't crying, but her depressed, long frown spoke a lot of words.

"You're right," Sonic sighed sadly, "Nothing will undo this."

The remaining four mares began to mumble to themselves of who was going to go next. Rainbow was the first to take the offer, but was quickly recalled by Applejack. She was being sincere as her stern voice would let her.

"Ah know how much this means to ya, RD... You sure ya can give ya respects without somethin' written down?"

Rainbow began trotting towards the stand without even looked back at her, "I know exactly what I'm going to say."

The pegasus took the stand and overlooked the thousands upon thousands of ponies that stared back at her with curious eyes. Her radiance of white shinned forth, forcing some to squint or cover their eyes completely. Her five friends, as well as the others, silently watched as she spoke her first words to the audience.

"As many of you may know, I am Rainbow Dash; the element of Loyalty." She paused when she noticed the crowd staring at her form, "I know my new body may be too awesome for many of you to witness, but please listen."

Sonic was already shaking his head while Rainbow caught herself and stuttered. Why didn't anybody stop her?

"Um, anyways. It was Sonic and I who has defeated Discord and encased him back into stone. I'm not going to go over our epic battle, but if you would like to hear it just catch me on the way out-"

She heard a rather loud cough from one of her friends, and she instantly caught herself again.

"I'm getting off topic here… What I'm trying to say is that my friends and I are proud to serve by Celestia's side. Whenever she needed the elements to fight off whatever stood between us and the good of our kind, we were there."

The crowd listened, as well as everyone beside her.

"When I personally saw her die before my very eyes, it devastated me. The one ruler that I would proudly lay my life down is gone."

"But her death," She continued, "She died a hero. We saw her raise the sun with the last bit of energy she had to raise the sun yesterday, to give everyone a starting chance to survive. As I could tell from the food we stored just on that day, I say that her dying wish was granted… She would have been happy to see us now."

Her speech was now moving the crowd with pride, and her friends could feel their own heart lifted from their own depression. It was barely noticeable, but her own glowing body dimmed just slightly.

Sonic was the first to catch it.

"As we now face what's coming, we'll have hope that we're going to push through this thing.

Her friends as well as the other three took notice of her dimming body. Her glowing red eyes were gradually changing back to their own color. They also saw the audience below took notice as well. What no one noticed; though, was a small glimmer of light shining from Celestia's horn.

"Pony kind have been dominating this planet for generations, and every time adversity faces us; we always emerge on top!"

Her voice quieted, returning to once it once was. She noticed, but completely ignored her fading powers and continued speaking. Her friends felt her compassion, shouting from her heart. Her body slowly changed back to its blue color.

Only a few in the audience noticed, but the dimmer she became; the brighter Celestia's horn glow.

"Even if by some chance we can't move the sun into orbit, we'll still survive! We always survive, because we are a kingdom of one!"

More of the audience began to draw their attention towards the casket. Her peacefully slumbering body began to radiate a faint glow. Her friend's attention has longed be diverted.

"And as a kingdom of one, WE WIL-"

Her voice cut off when she noticed the crowd continuing to shift their attention away from her. A glow began to emit from the corner of her eyes, and upon glancing at the mysterious disturbance… Her mouth gaped.

Now everyone had their gazes locked on the casket. Her body was giving off a steady glow with her horn shining so bright that it obscured her head.

Luna was back stage witnessing this strange event. She felt untold power radiating off of the body, far stronger than anything that she has experienced, even Nightmare Moon could only dream of wielding such massive energy. This energy only grew, concentrating onto Celestia's personal space, but not a type of energy she would consider unstable, chaotic, or even power … Power wasn't a word that could best describe what she felt in front of her.

In fact… It felt soothing. An aurora of overwhelming peace that flooded her and everyone else standing near the body.

What is this?

As she watched in astonishment, she noticed something peculiar about this phenomenon. Although the energy was emitting off of her, it wasn't the source. It was coming from somewhere else. She didn't know exactly where it was coming from, but it felt close.

Luna's horn was slightly glowing from the radiance the body gave off. It wasn't glowing bright enough for the naked eye to see, but she felt it.

Maybe I could pinpoint the source.

She was sure the source was on stage somewhere. Somewhere on that stage was the source of this strange power. She lowered her horn and pointed it at the body. Sure enough, it began to glow bright enough for her to see. As she pointed away towards the right of the casket, it dimmed.

As she looked up, she noticed that the radiance from Celestia's body grew a little stronger as Rainbow curiously approached the casket. Luna pointed her horn towards the pegasus, and to her surprise, the source of this energy was channeling directly off of her. The princess also noticed that Twilight and Rarity were staring dead at her, gazing at her with a stare that only a unicorn can give when detecting an energy source. She trotted back on stage as Rainbow gave her a very astonished and confused stare.

"W-w-what is this?" The pegasus asked with a uncertain voice, "What's going on?"

Luna briefly discarded her question and gazed upon the dead body of her sister. As bright as she was becoming, enough to force Dash and all of her friends to turn away, the princess could still every curve and part of her body. There was something odd about it, other than the overwhelming magical presence she was giving off and the blinding radiance that shined forth from her. Something was missing, and her mind would not let her look away until she knew what it was, even if she wanted to.

Fighting to look away from the body from the blinding light, she inched her head closer to the glass casket. Her head tilted downward, checking her belly and hooves for anything out of place. As she moved her head closer and gaze her eyes to the underside of her belly, she gasped and recoiled from shock.

The stab wound was missing. The long flesh line and stiches used the seal the hole was completely gone, as if it has vanished.

"What is it?" Rainbow asked, seeing the princess standing right back up with pupils dilated, "W-what do you see?"

Luna took a couple of steps back and rushed to gather her thoughts together. Whatever energy Rainbow was giving off completely healed the fatal wound that slew her. It was a deep wound and impossible to cover up, even the best medics could only stich it together to keep the hole closed. It just vanished, as if it was never there to begin with.

A theory came to her, more of a thought that revealed itself when she saw the miracle before her. It was a crazy thought, something that she believed only the desperate would think. She looked to Rainbow Dash and trot towards her, immediately gaining her attention when she was a foot from her.

"Rainbow," She quietly called, "I want you to put your hooves on her stomach."

The pegasus gave the most confound stare that she's given to anybody.

"What?"

"Just do it."

She just stood in complete silence as if trying to comprehend her request. No one else heard what Luna said, not even her friends who were just a stone throw away from her. Rainbow began to cautiously approach the casket, shielding her eyes with her wing.

Everything fell quiet. The crowd of thousands of astonished ponies were as still and motionless as a painting as they watched the pegasus stand over the body of their once great ruler. Her friends became nothing more but silent spectators as they watched on with confusion, shock, and just a hint of fear of what would happen. They could only guess what Luna told her.

As she stood right up to the casket, she stood on her two back hooves and rest her front hooves on the edge to balance herself. It's quite tricky for a pony to stand on two hooves without support, but when her wings shifted slightly back to give balance, she was able to stand with little trouble.

It was at this moment she felt something leaching off of her. The hyper feeling she had when in her super form was long gone when she was on stage, and it was when she stood over the body that she began to really notice. She felt her once proud unnatural strength leaving her by the bucket loads, pouring out onto the lifeless corpse that lay before her. She felt herself becoming weaker, feeling as her old self again before. The sensation almost buckled her to the ground, but she held firm and kept herself standing.

Taking in a deep breath, she laid her hooves on her. As she did, she felt her new strength returning to her. Her body began glowing white again, her wings shot out and became enhanced by the power that flow through her. They grew to the span they were when she was super. Her wings became so large and bulky that it covered the entire casket from the audience behind her. Her eyes glow a brilliant white.

She began to levitate slightly off the ground, with her front hooves becoming stuck to the corpse's stomach like a magnet. Wind began to kick around the two, swaying scattered bushes and plants that decorated nearby homes.

Luna felt immense power radiating from the two, and she; as well as every unicorn that were in the audience and near her, began to take steps back. That peaceful feeling they felt earlier was replaced by sheer, unholy power. A loud indescribable noise roared from them; nearly everyone below covered their ears. Rainbow floated lifelessly above the body, with her head laid back with her glowing white eyes staring into nothing while her mouth gaped.

The princess of the night forced herself to point her horn towards them again. As much discomfort it brought her from the overabundance of energy she sensed, she felt that power being transferred from Dashes' body to Celestia's.

It's working… She couldn't tell if it's bringing life or just transferring power to a dead body, but it's working.

For several intense minutes, the scene raged on. The winds still blew from every direction, loud noises still roared, and blinding light continued to radiate from the two. No one moved an inch as they still watched to their best ability of what was happening in front of them. Rainbow has not moved an inch from the air sense they began, appearing lifeless to anyone who saw her.

Luna had a determine stare as she watched on. It was going to work, it has to work; she was not going to go back to her quarters knowing that this one option to save her life was never tempted. Any kind of second thoughts were shoved to the back of her mind, it's already too late for her to intercede. She noticed from her side view that Sonic had a Chaos Emerald clutched in his hand, with his foot stretched back. She quickly, but gently raised a hoof in front of him, breaking his concentration and causing him to look to her with concern.

"She'll be fine." Luna confidently said to him, "All that's happening is a transfer of power, no harm will come to her."

He kept his eyes locked onto her for a moment as she turn her attention back to the scene, looking for any hint of conflicting emotion that her face may betray. He saw nothing but downright determination from her, if not just a hint of hope. Sonic looked forward again, more at ease, but still tense.

The lights began to suddenly glow dim, what was once blinding weakened until their shapes could be clearly made out. The winds die down; there was a still a gentle breeze but no longer raging. Moments later, there was no light altogether.

The crowd below could see Dash's body still floating like a ghost, hanging in the air for few seconds. She was like her old self again, blue fur with tail and mane as colorful as a rainbow. As her eyes closed, she fell lifelessly to the ground with a thud.

Everyone on stage immediately rushed to her side. Sonic was first to reach her; he rolled her to her back and found her completely out cold. He and her friends found her lightly breathing, so any fears of death were instantly washed away.

It was hard for Sonic not be become too emotional. He was worried, he was worried sick that she was hurt in the process, but he made a special note to be as concern as everyone else is; nothing more, nothing less. He knew Luna had it under control, but seeing her unconsciousness before her made him quiver.

Luna was slowly trotting towards the casket, with her sister's being displayed in full view to her. She looked lifeless, with her eyes closed as if still sleeping. What if the transfer didn't work? What if she had to stand over her sister corpse once more to have her hopes of seeing her again crushed? She couldn't bear that, there was no way she could bear it. She felt her heart becoming heavier by each step, she couldn't see any change as she approached; save for the stab wound that disappeared.

Suddenly, she stopped altogether. A large part of her didn't want to know, and she couldn't find the courage to continue.

"Did it work?" Sonic suddenly called.

Now she had no choice but to push on. His question demanded an answer, and to not answer it would cause a scene in front of them and the thousands of subjects watching. With her heavy heart pounding, she continued her trot to the glass casket until she was standing right above her. Luna couldn't see any life in her.

It was hard holding back those tears. She should have known that it was a long shot, and was foolish to have ever brought her own hopes up. There was only one more thing to do, and that was to put an ear to her chest to confirm to the rest of the world that she's gone for good.

Twilight and her five friends, Sonic, Knuckles, Tails, Amy, and a massive crowd of ponies held their breath as Luna lowered her head and pressed the side of her face against Celestia's chest. She didn't move, not moving a single muscle. They watched her become stiff and cold as she bent her head down. For a moment, nothing; she stood still as a lifeless statue.

Suddenly, she began crying.

She wrapped her hooves around Celestia's stomach and sobbed to the very top of her lungs. Everyone in the thick masses of the crowd heard her, heard her agonizing cries of anguish and despair. Her back legs trembled from the sudden waves of emotions that crashed against her heart. No subject, save for Celestia herself, have saw her cry. This was more than a cry, this was a break down; a sight of a spirit crushed when it's hopes were ripped away and torn apart by the cruel hands of reality.

Twilight had to struggle to keep her emotions bottled as she trot towards the Princess of the Night. From this point forward, she will have to be her comforter; no one else was as close to Luna as she was. Shedding tears herself, she trotted to Luna's side and loomed over the body with her; putting a hoof on her back and stroking it. Her friends and the others tagged alone with her, but made sure to keep a respectable distance.

"I… I'm so sorry," She choked, "I'm going to miss her too."

Luna could not lift her head and meet the eyes of her sister's pupil. She tried to speak, but her sobs continued to cut her off. Twilight lowered her head to see her face, but only saw the side of it.

"I-I'm going to stay by your side," Twilight continued, whipping her own tears away, "You'll never be alone, you can be sure of that."

For several long seconds, the princess continued to sob uncontrollably. She finally turned her head to see Twilight face to face, with tears completely covering her eyes and cheeks. Twilight, however, didn't see a frown… She saw a smile. Luna could only whisper to her, but her next words made the unicorn's heart skip and mortally shock everyone behind her.

"I hear a heartbeat."

---

Two days later, Canterlot Hospital

It was early morning in the waiting room on the top floor of the hospital. Sonic was sitting on a cupped chair just by a large window, with a pillow cushioned between his head and the wall, trying to catch some sleep from staying up with the rest of his friends hours ago. There was so little space in Celestia's room, and it became so cramped that Sonic couldn't help but park it outside with a chair to boot. His

friends didn't mine the tight space, though. Maybe they're used to it, or it's just him being claustrophobic.

It was really too bad, because he really wanted to be there when Celestia awakens. When they brought her in at first, she was barely showing any signs of life at all, but as intense minutes turn into hours, eventually to days, she been showing slow but steady recovery. Twilight did not leave by her bedside for a second since she was brought in, and as Tails quietly cracked the door and tiptoed through, Sonic could see the unicorn sleeping with her upper body resting against the bed side. He has no idea how she managed to fell asleep in such an awkward position, nor is he going to press it.

Tails rubbed his eyes and took in a deep yawn, planting right beside the hedgehog while stretching his arms.

"I made you a little more room if you want to go back inside," Tails offered.

Sonic shook his head and quietly chuckled, "Naw, I'll just sleep right here where there's a chair. Too bad we can't leave the door open."

"It's the hospital's policy to keep the patient undisturbed," Tails reminded him, "We don't want to wake everyone else inside if this place becomes busy. They're still treating the injured after that last battle."

"Least Celestia's going to live," Sonic sighed, "Who knew Rainbow had that much in her? It takes the powers of a god to bring someone back to life like that."

"But it's strange, though," Tails said, "Twilight has told me everything she knew about the elements of harmony. How to channel it's magic, it's properties, how to activate them, what they represent, and the one thing she thought she knew for sure that they cannot revive someone. It's been tried time and again in the pass and failed each time. Rainbow used just her one element, and not only did she cheat death, but brought someone to life also… That just doesn't add up."

Sonic bend over on his seat and shook his head, shaking some of the sleep off of him, "Didn't you hear Luna after the battle? She showed true Royalty by sacrificing herself to save me, activating the element's true potential."

Tails scratched his head, "Still, I can't wrap my head around that… You think the other elements are like that too?"

Sonic shrugged, "I wouldn't dwell on it. We'll let Sparkles and the princesses figure that out when they come around to it. For all I know, they had the elements for how long and they have no idea what they're fully capable of? It took us no time at all to discover what the Chaos Emeralds can do, but again; we did have Knuckles pass down that story from his ancestors. "

The fox nodded. He decided to take a seat beside him.

"Maybe they'll find out with time what the Elements of Harmony truly are," Sonic continued, "But I hope they continue to look into the darn things instead of keeping them in a vault until something goes wrong."

"You could tell Celestia that when she wakes up." Tails suggested, "It's not a bad thought."

They suddenly heard the door in front of them click open. The two looked and saw knuckles tiptoeing around the doorway, walking pass and carefully closing it without making too much noise. He cringed when he heard a click from the steel knob, but shrugged and turned to his friends.

"Finally decided to join us?" Sonic asked with a smile.

"Couldn't sleep," Knuckles grunted, taking a seat on the other side of the hedgehog, "I was kept awake either by snoring or a mare brushing up against me."

"Same for me," Tails nodded.

For several minutes they sat in silence while waiting for sleep to fall, either by resting their heads against the cupped chairs or staring at the ceiling. Tails glanced out the window to see what was happening outside. There was a flood of ponies waiting on the ground, blocked from entry by a handful of guards and a few elites. They were even guards flying around the hospital, keeping patrol of any possible surprises that might come from the air. The crowd itself was completely tamed, waiting tensely, but patiently for word of their beloved princess. The tight security reminded him of something he wanted to ask the group when they all reunite in a better condition, but why not ask now?

"What are we going to do about Eggman?"

Sonic and Knuckles were immediately brought out of their haze and turned to him.

"What about him?" Sonic asked.

"He's still on the loose, isn't he? "

The hedgehog shrugged, "We have the seven emeralds and the Elements of Harmony. It's just a matter of finding him and ripping him a new one."

"We still need to find him."

"I know, A loose Eggman is still a dangerous one," Sonic scratched his head, "When Celestia recovers, I'll gather everyone together and see what we can come up with. Shouldn't be much, though; he can't be too far from here."

Suddenly, the door creaked open again. They looked to see Amy slugging her way around the door and letting it close behind her. Her hair was a mess, tangled and ruffed beyond anything the boys could recognize. Bags could be seen beneath her eyes. She was staring as if seeing nothing, with her eyes half closed and looked almost to be sleep walking.

"Looks like you had fun in there." Sonic chuckled.

She didn't say another word, but instantly smiled when she saw her shining knight. It didn't discourage her that the seats beside him were taken. Instead, she walked right up to him, turned around, and plopped right on his lap with her full weight. Sonic lost his breath, now finding his entire face smothered by her hair.

"Amy," He gasped, "What did I say about lap sitting?"

Instead of an answer, he heard instead was quite snores from her. When he tried to adjust her so she'll be at least sitting on his leg, she unconsciously grab those hands and wrapped them around herself. Her head rest against his noggin, and her smile deepened as she drifted into a blissful sleep. Knuckles turned hysteric as Sonic gave him a venomous glair.

"Don't. You. Even. Chuckle."

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Author's notes

And, that's another one down.

I have been thinking lately… I'm planning on taking drawing classes (if the Lord leads me towards that direction that is) and after that's mastered I'm going to work on some real fiction. I have been playing around with other fanfiction ideas (like try to write what would a South Park episode would be like if they did an episode on the show and its fan… The fan made version on YouTube was crap), but in the long run; it's nothing but a waste of time. I will come back to this, though. This has pushed me to my limits and I honor that.

I'm going to hammer on this thing. We're close to the finish line and I'm going to sprint the rest of the way there.

Deadline: Two weeks. No more months at a time crap. I'm graduating this December and I need to move on.

I have not quit, and I'm not quitting now! If you were disappointed with this chapter, just wait… Just you freakin' wait!

Leave a comment, give me your honest to God opinion. See, I was thinking about releasing another article about hedgehog habits and their influence to modern culture, but thanks to your comments, I was persuaded to continue the story.

Harry

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"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned."

Romans 5: 12 KJV