Twilight opened her eyes, finding herself drifting in a dark void. She looked around, trying to make out her surroundings when she noticed Zecora was drifting across from her.

“Twilight, my friend, I’m proud of you,” said Zecora. “I knew you and your friends would pull through.”

“Zecora?” Twilight asked. “What happened? Where are we?”

“What happened was you and your friends won,” said Zecora. “The King of the Underworld’s ambitions are done.”

“We did it?” Twilight asked. “You mean, the Dark Signers will never come back?”

“I can’t say for sure, I’m afraid,” said Zecora. “Though it will be difficult to wake the Earthbound Gods without the King’s aid.”

“That’s good news, at least,” said Twilight. “You still didn’t explain where we are, though?”

“A waypoint for those that reached the end of the line,” said Zecora. “You can move forward if it’s the end of your time.”

“The end of your time?” Twilight repeated. “So, is this place the afterlife?”

“Not quite the afterlife yet, my friend,” said Zecora, with a smile. “You have yet to reach your end.”

“But you have, right?” said Twilight.

Zecora nodded, as a bright light began glowing behind her. “For my passing, the time has come. Could you take these souls back? Their lives aren’t yet done.”

“What do you mean?” Twilight asked, turning around. Drifting behind her were three sleeping figures. “Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, and Sweetie Belle?”

“That’s not all,” said Zecora. “There are four more souls in your haul.”

Twilight turned again to see four more sleeping figures had appeared, drifting between her and Zecora. “Gilda, Trixie, Cheerilee, and Chief Thunderhooves, too! Zecora, are you saying-”

“They didn’t choose to get involved in this war,” said Zecora. “They still have so much to live for. I chose to end my life to end this strife. Though in the process I committed many a sin. Allow me to save my unfortunate Dark Signer kin.”

“Zecora, wait!” said Twilight. “I’ll gladly bring them back with me, but why can’t I take you, too? You gave your life to stop the King of the Underworld, right?”

“I was determined to win that fight, too,” said Zecora. “So much so that I tried to kill you. I committed these acts of my own volition. Saving my life should be no pony’s mission.”

“Zecora!” Twilight gasped.

Zecora turned around, and began trotting towards the bright light. “Twilight, my friend, knowing you was a pleasure. Go back to your friends, and make sure each day you treasure.”

“Zecora!” Twilight screamed, as the zebra vanished into the light. Her vision quickly faded, as the light’s intensity increased. Closing her eyes against the glare, Twilight felt herself pass out.

“Twilight!” a voice shouted, rousing her from her sleep. She opened her eyes, and found herself staring up into a pair of light blue eyes. “Oh good, you’re awake!”

“Pinkie?” Twilight asked. “What happened?”

“It looks like we won,” said Rarity, looking up at the sky.

Twilight looked up as well, and saw the dark clouds from the night before had vanished, revealing a clear, blue sky. “It’s morning, huh?”

“Yeah,” said Applejack, looking down. “In more ways than one.”

“Applejack?” a voice asked.

“The world is saved,” said Rarity. “But, even so, my sister…”

“Rarity!” a voice called.

“Even Scoots and Gilda,” said Rainbow, looking down.

“It’ll be okay, Rainbow Dash,” said Fluttershy, gently wrapping her hooves.

“Rainbow Dash!” a voice called.

“It’s funny,” said Pinkie. “I can almost hear their voices.”

“You are all idiots,” said a voice.

“Wait,” said Rainbow, “I really can hear them.”

She turned to look, and saw Gilda and the Cutie Mark Crusaders standing a few yards away. Gilda was the first to speak. “Took you long enough to notice.”

“Sweetie Belle!” Rarity cried, galloping over.

“Rarity!” Sweetie Belle smiled, leaping up and tackling her sister in a hug.

“Oof!” Rarity winced. “Careful, Sweetie, I’m still sore from all the fighting.”

“Sorry,” Sweetie Belle mumbled.

“Applejack!” Apple Bloom cheered, galloping over to her sister, and gently nuzzling her.

“Apple Bloom,” Applejack smiled, her eyes tearing up.

“Rainbow Dash!” Scootaloo cheered, trotting up to her. “You did it! You beat the Dark Signers!”

“Heh,” smiled Rainbow. “Yeah, I suppose I did.”

Fluttershy gave a slight, barely audible cough.

Rainbow blushed. “Okay, it wasn’t all me, but, I did technically win three of the duels…”

“As boastful as ever, I see,” smirked Gilda. “Though, I suppose you earned the right this time…”

“Gilda, you killed my sister,” muttered Rarity. “What gives you the right to come back with them?”

Gilda looked down. “I’m sorry I did that. I could claim I wasn’t in the right mind at the time, but it doesn’t change that I chose to become a Dark Signer when I died. I don’t expect you to forgive me, but-”

“Forgive her, Rarity,” said Sweetie Belle.

“Are you sure?” Rarity asked.

“I made mistakes as a Dark Signer, too,” said Sweetie Belle.

“We all did,” said Apple Bloom.

“Besides,” said Scootaloo, “Rainbow and Fluttershy seem to have forgiven her, so why can’t you?”

Rarity bit her lower lip in thought before sighing. “I guess if my sister can forgive you, I can too…”

Applejack snickered. “Kinda funny how the big tough griffon needed fillies to vouch for her.”

“Almost as funny as said fillies being able to beat the snot out of you adults, huh?” Gilda replied.

“…Touché,” Applejack muttered.

“How did you all come back, anyway?” Rarity asked. “I’m incredibly glad you did, but still, I thought you were gone.”

“Good question,” said Sweetie Belle.

“Wouldn’t you like to know?” a voice rang out.

“Trixie!?” Rainbow gasped, as the unicorn teleported in front of them, appearing in a puff of smoke.

“The Great and Powerful Trixie has returned!” she laughed, bowing to all of them.

“You brought us back?” Apple Bloom asked.

“…no,” Trixie mumbled, lowering her head and frowning. “I’m just as lost as all of you, actually…”

“Zecora brought you all back,” said Twilight. "She sacrificed herself after the duel to revive them."

“Zecora?” a voice asked. “She was a Dark Signer, too?”

“Miss Cheerilee!” Scootaloo smiled, as the magenta mare trotted out from around a piece of rubble.

“How long have you been standing back there?” Fluttershy asked.

“I wasn’t sure if I would be forgiven for my actions,” she mumbled. “I was there the whole time.”

“Of course we’d forgive you,” said Twilight.

“We forgave Gilda and Trixie, didn’t we?” Rainbow asked.

“Hey!” said Gilda and Trixie.

“So it’s Miss Zecora I owe my life to,” said a deep voice.

“Chief!” smiled Pinkie.

“Hello, Pinkie Pie,” said Thunderhooves. “I must apologize again for what I put you through in Appleloosa.”

“It’s no big deal,” said Pinkie. “Everything turned out okay, didn’t it? Everypony is back!”

“Except Zecora,” Twilight mumbled.

“And my tribe,” Thunderhooves added.

“Don’t be so sure about that, Chief Thunderhooves.”

“Princess Celestia!” Twilight smiled.

“You sound surprised,” said Luna, as she and Celestia flew up. “You defeated the Earthbound God, didn’t you? Of course we’d come back.”

“Princess,” said Thunderhooves, bowing. “Forgive me, but I don’t understand what you mean.”

“It’s as my sister says,” said Celestia, “upon the defeat of the Earthbound Gods, the souls they absorbed are restored to life. It’s entirely possible your tribe is waiting for you in Appleloosa.”

“My tribe might live?” Thunderhooves asked, his eyes tearing up. He stood. “Forgive me, but I must depart at once.”

“Hurry back!” said Pinkie. “You don’t want to miss it!”

“Miss what?”

“The Dark Signers Defeated, Crimson Dragon Victory Party!” declared Pinkie.

“A party?” Gilda asked, blinking in surprise.

“I certainly wouldn’t object to a party in my honor,” said Trixie.

“It’s not in your honor,” said Twilight.

“I was instrumental in the defeat of the Dark Signers,” said Trixie. “If I hadn’t lost, you couldn’t throw a party, could you?”

“I…” said Rainbow. “That’s… I… I don’t know how to begin arguing with that…”

“Come on, Rarity!” said Sweetie Belle, tugging on her sister’s leg. “Let’s go to the party!”

“It’s not even set up yet!” Rarity said, following her younger sister regardless.

“What do you say, sister?” Luna asked.

“We have a lot of work to do,” said Celestia. “I suppose we could indulge ourselves in one little party before that, though.”

Within an hour of the announcement, Pinkie Pie had the party going full swing in the ruins of Ponyville. Despite Celestia’s belief that the party would be small, it was anything but.

“How did she possibly get the Wonderbolts to get here on such short notice?” Celestia asked.

The Wonderbolts were flying high above the crowd, performing aerial stunts for the gathering party goers below.

“I’m more curious as to how she convinced so many ponies to even attend,” said Luna. “Equestria is a wreck, after all.”

“Tell me about it,” mumbled Adviser, plopping down next to the two Princesses. “I just spent the entire night running through the wreckage of this country trying to get here.”

“Oh, Adviser!” Luna gasped.

“I almost forgot you were still out there,” said Celestia.

“Thanks for your concern,” said Adviser.

“Could you keep it down?” Trixie snapped. “I’m trying to teach the next generation!” She turned her attention back to her audience. “Now, was this your card?”

Pound and Pumpkin Cake glanced at each other, before turning back towards Trixie and shrugging.

“You have no clue what I’m saying, do you?” Trixie asked, sagging in defeat. “Oh, how far I’ve fallen…”

“Speaking of falling,” said Luna, “our budget has fallen far too low to handle repairs on this level.”

“Then we’ll need something to generate revenue,” said Celestia.

“I could put on a magic act!” suggested Trixie, her eyes lighting up.

“I don’t think that will cover the farm, let alone the country,” said Apple Bloom, as the Crusaders trotted up.

“Have you seen Rainbow Dash anywhere?” Scootaloo asked.

“Now that you mention it,” said Celestia, “I haven’t seen any of the Signers since the party began.”

“That’s weird,” said Sweetie Belle.

“Ah’m sure we’ll run into ‘em sooner or later,” said Apple Bloom. “Let’s just try to have some fun in the mean time, okay?”

“Right!” nodded Scootaloo.

“I wish we could have fun,” said Luna.

“Magic act…” Trixie suggested in a sing song voice.

“Why don’t you go entertain the new arrivals over there?” Adviser asked, pointing towards Thunderhooves as he and the buffalo herd stampeded into Ponyville.

“Brilliant idea!” Trixie laughed, happily galloping over towards them.

“Now then,” said Adviser. “Budget talk! How can we generate enough revenue to afford the repairs? I suggest taxes.”

“I have a better idea,” said Spitfire, as she swooped down from the sky with the other Wonderbolts.

“Nopony ever agrees to taxes,” Adviser mumbled.

“We’d love to hear it,” said Celestia. “Could you relay the information to Adviser, here?”

“We’ll be right back,” said Luna, as the two princesses stood up and trotted off.

“Why am I stuck with the work?” Adviser muttered. “Particularly with the Wonderbolts?”

“Okay, listen up!” said Spitfire. She quickly turned towards her fellow Wonderbolts, and began whispering instructions. “This is our chance to get this idea off the ground! Like we practiced!”

They saluted, and Soarin stepped forward. “As I’m sure you know, the Wonderbolts Derby and our other races and performances is incredibly popular.”

“Is it?” Adviser asked. “I’d never guess…”

“And I’m sure you’ve also noticed how popular Duel Monsters has gotten,” said Spitfire. “So we were thinking, if they’re so popular on their own, what if we combined them?”

Adviser turned towards the side and flexed his back. “See the lack of wings? Not everypony is a pegasus like your team.”

“Not every race is in the sky, either,” said Fleetfoot. “You know how some of the big cities like Manehatten or Las Pegasus are full of motorized carriages? Well, what if we made them faster, more streamlined, and combined them with a Duel Disk for a dueling/racing combo? Riding Duels!”

“Here’s some sketches of our designs,” said Spitfire. “If we could market this to Equestria’s masses, I’m certain we could make more than enough bits to repair the country.”

“Riding Duels?” Adviser repeated. “Do you really think there’s a market for that?”

“There will be,” said Spitfire. “And I know just the thing to spark everypony’s interests. A tournament to see who’s the best not in Equestria, but the whole world.”

“…Damn it, I like where this is going,” Adviser sighed. “Tell me more.”

Celestia and Luna trotted through the streets, having left the crowds of the party, and found themselves on the empty back roads of Ponyville.

“Where could the Signers be?” Luna asked.

“I have a hunch,” said Celestia, looking towards the library.

The two princesses opened the door, and Luna began calling out. “Twilight Sparkle? Are you- Oh.”

She cut herself off upon seeing the six Signers snuggled up on the floor of the library, snoozing softly, sunlight streaming in from the window on them.

“I don’t blame them,” said Celestia. “It’s been rough, these past few days, and I doubt they had any sleep.”

Luna closed the curtains on the window. “Then I suggest we let them sleep. They’ve more than earned it.”

Celestia nodded, magically lifting a blanket from Twilight’s room upstairs, and draping it over the six ponies. With a small smile, Celestia trotted out of the library and headed back to the party.

Luna looked over the sleeping Signers, and gave a small smile. “Sweet dreams,” she whispered, before closing the door and trotting after her sister.