"Twilight!" Spike shouted. "Apple Bloom! Wake up!"

The two fillies each let out a groan and shifted to get comfortable again. The two had played and talked for hours, having fun until they were exhausted. The pair of them then fell asleep lying next to each other with Miss Smartypants between them.

"Just a little longer," Twilight mumbled as she shifted.

"Get up!" Spike continued. "This is important. The sun's up."

"What?" Apple Bloom shouted.. Getting up the yellow filly ran for the window and looked out.

"He's right!" she turned to look at her friend. "Do ya know what this means?"

"It means they did it," Twilight replied as she got up. "Come on. We have to go find them." With that, she ran out of the room with Apple Bloom right behind her.

"Hey!" Spike called out as he started after them. "Wait for me!" The three of them quickly ran outside the farmhouse and headed to find their siblings.

At Fluttershy's cottage, Angel stood at the window, the shades pulled wide. As the light of day reached him, he let out a small sigh of relief. Jumping from the window, he ran from the living room and into the kitchen.

As soon as she had seen that the sun was rising, Sweetie Belle bolted from her house. As she went, she ran past an orange pegasus filly with a maroon mane and tail riding a scooter. The pegasus watched the unicorn before turning to chase after her.

"Sweetie Belle? Where are you going?"

"To check on my sister," Sweetie Belle replied. "She and her friends went into The Everfree Forest to see if they could stop Nightmare Moon. I need to know if she made it out okay, Scootaloo."

"Get on," Scootaloo said. "I'll give you a ride."

Sweetie Belle stopped and looked at her friend. Smiling, she moved to stand on the back of the scooter and held onto her friend. There was a buzzing sound as the pegasus began to flap her wings. Crouching low, the two of them began to ride through the streets of Ponyville at a rapid speed.

"Mom! Dad!" Pumpkin Cake shouted as she ran down the stairs and into the kitchen. "Pinkie Pie's back! And she's with Princess Celestia! We have to throw them a party." Running past her parents, she grabbed a box marked "Pinkie Pie's Emergency Party Box: For Party Emergencies" and ran outside.

Most of the ponies around Ponyville were coming out of their homes and watching. A royal chariot rolled through the streets pulled by four pegasus pony guards. On the chariot stood Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, watching the excited ponies as they rode into town. The six ponies walked behind it, following the princesses as they paraded through the town. Reaching the town square, the short parade came to a stop.

Twilight Sparkle and Spike came bursting out of the crowd. Before knowing what was going on, Shining Armor was knocked down as he was tackled by a pair of purple streaks and found himself in the middle of a hug. Grinning, Shining hugged Spike against him with one hoof while tussling Twilight's mane with the other.

Applejack turned at the sound of her name being shouted. From the crowd came the Apple Family, being led by Apple Bloom and Big Macintosh. Seeing them, the orange mare ran to meet them, pressing in close to them. Apple Bloom pressed up against Applejack with a smile as Big Macintosh set a hoof on her shoulder.

Rarity turned to see a rapidly approaching scooter with to fillies riding it right toward her. It suddenly stopped, turning to the side as Sweetie Belle jumped off and ran forward. The young filly stopped short of running into her sister, looking up with a smile. Smiling back, Rarity took a step forward and pressed her chin against the top of her sister's head.

Scootaloo watched as a bunch of pegasi flew past her, gathering around a cyan pegasus with rainbow colored mane. Getting off her scooter, she walked over the crowd, looking at them and realizing most of them were the weather team. Standing in the middle of it was Rainbow Dash, telling them about their trip through The Everfree Forest.

Fluttershy stepped back, making sure she was clear of the large crowds. She was glad that all her friends were with loved ones and happy, but she did not feel like being caught up in one of the large groups. From the corner of her eye, she caught some movement. Turning, she watched a cream colored pegasus colt with chocolate brown hair trotting toward her. On his head, holding onto the ears, stood a white rabbit. Seeing Angel, Fluttershy took off to fly toward the two. Opening her forelegs wide, she caught the rabbit as he jumped from the pegasus's head and into her waiting hug.

Pinkie Pie appeared in front of Pumpkin Cake, grinning at the filly. Smiling back, the young unicorn set the party box down in front of pink pony. Leaning forward, Pinkie Pie took a single edge of the string wrapped around the box between her teeth and gave it a yank. The box burst open, releasing confetti, streamers, and balloons. Dozens of cupcakes also emerged, covered in a thick layer of frosting.

Celestia and Luna stepped down from the chariot, looking at the ponies surrounding them. Several bowed to the princesses. Seeing this caused Luna to shift, looking away with her ears drooping. Before she realized what was going on, two pegasus foals flew up with a wreath of flowers and put it over her head. She watched in shock as it slid past, resting around her neck. She could not help but smile as she looked at from it to her sister, tears filling her eyes again.

The celebration lasted for hours. Ponies had fun, celebrating the return of Princess Celestia and welcoming with open hooves Princess Luna. They talked and ate, even play games. Off to one side Shining Armor watched it all happening. As the time passed, his grin shifted into a smile, until that too faded away.

"Is there something troubling you, my student?" Princess Celestia asked as she approached Shining Armor.

"Yes Princess." He turned to look around. "But, it really doesn't seem like the time or place to talk about it."

"Very well," Celestia replied. "Come with me." Turning to the crowd, she said "excuse us a moment please." With that she began to walk. Shining Armor looked back at the partying ponies, then began to follow after her.

The two walked in silence for a while, making their way to the library. Using her magic, Celestia opened the door and led the way inside. Once the pair were inside and the door shut, the princess turned to face her student.

"Now, what is on your mind?"

"First," Shining Armor said, "you knew Nightmare Moon was returning?"

"Yes," Celestia replied. "I saw the signs before your sent me your letter."

"So, why didn't you tell me?"

"Shining, if I had told you that the fate of Equestria relied on you making friends with five ponies and seeking out The Elements of Harmony, what would you have done?" The Princess sat down, looking at her student at eye level as she asked.

Shining Armor rubbed his chin as he considered the question.

"I guess..." he said slowly, "I guess I would have recruited five ponies to help me in the quest."

"And would you have thought of these ponies as friends?"

"...No..."

"I told you to make friends because that is what you needed to do," Celestia said as she reached out to nuzzle her student. "By making friends, true friends, and opening your heart, you not only unlocked The Elements of Harmony, but power that was buried deep inside you."

"But why me?" Shining Armor asked, shifting. "You could have chosen any pony in Equestria to be your student? What made you think I could do it?"

"Shining Armor," Celestia said gently, "When I took you as my personal student, it was because I saw a very powerful young pony who cared for others. I believed that you would be the one to succeed. And any doubt was allayed when I first saw you with your sister."

"Twiley?"

"Yes. When I saw you with her, I saw how much you cared for your sister. How much you wanted to protect her."

"Like you and Luna?"

"In a way. I have also seen that part of you grow. You have a desire to protect not only her, but most ponies you meet. You just needed some friends to help you reach that more."

Celestia looked away from Shining Armor, her eyes on looking at the window but her gaze somewhere far away.

"Perhaps," she said gently, "if things had gone differently with my previous student, you might have become a part of the royal guard, and possibly worked your way up to Captain."

"I doubt I'm guard material," Shining said with a smile, "much less capable of reaching the rank of Captain." He shifted his legs, ear twitching. "So... what happens now?"

"What do you want?"

The question made Shining Armor pause. He had not actually considered that, which seemed kind of silly. Princess Celestia taught him much, but also kept trying to encourage him to be independent. She may not have allowed him to do whatever he pleased, but she did take his opinion in consideration.

So what did he want?

"I want to stay in Ponyville," he finally said. "I've just made friends, real friends, for the first time in my life. I really don't want to have to leave them already."

"Very well." Princess Celestia stood up and cleared her throat.

"Shining Armor," she proclaimed, "I, Princess Celestia, hereby decree that you shall take on a new mission for Equestria. You must continue to study the magic of friendship and the value of pony interaction. You shall report to me your findings, from your new home in Ponyville."

"Thank you, Princess," Shining Armor said as he gave a bow.

"You are welcome, my student," Celestia replied. "Now if you will excuse, I have a sister I have not seen in a long time that I wish to catch up with."