They disembarked the train to find a welcome party awaiting them. "MOM! DJ!"

"TWILIGHT! DJ!"

Two blobs attacked the couple sending them to the floor. They looked up to see Spike and Nyx, hugging Twilight and DJ respectively. "Hey there you two. Everything goin' good?," said DJ, smiling as he stood up.

"Yep, all the chores are done and Nyx already got her homework done."

"Which means we can spend the weekend together, right?," asked the little filly with a pleading look.

"Don't give me that look, you already know the answer is 'yes'. As if I would ever turn down my favorite filly." Nyx smiled happily, but then noticed the rest of the group as Apple Bloom and Berry walked over to them.

"Hey you're new. What's your name?" asked the dragon.

"Hey, there Spike, name's Berry, nice to meet you," replied the white 'unicorn'.

"How do you know my name?"

"That would be because of us, Spike," answered Twilight. "Berry here is a friend of ours and will be staying here for the next week. Nyx, Berry will be joining us for magic lessons as well. She will also be attending school with you for the week."

"Wait, what? I have to go to school? Aw, man. Not cool!"

"You should have been paying attention, Berry. We discussed this right in front of you. Now, the mayor should have gathered everypony in front of Town Hall. Come on, we need to make the announcement." They group followed, Apple Bloom talking to Nyx as they traveled. DJ couldn't hear their conversation, but figured it had something to do with Berry, as they kept looking her way. They soon arrived at the center of town, Twilight, DJ, and Berry approaching center stage, while the others waited in the crowd.

"Good Morning, everypony!," Twilight began. "We have special announcement to make, but I will leave that for DJ to tell you." She moved aside to allow DJ to take the stand.

"As Twi said, we have a special announcement, but before we begin, I need everypony in the crowd to Pinkie Promise not to spread what they are about to hear. This is for Ponyville's ears only, understood?" Everypony in the crowd went through the motions indicating a Pinkie Promise. "Good, now I wish to direct your attention to the mare standing next to us. Please welcome my new sister, Berry, to Ponyville!" The crowd gasped and welcomed her at the same time.

"That's right, she considers me her brother and that's what I'll be. Another thing to mention, is that she is human, but can take on a pony form. Please show them, Berry." Berry straightened up.

"Right, I need to take the vest off my wings first." The crowd gasped when they saw that she was in fact an alicorn. "Okay, that feels much better, now...Revert!" She transformed in a quick flash of light, and soon a short human girl stood in her place. "Hey, everypony it's nice to be here!" They only nodded in return.

"And now for the secret part," DJ began again. "This little bit of information will be first heard here in Ponyville. I wish to inform all of you that Berry is in fact, the adoptive daughter of Princess Celestia." The sound of jaws hitting the ground reverberated all around. "I expect you all to treat her as you would anypony else. That is all we have for you, so you may return to your daily activities." It took a while, but soon everypony dispersed, including the main six. They had their own businesses and jobs to return to. Twi, DJ, Berry, Spike, and Nyx went home to the treebrary. Berry was marveling at the whole town the entire way there.

Once there, Twilight forced Berry to immediately begin her magic lessons. DJ, Spike, and Nyx were playing a video game on his computer to pass the time. They were distracted when the groaning began. "Ugh, why is this so hard? I can make a table fly up to the ceiling, but I can't even lift a dang book!"

DJ looked over to see that Berry wasn't having a lot of luck manifesting her powers. "It's okay, Berry. It takes a while to get used to magic. You're basically starting from the very beginning. Just concentrate," said Twilight.

"Why does she have to concentrate?," asked DJ. "Wouldn't be easier if she just focuses and allows the magic to flow naturally? I mean, that's how my Force powers work. Similar concept right?"

"It can be for someponies, I guess. But it usually takes a lot of concentration for unicorns and alicorns. But, you might be onto something, DJ. It's rare, but sometimes ponies think about what they are good at and try to visualize their magic through those actions. Anything you're good at Berry?" Blunt as always ain't ya Twi?

"Well, I'm good at drawing, being random, eating, and I've been pretty good with computers," she responded.

"We can try going down the list, just visualize using your magic through each one and we'll see what happens." They got through drawing and her randomness with no results by dinner. They turned in for the night afterwards.

**********

The weekend flew by incredibly fast, but Berry was still no better than when she began. Twilight and Berry had tried drawing again, but still had no results, and eating had the same problem. Nyx and DJ just spent that Sunday together, just having fun. Now, it was Monday and time for two ponies to go to school. Berry and Nyx had just arrived at the school grounds.

"Hey girls!," exclaimed Nyx when she saw her friends, the Cutie Mark Crusaders. There was Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, Twist, and Dinky. Dinky had joined them about a year ago when the others found out she was a blank flank too. Berry squealed in glee when they approached the two alicorns. Twilight and DJ had made Berry promise that she would stay in pony form when out and about so she could get used to the movements. She grumbled a little, especially when she was forced to wake up early, but had relented and agreed. "Did the others agree, AB?"

"They sure did! Hello there sis!" Berry looked at the earth pony filly in confusion. Apple Bloom noticed and returned the look. "Didn't DJ tell ya? He became a part of the Apple family a while back, and since you're his sister that means that you're an Apple, too!" Berry's eyes widened and big smile appeared on her face.

"Really? I'm an Apple?! YES!! So cool!"

"It sure is! By the way, Berry, we noticed that you ain't got yer cutie mark yet. So we was wondering if you wanted to join the Cutie Mark Crusaders?" Berry could only nodded as fast as she could, she was so happy. "Great, we'll have your initiation later today, but the bell's about to ring so we'd better get inside. Come on!" They all entered the school house together. Cheerilee began the class just after.

"Good morning, everypony."

"Good morning, Miss Cheerilee," the class replied back.

"As you all know, we have a new student for the week, so I would like Miss Berry to come up and tell the class a little about herself. Maybe she will even answer some questions?"

Berry answered as she approached the front of the class. "I don't see why not?"

"Great! Now, everypony give Berry here a nice welcome."

"Hello, Berry!," the class spoke in unison, some a little more enthusiastic.

"Hi, there. As Ms. Cheerilee said, my name is Berry. It's nice to meet all of you." A hoof then went into the air. "Uh, yes? You have a question?"

"Yeah, are you really the daughter of Princess Celestia?"

"In fact I am. She adopted me recently and I haven't been happier. I have a great family now. I have DJ as a brother and just found out that I am an Apple now, too. So it has certainly been a hectic week."

Then a certain pink filly spoke. "So, why did you need to be adopted? Did your real parents give you up because you were worthless or something? Specially, if you're happy about being a dirty Apple." Apple Bloom glared daggers at Diamond Tiara, so did her friends, but it was nothing compared to Berry's reaction.

"Don't you ever speak about my family again, you little runt! I won't take any crap from you Diamond Tiara. I know all about you and your bulling ways, and so help me if you say another word about my family, I will turn you inside-out!," screamed Berry who's body began to burn. "My mother nearly killed her nephew Blue Blood because he spoke like you did. And I don't have any problems returning to prison for defending my family, I've been through worse." Everypony stared in awe and fright at Berry, Diamond Tiara shrinking back in fear of the alicorn in front her. Cheerilee took this moment to get her class back on track.

"O-okay, Berry thank you for that bit of information. Please return to your seat and we can begin today's lesson." Class went by like normal, and afterwards, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon returned home instead of teasing the CMC like normal. Diamond Tiara didn't speak to any of them for the remainder of the week.

**********

It was Wednesday, and they were still no closer to figuring out how to make Berry's magic work. They tried everything on the list, but nothing seemed to work. Until today, that is.

"Hey, I got an idea," said DJ as they were working on magic lessons. "Why don't we try combing the things on the list? Like, try drawing and using the computer or something?"

"You mean computer art? I was pretty good at that back on Earth. I suppose it wouldn't hurt to try. What do you think Princess Twilight?"

"I told you, Berry, just call me Twilight. It's worth a shot, what have we got to lose?" Berry decided to focus on when she was drawing MLP art for fansites. Suddenly, her horn began to glow a pink aura. Only something seemed off. Berry's magic didn't quite look like normal magic, it seemed almost as if it we're made of pixels. Berry opened her eyes and tried to perform some of the basic spells Twilight had taught her. Levitation went off without a hitch, as she easily picked up book after book in her magic, even able to send them spinning around her. Berry started to get a swell head though, and decided to try something more advanced; a shield spell.

Berry powered up her horn with as much magic as possible, and then proceeded to enact the spell, Twilight's warning her the whole way, but she tuned her out. Then her magic exploded, but not how anypony thought. The magic blew from her horn, growing piece by piece as the pixels built a circular shield around her at an amazingly fast pace. The others were in awe. DJ got up and took a closer look at the shield.

"Well, I'll be! Even your shield is made out of pixels. It looks like it's full of little bumps, but I bet it makes it much stronger, probably more resilient, too. It looks like it's capable of taking a beating and sending it back, like jelly almost. Cool!"

"I guess, the idea worked, eh bro? I guess my magic works like computer pixels, maybe I can use my magic just like how I control a computer when I am drawing! It's neat!" DJ then looked over and saw something that made him smile.

"Heh, look at that. Looks like you figured it out Berry." He pointed to her flank and she gasped when she looked. Upon her flank was a cutie mark! It was a depiction of a strawberry, only half it looked pixelated, like it was being deleted on an old computer. She bounced around in glee at getting her cutie mark.

"Yes, yes, yes! *GASP* I got it!" Twilight and DJ stared at the human-turned-alicorn. "My name, most pony names have two parts right. Like 'Twilight Sparkle' and 'Rainbow Dash'. So I need a another par of my name, too. And I just came up with it. From now on, my name is Pixel Berry! Ooo, I can't wait till mom finds out, she's gonna be so proud, I just know it!" The couple smiled as the young mare bounced around more, just letting her enjoy the moment.

The end of the week came much fast than anticipated, so it was time for Pixel Berry to return to Canterlot. All of her new friends were at the train station to see her off. She had met Ditzy and Lyra earlier in the week, the CMC, the Apples, and the Mane 6 also showed up. DJ, too. Why did I get mentioned last? This is supposed to be my story, dang it! There were tearful goodbyes as the train pulled into the station. Everypony, except DJ had said their farewells. "Well, sis, this is where we part for now. But, I will not say goodbye." Everypony glared at him, but then he clarified. "Instead I will say, See ya later, sis! Goodbyes are meant for when you never plan on seeing them again, so why would I say that. Heh, heh. See ya around sis. Don't be a stranger and will make sure to drop by for Hearth's Warming next month!" DJ pulled his sister in for a hug and then she got on the train.

"See ya around big brother. See ya at Hearth's Warming!" The train departed the station not long after, Berry waving from the caboose and Pinkie running after her, not wanting Berry to forget her. Berry yelled back that she could never forget her friends and Pinkie waved goodbye, tears still in her eyes. They all watched and waved as their new friend went home. Things were finally back to normal, or at least as normal as it gets in Ponyville.