Rainbow Burst let out a groan as she rolled over, trying to get comfortable. The stone floor was not really the best place to be laying, but she had no interest in trying to get up. Besides, the sunlight felt nice against her cheek.

SUN!

Rainbow's eyes shot opened as she jerked up, looking around. The sun was rising from the horizon, its light coming in through the windows and holes in the wall.

"It worked," she whispered.

"It worked!" she shouted, jumping up onto her hooves. "It worked! It worked! It worked!"

"What's goin' on?" Applejack asked with a groan.

"Is it morning already?" Pinkie mumbled.

"Morning?" Twilight cried out as she jumped up as well. "If it's morning, then that means the sun's up again."

"Exactly!" Rainbow was grinning widely, practically bouncing in place. "It means we did it!"

"Indeed you did," a voice called out, drawing the attention of the six mares.

A glowing white light floated into the room, slowly descending from the sky until it landed in front of them. The light shifted and changed, taking the shape of a large pony with wings before fading away.

"Princess Celestia," Rarity called out in surprise at the sight before.

Princess Celestia gave a nod toward the smaller mare, a slight smile on her face. Her wings gave on more flap before folding up as she moved forward.

Of the six, all but Rainbow Burst bowed to the princess.

"You're okay!" Rainbow shouted as she ran to Celestia, hopping to try and hug her.

"Correct," Celestia replied as she nuzzled Rainbow. "Thanks to you and your friends. I knew you could do it."

Rainbow stopped and let go, moving back to look up at Celestia in surprise.

"You did? How?"

She tensed, eyes going wide.

"Wait," Rainbow gasped out. "You mean you knew this was going to happen? Why didn't you tell me?"

"I told you that you were ready for more responsibility," Celestia responded, "and that you needed to make friends. I saw the signs of Nightmare Moon's return and knew you were the one who would defeat her."

She ran the tip of a wing through Rainbow's mane.

"But first, you had to experience true friendship and learn the value of it. Only then could you unleash the power buried deep within your heart."

Rainbow smiled at that, looking up at the princess.

"Speaking of," the princess continued as she started walking past her student and the others, "there is another who -- hopefully -- shall allow the same to happen to her as well."

The others lifted up from their bow and watched the princess as she walked past them. Curiously, they watched as she moved toward where Nightmare Moon had been standing.

Where the black alicorn had been now laid a smaller, dark blue one surrounded by the remnants of armor. Her blue mane fell around her face, covering it, and her large bat-like wings were spread out at her side.

"Princess Luna," Celestia stated.

The blue alicorn -- Princess Luna -- let out a gasp of surprise as her head shot up. Ears dropping and eyes going wide, she scrambled, trying to push up onto her hooves and move away from Celestia.

"It has been a thousand years since I've seen you like this," Celestia said.

Luna cringed and shifted. She looked everywhere but at the princess standing in front of her. Tears began to well up in her eyes as she winced.

Princess Celestia lowered herself to the ground, looking eye to eye with Luna.

"It is more than time to put our differences aside. We were meant to rule together, as sisters should."

"Sisters?" the others shouted out, shocked by the statement.

Rainbow's hind legs came out from under her, causing her to plop onto her bottom as she stared, jaw hanging, at the two alicorns. Her mind reeled as so many things suddenly seemed to make sense. She looked up at the castle, realizing that this was actually once the home of a younger Princess Celestia.

What would she have been like?

"So, what do you say?" Celestia asked as she leaned closer to her sister. "Will you accept my friendship and put the past behind us?"

Luna finally looked up, her blue eyes meeting her sister's magenta ones. Tears started running down her cheeks. Getting up, she lunged at Celestia, wrapping her front legs around her sister and burying her face into Celestia's neck.

"I'm sorry," Luna sobbed out as she held onto her sister. "I'm sorry, Tia. I've missed you so, so much."

"I've missed you too," Celestia whispered as she nuzzled her sister, tears starting to leak from her own eyes as well.

The six ponies shifted, looking around to find something of interest other than the tearful reunion.

"Perhaps," Rarity suggested, "it would be best if we were to leave them to their moment."

Silently, the others agreed, heading out of the throne room and heading toward the hallway.

"So," Pinkie said as soon as they were in the hall, "we saved the day, reunited Princess Celestia with her sister, and got some neat looking magical jewelry in the process." She hopped up and down in excitement. "You know what this means?"

"We can all pretty much guess what you think it means," Twilight said with a roll of her eyes.

"When we get back to Ponyville," Pinkie continued, "we need to throw a big party!"

The other five ponies grinned.

"Ya know what?" Applejack said as she put a hoof around Pinkie Pie. "This time, I think you might actually be onto something."