The next morning found Blue Jay, Paige, Harmonious Flash, Lyla Firecracker, Kitsune, and Minako being summoned to the throne room for an audience with the princesses. “I do wish to apologize, my little ponies.” Celestia began as she looked down at them from her throne, Luna sitting to her left. The moon princess looked tired, but wanted to be there for her sister. “I had wanted to talk with you before the gala but we seemed to be missing each other.”

“What did you want to talk about?” Paige asked as she sat with her friends.

“I was going to see if you six wish to be recognized as being the savors of Canterlot.”

“That would have been cool.” Harmonious Flash said while Lyla Firecracker rolled her eyes. “But actually, I think it was probably better that way. We only did what we had to.” The others agreed with her.

“Somehow I had a feeling that would have been the answer.” Celestia smiled. “Which is why I wanted to offer each of you a chance for a reward and if it’s within our power, we’ll grant it with no questions asked. Take a moment to gather your thoughts.” She had finished speaking when the door opened and Twilight Sparkle walked in before heading straight to Celestia and nuzzling her. “Hello, Twilight.” Celestia greeted warmly.

“Good morning to you, Celestia.” Twilight Sparkle greeted and kissed Celestia before sitting on her right, stunning the others while Luna just looked on.

“You and Princess Celestia…” Blue Jay started as her voice failed her trying to comprehend it.

“It won’t be a secret for much longer.” Twilight Sparkle said. “After our battle, I decided that there’s no point in hiding. I love Celestia and she loves me.”

“What about the nobles?” Minako asked, more amused by that thought than scandalized.

“What about them?” Celestia asked. “I am allowed to freely express my love and there isn’t anything they can do about that.” She said and Luna cleared her throat. “Right, but that’s for another time. Have you given thought to what you want to ask?”

“I have.” Minako said, being the first to speak up. “I wish to find this… Zecora pony.”

Twilight Sparkle smiled and shook her head. “I’m afraid you won’t find Zecora as a pony. She’s a zebra that lives in the Everfree forest beyond Ponyville.”

“Surely that’s not the only thing you wish to know?” Celestia asked.

“Ponyville huh…” Minako said recalling that’s where most of her friends were from and she resisted the urge to face hoof. “Actually, I’d like to search for somepony. But I can’t do that and keep my tattoo pallor open. While I’m searching for her, I’d be most grateful if somepony could watch it.”

“I’m sure we’ll find somepony worthy to keeping it open.” Celestia replied as Twilight Sparkle wrote down the request. “Kitsune?”

Kitsune looked up startled, not having expected to be asked so soon. “Well, there’s so many things I want to ask for….” She paused and bit her lip. “I want leniency for Feral. I’m aware of her now and I have a good idea why she acted the way she did. I’m planning to work with her to make sure this problem won’t happen again.”

Luna looked worried at that suggestion and looked at Celestia for strength. “Kitsune, I grant your request. Feral Lupus also requested that when I fought alongside her. Out of fear I would have said no, but with you putting her needs before yours, I will grant Feral Lupus the leniency she would like.”

“Thank you, Princess Luna. I promise I’ll work hard with her.” Kitsune said and bowed.

Lyla Firecracker looked at her friends. “I’d like to get two photos, one of just the six of us and the second one have the princesses included. That way I’ll have proof when I tell my grand-fillies and grand-colts that I’ve met the princesses.”

“That one is easy.” Celestia said and told one of the guard mares to find their most esteem artist and photographer and meet them at the base of the mountain.

Harmonious Flash shook her head. “Before this, I’m sure I could have thought of several things but now my mind’s blank. Can I write to you if I think of anything?” She asked and Celestia laughed while Lyla Firecracker cuffed her ear.

“Of course you may.” Celestia said. “Just remember, sometimes the reward is within the journey, not at the end of it.”

Harmonious Flash rubbed her ear and bowed while reflecting on Celestia’s words.

“Paige, what about you?”

“Nothing, Princess Celestia.” Paige said and looked at Blue Jay before putting a hoof around her marefriend’s shoulders. “Last night I’ve found my reward and she’s all I ever wanted.” She felt a wing go around her back and the two shared a quick kiss.

“And Blue Jay, last, but most certainly not least.” Celestia didn’t need Cadence to know that Paige and Blue Jay were happy with each other.
“Well…” Blue Jay wasn’t sure as too many ideas kept dancing around in her head.

“If you’d like, I can turn you into an alicorn.” Celestia was only joking a little but if that’s what Blue Jay wanted, she wouldn’t go back on her word.

“Thank you for the offer, but I’m happy with remaining as a pegasus.” Blue Jay said as her mind cleared with only one thought. “…I’d like to go home, with my friends and marefriend.”

“Very well, first let us take the pictures and then you may depart.” Celestia said, surprised how humble they all were as she teleported everypony to the base of the mountain.

“I, Photo Finish, thought zis was a fashion shoot.” Photo Finish said in her trademark Germane accent as everypony appeared, not a single one dress in any sort of fashion.

“She insisted to come along, your Majesty.” The guard said, sounding like he tried to explain but Photo Finish would hear none of it.
“Since zis iz not a fashion shoot, I go!” She said before her and the entourages left.

There was an unicorn mare still standing there and she bowed before Princess Celestia. Her coat was a yellowish-green color while her mane and tail where brown with yellow highlights at the tip. Around her neck she wore a white scarf and on her head was a split red and black jester hat with two bells on it. “You wanted to see me, Princess Celestia?”

“You heard correctly Jesuka.” Celestia said and motioned to the others. “We need a photographer of your talents.”

“I’m honor, I’ll do my best.” She studied all the ponies present for a moment before directing them into place. The first photo they did included everypony present but it was the second photo that made everything special. Jesuka had Paige sit down looking towards the camera while the mountains rose a ways behind her with Lyla Firecracker standing behind her. To Paige’s right, Minako stood at an angle while Harmonious Flash hovered a foot off the ground behind her. To Paige’s left, Kitsune struck a pose while Blue Jay hovered at the same height Harmonious Flash did.

“Smile.” Jesuka said before taking the photo… along with a couple dozen more in the space of four seconds “It may take a few days, but I will work on them soon as I get back to my studio.”

The train whistle jostled Blue Jay out of her musings and she blinked, bringing the train car back into focus. Leaning against Paige, she smiled. Glancing over, Harmonious Flash was sleeping spread out along the entire bench directly across from them. Minako and Kitsune were playing checkers while Lyla Firecracker sat on one of the benches and looked out the window as the scenery rolled by.

“Reach for the speed, reach for the whistle” Blue Jay sang as the train blew its whistle while the smoke lazily drifted into the air behind them.

“Go where the rail may run” She knew that they were finally heading home.

“Reach for the words, reach for the stories” She glanced over at Paige who was writing something to occupy the time.

“Follow the rainbow sun” She glanced out the window in time to see Rainbow Dash wave at her before punching the mach cones and preformed a sonic rainboom.

“To a shining time station” She thought back to how travelling to Cloudsdale kind of kicked off the entire adventure.

“Where dreams can come true, waiting there for you” She never would have expected to find love or had such great friends had she not caught Rainbow Dash in the beginning.

“So much to see, so far to travel” She smiled at the thoughts of her and her friends having seen Neighagra Falls and Canterlot.
“So much to learn, to know” They all had learned about one another on this trip and what true friends were like.

“Friends by your side” She glanced over at her friends and smiled.

“Hope to hold onto” Without realizing it, she clutched Paige’s fore-leg a little tighter hoping to build a brighter future with her.

“Who’ll know how far you’ll go” She certainly didn’t realize what she had been getting into once she visited Cloudsdale.

“To a shining time station, where dreams can come true” Now she was glad the ‘shining time station’ was the Ponyville station meaning they’d be home soon after all the craziness that had happened since they left.

“Your own imagination, waiting there for you.” She only could dream about the future right now, but honestly, she had to admit that it looked pretty good. She finished singing and her friends clapped before a comfortable silence fell over them.

Departing the train after it pulled into the Ponyville station, they were swarmed by the town ponies cheering and welcoming them home and the six were confused until Rainbow Dash hovered over them. “Well, I may have told them how you six kicked Shadowbolt tail in Canterlot while we took care of the crystal empire.” She admitted as Twilight Sparkle, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Applejack emerged right after, sending up a new round of cheers.

During the entire day, everypony pitched in to help decorate Ponyville to get it ready for one of the largest parties the town had ever seen as there were two victories to celebrate. At one point, Derpy was flying by with the mail when she misjudged the distance and tried to pull up only to fly through an open upper story window of a house while her delivery hat floated down landing on Harmonious Flash’s head.
“Hey, Harmony, you always said you wanted to be a mailmare.” Lyla Firecracker laughed.

“Shut up, Lyla, that was a joke!” Harmonious Flash took the hat off as Derby walked out through the front door and handed it back, though she was laughing as well.

Later on, as the sun was setting, the real party started as Mr. and Mrs. Cake began bringing out a ton of food, helped by Pinkie Pie and several other ponies. Since there wasn’t a place large enough to hold the entire town, they decided to have it on one of the larger grassy areas.
Blue Jay and Kitsune carefully carried three mugs of cider each until they reached their friends and set a mug in front of each of them. They still had a long way before either one would feel completely comfortable around the other but at least they were starting somewhere. Sliding into the seat a little ways away from the festival, they looked around at the partying ponies. “What’s everypony’s plans after this?”

“I’m going to meet with Zecora.” Minako said as she looked into her mug. “I want to understand why Ryuseioh came to life and to search for Shadow.”

“I might as well go with you then.” Kitsune said. “After all, anything that can help me ease Feral’s pain and anger would be helpful and Zecora seems to be the one that would know.”

“I’ll be hanging out here for a few weeks but I’ll probably be heading to Canterlot again to work with Octavia.” Harmonious Flash said, feeling bittersweet at the moment. She was happy things were back to normal, but at the same time, she didn’t feel like she could enjoy things being normal anymore.

“I’ll be taking off once I replenish my supplies.” Lyla Firecracker added. “I’m sure I could find work here, but after so many years of being on the road… it just feels weird to think about staying put in one place. What about you Blue Jay?”

“I’m staying here. I think I’m going for the printer job.” Blue Jay said, feeling like all she had to do would be to ask and she’d get hired on the spot at this point just so the boss could say they had a famous pony working for them.

“Well, when this one isn’t too busy.” Paige grinned and wrapped her fore-leg around Blue Jay’s shoulders. “She’s going to be my co-writer. I’m curious to see what ideas she comes up with.”

“Well that’ll be like… never.” Lyla firecracker teased. “Between work and having fun time with you, it’s a wonder if we’ll ever see her again.” She winked at Blue Jay, who blushed while Paige threw a napkin at Lyla Firecracker as the others laughed. Silence fell over the group, they didn’t need to say anything because they were sure they all felt the same way about trying to reintegrate into Ponyville after what they saw. As one, they raised their mugs and clinked them together before downing the entire contents in one drink.

Blue Jay smiled as she looked at each of her friends and marefriend. Knowing that had she not used Paige’s advice, she probably would have never gone to Cloudsdale and met her friends. Even though she could have done without the night with Feral Lupus, she probably would have taken longer to realize one of life’s lessons: Friendship is life.

Author's Notes:

Disclaimer: I don't own My Little Pony, Hasbro does.
However, I'm pleased to say I do own Blue Jay, Paige, Harmonious Flash, Kitsune/Feral Lupus, Lyla Firecracker, Minako, and Shadow.

Also, the Shadowbolts named here are mine as well.
Fainthoof is used with permission from Damien, a good friend of mine.

As always, constructive criticism is welcome. It'll help me to improve my writing and seeing what people liked. Also, please let me know if there’s anything you like about the story.