In a small village on the outskirts of Equestria, the Sunset Festival was being celebrated. Though the celebration was on its final day, the village residents had received some surprise guests; Starlight Glimmer, Twilight Sparkle and her friends, the royal family, the Great and Powerful Trixie, and even Discord, the master of chaos. The new guests were eagerly enjoying the festivities after the harrowing events of the past few days, where the former Queen Chrysalis and her Changeling hive had come terrifyingly close to taking over all of Equestria.

Twilight and her friends were currently gathered around a table, enjoying some slices of cake.

"Ugh, I think I still have some Changeling slime in my mane..." Rarity cringed, running a hoof through her elegant curls.

"At least we're outta those cocoons." Applejack pointed out.

"I still can't believe we wound up stuck in those things." Rainbow growled. "We totally missed out on all the action!"

"And that's a bad thing?" Fluttershy asked.

Just then, Starlight joined them.

"Hey, Starlight." Twilight smiled. "How did judging the baking contest go?"

"A little tougher than I thought." Starlight admitted. "Sugar Belle made some great cupcakes, but Fondant Fancy's eclairs really hit it out of the park."

"Ooh, remind me to ask for the recipe!" Pinkie smiled.

"How ya feelin', Starlight?" Applejack asked. "We all know you've had a really big day."

"That's one way of putting it." Starlight smiled.

"Since we were kinda... out of it back there, would you mind tellin' us exactly what happened?" Rainbow asked. "Just a quick recap?"

"Well, it all started when Trixie and I came back to Ponyville after running out of the Festival the first time..." Starlight declared.

A short while later, Starlight reached the point where Chrysalis had begun to drain the love from Thorax.

"...At that moment, it looked like it was all over." Starlight recounted. "But then I had an idea. It seemed like a long shot, but I figured we had nothing left to lose. So I told Thorax to share his love with Chrysalis. And that's what he did. He let out a blast of love so powerful, it sent Chrysalis flying! Then Thorax transformed into a new form, and the other Changelings followed his lead. All that love being released totally destroyed Chrysalis's throne, and freed you all."

"Wow." Spike gaped. "That sounds incredible. My buddy Thorax, becoming the new King of the Changelings. And the rest of the Changelings... well, changing like that. Who'd've guessed?"

"Darn tootin'." Applejack nodded. "Ah wouldn't have believed it mahself if Ah hadn't seen the end result with mah own eyes."

"And all because Starlight had a super-smart idea!" Pinkie beamed.

"Way to go, Starlight." Fluttershy smiled.

"Your idea saved all of us, and Equestria." Twilight declared.

"You're a true hero, darling." Rarity agreed.

"Yeah." Rainbow smirked. "Welcome to the club."

"Well, it was really a team effort. I couldn't have gotten that far without the others helping me all the way." Starlight said humbly... before her smile became a frown. "I'm just sorry I wasn't able to get Chrysalis to see the light. I've been where she is; Alone, only interested in revenge... And I know how badly that can turn out. I really wanted to help her, the way you helped me, Twilight." She sighed deeply. "Guess it didn't take, though..."

"Maybe not." Twilight admitted. "But you tried, Starlight. You showed compassion to somepony who showed you nothing but hostility. Even after everything Chrysalis did, you were willing to extend to her the hoof of friendship. And for that, I couldn't be prouder."

"Yeah, looks like all those friendship lessons are really starting to pay off, huh?" Spike grinned.

"I guess so." Starlight nodded. "But I'm pretty sure I still have a lot to learn. Sorry Pinkie, but It looks like you won't be throwing me a graduation party any time soon."

"That's okay." Pinkie chuckled. "Besides, there are plenty of other reasons to throw a party!"

At that moment, Trixie joined them, taking a place beside Starlight. Her cape and hat were severely ruffled and dirtied, and her mane was a mess.

"Whoa, what happened to you?" Starlight asked.

"Friendly advice: Never get into a flying pig race with Discord." Trixie said flatly. "Especially if you don't know how to make the blasted thing stop."

Discord suddenly joined them in a flash of light, dressed in an old-style driving outfit and carrying an oversized trophy with a golden winged pig on top.

"Now, now." He wagged a talon at Trixie. "I won fair and square. Nopony likes a sore loser."

"'Sore' being the key word here." Trixie winced.

"We were just talking about your big rescue mission." Rainbow declared.

"I must admit, I was surprised to learn that you were both among our saviors." Rarity confessed.

"Y'all managed to save us, and Equestria." Applejack noted appreciatively.

"To be perfectly honest, Equestria wasn't really my concern." Discord admitted, placing his lion paw tenderly upon Fluttershy's back.

"And I couldn't call myself Starlight's best friend if I hadn't been willing to support her." Trixie smiled.

"Whatever the reason, you all stepped up." Twilight acknowledged. "You all played a part in saving Equestria. And you should all be proud."

"Even me?" Trixie smirked.

"Yes, Trixie." Twilight rolled her eyes. "Even you."

"Praise from you is high praise indeed, Princess." Trixie doffed her hat. "I'll admit, saving Equestria is harder than it seems. But I still managed to pull it off, even without magic. I wonder, can you say the same?"

"A-hem." Discord cleared his throat theatrically. "Need I remind you that it was a team effort?"

"Says the Draconequus who got captured first." Trixie retorted.

"Whilst valiantly leading a squad of Changeling guards away from my comrades, I might add." Discord pulled Trixie's hat over her eyes.

As Trixie adjusted her hat, a miniature Discord appeared on her shoulder.

"And FYI: I'm the only one who gets to mess with Twilight." He whispered in her ear. "Capische?"

"Whatever, shorty." Trixie scoffed.

"You must have been so brave." Fluttershy smiled, as Discord flashed back to her side. "Going in there, without magic, to help save us..."

"I was, wasn't I?" Discord smugly agreed. "It was actually kind of exhilarating, playing the hero for once. I'm starting to see why you ladies all enjoy it so much."

"If somepony had told me a year ago that Discord and Trixie would help to save Equestria, I'd have said they were crazy." Rainbow admitted.

"As crazy as pineapple upside-down cake." Pinkie agreed. "But not nearly as delicious..."

"Looks like ya got yerself a real heroic exploit to brag about now, Trixie." Applejack noted.

"Trixie does not 'brag'." Trixie snorted. "She represents herself in a Great and Powerful way!"

"And you do so quite enthusiastically, I must admit." Rarity rolled her eyes.

"I know none of us were exactly ideal rescuers..." Starlight admitted.

"I could say the same about all of us, back when we went to find the Elements of Harmony to defeat Nightmare Moon." Twilight pointed out. "I may have been Celestia's student, but I wasn't exactly an adventurer."

"And the rest of us were jest regular ponies." Applejack added.

"Maybe a little more than 'regular'..." Rainbow smirked.

"We were something of a mismatched group, though." Rarity smiled. "We were all so different from each other, yet we shared a higher calling none of us could have imagined."

"I certainly never imagined I'd become one of Equestria's protectors." Fluttershy admitted.

"But you did." Pinkie grinned. "We all did. And that was just the start of all our super-amazing adventures together!"

"Nothing creates a bond between ponies quite like saving Equestria." Twilight noted.

"And you would know, since you've all done it so many times." Spike chuckled.

Twilight indicated Starlight, Trixie and Discord.

"And thanks to the three of you and Thorax, Equestria is safe again." She smiled. "It's a good feeling, isn't it?"

"Definitely." Starlight nodded.

"Of course." Trixie grinned.

"Well, it's certainly a new feeling, I'll give you that." Discord shrugged. "I wouldn't necessarily call it 'good'..."

"Discord..." Fluttershy urged.

"...Okay, maybe it is." Discord admitted.

"It's always good to know Equestria is safe." Rarity declared.

"And fer once, the six of us didn't have to lift a hoof to keep it that way." Applejack grinned.

"Yeah." Pinkie nodded. "Maybe we should get stuck in icky green cocoons more often!"

"Maybe not." Twilight cringed. "But at least we can enjoy things going back to normal."

"Can we? Don't forget, Chrysalis is still out there." Fluttershy pointed out. "And she did vow revenge against Starlight..."

"Deja vu, anypony?" Rainbow asked.

"Ah say let that overgrown bedbug try sumthin'." Applejack snorted. "We'll be there, ready an' waitin'. Ah gotta feelin' she won't be so tough without her army backin' her up. Ya don't gotta fret about nuthin', Starlight."

"Oh, I'm not afraid." Starlight smiled. "As long as I have my friends nearby, I know I'll be okay."

"I couldn't have put it better myself." Twilight nodded proudly.

"Like I said before, I've got your flank." Trixie assured Starlight.

"We all do." Spike agreed.

"If I ever see that ex-Queen again, I'll just break out the fly swatter." Discord conjured up a giant swatter. "Nopony messes with my friends. Especially you, Fluttershy..."

Fluttershy smiled, touched.

"Thanks, everypony." Starlight beamed, humbled by their support and devotion. "It's times like these that I realize how lucky I am. It wasn't so long ago that I had no real friends. I didn't even know what real friendship was. But now I do, and I have more friends than I ever could have imagined. I guess what I'm trying to say is... thank you. Thank you all for being my friends."

"Thank you for being ours, Starlight." Twilight hugged her student.

"You're definitely the best friend I've ever had." Trixie admitted. "Technically, you're the first friend I've ever had... but my point still stands."

"As sappy as that little speech was, I'll admit it fit the moment well." Discord said flatly. "And I have heard more gag-worthy lines in my time..."

"Easy with the compliments, Discord." Starlight smirked. "I don't want to get a big head."

"And what's wrong with having a big head?" Discord inflated his head like a balloon. "Doesn't seem so bad to me!"

The others all chuckled (even Trixie), even moreso when Discord let all the air out his head, reducing it to normal size.

"Emotional moments such as these always leave me feeling so deflated!" Discord joked.

Not long after, night fell. Luna took great joy in raising her moon, considering that not too long ago, it seemed like she would never get the chance again.

"One more thing to thank Starlight Glimmer for." She smiled to herself.

"Gather around, everypony!" Double Diamond called to all and sundry. "The fireworks display is about to begin!"

"Perhaps I can offer a hoof... or a horn." Trixie suggested to him. "Fireworks are among my many specialties."

"I suppose I could jazz things up too." Discord shrugged. "Otherwise, I'll be bored out of my skull..."

"Just don't try to steal my spotlight." Trixie glared at Discord.

"Moi?" Discord gasped, faux-offended. "The thought never occurred to me."

"We'd be glad of any help." Double Diamond admitted. "Especially from friends of Starlight."

The partygoers all gathered on the edge of town, as the fireworks were set off. The first wave exploded in many brilliant colors and patterns. The guests gazed in wonder. Flurry Heart in particular enjoyed the show, giggling and cheering in Cadance's hooves. The only pony who enjoyed it more was, of course, Pinkie.

"Whoo, look at that one!" She squealed. "And that one! Yeah!"

If you liked those, wait until you get a load of these." Trixie used her horn to conjure up some dazzling fireworks. They were multiple colors, and took the shapes of a dragon, a Griffon, and even a Timberwolf. "Impressive, no?"

"No." Discord stepped forward. "Check these out."

With a snap of his claws, Discord created a new cluster of fireworks. These became animated after forming; One became a bird, which swooped down on another, which had taken the form of a mouse. A third was in the shape of Discord's face, which winked at the crowd below.

"Not bad, eh?" Discord smirked, as the crowd applauded.

"Yeah, sure." Trixie sneered. "But how about this?"

Trixie created more fireworks, which spelled her name in the night sky.

"I'll admit, that's mildly impressive." Discord smirked. "Still not a patch on mine, though."

"Oh, yeah?" Trixie sneered. "Well at least I show some restraint."

"Is that what you call it?" Discord rolled his eyes.

"Yes, it is." Trixie nodded. "You never start a show with the big stuff. You build up to it. Draw in the audience. You may have your chaos magic, but I'm definitely the better showpony here."

"That's debatable." Discord snorted.

"Not to me... blowhard." Trixie shot back smugly.

"Showoff." Discord smirked.

"Egomaniac." Trixie smiled back, actually enjoying their little back-and-forth.

"Illusionist." Discord responded in kind.

The two then turned their heads back to sky and started conjuring up fireworks in tandem, making for an even greater show.

"Isn't it nice how Discord's made another new friend?" Fluttershy beamed, as she and the others stood nearby.

"Oh, yeah." Applejack smirked. "And they have sooo much in common..."

"Looks like the beginning of a beautiful friendship to me." Twilight smiled.

Starlight sighed happily as she stood amongst her friends, enjoying the grand finale of the Sunset Festival. The mistakes of her past had been pushed aside. She had conquered her fears in order to save her friends, and had played a part in making Equestria a better place, just as Twilight had pledged the day she took Starlight on as her student.

'Who knew that day would come so soon?' She thought to herself. 'Not me, that's for sure...'