Rainbow Dash walked joyfully through the streets of the Crystal Empire, towards the castle. Twilight Sparkle, Fluttershy, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, and Spike followed the elated alicorn, who was currently wearing her crown, which was also the Element of Loyalty.

"Rainbow, darling," said Rarity, "I'm all for lovely jewelry, but why exactly did you wear your crown here?"

"Luna said that when all of the Princesses meet up together, there's more likely to be ponies who want to take pictures, or get an interview." said Rainbow. "So it's best that I look nice for them, while not being too extravagant."

"Well, if you wanted to I could style your mane!"

"I'm good, Rares, but thanks for the offer."

"Whoa!" said Spike, pointing ahead. "Look at those!"

Rainbow looked up, and her mouth dropped in surprise. There were two large statues of crystal that were in the process of being built, one that resembled Spike holding the Crystal Heart, and one that resembled herself protecting the Crystal Heart. Both she and Spike stared wordlessly at the statues, along with the rest of their friends.

"Well..." said Twilight, finding her voice. "The Crystal ponies sure are fast builders!"

"They sure are!" added on Pinkie.

"That is extremely excessive." finally said Rainbow. "I really don't need a statue! Only Spike does!"

"Ya sure you don't want one?" teased Applejack.

"Oh, be quiet, you. Race you to the castle!"

"Yer on!"

Rainbow flew into the air, and zipped off towards the castle, with Applejack sprinting after her. The rest of the group simply walked there. Rainbow landed on the ground, just as Applejack ran up to her.

"I won!" they said at the same time, before glancing at each other. "Tie..."

"You girls done racing around?" asked Twilight as she and the others walked up.

"Yep!" said Rainbow with a smile. "Now I've gotta get to a meeting!"

Rainbow walked past the Royal Guards, and into the throne room, where Luna, Celestia, and Cadence sat around a table. They all looked up as she walked in, and up to the table.

"Sorry if I'm late." said Rainbow nervously.

"Don't worry, Rainbow Dash." said Celestia. "You are here on time, we just arrived early."

Rainbow nodded, and sat down in the unoccupied seat, and didn't notice her right wing twitch. Luna's horn lit up, and a silencing spell was cast over the room, so only the four of them could hear each other.

"Is everypony ready to begin?" asked Luna, and everypony nodded. "Excellent. Now, Cadenza, can you tell Rainbow Dash about your ascension?"

"Auntie Luna, you don't need to call me Cadenza." said Cadence.

"Yes... I know..."

Cadence smiled, and then turned towards Rainbow, who was very eager to her story.

"So when I was just a filly, several Earth ponies found me in a forest. They brought me back to their village and raised me to be very kind and passionate. One day, Prismia, a reclusive sorceress who harbored jealousy towards the villagers, used a powerful necklace that amplified her evil and jealousy to drain the villagers of their love, causing them to become distraught."

"A powerful necklace that amplified her evil and jealousy?" repeated Rainbow. "That sounds like the Alicorn Amulet!"

"You know of the Alicorn Amulet?" asked Celestia.

"Yes. A unicorn who came to Ponyville, named Trixie, bought it in a pawn shop because she recognized it as a magical amulet, and thought it would help improve her abilities. But the Amulet made her evil and jealous, and she came back to take over Ponyville!"

"What happened?"

"We tricked her into taking the Amulet off, and gave it to Zecora for safekeeping."

"Ah. I do remember Luna telling me this after you sent her a letter detailing the events. The Everfree does seem like a good place to hide such a dangerous object."

"Er, sorry to interrupt you..." said Rainbow, turning back towards Cadence.

"No, no, it's fine." said Cadence with a smile. "Now, I confronted Prismia and the love she had stolen amplified my love! Using that magic, I defeated her, and encouraged her to change her ways. It was then that I was surrounded by a magical energy, and transported to a strange place where I met Auntie Celestia. I had apparently ascended to an alicorn, and had earned my cutie mark! Auntie then adopted me as her royal niece, and that was that!"

"That's amazing!" said Rainbow in awe. "You just confronted Prismia, and then ascended?"

"Actually, I only ascended after I encouraged her to change her ways."

"Huh... Magic does work in its strange ways... So where exactly did you go when you ascended?"

"The Ethereal Plane." said Celestia. "All alicorns can sense it if they try, but can only go to it when they feel the time is right. I felt a source of magic enter the Plane, and went there to find Cadence."

"But why didn't I go there?" asked Rainbow.

"We do not know." said Luna. "Which is the main reason we are holding this meeting. It is most likely due to the different circumstances of when you ascended as opposed to Cadenza did. Only after preforming the feat of magic and assisting Prismia to change did she ascend. However, you, Rainbow Dash, had just preformed another feat of magic to protect the Crystal Heart, which caused it to activate. Perhaps these two magical events happening at the same time sped up your ascension."

"That seems probable." said Celestia. "Though, we can only guess right now."

"Sister, I need to go raise the moon." said Luna.

"Ah, yes. It is getting rather late. We can continue talking tomorrow."