Twilight Sparkle walked through the Canterlot Cemetery. She saw the gravestones marked with the cutie marks of a sun and moon. The graves of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, the former of which had been her mentor, secondary mother figure, and idol. She’d wanted to be exactly like Celestia, and now she was practically. She’d grown larger than almost any other pony, to the same body size and shape as Celestia had thanks to receiving her and Luna’s power and immortality during her coronation as Ruler of Equestria.

She looked upon their graves for some time, then suddenly she heard a voice.

“Twilight?”

Twilight looked over her shoulder and saw a purple dragon.

“Oh hi Spike. I was just visiting Celestia and Luna’s graves.”

“I can see that,” Spike said, “But we need to visit others as well.”

“Others?” Twilight asked.

“You know… your best friends?” Spike asked.

“What?” Twilight exclaimed.

“Don’t you remember them? Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie?” Spike reminded her.

“But they’re not- they can’t be!” Twilight exclaimed.

“They’re dead Twilight!” Spike said before pointing. “Look there’s their graves!”

Twilight looked, and her eyes widened in horror as she saw the five gravestones with cutie marks that belonged to her five best friends. Diamonds, butterflies, a lightning bolt with a rainbow coloration, balloons, apples.

“No! No! No!” Twilight screamed. “They can’t be gone!”

“Hey its alright princess!” another voice said.

Twilight looked and saw another group of unfamiliar ponies there in the cemetery with her and Spike.

“Who- who are you?” Twilight asked.

“We’re your new friends,” another of the ponies said.

“We’re their replacements,” a third said pointing to the five graves.

“Replacements?” Twilight repeated. “No! Nopony can replace them! I belong with my best friends!”

“You belong on the throne! You’re the ruler of Equestria, we need you here! We’ll always need you.”

We’ll always need you

We’ll always need you

Twilight woke with a start. She took in her surroundings, the royal room of Canterlot Castle where she’d taken up residence in permanently. Her pet Owlouisous lay on his perch, hooting at her in concern when her saw her wake up.

“It’s okay, Owlousis. I’m okay, I just had a nightmare.”

“Who?”

“Me,” Twilight sighed. If only owls could say somethings besides “who”.

She looked down at the bed as she went over her nightmare. The life an immortal, having to watch all her best friends, the ponies who had made her the Princess she was today, die. It was too terrible. She couldn’t bare the thought of that, she belonged with them. True she could make new friends, she was the Princess of Friendship after all. But if she had to watch generations of friends pass on, she’d have to call herself the Princess of Loss instead. That was not a lovely title.
Twilight sighed again, then levitated her favorite book of all over and opened it. It was the memory book Starlight and Spike had given her when she’d moved back to Canterlot. She opened it and saw the moving pictures of her and all the others laughing together. Her precious memories that she would always treasure. But that was not enough. She didn’t want to merely remember her friends even if they weren’t part of her everyday life anymore. She wanted to always be with them, even if it was in death.

She was going to do what Celestia had done. She would find a successor… somepony who could take control of Equestria, the sun, moon, and the magic of friendship from her. Unlike Celestia who had stayed to get her sister Luna back, Twilight had no reason to rule for a thousand years and endure endless funerals and losses of friends. That had been Celestia’s greatest pain which she’d kept hidden so well.

There was suddenly a knock on the door.

“Twilight! Wake up!” a familiar voice called.

“I am awake Spike!” Twilight called.

Her now adolescent dragon assistant and younger brother entered her bedroom carrying a scroll.

“Starlight’s gone into labor!” he told her.

Twilight got to her hooves with a grin. “Then I guess we better go to Ponyville. I don’t want to miss the birth of my first pupil’s child!”

They ran outside of the castle and took off on their wings. Princess and Dragon soared through the night sky across Canterlot to the small town that had been their home for the best years of their lives with five other special ponies. Ponyville.

Twilight saw the many houses and familiar buildings including Sugar Cube Corner. Overlooking the town was the Castle of Friendship, the castle that had served as her second home for after the destruction of the Golden Oak Library at Tirek’s horns. Now the Castle was the home of her former student Starlight Glimmer who was now its stewardess and Headmare of the school of Friendship connected to it. But Starlight wasn’t there in the castle.

Twilight flew to the Ponyville Hospital where she found Starlight’s husband Sunburst and best friend Trixie Lulamoon in the waiting room. Also present were her five best friends, all of whom looked at her and Spike as they entered the room.

“Twilight, you’re here!” Applejack said in joy as she and the others raced over to embrace their friend who had become less a part of their lives.

“You didn’t think I’d miss this did you?” Twilight asked with a small smile. “How are you holding up?”
Applejack sighed. “Well, Rainbow’s been there for me a lot since Granny Smith died. So I’m coping. Its not like I’ll never see her again after all.”

“Yeah, its just until we pass into the ether ourselves,” Twilight agreed.

I just hope I don’t have to watch all of them go first.

There was a ring. Everyone knew what that meant. Soon Nurse Redheart entered the room.

“Excuse me, Mr. Burst? Your wife has given birth. Congratulations, you have a daughter.”
Sunburst grinned and began stomping his hooves. “Yes! Yes! I’m a father! I’m a father!”

“Father party!” Pinkie screamed and blew her confetti canon.

“Darling, do make sure to keep it down,” Rarity told her. “Remember what happened when you wouldn’t be quiet after the Cake Twins were born?”

Pinkie sighed, “Oh right.”

She wore a big grin as they made their way to the room where Starlight sat in bed holding her newborn foal to her breast.

“Oh, hey Twilight!” Starlight said with a grin as her former mentor entered the room with everypony else.

“Hey Starlight,” Twilight said as she bent down to get a look at the baby.

"Oh, come here sweetie!" Sunburst exclaimed as he picked up his daughter from his wife.

It was a pink pony, brighter pink than Starlight. Her mane was orange and yellow like her father’s body.
“Oh she’s beautiful,” Twilight said. “What are you going to name her?”

Starlight thought for a moment, then glanced at the clock nearby. It was 6 am in the morning.

“Well I-

Twilight gasped as she realized something. “Oh! I need to raise the sun!”

The ruler of Equestria lit up her horn and then light began to shine through as dawn occurred and the sun rose for first light. Everypony smiled at the light pouring through the window.

Starlight smiled weakly as she watched. “That’s it! I’ll name her Dawn! Luster Dawn!”

Comments and feedback are appreciated.

Chapter One: A Luster for Magic

Starlight and Sunburst had both their hooves and horns full over the next few years. They were responsible for running the Castle and School of Friendship after Twilight had gone back to Canterlot in order to assume her position as ruler of Equestria. Their position was to teach the ways of harmony to every creature and keep the races of the land united in friendship. They also had to oversee the Cutie Map for friendship problems. Now they had another big responsibility as well. They were parents.

The first couple years were spent changing diapers, cleaning up messes Luster innocently created with her magic. It was a busy life for the family.

Starlight had to temporarily let Sunburst take on the role of full head stallion. Someone had to stay home at the Castle and take care of Luster. She sat in a rocking chair, holding her daughter and smiling down at her. Luster Dawn, the greatest thing that had ever happened in her life, and that was saying something. Starlight had many good things happen in her life ever since the first time she’d set hoof in this castle so long ago.

It had started with her redemption here after Twilight had defeated her with words and gotten her to accept friendship. She’d then reunited with her first friend who was now the love of her life, Sunburst. She’d become a hero by saving Twilight and the rest of the important figures in Equestria from Queen Chrysalis. Now she was a mother to a wonderful little unicorn filly. Starlight could look at those cute chubby cheeks forever.

“Oh Luster you are just the most adorable thing,” Starlight said. “What did I ever do to deserve to become a mother to a filly like you? Oh who am I kidding? I’ve done lots of good things right?”

It was true. She had done a lot of good thanks to being redeemed and turned away from the villainous path she’d walked. Still, the memory of what she’d done haunted her and caused her to worry again. Ever since she’d found out she’d been pregnant with Luster, there had been a new fear in Starlight along with the joy of being a mother. She thought back on her past misdeeds which she’d done out of hatred for cutie marks.

What if something happened to make her little Luster turn bad? Even worse than she’d been? Or what if Luster ever got in danger? Equestria had many dangers, Starlight knew that all too well. Queen Chrysalis, her worst enemy, though frozen in stone, still haunted her. Starlight saw her face every so often in her sleep. She shivered at the memory of a nightmare that had haunted her recently.

Sunburst entered the room with Luster sleeping in her crib. He approached the baby, and grinned evilly before turning into Chrysalis.

“The daughter of Starlight Glimmer! This is the perfect chance to get my revenge! I’ll destroy her, and Starlight shall feel the worst pain of all! The loss of a child!”

Chrysalis charged up her horn to prepare a fatal spell. But then her wicked smile faded and turned to a thoughtful one.
“But wait! I have a better idea! I shall take Starlight’s child away, and raise her as my own! I shall turn her child against her like she turned my hive against me!”

Chrysalis laughed and took Luster in her holed hooves before flying out the window.

Starlight took a breath.

“That’s not going to happen Starlight,” she told herself. “Chrysalis will never return. She’s trapped in stone forever. She’s not going to take Luster away.”

At that moment a foul smell entered Starlight’s nostrils. Covering her nose with a hoof, Starlight levitated Luster and removed her dirty diaper before putting on a fresh one.

“PU!” Starlight said. “Your sister, Phyliss never got stinkies like this. But then she was my plant baby after all.”

Still, Starlight smiled down at her daughter again. “You are never gonna become a stinker like I was though. I’m going to make sure of that. You are going to be a good filly and mare.”

Things got easier when Luster didn’t require diapers anymore and learned to talk. Starlight could return to her position as headmare with Sunburst. Husband and wife came into the castle’s dining room prepared to make breakfast. Today was the first day of summer, school was out, and Luster was nearly five.

“Hey, Sunburst. I’ve been thinking,” Starlight told her husband as she poured milk into the pancake mixture.

“About what?” Sunburst asked as he looked up from his favorite book of all time, The Widems Guide to Magical Arcana.

“About Luster. It’s about time for us to send her off to school someplace. Don’t you think?” Starlight asked.

“Hmm. Yeah, I guess you’re right. You think she should go into the school of Friendship or Cheerilee’s school?”
Sunburst asked before gasping. “Or maybe we could enroll in Twilight’s school for Gifted Unicorns.”

Starlight chuckled. “You mean Celestia’s school. Twilight hasn’t renamed it after herself you know.”

Sunburst blushed. “Right. Well, what do you think?”

Starlight smiled. “Now lets not get ahead of ourselves here, we haven’t even started teaching Luster to use her magic yet.”

“Well, maybe we should,” a voice said as the door to the dining room opened again. Trixie Lulamoon entered the room. “Between our great and powerful trio of skill, wit, and tricks we’re bound to make a great prospective student for the school of Gifted Unicorns!”

“Morning Trixie,” Starlight said as she went back to making the pancakes.

Trixie scoffed as she watched Starlight working. “You know, you could probably ask for some servants around here since we’re living in a castle. Twilight should have had those around when she was princess here.”

“You know Twilight, she was never one to take her royal status with too much luxury. Heh, even Celestia made food herself. She made me a very creative pile of pancakes with fruit faces when I went to Canterlot to help her and Luna with their friendship problem,” Starlight smiled fondly at the memory of the late Princess. “I don’t mind making stuff myself. It would take all the fun out of it if I had somepony doing everything for me.”

Trixie scoffed. “Well… I wouldn’t mind having somepony do all my meals and other things for me. If I’d been the Princess here I would have had it filled with servants and a royal guard as well. Maybe that would have prevented Chrysalis from abducting Twilight and the others so we wouldn’t have had to save them. Seriously, why didn’t she ever have her own guard in the castle at least?”

“She just wanted to be an ordinary pony for the most part. But she can’t be that anymore since she’s ruler of Equestria now. Plus she and her friends were the bearers of the elements of harmony. They were probably equal to their own guard,” Starlight said. “Now, would you mind going to wake Luster please? I wouldn’t want her to miss breakfast.”

“Sure thing, one great and powerful wake up from the best godmare in Equestria coming up.”

Trixie trotted off to get Luster. Starlight continued to make the pancakes while Sunburst sat quietly at the table continuing to read The Widems Guide to Magical Arcana. Starlight put all the pancakes onto a platter and began to carry them to the table. Then a loud noise suddenly sounded, like an explosion. Starlight jumped and dropped the pancakes, Sunburst likewise dropped the book.

“What was that? Are we under attack?” Sunburst asked worriedly. “Is there a new villain here to abduct us?”

“I don’t know!” Starlight gulped. “But that sounded like it came from-

“Luster’s room!” they said together.

Both parents galloped out of the dining hall and toward their daughter’s room. They found Luster shaking in her bed with Trixie holding her.

“I’m sorry little Luster! Sorry!” Trixie said.

“What’s going on?” Starlight demanded. “We heard something like an explosion!”

“Uh-“ Trixie blushed as she looked up. “I kinda… uh… used a little magic boom as an alarm clock!”

“You what?” Sunburst asked. “Trixie! That could have been dangerous!”

“We wanted you to wake her up! Not scare her!” Starlight snapped as she levitated her daughter into her hooves. “I thought you’d make a responsible god mare!”

“Sorry!” Trixie said.

Starlight hissed and let out a scream of fury. A powerful beam of magic shot out of her horn and flew above Trixie who fell on her stomach in a cowering manner. If not for how close a friend Trixie was to Starlight she probably would have received more than a scare back.

“Well, come on. Let’s go have breakfast… after I make fresh pancakes. You can clean up the mess I dropped,” she added to Trixie. “With your hooves.”

“Sure thing, Princess Starlight,” Trixie replied with dropped ears as she got up.

Trixie cleaned up the mess Starlight had made because of her explosion while Starlight got another batch going.

“We’ll need more flour…” Starlight noted as she poured the last of what was in the bag out. “I think it would be good to go shopping today.”

“Okay, we can go into Ponyville after we’re done eating,” Sunburst said as he reading his book with Luster on his lap. “And that’s the Cerebration Transmarkification Effect.”

“Cool!” Luster said as she listened to her father tell her about the magical theory. “Am I going to be able to learn magic soon?”

Sunburst chuckled. “We were just discussing that before you woke up. Yes, Luster. It’s time to begin your magic training.”

Luster beamed. Over the rest of the day after shopping, Starlight, Sunburst, and Trixie all helped her understand the basics of magic.

“Focus, gather the magic to your horn with your mind. Now with your eyes, look at the object you want to pick up.”

Luster did so. A gold aura surrounded her horn, she focused on a cup and surrounded it with her aura. The cup moved a teeny bit at first-

“Its okay, you just need practice. Not everyone can-

Starlight broke off as not only the cup began to rise up the air but all the other things on the table did as well. She dropped her jaw, as did Sunburst. Trixie, meanwhile, clapped her hooves.

“I have one Great and Powerful Goddaughter!”

Sunburst grinned. “She might make it into Celestia’s school after all!”

“Well… its still too soon to say.” Starlight replied. “Let’s…. wait until summer is almost over before we make a decision.”

Over the next two months Luster performed simple but extraordinary feats with magic. She did seem to have the gift with it. So Starlight, in the end conceded. A month before summer was about to end, Starlight reluctantly drafted a letter to Twilight asking if Luster could be allowed to attend the school for Gifted Unicorns.

The ruler of Equestria’s reply came in the morning.

“Yes! Yes!” Sunburst began bouncing around. “Luster’s going to be attending the school!”

“She still has to take an entrance exam,” Starlight reminded her husband.

Sunburst scoffed. “Entrance exam? Please, that’s only to get a measurement of magic power. I had to take that myself back in the day. Celestia gave all of us a chance to hatch a dragon egg, but no one could… not until Twilight that is. Your magic has to be at a good enough level is all.”

“You still need to have a great amount of magic power!” Trixie said. “Sure, some with good amounts are let it but it’s the great ones that are the best. Like me!”

Starlight sighed.

“What’s the matter Starlight, aren’t you excited?” Sunburst asked. “Our daughter is going to get enrolled in the most prestigious magic school in Equestria!”

“Look, I know you’re excited because you think Luster is getting a chance to get what you never could. But I’m just worried. What if the power goes to her head?” Starlight asked.

Trixie laughed. “Worried she might turn a bit like old godmare here?”

“No, I mean like me. What if she becomes really gifted and then turns….bad?” Starlight asked. “I don’t want that to happen.”

“Oh, come on Starlight. Luster is a hardworking filly who takes her studies seriously. She pays attention, is polite, and we’ve never had to give her a time out.”

Starlight took a breath. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe I’m worrying too much. Doing some Starlighting you know?

“Like mentor like student. I bet I know what will help clear your mind,” Trixie said. “A day out with your husband! When was the last time you had that?”

“Um…” Starlight put a hoof to her chin. “I-don’t know! Its been so busy with being a headmare, stewardess and parent.”

“Well you are in need of a one!” Trixie insisted.

“Alright. Sunburst, how about we go to the café? Let’s get Luster and-

“Oh no! You need to lay off your responsibilities for a while!” Trixie said. “Leave Luster in my hooves!”
Starlight frowned. She was still a little upset at Trixie for scaring Luster on the first day of summer.

“I don’t know.”

“Hey, you named me her godmare. That means I would watch her when you couldn’t. You’ve never let me do that in all these years. I know you take your responsibility as a mother seriously, just like you did for Guidance Counselor and Headmare. But you’ve been taking it too seriously these past few years! Its time for you to take a break and let me do my responsibility as godmare.”

Starlight hesitated, then sighed. “Okay, but if you let her get hurt or scare her again, I won’t be as forgiving.”

Trixie gave a nervous chuckle.

“Note to self, beware of the scary and strong Mama Starlight!”

So Starlight and Sunburst went out into town for lunch and relaxation. They waited at a table in front of the Hayburger silently.

Sunburst looked at his wife in concern. “You know, Starlight. You might have gone a little far there with threatening Trixie like that. I think you might be a little overprotective.”

Starlight sighed. “Well everypony has to make sure their children are safe. I worry about Luster… that’s my job.”

“Well you’re worrying too much! Luster is going to grow up to be a very gifted unicorn I know it!” Sunburst said. “With how successful you, me, and Trixie have been in teaching her magic I have no doubt she’ll become one of the greatest spell casters of her generation. Just like you.” He put a hoof on her. “Then who knows maybe she’ll become a hero of Equestria as well?”

That last bit didn’t have the affect he’d hoped for.

“Or she could get hurt badly!” Starlight exclaimed. “Not every hero has a happy story you know! All those times Twilight and her friends saved Equestria they were lucky none of them lost their lives. We always seem to be lucky whenever a villain pops up, but who knows how long that luck lasts? Eventually somepony could get killed you know!”
“Starlight calm down!” Sunburst said.

“Calm down?” she repeated. “How can I calm down when the future of my daughter could be filled with danger! That’s it, she’s not going to the school for Gifted Unicorns!”

“What? No, you’re going to far. This is what Luster was born to do!” Sunburst shouted, no becoming angry as well.

“Oh I see what this is about! You want her to succeed where you failed!” Starlight pointed a hoof at her husband. “You couldn’t pull through with magic school so now you think you’re getting a second chance through your daughter!”
Sunburst looked at his wife with an open mouth. “I just want what’s best for her!”

“So do I!” Starlight snapped. “And I think it would be best for her to remain here in Ponyville where we can watch her and keep her out of danger!”

“Well I think you’re denying her the chance of a lifetime!” Sunburst said.
Suddenly a waiter appeared holding a pair of hayburgers in his hooves. He set them down at their table.

“Your food Sir, Madam.”

The couple didn’t say another word as they ate their meal. Starlight had a half a mind to take her food and teleport back to the Castle as she thought of Luster being with Trixie.

___________________

Trixie sat on the sofa with her goddaughter on her lap. Luster listened with an eager smile as Trixie told her a “Great and Powerful” story of how she and Starlight had taken on the army of Changelings to rescue Princess Twilight Sparkle and the others from Queen Chrysalis.

“The changelings were everywhere! Buzzing, buzzing! Ready to descend upon us! But I used a smoke bomb to help us escape. Than the foolish Discord got himself captured while he tried to distract more of them as we got closer to the throne room! A changeling disguised himself as Discord, but your mother and I saw right through that disguise thanks to our ingenious code word!”

“Code word?” Luster asked.

“Oh course! We knew that if we got separated we needed to be sure that we were who we said we were. Changelings can take on the form of anypony, or creature. So one of us would say Klutzy and the one who rejoined us when we were separated would say Draconeques. It was my way to make fun of Discord then,” Trixie chuckled.

“So what happened after the changeling disguised himself as Discord?”

“He tried to lead us into a trap. But I restrained him so Starlight and Thorax, the one good changeling at the time… could move on to the throne room and face Queen Chrysalis!” Trixie said. “Eventually I was captured and brought there as well, it took an entire tunnel full of changelings to take your Godmare down!”

“Oh you’re so great Aunt Trixie!” Luster said.

Trixie smiled. “Not as great as your mother though. She and Thorax found Queen Chrysalis. She had an entire army waiting for them! But with powerful words they convinced her army that there was another way to live! That they could share love instead of feeding off it! Thorax did that with Chrysalis, and it gave him a new bright and beautiful form!” Trixie put a hand over heart in a mock show of being in love. “Then all the other changelings saw it was true and they wiped the hive with Chrysalis! Your mother freed me and all the others, then Chrysalis ran off with her tail between her holed legs!”

Luster sighed. “Wow, my mother is really amazing! I want to be just like her, a hero!”

Trixie chuckled. “Well someday you might be! Come on, I think its nap time! You want to be hero you need your rest to grow!”

She took her goddaughter in her hooves and carried her to her room. Luster lay on the bed without complaint and knelt her head down. Trixie than yawned.

“Time for my nap as well,” she said lazily before heading off to her room in the castle.

___________________

Luster waited until Trixie’s hoof falls faded into the distance before jumping back down onto the crystal floor of the castle. She crept out into the hallways, to the front door and opened it with her magic. She saw the town of Ponyville ahead, the sun was warm on her coat as she headed not in the direction of town… but for the endless amounts of trees surrounding it. The Everfree forest.

“I’m going to find a monster in there, and defeat it. Be a hero like my mother,” Luster said as she trotted off with a confident smile.

Well here's the first chapter at last. I tried to add some tension in there with having Starlight get mad at Trixie for scaring Luster. Should I have done more? Maybe have Starlight give Trixie some hoof or something? I also tried to keep my characters right by having Trixie like the idea of servants, Sunburst with his favorite book that he mentioned in Season 8. If you guys have any suggestions for improving that or the magic lessons they give Luster please let me know. Happy Thanksgiving! I will hopefully get another chapter in within a week.

Chapter Two A Parents Role
Sunburst and Starlight walked home to the castle silently with narrowed eyes, refusing to look at each other directly. Sunburst just couldn’t believe how overprotective Starlight was being! Their daughter had such potential at such a young age! She could accomplish so much with the right knowledge, and Starlight wanted to keep her from doing that. Sunburst huffed under his breath, not bothering to talk to his wife. He could only hope that once both of them got back to the castle, Trixie would be able to do her role as a guidance counselor for Starlight and make her see sense.
The walk back to the castle was the least pleasant in Sunburst’s memory. Usually he and Starlight would be holding hooves or resting their heads against each other as they returned. But today they were doing neither. Even though Sunburst still held his anger at Starlight, he hoped this would only be temporary.

They finally entered the castle. Sunburst didn’t know what to expect.

“Trixie!” Starlight called out. “We’re back!”

The shout echoed through the castle halls. But there was no reply.

Starlight sighed. Her horn lit up as she activated a locator spell in order to find Trixie. The castle was huge and her friend could be anywhere inside it. Starlight had put a locator spell on everyone that lived in the castle with her for instances like this to save time having to search everyone of the hallways.

She headed toward Trixie’s room, the first place she could think to look. Sunburst followed behind, watching his wife as her horn glowed brighter, meaning that they were getting close.

Starlight opened the door with her magic. “Trixie?”

Looking past her, Sunburst saw that Trixie was there on her bed napping. He brought a hoof to his face.
There was no way this day couldn’t get any worse.

Boy was he wrong.

“Trixie!” Starlight yelled.

The guidance counselor woke with a start.

“What are you doing napping!” Starlight demanded. “You’re supposed to watching Luster.”

“Oh, calm down Starlight,” Trixie said. “Luster’s asleep in her room. I put her down for a nap.”

Starlight frowned. She turned back the other way and walked to Luster’s room down the hall. Sunburst reluctantly followed, expecting everything to be alright. Luster would be in her bed sleeping soundly. But when Starlight opened the door to the filly’s room, his mouth dropped open as he saw an empty bed.

“She’s gone!” Starlight exclaimed.

“Hey, relax. Maybe she just woke up to use the bathroom?” Sunburst suggested.

Starlight’s horn lit up again as she walked in that direction, hoping her husband was right. But her horn did not glow brightly.

‘She’s not in the castle!” Starlight screamed.

“What?” Sunburst was now concerned as well.

The couple ran outside along with Trixie. Starlight pointed her horn in all directions, a look of desperation on her face as she hoped to get even the smallest spark to lead her in the right direction. Sunburst felt relief when there was a slight glow… they sprinted toward Ponyville. But Luster was not in town, Starlight’s horn lead them all the way to-

“The Everfree Forest!” Sunburst said. “Why would Luster go in there?”

Starlight turned a glare at Trixie. “What happened while we were gone?”

Trixie gave a nervous expression. “I was telling her about that time we took on the changelings. Then she said she wanted to be a big hero like you.”

Starlight looked at the forest. “No! She went looking for monsters! That silly little filly!”

“Come on! We got to get her!” Sunburst yelled as he galloped off.

“I’m sorry! I didn’t mean for this to happen!” Trixie stated as she and Starlight trailed behind him.

“I know,” Sunburst said.

Starlight didn’t say anything, she kept her eyes focused as she ran. Sunburst allowed her to get in front of him as she was the one with the locator spell activated. Their argument was now in the back of Sunburst’s head. All that mattered now was his daughter’s safety, they had to find her and get her back home to the castle safely.

Luster Dawn walked through the shadowy grounds of the Everfree forest. She’d started out being confident, shouting out in the hopes of attracting a monster to her. But now, she had no idea where she was. She didn’t know how to get back home, the forest was like a huge maze.

The sun soon began to set as Luster wandered around. The confidence and determination she’d had was now gone, and replaced with worry. Luster now wanted to be back home with her mother, father, and godmare.

What if she never saw them again? What if she was going to be stuck out here forever?

Luster finally snapped and began to cry at that thought.

“Mommy! Daddy! Please come find me!” she sobbed.

Crunch.

Luster shivered at the sound behind her. She looked over her shoulder and saw a huge creature resembling a wolf made of wood. It growled. Fear gripped Luster as she began to back away. All thoughts of bravado and being a famous hero like her mother were gone now. Her heart filled with the desire to run, to get away from this scary thing.

She turned around to run the other way. Only to find another wolfwood creature blocking her way. Luster tried right and left, but both of those ways were blocked as well. She was completely trapped!

Luster cringed as the creatures neared her with hungry mouths made of wood filled with sharp teeth.

“Luster!” a familiar voice said.

Starlight Glimmer appeared on a nearby hill, gazing down at the Timberwolves surrounding her daughter. She teleported directly by Luster’s side and sent out a wave of magic energy that blew all of them to pieces.

Relief and admiration for her mother filled Luster.

“Mom! You’re so amaz-

Luster broke off. Suddenly the twigs that had fallen to the ground from the wolves were now beginning to reassemble themselves.

“Luster, come on!” Starlight shouted as she levitated her daughter onto her back and took off in a gallop as the body parts came together.

Luster held onto her mother’s neck as Starlight sprinted through the forest in a direction Luster hoped would lead back home. She looked over her shoulder and saw the timberwolves fully recovered and coming after them. They were coming fast, their long wooden legs covering more ground than Starlight’s shorter ones.

“Come on mom, we got to get away!” Luster screamed.

Starlight nodded, she closed her eyes and gathered magic to her horn to cast a spell. Luster hoped it was teleportation. Unfortunately before Starlight could perform the spell, she tripped. A rock that she was unable to see while focusing and still running caught her hoof and she fell over. Luster slid off her mother’s back and fell a few feet away. The Timberwolves were descending upon them. One placed its paw on Starlight and breathed into her face which mixed with an expression of disgust and fear. Luster could also smell the stink, it was so terrible! A growl sounded above her as she looked up and saw another Timberwolf

Luster closed her eyes, not wanting to watch. There was a sound. Not the crunch of teeth sinking into flesh. A snap, like the sound of magic. Luster opened her eyes slightly, saw the Timberwolf look in another direction. Luster looked as well and saw her father and Aunt Trixie coming.

“Teeth away from my wife and daughter!” Sunburst growled.

“And keep away from my goddaughter!” Trixie said as she fired another magic beam at the Timberwolf near Luster.

Starlight rose to her hooves, she, Sunburst and Trixie all sent out spells at the Timberwolves. They were reduced again to rubble which began to reassemble themselves again. Luster gave a frightful expression, if they kept regenerating she and her family couldn’t beat them. She hid behind them, hoping for the best. The Timberwolves reassembled, but instead of attacking they looked at the three ponies and filly with what looked a scared expression on their wooden faces. Luster couldn’t see her parents expressions but could imagine them being fierce. The wolves retreated back the way they came, seemingly afraid of the three unicorns.

Starlight took a deep breath and looked at her daughter. “Oh Luster!” she said as tears appeared in her eyes and she wrapped her forelegs around Luster. “I was so worried about you!”

“I’m sorry momma,” Luster said.

“What were you thinking running off like that!” Starlight demanded.

“I just… wanted to be like you and Aunt Trixie,” Luster said. “Like a hero.”

“Luster. Being a hero doesn’t mean you go looking for trouble,” Starlight said. “You could have been eaten. I’ve told you to stay away from the Everfree forest.”

“It was my fault,” Trixie said. “I told her that story and it made her do this. Starlight, I wouldn’t blame you if wanted to disown me as Godmare.”

Starlight shook her head. “This was Luster’s doing, not yours Trixie. You had no way of knowing she would run off like this. But if you hadn’t come along and saved Luster just now I might feel differently. Just make sure you watch her when you put her to a nap from now on.”

“I will,” Trixie promised. “No more sleeping on the job.”

“Hey, Starlight. I’m sorry about earlier. Maybe I wasn’t thinking about Luster’s safety as much as I should have,” Sunburst said.

Starlight sighed. “I’m sorry too. It’s a parent’s role to protect their child, but I do want Luster to succeed as well. But… we won’t always be here protect her. She needs to do that herself someday if its needed. Today was a good example of that. Besides, if there is one pony I know can guide her on the right path… its Twilight.”

“So you think it would be best for her to go after all?” Sunburst asked eagerly.

Starlight nodded. “We got lucky today, like we always seem to. No one loses their lives. But who knows how long until that luck runs out?”

Far to the north, on the outskirts of the Crystal Empire, luck was about to run out for another family. Shining Armor, Cadence, and Flurry Heart were running for their lives. Behind them thundered an enormous beast resembling a red rhinocerous.

“I crush you! I crush you ponies!” the creature said.

He was gaining on them, Shining Armor knew they weren’t going to make it… unless.

He closed his eyes, knowing what he had to do.

“Cadence, Flurry, fly!” he said. “I’ll catch up!”

But he knew he wouldn’t as he turned to face the Rhinocerous.

“Shining no! Flurry you fly, I have to help your daddy!” Cadance said.

The preteen natural born alicorn flapped her large wings and took off toward the city where her parents ruled.

“Cadance! You keep going! Let me deal with this! It’s my job to protect you and her!”

“No! I’m not leaving you!” Cadance snapped as she flew at the rhino with charged magic.

The thick hide of the red rhino was strong. Cadance’s magic caused it no harm, it didn’t even slow it down. He laughed.

“What is that supposed to do, hurt me?”

Shining Armor growled and shot his own beam. It hit the rhino’s skin and caused no damage at first, but he maintained it. The skin was thick, but after a moment of being hit even the rhino began to feel the burn.

“Arrgh!”

He turned to Shining Armor who kept his focus on the beam. The rhino charged the stallion, Shining held his ground, aiming his beam at one of his foe’s legs. If he could burn one of those enough it might give him and Cadance a change to escape.

“I trample you pony!”

Shining Armor’s magic suddenly failed. He’d used up all he could in one beam. The rhino came upon him, he felt the strength of its weight land on him. Then it was over.

Cadence’s eyes filled with tears as she saw her husband’s body fly.

“Shining!” she screamed. “No!”

The Princess of Love flew to her stallions side. She took him in her hooves and put her head to his chest hoping for a heartbeat. There was none.

“Shining no! Please don’t leave me!” she cried.

“Oh don’t worry, you’ll be with him soon enough,” The rhino said.

He charged again.

I hated killing Shining Armor and Cadence off, but it was the only reason I could think of that Flurry Heart would be ruling the Crystal Empire as it seemed to be portrayed on the stain glass window in The Last Problem. Doesn't seem like they'd retire when Flurry comes of age from my standpoint, though who knows? And yes, the red rhino is the thing the Young Six were shown defeating in their stain glass window. I'm thinking of having that shown next chapter, we'll see.

As always, feedback is appreciated.

The weeks rolled by until it was time for Starlight and Sunburst to take their daughter to Canterlot. They headed from the Castle of Friendship to the Ponyville Train Station. Luster looked nervous as she followed her parents, this was the beginning of a new chapter in her life. One where she would have a chance to measure up to her parents potential and be recognized. This was her chance to shine like her mother had, be a bright rising star… or sun since she had the name dawn.

Starlight noticed her daughter’s worried expression and leaned down to nuzzle her.

“You’re going to do fine Luster,” she said.

‘”But what if I fail? What if I don’t get in?” Luster asked.

Starlight smiled. “Then I won’t love you any less, and neither will your father. Right Sunburst?”

Her husband nodded. “Of course, I’ll still love you Luster. That will never change.”

Luster smiled as they continued to walk with her parents looking down at her. Then-

Thump!

Starlight crashed into somecreature.

“Oh I’m sorry I-

Starlight stopped as she saw she’d bumped into a blue griffin. A blue griffin that she knew very well, for she had taught that griffin at the school.

“Gallus!”

“Oh, Headmare Glimmer. Vice Head Stallion Sunburst.” The griffin said.

“What are you doing here? Taking the training someplace?” Sunburst asked.

“No! I figured I would just fly to Canterlot,” Galus joked. “But trains are quicker.”

“You’re going to Canterlot?” Starlight asked. “Us as well!”

“Oh cool!” Gallus said, he then noticed Luster hiding behind Starlight. “This must be your daughter.”

“Oh yes,” Starlight said. “Luster, meet Gallus. He was a student at the school of Friendship.”

“Hello,” Luster said shyly.

They all boarded the train.

“So why are you going to Canterlot Gallus?” Starlight asked.

“I want to become a royal guard,” the griffin said.

“A royal guard?” Sunburst repeated.

“Yeah, I figured it would be cool to wear armor and help save Equestria more when it needs it.”

“Are the others planning to become guards as well?” Starlight asked. She hadn’t seen Gallus’s group of friends since summer had began, all of them had officially graduated from the school of friendship and then returned home to their own lands.

“No, I don’t know what they plan on doing,” Gallus said.

The train ride to Canterlot was pleasant for Starlight and Sunburst. But Luster’s stomach still seemed uneasy. When they got off the train, they walked up to the school of magic where Twilight would be present for the entrance exam. They entered a class room with a small table occupied by a panel of judges.

“It’s okay Luster. Whatever their task is you don’t need to fully succeed in it,” Sunburst said, putting a hoof on her shoulder. “You just need to demonstrate a good amount of magic power. That’s all they’re looking for.”

Luster took a deep breath. She wanted with all her being to make her father and mother proud. Her two great parents who were so gifted at magic. Her mother could fly with it like no pony else she’d seen, and her father knew more about its theory than any other pony. She was going to be just like them, and it would take a lot of work.

She looked at the examiners. “What do I have to do?”

“First the princess must arrive with the item,” one of them said.

Moments later, Twilight Sparkle entered the room.

“Starlight! Sunburst! So good to see you both!” she said.

Starlight hugged her. “I’m sorry I had to stop attending Friendship Council meetings. Running your school of friendship is a very busy job.”

“I know, and being a parent is tough too. Pinkie Pie’s going to be one soon. Well Discord’s started coming to them now since he and Fluttershy are married,” Twilight said.

She hugged Sunburst and then noticed Gallus.

“Oh hello Gallus!”

“Your majesty,” Gallus said with a bow.

“I wasn’t expecting you to be here with them,” Twilight stated with a giggle.

“Well… I came to speak with you about something,” Gallus said.

“I see. Well… can it please wait until after the entrance exam?” Twilight asked.

“Oh course,” Gallus replied respectfully.

The princess turned to Luster. The young filly had heard much of her mother’s former mentor though this was the first time she could remember meeting her. Princess Twilight was so beautiful, easily the largest pony Luster had ever seen. Her mane shined as though it had stars in it and flowed like running water or wind was being blown through it. Yet there was no breeze in the room.

“Hello Luster Dawn,” Twilight said with a smile. “I remember when you were born. That was one of the last times I got to see your parents. It’s good to meet you again.”

Luster bowed and nervously said “T-thank you. Y-your majesty. So… what is my test?”

The princess levitated an object from out of her saddlebag. It was an amulet, one side showing rays of sunshine and the other a crescent moon.

“This amulet allows other ponies besides myself to raise the sun and moon,” Princess Twilight explained. “Charge up as much magic as you can, and see how far you can get the sun to go.”

Luster concentrated. She dug deep into her body, focusing with all her might on one thing. Her parents, the two ponies she looked up to who knew so much about magic. Even her Aunt Trixie was good at it, using to entertain ponies and other creatures when not working at the school. She was going to be like them, make them proud. She would put everything she had into it.

Luster unleashed more magic from her horn than ever before. Her beam hit the amulet and suddenly the window outside which showed a bright day was suddenly dark for a moment. When Luster’s magic faded she looked and saw the sun was lower than it should have been. It was as though dawn had just come.

“Um… did I do… well?” Luster asked.

There was silence, then Princess Twilight spoke. “You did marvelous! I’ve never seen a unicorn with such raw power! And you did it without the aid of a Sonic Rainboom like I did!”

Luster didn’t understand the last bit. “Huh?”

“You could be the one!” Twilight said.

“Huh? The one what?”

“The one… to be my personal protégé!” Twilight said with a smile.

Starlight and Sunburst beamed.

“Yes she’s in!” Sunburst exclaimed.

“Guess my daughter is my mentors new top student,” Starlight said.

“Are you proud of me?” Luster asked.

“Very proud!” Starlight and Sunburst said as they hugged her.

Luster gave an enormous grin, happy that her parents were so proud of her, that she now had a chance to achieve great things like they did.

“Well, I will see you back here very soon, Luster.” Twilight said.

Starlight suddenly came forward. “Twilight, promise me you will take good care of her while she’s here.”

“Oh, of course Starlight. I know its probably going to be hard knowing you’ll be so far apart,” Twilight said.

“Yes. And I wouldn’t trust anypony else to teach her and keep her on the right path,” Starlight said with a smile before turning to a serious expression. “But if anything bad happens to her, your majesty, no amount of alicorn magic will save you from my wrath!”

Twilight shuddered slightly, remembering their battle years ago where Starlight had defeated her countless times and sent her back in time to terrible alternate timelines.

“Starlight, dear. You can’t threaten the princess!” Sunburst said.

“Its fine Sunburst. A mother is protective after all,” Twilight said before turning to Gallus. “Now, you had something you wanted to speak to me about Gallus?”

The griffon nodded. “I would like to become a member of your Royal Guard Princess.”

This surprised Twilight. “Oh. Well… that’s a first. I don’t believe we’ve ever had a griffon as a member of the royal guard.”

“There’s no rule against it is there?” Gallus asked.

“Not that I know of. Perhaps I should check with my brother Shining Armor, he’d probably know as a former captain.”

Suddenly the classroom door opened and Spike entered the room with Twilight Velvet, Night Light, Flash Sentry, and
Flurry Heart. All of them were teary eyed.

“Mom, Dad, Flurry?” Twilight questioned looking at her niece in particular. “What are you doing here?"

Flurry only looked at her Aunt with watery eyes while her grandparents embraced her.

Flash Sentry sighed. “I bring terrible news to you, Princess Twilight. Your brother and sister in law, Prince Shining Armor and Princess Cadence…. are dead.”

What sort of things will happen? How will Twilight react to losing her brother and sister in law?

I'm not too familiar with Gallus's character, though I looked him up on the FIM wiki and it said he was sarcastic so I tried to show a bit of that. Maybe need more? Any suggestions to keep the character right are appreciated.

Twilight couldn’t believe it. Her brother and sister in law… dead!

“No! No! It can’t be!” Twilight wailed, crying tears for the first time since Celestia and Luna’s funeral.

Starlight and Sunburst both put their hooves to their mouths at the news. Gallus’s eagerness at the prospect of becoming a royal guard was replaced with sadness as he watched his former headmare burst into tears. Little Luster like was saddened to hear that someone had died, and it struck her in the heart to see the beautiful princess cry with the other ponies.

“Twilight,” Starlight said in concern, walking up to her former mentor as the ruler of Equestria let out sobs like a filly Luster’s age. She put her hooves around Twilight who sank, bringing Starlight down under her weight.

Twilight’s family gathered around her, Flurry Heart had already cried most of her tears out but they came anew at seeing her aunt sad as well. She hugged Twilight’s neck while Velvet and Night Light also came in and joined. Sunburst, with a heavy heart, used his magic to pull Starlight out of the pile of sad ponies. They had come to Canterlot with high hopes that were fulfilled. Luster had gotten her cutie mark and was also being accepted into the school of magic. She would become Twilight’s personal student. This day would have been just perfect… if not for such tragic news.

“I’m sorry Twilight,” Starlight said.

Twilight sang a sad song that she had sung once before, only this time it was true. “He was my Big Brother Best Friend… Forever. And now we’ll never do anything… together.”

Starlight and Sunburst eventually left with Luster to take the train back to Ponyville. Gallus remained in Canterlot, waiting to let Twilight mourn before she gave an answer about his question. He checked into a hotel near the castle where she could find him.

Twilight sat in her room with Spike as well as Flurry Heart as they wallowed in sadness. Flurry Heart lay nuzzled against Twilight’s side. She’d finally managed to get to sleep, her face still wet from the tears. Twilight looked at her orphaned niece sadly as the light of the moon which had once belonged to Luna shined through the window. With Shining Armor and Cadence gone, it would be up to her as well as her parents and Spike to raise Flurry Heart.

Sleep did not come for Twilight that night. Her mind was going through all the memories she’d had with her brother as well as Cadence. Those sibling supreme competitions where they would have a rivalry to find out who could do things better than the other, him teaching her to fly a kite, giving her ponyback rides, encouraging her to do her best as she first tried using her magic. Cadence pushing her on the swing, telling her she was special.

Twilight waited until her clocked hit seven am before raising the sun. Light shined into the room, but it brought no joy to Twilight. She looked down at her niece.

“Flurry, wake up sweetie,” she said in a soft but strained voice.

The preteen Alicorn opened her blue eyes.

“Aunty Twilie!” she exclaimed, holding her hooves out.

Twilight picked up her niece and softly patted her back.

“I want mommy and daddy back!” Flurry wailed.

Twilight cringed. “They aren’t coming back Flurry!” she choked out. “Nothing can-

Twilight broke off. There might be a way!

“Spike!” she prodded her adoptive brother who had fallen asleep on the sofa next to her bed. The dragon woke up.

“Twilight? Everything okay? Please tell me that Shining Armor and Cadence are alive and that it was just a bad dream,” he said.

Twilight shook her head. “Its real, but I’ve just thought of something. Send a letter to Discord.”

After a minute of writing the hardest letter he could remember, Spike blew it. They waited, expecting Discord to pop up out of thin air like he usually did. It took a while, but he did appear… and he wasn’t alone. From a loud pop that occurred emerged not only the Spirit of Chaos but all of Twilight’s Ponyville friends as well.

“Twilight! Darling! Discord told us about you sent a letter saying Shining Armor and Cadence are-

They all noticed Flurry Heart still sitting on the bed silently with a glum expression. That answered Rarity’s question.

“Oh dear,” Fluttershy said. “Are you all okay?”

Twilight shook her head. “It hurts so much. I thought I’d lost my brother once… you know, back at the wedding?”

They all looked down as they recalled that awful moment where Shining Armor had kicked Twilight out of the wedding when she accused Queen Chrysalis who had been posing as Cadence of being evil. That was one of the guiltiest moments of their lives when they had been so self-centered and focused on their task for an important event rather than Twilights feelings. Much like they’d done at the time of Twilight’s coronation as the new rulers. They couldn’t afford to let Twilight down now.

“We’re here for you Sugarcube. Whatever you need, we’ll do it.”

“Yeah, lets go and find the creature that did this and make it pay!” Rainbow Dash suggested.

Discord put a hand over the pegusas’s mouth. “You want me to hunt down this creature I presume, Twilight? I still owe you an endless series of favors for that genious plan of mine in uniting three villains against you. That’s why you called me I presume?”

Twilight shook her head. “No Discord, but I do have a favor to ask that will make me completely forget about that whole incident I think.”

“Name it!” Discord said.

Twilight sighed. “I would like you to… resurrect Shining Armor and Cadence.”

Everyone gasped. Discord looked stunned.

“You want me to… bring your beloved brother… or as I recall you refer to him… your BBBFF… and his wife… from the dead?” Discord asked. In any other instance he would have used a teasing tone on her, but instead he looked sad.

“You brought back Sombra? Can’t you do the same with them?” Twilight asked.

"I can try," Discord said.

He conjured up a stick and drew a symbol in the floor just as he had done to resurrect Sombra while posing as Grogar. But instead of growing something like a dark crystal, the symbol merely vanished. Discord tried again, but the same result happened. He shook his head.

“I’m sorry, I can’t bring them back.” He said, bowing his head.

“What?” Twilight exclaimed. “Why not?”

Discord sighed. “Even I can’t do whatever I want all the time. I'm a spirit of chaos, my ability to control life and death is limited. I was able to bring back Sombra because he wanted to come back. He was not at peace, he wanted to rule over his empire still and acquire more power. But Shining Armor and Cadence are both at peace already. They don’t want to come back.”

“But- how can they be at peace already?” Rarity exclaimed. “They have so much left to live for! They have a daughter to raise still!”

“Yeah, they can still live through a lot of fun!” Pinkie said.

“Well, let us ask them. I can at least get their spirits here for a short time,” Discord snapped his fingers.

Two white figures appeared in the room with everypony else. Shining Armor and Cadence looked at them with smiles.

“Hey, everypony.” Shining Armor said.

“Mommy! Daddy!” Flurry squealed and flew off the bed, only to pass through her parents when she tried to hug them.

Twilight approached them. “Why don’t you two want to come back?”

Cadence gave a smile. “We’re not gone Twilight, not fully. You may not be able to see us except for instances like this… but that doesn’t mean we aren’t with you. We’re still able to watch you and all the others. And we can rest peacefully, because we know that Flurry Heart is in good hooves. Just promise me that you will take good care of her.”

Twilight looked at her niece and picked her up with her magic, bringing her closer so that she could hold Flurry in her hooves.

“I promise. I’ll look after her,” Twilight said. “You can trust me.”

They both began to fade.

Shining Armor said one last thing to his sister. “Death is a part of life Twily. We all have to accept that it happens someday. Some might live longer than others, but no one does forever. A soldiers life is filled with danger, it has been for all of us in these times of danger. We were lucky to have all lasted this long and not lose anypony else until now. I love you sis. I’ll always be your BBBFF, and I’ll always be in your heart until your time comes. We will meet again.”

They both vanished.

“Yes… we will,” Twilight sniffled. “Someday, but not until I do what I need to for the good of Equestria,” Twilight said. “We will be together again in the next life, Shining… Cadence. I love you both and I swear I’ll take care of Flurry!”

She took her niece in her hooves as they both cried in the direction where the spirits of their family had been. Her friends gathered around her and formed a comforting group hug.

“We’re here for you, Sugarcube.”

“I wish I could make you smile, Twilight. But even I can’t smile knowing somepony is gone,” Pinkie said. “Death is never a happy thing.”

“But it happens to all of us,” Twilight said.

“Except for me!” Discord said, being the only one of them smiling. “Celestia and Luna lasted a long time, but I can never age!”

“Lucky you!” Rarity pouted. “To never grow old, gray and wrinkly like I will someday!”

“Yes, I am quite the handsome Draconeques. Aren’t I Fluttershy?” he asked his wife.

The element of kindness spoke without a smile. “Yes you are my dear lord of chaos.”

“So… what are we going to do now?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“What do you mean?” Twilight asked, still looking at the spot where the spirits had been.

“We gotta save Equestria again! There’s something out there that just KILLED two ponies and we need to stop it before somepony else gets hurt. Don’t you wanna make that thing pay Twilight?” Rainbow Dash asked.

Twilight was very tempted to say "Yes"… to hunt down whatever had claimed the lives of her loved ones. But… she looked down at her niece.

“I can’t…” Twilight said. “As much as I want revenge… I have to put my kingdom… and my families needs… before my own desires.”

Just like my immortality. She thought silently. If not for the necessity of having the power to control the sun and moon to maintain balance in Equestria she would have rid herself of this accursed thing long ago. But she had to hang onto it… until there was somepony worthy to wield it in her stead.

“If something happens to me, Equestria will be without leadership. I need to be here for my subjects as well as Flurry Heart… to teach her to be a good ruler for the Crystal Empire when she comes of age,” Twilight said, stroking Flurry’s mane as the filly sobbed against her foreleg.

“So… what are we going to do about the murdering some creature out there?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“You want me to hunt it down?” Discord asked again.

Twilight shook her head. “I’ve got somepony else in mind. Or perhaps I should say some Griffon?”

Chapter 5 Gallus’s Mission

With her friends in tow, Twilight headed to the hotel where Gallus was staying. She walked inside and was lucky to find the griffon in the Dining Hall.

“Good morning Gallus!” Twilight said with a smile as she approached his table.

Gallus looked up from his bowl, which was full of cooked worms (as Griffins were birds they sometimes ate insects as well as plants and animals). Twilight managed to prevent herself from forming a disgusted face. Though she heard Rarity make a small moan behind her.

“Oh… Professor Sparkle! Your highness!” Gallus said bowing in his seat. He then noticed Twilight’s friends. “All my former teachers!”

“Good to see ya Gallus!” Applejack said.

“Tis indeed!” Rarity said, managing a nervous smile while keeping her eyes off the food.

“Very wonderful!” Fluttershy said.

“Haven’t seen ya since the graduation party! That was-“

“Two months ago,” Gallus told Pinkie.

“And twenty two days!” Pinkie recalled.

“Hey!” Rainbow Dash said waving a hoof.

“So…” Gallus looked at Twilight. “Are you… doing okay?”

Twilight sighed, looking at the ground. “It hurts a lot to lose a family member. Shining Armor and Cadence were the first friends I ever had.”

“Are you going to go after the thing that killed them?” Gallus asked.

Twilight shook her head. “Now that I’m ruler of Equestria, I have to rule and have others fight for my kingdom… like Celestia did. Which is why I’m here… Gallus. I want you to go after the thing that killed my brother and sister in law.”

“Me?” Gallus said.

“Consider it part of your initiation into the royal guard,” Twilight said. “I’ll be supplying you with a few soldiers to
protect you.”

Rainbow Dash scoffed. “Those royal guards never seem to really get a job done. When have they ever saved Equestria? We were always the ones doing that, kind of makes having an army look useless.”

“Well… perhaps that’s another reason Gallus should join the guard. So he can share the magic of friendship with them,” Twilight suggested. “Then perhaps they wouldn’t be so useless.”

“Great! Maybe one day I’ll be Captain!” Gallus said. “I’ll bring you that things head!”

“That won’t be necessary,” Twilight said. “It will be enough to know that my subjects are safe. Trap the thing in Tartarus, turn it to stone, whatever must be done. But I do have a suggestion. You should do this mission with your friends from the school.”

“Really? You want me to get the gang back together?” Gallus said.

Twilight nodded, her strength wavering as she felt the weight in her heart intensify. “I have faith in friendship more than anything. You all helped unite the races of Equestria against the Legion of Doom and you will need your friends to defend Equestria as I need mine.”

The other five ponies gathered around her as she bowed her head.

“We’re here for you, Twilight. Always,” Fluttershy said.

“Yes Darling, you need time to mourn for your loss,” Rarity said. “We shall deal with ruling the kingdom for a couple days as the Council of Friendship. Just tell us what you need.”

“Thanks girls. I have to get everything ready for the first day at the school of magic and paper work. But… Flurry needs me… and I honestly don’t feel like I’ll be able to do anything right now.”

“You can leave that to us!” Rainbow Dash said. “You just collect your thoughts.”

Sighing, she choked out. “Spike, send a letter to each of Gallus’s friends in their lands. We need Equestria’s next generation of protectors on the job.”

Spike wrote the letters with a heavy heart and blew out. They then returned to the Castle, leaving Gallus to wait for his friends to arrive for their mission.

Across Equestria, the letters began popping up in the homes of the other members of the no quite so young anymore Six. Occellus the changeling, Smolder the dragon, Sandbar the Earth Pony, Silverstream the Hippogriffin, and Yona the Yak. All of them received the letter informing them were needed to help save Equestria alongside Gallus, and they flew or took the train to Canterlot immediately.

When the (not so ) Young six were all gathered in front of the hotel, Gallus spoke to them.

“Hey guys.”

Under normal circumstances, this reunion would have been a happy one.

“Is it true that Princess Twilight’s brother is…” Ocellus started.

Gallus nodded.

“Oh no!” Ocellus said.

“Well, that’s why we’re here!” Smolder said, banging her fists together. “Lets find the thing that did this and make it pay! In the name of Princess Twilight Sparkle!”

“Yak not afraid of fight!” Yona said. “Yona big now!”

“Yeah, you certainly are. But still just as cute,” Sandbar said.

This caused the young yak to giggle. She and Sandbar had become Coltfriend and Yakfriend a few years ago at the School of Friendship.

“Okay lovebirds! Or lovecreatures! This is no time for jokes and flirting!” Gallus said. “The Princess gave us a mission! We have to find the evil creature and stop it before it hurts some creature else. We need to head to the artics of the Crystal Empire and find this thing.”

They all nodded. With that, the newest generation of Equestria’s heroes headed back to the train station where a mixed group of Crystal Empire and Canterlot royal guards awaited them. Among their ranks was Lieutenant Flash Sentry.

“Ah there you are!” Flash said as they approached.

One of the Crystal Empire guards, a brown earth pony with an eye patch and sword on his back looked at the creatures sternly.

“Are we really bringing them along? They’re only teenagers? What if they get hurt?”

“They helped saved Equestria once before, Starcutter.”

“Twice actually!” Smolder corrected. “If you count us bringing all the races together for the battle against the Legion of Doom. If we hadn’t done that Princess Twilight and her friends would have- you know.”

Starcutter shrugged. “Well, if you say so. That was fortunate you did that. I will trust Princess Twilight’s decision… but I think the Royal Guard needs to become more active in protecting Equestria.”

“I’ll be joining you guys soon. Princess Twilight said it would be good to have the magic of Friendship in the guard,” Gallus said.

“Well… we shall see.” Starcutter said. “Best be off.”

They got on the train for their mission, which sped off.

Even though this story is supposed to be more focused on Luster I figured it would be good to have some stuff with the Young Six. She’ll be back in a couple chapters most likely after the rhino is defeated.

Star Cutter and Flash led the Young Six to the spot where a group of Crystal Ponies had found the bodies of Shining Armor and Cadence. The royal couple were now in coffins ready to be given a proper funeral sometime later. The area showed signs of damage, there were overturned trees from the path the rhino creature had torn up.

“There has to be something to tell us which way this monster went,” Star Cutter said. “Lets look around.”

The guards and Young Six fanned out. Gallus, along with Ocellus, Smolder, and Silverstream took to the air to see if they could spot anything. Gallus turned in the direction of the artic mountain overlooking the empire. Then an idea occurred to him.

“That rhino wouldn’t be stupid enough to go to a place where he would leave tracks would he?” Gallus wondered aloud.

He flew in that direction, flying low over the now. Sure enough, he found what he was looking for. A path of humongous foot prints that were unmistakably that of a rhinos.

“Aha!” Gallus said, turning his front talons to fists in his excitement. “This hawk has spotted the trail of his prey!”

He flew back in the direction he’d come, quickly spotting his fellow flyers in the air along with Flash and other Pegasus members of the royal guard.

“Guys! I found some rhino footprints in the snow over there!” Gallus called out.

“Good work kid!” Flash said with a grin.

They regrouped on the ground with Starcutter, Yona, Sandbar, and the walking guards.

“Captain Star Cutter! Gallus found a trail of footprints in the snow!” Flash said.

Star Cutter looked at the griffin. “You sure they were rhino footprints?”

“No doubt about it!” Gallus told him. “Come on and see!”

They set off on foot. It took them over ten minutes to walk to the spot where Gallus had found the prints.

“Hmm…” Star Cutter inspected the footprints, stepping inside. “Definitely the tracks of something very large. Good work griffin. Now, lets see if these tracks can lead us to our target.”

The guards lead the Young Six up the mountain path. As they continued climbing, Ocellus began to shiver.

“Its so cold,” she said.

“What are you talking about? I’m not cold!” Smolder retorted.

“Neither am I!” Gallus said.

“Nor I!” Silverstream said enthusiastically.

“Well, I don’t have fire in my body or fur like the rest of you!” Ocellus said. “Oh wait!”

She transformed into a copy of Harry, Fluttershy’s bear.

“Much better,” she said.

They continued to follow the tracks up the mountain to a cave.

Star Cutter drew his sword, then looked at one of the unicorn guards. He pointed with his hoof to the entrance. In response to his silent command, the unicorn guard lit up his horn with magic and lead the way into the cave. Star Cutter and Flash followed, with Gallus and his friends in tow.

“This was a good find, Griffin. You might make a good recruit. But for now, I want you to stay back and let us handle this,” Star Cutter said.

“Uh, sure…” Gallus said.

“I certainly don’t mind that,” Ocellus said.

The sword pony looked at her. “Actually you could be really useful up front changeling.”

“Me?” Ocellus questioned.

Star Cutter nodded. “We ponies can’t hope to match the strength of such a large creature, but you could if you transform into a copy of it.”

“Oh, um… okay.” Ocellus said.

She moved up in front of Gallus. They walked through the cave, guided by the light on the lead unicorn guard’s horn. They made it to the interior of the of the cave which turned into a large open spaced cavern. The right from the horn was not bright enough to penetrate this amount of darkness.

“Ooh, its spooky,” Silverstream commented. “I like spooky!”

This caused the other members of (not quite so) Young Six to laugh. Flash Sentry and some of the other guards cracked smiles. Silverstream was like their element of laughter among the younger protectors of Equestria, bringing cheer when things looked darkest.

Star Cutter hadn’t smiled, but said, “Stay close. I don’t want you kids to get hurt.”

“We’re not kids!” Smolder retorted. “And we’ve done more than you guards ever have! For someponies who are supposed to be an army, you never really do much. The only time you ever did anything was when Cozy Glow took over the school and you blocked her off!”

“Well its high time we change that. No more relying on kids to save the day and take all the glory. Not that I care about that,” Star Cutter snapped.

“You didn’t become a guard for glory?” Smolder asked.

“Of course not. Glory is the prize of selfish warriors who only care about themselves. I fight to protect my kingdom and its ponies. That is my purpose in life.”

“Um… Captain, I think we might want to be quiet for a while,” Flash said in a whisper.

“Yes, you’re right lieutenant. We don’t want our enemy to know we are-

Then suddenly something gold shined in the back, illuminating the cave. The walls lit up with markings as well, markings showing what looked like stars or planets.

“So intruders come to my cave huh? Well I smash you just like I did other ponies! Gaze upon me, for I am Rhynor, and I will ram you!”

Rhynor stomped the ground, scraping dirt back behind it. Ocellus shivered at the sight of it.

“Come on changeling! Change!” Star Cutter ordered.

Ocellus merely trembled at the sigh. She had to transform herself into such a monstrous creature that had actually taken a life? No, she couldn’t do it. It would be like turning into Chrysalis when the tree of harmony had tested her.

“I can’t!” she stammered.

“What?”

“Didn’t you say you wanted guards to handle things without the aid of kids?” Smolder pointed out.

“No time to argue!” Star Cutter snapped.

He took a step forward, gazing at Rhynor with fierce eyes devoid of any fear despite of the huge difference in size.
Rhynor laughed. “You think you can hurt me with puny pony blade? My hide thick! It break your sword!”

“You’ll pay for what you did to the Prince and Princess!” Star Cutter said as he charged forward.
Rhynor stomped the ground hard, creating a tremor that caused all of the smaller creatures to lose their footing. Star Cutter fell down, but managed to keep hold of his blade.

“All Pegasi and winged creatures into the air!” Flash Sentry commanded. “He can’t knock us down if we’re airborne!”
Gallus, Silverstream, and the others flapped their wings. Gallus managed to lift Sandbar up, while Smolder and Occellus struggled to lift Yona. The young Yak was heavier than she had been during their early days at the school of friendship.
They could barely get her off the ground! Noticing this, Rhynor charged at them, ready to trample them like he had his previous victims.

“Arrgh!” Yona screamed. “Yona scared!”

Star Cutter came to the rescue. He attacked Rhynor from the side, plunging his blade into the Rhinos thick red skin. The blade was too small to do any really damage against such a large opponent, but it did cause Rhynor to bellow out in pain and miss the group as he stepped off to the side. Starcutter held onto his sword as Rhynor flailed, eventually managing to throw the brown earth pony off. He then slid his body against a wall and got the sword out. His wound, bleeding a bit, suddenly closed.

“That’s not good!” Gallus said as he noticed this.

“Attack!” Flash Sentry ordered.

The Pegasus guards threw their javelins at Rhynor. This time the rhino jumped, creating a shock wave that caused the projectiles to rebound and nearly hit their own throwers. It also caused the pegasi and other flyers to drop from the sky. Gallus and Sandbar hit the ground with a thud.

Gallus grunted as he looked up and saw Rhynor stepping toward Star Cutter, who lay on the ground apparent knocked out. The rhino raised an enormous foot to finish the swordpony off.

“Hey!” Gallus shouted.

The rhino gave no indication of hearing him. But he lowered his foot nonetheless. Gallus growled, he hated being ignored.

“Leave that swordpony alone!” he yelled.

Rhynor looked at him now.

“Oh a little birdy! How cute!”

Galus got to his feet and talons.

“You going to try and take me down too?” Rhynor asked.

“I won’t try, I will!”

“Oh, are you going to use a sword like that pony did? Or spears like those others did?” Rhynor taunted.

“No,” Gallus stated as he looked around. “I’m going to use something much more powerful than a sword or spear!”

His friends were getting back onto their feet. Hearing his words they nodded and came to stand by him. The six of them began to glow and rise up into the air, Rhynor covered his eyes against the bright light.

“The magic of friendship!” Gallus said. “Taught to me by the mare whose brother and sister in law you killed!”

The not so Young Six all unleashed a powerful rainbow blast upon their enemy.

“Arrgh!” Rhynor screamed. “This can’t be- Ma-“

His words were drowned out as he was destroyed.

The royal guards got to their hooves slowly. Star Cutter regained consciousness.

“What happened?”

“These kids just did what we couldn’t, again.” Flash stated.

Star Cutter looked at Gallus and his friends, before offering a small smile.

“Well done, kids. You might make a good guard after all Gallus. But still, I’m going to try and make it so we don’t have to rely on kids to save the day all the time.”

“Well, with the magic of friendship here to lighten things up you might have a better chance,” Gallus said, smirking.

“Right, well… you best get back to Canterlot recruit. Tell the princess her family has been avenged.”

“I will,” Gallus promised.

With their enemy defeated, the Young Six exited the cave. Flash and the other guards began to follow. Flash looked over his shoulder and noticed that Star Cutter was not walking behind them.

“You go on. I want to take a look in this cave to make there’s nothing else here,” Star Cutter said as he picked up his sword.

Flash nodded and gave a salute.

Star Cutter traveled to the back of the cave. Coming to a smaller that was too small for the rhino to have gone through. But there was someone there. Someone who wore a cloak to cover his body.

Star Cutter approached the figure whose back was turned to him. He then sank into a bow.

“Master.”

The figure turned and removed his hood, revealing the face of a blue goat with red eyes.

“So, they managed to defeat my first new monster?” Grogar said.

“Yes,” Star Cutter stated. “And it only took a few kids to do so. We guards are so pathetic.”

“Yes. Very pathetic, though you have some fight in you I know.”

Grogar’s eyes glowed a brighter red as he looked into the captains eyes.

“Return to your station. I will have further use for your sword later. Though it will take much more time.”

So now Grogar has entered the picture, and he has Star Cutter under his control as a pawn. What will happen next? This can only mean trouble for Twilight and her friends as well as family along the way.

If anyone has suggestions for using the right personalities for the young six please share them. I'm not entirely familiar with them though I know Gallus and Smolder are a bit cocky and competitive if I recall.

I'm thinking of changing the making some future changes to the original version of Passing On Together. If I do that, I will likely keep the first chapter the same. But don't worry, I will keep the ending as well. But somethings will change, I'll keep the orginal version separate for now, but will likely rewrite certain events. Now I won't spoil anything yet. Just wait and see.

The name for Rhynor was suggested by Knight N Gale.

Back in Canterlot, Twilight awoke in her room with Flurry Heart. The larger alicorn had her niece under her wing. She lifted it and saw Flurry sleeping soundly. Twilight let Flurry sleep for a while then raised the sun with a glow of her horn. She then nuzzled Flurry’s head.

“Come on Flurry, time to get up.”

Flurry opened her eyes and looked around eagerly, as though hoping to see that the recent events were little more than a nightmare. But as she looked up and saw her aunt standing over her rather than her mother Cadence it was clear that this was real. Flurry looked down at the bed, her expression and stance the same as a time when Twilight had been angry and scared her when she was still an infant.

“Auntie Twilie!” Flurry screamed.

“I’m here Flurry,” Twilight said, nuzzling her as Flurry began to sob again. “Come on. Lets go to the dining room for a bite.”

Twilight pulled herself to her hooves, picking up Flurry with her magic. She carried her niece down on her back. They went to the fancy dining room of the castle where Twilight made them pancakes. But instead of the smiley faces she usually made them with after getting royal cooking lessons from Celestia years ago, she made frowny faces to match both her and Flurry’s moods.

Flurry looked at the meal and back at her aunt.

“Well, they’ll taste better than they look,” Twilight said.

Flurry levitated a fork and knife with her magic and began to eat the pile of pancakes. They tasted wonderful, but Flurry couldn’t manage a smile. Still, this was the only bit of joy she’d felt in days. The young alicorn gobbled her pancakes up, loading them with so much butter and syrup.

“Careful Flurry, you might give yourself a stomach ache,” Twilight warned.

Flurry paid her no mind. But sure enough, after she devoured all of her pancakes her tummy was hurting as though about to bulge. She clutched it with a grimace.

“Told ya,” Twilight said with a sigh. “You better eat a few apples, that should help with the digestion.”

She levitated a few slices of apples onto another plate.

“I don’t want food! I want mommy and daddy!” Flurry said.

“Flurry, I know this is difficult to accept…” Twilight said.

“Why did they have to go?” Flurry asked as new tears filled her eyes.

Twilight sighed. “The world can be a cruel place sometimes. There is always going to be darkness in it… I had to face a lot of evil villains before I became ruler. Sombra, Chrysalis, Tirek.”

“But they never killed anypony!” Flurry snapped. “You were there to save me, mommy and daddy when Sombra had us all caged!”

Twilight sighed. “Yes… we were all very lucky to not lose anypony until now. I wish I could have been there to protect them. Maybe I could have stopped it.”

Twilight looked away from her niece toward the window as something occurred to her. With this new darkness that had taken form in the rhino creature… what if she was making a mistake with her desire to search for a successor? What if Equestria still needed her? Flurry Heart definitely did right now. Her parents were gone, and who knew how much longer Twilight’s own parents would be around? What if… what if something happened to Flurry someday and she had children? They would be orphaned… and if Twilight gave up her immortality as she was planning to… she would not be here to take care of them like she was for Flurry.

The door to the dining room opened and the Mane 5 walked inside.

“Morning Twi!” Applejack said. “Howdy Flurry!”

The younger alicorn princess merely looked at the Cowgirl pony with her hooves crossed and then looked away.

“We thought we’d join you both for breakfast,” Rarity said.

“If you don’t mind that is,” Fluttershy added.

“Not at all, in fact I think I could use your help with this,” Twilight said. “Pinkie, you think you can pull an element of laughter thing off for Flurry? She could really use it.”

Pinkie looked at the pouting younger alicorn.

“Oh, is little Flurry a bit sorry right now? Well lets do something about that!”

Pinkie Pie took a nearby can of whipping cream and turned her back around. There was a spraying sound and Pinkie turned around to face them. She now had a whip cream beard.

“Ho ho ho! Who’s been a good pony this year even though it’s a been a while since Hearth’s Warming! You need an extra special gift from Pinkie Claus!”

Pinkie then pulled out a long balloon which she inflated and then turned into a bear for Flurry.

“There you go!”

Flurry managed a small smile at the balloon animal which she tried to take with her magic. She lifted it up. But instead of it coming off Pinkie’s hooves, Pinkie herself was lifted up with it.

“Whoa! Whoa!” Pinkie exclaimed working to free her hooves. She fell to the floor with a plop. “Your magic is strong! I remember when you were just a newborn and I had to help Twilight take care of you. I couldn’t hold you still! You were able to fly even when I held you!”

Flurry looked at her in amazement.

“I was?”

Twilight nodded. “You were amazing even back. Cadence and Shining Armor were so proud of you. They loved you from the moment you were born, they still do.”

Flurry bowed her head. “But they’re gone.”

Twilight shook her head. “No… Flurry. They’re still here even if we can’t see them right now. They’re watching over us. One day, we will be with them again. They said it themselves that we would.”

Twilight pulled her niece into a hug.

“But don’t worry. I’m going to do my best to take care of you as well as Equestria,” she said patting Flurry’s back. “Its my responsibility… as long as I live.”

Twilight looked at her friends as they watched the two with smiles.

“Well Sugarcube, you’ll be pleased to know we took care of the stuff you needed done for the school,” Applejack said.

“Good, thank you. I can always count on your girls to help when I’m down,” Twilight said.

The door opened again and Spike entered the room with a scroll in hand.

“Hey Twilight, Gallus and the others got that Rhino creature! They destroyed him!” Spike said.

Twilight let out a sigh of relief. “Oh thank Celestia! Its good to know that thing is no longer threatening the kingdom!”

“And Shining Armor and Cadence have been avenged!” Spike said raising his fists in triumph.

Twilight nodded. “Well, we best have the funeral prepared for them.”

The coffins arrived in Canterlot from the Crystal Empire along with the Young Six and Flash’s party of Crystal Empire guards. The next day, Twilight stood in the Canterlot Cemetery with her family just as they had for Celestia and Luna’s funeral a few years ago.

Twilight looked at the coffins in sorrow.

“Shining Armor was a true soldier. He was never afraid to look death in the eyes and fight to protect what he loved. He was the best big brother a pony could ever ask for, and a true prince! I’m proud to have called him my brother and will think of him until the end of my days! And Cadance, she had so much love to share not only with him, but with all of Equestria! When I was a filly, I’d see her settle arguments with couples. I loved her as much as my brother, and I promise that even though their reign was cut short… they will not be forgotten!” Twilight vowed. “I will make sure of that!”

Night Light and Twilight Velvet both came up.

“Goodbye my son, I’m so proud of the soldier you grew to be in. It was a dangerous job, I was afraid this day might come,” Night Light said.

“I love with all my heart Shiney! Nothing can ever change that!” Twilight Velvet said. “And I couldn’t have asked for a daughter in law more beautiful or kind than you Cadence! Where ever you both are! I hope you stay together even in that world! May not even death tear you apart!”

The coffins were placed in the earth. Dirt was pushed over them. Twilight had her foreleg around Flurry as the younger alicorn watched. Someone than approached them. Twilight looked and saw it was Flash Sentry.

“If you don’t mind, Princess Twilight. I have a request,” Flash said.

“What is it Flash?” Twilight asked.

“I’d like to transfer here to Canterlot and become Princess Flurry Heart’s personal guard,” Flash said. “Someone needs to look after her.”

Twilight Velvet gazed at the Pegasus Guard. “We are her family, we are quite capable of protecting her!”

“Yes, but a princess needs to have her royal guards,” Flash said.

“Well, perhaps we could use the help,” Twilight said, blushing slightly at Flash. “And I appreciate your willingness to do so, Flash. Oh, and there’s one more thing I believe. Gallus!”

The griffin walked up from where he stood with his friends. He’d not brought up the subject of becoming a guard so as not to bother Twilight until she was ready.

Twilight wiped the tears from her eyes. “Thank you for stopping that monster before it hurt any pony else. You will make a fine addition to the royal guard, and may you bring the magic of friendship with you to make every other guard stronger.”

Gallus bowed. “Thank you, princess.”

“You are the first griffin to be allowed in the royal guard, congratulations kid,” came a voice.

It was Starcutter. The sword wielding pony had some bandages on his side.

“Captain Starcutter,” Twilight greeted. “I’m appointing you to be overseer of the Crystal Empire until Flurry Heart comes of age.”

“You can count on me Princess,” Starcutter said. “They will be in good hooves.”

Well there's another chapter down. I'm planning to make more side stories to this universe, I recently made a story of Starlight and Sunbursts wedding that goes with it. Might do a story where Twilight takes care of Flurry with help from Flash and her parents. Now that the rhino's been defeated I'll probably go back to focusing on Luster Dawn for a while. We'll see what other stories I'll make to tie into this one. Hope you all enjoy and as always feel free to comment.

Oh and a special thanks to The PinkedWonder for suggestions on a little comedy scene for Twilight cheering up Flurry Heart.

After leaving Canterlot and returning to Ponyville by train that night, Starlight and Sunburst went to the Castle in a much sadder mood than they would have ever expected. Luster was fast asleep on her mothers back as Starlight carried her home.

“I can’t believe Shining Armor and Cadence are gone!” Sunburst said. “Poor little Flurry.”

Starlight nodded, she knew that her husband had been close to Flurry, having been her Crystaler for the first few years of her life.

“I’m sure Twilight and her family will take care of her,” she said putting a hoof on Sunburst’s shoulder.

They arrived at the Castle of Friendship and were greeted by Trixie.

“Hello Sun and Star!” Trixie cried out as she looked at them. “Did little Luster get in? Hey!” Trixie took a look at Luster’s flank. “She got her Cutie Mark!”

“Shh! Trixie!” Starlight hissed. “You’re gonna-

Luster suddenly opened her eyes and yawned as the noise awoke her.

“You got your Cutie Mark! Auntie Trixie is so proud!” Trixie said lifting Luster off Starlight’s back and spinning her around. Starlight meanwhile just scowled. “Did you get into the school as well?”

“Y-yes Aunt Trixie,” Luster said, a little dizzy as well as drowsy. “I did.”

“Great! You are going to the School for Gifted Unicorns!” Trixie exclaimed. “We need to have a party to celebrate! Lets have Pinkie throw one in the morning!”

Sunburst shook his head. “Afraid we’re not in the mood for a party right now Trixie.”

“What? Why not?” Trixie asked. “This is a great cause for celebration!”

When they told her about Cadence and Shining Armor, Trixie put her hoof over her mouth.

“Oh no! Poor Twilight! Poor Flurry!” the guidance counselor magician said. “I hope they’re going to be alright.”

Starlight just sighed. “We should just get to bed. It’s been a long day.”

The next day, Starlight and her family sat at the castle table silently eating their meal. Sunburst didn’t say a word or even read a book like he usually did. Starlight thought about Twilight and wondered how her former mentor was doing. Even Trixie wasn’t very cheerful. Luster was the first to finish her breakfast and then ask, “Can we practice magic?”

Starlight looked at her daughter. “Not today, Luster. Mommy and Daddy don’t feel up to it.”

“Aww!” Luster looked down at the table.

Like Trixie, Starlight had expected to spend this day partying. If not for the news of the tragedy she would have gladly been celebrating the occasion of her daughter’s acceptance into the School for Gifted Unicorns. But still, they should at least do something for Luster.

“Hey, why don’t I take you out to the Ponyville Playground?” she asked. “You never get out and play with other ponies, you spend all your time studying magic. I think you deserve to have some fun after getting into the school of magic. You haven’t had time to make friends. It isn’t good for you to be alone.”

“I’m not alone,” Luster said. “I have you, Dad, and Aunt Trixie.”

“Yes,” Starlight agreed. “But we’re your family. Having friends is important too. We’re not going to be with at the school of magic so you need to have other ponies to talk to. Might as well try and make some friends here before you go.”

So, Starlight took Luster to the playground in Ponyville where foals were laughing and playing various games. Sliding down the slide with whoops, or playing tag with each other.

Luster hesitated as she watched the other foals. Starlight gave her a little push forward.

“Go on, have some fun!” Starlight said, managing to put on a soft smile, though her eyes were still sad.

Luster went for the swing, her favorite thing to do on the playground. Starlight stood behind her daughter and gave her a push. Luster giggled as she flew back and forth and the air pushed against her. Then she released her hooves from the swing and allowed herself to propel forward and land on her hooves with a plop.

“Luster!” Starlight exclaimed. “That is dangerous! You could get hurt! You might have landed wrong and hit your head. Don’t do that again! Do you want me to have a heart attack?”

“Sorry mommy,” Luster said.

Starlight sighed. She wasn’t in much of a mood to punish Luster right now.

“Excuse me, Headmare Starlight?” a voice asked.

Another mare approached with a young colt. The colt had a light-yellow body and orange mane as well as the cutie mark of a hayburger.

“Oh hello,” Starlight said. “Do I know you?”

“I’m Swifty Sandwitch. This is my son, Gallop J. Fry,” the mare said. “I’ve put him into your school of friendship.”

“Oh, hello,” Starlight said looking at the colt. “I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting you yet. This is my daughter Luster Dawn.”

Swifty looked at Luster. “Well aren’t you a cutie.”

Luster blushed and shyly hid behind her mother. Gallop meanwhile, just grinned at her.

“Hey, you want to play?”

Luster looked at him for a moment. Starlight levitated her daughter out from under her.

“I think it would be a good idea to play with somepony,” Starlight said. “Go on… say hello.”

“H-hello,” Luster said. “So… um… you want to play?”

“Yeah!” Gallop said, waving his forelegs in the air excitedly.

“Alright… what do you want to do?” Luster asked.

“Race!” Gallop stated. “I love to run! Bet I can beat you to the other side of the playground and back.”

Luster looked to where he pointed with his hoof.

“Well guess I can try.”

“Alright!”

He assumed a ready to run stance.

“Ready set, go!”

He and Luster took off. Luster did her best, but Gallop galloped with incredible speed. He reached the other end of the playground before Luster was even halfway there. He turned around and went past her. When Luster got the end and managed to turn and around finally catch up, Gallop grinned at her.

“Yeah! I won!” he jumped. “You know what I’m gonna be when I grow up? The fastest pony ever! Like Rainbow Dash! But on the ground!”

Luster panted hard.

“Wow you must not do a lot of running if you move that slow. I’ve seen foals that are younger run faster than you,” Gallo said. “What do you do all day, sit around reading books on magic?”

He’d struck a nerve. Luster frowned at him as she continued to pant.

“Yes!” she said through her deep breaths.

“Well you ought to get out more and move! Magic’s a cheap trick!” Gallop said.

“It is not!” Luster objected. “Magic is the most amazing there is!”

Gallop laughed. “For you unicorns. But you spend too much time on it you’re never gonna be a good athlete like me!”

“I- don’t want to be an athelete. I want to be a spellcaster!”

“Oh that’s nice. Are you gonna be a firework pony setting off sparks at parades?”

Luster growled. “No! I’m going to be a hero and help save Equestria like my mother has.”

“Your mother has saved Equestria?” Gallop asked looking in Starlight’s direction. “She’s not Rarity is she?”

“My mother is Starlight! Starlight Glimmer, haven’t you heard of her?” Luster asked. “She saved Princess Twilight and all her friends from Queen Chrysalis!”

“Doesn’t ring a bell,” Gallop said. “You sure your mother wasn’t making up Ponytales?”

“She wasn’t, and it wasn’t her who told me!” Luster shouted, losing all patience now. “My mother is a great expert on magic and so are my father and Godmare.”

“They can’t be that great if I haven’t heard of them!” Gallop said.

“They are! My family is the greatest set of magic users in Ponyville, I bet in all of Equestria!” Luster said. “And I’m going to be just like them!”

Gallop laughed. “Good luck with that! But you’ll never beat me in a race!”

Luster simply huffed and walked off. Racing wasn’t something she was interested in. That was a passion of Earth Ponies. She was going to follow the path of unicorns and develop her magic skills. This whole playground thing felt like a distraction. Making friends might have been a pleasant thing but it wasn’t going to help Luster grow into a powerful spellcaster. Only devoting herself to the study of magic would do that.

“I wanna go home mommy!” Luster said as she approached her mother.

Starlight looked back at the young colt who was now running happily, paying no mind of Luster leaving. “Was Gallop being mean?”

“He said he hadn’t heard of you and that you weren’t a hero.”

“Not everypony about every hero all the time. That’s okay. Hey! Let’s go get some ice cream. You deserve a special treat for getting into the school of magic,” Starlight said.

“Really?”

“Of course!”

“Can I have Ponyback ride?” Luster asked hopefully.

“Alright.”

She formed an aura on her horn and picked up her daughter with her magic. Levitating Luster onto her back before walking to SugarCube Corner. When they entered, Starlight and Luster were greeted by Pound and Pumpkin Cake.

“Oh, Starlight!” they said excitedly.

Starlight smiled at them. They were both much bigger than the babies they’d been for what felt like longer than they should have.

“Hello!” she said. “We’d like a small ice cream Sundae please.”

“Coming right up!” Pound Cake said as he flapped his wings to go to the freezer area where they kept the ice cream.

Pumpkin beat him there. With a pop she teleported to the freezer. Looking at her brother she giggled. “I beat you again, Big Brother!”

Luster’s mouth fell open. If she had known that spell she could have easily beaten Gallop in the race.

“Can you teach me that spell?” she asked the unicorn twin.

Pumpkin looked at Luster. “Sorry, kid. That’s a high level spell. I learned it at the my final year in the school of magic.”

“You went to the school of magic?” Luster asked.

“Yes and I learned a lot there.”

“She was able to fly when she was a baby, Pinkie Pie told me.” Starlight said.

“Ooh.” Luster’s eyes filled up in amazement.

“But I’m glad to be back in Ponyville now. Now that me and Pound are done with Flight and Magic school we can help run the bakery! Pinkie’s pretty busy being the Party Planner for Canterlot Gala’s. She’s there right now.

“She is?” Starlight said.

“Yeah. Discord came by with Fluttershy and the others before teleporting off.”

Starlight sighed with a little relief. Twilight’s friends were all with her. That was good.

“Here’s your Sundae!” Pound Cake said.

Luster, Starlight and Pumpkin had been so busy talking about magic they hadn’t noticed him make the sundae.

“I was gonna do that!” Pumpkin said.

“You need to keep your eye on the prize sis!” he said.

Pumpkin sniggered than used her magic to pick up a cupcake nearby and throw it at her brother who flied away. The twins began a sweet fight as Starlight took the Sundae with her magic and sat with Luster at a table.

Luster looked at her mother. “Don’t you want one mommy?”

Starlight shook her head. “I’m alright. You just enjoy your accomplishments.”

Luster smiled and stuffed her face with the ice cream topped with whipping cream, fudge, and a cherry on top. Starlight smiled at her daughter’s joy then looked out the window through which she could see Canterlot in the distance. She thought of Twilight who was hopefully being comforted by her friends there. She felt sad for not only Twilight’s loss but also for the fact that in a few days Luster would be heading back there. Her daughter wouldn’t be around as much. It wouldn’t be the same, but Starlight was proud and hoped the best for Luster’s future.

Gallop in the fan given name to the Earth Pony shown among Luster’s friends we see in the Last Problem. By his name I felt fair in assuming he would have an athletic personality similar to Rainbow Dash and he would be into running. First impressions aren’t always the best as well, I’ll have him apologize for his bad treatment of Luster later on at some point. Any comments on how you think the situation could be a little more dramatic or otherwise improved to further fuel Luster’s idea that making friends is a waste of time until she sees otherwise in the last episode are appreciated.

The days dragged by slowly as Luster waited for the time to come when she would go to the school of magic. Her parents wouldn’t spend those days helping her practice like they usually did. They as well as Aunt Trixie had to prepare for the reopening of the school of friendship. Seriously, friendship seemed to be getting in the way of her studies of magic a lot! The only other action besides that was Starlight sending a letter to Princess Twilight.

Dear Twilight,

I can only imagine the hurt you must be feeling now. I never had any siblings growing up, but I know you were very close with Shining Armor and Cadence. I’m afraid I don’t have any good news to try and cheer you up like I did when Celestia and Luna passed away. Though Luster is very much looking forward to attending the school of magic. I hope that thing is stopped soon.

Love your former student,

Starlight Glimmer.

Starlight sent the scroll with her magic. A reply came the next morning as she and Sunburst prepared to take the train to Canterlot once again to drop Luster off for orientation. Trixie meanwhile stayed behind for the School of Friendships own orientation.

Dear Starlight,

Thank you for your concern. It does hurt, but I know that Shining Armor and Cadence are both at peace now. That gives me some comfort. I’m pleased to say that Gallus as well as his friends managed to stop the rhino creature. They’ve all grown much stronger with the magic of friendship under your guidance. I look forward to spending more time with your daughter and teaching her just as I taught you long ago.

Love Twilight.

Starlight sighed, “Well that’s some good news. At least that thing has been stopped.”

“And good riddance!” Sunburst added.

They got on the train and waited as it sped along the tracks.

“You know, we don’t actually need to take the train,” Luster said.

“What makes you say that?” Starlight asked.

“We can just teleport there,” Luster said. “You’ve done that a few times. Its quicker and you don’t have to pay.”

Starlight smiled. “That’s true, not every unicorn can perform a teleportation spell. But if you teleport to the place you’re going to, you don’t get to experience all the good things you can see in between. Like this tunnel coming up.”

Darkness swallowed the train moments later as it sped through the tunnel. Luster watched as the outside turned dark and they passed occasional lamps. It was certainly was a cool thing to look at.

“Some things its best to take slowly so you can experience them at their fullest,” Starlight told her daughter. “But teleporting sure does come in handy sometimes. Or it can be fun.”

“There can be a lot to experience in life,” Sunburst put in. “So many spells to master, books to read, friends to make.”

Luster shrugged at the last one opened the book in front of her. Her parents had to spend so much time with the friendship business, it distracted them from helping her with magic. Well, she wouldn’t allow it to distract her. Soon they arrived at Canterlot Station and got off the train. Starlight lead her family out and was surprised to see a group of familiar faces. Twilight was there, along with the Young Six. Gallus now wore the armor of a royal as he stood dutifully by Twilight’s side holding his javelin.

“Oh Twilight,” Starlight greeted the Princess. “I wasn’t expecting you to meet us here.”

“I always greet the students for orientation,” Twilight said, though not with as much as joy as she usually did when doing orientation. “And these five wanted to see you as well.”

Ocellus approached Starlight. “Hello Headmare Glimmer.”

“Hello Ocellus,” Starlight greeted back before looking at the others. “Silverstream, Smolder, Sandbard, Yona. I wasn’t expecting all of you to be here. Though I heard you took down the rhino creature.”

“That’s right, we showed that monster what for!” Smolder said proudly.

“We never could have done it without you teaching us so much about the magic of friendship!” Silverstream said.

No one noticed Luster give a small frown. All these mentions of friendship were starting to annoy the young filly. It seemed to always come up around her parents.

“And Yona and friends have been thinking. Thinking about our futures,” the young yak said. “Even though we’re not at the School of Frienship Its become like a home to us and-

“What she’s trying to say is… we want to al come back to the school and work there!” Silverstream interrupted joyously.

“Well half of us do,” Sandbar said. “Gallus has joined the Royal Guard,” he pointed to the armored griffin who was admiring his new chestplate. “And Yona and I have decided we’re going to help Rarity with her fashion business. She’s starting to look into Yak fashion, and she also needed a male pony model.”

“Yeah, but Occellus, Silverstream and I all wanna help out at the school,” Smolder said.

“Really?” Starlight asked.

“Yes! Yes!” Silverstream told her. “There’s no place like home! And that’s what the school of friendship became for us!”

“Well, I do have room in the school for a few new teachers,” Starlight said. “It will be nice to have some familiar faces around. And to know that some students eventually became teachers. You’re all hired!”

The former students turned soon to be teachers grinned at the news. Meanwhile, Twilight went about gathering her own students, calling out to various foals passing by as they got of the train.

“School of Magic orientation this way! School of magic!”

After about five minutes a good number of foals around Lusters age gathered around Twilight. The princess looked over a list with names on it.

“Alright, Luster Dawn, Silly Sun, Hour Knot, that seems to be everypony,” Twilight said. “Well, tell your parents goodbye!”

Luster turned and looked at Starlight and Sunburst.

“Well I guess we’ll be seeing you at Hearth’s Warming next time,” Starlight said. “We’ll make sure to write to you every day!”

“Starlight, come on. There’s no need to write to her everyday,” Sunburst put a hoof on his wife. “Maybe just a couple times a week.”

Starlight put her forelegs up. “Alright, alright,” she then pulled Luster into a bearcrushing hug. “We love you Luster, and we can’t wait to hear about all that happens.”

“Love you too mom!” Luster choked out as Starlight squeezed her. “And you dad! I’ll send you mail when I can!”

Sunburst hugged her next, much lighter than Starlight had. Luster than turned and followed Twilight as the Princess lead her new students out of the train station. The proud parents waited until their daughter vanished from sight before looking at the Young Six.

“Well, guess we better head back to Ponyville and fill out the paperwork before we can officially call you three teachers,” Starlight said to Silverstream, Ocellus and Smolder.

*

Luster followed Princess Twilight and her classmates as they made their way to the school of magic. The princess showed them the library, cafeteria, as well as the various classrooms which she and several other magic instructors taught at. Though Twilight was in charge of the school, she like Celestia had royal duties and couldn’t always be present. Therefore, she would only teach her classes once and a while while the teachers she’d put on staff would cover most days of the week. They entered the classroom where a yellow pony with glasses and a mane style matching the one Twilight had preferred before she’d transformed to look like Celestia. It was Moondancer, the pony whose party Twilight had skipped all those years ago to research the elements of harmony just before her journey had begun. Moondancer had become reclusive as a result of Twilight, the one pony whom she actually felt close to at the school of magic since they’d both had similar study habits, not coming to her party. But Twilight had gotten her to reopen herself to the idea of friendship and now the two worked at the school of magic together.

“Good morning students!” Moondancer said. “I’m Miss Moondancer. I’ll be one of your regular substitute teachers here at the school when Princess Twilight can’t be here!”

“Wait Princess Twilight isn’t always going to be here?” One of the fillies asked.

Moondancer giggled. “You can hardly expect the ruler of Equestria to be able to spend all her time at the school. She delegates her classes for the most part. But don’t worry, she’ll show up every now and then when she has the free time to enjoy teaching all of you little ponies!”

The young ponies looked at Princess Twilight. “Do not worry fillies and colts, Miss Moondancer is a very capable teacher. She would study just as hard as I did when we were both fillies taking classes here,” Twilight said.

Moondancer smiled. “Those were good times, Twilight.”

Twilight nodded. They continued the tour of the rest of the school. The final stop was the dorm rooms, which served as houses for students. The school of magic was a boarding school, so the students lived on the premises. Though those who had family in Canterlot would be able to visit them on the weekends easily just as Twilight had done in her youth. Those who came from Ponyville, Manehattan, or the Crystal Empire didn’t have it so easy and would have to wait till the holidays.

Twilight lead them down the halls and divided fillies and colts into pairs of the same gender as she assigned rooms. “Lets see, Sillysun and Hournot you two get this room,” Twilight pointed to a door. “Ribbon and Brightmane here. And… finally Luster Dawn.”

Luster’s room was the last door on the right, and she was the only filly to not get a roommate since there was an odd number of them. But she didn’t mind.

“It might be a little lonely sleeping by yourself,” Princess Twilight said as she handed Luster a key with her magic.

The young filly opened the door and found in her room a simple set of furniture consisting of a bed and desk with a lamp on top of it.

“That’s alright Princess,” Luster said. “I don’t mind.”

“If you feel lonely you can always knock on one of the doors nearby,” Twilight said.

“I think I’ll be fine,” Luster said. Being alone would allow her to focus more on studying.

“Well, dinner will usually be served in the cafeteria. But I’ll occasionally take the students out to a fine restauarant in Canterlot. I’ll be doing that tonight as a welcoming present to all of you,” Twilight said. “Just make yourself comfortable and I’ll be back before nighttime.”

Luster hung her saddlebag on a rack near the bed and hopped onto it for a nap. Today was the Dawn of a new life for her. She was going to focus and devote herself to the art of studying magic. Become powerful on her own and make her parents proud.

Authors Notes: I figured Twilight probably wouldn’t be spending all of her time at the school of magic. We never really see Celestia doing much at her own school aside from flashbacks of when Twilight was there that I recall. So it seems likely that Celestia only went there part time since she had her royal duties as well. We don’t know for sure how much time she spent teaching there, at least I’m not.

As some of you may know, Season 10 Comics will be coming out next month at some point. We may get some answers to questions the series left. Things like whether ships that aren’t confirmed but implied such as Applejack and Rainbow Dash (which I kept being friends in my story) and Fluttershy and Discord (whom I married in my universe) being cannon. But whatever happens in the comics it will not affect this fanfic universe as I can always disregard the comics since the writers said it was up to us to determine how canon they are or so I’ve heard.

The years went by for Luster as she studied at the school of magic. She did many things, not only casting spells, but mixing potions as well. She got the best scores out of any of the students there, rarely missing even a single question on a test. Most of their classes were taught by Miss Moondancer, but Princess Twilight would occasionally take over when she wasn’t performing Royal Duties.

A now teenaged Luster entered the classroom, and found not only Miss Moondancer or Princess Twilight, but both of them at once. Not only that, Princess Twilight’s niece Princess Flurry Heart was also present.

“Good morning Luster!” Moondancer said with a friendly tone. She’d aged quite a bit from when Luster had started out at the school. Her eyes had some bags under them.

Princess Twilight though, looked just the same as Luster remembered her. Yet she was the same age as Miss Moondancer. Was there a reason for that? Luster had heard rumors about the former Princesses Celestia and Luna, both of whom had been alicorns and lived for over a thousand years. But then they’d passed away a short time before Luster had been born. Luster wasn’t sure what to think? Perhaps Princess Twilight had an age spell to make herself look younger as well as keep herself alive?

Luster wasn’t sure, but didn’t ask questions about that. She smiled at Miss Moondancer and Princess Twilight.

“Good morning Miss Moondancer, Princess.”

As Luster took a seat and waited silently as the seats around her filled up with her classmates. She got a book out from her bag and read, ignoring the small conversations from the other unicorns around. Only when Princess Twilight began to speak did Luster look up.

“I have some news for all of you. As some of you may know, my niece Flurry Heart is about to come of age,” Twilight indicated Flurry Heart who was now a full grown pony. “And now that she’s turning eighteen, it means she can legally rule over the Crystal Empire. Her coronation is to take place in two days, and I thought I would invite all of you students to attend this on long field trip. Of course, you will need to get your parents to sign these permission slips.”

As Princess Twilight levitated a stack of papers around to each of the students desks, Luster thought about a small dilemma. How was she going to get her parents to sign this permission slip in time. The mail pony might not make it in time.

“I’ve already contacted Starlight and Sunburst and they’ve given full permission for you to visit the Crystal Empire,” Princess Twilight said.

Luster sighed in relief. That would save her having to send a letter to her parents and risk being too late for the field trip.

“But how are those of us with families outside of Canterlot going to get permission? Silly Sun asked.

“Come to my office after school and I shall take care of that,” Princess Twilight said.

After class, Luster headed back to her home away from in Canterlot. She no longer lived in the foal student dormitories since she’d grown up. Now she was in a tower of her own, the same tower Princess Twilight had lived in when she’d been the student of Princess Celestia. Luster was now grateful for the distance from the dormitories. She’d been fine living there at first, but the other fillies and colts could be a little noisy. But in this tower, Luster was free from distractions with no pony to bother her. As she made her way there Luster heard somepony call her.

“Hey Luster, wait up!”

Luster looked back and saw Silly Sun and two other ponies.

“Hey, we were thinking of going to the donut shop after we got Princess Twilight’s help with sending the letters. You want to come? It will be fun!” Silly Sun said with a wide grin.

“Sorry, I’m too busy,” Luster said. “Got a lot of studying to do.”

She walked off and returned to her tower. Opening her bag, she pulled out the homework pages for tonight and took a quill with her magic. Levitating books and shifting through pages of both the class texts as well as her notebook for little more than an hour. Luster answered the questions on the parchment, though she did narrow her eyes at the ones about making friends. She knew it from the lessons but honestly it was one thing that she disliked about the classes. Sure, Princess Twilight was known as the Princess of Friendship.

Luster had read a lot about her mentor’s old adventures, she and her five best friends had saved Equestria countless times before Luster had been born. But Princess Twilight ruled on her own now as far as Luster could see. Her mother was now Stewardess of the Castle where Twilight had first ruled before coming to Canterlot. Luster remembered the thrones with cutie marks on them. But Princess Twilight didn’t seem to be with her old friends anymore, Luster hadn’t seen them. Most likely their friendship had drifted apart after Twilight became ruler of Equestria. She ruled alone, aside from the Council of Friendship that helped her. Though Luster didn’t know who they were.

She finished the questions relating to the friendship criteria with a slightly frown than double checked her notes and textbook to make sure she was right. Everything was one hundred percent correct. With her work done she could now focus on practicing her spells, so she made her way to the library. The friendship questions had slowed her down by around twenty minutes. Friendship always seemed to pop up everywhere. Her parents worked at a School of Friendship, lived in a Castle of Friendship. At this point Luster was kind of annoyed with it, she just needed to study, friends weren’t going to help her become a good spell caster.

***
In a few days after the other students had gotten their parents permission to leave for the Crystal Empire, Twilight met them at the train station along with Flurry Heart and Moondancer. The naturally born alicorn was now fully grown and tapping her hooves nervously.

“I don’t know if I’m ready for this Auntie Twilie,” Flurry said.

Twilight looked at her niece. “I know how you feel Flurry. I wasn’t so sure I was ready to become Equestria’s ruler back when Celestia and Luna decided to retire,” she looked down, recalling what the Princesses had given up. “But they believed I could do it… as I believe you can.”

“But what if I can’t?” Flurry asked. “I don’t have Mom and Dad around. I’m going to be alone in the Crystal Empire!”

“You won’t be alone,” Twilight said. “Captain Starcutter will be there to advise you, along with Flash Sentry and the others. Starcutters done a good job taking care of everypony since I appointed him regent. He cares about helping ponies a lot. He’ll be happy to help you however he can. Come on.”

Flurry nodded slowly as the train that would take them to the Crystal Empire arrived. They got onto it and soon it took them to the Crystal Empire. Once they got there, Starcutter and a full battalion of Royal Guards were there to greet them.

“Welcome Princess Twilight,” Starcutter greeted with a formal bow as the ruler of Equestria approached. “Its good to have you home as well Princess Flurry Heart.”

“Likewise Starcutter,” Twilight said.

Starcutter hesitated, looking at the students as they disembarked from the train. He leaned in close to Twilight. “May we speak in a little more privacy? There’s a small matter of concern.”

Twilight nodded. She turned over to Moondancer. “Get everypony checked into the Crystal Hotel.”

Moondancer nodded. Twilight and Flurry followed Starcutter as the sword pony lead them to the castle.

“What’s the matter of concern Captain?” Flurry asked.

“It’s the Crystal Ponies Princess. Their spirits are all very low,” Starcutter told them, his expression grim as he looked at some of the ponies they passed with concern.

As they walked through the streets of the Crystal Empire, Twilight got a look around. The Crystal ponies walking the streets sure didn’t look happy. Their eyes were sad as they walked with heavy steps as though carrying an invisible load.

Flurry put a hoof to her mouth. These were her subjects, and they were hurting. She had to help them.

“Excuse me!” she called to one of them. “Can you tell me what’s wrong?”

The crystal pony she asked shook her head. “I’m sorry, I just feel terrible. And I can’t remember things.”

She continued walking while Flurry looked after her sadly.

“This is just like when my friends and I came here the first time,” Twilight said, recalling when the Empire first returned after the curse was lifted. “Ponies were sad and didn’t remember much about what happened.”

“How did you solve it?” Starcutter asked earnestly. “We have to help them!”

“Well we found the Crystal Heart and the Crystal Ponies used it to destroy King Sombra for the first time. Until Discord brought him,” Twilight said. “Maybe there’s something wrong with the Crystal Heart?”

They arrived at the palace which in the very below its hollowed out bottom lay the pedestal holding the Crystal Heart. Twilight took a long look at the Heart and gasped.

“This is a fake! The real one is missing!”

Oh no! The heart is gone! But where? Will they get it back? Comments and Reviews are Appreciated.

“What?” Starcutter exclaimed, though he knew it was fake. “Are you sure?”

Twilight nodded. “There’s no mistaking it. The real Crystal Heart would have some sort of magic. But I feel nothing emanating from this. The love from the Crystal Ponies would have kept it going.”

“Well, we have to find the real one!” Starcutter said.

“Yes, but where do we look?” Flurry asked. “And who would have taken it?”

Twilight didn’t have an answer to that.

“Lets take around, there might be a clue somewhere.”

The two princesses and the captain spread out. Starcutter made a small smile as he turned his back to them and headed to a nearby patch of grass where he knew a hole was. He walked up to it.

“Princesses! Over here!” he called once he came in eye contact with the hole.

Twilight and Flurry Heart galloped over once they heard him. He pointed to the hole.

“This wasn’t here too long ago,” he told them, which was true.

Twilight stuck her head in the hole. It certainly went deep. She sent a small ball of light down to see if it would allow her to make anything out. It flew straight down slowly until it reached the bottom and disappeared. Though not before Twilight spotted something, a blue gemstone, and a set of paw prints on the ground.

Pulling her head out of the hole, Twilight looked at Starcutter and Flurry Heart. “Diamond Dogs.”

“Diamond Dogs?” Flurry repeated. “But I thought ponies had made peace with them. Spike is on a mission to settle things between them and some Absiddians right now!”

Twilight nodded. Under her rule many of the creatures were now living more peacefully, but nothing was perfect. Every so often there were troublemakers among every race.

“There are still some out there that terrorize ponies and steal,” she told her niece.

Flurry gulped. “Well, we better get down there and find the Crystal Heart.”

“No!” Starcutter said. “Let me go. You’re to be the Princess of the Crystal Empire, we can’t take a chance on your safety.”

Flurry hesitated. “But, shouldn’t you have some other guards go down with you?”

Starcutter shook his head and gave her a confident smile. “I’ll be fine. Don’t worry Princesses. I’ll have that Heart back in no time.”

Without a word, he jumped down into the hole as the two Princesses looked after him.

“Do you think he’ll be alright?” Flurry asked her aunt.

Twilight looked into the whole, she was too big now to fit down there. If she were the same size as she’d been during the good old days she would have gladly accompanied the swordpony. And Starcutter was right about Flurry Heart needing to stay where it was safe. “Starcutter is a tough pony, Shining Armor always said he was the best fighter in the academy. But, I think we better send more guards in just in case.”

Once he landed on the floor of the tunnel, Starcutter’s eyes glowed red. He reached into the pocket of his guard saddlebag and drew out a small magic stone. He tapped it with a hoof and it lit up like a unicorns horn. This was handy in the event that he had to go into dark areas such as this without the aid of a unicorn. It allowed him to see the tunnel, and follow the prints left behind by the Diamond Dogs. Frowning, he drew his sword and walked the path. After several minutes of walking there came a came a four way path in the road, tracks of the rogue Diamond dogs going both ways. But Starcutter knew which way to take.

He went straight, then turned when he came to another four way.

This lead him straight to the Diamond Dogs. There were three of them. They sat near a wagon load of gemstones, which they leaned over greedily.

“This is good! We get the pretty heart gem, lots more gems, and that dumb ram gets the dumb energy that was in there.”

“Yeah, he pretty dumb. Giving us all these jewels and getting nothing but energy!” another said.

“Ehh… he gets what he wants we get what we want.”

They hadn’t noticed Starcutter yet as their backs were facing away from him. He could have easily taken them by surprise, but that would have been dishonorable. Starcutter was a warrior, and he was not going to rely on methods such as dirty tricks such as stabbing one in the back. So he made his presence known to them.

“Hey mutts!” he shouted. “Hand over the heart! That does not belong to you!”

The diamond dogs looked in his direction. They laughed.

“One little pony with a sword!”

“Ooh, scary!”

“Get him!”

They charged at Starcutter, thinking they had the advantage no doubt because of their size and numbers. But Starcutter charged at them in turn, not fearing their size. He was a defender of Equestria, sworn to give his life for the good of it if necessary. As he approached them, Starcutter rolled and swung his sword with great accuracy, slicing the leg of one of the dogs. Not completely off, but enough to make him unable to walk. Another swung a massive paw at Starcutter, who jumped back and avoided the attack. He then threw the light stone in his free hoof, using it as a projectile to hit the second dog in the face. The dog grunted, distracted for an instant, and Starcutter seized the opportunity to charge and kick the dog between the legs. The strike to that particular part resulted in a great howl of pain. That was two down, one to go.

The last dog stood stunned at the sight of a little pony beating his partners so easily. He seemed uncertain as he looked at Starcutter. The sword pony let out a mighty warcry that caused the dog to lose his nerve completely. How could one pony be so scary? It was as though he were fear itself! The dog ran in the direction Starcutter had come. But somepony else was there, Flash Sentry and a party of other guards had arrived! With a flurry of hooves they subdued the final Diamond Dog and with lengths of rope tied the three up.

As the dogs were being lead away, Flash Sentry picked up the Crystal Heart and looked at it.

“The energy within the heart is gone!”

“Maybe it lost it because it left the pedestal?” Starcutter suggested, hoping it would cause Flash to lose his suspicion for his own good.

“You don’t know much about the Crystal Heart do you Starcutter?” Flash asked. “The amount of magic the Crystal Ponies put into it with their love would last a long time even once it left the pedestal. Someone took it!”

Flash looked down the tunnel.

“We should follow this tunnel. Maybe we can locate the energy before whoever has it gets away and uses it for… whatever they have planned for it.”

He began to walk down the tunnel. Starcutter’s expression turned to one of concern.

“No! You should take the Crystal Heart back up!” Starcutter said. “I’ll look through this tunnel.”

“I’ll have somepony else take it up, can’t leave you to fend for yourself.”
“No pony is here now!” Starcutter pointed out. All the other guards had left escorting the Diamond dogs away. “And I can… handle myself.”

Flash looked around and sighed. “Be careful.”

Silently, Starcutter wished he could have told Flash, or any pony for that matter about his master. But he couldn’t. He watched Flash leave with the Crystal Heart in his hooves before taking the tunnel to where Grogar had taken residence temporarily.

“Drop your sword, Starcutter.” Grogar said as he approached.

The guard did as he was bid, for he had no choice but to obey Grogar’s every command. The weapon clattered to the cave floor with a metallic ring. Grogar stood there with a frown, the tiny bells around his red collar glowing.

“I trust you managed to gain a great amount of power, master?’ Starcutter asked, wishing he could have said the word with the spite he felt inside.

“Yes,” Grogar said simply, without looking at his subordinate. “The Princess suspects nothing?”

“No,” Starcutter said while thinking, Unfortunately, if only I could get a message to her somehow.

“Good. I need you for a while a longer,” Grogar said. “You will be a key link to my plan for the Crystal Empire soon enough. But for now… the time has come to call upon a new servant. One who will willingly serve me.”

Starcutter said nothing in response to that. Grogar levitated a stick and drew a symbol in the ground as he channeled the power he’d gathered from the Crystal Heart and corrupted into darkness.

“Where there is light there is darkness,” Grogar said. “One never drives out the other completely. I merely bring back the darkness, and with it comes…”

A black crystal sprouted from the M letter he’d drawn. Then came a black tornado spinning around, a pair of green eyes and red horn. Evil laughter filled the room as a new being appeared in the cave with them. A pony with red eyes wearing armor and a red cape. His moving mane a dark mass of shadow. King Sombra had returned for a third time!

Laughing, Sombra looked at Grogar.

“You have resurrected me again, Grogar. I thank you,” the king said.

Grogar frowned at the king. "It was not I that resurrected you the last time. That was Discord, the Lord of chaos, disguised as me."

“Discord? Sombra repeated. "Hmm, well no matter. Where are we?”

“Caves beneath the Crystal Empire,” Grogar informed the king.

“Ah excellent. I can take back my kingdom now!” Sombra said eagerly.

“No,” Grogar said, raising a hoof. “Do you already forget how easily you were overpowered the last time?”

Sombra grimaced. Remembering how he had been disintegrated a second time at the hooves of Twilight Sparkle and her friends.

“I assume you mean for me to team up with you again? Fine,” Sombra said looking down as he was forced to let go his pride and say, “I lost last time I refused. I don’t like the idea of working with anyone but I have no choice seeing as how I was defeated last time.”

“Yes, you don’t have a choice,” Grogar agreed. “Though at least you willingly work for me and I don’t have to use this to control you as I do this other pony.”

He drew levitated a small red diamond encrusted in gold out in front of him.

“The Ruby of Reign,” Sombra said. “The artifact that forces any creature to do whatever the wielder commands.”

Grogar nodded. The ruby glowed, as did Starcutters eyes. Sombra eyed the sword pony.

“And who is this?”

“This is Starcutter, current Captain of Crystal Empire’s Guard and my servant. He has been preparing things in the empire the way I want them to be. Isn’t that right, Starcutter? Speak freely!”

Starcutter took a breath as part of the ruby’s control over him was released. He gave Grogar a look of anger as he spoke his true mind freely.

“You won’t get away with this Grogar! Princess Twilight will stop you just as she has stopped every other villain that came before, including him!” Starcutter gazed at Sombra.

Grogar laughed. “Twilight Sparkle has no idea what is coming! No idea at all! This is only the beginning.”

Just wait and see what happens. Next chapter will be back to Luster and her field trip experiences which will lead to the events of the beginning of The Last Problem. Though it will likely come out after the next one of Daybreaker Steals Twilight.

The wind was starting to pick up as Moondancer lead the students to the Crystal Hotel after Twilight left to deal with the business she had with Starcutter. Clouds seemed to be moving in rather fast. She approached the front desk where a Crystal Pony with a checkmark inside a bright crystal for a cutie mark sat. The pony didn’t shine to brightly, and he looked a bit depressed.

“Hello,” Moondancer greeted.

“Good afternoon, I’m Check Shine. How might I help you?” the greeter said without much enthusiasm.

“I’m here with Princess Twilight,” Moondancer said. “We reserved rooms for twenty-five students.”

Check Shine looked at a list of reservations. “Ah, yes. Class of Moondancer from the School for Gifted Unicorns. Let me see it’s for two nights and twenty-five students as well as a teacher. That will be two hundred and sixty bits.”

Moondancer hesitated. The payment for staying at the hotel was going to be covered by the school funds. And only Twilight had access to those.

When she didn’t answer right away, Check Shine frowned at her as well as the students.

“I presume you all bought bits along, didn’t you?”

“Of course, we did!” Silly Sun said with a giggle. “We need bits to pay for meals, sweets, and things like souvenirs here.”

“Well, pay up then!” Check Shine said.

Silly Sun shook her head, her usually constant smile vanishing.

“We’re the class of the Princess herself! We ought to get rooms for free!”

“No bits, no staying at the hotel. You pay, you get the keys.”

“Princess Twilight will be covering the students,” Moondancer said. “But she had to go to the castle on urgent business before coming here. If you could just wait a while, I’m sure Princess Twilight will be along shortly,” Moondancer tried to reason. “She’ll bring those bits up in a flash.”

The last part was quite literal as Twilight had put summoning spells on the chests containing the school funds so she could bring them to her whenever she needed them for her student’s needs.

Check Shine shook his head with a frown. “No bits, no rooms. But if you want to wait, feel free.”

He gestured to a nearby sitting area which only had four chairs. Moon Dancer frowned.

“This is so unfair! Give us our rooms now!” Silly Sun demanded. “The Princess will pay you when she gets here!”

The other students angered over not getting their rooms and having to be for what was promised free lodging. Luster Dawn, who had been listening slightly while also reading a book, looked up in annoyance as the agitated students shouted at the Crystal pony.

“Yeah, hoof over those keys!”

“We wanna drop our luggage off!”

“We can just pay for the rooms ourselves,” Luster Dawn said stepping forward.

All the other students looked at her in surprise.

“No! That’s not fair!” Silly Sun said. “We shouldn’t have to pay for the bits ourselves!”

“Princess Twilight can just reimburse us,” Luster pointed out.

Moondancer thought for a moment. “I guess that would be okay. We were going to pay anyway. You’ll all get your bits back!”

The students looked at each other and shrugged, happy as long as that was the case.

“Hmph, I don’t care as long as you pay,” Check Shine said.

Moondancer scoffed. This wasn’t her most pleasant experience from a hotel greeter.

“Not exactly a friendly welcoming pony, is he?” Silly Sun whispered to her friends. “You’d think somepony would respect the Princess enough to let her class go in a hotel for free!”

“No exceptions!” Check Shine said, hearing her. “Now pay up!”

The students each gave him ten bits. Moondancer felt slightly guilty since they had to pay. But at least they would get new bits once Twilight arrive and her business at the castle was concluded.

Moondancer went to her assigned room in the hotel to wait for Twilight
*

The Princess of Equestria stood by her niece as Flurry Heart walked among the halls of Crystal Castle. Flurry hadn’t been here since the deaths of her parents. Walking through the castle brought back memories of her parents. How she would have snuck into the kitchen and take cookies from where her mother hid them on the top shelf, her mother catching her eating one and then chasing her through the castle!”

“Flurry you get back here!” Cadence called as she flew after her daughter who had just taken off out of the kitchen. “Drop that cookie jar right now!”

“No!” Flurry said as she flew while levitating the said jar.

She teleported, something that she’d somehow been able to do even as infant. Flurry was back in her room, she grined at her triumph, her mother, despite being an alicorn was not as gifted as her with magic somehow. Perhaps it was because she had been born one? Flurry grinned mischievously and prepared to eat the cookies before her mother could get in. Only to find that something very important to that plan was missing. The cookie jar! She’d left it behind when she’d teleported.

Flurry sighed and teleported back to the hallway she’d been in. Only to find her mother there along with a broken jar and cookies on the floor. Cadence gave her daughter a disapproving look. Flurry Heart was forced to spend a week in her room after that. Guards would be stationed at her door to hear if she tried to teleport out.

Flurry also remembered her father. Shining Armor would hold her in his hooves and keep her close. He’d tickle her and give her blow kisses to the stomach, or she’d ride on his back and feel herself bump around as he ran through the castle.

Flurry and her aunt came to the throne room where her mother would sit as ruler of the Crystal Empire. Now, it was her turn to do so. Flurry had known this day was coming, but she still felt so unprepared for it. She gulped, was she truly ready to become ruler? By law she was now a full-grown pony, but did she have the wisdom to rule like her aunt did?

Flurry then felt a wing wrap around her.

“Still nervous huh?” Twilight asked.

Flurry nodded. “Nervous, sad, and worried. I didn’t expect the Crystal Heart to be stolen when I’d just gotten back to the empire. And walking through this castle just…”

“Brings back memories?” Twilight guessed.

Flurry nodded.

“I felt the same way when I came back to my old house in Canterlot for the first time after leaving Ponyville,” Twilight said. “It’s strange when you come back to someplace after being away for so long. You might see it in a different light. Sometimes you change into a different pony, it was like that for me. I left that tower to go to Ponyville thinking the only thing that mattered was books and studying. Then I came back years later to make amends with the friends I had in Canterlot like Moondancer.”

Flurry looked from the throne back to her aunt. “Do you think Starcutter and the guards will be able to get the Crystal heart back?”

Before Twilight could answer, Flash Sentry suddenly flew in with the said object in his hooves.

“Princesses, I have the heart!” he said. “The diamond dogs have been dealt with.”

“Excellent work, Flash,” Twilight said with a smile at the pony she’d once had a crush on. “Where is Starcutter?”

“He stayed in the cave to look for whoever took the energy from the heart,” Flash told them.

“Somepony took the energy inside?” Twilight inquired, a little worried.

Flash nodded. “We got the heart back though, and the Diamond Dogs have been locked up.”

Twilight put a hoof to her chin thoughtfully. “I hope Starcutter finds whoever took the energy. I don’t want to know whatever they have planned to do with it. It can’t be good.”

Flurry Heart stepped forward. “Now that we have the heart back, can we use to make every pony feel better again?”

Twilight nodded. “I guess your coronation is going to have to happen a little sooner than expected.”

Flurry sighed. “I don’t know what kind of ruler I’m going to be… but… if I can be one that looks after her subjects and makes them happy and safe. I guess that’s enough.”

She took the Crystal Heart in her yellow magic. As she began to walk with it, Twilight continued to speak.

“Shining Armor and Cadence would be proud of you for becoming a ruler just like that,” she said. “The best ruler is one… that puts the needs of her subjects before her own desires.”

Flurry looked back at her aunt who smiled at her. Though she noticed Twilight’s eyes appeared sad.

“Something wrong, Auntie Twilie?” Flurry asked, placing the Crystal Heart gently on the ground.

“Oh, I’m fine,” Twilight said. “I was just thinking…”

“About what?” Flurry asked.

“Don’t worry about it, Flurry. It’s my problem,” Twilight said. “Today is all for you, and I want you to know. I’m proud of you.”

Flurry blushed, “I haven’t even done anything heroic like you did.”

“You will make the ponies here happy under your rule. That’s something.”

Flurry smiled at her Aunt and nuzzled her. “Love you, Auntie Twilie.”

“Love you too, Flurry,” Twilight said. “Now if you’ll excuse me. I need to get my students ready.”

She teleported to the Crystal Hotel and walked up to the front desk and spoke with the Greeter.

“Hello, could you tell me which room Moondancer is staying in?” she asked politely.

“Room 236,” the greeter said. “I just gave her and all those students a bunch of keys to the second floor after they finally paid.”

Twilight’s mouth fell open. Her students had had to pay for staying here? She was supposed to cover them! This was not supposed to happen!

Twilight made her way up to Room 236 and knocked on the door.

“Moondancer!” she called. “It’s Twilight.”

The sound of magic being channeled came from inside and the door opened. Moondancer stepped outside.

“I heard the students had to pay! I was supposed to cover that!” Twilight said.

“You weren’t here,” Moondancer said, without anger. “But its no problem. You had royal duties.”

Twilight sighed. “I need to give you access to the school funds in case something like this happens again.”

“You sure you want to trust me with the school funds?” Moondancer joked. “Relax, you can just reimburse the students.”

Twilight nodded. “Alright, I’ll do that. Get them rounded up.”

Moondancer nodded back and pulled out a list she had made with the numbers of each of the student’s rooms on it. She and Twilight went to each one and knocked, bringing the students out into the hall.

“I’m sorry to hear that everypony had to pay, I was supposed to cover the expense of all of you staying the hotel for the duration of our trip,” Twilight apologized. “But I can give you all new Bits.”

She lit up her horn and summoned a large chest full of gold coins. Ordering her students into a line, Twilight gave each of them ten Bits as they came, before doing the same for Moondancer.

“Now that that is taken care of, I have some good news and bad news. The bad news is the Crystal Heart was stolen sometime before we arrived.”

This caused many of her students to gasp.

“But the good news is that thanks to the brave members of the Crystal Empire’s Royal Guard it has been recovered. Unfortunately, the energy was drained from it. Because of this, the Crystal ponies have lost some of their joy and Flurry Heart must restore it as quickly as possible to make them happy again. So, we’re going to have the Coronation as soon as possible. Everypony, follow me.”

Twilight lead her students to the front doors of the hotel. As soon as she opened them however, she received a rather unpleasant surprise. The streets of the Crystal Empire was now being covered in snow!

“Where did this come from!” Silly Sun asked. “It’s nearly summer for Pony’s sake!”

Realization hit Twilight. She was about to say what must have happened. But Luster did first.

“Without the Crystal Heart to protect it, the Crystal Empire will be buried under ice and snow. The heart is what keeps it from freezing like the rest of the artic!” Luster said.

Twilight nodded. “You’ve studied this place, Luster.”

“What do we do? What do we do?” Silly Sun asked. “We’re going to be buried under snow and freeze or starve death. We got to get out of here! To the train station!”

All the other students began to try and scurry out, Moondancer and Twilight had to block the doorway.

“Everypony, please calm down!” Moondancer said.

“Calm down?” one of them shouted. “How can we be calm when our lives are in danger?”

“Because we can fix this!” Twilight said. “Everything is going to be fine! I know what to do.”

The students maintained their worried expressions but hearing of their Princess saying that she knew what to do eased them out of their panic.

Twilight looked at Moondancer. “You get the students to the Castle. Tell everypony, Princess Twilight and Princess Flurry need them there. We need all the Crystal Ponies present to power the Crystal Heart and get rid of this snow. I’m going to try and hold it off until Flurry Heart can get the Crystal Heart powered.”

Twilight flapped her now massive alicorn wings and flew up into the blizzard. She called upon not only her own magic, but also the additional power that Celestia and Luna had given her. She shot a beam of rainbow magic (something that thanks to the sisters magic, she could perform even when her friends weren’t around now) into the immense cloud. But it had little effect aside from creating a hole. She’d been able to vanquish the Wendigos at the same time as defeating Chrysalis, Tirek, Cozy Glow during her greatest battle, but even the combined power of Celestia’s sun, Luna’s moon and Twilight’s friendship magic wasn’t enough destroy natural weather.

Twilight continued to battle the blizzard. But soon her wings and face became covered in ice. She began to lose the ability to fly. Fortunately, she did accomplish her mission. Below her, she saw the Crystal Ponies make their way to the castle. Then a glow came from it and Flurry Heart came soaring up toward her frozen aunt as the streets of the Empire lit up bright blue and the snow melted. Energy flowed throughout the empire, turning all ponies to crystal. It reached Twilight as well, causing her mane change style as it had whenever she’d been affected. Her body shined just as her mane and her wings unfroze. She let out a breath of relief. She smiled at Flurry and the two Alicorns flew back down.

As they landed in front of the repowered Crystal Heart, Twilight saw Starcutter beside Flash Sentry and the other guards. She then turned to the rest of the ponies.

“Thank you, Princess Flurry Heart!” they screamed out in gratitude. “You saved us!”

“If not for you we would have been buried under snow and forced to leave!” one pony said.

They all began to crowd around Flurry and raised her up on their hooves. Twilight watched her niece proudly for a moment as she basked in the love of her subjects. Then she realized something.

Looking over at Starcutter, Twilight said, “You better get Flurry’s crown wherever it is.” The coronation can’t happen without a crown, right?” Twilight asked.

Starcutter hesitated. “Crown?” He hoofplanted. “I forgot to order a crown be made!”

“What?” Twilight said.

That was not good, they couldn’t have the coronation without a crown. Twilight began to feel the need to suddenly pace around.

Fortunately, Flash came to the rescue. “I think Princess Cadence kept a few other crowns in her room! Let me go grab one!”

The orange Pegasus flew off to the top tower as fast as he could. Twilight gritted her teeth nervously. Flurry Heart was set back on the ground by the Crystal Ponies and made her way back to her aunt while Twilight watched her with a nervous smile.

Flurry approached her aunt.

“Well, Auntie Twilie. I think I’m ready,” Flurry said.

“That’s good, Flurry.”

“So… where’s my crown?” Flurry asked.

“It… should be here soon,” Twilight replied.

Sure enough, Flash came flying down with a crown in his hooves. It was a rather large crown with four points on it and a sapphire in the center. But it was beautiful nonetheless, and Flurry could easily have a new one made for herself if she wished. Twilight took it with her magic and lifted it up as Flurry bowed her head. Her aunt set the crown atop Flurry’s head. Slowly she rose and turned to her subjects.

“All Hail Princess Flurry Heart! Ruler and Savior of the Crystal Empire today!” Twilight spoke out.

All the Crystal Ponies bowed to their new ruler.

“You once caused a snowstorm to happen when you were a newborn foal. But today, you saved the Empire from being frozen,” Twilight said. “I think that is a major turn around.”

Flurry giggled, she didn’t remember causing the Empire to almost be frozen but had heard that was the case when her crying broke the Crystal Heart. “I guess.”
*

Two days passed and Twilight’s students were getting on the train to go back to Canterlot. Starcutter and Flash stood by Flurry’s side as she prepared for her aunt to leave, along with her grandparents.

“Can’t believe we missed your coronation, just like the Crystalling!” Night Light said.

“But we’re still very proud of you, Flurry!” Twilight Velvet said. “And your parents would be too.”

Both Flurry’s grandparents were now elderly, their mane had turned gray.

“A pity you couldn’t find who took the energy, Starcutter,” Twilight said. “I don’t want to think about what it could be used for.”

“Me neither Princess,” Starcutter said. “I just hope we’re able to stop… whoever took it.”

Twilight nodded. “I’m sure if we ever find out who took it we will. Now you and Flash take care of my niece please.”

“We will, Princess,” Flash said.

“I swear,” Starcutter said. “I will not let any harm come to her or this Empire if I can prevent it somehow.”
Twilight then got onto the train. Luster sat next to Princess Twilight on the train.

“So, did you enjoy the trip to the Empire Luster?” Twilight asked.

“Oh yes,” Luster said, looking up from her book. “It was amazing to see the Coronation and become like I was made of Crystal for a while.”

“And what did you do yesterday?” Twilight asked. “Did you have fun with your friends seeing the sights? Buy any souvenirs?”

Luster laughed. “Me, buy souvenirs? No, I was busy in the library reading as many books as I could there. They have books there you can’t find anywhere else.”

This surprised Twilight.

“You spent all day in the library rather than with your friends?”

“Friends,” Luster scoffed. “Who needs friends?”

Twilight froze up. Her top student… not interested in making friends!

Authors Notes: Well, figured this would be a good way to set the stage for what happened in The Last Problem. Any comments, error spottings, and feedback are appreciated as always. Hope you all like it.

Twilight paced around her tower nervously. Luster had missed the most important lesson of all, just as she had when she was young. But how was she going to get her to learn about Friendship? Luster needed to that lesson if she was to be the one. She was Twilight’s greatest hope for breaking the curse of immortality and not outliving her friends. But in order to become the new Princess of Friendship, Luster needed to let friendship into her heart.

Twilight racked her brains, not knowing what do. Luster was just like her when she’d been young, she’d considered friendship to be tedious and been more interested in books until… she’d made her own best friends in Ponyville. They had taught her friendship in the first place. None of the lessons from Celestia had done that, so maybe Twilight needed her friends to teach Luster friendship. They could maybe help her get started.

It was worth a try, she decided.

Walking up to her desk, she took a quill and ink.

Dear Spike,

I know you are very busy with your duties as Friendship Ambassador, but I have an emergency back in Canterlot and need you here. Flurry Heart’s Coronation went well, though the Crystal Heart was stolen and we had to move it up a day to prevent the empire from being buried in snow, just like when she was born.

Love your big sister Twilight

Twilight sent the letter, which would in seconds pop out of Spike’s mouth. Now she just had to wait until he arrived in a couple days when her next meeting of the Council of Friendship occurred. And Luster would attending that meeting as well.

Spike:

The purple dragon flew toward Canterlot. It had been nearly two weeks since he’d been home. He’d had to miss his adoptive niece’s coronation in the Crystal Empire. But he had his job to keep the peace as a Friendship Ambassador, flying around settling disputes really kept this dragon busy. As he landed in Canterlot he saw many different creatures in the city. Not only ponies, the city was now home to species from all over Equestria.

He saw Dragons, Griffins, Kirin, and Yaks as well as ponies. Some of them were even in relationships with each other. Spike saw a larger dragon holding a flower up to his pony lover and couldn’t help but smile as he thought back to Rarity. The pony he himself had been in love with for so long when he’d been young. She had never married, being so busy with running her fashion business which had grown so much she was now the top fashion designer in all of Equestria. The business consumed so much of her time she made trips to every part of Equestria managing the stores, just like he himself was so busy as a Friendship Ambassador.

Spike also spotted Twinkleshine in the crowd, one of Twilight’s old friends from Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns. She sat with her hooves around the griffin she was married to as somepony else took her picture while their group of adopted children watched. Spike smiled at the happy ponies around Canterlot, things were so peaceful right now. There hadn’t been any villains appearing since Rhinor, though someone had stolen the Crystal Heart, which meant someone was out there with that energy. Well, whoever it was… if they showed their face Spike was sure Twilight would be able to kick that creature’s butt.

Finally, he reached the throne room and opened the door. Twilight was inside along with one of her servants going over a list of some kind. Likely preparations for some big event coming up, then Spike remembered, it was the festival of the Two Sisters coming up in a couple weeks.

“I got here as fast as I could. But being a friendship ambassador is a full-time job these days. Making peace between the Absidians and Diamond Dogs has not been easy,” he said with a shrug.

“That’s why I picked you for the job,” Twilight said, looking up from behind her scroll. The servant bowed to her and took the list in his magic. She then walked up to him, “But I’m glad you could come.”

They hugged for a moment then both flew up to their chairs. Twilight in her massive throne and Spike on his smaller chair which resembled the throne. The room had been greatly redecorated from how Spike remembered it when he’d been a baby dragon. After all, everything had been destroyed and needed to be rebuilt after the battle with Chrysalis, Tirek, and Cozy Glow who had destroyed this place. The stain glass windows here now showed Celestia and Luna’s sun and moon cutie marks as well as Twilight’s star one, the tree of harmony

“So, what’s the emergency?” Spike asked.

Twilight looked at him sadly. “Ever since I took over Celestia’s school, my focus has been on teaching magic. But now it seems my top student has missed the most important lesson of all.”

Spike knew what she meant, her search for a successor she could give up her immortality to.

“What do you mean?” he asked.

She managed a smile at him. “Let’s just say it will be good to have my royal advisor and friendship ambassador by my side.”

“Your majesty!” a voice called.

The ruler of Equestria and her dragon advisor looked over in the direction of the doors to see Gallus, now a grown up griffin in gold armor with his wings spread.

“She’s here,” he said.

“Send her in Gallus,” Twilight said.

Gallus let his wings fall down and then opened the other door to the throne room. Revealing a pink pony with an orange ponytail. Spike had never met Luster face to face, not since he’d been present for her birth at least. His duties as Friendship Ambassador didn’t give him any chance to help Twilight with her teaching at the School For Gifted Unicorns so he didn’t know any of the students there.

The daughter of Starlight Glimmer and Sunburst wore an expression mixed with nervousness and excitement. She slowly approached the throne, it was her first time being in this part of the castle. She usually only saw Twilight at the school.

“Your majesty,” Luster said as she got closer.

“Luster, I may be the ruler of Equestria. But I’m still just your teacher,”

“And you’ve been wonderful,” Luster rubbed her hoof fidgetingly. “I’ve enjoyed every moment at the school of magic. But… I’m just not sure it’s the right place for me.”

“I see,” Twilight said.

“And its not the work,” Luster elaborated. “I could spend weeks in the library doing research. It’s just that… there’s a lot of focus on making friends.”

“If that’s your problem, you’ve come to the right place.” Spike stood up and grinned.

“But that’s just it. I don’t wanna make friends!” Luster said.

“What?” Spike exclaimed.

Twilight frowned at him, he cast a glance at her and saw her expression saying Let me handle this. He cleared his throat and looked away with a frown, folding his arms.

“So you’d rather leave the School of Magic than make friends?” Twilight asked Luster.

“I was hoping to set off an independent course of study,” Luster said rubbing a hoof to her chin. She’d been thinking a lot of what to say when she’d gotten the summons from Princess Twilight saying they needed a talk. “I want to accomplish as much as you have someday!”

“It will be hard to do that without friends,” Spike said.

“I’m not so sure,” Luster countered. “Friendship looks like more of a distraction than anything else. And ultimately a waste of time!” she smiled after expressing her belief openly. She’d kept that belief hidden so long from her parents, it felt so good to express it openly.

“What?” Spike said again, grasping his head as though his mind was blown.

“I know you and your friends accomplished a lot together. But that was sooo long ago,” Luster said. “And as far as I can see you rule by yourself now.”

“Uh, hello!” Spike said, growing increasingly annoyed. “Royal advisor right here!” he held up the medallion around his neck.

“And I don’t think there is anything wrong with that,” Luster waved her hoof in the air. “In fact, I think its better. Plus if friendship ultimately fade away, why make them in the first place?”

Twilight thought for a moment on her students words.

“You know what Luster Dawn? You’re right.”

“What?” Spike exclaimed for a third time, dropping to his knees. “Friendship is more trouble than its worth?”

He looked at Twilight and whispered to her, “This is your top student?”

She merely smiled calmly and flew over to Luster. It was time to share her wisdom. “Friendships take work, and there’s no guarantee they’ll last.”

She walked out of the throne room for a moment into the hall with more stain glass windows, Luster and Spike following her as she looked at them. There was one showing Twilight defeating Tirek, Chrysalis, and Cozy Glow, as well as the Young Six’s battle with Rhinor, and the latest addition in the middle of Flurry Heart’s Coronation as the ruler of the Crystal Empire.

“It can be complicated, they can be messy, and they never go the way you plan. Friendship is a hard thing to navigate. I remember the first time I realized it might not last forever.”

“You see… when I was done packing all my things for the trip back here to start ruling… I tried to talk to all of my friends… but they were all so focused on their tasks for my coronation. It was like me leaving meant nothing to them.”

Luster nodded as they walked back to the throne. “Exactly, you moved away, your friends didn’t care and that was that.”

“Actually, not exactly,” Twilight corrected. “They came over to my castle and when I told them how I felt they said they were just trying to focus other things to keep their sadness locked up. Then we had to rush to the train station and my friends couldn’t get their tasks done correctly for my coronation. Applejack’s brother Big Macintosh got all the deliveries for the food wrong, Rarity got spiders on my dress, Fluttershy’s animals were out of control, Pinkie’s Pie fireworks ruined the Wonderbolts display and I nearly fell to my death jumping after my crown!” Twilight said.

“Okay I get it now,” Luster said, thinking she understood at last. “Your coronation was such a disaster, you and your friends never really recovered and that’s why you all drifted apart.”

“Well, you’re half right.”

Luster gave a stumped look, not knowing what to think now. “So, your coronation wasn’t a disaster and your friendships just faded away over time?”

“Not exactly,” Twilight said once again.

The door to the throneroom opened and Pinkie Pie stepped in, now older with bags under her eyes. a bunch of party stuff in her hair, a rubber duck and candy in her larger than ever mane, as well as a teddy bear and flags on her tail.

“Sorry I’m late, but it so hard to find a sitter with a sense of humor for Little Cheese.”

Her son Lil Cheese (though he sure looked like a girl with those big eye lashes and pink mane) entered the room, bouncing a rubber chicken on his head. The toy made several squeaks as he played with it before letting it drop to the ground. Rarity was right behind her, she had a strand of gray hair in her mane, but Spike still thought she was breathtakingly beautiful. On her body for some reason, she wore a fur coat.

“Honestly, I would have been here sooner. But you would not believe how busy Yakyakistan is these days.”

They took their place by Twilight’s side as Luster looked shocked to see them in pony. Next came Applejack and Rainbow Dash.

“Maybe we could get to places on time if you let me do some of the chores instead of always doing everything yourself,” the Pegasus said.

Rainbow Dash now had a mohawk style mane and wore a jacket marking her as Captain of the Wonderbolts since Spitefire had retired. Whenever she wasn’t leading the latest generation of Wonderbolts, she was spending time with Applejack as the Cowgirl Pony needed someone to be there for her. With Rarity traveling around Equestria to manage her fashion empire all the time, and Pinkie constantly putting on parties both in Ponyville and planning Canterlot Galas, there wasn’t anypony else to keep Applejack company.

“Maybe I would if you did them the right way,” Applejack shot back in a friendly manner with her rival. She had the same old cowgirl hat, but since Granny Smith had passed she now wore that scarf in memory.

Looking at all the others, she stammered. “Oh! Heh, sorry. We’re not the last ones, are we?”

The answer to that was a portal being opened beside them to the Chaos realm. Fluttershy stepped out of it, her husband Discord was right behind her. Though he merely handed her a sack which she took under wing and gave him a loving smile. The spirit of chaos closed the portal, leaving everypony to their meeting.

“Discord’s heading to an O and O convention,” Fluttershy said. She had a ponytail made of blue flowers in her hair. “Or he’d be joining us.”

Luster looked around at the Mane 5 for a moment, hardly able to believe her eyes. “I just assumed that since you aren’t together all the time now…”

“That we aren’t friends?” Twilight finished.

This caused her friends and her to all laugh.

“That’s not the point of my story,” Twilight continued. “It’s true my coronation as a disaster.”

“So even though everything changed, and you moved away from your friends, you didn’t grow apart? And this is the Council of Friendship? That’s what you’re all doing here?

“Duh! This time every moon!” Rainbow Dash said.

“Heh, what she means is this is how we’ve been ruling together!” Applejack said.

“And how we continue to face every problem and threat to Equestria over the years,” Rarity added.

“But mostly, its how we keep in touch!” Pinkie finished.

Lil Cheese climbed on Spike’s wing and she had to pull him off.

“No matter how busy life gets!”

Twilight took a step closer to Luster. “Sometimes friendships can be hard, and it takes work to maintain them. But without friends, things can be a lot harder.

Luster was now at a loss. “I never thought about friendship being something to work at. And I don’t mind work. I guess… if they don’t have to fade away, maybe making friends isn’t the waste of time I thought.”

She sighed. “But… I’ve been so focused on my studies. I don’t know wear to start.”

Twilight smiled. “That’s alright because I know exactly where to send you.”

Twilight approached her student and started a song.

“When I started out, I was unsure. Thought I knew all that I needed. Didn’t know what to expect.”
Her friends approached her, and she put her large wings around Applejack and Rarity. “But when my walls came down, I saw the truth. All along something was missing.”

Twilight leaned down, looking directly into Luster’s eyes.

“And I think you’ll see it too.”

With a flash, Twilight teleported all of them to the special place where she had learned everything. Ponyville.

“This is where the magic happens. This is where the magic lives.”

Luster looked around her in surprise. Her hometown of Ponyville, she’d known Princes Twilight had lived here for many years before becoming the ruler of Equestria. But she’d always considered it to be an ordinary place with nothing magical happening.

“This is it?” she asked. “This is where I can learn friendship, back in my hometown?”

“Just let your walls down like I did,” Twilight said in a normal voice. “If a pony says hello and waves to you, do the same. Just be friendly. When I first came here, I was just like you were right now. I thought that the fate of Equestria did not depend on me making friends. But then I met these five and when I let the spark of friendship into my heart, we defeated Nightmare Moon. It was then that I knew friendship was the greatest magic of all. From that moment-”

She sung another line, looking at all of her friends. “Our friendships weave together stronger.”

A white Earth Pony with a brown mane and roller skate cutie mark passing by stopped and waved at Luster, who waved back nervously. Then came a light purple Pegasus pony with a golden mane who also waved, seeing these simple gestures of being friendly caused Luster’s heart to be filled with a warm feeling and she managed a wide smile.

“Hello, welcome to Ponyville!” the Pegasus said.

“Thanks, but I’m actually from here,” Luster said. “Though it looks like I need to actually look at it.”

“What have you never seen it before even though you’ve lived here?” the Earth Pony asked.

“I need to look at it from a fresh perspective it seems,” Luster said. “I spent all my time here just staying at home.”

She looked over in the distance where her home was. Twilight’s old castle that she had left Luster’s mother Starlight in charge of. Whenever Luster was here in Ponyville she always tended to stay there in her room studying, isolating herself from this small town and the ponies within it.

“You lived there?” the Earth Pony asked. “Cool! What’s your name?”

“Luster Dawn.”

“I’m Sunflower Flap,” the Pegasus said shaking her hoof.

“Blade Runner,” the Earth Pony with the roller skate cutie mark said. “It was nice to meet you Luster. Sorry, but we got to be going someplace. Maybe we’ll see you around.”

They walked and flapped off. Luster looked down slightly.

“Guess they didn’t like me,” she said.

“I wouldn’t say that Luster. Everypony in town has things to do. You’ve only made an acquaintanceship with those two. That’s how a friendship can start sometimes. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t become best friends with them or somepony right away. I was annoyed with practically all my friends when I first met them,” Twilight said. “But then they became my true friends. If you find true friendship… the result is this…

She sang once again. “The bonds grow deeper, lasting longer. And the Greatest Spell you’ll know is how the magic of friendship grows.”

Pinkie Pie lead them to Sugarcube Corner as Little Cheese jumped on her back. Once they reached it, the Party Pony took over the song.

“And no matter how much time goes by, the party will still be here with some fun new games to try.”

Her son got off and ran to Pound and Pumpkin Cake who were waiting outside along with Pinkie’s husband Cheese Sandwich who was riding on Gummy. Pinkie Pie’s pet alligator was not so little anymore. He was now a massive alligator large enough for both Pinkie and her husband to mount.

The cake twins ruffled Lil Cheese’s hair, and Pumpkin Cake levitated a cupcake with her magic while Pound Cake blew a party straw and Lil Cheese whistled.

“But what’s the party for right now?” Luster asked.

“Why… to show you a good time!” Pinkie said. “You got to have fun with friends in order for it to be a real friendship.”

“Yeah!” Little Cheese said, stepping forward and taking Luster by the hoof. “Come on, lets have a one-minute party!”

He gave her to Pound Cake who forced her to dance while Pinkie and Cheese Sun sang a song unrelated to the one coming in lines to Luster.

“Here in Ponyville we two party lovers who also love each other, work to make every creature smile and laugh. What is life without fun? Boring! You don’t wanna spend your days all bored, because that’s not fun! So, live a little!”

Luster grinned as Pound Cake spun her under his hoof. That brief moment filling her with joy just like when those other ponies had greeted her and she did something she could not recall doing very often. She laughed.

“You laughed!” Pinkie said excitedly.

“Well, yeah. Cause this is fun!” Luster said.

“That is one of the elements of harmony. The one Pinkie represented. Laughter,” Twilight said. “I remember when we went into the Everfree forest in search of the elements of harmony and she made a bunch of scary looking trees. Now, Rainbow Dash? If you wouldn’t mind showing us to Cloudsdale?”

The Pegasus grinned. “Follow me!”

Twilight, Spike and Fluttershy both spread their wings, with Twilight lifting Applejack with her magic, Spike carrying Rarity. Pinkie Pie blew up a load of balloons which she took and Fluttershy took hold of. Luster, meanwhile, used a flying spell her mother had taught her a year ago when she’d been on summer break. Her pinkie body became surrounded in gold magic similar to that of Princess Celestia. They flew up to Cloudsdale where Twilight and Rarity cast cloud walking spells on everypony and Spike.

“Welcome to Cloudsdale, greatest city in the sky,” Rainbow Dash said.

There were places like a weather factory surrounded by storm clouds, a rainbow waterfall. Luster had never had the opportunity to see the places Pegasi lived.

“Sure the weather and rainbows are amazing, but this is the best place!” Rainbow Dash said as they arrived at the Wonderbolt Academy.

“Hey, Rainbow Dash!” somepony in a blue outfit and goggles shouted.

Rainbow Dash narrowed her eyes at him and cleared her throat.

He grinned nervously. “Uhh… sorry. Captain Dash! Ma’am!”

She softened her look to a smile. “You guys better not be lounging around when your captain is away on Friendship Council business!”

“No ma’am!” the pegasi said.

“Good, cause you guys are gonna need to stay in shape if you want to be as cool as the Wonderbolts from my generation were!” she said pointing her hoof.

“And we will work hard, ma’am!”

“Good. Now, assemble the others! I want to put on a little private show!”

“At once!”

Rainbow Dash turned to Luster.

“You just watch and see what we flyers can do when we put some teamwork together!”

“Teamwork?” Luster asked. “Is that another form of friendship?”

Rainbow Dash nodded. “The Wonderbolts back in my day weren’t my best friends, but they were friends, nonetheless. We worked as a team for our stunts and performances just like all of us worked as a team to save Equestria.”

Soon they were sitting the stands. And Rainbow Dash began to flap her wings while the others sat down and watched.

“No matter whether you’re with your best friends… or a team for that matter… there can always be-

She flew up into the sky and through a set of hoops while singing. “Big Adventures waiting, obviously. As long as we’re still here together. We’ll be flying happily.”

She flew through the hoops at great speed, was suddenly in front of them again in the stands until the new generation of Wonderbolts flew by. Rainbow Dash then flew at top speed, leaving a trail of rainbow behind her momentarily. She caught up with them, forming a straight line before the other four broke apart and she flew up higher so that her silhouette appeared in the sun.

The new Wonderbolts flew spectacularly, performing great maneuvers and aerial acrobatics. They moved so fast! Luster could hardly believe her eyes, and Rainbow Dash left a rainbow whenever she flew at top speed. Though eventually even the amazing Pegasus was left panting slightly.

“Good work troops! I think that’s good enough for today! Rest your wings!” Rainbow Dash said.

“Yes ma’am! Thank you! ma’am!” the four members of the Wonderbolts said as one, saluting her with their wings.

As they left the Wonderbolts Academy and Cloudsdale, Luster asked Twilight, “Where to next?”

“My old school of friendship,” Twilight said.

“Oh, where my parents are,” Luster said with a small smile.

“Yes,” Twilight said, grinning nervously just as Luster had when she’d come into the throne room. “Oh, I hope Starlight’s not gonna be mad at me for failing to teach you friendship till now.”

Luster sniggered as she flew. “I doubt my mother could ever be mad at you, Princess.”

They all landed in front of the walkway over the pond in front of the school, resuming their song as one. “This is where the magic happens. This is where the magic lives.”

As they walked up to the door, Silverstream suddenly emerged from the pond, the fins she had turning to talons.

“Hey, look who it is!” she shouted excitedly. “Welcome back, professors!”

“Thank you, Silverstream,” Twilight said. “We’re here to show Luster the school.”

The hipprogriff eyed the unicorn. “Luster, you’re Headmare Starlight’s daughter! How come I’ve never seen you here before?”

Luster smiled. “Guess I tended to avoid anything with the name friendship in it. I just got so annoyed with it. Never actually set hoof in this school.”

“Well time to change that I’d say!” Silverstream said as she opened the door.

Starlight and Sunburst were inside talking. They looked in the direction of the door as it opened. Sunburst still wore his usual wizard-like garment with the stars on it. Starlight had taken to wearing an outfit as well. A black dress with burgundy sleeves and a light blue collar. As the group entered, the couple waved, and Twilight nervously stood beside Starlight as both she and Sunburst turned to their daughter who smiled.

“Hi Mom, hi Dad,” she said.

“Hi honey! We didn’t expect you here!” Starlight said as she approached Luster and hugged her.

“What brings you back home?” Sunburst asked.

“It seems I’ve… failed to teach Luster something at my school of magic,” Twilight confessed. “She needs to learn friendship more. So… I’m sending her back home so she can learn more about it. You two will help supervise her progress, and she will send letters to me as well.”

“Just like you did for Princess Celestia back in the day, huh Twi?” Spike nudged her playfully.

She nodded. “Yes, just like I did.”

“Well, if you’re going to learn about friendship here. Why don’t you come meet some of our students?” Starlight suggested. “Come on.”

Luster stayed near her parents as they lead her down the hall where she caught a glimpse of her Aunt Trixie leading a very small griffin somewhere. Trixie looked over in their direction.

“Luster!” she said. “Coming to visit Auntie Trixie, are you?”

“Here to learn about friendship,” Starlight said. “Seems Twilight couldn’t get the message through herself.”

Trixie sniggered softly. “I heard Luster was your top student. Ah well, guess even the Princess of Friendship can’t teach everypony about friendship the right way.”

Twilight scoffed back at her old rival playfully.

“Well, come meet some of the students,” Starlight said as she led them into a class room past two mares, a yellow Earth Pony with a red mane and bow as well as a scarf, and a white unicorn with a purple and pink mane. Applebloom and Sweetie Belle were now grown up just like Spike. They were no longer the little fillies they’d been when Twilight had lived in Ponyville. They waved at Twilight and the Mane 6 as they approached.

Inside were several ponies, as well as a larger black griffin, and a brown Kirin with red eyes and matching horn, as well as a puffy blue mane. There was also an orange Pegasus with small wings leading the class, she took role, calling out the names of the students as she pointed to them.

“Riversong,” Scootaloo said, pointing to the Kirin as Luster entered the room.

“Here,” the Kirin replied with a friendly smile.

“Iggy!” Scootaloo pointed to the smaller griffon that had been with Trixie moments ago.

“Here,” the little griffon said with a nervous smile.

“Well, that’s every creature accounted for,” Scootaloo said before looking off to the side. “Oh, Headmare Starlight!”

“Hello every creature,” Starlight said. “I have somepony here, I would like all of you to meet. My daughter, Luster Dawn.”

Luster smiled and waved her hoof. “Hello, everypony… er creature.”

“My daughter has been away in Canterlot studying magic under Princess Twilight. But it seems she has not yet learned the importance of friendship.”

There was silence at this. Then the Kirin named Riversong laughed.

“Hasn’t learned the importance of friendship? But you lived in a Castle of Friendship! Your mother teaches at a school of friendship, Princess Twilight is the Princess of Friendship!” Riversong said.

“Yeah, that’s just it!” Luster said. “Ever since I was a filly it was always friendship this and friendship that! I just wanted to become a gifted spell caster like my mom and dad! I wanted to someday become famous like them! I thought friendship was a distraction, but now. I want to give it a try.”

Riversong smiled and got up from desk and spoke in enthusiastic manner, approaching Luster. “Well look no further! I have a feeling you, Georgia, and I are gonna be great friends.”

“Georgia?” Luster asked.

“That’s me,” the black griffin said raising a claw. “How about you come hang out with us after our lessons are done today?”

Luster blushed slightly, she looked at Princess Twilight, who nodded. Then, smiling, she said, “You really want to hang out? Okay.”

“Yay, new friend! New friend!” River Song exclaimed, padding her hooves to the ground excitedly.

Luster smiled. Starlight then looked at Scootaloo.

“Would you mind accompanying us as we show Luster around the school? I think it would be best to have all three of the very first friendship tutors with her for this.”

“Okay,” Scootaloo agreed. “But who’s gonna watch my class?”

“I will!” Silverstream volunteered.

They walked outside, with the two mares that had been outside the classroom, Applebloom and Sweetie Belle joining in.

“Friendship has six things to it, kindness, laughter, generosity, loyalty, honesty, and of course the thing that gives it power… magic,” Sweetie Belle said. “They can be easy to do, but betray one even for a moment than it can damage friendship.”

“Honesty is always important,” Applebloom said, looking at her big sister. “My big sister is the most honest mare I know! You have to always tell the truth to a friend, even if the truth might hurt. Because if you lie, even if its for some good reason, it can never lead to good things happening.”

“My sister’s element is generosity!” Sweetie Belle said. “Not only is Rarity the most beautiful mare there is in Ponyville-

“Was the most beautiful mare! I can hardly qualify as that anymore with this gray strand!” Rarity said, running a hoof through her mane.

“You’re still very beautiful, sis!” Sweetie Belle said. “And you’re willing to give to those in need, which can also coincide with kindness.”

“And you are very kind,” Rarity said, smiling at Sweetie Belle. “Compliments are an example of that.”

“As are simple gestures,” Scootaloo said. “Loyalty of course means you don’t abandon your friend and stay true to them. My sister Rainbow Dash would never abandon her friends.”

“Ah shucks!” Rainbow Dash said, patting Scootaloo’s head.

“And last, there’s laughter! Which is the part that makes friendship fun, like I said before!” Pinkie said.

“Wow, this is a lot to take in,” Luster said.

“Indeed, but perhaps it would be good to actually witness one of these things in action,” Rarity suggested.

They walked into the Courtyard of the School of Friendship. Just in time too. Ocellus the changeling, now full grown like the Cutie Mark Crusaders, Silversteam and Gallus, had a cup of coffee in her hoof which she flew up with to the top of a tree. On top of the tree was an orange dragon slightly smaller than Spike. Smolder had not grown much since her days starting at the school of friendship. She had a rare case of slower growth among dragons. But Smolder didn’t complain, an advantage to being a small dragon was that she wouldn’t have to worry about becoming to large to enter buildings or even crushing them for a while.

She was looking through a telescope, a notepad in her lap, when Occellus brought her the coffee.

“Oh, thanks. I was starting to get tired,”

“You could probably use a break from studying those stars. You’ve been at it for hours,” Ocellus said.

“Yeah, you’re probably right,” Smolder replied, flying off.

Luster smiled. “That was nice. Just watching that makes my heart feel fuzzy.”

“Those two have been friends since they first started going to school here back when I first opened this place,” Twilight said. “They another example of how-

“Our friendships weave together stronger, the bonds grow deeper lasting longer. And the greatest spell there is. What the magic of friendship gives.”

Next, Applejack lead Luster to her family farm.

“We’re not going to be around forever. Everypony leaves this world at some point. But our mission remains, the magic of friendship that will defend Equestria. And its something true to pass on down to generations yet become.”

As she approached the farm where her brother Big Macintosh and his wife Sugar Belle were working, their son Big Sugar jumped out of a barrel of apples and hugged his aunt.

“We didn’t expect you to be back so soon Applejack!” Sugar Belle said.

Applejack chuckled. “Turns out Twilight’s Friendship Council business had to be moved to Ponyville.”

“Well, we’re having hayburgers delivered here for lunch,” Sugarbelle said.

“Yep, you want to have some?” Big Macintosh asked. “The delivery pony can is fast, ah there he is!”

There was a flash as a light-yellow Earth Pony with a hayburger cutie mark ran up at amazing speed. Luster’s mouth fell open as she recognized him.

“Galloping Hayburgers cooked and delievered in just ten minutes no matter where you are in Ponyville!” The Earth Pony said he handed Big Macintosh a sack.

“Thank you Gallop,” Big Mac said as he handed a few bits to the delivery pony who was about to run back the way he came. “Hold on, we might have another order!”

Gallop looked and saw Applejack and Luster. Twilight and all her friends were approaching as well. Gallop gasped at the sight of the group approaching. Luster thought for a moment he was shocked to see Princess Twilight but instead he exclaimed.

“Sweet Celestia! You’re Rainbow Dash!” he said, looking at the Pegasus.

“That’s right!” Rainbow Dash said.

Gallop J. Fry grinned. “I can’t believe its you! You’re the best flyer ever! Hey, if you want a hayburger or anything, I’ll run and get one right now for free.”

Rainbow Dash grinned. “Aw shucks! There’s no need for that! But I think we could all use a little lunch right now, so I’ll definitely take a hayburger!”

“I believe I will as well,” Rarity said.

Princess Twilight and all her friends agreed. Twilight looked over at Luster.

“How about you, Luster? Care for a hayburger?” Twilight asked her student.

“Um… sure.” Luster said, not entirely eager as she looked at Gallop.

The fast food pony looked at her. “Hey, I know you! Didn’t I beat you in a race once than rub it in your face?”

Luster frowned. He remembered her. This was the pony she’d first tried to befriend at her mother’s request, and it hadn’t ended well.

She merely nodded.

Gallop sighed. “Your name was Luster right? Look, I’m sorry if I was a bit of a jerk to you back then. I shouldn’t have been so cocky. Let me make it up to you, you can have your hayburger for free.”

“Really?” Luster asked.

“Yeah!” Gallop nodded before looking around. “Okay, eight hayburgers coming up. I just got to dash over to Yelena.”

“No need!”

A large Yak pulling a cart full of Hayburgers behind her walked up. If Luster had not heard that the voice from the Yak was female, she would have assumed it to be male at first glance.

“Oh, Yalena you finally managed to catch up!” Gallop said to the Yak. “Just in time for a break!”

“You’re the speed I’m the muscle,” the Yak said.

“Well glad you could catch up finally, we got eight hayburgers coming up right here!” Gallop shouted as he ran into the cart and in a flash was making the orders, putting together hay, bread, and condiments. He then put each one on plates and passed them to everypony. All of them but Luster handed him bits. They then sat on tables, with Twilight and her friends sitting at their own table, Big Macintosh, Sugar Belle, and Big Sugar at another, while Luster sat her own with Gallop and Yelena whose break time happened to be now.

“So, I haven’t seen you since we kids, what you been up to?” Gallop asked Luster.

“Yeah, I went to study magic at the school for Gifted Unicorns,” Luster reminded him as she levitated her hayburger.

“Oh yeah, I teased you for focusing to much on magic and not enough on athleticism. Sorry about that again.”

Luster paused for a moment, then sighed. It was probably best to let bygones be bygones.

“Well, see how fast you moved when you arrived and how quick you made those burgers, you sure got fast like you wanted. And I’ve gotten really at magic myself just like I wanted,” Luster said.

“So, are you all done at the school of magic?” Gallop asked.

Luster nodded as she swallowed a bite of the hayburger. “I’m gonna be spending time here studying a new form of magic. At least… new to me. Friendship.”

“Friendship?” Gallop repeated.

“I’m gonna try and make friends, the Princess says it’s the greatest spell there is. Some students at her old school and I are going to meet tonight at sunset and hang out. I think their names are Griselda and Riversong.”

The yak named Yelena gasped. “Griselda and Riversong! Those two Gallop and Yelena’s best friends!”

Luster was stunned, and dropped the hayburger onto her plate. “Really, you two are friends with them?”

Gallop nodded. “Guess if you’re hanging out with them, you’re hanging out with us. Well, we better get the rest of our deliveries done Yelena!”

The fast food pony sped off with the Yak walking far behind. Luster watched them go. Once everypony had eaten their lunch, they resumed Luster’s friendship tour of Ponyville. This time Rarity lead, showing Luster to her boutique.

“With every friendship we win, beautiful things come from it. Ponies and other creatures will do generous things to help each other. The friendships can blossom into something deeper as well. And we’ll never stop believing in the generosity of the friendships we’ve won.”

As she approached her original home base shop and knocked, Yona, now a very large adult Yak emerged with her pony husband Sandbar. The friendship they’d had developed into true love now. Luster was surprised for a moment, seeing a pony and yak actually married. But she shrugged, it seemed love could happen between any creature, whether they were the same species, or even same gender. She’d heard of such things before. Though it seemed strange, it was not up to her to judge.

The last stop was at Fluttershy’s cottage. Which was more full of animals than ever. Deer, snakes, and all other kinds.
“And because the love that I feel for every single living creature, is something that is real. Friendship happens so naturally.”

A bunch of bunnies jumped upon Luster as though they liked her. Then when Fluttershy approached, the bunnies went over to her. Luster lost her smile momentarily at losing her new friends, but they weren’t in any way lost forever. Just going over to somepony else. One of the bunnies remained on Fluttershy’s head, and a portal opened, showing Discord who grinned at Luster before flying off somewhere.

Twilight flapped her wings and sang once more.

“Oh, and how I used to wonder… what friendship could be.”

Gathering together on the hill overlooking Ponyville, the Mane 6 finished their song together.
“This is where the magic happens. This is where the magic lives. Our friendships weave together stronger, the bonds grow deeper lasting longer. And the greatest spell you’ll know is how the magic of friendship grows.”

“How the magic of friendship grows,” Twilight concluded as she nuzzled Luster a final time.

"Thank you, Princess," Luster said. "I feel like... like I might enjoy friendship after all."

"Good," Twilight said. "Now go."

The sun was now setting over Ponyville, and Luster’s new friends had gathered below the hill, waiting for her. Her student ran off to the four new friends she’d made. Gallop, Georgia, Yelena, and River Song. One less than Twilight had made when she’d come to Ponyville so many years ago, but that didn’t matter. Five, six, seven, friendship was strong no matter how many it was among. The Future Five than walked to Ponyville while the Mane 6 and Spike watched proudly.

Today was the dawn of a new era for Luster, and the beginning of her true journey. Twilight could only hope that it would go well as she watched her student wave goodbye and walk off to spend some time getting to know her new friends.

Wow, 4400 words! That’s a chapter record! Hope you guys enjoy this! I’d say this fic is only a quarter done if that. Soon we’ll get into some real action. Hopefully I’ll be able to get a chapter like this done every week. I will also be doing additional updates on Passing On Together as I hope to get it accepted onto Equestria Daily at some point.

Luster’s friends names were ones I heard from an artist on Deviantart. Though looking at the MLP wiki I saw the griffon already had a name of Griselda apparently. But I’m gonna stick with the name I heard beforehand. The griffin was said to appear in a couple episodes like The Treasure of Griffonstone, but that makes it seem a little strange for her to be at the School of Friendship in the Last Problem, as well as looking the same age. Ah, I’ll just say it’s a different griffin that has the same basic appearance. Minuette or other background ponies appeared as different species a couple times if I recall, so what the heck?

Chapter 15: Bucking Over Luster

From then on, Luster was back in her hometown of Ponyville. She’d been so blind before, as though her eyes had been glued shut to the magic here. But now she looked with open eyes at the magic of friendship. Everywhere she looked she saw happiness in some form or another.

Her new friends would come to the Castle of Friendship where she lived almost every day. Whenever she exited the Castle doors after her mother made her breakfast, Luster would find them all waiting for her outside with a bright smile from River Song who tapped her hooves excitedly as Luster came down the short pathway from the castle to them to them.

“Luster’s coming! Luster’s coming!” River Song sang. “Let’s make her bust for friendship!”

She suddenly ran up and tackled Luster to the ground. The pink pony smiled up at her Kirin friend. Behind her, Starlight suddenly chuckled as she watched.

“What’s so funny Mom?” Luster asked.

“I remember I was tackled to the ground like that by Pinkie Pie after I… became Twilight’s student,” Starlight said.

Trixie giggled. “You mean after she defeated you and turned you from being a bad pony to a great and good one!”

Starlight frowned at her. “Trixie!”

“What, it’s the truth!” Trixie said. “Come on. That all happened a long time ago and you’re a different pony now!”

“We all are,” Sunburst agreed. “Time can really change a pony.”

Luster nodded as she got up. Just a week had passed since she’d been summoned to Princess Twilight’s throneroom and gained a new perspective on friendship. She had always been annoyed with friendship since it popped everywhere since she’d been a filly. Now she saw it as a lovely thing rather than a waste of time.

She looked around her at her new friends. Gallop gave her a wide grin. Yelena and Georgia small smiles. Luster smiled back.

“See you later,” she said to her family and waved goodbye just like she had a few days ago for the Princess.

Twilight had returned to Canterlot after Luster had made her new friends with the help of the Friendship Council. She would be expecting Luster’s first letter tonight on what she learned about friendship, and Luster wasn’t even sure where to begin. There was so much to tell it seemed.

“So where are we going to go today?” Luster asked.

Gallop laughed. “With how fast I can run, why not everywhere?”

They all shot him strange looks and he chuckled. “Just pulling your hooves… or claws! I know we could never go everywhere in one day! At least you guys couldn’t! Afterall, I’m the three-year winner of first place for the Running of the Leaves!”

“Careful there, Fry,” Georgia said, as she flew next to the rest of them. “You keep bragging like that you could bite off more than you can chew someday. But seriously, where are we going?”

“How about the Buckball field?” Yelena suggested.

“Works for me!” River Song said. “After that we can go swimming!”

They headed to one of the Buckball fields in Ponyville Park where groups of friends played sports. Traditionally Buckball would be played with a unicorn, pegasi, and Earth Pony. But their group wasn’t made of all ponies and they were an odd number.

“Uh-oh. Yelena see problem!” Yelena said. “There five of us now!”

“Oh yeah, since Luster’s with us now that means we won’t have even numbers anymore,” Gallop said. “Ah, well that makes things easier for me to win with her on mine and River Song’s team!”

“What do you mean your team?” Georgia said.

“Yeah, you already have one magic user on your team!” Yelena said pointing to River Song. “Luster should be on our team!”

“No! Luster goes with me because I’m the first to always hug her!” River Song said, putting a hoof around Luster.

“Hey, does that mean you’re going against me?” Gallop asked.

“Yeah! I think its time for a magic duo round! Lets see what you guys can do when you face a unicorn from the school for gifted ones and her Kirin sidekick!” River Song said. “Ha, and I just made sure Luster would take me! Because she’ll be in charge!”

“Ah, come on Luster! With your magic and Yelena’s strength we’d be unstoppable!” Yelena said.

“My speed is better than her strength!” Gallop objected.

“I can fly!” Georgia said spreading her wings.

“Luster goes with me!”

“No, me!”

“Yelena!”

As her friends began fighting over her, Luster’s eagerness for the game suddenly turned into nervousness. The voices made her feel like the world was closing in one her. Her eyes closed as her heart began to beat rapidly.

“Quiet!” she screamed. “You expect me to choose one of you? Well, how can I? You’re all my friends!”

There was silence as her friends faces filled with remorse.

“Sorry Luster,” River Song said.

“Yeah, sorry. Didn’t mean to put pressure on you,” Gallop apologized.

“Yelena sorry!”

“I’m sorry, it was lame of me to try and fight friends over another friend,” Georgia said.

“So, what do we do about this odd number and which team Luster plays on?” River Song asked looking around.

The Future Five were silent for a moment. Luster put a hoof to her chin. Then gasped as a solution came to her.

“How about we all take turns playing each other with me on each team? One of us can sit out so that its fair and the other team doesn’t outnumber the other.”

“Yelena think that great idea! That way its fair for all of us!” Yelena said.

Every other creature nodded.

“So, who are you going to team up with first?” River Song asked. “Please be me! Please be me!”

Luster grinned sheepishly.

“Oh alright, since you’re the most eager!”

“Yay!” River Song hugged her again.

“Well if it’s a magic team first let’s go get em with speed and strength Yelena!” Gallop suggested.

“Yelena with Gallop!” the yak said high hoofing the fast food pony.

Georgia flew off to the side and rested on the grass to watch the first round of the magic vs. earth Buckball game. In old-style Buckball, where there were three players of earth ponies, pegasi, and unicorns. But the game had evolved to fit certain other styles in recent years. Luster took the front position for offense while River Song hung back, levitating the bucket for the ball to be thrown in by the opposing team. On the other side, Gallop took the front while Yelena held the bucket in her hooves. Luster would use her magic to levitate the ball, while Gallop would try and use his hooves. While there was no other earth pony player, Luster would have to use her own hooves and not magic when the ball was in Gallops possession.

She and Gallop walked up to each other to the middle of the field where they placed the ball. Luster had seen how fast Gallop moved, if he got past her there was no way she would be able to keep up. She was not athletic like the Earth Pony was.

“Hey,” Gallop said. “Even if I totally knock your tail today, just try and enjoy it. That’s more important to me than winning.”

She smiled at him. “Thanks.”

He seemed to blush slightly. “I’ll go easy on you too, I know you aren’t as fast. It wouldn’t be fun if I won too easily.”

They assumed ready stances. Gallop kicked the ball toward River Song’s side of the field. Luster dashed in that direction, Gallop hung back a moment, letting her get a few seconds head start before charging out. Luster just managed to make it, she looked back and saw him coming. Quickly taking the ball with her magic, she ran with it back in the other direction. Gallop dove for the ball, but Luster managed to get it out of his path and run past him. He turned around just as she threw it great precision into the bucket Yelena held.

"One point to Luster and River Song!” Georgia called out.

“Nice one, Luster!” Gallop said, giving her a high hoof which she accepted with a smile.

Yelena took the ball out of the bucket and shouted, “Here ya go!”

She kicked it with the strong force of a yak. It came at Luster like a meteor and hit her. Luster let out a grunt as she flew back with the ball. She hit the ground with a soft thud.

“Ow!” she said.

“Luster!” River Song called.

All of Luster’s friends gathered around her.

“Yelena sorry Luster!” Yelena said. “I didn’t mean to hit you that hard! Or at all! We yaks sometimes too strong for Pony friends.”

"Are you hurt badly?” Georgia asked, putting a caring claw on Luster.

Luster took a deep breath.

“It’s okay, I’ll be fine!”

She got up on her hooves. The pain lasted for a few minutes but soon began to fade. If that had been a harder object it might have bruised, but a rubber ball was nothing. Luster rotated between her friends as they did games seeing who could get the best three out of five. When Georgia switched with Gallop, Luster used her magic to fly just like she had during the trip to Cloudale, holding the ball in her hooves before getting close enough to throw it into the bucket. They continued to play till lunchtime. Gallop had packed them all hayburgers which they ate with pleasure. Luster’s mane was now messed up and ruffled, her body sweating and dirty along with the others.

“Whoo! I could use a bit of a clean-up,” she said.

“We all could!” River Song added. “How about we go swimming in the river after this?”

“Sounds like a good idea!” Gallop agreed.

They headed for the river that ran through Ponyville and jumped in. The summer day ensured it was a good temperature. They swam around and splashed each other, laughing. Luster soon climbed out and shook.

“This was so much fun today you guys!” she said. “Thanks.”

They all smiled at her.

“It’s probably getting close to noon,” Gallop said. “I have to get to work at the Hayburger Delivery!”

“That means Yelena got to go too!”

“I think we all have to head home!” Georgia said.

Luster smiled. “Well, it was fun today. I think I know what to send Princess Twilight for my first friendship report.”

Her friends all hugged her before splitting. Luster made her way back to the Castle of Friendship. Starlight was in the living room with Sunburst, the two of them were kissing and holding each other lovingly. Luster smiled at her parents. Sunburst opened his eyes and broke the kiss once he saw his daughter.

“Oh, how was your day Luster?” Starlight asked, with what looked like a nervous expression.

“It was fun!” Luster said. “We played a game of Buckball and then went swimming!”

“You enjoyed it than?” Starlight asked.

Luster nodded. “And I think I’m ready to send a letter to Princess Twilight. Do you want to hear it!”

“Of course,” Sunburst said.

Luster took a sheet of paper and quill with her magic before beginning the letter.

Dear Princess Twilight,

This first week back in Ponyville has opened up my eyes to many things I was too blind to see before. Friendship used to make me so annoyed all the time, but now that I actually have four real friends… I feel my heart fill with more joy than all that time I spent reading books. We played Buckball today, all of my friends wanted me on their team. It felt good to have somepony… or creature… want me. I also learned that friendship can sometimes be a little painful, got hit by a ball thrown by my Yak friend Yelena… boy she packs a punch! But still, I see that the magic of friendship is a powerful thing and can’t wait to learn more about it.

Your faithful student,

Luster Dawn.

“Lovely, Luster,” Sunburst said.

Luster cast a spell on the paper, sending it to the Princess. In Canterlot, Twilight opened it with a smile just as Celestia had done for her back in the day.

Well, thought I’d just have some fun with Luster’s friends and try to start developing character for each of them. I figured that if this follows the same pattern as the Mane 6 they would have to embody traits of the elements. Tried to incorporate some of those things here by showing Yelena thinking about fairness (another form of honesty), Georgia caring for Luster (kindness), River Song being funny (laughter). I think I’ll have Gallop be loyalty though I didn’t show that here, ah well, come later. Luster will of course be magic. As for generosity, I will probably have one of them share that trait with their other element. It was shown that Celestia and Luna were able to wield multiple elements at once so there’s no rule against that.

I’ll try and post another chapter as soon as possible. But right now I need to get my next story started for the Daybreaker at a Canterlot Wedding series as well as modify Passing On Together to try and get it accepted onto Equestria Daily. Also, I think I’ll start a Fairy Tail fanfic sooner or later.

Two cloaked figures made their way through the Everfree forest, one draped in blue, the other black. Both of them had red eyes under their hoods. The one in black carried a heavy bag on his back.

“Why exactly…” Sombra grunted as he carried the bag on his back followed the former Emperor of Equestria. “Must we leave the Crystal Empire? Why not take it now? We already have Starcutter there as a puppet advisor to that usurper Flurry Heart! We could take it from her anytime!”

“Patience, Sombra. We must not rush. I’ve waited millennia for the chance to take over Equestria again. With Celestia and Luna dead, two young inexperienced alicorns ruling Equestria and the Crystal Empire, I think the time is approaching fast,” Grogar said. “But in order to take over Equestria, we need numbers.”

“The Crystal Guards can provide those numbers!” Sombra snapped. “I could easily brainwash them with my magic.”

“Yes,” Grogar agreed. “But Princess Twilight would recognize your magic on the Crystal Guards. We must be subtle, work our plan slowly and carefully so that when we strike there will be no chance of defeat. We will recruit more to our cause. This is why we must go here to the Everfree forest where monsters… my children… thrive.”

They suddenly came to a stop a clearing.

“This should be good,” Grogar said. “Open the bag of monster bait!”

Sombra frowned.

“This servants work is beneath me! We should have brought Starcutter along to carry this!”

“Starcutter is too valuable to me to risk suspicion to… yet. He advises Princes Flurry Heart and serves as my eyes to the outside world as well as a trainer for future soldiers that will belong to you,” Grogar reminded him. “Remember… aid me and I will restore you to your throne forever.”

“Fine!” Sombra said. “But next time have somepony else be your beast of burden!”

“If all goes well today during the festival, we shall have one. No quit stalling!”

Sombra sighed. “Fine.”

He levitated the bag off his back, cut it open and dumped its contents out. A foul smell stench quickly filled Sombra’s nostrils. He covered his nose with an armored hoof while Grogar grinned. For a time, they waited, then eyes began to appear throughout the bushes and in the dark areas of the forest.

Grogar laughed. “My children! I have a mission for you today!”
__________________________

“Luster! Wake up, honey!” Starlight called through the castle hallways. “We need to get ready for the Festival of the Two Sisters! I don’t need to remind you that Twilight’s coming to Ponyville for it this year, do I? And that you’ve been given the honor of helping me oversee everything?”

“Course not mom!” Luster called as she emerged from her room.

Starlight walked her daughter to the Castle doors where Sunburst and Trixie were already waiting. The family walked out into Ponyville. It was still dark outside, as the Festival of the Two Sisters would start when Twilight arrived and rose the sun. But all the ponies and other creatures had been hard at work decorating the town with banners showing the sun and moon as well as depictions of two ponies, a white one with a multicolored mane and a blue one with a blue mane. The depictions showed the two ponies with manes sparkling like Princess Twilight’s did. Luster had been born less than a year after the former Princesses had passed away at over a thousand years old. They’d left their thrones in Twilight’s hooves, gone to Silver Shoals and then aged rapidly for some reason before leaving this world. Luster wished she could have met the two princesses.

She knew this festival had once been known as the Summer Sun Celebration, its original purpose being to celebrate Celestia defeating her younger sister Luna who had transformed into Nightmare Moon and tried to overthrow her elder sister. After Twilight defeated Nightmare Moon with her friends, the purpose of the festival was reworked to celebrate their reunion. Now… it served as a way for Equestria to remember them after they were gone.

Starlight and Luster looked over the preparations. Luster saw Gallop and Yelena with their hayburger cart, Georgia and other flying creatures were in the sky clearing out any clouds. Rarity,Sandbar, and Yona were decorating the town with ribbons and other gorgeous accessories. River Song was in a choir singing the song of the two sisters with a number of students from the School of Friendship lead by Sweetie Belle.

“Oh, once there were two Royal Sisters, the elder raised the sun, the younger the moon. Celestia and Luna, their sisterly bond could be broken. They defeated Discord that chaotic menace!”

“I heard that!” Discord’s voice said as he appeared from out of a fabric of reality as a part of the song. This caused Luster and Starlight to giggle.

“And Sombra that dark king. They banished him away to save the Crystal Empire, though sadly it vanished with him. Peace endured for a long time, and the two sisters were loved. But than Luna turned looney, she was jealous of her sister for being more loved. The Princess of Dreams turned into a nightmare from the moon and was sent there. Celestia missed her sister, and waited a thousand years for her return. Sending a young unicorn here to meet friends. The nightmare returned when the sun did not rise. But six ponies stood against it and brought back the light. The Nightmare ended, Luna returned and the two sisters were together again!”

The crowd watching the choir clapped.

“Bravo! Bravo!” Starlight said. “I believe you are more than ready tonight!”

Seeing the Stewardess of the Castle of Friendship approve caused the singers to smile. River Song tapped her hooves excitedly.

“I’m ready! I’m ready!” she said.

“Good job, everycreature! Everything looks good to go!” Starlight said as she looked around the Festival.

Luster approached River Song.

“That was some good singing, River Song!”

The Kirin giggled. “Well what do you expect, song in is my name after all. If I were a pony I’d probably get a cutie mark with a river and a musical note on it.”

Luster smiled. “I could picture that.”

“Do you think the Princess will like my singing? Do you? Do you?” River Song asked. “I hope she does! Maybe I’d be allowed to be her personal entertainer someday!”

“Okay let’s not get carried away,” Luster said. “Lets just wait for her too arrive.”

“Uh… hate to interrupt but something IS arriving and its not Twilight!” Trixie said pointing toward the Everfree forest.

Looking in that direction. Luster’s jaw dropped as she saw not one, but a group of monsters coming their direction. Among them, Luster spotted a Manticore, Chimera, a Roc, and a group of Timberwolves, all with red eyes. They charged at Ponyville, trampling the houses and tearing things apart.

“Ahh! Monster attack! Run for your lives!” somepony screamed.

Many of the ponies began panicking, while more brave ones like Starlight stood their ground.

“Luster, you get somewhere safe!” Starlight ordered, bringing blue magic to her horn.

“But mom, I can fight!” Luster protested.

“No!” Starlight said. “You’ve never been in a fight before! I have! You get somewhere safe!”

She surrounded herself in blue magic and flew towards the monsters, quickly joined by Rainbow Dash and Applejack.

“I don’t know where you monsters came from or why you’re working together! But you’re not gonna ruin the festival of the two sisters!” Rainbow Dash said as she flew at the Roc, hitting the giant bird hard and causing it to Squawk.

Applejack ran at the Chimera.

“Yehaw! You remind me of a monster that tried to eat my little sister when she was a filly! I know how to handle you bad boys!”

She drew a flute and played it. Normally this would have put the tail which was the head of a snake to sleep. But instead of falling over, the tail snakehead remained up right and stuck out its tongue with a hiss. It lashed out at Applejack, narrowly missing her. The cowgirl threw a piece of ricotta at the goat head, but it simply bounced off.

“This monster ain’t right!” Applejack said. "Yer snake head should go to sleep!"

Fluttershy appeared, flapping her wings as she approached the manticore.

“Now now, I’m sure we can find some way that doesn’t involve fighting.”

The Manticore roared at her and flung its scorpion tale, which she dodged.

“Please?”

Starlight, flanked by Sunburst and Trixie, shot beams of magic at the Timberwolves. Seeing this reminded Luster of that time when she’d gone monster hunting in the Everfree forest and they’d all had to come and save her. But she wasn’t a little filly anymore. She charged in and shot a beam of gold magic at the manticore attacking Fluttershy.

“Oh, thank you Luster!” Fluttershy said. “It seems this manticore is too mean to tame with kindness! Well let’s see how he likes this!”

She flew up into the manticores face.

“You stop this right now!” she screamed.

The usually shy pony gave the monster her signature stare which was enough to frighten even a dragon. But for some reason it didn’t work on the manticore who simply roared back. Fluttershy whimpered and flew away.

“My stare usually works!” she said as she hid behind Luster.

The Manticore charged. Luster teleported herself and Fluttershy out of the way. The manticore crashed into the tables that had been prepared for the festival causing the hayburgers Gallop and Yelena had prepared to fall to the floor. The Earth Pony and Yak noticed this from their hiding place.

“Our food!” Gallop said.

“No monster messes with Yelena’s hayburgers!”

The two of them charged out with cries of fury and began to hit the Manticore with their hooves. Luster rushed to help her two friends, as did Georgia and River Song. The Manticore raised its tall at Yelena, the yak was too slow to move out of the way, but Luster was there with magic to the rescue. She took hold of the Scorpion tale and pulled on it, grunting. The strength of the creature was too great for her to hold, until River Song added her magic to Luster’s. Together the unicorn and Kirin managed to stick the tail into the ground while Georgia scratched the Chimera’s face with her claws.

“It would be uncool of me to let some monster attack my friends!” the griffin said.

“Ow! Ow!” the monster suddenly spoke and stopped attacking, its red eyes turning normal looking around as though it had just realized where it was. “Arrgh! Where am I?”

“You’re in Ponyville, and you ruined our festival!” Gallop said raising a hoof.

“I did? I’m sorry!” the manticore said.

“Why were your eyes all red?” River Song asked.

“Eyes red? I don’t know,” the manticore said. “I just want to go back home.”

“Well Manticore go home after Yelena done with you!” the yak said.

“Wait!” Georgia said. “He said sorry for ruining our festival, and that red glow is gone. It looks like something was wrong with him.”

“You’re right, Georgia,” Luster said. “Manticores eyes don’t glow red. Unless… you were under some sort of mind control?”

“Well, we don’t need to hurt him anymore.”

“I can go?” the manticore asked.

Georgia nodded. “Yes, go. I’m sorry for scratching you up, but you were attacking my friends.”

“Thank you, and sorry for that as well.”

The manticore ran back to the Everfree forest. Around Luster and her friends, the other monsters were starting to gain ground. Starlight, Sunburst and Trixie were sweating, the Timberwolves somehow resistant to their magic. The beams they shot didn’t break the wolves apart. Rainbow Dash was in the talons of the roc, and Applejack in full retreat from the Chimera.

“What do we do Luster?” Gallop asked. “We got to help them!”

Luster gritted her teeth. “I-I don’t know!”

River Song suddenly took Luster’s hoof. “Everycreature hold hooves, or claws! I think its time we see if we can use the magic of friendship!”

They did as the Kirin said, putting their hooves (or claws in Georgia’s case) together.

“Come on! We’re all friends!” River Song said. “And you know what they say, friendship is magic!”

The Kirin’s horn lit up and she shot a beam from it. But it was just her ordinary blue magic. Not some grand rainbow laser. It hit the timberwolf, causing it to stagger, but the foul-smelling monstrosity shook it off and kept moving in on Luster’s family.

Suddenly a beam of magic shot down the Roc, causing it to release Rainbow Dash.

“The Princess! We’re saved!” River Song jumped up.

Up in the sky, Twilight Sparkle was flying. A look of fury on her face as she looked at the monsters, her body glowing white. Rainbow Dash, Spike, Fluttershy as well as Rarity, Pinkie Pie and Applejack all levitated up to her, drawn by the magic as though they were magnetized.

“No pony or monster hurts Ponyville!”

She let out a wave of magic that sent all the monsters back to their home in the Everfree forest than came down.

“What happened here?”

“Monster attack,” Starlight said as she approached the Princess. “Afraid the festival got a little trampled.”

Luster looked around and saw the damage the monsters had done. In addition to the food scattered around on the streets, the banners were torn, some of the houses bashed in, fences broken.

“Sorry Princess Twilight, we tried to make the monsters go away with the magic of friendship. But it didn’t work, and the festival got ruined.” Luster said.

Twilight merely chuckled. “It’s alright Luster. You can’t expect to be able to use a rainbow laser after just having friends for a couple weeks. There is still much more for you to learn. Don’t worry about the festival, I know someone who can fix all of this in a snap.”

Moments later, Discord appeared and with a snap of his fingers everything was the way it was before the monsters came, Gallop’s mouth watered as he looked at the restored hayburgers. Twilight smiled at the spirit of chaos, then raised her horn and rose the sun.

“Let the Festival of the Two Sisters begin!” Twilight said.

The crowd cheered. Gallop and Yelena immediately began feasting on the Hayburgers.

____________________

With the monster’s clearing the road of any travelers and attacking in Canterlot as well as Ponyville to scare off or distract any who got in their way, Grogar and Sombra stepped out of the Everfree forest. The father of monsters had taken control of a good many of his children and given some of them a slight enhancement to make them more difficult to deal with. They made their way to their destination undeterred, the outskirts of Canterlot in the meadow where Twilight Sparkle had achieved her greatest victory against the three villains, Queen Chrysalis, Lord Tirek, and Cozy Glow. All of whom were now encased in stone.

Grogar looked around and saw no one within sight. There were distant sounds of monsters roaring and screams. Now was the time. He lowered his hood and lit up his horns, firing a spell at the statues. The stone around them began to fade away, a few pieces falling to the pedestal they stood on. Chrysalis who had been in a lunging position, lost her balance and fell to the ground while Lord Tirek and Cozy looked at themselves for a moment and let out breaths of relief.

“We are free!” Tirek said before looking at the two cloaked figures before them. He let out a gasp.

“Are you…”

“The REAL Grogar!” Grogar said as he grinned. "And you all serve me now!"

There was a flash of light and all of the villains vanished before the newly freed trio could say a word.

Chrysalis, Tirek, and Cozy Glow found themselves in a familiar area. It was Grogar’s lair, or rather, the lair that Discord had summoned them too when he had pretended to be the ram.

“So… you’re not Discord in disguise?” Tirek asked.

“No!” Grogar stated. “I am not. I am the true father of monsters! Witness!”

He raised a hoof in the direction of the cave entrance. Sure enough, dozens of monsters walked in through it. Seeing them, Cozy shivered and hid under Tirek’s hoof. The centaur showed visible fear as well. Even Chrysalis knew there were too many, she might have considered herself scarier than any of them alone but with so many monsters there even she was not arrogant enough to assume she could win in a fight.

The monsters all approached Grogar, whose eyes lit up a brighter red. The monster’s eyes did the same, but he was not using the Ruby of Reign to control them like he was Star Cutter.

“All monsters bow to their father’s wishes!” he said. “You briefly served that imposter Discord when he gathered all of you here under the guise of offering you a chance to crush Twilight Sparkle and her friends. I offer you the same, but I mean it truthfully! Discord merely meant to use you to help Twilight Sparkle gain confidence in herself. Join me, and I will return to you your places of power that you once held or sought to hold. Refuse, and I will have my children devour you!”

The freed villainous trio looked at the monsters who all growled softly. It was certainly a display for any creature to be able to control so many monsters at once. They had come close to ruling Equestria when working as a team, if not for the arrival of nearly every creature in Equestria they would have destroyed the Mane 6 and their dragon friend that day.

Cozy slowly flew out from under Tirek. “I’ll join! I don’t want to be monster food!”

“Same!” Tirek said. "Anything for a chance at revenge!"

Chrysalis scoffed. “Well, I suppose if the three of us came close to ruling Equestria together we would fare even better if we have an army behind us. But how do we know this isn’t you trying to pull some trick, Discord? As powerful as he is, he could likely control monsters somehow.”

Grogar growled. “Watch.”

He put his hoof on the Crystal ball that still remained in the lair. An image played out of what was happening in Ponyville.

***

Luster sat with her friends eating the hayburgers that had been put back in place by Discord. She’d been afraid of eating them for a moment since they’d been on the ground. But the Lord of Chaos assured everypony that any damage or contamination they might have acquired due to being dropped would have been eliminated by his magic. Gallop gorged himself on the hayburgers. With help from Discord’s chaos magic, Twilight split the sky so that night appeared on one side and day on the other like that time when the tree of harmony had been dying. Several ponies were wearing fake multicolored manes to resemble Celestia, or blue ones to represent Luna. There was coat painting as well where stylists made anypony resemble whichever of the two sisters their preferred, Celestia and Luna, as well as Nightmare Moon. On the night side of the festival, Trixie and a group of unicorns put on a fireworks display, occasionally showing faces of the two sisters. Little fillies and colts would excitedly run back and forth between the two times of day. Some even recreated the battle between Celestia and Nightmare Moon.

“I shall be the one pony to rule Equestria! The night shall last forever!” a filly painted black to resemble Nightmare Moon declared as she threw a soft foam tube meant to resemble a magic beam at a Celestia player.

“Please sister! I don’t want to fight you!” the Celestia player said as she blocked the projectile.

“Then surrender your rule!”

“Never. I must maintain harmony in Equestria!”

The Celestia players took up plastic elements of harmony and surrounded the Nightmare Moon ones.

“I banish you to the Moon!”

“NOOO!”

The hours seemed to go by quickly for Luster. Time sure sped up when somepony had real fun. Princess Twilight began her farewell speech in front of Town Hall. Luster left her friends and walked over to where her mother stood at the front.

“I hope you have all enjoyed today’s Festival of the Two Sisters. And as always, I would like to thank my first ever pupil and Stewardess of my old castle, Starlight Glimmer, for putting it together.”

Luster looked over to her mother and saw Starlight seemed to be blushing. She wrapped a hoof around her mother.

“The Princess is proud of you, Mom!” she said than grinned. “It feels good to make your mentor proud doesn’t it?”

“Yes,” Starlight agreed. “You know, it’s ironic. I was Twilight’s first ever pupil, and now you’re her star pupil.”

Luster smiled. “Maybe I’m her star pupil because I get it from you. You are a Star after all.”

They chuckled and nuzzled each other as Twilight continued.

“Though the time of Celestia and Luna has come and gone, as all of ours will someday, somehow, we will keep the memory of them alive through this festival. Celestia and Luna ruled us for a very long time and would want us to enjoy our lives everyday. They shall never be forgotten, for they have watched over Equestria for a long time, and I believe they watch us even now… even if we can’t see them.”

Twilight looked up at the sky, as though imagining the spirt of her mentor and Luna were up there somewhere. Discord let out a few tears.

“I miss those two. I had such fun tormenting them back in the day!” he said.

“Celestia taught me so much, which I hope to be able to share with the current generation. Not only with ponies, but every creature in Equestria so that they know the magic of friendship. Even when somepony is gone, if their work remains after they are than that is what is important. I will protect Equestria in their place for as long as I have to.”

***

“You see? Discord is in Ponyville with Princess Twilight Sparkle and her friends,” Grogar said.

“So, I see,” Tirek said with his arms crossed. “Enjoying their little festival.”

“How did Celestia and Luna even die? I thought they were immortal?” Cozy asked. “Not that I’m complaining. Two less Princesses for us to worry about.”

“That Cadence is gone too, thanks to me!” Grogar proudly stated.

“But that sow Starlight Glimmer has a daughter now!” Chrysalis spat, seeing Starlight nuzzle the younger pink pony. It filled her with fury seeing her nemesis so happy. But the fury quickly turned to an evil look of intrigue as an idea occurred to her. “Hmm… they say a mothers love for their child is the strongest thing. I will take her daughter from her! What better way to pay her back for stealing my hive?”

Cozy and Tirek looked at her in surprise, while Grogar smiled.

“Patience, Chrysalis,” the ram sorcerer said. “You will have your revenge in time. In fact, I will let you take your time. Have fun with it. Enjoy it. Revenge, your hive, and more will be given to you.”

The changeling Queen grinned.

“I look forward to it. Nice and slow does sound pleasing. It would be too quick to simply destroy them after all they put me through. They’ll wish they had destroyed me instead of turning me to stone.”

“Tirek, come forward,” Grogar said.

The centaur hesitated then did as he was bid. Grogar put a hoof to one of the small bells on his red collar and drew out an orb of magic which he blew at Tirek. This was a familiar thing to Tirek as he caught the orb and devoured it. But to his absolute surprise, the amount of magic power didn’t restore him to just his second form. It went all the way to his third form which he had been in during the battle of the bell. Tirek looked at his muscles and grinned, kissing them. How he loved being strong!

“Yes!” he said. “Oh, if only my pathetic father could see me now!”

“You shall have the power to crush all before you,” Grogar assured him before turning to Cozy. “When Equestria falls, you shall rule over Ponykind, little filly. Under my supervision of course. When you come of age you shall be known as Queen Cozy Glow!”

“Golly! I like the sound of that!” Cozy said in false sweetness.

Grogar looked from Tirek to Cozy.

“I can’t turn you into an alicorn without the power of my bewitching bell. But I can make you stronger in a way.”

He lit up his horns and cast another spell. Cozy Glow suddenly grew from a filly to a full grown mare.

“Ah!” Cozy screamed. “I’m an adult!”

“You would have been one already if not for being encased in stone,” Grogar pointed out. “You’ll be more useful as a full grown pony to me. Besides, once Princess Twilight finds out you three are freed she will likely put up wanted posters. This will prevent the likeliness of you being recognized.”

Cozy frowned, but Grogar had a point. She’d been encased in stone for years, if she had been allowed to grow she would be an adult now, and this might allow her to move in the open. Cozy spread her now larger wings and flapped them, finding herself able to fly at a greater speed than she could as a filly. This caused her to grin. She was a stronger Pegasus now, that alone gave her power, just what she wanted.

“And I shall have my empire back?” Sombra asked, speaking for the first time since they’d entered the lair.

Grogar nodded. “Yes, you shall King Sombra. The Crystal Empire will be yours once we dispose of Princess Flurry Heart. All of you shall get what you desire. Your kingdoms will be restored to you. But I shall be the supreme ruler of EVERYTHING!”

The last word was followed by a flow of magic that threw all four of the other villains against the walls.

“Understand?” Grogar asked. “I hold the power here! I’m aware that you three betrayed Discord when he impersonated me! But do not think I will the same foolish mistake as he did! I will be watching your every move, and no matter what you may think of I will always be one step ahead! If you betray me you shall all be left with nothing!”

They struggled against the magical restraints for a moment futilely, than nodded.

“Good!” Grogar grinned, then began to laugh evilly as he set his new minions down. “Now… we will begin phase one of my plan.”

With the Festival of the Two Sisters over, Twilight and Spike flew back to Canterlot, accompanied by Gallus and a group of Pegasus Royal Guards. Twilight’s heavier body made it a little more difficult for her to fly long distances than it was when she had been smaller. Of course, she could have teleported straight to Canterlot, but that would have denied her the chance to see the land in between while flying. Fortunately, she only needed to clear the Everfree forest and could land on the outskirts of Canterlot where she and her friends had fought their final big battle for Equestria years ago against Chrysalis, Tirek, and Cozy Glow.

They had left the trio entombed in stone for the past two decades. Twilight had zapped them all with a Rainbow laser, gathering friendship magic on her with the aid of her friends, the Young Six, and the Pillars. She had stripped them of Grogar’s power, and Discord, Celestia, and Luna had all turned them to stone for their crimes against Equestria. Now they would remain here forever, trapped on that…

Twilight gasped as she saw something in the distance. She saw the pedestal which the trio had stood upon. But it seemed to be empty.

“What’s wrong Twilight?” Spike asked. Looking ahead, his mouth fell open. He rubbed his eyes, as though thinking was something in them.

“Are you seeing what I’m seeing?” Twilight asked, pointing to the pedestal.

Gallus noticed it too and flew over.

“They’re gone!” he shouted in worry.

“No! No! No!” Twilight screamed. “They can’t be? How is this possible?”

*

Starlight and her family were too full from the festival food for much of a dinner. They did have a few apples though to hold them over till tomorrow.

“So, Luster, did you enjoy the festival today?” Starlight asked.

“Oh yes… but I wish I’d been able to use some friendship magic when we were fighting the monsters,” Luster said.

Starlight put a hoof on her daughter. “For a long time, it took Twilight having to use the symbols of friendship like the elements of harmony or the chest that made this castle. It was a long time before she was able to use the magic of friendship without any sort of artifact. The bonds between her and her friends grew deep over the years. You’ve only had friends for a couple weeks now.”

Luster sighed. “You’re right. But even so, I did something. Did you see me and River Song holding the manticore’s tail and keeping it from hurting Yelena?”

Starlight shook her head. “No. Didn’t I tell you to stay where it was safe?”

“The manticore was going to hurt Fluttershy!” Luster countered. “Could you expect me to just stand by?”

Starlight frowned. “Alright, I guess I can’t ground you for defending my friend and a member of the Council of Friendship. But don’t take any unnecessary risks. I don’t want anything to happen to you. Besides, Equestria has Twilight and her friends to protect it.”

“But she and her friends won’t be around forever,” Luster pointed out. “And Equestria’s ruler needs to lead it. She may have been its sworn defender at one point, but she can’t risk her life all the time now that she’s supreme ruler. She needs to let others do the fighting now, only intervene when it’s necessary like it was today.”

“Pfft!” Trixie scoffed. “We could have handled those monsters being the Great and Powerful ponies we are! If Twilight had given us a bit more time, I’m sure we would have had them mopped up. I say bring them on next time! Any bad guys that show up we can handle ourselves!”

Suddenly the door to the kitchen opened and Twilight and Spike burst in.

“Starlight! I have bad news!” Twilight screamed.

“Twilight? What’s wrong?” Starlight asked, she hadn’t seen Twilight this upset in years. Not since the deaths of Shining Armor and Cadence, which had been a shock for all of them.

“No time to explain! I need the Council right now!” Twilight shouted.

Starlight could tell it was must have been serious. Something bad was happening in Equestria by the way Twilight was reacting. Twilight lit up her horn and let out a bit of rainbow magic, summon Discord in front of her as well as Fluttershy. The spirit of chaos and his wife were kissing.

“Ahem!” Twilight cleared her throat.

Discord broke the kiss and looked at Twilight. “Oh ho! A sudden summons from the ruler of Equestria,” he than changed his tone as he looked at Fluttershy. “This better be important as I was in the middle of something very important.”

“Now Discord, we can always kiss later,” Fluttershy said. “Twilight would never summon you and I without good reason.”

Twilight took a breath in an effort to calm herself. “Trust me, its very important. Discord could you please summon the others?”

“Sure thing!” Discord said in a clearly annoyed tone as he put Fluttershy down and snapped his fingers, the other four ponies that were part of the Council of Friendship were summoned.

Rarity was sopping wet as though she’d been showering. “Darlings, what’s going on?”

“Are we having a surprise sleepover?” Pinkie asked.

“No!” Twilight said. “We have an emergency! They are back!”

Everypony was silent for a moment. Knowing that they most likely referred to three villains.

“Please tell me they are not who I think?” Applejack asked.

“Oh no! Not them! Anypony but them!” Rarity exclaimed.

“Chrysalis, Tirek, and Cozy Glow?” Rainbow Dash asked.

Twilight nodded. “I was on my way back to Canterlot when I saw the statues of them were gone!”

All the ponies gasped. Even Discord’s teeth chattered as he recalled how he’d been deceived by the trio whom he himself had put together while posing as Grogar.

Starlight cringed, her mind wandered back to the early days when Luster had been a baby. She’d had those nightmares of Chrysalis coming back and stealing her baby. Starlight had reminded herself that Chrysalis was trapped in stone, that she was gone for good.

“You’re joking!” Starlight said. “Please tell me you’re joking!”

Twilight looked at her. “Starlight, I would never joke on a matter like this!”

Starlight began to breath hard and pace around the room. “No, no, no, no! Chrysalis is back and she’ll be out for revenge! She’s gonna come and take Luster away!”

Sunburst put his hooves on his wife. “Starlight, calm down honey!”

“Calm down! Calm down!” Starlight screamed. “My archenemy has returned, and she’ll be after our daughter, I know it!”

“Hey, Star! Take it easy! There’s no way Chrysalis even knows about Luster!” Trixie said. “She’s been trapped in stone the past twenty years and it was like taking a long nap!”

“That’s right!” Discord said. “She and the other two were in hibernation while they were trapped. Unlike me they didn’t hear, see, or feel a thing while in stone. I did consider making their existence like mine, but I thought it best to be merciful and not torture them. Being trapped together was probably bad enough for them. There’s no way they know about Luster… unless somepony showed them the festival that happened and that particularly affection nuzzle you two shared in a crystal ball.”

Starlight frowned. “Way to make me feel assured, Discord!”

She looked at her daughter. Luster’s face was full of fear and worry. Worry for her mother’s current state, and fear of what her mother feared.

“You… you think Chrysalis is gonna come after me to get revenge on you?” Luster asked.

Starlight nodded. “I thought she’d never return! But now she’s back! She’s wanted revenge on me ever since I convinced the changelings to change! If she finds out I have a daughter, she’ll come after you for sure!”

Everyone was looking at Starlight oddly. It was like Twilight’s moments of “Twilighting” but in Starlight’s case it was “Starlighting”.

Twilight approached her former pupil and put a hoof on her. “Starlight, don’t worry. I’ll put out the word for everypony to keep a look out for Chrysalis and the other two!”

“You think that’s gonna solve anything!?” Starlight yelled. “Chrysalis can take any form! She can look like any creature, somepony you know or a total stranger! There’s no way we can catch her! She could be here in Ponyville right now… she could even be one of you!”

This caused her friends to look at her in astonishment.

“Starlight, its us!” Fluttershy said.

“Yeah, sugarcube. You’re overreacting, Chrysalis can’t have been out long! You think she would know what we all look like now that we’re older?” Applejack asked.

“Yes, these bags under our eyes, and I have a gray hair!” Rarity said before looking at Twilight. “While you get the flowing mane!”

Twilight frowned.

“And I summoned all of you here! My magic would only bring the real ones here!” Discord pointed out.

Starlight took a breath.

“You’re right, I am overreacting. I’m sorry. I just… had some nightmares about Chrysalis returning and taking Luster after she was born. I knew it would never happen as long as she was in stone, but now… she’s back!”

“Don’t worry, Starlight. We’ll deal with her and the others. We beat those villains once we’ll do it again!” Rainbow Dash said.

“They don’t have the real Grogar’s magic this time, and the Bewitching Bell is being kept in my realm so no pony can use it!” Discord said.

“Those meanies are gonna wish they stayed in stone!” Pinkie Pie declared.

“But… how did they get out?” Rarity asked.

“There’s a simple answer to that. Somepony or some creature freed them,” Discord said. “The question is… who?”

“Ooh, you think its another of our old enemies back for revenge?” Pinkie asked. “Let’s see, who could it be? Pony of Shadows, Storm King, King Sombra no they’re gone!”

“Maybe it’s a new enemy?” Twilight asked. “I don’t like what’s been going on recently. The Crystal Heart was stolen at Flurry’s coronation, somepony took the energy from it, a group of monsters attack Ponyville today and now these three are missing. Something is rising, something sinister.”

“Well we’re just gonna have to defeat it like we do every other bad guy!” Rainbow Dash said. “There’s nothing we can’t handle!”

“Don’t be overconfident Dash, sure we’ve always won before… but things can change,” Applejack said. “We nearly lost against those three last time, and if they’re working with somepony else it could be a lot harder.”

Discord but a claw to his chin. “Who would even want to team up with those three losers anyway?”

“Says the draconequus who pretended to be Grogar and had his magic drained by those losers?” Rainbow Dash asked in Discord’s face.

“Now Rainbow, Discord had good intentions even if they were misguided,” Fluttershy defended her husband.

“Girls, that’s in the past now! We need to deal with our villains today!” Twilight said. “We’ll put up wanted posters of the three of them. Discord can you give us illustrations of Tirek in all his forms?”

Discord (in a painter’s garb) immediately painted pictures of each of Tirek’s forms and handed them to Twilight.

“Thank you, I’ll get a picture of Cozy Glow out. Chrysalis will be hardest to spot since she can change forms.”

Starlight shook her head. “Next to impossible. Well, I don’t care what she does to me! I’m not going to let her hurt Luster!”

She turned to her daughter. “Luster, I need you to leave the Castle until Chrysalis is caught. Stay with one of your friends. If you see me in Ponyville, walk past me as though we’re strangers! Same with Sunburst and Trixie!”

“What? Why?” Luster asked.

“If Chrysalis doesn’t know you’re my daughter, she can’t find out!” Starlight said. “I need to pretend we’re strangers until she is back in stone or sent to Tartarus!”

Since I had Twilight Velvet showing off her Momma Bear in my Daybreaker Saga I thought I could do something similar with Starlight. After all, any parent would go to great lengths to protect their children from harm. Well, Luster’s going to have more time to spend with her friends now.

Luster tried to convince her mother to let her stay, but Starlight would have none of it.

“It’s for your own good Luster!” Starlight insisted. “I’m not gonna have my daughter become a target for Chrysalis’s revenge!”

“But can’t we at least meet once and a while?”

“No!” Starlight said. “I’m not going to take any chances! Any time you see me in Ponyville you just pass by me like you don’t know me!”

Luster’s eyes began to water up. Starlight sighed and walked up to her, putting a hoof on her daughter.

“Understand me, Luster. I just want you to be safe,” Starlight said. “You mean everything to me, and I can’t bear the thought of you getting hurt.”

Starlight hugged her, her eyes also welling up with tears. This was the hardest thing she’d ever done as a parent, having to let her child go. But it was for Luster’s safety. Starlight knew Chrysalis, the former Queen had sworn revenge on her. She’d said she planned to torture Starlight for “eternity” when she’d captured her, fortunately she’d never gotten the chance since Twilight had defeated her along with Cozy Glow and Tirek. Now they had another member of their team who had freed them, or perhaps it merely a minion. Maybe some rogue changelings or something? Starlight couldn’t imagine there could be anyone worse than those three out there, she hoped not at least.

“Once Chrysalis is back in stone or imprisoned in Tartarus, things will go back to normal. Until then, you just spend time with your friends. This could be a good opportunity to bond with them.”

Luster looked at her mother sadly.

“I love you, Luster. Always,” Starlight reminded her. “I don’t know how long this will last, it could be a while.”

“Can I… at least send you letters like I do Princess Twilight?” Luster asked.

Starlight thought for a moment. “Alright, I guess Chrysalis probably wouldn’t bother to go through my mail if she comes here looking for revenge on me.”

That gave Luster a little relief, at least she would have some contact with her parents.

Sighing. She went to her room and gathered her things into a saddle bag with her sun Cutie Mark on it. She met her parents and Trixie at the door to the Castle of Friendship. Princess Twilight and her friends had left to work on a plan to deal with the returned villains as the Council. Starlight was left to oversee security around Ponyville. Since she was Stewardess of the Castle of Friendship, Ponyville looked to her now as the voice of Twilight Sparkle. It was up to her to take care of this part of Twilight’s kingdom.

Starlight teleported them all to her office in the School of Friendship. She walked over to the announcement phone and flipped a switch than put her head to the speaker.

“All students and staff gather in the assembly room for an emergency meeting!” Starlight said.

They went to the assembly hall where Luster saw Georgia and Riversong among the students. Her Kirin friend waved at her with a wide smile. Occellus, Silverstream, Smolder, as well as the grown-up Cutie Mark Crusaders were present, they stood close to Starlight and her family.

“I have an important piece of news that everycreature should know about,” Starlight said. “Somehow, Chrysalis, Tirek, and Cozy Glow have returned.”

There were many gasps and frantic mutterings from both students and staff. Occellus in particular looked frightened, as she had been a young changeling when Chrysalis had reigned during her final years as Queen. She remembered Chrysalis’s cruelty all too well. It was her worst nightmare to become Chrysalis.

“This is terrible!” she said. “Do you think Chrysalis is going to come back here and attack the school again?”

Starlight shuddered. “It’s a possibility. She might attack us, or sneak in. Which is why I’ve called you all here to discuss possible ways to protect ourselves. First, I want all of you to form codewords with all your closest friends around here. Ask each other questions that only friends would know. Do you understand?”

The students and staff nodded. This was a start to forming a defense against an enemy that could change shape. Starlight than looked at Luster’s two friends that were present.

“Georgia, River Song! Come forward please!” Starlight asked.

The Kirin and Griffon stepped out in front of the rest of the students. Starlight looked at her daughter.

“Luster, ask each of them something that only they would know,” Starlight said. “We need to make sure they are not Chrysalis.”

Luster hesitated for a moment, thinking.

“Which of your teams did I play on first during our Buckball game?” she asked.

“Me of course!” River Song said with a smile.

Luster nodded. River Song was River Song, she could tell just by her enthusiastic reaction. Chrysalis wouldn’t know to fake River Song’s personality.

“Georgia, what monster did you scratch up at the festival this morning?”

“A manticore!” the griffon said.

“It's them!” Luster said to Starlight.

“Okay, you three come with me please,” Starlight said before looking at the rest of her students. “I assure you all that I will be working on a plan to keep Chrysalis and her allies from harming this school as well as Ponyville. It’s my responsibility as Headmare and Stewardess of the Castle of Friendship! For now, all of you make sure your friends are who you think they are.”

Starlight took Luster and her two friends into the other room while Sunburst and Trixie remained behind to supervise. Once they were out of earshot, Starlight turned to Georgia and River Song.

“I have to have Luster leave home,” she said. “Since Chrysalis is back, she’ll be out for revenge on me. If she ever found out I had a daughter, she would definitely come after Luster! I want Luster to stay with you two from now on. To keep her safe.”

Georgia looked at Luster, who was still feeling sad. After today, she wouldn’t be able to speak with her mother directly.

“No problem Headmare Glimmer!” the griffon said in her usual confidence. “I’ll make Luster feel right at home!”

“Yay! Yay!” River Song said. “Luster is gonna be our new roommate!”

“That’s… another thing,” Starlight said. “I kind of need you to both move into a different place with Luster.”

*

After Starlight and her friendship staff consolidated the rest of the students at the school, she, Sunburst, and Trixie led Luster, River Song, and Georgia out of the school and along a path into the Everfree Forest.

“Um… mom?” Luster asked as they moved through the trees. “You’re not planning on sending me out here to hide in a cave, right?”

“That could be fun! It would be like camping all the time!” River Song said.

“No, you’re not going to be living in a cave,” Starlight said. “More of a… tree. Or at least a tree house.”

They came into a clearing and Luster saw the ruins of an ancient looking Castle.

“Is that the Castle of the Two Sisters?” she asked. “Wow. That’s where Princess Twilight defeated Nightmare Moon at the start of her journey with her friends. Am I going to stay there?” Luster asked.

Starlight nodded. “In a matter of speaking. You’ll be staying at the Treehouse of Harmony which lies in the ruins there.”

“Treehouse of Harmony?” Luster repeated.

“Years ago, when Discord first brought the villains together while posing as Grogar he originally brought King Sombra back with them,” Starlight explained. “Sombra refused to work with others though. He tricked Twilight and her friends into thinking that they defeated him with the elements of harmony and followed them back to the tree before destroying it. But it took a new form with the help of some of my students, who are now teachers at the school.”

“Occellus, Silverstream and Smolder?” Georgia guessed.

“Yes, along with Gallus, Yona, and Sandbar,” Starlight confirmed. “They used it as a treehouse back in the day, though its not used anymore. You should be safe here, Luster.”

They walked up to the ruined gate of the castle and Luster’s eyes widened as she saw the Treehouse of Harmony. It shined brightly, its top blossoming with lovely pink flowers. They went inside. They went inside. It wasn’t as big as the Castle, but more than large enough to house the three friends inside. Luster saw plenty of shelves that had good space for books.

Georgia flew upstairs. “New bedrooms, cool! We’ll just have to get our things from the dorms at the school.”

Luster walked into the nearest room. But there was one problem.

“No bed.”

“We’ll just get sleeping bags!” River Song said. “It’ll be like camping in a treehouse!”

“We can buy you some beds,” Starlight said.

She then looked directly into Luster’s eyes. Luster knew the moment of departure was close.

“I know this is gonna be hard. But I can’t bear the thought of Chrysalis coming and taking you away,” Starlight said as she went up to her daughter and gave her a final hug.

“I love you mom!” Luster said, tears escaping her eyes again.

Starlight broke the hug after a moment, her eyes watering as well. She turned and walked back out, her neck facing to the ground in sadness. Sunburst approached Luster now.

“Your mother is being overprotective I know. But she means well, and Chrysalis probably would try to come after you… maybe even me or Trixie too. Just think of this as like being in Canterlot, but you’ll see us from time to time. And I want you to know that I’m proud of everything you’ve done, and I’m sure you’ll do much more in time.”

He kissed his daughter’s forehead and gave her a final smile before following his wife.

Trixie came now, she put a hoof on Luster. “Don’t you worry Luster. If Chrysalis shows her ugly black face around here your Great and Powerful Godmare will be here to protect Mommy and Daddy!”

Luster knew Trixie wasn’t nearly as skilled with magic as Starlight was. But she managed a smile at her Godmare’s/Aunt’s words. She hugged Trixie as well. The magician/guidance counselor followed her friends and family figures outside. That left Luster alone. Her parents would no longer be a part of her life, not until Chrysalis was dealt with. Why did it have to be this way?

Luster had spent all her life trying to please her family and make them proud. She’d devoted her entire life of magical studies to surpass her powerful mother, be knowledgeable like her father. Trixie wasn’t much of a role model, but she could put on an entertaining performance with magic. Now they were all gone from Luster’s life for the time being. She wouldn’t speak to them directly until this was over.

Luster sobbed quietly. Then she felt a claw on her shoulder.

“It’s okay, Luster,” Georgia said with a kind smile. “Your parents and Godmare might not be in your life for a while, but its not like they’ve kicked you out.”

“We’re here for you! So just put those tears away!” River Song said pulling Luster’s lips into a smile.

Luster sighed but managed to do so. “Thanks, girls. At least I’m not alone here. I have friends.”

Friends, she thought. A short time ago friendship had just been a nuisance to her. But now, without her family, she would be left with nothing. At least she still had these two.

“We should see if Gallop and Yelena want to crash here too!” River Song suggested.

They looked outside. It was dark.

“Maybe in the morning. They might be getting ready for bed now,” Luster suggested with a yawn. “I think I’m ready for it too.”

“Want us to sleep in the same room tonight?” Georgia asked. “I know this is hard for you."

Luster nodded. “If you were an element of harmony Georgia, I’d say it was kindness. And River Song, you’d make a good element of laughter.”

The three friends hugged, while a certain spirit watched them nearby, though they could not see it.

“Yes, they could make good elements of their own,” the spirit of Harmony said. “But your friendship will need to grow much stronger if you are to face what is to come. What could well destroy all harmony in Equestria.”

Well Luster’s moved out and into the Tree of Harmony with it watching her and her friends. I will post a new chapter when I can. But I think the time has come for me to work on revising Passing On Together to get it accepted on Equestria Daily. If you read the original draft of Passing On Together you may recall that I mentioned the villain trio were still trapped in stone. But I’ve changed that scenario as of the last few chapters here. I also plan to make a fic with a similar premise to Goodbye My Child where Twilight isn’t immortal but just lives longer, I’m also thinking of doing something more romantic as a follow to SunnyStar wedding which is also part of this universe, and to start a Fairy Tail Fic as well.

I hope you guys are enjoying this story and I’m glad that Passing On Together has given some of you a better way to look at the finale. I hope to cheer up as many people who were saddened by the apparent confirmation that Twilight would outlive her friends as possible. But its up to us, so if you know anyone who is saddened by that be sure to spread the word. I had hoped to get this story done by the time the Season 10 comics came out but I guess I’ll have to settle for when Generation 5 does.

Luster, River Song, and Georgia spent their first night in the Treehouse of Harmony. They woke up as Princess Twilight raised the sun in Canterlot.

“Good morning girls!” River Song said. “Let’s make ourselves some breakfast!”

Luster yawned and got to her hooves, wanting to do much the same. But she quickly remembered something.

“We don’t have any food here!”

“Oh, right! Ah well, go into town than!” River Song said.

“We really should have thought about that before we came here,” Georgia said.
“Race you guys there!” River Song said. “With Gallop not around I bet I could beat both of you!”

Georgia smirked. “Alright, but he’d never be able to keep up with me if I used my wings!”

The griffon and Kirin took off, racing each other on hooves and claws. Luster chased after them, not nearly as fast. She was probably the least athletic of all her friends.

“Wait!” she called.

But they continued on without her. Luster ran after them, eventually getting to Ponyville. She panted hard as she saw them in the middle of town.

“What took you so long, Luster?” River Song asked as the scholarly pink pony came up to them.

“Not… used… to running… long…distances!” Luster said through deep breaths.

“Oh, dear. You must be thirsty after running so much. Come on, lets grab something to eat,” Georgia said. “We’ll do some shopping and get some food to take to the Treehouse too.”

Luster nodded slowly, she caught sight of the Castle of Friendship in the distance. She never thought she’d be in a situation like this, where she wanted to go home but was unable to do so. They headed to The Pony Pancake House for breakfast, where Luster saw her parents in a table nearby. Starlight looked at her daughter, for a split second their eyes met, then Starlight pulled away, gazing down at the table. Luster shook, seeing her mother look away from her tore a hole in her heart. She’d spent all her life trying to measure up to both Starlight and Sunburst. Her father looked back and saw her, he gave a nervous look like he wanted to say something but turned around in his seat.

Luster sighed. They were her parents, and she loved them so much. Every love filled instinct urged her to go over there and say hello, but they had forbidden her from doing so. Starlight was afraid that if Queen Chrysalis ever found out Luster was her daughter that she would come after her. Looking around at the ponies and a few other creatures that were inside, Luster wondered if there was a chance Chrysalis could actually be here in the Pancake House, waiting to attack her mother.

No, she thought. There was no chance of that. Chrysalis wouldn’t be fool enough to come to Ponyville, she’d spent a long time in hiding after Luster’s mother had turned her hive against her. Not striking until she became more powerful and had allies in Lord Tirek and Cozy Glow. But then, somepony had freed all of them. There was some unknown fourth player at least, or worse it might have been a group of evil doers working together.

Luster could only hope that this matter would be settled quickly. Princess Twilight would have those villains tracked down and deal with them somehow. She might even call upon Luster to help her, and Luster would help in any way she could. If Chrysalis came near her mother, Luster would not stand by and leave Starlight to fend for herself. This would all be over someday, and Luster would be able to be her family again, but for now she had to be strong.

Taking a deep breath, Luster took a seat with Georgia and River Song at a table on the other side of the Pancake House. They got their breakfast and then headed over to the market for food to take back to the Treehouse. Luster and River Song levitated grocery bags with their horns while Georgia flew carrying some in her claws. They dropped off the groceries in the Treehouse than headed back to town, knocking on the door to Gallops house. Swifty Sandwich, Gallop’s mother, answered the door.

“Oh, Georgia, River Song!” Swifty Sandwich said to the two ones she was familiar with before looking at Luster. “Who’s this?”

Luster offered a small smile. “Luster Dawn, Mrs. Sandwich. We met when I was a filly.”

The older mare gasped. “You’re Headmare Starlight’s daughter!”

Luster cringed. That was yet another reminder of who she was, and what she could not go back to until this crisis was over.

“Um… you might want to avoid mentioning Headmare Starlight or Vice Headmare Sunburst,” Georgia said in Swifty’s ear. “Luster was… sort of sent away from her family.”

“What?” Swifty asked. “Headmare Starlight sent her daughter away? What kind of mother would do that?”

“It was for her own safety,” Georgia said.

“Queen Chrysalis has returned! That’s bad right? Yes, very bad! And to make it worse, Headmare Starlight thinks if Chrysalis finds out Luster is her daughter she will come after her!” River Song said.

“Oh, that’s terrible!” Swifty said. “Are you alright, dear?”

Luster sighed. “I don’t know. It hurts, I just saw my parents in the Pancake house, but I couldn’t go and even say hello to them! Now I have to live in the Treehouse of Harmony!”

“We’re living there with to keep her company and protect her in case Chrysalis happens to come after her or something. Actually, we came to ask Gallop if he wanted to come and move in with us.”

“Oh, come in then. Gallop should be upstairs in his room,” Swifty said.

She led them inside the house and up the stairs to where Gallop was doing some sit-ups. Luster looked into his room and saw he had a picture of Rainbow Dash and her current generation of Wonderbolts.

“Gallop, you have some visitors!” Swifty said.

Gallop looked up and saw Luster and the others.

“Oh, hey guys. Or… girls I should say!” Gallop said. “What are you three doing here?”

“We wanted to invite you to come stay with us!” River Song told the Earth Pony in her usual enthusiasm.

“Stay with you?” Gallop repeated.

“Yeah! We moved into the Treehouse of Harmony with Luster to protect her!” River Song said. “The big bad trio are back! Headmare Starlight thinks Chrysalis might come after Luster so she sent Luster away from home. We’re keeping her company there! You wanna join us?”

Gallop hesitated. “I’m… not sure. I kind of need to stay here. My dad’s gone and Mom needs extra support with the hayburger business. I already had to pull of the School of Friendship.”

“Gallop, you can still work the Hayburger wagon. I’ll be fine,” Swifty said. “Your friend might be in danger, and she needs support more than I do now. I’ll be fine, go with your friend.”

Gallop looked at Luster.

“Okay, I’ll come. If it means protecting a friend. I would never abandon anypony or creature.”

“Yay, yay!” River Song jumped. “Now, let’s go get Yelena!”

Yelena’s Yak family lived next door. When the Yak heard what was going on, she nodded.

“You can count on me Luster! If Chrysalis tries to take you, she’s gonna feel some Yak strength!”

Luster managed a smile. All her friends were going to be with her at the Treehouse of Harmony. That would make it easier, but she still hoped that Princess Twilight would catch the villains soon. Word would come out of their escape, Ponyville and other places could have time to prepare. Unlike last time they had been warned at the very last minute by Discord after he’d been drained of his power. Tirek and Cozy Glow’s escape from Tartarus had been kept quiet, as had Tirek’s solo escape. Cereberus hadn’t been smart enough to tell ponies when a monster escaped. He was just a dog after all, and only guarded the prison.

Sure enough, when Luster looked in a newspaper, she saw the headline, Enemies of Equestria Return! A picture of the three villains in their stone was shown on the front cover.

“Well, the word’s out!” Luster said.

“Hope they catch those baddies soon!” River Song said. “There’s no way Tirek or Cozy Glow is gonna be able to sneak around now with that picture in the newspaper.”

“But Chrysalis can take any form!” Luster reminded them, that was when she remembered something her mother had said. “So, we better make sure we have a way to know that we’re all ourselves. My mom suggested a codeword.”

“Ooh! Maybe we each say our favorite things to do!” River Song suggested. “Swim!”

“Run!” Gallop said.

“Smash!” Yelena said, banging her hooves on the ground.

“Read!” Luster said.

“Fly!” Georgia flapped her wings.

“Okay, anyone who gets their part of the code wrong, friends smash!” Yelena said. “That friend is Chrysalis in disguise.”

“I really doubt that its going to come to that though,” Luster said. “No way Chrysalis knows about me.”

“Well let’s hope not,” Georgia said. “Come on, we’ll show you guys the tree house.”
*

In Canterlot, Twilight and her Council waited in the throne room. Soon Gallus entered the room.

“Your majesty, Councilors, the newspapers across Equestria have spread the word!” he said.

“Good,” Twilight said. “We won’t let them have time to prepare their attack this time.”

“And with the Bewitching Bell in my realm safely, there’s no way they’ll all become as powerful as they were before!” Discord said. “I’ll sense whenever Tirek steals magic from a creature and then go get them.”

“You sure they ain’t gonna go into that lair you used while posing as Grogar?” Applejack asked the Draconequess.

Discord scoffed. “Pfft! Please, they would not be stupid enough to use a place we already know about. Look!”

A crystal ball appeared in his paw. He showed them the inside of the lair he had used during that time. It looked empty.

“Well, wherever they are, they can’t hide from us! We’ll kick their flanks just like last time!” Rainbow Dash said.

Spike looked at Twilight. “Do you think… maybe Luster should help?”

Twilight shook her head. “Going up against Tirek, Chrysalis and Cozy Glow would probably be too much to ask of her right now. She’s only just begun her journey down friendship. I’ll give her a mission less dangerous when I can. Besides, Starlight would kill me if I sent her daughter to Chrysalis.”

Spike nodded, understanding. Twilight hoped to make Luster her Successor someday, but she couldn’t send Luster on an assignment too difficult. Luster was skilled with magic, but she hadn’t learned to unleash friendship yet. It would take some time before she was able to produce a rainbow laser.
*
In Grogar’s lair, the villains were gathered around Grogar’s table.
“Are you certain that staying here is wise?” Chrysalis asked. “Discord used this lair when he posed as you. Once he gets word of our escape, he could come looking for us.”

Grogar scoffed. “He thinks that this is the last place you three would hide! I’ve placed a spell on concealment here. If he or anypony else were to come here or even scry they would see this place as empty.”

“Golly! That’s amazing,” Cozy Glow said. "So I could do this and they wouldn't see!"

She stuck her tongue out at some imaginary spy. Grogar frowned. He may have turned her into an adult but she was still a filly, a demented psychopathic filly to be sure.

“So, when are we going to attack?” Tirek asked. “I want to crush Twilight Sparkle!”

“And I want to see Starlight Glimmer cry after I take her daughter!” Chrysalis said.

Sombra scoffed. “Forget about your petty desires for revenge! When will I have my empire back?”

Grogar grunted. “Patience, all of you! You will have your chance to get everything you desire! The first phase of my plan is already underway. Soon the Crystal Empire will fall.”

So, Luster’s friends are moving in with her, and Grogar is about to begin the first stage of his plan. Well, hope you guys are liking this story. I’ve updated Passing On Together once more, and am pleased to say that has story gotten over 500 referrals on Youtube! Some by me as I spread the word, but others are definitely doing it more than me, thank you to the ones that are! I’m proud to have given a lot of my fellow fans hope that Twilight will not outlive her friends with this story universe.