The new Princesses charged at Dash’s scream, hurtling themselves towards the murderers with willful disregard for their own lives. They only knew one thing: to protect everypony else. The same burden that Twilight, Cadance, Luna, and Celestia all bore together was suddenly thrust upon them. There’s a saying here in the human world, from one William Shakespeare: “some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.” These six brave mares, who had unknowingly been given the greatest gift that anypony could ever want, represented the third part of that special equation. They had greatness thrust upon them. Celestia and Luna had been born into their destinies and trained by Star Swirl, Cadance and Twilight had achieved it, but they had been pushed towards it.

Now, they had to prove that they were worthy of Twilight’s final gift. Thus, they fought harder than they ever had before. They had numerical superiority, yes, but it was still an even battle. The three villains were so powerful that all they had to do was squeeze out a drop of concentrated wickedness and it did its damage. It soon broke off into smaller skirmishes, with two princesses taking on one villain. Applejack and Rainbow Dash fought against Cozy Glow, thundering forth with their magic and wings. But Cozy was just too strong for them. Even as a filly, she possessed magic that rivaled Celestia’s own.

“How in the absolute hell is this filly so powerful?!” Dash shouted.

“I don’t know, but she’s definitely ornerier than a bull durin’ matin’ season!” Applejack shouted back.

“AJ, now’s NOT the time for a country-ism!”

Applejack turned to fire back a defensive response, but accidentally activated her new horn instead. She found, much to her surprise, that her magic was specific to herself. It created a golden lasso, reminding her of her time as a Power Pony, and she could wield it at any length she chose. She smiled as she realized how deeply useful this could be, and she quickly wound it around Cozy.

“You ain’t goin’ anywhere, little missy!” She roared.

“Oh, I…ain’t?” Cozy scoffed with a laugh, “just watch this!”

With a zap, she cut the lasso in two and zoomed off towards the other side of the chamber. But Rainbow Dash, as quick as she’d ever gone, took up a pursuit. Trails of rainbows passed behind her as she followed the evil young pony. She fired magic blasts out of her own horn and in the process noticed that she could create weather. She shot bolts of lightning and caused cracks of thunder to shake the room. She finally managed to get the filly lost in a fog, and then Applejack’s new lasso came in and roped her. She struggled against it, but the orange Princess continued to hurl loop after loop around her. She finally gave up and fluttered to the ground in defeat.

“WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!” Chrysalis screamed from her fight with Rarity and Pinkie Pie.

“I just can’t fly anymore!” The young filly complained, “I’m exhausted, and they’ve got me tied up!”

Chrysalis seethed with rage and turned to take it out on her opponents, but found that they were nowhere to be found. Then, she felt something sharp strike her neck, leaving a cut that dribbled green blood. She growled as she turned and saw Rarity standing there with a smirk. It seemed that she’d fired something at her, but she didn’t know exactly what it was. All she knew was that the white pony was endangering her plans for world domination.

Chrysalis screamed and hurled herself against the new Princess, who promptly fired her new magic ability at her. Apparently, she could create gemstones that were beautiful, fashionable, and very, very painful. They held knife edge jaggedness that, somehow, didn’t mar their superficial beauty, nor their inner. Every part of them was absolutely stunning, yet they held complete pain for those who stood in the way of whatever they were protecting. It matched Rarity to absolute perfection.

Twilight, you amazing friend, you! Rarity thought, these are wonderful!

As Rarity’s gemstones sliced their way through Chrysalis’s flesh, Pinkie came flying in from behind and shot a giant balloon at the Changeling Queen. It rapidly inflated around her, causing her to become trapped. She tried to escape, but Pinkie’s magic caused the small blimp like device to have a shell that was impenetrable. It became apparent that Pinkie could use her magic to create anything party related, and she had figured out how to use it in battle.

“You’ll all PAY FOR THIS!” Chrysalis screamed inside her prison of rubber, helium, and spells.

Rarity shook her head. “Tsk, tsk. Empty threats, darling. You’re in there and on a one-way trip to Tartarus itself.”

Meanwhile, the final of these three battles had taken place and Tirek was closing in on Fluttershy and Starlight. He wound up one of his orange balls of magic and blasted it at the Princesses, but they darted away unscathed. Starlight moved with a rapidity and grace that she’d never known before, and her magic could create any of the four elements: water, air, fire, or earth. She used it heavily as she sprayed Tirek with gallon after gallon of her aquatic weaponry, followed by a tornadic gust of wind.

It knocked the giant Centaur around a bit, but Fluttershy was the one to finish things. Her new magic could create any animal she could think of. Now was not the time for cute and cuddly, so she created a lion and a bear and used her powers of communication to ask for their help. The animals charged at the Centaur and bit down on his legs, causing him to shout in pain and finally collapse to the ground. Then, the yellow Princess created three spiders and sent them off to bind their captive. They wound veritable miles of sticky silk, trapping Tirek inside. Then, Fluttershy came forward and cast a magic hardening spell around the silk, causing the strands to become absolutely inescapable. Tirek was sealed away, and this time, he would never return.

The six princesses, manes flowing, all stood as one above their captured prisoners. They gave each other looks of pride as they felt all the power of the Elements of Harmony flood through their veins. They were royal now, which meant that their former lives had passed away. Although they would each miss what they had once done, they were excited at the prospect of a very glowing future.

“I congratulate you on your victory,” a familiar voice said.

The ponies all gasped and turned to see…

“TWILIGHT!” Pinkie Pie screamed and bounced towards her deceased friend. She went to hug her, but wisped right through her body. “AH!” She screamed again, “IT’S A GHOST!”

“Oh, Pinkie,” the image of Twilight giggled, “weren’t you the one who always said to smile those fears away?”

“Oh, yeah!” Pinkie said, and then began humming the first song she’d ever sung for Twilight.

“Twi…I don’t understand,” Starlight said, “you’re…dead.”

“I am not Twilight,” the image said, “I am simply the same embodiment of the Tree of Harmony that once guided those six students of her school. I now exist to help guide you, and I have chosen this form because it is familiar. Truthfully, I can take any form I so choose, and thus, I revolve and evolve.

Listen to me, brave new Princesses of Equestria. You’ve been given a gift from Twilight, and I have been tasked with ensuring that you use it for the good of your friends, families, and those whom you love. There are going to be trials, and Equestria might see its darkest days. But through it all, I know that you shall be there. Celestia and Luna shall no longer rule, but you six shall. The League of Princesses is officially the governing body of Equestria, and I congratulate you once again. Hail, brave ponies! Hail!”

The image of Twilight bowed, and then disappeared into the mist. The new rulers of Equestria felt gentle hoof steps behind them, and turned to see Celestia and Luna standing there…only they looked older. But they still shared kind smiles and opened their hooves for all of them to run into. Some of them wept, and the now former rulers shed the most tears. But they were tears of absolute joy, because they knew that Equestria was in good hooves. Twilight was gone, and that broke both of their hearts. But there was a small glimmer of hope. The League would protect Equestria to the bitter end, and they knew it. After all, Twilight had taught them well.