Pacing around her new room, humming a little tune to herself, Twilight felt a sense of triumph. She had done it. Harmony was going to take its proper place again. And she was going to train her students to help her.

The alicorn was jolted out of her thoughts by a light knock sounding on the large metal door.

Twilight's ears perked up as she folded her wings, turning to face the door. She was still getting used to her new, elongated height. "Who is it?"

There was a cough. "It's, uh, Scootaloo, Empress."

Twilight smiled. Already the little filly was settling into her new role, and seemed quite happy to do so. How bold of her.

The Empress's horn glowed, a blend of darkness and light, and the doors opened, allowing the orange-coated filly to enter the room as the self-made alicorn greeted her with a warm smile. There was no need for hostility here. This one was loyal. This one was pure.

"Everything seems to be going well so far!" Scootaloo held up her forehoof in a salute.

The Empress patted Scootaloo on the head. "I'm impressed, you're doing very well for our first day."

Scootaloo was about to respond, but closed her mouth as Twilight stepped close to the large, circular window which caught the rays of the steadily rising sun. "Empress? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Twilight said, feeling a slight twinge at the question as the young pegasus trotted over. "I was just thinking of what I lost for this. If my old friends had united with my path, if I didn't need to take the pure essence from them... they could have joined us..." She sighed. "Even so, it's clear why I singled you out for Loyalty."

Scootaloo looked a little prideful at that.

Twilight turned her gaze a bit more toward the window, tilting her head just enough so her eyes weren't damaged by the increasing light. "You've been a good, strong filly so far, and I can tell that you'll be very useful in our mission."

"The Great Cleansing, right?"

"Exactly."

There was a small silence between them. In those next few moments, thoughts raced through Twilight's head as the young pegasus looked up at her eagerly. There was so much devotion in those eyes, a desire to do what Twilight wished of her.

"Scootaloo," Twilight finally said, "there's something very important I want to ask you."

Scootaloo eagerly looked up and nodded. "Yeah?"

When the alicorn turned to look down at her, the expression on her face was authoritative yet kind. "How would you like to be my Ambassador of Loyalty?"

As the meaningfulness of the offer resounded in Scootaloo's head, a greatful grin lit up her face. She looked as if nothing short of getting her cutie mark could cause her to be happier. Her wings buzzed excitedly as she leapt up. "Seriously?! You mean it?!"

"Of course I do," Twilight said.

Scootaloo glanced upward at Twilight, whose ethereal wings were folded at her sides. "And we'll do that to all of Equestria, right?" Her eyes were bright. "And the entire planet?"

Twilight nodded. "Beyond that, Scootaloo." Her voice harbored a tone of wonder as the sunlight caught her wings while her new companion of Loyalty smiled beside her. "Far, far beyond that."

Author's Notes:

Sequel Empress of Harmony here.