“It’s a
pleasure to meet you.” Rarity looked him over, curious, “Are you from Canterlot
too?”
“Uhh,
yes.” He nodded, wondering why her eyes widened and she suddenly looked
fascinated at that, “I’m the Captain of the Palace Guards.”
“Really?”
Rainbow Dash asked as he herded them into the largest chariot, planning to get
them back to Ponyville in it, “That’s so cool!”
“I’ll
tell you more about it once we’re back in Ponyville, promise.” Shining Armour
chuckled, gesturing for a couple of his strongest pegasi guards to take the
reins as Spike scrambled onto Twilight’s back, hugging her neck tightly.
Twilight adjusted slightly so he could get comfortable, but Spike refused to
move.
“Not
going anywhere.” He grumbled, “You were gone forever. I thought…”
“I’m
sorry, Spike,” Twilight apologised as they lifted off, “I didn’t think…It took
a little longer than I thought, can you forgive me?”
“Only
if you promise not to leave me behind next time.” The dragonet, who had not
slept properly all night, grouched as he started falling asleep.
“Hopefully
there won’t be a next time.” Fluttershy whispered, her voice barely carrying
over the sound of the wind as they travelled at high speed over the top of the
trees.
Twilight
did not say anything in response to that. She kind of hoped that there would
not be a next time too, but she was almost certain there would be. The Shadows
had made it perfectly clear that there was some pony out there, some other
Princess, who would not be happy to see her if they ever met. Twilight could
almost guarantee that at some point that Princess would come calling. So yes,
this would probably happen again.
She
did not think that this was the time to tell her exhausted, tired and injured
friends though. In fact it was possible that it would not matter for much
longer if the Ponyville crew knew or not. She was going home tomorrow after
all. Her shoulders sank as she thought about it. She was not really looking
forward to it.
While
Canterlot was her home and she missed it a little, she did not want to go back
to school and have to deal with the bullies again. The only highlights of her
time in Canterlot were the rare moments she got to hang out with her brother,
or her classes with her mentor. The entire rest of her time in school was spent
either putting up with snide comments from her classmates or living in the
library. She had had more fun in Ponyville in a day than she had had in
Canterlot in years.
And
soon it would be over and as much as she loved studying under Princess
Celestia, she did not think she could easily go back to being lonely and hated
by her fellow classmates. It would be boring and she would go crazy. At least,
she supposed, she could always send the others letters. It would not be the
same, but it was better than nothing.
“Twilight?”
Rarity asked as she watched the part-time Princess’s head sink and rest against
the edge of the chariot, “Are you alright, darling?”
“I’m…okay.
I guess.” Twilight replied, the events of the last day and a bit catching up to
her as she felt the weariness sink into every fibre of her being.
“Yer
don’ sound okay.” Applejack frowned, nudging her lightly.
“I...”
Twilight turned to look at them, a small, sad smile on her face, “I’m going to
miss you fillies.”
“Awww,
we’ll miss you too, darling.” Rarity hugged her, carefully so she did not
awaken Spike, “But we’ll come and visit, right?” She asked the others.
“Totally,”
Rainbow Dash nodded, lifting off and making the chariot judder slightly as she
went, “I could get to Canterlot and back in a flash!”
“And
the rest of us can get the train there, it’s just a little trip.” Fluttershy
offered, with a nod, “I’m sure I can find some pony to look after my animals
while I’m away.”
“And
when we get there I’ll throw a big party!” Pinkie Pie giggled at her. “So you
won’t feel so blue.”
“An’
I’ll bring some o’ ma apple pies for you ter share with yer friends in
Canterlot.” Applejack promised, only to watch as Twilight’s shoulders sank
further, “What? What’s wrong Twi?”
“I
don’t…you lot are the only friends I have, besides Spike and my brother…”
Twilight admitted, though she was embarrassed to do so.
“Well
that’s no fun.” Pinkie pouted as she sat down and thought about it.
“Then
we’ll just have to visit lots, darling.” Rarity promised, crossing her heart as
she did.
“It’s
just a shame you can’t stay in Ponyville.” Rainbow commented as Ponyville
loomed on the horizon. “We’re way cooler anyway. By about twenty percent.”
“I
don’t know about that, Rainbow.” Rarity partly scolded as they started coming
in to land in the main square of the village, not far from the town hall. “Canterlot
is very different from Ponyville, you really shouldn’t compare them.”
“If
Twilight prefers here to there, then Ponyville’s obviously better.” Rainbow
shrugged, unconcerned with Rarity’s irritation. The white unicorn opened her
mouth to retort but she did not get a chance to utter a word before they
touched down with barely a bounce.
Ponyville
was much quieter than it had been when they had left and there were guards
posted on most corners, helping the citizens of the small town where they
could. When the chariots touched down however, they drew the attention of
everyone. The mayor was the first to approach as Twilight clambered down from
the carriage and then helped the others down. She looked them over carefully,
noting the jewellery that adorned each of them.
Then
her attention was drawn to the carriage that came down behind them and her eyes
widened when she saw who it was carrying. “P…Princess Celestia and Nightmare
Moon?”
“No.”
Twilight corrected as they landed, “Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. The
two sisters reunited once more.” The mayor nodded, still looking a little nervous
as she canted over to the pair. Twilight could not help but wonder how long it
would take poor Luna to live down her possessed form. She had a horrible
feeling that it would take a very long time before she was allowed to forget
what she had done. Even if she had not been in control for any of it.
The
ponies of Ponyville emerged from their hiding places, as well as several
members of the Apple family. A pair of young fillies, so young that they had
not even gotten their cutie marks yet, rushed out of the crowd and hugged
Rarity and Applejack.
One
was a white unicorn who looked rather like Twilight would image a young Rarity
would. Her mane and tail had a very similar curl to the mare who was probably
her sister but were a combination of pale pink and lavender. The other was a
yellow filly that Twilight recognised from the Apple family introductions.
Though the earth pony was a similar pale yellow to Fluttershy with a reddish
pink mane and tail, the former of whom was tied with a pink ribbon, her similar
facial features and the accent the part-time Princess heard as the filly
babbled at Applejack labelled her as Applebloom.
As the
two older ponies reassured and hugged their younger sisters, Twilight
approached her older brother, a little nervous as she watched him order his men
to start withdrawing back to the palace in Canterlot. “Shiny?” She asked when
he was not busy, “Will you stay? For the party, please?”
“Sure,
Twily.” The older stallion nodded, nuzzling her and smiling, “But you still
need to tell me what happened. Were you really an alicorn?”
“I…temporarily.”
Twilight nodded, “I found out a lot today and I need to write it all down
before I forget it, but apparently I was an alicorn a really long time ago but
I sealed away some ancient power and accidently locked away my alicorn powers
at the same. Now I’m just a unicorn.”
“Just
a unicorn?” Shining Armour sounded offended, though he had an odd expression on
his features that meant Twilight was not sure if he was angry or not. “There’s
nothing wrong with being a unicorn.”
“You
know I didn’t mean…I like being a unicorn!” Twilight told him, “That’s not what
I meant. I don’t entirely understand this mess myself, yet. But I will and when
I do, I’ll share everything with you, I promise.”
“You’d
better, Twily.” Shining Armour nodded as they watched Princess Luna receive a crown
of daisies from some of the younger ponies in town. The part-time Princess was
pleased to see a surprised but delighted smile light up the younger alicorn’s
features, helping the townsfolk around them relax.
“You
know what this calls for?” Pinkie Pie asked, pulling the party cannon out of
her hair and reloading it in less than a heartbeat. “A party!”
Twilight
did not get a chance to warn her brother before Pinkie fired her cannon and she
found herself smothered in his protective embrace as the explosion went off.
“Shiny!
Shiny it’s okay, it’s just Pinkie Pie!” Twilight giggled at him, trying to push
him away. “Her party cannon only shoots streams and confetti.”
“Seriously?”
Shining Armour looked sceptical as he let go of her and stared around at the
aforementioned items scattered everywhere. “How…?”
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