"SO...WHAT NOW?"

Chapter One: Dawn of a New Age

"So...what now?"

Rainbow Dash had been the one to voice the question they were all thinking. The moon was high in the sky; the new palace glittered dimly in its soft light, creating an array of unfamiliar colors in the night sky over Ponyville. Many ponies were still out and about; the wave of power that had restored all magic to Equestria had energized the ponies, leaving many restless and awake.

Twilight Sparkle had just joined her friends on a hill overlooking Ponyville. Dried tears stained her face, but she also bore a spark of life in her eyes that had been missing during the grim process of searching the ruins of the library.

Applejack turned to Twilight. "Yeah, what happens now, Twi?"

Twilight shook her head. "I'm not really sure yet," she said. She gazed out at her palace—their palace—and rustled her wings. "We're in uncharted waters here, girls. Everything's going to change come morning." She sighed. "But right now? I'm honestly too tired to even think about it."

"Oh yes, you've been through so much today," Fluttershy said. "You really should rest. We all should."

Rainbow stretched her wings. "Yeah...I guess. I mean, I'm not tired, but things are gonna be pretty wild tomorrow."

Twilight looked at her friends. "I think...we should leave the palace alone until tomorrow," she said. "I mean, it's kinda...empty right now."

"It is rather spartan," Rarity said. "We should really do something about that, and quickly. But you're right...this is not the time."

"So...we're not spending the night there?" Spike asked. At Twilight's nod, Spike let out a relieved sigh. "Good. It's kinda cold in there, and we don't even have blankets."

"Y'all can come stay at th' farm tonight," Applejack offered. "There's plenty of room."

"You could crash with me if you wanted," Rainbow said. "My pad's pretty awesome, and you could cast that cloud-walking spell on Spike."

"I'm sure the Cakes wouldn't mind letting you stay over," Pinkie offered.

"Oh, or you could spend the night at my house," Fluttershy said.

"I'd be delighted to have the two of you as houseguests," Rarity added.

Twilight smiled gratefully. "Thank you all," she said. "You really are the best friends a pony could ever ask for." She stretched and cracked a yawn. "I think I'll spend the night at Sweet Apple Acres," she decided. "There's more room to spread out there, and I'll be less likely to disturb anypony if I can't sleep." She laughed. "Besides, I'm incredibly hungry, and, well..."

The others giggled. "Yeah, we'll take right care o' that fer ya," Applejack said with a huge grin.

"You girls don't mind, do you?" Twilight asked, looking around at her friends. "I mean, I don't want you to think I—"

"Of course we don't, darling," Rarity said. "I think I understand why you'd want to spend the night at Sweet Apple Acres."

"Yeah, even I get it," Rainbow added. She popped a few feathers in her wings. "As a matter of fact...hey, Fluttershy, think I can sleep over at your place?" She rubbed one forehoof with the other. "I, uh...you know...thought maybe you'd like some company..."

Fluttershy smiled. "Of course, Rainbow Dash. I don't think any of us want to be alone tonight."

Pinkie grinned at Rarity. "I'll bring cupcakes!" she declared.

Rarity rolled her eyes, but smiled. "Very well. I'll just go make the guest bed for you."

Twilight smiled at her friends. "Well, I hope everypony sleeps well tonight," she said. "We've got a big day tomorrow."

With that, Spike hopped on Twilight's back; Twilight placed a hoof on Applejack's side, and the three disappeared in a bright magenta flash. The two pegasi flew off in the direction of Fluttershy's cottage, and Rarity and Pinkie trotted down into the center of Ponyville.

* * * * *

"Woo-wee, you outdid yerself, Granny!" Applejack declared, belching mightily.

Twilight dabbed her muzzle with a napkin. "That was delicious, Granny Smith," she said.

"Thank ya kindly, Yer Highness," Granny said. Her back creaked as she stood from the supper table. "Welp, time fer mah nap. Y'all yung'uns don't stay up too late, y'hear?"

Apple Bloom stood up. "C'mon Spike," she said. "Yer bunkin' in mah room, an' we gotta dig out th' sleepin' bag Ah use for sleepovers."

"Sure thing," Spike said, trotting after the filly. "Nite, everypony!"

Applejack scratched herself with a hoof, then flicked an ear. "Well Twilight, you got a choice. We got a guest room, or you can sleep in mah room with me."

"I'll sleep in your room," Twilight said. "It can be a slumber party! We haven't done that in a while."

"Heh, that's th' spirit." Applejack grinned. "Alright, I'll just make th' bed an' get out some extra pillows an' blankets."

As she wandered off, Twilight trotted into the living room and looked around, smiling at all the family photos, assorted knick-knacks, and well-worn furniture. She sighed.

"Uh, Princess Twilight?" a deep voice asked hesitantly.

Twilight turned to see Big Macintosh standing in one of the doorways. She smiled. "Big Macintosh! You know, you don't have to call me Princess."

"If you say so," Big Macintosh said. "Anyway, well...Ah got somethin' for ya."

"For me?" Twilight asked, blinking.

"Well...actually, it's more like...Ah gotta give ya somethin' back," Big Macintosh amended. He looked down. "It weren't right of me ta keep it all this time since it weren't mine, but..." He leaned out of sight for a second, then trotted slowly toward her, an old grey doll hanging from his mouth.

Twilight gasped, eyes wide. "Smarty Pants?!"

"Eeyup," Big Macintosh said, setting the old doll at her hooves. Twilight swept it up and cuddled it warmly, nuzzling it like a foal. "Ah uh...fixed 'er up a bit. She was kinda raggedy."

Twilight held Smarty Pants in her magic and studied her. The loose button eye had been sewn back on, some ripped seams had been repaired, and all in all the sloppy old doll looked newer than she ever had. Tears welled up in Twilight's eyes. "Thank you. Thank you so much," she said.

"Ah reckon you need Smarty Pants right now somethin' fierce," Big Macintosh said. "A piece of home...eeyup, Ah reckon that's what you need."

Twilight beamed at him, tears flowing freely. "Yes...a piece of home..." She sniffled. "I can never thank you enough for this," she said.

"'Twer'n't nothin'," Big Macintosh said, turning shyly away. "Well...goodnight, Twilight."

"Goodnight, Big Mac," Twilight said. Smiling and tucking Smarty Pants under a wing, she trotted into Applejack's bedroom.

Applejack was spreading out an old, patched blanket on her bed. Several large, fluffy pillows lay on the floor next to the bed, and Applejack's hat hung on a hook next to the closet. "Just about got th' bed made," she said. She looked up at Twilight and blinked. "You okay, sugarcube?"

Twilight beamed at her, cheeks still wet. "I'm feeling...a lot better now than I have all evening," she said. By way of explanation, she retrieved her doll from under her wing and brought it to her cheek with her magic, nuzzling it.

Applejack chuckled. "Big Mac done gave 'er back, huh? Ah was gonna have a word with him about that tomorrow..."

Twilight blinked. "You knew he had Smarty Pants?"

"Well, yeah," Applejack said, scratching her head with a hoof. "Didn't you?"

Twilight shook her head. "I never knew what happened to her after that...incident." She grimaced. "And honestly, I felt so bad about what I did that I didn't really spend much time looking. I wasn't even sure she survived that whole mess." She frowned. "So your brother had my doll all this time and you never said anything?"

Applejack shrugged. "Ah figured you knew. Ah mean, there was that picture of him with that there doll in th' Foal Free Press. Y'know, back when all that Gabby Gums business was goin' on."

Twilight tilted her head. "There was? How did I miss that?!" She shook her head. "Well, it doesn't matter now. I'm actually glad I didn't know. If I'd known, I'd have probably asked for her back a long time ago, and..."

"Yeah," Applejack said, nodding. She smiled. "Anyway, Ah'm glad you got 'er back. Helps a little, don't it?"

"It helps a LOT," Twilight said. She examined the doll with a happy sigh. "He really took good care of her, too."

Minutes later, the two mares got comfortable on the bed, extinguished the lamp on the nightstand, and settled down for the night. Twilight kept Smarty Pants tucked firmly between her front hooves and drifted off to sleep with a content smile.

* * * * *

The following morning, Twilight and her friends met up at the edge of Ponyville and headed to the new palace together. Halfway there, they were brought up short by the sight of airships descending toward the palace, surrounded by pegasi. Exchanging glances, they galloped down to the palace.

At the gates, they met Celestia and a phalanx of guards. Celestia smiled. "Good morning, Princess Twilight. And to you as well, my little ponies."

"What's going on?" Twilight asked, pointing a hoof at the airships.

Celestia's eyes twinkled with mirth. "All of Canterlot has been very busy this past night," she said. "Those airships are delivering furnishings, ornamentation, household necessities, food, kitchen supplies, books, parchment, ink, quills, and a host of other things. As well as workhorses who are going to make your new palace as much of a home as possible."

Twilight's eyes shone with unshed tears, and she smiled brightly. "You managed all of that...in just one night?"

"You just saved all of Equestria from the brink of eternal enslavement by a cruel, power-hungry despot," Celestia said. "Everypony jumped at the chance to help furnish your new palace."

The airships landed, and a dark grey unicorn mare with a neon orange mane and tail emerged from the lead ship, trotting straight up to the two princesses. Her mane was cut in a razor-straight pageboy style that reminded Twilight of a rounded helmet; she wore angular glasses, and her cutie mark was a computer with two floppy drives. "Ze crews are about to unload ze cargo, Your Highness," she said to Celestia.

"Thank you, Amber Glow." Celestia turned to Twilight, gesturing to the new arrival with a hoof. "This is Amber Glow. She's going to oversee the completion of your new home. She's very competent and has much the same attention to detail as your friend Rarity, as well as very sharp organization skills." She smiled. "You can trust her to have your palace ready for you to move in as quickly as possible."

Twilight nodded her head. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Amber Glow."

Amber Glow bowed slightly. "Your Highness." She summoned a clipboard from the slim satchel at her side. "Do you haff any specific needs I should keep in mind?"

Twilight tilted her head thoughtfully. "Well...there's one thing, but I don't think we have the right supplies on hoof, and I don't want to impose..."

Amber Glow lowered her glasses and stared at Twilight. "You are a Princess. If anypony has ze right to impose, it is you, ja?"

Twilight laughed sheepishly. "Well...alright, but..." She cleared her throat. "I'm fine with most of the inside of the palace looking the way it does now, but...I'd really like it if my private chambers and the library were decorated to look like...well..."

"Ze Golden Oak Library?" Amber Glow asked. "Ja, Princess Celestia has already requested zis."

Twilight turned to her mentor, who gave her a bright smile and a wink. Happy tears spilled from her eyes as she hugged Celestia. "Thank you," she said.

Celestia stroked Twilight's mane with a warm smile. Twilight's friends looked on fondly.

Amber Glow shuffled her hooves and cleared her throat. "Ahem. Ja. Vell...I vill be gettink on mit ze vork." She bustled off to verbally molest the crews unloading the airships.

Celestia surveyed the six mares and dragon. "Well...seeing as it's about to get...very noisy here, I suggest we head into town and have some brunch. Amber Glow and the Royal Guards can see to things here."

"That sounds lovely," Rarity said.

"Durn tootin'," Applejack agreed.

Twilight gazed up at the palace, then looked around at her friends. "Yeah, we can wait a little while longer to explore. Especially since we'd just be in the way and all."

As the group trotted back to Ponyville, Pinkie piped up, "I just thought of something, you guys!"

"What is it, Pinkie?" Twilight asked.

Pinkie looked around at her friends. "We've never invited Princess Celestia or Princess Luna to the old castle!"

"Hey, yeah!" Rainbow said.

Celestia tilted her head. "Twilight did mention you girls had been cleaning up our old castle. I'll admit, I haven't been down there in...quite some time. Not counting the time Nightmare Moon abducted me, I mean."

"We should have a picnic in the old castle with the princesses sometime!" Rarity suggested. The others agreed.

Celestia chuckled. "Very well. I will speak with Luna, and we will schedule an evening to join you all there. I must admit, I look forward to seeing the old place once again...I'm certain Luna will enjoy it as well."

The group's arrival at Ponyville's premiere outdoor cafe caused quite a stir. Ponies crowded around, whispering excitedly at the sight of not one, but two princesses. Celestia looked around at the gathering crowd and cleared her throat. "My little ponies...I am happy to see you all healthy and well, but I must ask you to go about your daily routine and not crowd our little group. We have much to discuss, and we'd prefer to enjoy our brunch with as little fanfare as possible." Her serene smile and gentle words were all the encouragement the crowd needed to disperse.

A waiter approached, nervously fiddling with his bow tie. "Ahem. May I take your orders?"

Once the seven mares plus dragon had ordered, they began conversing lightly. They soon had a veritable banquet of brunch delicacies which covered every inch of the three tables they had pushed together. As they began to eat, Spike piped up for the first time all day. "Princess Celestia?"

"Yes, Spike?"

"I was just wondering..." Spike picked at his hay fries. "Does Twilight rule Ponyville now?"

The table fell silent.

Celestia blinked. "I...hadn't given that any thought," she admitted. "With the recent events, and what with the preparations for the furnishing of Twilight's new palace, I have not yet given any real thought to the matter of...well..."

"It's alright," Twilight said hastily. "I don't really need to—"

"Twilight," Spike said with exasperation, "just the other day you were complaining about how you don't really do anything as a princess. You just saved Equestria! You've got your own palace! You're the Princess of Friendship!" Spike waved his claws. "But what does that even mean? You can't rule friendship."

"Spike," Twilight explained patiently, "My new role in Equestria is to spread the magic of friendship to ponies far and wide, to guide them in—"

"Yeah yeah, friendship lessons, yada yada," Spike said with a dismissive claw wave. "But you still need something to rule. You're the only princess without her own kingdom!"

"Spike has a point," Celestia said. "You've proven yourself a capable leader. I'd be happy to give you your own territory to oversee, and as Ponyville is your home and the location of your new palace..."

Twilight sipped her grapefruit juice. "But what about the mayor?" she asked. "It wouldn't be fair for me to just take over Ponyville and leave her hanging."

Rainbow Dash snorted, blowing on her bangs. "Puh-lease," she said. "You've had more authority in Ponyville than the mayor for a long time."

"She's right," Rarity said. "Whenever something disastrous happens in Ponyville, it isn't the mayor we turn to for answers."

"Yeah, she couldn't even keep Winter Wrap-Up on schedule!" Applejack said. "We stunk at wrappin' up winter until you came along."

"Don't forget when I made all those mes and they ran wild over Ponyville!" Pinkie put in. "Everypony stampeded straight to you for help with that!"

Rainbow, Rarity, Applejack, and Pinkie all turned expectantly to Fluttershy. She looked around at them. "Y-yes?" she asked.

"Well?" Rainbow demanded. "Aren't you gonna jump in here?"

"Oh...um..." Fluttershy poked her hooves together. "Not...really," she said softly.

"Fluttershy," Celestia said gently, "if you have an opinion on the matter, please don't be afraid to voice it. We want to know what you think."

Fluttershy looked at Celestia, then around the table at her friends. She took a deep breath.

"Mayor Mare is completely incompetent and doesn't really belong in charge of a town the size of Ponyville. The tax codes haven't been updated since before I was born, the marketplace needs a regulatory committee to control price gouging at produce stands, petitions for public works go ignored, there's no telling what state the city treasury is in because the mayor wanted Applejack to finance rebuilding Town Hall with rodeo prize money, and I don't think I've ever seen the mayor actually do anything other than make speeches so I don't know what it is she even does." She looked up at Celestia, who was staring at her with wide eyes and a dropped jaw. "But, um...she's nice."

The table lapsed into silence.

"You know, I don't think I'll ever get used to her doing that," Rarity said.

Celestia shook herself out of her stunned stupor. "Things in Ponyville are...that bad?" she asked.

"Oh, things ain't bad exactly," Applejack said. "Ah mean, Ponyville's practically a paradise, on account of most ever'pony's good to each other an' we can pretty much all take care of business on our own." She scratched her nose. "But...yeah...with no disrespect t' th' mayor..." She took a long sip of water. "Sometimes Ah don't rightly think she could find a pig in a mud hole."

"I happen to know for a fact that almost half of the ponies in Ponyville don't bother to pay their taxes," Rarity said. "I'm not even sure the mayor is aware she's supposed to enforce the tax code."

Celestia blinked. "Oh dear." She drank her tea, a perturbed look on her face. "I was under the impression Ponyville was running smoothly..."

"Ponyville is," Rainbow Dash said. "It's Ponyville Town Hall that's the disaster."

Celestia looked at Twilight. "Well?"

Twilight frowned. "I'd need to establish an effective council," she said. "Trustworthy ponies who can see to the management of the town's affairs, and a system of local government that functions smoothly. Ideally, I would only have to stay informed through regular reports, and only step in to handle problems as they arise."

"In other words, like the system Canterlot uses," Celestia said.

"Exactly," Twilight replied with a nod. "Also, I don't want to just kick the mayor out. She deserves to have a place in this administration." She grimaced. "Also, I'd want to break it to her gently...and of course, I'd much prefer to canvass the opinions of the citizens of Ponyville before actually declaring myself in charge."

Celestia smiled. "Spoken like a true leader," she said. "Very well...once we're finished eating, I'd like for the rest of you to go around Ponyville and tell everypony to gather at the Town Hall. Princess Twilight and I will go to Town Hall to speak with the mayor."

* * * * *

An hour later, the two princesses entered Town Hall. They found the mayor just inside, straightening a framed (and outdated) map of Ponyville.

"Good day to you, Madame Mayor," Celestia said.

The mayor jumped, turned, and saw the princesses. She bowed. "Your Highnesses," she said. She took in the troubled glimmer in Twilight's eyes and the soft, kind, yet faintly sad look on Celestia's face. "You're here to remove me from office," she said. At Celestia's barely-perceptible nod, the mayor deflated.

"Nothing's decided yet," Twilight said gently. "My friends are gathering everypony in Ponyville right now. I'm going to put it to a vote." She looked down. "I know you must think I'm terrible, that now that I have a crown and a title, I'm going crazy with power, but—"

The mayor held up a hoof to cut her off. "I don't think that at all, Princess," she said. "To be honest, I've been expecting this for some time now."

"You have?" Celestia asked.

"Yes," the mayor replied. "I'm not blind. For some time now, even before she became a princess, Ponyville has been turning to Twilight Sparkle for answers, not me. Everypony knows she's intelligent, powerful, and has a direct line to you." She chuckled ruefully. "It was really only a matter of time."

"I'm still going to want you to be part of Ponyville's government," Twilight said. "I'm going to ask you to be my executive assistant."

The mayor smiled. "Thank you, Your Highness. I accept."

"We're still going to ask the citizens of Ponyville what they want first," Twilight cautioned. "If they're not willing to accept me as their leader, then nothing changes."

"Oh, I'm pretty sure they'll want you in charge," the mayor said. "After all, you are a Princess!"

* * * * *

The whole of Ponyville was gathered outside Town Hall. Twilight's friends stood at the front of the crowd.

Twilight Sparkle, Celestia, and the mayor stepped out and faced the crowd. Celestia gave Twilight a minute nod, prompting her to take the lead.

Twilight raised a hoof, motioning for silence. "Citizens of Ponyville," she began, "a time of change is upon us. By agreement between myself, Princess Celestia, and the mayor of Ponyville, I, Princess Twilight Sparkle, am prepared to assume rulership of Ponyville as my domain."

The crowd began murmuring excitedly.

"However," Twilight said sharply, stilling the ponies. "I will not assume control of Ponyville unless you, my little ponies, wish it to be so. If you would prefer things to remain the way they are now, then nothing changes. So, I ask you all now: all in favor of a Ponyville under my rule?"

A thunderous cheer went up, accompanied by the furious stomping of hundreds of hooves; the din shook the ground and raised dust.

Twilight smiled and motioned for silence. "All opposed?"

Nopony moved or spoke.

Princess Celestia smiled and stepped forward. "Then it is settled, my little ponies. From this day forward and forevermore, the town of Ponyville is hereby ruled by Princess Twilight Sparkle, by decree of Princess Celestia, co-ruler of Equestria."

The crowd cheered wildly.

Twilight let them cheer for a while, elated by the approval of her fellow Ponyvilleans, then raised a hoof for silence. "Thank you. Thank you all. The mayor will assume a new role as my executive assistant. In the coming weeks, I will conduct a series of town meetings to address the problems facing Ponyville which need attention. I will also be assembling a new system of city government, with department heads to oversee the regulation of every aspect of everyday life. The system will closely resemble that which regulates Canterlot. But my first order of business is the planning and construction of a new Ponyville public library." She felt her eyes mist and her breath hitch, but continued, "With the destruction of the Golden Oak Library, Ponyville has lost a vital public resource, and above all else, it is essential that a new library be built as swiftly as possible. I will be drafting the plans for the new library personally."

Many chuckles went up from the crowd along with the applause.

Pinkie Pie jumped up into the air and screamed, "KINGDOM OF PONYVILLE AND NEW LIBRARY PLANNING PARTY!" A flurry of inflated balloons drifted up into the air around her.

Twilight giggled as the crowd laughed at Pinkie's antics.

"Well, we have business to discuss," Celestia whispered to Twilight and the now ex-mayor. "Let's let your friends handle everything else out here." With that, the three retreated into Town Hall, leaving the crowd to its own devices.

"I didn't expect them to be that excited about it," Twilight said. She looked over at the grey-maned earth pony and said gently, "I'm sorry. That must have been hard, Ma—" She trailed off. "You know, come to think of it, I don't even know your actual name."

The former mayor laughed. "My name is Polly, Your Highness. Polly Mare. And don't worry about me. I'm more than happy to hand over the burden of leadership to more capable hooves."

"You'll still have a very important role in my administration," Twilight reminded her. "In fact, you'll have to work harder than ever."

"I'll try not to let you down, Your Highness," Polly said.

"Oh, and one more thing..."

"Yes, Your Highness?"

"Please stop dying your mane. You don't really want to look like an old grey mare, do you?"

Polly laughed. "I'll think about it."

Chapter Two: The Familiar and the New

Twilight, Celestia, and Polly spent nearly two hours in conference inside Town Hall. Outside, Pinkie had swiftly organized a massive town-wide block party, which was still in full swing by the time the princesses emerged.

"Princess Celestia! Twilight! Come party with us!" Pinkie called out, tossing a hoofful of confetti into the air.

The two princesses looked at one another. Celestia shrugged and wandered over to the buffet table, helping herself to a piece of cake. Twilight rolled her eyes, giggled, and joined her.

It was late afternoon by the time the party wound down and ponies wandered off to their own homes and errands. Twilight, her friends, and Celestia returned to the palace to find stocky stallions still hauling things in, an unseemly amount of noise from within the palace itself, and Amber Glow screaming nigh-incomprehensible orders through a megaphone.

Twilight winced as two workponies dropped a massive mahogany desk, which led to Amber Glow screaming obscenities at them. She stuck a hoof in her ear. "I don't think I'll ever stop hearing that word," she said. "I think it's burned into my eardrum forever."

Celestia's eyes widened. "Perhaps...we should steer clear for just a while longer," she said mildly.

"You know, this might not be a bad time to head down to the old castle," Twilight said. "We did say we were going to have a picnic there, and this seems like as good a time as any."

"A visit to the old castle sounds lovely," Celestia said. "Just a moment..." Parchment, ink, and a quill appeared out of nowhere, and she wrote a quick letter. It rolled up, sealed itself, and dissipated into a plume of glittery blue-black smoke, which wafted away in the direction of Canterlot. "I've asked Luna to meet us there."

"You really need to teach me how to do that now that I'm an alicorn," Twilight said. "I mean, don't get me wrong, I love having Spike send letters for me, but..."

"I'm totally in favor of Twilight learning how to send letters that way!" Spike said. "That way I'll never have to worry about suddenly burping up a letter in the middle of eating ice cream ever again."

Celestia blinked. "Oh dear...that's actually happened?"

"More than once," Spike lamented. "Comes with the territory of being a living mailbox."

Celestia sighed. "I hereby swear that no more ice cream will be destroyed due to my thoughtlessness," she swore solemnly. "Twilight, I'll teach you the scroll-sending spell before I leave Ponyville."

* * * * *

Luna crept nervously over the threshold of the castle's grand entrance. "It has been...quite some time since last I laid eyes upon our old home," she said.

"It's been the same for me," Celestia said. "Ever since...that night...I haven't had the heart to come back here." She bowed her head. "I didn't even sleep here that night. I curled up under the Tree of Harmony and cried myself to sleep."

"Celie..." Luna said, extending a wing over her sister.

Twilight winced, ears folding. "I'm sorry," she said. "If...if this was a bad idea..."

Celestia smiled gently. "No, Twilight," she said. "This is something both my sister and I must face."

"Yes...we haven't cleaned our rooms in over a thousand years," Luna quipped. She sighed. "Still...it does hurt to see the state of ruin which has befallen the castle." She glanced at Twilight. "I fully appreciate your pain."

Twilight smiled. "It looks a lot worse on the outside than it does on the inside," she said.

The group entered, and the two ancient alicorns looked around, eyes wide. "Why...you all have done a wonderful job!" Celestia gasped. "It looks so clean and...and..."

"Un-ruined?" Luna ventured.

"Well-maintained," Celestia amended.

"We've put a lot of work into this place," Rainbow said.

"The tapestries!" Luna cried. "They look...they look as lovely as the day Princess Platinum presented them to us!"

"They certainly do," Celestia said. "I suppose we have you to thank for that, Rarity?"

Rarity smiled. "Well...I couldn't simply sit by and let such beautiful art rot! It would be a crime against fabulosity!"

"The significance of what you have done is far greater than simply preserving beautiful art," Luna said. "These tapestries are historic treasures. They date back to the founding of Equestria itself!"

"Yes...the unicorn princess, Princess Platinum, designed and commissioned these tapestries," Celestia said. "They're priceless."

Rarity gasped. "I...I had no idea!"

"I knew," Twilight said. "It's in the journal."

Celestia looked up at the tapestries. "I think we should remove these tapestries from this castle and have them transplanted to Canterlot. What do you think, Luna?"

"I agree," Luna said. "All of Equestria should be free to appreciate these splendid tapestries."

"That's a wonderful idea!" Twilight said. "After all, they sort of belong to the two of you, not to the castle itself. Um...which also belongs to the two of you..."

"Yes, they're just going to waste here," Rarity said.

"As long as we're talking about transplanting things from this castle," Twilight said, "I was thinking...the library here is a valuable resource. The books and scrolls here should be, well...more readily accessible."

Celestia smiled. "I quite agree. When I return to Canterlot, I'll arrange to have the contents of the castle library transplanted to your new palace."

Twilight blinked. "To...to my palace? But...but it's your—"

"Logistics," Celestia said simply. "It would be easier to transfer the materials to your palace, your library will have more room for them than the Canterlot Archives, and it would be better if you had more direct access to them." She smiled.

Twilight bounced in place. "Well, alright then!" she said with a wide, bright smile and a girlish giggle. She stopped bouncing after a moment, a mild frown on her face. "I'll need to screen out the dark magic stuff, though." She gave the elder princesses a faintly disapproving look. "No disrespect intended, but you two were into some pretty twisted stuff when you were younger."

"Yeah, like that Hall of Hooves," Rainbow Dash said. "Seriously, what the hay?"

Luna and Celestia shared a sheepish look, and giggled.

* * * * *

It was late evening, with the moon already high overhead, when the picnic broke up. Luna and Celestia returned to Canterlot, and Twilight and her friends packed up and headed back for Ponyville. As the group returned to the new palace, Amber Glow approached. "Your Highness," she said, bowing to Twilight, "ze crews haff finished furnishing your private rooms und ze kitchen. Zere is more vork to be done, und it vill take at least four more days to complete all vork visin ze palace, but you und your dragon now haff a place to sleep."

"Thank you, Amber Glow. I'll have to thank all the workers personally tomorrow." Twilight noticed a massive collection of tents scattered around the outside of the palace. "What's going on here?"

"Temporary quarters for ze vorkers und guards," Amber Glow said. "Zey vill remain here until ze vork is completed, und zen return to Canterlot."

"Oh. Alright." Twilight stretched and yawned. "Well...I don't know about you guys, but I'm beat."

"Yeah, I hear ya," Rainbow said. "I wanna see your new digs, but...I'd better get home while I can still fly. G'nite!" Waving a wing, she launched herself into the air.

"We can have a great big sleepover slash housewarming party for Twilight...after all this mess is over with," Pinkie said, cracking a huge yawn. "I gotta get home before the twins' bedtime so I don't wake them up coming in. Goodnight everypony!"

One by one, Twilight's other friends made their goodbyes and headed for home. "Well, Spike," Twilight said as she looked up at the palace. "Let's...go home."

* * * * *

With Spike on her back, Twilight glided through the balcony door at the base of the palace proper. They looked around at the bright purple crystal interior. "This place is even cooler than Cadance's palace," Spike said. "The color's better anyway."

"Yeah...come to think of it, we didn't really explore the upper palace yet, did we?" Twilight paused, brow furrowed. "Wait a second...how will I find our rooms?"

Spike shrugged. "Well...there's gotta be a window, right? We can just fly around outside until we find a room that's got furniture and stuff."

"Good idea, Spike!" Twilight said. Spike hopped back onto her back, and Twilight turned and flew out the way she entered, circling the outside of the palace and peering into each window. Finally, near the top of the third floor, she looked into one window and nearly dropped Spike.

Inside was a near-perfect replica of her bedroom from the library, only much larger, with an enormous bed. As Twilight flew through the huge window, Spike jumped down off her back and looked around. "Wow, it really looks...amazing," he said. He frowned. "But...where's my basket?"

Twilight giggled. "Spike," she said, "you don't really want to sleep in a basket by my bed anymore, do you?"

Spike frowned. "Well...I always have..."

"Think, Spike. There's this whole huge palace. There's a lot of rooms."

Spike blinked. "Wait...you don't mean..." He gasped. "I've got my own room?!"

"Let's find out," Twilight said, giving his spines an affectionate ruffle. She opened the bedroom door, and they stepped out into a massive sitting room, decorated to look exactly like the reading room at Golden Oak Library. The bookshelves were all empty, but Twilight was determined to correct that at her earliest opportunity. Several large crystal doors led off the sitting room; the one they had just come through had her cutie mark engraved on it. Twilight's horn glowed, and all the doors opened. She and Spike began poking their heads in each door.

"This one's apparently my private office," Twilight said.

"I found the bathroom," Spike said. "Ooh, that toilet looks cold..."

"This is a closet," Twilight said. "A really big closet..."

"Found it!" Spike said. "Whoa, check it out!"

Twilight trotted over and peered into the door Spike had just gone through. Inside, the decor was similar to Twilight's bedroom. In the center of the floor was a large round cushion with raised edges, the same deep purple as Rarity's mane, scattered with a dozen off-white plush throw pillows, with two neatly-folded lavender blankets in the middle. There were a few bookshelves in the room, as well as an ornate gilded treasure chest that stood open and empty against one wall.

"Ooooh! Fancy," Twilight said. With a giggle, she added, "Love the color choice."

"You and me both," Spike said.

"And look! You've got a place to keep all your gems! Well...the ones you can manage not to eat the second you get your claws on them."

"And plenty of room for a comic book collection!" Spike dived into the "bed", rolling over on his back and tucking a pillow under his head. "Yeah, I'm gonna love this room," he said happily.

Twilight giggled. "Well...I'll leave you to it then," she said. "G'nite, Spike." She trotted off, closing the door behind her, and headed for her own room, where she wasted no time at all settling into a deep, contented sleep.

* * * * *

Twilight awoke to a full bladder and a grumbling stomach. Spike awoke to a loud, shrill squeal of shock. As he toddled out of his bedroom, rubbing sleep from his eyes, Twilight stalked stiffly out of the bathroom. "Spike, make a note," she said tersely. "Before the end of the day, I want that stupid toilet seat padded."

She had not, in fact, said 'stupid', but rather the terribly foul word Amber Glow had used the day before; Spike chose to pretend she hadn't said something that nasty. Instead, he wagged an empty claw. "Uhh...Twilight? I don't have anything to make a note with yet."

The door to Twilight's office opened, and parchment, ink, and a quill floated out. "There. Now make that note."

"Padded toilet seat, got it," Spike said. His belly rumbled. "Should I go make breakfast?"

"I don't even know if the kitchen is stocked with food yet," Twilight said. "Or where the kitchen is, for that matter..."

"So...breakfast in town?" Spike suggested.

"Sounds good to me," Twilight agreed. She frowned. "We really should just walk downstairs, so that we can learn our way around the palace..."

"Nah," Spike said. "I'm too hungry to walk. Just fly or teleport us."

Twilight giggled. "Alright."

As the two exited the same way they had entered, Twilight glided gracefully to the ground. Outside the miniature tent city, several catering wagons had set up shop. Applejack and Pinkie Pie were distributing pastries, fruit, coffee, and juice to the workers and guards. Twilight dropped to the ground nearby, and she and Spike walked up to their wagons. "Good morning, everypony!" she greeted.

The nearest workers dropped to a knee, bowing their heads. "Howdy, Twilight!" Applejack waved. "Y'all care fer some breakfast?"

"Don't mind if we do!" Twilight looked around at the kneeling workers and rolled her eyes. "Get up, guys. It's too early in the morning for this." She perused the goodies on the wagons before helping herself to an apple turnover and a cup of coffee. Spike wandered over to Pinkie's wagon and claimed a huge, frosted donut with sprinkles.

"So how'd you sleep last night?" Applejack asked.

"Wonderfully," Twilight said. "I have the most amazing bed. And Spike has his own room!" She giggled. "Wait until you see his bed. Heck, wait until Rarity sees it."

Applejack raised an eyebrow. "Lookin' forward to it. How's th' rest of th' palace?"

Twilight shrugged. "Purple, crystal, fancy...honestly, we didn't bother exploring much. We just figured out where the royal suite was from the outside."

"Zat is for ze best, perhaps," Amber Glow said as she approached, adjusting her glasses. "Ze inside of ze palace is...razzer messy at ze moment." She bowed slightly. "Good morning, Your Highness. Vork vill resume in...sirty minutes, ja?"

Twilight looked around at the workers. "Make it an hour," she said. "Give everypony time to enjoy breakfast and stretch out a bit."

Amber Glow frowned, but dipped her head. "As you wish, Your Highness."

"Oh, and Amber Glow?" Twilight frowned. "I want the toilet seat in my bathroom padded. Make that today's number one priority."

Amber Glow raised an eyebrow. "I'll make a note of it."

Applejack chuckled. "Froze your fanny off, huh?"

"Let's just say it wasn't the nicest way to wake up," Twilight grimaced. Her horn began to tingle in an unfamiliar way. "Huh? What—?"

A plume of lavender smoke, shot through with pink sparkles, wafted toward her from the direction of Canterlot in a lazy spiral, coalescing into a scroll with Celestia's seal. She seized it in her magic and opened it.

Dear Twilight,

Your parents, your brother, and Cadance will be arriving on the early train from Canterlot.

Sincerely,
Celestia

Twilight smiled happily. "My family's coming to Ponyville for a visit!"

"Well ain't that right nice," Applejack said.

Pinkie gasped. "Your parents have never come to Ponyville before, have they?"

"They sure haven't," Twilight said. "Actually, neither has Shining Armor, now that I think about it." Her ears twitched. "I was planning to get to work reorganizing Town Hall today, buuuut...I guess it can wait a little longer." She rustled her wings. "Spike, stay here and be my liaison to the workers. I'm headed for the train station."

Spike saluted. "You can count on me!"

"Girls, thanks for breakfast!" Twilight appropriated a second apple turnover with her magic, then took off, leaving a faint lavender blur in her wake.

* * * * *

Twilight trotted lightly in place on the platform, wings ruffling anxiously as she awaited the train.

"Jeez, Twilight, settle down! You look like you gotta tinkle or somethin'!"

Twilight spun to see Rainbow Dash land lightly behind her. She blushed furiously. "No I don't! ...do I?"

"Maybe just a little."

Twilight ducked her head. "Ponyfeathers."

Rainbow snickered. "So, what's got you so worked up?"

"My whole family's coming to Ponyville on the next train!"

"Awesome!" Rainbow said. "I'd stick around and greet them with you, but I've got pegasus stuff to do. See you up at the palace later?"

Twilight nodded, and Rainbow left. A few minutes later, the train arrived. Two guard ponies stepped out of one car, and a procession emerged, led by Princess Cadance. Behind and to her left was Shining Armor; behind him were—

"Mom! Dad!" Twilight rushed over and swept her parents up in a hug.

"Oof!" Night Light wheezed with a strained chuckle. "Take it easy there! You're stronger than you look!"

"Hello, dear," Twilight Velvet said.

Twilight released her parents and straightened up. She then rushed over to Cadance and hugged her tightly, then repeated the process with Shining Armor. "I'm just so happy to see all of you," she said. "You have no idea..."

"The last few days have been trying for everypony, but you most of all," Cadance said gently. "We all agreed Ponyville is the only place in Equestria for us to be right now. I'm just sorry it took us so long to get here."

"Oh, that's fine," Twilight said. "Yesterday was crazy, what with the construction in the palace and me taking over Ponyville..." She paused. "Oh! I can't wait to show you the palace!"

"We can't wait to see it up close!" Shining Armor said. "We can see it from Canterlot and it's amazing!"

Twilight blinked. "Wow. It's visible from Canterlot?"

"Can't really miss it," Cadance said with a grin.

Twilight Velvet trotted up to her daughter, peering curiously at her. "My, but you've grown," she said. "Your father and I haven't seen you since the coronation...you've really grown!" She reached up with a hoof and measured her daughter's horn.

Twilight blushed self-consciously. "I haven't grown that much..."

"Are you kidding?" Shining Armor said. "You're HUGE, little sis!"

Twilight peered at him, eyes narrowed. "Are you calling me fat, BBBFF?"

Shining reached up and booped her on the muzzle. "Not falling for that," he said. The others laughed.

"But seriously," Cadance said, "you think she's grown now, wait two or three years. You won't even recognize her."

Twilight blinked at her. "What do you mean?"

Cadance smirked. "Twilight, look at me, Luna, and Celestia. I've only been an alicorn what, eighteen years? And I'm nowhere close to having anything on those two." She smiled. "But I'm also not as powerful as you. And you'd have to ask Celestia to know for sure, but..." She paused. "I think having all of our magic inside you like you did...well...I wouldn't be surprised if there are after-effects."

"After-effects?" Twilight asked, eyes wide.

Cadance tilted her head. "Come to think of it...I'd swear you're half a hoof taller than you were just the other day."

Twilight's eyes widened. "Wait...are you saying..." She trailed off. "I need to research this as soon as I have the books and scrolls from the old castle library." She began to pace nervously in place. "If I have some kind of...alicorn growth spurt..."

"Bit late for that," Shining Armor said.

Velvet walked up to her daughter. "Sparkle, dear," she said soothingly. "Don't worry about it. Whatever happens, happens. The important thing is you're you, and everypony who knows you is proud of you."

Twilight smiled and hugged her mother. "Mom..."

"But even if you get as tall as Celestia, I'm still calling you little sis," Shining Armor said.

Twilight looked over at him, smirking. "Yeah? Well you can count on me calling you little brother." Everypony laughed. "Come on," Twilight said. "Let me show you all my new home."

Chapter Three: Twilight's Family (Part One)

Twilight's family stared up at the massive, vibrantly-colored tree-palace, wide-eyed and slack-jawed. This went on for what felt like several minutes, until Cadance finally spoke.

"Trade you?"

"Nope, uh-uh, no way in Equestria," Shining Armor said emphatically. "There's no way I'd climb around in that every day."

Twilight giggled.

"He's getting a bit lazy lately," Cadance stage-whispered. "Just look at that pot belly."

"HEY!" Shining Armor cried indignantly. The mares all laughed.

Night Light patted his son's shoulder with a hoof. "Your mother does that to me all the time," he said.

"I really want to show you all around," Twilight said, "but..." She motioned around to the workers, who were already in gear, hauling things into the palace while Amber Glow shouted at them. Spike was hovering near Amber Glow, holding a clipboard. The buffet service wagons were mostly gone; the picked-over remains of the earlier breakfast buffet had been piled onto one wagon, and a bored-looking mare Twilight didn't immediately recognize was watching over it.

"Oh, that's okay," Cadance said cheerfully. "We're all sticking around Ponyville for a week."

"Really?" Twilight asked, perking up. She tilted her head. "Are you sure you and Shiny can—"

"I have very capable aides and advisors," Cadance said with a smile. "If there's any trouble, I can be back in the Crystal Empire in no time on the Crystal Express."

"Besides, the whole Tirek thing didn't spill over into the Empire," Shining Armor said. "Somehow, he missed the Crystal Empire reappearing, and...I guess Discord forgot to tell him about it."

"Not like he'd have gotten very far with the Crystal Heart protecting the Empire," Cadance said. "Even without me there, the Heart's power is formidable."

"Well, that's good," Twilight said.

A massive oak display cabinet crashed to the ground near the palace entrance. A blast of feedback squealed from Amber Glow's megaphone, and she shouted a litany of obscenities at the workers who had dropped it.

Cadance stared, wide-eyed. "I don't even think that's anatomically possible," she said quietly.

"Her mother must be very proud of her," Velvet said with a frown.

Shining blinked. "Wow. I haven't heard some of those words since boot camp."

Twilight sighed. "And just think, I have to put up with four more days of this."

"Ouch," Cadance said with a grimace.

Spike wandered over, scales pale and digging in his ear with a claw. "Sweet succulent sapphires that mare has a nasty mouth," he muttered. "Hi Mom, hi Dad, hi Shiny, hi Princess Cadance, welcome to the gutter."

"You left impressionable young Spike with that...that?!" Velvet demanded sharply.

Twilight shrugged. "I needed a liaison," she said plaintively. "Spike, did Amber Glow handle the, uh...little problem?"

"Yeah, she sent the fastest pegasus she could find to pick up a new toilet seat," Spike said.

Twilight's parents raised their eyebrows. Shining grinned.

Twilight blushed. "SPIKE!"

"What? A freezing cold toilet seat is nothing to be embarrassed about," Spike said. "I mean, happens to everypony, right?"

"Oh, tell me about it," Cadance said. "I had to enchant all the toilet seats in the Crystal Empire to be self-warming."

Twilight shuffled her hooves. "So, uh...you're here, and we can...catch up and stuff...we can't really go into the palace right now with all that going on, so..." She trailed off.

Spike rolled his eyes. "Why don't you make the rounds of Ponyville? Give Mom and Dad the tour, meet up with all our friends..."

"Oh, yes! Of course," Twilight said. She paused. "Have you...made arrangements? Sleeping arrangements, I mean? Since...again, the palace..."

"Oh, we've taken care of that," Velvet said. "Your father called in a favor from Mr. Rich, the owner of Barnyard Bargains. He has plenty of guest rooms."

"Great!" Twilight said. "Then let's get going...Spike, you're coming along, right?"

"Don't you need a liaison here?" Spike asked.

Twilight smirked. "Do you WANT to stay here learning new swear words I'll yell at you for knowing?"

"So like I was saying, let's go to Carousel Boutique first!" Spike said with a huge grin.

* * * * *

"We've finished mapping out the floor plan of the palace," an exhausted, lathering worker reported to Amber Glow, presenting her with a roll of parchment.

"Zer gut," Amber Glow said as she scanned the map. "Hmm. Interesting. Zis vill require some resinking mit our approach..."

"Problem?" Princess Celestia asked from behind her.

Amber Glow turned around. "Ach! Your Highness, please do not startle me so!"

Celestia chuckled. "My apologies. So, what did you find?"

Amber Glow presented the map of the palace to Celestia. "Zer appear to be not one, but six sets of royal suites. Zese ozzers vere not found in our initial survey. Admittedly, ze first survey vas...somevat rushed."

Celestia nodded. "I expected this."

"You did?" Amber Glow asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Well, yes. Didn't you notice the six thrones in the atrium? Well...six and a half."

Amber Glow paused. "Ach." She frowned. "So vhat should ve do?"

"For the moment, continue work as planned. We'll need to consult with the rightful owners of those suites regarding their needs and tastes..."

* * * * *

"My, what a charming building!" Velvet said as the group approached Carousel Boutique.

"Almost as charming as the pony that lives in it," Spike said.

"Wow, you weren't kidding about his crush on Rarity," Cadance whispered to Twilight.

Twilight giggled as she opened the door.

Hearing the shop bell jingle, Rarity, who was bustling about inside, called out, "I'll be with you in a moment! I'm afraid I'm getting a bit of a late start this morning..."

"It's just me, Rarity," Twilight called.

"Oh! Twilight, darling!" Rarity turned to greet Twilight. She then took in the crowd that had accompanied her and took a step backward, raising a hoof. "Oh, and...hello, everyone." She smiled delicately.

"My family's spending the week in Ponyville," Twilight said. "I can't give them a tour of the palace yet, so I thought I'd show them around Ponyville."

"Oh, how delightful!" Rarity said. "Well, do come in then!"

As the group filed into the boutique and fanned out, Twilight Velvet studied some of the fashions on display. "I see now why you get written up in so many magazines in Canterlot," she said. "I might have to buy an outfit or two while I'm in town."

Rarity laughed. "Oh, please...your money is no good here!" she said. "For Twilight's family, I'm only too happy to offer whatever you desire, free of charge."

"Oh, I couldn't possibly take advantage of you!" Velvet said. "I'm not big on receiving special treatment just because I'm the mother of a princess..."

"Oh, Twilight being a princess has nothing to do with it, darling!" Rarity said. "It's because she's one of my best friends."

"Rarity's the most generous pony in Equestria," Spike said dreamily.

"So, Twilight," Rarity asked as she directed several things to fly around the showroom, "How are things at the palace?"

"Busy, noisy, and not especially foal-friendly," Twilight said. "On the plus side, the royal suite is amazing! Spike has his own room now, and he loves it!"

"I sure do," Spike said. "I've got a nice, comfortable bed, and a treasure chest to put my jewels in!"

"Well, that's wonderful!" Rarity said happily. "I've always thought you deserved better than an old basket on the floor, Spikey-poo."

"Hey, that basket and I go way back!" Spike said. "Besides, I may not be as greedy as other dragons, but I still have the same nesting instincts. And my new bed is really more of a big, plush nest." He tilted his head. "Now that I think about it, though, it is nice to have more room to spread out."

"So how's your room, dear?" Velvet asked Twilight. "I imagine it's rather like being back in Canterlot, judging by the look of your palace..."

Twilight smiled. "Actually? Everypony went out of their way to make me feel right at home. My rooms have been decorated to look like the library. A lot bigger, of course." She giggled. "It may not be very princessly, but it's just perfect for me. It...it really helps." She sniffled and wiped at her eye with a hoof.

An uncomfortable silence descended over the room.

"You know, dear," Velvet said, "we do have an awful lot of your old things in your old room, and some of the stuff you didn't bring to Ponyville with you is in the attic. Just say the word and anything we have at home..."

Twilight smiled. "Thank you, Mom." She sighed. "I'm...still coping with what happened to the library."

"I wish we could've seen it before..." Night Light said. "I wish we'd come to Ponyville sooner."

"Goodness, I'd almost forgotten!" Rarity said suddenly. "Twilight, I'd very much like to create some tapestries for the new palace."

"That'd be great!" Twilight said happily.

"I was thinking of tapestries commemorating the six of us," Rarity said. "Oh, and Spike too of course. You know, so the throne room isn't so...cold."

Twilight's brow furrowed. "Just...be sure you focus on our friendship, and not...well...I mean..." She paused. "Oh, how do I want to put this..."

"She doesn't want tapestries bragging about how great we all are," Spike said. "Just how great our friendship is."

"Yes, that!" Twilight said, nodding happily.

Rarity frowned. "Oh, but...darling...you simply must make allowances for grandeur!" She sighed. "But yes, I do see your point. How about...a compromise?"

Twilight rolled her eyes. "Okay Rarity, I'll just leave it to you." She looked around. "Well...we should be moving along now. See you later!"

"Have a good day! It was nice seeing you all!"

As they left, Twilight sighed. "I'm going to be spending the rest of my life looking at a giant version of me in full-blown princess mode, I just know it."

Cadance giggled. "Twilight...you've really got to start just accepting some of the perks that come with your crown. I understand you're still not comfortable with all this princess stuff, but, well...you're going to be one for a long time, so you'd better start getting used to it."

"She's right, you know," Velvet said. "You're only twenty-two, dear. You've already accomplished more in such a short time than a lot of ponies three times your age. It really is time you accept the pony you're growing into."

"You should listen to your mother," Cadance said. "A hundred years or so from now, that tapestry of you as a great and powerful ruler might not bother you so much."

Twilight rolled her eyes. "Oh, Cadance...I doubt I'll even care about things like tapestries when I'm that old. If I ever get that old. I mean, look at Granny Smith..." She giggled. "If I'm even still around in a hundred years, I'll be more worried about where I left my teeth!"

Cadance stopped walking, eyes wide. "Uhh...Twilight...you do realize you're immortal now, right?"

Twilight froze. "Wait...WHAT?!"

* * * * *

Celestia walked into Ponyville Town Hall and found the former mayor hard at work.

"Good morning, Polly."

"Oh, Your Highness!" Polly Mare rose from her desk and bowed.

"I just wanted to see how you're adjusting."

Polly shrugged. "Well, until Princess Twilight comes in and actually starts making any changes, there isn't really anything for me to do except try to sort the papers on my desk." She paused. "I mean, her desk. I'm pretty sure this is her office now."

"That's for you and Princess Twilight to work out," Celestia said. "By the way, I wouldn't expect to see her today if I were you. Her family is in town for a visit."

"Oh, how lovely! I don't believe I've ever met her family before."

"They are wonderful ponies," Celestia said. Her horn glowed, and a sheaf of parchment appeared. "I would like you to place this in your inbox, and bring it to Princess Twilight's attention at the earliest convenient opportunity."

Polly took the parchment from Celestia and gave it a cursory scan. "A guard barracks?"

"I believe there is adequate land in Ponyville," Celestia said. "I would like it to be given equal priority to the construction of the new library."

"Of course," Polly said in a distracted tone. "I'll let Princess Twilight know as soon as..." She tilted her head. "But why, if I may ask?"

Celestia smiled. "Princess Twilight now has a crown, a palace, a domain, and a role to play in Equestria. There is only one thing that remains. She must have her own Royal Guard."

Polly frowned. "I'm not sure she's going to like that idea," she said.

"Oh, she's absolutely going to hate it," Celestia said with a giggle. "Well, I'm off. Have a wonderful day, my little pony!"

* * * * *

Cadance tilted her head. "You didn't know?"

Twilight's right ear twitched as she breathed heavily.

"That's funny," Shining Armor said. "Twiley usually knows everything..."

"I thought everypony knew alicorns are immortal," Night Light said.

"You okay, Twilight?" Spike asked.

Twilight took a deep breath, placed a hoof to her chest, and exhaled, extending her hoof straight out. She closed her eyes for a moment, sighed, then looked around at her family. "Honestly? I hadn't even given it any thought," she admitted. "I mean, I'm still getting used to the fact that I am an alicorn. It never even occurred to me that...that I'd..."

"Why don't we go visit another of your friends?" Velvet suggested smoothly. "And we've still got quite a bit of Ponyville to see."

Twilight took another deep breath, then smiled. "You're right. I can freak out about that...other thing...later." Her ears drooped. "Much later." She looked around at her family. "Soooo...where would you like to go next?"

"How about Sweet Apple Acres?" Spike suggested. "I mean, no tour of Ponyville is complete without—"

"—where it all began," Twilight finished. "Good idea, Spike!" She gave Shining Armor a sly smirk. "Besides, somepony could use the exercise."

"Hey!" Shining protested indignantly, a somewhat petulant whine to his voice. Everypony laughed.

"Good call," Cadance said. "After all, I need him in tip-top shape a couple weeks from now."

"Oh?" Velvet asked. "What for, if I may ask?"

"AHH! Cadance, don't—!"

Cadance stuffed a hoof in her husband's mouth. "We're about to try for a foal," she said.

Twilight gasped. Velvet let out a high-pitched, girlish squeal. "EEE! I'm going to be a grandmother!"

"Wow," Twilight said. "Umm...okay! I'm really happy for you!" She paused, and muttered, "Didn't really need advance warning, though..."

"So!" Shining Armor said loudly, a note of panic in his voice. "Let's head to Sweet Apple Acres!"

The others laughed, and soon the group was underway. "You said something about 'where it all began'?" Velvet asked.

"That's right," Twilight said. "The Apple Family settled Sweet Apple Acres when Granny Smith was a filly. Ponyville grew up around their homestead." She smiled. "Ponyville is one of the youngest towns in Equestria. One of its founders is still alive!"

After several minutes of walking, they saw the gates of Sweet Apple Acres. They also saw Applejack muttering under her breath as she struggled to pry a nail out of a fence post that had rotted through. Beside her on the ground lay a brand new, freshly-painted replacement fence post.

"Consarned...son of a horseapple..." they heard her grumble as they drew nearer.

"Applejack!" Twilight called out. "Need any help?"

Applejack turned, dropping her hammer. "Oh, hey Twi...and Princess Cadance...and Twi's whole entire family..."

"Hello, Applejack," Cadance said. "It's wonderful to see you again."

Twilight trotted ahead of the group, examining the mangled, rusted nail. "Applejack, I know you don't want me interfering with your farm chores, but—"

"Actually, Ah'd be mighty grateful," Applejack said. "Ah've been tryin' t' pull that there nail out for half an hour now."

"Wow, that's one stubborn nail," Twilight said. Her horn glowed brightly. Magenta flames wreathed the nail and the rotted fencepost. In a bright flash of light, they ceased to exist. The new fencepost and two nails from Applejack's toolbox glowed magenta and levered themselves into place. An audible magical hum filled the air as the nails pounded themselves into the fence rails with a loud percussive bang.

Applejack's jaw dropped. "Holy hayseed, Twi..." She leaned forward and gave the new fence post a tentative knock with her hoof. "Solid as a rock..."

"Now that that's taken care of," Twilight said cheerfully, "I was hoping you might give my family a tour of Sweet Apple Acres."

Applejack smiled. "Sure thing." She motioned to the others with a hoof. "C'mon, ever'pony. Granny's cookin' up a mess of apple fritters for th' ponies workin' up at th' palace, but Ah'm sure we can spare a few fer y'all."

The group followed Applejack into the farm. As they walked up the trail to the farmhouse, Twilight's parents gawked at the surrounding orchards. "I've never seen so many apple trees!" Night Light said.

Applejack chuckled. "Hehe, yep. Sweet Apple Acres is one'a th' biggest apple orchards in Equestria. Even without th' west orchard an' th' two acres we lost t' them vampire fruit bats, we've still got a pretty good crop."

"What's wrong with the west orchard?" Cadance asked.

"Fruit bats," Applejack said simply. "Th' regular kind, not th' vampire kind. Whole west orchard's infested. They're content t' settle there, though, so we gave up gettin' 'em out ages ago." She shrugged. "It's just as well. We don't got enough ponies t' buck th' whole Acres. We barely get th' work done every applebuck season as it is."

As they reached the house, Velvet asked, "Can't you hire on farmhands to help with the harvest?"

Applejack chuckled. "Shucks, we ain't got th' bits fer that. Nope, it's just me an' Big Mac when applebuck season rolls around. An' Apple Bloom helps how she can. An' mah friends do their part when we're in a crunch." She looked at Twilight. "Remember that first applebuck season after you came t' Ponyville, Twilight?"

Twilight laughed. "How could I forget? You were a one-pony wrecking crew."

"Yeah, well...Ah learnt mah lesson well," Applejack said. "Although Ah still don't much care fer usin' magic t' do earth pony work 'ceptin' as a last resort."

"Oh, I bet next applebuck season, I can help out just as much without magic," Twilight said. "And I'm gonna take first place at the Running of the Leaves this year!"

"You only came in third last year," Applejack reminded.

Twilight grinned. "We'll see."

Cadance raised an eyebrow. "Twilight, you're not competing in races and stuff, are you?"

"Only every now and then," Twilight said. "And it's more to have fun with all my friends than anything. But the Running of the Leaves is very important, and a lot of fun!"

"So...you really harvest all these trees with just two ponies?"

"We try to," Applejack said as she opened the door and ushered her guests inside. "It was a lot easier goin' when Ma an' Pa were still alive, but..." She sighed. "Me an' Big Mac get by, an' like Ah said...Ah know Ah can count on mah friends for help."

"Yeah, well, maybe you'd have an easier time of it if THIS big galoot'd jes' settle down an' start a family!" Granny Smith's voice interjected.

The group turned to see Big Macintosh sitting at the kitchen table drinking apple juice, and Granny Smith brandishing a mixing spoon.

"Now, Granny," Big Macintosh said, "Ah done toldja, Ah ain't ready fer—"

Applejack sighed. "Can y'all NOT have this argument in front'a comp'ny?"

"Sorry, AJ," Big Macintosh said gruffly. He looked up, and his eyes widened. "Princess Cadance!" He stood and bowed deeply.

"Well howdy-do, Yer Highness!" Granny said. "Land sakes, yer jes' about th' one princess Ah ain't met yet!"

Cadance giggled. "It's a pleasure to meet you. Granny Smith, I take it?"

"Th' one an' only!"

She smiled, then turned to Big Macintosh. "Please, rise. Big Macintosh, correct? I've heard a lot about you from Princess Luna."

Big Macintosh's eyes widened. "Say whut now?"

Twilight blinked. "You know Luna?"

"They spent quite a bit of time together at one of Ponyville's town festivals, from what I hear," Cadance said slyly. "I get the impression she was very taken with you."

Applejack raised an eyebrow. "Now how come Ah ain't heard none about this?"

Big Macintosh began to sweat. "Uhh..."

"I thought you and Cheerilee were a couple," Twilight interjected with a frown.

"Eenope," Big Macintosh said. "Ah mean...she's nice an' all, but..."

"Yeah, Ah've noticed ever since that stunt Apple Bloom an' her friends pulled, Cheerilee's been mighty keen on..." Applejack trailed off. "Huh."

Cadance giggled. "I'm surprised a big strong stallion like Big Macintosh isn't already spoken for," she said.

"You know," Shining Armor said, "your granny's got a point. You're about the same age as me...you really should think about settling down."

Applejack rolled her eyes, but added, "Well, one of us does need t' carry on th' Apple lineage here mighty quick." Her eyes drifted in a direction that didn't quite focus on anypony present. "An' uhh...Ah ain't quite th' type t' have a foal."

"So uhh...anypony want some apple fritters?" Granny asked suddenly. "Got a fresh batch coolin'."

Twilight and her family sat and ate fritters with the Apples, spending some time visiting and deliberately avoiding the earlier topic of conversation. After they'd spent a good forty minutes in the Apple home, Twilight announced that they needed to move on, because they still had sights to see and ponies to visit.

As they left the farm and headed up the road to Ponyville proper, Twilight asked, "So...where to next?"

"Actually..." Cadance said hesitantly. "I'd...I'd like to..." She paused, trailing off. "Nevermind."

"What?" Twilight asked.

Cadance looked down. "Forget it."

Shining frowned. "I think she was about to ask to stop by...the library."

Twilight looked down, ears drooping. "Oh."

"I'm sorry, Twilight. I—I wasn't thinking..."

"No, it's okay," Twilight said. "I think I understand. It's like...visiting a pony's grave."

"Yeah," Cadance said, ears flat against her head.

Twilight sighed. "Yeah, let's...let's go by there."

"We don't have to—"

"No," Twilight said. "It's fine. This is something I need to get used to." She led the way; the others fell silently in step behind her.

* * * * *

A brightly-painted, magic-driven wagon drove through the streets of Ponyville, earning angry glares and hoof-shakes as ponies were forced to leap out of its path. The wagon pulled to a stop before the ruined, blackened stump of the Golden Oak Library. A door opened, and a blue unicorn descended to the ground.

"Twilight Sparkle...Trixie has returned, despite suffering strange and inexplicable hardships in recent days, and she—is talking to a stump. What?"

Trixie glanced around. Spotting a pink mare with a curly mane, she seized her in her magic and dragged her over. "You! I remember you! You're a friend of Twilight Sparkle. Where is she? The Great and Powerful Trixie demands answers!"

"AAAAH!! You're here to exact your vengeance on Twilight for making you look like a total dork again! You'd better not take my mouth away again or I'll kick you a whole lot, and it'll hurt! Trust me, it'll hurt a LOT! Because I'm an earth pony and I grew up on a rock farm!"

"Trixie is not going to hurt you! And Trixie is not here for vengeance! Trixie is here for..." Trixie paused. "Actually, Trixie is not entirely certain WHY she is here, except she wishes to speak to Twilight Sparkle! Now, WHERE IS TWILIGHT SPARKLE?!"

"Princess Twilight Sparkle is right here, Trixie. Now let go of Pinkie."

Trixie spun around to find Twilight Sparkle, her pet dragon, and several unfamiliar ponies standing behind her, their faces displaying varying degrees of surprise and hostility. She released her magical hold on the pink mare. "So good of you to show yourself, Twilight Spar...kle..."

Trixie took a closer look at Twilight, and her jaw dropped. "What the—"

"Dear? Who or what is this?"

Twilight took a step forward, spreading her wings to their full, majestic span. "Trixie, if you're here to cause trouble again..."

Trixie took a step back, raising a forehoof. Her ears flattened against her head. "...Twilight Sparkle? You...you're an alicorn?"

"You will address her as Princess Twilight Sparkle," a second alicorn said in a dangerous tone.

Trixie wilted, looking around at the ponies arrayed before her with a hesitant expression. "What's going on here?" she whined. "I don't understand any of this..."

Pinkie walked forward and patted Trixie on the shoulder. "There there. Let me explain." She took a deep breath...

"Twilight'sturnedintoaprincesssincethelasttimeyoucametoPonyvilleandthenshesaved
PonyvillefromalotofbigscarynastyvinesandthenwegotamagicboxfromtheTreeofHarmony
andthenwespentmostofthepastyeardoingnormaleverydaystuffbutwealsofoundthekeysto
theboxwithoutevenrealizingituntilthisbignastyjerkescapedfromTartarusandstarted
stealingeverypony'smagicandthenTwilightsavedEquestriafromthebignastyjerkexcept
herlibrarygotblownupwhileshewasfightinghimandthenweunlockedtheboxandgotsuper
powersandtookbackallthestolenmagicandgaveitbacktotheponiesandthenthisGIANT
ENORMOUSPALACEGREWRIGHTOUTOFTHEGROUNDandthat'sprettymucheverythingimportant
thathappenedinseasonfourandalsoDaringDoisreal."

Trixie blinked stupidly at Pinkie. "What?"

Pinkie started to take another deep breath, but Twilight teleported her behind her parents. "Trixie...a few days ago, you had your magic stolen by a centaur, right?"

"Yes..." Trixie said.

"Well that same centaur destroyed the library," Twilight said. "I fought him to a stalemate, and then my friends and I defeated him and returned all the magic to all the ponies who were attacked." She turned her head to face the giant palace that towered over Ponyville. "After that, the Tree of Harmony created this palace for me and my friends."

Trixie turned her head. As she beheld the palace, her eyes bugged out and her jaw dropped. "How in the hay did Trixie miss THAT?!" she exclaimed.

"Gee, can't imagine," Spike muttered. Beside him, Cadance giggled.

"So...you fought that horrid centaur, and then you became an alicorn?"

"No, I was already an alicorn," Twilight clarified. "I've been an alicorn for several months now."

Trixie frowned. "How dare you become an alicorn without notifying Trixie?" she challenged.

"Uhh...I don't even know where you live," Twilight said. "And even if I did, well...there's still the little fact that we've only met twice, and both times ended in you being made a fool of and running away." She tilted her head. "Actually, why are you here?"

Trixie stood tall and proud. "The Great And Powerful TRIXIE! goes where she pleases!" she insisted.

"Okay, but why are you here?"

Trixie frowned. "After being attacked, having her magic drained, and then having it returned, Trixie felt...compelled to visit Ponyville." She paused. "Trixie...needed a hug."

Spike fell over.

Twilight rolled her eyes. "You don't have much in the way of friends or family, do you?"

"Trixie does not," Trixie admitted.

"Awww," Pinkie said. "That's so sad!"

Twilight sighed and awkwardly hugged Trixie. "Tell you what," she said. "Why don't you stick around Ponyville for a while? I'm pretty sure there's room for you up at the palace."

"Really?" Trixie asked. "You...you would allow Trixie to live...there??"

"Of course!" Twilight said with a bright smile. "Besides," she added with a smirk, "I haven't hired a court jester yet..."

Chapter Four: Twilight's Family (Part Two)

Twilight had left her family in the care of Pinkie Pie while she led Trixie and her wagon off to the palace and left her in the care of Amber Glow. When Twilight returned, she found her family at Sugar Cube Corner, where they had taken over a table and were laughing uproariously. A number of ponies had gathered to gawk at Cadance covertly.

Twilight smirked as she approached. "Mom, you're gonna get fat. Shiny, you're gonna get fatter."

"Oh, don't be a party pooper, Twilight!" Pinkie said. "It's a special day! Everypony should eat as much as they want on a special day!"

"Pinkie, we don't all have your bizarre hyper-fast metabolism," Twilight said. Then, with a smile, she added, "But you're right. I want my family to enjoy everything Ponyville has to offer." With that, she joined them and helped herself to the massive platter of assorted baked goods that the others were eating from.

"Spike and Pinkie filled us in about that Trixie character," Velvet said. "Frankly, I'm surprised you're even giving her the time of day."

"I'm surprised she isn't rotting in the dungeons in Canterlot," Shining muttered.

Twilight shrugged. "Everypony deserves a second chance. Besides, I've been keeping tabs on Trixie since she last left Ponyville. She's been keeping her nose clean. She's stopped showboating the way she used to, and she's performing simple, family-friendly magic acts. She's even played Carneighgie Hall." She smiled. "She still has an ego, but...I think that's really more her eccentric personality than anything."

Cadance smiled. "You really are Aunt Celestia's student," she said. "You have her kindness and her forgiving nature."

"All because of the friendships I've made," Twilight said. "My friends have made me the pony I am today. The princess I am today."

"So where are you all going after you're through here?" Pinkie asked.

"Hmm...well, I guess the next logical place would be Fluttershy's cottage," Twilight said.

"Cool! I'd love to join you but I'm gonna need to deliver some more food out to the workers at the palace," Pinkie said. Then, brightly, she added, "Oh, but I'd love to throw a party for you all!"

"Oh, that's not really necessary, dear," Velvet said.

"Well of course it's necessary!" Pinkie insisted.

"How about tomorrow?" Twilight suggested. "I'm sure by the time we're all done running around Ponyville, my parents will be too pooped to party."

"Hmm...okay!" Pinkie nodded up and down rapidly.

* * * * *

"Good thing it's a long walk to Fluttershy's place," Cadance said with a smirk.

"Okay seriously, knock it off," Shining Armor said in a low growl.

The group was still several minutes away from Fluttershy's cottage when they encountered Angel Bunny running in their direction. Angel saw them, twitched an ear, skidded to a stop, and began waving his paws at Twilight.

Twilight frowned. "Angel? Is something wrong with Fluttershy?"

Angel nodded rapidly and turned to run back to the cottage. The others glanced at one another worriedly. Twilight spread her wings and took off, followed by Cadance. The others chased after them on hoof.

When the two princesses arrived, they followed Angel through the open front door. Inside, the various animals were all visibly agitated. "Where's Fluttershy?" Twilight asked.

Angel trotted to the back of the living room and waved a paw anxiously at a stone passageway Twilight had never seen, which stood where she knew Fluttershy's bookcase to stand. "What the hay?! Where did THAT come from?!"

Angel twitched both ears, then disappeared from sight. Exchanging worried glances, the two princesses approached the passageway, which led down. "I'll take point," Twilight said.

"What's going on here?" Cadance whispered as they descended a narrow stone staircase.

"I have no idea," Twilight replied.

At the bottom of the stairs, they emerged into a large circular room lit by several electric lights arrayed around the edges. Twilight's jaw dropped. "What in the world—?!"

Nearly every inch of the room, from floor to walls to ceiling, was covered in yarn.

Baskets full of balls of yarn and knitting needles lay everywhere. Wool scarves and socks lay draped on a scrubbed wood table. All around the room were dozens of random things, all hand-knit from wool yarn: butterflies, parasprites, balloons, stormclouds, birds, stars, bunnies, and an enormous, sinuous wool dragon which hung from the ceiling and circled the entire room with its ponderous length.

In the center of the room, Fluttershy hung trapped in a cat's cradle of pastel yarn.

"My goodness," Cadance said, blinking.

"Umm...hello Twilight...Princess Cadance..." Fluttershy said softly. "Umm...could either of you help me get down from here? If it's not too much trouble, I mean."

Twilight's horn lit up; in a bright flash, Fluttershy was no longer hanging trapped in a web of yarn, but standing next to the princesses. Fluttershy nibbled at a bent feather, fluffed out her wings, then settled them at her side. "Thank you," she said softly. "Sorry to trouble you."

"Fluttershy, what...what IS all this?" Twilight asked.

Fluttershy blushed. "Oh, this? It's, well...umm...it's my..." She swallowed, then ducked her head. "I—I guess I never told you about my secret hobby, did I?"

"No...I think I'd remember something like this," Twilight said, looking around in awe.

"Well...in that case..." Fluttershy took wing, fluttering in midair in the center of the room. "Twilight, Princess Cadance...welcome to my..." She took a deep breath, then...

"CHAMBER OF EXTREME KNITTING AND FRIENDLY PONY GROTESQUERIES!"

She landed, then blushed and ducked her head, sheepishly adding, "Umm...I like to knit."

"No kidding," Cadance said, looking all around. "You did all this by yourself?"

"Yes," Fluttershy said.

"Fluttershy, this is...amazing!" Twilight tilted her head. "But how'd you get tangled up like that?"

"Oh, well...I was stringing up some new rigging to hang some projects I'm almost finished working on," Fluttershy said. "I got my hoof caught in one of the crossthreads, and..." She dug her hoof into the stone floor.

At that moment, the others descended the stone steps. "Wow," Velvet said. "This is..."

"Holy guacamole!" Spike cried. "How long has THIS been down here?"

"Eep!" Fluttershy squeaked. "No! I—I don't want so many ponies to know my terrible secret!"

"Terrible secret?" Twilight asked skeptically, raising an eyebrow. "Fluttershy, this is nothing to be ashamed of! This is...this is something you should be proud of!"

"I can't believe you don't have a knitting cutie mark," Cadance said. "It takes real talent to pull off something like this."

Fluttershy blushed. "I...I just have too much time on my hooves," she said. "Umm...could we please all go upstairs now? If...if that's okay."

"Sure, Fluttershy," Twilight said. One by one, the ponies all made their way back upstairs. Once they were in Fluttershy's living room, Fluttershy swung her bookcase closed; Twilight heard a secret switch click. "So...!" Twilight began awkwardly. "You remember my parents, right? They're spending the week in Ponyville, along with my brother and Cadance."

"Oh my, that's wonderful!" Fluttershy said.

"It's a good thing we were coming out here to visit you," Cadance said. "Seems like we came along at just the right time."

"Yes," Fluttershy said meekly. "Thank you again."

"So how long has that basement been there?" Twilight asked.

"Oh, for ages," Fluttershy said.

"You shouldn't hide your knitting talent from the world," Velvet said. "Why, such beautiful art should be shared!"

"Oh my...I couldn't," Fluttershy said. "I just couldn't!"

"I think once things settle down at the palace, we should have an exhibition!" Twilight said. "Ponies would love what you've done down there!"

"An...an exhibition? Oh no...I couldn't..."

"How did you make that awesome dragon?" Spike asked. "It's enormous!"

"Oh, well...I used chicken wire for a frame, and—"

"I've decided!" Twilight said cheerfully. "By royal decree, I'm going to set aside one room in the palace to display Fluttershy's extreme knitting!" She tilted her head. "Of course, that also means I'll have to give Rarity a showroom, Pinkie Pie a party room, and...hmm." She tapped a hoof on her chin. "This will require some thought, and I also haven't really seen the complete map of the palace yet..." She shrugged. "Oh well! It's a huge palace, it'll all work out, I'm sure of it!"

"Yay," Fluttershy whispered.

Cadance tapped Twilight on the shoulder. "I think we're all upsetting Fluttershy," she said. "Why don't we talk about her knitting later? Let's move on to a more comfortable topic, like animals."

Fluttershy perked up. "Oh yes, that would be lovely."

* * * * *

After spending time with Fluttershy and her animal friends, Twilight showed her family a few more of Ponyville's more interesting sights, then took them to Hay Burger for dinner. The sun was low in the sky when she led them to the Rich manor. "And this is where you'll be staying," she said.

A pink filly bounded up to the gate. "Princess Twilight!" she squeaked. "What brings you to my humble abode?"

"Hello, Diamond Tiara," Twilight said coolly. "Your father has agreed to let my family stay here for the week while they're visiting, since the palace isn't ready for guests yet."

Diamond Tiara gasped. "We're hosting nobility?" She glanced at Cadance. "AND a Princess?" She hopped in place. "Oh, wait until everypony at school hears about THIS!"

"If my family are disturbed by unwanted attention during their stay in Ponyville, I'll be very upset," Twilight said. "Now, if you would please show them in?"

"Of course, Your Highness," Diamond Tiara said. She opened the gate. "Come right in!"

Velvet turned to Twilight. "We'll see you in the morning, dear," she said.

Twilight nodded. "Have a good night, Mom. Dad. Cadance. Shiny." She waved. Spike climbed onto her back, and she soared off toward the palace.

Diamond Tiara looked up at her houseguests. "Well then! I'm Diamond Dazzle Tiara, and...just let me go find our butler, I'm sure he's got your rooms ready...just follow me, please..."

Velvet leaned closer to Cadance as they followed the filly. "Twilight didn't seem to like this girl very much, did she?"

"She certainly didn't, and I think I know why. I know an alpha when I see one," Cadance whispered back.

* * * * *

Twilight landed outside the palace just as workers were filing out and trotting over to the large picnic tables which had been set up. Local cooks and volunteers were spreading out a buffet dinner service for the workers and guards. She trotted over to Amber Glow, who was flipping through forms on her clipboard. Trixie was mingling with the workers, amusing them with simple illusions.

"Ah, Your Highness. Excellent timing."

"Hello, Amber Glow. How's it coming along?"

"Good for ze most part," Amber Glow said, "but ve haff hit a small snag."

"A snag? What kind of snag?"

Amber Glow held out a map of the palace for Twilight's inspection. "Ve haff completed ze exploration of ze palace, und..." She tapped her hoof on sections she'd flagged. "Zese rooms are arranged in ze same fashion as your royal suite."

Twilight studied the map, counting the rooms and noting their layout, and nodded. "They're meant for my friends," she said. "See? There's five extra royal suites, one for each of them."

"Ja, Princess Celestia said ze same sing," Amber Glow said. "I believe informing zose who vill inherit zese rooms is a matter you must personally attend to."

"I'll take care of it tomorrow," Twilight said.

"Wow, our friends get to live at the palace too?" Spike asked.

"If they want to," Twilight said. "Even if they don't, at least they'll have their own place to stay here." She smiled happily. "This is wonderful!"

After speaking with Amber Glow for a few more minutes, Twilight flew up to the royal suite with Spike on her back. Once they landed in Twilight's bedroom, Spike said, "Hey, Twilight?"

"Yes, Spike?"

Spike shuffled his feet awkwardly. "For what it's worth? I'm glad you're immortal now." He looked up at her, and his gaze was as earnest as she could ever remember. "I...I never told you this, but one of the most painful thoughts I've ever had was that I'd outlive you." He shuffled over to her and hugged her. "Now that you're an alicorn, I don't have to worry about that anymore."

"Spike..." Twilight embraced Spike, tears welling in her eyes.

Spike spent the night with Twilight, in her bed.

* * * * *

Filthy Rich treated Twilight's family to a lavish continental breakfast, the equal of anything they could find in Canterlot. All during breakfast, Diamond Tiara attempted to impress them with how fabulously wealthy her family was, and how much more graceful, elegant, and intelligent she was than any of her peers.

"Really, we're practically Ponyville royalty," she said, bouncing her mane with a hoof.

Shining Armor raised an eyebrow. "Uhh...yeah, you know what? I think you're forgetting that my sister is Ponyville royalty. Or did you miss the part where she's an alicorn princess with a huge palace?"

"Shiny!" Cadance hissed.

"No, Cadance, I'm not taking any more of this brat's garbage," Shining said, setting his coffee cup down. "Mr. Rich—"

"Oh, I completely agree, Prince Armor," Filthy Rich said with a frown. "I'm sorry for my daughter's behavior. I'm afraid she's rather full of herself." He sighed. "I've tried to instill some humility into her, but..." He gave Diamond Tiara a stern glare.

Diamond Tiara ducked her head, ears wilting. "I'm sorry," she mumbled half-heartedly.

Cadance daintily wiped her mouth. "I think I want to do some shopping this morning," she said delicately. "Shiny, you're going with me, right?"

"Of—of course, dear," Shining Armor said.

"I think we're going to head up to the palace and see what kind of trouble we can get into," Twilight Velvet said with a grin.

Night Light chuckled. "Sounds like a plan."

A short while later, Cadance and Shining Armor were leaving the Rich estate, saddlebags strapped on, when the Rich's butler approached them. "You'll have to excuse Miss Tiara," he said. "I know how very trying she can be, but she really can't help it. I'm afraid being a spoiled brat is her special talent."

"Now that's just sad," Shining Armor said.

"Be that as it may, my husband should know better than to pick a fight with a child in our host's house," Cadance said. "Please convey our deepest apologies to Mr. Rich for that scene."

"Of course, Your Highness," the butler said with a bow.

Once they were out on the road, Shining Armor whined, "Oh, COME ON, Cadie! She had it coming!"

Cadance sighed. "Couldn't you have just short-sheeted her when the maid wasn't looking or something? Maybe put pepper in her tea? Something civilized?" She rolled her eyes. "Come on, let's get to the marketplace. I'm dying for a fresh carrot."

"Yeah, crystal carrots just don't taste the same as good old-fashioned earth pony carrots," Shining agreed.

* * * * *

Twilight glided gracefully down into the hustle and bustle of breakfast in the work camp. Pinkie and Applejack were already present with their respective food carts. "Well mornin', Twi!" Applejack said.

"Hi Twilight!" Pinkie greeted.

Applejack tilted her head in the direction of Trixie, who was drinking coffee with some of the Royal Guard. "So what's that'un doin' back in Ponyville?"

"Now, Applejack. I know Trixie's record isn't exactly clean, but she's behaving herself," Twilight said.

"Ah'm just sayin', sometimes it seems like we let an awful lot of shady characters back into Ponyville. The Flim-Flam Brothers, Discord, Trixie...ain't there some way we could keep th' undesirables out? Ah'm just sayin'."

"If she causes trouble, I'll deal with it," Twilight said. "Until then, just let her be. She's trying to be a better pony. Now, I need you two to find Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy and bring them here immediately," she said. "Don't worry about your food carts, Spike can take care of things."

"Sure thing, Twilight," Applejack said, tilting her hat. "Is somethin' wrong?"

"No, but there's something really important I need to discuss with all of you, preferably before today's work assignments are passed out."

"No problem be back in a few!" Pinkie said, zipping off into Ponyville.

While she waited, Twilight helped herself to breakfast, chatted with a few of the guards and workers, and spent a minute in deep discussion with Amber Glow, during which she made a copy of the palace map for her own use. Once her friends had returned, she led them off to a clear spot some distance from the camp. "Girls, we've found something in the palace you all need to know about."

"Oooh! Oooh! Is it a swimming pool?" Pinkie asked.

"A spa, perhaps?" Rarity suggested.

"A menagerie?" Fluttershy asked.

"Why don't we just let her tell us?" Rainbow said, folding her arms.

Twilight spread her map out on the ground and pointed to the six royal suites. "You know how each of you has a throne? Well...each of you also has your own royal suite."

Applejack blinked. "Our own whut now?"

Rarity gasped. "You mean...we're all going to live at the palace?" Her eyes lit up. "How fabulous!"

Fluttershy frowned. "But...I can't just leave my animal friends..."

"Ah don't feel right about movin' off th' farm," Applejack said.

"Nopony's forcing any of you to move into the palace," Twilight said. "I already expected at least two of you wouldn't want to move, and that's fine. But even if you don't intend to use these rooms, they are yours, so it's going to be up to each of you to see to it that your suites at the palace are decorated exactly the way you want them." She smiled. "It'll be fun!"

"Oooh, that does sound like fun," Pinkie said. "Also, I'm pretty okay with moving into the palace. I need more space anyway."

"I'm absolutely moving into the palace, darling!" Rarity said. "But of course, I'm sure you all knew that."

Applejack chuckled. "Well, Ah reckon it'd be nice t' have a little...home away from home, like. Just fer grins."

Rainbow shrugged. "Yeah, it'd be nice to have a place to crash where I can actually take Tank's harness off at night. Besides, I've never tried living in a place that wasn't made of clouds before. Could be cool."

"I don't know how much time I'd actually spend there, but...okay," Fluttershy said.

"Great," Twilight said. "Going by the checklist Amber Glow has, it should be about two days before enough of the heavy work is done that we can actually go in and explore. Think about what you might want for your own little piece of the palace." She rolled up the map and put it back in her brand new saddlebag. "I need to go have a quick word with the may—with Polly, then I'm going to go meet up with my parents."

"They're kiiiiiind of already here," Pinkie said, pointing with a hoof.

"Huh. Okay then, I guess I'll drop by Town Hall later."

* * * * *

As Shining watched his wife pick through an assortment of fruits and vegetables, something in the corner of his eye caught his attention. "Hey, is that...?"

A gangly, cream-colored stallion with a short brown mane and tail, round glasses, and a scattering of acne was browsing the asparagus stand. Shining reared happily. "Hey, Poindexter!" he cried.

Cadance looked up from her browsing, as did Poindexter, whose eyes widened behind his glasses. "Shining Armor?" Poindexter asked.

Shining charged over and gave Poindexter a noogie. "Dude! I haven't seen you in years!"

Poindexter laughed. "Heh, yeah...well, I moved to Ponyville about a month after graduation." He looked over at Cadance, then smirked at Shining. "Heard about the wedding. Congratulations."

Shining grinned. "I'd have invited you, but I had no idea where to find you."

"Eh," Poindexter said with a shrug. "I don't think I could've made it anyway. Mom's been sick for a while now."

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that," Shining said.

"So what brings you two to Ponyville?" Poindexter asked.

"We're visiting Princess Twilight," Cadance said.

Poindexter tilted his head thoughtfully. His eyes widened. "Oh yeah, that's right! I forgot she was your little sister." He shook his head. "Man...your sister's a princess, your wife's a princess...you are living the dream." He chuckled. "And to think back in high school you were just another band nerd..."

"So what are you doing with yourself?" Cadance asked. "Is there somepony special in your life?"

Poindexter shook his head. "Nope, still single. Right now I'm just doing odd jobs. One week I'm selling tonics, the next I'm doing maintenance on the windmill." He shrugged. "I mean yeah, it's not a very exciting life, but I can't complain." He scratched at his cheek. "Except for the acne. That, I can complain about."

Shining Armor winced. "Yech. I can't believe it's still that bad."

"Yeah, I've got some kind of...I dunno," Poindexter said. "Been to every doctor in Canterlot and Ponyville. Basically, I'm stuck with this."

"Wow, that sucks."

Poindexter shrugged. "Eh, that's life. Well...I gotta finish the shopping. Mom wants vegetable soup for lunch. If you're gonna be in town for a while, maybe I'll catch up with you later."

"Awesome. Stay cool, dude!"

* * * * *

"You know who'd love to see this place up close?" Velvet asked as she sat next to her daughter and peered up at the castle. Night Light was moving among the guards, joking and snacking on whatever was left from the breakfast service. "A.K. Yearling."

Twilight's brow furrowed. "Doesn't she stay away from public places?"

"Well, yes, she's notoriously reclusive," Velvet said. "I mean, whenever I receive a manuscript for editing from her, it's always in some out-of-the-way place..."

"I mean, I wouldn't mind seeing Daring again," Twilight said, "but maybe the Ancient Castle of the Royal Sisters would be more her speed..."

Velvet blinked at Twilight. "What?!"

"I mean, she could actually stretch her wings, explore without worrying about her disguise..."

Velvet stuffed a hoof in her daughter's mouth. "Back up there, sweetie." She looked around, then leaned closer and whispered, "You...you know?!"

Twilight arched an eyebrow. "Really? Rainbow Dash randomly showing up in Daring Do and the Ring of Destiny wasn't a big red flag?"

Velvet frowned. "Okay, I'll admit that struck me as odd..." She tilted her head. "Wait...you mean you and your friends were there for that one?"

"Yeah, but it was mostly Rainbow. The rest of us fought some of Ahuizotl's goons, but mostly we were just sort of...there." Twilight frowned. "So you've known all along?"

Velvet nodded. "Daring and I are old college buddies. Before I married your father, I even went on her first couple of digs." She smirked. "Things weren't quite as exciting back then, of course. The very last time I went on an expedition with Daring was the first time Caballeron tried to kill her."

"Wow."

"So yeah, I've been publishing her memoirs as adventure novels," Velvet said. "She does the bulk of the writing, I edit and publish..."

"Well, if Daring wants to see the palace for herself, that's fine by me. But I really think she'd enjoy the old castle in the Everfree Forest more." She rustled her wings. "Actually, it might not be a bad idea to call her in anyway. We're about to move most of the library from the old castle to my palace, and there's a lot of scary and dangerous things in there. I wouldn't mind a hoof from an experienced archaeologist and treasure hunter."

"You mean you actually know where the Ancient Castle is?" Velvet asked.

"Well, yeah," Twilight said. "My friends and I have been cleaning it up for months. We have picnics there!"

Velvet shook her head. "We really need to sit down and just catch up one day."

Twilight giggled. "Well, we're sitting down right now..."

* * * * *

"Hey, Shiny?"

"Yeah, Cadance?"

"Is it me, or is half our graduating class living in Ponyville now?"

"Yeah, now that you mention it. I know the Mayor of Ponyville went to school with us. I think I saw...oh, what's her name, she used to have that frizzy mess of a mane..."

"Cheerilee?"

"Yeah, her. Then Poindexter, and a few others I can't place off the top of my head..."

"The school DJ's little sister lives here. She played our wedding reception, didn't she?"

"Hm? Oh, DJ P0N-3? Yeah, Twilight said she's a good friend of Pinkie's."

"How did so many of our class wind up in Ponyville?"

"Well, the way I understand it, Ponyville had a growth boom not long after we graduated. I think a lot of those ponies moved to Ponyville right around then. Maybe they just wanted a change of pace."

"I can see that. I mean, Ponyville's nice."

"Quiet. Peaceful."

"Idyllic."

"...is that a manticore?"

"No, that's a griffon. That's a manticore."

"Oh, right, my bad..."

"..."

"..."

"...should we maybe do something...?"

Chapter Five: Betrayal

"So what happened to Owlowiscious?"

Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity had wandered off to tend to their own affairs. Pinkie Pie and Applejack still had food carts to attend to, and Spike had elected to hang out with them and let Twilight and her mother have their space.

Spike shrugged. "Haven't seen him since...you know."

"You don't suppose he—"

"Twilight saved him," Spike said. "She told me the last she saw of him, he was flying away after the library exploded."

"Huh," Applejack said. "Well...reckon he's comin' back?"

"I dunno," Spike replied with a shrug. "I always thought he had more of an attachment to the library than to me or Twilight."

"That's just silly," Pinkie said. "Owlowiscious loves you and Twilight!"

"Still, Ah reckon havin' yer home blowed up is a lot t' take in fer a critter."

"It's a lot to take in for a pony and a dragon too, y'know," Spike pointed out.

"Sorry..."

"So where do you think he is right now?" Pinkie asked.

"Probably the Everfree Forest," Spike said with a shrug. "I'm pretty sure that's where he came from in the first place."

"Well that explains a lot," Applejack said.

Spike frowned at the ground. "I kinda hope he comes back, though," he admitted.

* * * * *

The manticore lunged at a colt, roaring and lashing its scorpion tail. The colt screamed and galloped off into the town.

A beam of pure magical force slammed into the manticore, driving it to the ground. It snarled and thrashed. Cadance gritted her teeth as her horn pumped magical fury into the beast. "Get...out of...Ponyville!" she grunted.

"STOP HURTING IT!" a voice screamed from above. Fluttershy dropped down into the marketplace, wings flared, eyes full of intense distress focused on Cadance. "That poor critter never did anything to you!"

"Fluttershy, it was about to kill a foal!" Shining Armor countered, stamping a hoof.

"This little kitty? He wouldn't hurt a fly," Fluttershy said.

"Tch...no, but he'll kill as many ponies as I tell him to."

Fluttershy whipped around, eyes filling with fear as she finally noticed the griffon standing on the edge of the square. "G-Gilda," she squeaked.

Gilda swaggered into the center of the marketplace, smirking at Fluttershy. "I did my homework before I came back to this lame pile of crap excuse for a town," she said. "You're some kinda animal talent, right?" She sneered at Fluttershy. "Well, too bad for you that all leonids speak each others' language. And leonids stick to their own kind. So if you think you can make my little friend here go away, well..." She chuckled darkly. "I've always wondered what pegasus wings taste like barbecued."

A protective violet shield snapped into place around Fluttershy. "Leave her alone!" Shining Armor thundered. "What are you doing in this part of Equestria, anyway?"

"I go wherever I want, buttface," Gilda said. "Anyway, I don't care about this little loser. I'm here to settle a score with Stinkie Pie and Rainbow Trash." She smirked. "But I'll take down as many lame ponies as I have to."

"No you WON'T!" Cadance said. She released her pressure on the manticore and fired a second blast at Gilda, catching her in the chest.

"AGH!" Gilda roared. "You'll pay for that, you ugly pink slu—"

The ground in front of Gilda exploded, tossing dirt, debris, Gilda, and the manticore all over. A towering plume of multicolored smoke and dust erupted from the impact point. When the smoke cleared, Rainbow Dash stood in front of Cadance and Shining Armor, back arched, wings flared, every hair on her coat and every feather on her wings bristling. She bared her teeth at Gilda. "What are you doing back in Ponyville, and why are you threatening my friends?"

Gilda rolled shakily to her feet. "Long time no see, Rainbow Trash." She flexed her talons. "I've been waitin' a long time to rip you a new hole."

"Send your little pet back where it came from and we'll duke it out one on one," Rainbow growled, cracking her neck and snorting steam.

Gilda tilted her head. "Nah, not gonna happen."

"Back away, Rainbow Dash," Cadance said. "I want a piece of this jerk."

"So do I," Shining Armor said.

"This is my fight, guys," Rainbow said.

"No, it's our fight," Fluttershy said. "We're your friends."

Rainbow looked at her and smiled. "Heh...yeah, you're right. So you're in?"

Fluttershy looked at Gilda and swallowed nervously. "I think...I could lend a hoof."

Rainbow nodded to Shining Armor, who dropped the shield around Fluttershy. The four ponies flanked the two leonids.

Rainbow grinned. "Time to take out the butt-ugly trash."

* * * * *

"—and then I danced with Flash Sentry and all my friends until it was time to come home."

"Wow. That sounds like a crazy few days. Who'd have guessed there was a whole other world full of different versions of ponies from this world?"

"I'm kind of thinking of going back for a visit next time the portal opens. I—"

"PRINCESS TWILIIIIIIIIIIGHT!!"

Twilight and her mother craned their necks around. Several ponies were charging toward them, terror in their eyes. Twilight teleported to meet them halfway, standing tall and regal. "What's going on?" she asked.

The ponies skidded to a stop. Time Turner, at the lead of the pack, panted for breath. "A griffon...and a manticore...tearing up the market square..."

Twilight's eyes widened. "I'm on my way," she said. She teleported back to her mother. "Sorry Mom, Ponyville's in trouble." A series of rapid-fire teleports took her halfway to town, where she took to the sky and flew off, leaving a faint lavender contrail.

Noticing the commotion, Spike, Pinkie, and Applejack ran over to the panicked ponies, as did Twilight Velvet and several guards. "What's goin' on?" Applejack asked.

Time Turner took a deep breath. "There's a griffon and a manticore rampaging in the market square," he said. "We came to alert Princess Twilight."

The guards exchanged glances and took off. Applejack frowned. "Spike, stay here with Twi's mom," she said. "Pinkie, let's go."

"Right!" Eyes full of steely determination, the two earth ponies galloped off into the heart of town.

* * * * *

"What's gotten into you, Gilda?" Rainbow asked. "I know you're a jerk, but this is...this is nasty even for you!"

"I've always hated ponies," Gilda said. "I thought maybe you were the one cool pony, and then you betrayed me. YOU BETRAYED ME!"

"Uhh...you betrayed me by being a jerk to my friends," Rainbow said.

"Rrrrrgh! I'm through talking to you!" Gilda screamed. "Gordon, take care of these other losers!"

The manticore roared, launching itself at Shining Armor. He pawed the ground and charged, lowering his head.

Rainbow went from standing still to flying low, tackling Gilda and tumbling end-over-end with her in a ball of feathers, fur, and profanities. Fluttershy hovered anxiously above the melee. Cadance seized Gordon's tail in her magic and jerked sharply, arresting the manticore's forward momentum; Shining gored the thrashing beast in the shoulder, then bucked it in the ribs.

Gilda threw Rainbow Dash into the air, then darted straight up with a piercing shriek. Fluttershy tackled her, knocking her back to the ground, and seized one of her wings, wrenching it with her hooves. Gilda thrashed and screamed, catching Fluttershy with a massive lion paw; Fluttershy cried out as she rolled across the ground.

"FLUTTERSHY!" Rainbow cried.

Fluttershy grunted as she pushed herself up. "I'm...I'm alright," she said.

"GILDA!" Rainbow bellowed. She grabbed a half-empty barrel of oats, spun it around in midair, and threw it at Gilda. Gilda turned and kicked the barrel with her hind legs, shattering it and spraying oats everywhere.

Gordon wrenched his tail free of Cadance's magical grip and attempted to sting Shining Armor. He darted to the side and shot Gordon in the base of the tail with a beam of pure force. The chitin cracked; thick pus oozed from the wound as the manticore roared.

Cadance swooped in, blasting the manticore repeatedly in the neck. He staggered, eyelids drooping. His eyes rolled back in his head and he dropped to the ground, letting out a great snore.

"So much for him," Shining wheezed, kicking the manticore in the rear.

Gilda and Rainbow collided in midair; Rainbow cried out as Gilda's talons tore a bloody gash in her chest. Rainbow spun and bucked Gilda in the beak, spinning her around. Fluttershy dropped from above and kicked Gilda hard in the back; with a sickening crack of bone, Gilda plummeted to the ground. "Are you okay, Rainbow?" Fluttershy asked.

"I've done worse to myself," Rainbow grunted, hissing in pain. She landed in front of Gilda, planting her hooves firmly. "Give up, G!"

Gilda pushed herself to her feet, hissing in pain. "Never!" she grunted. "I won't forgive your betrayal!" The feathers around Gilda's neck parted, revealing a cobalt blue necklace inset with a glossy black gem in the shape of a lightning bolt. Black sparks crackled across it. "I'm gonna KILL YOU, Rainbow Dash!"

Rainbow gasped. "What the heck?! That looks like..."

"It looks like your Element of Harmony, but..." Fluttershy said, eyes wide with fear and confusion.

An arc of black lightning leapt from the dark gem, striking Rainbow and driving her to the ground. Rainbow cried out in pain; Shining Armor erected a shield around her while Cadance blasted Gilda in the throat. The blast staggered her; the dark magic assault broke off.

"What IS that thing?!" Cadance demanded, striking a hoof firmly to the ground. "You WILL answer!"

Gilda clicked her beak in annoyance. "I ain't tellin' you prissy ponies zip."

"We should take her to Canterlot," Shining Armor said. "Let Princess Celestia deal with her."

"I don't think so," Gilda said. "Take a good look, losers. There's five more of these bad boys out there. Be seein' ya." She chuckled and took wing, flying shakily off to the west.

"Why that dirty—!" Rainbow started to take off after Gilda, but was restrained by Fluttershy.

"Rainbow, you're hurt! We should get you to the hospital."

Rainbow started to protest, but sighed and slumped in defeat, her wings drooping at her sides. "You're right." She looked at Cadance. "That...couldn't have been one of the Elements of Harmony, could it? It couldn't have been...my Element?"

Twilight dropped out of the sky, wings flaring. "What's going on here?" she demanded. Her eyes fell on Rainbow and she gasped. "Rainbow Dash, you're hurt!"

"We're just about to take her to the hospital," Shining Armor said, worry in his eyes.

"What...what happened?" Twilight asked.

"It was Gilda," Fluttershy said. "She showed up with that manticore over there and tried to kill Rainbow Dash."

Twilight's ears flattened. "Kill?! But...that's..."

"Something was off about her," Rainbow said. "She wasn't herself...even as big of a jerk as Gilda is, she'd never..."

"Shh...you need to rest now," Fluttershy said.

"Twilight...that griffon was wearing what looked like one of the Elements of Harmony," Cadance said. "Only it was...corrupted somehow."

"It looked like Rainbow Dash's Element of Loyalty," Fluttershy said. "But the gem was black."

Twilight frowned. "That doesn't make any sense..."

"Gilda said there were five more..." Cadance said with a frown.

"We need to get Princess Celestia here immediately," Shining Armor said.

"Agreed," Cadance said. "But first..." She looked around at the wrecked market square and the unconscious manticore.

The royal guards, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie showed up. "Holy horseapples!" Pinkie cried.

"What th' heck happened here?" Applejack wondered, eyes wide.

"Fluttershy, you and Shining Armor get Rainbow to the hospital. Applejack, you and Pinkie round up some ponies to clean up this mess." Twilight turned to the guards. "You guys...take this manticore to the Everfree and dump it deep in the forest." She turned to Cadance. "Cadance, come with me to the Tree of Harmony. We need...we need to be sure everything's alright."

* * * * *

Twilight and Cadance stared up at the peaceful, tranquil Tree of Harmony. The Elements glowed serenely in its branches. "Well, that settles that. Whatever that griffon had, it wasn't one of the Elements of Harmony," Cadance said.

Twilight shook her head. "That actually worries me more than if it had been," she said. "Because unless Celestia knows something...or knows of a book that might help..."

Cadance sighed. "We should get back to Ponyville."

By the time they arrived at Ponyville Hospital, it was late afternoon. Ponies were milling around, whispering amongst themselves. The two princesses strode into the hospital and immediately encountered Celestia, who stood in the waiting room, flanked by Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Rarity.

"Rainbow's asleep," Fluttershy said. "She's going to be fine."

"Thank goodness," Twilight said, letting out a shaky sigh of relief. "Princess Celestia, did they tell you—"

"Yes," Celestia said. "What did you find out?"

"The Tree of Harmony is just like we left it," Twilight said. "The Elements are all accounted for. Whatever Gilda had...it didn't come from there."

Celestia sighed. "I'm at a loss to explain this," she said.

"Where's Shining Armor?" Cadance asked.

"He's helping clean up the market square," Celestia replied. "I have guards searching for this griffon."

Twilight groaned in frustration. "Why now?" she moaned. "It's way too soon to have another major disaster. I haven't even finished moving into my palace yet!"

"Does anypony else think it's weird that after all this time, Gilda showed up looking to fight Rainbow Dash and was wearing a copy of Rainbow's Element of Harmony?" Pinkie said suddenly. "I mean, I'm not a smarty-pants princess, but if I were, that's what I'd be wondering about."

The others blinked at Pinkie. "That's...a really good point," Twilight said.

Celestia sighed. "I'll return to Canterlot and search the archives. Twilight...would you go to the old castle and search there?"

"I'm on it," Twilight said. "Right after I look in on Rainbow Dash." She turned to Cadance. "I guess this is another get-together ruined," she said apologetically.

Cadance hugged her. "I'll go explain the situation to your parents."

* * * * *

Gilda lay atop a cliff overlooking Ghastly Gorge, staring out at the setting sun.

A shadow fell over her. "You failed."

Gilda clicked her beak. "Rainbow Trash got lucky."

"No...your plan was stupid. You're the lucky one. Lucky the Princess of Friendship didn't show up."

"I ain't afraid of some prissy pony princess," Gilda snarled. "That pink one barely did anything!"

"Twilight Sparkle is not to be taken lightly. She is a threat to everything I hope to accomplish. And if you screw up again—"

"Oh, please. You need all six of these stupid things, you said so yourself. This one already chose me. You can't do jack to me and you know it."

"Don't be too sure of yourself, Gilda. You're far from the only one capable of wielding the Element of Betrayal..."

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Since 7/7/14