Fluttershy, Pinkie, Applejack, Rarity, and Rainbow floated in an ethereal, blue-and-white realm. Stars twinkled all around them, surrounded by watercolor nebulae. The milky horizon glowed on its own, and everything seemed oddly blurry and luminous.
“Where… where are we?” Applejack murmured softly. “What happened?”
“Did I hit my head too hard after that battle?” Rainbow grumbled. “Because this sure doesn’t look like Equestria… or anywhere, for that matter.”
“Ooooh, is this space? Does this mean we actually can breathe in space?” Pinkie took a deep, exaggerated breath. “I call dibs on the first space pony party!”
“Well, wherever we are, it’s absolutely stunning,” Rarity agreed. “I’m getting so many fabulous ideas!”
“It’s really beautiful,” Fluttershy agreed softly.
Rainbow scanned the situation. Alright, we’re floating in a sea of stars and space clouds. It seems pretty safe, after all we’re all— “Wait, where’s Twilight?” she demanded.
“Twilight? Are you okay?” Fluttershy called out.
“I… I don’t believe it!” Twilight gasped, floating into view. “I’m back here… and you’re all with me!”
“Now hold on a minute, Twi. ‘Back here’?” Applejack echoed. “What in the hay does that mean?”
Twilight smiled, a small little smile that hinted at a deep joy. “This is where I became an alicorn! But when I did, it was with Princess Celestia guiding me. Now… it’s the six of us. I’m not sure what it means, but…”
Pinkie stuck her head down. “Well, maybe we follow this road of stars?”
“Oh, Pinkie, it’s beautiful!” Rarity beamed. “I’ve never seen anything like it!”
Rainbow flapped her wings a little, and took a step forward. The other five walked beside her.
Floating picture frames, with animated moments of their lives, appeared out of the horizon. Each one depicted one of the Six at a moment in their life: Rainbow speaking to “A.K. Yearling” about who she really was, Pinkie struggling to keep Flurry Heart a secret, Fluttershy standing up to Discord and making him reform, Rarity being treated improperly by Prince Blueblood at the Gala, and Applejack welcoming Grand Pear back into her family.
“It’s… it’s our lives,” Applejack whispered. “All the things we’ve faced!”
The images changed to other moments. Pictures of other scenes of their lives.
The Tree of Harmony, in Twilight’s guise, appeared before them. “You have done what no others could. You united more creatures in Harmony than even I was able to. Now, see the world as I have.”
A massive frame appeared before them, and in rapid succession, they saw all the foes they had to fight. The six of them stopping Nightmare Moon and Tirek, Starlight and the Pony of Shadows, Cozy Glow and Sombra. And finally, all of Equestria working together to defeat Grogar.
But there were other visions too. There was a branch of the Tree being pruned, and with a gasp Twilight realized it was the Staff of Sacanas. There were the Plunderseeds slowly approaching the tree as it tried to stall them for over a thousand years. There were their students, trapped in their own worst fears under the school.
“What did ya do to Gallus?!” Applejack asked, her mouth agape. “Ya almost crushed him!”
“He chose what he saw in my roots, not I,” Treelight replied evenly. She met Applejack’s glare without blinking.
And there was six duplicates of the friends, all off-color and with oddly frayed manes, fighting Queen Chrysalis and trying to extract the Elements. As they struggled, tentacles of white energy from the Tree grabbed them and squeezed them tight.
“Wait a second… that’s Midnight!” Twilight said, shocked. “You never told us?”
“Midnight?” the tree repeated, raising an eyebrow. “Who is Midnight?”
And as Fluttershy watched in horror, the six copies melted and collapsed into sticks.
“That’s awful!” she cried. “You just destroyed them!”
“I detected the six of you having embraced disharmony,” Treelight replied. “I attempted to dispel the magic upon each of you, and revert you to your normal state. The same thing happened when you broke Nightmare Moon’s hold over Luna. Had you been the real ponies, it would have simply restored you to normal, as it did to Luna.”
“But it didn’t on these poor ponies!” Fluttershy protested, an angry, disgusted scowl splattered across her face. “And you just… annihilated them!”
“I undid the anomalous magic upon them,” Treelight answered evenly. “They were wood before, and to wood they were reverted.”
“That’s not right,” Fluttershy argued. “They deserve the same chance our enemies got.”
“Fluttershy’s got a point,” Rainbow said with a nod. “We should give them a chance too.”
Treelight shrugged. “As you wish. In fact, that is why I came here.”
“To show us what you’d seen?” Rarity asked.
“And to admit that I am… a less-than-perfect exemplar of Harmony. I have… not been appropriately merciful or kind, and for that, I acknowledge my failings. And so…” Treelight knelt before them. “You are the truest embodiment of Harmony now.”
Twilight gasped. “We are?”
Treelight nodded. “Now, it is time for you to fulfill your destinies.”
A tiny blob of blue magic darted out of Rarity’s chest. Another, this one a vibrant red, from Rainbow. Pinkie’s bright blue shot out alongside them, as did Fluttershy’s pale yellow and Applejack’s orange. Each of these blobs grew in size, and then stretched out, surrounding Rarity, Pinkie, Rainbow, Fluttershy, and Applejack each in a little whirlwind of light. Twilight looked on, her eyes wide, barely able to believe what she was seeing.
Finally, a brilliant white glow burst from each of their chests. They rose higher and higher, until each of them was engulfed in a star’s radiance. Twilight felt tears trickling from her eyes as the world went white once more.
asdtroi's post from when I published it before:
Yeah, the Tree needs friendship lessons. It's been a jerk.
Well pinkie pie always likes to go out a space lol
Glad the tree got called out on some of it's *friendship lessons*, wished Spike would have been able to see this as well.
OK I have to agree with that even though they were trying to steal the elements and trying to Defeat the main 6 The tree Didn't even show any mercy on them
Well that was nice. Pretty ironic to see the Tree saying that even it, being the literal incarnation of harmony, isn't the best at it and that the elements are better. Really shows just how far they've all come.
Also, I've got a feeling that I know what's going to happen next chapter, I won't say what just in case it isn't actually that but just know that if it is, I'll be really happy.
PS: Congrats for the main page featuring,17/09 !
whoa So basically they're in the Ralm where twilight became an alicorn and the tree of harmony Showing the event what she saw Even saw the Destruction of the clones What dose she mean by " it is time for you to fulfill your destinies " Is she gonna do what I think she was gonna do I guess we'll find out next time I'm pretty excited
10438870
Yeah maybe the tree can learn a lesson about how things work And a did remind me of a story of the tree of harmony Starting to interact with other creatures in her other form called Be Still by AugieDog
https://www.fimfiction.net/story/458005/be-still
Oh no they all got turned into Alicorns!
This still isn't wrapped up but if it is I'm gonna be disappointed
10439018
You shall see!
10439024
Don't worry, we have XX and then the Epilogue.
Sweet Celestia! Alicorn Mane 6!
I'm not sure if Equestria is ready for that. They definitely weren't ready for Chaos-Powered Pinkie.
Either way, this will be fun. Also, should I be concerned for Cozy with how you replied to my last comment?
10439589
Chaos Pinkie was quite a ride to read about in the script.
Possibly. Possibly not! Next chapter will reveal all (besides what the epilogue does)
If this is what I think it is then:
1. A sequel's written out already for this.
2. The Last Problem went very differently. Or they gave up their ascension because of how powerful they become.
Hmm...if this goes the way of having the Mane-6 be alicorns, I'm...not sure how much I'd like that.
Just finished reading this.. can't wait for the 20th and final chapter.. reading your work was amazing, like I said the legion of doom were the best characters, with midnight being the best supporting one... with this coming to end I wanted to thank you for how you treated every character uniquely, and gave them proper screentime (does that word apply to fanfics?) even Lord Torch had his moment :P... but yeah not including Sunset and some others, they don't really need to be present because it isn't necessary, narratively..
I feel like Chrysalis would get her own hive, Cozy back accepted into the school, Sombra reunited with his old friend that appeared in the comics, and Tirek seeing his own mistakes and setting off to find his brother Scorpan.
And for Midnight? I think she would become a spirit and merge with the tree or something idk..
P.S: I still haven't forgot about the 5 cloak wearing characters cozy spied on.. ;)
10445081
Really? :D I just get the impression that I might be irritable sometimes.
10446412
Not at all!
10445150
Thank you! It's been immensely fun to write. After Chapter 20 we'll have the Epilogue, but that won't be too long.
For a show with the tagline: "Friendship is Magic" you'd think they would spare all the villains and try to help them change, right?
10461411
Exactly lol
still impatiently WAITING for the new chapter! LETS GO.
I keep reading the last few chapters like every night waiting for the next one, and I’m becoming impatient!! But I don’t wanna rush.... but I wanna read the next one!!!! But take your time I know stories can’t be rushed
10484521
FriENDship is Magic
Is the story going to continue on
10461411
You would.
10504405
10507228
I know the feeling. The ending is by far the hardest part for me to write.
10584763
Yes. I'm writing it on 4chan for first revisions and improvements before I publish it here.
10584918
I can't imagine, I see your threads on /mlp/ and I'm trying to voice my feedback there as well.
I didn't want to pressure you with comments, just wanted to show my love for this work and my excitement.
Take your time.
10584918
Oh ok got it
How's it coming along?
10708398
Been trying angrily to make it work. Little success, to be honest.
10714178
Take your time. It doesn't have to be perfect.
10714177
Glad to hear this!
Wasn't sure if you'd bother to read such a heavily cramped comment, but I really felt like saying that out loud. I really appreciate work you put into it.
(There are way too little pony emotes availible. I'd give you an Autumn Blaze and a Starlight.)
10714450
I read every single comment, no matter how long. They always make me happy.
10438880
Haven't read anything yet but..
So Spike is going to be ultimately excluded from the girls despite in the actual finale he was actually included in the final rainbow laser?
I adore the chemistry you built between the legion of the doom. For years I watched the main 6 and their friendship grow. After reading this story I wholeheartedly believe the legion of doom should be it's own series. The subtle cues of growth between the members. The cooperation was amazing to read. You've done a fantastic job with recreating the ending of the show. I hope you continue to a resolute end. But honestly even this chapter can be a satisfactory ending for me.
You did well.
10867130
I'm still determined to end it right. I just keep struggling to make the words flow correctly.
How's the chapter coming along?
10970486
Virtually no progress. I've been quite bogged down with other work.
10971009
Wow! Didn't expect a response, especially so soon! But Take your time with it! I love the story you've crafted here and I'd rather have a good (Final?) Chapter rather than a rushed one.