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The Future is Magic
The Light of Friendship
The Light of Friendship
ℹ️ To see the original source, click on the page image.
- Over 4,000 years have passed since the great battle at the Midnight Mountain that brought the defeat of the Darkness and the various species that once stood together, went their separate ways...slowly forgetting as time passed.
Eventually after the time of Equestria's founding and the rise of the Mane Six took place, a whole new adventure awaits for the faithful student of Princess Celestia: Twilight Sparkle. With the next Grand Galloping Gala just a day away, Twilight decides to gather some new books from the Royal Library to take home and read.
However, among the ancient texts she has found, one stands out: A dusty, old journal...so old it can barely stay together...tells of an ancient battle, a Dark Lord, and a hero who united so many to defeat the evil and bring Harmony and Light to the world again.
Such a story fascinates Twilight, especially on this hero mentioned...who's image was found within: An alicorn like no other, believed to be the very first...even if not a pure one.
All this brings Twilight to find more among the pages, but very little else was found on the worn pages.
This little journey came to an end...without a proper end. - That night, Twilight sleeps peacefully with great hopes for the next Gala to be better than the previous; Tomorrow evening would decide if her hopes will come true.
However, as she dreams, Twilight finds herself in a dream that seems empty...save for a mysterious pony hidden by a cloak and hood.
Once Twilight approaches the young stallion in wonder, she becomes surprised when he removes his hood and reveals himself to be Courageous Heart.
Although shocked and confused by all this, Twilight listens to the alicorn when he warns her of a great danger: The Darkness that once threatened all so long ago will return...only far stronger than ever.
Before Twilight could ask him more on this, she could only watch as Courageous faded away...leaving her to wake up in the middle of the night, and wonder if what she dreamt was real, or not. - The night of the Grand Galloping Gala had arrived and everypony invited dresses in their best and attends, having as much fun as possible.
However, deep within the prison of Tartarus, the most dangerous prison...placed there by those who defeated him long ago...manages at long last to break free of his chains and the cage that held him; Due to being chosen by the Darkness itself long ago, all the evil in the world over the centuries flowed to him through those outside in the world.
There were even those he manipulated to serve him while remaining imprisoned below.
But in the end, not even the guardian Cerberus was able to stop the Dark Lord from escaping. Tirek, the Supreme Master of Darkness, had returned at long last. - Arriving at Canterlot through the power of Darkness itself, Tirek crashed the Gala...frightening all those attending.
Shining Armor and Princess Cadance attempted to protect the castle, but their power proved useless against the superior being and his near-unlimited power and invincibility.
Not even the power of Princess Celestia and Luna could turn the tides, and the latter would only fall into despair upon discovering it was Tirek who manipulated her to turn on her sister and become Nightmare Moon so long ago.
Even when Twilight Sparkle and her friends attempted to use the Elements of Harmony on him, as they were so long ago, that failed as well.
With all means of protection rendered ineffective, nothing could stop Tirek as he used his power to make all those around him into his personal servants...which includes the great Princesses and Shining Armor.
So many others fell under his control, as it would soon spread beyond Canterlot. - Managing to escape Canterlot in time, thanks to some help before they were transformed into dark servants of Tirek, Twilight Sparkle along with her friends Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy fled Canterlot and made their way south.
Knowing that Ponyville and Cloudsdale had been invaded and all citizens of both transformed into possessed servants, there was no hope of gathering help in their hometowns...and were forced to flee to find help elsewhere.
While all fix were saddened by this, Twilight felt the most of them all...now realizing the dream she had the night before was real, and the warning was also...even though there was no way to prevent it from happening: The capital of Equestria and the surrounding villages and towns fell to Tirek's control. - The Mane Six sought out Zecora at her hut, which was one of the few nearby sanctuaries left untouched...for the moment.
There, the wise zebra told them the tale of that which had been passed down for generations of the great battle that led to the Dark Lord's imprisonment; All this was only accomplished by the uniting of the six great species: Earth Ponies, Unicorns, Pegasai, Buffalo, Zebras, and Dragons.
Despite such a plan seeming impossible, it seemed like the only hope for Equestria.
The Mane Six escaped the hut when the dark servants arrived, with Zecora holding them off long enough for her friends to escape and seek out what allies remain.
The Mane Six fled further, only to rest before they would part ways to see help out much faster.
Twilight dreamed of Courageous Heart once more, and while she was happy to see him, she could only cry over losing her home to the evil of Tirek.
Courageous comforted her, which the young unicorn found so warm and wanting; Her cheeks could only blush as her heart beat in a way never imagined...for she had gained some affection for the young alicorn, even if he was just a dream. - The Mane Six eventually parted ways to seek out help faster in the southern regions of Equestria...due to the northern territories falling under Tirek's control upon invasion.
Applejack and Fluttershy traveled to Appleloosa where they would find aid from her cousin Braeburn and the other settlers...while the buffalo agreed to help as well.
Even as the endless night of storm clouds loomed above endlessly, everypony in Appleloosa hung in there was they would wait for the others to arrive; This town would be where the other members of the Mane Six would rejoin them...hopefully soon. - Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie traveled to the Hayseed Swamps where they encountered a tribe of zebras living peacefully, for the time being.
They were led by Subira, who turned out to be Zecora's twin sister.
She was not up for listening nor leaving her settlement to fight a battle that could not be won...especially since she did not know the two mares very well.
However, after Rainbow and Pinkie passed a quick trial, the zebras agreed to join them in Appleloosa. - Twilight Sparkle and Rarity traveled to the Badlands where many dragons were settled; This included some of the wisest ones, and Garble even.
At first, the dragons were planning on fleeing in hopes of escaping Tirek's evil, but thanks to Spike being present, he managed to convince the dragons to fight...or they would not get far if they flee, since Tirek's evil and the spread of Darkness would cover the whole world until all would serve him.
This brought the dragons to join and take them to Appleloosa. - The Mane Six and Spike were reunited at Appleloosa with their new friends and allies.
A plan could soon be underway that would lead to the defeat of Tirek and all of Equestria being restored.
But...this would not come to be. - The wisest of the dragons present explained that which she had been taught by those who had come before her with the tale of those who took part in the battle thousands of years ago: In order of Tirek to be beaten, the Rainbow of Light would need to be summoned...which could only appear by those wielding the Elements of Harmony, and by the one with the title of "Champion of the Light".
Without the Champion, Courageous Heart, the Elements alone would be useless; This was proved back in Canterlot when Tirek invaded.
With no plans to fight coming to be, and only fleeing left, Twilight could not believe what she was hearing...especially when her own friends took their sides.
She was appalled, and even when she mentioned seeing Courageous in her dreams, nopony believed her.
At that moment, all Twilight could do was run away from the town, crying and begging in her mind for somepony to help them. - Finding a spot outside of town to rest and cry, Twilight drifted off to sleep where she encountered Courageous Heart once again.
However, despite all that had happened, she found comfort and happiness in the dreamworld Courageous had brought her to: A beautiful land of white flowers, a gently pond, and a starlit night that could only make her smile and feel so happy.
Together, Twilight and Courageous frolicked together and would soon rest by the pond, snuggling together.
Even after all this that made Twilight so happy, Courageous felt the need to tell her of what happened to him, but before he could...the dream came to an end with Tirek showing up and sucking him into his amulet...leaving Twilight to wake up and be all alone again. - Returning to Appleloosa, Twilight and her friends become shocked when Tirek and his Shadowbolt servants arrive to bring an end to this supposed uprising against him.
With his power so strong and his determination to rule all even stronger, Tirek prepared to unleash his power and turn all before him into his servants...ending it all.
However, with only one thing on her mind to scream as the Darkness came, Twilight Sparkle screamed Courageous's name out loud...and to her surprise, caused the amulet around Tirek's neck to glow with the power of the Light.
Now realizing at that moment that Courageous was trapped inside the amulet, Twilight instructs her friends to use the Elements of Harmony on the amulet...to free Courageous and bring the Champion of Light back. - Using the Elements with success, the Mane Six broke the amulet into four pieces...bringing Courageous Heart, Champion of the Light, to break free and return from his imprisonment for these last four-thousand years.
Tirek, shocked and angered by this, attempts to attack...but is forced to retreat when Courageous summons the Light to protect those around him.
Once the Dark Lord retreated, every pony and other species around the town were shocked but thrilled to see their one means of hope return. - After a quick rest and explaining how the six species must come together in order to defeat Tirek and his dark power forever, everypony put aside their differences and chose to fight as one: For Harmony and for the Light.
Together, with an army vast but smaller than Tirek's current army he had under his power, Twilight and Courageous marched with their new friends and allies towards Ponyville, where the final battle would begin. - Upon arriving, the Army of Harmony charged into Ponyville to do battle with the Armies of Darkness.
Both sides were equal in the fight, and while the side of good won some key points as the fight went on, the Darkness would only take control of those within one by one.
Their only hope would be to stop the source of it all: Tirek. - With the battle seemingly to turn in Tirek's favor, and Courageous himself unable to beat him alone, the Dark Lord himself grew to a gigantic height where no other could match his power.
From that moment, the Light Spirits of the past joined the battle and helped turn the tide to free all his servants and bring them together in this final battle.
With the Mane Six and Courageous combining their power together, they brought forth the one power that had not been seen in thousands of years, and was the only power capable of destroying the Supreme Master of Darkness: The Rainbow of Light.
It was unleashed onto Tirek, and the Dark Lord could only cry out in pain as all his evil, along with himself, vanished.
Equestria was restored, as was the Light of Harmony. - While Courageous Heart did have the chance to rejoin his family as a Light Spirit, as they were, he chose to stay with Twilight Sparkle...whom he had fallen in love with as she with him.
Both of them became the great heroes of Equestria, and were celebrated as the ones who brought peace and harmony not only for ponies, but for those who fought along side them as friends: The Buffalo, Zebra, and Dragons were now their friends and allies, and would remain so this time.
A great celebration was held that night, and all over Equestria partied in a way never imagined.
The great battle between the Light and Darkness had come to an end, and a new chapter would soon begin.
- Over 4,000 years have passed since the great battle at the Midnight Mountain that brought the defeat of the Darkness and the various species that once stood together, went their separate ways...slowly forgetting as time passed.
- After Tirek, the Supreme Master of Darkness, was defeated at the combined strength of the various species who banded together to challenge his tyranny when he invaded and took control of Equestria, all within the Pony Kingdom and even the rest of the world seemed to enter a new era of peace and harmony: Zebras, Dragons, Buffalo, and Ponies would put aside all their differences and now live among one another as friends.
But out of them all, Courageous Heart has been welcomed into the mix...especially by Twilight Sparkle and her best friends: Fluttershy, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash.
Now set up with a little hut of his own, the young Champion of Light settles into his new home while looking forward to all he can learn from the adventures that await him and Twilight. - After some time, Courageous finally works up the courage to ask Twilight out on their first date.
She accepts without hesitation and the following night, both the stallion and mare...dressed up in the fanciest attire made for them...enjoy a wonderful walk and dinner, followed by their first kiss.
Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy follow to ensure their friends' date goes well, only to get themselves in trouble along the way.
But in the end, Twilight's and Courageous's date went so perfect...and they would then become official coltfriend and marefriend from then on.
(If you wish to see the comic of Twilight's First Date, which is based on the story with the same name, take a look here: Twilight's First Date #1 ) - Eventually, Twilight was invited to Los Pegasus to visit her Aunt Nominee and Uncle Rising Star...and she decided to bring Courageous with her so that she may introduce her coltfriend to them.
However, things took a turn for a worst when Nominee and Rising saw Courageous as nothing more than a dirt-poor pony with no magical abilities (The Light does not work the same as regular magic for simple tasks), and despite his heroism for saving Equestria, neither saw him as a good fit for their niece.
At that moment, Twilight stood up to her relative and defended her coltfriend, informing them that she loves him for who he is, not what he has or does not have.
Such courage and devotion displayed changed the way Rising Star and Nominee's views of Courageous, and accepted him after apologizing.
Courageous was so happy to to be supported by his beautiful marefriend, and would forever be grateful to her. - Over time, while Courageous enjoyed is time in Ponyville with his new friends and family, the feeling of missing his own family ached in his heart.
Wishing to return to his homeland far away, Courageous and the Mane Six traveled to the area where his village, Einhorn, once stood; Using the Light to travel a far distance was needed, and his wish was granted by the power bestowed upon him for this personal reason.
There, in the open field where his only home village once stood thousands of years ago, Courageous was able to find a box under the ground that contained a sapphire-star necklace that once belonged to his sister Charisma; She left it there for him with hopes her brother would return to that place someday and find it, as mentioned in a little found within the box.
Satisfied to have something of his family once again, Courageous and his friends returned home to Equestria. - Using the power of the Light, and the sapphire-star necklace found, Courageous was able to track down a family of dancer ponies living within Ponyville: Tap Step, his wife Grace and his daughter Shammy.
Tap happened to be the descendant of Charisma, and he had moved from another pony kingdom far away to start a new life here...along with building a dancing school for any who wished to join.
Realizing who Courageous Heart was and that he was a relative of Tap's ancestor, both he and Grace agreed to adopt him into their family...giving their filly daughter Shammy the big brother she always wanted.
As a great show of gratitude for being welcomed into their family, Courageous gave the sapphire-star necklace to his new little sister as a present...as a show of kindness and care to the family he now had. - Sometime later, Shammy and Courageous grew close as brother and sister...and she even joined the Cutie Mark Crusaders in hope of finding her cutie mark someday.
However, the time Courageous would spend with his marefriend Twilight made Shammy upset and jealous; She would hide it, and loath Twilight for taking her big brother away from her when she wanted to play with him.
When Twilight offered to foalsit Shammy one day, the family agreed even though Shammy secretly did not...and eventually expressed her dislike of Twilight, crying afterwards.
However, Twilight admitted she never wished to hurt Shammy nor take her brother from her, and only wished to be her friend.
Shammy eventually understood and the two grew close...since she knew someday Twilight would become her big sister someday once she and Courageous got married. - Many events occurred over time where Courageous and the Mane Six would overcome obstacles and dangers, all while learning many new lessons on Friendship.
One was Courageous keeping a big secret for Pinkie Pie when he accidentally discovered something.
He promised to keep quiet, even though he spoiled the surprise a little, but in the end it was all worth it when Ponyville celebrated Courageous Heart's birthday...which partying was something he never experienced before, but enjoyed as they celebrated all afternoon long. - Princess Celestia had a visitor from the foreign kingdom where ponies rule, but celebrate dancing as a sport and means of celebration and expression: Princess Aira and her Skyguard, led by Don Porsha the Skymarshall.
It turns out that Porsha was once Tap Step's student long ago before turning on him and defeating him in a dance-off...stealing the title of "Stallion of the Step" which leads Tap to move his family elsewhere.
But now, just when many relatives of the Step Family had come to Ponyville to visit, Don Porsha and his Skyguard arrive to cause trouble.
With the help of his family and friends, Tap and Porsha engage in a dance-battle where the former defeats his student and re-earns the title back along with the respect of his nation and those of Ponyville themselves. - The time of diplomacy comes to light when Princess Celestia and Luna invite the griffin ambassador, along with representatives from the Zebra, Buffalo, Dragon, and other Pony villages and territories to discuss further means of establishing strong ties of Friendship.
However, Celestia turns out not to be all she is when Twilight, Courageous, and their friends confront her and reveal she is an imposter disguised as the Princess to acquire a powerful, magical amulet in the griffin ambassador's possession.
This imposter turns out to be none other than Queen Chrysalis, and once she acquired the amulet, she attempts to use it to control Courageous Heart and make him her own champion to serve her.
However, this fails when the Light protects him from such evil...and a great battle takes place in Canterlot once more. - The battle seems even with the Changelings against all those present to fight.
However, once Queen Chrysalis is cornered, instead of using the Elements and the Light to either banish or imprison her, Courageous discovers who she really is; Somepony he had not seen in such a long time: Chrystala...the Changeling Princess who welcomed him into her homeland so long ago, and was the very first friend he ever made before the changelings, under the rule of Chrysalis's mother, accepted the offer of Darkness to survive and turn on those who turned on them.
Courageous pleaded with his long-lost friend to return to the side of friendship and Harmony, and so it was done: Chrysalis, now going by the name Chrystala again, and her changelings were restored to their original forms and were friends once again.
Such a victory where the griffins and changelings becoming allies to Equestria, earned Courageous the title of "Ambassador of Equestria", in where his new task would be to help establish friendly ties with other nations, as his role as the Champion of the Light is pretty much the same, but now with more recognition. - A talent contest came to Ponyville and Twilight and all her friends would give their best in front of the judges for a chance at a prize of performing in Canterlot.
However, Twilight wished to perform a duet with Courageous, but he was elsewhere because of his new role as ambassador.
But just before Twilight's turn arrived, Courageous returned in the nick of time to join his marefriend and perform together, in which the audience and judges loved their song.
However, in the end, it was Spike who won and both Twilight and Courageous came in second place.
They may have not won, but they sure had fun. - Princess Celestia would eventually give her faithful student the opportunity to teach young unicorns at the same academy Twilight attended long ago.
These young fillies and colts were not as gifted as her or the other current students, and were seen as rejects.
However, Twilight refused to give up on them and taught them everything she knew and helped each and every pony learn just what made them special.
In the end, the young students were able to cast spells better and perform well enough to pass the upcoming exam and succeed.
Celestia saw this victory as the moment Twilight would soon go from student to teacher...and something more someday; She saw greatness in Twilight's future.
One that would come to be sooner than she imagined. - The anniversary of Tirek's defeat had arrived; A whole year had passed since that day and everypony all over Equestria were ready to celebrate all day long with fireworks to follow at night.
While every pony and other enjoyed their fun, Courageous Heart was preparing for something even greater: The chance to summon up all his courage and propose to his beloved marefriend Twilight Sparkle.
Once the fireworks began, Courageous message appeared in the sky saying "TWILIGHT, WILL YOU MARRY ME" as he presented the ring his family gave to him to give to Twilight.
She shed a few tears and gave her answer: "YES!!" - A month later, after needing the time to prepare, the wedding took place outside of Ponyville where everypony was invited.
Shining Armor became Courageous's Best Stallion, while Princess Cadance was to be Twilight's Best Mare; Shammy and Spike were the ring-bearers, and Celestia would marry the happy couple.
Everything seemed so perfect as Courageous watched Twilight walk down the aisle, all beautiful and in such a radiant wedding dress.
Soon, the two smiled onto one another as Celestia prepared to marry them...but...things would not come to be when everything took a turn for the worst: - The wedding was crashed by a goat army, lead by the demon ram Grogar, ruler of the Island of Tambelon...his dark kingdom.
Grogar claimed to be the greatest servant of Tirek, and now with the Dark Lord gone, he would take his place: By capturing Twilight and taking her to his island.
Courageous and many of his friends and allies followed and did battle with his army, only to surrender when Grogar proceeded to turn Twilight to stone; A dark spell that not even the Light could restore.
Not wishing to lose his beloved, Courageous offered himself instead, and Grogar accepted.
From that moment, everypony...especially Twilight...watched in terror as Courageous was being turned to stone in which he would never return again. - Twilight pleaded to the Light for a miracle, and would give up everything to save her beloved Courageous Heart.
Everypony wished the same, giving up all to save their friend.
Just when all hope seemed lost, their wish was answered: Twilight Sparkle felt great power coursing through her, as she was levitated into the air...and wings appeared upon her back: She had transformed into a powerful alicorn, and used her power to save her fiance and so many other stone ponies and more across the island whom had been that way for thousands of years.
With the combined strength of Twilight and Courageous, and all their friends and family, their power beat Grogar...restoring him to his previous form: Firmhoof...the former leader of Einhorn, who was banished for siding with Tirek long ago; After his first failure, Tirek transformed him into a monster to further serve him...but now, Firmhoof was free and was forgiven for not understanding long ago that Courageous was always one of them.
Firmhoof became a Light Spirit and was allowed to rejoin his son and family among the other Light Spirits that roam the world in the skies. - With Tambelon free, as well as the various ponies, centaurs, and other species turned to stone across the world, this location would become a shining, new kingdom in which the newly crowned and weeded Twilight and Courageous would rule over.
All ponies, zebras, griffins, changelings, dragons, buffalo, and more would come to settle in this new land and cheer on their newest rules...who brought yet another chapter of Harmony and Friendship to Light.
Both Princess Twilight Sparkle and Prince Courageous Heart would smile down at all their new faithful subjects as they would prepare for their future of ruling this new kingdom of theirs...but not before enjoying their honeymoon that would be one they would always remember.
- After Tirek, the Supreme Master of Darkness, was defeated at the combined strength of the various species who banded together to challenge his tyranny when he invaded and took control of Equestria, all within the Pony Kingdom and even the rest of the world seemed to enter a new era of peace and harmony: Zebras, Dragons, Buffalo, and Ponies would put aside all their differences and now live among one another as friends.
The Future is Magic
The Light of Friendship
The Light of Friendship
