My Little Persona Quest: SLAM DLC - The Forgotten Nightmare

Originally created by original writefag Igor during the first reunion for the Social Links Are Magic adventure in 2016.

Ponyville, October 31st


>Nightmare Night. The day of remembrance for Nightmare Moon.
>A tradition rooted in fear and superstition, which has evolved into a day of celebration and reverence.
>But it is also the day on which the power of dreams and nightmares grow strong on the power of ponies’ belief.
>It is the day on which Nightmare Moon was born.
>The day on which the boundary between worlds weakens.
>And the day Anonymous first came to this Equestria.
>Now on this hallowed eve, the humans brought to this world through the power of the heart reconvene.
>To reunite, to celebrate, to pay their respects, to remember.
>To celebrate.
>To pay their respects.
>To remember.
>”And to PARTYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!” Pinkie shouts at the top of her lungs, confetti and streamers bursting out of cannons with enough force to sink a war fleet.
>The humans and ponies take cover reflexively as the decorations go off.
>”Pinkie Pie!” Dash scolds, “Are you trying to give me a heart attack? And what about Derpy?”
>”I’m okay, Rainbow!” Derpy reassures her with her usual cheerfulness. “Pinkie told me in advance it’d be loud. And Fortune made sure I took my medicine, right Honey?” The postmare rubs her cheek against the human’s knee sweetly.

>Some of the humans make exaggerated motions clutching their chests at this sugary display, earning them eye rolls and affectionate gestures from their accompanying mares.
>Others cheer and whoop loudly.
“IT BEGINS!”
“WE DO IT!”
>”Didn’t give me warning…” Dash sulks, sitting down with a huff on the floor of the Friendship Castle Ballroom.
>”Her enthusiasm is understandable.” Says the warm voice of a pure white Alicorn smiling down at her. “After all, it’s been some time since all 36 of us were gathered together.” Celestia spreads her swan-like wing out, gesturing to the horde of people, ponies, and a single adolescent dragon populating the ballroom.
>Once the night grew late and all the foals cleared off the streets, everyone gathered at Twilight’s Castle for a private late-night reunion party.
>Tables are filled with cakes, candies, and other unhealthy foods courtesy of Gilda, Pinkie, Lovers, and Empress.
>Refreshing cider and classy wines sit in buckets of ice, brought by Applejack, Cheerilee, Strength, and Hierophant.
>And in the center, Pinkie stands with a cup stuffed with straws. “Well I don’t know about you ponies, but I’ve been waiting for Anon’s birthaversary for a whole year!”
>”That’s sorta how years work, Sugarcube.” Applejack retorts to a few chuckles.
>”Well it’s about time we got this party kickin’! And thanks to all our faceless friends, I’ve got just the game to get things going! Fillies, Gentlecolts, Boys and Dragons, let us play… The King’s Game!”

“Woohoo!”
“Our bodies our ready!”
>”Yeah you know it, Justice! That’s Justice, right? Sometimes you guys all look the same to me.” Pinkie jokes.
>”It sounds like my kind of game.” Trixie smirks.
>”I’ve never heard of this game before. What are the rules?” Twilight asks.
>”First, we all draw straws, and whoever gets the red one is the King! Or Queen, I guess. Then they can ask somepony else to do something, and they have to do it! Lather, Rinse, Repeat and, apply alcohol as needed! Any questions?” Pinkie looks around the room quickly. “Yes, Farfalla?”
>”Isn’t this just Truth or Dare, but with less agency?”
>Pinkie shrugs. “They were the guys that came up with it. Gilda?”
>“That Death guy’s not going to ask us to do anything weird, is he?”
“I promise nothing! I AM A GOD EMPEROR!”
“Mary you…!”
>Some of the humans advance on their outspoken brethren threateningly while others try to intervene before things get messy.
>”They know better by now.” Sunset says after a gulp of cider. “They don’t have any magic out here, after all. And Discord would find his defenestration hilarious.”
>Celestia gives the fiery mare a knowing smile. “Now let’s not escalate this party to domestic violence. I’m sure everypony and human will respect one another’s boundaries.”
>Cheerilee peers into the bucket. “Are there enough straws for all 36 of us?”
>”Well…” Pinkie begins, “Since we have more people than ponies, I think the fairest way to do it is we take turns with the straw bucket. The Ponies, and Spike, get their chance, then the humans get their chance. Sound fair?”

“Fair enough.”
“We’re game!”
>The rest of the crowd echoes general enthusiasm and agreement.
>”Then let’s get things started! Laaadies first! And Spike!” Pinkie slams the bucket into the middle of them, letting them each grab a straw.
>They examine the ends and…
>”Oh my! It’s me! I’m… the queen?” Fluttershy questions, holding the red-ended straw.
>”So it would seem, Queen Fluttershy.” Rarity smiles. “Give us your royal decree!”
“All hail queen Fluttershy!”
>Fluttershy surveys the crowd. “Umm… okay, let me think.”
>She finally settles on the single Griffon among you, already on her second glass of wine.
>”... Gilda. In the name of Queen Umaguchi Shizuka, I order thee! Say something very nice about Pinkie Pie!”
>You all feel a chilling intensity behind her words as Gilda’s tail droops to the floor while she sits at attention.
>”She’s probably one of the best-looking Mares I’ve ever met. She’s surprisingly intelligent and well-organized, she’s a good cook, a hard worker, and now she’s working on a degree too. Honestly if she had a more compatible personality I’d probably think she’s flawless.”
>There’s a few ‘aww’s as Pinkie rubs her eye, “C’mon, Gilda, you’re super duper amazing too! And you’re a way better chef than I am!”
>Gilda blinks and ruffles her feathers. “I- Wait, did I really just say all… shit, what’s in this stuff, Cheerilee?”
>”It’s just the wine from our Vineyard…” Cheerilee frowns as Fluttershy shrinks away slightly.
>”Umm, I think that’s my turn. Thank you.”
>Pinkie adds a few straws and tosses it to the humans. “Your turns! Who’s gonna be our first King?”

>The humans draw their straws…
>And to his own surprise, the first to draw the red straw is The Fool himself.
“Oh. I guess that can happen too… if this happens again we’ll just do it again. I have a bit of an advantage after all.”
>The ponies look confused, but the fool steps up and paces, thinking over his order.
“Be gentle!”
“Make it gay!”
>The King takes a deep breath and makes his decree.
“Alright then, my subjects. SING FOR ME!”
“THIS RIDE WILL NOT PROCEED UNTIL ONE OR MORE OF YOU SINGS ‘LET IT GO’!”
“One minute and thirty seconds of it is enough. Just until ‘The cold never bothered me anyway.’ However you record it is fine, but just try to make it quick so we can move on!”
>Further confusion comes over the ponies. But this is the request.

“I accept!” Declares Justice.
“I’ll back it up. I’m the musical one.” says Tower.
“I knew I could count on you guys.” Their King smiles.


*One off-key slightly accented rendition of Let it Go Later*


The Fool is laughing on the floor and applauding.
“Amazing! Ten out of ten!”
“A hero we don’t deserve.”
>”Good energy!” Fluttershy chimes in politely.
>Gilda and Dash are cackling together, but most of the other mares are respectfully applauding the performance.
“Ahh… I secretly hoped it would be you, Justice! I didn’t say anything, but that’s what I hoped. Thank you, my life is complete now. Here I didn’t thought I’d be doing much. Anyway, it’s the Equestrian turn. Pinkie, if you please.”
>Pinkie Pie collects the straws and distributes them to the girls.
>They all check their sticks at once, and a triumphant smile comes over Sunset Shimmer.
>”Looks like I got it this time.”
“All hail Queen Sunset Shimmer!”
>”Muahahahaaa!” The crimson-maned mare laughs faux-maniacally, “Finally! All I’ve ever wanted!!”
>”Let’s see… Farfalla, how about you tell us an embarrassing story about yourself? Stuff from your days as a changeling will do as well.”
>Farfalla gives all of the humans a knowing grin. “Well, I suppose it should be a story that embarasses only me. I have many with them that would be rather embarrassing to share, but it is rude to kiss and tell. Especially given where they were… ah, but nevermind. I’ll tell you about my attempt to capture Princess Cadance.
>Celestia puts down her plate of eclairs. “It was while she was out at a private villa, yes?”
>Farfalla nods. “I transformed into Shining Armor to lower the guard of her security, and put some of my drones in position to assist me.”
>”Then, I made contact with Princess Cadance. She was acting sweet at first, ‘Oh, Shiny, I thought you wouldn’t be showing up until tomorrow!’ And such.”

>”So I told her we should go somewhere just the two of us, and she agreed, leading me into the bedroom before I could object.”
>”Oh heavens.” Rarity gasps.
>”Are you sure you should be sharing this?” Twilight winces.
>”It’s all right, just let me finish.” Farfalla reassures them. “So then she started telling me to do all these strange things… baby talking to her, singing little foal’s songs, reciting the Equestrian National Anthem to ‘Get her in the mood’...”
>The crowd is listening to her story with mixtures of anxiety and fascination.
>”I told her I found a much better place and she reassured me we could go there after… and then she told me to close my eyes, so I did.”
>”And then she put a magic inhibitor ring over my horn and started tying me up…”
>Twilight is hiding her face in her hooves. “Oh no…”
>”And then she called for the guards.”
>”BAHAHAHAHA!” Rainbow Dash breaks into laughter, followed by some of the others while Farfalla smiles and accepts their mockery.
>”Yes, it was quite a blunder. It seems I didn’t even fool her for a second. If I hadn’t gotten my drones in place to bail me out… well, the Royal Wedding would have gone a lot smoother.”
>Twilight finally stops hiding. “Well, just goes to show you she’s not some helpless princess. Instead of relying on her guards, she was prepared enough to have an inhibitor ring for self defense in case somepony like you showed up.”
>Farfalla gives her a sardonic look. “Then I wonder what the S.A. engraved on it stood for.”
>Twilight shuts her mouth, blushing furiously.
>”Just joking.”
>”Hey, only embarrassing yourself, remember?” Sunset scolds her.
>The alicorn bows deeply to Sunset Shimmer. “My humblest apologies, my dear queen. Your loyal subject forgets its place, and will accept whatever punishment you deem fit.”
>She takes a moment to decide. “Two drink penalty. Pinkie, let’s pass it back to the boys.”
>”Yooou betcha!”
>Pinkie throws the bucket of straws back to the humans.

>The straws are drawn, and the winning straw goes to…
“All hail King Fortune!”
“Lady Luck’s got me after all! Death! Your King commands you to dance!”
>A big green grin breaks out on the face of Death.
“Joke’s on you, I fucking LOVE to dance! Hit it!”
>He strides onto the dance floor as fast paced electronic music starts up….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAEa3CGX62Y
Come on and Smile~
COME ON AND SLAM! AND WELCOME TO THE JAM!
COME ON AND SLAM! IF YOU WANNA JAM!
Come on and Smile~
COME ON AND SLAM! AND WELCOME TO THE JAM!
COME ON AND SLAM! IF YOU WANNA JAM!
“This song…!”
“DAMN IT MARY!”
>As the fast-paced song continues, everyone marvels at Death’s stylish dancing…
>Sunset watches intensely with her hoof on her chin. “I thought he couldn’t do something like this without a Mana Core… but this music! Is the Magic of Friendship really that strong?”
>”Perhaps this is the work of Discord…” Trixie theorizes.
>”He was able to invoke the 『BGM 』! Before they couldn’t even sing with Harmony… Is it because they belong in this world now that he can move like this?” Wonders Twilight.
“Twilight is half right. But the reason behind his skill is something more simple.” The Fool speaks.
“He holds one of the secrets to great dancing. We should have known he could do this, he’s been displaying that technique for as long as we’ve known him.”
>”I’ve seen you dance before, you were good but not quite that good. What IS his secret?” Cheerilee asks.
“It’s the greatest skill a dancer can have. It’s called… 『NO SHAME』. He simply has no qualms about looking like a complete idiot!”

>”Impossible! He can just dance if he wants to? He can leave his friends behind?” Spike exclaims.
>”What a beautiful person…” Derpy smiles dreamily.
>”I think it’s not quite my style…” Rarity grimaces.
>The song and dance finishes to great applause, and the straws are passed back to the other half of the room.
>This time, the one to draw the lucky straw is…!
“ALL HAIL QUEEN CELESTIA!”
>She lets out a ladylike sigh. “I do prefer Princess, really. Even if I were to get married, I think I’d still prefer it in such a way.”
>”You should get married!” Derpy encourages her. “I bet your wedding would be really pretty! Even prettier than mine!”
>Celestia just gives her a warm smile. “I’d like if it were that simple. But at times, having power can restrict you instead of free you. It’s good to be the Princess, certainly I have it much better than many. But even a Queen can’t have everything she wants without being a tyrant.”
>”Go ahead and be one! It’s just a game.” Spike reminds her.
>”Yeah, just pretend you’re the Queen of Griffonstone.” Gilda chuckles.
>”The Queen here gets to indulge herself! Be wild, express yourself! Ooh! Say a swear…” Fluttershy whispers.
>Celestia paces to the end of the room and back considering her decree.
>”If I’m really to be as selfish as I please… Spike? Sunset Shimmer? I request that you call me Mom for the rest of the night.”
>”Sure, Mom! You’re already like the Mother I never had.” Spike flashes a toothy grin.
>Celestia turns to Sunset, her smile fading when she notices the unicorn avoiding her gaze somewhat uncomfortably.

>”Oh… Sunset, I’m sorry. That was careless. I shouldn’t play around when it comes to your feelings…”
>”It’s okay!” She blurts out. “I mean… I’m not upset, I’m just a little... “ she takes a deep breath, searching for the right words before looking at Celestia.
>”You did a great job taking care of me. You’re an amazing Mom. If anything, I feel like I don’t deserve it.”
>Tia extends her massive wing and wraps Sunset in a curtain of warmth. ”I would die a proud mare if I raised a daughter even a tenth as great as you, Sunset Shimmer.”
>”Aww, thanks, Mom.” Sunset says half-jokingly, hugging her extra tight.
>”It does feel good. I’ll amend my decree, you are all my children! I decree you all must call me Mother or some variation thereof for the rest of the night!”
>”Yes, Mooom!” The party choruses.
“Hey, Senpai! I banged your Mom!”
>”Which one of you said that?!”
>The humans all point fingers at each other to shift the blame.
>Sunset grumbles as the straws are passed over, but Celestia seems to be stifling a laugh.

>This time, the human representing the arcana of The Devil becomes King!
“Okay, everyone without one of the Waifu arcanas, go hug your favorite pony in the room!”
>By now, most of the ponies you know have gotten used to the word “waifu”. Most of them, anyway.
>Sunset still grinds her teeth when she hears you use it.
>The Arcana swarm over the crowd, and most of them seem to get who they were expecting.
>Lust of course goes after Celestia, Justice gives his Ponka a squeeze, and a plurality of them gather around Farfalla.
>The silk pony looks a bit haughty as humans cling onto her. “It’s only natural.”
>Dash looks up at her. “You couldn’t teach me a few things some time, could you?”
>”What’s so great about a bunch of sweaty guys clinging to you like foals fighting over a stuffed animal?” Sunset snaps, a bit uncomfortable from her own popularity.
>Dash gives a bashful smile towards Fluttershy, who averts her gaze and takes a looong drink.
>Some of the humans seem a bit indecisive and just end up passing from mare to mare.
“Hey, is that allowed?”
“I dunno, maybe.”
“Screw it, I’m hugging Gilda anyway!”
>”So much for absolute monarchy.” Trixie muses.
>After the hugs and other displays of affection are doled out generously, the bucket switches back over to the ponies.
>The straws are drawn and…
“ALL HAIL QUEEN FARFALLA!”
>”Ahahahahaaa! We are your queen now! You! Apple… Apple pony!” Farfalla seems to be struggling to remember after two bottles of penalty wine.
>”Name’s Applejack, yer highness.”
>”Yes, you. You have been rather quiet tonight. So let’s hear something from you! Your Queen commands you, tell us who you are attracted to, beyond the humans! Who most makes your heart… who do you like?”

>The farmpony frowns. “Well it ain’t like I spend my free time oglin’ stallions in those magazines like some ponies do.”
>”I read those for the articles, Dear.” Rarity says curtly.
>”Yeah well it ain’t fer their clothes… anywho, if ya had to make me choose… does it matter if they’re taken or not?”
>”It matters not! Speak freely, your Queen commands you!”
>”On a physical level, just fer looks alone, I guess I like the look o’ Rarity’s Pa.”
>”Oh my!”
>”Dude…”
>”My- ugh! My FATHER?” Rarity chokes, “Applejack!”
>”He’s just got a good look to ‘im is all. It ain’t like I’m fixin’ to be yer stepmom.”
>”Tell me more.” Farfalla implores. “What do you like about him?”
>”I like his moustache, like that he used ta’ be a hoofball player, he’s got a good build on ‘im, nice thick chest…”
>”Ohh my goodness, I think I’m going to be sick.” Rarity scoffs.
>”Aww c’mon, Rarity. You should be happy! He gave ya good genes.”
>”Somehow I don’t find moustache genes to be a great benefit.”
>Applejack shrugs and takes another drink. “Just answerin’ the question.”
>”And what an interesting answer it was.” Farfalla smiles.
>”Your guys’s turn again! You should ask us more stuff, it’s been so long since we’ve seen each other after all!” Pinkie calls out, tossing over the straws.
>”This might as well just be Truth or Dare anyway.” Sunset shrugs.

>The straws are drawn, and fate smiles upon… Justice!
”Got it! Okay, Trixie. Have a drink, then sing us your favorite song. Then tell us why it’s your favorite.”
>The unicorn stares into her drink for a moment. “Trixie’s favorite…”
>She takes a swig of cider, mulling over her thoughts. “I suppose I’m a fan of Sapphire Shores, but… well there’s one other song, I suppose you might like to hear it.”
>”After their singing? The bar’s pretty low, Trix.” Gilda tries to encourage her.
>”Very well then.” Trixie floats her drink down and moves to the center of the ballroom, closing her eyes.
>She seems to be repeating part of the lyrics under her breath to jog her memory. Once she’s ready, she starts to sing.


Astel flinn ge~ lakesu~,
I~vo mushu suku sali~.
Se ye~ Ei~dolos kara~
Sukuna~ fumu daru se~
Daray mu bufushii
kumarona-ashii
Ke gen le~ a~gishii
Wafuku wafukila~
Daru ye~ pirapira~
Ye vashuivu ke kumari.
Ye vashuivu ke lasu.
Ke ye~ kuma vashuivu~
Suku~

>Trixie’s voice rings out through the ballroom in a sweet, mysterious melody.
>This time, the meaning of the words is lost on you, but her performance is followed by awestruck applause.
>”Thank you. I suppose I should explain, that was a lullaby my mother used to sing for me. An old Lulamoon song. My childhood wasn’t perfect, but… that song always made me feel at peace. Though I’m not sure what all of it means.”
>Some of the former Dream Team members are shooting looks at Celestia.
>She sets down her glass of wine and smiles. “Its meaning is that which you decide. The lyrics themselves aren’t as important. Shall we continue?”
>The straws are passed around among the ponies.
>Rainbow Dash holds up a red straw triumphantly!
>”Aww yeah! Hail to Queen Rainbow Dash!”
>She scans the room for a victim. “Fluttershy!”
>”Y-Yes, my Queen?”
>Dash smirks and extends her wings. “Tell me what’s the most awesome thing about me in your opinion.”
>Fluttershy looks down in puzzlement for a moment, then snaps back to attention. “Ooh! I know!”
>”I think it’s awesome that you’re going to be a mother.”
>A jet of cider violently sprays out of Pinkie’s mouth. “WHAAAAA!?!”
>Queen Rainbow Dash looks utterly unimpressed. “Yes, Pinkie. I told you months ago. And then you told everypony else. Everypony here already knows that.”
>”But did they know? Did they really ALL know, Rainbow Dash?” Pinkie presses.
>”Yes. They did.”
>”Okay! Humans turn again!”

>The king is…
>Star!
“Got it! King Star says, everypony has to style their manes like Pinkie Pie!”
>“Does it look like we have time for a salon trip?” Sunset interjects.
>”We could simply use magic.” Trixie points out, taking the wind out of Sunset’s indignation.
>”Oh… yeah, I get used to the other world’s rules sometimes…” She mutters, sitting back down.
>Trixie grins and fires a purplish beam at Sunset, instantly poofing up her hair!
>Pinkie rolls onto her back, snorting with laughter, “You look amazing, Sunset!”
>Farfalla catches on and joins in, firing sparkling turquoise beams at every pony she can, working with Trixie to pinkify everypony’s mane in 10 seconds flat!
>Derpy giggles and touches her puffed up mane. “I feel like a sheep!”
>”Did anypony bring a comb?” Rarity asks hopefully.
>”I’ve had crazier manestyles.” Cheerilee admits.
>Princess Celestia smiles mischeviously. ”Perhaps I should leave it like this and see how long I can go before one of my subjects comments on it.”
>”Glad I don’t have a mane…” Gilda smirks.
>”Same here.” Concurs Spike.
>Pinkie gathers up the straws again, then redistributes them to the ponies.
>They examine the ends and…
“ALL HAIL QUEEN PINKIE PIE!”
>”Woohoo! What do I decree first? Ooh, how ‘bout mandatory fun on every monday through sunday? Ooh, or all telegrams have to become singing telegrams? Or all cotton must be replaced with cotton candy!”
>”Unfortunately, your sovereignty is limited to the confines of this ballroom.” Celestia smiles.
>”Aww, okay okay… in that case, I order the humans to give me their best joke!”

>Everyone starts looking around.
“Anyone know any good jokes?”
“Some inappropriate ones.”
“I dunno…”
“Maybe a few.”
“I got one. Why was the scarecrow given a reward?”
“He was outstanding in his field!”
>This garners some smiles and eye rolls, but Pinkie isn’t satisfied yet. “Come on, gimmie more!”
“Yesterday I accidentally swallowed some food coloring. The doctor says I’m OK, but I feel like I’ve Dyed a little inside.”
“What do you call it when the god of thunder sings a poem to his brother in G Minor? Thor Ode In Low Key!”
>”I get it!” Twilight chimes in.
“I’d tell a chemistry joke but I doubt I’ll get a reaction.”
“I’d tell a gay joke but-” “Hey, not in front of mom!”
“I’d tell an aviation joke, but I don’t think it’d get off the ground!”
>”Hahahahaa! These are great!” Pinkie squeals.
“What do you call a fake noodle? An Impasta!”
“What do you call cheese that doesn’t belong to you? Nacho Cheese!”
>”Make them stop…” Gilda groans.
“Radios got married! The wedding wasn’t much, but the reception was incredible!”
>”Ahh you guys are the best!” Pinkie says, somewhat out of breath.
>”You guys are the worst…” Sunset mutters, shaking her head.
>”I know one!” Derpy calls out. “What’s blue and isn’t heavy? Light blue! Hee hee!”
>”Didja hear about the sausage factory explosion? Everyone fears for the wurst!” Spike grins.
>Farfalla steps over to Pinkie Pie and bows deeply. “Your highness, I beg you to end this madness.”
>Pinkie just smiles. “So are you saying… I should pull back on the reigns?
>”... and I thought I ruled with an iron hoof.”
>The puns continue for several minutes until you all run out of steam, to the great relief of many of your mares.
>Pinkie rewards your puns with the straw bucket, and it’s King Justice again!
“I got a good one. Spike and Gilda take two drinks, tell us a secret, and the one with the least impressive secret finishes the drink!”

>Spike looks down at his drink. ”Geez, don’t you guys kinda know most of my secrets by now? I might need a minute for this.”
>”They probably know my biggest secret too.” Gilda shrugs.
>Both of them take the drinks to loosen their tongues and think.
>”I guess… well I can’t admit to anything illegal with two princesses in the room. So uh, the truth is I’m actually really scared of snakes. Like, seriously. Just everything about them just creeps me out.” Gilda confesses, leaning back and tossing another cream puff into her mouth.
“Does that mean you’re really scared of Nagas?”
>She glares and gulps down her food. “They don’t exist!”
>”I couldn’t help but notice…” Celestia chimes in, “but you’re not saying you aren’t scared of them, are you?”
>”I uh…” Gilda tries to unravel her double negatives through the haze of the wine. “Look, I’m not scared of something that doesn’t exist!”
>”But if one did exist, would you be scared of it?” the princess smiles politely in a way that almost looks like a smirk.
>”I… whatever.” Gilda grumbles. “Hey, your turn.” She motions to Spike.
>He looks at Rarity and nods. ”I got something. This one’s more recent. Rarity knows, but I haven’t mentioned it to you guys yet.”
>”Truth is… I’ve been having some uh, problems sleeping lately. Like, I can’t stay asleep unless I’m… on top of stuff.”
>”Like a bed?” Derpy asks. “Because I think lots of ponies have that.”
>Spike shakes his head. “No, just like a lot of stuff. Like a pile. Rarity won’t let me sleep in the same bed as her because I kept trying to pull the blankets into a cover hoard. Which… sometimes includes her.”
>Looking at Spike, you can see he’s grown even taller than Rarity now.
>”Some kind of draconic instinct?” Cheerilee suggests.
>”Or just a selfish sleeper.” Rarity jokes.
>”So uh, whose secret was better, guys?”

“Spike.”
“Yeah, Spike.”
“Gotta go with Spike.”
>They all mutter in agreement, prompting Gilda to finish her drink while Spike gives a slightly embarrassed smile.
“Okay, now- wait, nevermind, it’s your turn, right?”
>”That’s right, we go next.” Cheerilee reminds one of the humans.
>”It’s becoming difficult to keep track…” Farfalla mutters, resting on the ground after it became dizzying for her to stand.
>The mares (and spike) take their chances at the straws, and end up with their first Griffon Queen!
“All hail Queen Gilda!”
>”Bout time. Okay then, Princess Celestia." Gilda grins devilishly. "Tell me, what’s your biggest flaw.”
>The princess smiles politely and sets down her drink. “Well, I can’t disobey my Queen. I suppose I’ll have to be honest.”
>”My greatest flaw is my lack of honesty.”
>The room grows quieter as she confesses. “It isn’t that I lie, but I will conceal parts of the truth at times.”
>”It was easy for my Shadow to convince me to muddle the truth of SIHN. I often prefer not to divulge information that I feel would only cause unnecessary panic.”
>”Just like I kept the secret of Twilight’s ascension, the secret of the mirror, my past, or even tonight when Trixie sang that lullaby.”
>She sits and gives a subtle snort. “What they don’t know can’t hurt them… it’s a dangerous idea I fall prey to far too often. I even hide my own emotions.”
>She takes her glass of wine in a field of magic, gazing into her reflection. ”It’s expected that a Princess should act a certain way, regardless of how she feels. Even if she hates somepony, she should act with respect to appear responsible to her subjects. She should act with ‘noblesse oblige’. But at the same time, must never appear dishonest so as to lose the trust of her subjects.”
>”I’m sure I have many other flaws as well, but this is the one which has caused me the most trouble over the years. As I’m sure you’ve all seen the effects.”
>Gilda’s smug grin has long faded since she asked her question.

>”Don’t beat yerself up about it, Princess. We all hide stuff, remember? Each an’ every one of us had that shadow of the stuff we can’t admit.” Applejack reminds her with an understanding smile.
>”I think you’re right about the song, too.” Trixie speaks up. “It means something to me regardless of the lyrics.”
>Celestia looks a little happier to hear that. “It’s really nothing too bad. But I’ll tell you what it means in private if you wish.”
>”Compared to some of the fucked up Kings and Queens we’ve had in Griffonstone, you’re practically a saint. At least you didn’t crash the economy.” Gilda shrugs. “Come on, you guys get to go again.”
>Straws are passed over, and this time a lucky Devil pulls it out!
“Nice. Okay, all you ponies, griffons and dragons gotta take a mask and wear it for the rest of the night. The anons without a mask have to finish their drinks!”
>”That’s all?” Sunset asks before moving in to get the Hanged Man’s mask.
>The rest of them follow suit, each of them picking the mask of their respective Arcana except for…
>”Spike?” asks Twilight. “Why did you take Justice’s mask? You’re represented by Magician. Justice represents my brother.”
>Spike shrugs. “I like Justice. It sounds cool! Sleepyhead over there won’t mind.” He motions to the magician.
>”Yeah, but everypony else took the mask that matches them. Shouldn’t you take Magician?”
>”Come on, Twi. You’re like a sister to me anyway! What’s wrong with me taking Justice?”
>”Because it doesn’t match!” the princess huffs.
>Celestia lets out a pleased chuckle. “You know, this reminds me. I once heard from Twilight’s mother she used to alphabetize her letter blocks when she was a foal.”
>Twilight looks up at Celestia in confusion. “What else are you supposed to do with them?”
>The rest of the room starts giggling and chuckling, the alcohol helping to loosen their spirits as Twilight pouts.

>The straws are passed out to the ponies…
“ALL HAIL QUEEN TRIXIE!”
>”Looks like I didn’t need her help after all.” Trixie smirks. “Very well, NOW, WITNESS THE REIGN OF THE GR-MPH! Stupid mask!” she grunts, pushing it aside.
>”Ahem. The Great and Powerful Queen Trixie commands… Twilight Sparkle! Praise the Great and Powerful Queen Trixie as your superior at once!”
>Gilda gives a look that just says, ‘what else, really?’
>Twilight seems oblivious. “Why me? Wouldn’t it mean more coming from a Princess?”
>”You’re a princess!” Several ponies remind her in unison.
>”Oh yeah… heheh. So you just want me to compliment you? Sure! You’re a phenomenal stage magician, you’re indefatigable in your endeavors, and you’re a quick thinker that probably saved all of Equestria… no, you probably saved the entire Universe!”
>”Hahaha! Yes, it’s true… it... the Universe? When did Trixie do that exactly?
>”When you said, ‘You are a Unicorn’! You figured out just the right thing to say to help us figure out who was behind SIHN. It probably helped us more than any other hint we found so far! If it weren’t for you, we might not have been able to find the answer until it was too late. So thank you, Trixie. You really are pretty great!”
>The unicorn queen pulls down her mask and looks away.
>”I see. This… is sufficient praise! Thank you for your deference.”
>”No problem. You didn’t have to order me, that’s just how I feel about you.”
>”I believe it is time for the humans once more!”
>Trixie quickly gathers up the straws with her magic, and lets you all have a go.
>They all pull out their straws, giving them their first taste of King Judgement!

“Alright, let’s do this! Mom, Twilight, Derpy, Rarity, Cheerilee, five way dance off! Losers finish their drinks, and the winner gets to kiss who they chose.”
>”Woo!” Cheerilee shouts. “I got this!”
>”Hee hee! It sounds fun!” Derpy grins.
>”I suppose it’s a level playing field, since our mailmare is abstaining from alcohol as well.” Rarity notes.
>”Shall we, Twilight?” Tia invites her student.
>”I’ll try my best pri- I mean mother. That’s getting hard to remember…”
>”Alright everypony, DANCE TIME!”
>At Pinkie’s cue, the music starts up!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPf0YbXqDm0
>Immediately two things become apparent.
>Firstly, you can’t actually recognize what good pony dancing looks like.
>Secondly, you’re sure that it does NOT look like what Twilight and Celestia are doing.
>Both of them seem a bit unsure what they should be doing, and keep glancing at the other for reassurance, forming a recursive loop of badness.
>Derpy seems to be starting off small, dancing in a manner you feel aptly described as ‘peanuts-esque’
>Rarity and Cheerilee seem to be the most comfortable with what they’re doing, but their styles are a bit different.
>Rarity is certainly graceful on her hooves, and has a good sense of rhythm.
>Cheerilee on the other hand, is going hog wild, pulling off a plethora of practiced dance moves, letting the rhythm completely take her over.
>It seems to be a competition between Rarity’s grace and demeanor, and Cheerilee’s energy and shamelessness.
>They seem to be aware of their greatest competitor, keeping their eyes on each other as they step it up!
>Meanwhile, Derpy seems encouraged by Cheerilee’s performance, jumping around the ballroom floor wildly until she accidentally upends a table full of plates!

>Two streaks dart into the air quickly, Rainbow Dash and Gilda appearing with arms full of plates, breathing a sigh of relief. “Careful, Derpy!”
>”Ah! I’m sorry!” Derpy apologizes while dancing away, falling backwards onto the alicorn duo and knocking them into a heap of bad dancers.
>They shake themselves off and laugh, surrendering the rest of the competition to Cheerilee and Rarity.
>The two mares have started to get into each other’s rhythm, dancing in a dead heat!
>They’re trading each other step for step, twirl for twirl, dancing faster and faster…
>But as the pace increases, while Rarity seems willing to keep up, her dress suddenly rebels as the long hem gets caught on her hoof, causing her to slip onto her butt!”
“Oooh!”
>”Owww! Oh dear, it didn’t rip did it?” Rarity looks back tearfully.
>”WOOHOO! VICTORY!” The teacher whoops loudly as the room applauds.
>”If I had known there’d be dancing I’d have gone with a shorter hem…” Rarity mutters.
>Cheerilee turns her attention back to Rarity. “You okay? Didn’t hurt yourself, did you?”
>She frowns and stands back up. “A bit of a twist in my left foreankle.”
>”Guess we all got a lil’ carried away. But I got an idea.” She clears her throat. “By the authority of the King, I bestow upon you… this.”
>She takes Rarity’s hoof and kisses her hurt ankle, garnering a bit of an embarassed smile from the Unicorn.
>”I’m sure I’ll live. But please, no more dancing…”
>”I’m surprised we didn’t cause more damage!” Cheerilee giggles.

>The losing mares raise their glasses to that and finish their drinks as the straws make their way back to the other side of the room.
“ALL HAIL QUEEN TWILIGHT!”
>She finishes gulping down the last of her drink and sighs, “Okay, okay. I gotta think about this one.”
>”Umm… well since it is Nightmare Night, I guess that reminds me. Rarity, I want you to tell us…”
>”What was it like having Nightmare Powers? And do you miss having them?”
>Rarity answers while sitting down, leaning against Spike. “Well besides my magic growing stronger, it was a bit like having a… like a noisy moviegoer shouting at the screen what the characters should or shouldn’t do.”
>”And when you’re doing well, or at least doing what they want, they’ll encourage you and praise you.”
>”Sometimes I’d see bits of how the movie could end from them if I didn’t do something. Little visions like that.”
>”And on the full moon, it was like the whole theater was shouting at me. Cheering me on. And I felt so powerful it was exhilarating. I could teleport, manipulate bits of the dream, enhance my magic with the nightmare energy. But at some point if you listen to them too much, you stop being you.”
>”It was a fearsome power. But definitely one that can control you if you can’t control it.”
>”I haven’t felt anything from the Nightmare Energy ever since we saved Luna. And I do sincerely hope it stays that way.”
>”Same here. Nightmare Powers are pretty cool, but I’d rather keep Rarity Rarity.” Spike raises his glass.
>Twilight nods. “I’d always wondered… thanks, Rarity. Back to you guys, right?”

>The straws are drawn…
>And once again the hour of Judgement is at hand!
“Alright, everyone here…”
“Last three to touch their nose must try to seduce me!”
>”What kinda stupid-” Sunset stops as everypony else in the room quickly touches their nose.
>”Shit...”
>”Farfalla and Derpy were second and third slowest!” Rainbow Dash points out quickly.
>”I’ll try first!” Derpy volunteers cheerfully, fluttering over to the human and landing carefully.
>She stares up at him with her shining gold eyes and smiles.
>”You wanna go out with me? We can eat muffins and watch the clouds! And I know there’s some stuff I gotta be careful with ‘cause of my condition, but I promise we can cuddle together all night, and pegasus wings make the best blankets in the world!”
>Derpy giggles a bit. “Hee hee! That was fun. Your turn Sunset Shimmer!”
>The unicorn walks up with a satisfied smile.
>”So. You want me to seduce you, huh? Well guess what! You didn’t say what happens if we lose! So hah!”
>”BOOOOO.”
“BOOOOO!”
>”Play fair!” Pinkie calls out.
>”Yeah, you gotta try a little bit!” Derpy frowns.
>”Or do you think you’ll lose?” Dash smirks.
>Sunset bites her lip in frustration. “But… ugh, fine. Let me try again.”

>She takes a deep breath and looks up at the King.
>”Look, uh… we share a lot of the same interests, probably.”
>”I’m pretty good at singing, so if you like, I could probably sing some of those anime songs for you.”
“And… well an older mare is nice too sometimes, right?”
>”I think I’m older than you.” Derpy butts in.
>”Uh, maybe. But… I-”
>Sunset’s face goes a bit red as she steels herself. “I know a lot about humans, okay? Just let that sink in. Oh right! Boobs too! I’m… pretty well endowed when I’m human, so if we can borrow the amulet… just… you know.” Her face gradually droops while she talks until you can’t see it anymore.
>”Yeah. I’m done.”
>She walks away in shame as Farfalla goes to take her place.
>”Judgement… that’s Princess Luna, correct?”
>Her horn shines, and the silk pony’s form morphs to that of the Princess of Night.
>The false princess’s eyes glow as she rises up and kisses Judgement right on the mouth!
>”Oh!”
>”Hey!”
“Whoah!”
>The deep kiss lasts several long seconds before Farfalla walks away, the transformation fading.
>”I think I’ve made my case.”
>Celestia seems to be wearing her mask much tighter right now.
>”So who won?” Pinkie asks nonchalantly.

>The king considers their actions and decides.
“I… suppose Farfalla won.”
“Derpy’s was cutest!”
“I want to vote for Sunset!”
“Yeah, she’s like one of us!”
>”Goddess help me, it’s true isn’t it…” Sunset groans.
>Straws are collected and redistributed amongst the ponies.
>Rarity draws the lucky straw!
“ALL HAIL QUEEN RARITY!”
>”Ahaha! Finally! I’ve been waiting so looong for this!”
>She points to Trixie. “Your Queen commands you! Fix my mane. Now.”
>”I suppose it’s the right of the new ruler to overturn previous decrees…” Celestia considers, her mane still magically flowing like a tye-dye river even while puffed up like Pinkie’s.
>Trixie shrugs and starts to channel her magic. “As you wish, my quee-”
>”Ah-ah, not so fast, darling. I want you to fix it by hoof. A queen deserves to be groomed by her subjects.”
>Trixie huffs as Rarity offers her a brush and starts trying to untangle her puffed up mane.
>”Oww! Not so rough!”
>”Well it wouldn’t hurt if you’d let me use my magic, your majesty.” Trixie growls.
>”I don’t want excuses! I’m the Queen!”
>Trixie takes a deep breath. “As you wish…”
>”Need any tips?” Spike grins condescendingly.
>”I can handle it.” Trixie says through her teeth.
>While Trixie is dealing with Rarity, Pinkie passes out the straws again.
>Tower, bringer of upheaval, draws the lucky straw!
“About time. Let’s see this happen! Lust, Strength! You two gotta arm wrestle now!”
>”Woo! You got this, ‘Sug!” Applejack cheers out with a wave.
“Right. Let’s do this.” Lust nods, accepting the challenge as he pulls up a seat on one of the food tables.
>”Lust.” Celestia smiles from across the room. “Give it your best effort.”
“Hah! Come at me bro!” Strength taunts, sitting across.
>Tower counts them off.
“Three, two, one, go!”
>They both throw their full weight into it, straining hard against each other, leaning in and trying to force each other down!
>Lust moves first, starting things off in his favor… but Strength turns the tide, putting Lust on the defensive!

>The Lustful Anon clenches his jaw, trying to squeeze out every bit of power he has and pushes Strength back to the other side…
>Strength starts to lose ground, but another push flips things around!
>Everyone watches intensely… until Applejack rolls her eyes, “C’mon. Quit playing, ‘Sug.”
“Okay Honeybuns.”
>WHAM!
>Strength stops holding back and pins Lust in a single movement!
>Everyone cheers and applauds at his impressive display of power!
“Ah damn it…” Lust mumbles.
>”Not a lotta exercise up in that castle, huh? You gotta try harder ‘n that to pin an Apple!” the farm pony smirks as she leans up to kiss Strength on the cheek.
>”In that case, should we have a match? Apples to Castle Dwellers?” Celestia asks innocently.
>Applejack’s ego deflates a bit. “Eheh… I reckon you’d get me there. C’mon, let’s get the next queen!”
>”Might be a King!” Spike suggests. “In fact, since I keep getting passed up, my chances keep getting higher!”
>”That’s the Gambler’s fallacy, Spike. You got the same chance of pulling it this time as you have eeevery other time.” Twilight corrects him, starting to slur a bit.
>”We’ll just see about that!”
“Before dicemaid, the laws of probability are meaningless…”
>The straws are drawn, and it’s a queen once more!
“ALL HAIL QUEEN DERPY!”
>”Ooh! My turn! Okay, um… so I choose truth. I think I there’s still a lot I don’t know about all of you humans… so maybe you could tell me what your special talents are?”
>”It doesn’t work like thaaaat. They’re not like ponies, Derpy… but they’re still cute, hee hee!” Cheerilee giggles.
>”Maybe they don’t have cutie marks, but even if you’re a zebra or a griffon or a dragon, everyone has something special about them! Come on, tell me something special about yourselves!” Queen Derpy requests cheerily.

“Talents? Oh boy…”
“I’m pretty lucky, does that count?”
>”Sure!”
“I got a great memory when it comes to music!”
“It’s a little boring, but I’m pretty good at mimicking stuff.”
“I do well under pressure!”
“Same here!”
“I’m an expert basketball player.”
“The hell you are!”
“I’m a good listener!”
“I always root for the underdog.”
“I’m a good cook, but it’s too bad most of you aren’t carnivores.”
>”What?” Gilda interrupts. “Pinkie, you were holdin’ out on me with this guy?”
>”You can borrow him when I go back to Canterlot for school!” Pinkie suggests.
“I’m good at drawing. And Origami. But don’t tell DTR.”
“I can play Bass!”
>”Mmhm! Mmhm!” Derpy nods along as everyone tells her about themselves.
>”I knew you all had something special. Thanks for telling me. I won’t forget!”
>The straws make their way around to the humans again.
>This time, Hermit gets his first shot at King!
“As King, I order you all to do impressions for me!”
>”All of us? Might take a while…” Spike says skeptically.
“How about just whoever feels like it? Just a few.”
>”Very well. I can-” Farfalla begins, only to be interrupted by the humans shouting “No transforming!”
>She huffs a little. “Fine… I can do it just fine without my magic.”
>Farfalla steps forward and clears her throat.
>”Oh, hello! Is that you, Twilight? It’s so lovely to see you! How’s my favorite sister-in-law? Oh I just love being here with you. I just wish Shiny were here too…” Farfalla pouts sweetly.
>”I know he’d love being here just as much! It’s such a lovely evening after all. But you know, even if he’s not here, the love inside me is a bond between my heart and his that will never fade! No matter how far the distance, I feel the warmth of his love as our hearts call out to each other! Oh, how I love Shiny. And I love you too, Twilight, and I love you, auntie, and I love all my friends here in a platonic way which is love nonetheless!” Farfalla sings out dramatically, Twilight looking a bit miffed as she watches.

>”I love you all, and I hope you all love me back because I’m just so desperate for your love and approval, oh I couldn’t live without love! Without love, what is life? I only wish I could take all those poor loveless souls and hug them and kiss them and shower them with light and love to see their smiling faces! Oh, I love… LOVE!”
>”You know…” Twilight begins. “There’s a difference between an impression and mockery.”
>Farfalla looks nonchalant. “I thought it was pretty accurate. But it’s all in good fun.”
>”Oh yeah? Lemme try then.” Twilight says, looking determined.
>The silk alicorn grins and steps aside for her.
>Twilight goes into the middle of the ballroom and throws herself to the floor dramatically.
>”Oh, my love! I just feel so… torn! About all the terrible things I did in the past, but I swear to you that I have changed!”
>”The guilt weighs so heavily upon my heart, the only thing that can ease the burden is your love and 80 kilograms of neightalian food!”
>”Oh, my love! If only there were SOME WAY to express the depth of my gratitude to you! Perhaps through constant inappropriate sexual advances and lewd comments!”
>”And what of the pitiful, I mean sweet, ponies of this world, can I ever truly belong among them? Is there any way I can gain their forgiveness and trust? Perhaps I could stop being incredibly condescending and rude towards them… oh what am I saying, that would never work! I should just keep showing off and acting superior while I mooch off Twilight and live in her guestroom because I’m just too deep and troubled by my dark past to get a job!”

“OOOOH!”
“BURN!”
“CATFIGHT!”
“Seven bits for popcorn.”
“Tryin’ to rip us off?!”
>Twilight looks at Farfalla with a smug, satisfied smile. “What do you know, it was fun.”
>Farfalla puts on a diplomatic smile. “Turnabout’s fair play I suppose.”
>”Felt like Twi’s been holding that one in for a while.” Sunset says quietly.
>”Ooh! Can I try one?” Spike volunteers enthusiastically, running to the center of the room and pouting.
>”Hmph! Look at all you humans, you think you’re cool enough to hang with me? Whatever! You couldn’t handle me, I got a troubled past! I wear a leather jacket and play guitar! I grew up in the school of hard knocks and also the best school in Equestria! I got street smarts AND book smarts! I don’t like you, and I totally don’t like anime! Especially the ones with cool music and robots and posing!” Spike huffs while striking a dramatic pose.
>”B-But, uh, you like me, right? I mean, not like I care or anything! Quit being stupid! I-I’ll throw you out a window or something!
>”Hey, when do I do that?” Sunset questions defensively.
>”You uh, said that at the start of the party.” Spike reminds her.
“That’s our Senpai!”
>“Oh… yeah, okay then.”
>“My turn my turn!” Pinkie bounces excitedly.
>She clears her throat and growls, “Grr! Bastards! You think you can stop me? HrrgH!”
>”I’m the most powerful pony in Equestria! But uh, I’m just gonna wait for the next full moon so I’m even more powerfulest! And send all my thousands of minions at you instead of fighting there myself because shut up! I’m the strongest, pitiful bastard! HRAARHG OH WAIT TIME OUT HOW ARE YOU BEATING ME TIME OUT TIME OUT YOU BASTARDS!”

>Dash is already rolling on the floor in hysterics as Pinkie continues. “You think you’ve beaten me? Well guess what I was only using 1% of 1% of 1% of my real power! My true form will OW STOP WAIT I HAVE AN EVEN TRUER FORM! Okay, this time for sure I’m going to AHH STOP TEAMING UP ON ME IT’S NOT FAIR BASTARDS THAT’S CHEATING! BASTARDS! GRARR!”
>”Oh wait, I just have to turn off all our powers! Hah, that fixed it! I probably should have tried it this way from the start! Now you really can’t stop me! What are you doing? Are you trying to stop me? Well I’m not gonna do anything because there’s no way you can OH DAMN IT THEY’RE STOPPING ME HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN AAAAAAaaaaaa…. bastards…” Pinkie flops on the floor, causing the room to burst into laughter. Though some of them weren’t really around to see Sombra’s defeat, the alcohol and general contagious mood pushes them to join in.
>”Ooh boy. I don’t think we’re topping that one.” Dash sighs. “Let’s do the next straws.”
>The humans pass back the straws, and the new drawing takes place.
>”FINALLY!” Spike shouts out, holding his stick up triumphantly!
“ALL HAIL KING SPIKE!”
>”Yeah, about time! Anyway… I think we’ve all had some embarrassing and humbling moments tonight… but I think one pony’s getting off a little easy.”
>Spike looks to Princess Celestia, who sips her wine calmly. “Was my confession insufficient?”
>”You mostly just made us feel bad for asking. So I got something else in mind. Could you go over to the humans for a sec?”
>Tia abides by his request, stepping over to the crowd of humans. “Will this do, your highness?”
>”Yeah, that’s good. Now, all you humans… by order of King Spike…”
>He grins sinisterly. “Start tickling her.”
>Her stoic expression breaks as the humans lunge at her.

>”Wait I-Ah! Stop! Aaha! Sttaaahahahaa! Ahaha!” she laughs, her composure broken in mere seconds as she falls over into a giggling mess.
>”She broke right away…” Gilda says, astonished.
>”Didn’t think the Princess would be so ticklish...” Cheerilee remarks.
>”Sta- stooop! Please!” Celestia begs breathlessly, her eyes tearing up.
>”Alright, alright. Ease up on her.” Spike waves his hand, dispersing the crowd.
>She takes deep breaths and looks up at Spike. “I thought you promised… you wouldn’t tell anypony.”
>”I didn’t.” he shrugs. “I just let ‘em find out on their own.”
>She clears her throat, cheeks still a bit red as she stands up. “Regardless, I would appreciate if none of you allowed anypony else to discover this aspect of myself.”
>”That’s right, think of what could happen if this information fell into the wrong hands.” Twilight warns.
>”Weaponized tickling…” Farfalla muses. “That would be a sight to behold.”
>”It could happen.” Sunset says darkly.
>”It does make it a little harder to take her seriously…” Gilda admits.
>”It’s nice to know! I can relate, I’m ticklish too.” Derpy adds.
>”Could be good for ponies to know! It could make you seem more down to earth after they saw you going all Supermare in Canterlot during the eclipse.” Rarity suggests.
>”I’ll consider it.” Celestia says, accepting her humiliation in good humor.
>”Okay, human’s turns again!” Pinkie says.
>”How many more will we be doing?” asks Trixie. “I’m a bit worried what Oscar might do if we’re gone too long.”
>"Plus some of you are starting to get a little drunk." Dash observes.

>Judgement time is at hand, as he draws the fated stick!
“YOUR GOD EMPEROR COMMANDS YOU TO DRAW ON MAGICIAN’S FACE!”
“Booo!”
“Bullshit!”
>”Do we really gotta do that? I think the poor guy’s got narcolepsy or something.” Spike frowns.
“THE KING’S ORDERS ARE ABSOLUTE! NOW GET TO IT!”
>The humans go about drawing a face on Magician.
>Throughout the ordeal, he doesn’t seem to react.
>”Did he pass out or something?” asks Gilda.
>”Nah, he’s just kinda chill.” Spike explains. “I dunno what it is, but he just doesn’t do… a whole lot. But he’s really helpful! He’s been a pretty good assistant, which is good for Twilight with all her new duties. When he’s helping out, he’s like a machine!”
“Let’s keep going, we’ve still got some good ideas here!”
>”You got it!” Pinkie says, quickly restarting the coronation process.
“ALL HAIL QUEEN APPLEJACK!”
>The farmpony sighs and looks around. “Shucks, wasn’t really thinkin’ of a good one… well, maybe since I got ya here… Princ- shoot, Mother Celestia, I’d like ta ask, what were yer parents like?”
>”She has parents?” Cheerilee blurts out in surprise.
>Celestia looks down with a faint smile. “Yes, I… I did have parents.”
>”My father Sirius was strict. But he did love me and my sister. Our safety was always his greatest concern.”
>”He did his best to raise us, but he had his shortcomings. He did not like being questioned, and was very sure of himself.”
>”He also thought very little of non-alicorns. In his mind they occupied the same category as butterflies. If only I had known just how wrong my father could be… but I listened to him dutifully at the time. My mother Proxima didn’t question him either. I’m sure that was why he took her as his wife.”
>Celestia continues her story, gazing wistfully into her wine. “But she was sweet, generous, loving, and so very beautiful. I can still picture the way magic flowed through her mane even after all these years. I hope they are proud of what I have accomplished down here.”

“It took a lot to challenge what you’ve been taught. Anyone can see you’ve done great things.”
“Of course they’re proud. Parents still love their kids, even if they disagree.”
>”They’d better be.” Sunset says firmly.
>A smile returns to Celestia’s face. “Thank you, everyone. Avalon was a wonderful place, but watching Equestria grow has brought me true happiness. Now I believe it is the humans’ turn again.”
>The humans draw straws, but it’s mostly a formality, as they’ve been colluding…
“Sunset, we order you to pick four other ponies to do a Ginyu Force introduction with!”
>”Gyunyu force..?” Fluttershy questions, looking a bit dazed from the alcohol.
>Sunset stares at you with barely restrained rage before turning to the ponies. “It’s… it’s sort of like… kind of like the power ponies but we pose… and we have to introduce ourselves. Uh, okay can I get Fluttershy, Rarity, AJ, Dash, and Pinkie to do it with me? I’d feel more comfortable with them.”
>They look between each other and shrug in agreement.
>Sunset takes another long drink of liquid courage and gets into a huddle with them quickly going over the plan before stepping into the center of the ballroom with them.
>”Okay, ready. Let’s do this!”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qLxS-RyUuI
>The music starts up, and sunset charges magic through her horn!
>It turns a bubbling red as she takes three steps forward then pivots to the side, flipping her mane dramatically!
>”The dark warrior of harmony…”
>She raises her left hoof skyward, then touches it to her chest and swings it out to the side, unleashing her magic at the same time in a dazzling burst of flame!
>”Sunset Shimmer!”
>She grins and looks back at Dash.
>”... Yeah that’s really dorky.”

>”Wha-?” Sunset steps back as the music cuts out.
>Applejack shakes her head. ”I ain’t doin’ that no matter how drunk I am.”
>”I can’t believe this! You girls are the worst!”
“Boooo!”
“King’s orders are absolute!”
“Obey your god emperor!”
>”Yeah, that’s right! My orders are the king’s orders, so you have to do it!”
>”Come on, girls! I thought it was pretty cool!” Twilight chimes in.
>”Fair’s fair! Come on, it’ll be fun!” Pinkie says excitedly.
>”All right, all right. Just this once!” Applejack concedes. “Let’s pick up where we left off.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qLxS-RyUuI
>Sunset takes her pose again!
>”Sunset Shimmer!”
>Dash flies into a somersault and lands with her wings outstretched, kicking up a gust of wind!
>”The fastest, most true blue flier in Equestria, Rainbow Dash!”
>Pinkie stands on her hind legs and twirls, then falls backwards and bounces forward on her tail like a spring, posing as she lands.
>”The laughing life of the party, Pinkie Pie!”
>Fluttershy blushes and steps forward, stumbling slightly.
>”A-ah!” She barely keeps herself from falling on her face, landing in a somewhat demure pose. “I… I’ll try my hardest to help everypony get along. I’m… Fluttershy. Is that okay?”
>Applejack taps forward awkwardly, standing and putting her legs out in a rigid pose.
>”The honest an’ hardworkin’ down to earth pony, Applejack!” she forces herself to announce.
>Rarity struts forward, turns, and flips her mane, looking over her shoulder.
>”The dazzling and generous seamstress, that’s Rarity!” she winks!
>The six of them group up and shout at once, “Together we are…!”
>”The Rainbooms!”

>The humans go wild with applause at their display!
“Beautiful!”
“Amazing!”
“My life is complete!”
>”At least we all had to do it together. It was kinda fun that way.” Dash admits.
>”When is this party ending again?” Rarity tries to ask politely.
>”The ride NEVER ends!” Pinkie declares loudly, shoving the bucket of straws at them.
>The ponies pick them out yet again, and the lucky winner is…
“ALL HAIL QUEEN CHEERILEE!”
>”I won… hahaha~! Finally! I’m the Queen!” She sings.
>”Alright then, Princess Celestia, as your new Queen I order yoooou to come to my classroom next week for a lecture on Equestrian Government.”
>”Hey, you’re not supposed to give orders like that! It’s just for tonight!” Twilight protests.
>Celestia considers this. “Hmm… well a Queen’s orders ARE absolute. As a Princess, I don’t think I have any room to refuse. Very well. I’ll be in touch with my schedule.”
>”Woohoo! It’s good to be the queen!” Cheerilee shouts triumphantly as the ballroom doors swing open slowly.
>Everyone watches as Princess Luna calmly steps into the room.
>”Good evening, everyone. I hope I’m not interrupting.”
>”Sister? I didn’t think you’d be here tonight. Is something the matter?” Celestia asks.
>”Not that I’ve seen. I just came to ask Rarity if she’s… heard anything lately.”
>”Heard…” Rarity repeats, quickly figuring it out. “Oh, you mean from them… no, I haven’t. Not even a peep since the eclipse.”
>”I see. Perhaps it’s really nothing then. Everything’s just been going so smoothly… perhaps I’m just growing paranoid in peace.”

“Hey, Moonbutt!”
“Come join us! Let’s have some fun!”
>”Good evening to you too.” She smiles politely. “I’m not sure though. Maybe some leisure could do me good, if all I can do is worry.”
“Hold up, your instincts have always been good. If you’re worried, that’s not a good sign.”
“Yeah, the Nightmare Energy should be at its peak tonight, right?”
>”That is correct.” Luna explains. “This is the night it is at its strongest. And yet, it isn’t just quiet… it’s silent. Like it’s pretending I don’t exist.”
>”How long has this been going on?” Celestia questions.
>”It seemed to be in repose for a while now. But it’s only tonight that it refuses to communicate with me at all.”
>”Why would it do that?” Twilight wonders.
>”I’m not sure… I thought it could be searching for a new Master, like when it sought out Rarity. But if not her, then whom does it seek?”
“How ‘bout that guy?” One of the humans points to the slumbering Magician.

>”Dear Goddess, what have you been doing to him?” Luna says as she notices his grafitti’ed face.
“Sorry about that, we got kind of carried away…”
>She steps closer to examine the sleeping human. “Why him? Has he been acting suspicious?”
>”He’s the same as he always is.” Spike shrugs. “Which… well, I guess you could say is kinda suspicious… He’s pretty quiet. Keeps to himself, just sorta does what he’s told, doesn’t really take initiative.”
>Luna looks down at the sleeping human with a slight sense of concern.
>”Is that just the personality of the one who took the key…? Whoever took it.”
“Come to think of it, he came in last…”
“Maybe something else came in with us…”
>”Do not be afraid. We banished the Crawling Chaos from this realm. There’s no way it could be something like that.”
>She reaches out to the sleeping Magician. “It seems we’d better ask some questions regardless. If he-”
>The moment Luna touches the human, a black spark arcs between them, causing her to recoil quickly!
>”Ahh!”
>”Sister!”
>”What was-”
>An incredible force surges through the room, blocking you back and upending the tables, knocking everything into chaos!
“Agh!”
“Oh shit!”
“I knew it!”
>Shadows swirl around the magician’s feet… and from his slumber, he rises.
>Luna interposes herself between the Magician and the rest of the room, her wings spread out wide.
>”Don’t come any closer! Who are you, and what did you just do?”
>The human looks at her, then down at his hands.
>He flexes his fingers and turns his palms over, then clenches his fists tightly, looking to Luna.
“I am… Anonymous…”
“I am one who does not exist.”

“Well shit…” One of the humans speaks up.
“This is bad…”
>”What do you mean by that?” Luna asks suspiciously, her teeth bared as she takes a defensive posture.
“You don’t remember…”
“You don’t remember what you did to me…”
“You’re the ones that erased me. All of you.”
“But I won’t let you get away with it. I won’t disappear!”
“It’s time to fix this! Come, my friends!”
>Two indistinct forms rise from his feet and join him.
>Something about them is unusual… you feel like you should be seeing them.
>They’re right there, and nothing's hiding them.
>And yet, your eyes, your memory, just slides off everything having to do with them, like trying to hold water with chopsticks.
”Luna… and those humans… we’re going to erase them!”
>A dark power emanates from the Magician’s body…
>”Nightmare Energy… he’s creating a Dreamscape! Everypony, get away!”
>”Hah! I’ve had about enough of this dumbass.” Sunset smirks, stepping forward from the shocked crowd watching the events unfold. “Think you’re hot stuff? Come try it! Persona!”
>Sunset shouts, and a blue card flickers in front of her, then fades.
>”Per-Persona!” She tries again, but to no better end. The card just won’t stay there.
>”Yer doing it wrong! Persona!” Pinkie tries, getting nothing. “Persona Persona Persona Persona Persona got it! Wait no nevermind, hee hee…”
>A card floats in front of the Magician…
“Persona.”
>A wise man with a beard appears and waves his staff, sending forth a carpet of flames!
>”PERSONA!” Luna shouts quickly!
>The divine huntress appears before her and calls forth a red lion that takes the attack head on, scattering it away from the party!
“So you still have some power…”

>”Princess, w-what’s going on?” Twilight asks, feeling panicked. “Why can’t we use our personas?”
>”You’re all… too inebriated to focus your mental energy.” Luna explains sorrowfully.
“Not all of us.”
>The Fool speaks up and steps forward, his card spinning to life.
“We’ve still got plenty of willpower to spare. Higher alcohol tolerance helps too.”
>”Fool… do you know something about this?”
>He shows no emotion, simply saying, “The Nightmare Energy exists to turn dreams into reality.”
“This is our consequence. And our fight.”
>”Sister!” Luna calls back. “Get everypony to safety!”
>”I can help!” She protests.
>”You can’t! Not tonight. The dreamscape is still small, it isn’t even breaching the room! Take everypony out of it while we handle him!”
>”This is scary… I don’t understand!” Derpy squeaks.
>Applejack grits her teeth. “I’m sorry everypony… Luna, just be careful, okay?”
>Dash looks conflicted, touching her hoof to her belly. “I… can’t risk that. But I’m still gonna cheer you on! I don’t know who this guy is, but you all better not lose to him, you hear me?!”
>Luna looks back and nods. “My sons are strong. We won’t fall so easily.”
>The three mysterious beings seem content to stare Luna down as everypony leaves the dreamscape field.
“That’s better. I don’t want them wrapped up in this.”
“It’s time to make you all pay!”
>”My sons, you will be able to retreat beyond the dreamscape and change places with each other. But we’ll still be limited to our five. Now join me!”

>The Emperor, Fortune and Lust take their place by Luna’s side, while Hierophant summons his Persona from behind them!
>”Iscariote!”
>Icy chains extend from the frost-covered betrayer, rooting him down as Hierophant studies the main enemy.
“Who are you, anyway?”
“Are you one of the hearts we left behind?”
“If that’s what happened, then wer’e sorry, okay?”
>The Magician(?) clenches his fists.
“Sorry…?”
“No…”
“You never even gave me a chance to exist!”
>”I’ll give you one chance! Release the power of the Nightmare and we can talk this through peacefully!”
“I’m not giving up my one chance at existing! If you want it, try and take it from me!”
>”Then diplomacy has failed… Artemis!”
>A stag-horned lady draws a orb of crystallized moonlight in her hands and throws it!
>The moonlight energy bursts into a shining white light, tearing at the nightmare fueled enemies!
“We just gotta break through! Napoleon!”
>The general appears and swings out his arm, ordering a ghostly army to take firing positions!
>They open fire and barrage your enemies, but one of the indistinct figures darts around in midair, perfectly avoiding their shots until they run out of ammo!
>Fortune steps up to the plate, tapping his card decisively. “Draw!”
>A wild gunman spins up his barrel, making it crackle with electricity as he fans the hammer at the trio, nailing all but the third one with a rapid burst of shots and knocking over the Magician(?)!
“Reload!”
>Hicock dumps out the old casings and reloads, repeating his trick and catching each of them with a pair of lightning-imbued shots this time!
“How’s this for ya? Icarus!”
>The winged boy splashes a bottle of glue at them that dries quickly, stiffening their movements!
>Dark energy flows around the Magician(?) as he stands.
“I won’t lose to you…”
“We don’t want to do this! You’re our brother, aren’t you?” One asks.
>The nightmare-powered being looks sharply at him.
“How dare you… how dare you feel you have the right to call me BROTHER! MERLIN!”

>A wave of fire flows from the Wizard’s staff!
>Luna and Merlin avoid it while Napoleon flips the fire back at his cape, but the flames sear Lust, knocking him onto his back!
>The wizard simply draws the reflected flames back into his staff, rejuvenating himself.
“That one’s weak to fire. Take care of it!” He orders the tertiary figure as he touches his persona card again, summoning Merlin to form a magic-reflecting barrier around himself.
>”I’ll keep existing too…”
>The agile second figure focuses, and a persona card appears in front of them too!
>They bite through it and shout, “PERSONA!”
>Four projectiles streak out from it, but only the one aimed at Luna lands!
>It seems to have no effect…
><It tried to enrage you all. But our Mother is above such provocations.>
>”I don’t want to hurt any of you… but I won’t go back to how things were!” The third figure says decisively, a Persona card spinning in front of them.
>They swing down their head and slice through it! “Persona!”
>Their indistinct form shoots out a blast of fire at the fallen human!
“Aagh! Ugh… that one hurt…”
><My analysis has finished.>


The Unborn One


Arcana: Fool


Absorb: Fire
Weak: Lightning
Immune: Dark, Light


><It seems they’re more than just a Magician. Here is your status.>


HP
Luna: 100%
Emperor: 80%
Fortune: 100%
Lust: 25% (Dizzy)


MP
Luna: 75%
Emperor: 100%
Fortune: 50%
Lust: 95%


><Judging by their reaction, it seems they do not know your weaknesses until they hit them.>
>”Then that is one advantage we must press.” Luna says. "Hold steady, Lust, once you recover, we can get you out."

>Luna kisses the card of her Persona! “Heal him, Artemis!”
>White light shines from her horns, rejuvenating the fallen Lust!
“Sun, you’re in! Get the shield!” Emperor commands as he runs back.
>Sun enters the fray, summoning his persona quickly!
“Go, Tonatiuh!”
>The sun god appears and breathes a gout of flame at the Unborn One!
>Merlin waves his staff defensively, reflecting the attack back at him, forcing him to endure the heat!
>Fortune runs to the edge of the dreamscape!
“Justice, tag in!”
>The one known as Justice takes his place!
“Look, we didn’t know what would happen! Drop this, and we can all exist together!”
>The magician turns to Justice.
“That’s right… you didn’t know. You don’t even understand what you’ve done. That’s why I’m going to take it all back!”
“If you’re not going to listen to reason, we’ll have to beat this out of you first! Perseus!”
>The mythical warrior raises his mirrored shield, and a bolt of lightning strikes it, reflecting and scattering outward to his foes!
>The bolts lance through the enemies, knocking over the magician!
“Again, Perseus!”
>A second volley of lightning hits its mark against all three of them!
“You’re going to the chamber…” Lust mutters weakly from the floor.

“Give them another test, Merlin!”
>The magician swings his staff, calling a blast of fire that engulfs the entire party!
>The second figure bites through its card, firing out four more projectiles, but none of them seem to have any effect!
><A charm spell this time…>
>”Damn it! I’ll get you next time…”
>The third one slices through the card, summoning their indistinct persona to fire a blast of ice at Justice!
>He dives out of the way, avoiding the icy blast and quickly springing back to his feet!
“You think you’re tough… well try this! Change!”
>The Unborn one draws a new card and shatters it!
><So he can change Personas after all…>
>”Be on your guard.” Luna warns. “We don’t know what he could have changed into. But our weaknesses are not yet known to them!”
><The scan has finished.>


The Unbridled One


Persona: ???


Arcana: Temperance


Null: Light
Repel: Dark


><And here is your status>


HP
Luna: 97%
Sun: 65%
Justice: 78%
Lust: 76% (Dizzy)


MP
Luna: 65%
Sun: 80%
Justice: 50%
Lust: 95%

>”Hang in there, my sons. Artemis!”
>The moon goddess’s light flows over the party, fully rejuvenating them!
“Time for a Revolution! Persona!”
>The enormous golden disc on the sun god’s back spins!
>Its golden rotation fills you all with might!
“I need a weapon…”
>”I still have some control... Nightmare, at once!”
>At Luna’s command, blackness forms a spiral-shaped drill in Justice’s hands!
“Thanks! Here goes!”
>Justice charges and thrusts his spear with tremendous force, sending the Unborn spinning!
“Urgh!”
“I haven’t been training for nothing! HAAH!”
>Justice leaps and drives his spear downward, piercing the prone human!
>Lust pulls himself together and runs out of the Nightmare. “Hanged Man, get in!”
“got it. here I go!”
>The Hanged Man taps his card to summon Prometheus!
>The titan spreads his arms out, charging magical energy!
>The Unborn one rips the spear away and springs to his feet!
“Justice? You’re the ones that stole this world away from us! I’ll show you Justice! Persona!”
>A titanic metal vessel breaches the ground, its drill-like tip spinning up rapidly!
>The submersible launches itself at you all, but only Sun is able to evade its devastating charge!
“Focus on physical strikes for now!”
>The Unbridled One bites through their card!
>”You won’t put me back! I’ll end you all!”
>Since Hierophant scanned it, you feel like you can perceive its persona a bit more… it’s an archer some sort, and it fires a volley of arrows that strike through Sun and Hanged Man!
>The third figure rushes Justice in an instant, slicing through him in a devastating blow!
>”Justice!” Luna calls out just as the figure rushes her!
>It strikes quickly, but Luna parries with her horn!
>”These movements… they feel familiar somehow. Just who are we fighting?”
><You wanted him scanned again, yes?>


The Unborn One

Arcana: Fool

Absorb: Ice
Weak: Fire
Repel: Light
Null: Dark, Wind

HP
Luna: 88%
Sun: 84%
Justice: 37%
Hanged Man: 53%


SP
Luna: 50%
Sun: 75%
Justice: 50%
Hanged Man: 90%

“That’s a good question… who are they?”
“The way she summons her Persona… could that be… Shizuka?”
>The moment someone says her name, your visions clear.
>You see the red-eyed batpony standing there clear as day, dark energy emanating from her body in wispy black clouds.
>”So you remembered who I am…”
>”Because of your choices, I never got to exist in this dream. But now, thanks to the Nightmare Energy, that can all change!”
>Luna steps back in shock. “He brought allies from another dream… how can he use the Nightmare Energy in such a manner? Is it the strength of their hearts… or his? Just who are you?”
“Are they all abandoned ideas? Forgotten dreams?”
“Then what if that other one is… Princess Celestia?”
>The other indistinct form becomes clear to your eyes.
>The Princess of the sun stands tall, nightmare energy flowing through her.
>”Sister…”
>”The Me of this world wasn’t able to forge her resolve and accept her weakness. So this ‘me’ never came to be.”
>”Sister, do not make me fight you! Cease this at once!” Luna cries out.
>”The Nightmare Energy desires creation!” Celestia says, her expression reminding you more of her shadow than the Celestia you know. “It wants him to exist! And it’s because of him that we can exist! I won’t just disappear, not after I’ve found this strength!”
>”It desires Creation without regard to what already exists! Without regard for reality!” Luna counters. ”It isn’t evil, but its hunger is endless! It will keep dreaming, creating, and destroying if its master does not tame it! Are you really going to try to destroy this dream in favor of your nightmare?”
“You’re the ones that already did that to us!” The Unborn one shouts.
>”The Nightmare is giving us a chance at existence. The chance you all denied him. This is our revenge!” Shizuka says, baring her fangs.

>Luna shakes her head. “Whoever you really are… the Nightmare Energy has twisted you. Just as it did me. You’re not harnessing it, it is harnessing you.”
“What’s the difference?!”
>”I’ll show you once I rip it out of you and put it back where it belongs! Have at thee!
>Luna twirls her black scythe around herself and dashes at their leader, slicing him up with rapid strokes!
“We need some defense, Fortune!” Sun calls out in retreat.
“On it! Hicock!”
>The undead gunman reaches up and slams down a large gravestone bearing his name.
>The rock explodes, turning to armor for you all!
“I’m out, take it from here, Tower!” Justice calls back.
“Leave it to me! Lancelot!”
>The white knight draws his blade wreathed in holy light and strikes at the Unborn one in a blinding slash!
“my body is ready. Persona!”
>Prometheus opens his cloak and unleashes the fire of the gods!
“Wait don’t!”
>The Unborn one is blown away by a scorching blast while Shizuka tries to endure the pain, but the Nightmare Celestia simply lets it flow into her body!
><It seems she absorbs fire attacks…>
“fuck.”
>”Don’t be disheartened, you gained more than you lost! Press your advantage!”
“okay, one more!”
>The Titan extends his arms, and white light rains down on the battlefield, ripping apart the enemies!

“Ugh… I’m not giving up… Tower, is it? Change, M.A.R.A.!”
>The robotic tower shoots out a rubbery shield for the Unborn one, protecting him from physical strikes!
>”I’ll try it again, Castor!”
>The archer takes aim and fires a quartet of arrows!
>They hit their marks on all of you but Tower, whose persona snatches the arrow and crushes it, but, one of them catches Luna in the hoof, knocking her off balance!
>”Gotcha! Again!”
>She fires a second barrage, once more hitting her marks, with Tower remaining unharmed!
>The Nightmare Celestia charges the Hanged Man and slices with her horn like a sword, cutting him deep and sending him to the ground!
><Hanged Man is unconscious…>
>She follows up by lunging at fortune, but he flails and manages to dodge her attacks tripping her up slightly!


><Is everyone alright? I’ve finished the scan.>


The Awakened One, Celestia


Persona: Raet-Tawy


Arcana: Empress


Absorb: Fire
Null: Dark
Repel: Light


><Here is your status. We can get Hanged Man out of there if you like, but you do have some feathers left over.>


HP
Luna: 44%
Fortune: 60%
Tower: 75%
Hanged Man: 0%


MP
Luna: 50%
Fortune: 45%
Tower: 100%
Hanged Man: 40%


>”The Nightmare really does have its hold on her… my Sister would never do that to a mortal.” Luna glares as she picks herself back up.
>”No! They’re the ones… that shouldn’t be in this world! It should be him…”

“So what are you anyway, Unborn one?”
“You’re us from another world, aren’t you?”
“What dream did we deny you? What choice did we make?”
>”You’re mistaken…” the other Celestia says. “This is his world!”
“Are you familiar with Schrodinger’s Box? Until the box is opened, the cat exists both dead and alive. But you peeked in the box… and killed me! You didn’t just take away my future, you took away my past! But thanks to the Nightmare, I have one last chance to correct this mistake… to live in this world!”
>”They worked hard for this world… I won’t let you take it away from them! Artemis!”
>Luna’s Persona shines with holy moonlight, healing the wounds of herself and her sons!
“Hiero! Can you get Celestia!”
><Indubitably!>
>Chains of ice burst from the ground, wrapping around Celestia!
>They constrict her and spread frost along her body before shattering from the pressure!
“I’m heading back! Fool, get in here!”
>The Fool steps onto the battlefield casually, straightening his suit.
“The box had to be opened sometime. If you’ve got your grievances with the result, that’s fine by me. We’ll work them out like this! Coyote!”
>The spirit animal with colorful blue-green lines along its body appears and howls up a windstorm!
>Violent green winds toss your foes about, leaving the Unborn grounded!
“Luna!”
>”To him, Nightmare!”
>Nightmare forms into a black hammer!
>The Fool takes it and slams the downed alicorn!
“I’ll leave it to you, Strength!” Fortune calls out as he retreats.

“I’m in! Pass!”
>Nightmare flies over to Strength and forms into a strange black sword!
>He swings at Shizuka, scoring a direct hit!
>Sun dashes in as some of the supporting humans drag Hanged Man off the battlefield.
“Get them weaker, Tonatiuh!”
>Red light shines down on the enemies, withering their bodies and decreasing their power!
>The Unborn one looks to Sun. “Change, Maui!”
>He summons the rotund demigod to send his magic fishhook out at Sun!
>But he fails to snare his foe and live up to the legend!
>Shizuka growls and darts at Luna, flitting past her guard and landing on her back, biting into her neck to drain her blood before being thrown off!
><She restored her vitality with that.>
>Celestia moves in quickly, jabbing at the Fool with her horn, but your defensive magics keep him from taking major damage.
>The effects of the Revolution spell fade!
><We are in a good position. But Maui will hinder our offense until he changes.>


HP
Luna: 90%
Fool: 80%
Sun: 84%
Strength: 100%


MP
Luna: 35%
Fool: 75%
Sun: 70%
Strength: 100%
Hierophant: 0%

“Then could it be… are you the other possibility?”
“Are you Luna’s Son?”
>The Unborn one halts in surprise.
“... So you remembered that path after all.”
“The path you all rejected! Because you refused to believe in my existence… I stopped being a possibility.”
“Everyone here accepts the consequences of their actions.” The Fool says. “We all have to. What this world has become is a result of the consequences we’ve accepted.”
“Didn’t you sign that contract too?”
“You think I can accept this? This ridiculous world… because you all exist, I never will! Because Luna doesn’t need a Son anymore… I’ll accept the results, because I’ll make those results right here with the power of my own heart! With the power of the Nightmare Energy, I’ll reshape the world into my own ending!”
>Luna looks serious. “If you are my son… then you do take after me. Envious, needy, and easily corrupted. But if you think you have more of a right to exist than they do, you are wrong. And if you think the power of your heart can match theirs, you will be very disappointed, even with that power.”
>”I know what it’s like in there. Being consumed by your emotions. Ruled by the terrifying power of the heart. Your ‘Father’ is a bad influence. I’m afraid I’ll have to discipline you first, then have a talk with him.” Luna kisses her card, shattering it. “Strike, Artemis!”
>The huntress lets loose with a ball of moonlight energy, bursting apart in a massive explosion!
“Doing this the hard way… we’re all used to it by now! Coyote!”
>The canine spirit howls, causing vines to grow at their feet to slow the enemy’s movements!

“I’m heading back! Go get ‘em, Mary!”
“It’s SLAMMING TIME!” Death shouts as he enters the fray, summoning his Persona!
>The skeleton-like doctor breathes out a cloud of smoke, filling the lungs of Shizuka and the Unborn to poison them!
“Help him out, Moon!” Strength calls out, retreating from the Dreamscape.
“Take care of it, Skin-Walker!”
>The monstrous man throws a wolf pelt at Death that wraps around his body, ready to protect him from strikes!
>The Unborn one coughs violently, pulling out another card.
“C-Change, Dullahan!”
>The Dark Rider’s detached head speaks… “V̮͇̓̇͌ͭ͑a̤̭͗̿ͮ͋͆̎̓ŕ̨̲̻̭͈̏ͤͮ̊u͙͐͆͛̃̎̅̕ ͈̰̽ͯͦy͔͉̯̎̂̐̈͋̈o̵̗̞̬͙̜s̕ ̝̝̭͒͑́t̸͍̤͉̞ȩ̟͓̄̂ͬ̆!”
>Nothing happens as Luna smirks and replies, “Un ivo.”
>Dullahan smacks the Unborn one on his back, knocking the poison out of him!
>Shizuka rushes Luna again, biting her to drain more health!
>”I’ll see what I can do. Raet-Tawy!”
>Celestia summons her Persona by slashing its card with her horn!
>An enormous white eagle with multicolored feathers on the tips of its wings appears and lets out a cry!
>With a flap of its wings, red feathers streak towards Death and turn to flames!
>His Persona appears and blows a smoky cloud that dissipates it!
“You thought I was weak to Fire, but I was immune!”
><Here is your current status.>


HP
Luna: 80%
Fool: 80%
Death: 100%
Moon: 100%


MP
Luna: 10%
Fool: 70%
Death: 95%
Moon: 90%
Hierophant: 0%

“What happens if we take away the Nightmare power from him?”
>”I’m not sure… but suffice to say we can’t allow him to become a second Nightmare Moon. Stopping him comes first, and we’ll accept the results as they come.”
“Doesn’t sit right with me that he has to disappear. Isn’t there a way to give everyone a happy ending?”
>”I don’t think he is an enemy… but the Nightmare Energy seems to be using the strong feelings of hatred and regret to bring him into this world. His strong desire to exist is what keeps him going. We will have to see if he can remain without that grudge fueling his existence.”
>”But for now, I have no intention of surrendering control of our reality! Nightmare!”
>Dark energy forms dozens of swords that fly at Celestia, slicing her up from multiple angles!
“I’ll take a rest. Temperance, take care of it.”
>The holder of Temperance takes Fool’s place, summoning his alter ego! “Sophrosyne!”
>The towering lizard-woman lets out a cry, opening her mouth to unleash a burning blue beam of Destruction at the nightmare-powered Celestia!
“Hey moonbutt! Welcome to the JAM… Candy!”
>Death tosses a zap apple candy to Luna. She catches it in her mouth, fully restoring her mana!
>Moon runs back!
“Judgement time!”
>The holder of the Judgement Arcana takes the stage, summoning up his card! “Persona!”
>A mechanical valkyrie soars into the sky, parts of her body unfolding to unleash a rain of missiles from above that burst into burning white explosions of energy!
>The Unborn one stands as the smoke clears, drawing out a new card.
“I can do this… I’m not giving up no matter what! Change, Tsukuyomi no Mikoto!”

>The moon god fires an arrow upwards, spreading over the dreamscape and forming a night sky with a bright full moon!
“Fall!”
>The moon comes crashing down in a catastrophic explosion!
>You all endure the devastating energy as his allies follow up the attack!
>”If I can just get you…!” Shizuka growls and lunges at Luna with her Kunai, but Nightmare forms into a thick shield, causing her to crash into it and fall!
>”I won’t make it easy!”
>But just as Shizuka’s attack fails, Celestia crashes down on her sister from above!
>”Ahh!”
>”I’m stronger than I was, Luna! Raet-Tawy!”
>The Eagle flaps its wings and sends blue feathers at Temperance!
>They turn to icicles and crash through him, pinning him to the ground!
>”If fire didn’t work, try this!”
>Her sun goddess shoots out yellow feathers that turn to lightning, striking at Death!
>The bolts electrify him, but he remains standing!
“HA! DEATH HAS NO WEAKNESSES! I’M FUCKING INVINCIBLE!”
“Go, Mary! Go!”
“I believe in you!”
><Luna almost didn’t make it… but they are growing weaker! Keep this up!>


HP
Luna: 20%
Temperance: 37%
Death: 43%
Judgment: 63%


MP
Luna: 100%
Temperance: 65%
Death: 95%
Judgment: 60%
Hierophant: 0%


><Your defensive buff has worn off.>

>”I’ll count on you to heal me, my sons. Come, Artemis!”
>Her persona launches another shining ball of energy, tearing away at the nightmare-fueled foes!
>Temperance heads back, bringing in the holder of the Devil card!
“About time! Cain!”
>A haggard man appears, his jaw opening wide to let out a strange air…
“Do it! Baron Samedi!”
>Death’s persona draws out a voodoo doll, and slaps tape over its mouth!
>Marks appear on Celestia’s cheeks as the curse takes hold on her!
><You managed to silence Celestia! Thank Dicemaid...>
“If you’ve found out my weakness, I better head back! Your turn, Empress!”
“Patch them up, Gaea!”
>The goddess of the earth dances, causing fruit trees to blossom from the ground!
>The fruits fall onto you, restoring your health fully!
“This should work… change, Baast!”
>The feline persona rushes forward in a blinding flash of claws, scratching and tearing at everything in sight!
>Its assault manages to knock down Luna and the Devil, but Death’s wolf pelt courtesy of the Skinwalker strikes back at Baast every time it comes near!
>Flutterbat seems to be getting tired, but she grips her kunai tightly and darts past Empress, cutting through his side!
>Celestia looks to Mary wordlessly and dashes at him head-on, piercing him with her horn and sending him to the ground before turning on Luna!
>Luna summons tendrils of nightmare energy to catch Celestia’s movements and throw her to the ground!
>”I’ve got more experience, sister!”


><Their offense down spell has expired. It seems that Unborn one is switching to your corresponding Arcana. Perhaps there’s a way to use this against him…>


HP
Luna: 89%
Devil: 71%
Death: 48%
Empress: 63%
MP
Luna: 75%
Devil: 95%
Death: 90%
Empress: 80%
Hierophant: 0%

><By the way, there is a chance of enervation working on the Unborn one. I'm surprised you can age if you haven't been born.>

>”Strike true… Artemis!”
>She lets fly with a storm of silver arrows, her shots slicing past the trio and leaving their marks!
>Shizuka is looking to have more and more trouble keeping up, the dark aura surrounding her starting to grow weaker.
”All yours, Strength!” Devil calls in retreat.
”I got this. Papinijuwari!”
>The Cyclops raises his greatclub and goes on a rampage!
>He swings wildly, swatting away Celestia!
>Still off wounded from the last attack, Shizuka can’t muster the strength to run as the cyclops raises its greatclub up above its head… and brings it crashing down!
>*SLAM*
>The human crouches over her with nightmare energy formed into a shield, his muscles shaking, but still not giving in as he protects Shizuka with all of his strength.
>”Nana-chan!” The batpony cries out!
“Yeah… this really hurts a lot.”
>”Nana-chan… you’re not even my Nana-chan, but you still…”
“I know what it’s like to be rejected… so even if you’re not the same one I knew, I’ll still protect you.”
“I’m here… not just for me, but for all those forgotten dreams!”
“I’m gonna make them come true and give us our happily ever after!”
>He throws his weight against the shield, knocking the giant’s club away and causing it to vanish!
“I’d be dead if that were real. But in here, it’s the strength of my heart that matters. And I won’t lose to anyone!”
>A card floats in front of him…
“I didn’t want to use this… or maybe I was afraid I couldn’t control it. But I believe! I’ll make this dream come true!”
“CHANGE LEGION!”
>The Number 0 card shatters, and an item appears on the Unborn one’s wrist, displaying the number 40!
>19 more Anons appear by his side…
>And 21 of them run over to join him from Luna’s.
>All of their bodies refuse to listen to them, moving by their own accord to join his Legion!
>”My sons…! This can’t be!”
“It can… I was supposed to be your son! Your true son, your only son! This power belongs to me!”
“I don’t want to hurt you, but I have to get you out of the way for now.”

>The legion tries to struggle against his control, but to no avail.
“You… cheater!”
“Damn it! There has to be something we can do!”
“Maybe if we get rid of everyone…”
>The Unborn one shakes his head. “Struggle all you like. Even if you can drive off the other hearts, you 21 are stuck here. And that’s more than I need to win this!”
>”We’re not giving up either!” Shizuka says, pulling herself back to her hooves as nightmare energy surges through her.
>”For everything we couldn’t achieve… we’ll make it all a reality!” Celestia says, taking a battle stance.
“Looks like we have to accept the consequences… unlike certain sore losers.” one of the legion comments.
“Loser? I may not have achieved victory, but I haven’t lost yet!”
“You do have a dick drawn on your chin.” One of them points out.
“Wha- no I don’t!”
>”You… actually do.” Shizuka frowns.
>”We thought it’d be better to tell you later.” Celestia admits sheepishly.
“I could have cleaned it off or something… damn it…”
“See? We can rebel, with the strength of our hearts!”
“Shut up! I don’t care what’s drawn on my face, I’m going to finish this! To achieve my dreams… to see my friends again!”
>”Those friends… do you mean us?”
>Twilight steps slowly through the doorway, the rest of the old Dream Team following her, along with Princess Celestia bringing up the rear.
>The Unborn One looks at them, shocked.
“What are you all doing here? I thought you couldn’t fight!”
>”I had Princess Celestia get Zecora.” Twilight explains. “She gave us… something to perk us up.”
>They’re all soaked with sweat like they just finished running a marathon except for Dash and Celestia.
>”As a drunkenness cure… it leaves a lot to be desired.” Sunset grimaces. “The side effects aren’t exactly pleasant…”
>”Heh, you shoulda seen it. Rarity totally threw up on AJ.” Spike grins.

>”Real ladylike of her.” Applejack glares as Rarity tries to hide her face in her mane.
>”It’s like a party in your mouth, then the cops show up and start beating everypony silly.” Pinkie forces out a smile.
>”It wasn’t pleasant… but we couldn’t sit around drunk as skunks while you fought her by yourselves!” Fluttershy says firmly.
>”She says it’ll help them focus.” Dash explains. “Glad I didn’t have to drink it, but I’m in this too. I know it’s dangerous, but this is your guys’s existence on the line here! If you need me, nothing’s going to stop Rainbow Dash! Besides, a lamewad like this couldn’t hit me in a million years!”
“You’re really going to make me fight you…”
“You don’t understand! This is the way things are supposed to be! I’m trying to fix this!”
>”They’ve been listening to this battle, as have I.” Celestia informs him. “And this is their decision.”
>”I don’t think you’re evil.” Twilight clarifies. “But I saw how twisted Nightmare Moon was from Princess Luna. So we’re going to save you with the power of our hearts, just like we did with her. And once you’re done, we are going to befriend the heck out of you!” she shouts, spreading her wings.
>Luna chuckles to herself. “Heh… the Dream Team is back together.”
“I don’t want to fight you… but I’ll do what I have to, for the sake of our dreams!”
>”Then I shall do the very same. You may think you control their hearts, but you are wrong.”
>”Their bonds… the ones we made together as Anonymous… those remain with me still. And nothing can break them. They shall be with me so long as we live.”
>”My friends, let your hearts connect with me once more!”
>Cards appear around Luna one by one, increasing until they reach a full 22!
>”I can’t use your legion, this is true. But I’ll show you the true terror of the Wild Card!”

>”Fluttershy, check the effectiveness of rage spells on Celestia.”
><Right, I’ll have that for you soon!”>
>“Enfeeble our enemies… Change, Robin Hood!’
>Luna calls forth the Star Arcana!
>The lincoln green archer bites his thumb at the enemies, lowering their will to attack.
>”Yeah, I’m feeling it!” Dash grins, bursting into the air to shatter her card!
>”Thunderbird!”
>Sparkling green energy trails after the electric-blue plane as it swoops over the enemies, lowering their speed!
>Sunset looks over at Pinkie. “Ready for a duet?”
>”I can keep this party going all night! Showtime!”
>”Henshin!”
>Apollo shines a bright spotlight on Sunset Shimmer as she transforms into the horned rider, taking hold of her microphone!
>”Ready for a new hit? Listen to our song!”
>”Somewhere’s a book with chapters still blank insi~de!”
>Sunset tosses the mic to Pinkie!
>”It’s the book of our lives and the story is ours to wri~te!” (“Ours to write!”)
>Pinkie kicks the mic back to Sunset!
>”Some pages fade while others are black and whi~te!”
>The two walk together under the spotlight and sing in harmony!
>”And the story begins again every time we try~!” (“Every time we try!”)
>And ho~pe!”
>”Shines eternal!”
>”And frie~nds!”
>”Are all I need!”
>And ho~pe!”
>”Shines eternal!”
>”And the future is always bri~i-i-ight! When you’re here with me!”
>Golden energy emanates from them, filling you all with the power of friendship!
Team Up Attack: Freebird!

“I’ll show you the power of my heart! Let’s go, Myriad Hearts!”
>The legion turns to bright magenta flame, swirling around their master’s fist as he leaps at Pinkie Pie!
>His fist slams into her in an explosion of light magic, burning her with the fires born from friendship!
>Shizuka looks to Rainbow Dash with shining red eyes. “No hard feelings… but I’ll have to knock you out! Castor!”
>The mounted archer fires a black arrow, but Dash quickly swoops up to avoid it!
>”No hard feelings, but I’m not gonna stand there and let you!”
>Celestia looks down at Sunset. “Let’s see how you’ve grown with that sword.”
>Tia rushes and stabs at her former pupil with her horn!
>Sunset barely parries it with her blade, taking a grazing hit!
“Tia, Luna’s new persona is weak to fire!”
>”Is that right? I’ll keep that in mind.”
><I suppose he knows all your weaknesses… listen, I don’t think any of them can use Hama spells like that. You can use that to your advantage, can’t you?>


HP
Luna: 100%
Rainbow Dash: 100%
Sunset Shimmer: 73%
Pinkie Pie: 51%


MP
Luna: 75%
Rainbow Dash: 95%
Sunset Shimmer: 80%
Pinkie Pie: 80%


><And according to my analysis, there is a chance you can enrage Celestia.>

“Coward! How can you hit our waifu like that!” one of the legionnaires complains.
>”It’s okay, he hits like a little kid!”
“Yeah, how can you do this? You’re using Legion against the ponies whose bond gave it to you! You’re fighting the ones we love!”
“Yeah, the anon we came from would never do this!”
“Could all of you shut up?!” The unborn one yells. “Of course I don’t want them to get involved!”
“They’re the ones choosing to fight me… I just want to end this and get the world back to how it’s supposed to be! Can’t you all see this is wrong? Having these humans here is changing everything! They’re not supposed to be here! Can you really tell me everypony’s okay with this world? That everypony thinks this is right?”
>”Don’t be an idiot!” Sunset scolds him. “There is no right or wrong world. Whether or not people accept it, we’re happy with the world we made together as long as we’ve got our friends! They belong here because we love them, and they love us. That’s good enough for me!”
>”We get that you’re angry about being left behind, and that things aren’t the way you want them to be. But you gotta learn to accept things that aren’t perfect! If you can only be happy with one dream… you’ll miss out on all the other great futures you could have instead! That’s what you taught me!” Rainbow Dash says firmly.
>”It’s okay though.” Pinkie smiles. “We know what kinda guy you are. We’re used to you being a little dummy sometimes. So if we gotta knock the nightmare out and sense into you, that’s what we’ll do. Because that’s what friends are for!”

>The dark aura around the unborn flickers and swirls… “I have to do this… the moment I give up, it’s all over… I have to fight to fix this world!”
>”Such a selfish child I’ve mothered… it’s time for some discipline! Change, Gilgamesh!”
>The golden king laughs, gathering his strength!
>”Let’s go! Rider Taunt!”
>Sunset transforms and brushes back her ponytail, beckoning to them. “You’re just a bad dream. Time to wake up!”
>Celestia looks at Sunset fiercely!
><You’ve enraged her!>
>”Let’s give this a shot! Thunderbird!”
>The fighter plane shoots out sonic disruptors, but they all fail to land!
>”I think that spell might be broken…” Dash grumbles.
>”Don’t let it get you down, Rainbow! Horseona!”
>Pinkie high-hoofs her card, summoning apollo to shine rays of debilitating light, weakening their defenses!
”Then how’s this… Unify BOOMERANG!”
>The Unborn one forms the humans into a giant green boomerang, and tosses it at the party!
>It crashes through them, spinning and knocking them away before returning!
>”I’ll give it a shot… Castor!”
>The horseman fires sticky-tipped arrows, landing on Pinkie and Luna to cover their mouths!
>Celestia charges Sunset and slices with her horn, breaking the unicorn’s guard and scoring a powerful hit!
><Sunset, be careful!>
>”I’m fine! At least she can’t cast like that…”


><Here’s your status now.>


HP
Luna: 78% (Silenced)
Rainbow Dash: 79%
Sunset Shimmer: 13%
Pinkie Pie: 29%


MP
Luna: 65%
Rainbow Dash: 90%
Sunset Shimmer: 75%
Pinkie Pie: 75%

“You know, you’re being a real dick here…”
“Don’t you remember what we fought for?”
“I know what I fought for! I fought to save Equestria, to save my mother… but in the end, I was erased! You can’t know how that feels! You all… you had your own world to return to, but I had nothing! This is my only world! You’re the ones that made these mistakes…”
><I feel that you’re a good person deep down… but we can’t get to it so long as you’re holding onto all that anger. Getting that Nightmare Energy off you is the first step to that.>
>Luna tosses a potion to Pinkie, who quickly gulps it down, curing her silence!
>Rainbow spirals into the air! “Open fire!”
>Thunderbird unleashes its gunpods and fires on Shizuka, scoring a direct hit!
>Sunset charges in with her sword held tight, but the batpony recovers and parries her blade, then quickly rolls with the momentum to grab Sunset and throw her to the ground!
>”Just stay down! Do you want to die in this world too?!”
>Sunset looks up. “Die…?”
>”If he gets his way… I can live in a world where you’re still alive too! That’s why I can’t stop fighting, even if it’s against my friends!”
>Pinkie smiles sadly. “I feel for you, Shizuka. But nothing can bring back somepony once they’re gone. Sombra thought he could use this power to make things perfect too… but it’s not real, it’s just escapism. The Nightmare Energy can’t bring her back, nothing can.”
>”Shut up! I… I won’t know unless I try!”

>”I know you’ll be able to smile even if she’s gone. So right now, we just gotta get that nightmare stuff outta you! Apollo!”
>Heavenly light shines as her Persona becomes the sun, restoring everypony to peak strength!
>The Unborn one calls the legion together!
”Unite Whip!”
>He swings the chain of anons wildly, lashing out at the dream team!
>”You won’t be able to fight like this… Castor!”
>The archer shoots out arrows that whistle with an eerie sound as they pass by.
>It seems to affect Pinkie and Sunset, making them freeze up…
><They’re afraid now!>
>Celestia recklessly charges Luna, but the Princess of the Night has some moves of her own, expertly throwing Tia onto her back!
>”Your hearts and minds are clouded with Nightmare. You will never defeat us!”


><Two of your allies are afraid, they won’t be able to fight like this… are you going to change any of them out?>


HP
Luna: 79%
Rainbow Dash: 77%
Sunset Shimmer: 71% (Fear)
Pinkie Pie: 75% (Fear)


MP
Luna: 65%
Rainbow Dash: 90%
Sunset Shimmer: 75%
Pinkie Pie: 50%

“How bad is your world, Shizuka? Did Chrysalis die too?”
>”She’s still alive here? Why?”
“Oh geez, how much does that even change?”
“No best waifu…”
>”Friends, go and retreat! Twilight, Spike, to us!” Luna calls out.
>The fearful ponies readily retreat without another word.
>”Change, Father Time!”
>”Rainbow Dash, let us show them our bond!”
>”I won’t let you down, Princess!”
>”Persona!” Luna shouts, summoning the ultimate Persona of Fortune!
>Rainbow Dash takes Luna’s hoof as Father Time spins his scythe, time slowing to a complete standstill!
>”Get ‘em, Thunderbird!”
>Dash summons her Persona, commanding it to morph into its humanoid form as she and Luna approach Celestia.
>”Rainbow Dash, they have told you what to say at times like this, yes?” Luna asks, Nightmare forming around her into shadowy arms.
>”Yeah, some of ‘em won’t shut up about it.” The pegasus smirks as her Persona clenches its fists, beginning to oscillate at ultra-high speed.
>”Very well then. Together, if you please!” Luna smiles wildly, the arms forming into dark fists.
>Dash locks her eyes on the frozen Celestia. “Let’s do it!”
>Thunderbut charges, unleashing a barrage of oscillating punches, as Luna’s shadowy arms strike so fast they blur, pummeling the defenseless Celestia!
>”OORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA!”
>”MUUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA!”
>Thunderbird’s punches take on a brilliant rainbow streak as they move faster and faster…
>”ORAORAORAORAORAORAORA”
>”MUDAMUDAMUDAMUDAMUDA”
>”ORAAAAA!”
>With powerful final blow, a sphere of scintillating energy forms at Celestia’s chest!
>”And now…”
>”The hands of time move once again!”
Team Up Attack: Hypersonic Rainboom Rush!
>*BWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM*
>A rainbow ring explodes from the sphere, blowing Celestia away as the damage during the frozen time catches up to her!
>Rainbow frowns. “But if they can’t see us doing it, what’s the point?”
>”Don’t worry. They saw it.” Luna smiles knowingly.

>Twilight swoops in! “I’m here! Nimue!”
>Her Lady of the Lake throws a wave of healing water over Luna and Dash, restoring the energy they spent on that last attack!
>”Sorry about this, Mom. Persona!”
>Spike punches through his card, and Ouroboros fires out a fang that sticks in her chest, providing a conduit for fire magic!
“I won’t let their pain be for nothing… Myriad Hearts!”
>The Unborn one turns his legion to flame, leaping at Luna with a light-magic infused punch…
>But Luna quickly beats her wings and rises to the air, letting his punch connect with the ground harmlessly!
>”I’ll stop you with this! Castor!”
>He fires another barrage of silencing arrows, one of them landing against Spike!
><He’s been silenced!>
>Celestia lunges at Twilight once more, knocking her Naginata away and catching her with the tip of her horn!
>The rage seems to clear from her eyes as she flies back. “Forgive me, my faithful student…”
>”It’s okay, I understand why you’re doing this…” Twilight says. “You’re from a timeline where a lot of bad things happened, aren’t you? Everything that could have gone wrong… probably did. It’s pulling from the timelines where your negative emotions are at their strongest, isn’t it?”
>”Many disastrous things happened in our world…” Celestia admits.
>”And you want to fix it more than anything. So much that you’ll even fight us. You have your reasons, but so do we. We have to protect the world we created, and the ones we love.”
><Well said, Twilight! Here’s your status!>


HP
Luna: 100%
Rainbow Dash: 100%
Twilight Sparkle: 61%
Spike: 100% (Silence)
MP
Luna: 65%
Rainbow Dash: 90%
Twilight Sparkle: 80%
Pinkie Pie: 95%

“You must have listened to the fear, bro!”
“Are Celestia and Shizuka the only ones even left in your world, Unborn? Did you even save anypony?”
“Yeah, and what happened to Nyarlathotep in your timeline?”
“Do you even know Anima Cristalla’s name?”
“Would you all SHUT UP FOR A SECOND?!” The Unborn one shouts.
“What don’t you idiots get about this?! I AM NOT. FROM. THEIR. WORLD!”
“I’M FROM YOURS!”
“I existed here! I was the heart inside you all, until you rejected me!”
“You all rejected the possibility that it could be me! You peeked inside the box and thought you saw a dead cat, so that became reality!”
“I was part of you, but that got erased because of you! You didn’t just erase my future, you erased my past! My existence! You made me NEVER HAVE HAPPENED!”
“I was fighting to save this world! That’s my Twilight! My Spike! My Rainbow Dash!”
“How do you not understand this?! How do you not understand the difference between a parallel world formed by a branching timeline and two realities existing in a superposition?! IT COULDN’T BE MORE SIMPLE!”
>”I think I’m more confused than I was before…” Dash mutters.
“Forget it! I don’t care if you people understand what you did to me or not! Because I’m going to fix it! I’ll make my dream a reality with the power of the Nightmare!”
>”As Twilight said… it’s their strong negative emotions that are powering them. They’re all in a position where they are consumed by them. But our hearts’ power is greater! Change, Baba Yaga!”
>The cackling witch gathers magical energy for the next supercharged spell!
>”Take it from here, Rarity!” Dash flies back, letting Rarity enter the field!
>The unicorn steadies her rain-bow, and fires an orange arrow at the bat-pony!
>Shizuka easily slips out of the way, leaving Rarity looking dejected.
>”Not a good first impression…”
>”I’ll help you out, Spike. Persona!”
>Nimue splashes holy water into Spike’s mouth, curing his silence!

>”Got it! Here goes… Ouroboros!”
>Spike’s dragon shoots out another fang, landing in the Unborn One to break his resistance to fire!
“Alright then, Myriad… wait, huh?”
>He looks at the watch now numbering 30.
“When did it go down?”
>”I believe it was some time during your rant.” Luna points out.
“Damn it… well it’s still more than enough! Unify Naginata!”
>The anons form into a giant green double-ended weapon!
>He charges Luna, slamming the massive blade into her!
>”Castor!”
>The archer tries another barrage of status-inflicting arrows, but none of them manage to land!
>Celestia lunges at Twilight again, managing to break through her defenses and wound her with her horn!
“Tia! That Hermit persona is weak to Ice and Lightning!”
><Twilight, are you okay?>


HP
Luna: 77%
Rarity: 100%
Twilight Sparkle: 40%
Spike: 100%

MP
Luna: 55%
Rarity: 100%
Twilight Sparkle: 75%
Spike: 90%


><Fighting three of them at once is dangerous… if her status attacks land, things could get really bad! But I’m sure the other me can’t take a lot of damage. If you want some breathing room, maybe you should just hit me as hard as you can.>

>”We hear you, Fluttershy. Unleash your full strength on your other self!”
><Shizuka… I’m sure you’ve endured a lot of hardships in your world. And I won’t say that your path, your existence is mistaken. But you do exist in this world where you’re happy.>
>”You and I are completely different!”
><This is true too. Our personas… the image of our heart is different. That much is proof. But even if I’m different, I am Shizuka. And I am Fluttershy. So I’ll show you the strength of our path!>
>The Breeze Needle shoots out, sticking in Shizuka with pinpoint accuracy!
><Eye of the Warrior! Senshigan!>
>BABOOOOOOOOOOM!
>A pink beam explodes out of Argus’s eye, burning away at Shizuka with pure energy!
>”I know you don’t want to fight us, Princess. Peter Pan!”
>Rarity’s persona tosses out a little fairy that swirls around Celestia’s head trailing sparkling fairy dust in its wake.
>The dust seems to cause the Nightmare Energy to weaken around her…
><It worked! You managed to charm her!>
>”I’d better heal… Nimue!”
>The Lady of the Lake splashes a handful of healing water at Twilight, repairing her injuries!
>”Spike, shall we show them the true power of the heart?”
>”You got it, Princess Luna! Ouroboros!”
>”Change, Merlin!”
>Ouroboros and Merlin let out streams of flame, converging on a single point to form a giant burning magenta heart!
>”Now, Spike! Let love’s fire become your power!”
>The dragon nods and takes a leap straight into the flames!
>Fire spirals and reshapes itself around Spike, concealed by the flames…
>It forms wings, a tail, claws, and a dragon’s face with shining emerald eyes!
>He lets out an earth-shaking roar and flies, charging through the three enemies as a massive fiery beast!
>Crashing through them, the fires of love flare up, burning them as Spike climbs, taking them high into the air!
>As the lovefire dragon continues to rise, Spike leaps out of it, falling back to the ground.

>He lands hard, his fist cracking the ground below as the dragon explodes into a flaming heart!
Team Up Attack: Charging Love Dragon!
>The Unborn one grits his teeth. “Damn… Light Magic really does hurt. But so does this!”
>He throws out his hand, commanding Nightmare Energy to form into swords around Twilight, raining down on her!
>She tries her best, but the attack comes from too many angles for her to block it!
>”I’m not done yet… Castor!”
>Shizuka’s persona fires out fang-tipped arrows that land on Spike and Twilight, resulting in them looking drained…
><She’s exhausted them! They’ll lose MP and take more damage if you don’t cure it.>
>Celestia seems to be doubting herself. “But what right do we even have to change things… after how much we’ve failed…”
“You know, Unborn, using schrodinger’s cat to explain branching timelines is kinda dumb.”
>He looks at the legion incredulously. “Are you- How did you dense motherfuckers ever solve anything? The branching timelines have nothing to do with the cat! They’re the branching timelines, I’M the cat in a superimposed state!”
“Not our fault you’re shit at explaining.”
“I EXPLAINED IT PERFECTLY!”


><While they’re figuring that out, here’s your status…>
HP
Luna: 77%
Rarity: 100%
Twilight Sparkle: 71% (Exhausted)
Spike: 100% (Exhausted)


MP
Luna: 25%
Rarity: 95%
Twilight Sparkle: 60%
Spike: 50%

>”Rarity, Spike, drag Sunset and Pinkie in!” Luna orders.
>”Got it!”
>The two of them run out and a few seconds later, toss Pinkie and Sunset back in, still cowering in fear.
>”I’ll have you in fighting shape. Change, Solomon!”
>The wise Emperor raises his seal, and a white light rushes through the party, healing their body and mind!
>Pinkie shakes herself off. “Whew! Thanks for getting rid of The Fear. Here ya go, Luna!” Pinkie calls out, tossing a candy to the Princess.
>Sunset frowns as she looks to the nightmare-infused ponies. “So there’s a timeline where I die, huh?”
>”I’m so sorry… I couldn’t protect you from my shadow…” Celestia answers. “I see now I should have been trying harder. I should have been ready to fight, instead of being so afraid of hurting ponies.”
>”It’s… kinda scary, knowing that there’s a world where that happened. We might have been closer to it than I thought. We both let our guilt hold us back. But I’d never blame you for being the gentle pony I know you are. It’s your life, and nopony can tell you how you should be living it.”
>Sunset takes hold of the blade she inherited from Celestia. “So right now, I’ll show you just how far I’ve come in this world! Twilight!”
>”Gotcha! Let’s do it, Sunset!”
>”Henshin!” Sunset shouts, turning into her horned rider form!
>Sunset and Twilight’s horns glow, and they vanish in flashes of light!
>Sunset reappears behind the Unborn one and slams her leg into the side of his head, knocking him into Celestia!
>At the same time, Twilight warps next to the batpony and bucks her hard, knocking all three of them together!
>They grasp their blades and dash past them, striking with rapid flashes of steel!
>”OORYAAA!”
>Together, they spin and kick the trio into the air!
>They fire beams of magic at each other’s blades, then soar up past them with a magically charged strike!
>Their horns glow and touch together, forming a bright star above them that rains down dozens of rainbow beams that pound them into the ground!

>”Now the finale!”
>”Hit it!”
>They flip in midair, kicking the star down to earth where it lands in an explosion of magical energy!
>As the light fades, they slowly float back to the ground.
>”Just like old times, huh Sunset?”
>”Easy for you to say… it’s getting hard to keep up with you, Princess.” Sunset groans, stretching her shoulders.
>As they start to pull themselves out of the crater, Shizuka stumbles.
>The Unborn catches her quickly. “Shizuka! You’re in bad shape…”
>”I’m not gonna disappear yet…” the Batpony grits her teeth, legs trembling.
“It’s okay. Leave the rest of this to us, Shizuka.”
>She looks up into his blank face and smiles.
>”Okay… you go get your happy ending, Nana-chan. My heart will be with you.”
>She kisses him on the lips before he gently carries her out of the crater and sets her down, turning back to face the Dream Team.
“What are you planning anyway?” one of the legion asks him.
“Are you gonna erase this Fluttershy and replace it with her? Isn’t she your fluttershy you’re erasing?”
“I’m going to figure that out once I’m done here.”
“Haha, edgelord doesn’t have a plan either.”
“That’s how we do it!”
“Shut up! Do you people ever stop talking?!”
“Dude he’s so mad…”
>Sunset grins. “You know, it’s kind of satisfying seeing someone else who thinks you’re all obnoxious for once.”
“I have more questions!”
“I don’t care! UNITE HAND!”
>The anons are forced into a giant power fist for the unborn one!
>He charges at Luna with another leaping punch, but she slips into the air, gracefully dodging it!
>”You’ve got a lot to learn if you want to fight me, child.”
>Princess Celestia charges Twilight, slicing at her with her horn before she can defend!
><Be careful, that combo takes a lot out of them to use!>


HP
Luna: 100%
Pinkie: 100%
Sunset: 60%
Twilight Sparkle: 22%

>”You two have done well. Now go and rest. I’ll need Applejack and Rainbow Dash!”
>”Got it!”
>The two of them retreat as Luna summons forth the card of the Hermit. “Change, Baba Yaga!”
>The witch cackles in her chicken-footed hut, cooking up a new spell!
>Rainbow Dash quickly arrives on the scene! “I’m feeling this… ready to give it our all, Pinkie?”
>”All’s all I got to give! Catch!” Pinkie tosses her cannon to Rainbow Dash!
>”Get it, Thunderbird! Full Assault!”
>Dash’s persona lowers its legs and extends its arms to catch Pinkie’s golden party cannon, merging it with its body as dozens of hatches open along its form!
>Gunpods, cannons, fireworks and missiles fire indiscriminately, saturating the battlefield with a kaleidoscopic explosions!
“UNITE GUTS!” The Unborn one shouts, forming the anons into a protective barrier until the assault ends.
>When the smoke clears, a white present box with a pink bow lies at the Celestia’s feet…
>As he looks down, a shining white light pierces through the lid, singeing her as Apollo bursts out, swinging his lightsaber!
>”SURPRISE!” Pinkie shouts from afar!
>”You even try ta’ make fightin’ fun.” Applejack smiles as she takes her place on the battlefield. “Alrighty mister. You gonna do this the easy way, or am I gonna have ta’ give you a hooves on demonstration on how ta’ tie a hog?”
“I’ll take you up on that after I win!”
>Applejack smiles. “Well you got yer smart mouth at least. Paul Bunyan!”
>She bucks her card to pieces, summoning the mechanical giant to flex and grow to a frightening height!

“Sorry if this hurts... I have no choice!”
>Nightmare energy bursts out of the Unborn in dark tendrils, grabbing Pinkie and tossing her to the ground!
>She lands hard, but doesn’t go down!
>Celestia’s sharp gaze turns to Luna. “I’ve seen that one already. Raet-Tawy!”
>Her bird-like persona gives a mighty flap of its wing, raining red feathers on Luna that turn to flame!
>They burn her body, the pain bringing her to her knees!
>She follows up by charging at Pinkie in a flash, slamming her hoof into her chest hard enough to blow her straight through a dessert table and crash into a wall!
><Pinkie Pie! Are you okay?!>
>”Too… hurt… to quip…” she grunts, peeling herself out of the wall.
“Applejack’s weakness is Ice, got it, Tia?”
>”I won’t forget.”
><She’s still conscious, that’s good… some of those combinations use up a lot of energy. But the one you’re planning on uses Mana, doesn’t it?>


HP
Luna: 58%
Rainbow Dash: 65
Pinkie Pie: 1%
Applejack: 100%


MP
Luna: 90%
Rainbow Dash: 90%
Pinkie Pie: 50%
Applejack: 90%

>”It’s not time for that yet… very well then. Change, Artemis!”
>The huntress calls forth a snow-white wolf that charges at Applejack, merging with her to shield her from the cold!
>”You’ll never catch us! Thunderbird!”
>Dash’s persona swoops over the battlefield to unleash its magic, slowing the movements of the enemy!
>But the green dust falls over the Unborn one, a magenta aura flares up around him, blocking the spell!
“Shizuka… I won’t let your feelings go to waste!”
><He was completely unaffected…!>
>Pinkie grits her teeth, forcing her Persona card into existence before shattering it with her hoof!
>Apollo plucks at his lyre, the soothing melody restoring everyone’s health!
>”Let’s try this! Paulie!”
>The steel giant breathes out a tornado of rusty air, but that aura appears again to protect the Unborn!
“Nothing’s gonna slow me down!”
><Not just a one time thing then… Shizuka’s feelings really did strengthen him!>
“My turn… if I’m at level 4, Myriad Hearts!”
>His fist becomes engulfed in flame as he delivers a dashing straight punch to Pinkie Pie!
>Fire explodes outward from his first, but Pinkie quickly springs into the air, avoiding his punch and hovering by his head briefly before tapping him on the face.
>”Boop.”
>”Raet Tawy!” Celestia calls out her Persona!
>It sends a rain of blue feathers at Applejack that turn to sharp icicles, but the spirit of the wolf appears and guards against the attack for her!
“Those spells… she can negate their weaknesses, but Dash is still weak to wind!”
“Hey, unborn! Why do you think it’s so impossible for us to coexist?”
“You think we’ll really reject you? Or are you just doing this to try to punish us for forgetting you?”
>His expression wrinkles as he looks back at the legion.
“You think I should just believe you’ve changed your mind about me? After everything you did?”
“You all proved my existence wasn’t wanted in this world… that’s why the Nightmare Energy brought me here!”
“Because it knew I’d never be born otherwise!”

“If you want to convince me you want to help, where were you all this time I needed you?! Huh?”
“You weren’t interested in that. And Luna… she stopped dreaming about me, and would never end up creating a child through the Nightmare Energy.”
>”But I do want you.” Luna speaks out.
>”I would never reject you as you are. No matter the reason.”
>”I know how much it hurts… to be shunned, feared, to feel like you are not needed in the world. Better off dead, or not existing at all.” Luna says bitterly, holding her chest with her hoof.
>”If you reach out and are rejected, it can be difficult to forgive that.”
>”And the Nightmare Energy will tell a pony like that everything it needs to hear. It needs you. It needs ponies because it exists to fulfill their desires. And that can form a dangerous circle.”
>”It’s called co-dependency!” Pinkie adds happily.
>”I know you are my son! You are so much like me! Please, stop fighting and let go of the Nightmare!”
“I… no! I won’t stop now, everypony’s counting on me! I only exist because of the Nightmare Energy! You’re just trying to trick me so you can all forget about me again!”
>”Listen to yerself! We’re your friends, ain’t we? You really think we’d do somethin’ like that?” Applejack scolds him.
“You all just don’t understand… this is so I can make everyone’s dreams come true! If you’d just stop fighting and let me win, this could all be over, and none of you would remember it even happened!”
>”And you’re really going to fight us because of that?” Dash asks angrily.
>”It has its claws in him very deep. Do not forget it turned me against the one I loved most as well.” Luna reminds them. “We must prevail with the strength of our hearts, and then we can show him there is a place for him in this world.”
><I don’t want to fight him either. But we have to calm him down somehow. Here’s your status.>


HP
Luna: 100%
Rainbow Dash: 100
Pinkie Pie: 100%
Applejack: 74%


MP
Luna: 85%
Rainbow Dash: 85%
Pinkie Pie: 30%
Applejack: 85%

>”We’ll stop you with our full power. Rainbow Dash, let Rarity take your place!”
>”Right. Give ‘em hell, Rarity!”
>Dash swoops out of the battle, letting Rarity step forth to take the stage.
>”The power of Nightmare must not be used lightly. Such things are not meant for the hooves of colts! Peter Pan!”
>Rarity calls out the Satyr persona, turning its body into hundreds of glittering diamonds!
>They spread and spiral around the enemies, then contract in a spinning circle!
>The sharp diamonds saw into them, cutting through any and all resistance!
>”Time to light up your life! Apollo!”
>Pinkie’s persona gathers light between its hands, forming a buzzing laser sword!
>Apollo flies at the Unborn, slicing right through him, sending him sprawling on the ground!
>”Aww yeah!” Pinkie cheers, tossing out her golden party cannon. “And here we-whaoo!” She tries to buck it to fire, but misses and faceplants.
>”Cocky, you might be the least luckiest party cannon in all Equestria…”
>”Dontcha fret now, Pinkie Pie. We got this, don’t we, Princess Luna?”
>”Verily. Change, The Musketeers!”
>”YEEHAW!” Applejack bucks her card to pieces, summoning the gargantuan Paul Bunyun along with the diminutive three musketeers.
>The trio raise their swords and become shining blue energy, flying into the steel behemoth!
>His body glows electric blue as towering horns explode out of his head, his eyes becoming beacons of burning white light!
>”GUOOOOOOOOOO”
>The giant bellows and takes a mighty leap, soaring into the sky!
>He turns back, horns pointed straight down at his enemies, then fires to earth like an azure shooting star!
>You all brace for impact as he strikes the earth, crushing his foes beneath his sparking horns!

>”End this!”
Team Up Attack!
SHINE SPARK!!!
>Electrical energy erupts from his horns, the blue aura discharging into a column of brilliant blue lightning!
>When the last of the blue aura fades, the supercharged giant vanishes, leaving the Unborn and Celestia looking severely damaged.
>The Unborn pulls himself up, but Celestia seems to be having some trouble staying standing.
“Tia!”
>”Heh… I have to say, it really does make me happy. Seeing just how strong my sister has become.”
>”And to think you’re the one worrying about me… your will to succeed far surpasses my own.”
“You can rest for now. I’ll take care of this.”
>She smiles, leaning in to kiss him on the cheek.
>”Perhaps my resolve wasn’t as strong as I thought… I’m not sure what I believe… but I do believe in you.”
“Yeah… I’ll do this. Like I said, I need to make things right!”
“Then you should let us help you, dummy! If we knew a way to give you a happy ending, you know we would! That’s what Anonymous was for! But he’d never get his ending at the expense of someone else, and you know it!”
>The nightmare energy around the Unborn one starts crackling wildly…
“You… that’s EXACTLY what you did!”
“You got your happy ending in exchange for mine!”
“Oh yeah?” One of them retorts, “Well we didn’t KNOW we were doing that because we’re idiots!”
“... what?”
“How can you blame us for this? We didn’t know! How could we know, you never existed!”
“Like that’s supposed to help?! You kill me off, and your excuse is that you’re an idiot so it shouldn’t count? If anything, that makes it worse! You’re all so ignorant to the consequences of your actions! You don’t deserve this world!”

>”Y’know, I can’t help feelin’ yer movin’ the goalposts on this a bit!” Applejack scolds him. “You ain’t dead, yer here right now, an’ they not only didn’t know they did somethin’ wrong, they’re offerin’ to make it right an’ all you want is revenge. You blame them fer not knowin’, but you won’t even sit down an’ explain it before tryin’ to fight things out. Why? Just ‘cause yer mad?”
“You’re DAMN RIGHT I’M MAD!”
>The Unborn one raises his hands up together, calling out “UNITE SWORD!”
>A green sword forms in his hands, and crackles with electric energy!
>He slices at Rarity, sending an electric shockwave through her that knocks her down!
“I was forced off the ride! While all my ‘friends’ went on ahead into the future!”
“MYRIAD DREAMS!”
>The 51 legionnaires become floating 2-D screens, displaying scenes of your journey.
>Touching fists with Spike after helping him find his path...
>Embracing Derpy after the town came together to save her job…
>Holding Chrysalis as she died…
>Telling Trixie there was someone in this world who wanted her just as she was…
“Everyone I loved… everyone I cared about… I had to watch them all disappear!”
“Who wouldn’t be mad, DAMN IT!”
>The images swarm Luna, running straight through her!
>She winces and buckles slightly as the last of the images runs through her. “I certainly… feel your anguish. But the venom will never leave so long as you clutch the stinger so.”
><He’s grown even more powerful… but I don’t think he can keep this up. He’s not determined like before, he’s just hurt, and lashing out because of it. Please… help him.>


HP
Luna: 54%
Rarity: 39%
Pinkie Pie: 80%
Applejack: 74%


MP
Luna: 60%
Rarity: 70%
Pinkie Pie: 30%
Applejack: 55%

>“Applejack, Pinkie, head back for now. Rainbow Dash, Spike, to me!” Luna calls out.
>The earth ponies run out of range, letting Rainbow Dash and Spike into battle.
>”Artemis, heal my allies!”
>The goddess of the hunt shines with silver moonlight, rejuvenating the party!
>”Defend yourselves, we will prepare for the next strike!”
>”Roger!”
>Dash, Rarity, and Spike call out their personas to brace for the next attack.
“So you’re just a child throwing a tantrum, huh?”
“I don’t expect someone like you to understand!”
“You think you’re the only one who went through this? We were nothing too, but we were called back because we believed in our friends!”
“Liar! I know what you are… I know you have your own worlds! You got to see things through to the end! You got to say goodbye! I didn’t get any of that!”
“You’re only fighting for your own dreams!”
“That’s not true! This is… for everyone whose dream was forgotten! Everyone’s MYRIAD DREAMS!”
>He throws another barrage of dreams that pierce through Luna, but she takes the attack in stride.
>”What they’re saying is true… you have closed off your heart. Just as I did 1,000 years ago. That is why I can use the Wild Card freely, while yours is limited.”
>”You believe that you made it back by the power of your own heart. And you have convinced yourself that because you did not receive help, you did not need it..”
>”But none of that is true.”
“What are you talking about? I am the one who brought myself back… who else could have?!”
>”You did not get to see the miracles we created together. The power of our bonds. You have forgotten their power. And because you fight alone, you can not win.”
“I… I used to believe. But where did that get me...”
>”Then we will make you believe again. As my friends did for me. Let us show them the strength of bonds!”
><Understood. We won’t let the nightmare twist him any further!>


HP
Luna: 70%
Rainbow Dash: 100%
Rarity: 100%
Spike: 100%


MP
Luna: 45%
Rainbow Dash: 85%
Rarity: 70%
Spike: 50%

>”Change, Helene.”
>Princess Luna switches to the Ultimate Persona of the Lovers Arcana…
>!
>!
>!
>!
>”Yes… it’s here!”
>”Yeah, this is what we need!” Dash grins madly.
>”Ooh, I’m really feeling it now!” Rarity smiles.
.>Spike clenches his fists. ”I can feel my heart pounding… you guys too, right?”
>Luna nods as her Persona card floats in front of her. “We’ll show him that a single heart can not match the many hearts in harmony. With me!”
>All four of them shatter their cards at once!
>”PERSONA!”
>Helene lets out a cry, ice freezing over the ground and forming glaciers, dragging the dreamscape into a frozen tundra!
>The hostile cold calls forth a boreal wind as Pan plays his flute, wrapping the Unborn in a tumultuous blizzard!
>Wind brings in rolling stormclouds as the Thunderbird soars through them, lightning wrapping around its body!
>With a thunderous screech, it unleashes a white hot bolt from the heavens, searing the earth with its wrath!
>The incredible heat turns its surroundings to flame as the dragon of infinity gives a mighty roar, urging the flames to grow into a massive pyre!
>”This is the power of our unity!”
>Helene, Thunderbird, Peter Pan, and Ouroboros surround the Unborn on all four sides!
>Ouroboros’s mouth opens, charging a white sphere of plasma…
>Thunderbird unfolds its railgun, gathering a piercing bolt…
>Helene spreads her wings and cries out, forming a massive spike of ice in front of her…
>Peter Pan blows his pipes, generating a bullet of concentrated aether…
>”Harmony’s light... “
>”Rend the darkness asunder!”
>The four elements fire at once, converging into a shining ball white light!
S-S-S-SECRET MOVE!
4X TEAM UP ATTACK!
>”ELEMENTS IN HARMONY!”

>The light burns away at the black swirling Nightmare Energy surrounding the Unborn, causing him to cry out as it attacks the very darkness within him!
”GRAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHGHHHH…”
”No…”
”Not… yet!”
“If I give up, I’ll stop existing…”
“If I stop fighting, I’ll disappear…”
“Legion, Unite up…”
“We refuse!”
“This world is ours as much as yours, unborn!”
“This is our truth! It’s time to open your eyes!”
>The Unborn one looks from his bracelet to the legion.
“You refuse? You can’t refuse! This power is mine!”
“Give it up. You’ve already lost this battle inside your heart.”
“I won’t let it end… Nightmare! Grant me your strength!”
>The blackness rises up around him, filling him with its energy!
><He’s still hanging in there… and now he’s charging magical energy! What will you do?>


HP
Luna: 70%
Rainbow Dash: 100%
Rarity: 100%
Spike: 100%

MP
Luna: 5%
Rainbow Dash: 45%
Rarity: 30%
Spike: 10%

>Luna grins knowingly. “There’s only one thing left to do, isn’t that right?”

>”Let this be our final strike! Change, Don Quixote! Rarity, Spike, bring me Applejack and Sunset!”
>The two of them retreat as AJ and Sunset charge in, leaving you with an Earth Pony, Unicorn, Pegasus, and Alicorn.
>”There’s no way we’ll lose!” Dash cheers!
>”Let’s unite our hearts as one!” Sunset shouts!
>”Nothin’s gonna stand in our way!” Says applejack as their four cards appear together…
>”This is the power one can only gain through the hearts of others! This is your final warning, Nightmare Energy. Release my son, or face the might of our hearts!” Luna calls out!
“We’ll just see who’s hearts are stronger!”
>”I couldn’t agree more. PERSONA!”
>”PERSONA!”
>”Applejack, we’ll start things off!”
>”Gotcha, Princess!”
>Don Quixote flies in behind the Unborn one as Paul Bunyan takes the front!
>The Knight’s windmill spins, kicking up a cyclone at the Unborn while Paul lets out a storming hurricane from his mouth, trapping him in the spiralling winds!
>”Now us! Henshin!”
>”Go high and Transform, Thunderbird!”
>Sunset takes an incredible leap, carried by her fiery wings as Thunderbird flies beside her!
>The masked rider flips in the air as the fighter shifts shape into a robotic humanoid!
>Sunset’s wings beat strongly, and Thunderbird’s boosters explode, sending them rocketing towards the trapped human!
>Fire and lightning streak after them, and their kicks collide with the force of a meteor, impacting with an explosively colorful sonic rainboom!
>”There is more still! Take it!” Luna shouts as her persona tosses its lance to Paul Bunyan!
>”Give it all you got, Paulie!” Applejack urges her Persona on, causing it to triple its size!
>”I gotcha too!” Dash says as Thunderbird folds back into a plane and swoops to Paul Bunyan’s back, latching onto him!

>Sunset lands, her body burning with phoenix fire!
>“We’ll pour our hopes and dreams into this drill!” She gathers shadow and flame into her right leg and kicks out, shooting it straight at the knight’s drill where it envelops it in a cloak of burning darkness!
>”Everyone’s hearts, give shape to Nightmare!” Luna calls out, the blob of crystallized Nightmare Matter flying into the drill and forcing it to grow to an impossible size!
>Paul Bunyan bellows and takes a stance with the drill over his shoulder!
>”This is the end!”
>Thunderbird’s boosters flare up a bright electric blue as Paul Bunyan leaps forward spinning!
>The admixture of flame and darkness envelops their entire form, painting them with a spiralling cloak of their hearts’ energy!
>Their combined forms streak through the dream, piercing tip aimed right at the Unborn one!
“I’ll meet that attack…”
“WITH EVERYTHING I’VE GOT!”
“MYRIAD DREAMS!”
>Dozens of images appear and line up, forming a 56-layer thick wall of moving pictures in front of him!
>The drill crashes into the wall, spinning and throwing out massive plumes of burning shadow as it tries to break through!
“I’m not going down… that easy!”
>”Then we’ll add the final push! Everypony, go!”

>Applejack leaps into the air, her golden horseshoe shining as she streaks towards their personas!
>Sunset jumps after her, her boots unfolding shining talons as she flaps her burning wings to propel herself forward!
>Rainbow Dash flies up and circles around, streaking towards the burning personas with her back hoof extended!
>Luna’s body shines silver as she zips into the air, then rockets towards them in a flash of moonlight!
>Their four kicks all strike at once, sending force surging through the drill!
>Images flash of all the adventures of the past upon the panes of myriad dreams…
>Playing in the snow with Applejack...
“I can’t lose…”
>Letting Dash confide in you in the Bath…
“I’ve had to fight to exist…”
>Walking hand in hand with Sunset Shimmer…
“And if I stop fighting…”
>Trying to convince Celestia’s shadow she was loved…
“What the hell is gonna happen to me…?”
>Convincing Trixie to make her own destiny…
>Promising Twilight to fill out your future together…
>Showing Rarity you still believe in her…
>Helping Fluttershy become comfortable with herself...
>Opening your home and heart to Gilda…
>Forgiving Celestia for the things she couldn’t forgive herself for...
>Bringing Cheerilee back together with her Sister…
>And telling Spike that a real man uses his power not to hurt, but to protect…
>All of these scenes and more play through the kaleidoscope of screens…
“It’s just…”
“Not right, damn it!”
*CRRRAK*
>The screens begin to fracture!
*CRA-CRKRKRKRKRKRKRKRK*

>The cracks grow, spreading across the screens like spiderwebs until…!
*CRAAAASSSSSSSH*
>The images shatter to pieces as the drill pierces through the layers!
>It rips through his shield of dreams and surges forth, the flaming tip striking his heart!
S-S-S-SECRET MOVE!
4x TEAM UP ATTACK!
>”FINAL!”
>”DYNAMIC!”
>”SPECIAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL!”
“NUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH”
>The drill’s flaming darkness floods over him, burning away at the tendrils of nightmare energy!
>All four of them land on the ground as the drill unleashes its full energy, pouring out into a pillar of burning shadow that pierces the heavens!
>When the chaos clears, the Unborn one is left on his hands and knees, struggling in vain to get up.
“Damn it… it’s not right…”
“I wanted to fight with you guys again…”
“Not against you…”
“I didn’t want this…”
“I knew it probably wasn’t going to be me…”
“I just wanted to see everypony again…”
“I just wanted to exist…”
“How did everything go so wrong…”
“I thought I was supposed to be the hero…”
>The bracelet shatters as his control over legion fades, causing all but 22 of the humans to vanish.
>Luna begins walking over to him.
“Don’t take it…”
“The Nightmare Energy is all that’s keeping me here. If I lose it… I’ll just disappear…”
>”I don’t think that’s true.”
>The Unborn one looks up.
>”I know your heart is strong… and I know the extent of the power of Nightmare Energy.”
>”I think there is something else that led you here. And if I’m right, then you do not need that dark power.”
“I don’t understand…”

“Isn’t it obvious? Come on, you just gotta believe in yourself.”
“You gotta have more faith in your heart than that! After all, you’re the ‘hero’!”
“We’re all by your side. And you’re one of us, if you want to be.”
“Shouldn’t you believe in your bonds, Hero? Come on.”
“I’ve been trying two years to get that hero license… Just pick yourself up, asshole. You’re not going anywhere.”
>He looks up, surprised.
“Can I really stay… without this power?”
>”You have a strong heart, my son.”
>”You must believe that you have the strength to remain in this world. If you do, then you don’t need that power.”
>She extends her hoof towards the Unborn one and waits for his response.
“Yeah… if I really am who I say I am, I shouldn’t have to rely on it to exist.”
“I don’t know what’s going to happen… but I can’t just bank on a sure thing. Taking risks and trying our best… that’s what it’s always been about.”
>He takes Princess Luna’s hoof, and the crumbling remnants of black aura flow along his arm, returning to Luna’s body.
“I’m… still here.”
“Perfect! Time to grit those teeth!”
*WHUMP*
>One of the anons walks straight into a shimmering forcefield projected by Luna.
>”Don’t bully your little brother.” she scolds.
>”Besides… don’t you realize the real reason he’s here tonight? The real reason he was able to come to this world?”

“Because it’s Nightmare Night? Because the boundary between dreams and reality is thinner?”
“Because we wanted to see Anon again?”
“Was he called here? Like how you called us?”
>”That is correct.” Luna answers.
>”On this day where dream and reality are closer than ever… you called out for him.”
>”The Nightmare Energy seeks to grant wishes. Desires.”
>”It wasn’t the strength of his own heart that made him exist. It was your dreams. Your desire to see things continue. Your desire for another enemy to face. And your desire for a fellow brother to take up the role of the Magician.”
“I’m here… because they wanted me?” The unborn asks hesitantly, trying to understand.
>”It was a number of factors. But the strength of their hearts is something truly incredible. Their ability to shape reality with their dreams.”
>”If they did not desire it… you probably would not have been able to come through.”
>”To borrow one of your favorite analogies… there must be someone to confirm whether or not the cat is dead or alive. An observation to collapse the waveform.”
“You make it sound like they’re gods…”
>”They are not nearly that powerful. Their dreaming hearts can simply move the pieces of the chessboard at times. They can not make a Knight move like a Queen, but the ways they can use that Knight are myriad.”
“I… I knew some of that. But I never… I thought it was the Nightmare that brought me. I was so sure they hated me, I didn’t even stop to consider that I might be here because they really wanted me here.”
“I’m sorry, everyone. I gave into the fear.”
>”If anything, they should be apologizing for you as well. Their strong desire for an enemy is part of what twisted you into arriving like this.” Luna points out.
>"And the rest... I suppose is my fault as well. You all have my deepest apologies for letting things get to this point. If you feel the need to take your anger out on somepony, I ask that you take it out on me. My poor son has taken enough punishment tonight, I think."

Sorry about that, little bro.”
“Can’t really fault you. No hard feelings, bro.”
“We’re sorry too.”
“Come on, I can’t punch you, they’d never forgive me!”
“So you’re saying it’s all your fault?”
“Hey, we all share the blame for this. Just because she didn’t keep an eye on us doesn’t mean we didn’t start this whole thing.”
>”No, I believe I may have started this whole thing.”
>”It is my duty to keep the Nightmare Energy from damaging this world or its creatures.”
>”I saw the warning signs as it became quiet and distant... but I failed to interpret them correctly.”
>Luna gets a wistful look on her eyes. “That force… it is something ancient. Something older than words.”
>”It doesn’t understand the right way to communicate with ponies. So misunderstandings arise.”
>”Like I said, it isn’t evil. It only seeks to grant our desires.”
>”At least, that’s… how it usually works.”
>”I’m the one who failed to understand the feelings of the Nightmare Energy.”
“It’s feelings?”
>”It’s so used to acting on the desires of others.”
>”Ever since the beginning of time, it has only granted the wishes of others. Giving shape to the ideas that others have dreamt.”
>”And now, for the first time in existence… it had something that it wanted for itself.”
>”One single selfish wish. Something easy to forgive.”
>”It wanted a son. It wanted to experience that feeling it couldn’t understand. The joy of creating life with another.”
>”It was excited by that dream, and when it was clear that my heart had stopped desiring that future, it felt sadness.”
>”The Nightmare closed its heart off from me, seeing that I wouldn’t wish for what it wanted.”
>”I had already experienced that joy. And I was so consumed with everything we’ve been doing, the thought of making that child a reality hadn’t even crossed my mind.”
“This is interesting and all, but… what about those two? Are they going to be okay?”
“We can save them too, can’t we?”
>Everyone looks to Shizuka and the other Celestia.

>The dark nightmare energy around them has grown calm, barely a flickering shadow now.
>The Unborn one runs over.
“Tia, Shizuka! I can’t… rewrite everything like I promised. But… maybe there’s still a way!”
>The other Celestia smiles and shakes her head. “No, I am afraid this is where we part.”
“Don’t be so sure! The power of their hearts, it can do anything, right?”
>Shizuka takes his hand in her hoof and gives a smile that shows her cute little fangs. “We did this because we wanted to help you first. Somepony who’d lost their existence. But unlike you… we do have our own worlds.”
“But your world is all… it’s not happy there, right? Sunset’s gone, and all that other stuff must have happened…”
>”It may not be ideal. But it is our world. And we must all accept the consequences of our actions.” Celestia replies calmly. “It was by accepting my mistakes that I was finally able to gain this power. I can only tell you how overjoyed I am to see that there is a world where everypony is living happily everafter.”
>Shizuka touches her chest. ”And even if some ponies are gone… their hearts are still with us. It’s our duty… for their sake, to keep moving forward in the face of all that darkness. And to do it together with all our friends.”
>The Celestia of the dark timeline looks to her other self across the room.
>”Only one Celestia can exist in this world. And even if she hasn’t found her answers yet… I know you’ll help her find them.”
>Shizuka looks over at Fluttershy, who is now panting on the ground in exhaustion from the long battle.
>”I don’t know if you’re me or not. If we became somepony new, or if you’re just both of us at once.”
>”But I do know you’re strong enough to protect your friends.”
>Shizuka blinks, and her eyes turn back to gentle blue.
>”Ganbatte ne?” The Fluttershy from the other world smiles.
>”H-Hai… ganbaritsudzukemasu wa…” your own Fluttershy answers with a shaky smile.
>"I suppose this is goodbye." Celestia smiles. "See you in your dreams."

“I suppose we must accept our consequences… even if it means goodbye.”
>The Unborn one pulls Fluttershy and Tia into a hug.
“Thanks for believing in me.”
>”You acted right in the end, just as I knew you would.” Tia smiles, nuzzling his cheek.
>Some of the other humans get in on the hug, squeezing Tia, Fluttershy, and the Unborn one into a big group hug.
“Gaahh! Stop, it hurts! Why does my body hurt so much!”
>”It seems a bit out of shape. And you did take quite a beating. I’m surprised you’re still standing at all.” Luna says as she approaches the two called forth by the Nightmare.
>”Take care of me.” Celestia says.
>”And you of me.” Luna replies, closing her eyes and shining her horn to draw the dark Nightmare Energy from their bodies.
>As the last bit of the energy escapes their bodies, they softly fade away.
>Luna’s horn shimmers, and the dreamscape in the ballroom clears up.
>The new brother slumps to the ground, Luna quickly catching him.
“I’m fine… just really exhausted.”
>”Yeah, I bet…” Spike grins. “That guy’s body didn’t really move much unless we told him to. You might have been pushing it a bit.”
>”So… what’s up with you anyway? Or, the Magician… what happened?”
“There were many hearts that made Anonymous. But some of them… accepted the fate of returning to their own world. I took the Fool’s key first, but l did not see any claim the magician before I left. The magician’s key was the final one left.”
“No one was there to see if the key was taken or not. If the cat lived or died.”
>”Got picked last, huh?”

“Hey, don’t be like that!”
“You were my second choice!”
“Me too!”
>”Hey, it’s okay. If there really were only 21 that stayed, somepony had to get left behind, right? Doesn’t matter if you didn’t pick my key, you’re my friends. That’s what really matters.”
>Spike looks over to Luna’s son. “It sounds like everyone here wants you to stay. I always got the feeling my guy wasn’t all there. So this is all fine by me.”
“Thanks, Spike. You’ve always been a real bro. Or I guess, in a way we’re kinda cousins now, huh?”
>”Cousins, friends, brothers, it’s all good. But… what do we call you now? I think Unborn One is kind of a drag. And I dunno if you’re really the magician.”
>”It fits the symbolism decently.” Luna observes “One with talent and capability, filled with potential and power used to bring about change. But I suppose ultimate naming rights fall to me as his mother.”
>”Still… I have always felt good about having input and discussion on difficult decisions.”
>”So why don’t you all tell me what you think?” Luna asks the humans sweetly.
“What? You can’t let them name me, they’ll name me something ridiculous!”
>”I am still the one deciding.” Luna reassures him. “But I’d like to hear their thoughts. Go on then. What should we call him from now on?”

“How about Magus? Since he’s not really the Magician anymore.”
“How about Bob?”
“How about shi-”
“Hey, not in front of mom!”
>”I suppose I like Magus… but maybe a bit more than that. A proper Equestrian name.”
>”Yes, I think I have it.”
>”Everyone, please allow me to introduce my son. The child born from the Nightmare Energy and I. I would like you all to welcome Prince Dream Magus into this world.”
>”Nice to meet you! I guess we’re getting even more royalty around here.”
>”Good to have you with us!”
>”Welcome to Equestria!”
>”Hello, and Happy Birthday!” Pinkie cheers
>”It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
>”Howdy. I’m sure we’ll get along just fine.”
>”Nice to meet you. I’m leaving tomorrow morning, but I’ll see you when I visit.”
>”Pleased to make your acquaintance, darling. I hope you’ll let me make some outfits for you now.”
>”I’m very glad to meet you, my Nephew. I hope you enjoy your new life in Equestria.”
“Hey, how come he gets to be a prince?”
“We’re your sons too, right?”
>Luna smirks, “Because he is not adopted. And he actually has a father.”
>“You’re still all my brothers.” says Magus.
>”I hope you can all tell me about everything I missed…”
“If you want to catch up, just read this.” The Fool hands him a thick leather tome reading “My Little Persona”
>”Geez, was that adventure really this long?”
“Took me long enough to finish it.”
>”It’s nice to see that you did.” Says Luna. “Have you given thought to what you’ll do next?”
“I’m considering a story set in an apocalyptic Equestria where everypony we love has died horrific deaths.”
>The mares look at him with cold silence.
“Except Derpy.”
>”That’s… interesting.” Luna smiles.
“So… is this going to keep happening? Are we going to keep drawing threats to Equestria because of our dreams?”
>Luna looks up through the window at the white moon.
>”No, I doubt it. It is because the boundaries of our world are weakened on this day that you called forth such an event. As well as the Nightmare’s own desire fueling it.”

“Right, so annual battle for the fate of Equestria!”
“22 reaper fight!”
“Yearly tournaments!”
>Luna touches her hoof to her forehead. “I feel you are missing the point… but I suppose that nature of yours is irrepressible to the very end.”
“I think we’re all done fighting for tonight though…”
“Yeah, I got some drunk ladies and a lonely pup waiting for me.”
“Gilda releases more than a bit of tension whenever she drinks, so I probably won't be seeing anyone tomorrow.”
>”I suppose we should say our goodbyes then.” Luna smiles sadly. “I know you’ve all got lives to get back to, but it was wonderful seeing you all in one place again.”
>”And for all the chaos it caused… I’m glad this happened tonight. I’m sure now that we’ll all never forget our dreams.”
>”And from now on, I’ll be certain to consider the feelings of the Nightmare Energy. That’s why I was thinking… maybe we should try a new tradition.”
>”What sort of tradition, sister?” Celestia asks.
>”I think on this night, we should all make a wish… a dream that we want to come true.”
>”It might make the Nightmare Energy happy to hear what dreams we have for the coming year. Are the other ponies still in the castle, or have you sent them away?”
>”They’re still here.” Celestia confirms. “I brought them somewhere safe, but I can bring them back if you like.”
>Luna nods. “What say you all then? Shall we gather and declare our dreams for the coming year before we part? Big or small, practical or outlandish, whatever your heart seeks, just speak and see if your heart can make it a reality by next year.”
>"And then... it will be time to say goodbye."

“Yeah, let’s do it!”
“Great idea!”
>”Very well then. Sister, bring them here.”
>Celestia goes and gathers everyone back into the ballroom.
>They’re all overjoyed to see that everyone is okay, Cheerilee getting particularly little weepy in her drunkenness.
>Luna explains the situation and introduces her new son, then tells them of the new tradition.
>While the drunk and exhausted ponies try to think of their wishes, the many humans go on to enumerate theirs first.
>Death springs up off the floor shouting,
“World domination! Soon all will bow bef-“
>Death’s wild gesticulations are brought to an abrupt halt as Justice slaps him in the back of the head, cutting his monologue short.
“Like hell you will, choose something more reasonable.”
>He says as death rubs the back of his head pouting.
“Come on just a little world conquest, you know it’d be fun”.
>”I think we may have Discord’s old headband in a closet somewhere…” Luna muses.
“Okay, fine! I want to read lots of fiction of questionable quality and talk about it with someone…”
“Gotcha covered there.”
“And I want to waifu the nightmare forces.”
>”I’m surprised you haven’t attempted to ‘waifu’ gravity.” Luna says dryly.
“I wish to retain my determination to accomplish my goals, to better myself in body and mind, and to never forget the times we shared together.”
“I’d like to finish writing out this story I was thinking about, and give my Sunbutt a life-reaffirming kiss.” Says Empress.
>A golden glow surrounds him as Tia lifts him up and presses his lips to hers.
>”I’ll grant that wish any time.”

“Uh, I’d really like to earn my place as a hero.” Justice continues. “To be a cool man like Spike. And uh, maybe get with a nice Zebra...”
“I hope business takes off. And I’d like to get along with our new bro.” Star nods to Magician.
“I want to do something memorable with my life.” Fortune shrugs.
“I wish to see and aid all my friends and brothers in their endeavors.” Hermit smiles amicably.
“I want to see us all in a brand new adventure alongside each other.” Devil grins.
“I wish for the courage to propose to Trixie,” Tower begins, “for good-”
>”Wait, what!?” Trixie exclaims “Propose? You’re going to…”
>”You dumbass!” Gilda scolds him. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“Uh… shit.”
“Oh god this is amazing.”
>”It-it’s okay! Trixie… won’t remember this tomorrow.” She says, trying not to make eye contact. “Trixie is very drunk.”
“Way to go, Tower. Anyway, I don’t really feel like wishing. I’m happy where I am, and if I want something I’ll work for it.” Lovers shrugs.
“I just want us to be happy together. To laugh together for as long as possible. That’s all I want.” The Hanged Man answers.
“My dream for the coming year is to finish that story I’ve been working on, and to make advancements in my study of, err, Neighponese. And to get back in with college.”
“My wish is to form new bonds this year.” Says the Magus. “I’m finally in this world, and I can’t wait to get to know as many ponies as I can. Most of all though, I’m gonna try to enjoy life to the fullest.”
>Luna seems satisfied. “I suppose that’s all the humans that are going to speak up for now? Very well, how about everypony else?”

”I wish to keep supporting Twilight, and to have a lot of great adventures with all my friends, and a happy and healthy life with Rarity.” Spike says, giving the unicorn a nuzzle.
>”I wish to see everyone here come into their own, and to see the humans become more and more accepted by Equestria.” Says Twilight.
>”I dream for the continued prosperity and happiness of all Equestria.” Celestia declares. “And… perhaps a little more ‘leisure’ time this year, if I could be so bold.”
>”I wish for a pay raise!” Cheerilee says a bit loudly. “I want a bigger place for me and Hierophant… maybe we can start a family and all…”
>”I think… yeah, I think he’s right about wishing... If I do that, I feel like I’m saying I’m not confident enough. But I am going to kick some ass at this year’s National Dessert Competition.” Gilda says boldly.
>”And I’m gonna kick some ass at being a mother!” Dash says, patting herself on the chest. “Although… I guess if I have a wish, I’d like to wish for it not to be as painful and gross as Mrs. Cake says it is…” She whispers.
>”I don’t have any wishes, I’ve got everything I want!” Derpy says innocently. “So I guess I wish that things keep going the way they’re going.”
>”I wish for the good health an’ prosperity of mah family.” Applejack says simply.
>”Can I just wish for a normal life? Things are so crazy in the other world…” Sunset grumbles.

>”I wish for good luck in my business with the Umaguchi, and to regain our former glory.” Fluttershy smiles.
>”I wish for my fame and renown to spread across all Equestria, no, all the planet!” Trixie says in grandiose tones. “And… also that Tower finds his courage.”
>”My dream is for the success of my new Manehattan and Canterlot branches of Carousel Boutique!” Rarity says, leaning on Spike for support. “I also wish to never have to drink that vile concoction Zecora made ever again.”
>”I wish to see my children continue to thrive… and perhaps to learn to better… connect with regular ponies.” Farfalla says a bit awkwardly.
>”Imma wish to not get super burned out with college before I finish!” Pinkie Pie decides.
>”And I wish to watch as all of you pursue these dreams and make them a reality.” Luna finishes.
>”With that… I believe we’ve all said our wishes. It was a great pleasure to see you all again this year. Thank you for staying by my side for so long. And I hope to stay by yours forevermore. So with that… until next time.”
>”Yeah, see ya!”
>”See you around!”
>”Until we meet again.”
>”See you later!”
>”Take it easy!”
>”Catch ya later!”
>”I’ll look forward to it!”
>”See ya ‘round!”
>”See you next year!”
>”Mata ne~!”
>”We’ll meet again!”
>”Au revoir!”
>”Fare thee well, my friends.”
>”See ya laters alligators!”
>”Yes… until next time. The story of our lives is perpetually to be continued.”
>”For the ride… may never end.”