For Whom the Bewitching Bell Tolls - Epilogue Part 1

>You are Twilight Sparkle
>15 years had passed since Anonymous had left Poniville
>In that time, your school had undergone several revamps to its teaching schedules, among other things so that your friends could have more time for their professions and personal lives
>It wasnt at your initial recommendation or that of your 5 friends, but a note Pinkie had showed you from Anon's journal
>Within, it detailed how he felt a bit shunned due to how busy you all had gotten running the place
>Among other ill-feelings towards the idea teaching friendship in an institution
>Still, when it was brought to the table, the others (some less reluctantly than expected) did admit that their roles in the school took up a lot of much needed time and energy, now that the topic had come up
>They were more than happy to accept the proposition of more staff rotations

>It seems like even when he wasnt around, Anonymous could still expose something overlooked in how your friendships worked
>And so, you began to restructure your school and staff once more, getting more staff to rotate in the place of your friends
>The other Pillars were happy to lend a hoof, and the students who had graduated loved the idea of coming back to contribute
>Anon's journal is framed in the Headmare's office of the School now. Though not all of the criticisms that it kept remained as issues these days, it stood as a reminder that there was always room to improve things, especially if it makes your institution less of a detriment to the friends you already keep.
>If only such strides had not come at the cost of his disappearance.

>As you walk the Hall of Remembrance in Canterlot Castle, you look upon the glass-stained windows. All of these depictions of triumphs over the years from your friends aiding you to make the impossible, possible
>You never liked how you stood out so prominently in these
>It was all the effort of a cohesive whole - you just helped glue the pieces together.

>Yes, just like these glassed depictions...
>Anon might not have been an element bearer like the rest of you, but the time you and the others did share with him still made him a part of you all.
>A part who probably wan't as valued as he should have been.
>His time to shine came, but it was also the time he took to break away from the whole you had come to cherish.
>Now the image of your whole was marred by his absence, and nothing could fix it.
>An audible sigh leaves you as you continue on into the chamber

---

>Your next stop is another depiction, showing Cozy Glow and Flurry Heart together.
>Cozy Glow was a difficult case to properly reform. Her skewed view of Friendship, especially having been left unanswered for so long, wasn't easy to change....but together with Starlight and the CMC, you were able to help her....adjust to a better way.
>She was still a very cunning filly, and her tongue and wit even sharper
>However, you came to recognize this as her talent - she could convince ponies to see and even buy into angles they might not have considered of their own volition, even without being cute.

>A talent you came to take advantage of. While Spike handles things internationally (mostly often on behalf of the Dragons, as they needed someone level headed like him), Cozy Glow became an Ambassador in her own right
>Though she prefers to be called the "Grand Friendship Inquisitor" instead
>That filly always loved aggrandizing status, despite dropping the "Empress of Friendship" idea.

>Flurry Heart struggled to handle her new role as a Princess, but though she was naive when it came to diplomacy and flexing her political power, Cozy was more than capable of aiding her, as she had when it came to consolidating several factions of her Empire that had splintered off due to some major disagreements.
>You and Cozy had been there that day, when she interjected in negotiations to pull Flurry aside to help "adjust her game plan" where her advisers had balked, becoming indecisive.

>It was a difficult day as tensions between the factions had been pretty high
>Cadence and Shining Armor had been doing their own part to keep the The Empire together, leaving their daughter to handle things back at home
>Still, with Cozy Glow's quick thinking once she was properly up to speed on the situation, and her silver tongue, she nearly beguiled the separatists into a heavily one-sided deal
>However, Flurry would interject, noting how it would not be totally fair to the factions at the table, breaking the conditioning Flurry had woven over them with her words, and coming to a more fair arrangement before you could interject yourself

>Though she had not a true grasp of what power her station wielded, Flurry Heart was just.
>The separatists came to appreciate her consideration after realizing what they had almost bought into, much to Cozy's chagrin.
>It was surprisingly amusing how they rounded each other out in their own way, and you had sought to have them spend more time with each other.
>Perhaps Cozy Glow's shrewdness could be picked up by Flurry Heart, who in turn could help her find a bit more compassion in how she "convinces" others.
>...
>You'd still keep an eye on their developments, though. It would be best to ensure Cozy doesnt relapse like Discord did, just because somepony in another domain with politicla power is willing to lend their ear to her. She's come a long way since, and while you could expect a stumble here or there, an international crisis could be harder to manage.

---

>You move on to another glass, showing a depiction of Starswirl, Scorpan, Celestia and Luna, and Tirek, and Cozy Glow
>This one was an....interesting case.
>Tirek thought the Princesses were going to subject him to torture or another prison for what had happened that day, but instead, Starswirl had located his brother Scorpan and arranged a meeting between the two
>There was a lot of anger from Tirek's side from having to speak to a traitor, and hurt from Scorpan's side that Tirek would think of him as such, but in time, they were gradually able to work through their misgivings and misunderstandings

>All Scorpan wanted was for their kind to live peacefully with Ponykind. He saw beauty and harmony in the lives they lived, versus ruling with might and imposing your will on the weaker that their family had been used to
>Cozy had interjected stating that Tirek HAD indeed made friends, recounting her and Chrysalis' time together with him
>Even if it wasnt an ideal example of Friendship, Scorpan was overjoyed that Tirek could find friendship after all these years
>Tirek.....begrudgingly agreed with Cozy Glow. Even though it "was to crush his enemies at the time", he did.....enjoy his time together with them. It made him happy that they didnt look down on him and that he could rely on them when they worked together.
>Even if they ultimately failed.

>"You do not have to live in the image father had created for us, brother. To oppress others through one's might is the thinking of a bygone era. Time and time again, Friendship has proven to be the greatest power of all, and you've proven yourself capable of attaining it, too."
>Scorpan's words are engraved on the wall under the mirror. Despite what Tirek had done against you, it was touching to see him find the truth you had come to know so early in your life so far along in his own.
>Scorpan would invite Tirek to his homeland, with Cozy promising to write & visit sometime.
>Hopefully with Chrysalis in tow.

---

>Chrysalis was a very difficult case
>Attempts to get her to reconcile with her hive have fallen through time and time again because she just "refuses to deal with traitors", especially if she were "to end up looking like them" in the process.
>At the very least, she had refused to wander the woods again to starve out of nowhere, hoping she could gain some attention from just being around the ponies in Ponyville over what happened last time she was left out there.

>Still, Chrysalis has made a few attempts at sabotaging the daily workings of Ponyville's populace.
>However, with mass awareness of her presence in town and and a spy or two keeping track of her whereabouts, even when she shifts form, she never really managed to do much before her plan backfires on her or crumbles away, amounting to nothing after being exposed
>Chrysalis had fallen into depression as an end result, eventually simply giving up on trying to defeat you and your friends

>It was a first, really - you'd never seen a villain simply give up on their ambitions out of fatigue. She still wasn't keen on joining Thorax and the rest, but Starlight had a better proposition.
>Chrysalis would return with her to the Town Starlight helped establish when you had first met her.
>They were doing fine on their own, but still desired a leader to help develop their home further, and possibly attract more ponies
>Starlight wanted herself and Chrysalis to aid them in that endeavor, understanding that Chrysalis didn't just want to rule, she NEEDED to rule
>It was all she knew as a Queen - it was her instinct, her purpose. To deny such would be like ignoring a pony's cutiemark and the calling they would feel from its acquisition
>How could Chrysalis begin to change when she cannot satisfy her most basic desire?

>Starlight figured if she could be taught how to govern a town of ponies and care about her subjects instead of ruling through fear and intimidation, Chrysalis could open up to learning better things.
>It was a rough start (on both fronts), as the folks were worried about what having a changeling around could entail (and Chrysalis felt that being given co-ownership of a town of ponies was some kind of potential trap), but with some assurance from Starlight Chrysalis slowly managed to integrate into their community over time
>It was a strange feeling for her to not have to hide in plain sight or worry about disguising herself to fool ponies, but...a surprisingly welcome one
>It reminded her of her better days among her hive, in a way.

>Without the need to weave a web of lies to ensnare the populace, Chrysalis could focus on the important things after assuming control
>The town was a bit short on overall resources, something Chrysalis was very quick to point out after a day of touring it and asking ponies of what they stocked vs what they needed
>Starlight would listen as Chrysalis meticulously pointed out the materials, the foodstuffs, and items the populace could use to improve their living conditions
>It was an exceptionally well thought out report . Chrysalis clearly had experience understanding how to keep her following going on hard times.
>However, her suggestion of raiding nearby towns for what they required was not the way to go, even if she could "seduce the elder or mayors to do their bidding if raids are off the table"

>Fortunately, Starlight was able to send a missive to Ponyville and also get some help from a certain "Inquisitor", whom Chrysalis was all too happy to reunite with upon her arrival
>While you were all for setting up a trade route with Our Town, trading with other settlements was still a must
>And Cozy Glow was more than happy to help show Chrysalis how to negotiate without employing force, threats or subterfuge.

>Weeks would turn into months as the two worked together to make Our Town prosperous.
>It wasnt always easy, especially should an odd disaster came their way, but Chrysalis' quick thinking and resource management (of ponies or their materials) and Starlight's magic always managed to pull them through
>Though it was a shaky start, Chrysalis became a beloved leader, having done what she could to care for & understand the ponies she had to look after
>Her excuse was that "she needed to know to best use them", or "wanting to cement herself as a capable Queen deserving of adoration", but Starlight and Cozy Glow could tell she had grown attached to her subjects

>Working with Starlight also eased the misgivings Chrysalis had with her over the months
>Chrysalis had admitted that it wasn't....her best judgement to pin her kin's betrayal solely on Starlight's shoulders and that she was simply hurting from the loss of what was her family
>Though she STILL isnt willing to reconnect with them, Chrysalis was content with the new family she had made among these former strangers, who had grown to cherish her
>She even thanked Starlight for giving her a chance to start over, despite all the contempt she spewed at her since they met, but that was a secret between the two of them.

>After two years living and helping guide them, Starlight was certain Chrysalis would be ready to handle things on her own, stepping down as co-mayor and giving her the reigns of leadership
>With Our Town's dependence on other settlements to thrive, and Chrysalis having her own domain (albeit a small one) to rule, there was no longer a threat of her trying to conquer Equestria
>At least, you hope so.
>She even comes from time to time to speak with Cozy Glow or for provincial summits
>Though there's still a pinch of animosity from her aimed at you from quashing her old ambitions, she's been fairly cordial, understanding that her old grudge is a small matter compared to the needs of her subjects

>Her looks hadn't changed too much, but you had noticed that Chrysalis seemed...."whole", now.
>Maybe it was because she didn't need to parasite off of misplaced affection, now that she had the love of her ponies for who she is, but her mane and body's holes had "filled in" over the years
>Chrysalis' wings and mane also gave off a beautiful gleam when the light hits it just right....
>Not the drastic change you expected from a Changeling reforming, but perhaps she would become something particularly special over time?
>Or maybe her transformation would be more gradual.
>Still, you wish that there was a way to get her and Thorax to get along, but maybe it would be best to hope they come together organically....somehow.
>....Well, foal steps. There's no need to rush things.

>You already commissioned a stained glass window of her next to Tirek's and Cozy Glow's. It should be done by the end of the month.