Destined

Happily Ever After

So sorry I haven't been active in months! I've been crazy busy over the length of time. But here it is! The final part of Destined! Enjoy! Of course, after this, I'll start publishing Promise ;)

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The sun began to rise, giving morning light to the Crystal Empire. In the palace gardens, there sat Princess Luna and Princess Cadence, who were comforting a crying Princess Fluttershy. Fluttershy knew in her heart that Twilight should've been back by now. She always came back. She was always there for her. This situation was no different. It didn't matter if she was pony-napped, Twilight was smart and could easily escape. Fluttershy's ears perked up as she heard hoof steps approach them. She lifted her head with high hopes, only to find Princess Celestia rather than the purple unicorn she'd been waiting for.

"Celestia..." Luna started. "You returned."

Celestia nodded. "Yes. I realized leaving wasn't going to solve anything. I thought about what you said. And the only way to truly protect and help Fluttershy, is to be there for her."

Fluttershy slumped down again. "I just wish you would've brought Twilight with you."

"Huh?" Celestia turned to her sister and niece for an explaination. The two alicorns nodded their heads in unison. Celestia knew exactly what was happening, as it was already written in destiny's scroll. She put her hoof gently on Fluttershy's shoulder. "Don't worry darling. Twilight will return."

"But...but it doesn't make sense. Something doesn't feel right. She promised she'd always be there for me, she sould've come back by now!"

Princess Cadence tried to think of an explanation. "Uh, maybe she's stuck in traffic?" Celestia and Luna shot her a glare while Cadence shrugged nervously.

"What if she's not coming back? What if she's hurt? What if she's in trouble? What if she's...dead?" Fluttershy didn't want to say it, or accept it, but she knew it was probably true. The feeling in her heart, that's what it was. Her heart was telling her that her adopted sister was gone and she was never coming back. She buried her head back in her soft, pink mane and began to weep. 

"Oh Fluttershy, I'm so sorry." Cadence consoled.

"I never should've let this happen. Please Glade, give my sister back..."

"I know, honey, I know." Celestia said, giving Fluttershy a small hug. 

"She was a wise ruler, she served her kingdom well with the spirit of friendship she had." Luna said. "She was the most gifted to have the ability to save you, Fluttershy. Not all princesses are like that. That's why she was destined to defeat Glade with the other three spirits."

Fluttershy rose her head and sniffled. "Twilight?"

Luna nodded. "Yes, Fluttershy. Twilight was a spirit of friendship. And from this day forward-"

"No...Twilight!" Fluttershy wiped her tears away excitedly as she pointed up to the sky. The three princesses looked up to see a flying airship begin to land in the gardens. Twilight was already on the main deck, waving down to the four ponies below. As soon as Twilight began to make her wave off the ship, Fluttershy ran up to her and gave her the biggest hug she could give.

"I missed you so much, Twilight!" Fluttershy squealed.

Twilight chuckled. "I missed you too!"

Princess Celestia levated Twilight's tiara that she had lost and placed it gently back on her head. The other three princesses joined in on Fluttershy and Twilight's hug while Sheriff Pinkie Pie, Captain Rainbow Dash, Samurai AppleJack, the western fillies and the pirate crew made their way out of the ship. Cadence rose her head, and was more than excited to see her most faithful samurai back in one piece.

"AppleJack!" Cadence galloped over to the orange mare and gave her a hug. With nothing else to do, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, the westerns and the pirates all looked at each other, shrugged and hugged.

Mercury, Cadence's royal messenger, came galloping in on the scene. "Princess Cadence! The samurai! She's returned-oh. I guess you already found out."

The crowd laughed. "Celestia, Luna. I know. I know where I came from. And I know about my brother. I just...I don't understand. He couldn't have passed! He was still young when he abanndoned me!"

Pinkie Pie shrugged. "Maybe he died from starvation or dehydration?"

Cadence rolled her eyes. "Speaking of which, Twilight, there is somepony here that would like to see you." Cadence motioned to the castle steps which Twilight looked toward. A white stallion with a blue mane slowly made his way down the stairs.

He spoke. "Twilight."

Twilight stood in disbelief. "Shining Armor?! But how? It was destiny that-"

Shining Armor put his hoof up. "Destiny isn't always correct. It can be changed by one who cares. I'm sure your little ponynapper over there knows about that."

Twilight turned to Rainbow Dash who was nervously scratching her mane. "I may have used Glade's staff to release your brother's soul before we left."

Twilight began to smile. "But...how?"

"Well, Glade said that when I brought you to him, I could have what my heart desired. And that was my father. But then I realized, my father's the reason I am who I am today. He didn't make me happy. But you...you did. You made me see something different. It was only fair that at least one of us got our family member back. Might as well bring back the one who actually cares about their young."

Twilight chuckled as she began to tear up and bring Rainbow Dash into a hug. "Thank you, Rainbow Dash."

"And when Cadence told me that you had been taken...I was just so worried about you. I'm just glad you're alright." Shining Armor said.

"And I'm glad you're alive. And I'm so grateful to be standing here with you and all the friends I made..." Twilight and her brother join in for a hug, and the others around them can't help but to join in as well, sealing this path of destiny.