friendship is magic part 2

[allcomplete]

The forest is dark (Clarity and Guiding Star light their horns to see by, but it's almost worse than nothing, making the distant shadowed spaces darker by comparison; they soon give up). The plants that make it up are closely spaced, not all of them have friendly textures, and it is full of scary noises, only some of them the harmless snapped twigs and disturbed leaves of their own passage.

Before they've fully adjusted to the darkness, and are aware via anything but the feel of earth under their hooves that the path has sloped downward a little, it has given way under them, some of the flora and some distressingly large rocks along with it. Clarity can't even teleport. It's too dark to see where she might be going.

Comments

[follow_polaris]

Guiding Star gets a cluster of shards too, and strikes a pose.

[allcomplete]

"Cherry Cordial, who made her way back to the rest of us even though every sign offered a safe way out in the other direction, represents the spirit of Loyalty!"

[ipso_amore]

She stands straight, hooves braced firmly on the stone floor, and smiles.

[allcomplete]

"Joy, who banished fear by giggling in the face of danger, represents the spirit of Laughter!"

It's working it's working it's working!

[joyfulnoise]

Appropriately enough, Joy grins wider as his shards come in to circle him.

[allcomplete]

"And Brightblaze, who calmed a distraught serpent with a meaningful gift, represents the spirit of Generosity!"

All of the shards are orbiting somepony now.

[on_what_wings]

Blaze spreads her wings slightly, grinning.

[allcomplete]

"And all together we got through every obstacle in front of us."

[and_admiration]

"But - you still don't have the sixth Element! The spark didn't work!" exclaims Nightmare Moon.

[allcomplete]

"You don't think so?" says Clarity. "I do."

Why are they called that?

"The spark ignited inside of me when I realized how glad I was not to be here alone - how glad I am to have friends beside me - how glad I am that they are my friends!"

There appears directly over Clarity's head an intact Element rock - stamped with the impression of a bell, just like her cutie mark.

"When those Elements are united," Clarity goes on, encouraged, "with the spark of friendship it creates the sixth Element: the element of -"

Hay, she has to name it.

"Magic!" she says dramatically.

The rock likes this name enough to glow brilliantly and inspire all of its rock friends to transform into assorted jewelry.

[on_what_wings]

Ooh. Jewelry.

[joyfulnoise]

Ooh! Jewelry!

[follow_polaris]

Oooooh! Jewelry!

[allcomplete]

While the other five are necklaces, Clarity gets a crown. Everypony floats into the air, winged or not.

Clarity shuts her eyes against the bright glow of magic, smiling serenely.

A rainbow-colored fountain of power erupts from the Elemental accessories and showers down on Nightmare Moon, wrapping her up -

[and_admiration]

"No - NOOOOOOOOO!"

[allcomplete]

Clarity opens her eyes.

And Nightmare Moon falls silent.

And everypony drifts to the floor, losing consciousness as they do.

[clearthestorm]

Streak is the first one to wake up. It takes her a moment to get up on her hooves again.

[ipso_amore]

Cordy stirs soon afterward. She looks around for Clarity, locates her, and says inquiringly,

"Is it just me, or were you bluffing heavily back there?"

[allcomplete]

"So much bluffing. But, magic - things - kept happening when I was doing it, so I... carried on a bit."

[ipso_amore]

"Sensible. And it seems like it worked out okay."

[allcomplete]

"It seems like it. So unless I have the hitherto undiscovered power to control ancient artifacts by making suggestions to them we are at least reasonably suitable bearers for the Elements of Harmony, huh?"

[magicalfriendship]

"Indeed you are," says a radiant voice from outside the window, where the sun is rapidly climbing.

From the sun descends - Princess Celestia.

[joyfulnoise]

Well. How 'bout that.

[follow_polaris]

Guiding bows!

[allcomplete]

"Princess Celestia!" exclaims Clarity, also bowing quickly before trotting forward. "You're okay!"