Close to a decade after Twilight has ascended into Celestia’s place in Canterlot. Equestria continued to prosper under her peaceful reign.The School of Friendship’s influence has only strengthened Equestria’s bond with other nations of the world even stronger then it had been when the many kinds of creatures worked together to overwhelm Tirek, Queen Chrysalis, and Cozy Glow.
This is a look-at what changes, if any, each of the Elements of Harmony, family, and friends have gone through since Twilight’s reign in Canterlot began. Starting with the Cutie Mark Crusaders, who are all now young adults…
APPLE BLOOM
Apple Bloom stuck to her family tradition of keeping up on the farm. She’s become as proficient at bringing down the apples as her older sister has. Though she’s also delved into using potion and-making skills she’s learned from her many years with Zecora for some extra money-making for herself. She’d call her potion & tea making business “Applebrew’s”
SCOOTALOO
The moment Scootaloo turned 16, she was immediately invited into the Waterbolt reserves. During this time period, the Waterbolts were pretty exclusively hippogriffs that mastered swimming in their time as seaponies. But they knew a pony who was responsible for the creation of the branch is the first place has been working hard until she was finally age-eligible. Just two years later, she finally reached her goal of being an official member of the new branch she helped create in the first place. She swims every day with her team captain, Silverstream. And quickly became the star attraction of all Waterbolt shows, as the fastest pony in the sea. She even got featured in the Wonderbolt’s monthly magazine.
The photo above was used as the cover image. On the issue’s cover was text saying “Don’t miss our exclusive interview with Scootaloo, Equestria’s Mermaid! Hear her story on how far a little magic, and years of dedication can get you!”. Her story inspiring many other ponies to try a hoof at swimming as a sea pony. It still takes plenty of dedication, but now even earth ponies and unicorns could have a chance at being a part of the Wonderbolts organization if they have a high interest in swimming. Many lakes and beaches around Equestria have magic duplicates of the hippogriff necklaces to allow ponies the sea pony transformation whether they want to swim in that form just for fun, or if they’re serious about pursuing a future in the Waterbolts
SWEETIE BELLE
Sweetie Belle at 16 started to officially get her hooves wet into the music industry. Just a few years later her electrifying voice in Metal has become near Equestrian-Renowned. She hasn’t found herself a metal band to front yet, as she’s mainly been doing solo singles and/or guest vocals for bands that already existed. Her manager, the ever-so-famous Coloratura even moved from Manehattan to Ponyville to help develop Sweetie’s talent alongside Octavia Melody and Vinyl Scratch. Though that’s not all of what’s brought the famous pop singer back to Ponyville…
APPLEJACK (AND COLORATURA) + THE APPLE FAMILY SPIRITS
At around the time Coloratura was in her first year of managing Sweetie, Granny Smith and Grand Pear passed away in their old age. The existence of spirit summoning has softened the blow of death for many, though it’s still nonetheless sad to see beloved family members leave the world of the living. Rara quickly went to Applejack’s side, to comfort her old friend. Rara would check up and see AJ plenty of more times afterward, sometimes taking her out to a place to eat and/or a relaxing time at the spa.
Having spent more and more time with Applejack again, the closeness they felt as childhood friends at their summer camp quickly returned. Though gradually there was a feeling in the two of them that their feelings for one another were evolving into something more., eventually Applejack and Rara officially started dating. The two quickly became a real power couple in Equestria. The famous pop singer, and one of Equestria’s honored heroes.
Sometime withIn his final weeks alive, Grand Pear managed to get his long sought forgiveness for how he treated Pear Butter and Bright Mac’s relationship from their spirits. Applejack still was sad about the loss of Granny Smith and Grand Pear, but knows that now that when they aren’t summoned down by Spike. They’re eternally orbiting the sky, having fully brought the horrid feud between the Apples and the Pears down for good
At one point, Applejack made a suggestion to Coloratura that she let her mother’s spirit sing a duet with her for a single. At the time she had not been sure it’d work out, since Spirits have an echo that isn’t added on purpose in post-production. But as it turned out, Rara ended up loving how Pear Butter’s voice sounded on recording. The echo actually providing some chilling parts to her song that complemented Rara’s own singing voice when they sang together. The duet that Rara and Pear Butter sang was an instant hit that topped the charts in Equestria.
RAINBOW DASH
Rainbow Dash became the new captain of the Wonderbolts after Spitfire and Soarin’ both retired. In their place, Vapor Trail and Sky Stinger were promoted to Wonderbolts as part of Rainbow’s own squad. The wonder bolts expanding to allow non-pony members as well as the Waterbolts has increased the reach the organization has. And Rainbow’s leadership has helped make sure that all new recruits were both the best flyers (or swimmers), and of the best character. To prevent any more Lightning Dust or Wind Rider situations from happening ever again.
RARITY
Rarity’s business continued to flourish well into the coming years, with further expansions in her chain of stores in Las Pegasus, the Crystal Empire, and Mount Aris. Her Mount Aris store in particular had both options for the hippogriffs, and even underwater fashion for the sea ponies.
FLUTTERSHY (AND DISCORD…?)
Fluttershy continued to take care of all her animals in her sanctuary with Dr. Fauna. Her relationship with Discord at this point is a bit of an enigma. Some days she and Discord would act like they’ve obviously been dating for years, others they pretend to hate each others guts, or don’t even know each other. Fluttershy’s friends think the two are probably indeed together, they’re just going at it in a most Discord way: Leaving ponies guessing, in the most infuriating and chaotic way possible
PINKIE PIE (AND CHEESE SANDWICH)
Pinkie Pie’s relationship with Cheese Sandwich has still gone strong since it started at the Royal Ball in Saddle Arabia. They haven’t been married yet, though partly because either are struggling to decide how they can make their big proposal a big event worthy of the two party ponies. Each maybe a little too worried that if it’s not done right, it might end up breaking their relationship.
SPIKE
Spike has grown much taller since Twilight’s reign in Canterlot started. His muscles are still a bit on the lean side, but he’s looking to be growing into a big, strong dragon in later years. He also still commonly summons spirits for those who ask. Spike is the only one Twilight allows full reign with the Portal Gum as to make sure the travel industry in Equestria still gets business. Starlight and the Apple Family is still who he most caters to by summoning Sunset Shimmer as well as Pear Butter and Bright Mac. Though many funeral homes often have Spike’s ear, to allow the deceased to speak a heartwarming message to their families to assure them that they now protect the planet.
THE SPIRIT OF SUNSET SHIMMER
Starlight’s late mother continued to be the most summoned spirit in this timeframe. It was thought to be only fair that the pony who sacrificed the most should get more chances to mingle with the current world then some others. As without Sunset, Equestria… maybe even the world, may have fallen apart long before Twilight came into the picture. Firelight’s museum dedicated to her in Sire’s Hollow became a must go for many citizens of Equestria. Sunset would sometimes surprise visitors to the museum by pretending to be a holographic guide, only for her to reveal slowly that she’s been listening in onto their conversation. And later just revealing herself by responding back, often spooking visitors, but nonetheless allowing others to see the great hero herself.
Other then that, she’s helped guide her daughter more when she’s needed it. Starlight’s honed her magic skills further over the years with intensive study of her mother’s spell book (The very one that had given Starlight her cutie mark, a long time ago) and personal guidance from Sunset herself. Sunset sadly cannot demonstrate the skills she had in her prime, as spirits no longer can use the kind of magic they could do when they were alive. But she can still evaluate Starlight’s execution of the spell. And most of the time, Starlight manages to get it right pretty quickly. Always getting a proud smile from the literal-spirited mother.
TWILIGHT SPARKLE
The new sole ruler of Equestria have been very successful at keeping Equestria in it’s strongest period of peace ever. Twilight’s mane and tail now waves like Celestia and Luna’s does, though she’s still the same size she was when her reign began. As being a genie stunts her growth as an alicorn. She tried asking Cadence how her growth went being the youngest Alicorn. As she assumed it may have been too long ago for Celestia and Luna to really remember in detail how their growth happened. Cadence did remember some details, but she wasn’t observant enough to give a proper record so Twilight could grow herself gradually to sort of pseudo-age. There is also Flurry Heart who’s now of elementary school age, but obviously she’s on the younger side which doesn’t help Twilight much.
For now, Twilight just rolls along with her same size. Though if she does ever find out how alicorn growth works. She does want to give a try at replicating it slowly. Though the size she is now, will always essentially be her “true” form.
((More characters, plus a very brief story after the break))
