GoH026

**A New Guardian Is Born!** (友情を理解していますか？ミラジュの気持ち, *Understanding Friendship? Mirage's Feelings*?) is the 26th episode of Season 1 and the 26th episode of the *Guardians of Harmony* series overall.

## Summary

*Mirage has finally realized the true meaning of friendship. When she asks the Guardians to turn her into a real human, something very magical happens in the process...and the destinies that Victoria and Arcturus could have will get closer to being fulfilled.*

## Plot

One evening In Victoria's house, the Guardians, Nina, their Pokémon, and "Mira" are cooking dinner over the fireplace. The latter, however, is watching how they bond and smile over something as a meal, and frowns that she will soon have to reveal her true identity as their enemy. When Ellis asks her what is wrong, she says that she is not hungry and excuses herself.

Once she is out of sight and changes back to her true appearance, her boss then contacts her via a magic potion (similar to the one the Storm King uses in *MLP the Movie 2017*) and asks her how the infiltration is going. He tells her to quickly reveal herself to the heroes so she can defeat them, but inside, she does not want to betray the friends she has made after all they have taught her about friendship, though she also doesn't want to get killed by him if he finds out. Conflicted, she abruptly cuts off the potion call, turns back into "Mira," and heads back to her dinner.

However, "Mira" then finds out that Joy had eaten her plate while she was away, causing Arcturus to scold the latter. Ellis, however, then gives her half of her plate to make up for it, and "Mira" is amazed at this act of kindness. While Joy apologizes and says she thought she didn't want it, Ellis tells "Mira" that she just doesn't want her to go hungry. She eats her dinner, wondering how the others would react when she finally reveals her true identity but explains that she doesn't want to be evil anymore.

That night, Victoria lets her sleep in her bed since she has nowhere else to sleep. She decides to reveal herself the next morning, explain that she knows what friendship is now, and having seen the power of the Elements of Harmony, ask to be made a real human by them instead of just being made of magic. However, they are both too tired and drift off to sleep, even though "Mira" doesn't technically need to sleep since she is made of magic.

The next morning, Mira hesitantly tells the Guardians that she has something to tell them. She deactivates her disguise and reveals her true identity as Mirage, shocking and horrifying them as they ask "how could you." Victoria almost cries as she furiously calls her a traitor who tricked them the whole time. However, Mirage then cuts them off and explains that during her infiltration of them, she has learned what friendship is and honestly doesn't want to be a bad guy anymore, since she now genuinely sees them as friends. While the others seem to understand, Marian doesn't believe her, though Robin tells her to trust what she is saying. She then expresses worry over her boss killing her if he finds out, though Arcadia assures her it's best to do what's right and not care what he may feel.

She then takes a deep breath after a moment of silence and and still feeling guilty, asks a favor of the Guardians: use the Elements of Harmony on her to make her a real human who also doesn't look evil anymore. While they are shocked from this request and Liam thinks they maykill her instead of transforming her, they hesitantly agree and head off to retrieve their Elements from Yumesora.

After retrieving their Elements, the Guardians gather, and with Mirage's approval, activate the Elements and then blast her with a huge rainbow beam, despite being hesitant to do for fear of killing her. She starts to change into a real human, and her appearance then changes into that of her Mira disguise. Her wings also disappear, and once the blast dissipates, the Guardians go to check on her, but then suddenly notice that their necklaces are thicker, while Sparkle Hope realizes that she has wings. Victoria then suddenly realizes that they got Stage 3 because of this. A grand coronation ceremony is then held for them, and Mira (borrowing one of Victoria's old purple dresses) sincerely apologizes for everything she has done and group hugs her new friends, saying she didn't know what friendship was about until they taught her.

A few days later, Mira, now with an outfit similar to the others but red, now has a Power Necklace and Harmony Gem and a Harmony Mark. Suddenly, the AoTA show up and attack, and Mira, who is enjoying the feeling of being good, transforms to face them as the episode ends.

## Major Events

* Mirage redeems and joins the heroes as Mira Freedman.
	+ Her new friends, having overcome a great weakness, get Stage 3 as a result of this (with Sparkle Hope becoming an Alicorn), and are coronated.

## Characters

### Guardians of Harmony

* Victoria Daisy
* Arcturus Porter
* Kiara Takanashi
* Princess Ellis
* Joy Cherrysnow
* Princess Emilia
* Liam Brennan
* Twilight Twinkle
* Robin Hood
* Marian Cerise
* Aaron Ketchum
* Arcadia
* Calliope Mori
* Gura Gawr
* Nicole Miles
* Sparkle Hope
* IRyS
* Mira Freedman (debut)

## Trivia

* This is the second episode in that which the **Harmony Color** is not announced.

### Dub Edits

* In the original, immediately after the Elements of Harmony are used on her, Mimi is naked. In the dub, however, a simple white sleeveless dress is edited on Mira.

### Easter Eggs

* Sailor Senshi Aratanaru Hishou plays when the Guardians start to transform into their Stage 3 forms...right when they also begin to use the Elements on Mirage to turn her into a real human.

## Gallery

### Concept scenes

Fulfill our destiny (A New Guardian is Born).pngIt's time...The changed Element of Harmony stands.png"Whoa! They changed as well!"Twinkle finally gets her royalty crown.pngA true Princess