Scootaloo and Luna were still holding each other, as the mercenaries, Applebloom and Rumble found them. They were a little confused at first, at the sight. Scootaloo soon looked up and smiled.
“Hey everyone.” she said, as Luna let her go.
“Scootaloo, you made her stop crying?” Applebloom asked, approaching cautiously.
“Yeah, she just needed someone to be a friend and tell her, what she did wasn’t her fault.” Scootaloo replied.
High Wind grinned, as the mercenaries cheered. They hadn’t enjoyed the shaking, as it quickly became clear to Scootaloo that the shaking had gone further than the city of Oriel. They were also glad that the snow had stopped, though the sky was still night.
“So what now?” Rumble asked.
“I don’t know. I’m home, but well,” Scootaloo looked around, “there’s nothing. It may not be Luna’s fault, but its pretty clear, I can’t stay anymore.” she sighed. Luna held a leg around her.
“I am sure you will find a home in Equestria. I will help if you need it too.” she replied.
There was silence for a moment, as everyone realized that events had led to that moment Luna was freed, and calmed. They were now in that moment after an adventure, where those who went on it now knew it was over, and that things likely wouldn’t be as exciting anymore.
Scootaloo at least, set about trying to clean up her home city. Even if she wouldn’t live there anymore, and the world had to stay empty from now on, it could at least look clean. Luna likewise was helping, though the mercenaries, Applebloom and Rumble just watched and talked.
“We should head back to Equestria, its, well, strange looking up at the sky and knowing it isn’t the one we were born under.” Rumble said softly.
“Yeah, though it is cool right? Think about it, we’re the first Equestrians to look at this world, to see it. Sure its dead, but at least we got to see it before its all gone.” Applebloom smiled.
Any further conversation was cut off by the sound of a pair of hoofsteps. Looking towards them, Applebloom held her breath as she saw Shining Armor and Princess Maakera approached the center of the city. Luna had also heard them, as she dropped down, laying as flat as she could and shivering in pure terror.
Princess Maakera walked right up to her, and seemed to check Luna for a moment.
“Well, I can’t say I’m surprised what you did after I banished you here,” Princess Maakera’s voice wasn’t angry or disappointed, at least, not towards Luna, it was the tone of a parent understanding they had failed their child and not the other way around, “but to hear your regret, it hurt me.”
Slowly Luna stood up, with tear filled eyes, she looked at Princess Maakera, as if trying to understand something.
“No apology?” Luna asked after a moment.
“You know, I was never really good at saying the words,” Maakera took a deep breath, “because words hold no real meaning. I can say sorry from now until all worlds die, and it would just be a word.”
“A fair point, dear mother.”
A few minutes would pass before slowly, Princess Maakera walked closer to Luna, pulling her daughter gently into a hug. Luna began to cry again, which caused Scootaloo to dive for cover, but when the city and world didn’t shake, she came back out.
“So, that’s all to it?” High Wind looked at Shining Armor. Several hours had passed since Maakera and Luna had reunited. Shining Armor nodded.
“Yes. To be forgiven for your, transgressions,” Shining Armor left the word hang by itself for a moment, “you and your men will be the first of a new task force. Yggdrasil is open to us now, and we don’t know what waits in every world the tree links itself to. We were lucky this time, but the stories of the banished sisters are true, and the worst could still be out there and now aware of the way home.”
“Celestia, the sun’s rage.” High Wind muttered.
“If she hasn’t followed Luna, then our world could burn if Celestia is angry and out for revenge. And that’s not all.”
Scootaloo, Applebloom and Rumble, who had sat nearby and only partially interested, now looked up.
“What else is there?” Scootaloo asked.
“Other dark creatures from our world that the Princess banished over a thousand years ago. Tirek, King Sombra, Crysalis and Discord. Each of them is out there, just waiting for a chance to get back at her for what she did a thousand years ago.” Shining Armor replied.
Applebloom and Rumble sighed. Was this what they would do next? They had had enough adventuring, at least for now.
“You two, however, should go home. I thank you friends, for helping me, but you have families to go home to. If anyone should help with this, it is me. I have nothing left.” Scootaloo replied.
“I wouldn’t say nothing.” Shining Armor pointed to the horizon.
Nearby, Maakera glowed. And for the first time in many year, Asgell saw its first sunrise, as the moon fell below the horizon. The princess didn’t cease glowing however, as quickly the snow that covered the ground melted, and the elven ponies in the crystals were released from them. They stumbled around confused, especially at the sight of small, stocky ponies. Scootaloo smiled. It was bittersweet in the end. Her world was saved, but she was still alone aside from the friends she made.
“High Wind, your daughter can rest knowing we’re warm again.”
High Wind nodded.
Time Twister’s body was found a few hours later, and buried in the ground near the world tree on Equestria’s side. Scootaloo had followed the Equestrians as they returned, retaining her true form this time.
The grounds around Yggdrasil were full of activity as Equestrians set about restoring the city in the tree, and barriers were erected at the entrance and maintained by unicorns. Maakera was fearful of Celestia’s return now Luna had come back. Luna was younger and quicker to realize her mistake, but Celestia had been older, her rage would not be as easily left in the past.
Applebloom, Rumble and Scootaloo milled about, watching the activity and the formation of the Yggdrasil defence force and base.
“One thing Ah still don’t understand,” Applebloom spoke up, “if Luna were banished a thousand years ago, how come only recently were you sent to our world? Shouldn’t all this have happened back then?”
Scootaloo tilted her head, smiling.
“I think there’s something interesting about the worlds. Your world recorded Luna being banished to mine a thousand years ago, but in my world, she turned up only ten years ago. Time seems to move faster in this world.”
“But then, wouldn’t that mean the next time you come here, we’ll be older?” Rumble asked.
“Maybe, if I intended to stay on the Asgell side of the portal.” Scootaloo smiled.
“So this isn’t going to be a permanent goodbye?” Appleboom was grinning.
“No, it is like, well, friends going to their own homes for the night, I’ll see you again, it won’t be tomorrow, and likely not the day after, but it won’t be years from now either.”
The trio hugged each other, and in moments, Scootaloo watched as they boarded a small airship, and returned to Ponyville.
Applejack had every right to be angry at Applebloom. She had run off into the unknown, and into danger, been taken by mercenaries and got into a lot of trouble. But she, Big Mac and Granny Smith didn’t ground her.
How could they? Applebloom was responsible for saving another world. News had spread fast, by authority of Princess Maakera. Celebrations were upcoming to celebrate the return of Princess Luna.
Applebloom hurried however, to Carousel Boutique. Sweetie Belle had returned home while she was gone. Knocking on the door, she was let in by Rarity, and hurried to Sweetie Belle’s guest bedroom.
“Hey Sweetie Belle! Have ah got a story to tell you!” Applebloom said as she opened the door.
Applebloom’s jaw dropped, as she took in the room. Sweetie Belle was having a tea party, but rather than with dolls and empty cups and a kettle, there was real chamomile tea and china cups. And a white alicorn with rainbow hair. The Alicorn and Sweetie Belle smiled at their newest guest.
“Okay! And wait until I tell you what I did while I was away!” Sweetie Belle replied.