Epilogue: A Spray Can Full of Reality
“Rarwgh.” I yawned openly.
The sunlight streamed into my room, washing over my abode with its golden rays of morning. It wasn’t as bright as usual. Normally the light would rush into my eyes as it rose and seeped through my window shades, but today was different. Only a slight glimmer of the full frontal force hit me.
Stretching my arm out from underneath my body, I realized just how sore I was. My ribs ached from lying atop my arm, an arm which had in fact lost all feeling at this point. Even weirder still was the hard surface beneath me. It didn’t feel at all like my bed, nor could I find any traces of blankets nearby. Rather, the floor beneath my body felt soft and wavy. The light breeze of the fan was brushing my now free flowing rug against my sides.
Blinking a few times, I tried to sit up, getting ready to hop out of bed. Sliding my legs over, I found that I was already on the floor. Focusing as hard as I could on the ground, two important things caught my thoughts. First was that it was green. Varying shades of green breezed to and fro about my legs as I steadied myself. Second was that it was not a rug.
God, standing up hurt. Everything felt strained and pulled. Not that waking up wasn’t always difficult, but today seemed especially miserable. My surroundings didn’t feel normal, but it took a while for me to adjust with so many new factors.
Given the time, I finally managed to stand up straight and glance at my new bedroom. Simply put, I was outside of my house, lying in my backyard. The shade from the house kept the sun from shining too brightly, and there was a light breeze that kept the air circulating nicely about me. Thinking myself to be hallucinating, I rubbed my eyes and face vigorously up and down to make sure I was seeing properly. As I rubbed, I felt something hard knock off my head and heard the light tap on the ground behind me.
Turning around, I found a light brown Stetson hat at my feet. It had a small yellow feather stuck inside as well; obviously stuck in there hard so that it wouldn’t fall out. I didn’t wear Stetsons, nor did I ever wear my hats to bed. I bent down to pick it up, and noticed something else completely off about my scene. There were black shackles clasped to my ankles, with the chains broken and tattering away.
“What the hell was I up to last night?” I asked the world.
Looking around, taking it all in, I noticed a few more odd things about my person. I was wearing shorts and a shirt first. I normally wore shorts to bed, but a shirt? Why would I wear a shirt? They are so uncomfortable to sleep in. Moreover, I was wearing a vest. A vest, I mean really, what could’ve possessed me to wear a full outfit to bed. It was a pretty cool vest though; a nice shade of black and sew together extremely carefully. On the left side was a pocket with contents.
Pulling them out, I commented “Drumsticks? When did I get these?”
Running them through my fingers as I did with all of my drumsticks, I focused on the signature on the sides. It read ‘Property of Equestria’s Greatest Pegasus Drummer’ in bold cursive lettering. The words took their sweet time sinking into my mind, but once they had settled, they exploded.
Every single memory of the previous night burst into my mind like a battering ram would a small log cabin. From Rainbow Dash’s home to the pits of Tartars, I remembered everything. More than anything though were the final moments of my stay in Equestria. The quickly sought goodbyes with exceptionally wholehearted intents. It panged me to think of it.
As soon as the opportunity arose, home I went. With no rhyme or reason, I up and left them. They must’ve been so confused, perhaps even angry. After saying so many things about being the best of friends and then ditching them forever… how was I supposed to live with myself? I told them that I’d never truly be gone. But even I know that was a whole bunch of sappy bologna. There was no way I’d ever be able to be with them again. I would…never…see…
Crumph!
My knees collapsed to the hardened earth beneath me. The small amount of chains left on my feet rattled about as I fell. The hat which I had so carefully picked up lilted to the ground at a steady pace from my hand. My shirt and vest rippled in the breeze against my skin, brushing up against it sporadically.
I would never see my pony friends ever again. And the reason I would never see them was because I was afraid of losing them. I created for myself the very event I wished to prevent. Here I knelt, back in my world. A world where I stood upon two legs, a world where I didn’t have a tail, but had hands instead, a world where I was human. My family would be here, and my friends and life from what could have been ages ago. I was home...wasn’t I?
I looked up at the house in front of me. The olive green house was so dark, dreary almost. Where once stood a landscape of brilliance and color was now a plaque of dimmed delights. This wasn’t my home anymore. But it had to be. I hadn’t belonged to their world. I was like the dust on the floor of the royal palace. There was a certain beauty in my existence there, and I would be there for long enough that enough ponies would see me and comment, but I wouldn’t be there forever. Eventually somepony would have to come along and sweep me up and throw me outside, where I came from.
It didn’t feel right though. It didn’t feel complete. I knew I was missing something, something very important. Emotions rattling inside of me, clamoring for freedom and rioting for release broke free. In an effort to contain myself I slammed the ground with my fists in rage. Muscles tensed and breathing heavily once more, I caught the sight of my arm with my peripherals.
A large white bandage wrapped itself around the entirety of my bicep, keeping it locked firmly, but allowing air through. Twilight’s wrap. I had never gotten to properly thank her for saving my life. When it came down to it, there was a lot I never got to do. I never got to finish helping Applejack with the work on the farm. Nor did I say goodbye to Big Mac or Apple Bloom. They’d never even know I left. I promised Pinkie more parties than I was there to attend, or ever could now. I didn’t even get to help Fluttershy and the animals like I told her I would. And Rarity, the two of us never got a true opportunity to get to know one another.
Rainbow Dash. The entire time I had spent in Equestria was either running from or running at her. The small heart to heart we had atop the clouds was nothing in comparison to the times I spent with the others, nor did it come close to measuring the amount of time I wanted to spend with her. I wonder what she thought of me, accusing her of such nasty things and then leaving like this?
Did she hate me for what I did? Will Scootaloo hate me for not saying goodbye? I promised I’d be there for her, I promised to find her older brother. Then again, I guess I promised too much of myself to everypony, eh hem, everyone, now didn’t I?
“And if you were still here, I’m sure you’d follow through DR.” said a voice from nowhere.
“What the hell? Who’s there?” I called out, checking the area, but not too worried.
“The same mare who owes you a buck to the head when you get back.” the voice laughed.
“R-r-rainbow Dash? Am I going insane?” I essentially asked myself.
“Maybe, but that’s not why I’m here.” She explained to me in playful sarcasm.
“What do you mean when I get back? How, how is any of this happening!?” I yelled out, becoming more and more worried about my decreasing mental stability.
“Let’s just say Twilight’s freaky dark magic books are helping her on her way to bringing you back. I mean, it was Celestia’s idea after all.”
I tried to reason with myself slowly, figuring that if everything that happened before truly did happen, this could be real as well.
“Why does Celestia want me back?” I asked Dash.
“I dunno exactly. She said something about an unfinished friendship report. I don’t really care.” RD pushed the idea away.
I felt rather shunned, my tone exhibiting the same “Oh, I see. Guess it’s not much of a big deal after all.”
“Are you kidding me!” she said, getting excited “This is gonna be great! Once you get back I’ll finally get that race I’ve been wanting. You don’t have any magic birds to help you this time!”
“Hey, that wasn’t my fault!” I called back.
“Yeah right. Anyways, Celestia is also helping Twilight with telephonidas or something. Whatever it is, she said it can be used to talk with you; like this!”
“Telekinesis, Dange.” I laughed.
I could feel her pout at me, although neither of us could see the other. I felt the challenger’s tension rise in our conversation as we talked on, getting ready for our race and the other things we were going to do. When I realized the wonderful opportunity I had at hand, I pulled up a lawn chair and sat down. Talking with Dash reinvigorated my heart and recolored my eyes. Brilliant tones and shades surrounded me in the skies and grasses. Perhaps home might not have been as bright as Equestria, but it still had its share of textures and patterns.
Rainbow Dash and I continued to talk for quite some time as I watched the day go by. She had big plans for making the trip to Griffhala. I told her about the promise I made to Scootaloo and the connection that we shared. Rainbow Dash explained a similar connection to the young filly and assured me that with me gone, she would double her efforts to find Rocketeer. Those weren’t the only things on the list either. The Apple Family was going to be just fine with a little added help from their friends, and Big Mac was on his way to a full recovery. Everything else was on its way as well, just as it should be. Not only did this make my heart soar with joy, but it also felt like a pressing weight had been lifted from it.
There was a chance, a possibility I could go back. At sometime, somewhere, some way I might be able to return. And that was all I needed. Just that thought, that one chance I might meet them one more time, kept me afloat.
Still, I felt awful for leaving. Of course I had a life back here, at my real home, but I shouldn’t have just left them like that.
“Rainbow Dash.” I started
“Yeah?” she asked with a quizzical joy.
“You and the others…you’re not mad that I left, are you?”
There was a short silence, followed by a breath and most welcomed response, “Of course we aren’t mad, Drumroll. You have a home wherever it is you are. We can’t just ask you to leave that home to join ours, it’s not fair.”
“But I didn’t ---” she cut me off
“You said goodbye. And more importantly, you meant it. It may not look like it, but I know a thing or two about loyalty, and you definitely show it to us.”
The happy lull in her voice was unusual by her own standards, but I had become accustomed to it over the day. She seemed far more at ease and open than usual. I wondered if it was that she had been released from Discord’s spell at first, but came to realize it didn’t matter. I enjoyed her company, and she seemed to enjoy mine; that’s all I wanted.
“Well in that case, I think it’s time for me to say goodbye again. There are some people here that I’ve yet to say hello to today as is.” I joked.
“I understand. Just don’t forget us now, Roll, I’ll be waiting in Griffhala for you!” she eager called to me, her voice fading even in my mind.
“I’ll meet you there, Rainbow Danger Dash. I’m always ready for new world to explore!”