//------------------------------//
// The Aftermath 
// Story: Harmony in Unexpected Places 
// by Big Saij 
//------------------------------//

One year later...

Finicus Vesali couldn't help but smile at his own work as he applied the finishing touches to his piece. It was no masterpiece, that was for sure, but the paintings were finally starting to look less like a mess and more like Ponyville. It was remarkable how much he had improved in watercolors since when the changeling had started a month ago.

As Finicus sat back to contemplate, he couldn't help but look back at how foolish he had been all that time ago. He didn't need money, a cutie mark or even some stunning revelation to find out what to do in life. It was completely up to him on what he wanted to do and be. He chose to be Finicus Vesali, watercolor enthusiast.

That wasn't to say, of course, that he wasn't still also CEO of Main Hive Industries. The Equestrian Liberation Front had confiscated everything Equestrian that the company had taken after the first Great war had ended, most notably the factories and the Canterlot Archives. That, he had expected. What he hadn't expected was to retain his position as CEO MHI as well as the vast majority of what he had owned in the Hives. In fact, he had even been allowed to buy a factory in Canterlot, perfectly legally this time, and make it one of the first joint changeling-factories in the world. Finicus even had a few ponies on his executive board, and the changelings on it were much more aligned with his wishes then the original ones had been.

It was a bit ironic, in a twisted sort of way. He had done his best working with the Heer to help them win the Great War to try and feel something in life, but only after they had lost did MHI give him any sort of fulfillment. Sometimes he even got letters personally addressed to him from his workers, which he kept in his personal drawer next to a bottle of cognac.

After letting out a deep and contented sigh, Finicus packed up all his art supplies into a suitcase and slowly walked down back into Ponyville. 

Maybe he would stop by Sweet Apple Acres, he always did love their cider.





"Alright, lets see how this test goes. Remember, our benchmark is forty-six percent, so anything above that is a success. The results should be coming in any minute now."

Marsillio and the rest of the science team waited with bated breath as the machine slowly began printing out readings. Just as he had expected over a year ago, progress on artificial Love eventually plateaued and research began grounding to a halt, especially once the second war began. When the ELF took Canterlot, he had expected all the research to be shut down, permanently.

So imagine his surprise when he learned that not only would he be allowed to continue his research in Canterlot with his equipment, but that the new Equestrian government would be funding it, as well as delegating some of the brightest pony scientists on Equus to aid in its endeavors. Princess Twilight Sparkle herself had even offered and donated Love to the project once she had learned that an alicorn's Love was vastly more powerful and potent than any other.

But even without the synthetic Love, Marsillio could already see the beginnings of a symbiotic relationship blooming in the new Equestria. Changelings no longer took Love from ponies, they received it willingly. All it took from some was a simple request, a few kind words, and nothing more.

Not to say that everything was going perfectly, of course. There was still anti-changeling resentment all over Equestria, with the wars and occupation still embedded in the minds of many. But with Marsillio's old manifesto being used as the guidelines for future pony-changeling relationship, the future for both was indeed looking bright.

"Marsillio! Marsillio, look!" The words snapped the changeling back to attention as one of his oldest friends, Spectrograph hurried up to him with the results. "Fifty-one percent comparable! We're over halfway there!"

The sounds of cheering could be heard from the entire team, ponies and changelings alike as Marsillio himself read the results one more time just to be sure. Back when this project first began, he had feared that it would take decades, maybe even a lifetime to produce anything close to real Love. But now, with a full team and cooperation among races, the vision he had only seen in his dreams was finally starting to come true.

And as the sounds of celebration echoed around him, Marsillio gave a small smile.





Alcippe dropped her bags by the front door as she entered her house, finally being able to relax after a long day of work. The cadets had been particularly rowdy today, and she had spent a large part of the day just trying to keep them in line and paying attention to what she was saying. It was definitely different from the times she was teaching Heer officers.

Reflecting on it, the fact that she got a job so similar to the one she had before Canterlot had fallen had been a true stroke of luck. Finicus was able to keep his position, after all, and Marsillio continued his work under a different employer, but herself and Jachs couldn't exactly just sign back up into the army. Especially when the enemy would have been fellow changelings.

After the war, however, she had received an offer to become a teacher in the officer schools. Jachs has urged her to accept it, so Alcippe bought a house in Canterlot with help from Finicus and did what she knew best; teach. Granted, the ponies were much different from changelings, and the curriculum differed slightly from what she had been taught, but the core tenants were still there; respect, discipline and loyalty. Despite all the trouble is put her through sometimes, it was a job Alcippe thoroughly enjoyed.

Moving to the table, the changeling began sorting through the mail from today. Bill, bill, work, junk, and a letter from Jachs. Setting the others aside, she opened the last one and folded open the piece of paper inside.

Alcippe,

I don't know what these years of suffering would have been without you at my side. You had turned a position of immense responsibility into something I could genuinely enjoy. Through anything and everything, from the early days of torment to our 'adventures' in the cave, you've been with me.

And I'd like to ask you to stay with me for a lot longer then that.

From, Jachs.

Alcippe put down the letter, a tear starting to form in one of her eyes. It really had been a long time since they had first met, hadn't it? They had stood together for countless years, side by side, no matter what happened. She already knew what Jachs was asking.

And Alcippe already knew her answer.





Jachs sat down in the office on the side of the desk opposite from the teal pegasi mare, wondering what this could possibly be. The letter he had received had been suspiciously vague; nothing more then to meet at this office in the Canterlot Palace and the offer of a job. The pony finished signing a form before looking up at Jachs.

"I've heard a lot about you, Generalmajor Jachs. Former governor of the Canterlot Commissariat, leader of the Das 96 'Canterlonian'... you even got personally pardoned by both Starlight Glimmer and Princess Twilight Sparkle during the trial of you and three other changelings. Quite a track record you have."

His eyes narrowed. "How do you know so much about me?"

The pegasi put her hooves together on the desk, leaning forward. "I keep tabs on all the important changelings in Equestria, Generalmajor. Though, I suppose you've lost that rank in the Heer by now. The reason I asked you to come, Jachs, is because I wanted to offer you a job as an administrator here in Canterlot."

"Me? An administrator?"

Nodding, the mare opened a folder on her desk. "I've done a lot of research into you, especially into your time as governor. And I have to say, I'm impressed. You would have done a fine job in Manehattan on the Ost-Kommando."

Jachs got off the chair and put his hooves on the table. "Alright, who are you really?" he asked, eyes focused on the pair across from him. "You obviously aren't just some bureaucrat for Equestria."

The light-blue pegasus shrugged. "To ponies, they know me as Lily Merrimare. You, however, would most likely know me by a different name." In a ring of blue fire, the pony was gone, replaced by a female changeling. "Lilac, former Lady Protectress of Manehattan."

Jachs' jaw dropped. Lilac was supposed to be dead! All reports said she was caught in the blast when the Crystaller Building blew up during the initial ELF uprising! So how was she here?

The drone smirked. "I bet you're wondering how I'm still alive, much less working for Equestria now, aren't you? Well, when the Equestrian Liberation Front ruined my dreams for the Protectorate, I wasn't going down with my ship. So I jumped right before Chrysalis found out, put on a disguise and fled to Hollow Shades." The smile faded, replaced with a light sigh. "I wasn't planning to get so high in the administration, only to work as a low-level bureaucrat to keep off suspicion. But apparently I was too good at my job because Starlight Glimmer noticed me and had me work in the head offices. So now I'm here, hiring changelings like you.

Blinking, Jachs quickly wore off from the temporary shock. "So where do I fit in all of this? Why me in particular?"

Now Lilac was frowning. "I'm no fool, Jachs. Eventually the ponies will find out about me. And when they do, I'll be lucky if I just lose my job, what with how widespread hatred of me is out there." Her voice took on a more somber tone. "It seems they really do think of me as nothing more than a tyrant..."

"...Lilac?"

Her eyes refocused. "Right, apologies. When that time comes, I'll need character witnesses, changelings I can trust to back me up. I saw your record, read in the newspaper how you saved the Princess herself. I know you had good intentions, and I think you know I did too."

"Well I-" Jachs' words fumbled. "I'll need more time to think about this at the very least. Thank you for the job offer."

After a few moments, Lilac nodded, her eyes betraying just a hint of disappointment. Standing, she quickly donned her pony disguise again before slowly opening the office door. "I do hope you think about my offer, Jachs. It would be a shame to waste talent like you. If you ever make up your mind, you're always welcome."

Then, Lilac closed the door behind her, leaving the former Generalmajor alone.