I opened my eyes.
I was lying on my back outside town before dawn, somehow. A crowd of ponies were gathered around me. Looking up, I didn’t see the moon. The moon was gone! All of my worries were gone. I didn’t have to die. I didn’t have to die.
“He’s awake!” I heard Applejack say. I looked to the right of me to see her.
I heard a collective sigh of relief amongst the crowd. Applejack, Luna, Doctor Whooves, and Link all came into my vision in front of me. The crowd backed up a considerable distance.
“What happened?” I asked in a raspy tone.
Fluttershy, Twilight, Rainbow, Rarity, and Pinkie trotted next to them, with color. They all started giggling first, until everypony started laughing deeply. It was so infectious that I couldn’t help but laugh myself. We kept laughing until we ran out of air.
I sobered quickly after. “I’m so, so sorry. I can’t imagine how angry you guys must be at me. I’m forever in your debt.”
Pinkie jumped on top of me with her hooves around my body and pressed her snout against mine. “Don’t be silly, it wasn’t your fault.” She stared into me with a serious gaze, quite unlike her usual bubbly self.
She jumped back and I stared at the ponies in turn. They all gave me a smile. It almost felt like a dream. “But what happened? Where’s the moon? Where’s the mask?”
The mask salesman trotted into view now, holding the mask. I cringed back, worried. He smiled at me creepily. “Don’t worry, it’s safe now. Nightmare Moon has been driven away from this world once and for all. It’s only a souvenir now. I think I’ll keep it for myself. I will forgive and forget.”
“As for the moon,” Applejack said, “Ah think that’s a tale for another day. Instead, let’s start the Summer Sun Celebration!”
Fireworks shot into the sky above Ponyville and the crowd cheered. They stampeded back there to witness a white unicorn with wings lift up the sun with her magic at the library. The Salesman walked off and disappeared in the grass forever. I would never know who he was, though I was happier because of that.
Still, they remained and that was important to me. That they forgave me. I didn’t even know how they stopped the moon and the mask at that moment. I didn’t know how they saved the corrupted ponies. But I didn’t care. At that moment, I felt secure. The ponies had forgiven me to an extent. I was no longer enslaved. I wasn’t worried. Wherever the river flowed, I would enjoy the ride. As long as everything was back to order. Even if I did look different, I was still a mortal pony.
Time flew by swiftly afterwards. I accepted that I would never leave Equestria. The ponies told me how they saved the world, though I’ll spare writing that down since everypony knows about that. We were friends and would forever remain. Applejack and the bearers of the Elements remained in Ponyville while Luna returned to Canterlot. Doctor Whooves, Link, and I remained in Ponyville for some time, getting to know all of the inhabitants before moving on. We traveled across this magnificent world that was Equestria. Travelers and friends until the end.
I’m an old, sentimental pony now, living back in Ponyville. I was never the real hero, yet never the real villain. Only a bystander. My adventures have come to a close. I’m glad that you all forgive me. Thanks for listening to my words.
I only wished things could have occurred differently. But I have no part in fate.