And so, the company left the mountain, their quest at an end. They walked past the Windigo's cavern; Starswirl discovered another tunnel that would lead them around it. They walked over the snowy plain where the Crystal Empire once stood, and Starswirl thought he heard a sound like a whisper, saying "Crystals..." but it faded, like smoke on the wind.
They walked past Neighagra Falls, where they dropped of Limlung. After he had gorged himself on gems in the mountain, he said he needed to rest in his old home.
"I have fulfilled my debt to you, " rumbled Limlung. "However, I know your quest did not go exactly the way you planned, so if you ever need my aid, you have but to call my name,"
"Thank you, Limlung," said Starswirl, "You are a truly noble dragon. May your flame never dim."
When he was gone, a question occured to Starswirl.
"Moonswift," he asked ," I said you could take any gems you wanted. Did you take any at all?"
She nodded, and levitated out a small purse with her dark green magic. Inside was a small, purple pearl.
"I took a liking to this," she said wistfully, "It reminds me of home."
They walked away from the Falls, past the bush where they had met Bragoon and through a field, until they reached the river near foal mountain.
"How will we cross?" asked Moonswift
"With this," said Starswirl, pulling out an orange gem from his bag.
"I found it in the dragon's hoard. It contains enough magical energy for a few long range teleportation jumps,"
there was a flash of blue light, and Starswirl and Moonswift had teleported to the other side. They were on the bank of the river where Starswirl had first met Moonswift.
"It feels so long ago, doesn't it?" Said Moonswift, "Like I was a different pony back then. Well, I was..."
They went inside the Everfree forest. Moonswift's eyes were wide in awe. She had been here before, but only very breifly. Now she could drink in the forest: its sights, its smells, the calls of the wild birds that played in its treetops and the dried leaves beneath her hooves. There was no talking between her and Starswirl in the forest-she seemed entirely at peace here.
Starswirl the Bearded looked into the trees, and saw a glimse of a creature in the trees. It appeared to be a chicken, but with dragon wings and a snake tail. Instead of attacking Starswirl, the cockatrice took one look at the two unicorns, and flew away as fast as he could, while thinking: Oh no, not again.
At last, they came to the Castle of the Royal Pony Sisters, where they were greeted by a white alicorn, Princess Celestia.
The princess greeted both Starswirl and Moonswift, and asked how the journey went. Starswirl sat down to explain it to her. When he had finished, Celestia looked at him with a face of shock and fear, but a small part of her had already known the amulet would be trouble, and she was not sad to know it was gone.
Moonswift, however, needed to ask a question that was plaguing her mind.
"Um..." she started, "Your-your majesty?"
"Yes, young one?" asked Celestia,
"Well...Um... What-what about me? Where will I stay now? My family's home is all but destroyed, and even if it wasn't I couldn't get there, so where can I live?"
"Do not worry, Moonswift," said Celestia, "I am sure I can arrange a house in Canterlot for you. I hear there is one with a large lake that was recently put for sale, would you like that?"
Moonswift looked at her in awe.
"You-you woukd do that for me, your majesty? I-I don't know what to say..."
"From what I heard from Starswirl, you have done far more than earned it. I thank you, Moonswift."
Moonswift blushed, then muttered,
"Could I go inside?" she asked, "I'm feeling quite cold,"
"Of course," replied Celestia, leaving her and Starswirl alone.
"Do you know if that Amulet could ever be recovered?" asked Celestia.
"I do not think so," said Starswirl, "It is in a very remote place."
"Good," said Celestia, then she said,
"You seem to be quite friendly with Moonswift..." she began
"I know what you are going to say," interrupted Starswirl, "And I must respectfully disagree. She was a loyal, clever and useful ally, but I couldn't call her a friend. I am sorry, mentor, but I do not believe that friendship is going to be of any use to me, and I shall leave it at that."
There was a silence between them. Starswirl eventually broke it.
"I believe it is nearly time for the sun to rise," he said. Celestia nodded, and walked away totake off.
Starswirl muttered to himself,
"I hope that Amulet never falls into the wrong hooves, for there is no magic I know of that could vanquish it,"
No magic YOU know of, Starswirl, thought Celestia, as she flew up to raise the sun.
There was a knock on Ascrod's door.
"Have you got it?" he hissed.
Bragoon came in with his satchel bag.
"Uncle," he said," The Ruby was already placed inside the Amulet when I found it, but it was lying in the snow. I have it here," he reached a hoof into the bag, and placed the Alicorn Amulet on the front desk. Ascrod looked at it in awe.
"We must hide this away," He whispered, "Nopony must ever find it. This is very, very dangerous,"
"I did what you asked, uncle," said Bragoon, "Now, I must go back to my home."
"Very well," said Ascrod, but as Bragoon walked out the door, he called behind him,
"But please visit me one day, will you?" He said, "It does get very lonely here, sometimes."
Bragoon paused, looked at his Uncle, then nodded.
Here is an excerpt from Ascrod's Last Will and Testament,
This message shall be passed down to all my ancestors, I will ensure it. You may find a black Amulet with a red gem, hidden somewhere in the shop. Do NOT reveal it and most cerataintly, you cannot sell this Amulet to ANYPONY, no matter how much they may offer you-it is far too dangerous."
The End.