//------------------------------//
// 34 - A Shattered Heart 
// Story: An Undertale of Equestria 
// by David Silver 
//------------------------------//

Cadance pressed down with a bright flare of her magic. A crack ran down through the heart, spreading in a spider's web of lines before it exploded with all the finality of losing a battle in the game I had once played instead of living. The fragments scattered along the ground around her as shadow seeped from them.

Ponies screamed with horror, seeing their most valuable artifact smashed, but I wasn't paying attention to the crystal ponies, just their heart. The shadow was starting to escape, and I didn't want that. I quickly grabbed for a leg of Sweet and Aquator. "Quickly, come with me." I drew them forward. Three legs were much more graceful than a human missing a leg, let me tell you.

They moved to Cadance and the dispersing shadow. "Quick, call to him, tell him how much you miss him."

Aquator drove a hoof on the ground. "In my moments of lucidity, I would think only of you. I wished I'd been a stronger father, that I could have protected you, but you choose this path, and I can't be prouder."

Sweet nodded. "My hopes took flight alongside you. When you set eyes on outer space, you were carrying me with you. When you didn't come back, a part of me didn't either." She spread her hooves. "Come back to us, please. The world is much gentler now. Don't you want to explore this place?"

Aquator glanced aside at her. "You would still explore this place, after it has hurt us all so terrible?"

Sweet smiled. "More than ever... I have made friends, and seen such amazing things. I want to know this world." She kept her eyes on the leaking shadow. "Little, come back to us. Come and see it all!"

Pinkie bounced up alongside the others. "We don't know each other personally, but it's a lot of fun up here. There'll be sweet things to nibble and friends to make. I hear it was a real drag back then, but that's over, so let's have fun, and I can throw the biggest celebration ever conceived!" She glanced at Cadance. "Yes even bigger than your wedding, sorry."

Cadance smiled gently. "I would be proud to honor such a festival. A new festival. No longer to wish the shadow and dark ponies away, but instead to celebrate friendship, and to an end to millennia of battle and hardship." She nodded at the shadow. "If you can do it, Little, return to us. Your people would be happy to have you back."

I felt like it was my turn and gave a little half bow towards it. "We met on curious terms. To put it bluntly, you were kind of a jerk to me, and tried to kill me a few times." I waved a hand. "But I'm willing to put that in the past, if you are. It's time for our happy ending."

The last of the shadow escaped from the crystal, and all became quiet for a time. Did it work?

Sombra lowered his head, more deeply than he had for Cadance. "He will be remembered. Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, it is time we finalized our truce. You have done as we asked, but I would ask one other thing."

Cadance turned to Sombra, wariness returning. "And that would be?"

"Bearer of that hated name, let us put the past... behind us. Will you accept those banished from the light among your ponies?"

Shining Armor slid in beside Cadanace. "Shouldn't he be being punished or something?"

Cadance shook her head. "No. No this isn't the time for that. Former-King Sombra, I accept your people's presence in the Empire. How could I not, when the dark ponies may very well have been here before the crystal ponies? As for the shadows... Provided they follow the same laws as any other pony, they will be treated just like that, any other pony." She turned to the shocked crowd. "Ponies of the Crystal Empire, the war is over, forever. Let there be a new festival, to celebrate its end, and to welcome our new neighbors."

The cheer was timid at first, but slowly spread and built, like a fire. Soon the entire crowd was in on it, cheering and calling.

Sombra gave a wane smile. "I didn't imagine the crystal ponies would cheer in my presence without being forced."

Shining shook his head. "They can do a lot of things, if you let them. Now that the war's over, and you're not the king, what will you do?"

Sombra seemed to consider that, licking over his sharpened teeth. "I will speak for the dark ponies. They need an ambassador that is not easily cowed, who can stand for them without fear in the complex arena of politics."

I laughed at his idea, getting a glare from him. "Sorry, No, it's a great idea. I'm just trying to imagine the crystal ponies trying to argue back at you."

Sombra snorted softly. "Let them try."

Pinkie hopped up onto the bike. "I'll be right back. I should pick up Trixie!" She took off in a streak of wildly pumping legs, zooming off to where we left her and Long.

Crystal ponies started to move again. Some seemed eager to talk to Sweet or Aquator. The latter was a little withdrawn, but was acting quite well for a father who lost their son moments ago. It was a brave face, I imagined, something he'd had a lot of practice with.

Sombra got less attention, but not zero. A little filly walked up to him, looking at him with curiosity instead of abject terror. "Are you Sombra?"

He looked down at her. "I am. Ambassador Sombra."

She smiled. "That's cool. Why are your eyes all like that?"

"That is what I am." He settled down to be at her level. "Why are your eyes so sparkly?"

"That's what I am," she echoed back, giggling. "I'm Gem Bundle, nice to meet you." She offered a hoof.

With some hesitation, he extended a hoof, touching it to the small filly's gently and accepting her shake. "I will fight your people, with words, for the rights of mine."

She nodded quickly at him. "Uh huh, that's what amba... ambassasses do. I bet you're a good one too."

He smiled at her. "I will be."

Things began to calm, and spirits lifted. I still wasn't going home. Maybe it wasn't the best ending, but it was a pretty good one overall. I shouldn't complain. Pony land wasn't that bad... I should just get used to it.

Pinkie came back on her bike with two passengers. Trixie was using her magic to propel along with Pinkie, and they had Long along, but he wasn't slumped over. He was upright and holding onto the handlebars as best as he could. How did hooves work with those?

They landed not more than a foot from me and Trixie hopped free. "We have the most Great and Exciting news you've ever heard!" Many eyes turned to her, which she seemed to enjoy. "Behold, Little Tite." She gestured at Long Night, who wasn't Long Night.

He stepped off the bike more slowly than Trixie had, with a blanket covering much of his form. His eyes found Aquator and he smiled brightly. "Dad..."

That one voice pierced the noise of others. Aquator turned, and leaped over those trying to speak to him. They met in a crash of a hug. They were both crying, but I think they were good tears. Trixie came over as they reunited. "Trixie has figured it out. Little Tite split into three over maybe as many thousands of years. His body, his mind, and his 'spirit' you could say." She rolled a hoof. "The crystal held the spirit, Long Night was the body." She leaned in at me. "There, that is your 'pacifist ending', is it not?"

It... It really was. Everything was in its place. Everything was perfect, but I wasn't being hurled home. Trixie could see the disappointment on my face. "James..." I looked up at her. "My magic brought you here. This is my responsibility. I will accept that." She was speaking without third person? "Whatever I need to do to make this right by you, I will do. You are one of the best things to come into my life." She grabbed me with her forehooves and pulled me into a hug. "Just no more mother. Trixie is your partner, not your mother, and you are no child." Ah, well, it was nice while it lasted.

I returned her hug, letting out a sigh into her fur. "I'll... get used to it. It'll take time. For now, how about we help with the dark ponies? They have a whole city to wake up, and some will want to move up here, and some won't."

Trixie nodded. "Let's finish what we started, partner."