Final chapter.

I can't believe I'm actually here. I want to thank you all for your unwavering support, thanks to all the OCs and most importantly everyone who helped me to improve my writing and general skills.

I hope you like!

ENJOY!

Pain is never a good thing. Pain is telling me to wake up. In a simple way of saying it: pain suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuucks.

My head pounded like a jackhammer as I groaned, opening my eyes.

The hospital?

~AGAIN?! Dammit!~

/ Cyclone...my head hurts enough without you shouting. \

~Oops.~

+How did we get here anyway...?+

/ All I remember is when dad....dad... \

The memory fresh in my mind, dominated all other thoughts and I felt tears fall onto the sheets.

I looked around for a familiar orange mare for comfort, but didn't find her.

/ If AJ isn't here, something must be up. \

+As much as what we're about to do is highly illogical, I agree with it 100%+

~Who are you and what have you done with Proton?+

I sat up, taking the bed sheets off and pulling the IV from my arm. I got down from the bed, but held onto it as my legs turned to jelly.

Once I'd regained control, I began a slow trot, and walked out of the room, gaining a few raised eyebrows from nurses and doctors. I walked out of the hospital without anypony trying to stop me...odd.

The streets were deserted as I made my way through town toward my house...what in Equestria is going on? Where is everypony?

~Is it the Marepocalypse again?~

+That's not for another few months.+

/ Then I ask again. Where is everypony? \

+Hey dumbflank! We know just as much as you!+

~In other words...fuck all.~

It only took a few minutes more, until the house was in sight. What puzzled me was the drapes were drawn and the lights were off.

Strange...

Reaching the door, I put my ear to it. Nothing...

~I'm scared...~

+Hah! For once you're the pussy!+

~Shut up!!~

Still slightly suspicious, I opened the door slowly and walked into the darkened hallway.

"Huh.", I said out loud, "I wonder whe-"

"SURPRISE!!!"

The yell and suddenness of the lights being turned on, combined to give me a fright that showed just how hard a ceiling can be.

As my head span, and unprecedented laughter reached my ears, I felt a pair hooves helping me to stand. When my vision focused again, a smile found it's way onto my face as I looked into Applejack's eyes.

"Yer finally awake!", she exclaimed before wrapping me in a tight embrace. I laughed into her mane as she held the hug.

"What do you mean?", I asked.

She released me and stepped back, locking eyes with me once more.

"Atom...don't ya'll remember what happened?"

My expression became puzzled, "The last thing I remember is...", I gulped as a lump formed in my throat, "...when the mine went off. After that I have no clue."

Silence hit the room of my friends like a ton of bricks.

Dark stepped forward, "Atom. You tried to kill us all...", he stated, "...even AJ..."

I deadpanned. "Wha...no. No I would never hurt AJ.", I looked at the mare, "You know I would never hurt you."

She cast her eyes to the ground, "...It's true Atom. After that you were in a coma fer a month."

~NO! It couldn't have been us!~

+Wait! Didn't the demon guy take control?+

/ That's no excuse for it... \

"I...But...", I attempted to get out, but words failed the guilt that lay within the foremost regions of my mind.

"It wasn't Atom though.", the room's attention shifted as Violet spoke.

"She's right.", Blue said, "Didn't the demon guy take control?"

"From what Cyclone and Proton have said, yeah.", I answered.

"That's that then.", there was an extended pause after Zeph's statement.

The mood of the room exploded again, party horns and hats appearing from nowhere (Pinkie of course).

[Party?Let the good times roll!!]

"Oh yeah! Atom!", Naga called to me, walking over, "The griffons finally opened up negotiations with Celestia! THE WAR IS OVER!"

I laughed, incredulous.

The party lasted for a few hours with exactly what you'd expect from a Pinkie Pie party. The Cakes even baked an MMMM Cake just for the occasion! Damn that thing was nice.

Just after the cake was finished, AJ sidled up to me with something on her back.

"I got a 'lil somethin' somethin' fer ya. Close yer eyes.", I complied and felt something slid over my snout and settle on the backs of my ears.

"Ya can open them again now."

I opened my eyes, and at first nothing seemed different. Then I saw that suddenly everything had a green tint to it. I took a step back realizing what had happened.

A new pair of shades sat over my eyes.

I took them off for a second to examine them. They were identical to my old ones!

"Ya just aren't the same without yer shades.", AJ said, looking at me affectionately.

"I-I don't know what to say...", I replied.

"Say ya'll are gonna' take me outside where we can get a bit o' alone time.", the orange mare held a seductive tone as she spoke.

I raised an eyebrow and smiled, placing a wing over her. We made our way outside, unhindered.

[Lose the music.]

I allowed Applejack to lead me as we reached a small hill that looked out upon Ponyville's neighboring lake. She sat down looking at the now setting sun deeply.

I sat next to her and she leaned into my hooves.

"So. Wh-", I started.

"It's twins."

"Wha- MMMMMMM!!!"

Before I could respond she locked her lips against mine, despite the clear confusion about the sudden changes of mood. When she broke the kiss after a good 30 seconds, I was left more confused as ever when her hoof made a loud pass over my snout.

"OW! What did I do now?!", I exclaimed.

"That was fer making me wait a month t' tell ya'll."

"I WAS IN A BLOODY COMA!"

"You were asleep the whole time."

"I thought that's what you do in a coma!"

"And yer out of it now!", she yelled, before confusing me further still by jumping at me and crushing my chest in the biggest embrace I'd ever felt. She buried her face in my coat and soft sobs began to emit from her.

"Stop doin' this t' me Atom. I can't keep goin' if...", she sniffed, "...if ya die. I just can't."

She pulled back and looked me dead in the eye.

Her usually happy sparkling eyes now pleaded with me, filled with sadness and a deep longing to see me accompany her through life.

I slowly took my shades off and returned the somber stare. "Applejack...you have my word. From this day forth, I won't put my life at risk needlessly."

She smiled and I wiped her eyes. "Do ya Pinkie Promise?", she said with a small chuckle.

I sighed, "Cross my heart and hope to fly. Stick a cupcake in my eye.", I performed the ritual as normal, jabbing myself in the eye, maybe a little too hard.

~Careful!~

+We need these things to actually look at the mare we pledged our hearts to!+

/ You think I don't know that? \

I leaned backward until I was lying on my back. AJ repeated the motion settling herself under my forearm as we gazed up at sky, just as the stars started to appear.

AJ broke the peaceful silence with a loud chuckle, "What?", I queried.

"I just figured out the main reason Rarity doesn't like ya.", she replied stifling more laughter.

"Tell me!"

She looked me in the eye and burst into laughter again, "It's 'cos-", she stopped as another bout of laughter engulfed her, "she hates the color green! And you love it!"

Luna's moon rose upon the sight of me and Applejack caught in uncontrollable mirth, entwined, and feeling more affection for each other than ever before.

[Not finished yet. :D]

Elsewhere in a dark underground chamber, another pony laughed.

Except, the pony before him screamed. He writhed against his bonds as pure energy coursed through his body.

The laughing pony turned to the sound of hooves on the stone floor behind him.

"What Mystic?", he snapped.

"Sorry sir. It's Atomic Vortex sir.", the pony named as Mystic replied.

"What about him?"

"He utilized the power of the demon again sir."

The other pony put a hoof to his chin, "Hmmm...when was this?"

Mystic stopped for a second before replying, "Around a month ago sir."

Mystic flinched as his master's head snapped around, "A MONTH?! WHY WASN'T I INFORMED SOONER?!", he bellowed.

"W-we only just found out s-sir.", Mystic stammered.

His master growled. "Well it's far past the time we should have started.", his master put his hooves on the stone slab where the other pony still writhed in pain, "Set the wheels in motion."

He turned back to Mystic with a menacing grin, "We are far from finished with Mr Atom."

Aren't I just the worst! XD

Well. I am going to submit the sequel as soon as I publish this, so keep an eye on your notifications!

I am Atomic Vortex, and this has been Moving with the Wind!

See ya!