Epilogue
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There were quite a few things Corey never thought he would experience in his life. Many of those things were quickly moved off that list after he came to Equestria. Even so, he would continue to find himself in unexpected situations. This time around, he was riding in a private carriage with his friends, all of them dressed for an unknown occasion. None of them told him or John just what this was about.
“Okay, I can’t figure this out…” Corey looked at himself in the mirror of the carriage, a very sloppily-tied necktie on the front of an otherwise nice suit.
“Gave up a long time ago…” said John, the top button of his suit left undone.
“Here, let me try,” Twilight giggled, taking hold of Corey’s tie.
“You guys still haven’t told us what the occasion is,” John said, but again, everyone refused to say so much as a word. He and Corey weren’t even able to see where they were going as the windows were covered.
“Sorry, but the best surprises need good build up,” said Pinkie, “If we told you where and what we were doing, your reaction just wouldn’t be as good as it could be.”
At this, John groaned slightly, his curiosity continuing to climb well past its peak.
“And after everything we’ve done to prepare for this, we wouldn’t want to ruin the surprise, would we?”
Finally, Twilight finished fixing Corey’s tie, everyone going into a comfortable silence. In this time, everyone was able to reflect on their lives. Corey and John in particular took this chance to look at where their lives had gone. No longer were they the men they were back home; no, the comparisons were almost night and day now.
They’ve both grown, at least emotionally, both having had to mature enough to survive the trials place before them. And survive them they did, each hurdle bringing them higher than before. Sure, there was a time when they’d suffered a lot, when they weren’t sure if they’d be able to get back up and continue.
But that’s where the friends they’d made came into play. Right when they felt themselves at their lowest, it was the friends that surrounded them now that were there to pick them up. To give them the words of encouragement, to show them that there is light at the end of the tunnel, no matter how dark the tunnel itself was.
“You know, it’s kind of funny,” Corey finally said, breaking the silence, “This world, as alien as it was to me when I got here, it’s growing on me now. The magic of this world, and those who live it. I mean, sure, there’s probably some more in the future I’ll have to get used to. But I can say without a doubt, that I’ll really be able to enjoy a normal life here.”
The others listened to Corey’s words, each of them smiling towards him, then to each other… and then they promptly burst out laughing.
“Sorry, Corey, but normal is something we haven’t been able to touch again for a long time now,” Twilight said, placing a hand on his shoulder.
“Yeah, we might not get a moment as crazy as what happened with Norma, but trust us, normal isn’t a word you’ll be able to use again,” added Rainbow. After all, ever since their group formed, they’d found themselves having to stop a crazy situation almost on a weekly basis. And now, Corey and John, having chosen to fight with them, were more than likely along for the ride now.
“But the last two months went by without a problem,” Corey tried to argue, but as soon as the words finished leaving his mouth, everyone answered with a simultaneous:
“The calm before the storm,” before going into yet another fit of laughter.
“But don’t worry about it,” Twilight said to Corey, “Sure, we don’t always know exactly when something will happen, but we’ve pretty much got used to it. And really, something that large-scale and world-threatening are very rare events.”
Both John and Corey looked at each other with wide eyes, fully understanding the truth of the lives they were about to live.
“I am surprisingly okay with this,” John answered. While Corey did not repeat or state his agreement, he still felt the same.
Beats sitting behind a computer all day, Eventually, all the laughter within the carriage died down. But to both of their surprise, there was no silence this time. Other sounds could be heard coming from outside.
“Sounds like there’s a commotion outside,” John said. Even though the windows were still blocked, he tried to look around them, hoping to see at least some sign of what was happening outside. He then looked to the girls who, for some reason he couldn’t quite explain, began to look up. Finally, the carriage came to a stop, both Corey and John left to wonder what was up next.
“In 3…2…1…”
Before either could question the countdown, the carriage walls began to move. The wall expanded, opening up to reveal the outside world again, and what they saw was a total surprise.
“Whoa…”
They were in Canterlot, the carriage having stopped at the end of a long, red carpet leading towards the refurbished castle. And standing at both sides of the carpet was a large crowd of ponies cheering. John and Corey’s eyes went wide again as their jaws went slack, a flash of light being the only thing to snap them back to attention. Both turned to see Rainbow holding a camera, the film already being developed.
“One for the memory books,” she said with a chuckle, putting the picture away.
“I… uh… what is all this?” Corey asked, the girls having already gotten up and beginning their walk out of the carriage.
“What, did you think you’d save Equestria and not get some recognition?” Rainbow asked before leaping off. John and Corey looked at one another, a single guess as to what was happening passing into both of their minds.
“It couldn’t be… could it?” asked Corey, but John simply shrugged, seeing no point in asking as he began to disembark from the carriage as well. Corey followed after, seeing the only way to find the answer would be to find out for himself. Everyone walked down the carpet’s path, waving at the cheering ponies as they slowly made their way towards the front gates. There stood both princesses, and behind them was something large, something hidden behind a tarp.
When everyone reached the first step, they stopped, and both Princesses raised their hands, signaling all to be silent. And soon, everything did go silent, and Celestia took a step forward so that she could speak.
“As you all know, these very streets that you have walked, the very homes you have lived in, they were all the site of a war. This war was orchestrated by a crazed pony with sinister ambitions. A pony named Para Norma who released several other dangerous prisoners from Tartarus and used them as pawns of a game.
“If left unchecked, she may have very well succeeded in her aim for conquest. But fortunately, just as all those who have attempted the same in the past, she has failed,” Again the crowd began to cheer, celebrating the continued freedom they could still live. Celestia waited a moment, allowing them to calm themselves once more.
“We once again owe it all to the same ponies who have saved us time and again. The Elements of Harmony, Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rarity and Pinkie Pie. Their willingness to put their very lives on the line for ours is something to be commended and respected for years to come.” The crowd was about to start cheering yet again, but Celestia graciously halted them with a raised hand.
“But, they did not fight alone. No, this time they were aided by two brave individuals.”
Before they could react at all, Corey and John were pushed forward by the others, the crowd turning their attention to them.
“When the game with Para Norma began, they were given a choice, probably the only real choice they had in the matter. We told them time and again that they could stand aside, that they did not have to worry themselves with something they had no control over. And yet, both showed their merit, and chose without hesitation to fight beside their new friends. And even after all that they’ve suffered, and all that they’ve had to overcome, they never backed down.”
Both Celestia and Luna stepped back, their horns glowing as the tarp began to do the same.
“And with their strength, with their friendship, we are all able to stand here today and commend them on all they have done with this!”
Finally, the magic pulled at the tarp, revealing what was underneath it: a stained glass window, much like the others Corey and John had seen that decorated the castle walls.
This one, much like the others, depicted Twilight and her friends battling the foes who threatened Equestria. Norma and the prisoners dotted the outer sides of the window. But there were two others in the middle with the Elements of Harmony this time: John and Corey, each appearing to lead the charge, Corey facing Norma. At first, both were in stunned silence, but soon shifting into a full smile, tears of joy beginning to run down their faces.
Twilight walked up to Corey as Rainbow did the same with John, placing an arm around their shoulder and pulling them in tight.
“Congrats, you two,” said Rainbow, gently punching John on the chest, “You’re officially heroes.”
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Dear Journal,
I think a new chapter of my life is truly about to begin. I thought I’d be waiting another couple of years for that to happen, once I graduated college and moved on to the workforce, but with what happened to me, I’m practically there already. In a job I thought would be a dream, but rapidly became reality. Of course, I’m practically a hero now, but it doesn’t mean I should get too far ahead of myself. I’ve still got to earn my keep.
John was able to afford where he lives because of the month he spent preparing, it turns out. Dragon hoards of gold, silver, and other shiny objects. He basically doesn’t need to worry, I think. Though I’m sure he’ll be forming his own hoard soon enough of pillows at the rate he’s going. Better watch out for his instincts, huh?
I may not know exactly how I’m going to proceed from here, but that’s fine. I think I have plenty of good ideas I can put forward now that I’m here. Maybe all I need to do is put the pen to the parchment and get to writing. With my experiences, I could easily form a few stories out of it all. And that’s not going into what the future may bring me.
Of course, there are still a few things that I have to do before I can officially consider my new life started. Well, I’ve done most of them already. All that’s left is putting my “providing” idea into action, and that will be that.
I may not have been able to use my words for it just yet, but I’m sure Twilight knows what she means to me, and in return, I know what I mean to her. We’re becoming far more comfortable with each other now. There’s nothing we need to fear from ourselves or each other. It really was about time, wasn’t it, everyone?
I’ve made peace with everything involving the incident with Para Norma. Soon enough, all that will be left are the memories…and the physical scars that don’t heal, but that’s neither here nor there. Moreover, I’ve made peace with others I never thought I would ever.
From now on, I will keep moving forward, and not live with any regrets. There is just no more room in my mind for it. Or the anger that had plagued me before. I can move forward now, as an adult. Or stallion, I suppose, I guess both are right now, technically. Point is, it’s time to face forward to the future, with friends and loved ones by my side.
While my days of adventure are probably just beginning, I do believe that I’m ready for them now. And if I’m not, I know I have people at my back. Everyone back home, I’m sorry. I will never see you again, but I truly hope that if I were able to explain why I’m never coming home, I’d tell you exactly why that is, and hope you would understand. But I can’t dwell on my past life anymore. That’s over and done with. All I can do is move forward with my present life.
After all, navigating life here should be a cakewalk compared to what I've already been through here. Right?
If anything else comes up, I'll be sure to write an entry. 'Til next time,
--Corey