ACT FIFTEEN
Grandruler felt he would never live to put any of this behind him. Nevertheless, he brought up another one of his transforming limousines, by remote control, and followed the others back to Earth, to Mystic Island where a great reception was waiting for them all.
Lightning, using the gem’s magic, took back the Starfleet badges and the powers from all the others, as they no longer would need them, concealing them back within the gem he wore around his neck. The others accepted, but would never forget the wonders and experiences they just had.
The city sustained minimal damage, and several people were hospitalized, and around the world too, but that was just about it. Flash woke up feeling a bit sore, and he couldn’t seem to remember a thing at all, except his normal, human life.
Lightning had secretly warned everyone about Flash, but made sure that Flash himself was not to hear of this: "I succeeded in vanquishing the evil from him, and as long as he has no memory of his past perhaps it would be best for it to be that way. He can start anew, and become a better person, but I have no way of knowing if his evil powers should ever return. As long as he remains amnesic of his evil past he should be fine. So only be sure to treat him like a normal human."
Everyone agreed and no one gave even a hint to Flash about any of this.
For now, Lightning was ever so relieved to have his Rainbow Rod back, and all thanks to his wonderful human friends. Grandruler helped a little, but felt it was the least he could do for not believing Lightning’s story, but everyone felt that it was Celestia who deserved more than just a little credit, for putting her life in danger just to save everyone. Celestia also admitted she wanted to prove she was ready to try and again and start anew. Now that her horse’s death was avenged she felt she could try and make improvements in her life, and not let her temper rule.
“I’m sorry for everything I put you through, Lightning.” she said.
“I’m sorry for what I did too.” Lightning said and he extended his hand to her “Shall we let bygones be bygones?” and they both actually shook hands setting the bygones. Grandruler then broke up the moment, and publicly say to Celestia, “Will you… come back to Canterlot High… Principal…?” He sounded almost as if he were proposing to her.
Celestia gazed deeply into his honest eyes and began to see that loving light and glow she thought was forever lost. “Yes, sir, Mr. Grandruler.”
“Um… just Celesto.”
“Yes… Celesto.”
Luna smiled and hugged her sister “Welcome back, Celestia.”
As everyone cheered for joy and, Fluttershy noticed something shimmering in the bushes; a golden crown with some type of elemental jewel in it. “What is this?” she wondered.
The next day, she gave that crown to Celestia, who was Principal once again, and put it away for safekeeping feeling it was just the thing to crown princess of the fall formal with.
Meanwhile, Lightning was clearing out his locker, for this was his absolute final day on Earth, as he would have to leave by midnight. As he continued to work, someone bumped into him. “Twilight…?”
It looked like her, and sounded like her, and yet she asked. “How did you know my name?”
Lightning figured maybe she had suffered a bit from when Flash attacked her, but her dog, Spike was there too and he didn’t seem to act so gruff and violent near him now. Lightning actually bent down and patted his little head “Hey, Spike, I’m sorry for everything me and Krysta put you through.”
The dog looked confused.
“And I’m sorry for everything I did to you too, Twilight. I hope you’ll forgive me.”
Twilight felt really confused but answered “Uh… sure, I forgive you.”
Lightning smiled and left… completely unaware that was Princess Twilight Sparkle, from the planet Equestria, from his universe come to retrieve her stolen crown.
That night, while Twilight Sparkle was secretly camped out in the school library, completely unaware of everything.
Many students were gathered at Grandruler’s manor for a congratulatory and farewell party for Lightning. Celestia and Luna were there too, Rhymey had invited Fluttershy as his date, many of Twilight’s other friends were there, but still not speaking to one another, and Flash Sentry, still amnesic of his evil ways, was there with his band playing music for everyone.
At the party, they even played the “Starfleet Theme” and asked Lightning to come on stage and sing it for them, which he was delighted to, and halfway through the song, during the instrumental part, Lightning broke out dancing wildly, and leapt off the stage and into the spotlight busting some mad skills. His friends all joined him, and soon Lightning headed back on stage to finish the song. “All together now… everybody…!”
“STARFLEET…!!”
What a finish that was.
As the party continued, a few slow songs were played for couples to dance too. Rhymey and Fluttershy danced beautifully along the floor. “This is really nice.” she sighed heavenly.
Rhymey agreed
“It’s a beautiful night.
This all feels so right.”
They shared a small kiss.
Lightning even asked Starla if she’d like to dance, knowing he couldn’t go to the Fall Formal with her. She was delighted to dance with him. “I know this sounds silly to ask but, do you really have to go back?” she asked as they danced. Lightning understood how she felt, but they both knew that was a silly question. Lightning didn’t belong in the human world. He had his own world, his own home, his own life to lead and his own battles to fight. “They need me back there, and well…” he wanted to tell her that he was in love with someone else, the Starla Shine he knew back there, but ultimately he couldn’t say it to her face, wanting to spare her feelings, but deep down Starla could already tell it was that, but she enjoyed what little time she had left with him.
Pretty soon, it was almost for Lightning to give his final farewells, when he and the others noticed Celestia was sitting all by herself and looking a little low. She was like that most of the night, but stopped once or twice to strike up conversation with some of the students, and even Grandruler whom she had been eying a lot.
Lightning felt he just couldn’t go without doing one last good deed, and he approached Celestia. “You still love him don’t you?” he asked.
“Oh, well, I suppose… I--” Celestia snapped out of her stammering “What? Who…?”
Lightning gave her the look “Celestia, I know, just like I knew about Bud.”
Celestia gazed across the field at Chef Cookie Dough, who quickly turned and pretended he hadn’t seen her, but Celestia could tell he did it. “Yes, I do still love Celesto.” she said on the verge of tears “I always have… and I always will, and I never got to tell him.”
Krysta flew up to them and landed on Lightning’s shoulder “Well, why don’t you just go and tell him now?”
Celestia squeezed her cup of punch tightly feeling nervous. “I can’t. I just can’t!”
“Why not?” asked Lightning “… And don’t tell me it’s because he’s your boss and he’s rich. What difference does that make? You’re both people, and people fall in love.”
Krysta agreed “Just because it doesn’t feel right, doesn’t mean it isn’t right at all.”
Celestia realized that was right, and she felt a bit more confident in doing it “But… what do I say?”
“Well, try “I love you”…” said Lightning “It’s easy to say, and it’s right to the point.”
Luna, who overheard the conversation, urged her sister to do it. “You lost your chance once before, don’t blow it again.”
Celestia nodded and agreed to do it, right then and there. She got up and made her way over where she saw him talking to some of the students and sharing his life stories of being an astronaut…
“Celesto…?”
He got up and gazed at her “Yes?”
“I have something to tell you… I should have told you years ago.”
“What is it?”
Celestia hesitated a moment, and twiddled her fingers. “I love you.”
A sudden silence fell all across the yard as everyone turned to gaze in the direction. Grandruler dropped his cane in surprise, and the students all backed away to give some space.
Celestia repeated the words, “…I love you. I always have.”
Grandruler’s cheeks turned red. “I… I don’t know what to say.”
“Do you?”
His lips curled into a loving smile. “Yes… I love you too. I never forgot all the times we had, but… I’m still your boss, and richer than you are.”
“I don’t care about that.” said Celestia “We’re people, we can fall in love. Just because it doesn’t feel right doesn’t mean it isn’t.”
Grandruler felt soft and warm inside as he approached her and their eyes met. Both of them only could give that same loving gaze they saw years back at the horse club. Grandruler was about ask… but Celestia spoke first. “Will you marry me?”
“I.. uh…?” His cheeks when red again, and his heart was pounding. He could see out of the corner of his eyes, all the students, Lightning and friends, and even Luna giving him the gestures to accept. He turned back and gazed into Celestia’s sparkling eyes, smiled at her and said “Yes… I will.”
Celestia’s smile widened as tears came to her eyes, and they kissed in front of all those people who cheered for joy. Some of Twilight’s friends blubbered and blew their noses in hankies, but Lightning, Krysta and Luna were easily the most happy and proud for them both.
Then, it was time to say goodbye for good. One-by-one, Lightning shook hands or accepted hugs from Twilight’s friends, and though the friends still seemed mad at each other. “I don’t know what’s got into all of you, but… try and work it out.”
He shook hands with Buddy Rose. “Be kind to all the plants, I think we owe them that much for all that damage we did.”
Buddy nodded “You bet I will.”
He shook hands with Artie. “You’ll be a great artist someday.”
“I know I will, thanks to all the inspiration you’ve given me.”
He shook hands with Rhymey. “I’ve only known you for so long, but our friendship will always be strong.”
Rhymey chuckled that Lightning had just made a rhyme,
“I’ll never forget you,
And Fluttershy won’t too.”
Lightning nodded and then bid farewell do the twins. “Hasta La Vista, amigo, It was great to know you” said Dyno. “And God speed to you and your force.” added Myte.
Lightning smiled and thanked them both for all they had done.
He bid farewell to Luna, and then to Celestia and Celesto. “Sorry I can’t be there for the wedding, but good luck you two, and try not to get on each other’s nerves again.”
The couple chuckled, and promised to stay true to each other.
Finally, there was Starla. He didn’t shake her hand, but just gazed at her. “I want you to have this.” he said as he gave her the drawing he made of the Rainbow Rod way back, as a remembrance. She was flattered to receive it. “I wish I had something for you.”
Lightning shook his head. “There’s no way I could forget you, or any of this.”
Starla almost felt like jumping into his arms and planting on him, but she had that feeling he already had someone special, so she merely gave him a peck on the cheek. “Thanks for everything.” she said.
“No… thank you!” he said and pecked her back.
Then he stood in the open yard, with Krysta on his shoulder, the Rainbow Rod and the evil Flash Sentry still in his sphere attached to his belt. He got out the transport gem and rubbed it in the moonlight causing the vortex to appear. Everyone else stepped well back as the winds picked up. Lightning stood tall and saluted farewell to everyone. They saluted back, and Lightning jumped into the vortex… and was gone!
He and Krysta, again, found themselves swirling around and around in all those bright lights and colors, and then they blacked out again.