The Ending
Death leaves a heartache no one can heal;
Love leaves a memory no one can steal.
Griffon blessing
In the morning of 4th of Fifth, after breakfast but before the griffons started their day, I stood on the Speaking Rock for the last time. Many of the griffons gathered around.
“Do you see me, Tribe?”
“We see you, Healer,” came the answer.
“It is time for me to leave you. I must return to my own people.”
“You have the gratitude of the Tribe,” came the response.
I waved, then hopped down. Silver and Argent walked with me to the village border. I shook claws with both and even that was stretching public affection a bit for a griffon.
“Farewell, both of you. Here’s hoping to much better relations between our two peoples from now on.”
“Benjamin, I’m not King yet, but when I am, I designate you a Friend of the Griffons.”
Well, now! That meant I could come and go as I pleased throughout the Griffon Lands, sort of like a roaming ambassador.
“You honor me, your Majesty. My best to you and to the Princess Regent.” Argent’s title didn’t translate well to Equestrian so that was the best I could do.
Argent nodded. “From our Tribe and Family to your Tribe and Family, Benjamin, we send warmest greetings.”
I bowed to Argent. “My thanks, your Highness.” I stood and waved. “Farewell!”
Both watched me until I was out of sight. One last wave, and I was on my way home.
I covered familiar ground and soon was at my garden. There was an abundance of vegetables as I hoped, so I loaded down my now almost empty saddlebags with whatever I could stuff in. That gave me more than enough food to make it to Griffonstone Station with perhaps a little foraging. Shame to leave the rest but there it was. Perhaps they would grow wild and other ponies would use them in later years.
I kept trotting but drifted West; I wanted a look at the coast since you never knew when you’d have to teleport somewhere and, as eager as I was to see AJ and Airlie again, I had more than enough time before I had to show myself at the Palace. I traveled for two days, then smelled the sea. I came to the coast on the 7th of Fifth had a spectacular view. The Celestial Sea was a good 100 nautical miles across at its widest point and I guessed that was about where I was.
I decided I’d see if I could reach the shoreline, so I turned North and looked for a way down. I trotted for two more days with no luck, then camped in a small glade about a half mile from the cliffside. I was sound asleep when I felt somepony gently nibbling on the tip of my left ear.
“AJ, it’s the middle of the night. Go back to sleep!”
The nibbling continued.
“AJ…!” Wait, I’m in the Griffon Lands.
I opened my eyes and found myself staring into dark silver ones.
“What ho, Guardian,” said Lady Magic, grinning like a fox.
I sat up, too amazed to speak at first. I stared a couple of seconds.
“My Lady Magic! You’re…You’re here!”
Lady Magic stood and so did I. She leaned down and rubbed my nose with hers.
“Yes, Guardian. Thanks to you and your successes, I can manifest on this Plain.”
“Oh, ho, can You indeed?” I said, grinning, looking at her sideways and raising an eyebrow.
Lady Magic laughed, the same pealing of bells I knew well.
“Now, don’t get any odd ideas, you rascal!” Lady Magic sobered and looked at me.
“I’m so proud of you, Guardian. You were both brave and clever. You have saved the World.”
I smiled, then remembered. “Wait, Milady, look! Look, look what I have!”
I pulled my cape out of my saddlebag, threw it in the air and let it drift onto my shoulders, then struck a pose.
“What say You, Milady?”
Lady Magic laughed and clapped her front hooves together. “You finally have the cape you’ve always wanted! Wonderful, Wizard of Balance!”
“Yes, I…just a moment, how did You know…?”
“I must leave you now, Guardian.” Lady Magic leaned over again and gave me Ren’s gentle kiss which I returned, tasting starlight. “Very well done.”
“Thank you, Milady,” I answered with a bow. When I rose, she was gone. I repacked my cape, then lay down and went back to sleep until dawn.
The cliffs dwindled to nothing the next day and I finally found myself on the shoreline. I could just make out the Southern tip of Trottingham and thought I was about a day away from Griffonstone Station. I headed inland and camped early, then got up before dawn the 10th of Fifth. I made good time and reached Griffonstone Station in the early afternoon. There wasn’t a soul there but I checked the schedule on the station house. There was a freight coming in tomorrow, so made camp in the station house after giving it a good cleaning.
The next day, I reorganized my saddlebags so the one I borrowed from the Crystal Palace kitchen was empty. I swam in the river, lay in the Sun and rested until I heard the chuffing of a 4-4-0. I hid in the forest and watched the railponies load logs, then hopped the lumber car as the train left around noon. I didn’t even have to cast Conceal since nopony saw me.
I did cast Conceal about an hour out from the Crystal Empire depot, then hopped off as the train pulled into the station. I trotted to the palace, slipped into the kitchen and hung the saddlebags back where they belonged. I also put the remaining vegetables into the cold cellar; no sense in wasting good food.
That done, I used the extensive service passageways to make my way to the hall outside of the “family” dining room. I was right on time since I could hear Cadence and Shining Armor settling and getting ready to ring for supper. I slipped into a parlor, changed into my tails and cape after cleaning them and then dropped Conceal.
I starting singing in the hall as I walked toward the dining room:
Well well well, let's 'ave a drink on it,
as me father used to say!
When your friend has saved the World, it's respect ye've got to pay!
So fill yer cup an' lift it up and drink, here's how!
No shilly-shallyin', no dilly-dallyin', let's 'ave a drink on it now!
I burst into the dining room on the last verse, cape blowing in a magical breeze. Cadence reflexively called her magic, then leapt up and screamed with both hooves protecting her unborn foal. Carl called his magic as well and, almost faster than I could see, drew his dirk and took a fighting stance. Whup, I didn’t realize both might be so jumpy.
“Easy, my friends,” I said, twirling my cape and tossing it onto the same coatrack as before. “It’s just me.”
Silence, then both tackled me at the same time.
“You’re alive, you’re alive, you’re alive!” Carl kept yelling.
“What happened? Are you all right? What happened?” yelled Cadence equally loudly.
I laughed as I embraced both. I also took a moment to check on Cadence. She was carrying well and just starting to show.
“Yes, I’m fine, yes, I succeeded. Say, what’s t’ eat?”
Cadence separated herself, then rang for dinner. When the server showed up, Cadence joyfully asked her to bring an extra place setting. While we ate, I gave a brief synopsis to both but said I’d rather wait until 20th to tell everypony what happened at the same time. I watched both of my friends relax, the tension draining out of them.
After the meal, Cadence put her right hoof on Carl’s left.
“Maker, I know there’s nothing official we can do to reward you, but,” Cadence said, glancing at Carl, “we will give you whatever you ask of us that’s in our power to give.”
“Hmmm,” I said, pretending to cogitate as I leaned back, stared at the ceiling and tapped my front hooves together. “My best friend, General of the Royal Guard and the Princess of Love, Ruler of the Crystal Empire. What to ask, I wonder?”
Carl grinned like a lunatic and Cadence smiled as well.
“I know!” I exclaimed. I put both hooves on the table in front of me and also put on my best grim look.
“I wish…to give you a massage and preening with Carl helping me, your Highness.”
I looked over to see Cadence’s mouth open.
“But, Maker…I’d have done that for you anyway,” she said, her guileless eyes huge. “And that’s not a reward for you, that’s something for me.”
I leaned forward and took Cadence’s left hoof in both of mine. “Cadence, Carl knows what I know; I’d have gone to the Griffon Lands for you and for your foal even if was to save only you two. You and others like you are why Carl and I protect and serve this land. So, spending time with you, Carl and the unborn foal is more than reward enough for me.”
Tears started to run down Cadence’s muzzle.
“Oh, Ben, that is so sweeeet! No wonder Applejack is always so happy when you’re around.”
I released Cadence’s hoof, crossed my forehooves on dining room table and looked at Carl.
“Not bad, huh?”
Carl waggled his right hoof. “Eh, fair.”
“Hah, like you could do any better!”
Cadence started laughing through her tears.
“Know how to preen, General?”
“Better than you, Major.”
“Unlikely, sir, but we shall see.”
And see we did. We went into the sitting room next to Carl and Cadence’s master bedroom and I gave her a massage. Carl and I swapped off preening and I enjoyed listening to Cadence’s dual tone hum. We put her to bed, then Carl and I had a brandy while he told me of his experiences during the War. I knew much from the Deep Merge with him, of course, but he needed to talk about it. Tears ran unheeded down his muzzle at times since some of what he’d seen was so terrible, but when he finished, I could tell he’d come to terms with the memories at last.
Carl stood and tilted his head toward the bed. We got in with Cadence between us and Carl and I merged our fields over her. I am Guardian, I thought, as I drifted off, and these are my friends. It’s good to have friends.
We rose together and after a fine breakfast, I took a moment to return the vials I’d borrowed from the pharmacy. I dumped my blood down the sink from the remaining two, then cleaned the pharmacy until it gleamed. I thought Winter might want to use it since I’d decided I was sending her the Crystal Empire to study as soon as I could.
Carl and Cadence saw me off out the same door as before, this time both excited and joyous about the future instead of apprehensive. Both agreed not to mention my visit in any dispatches and even though I knew word would get around eventually, I hoped for a quiet month in Ponyville before I had to get to Canterlot on the 19th of Sixth. I got very enthusiastic farewell kiss from Cadence and one of Carl’s bone-crushing stallion hugs before I left.
I was a boxcar tourist on the first freight heading South. My Luck was still running and it was bound for Hoofington. 13 hours later it passed through Ponyville and I hopped off.
I cast Conceal since I wanted to see my family before anypony else. I trotted through the Summer evening and noticed I had about two hours of daylight left. Soon I topped a rise and there was the Homestead and Sweet Apple Acres. I stood a few minutes savoring it, then walked down. I stopped by the seed storage and emptied out the few remaining packets of seeds back into their bins, put the Zap Apple seed back in the safe then returned the saddlebags to the tack room. I emptied the last of my tomato field dirt in the herb garden, then washed out the jar and put it back in the cupboard where I’d found it. That done, I breathed a sigh of relief and knew that at last my mission was over.
I made my way to the kitchen door, dropped Conceal and went in. The family usually worked the fields later in the Summer to take advantage of the daylight. I checked and it was right before 7. I put my pouch in the bedroom, then sat at the kitchen table and had an apple and some mushrooms.
A few minutes later I heard the sweetest voice in the World.
“Wash your hooves, Airlie, and then we’ll eat, alright?”
“Yes, Mother!”
I heard quick little hooves and Airlie raced past me without noticing I was sitting at the table. She climbed on a stool clearly there just for her and started soaping her forehooves. I watched her delightedly. She was over twice the size she was when I was last home and looked wonderful.
Airlie washed (and very thoroughly, too), then turned to reach for the dishtowel. That was when she noticed me. She stopped, hooves dripping on the floor, and stared.
“Dad?” she said, still not quite sure.
“Hey, Honey Lamb.”
Then AJ walked in. “Airlie, what’re you doin’, getting water all over the…” she said, then noticed me.
“Hey, AJ. Looks like I survived.”
“BEN!!”
“DAD!!”
I rose and AJ gripped me as hard as she could and clung. Airlie, hooves still soaking wet, grabbed me around the waist. I wrapped my left foreleg around AJ and held Airlie with my right. We just stood there, not moving, not speaking, for a good while. I was home.
We had an excellent supper and I deflected any questions by asking Airlie what she’d been doing. She told me all about her day, the little garden she and her mother had started, finding a bird’s nest, going to play in the pond and on and on. I drank it in, only then realizing how much I’d missed it.
When we finished, AJ said, “Airlie, why don’t you run next door and tell th’ family your Dad is back?”
“Yes, ma’am!” said Airlie, leaping up and racing out of the kitchen. “Uncle Mac! Aunt Bloom! Granny! Dad’s back!!” AJ and I heard her yelling.
We exchanged grins, then stood to go next door. AJ reached over and put my right forehoof on her stomach. I extended my healing senses.
Life. A little over two months along which would put it…
“…that morning at Roundhouse’s!” I said, thrilled.
“Yep, I reckon the same,” said AJ.
I kissed her then, as passionately as I could and she returned the favor. I tasted the so-familiar cinnamon apples and salt from joyful tears.
“Welcome home, Partner,” said AJ as we broke for air and she wiped her muzzle. “C’mon, let th’ family see you’re not dead.”
The celebration we had reminded me of when the family agreed I could Court AJ. Poor Big Mac could hardly eat for breaking into tears at times. Granny and Apple Bloom kept touching my shoulders as if they were making sure I was real. AJ clung to my hoof under the table as I held Airlie in my lap. The family asked no questions, just made me welcome. We also finished the brandy I’d carried to the Griffon Lands and back.
Celebration or no, this was a farm family and early risers. We broke up at 8:30 and headed for bed. I kissed Airlie and tucked her in, then brushed my teeth in my own bathroom and got into my own bed with AJ.
“AJ, I’m going to spend the next few days typing up the official report for the Crown. Would you let me read it to you and to Granny when I’m finished?”
“Sure,” said AJ, yawning.
“I’ll never keep anything from you ever again, Mother, I promise,” I said.
AJ reached out and patted me, then dropped off to sleep.
Never, I thought, and fell asleep myself.
Forgiveness
A Farmer's son by accident trod upon a Serpent's tail, which turned and bit him so that he died. The Farmer in a rage got his axe, and pursuing the Serpent, cut off part of its tail. So the Serpent in revenge began stinging several of the Farmer's sheep and caused him severe loss. The Farmer thought it best to make it up with the Serpent, and brought food and honey to the mouth of its lair, and said to it:
"Let's forget and forgive; perhaps you were right to punish my son, and take vengeance on my sheep, but surely I was right in trying to revenge him; now that we are both satisfied why should not we be friends again?"
"No, no," said the Serpent; "take away your gifts; you can never forget the death of your son, nor I the loss of my tail."
Moral: Injuries may be forgiven, but not forgotten
“Tales for Foals”, The Equestrian Encyclopedia of General Knowledge
The next morning Airlie jumped into bed with us and woke us up. I wrestled with both her and AJ, then we got up and had breakfast. I promised I’d spend the afternoon with Airlie but I needed the morning to write some letters and let a few others know I was back. AJ happily agreed and headed into the fields with Airlie.
I went into my study and pulled out my typewriter. I wrote Fall first, then wrote much shorter letters to Princess Luna, Lady Astrid, Ren, Fleur and Fancy Pants and Chancellor. Carl and Cadence already knew and I decided I’d tell Twilight, Lyra and Pierre myself over the next few days. I sealed the letters and used stamps since I didn’t want to alert anypony I was back by using my Hero of the Realm seal.
I put the letters in my pouch, then trotted toward town. I cast Conceal, dropped the letters in a mailbox, then made my way to the back of Rarity’s. I went in and waited, listening. It was early enough nopony was in the shop yet which was what I wanted.
I dropped Conceal, then walked through the curtain. I could hear somepony in the kitchen which was on the ground floor near the back. I stood at the kitchen doorway and saw Rarity fixing herself breakfast. She looked very good if a bit sad.
“May I have this dance, Gorgeous?” I asked.
Rarity spun and dropped a plate. I caught it with magic before it hit the floor and put it on the counter. Eyes wide as they would go, Rarity stood in place for just a moment, then threw herself into my forehooves. As much as I loved Rarity, I knew she usually kept up a front for almost everypony, even me. Not this time, though. She buried her muzzle under my left jaw and sobbed, heedless of the tears and mucus. I held her head with my right forehoof and waist with my left.
Eventually she pulled back, then looked appalled.
“Benjamin, just look at what you’ve done to me! I’m a mess!”
She was, but I said, “No, you’re more beautiful than ever.”
“Please excuse me a moment.”
Rarity raced upstairs. I cleaned myself up at the kitchen sink, then rooted around, found some mushrooms and ate those while I waited. When she came back down, mane and tasteful make-up were perfectly in place as usual. I had tea while she ate breakfast.
“So, Benjamin, did you save the World?”
“I did, and brought back a trade opportunity for you as well. Did you know the griffon weaving as a whole is almost as good as Marcia’s?”
Rarity looked interested, then asked, “Have you been home yet?”
I nodded. “Last night. I’ll spend the afternoon with Airlie.”
“She’s so adorable!”
The rest of the breakfast we talked about local gossip, Rarity’s latest show and other mundane topics. Finally, I rose to go. Rarity saw me out the back door and kissed both sides of my muzzle.
“You came to see me first, didn’t you?” Rarity asked, right forehoof on my chest.
“Of course. Where else would I go?”
Rarity laughed at that, then said, “I love you, Maker. Please don’t do this to me again.”
I gave her a Ren kiss, then said, “’Bye, Gorgeous. We’ll start rehearsing again soon.”
‘Bye, Ben,” she said and waved as I headed out.
I cast Conceal, then headed to the workshop. I didn’t see anypony, so I dropped Conceal about half way there. I was lost in thought about what I’d say to Jon and the mares when I noticed something in the road. I got closer and saw a badger kit, I guessed around two months old. She was crying.
I came close, then dropped a few feet away from her and tucked my legs under.
“Hello, little miss. Are you lost?”
She looked up at me. “Uh-huh,” she said, sniffing.
“I know where you live. Would you like to ride on my back while I take you there?”
“Okay!” she said and stopped crying. She raced over to me and clambered onto my back, using her little claws to hoist herself up my side.
“Here we go!” I said, then rose and started trotting to the badger den.
After about 200 feet, I heard Lady Badger and Reginald.
“Hortense! Where are you? Hooorrrteeennnse!” Reginald sounded annoyed, but then again, he always did.
Hortense heard them as well and scrabbled up my neck to sit on my head. Gripping my horn with one claw, the called out.
“Ma! Pa! Lookit me! I’m riding a pony! Ma!...eeeek!”
Hortense lost her grip right as Lady Badger and Reginald came into sight. I caught her with magic and set her in the road. She raced up to her parents.
“Ma! Ma! This pony, he found me, and, and, he let me ride on his back, and, and, he’s a nice pony, Pa…!”
“Hortense, shame on you, bothering Mr. Apple,” scolded Lady Badger as I walked up. “And running away in the middle of the day! What were you thinking?”
“But, Ma…!”
“Don’t you ‘But, Ma’ me, young lady! I’ve half a mind to…”
Just then two other little badgers popped up out of the den and then raced towards me.
“I wanna pony ride!” “Pony ride!” they yelled together.
Without waiting for me to kneel, one leapt through the air, landed on my side, dug his way up and ended up on my head chewing on my right ear. The other was a little slower, climbed my left rear leg and started sniffing around my tail. All the while, Reginald looked exhausted.
“Reginald,” I said, wincing as almost-weaned teeth bit down just a little too hard.
“Mr. Apple,” he said, wearily.
“You two get down at once!” said Lady Badger, firmly. “Don’t make me count, Junior, Abercrombie!”
“But, Ma! Sis had a pony ride and we want one, too!” said Junior, leaving off chewing my ear for a moment.
“Oh, Mr. Apple, I’m so sorry about this,” said a distraught Lady Badger.
“Not at all, ma’am.” I lifted both little badgers down with magic and then went down on my knees so I was facing them.
“Listen, both of you. If your mother and father give permission, I’ll gallop with you to where I found your sister, and then gallop back, all right? But then you have to go back into the den until your parents let you out again.”
“Okay!”, “’Kay, Mr. Pony!”
I looked up at Lady Badger who looked even more exhausted than Reginald. “Oh, very well, as long as Mr. Apple agrees.”
“Yay!”
I lifted both onto my back and, holding them on with magic, raced off back down the road. I skidded to a stop, lifted both onto my head, then raced back. Both little badgers squealed and giggled the entire time. I skidded to a stop again, then lowered both from my head.
“Again!” said the one I thought was Junior.
“Now, young badger, you made a promise,” I said. “Another time, perhaps.”
“Awwww,” said Junior but trundled his way back to the den. Abercrombie followed and Hortense went last. Hortense turned and said, shyly, “Thank you, Mr. Pony, for helpin’ me.”
“You’re welcome, miss.”
She giggled and vanished. Both adult badgers gave tired sighs.
“Mr. Apple, thank you so much. They’re at that age, almost ready to leave the den,” said Lady Badger, raising her nose for me to touch.
“Not at all, ma’am. I have a filly myself,” I answered, touching her nose with mine.
Lady Badger waddled into the den with Reginald following. I’d never seen him outside of the den before. He was amazingly sturdy and was one, solid rippling mass of muscle. Even a griffon would think twice before taking him on, I thought.
Reginald stopped, looked at me, then raised his nose. I very slowly touched it with mine.
“Thanks, pony,” he said and followed Lady Badger into the den.
“Delighted, sir,” I answered but he was gone.
I trotted on, amused, then stopped in mid-trot, remembering my dream last year.
Lady Badger. Three kits.
Well, they’ll live now, by the Magic!
I got to the workshop as Fall’s clock struck 9. I could see heat rising from the magic-fired forge, so I knew Jon was up to something as usual. I walked around to the kitchen door and went in. There sat Mrs. Grass working on the accounts, paperwork neatly arrayed as usual. She looked up, sucked in a breath, then stood.
“I’m back, Emerald. It’s wonderful to…”
Mrs. Grass didn’t say anything, just trotted over, put both her forehooves around my neck and put her muzzle next to mine. Old she might have been but she was still quite strong. I held her around her waist until she pulled back.
“Mr. Apple, I’m so glad to see you! We’ve missed you terribly.”
“I can say the same, Mrs. Grass. Who is in the shop today?”
“Winter just left to help with a birth and Mr. Smithson is in the Annex.”
“I’ll just say hello, shall I? I’m taking a few days with the family and should be back to work on 16th.”
“Jon will be so happy to see you, sir.”
“I’ll pass back through on my way out. Say, how’s the workshop doing?” I asked, pointing to the accounts.
Mrs. Grass picked up a sheet covered in numbers. “As of today, Mr. Apple, the workshop account balance is 112,345 bits.”
Great Scott! That was more bits than I ever imagined! I managed not to look too overwhelmed and instead just nodded and smiled.
“Very good! Jon certainly has done well.”
“That he has, Mr. Apple,” said Mrs. Grass looking very satisfied. Her World was back in good order at last.
I nodded, then trotted to the forge. Jon was turning a piece of metal, oblivious to anything else.
“Howdy, Youngster,” I said in my best Appleoosan accent. “Would ye sell me one of them racers?”
When he heard me, Jon squared his shoulders. He wouldn’t deal with customers at all at first unless I was with him, but Pinkie and I had been helping him along. He still dreaded it, though, and had Pinkie or me do most of it.
Jon put down his metal piece, lifted his shield, damped the fire and then turned with what I recognized as a fake smile. When he saw it was me, he dropped the smile and his eyes widened.
“Ben!!”
“Ho, Jon! What’re you making?”
Instead of answering, Jon raced over, grabbed my right forehoof and pumped it up and down with both of his.
“Ben! You’re back! You didn’t leave us! I knew you wouldn’t!”
“Yes, Jon, you were right. You and the others here were one of the main reasons I kept going, too.”
Jon pretended he had a speck of something in his eye and give it a quick wipe.
“How’s Pinkie?”
Jon raised his left forehoof, put it over his mane and looked at the ground.
“We’re getting married on the 30th of this month.”
“What? That’s a month earlier than you told me before. I thought you were getting married on the 30th of Sixth.”
“Yeah, well…we, uh…that is…” Jon actually blushed slightly.
“What’s happened, Jon? Is Pinkie…?”
Jon looked up with a sheepish grin. “Yeah. She just realized it a few days ago.”
“Well, well, aren’t you the stud?”
Jon laughed then and put his left forehoof back on the ground. “Well, yeah.”
“Want me to check on her, Jon?”
Jon nodded vigorously. “Please, Ben.”
“Of course!” I said, and shook his hoof again. “Congratulations to both of you! Ah…what did your mother say?”
“She’s over the Moon. I thought Pinkamena’s family would be mad, but they’re thrilled as well.”
We talked shop for the next 20 minutes or so and I told Jon I’d be back on 16th. The best news was the Lamberts were ready to start building the cider factory the 1st of Sixth along with the company housing. When we finished, Jon shook my hoof again, then went back to the forge. I walked out through the kitchen and arched my eyebrows at Emerald.
“I see Jon’s been…quite busy, Mrs. Grass.”
“Indeed, sir,” she said, eyes twinkling.
“See you on 16th, Mrs. Grass,” I said as I opened the kitchen door.
“I’ll tell Maggie and Winter, Mr. Apple. And…welcome home, sir.”
I waved a farewell, then cast Conceal. I trotted to Derpy’s but she wasn’t home, so I went on to Sugar Cube Corner. I dropped Conceal and walked up the steps to the loading dock after making sure nopony saw me. I looked into the storage room and there stood Pinkie, staring off into space, clipboard in hoof and hanging by her side.
“Eh, ma petite, you are the pink cupcake, yes? Ooo-la-la! Tres bien!” I said.
Pinkie came out of her daze, looked at me, dropped the clipboard and did just what Rarity did, grabbing me around my neck and sobbing into right neckline instead of my left. I held her until she tugged for me to let her loose. There was no jumping, no pouncing, no typical Pinkie behavior at all.
“I was soooo happy when I read about you and AJ in the paper. I knew you’d never split up!” Pinkie said, using a polka dot handkerchief to wipe herself off. She handed it to me and I did the same.
“I hear you have some news as well, Miss Pie. May I look?” I asked as I handed the handkerchief back.
Pinkie grinned, sat back and threw open her front legs. I extended my healing senses.
Life. Two lives. And Pinkie was as healthy as ever.
I pulled back my healing sense. “Congrats, hon. Twins.”
Pinkie stuffed both forehooves in her mouth and squealed. Then, very deliberately, she pushed both forehooves away from herself, slowly blinked her eyes and then took a deep breath.
“Wait’ll I tell Jon! Hey, are you still singing at our reception?”
“Of course. Catch the Wind and Turn, Turn, Turn are what Jon wanted. Don’t tell me, Pinkie, you want Let Me Call You Sweetheart and Silver Threads Among the Gold?”
Pinkie nodded enthusiastically.
“I’ll be ready. Do I have to go to the wedding?”
“Yes, Ben, you have to go to the wedding!”
“Oh, very well,” I sighed.
Pinkie put her right forehoof on my chest. “Will you…will you deliver the foals?” she asked, shyly. Pinkie acting shy! Amazing!
I covered her forehoof with mine. “Of course, Pinkie! You don’t think I’d miss that, do you?”
“Hooray! I knew you would!” she said, giggling, and the Pinkie I knew was back.
We visited a little more. Pinkie wanted to foal sit Airlie which I told her was more than fine. I said to check with AJ about dates and times, then waved good-bye, activated Conceal and headed back to the farm.
I dropped Conceal when I got back to my study and started typing out my official report. Airlie came racing in at 12 and she, AJ and I had lunch. Airlie was wild to spend the afternoon with her Dad and I was more than happy to play with her. After AJ waved and headed back to the fields, Airlie and I got good and dirty at the duck pond, had hoof races, wrestled in the orchard which Big Mac enjoyed watching, swam in the pond above the dam, then took a quick nap while we dried in the Sun. We went back to Old House and I dug out the Frisbee, then wore out Airlie tossing it as hard as I could while she ran after it. I didn’t even have to use magic although I did use it later to support her in the air so she could learn to do back flips which for some reason she just had to know how to do.
We showered outside and then had supper with the family. Airlie dropped off at 6:30, so I put her to bed and then had some very vigorous together time with AJ. Afterwards I heard all the local and family news. AJ was excited for Pinkie, too.
The next day was the same except this time I devoted the afternoon to AJ. We ran in the woods, had a canoodle in our favorite glade, played barn ball which AJ played better than anypony and lay in our favorite spot not talking, just enjoying being together again. I wrapped AJ in my magic field and she napped for awhile after making that purring hum of hers. I also sang All I Want Is You to her and she giggled like a filly.
I devoted that evening and most of the next day to typing out my report. The afternoon of 15th I read it to Granny and to AJ.
When I finished, Granny said, “So. My Zap Apples helped to save the World.”
“That they did, Granny.”
Granny just nodded. “I knew there was a reason they popped up all them years ago other than for the Apples t’ make jam.”
I delivered the report to Twilight’s castle the morning of the 16th before I went to the shop. I walked to Spike’s office and knocked on the doorjamb.
“Mr. Apple! I didn’t know you were back! Welcome home, sir!”
“My thanks, Spike. Here’s my report.” I handed it over. “Please classify it as Level 7 under Crown Seal.”
“Oh, yes, sir. Herself should be back in a few days.”
“If she has questions, please send me for and I’ll be more than happy to answer them. We’re still meeting on 20th and I’ll give a full report then.”
“Thank you, Mr. Apple.”
“My pleasure, sir.”
Spike was an excellent functionary, almost the level of Lady Astrid, I thought as I trotted to the workshop. Twilight and I had argued over whether he was a Wizard’s Familiar more than once and finally agreed to disagree. He was, though.
I trotted to the workshop and greeted Winter and Maggie who gave me strong Earth pony hugs to welcome me back. Maggie headed to work and I had Winter follow me into the old workshop. As I expected, Jon was at least a month behind on the small jobs. While I got those sorted out, I told Winter about the Crystal Empire and the medical knowledge which was there. She was eager to go, so I told her I’d write Somerson and that the workshop would pay for her room and board. That earned me a sweet kiss. I left it to Winter to talk over leaving with Ma although I told her I’d step in if necessary.
I spent the morning on the small jobs, then made the rounds which had accumulated as well. One of them was to Brickleback and I got to see my namesake, a fine looking little stallion and very friendly. I stopped by Derpy’s and she was even more effusive than the Earth pony mares. I was also glad Spark was long gone since I enjoyed having her to myself; I knew it was selfish but indulged myself anyway. I spoke to Lyra and Pierre as well and Pierre cried as he kissed my cheeks, he was so relieved.
I fell back into the pattern of my days as if I’d never left. I got a joyous and tear-stained letter from Fall and wrote back I’d see her later in the Summer. The others wrote back as well, all relieved. Before I knew it, it was 19th of Sixth. I kissed my fillies good-bye and deadheaded with Roundhouse to Canterlot. I spent the night with him, then spent most of the next day working in the repair shop with him and some of the other engineers. The big news was the railroad chose Roundhouse to get the new 4-6-2 (Cecilia 2) and he was going to pick her up in a month. I asked for a lift when he swapped out so I could visit Fall and he told me sure.
I heard the station clock strike 5, so I said good-bye to the engineers, trotted to Roundhouse’s and changed into my tails and cape. I cast Conceal, then trotted to the Palace. I waited in Ballroom #1 until 6, then opened the door to the anteroom, cape blowing in a magic breeze.
“Behold! As planned, I…”
That was as far as I got before I found myself in a pony pile of the most important ponies in the land. Ren led the way followed by Cadence and Shining Armor. Twilight wasn’t far behind and the others came behind her including Lady Astrid and Chancellor. Luna watched it all with a small smile. After laughingly greeting everypony, we sorted ourselves out and they formed a semicircle around me. Celestia was conspicuously absent and I wasn’t the only pony who noticed.
“Gentlestallions and gentlemares, I’m pleased to report I was successful. The Dark Magic is no more.” I talked about an hour, leaving out nothing except my visit from Lady Magic. Some knew most of it, of course, but all wanted to hear it from me directly.
“…so, I hopped a freight and ended up back in Ponyville.”
Ren had listened attentively. “Silver,” she said, pensively. “Yes, this one I do remember.”
“So do I,” said Carl.
“Conclusions, Benjamin?” asked Luna.
“Two, your Highness, and I ask Ren and Shining Armor to speculate with me. First, Silver understands not losing after watching me use T’ai Chi against the Dark Magic. This is a fundamental shift from the griffon warrior ethos and training. I predict a century or so from now we’ll see a generation of warrior-monks who regard fighting as a failure instead of a preference. In such a society, a Mad King isn’t possible.”
Ren and Carl both nodded along with me.
“Second, Silver insisted on ruling with his twin sister Argent. This has never happened before. Her example and perspective will change griffon society as well. How, exactly, I can’t say, but change it shall and I think for the better.”
Luna nodded, then addressed the group. “Any other questions for Mr. Apple? Good. I remind you this is a Level 7 briefing under Crown Seal. The single copy of the report will stay in the Princess of Friendship’s archive for now. Any questions? Thank you for coming.”
We broke up but many lingered for farewells. Ren came up to me first.
“My love, you have gone back to the mother of your foal, yes?” said Ren in French.
“I have, dearest.”
Ren gave that Gallic shrug which said, “I can live with that” and “That’s the way of things” at the same time.
“Such is life, my love. But I will not forget,” said Ren, giving me a small grin.
“Nor will I, dearest, nor will I. Will you visit us later this year?”
“I will. I will see you then,” said Ren and away she went. She exchanged a glance with Fleur who along with Fancy Pants was waiting to talk to me. The glance said much; how the French did that was a mystery to us all.
“1st of Seventh, Ben,” said Fleur, holding on to a grinning Fancy Pants.
I gave a half bow. “I wouldn’t miss it for the World, Fleur. I’ll fly up on 30th.”
Juliette said nothing, just gave me that pleasant kiss of hers, then headed out. Lyra, Pierre and Twilight said they’d see me back home while Carl and Cadence said they’d see me after the foal was born. Carl turned back to me as they were leaving.
“Say, Ben, did you clean our rail cars the other day?”
“Of course I did, Carl, they were layered in filth.”
Carl sighed. “I know, we’ve had all sorts of trouble getting staff to live that far North.”
“Hmm, let me talk to the Martins when I get back to see what I can do. The railroad often retires workers who have plenty of life left in them.”
Cadence gave me a Pegasus Farewell, Carl shook my hoof and they were gone.
The Chancellor shook my hoof and smiled.
“I knew you could do it.”
“That made one of us, Clarence.”
He laughed at that and after he left I was alone again with Luna.
I turned and gave a half-bow, ready to leave myself.
“Maker…” she started, then took a breath.
“Maker, the Crown owes you everything although we can never acknowledge it in public. However, we, Celestia and I, will give you whatever you ask of us that’s in our power to give.”
I rose and flipped my cape back, then walked slowly up to Luna. I looked at her sideways with a raised eyebrow.
“Aaaannnyything?” I said.
Luna looked alarmed and even took a couple of steps back. She swallowed, then braced herself and stared over my head, jaw set and mouth a grim line.
“Yes, Maker. Anything.”
The poor thing didn’t understand teasing, I thought. Celestia was awkward about it as well but at least she was better than this.
I gave a full turn, swirling my cape and ended up facing Luna again. “Very well. Luna, Princess of the Night, Co-Ruler of Equestria, you will…”
Luna swallowed again.
“…join me, my family and Lady Astrid at the Homestead for Year’s End. You will let me and AJ preen you and you will spend one entire day at the spa. Oh, and you can play a part in Captain Mad and the Hunt for the Lost Treasure. Every year it gets more elaborate. Apple Bloom insists on playing Captain Mad although I wanted Storm to do it because of his eye patch. Lady Astrid is usually Queen Malice and Wind Rider of all ponies is her understudy. Say, I know! You could play the wise-cracking first mate! Applejack tried it once and an actress she most certainly is not. I usually direct and I’ve added two more musical numbers this year…”
“Maker!”
I’d become swept up in what I was saying and hadn’t noticed Luna’s expression. She was caught completely off guard and for the first time I saw a spontaneous reaction from her.
“You could ask for anything in the kingdom and you ask for me to visit you?!?” Luna continued.
“Yes, Luna, I do.”
Luna stared. “But why? Why ask such a thing when you could ask for anything?”
“Don’t you want to visit us, Luna? You seemed to enjoy yourself at the open house.”
“Well, yes, of course, but I…surely you can’t mean…yes, your family is…” and Luna stopped, still staring.
I took a step forward and held out my right forehoof. Luna raised her left and I held it. She was cool, cooler than Cadence and Celestia.
“Your Highness, I am a servant of the Crown. I know you sometimes think that’s just Herself but it’s you as well. I don’t know you nearly as well as I would like. I think when I do I could love you easily; all I need is a chance. Won’t you please visit us?”
Take that, Carl! I thought when I finished.
Luna stared a little longer, then cast her eyes down. Still looking at the floor and with a small smile, she said, “I’ve always wanted to be in a play.”
“Splendid!” I said, releasing her hoof. “Please come with Lady Astrid. We’ll put you in the Princess Room, at least if we can get the Crusaders out of it. They like to play The Mare and the Wandering Prince, then race up the tower to do the tower scene.”
Luna laughed, a joyous, delighted laugh. So, the Black Marble Princess can laugh after all. That made me think of Silver for a moment, too.
She raised her head, then gave me a pleasant smile. “Thank you, I’d love to come!”
“Then we look forward to seeing you, Luna.”
I went to bow again when Luna raised a hoof.
“Will you see Sister?”
I stood. “Always.”
“She’s waiting in her sitting room.”
I nodded, then gave a half bow. “Until Year’s End, Princess of the Night.”
I turned and walked down the hall to the sitting room next to Tia’s bedroom. There were no guards, so I knocked, then walked in. There stood my beautiful princess, staring out the window. She looked wonderful and when I extended my healing senses I was pleased to find she was in excellent shape if very tired.
I gave a half bow, then rose.
Tia turned from the window, then slowly lowered herself to her knees. She dipped her horn until it touched the floor, then spread her wings until they were flat to the floor on either side.
The Submission Posture. Complete and total surrender of self.
“Forgive me,” Tia said.
Well, this wouldn’t do at all.
“Tia! Stop that at once! Up, Princess of the Day, up!”
I raised her with magic but when she was back on her hooves she still wouldn’t look at me.
“Look at me. Tia! Look at me!”
She did.
“Tia, I am your devoted servant. You made a mistake and I did my job and fixed it. It’s over.”
She started crying then and I reared so I could hold her head in my front hooves until she stopped. I took a handkerchief and wiped her eyes and muzzle.
“You hate me...don’t you?”
“Don’t be absurd.”
“They hate me,” she said, meaning Luna and the others.
“No, they don’t.”
“Why not?” Tia almost screamed. “Why don’t they? Why don’t you?!?”
“I’ll always love you, Tia, you know that. There’s nothing you could do or say to change it. The others, particularly Luna, feel the same.” I took a breath. “You remember when I said you were a bad sport?”
Tia gave me a small smile and nodded.
“This is the same thing. You’re so used to not making mistakes, when you make one, you have a hard time admitting it.” I tried my best to imitate Ren’s shrug. “Most of us make all sorts of mistakes all the time. Sometimes our friends or families fix them, sometimes we fix them ourselves, then move on. It’s over, Tia. I and the others forgive you. Now let’s get on with it.”
Tia nodded, then stepped forward and gave me a Ren kiss with a touch of magic behind it. I returned it, then breathed a sigh of relief. My monarch was back at last.
After a brief visit, I invited Tia to come to celebrate Midwinter with us. She was thrilled and accepted, her cheerful self again. I soon left her, saying I was tired since I could tell she was completely exhausted. I saw her into her bedroom, stole one more kiss at the bedroom door, then slid out of the sitting room and into the service passage. I made my way to the kitchen loading dock and out onto the street.
It was a warm evening and there were all sorts of ponies in the streets. I had to stop and give autographs, pose for pictures with several of the new Smithson and Sons portable cameras and do some magic for foals although I thought the parents enjoyed it as well. One very bold little filly held up her hooves and jumped, trying to fly through the air. I lifted her with magic and whirled her in a wide circle over the pedestrian’s heads, she screaming with joy the whole time. I heard the tell-tale pop of a flashbulb and knew I’d make the paper again, tails, cape and all.
Eventually I ducked into an alley and cast Conceal, then walked back to Roundhouse’s.
“Meetin’ over, Mr. Wizard?” he asked as I dropped Conceal and walked in.
“Yes, indeed, Roundhouse, and all is right with the World.”
Roundhouse shook his head. “I’m mighty glad I don’t hafta deal with them gentry, and that’s the truth. Drivin’ a hog for ‘em is about as close as I want to get.”
I laughed. “So, then. Spades? Or perhaps chess?” I asked as I packed up my cape and tails.
Roundhouse trounced me in chess twice, then went to bed. I slept by the fireplace and had as deep a sleep as I’d had in some time. We woke up early and Roundhouse was mightily impressed when I cleaned his house with magic. I treated him at The Fanciful Pig which we had almost to ourselves.
We left The Fanciful Pig and made our way to the depot. We passed a newsstand and there above the fold was a picture of me rearing and laughing, cape blowing in the Wind, while I levitated that Earth pony filly who was clearly having a wonderful time. Ponies in the background were laughing and cheering as well. The headlines were “Wizard Has the Common Touch!” and “Hero Plays with Foals”. Finally, finally, non-magic users were becoming less afraid of mages.
Roundhouse was for the Baltimare run, so I wished him well and deadheaded with Whiskers on the 6:30 to Hoofington. I waved good-bye as I hopped off in Ponyville. Home, I thought as I trotted to the farm, and hopefully here to stay for quite some time.