Epilogue
I couldn’t say that I was surprised to find out that Copper’s destiny was not to become a princess. I didn’t think anypony was. Not even her.
I kind of was surprised when she waltzed into the library with those three annoyingly cheerful fillies, and all four of them were absolutely covered in jewelry. I mean, I should have guessed that she was a jeweler at heart. I hadn’t seen her crown or anything, but I was sure that I would, seeing as she hadn’t shut up about her jewelry since we got on the train.
Apparently, she and the Crusaders had built a forge. Oh, and she invented some new alloy of copper, stainless or sterling or something. Doesn’t tarnish. Then Applejack confiscated the forge, and Rarity agreed to sell Copper’s jewlery in her Canterlot boutique. Good for her.
The train slowed as it started climbing the foothills of Canterlot. Copper poked me in the ribs. “So, whatever happened with your thing, Twilight?”
“You mean the flocks of weirdos like you?”
“Yeah, that. What did the other Twilight do?”
I snorted. “Besides interrogate me about that binder you spilled the beans about?”
She stuck her nose in the air and folded her forelegs across her chest. “You never told me it was a secret.”
“Well, apparently she’s pretty public as it is. It’s not like she hides her castle or anything. So there’s not really much she could do.” I looked at Copper and hoped my grin didn’t look too evil. “Oh, she did say she was going to start a literacy program, to help ponies who can’t read the difference between ‘Sparkle’ and ‘Sprinkle.’”
I couldn’t help but laugh as she punched me repeatedly in the shoulder. One of her brand new bracelets fell off and rolled into the aisle of the train car. I picked it up with my magic and floated it back, taking a moment to study the intricate design pressed into its surface. It did look pretty nice. I guessed. I’ve never really been into jewelry. I’ve always worn paper hats.
I passed the bracelet to her and she slipped it back over her hoof. And then she started talking again.
I studied her face as I did my best to let her babbling blend into the sound of the wheels rumbling over the tracks. She seemed… brighter. Like the last remnants of that horrid dye had been washed out of her fur. But deeper. That inky blackness had been washed out of her very soul.
“What are you… You’re making a face again.”
“Oh.” I did have a tendency to—
“You know, when you’re thinking, you still move your face like you’re having a conversation.” I felt my cheeks burning. “That was your ‘melodrama’ face. Like when you say something really hammy.”
I cleared my throat. “Prepare to be defeated, vile pretender!”
Copper suppressed a smirk and gave me a light shove. “So, I may have been a bit, uh, intense when we first met.”
“You’re like a completely different pony.”
“Yeah.” Copper pushed a lock of her frizzy orange hair behind an ear. “I was trying to be something I wasn’t. I just needed somepony to help me see who I really am, and what it was I really wanted.”
I nodded. “I’m glad the Crusaders were able to help you.”
She put a hoof on my shoulder and waited until I turned to look at her. “It wasn’t them who helped me, it was you. I never would have even considered the idea of not being princess until I met you and…”
She just kind of stopped talking. I didn’t know if I was supposed to talk or what.
She smiled again. Not the kind of smile I’m used to ponies sending my way. “You didn’t think I was a princess, but you were my friend anyway. You were a friend to the pony I really was, not the pony I was trying to be.”
I felt like this was the terrible, squishy, emotional moment that I was afraid would happen. And in the end, I found out that it didn’t bother me that much.