//------------------------------// // Epilogue // Story: The Chalice of Rhinyorgrun // by Coyotek4 //------------------------------//                 Figures … I can finally enjoy the window view, and I fall asleep for the whole trip back.                 Upon opening her eyes, Rainbow Dash is surprised to see daylight pouring into the cabin that she and Quibble shared for the train ride back from the Crystal Empire.  She turns to Quibble, and sees him fiddling with various quills.  “How long have you been awake.”                 “Not long.  I just wanted to finish … this.”  Quibble shows his work to Rainbow.                 Rainbow inspects Quibble’s work.  “Wait, isn’t this just the same puzzle we had to solve in that chamber?”                 “I fixed it,” Quibble proudly declares.  “This one requires all six colors, and it takes up only ten spots.  It’s the puzzle Sombra should have made.”                 Rainbow gives Quibble a funny look.  “Seriously?  After all we just went through, all you can focus on is a shoddy puzzle!?”                 “Hey, I didn’t come for the adventure.  I can’t help it if the adventure came for me.”  The smile on Quibble face causes Rainbow to reciprocate.                 “You are one unique pony, Quibble.”                 “Sure, and you’re just another run-of-the-mill pegasus!”  The two share a laugh.                 “But seriously … you survived a breath of dragon fire?  What are you, invulnerable or something?”                 “I guess I can just take it better than most,” Rainbow admits.                 “Too bad it was all for nothing.  All the power and potential that chalice had, just to be crushed to dust.”                 “Well, it might be for the best.  I mean, I’ve seen enough ponies and other creatures let power go to their heads; it’s just too much for most to take.  It’s why I give Princess Celestia so much credit … she has that kind of power, but also the restraint not to flaunt it, except when she really needs to, of course.”                 Quibble lets out a brief ‘Hm’ before gazing out the window.                 “So you think Daring Do’s gonna turn this into another story?”                 “I doubt it,” Quibble answers while staring out the window.  “I mean, her ‘adventure’ consisted of being knocked out, bound and gagged, and then exploring only a tiny part of the catacombs to retrieve Caballeron.  She never even got to the first room of the maze.”  He turns to Rainbow.  “Maybe we should write about this adventure, instead.”                 “Ohmygosh, I love that idea …”  Rainbow pauses to reconsider.  “Of course, most of what happened just involved solving a bunch of crazy puzzles.”                 “Exactly!  More in line with Daring’s older … and, of course, better work!”                 “Meh … the real fun didn’t begin until after we left the library, when I chased after Ember and thwarted her attempted at harnessing the power of the Chalice.”                 “Yeah, I guess I had to have been there to share the excitement,” Quibble states nonchalantly.                 The two stare at each other for a minute.                 “Ya know,” Rainbow finally says, “maybe we’re not meant to work together on a novel.”                 “Yeah, you’re probably right.”  Eager to change the subject, Quibble suddenly remembers: “So, I pitched an idea to Princess Cadence.  Can you believe it: me, just chatting with an alicorn princess!”                 Rainbow thinks about her close bond with Twilight, but keeps it to herself.  “Oh?  What about?”                 “The Spectrum Catacombs.  Now that they’ve been discovered, I think it would make an excellent location for live-action roleplaying.”                 Rainbow rolls her eyes at the suggestion.  “Quibble, we could have died in there!  Or worse!”                 “Well, yeah,” Quibble admits, “but from what Daring told us after you flew off, it looks like all the supernatural elements of the passages have worn off.  No more rabid spiders or anything like that.  Just a spooky series of passages with incredible potential.”                 “Potential for what?”                 “Puzzle-solving!  Think of it, Rainbow!  We could set up those rooms with all sorts of markings.  Really test a pony’s logical ability … harmless, of course, no real danger.  I think it could make a great teaching activity.”                 “I think you’re nuts … but I do have to hoof it to you, your puzzle skills really saved the day.”                 “They did, didn’t they,” Quibble acknowledges, “but in the end, you’re the one who pulled Ember back from the brink of power corruption.”                 “I guess we both had a heck of an adventure tonight.”  Rainbow sighs.  “Still would’ve liked to have seen Metallicolt, though.”                 “I’m sure there’ll be other concerts.  Now I don’t know about you, but I just want to get home and take everything in while lying down on my bed.”                 “Now that is something we agree on!”  The two feel the train start to slow, and Rainbow peers out the window.  “Hey, it looks like we’re pulling into Ponyville station.  That’s my stop.”                 The two share a brief hug as the train comes to a halt.                 “See you next Daring Do convention?” Quibble asks.                 “It’s a date!”                 “Awesome … I’ll have a date, in another several months.”                 “You could always pay a visit to Ponyville before then.”                 “Not today,” Quibble states with a yawn, “but yeah, that would be cool.  Well … until then …”                 “See you around!”  After one final quick hug, Rainbow departs the train.  She stands at the platform as the train starts up again, whisking Quibble and the remaining passengers along.                 As the train leaves her sight, Rainbow flies off towards the center of town, searching for her number one fan.  It takes her little time to eye Scootaloo engaged in a passionate conversation with her fellow CMCs; she notes Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle hanging on every word the pegasus foal says.                 “Scoots!”  Rainbow races towards her, interrupting the foal’s story.  “You wouldn’t believe the adventure I just had!  There was this ancient dragon chalice, and—”                 “THE CONCERT WAS INCREDIBLE FLUTTERSHY GOT ON STAGE AND GOT A STOMPING OVATION FROM THE CROWD AND WE WENT BACKSTAGE AND MET THE BAND OMYGOSH THEY WERE SUPER-AWESOME AND THEY GAVE US AUTOGRAPH COPIES OF A LOT OF SHIRTS AND ALL THEIR ALBUMS AND THEY’RE GONNA PLAY A SPECIAL CONCERT IN CANTERLOT TO CELEBRATE THE ELEMENTS OF HARMONY FOR THEIR CHANGELING BATTLE IN CANTERLOT AND THEY WANNA MEET YOU PERSONALLY CAN YOU BELIEVE IT???”                 …                 “I … see …”                 …                 “Can you excuse me for one moment?  I need to say hi to Fluttershy.”                 Rainbow bolts away from the CMCs in a blur, leaving behind a multicolored vapor trail in her wake.