//------------------------------// // Epilogue // Story: Long Distance Friendship // by Drag Orion //------------------------------// “A few days have gone by after my friends and I completed our friendship mission,” wrote Twilight in her letter to Celestia. “Our new friends have once more gone back to different corners of Equestria. Gale returned to Los Pegasus where Flam was happy to greet her. Flim was there too, but he was still waiting for Trixie to turn him back to normal. This worries me quite a bit because I technically lost the bet I made with Starlight. While I am still not completely okay with the idea of my friends one day going their separate ways from me and not being able to see them for a long time, I’ll be fine if Trixie takes her time returning to Ponyville. Fire Wheel returned to Dodge Junction for a while as he played his music for everypony willing to listen. I hear that he might consider coming over to Ponyville next. He’s even is working on some new music he wants to share with us. Rocky Rhodes is back in Canterlot with Saffron Masala. From what I heard from Rarity those two seem to be getting very close, though I also heard her father is back now and making sure they don’t get too close. April Showers decided to move to Ponyville and even asked Rarity to mentor her. She definitely seems a lot more confident about not being around her Manehatten friends as often but she is planning on keeping in touch so they can plan get togethers as often as they can. I think they all plan to do that same and that gives me some comfort as well that I’ll be able remain close to my friends no matter what. Rainbow Dash made her decision to stay in Ponyville, while still being a Wonderbolt. I hear she’s quitting her job as a weather pony here to be able to focus more time to practicing and a lot more time chillaxing with all of us. She also asked me if I can tell her what kind of party they are talking about in contracts. I agreed to teach her the ins and outs of paperwork soon. Applejack told Granny Smith and the others about wanting to start a farm of her own one day. They were a bit surprised and a little sad to hear her say such a thing, but they also assured her they would give her their support should that day ever come. Granny Smith even said ‘a rolling apple gathers no moss, but then again who would want to eat an apple covered in moss?’ I think that was just her way of encouraging Applejack to go for it. Pinkie Pie, has been spending a lot of time trying to help the cakes come up with a design for a new bakery in Canterlot. Her first idea was to make one out of sweets like a gingerbread house. It does sound like a fun sweet idea, but I’m not so sure if Canterlot is zoned for confections that big. I hear she also wants to create a another Secret Party Cave with a tunnel system connected to the one at Sugarcube Corner. I’m not even sure how she would be able to pull that off, but that’s Pinkie Pie for you. Her second idea is to turn that airship into a mobile bakery instead and that actually does sound like a good idea, if it wasn’t stolen. I promise I’ll get her to return it to you, as soon as she finishes painting it pink. As for me, I’m still eagerly awaiting Spike’s return…” “Twilight!” called Spike as he entered into the Castle of Friendship. “I’m home!” “Spike!” Twilight called back excitedly. “I’m in the map room.” “Be right there,” he told her as he waddled in. When she saw him, his scales were shining quite brightly. “Spike? What happened to you?” she asked a bit surprised at his appearance. “Ember took me to a dragon spa to unwind on the last day of the Festival of Flames,” he explained. “You bath in lava and it really gives your scales a nice shine. I’m sure Rarity would have loved to try it… if it wasn’t for the fact that ponies can’t go in lava.” “Well, I’m glad you enjoyed yourself,” Twilight smiled as she hugged him. “And I’m even happier that you’re back.” “And ready to return to being your number one assistant,” he added. “So, what would you like to do first?” “Actually, how about we take the rest of the day to just hang out?” she asked. “It looks like too nice a day to be cooped up inside anyway.” “Oh, that would great,” agreed Spike. “Why don’t you bring your things back to your room and I’ll finish up here,” she suggested and he eagerly hurried to his room. “Scratch that,” Twilight amended in her letter. “Spike is back and I’m so glad he is. It is hard for me to imagine life without him or without any of my friends. I know that I can’t expect that to last forever so I am determined to make sure I spend as much time as I can with them while I’m able to. And no matter where they end up going in life, our friendship might be deterred, but it will never end.” “I’m ready!” Spiked called to Twilight. “That was pretty fast,” she chuckled. “You didn’t just toss your things in your room and come running back, did you?” “M-maybe,” he answered hesitantly. “Yes.” “We can put it away later,” she told him seeing how eager he was to hang out with her. “Then let’s get going!” he cheered excitedly. “I just need one more second,” she called back. “Also, I was hoping that if you could spare some time coming up, I would love to spend some time with you as well. Your friend, Twilight Sparkle”