The next day, I decided I had to tell Kirk about what happened to Chekhov when he asked me this question,
“Bones, where’s Chekhov? I haven’t seen him all day!”
“Jim, Chekhov’s dead.” I replied.
“He’s… He’s what?”
“He’s dead. He sacrificed himself to save the Enterprise.”
“Did… did he die in agony? Was it painful?”
“I don’t know. I wasn’t him.”
“Did it look painful?”
“It was quick.”
“Good. At least he didn’t die painfully.”
Celestia came over to us and said,
“Crew of the venerable starship Enterprise, you are cordially invited to attend my party. It is celebrating your triumphant victory over the Changeling army!”
“Oh great, another party?” I asked Kirk unenthusiastically.
“Just come on, Bones. You know that she would want you to.” Kirk replied.
We got to the banquet hall and I found a bunch of ponies all saying my name. They pushed me up on the podium and I went up to the microphone to say a few words.
“Fellow ponies, I may not be one of you but, I am happy to be accepted into your society. I am your hero but, the greatest hero cannot be measured or bought.” I was looking at Kirk when I said the next part. “The greatest hero is a friend. Even if that friend is not with us anymore. Thank you.”
I stepped down from the podium and grabbed a plate of cake. I walked up to Kirk and Spock as Kirk said,
“So, Bones, you are a hero. Does that mean you can fly?”
“Dammit, Jim I’m a doctor not Superman!”
“I think that’s what everypony was waiting on.”
“Again, Jim?”
“What?”
“With the ‘Everypony.’”
“Oh.”
Two hours later, we were back on the Enterprise. Shooting towards Yorktown Starbase to get refitted. I sat down in my office and wrote to Celestia like she told me to.