//------------------------------// // Lost chapter - Epilogue // Story: Secret of Five // by Yugimotou //------------------------------// Fluttershy whirled around, convinced she'd seen some kind of specter in the corner of her cottage. Her eyes scanned the area, certain she had seen something dreadful like King Sombra lurking in the shade, perish the thought. Yet, there was nothing. Shrugging off the feeling as her mind playing tricks on her, Fluttershy stepped outside. It would be a short walk to the nearby prairie, where a small army of woodland creatures were waiting not-so-patiently for their lunch. She wasn't about to keep them waiting. The warm sun beamed down over the countryside, cool spring breezes gently caressing the world. It was a day just like any other. Fluttershy started as Angel attempted to climb her legs to get at the food she had prepared. Fluttershy gently sat down, causing Angel to slide back to the ground in a huff. "I'm sorry, these aren't for you, Angel. But I'll make you some just like them when I get back, I promise." she softly cooed, scratching an indignant Angel Bunny behind the ears gently. As Fluttershy set off on a happy trot down the hill, formless shadow watched from the shade of her cottage, as if saying its final goodbyes to a world that has forgotten he existed. Hundreds of miles away in the port town of Trottingham, Sea Breeze toiled away, tying his Captains vessel to the docks. He was eager to spend some time on land tending what he thought might be a scurvy. They'd been at open ocean for weeks, delivering a cargo of construction supplies to the recently settled Eversummer Isles. True to form, Green had insisted that they leave immediately, not even getting a good nights rest on shore. As a result, Sea found himself struggling to maintain his focus, not nearly as home on the churning waves as his bounding captain. Just as he completed the knot, Green Flash whirled past, nearly knocking him into the briny sea below. "CHANGE OF PLANS, LAD!" he bellowed from the helm. "WE'VE GOT A DELIVERY TO MAKE TO SADDLE ARABIA, AND THE LUBBERS SHAN'T BE WAITIN'!" Sea sighed, dreams of a soft bed on a quiet night free of a squeaking hull drying out and whittling away like a beached Jellyfish as several surly earth ponies began loading crates onto the ship. Sea managed to slip onto the ship between towering crates, making his way to Green up by the helm. "Are you sure we can't stay in port for just one night? I think my health might be at risk if I embark on another lengthy voyage so soon." Sea stammered, unused to speaking out against his captain - regardless of how kind Green was, under his dismissive and boisterous exterior. "NONSENSE, LAD! THE SEA CALLS TO US BOTH, AND SHE WON'T BE TAKIN' NO FOR AN ANSWER! THAT BESIDES, WE'RE GETTIN' PAID TRIPLE FOR TAKIN' THIS DELIVERY ON SHORT NOTICE! WE'LL BE RICH, LADDY!" Green roared, patting Sea roughly on the back hard enough to knock the wind from his lungs. Dismissive was right. "But you always spend most of both your pay -- and mine, for that matter -- on maintenance and repairs to the ship..." Sea mumbled, eyes downcast. Green went silent putting an arm around Sea's neck. "Laddy, one day you'll understand that bein' a true sea dog ain't about the bits. Freedom is priceless laddy, priceless. And nothing in the world can get between a sea dog and adventure!" Green preached, unaware that he was strangling his first mate whilst occupied by his own lofty ideals. Sea wriggled free, rubbing his sore neck. "Can I at least head to market and buy some oranges to ward the scurvy?" He muttered, not particularly enraptured with his captain's speech. "Sure thing lad. Make it snappy, we leave at sundown!" Green ordered, beaming ear to ear. Sea trotted from the ship, having to wonder about the circumstances in which Green imagined it'd take him well over 6 hours to buy oranges. "At the very least, I suppose I've never been to Saddle Arabia before. Maybe this time I can convince the captain to let us stay a few nights to soak in the culture..." Sea mused to himself, dodging yet another crate as he touched down onto the pier and trotted off in the direction of the marketplace. Meanwhile, in the heart of the capital of Canterlot, Shining bellowed at his wayward private at the gates of the guard barracks. "My little sister cleared that course faster, rookie! Are you trying to make light of this guard?" he snarled, looking down at Goldrush, who was recoiled in embarrassment. "S-sir! No Sir!" he stammered, trying and failing to keep his composure. Shining sighed, preparing to give the notice of discharge to a frankly lost cause. He wasn't without empathy - the royal guard training program was tough. It'd be downright murder to send a runt like this into the field. He turned to fetch the parchment from his pouch, and turned back to see what looked like several years of aging done in a brief moment. The soft faced recruit he was just about to send home suddenly seemed several inches taller, with the youthful naivete absent from his eyes. Additionally, though he couldn't quite make it out, there seemed to be a faint white light fading from his peripheral vision. "Oh, are those my walking papers?" Goldrush inquired, a puzzling expression of relief on his face. "Uh... Yes. This isn't working out." Shining cautiously began, before being cut off by a bizarre and out of place display of joy. "Sweet Tartarus, that makes this way easier. Hurry it up already!" Gold exclaimed, blissfully indifferent to the confusion of his commanding officer. "Where was this confidence and gusto while you were flunking all of your physicals?" Shining curtly inquired, wondering if the colt- no, stallion in front of him had just spent several months willfully wasting his time. "Eh. That's for me to know, and nobody else to ever find out." Gold grinned, before snatching the normally-dreaded document from his now-former commanding officers hand, turning tail and strutting off as if he'd achieved something incredible by ruining his career. Shining could only look on, flabbergasted at the sudden transformation in both body and personality, as well as behavior so outlandish he had to wonder if the recruit he'd just booted was even from the same planet. His stupor was broken as Twilight and Cadence crossed over from the main castle, calling for him. "It's our anniversary dinner tonight! I hope you didn't forget!" Cadence called as she closed the distance between them. "I wouldn't miss it for the world!" Shining grinned as he embraced his wife, Twilight looking on with a gentle smile. For reasons she couldn't quite understand, looking upon the lovers embracing made her feel as if she had lost something important to her. A single tear rolled down her cheek, which she quickly wiped away before anyone could see. Shortly afterward, Goldrush sat in a train cubicle alone, staring at the midday sky through the open window as he hurtled away from everything he knew. It was faint, but he could feel the familiar call. Beckoning to him from somewhere far beyond Equestria's borders. Perhaps not even from anywhere on the continent. "I didn't forget, Helios. Wherever you are, or whoever you've become, I won't keep you waiting long. I promise."