On a crisp, bright afternoon...
She shone in the sunlight like a lavender gemstone. Even after all that had transpired—the ups and the downs, the laughter and the sobs—she was still inescapably beautiful. The only difference now was that Flash didn't quite hate himself so much for acknowledging it.
She stood along the loading platform at the Crystal Empire train depot, talking with five equine figures—all of whom were vaguely familiar. There was also a purple creature standing next to her... purple scales with green spines. It struck Flash Sentry rather odd, and he chuckled slightly at the realization...
...which is the first thing she heard. Twilight Sparkle turned to look at him across the depot. Her ears drooped, but her wings remained outstretched. Excusing herself from the worried herd of marefriends, she trotted gently over to meet him.
Flash arrived with Soarin, Derpy Hooves, Octavia Melody, and Vinyl Scratch trotting alongside him. Both groups met beside the caboose.
"I... uhm..." Twilight Sparkle stood as tall and regal as she could. "I heard that you had come to a decision. And..." She sighed slightly, her gaze bouncing across the various companions gathered. "...I'm guessing there's no point in running the issue into the ground with further discourse."
"I wouldn't mind hearing your opinion," Flash said.
"It's not so much an opinion as it is... is..." Twilight fidgeted slightly, avoiding his gaze. "Well... if Princess Celestia and Princess Luna are okay with it, then I guess I shouldn't worry."
"You're allowed to," Flash said. He smiled slightly, shaking his head. "But I wouldn't bother."
Twilight looked at her. "You... you'll consider coming back some time?"
Flash blinked.
"To visit your friends?" she added.
He breathed easier upon hearing that. His eyes looked along the length of the train. In the distance, he spotted the likes of Mr. Cake, Mrs. Cake, Lyra Heartstrings, and Bon Bon trotting aboard many of the dormant cars. As steam vented from the engine up front, several colorful pairs of eyes darted his way. He couldn't see what had become of Fancy Pants or Filthy Rich, but Flash realized he couldn't have everything.
"I don't see why not," he murmured quickly, if only to get it out of the way and ask the next question: "This train will take us back to Ponyville?"
"That it does." Twilight Sparkle smiled. "It's a smooth ride... but it'll get us there quicker than you think."
"So... it's easy to follow the tracks from high above?"
Twilight's brow furrowed. "Uh... definitely. Why?"
"Good to know." Slowly, Flash turned around and looked at Soarin and Derpy with an innocent, foalish smile. "I... was wondering if we could do something." He sniffled. "One last time...?"