//------------------------------// // Epilogue // Story: Oncoming Storm: What Lurks Beyond // by Chengar Qordath //------------------------------// Nobody ever talks about the really boring, mundane part of fending off a monster attack: cleaning up the mess after the final battle. The sun had started coming up by the time we got back to the cabin, and we could clearly see just how much damage had been done. There was not a single intact window, the front door was barely still on its hinges, and the outside walls were a disaster. Not to mention just about every interior surface had splattered plant bits, and there were a bunch of bullet holes that would be very hard to explain to our parents. “Whoa,” the newest member of our group murmured. “Dude, your place got trashed.” “That’s what happens when someone sends a bunch of crazy killer plants to try and drag us out of there to feed us to a tree,” Rainbow grumbled. “Oh, right.” Tree Hugger blinked a few times. “My bad. I should probably, like, pay for the repairs or something.” She sighed and shook her head. “So much for that nice eco-friendly hybrid I was saving for.” “It’s not completely your fault, Treesie,” Fluttershy reassured her. “Equestrian Magic can make you do things you’d never do under normal circumstances.” “Still bad karma,” Tree Hugger answered. “Gotta balance the scales, Flutters. Shame the cutters bailed before I could figure out what to do to make it up to them, though I guess I can’t blame ‘em for wanting to get gone.” “You did hold them prisoner for several days while draining their life force to make trees grow faster,” I agreed. “Not the best first impression.” We all split up to start with the cleanup and assessment. While a part of me was tempted to take Tree Hugger up on her offer to do all the work herself, that would take rather too long to be practical. It seemed proper to at least make the cabin somewhat habitable before we left, or at least make sure it would not get any worse before we could get it properly fixed. Installing new windows was a job best left to professionals. I got a broom and dustpan and set to work sweeping up as much as the broken glass as I could. After a few minutes of work, Twilight joined me and started using her magic to levitate the larger pieces into the trash bin. After dumping a particularly large load she sighed and shook her head. “We came here to fix this place up, and now we’re leaving it in even worse shape than when we got here.” I dropped a pan full of smaller glass pieces into the bin. “I think curing Tree Hugger from ... whatever that was constitutes helping on a far more important scale. If nothing else, had her magic raged out of control for much longer it likely would have caused far worse damage.” “Good point.” She grimaced. “I just don't want you and Cloud to get in trouble for all of this. Most parents wouldn’t believe we got attacked by magical monsters, and would just assume we wrecked the place as part of some wild out-of-control teenage party.” “Then it is a very good thing they are aware of Cloud’s magical powers and some of the other events that have happened recently.” I frowned as I thought about the implications of that. Despite the healthy layer of skepticism most people had about magic, incidents like this seemed to happening often and publicly enough that it was only a matter of time before someone noticed. “That’s good to hear, I think.” Twilight sighed, and her shoulders slumped. “This was supposed to just be a nice relaxing weekend. Mom and Dad were really happy about me getting outside for a bit instead of spending so much time cooped up in my lab. Instead, it just turned into another random magical disaster.” “I suppose so.” I thought it over for a moment, then shrugged. “Despite that, we did have plenty of fun before the attack of the killer tree.” “Yeah, I guess that’s true.” She chuckled softly, tucking a bit of hair back behind her ear. “Though I think the desperate life-or-death battle against a killer tree that wants to eat our magic is the kind of thing that overshadows the rest of the trip.” “It is likely to be the part that stands out the most in our memories,” I conceded. “However, it need not be the only thing we take away from this. It was certainly nice to get to know Cloud’s friends a bit better, and perhaps make some progress towards becoming friends with them myself.” My eyes flicked over to her. “Assuming you have no objection to that.” “Um, right.” She adjusted her glasses and smiled at me, a hint of a nervous blush on her cheeks. “That wasn’t so bad, at all. Getting to know you. Even with the awkward running into and ... um ... other stuff.” I felt my own cheeks warming as well. “I am glad you think so.” Twilight coughed softly. “We could, you know, hang out later if you want. You could join up with me and my friends the next time we do something. Or, um, well we could go do something alone. Together. I mean, alone in that we wouldn’t have everyone else around, but together in that it would be both of us there. But not together together. I mean, unless—that is—” She groaned and slapped her forehead. “Sorry, I swear I’m usually articulate enough to carry on an intelligent conversation.” “It is fine,” I assured her. “And I think I would like that.” She let out a relieved sigh, then smiled at me. “Then let’s plan on doing that.” “Very good.” I took a moment to carefully consider my next words. “Would that be ... what exactly would you want from that?” She hesitated, biting her lip. “Oh, um, right. You know, time together, hanging out with each other, and ... um ... well what was it you wanted from me? I mean, is it just fun time with a new friend or would we be...” She briefly averted her eyes, her cheeks lighting up against. “That is to say, um, did you just want to hang out as friends, or would you be interested in um, you know, maybe us being something else?” “I...” I closed my eyes and tried to figure out what the answer to that was. When I could not come up with a quick and easy answer, I opted for just saying what was on my mind. “To be quite honest, I am not entirely certain. Had you asked me before this weekend, I never would have thought I would be interested in another girl in any context other than friendship. Now...” I shrugged helplessly. “The evidence that my feelings have evolved to something a touch more complicated is rather hard to refute.” “Oh.” She took her glasses off and cleaned them with her shirt. “Yeah, that is a bit complicated. I mean, I never would have ... but I think I do. I guess? Maybe? Probably, I suppose. I mean, the preponderance of the evidence does suggest some level of physical attraction, and as far as our personalities are concerned you seem like a nice person I could see myself being compatible with. I can’t really think of a compelling reason for us not to ... um, I mean if we both want to there’s no harm in ... I guess we could call it experimenting?” She chuckled nervously. “Yes, let’s call it an experiment. That way it sounds like science, which is way less complicated and scary than ... um ... this. So ... yeah, I think I’d like to do this experiment.” I nodded along. “Yes, I think I would like to at least investigate the possibility as well.” “So, um,” She smiled up at me. “I guess that means we’d be going on a date? I mean, that is the commonly accepted term for two people hanging out together to either engage in romantic activity or explore whether or not they’d want to do so. Even if calling it that makes it sound really weird and scary.” “From what I have heard, it gets easier once one is accustomed to it.” I took a deep breath. “And yes, I would like to do that.” “Great!” Twilight looked surprisingly relieved, as if she had been afraid I might reject her despite the course the conversation had taken. “So, um, when did you want to do that, and what should we do together?” “We could always go see a movie or see a play,” I suggested. Before I could think about when we might do so my phone buzzed, and I idly tapped it. I had meant to silence it, but either I hit the wrong button or whoever sent the message was an especially malicious and bratty tech-head who took twisted delight in tormenting me. My phone promptly belted out an impressively loud song. “And IIIIIIIII will always love—” I jabbed at the mute button, but that only changed the song. “What is love? Baby don’t hurt me, don’t hurt—” I tried the volume buttons, but once more they did not work exactly as intended. “Never gonna give you up, never gonna—” I snarled and opened up my phone to disconnect the battery. Twilight was blushing so brightly one might mistake her for an overripe tomato, and I suspected I looked much the same. I cleared my throat and did my best to regain my composure. “As far as timing is concerned, perhaps after I finish murdering my sister and burying her body in the woods?” “Right.” Twilight chuckled softly. “Want some help with that?” “Yes.” I smiled and gave her hand a quick squeeze. “If nothing else, it makes an excellent start to this grand endeavour.”