The dust cleared. The sun broke through the smoke. The breeze kicked away any sparse residue.
A few trees were knocked out of their roots, and several patches of grass had been wiped clean of the soil. The whole field was flattened by the intense ray of light, yet the spectators had long ducked for cover, safe from the blast.
A huge crater was found in the spot where the battle had commenced. Even bigger than the one Twilight made when she first arrived there. All was silent. No one spoke as all loomed over the large formation in the earth, hoping for signs of life.
"CORY!!" Twilight cried as she ran down the dirt coated slope.
There was hardly a soul to be found in the deep pit. No living thing could possibly survive an explosion that huge. All that was left were crumbling rocks of dirt, and small hills of soot disappearing among the breeze.
"Cory." She panicked with tears in her eyes. "Cory, please. Please don't leave me.,,I love you."
Then she collapsed in hopelessness and despair as she covered her head with her hands. Everyone else bowed their heads in sympathy and remorse. They're friend Cory, and five other brave souls saved them all from the tyranny that was once Stiffson, yet not without a cost. Spike, who was still limping from the injuries, climbed down the crater and comforted the saddened princess, who had just lost her one and only son. Or did she?
On the other side, the two saw a bundle of ashes starting to move. They and their five human friends ran to inspect it, digging into the soil and hoping for signs of life. And sure enough, the familiar yet battle damaged faces of Cory, Joanna, Camden, Tony, Katie, and Rachel came out of the wreckage.
"Cory!" Twilight shouted in relief as she caressed him in her arms. "Are you alright?"
His response was a harsh cough and a faint "mom," followed by a caressing of the arms around his mother. As predicted, the hero's other friends rose from the ruins, alive yet tattered in rags. Soon the whole crowd exploded in a victorious applause. Some clapped their hands in the air, others made a whistle, there were even voices saying "Way to go Cory." "You're our hero Cory." "You Rock."
Capricore "Agees" Sparkle and his friends clumsily got back on their feet, weakly waving to their uproarious friends. They felt like gladiators in a stadium, having just defeated their greatest fears.
"Spike!" Cory said. "Where's Spike!"
"Don't worry Cory." Said a voice from below. "It's just a scratch.
Spike hopped onto Cory's lap and have him a friendly lick on the cheek.
"Oh Spike." Said human Rarity as she ran down the slope and picked him up in her arms. "You were so brave. Whatever can I do for my little hero?"
"Well. I wouldn't mind a little belly rub." He responded to which she preceded to do so.
"Oh you scamp you." She commented.
"Oh yeah." He replied.
"What about Sunset." Cory said. "Is she alright?"
"It was almost fatal." Twilight replied. "But she miraculously made it."
She pointed in her right direction, where Sunset was fragilely standing with the assistance of a cane and an IV stand. She gave Cory a weary thumbs up and large smile, signaling her optimistic recovery.
Suddenly, they all heard a whiny groan coming from another heap of ashes. They blew away to reveal a fragile, skeletal body where Stiffson once laid. Where was the tyrant? Had he been destroyed? Is it just an undiscovered creature in the mess? No. It was Sheldon Stiffson, in his true form: a weak, pathetic, gangling sack of flesh, wearing a tattered suit and tie. with no humanity, no civility, and no common sense of where he was.
Principal Celestia carefully ran down the crater, trudged through the ashes and stared at the poor, soulless creature that was once her dearest friend. It was breathing very heavily, with eyes bloodshot red and teeth nearly black. She reached into her front pocket and took out a folded note with a bow wrapped around it. It looked like it hadn't been opened in years. She tossed it on the ground right next to Sheldon's hands, to which he clumsily felt with his bony fingers. Then, like a wild animal, he sprang to his knees, quickly unwrapped the bow and opened it to reveal a message from years past.
My Dear Sheldon
Last night, after the dance, I searched everywhere for you. All over my friends searched, hoping to explain what had really happened back at the gym. I tried to explain I was trying to help you with finding new friends. But you were nowhere to be found. All I can say now is I hope you are well and wish you the best of luck with whatever endeavors you choose. All I ask of you, is for this attempt to unite you with more companions and aquaintances was all for good intentions.
I am sorry if I hurt you in anyway, and I'm sorry if what you saw broke your heart. But most of all, I am sorry the world you see isn't the way I see it. Yes indeed, the world can be a scary and lonely place, waking up every morning not knowing what to expect when you walk out that door. Sometimes you just wish things could go your way and all your problems would just disappear. Sadly, the world is not perfect, but what we can make perfect, is the friends we make and how we choose. And in spite of everything, I am glad I chose you.
You needed friendship more and anyone else in the world. And I needed someone that was more than a friend, someone to rely on and relate to, someone I could love for all time. You were the closest I ever had to being that sort of person. Because of this sad truth, that is why I wept myself to sleep, that night you thought I stood you up, when all I was doing was giving you more.
The love of friendship isn't always about constantly watching each other. It's about knowing what's right for them, and expanding their options in life. Because the more friends you have, the more you have a reason to live. And even more so, it makes you more secure about your looks, personality and what you choose in life. Had it not been for many friends, I wouldn't have satisfied with my choices. I hope someday this comes to you clearly, and we can be together like we used to.
Lots of love as always, and never, EVER, change the way you are.
Love
CELIE
At the edge of the paper was a tapped photo of the two of them smiling and sharing a piece of cotton candy.
The creature looked up at Principal Celestia's face. Clearly she was not happy with him as she crossed her arms and tapped her foot. Then, something unexpected happened. Tears started to fall down Stiffson's eyes as he began to weep. He let out a terrible moan, like a small child in need of a band aid, pounding on the ground and whining at the top of his lungs. After a few minutes of this remorseful tantrum, he wiped the eyes and got to his feet, with his head bowing to the ground in shame.
"All...these...years." Sheldon said to himself as he stared at the note. "Wasted."
At that moment he saw a curious Cory and friends, as well as Twilight walk towards him.
"S..Stay away from me!!" Sheldon panicked while clumsily walking back. "Please don't hurt me!!"
"I'm not going to do any more to you." Cory replied. "What happens next is for the board to decide."
He pointed his finger towards Lauren Faust, the head of the U.S. Dept. of Education, who was staring down at him disapprovingly. The head scuttled to the bottom of the crater, strutting forward until she stood face to face with the pathetic creature.
"Sheldon Stiffson." she began. "By the power vested in me and the Department of Education. You are hereby fired from your position as principal and headmaster. In addition, for your unspeakable cruelty and unimaginable destruction to the minds and souls of those you failed to teach, you are banned from all public school activity for the remainder of your days. And as for your sentencing, from the look of these records, it most intuitively equates to a lifetime in the state penitentiary."
Sheldon shook with fear, knowing his time was up, and his goose was cooked. Cory's friends stood there, expecting a triumphant smile on Cory's face. Instead he had a humble expression. In spite of all he had put up with from him, and all the trouble he had inflicted on he and his companions, he couldn't help but feel sorry for the little guy. After all, he was almost like him once. A poor, lonely kid, desperately trying to find a friend.
"It's alright Cory." Katie said as he patted Cory's back. "The fact you even fell pity for him, is something only a true hero could have."
"But that shouldn't need to be your concern." Cadence added. "He's beyond our help now."
Cory gave a little smirk as he brought his friends together in a group hug. At that moment, a strange clown-like figure came riding down the crater in a small, toy car. Discord had now transformed himself into the funny, quirky educator he alway wanted to be. And why not? He had already adorned his face with an innocent makeup job, red nose and all. He had never felt more alive in his entire life, and it was all thanks to the magic of friendship.
"Good night folks!!" He shouted with glee. "And thanks for everything Fluttershy."
"Anytime Discord." Human Fluttershy giggled.
He honked his goofy horn and started to head towards the nearest road.
"DISCORD WAIT! BUDDY!!" Sheldon pitifully shouted. "Where do you think you're going?! Your'e gonna get me out of this right?!!"
Discord turned his little car around, stood up and faced his boss.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you." Discord replied. " I...QUIT!! I quit. I resign."
As he said this, he drove his car back until he was only few inches from Sheldon, laughing as he spoke his mind.
"Is this completely in your ear?" He continued. "I am PROFOUNDLY OUT OF HERE!!. And this isn't even about my housing arrangements. I'm not even complaining about the state of my toilet. But having to hang out in YOUR TOILET and deal with YOUR MESS EVERY SATURDAY!!"
The whole crowd went into uproarious laughter as Tony and Human Pinkie did a "ba dum-ching" on a small drum set. He had never felt more empowered his entire life.
"But that's not the point." Discord went on to say as he calmed himself down. "The point is I...quit. As in, ceasing transmission. Leaving the building. That's all she wrote. Keep my last check buddy!" To which he slapped a blank check into Sheldon's palm. Then he started to take a few random objects out of his car and throw them at him.
"Here's my name tag." He began. "..my coat, my handshake, my buzzer, my fake arm, my extra glasses, my hall pass, my hat, my lucky rabbit, his hall pass, my teaching skeleton, my text books, my pointing stick, my number two pencils, my telescope, my out of date chalkboard, You can't even get these any more. My scrimshaw whale tooth, my tuna fish sandwich, my graded papers, my elongated beakers, my jarred specimens, my empty pill bottle, and a giant clam I found over the great barrier reef that opens to reveal the American flag held by my brother John Delancie!! So Long!!"
Everyone laughed and applauded as Discord hopped onto his jalopy and continuing his ascent into the roads unknown, cackling at his triumph.
"Oh and by the way." He concluded as he looked at his former boss one last time. "In case your'e wondering why I encouraged and even looked forward to mistakes and failures? Let me explain it to you.....THATS..HOW..YOU..LEARN!!! Goodnight!"
And with that, he disappeared into the sunset, ready to tackle whatever the world brought him.
"Looks like you're on your own Sheldon." Mrs. Faust stated. "Now what do you have to say for yourself?"
Stiffson bowed his head in a state of shame. He looked at the photo of him and Celie, looking at the innocent boy he used to be. Tears once again filled his eyes and his lips quivered with what words to say.
"I...I...I.." He muttered under his breath, and then: "I'M SOOORRRYYYY!!!!"
He flung his fists in the air and threw them on the ground, letting out a pitiful tantrum. He stomped his feet, banged his head, and let out a few terrible moans. Now he had hated himself more than ever, realizing now the monster he had become. At last Cory had broken through his hard, stubborn shell, revealing nothing more than a deranged and confused child. After a minute of wailing and sobbing, he looked down in shame and wrapped his poor, pathetic body around Celestia's leg.
"Oh, I never knew the answers to all my pain and suffering would be solved through just a single package. One misunderstanding, from son long ago, and I become the very thing I hated. Oh Celie, What have I done? Good god almighty...what...have...I...done?"
"I think you already know what?" Celestia replied firmly.
"Principal Celestia." Mrs. Faust said. "Since you were closest to him, I've decided to let you give you the sentencing."
Once again, Sheldon bowed his head in shame, awaiting his punishment.
"Sheldon Stiffson." She continued. "Your despicable actions on the new bright minds of this county are unforgivable. But since I can't let go of the friendship we once shared, I've decided to go easy and spare you a life sentence, that is if you do one thing."
"And what is that?" Sheldon asked.
"You will only need to serve 2 1/2 years in the State Penitentiary under the grounds that you do community service based on the value of friendship for the remainder of your days. Every weekend, you shall be given afternoon releases under the watchful eye of a guard, where you will receive a friendship task needed to be done, depending on what we choose each week. Are you able to do that?"
"I...I don't know." Sheldon shuddered. "All I've ever done was whip people and drive them to a point of helplessness. I don't even remember what it's like to have a friend. Nor do I know how to make one."
"I bet they can teach you." Said the faint voice of Sunset Shimmer, whom had clumsily slid down the crater and pointed to her fellow schoolmates at Canterlot High.
"So, are you willing to change your ways and become a better person?" Celestia asked.
Stiffson thought for a moment and looked up at her. "I'll.....I'll try."
"Very well, your sentencing begins now."
The whole crowd cheered as two policemen came down and handcuffed Stiffson behind the back. He bowed his head once more as he was escorted to the back of the police car and drove off to his hopefully temporary cell.
Cory never felt so relieved all his life. For once, justice was secured in his story. He had now triumphed over all that was once thought possible. Because of this, he never felt more grateful to be alive in his life. The monster was gone. The torture was over. Now, he was truly free. He collapsed on the ashen ground in exhaustion, laughing and crying at the same time, to which he was comforted by the gentle back rub of Twilight's hand.
"I couldn't have done this without you mom." He said.
"No Cory." Twilight said. "You did this on your own. We just wanted to tag along because we love you. You're the real hero Cory, and you always will be."
Before he could think, he was hoisted up in the air by thousands of cheering students and peers, along with his five close friends. All around, the chant of "Cory, Cory, Cory" was heard all around the perimeter of hearing. Capricore "Agees" Sparkle truly felt on top of the world as many students shook his hand, gave him a congrats and complimented with a thumbs up. They all carried them out of the crater and walked back to their school, with Cory up and front, a true, brave hero.