//------------------------------//
// Chapter 4 
// Story: Forgiveness 
// by WingKnight 
//------------------------------//

After swapping stories about what was going on in both worlds; like Twilight’s transformation into Midnight Sparkle, Starlight helping to take on Juniper Montage, all the way to Cozy Glow attempting to steal all the magic in Equestria; Ocellus finally felt that it was time to go back and face her friends. With Sunset leading the way, they all left Sugarcube Corner and were soon all standing out in front of the remains of the Wonder-Colt statue.

“Do you really need to be head back to Equestria already?” Pinkie Pie asked, sounded slightly disappointed, “I mean you really only just got here. I didn’t even get to throw you a ‘welcome to another dimension party’!”

With a smile, Ocellus turned away from the portal to let Pinkie Pie down easily. That and to also get one last look at all the girls that she had bonded with in such a short time.

“With all do respect, I think that we might not want to have a party. That might create questions that you all might not want to answer,” Ocellus said gently.

Twilight looked down at the ground, rubbing her right arm awkwardly. Sunset just nodded her head in understanding. It was probably for the best that if just their group knew that Ocellus was from another world.

Sunset took a step forward and gave her fellow Equestrian, a strong hug. Sunset knew what it was like going back to Equestria after being in this world. She herself had gone back a few times, and it always felt strange.

“Goodbye Ocellus,” Sunset said warmly, “It was nice getting to talk with somepony- I mean someone from Equestria. Have a safe trip, and don’t be a stranger! You can always just ask Princess Twilight if you ever want to know about this world. And who knows, maybe I’ll see you in Equestria the next time I visit."

"And don't ya'll forget to tell Twilight hi from all of us," Applejack said.

"I just hope it's not as strange as last time I got to meet her,” Twilight said nervously, “I’m still not entirely sure if it counts as talking to myself . . ."

That comment got a laugh out of all of them, which was good because both Twilights were usually not that funny.

After the laughing, Ocellus nodded and replied, "Don't worry. I will. This is one lesson I'm not going to forget anytime soon. Maybe Headmare Twilight will let you all come over sometime.”

At the sound of Sunset's bag vibrating, she reached in and pulled out her phone. She looked at the screen and gave a single nod, letting Ocellus know that it was time for her to head back to Equestria. Ocellus turned to face the portal, but looked back to take just one last look while shaking her head.

"No creature is going to believe this."

With that, she stepped through the portal.

Rainbow crossed her arms gave a small smirk and said, "You know, I would really like to know who her teachers are. Bet they’re not half as cool as us."

Sunset just gave a small laugh and shook her head. Knowing that the girls would never believe her. Even though telling Rainbow Dash that she had just insulted her own coolness would’ve been really funny.









“Now, I’m sure that you are all wondering where Ocellus is,” Twilight asked the group of five friends. 

The five of them were starting to get worried about not seeing any sign of their changeling friend all afternoon. In fact, each of them were showing it in their own ways. Sliverstream and Sandbar where off thinking about what they could have done wrong. Yona was off to the side smashing a log that she got from her homeland, albeit lacking the thrilled emotions that she normally would have whenever she was smashing something. Even Smolder and Gallus, while trying their best to keep up their "whatever” act, were starting to worry. It simply wasn't like Ocellus to just disappear without saying anything.

With arms crossed, Smolder looked to her headmare and responded, verbally expressing what was bugging all of them. However, she still tried to keep to keep the concern out of her voice to keep up her tough-girl image.

"You beat that we would! Just leaving out of the blue? That’s not like her at all. I mean, Silverstream doesn't even know and they’re roommates!"

Yona nodded and chimed in, "Yona agree with Smolder! Ocellus would have told one of friends."

Twilight couldn’t help but smile with pride at how much the students had learned from her friends as well as herself. But, as the headmare of the school, it was her responsibility to make sure that the students didn't worry about their friend.

"Well, I'm glad you all have been paying attention in you loyalty classes with Rainbow Dash,” Twilight complimented, “Now, I assure you all that Ocellus is in good hands. She was having a few problems, and with counselor Starlight out of town visiting her father, I sent her to some pony that has gone through the same thing."

Silverstream raised an eyebrow in confusion and said, "Um, yeah, that's great and everything. But that still doesn't tell us where she is. So, can you please, please, please tell us?

Twilight shook her head and replied, "I'm sorry, but the only ones that know the location are the other Element Bearers, myself, and the other Princesses. The only reason Ocellus knows is because of Princess Luna. She told her to ask me to let her speak with her."

With a hint of rage, in his voice Gallus shot into the air and shouted, "So let me get this straight: you call us in to tell us where Ocellus is. . . But then you tell us that you can't tell us where she went! Seriously!?”

Twilight frowned and put her hoof down as she addressed the griffon authoritatively, “Now Gallus, I will answer whatever questions that any of you have. But as for where she is right now, it involves a secret that goes all the way back to the time of the Pillars. And if Princess Luna hadn’t told her ask me about it, then  I would have never even said anything about to her. It’s that big of a secret.”

Calming down and landing back down on the ground,  Gallus hung his head in a bit of shame. He began to see that there might have been a better way of getting his point across. “Sorry,” he muttered.

"It's all right,” Twilight said in a more gentle tone, “I know that all of you are just worried. I would be too if it was one of the girls that went missing without a word. But pretty soon you all will find out exactly  why I had her talk with a very special friend of mine.” Twilight then smiled broadly and said loudly, “Isn't that right, Ocellus?”

In a flash of light, Ocellus appeared in the front of the main doors to Twilight's office. At the sight of her changeling friend, Yona rushed forward and embraced Ocellus in a bone crushing hug.

Ocellus gasped and said, “Yona. . . you’ve proven that yaks are best at hugs. . . but I can’t breathe. . . So can you let go now?”

After Yona let go, all of the other creatures walked over and embraced her in group hug. . . All except for Silverstream.

The hippogriff’s cheerful smile was gone, and it was replaced with a hurt looking and  nearly emotionless expression. Ocellus noticed how sad she looked, and freed herself from the group hug to approach her. "Um Silverstream? Are you alright?” Ocellus asked.

Silverstream nodded slowly and said, "Yes. . And I’m glad that you're back, but I’m kind of sad that you didn't tell any of us where you were going. I mean, now we know that you couldn't tell any of us, but you still could have said something.”

Ocellus sighed at the fact that Silverstream was right. Just disappearing without a word might not have been the smartest thing to do. "You’re right,” Ocellus admitted, “I should have at least told you that Twilight was having me talk with some creature. I mean, we do share a room, and you are a great roommate." 

Hearing that caused Silverstream's smile to return, and she proceeded to raise her right claw so Ocellus could bump her hoof against it.

As Sandbar watched the two girls clear the air, he realized that somecreature had to ask what they all wanted to know. He decided that it might as well be him, and he said,  "Alright, time to talk about the elephant in the room. I'm just gonna ask: Ocellus, where in Equestria did you disappear to, and why did you leave?”

Giving a knowing smirk and looking her friends in the eye, Ocellus said, "Well, here’s the answer to the second question first: It’s because of how I was one of the first to be blamed  for Gallus's prank. As for the first question, well, you know I can't tell you everything. . . but, let's just say that Twilight had me speak with a pony that changed its form like me.”