//------------------------------// // Chapter 8 ~ Heading Home // Story: The Crimson Crusade // by PonyThunder //------------------------------// In the darkness of the caves, the hope of returning things to the way they once were illuminated the hearts of the Nirils who became transformed, one by one. With every transformation, Sigil became a Niril. But every transformed Lirin thanked him with a little bit of energy in return, allowing the cycle to continue. They watched alongside Sollus as he did so, painfully, dozens of times over and over again, never knowing for certain that the next Niril in line would be gracious enough to thank the one who had betrayed them so long ago. But they did, perhaps because they thought it was right, but perhaps also because they knew firsthand that their suffering was something that no creature should ever have to experience. But eventually, Sigil had transformed every last Niril into a Lirin. Exhausted, he lay on the floor of the cave, despite having the favor returned to him by the one who'd been last in line. "I don't deserve any of this," he said, defeated. "But I'm grateful for it." "I should be saying the same," said Sollus, glancing at Apple Bloom. "I risked this young one's life for my own benefit, even if my intentions were altruistic." "But if you hadn't come back and reminded me of my wrongdoings, it's possible this never would have been fixed," replied Sollus. "We can't sustain this way. You came at just the right time." "They came at just the right time," he replied. "Even if it was only to provide the means." "Okay, okay, we get it," said Scootaloo. "Both of you did bad things." They laughed. "Agreed," said Sollus. "My only hope is that you can forgive me. If you'd like, I can return a bit of my youth to you, to bring you back to the way you were." Apple Bloom thought for a moment. While she thought she didn't feel much different than before, perhaps the change had been more than she'd thought. "Well, to be honest," she replied, "I think I'm happy with the change. What about you, Scootaloo? Sweetie Belle?" They'd already changed a lot, transformation or not. "No need," said Sweetie Belle. "Then I suppose I'll have to help you another way," said Sollus. "I assume you must be anxious to return to the rest of your group. I can lead you through these caves toward the exit. After all, I'd already done so once before." "Is that how you got into the valley?" asked Scootaloo. "No," Sigil replied for him. "These caves are only able to be traversed in one direction, due to several spots being entirely flooded with streaming water." "Indeed," Sollus continued. "I hope you aren't afraid of getting a little wet." "I'll go through anything to get back to civilization," said Sweetie Belle. "Marvelous," said Sollus. "But before I go, please allow me to speak with my brother." They stood off to the side, giving them some privacy to speak alone. After several minutes, Sollus returned to them, indicating he was ready to guide them through the caves. Sigil had left with the rest of the newly transformed Lirins to begin renewing their town. "If you don't mind me askin'," said Apple Bloom, "what did you two talk about?" Sollus looked at her contemplatively. "We had some catching up to do." Crickets chirped as a modest breeze meandered through the trees along the shoreline of the lake. Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and Rarity had set up camp near the mouth of the river that emptied into it, and were sitting around a campfire they'd made because they couldn't sleep. Rainbow Dash laid on her good side, her wing still bandaged on the other. "Can I ask you guys a question?" "Absolutely," replied Applejack. She shifted nervously, trying to get comfortable. "Do you think Scootaloo will still look up to me if my wing never heals right?" Applejack almost bust out laughing, but quickly realized the seriousness on her face after posing the question. She sighed. "Of course she will. That pony wouldn't drop you for a thing in the world. If anythin', she's more loyal than you, R.D." Applejack replied with a smug look on her face. "You're probably right," said Rainbow Dash, surprising all of them. "And come to think of it, Apple Bloom really took what happened well, didn't she?" "Sure did," Applejack replied. "To be honest, I'm still amazed at how much my little sis' has grown up. Er, literally, I suppose." Rarity sighed, sitting lazily on top of a log. "It doesn't matter if they don't come back..." Her words shocked them for a moment, but the worry was in all of them. "They'll make it out eventually," said Twilight. "They have to." The air was silent for a while. Of all of them, Rarity seemed the most distraught. "Rarity," said Twilight, "do you have anything you want to say about Sweetie Belle?" She shifted up on the log. "Yes. I want to say how sorry I am to her for all the times I feigned interest in her activities, and for all the times I got upset at her for disorganizing my closet searching for clothing props, and for all the times we've ever argued." She slumped into her hooves. "That's what I want to say." A twig snapped in the bushes next to the river. "So say it," said Sweetie Belle. "Sweetie Belle? You're here?" Rarity perked up immediately. "Sure am!" she replied gleefully. "Me too!" said Scootaloo. "Me three!" added Apple Bloom. The three of them rushed through the trees toward the campsite and were met with open hooves and tears of joy. "I was so worried about you," said Rarity, nuzzling her little sister by the fire. Scootaloo came up to Rainbow Dash, still eyeing her broken wing. "I'd hug you," said Rainbow Dash, "but, you know...the wing..." Disregarding Rainbow Dash, she hugged her anyway. "Oh, sugar cube," said Applejack as Apple Bloom rushed into her hooves. "I didn't ever know I could miss somepony this much..." "Me neither," Apple Bloom replied, her eyes welling up with tears. Twilight watched as the three of them exchanged hugs and greetings, almost feeling jealous that she wasn't having a reunion of her own. But Sollus entered the campsite slowly, unsure of how to react. "Who's that?" said Rarity. "That's, well..." Apple Bloom's voice trailed. "That's the Lirin that transformed me at first." "And you brought it back?" said Applejack, rearing up to charge. "No no no! Wait! He's good now, I promise," said Apple Bloom. Applejack returned to her hooves, reluctantly. "You mean to tell me in the span of a day, the creature that did that to you went from bein' the bad to the good guy?" "I can't say it's unheard of," interjected Twilight, rolling her eyes. "We tend to have that kind of a reputation." "If you don't mind," said Sollus, "I'd like to offer you a token of my thanks, before I return to my kind." "...What kind of thanks?" asked Rainbow Dash, still suspicious. "It's something of a Lirin tradition," Sollus replied. "Whenever one parts ways, they exchange feelings of joy and gratitude, to remind the other of what they mean to them." "We'd love that," said Twilight. "Okay," he replied. He knelt before them and leaned his horn toward their center. Tendrils of white began to emanate from his horn and were lifted into the air above all of them, illuminating the dark forest around them with bright light. And as it descended downward, they felt an immense sense of peace and happiness, and a feeling of gratitude that came along with it. The feelings that had been bestowed upon them became their own, inextricably tangled between them in the best way possible. In the exchange, they felt the remorse of his past alongside the tranquility of his present, all the emotions wrapped up into one. And by the end of the exchange, they felt more understanding of his character as a whole, flaws and virtues included side by side. He lifted his horn up and allowed the energy to dissipate. Then nodded, and left into the forest. They slept soundly that night, feeling rested for the long journey the next morning. Despite being separated for only so long, they had lots of catching up to do.