//------------------------------//
// Epilogue 
// Story: The Meeting Time Unwound 
// by Hail King Sombra 
//------------------------------//

Nyx snorted at Shadow’s side. The contempt in her voice was obvious as they watched Tirek from a distance being bound by the blast of rainbow-colored friendship magic. She walked away, then realizing her now-grown colt was not following her, she turned back to him. “Lesson’s over, my child. Time to return home.”

“Mother?”

“Yes, my darling?”

“Will I ever get father back?” He pawed at the ground sadly. “Did this help?” He took a shuddering breath, eyes gazing into the distance now, unfocused as he read those time streams his young, inexperienced magic brought within his reach. “Will I ever see him?”

She regarded him tenderly, coming up to him, gathering him into her hooves. “We set the time stream right, Shadow,” she crooned softly, kissing his forehead through his blood-red mane. “If Tirek had been allowed to stay his course, he would have vaporized Equus.” Catching his red crystal eyes with her soulless black ones, she then gently leaned forward, touching his forehead with hers. He leaned gratefully into the maternal touch, feeling so fragile at the moment. “His enemies required those few, precious seconds to reach the Tree of Harmony and unlock the chest with Discord’s help.” They both looked up as the Mane Six flew overhead, spreading the brilliance of returning magic to their world once again. When they were gone, she smiled. “Your father returns in Season Nine now with no impediment.”

Sparkle raised an eyebrow under his unkempt, shaggy mane. “‘Season Nine’?” he repeated, cocking his head curiously. “Is that another of Equus’s seasons? Like fall or summer?”

Nyx smiled, laughing at last now that the danger to Sombra was over. “No. I forgot I still need to instruct you in alternate universe dimensional pop culture references.” She drew back. “I meant he will return soon,” she chose the simpler term for now, that decision too, making her smile wider.