//------------------------------//
// Epilogue: Repercussions 
// Story: Fallout Equestria: A Lonely Road 
// by SummerGem 
//------------------------------//

We made the homeward trip back in silence. My mind was going a mile a minute. Swift is alive! Alive! I can scarcely believe it. I lost a new friend, but gained an old one. Now we can travel and worked together just like old times. I can't wait!

“Hey Bright? Bright?”

Huh? I looked up and saw we were at the entrance. “What is it Swift?”

“There's something I need to tell you.”

“Sure, go right ahead. After all, we have all the time in the world now that we’re back together.”

“That’s what I wanted to tell you. You're going to have to go on without me. I'm staying here.

“What? Stay here? Why would you stay here after all that we just went through? No. You’re coming with me.”

“You don’t understand. I would enjoy nothing more then to travel with you again but I have no choice. The years spent in the Gulch took its toll on my body. I’m dying Bright.”

I stood there in mute shock. No. No that can't be true. “There must be something I can do. You just require some rest. Or a doctor. There's one back in town. Perhaps he can help.”

A faint smile crept on Swift’s face. “Thank you Bright, but it won’t do any good. Between the sandstorms, radiation and the side effects of hydra you gave me, I don't have a chance. Don’t worry, I have a few weeks left at least. I’m going to use that time to make sure no pony enters here.”

He handed me his leather duster and gas mask. “Here. At least you'll have something to fondly remember me.”

I gratefully took them. The leather duster was soft to the touch and had what I recognized as a tattered equestrian flag sown on the back. I carefully put it and the gas mask on. “Thank you Swift. I’ll never forget you.”

“I know you will. Goodbye Bright Miner.”

“Goodbye Swift Bolt.” I turned and headed toward the wasteland. Toward my home.

"Oh, and Bright?"

"Yeah?"

"Could you at least visit me a few more times? And make sure that I, well you know."

"Of course. Anything for a lifelong friend."

And so ends my story. You might be wondering why I chose to share it with you. Well, the answer is quite straightforward. To not make the same mistakes I did. Curiosity may not have killed me, but it killed those I cared about. The cost of learning I guess.

So if you ever happen to see an old grave with the name Swift Bolt on it, remember not only my story but his.