//------------------------------//
// The Aftermath 
// Story: A Compass to the Soul 
// by CartoonNerd12 
//------------------------------//

Soarin and Rainbow Dash flew the kids back to the harbor where the  battle had died down at this point leaving only smoke and debris  floating in the water. The minions of the Storm King were defeated and  everyone was recovering from injuries that they had gotten. Applejack  was battered up and so was Daring Do, Spitfire, and Celaeno who had to  have her arm in a sling. Tempest was tied up to the mast and it seemed  she and Twilight were having a civil conversation.

They landed on  the beach where Thunderlane rushed to them and Rumble jumped to him. The  older brother rose a brow as to what his little brother was wearing but  decided to save it for later as the two hugged.

Rainbow and  Soarin joined their friends on the S.S Rainboom just as Tempest told  Twilight the counter spell of how to release their stoned friends.  Twilight pointed and performed the spell making Fluttershy, Discord, and  Flash return back to normal.

Discord was furious at first but when he saw Fluttershy all of his anger melted away as he grabbed for her in a tight embrace.

She smiled and replied, "It's good to see you too." and gave into the embrace with a tiny blush on her face.

Twilight ran to hug Flash and while surprised by the sudden embrace he smiled and hugged her back.

Pinkie,  Cheese, Rarity and Capper joined them as RD gave them the update of the  Storm King being defeated. And in turn Twilight updated on how she was  able to have a heart-to-heart with Tempest during their fight.

As the talking went on, Spike went to Applejack asking, "You okay?"

She was bandaging herself up as she told him, "Oh sure, just a couple of scratches, nothing I can't fix."

"That was some amazing fighting you did." he complimented.

"Thanks, you did pretty well yerself."

"Hey I'm a dragon I'm able to handle anything." he smirked.

She rolled her eyes, "If you say so."

"Oh? Do I hear a hint of doubt?"

"Maybe, but it's not like you have anything to prove at least not to me, aren't you and Capper still timesharing Rarity?"

"Yes,  but… if I'm being honest things between Rarity and me are getting well…  dull. It was great at first but as time went on well I just don't know  anymore."

"Did you tell her this?"

"I'm thinking about it, but I want to see if anything changes."

"Sounds reasonable."

"But  um…" he started rubbing his neck, "If things don't change then do you  think maybe you would um, be open to let me court you next?" he slightly  blushed.

Applejack was surprised to hear that and turned to him in shock, "Why? Why me?"

"Why  not you? You're amazing in your own right Applejack, cause truth be  told I had an attraction to you too when I saw you it's just Rarity was  um…"

She gave an exasperated look, "Was prettier?"

"No! No that's not-"

She  sighed, "It's okay Spike, I get it. Rarity is downright gorgeous and  anybody would be a fool to not fall for her. Heck if I was a stallion I  wouldn't hesitant to make a move on her but that beside the point here.  Look, I'm flattered by your suggestion but I just don't know if I can  accept if your own feelings are still unsure at the moment."

"Oh…" he sounded disappointed.

She  quickly added, "But I'll tell you this, if and when you're sure you  don't feel anymore feelings toward Rarity, then you can come straight to  me and ask me again." she smiled.

That made him smile and held  out his claw, "It's a deal." and they shook on it before turning to join  the conversation of Twilight asking Rainbow and Soarin of how they  defeated the Storm King.

"Well…" the cyan mare started, "It wasn't  us per say…" she turned to Scootaloo who was still on her back as the  filly made a cheesy smile.

Everyone gawked.





Sometime  later on the beach both kids and adults alike were brought to speed on  Rumble and Scootaloo's heroic acts to stop the Storm King.

The  kids were surrounded by the large crowd as questions were bombarded at  them and Rumble and Scootaloo dramatically retold their experience to  answer the questions.

Then Pip inquired, "So why does Rumble still wear that cape, hat, and mask?"

Thunder added, "Yeah, I would like to know about that too, little bro."

"Well when Scootaloo was taken I finally understood what Daring Do meant when she gave me this mask."

Daring questioned with a smile, "To only take up the mask when there's a reason?"

"Right!  So I when I saw this hat in the store the other day, I thought for sure  it meant my future was sealed for me to be a bandit but I'm so glad it  wasn't…" he stared at Scootaloo and she stared back making the kids  confused except Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle as they smirked knowingly  along with the teens and adults.

Rumble then wiped his brow as he  was getting hot and removed the hat and mask but when he removed the  cape there was a giant gasp. The colt was puzzled as he saw the gaping  mouths of his friends and his brother, "What? What is it?"

Scootaloo uttered, "Rumble…" and pointed while loudly saying, "It's your cutie mark!"

"WHAT?!" he gasped and looked behind to see his once blank flank now had a mask on top of a fencing sword in a dark cloud.

Soarin motioned, "You must have gotten it when you put on your attire!"

Rumble  was speechless, for this was his destiny, to be a hero and to protect  the girl he liked- loved? He looked back to Scootaloo seeing the proud  look on her first. And he told her, "I couldn't have done it without  you… You inspired me to hope for a better life and it worked… Thank  you…"

She blushed, "You're welcome…"

Apple Bloom and Sweetie  came to her as AB said, "You know, when I think about it we make too  much of a big deal finding our marks when it's much more satisfying  seeing others getting their marks, so what do you think Crusaders should  we just focus on helping others find their purpose in life?"

Sweetie stated, "I think it's a great idea!"

Scootaloo jumped, "I agree!"

"Alright then! Let's do it!" she held her hoof up.

"Yeah!" they shouted and high hooved with AB.

Everyone  thought it was a cute moment when suddenly a spark ignited between the  fillies and they were slowly raised by a large glow making everyone gasp  at the sight! Then slowly it died down and they were back on the  ground.

"No way!" Rainbow shouted.

The fillies gapped back to see…

"WE GOT THE SAME CUTIE MARKS!" they screamed and jumped in excitement and shouted, "CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS FOREVER!"

Twilight exclaimed, "Four cutie marks in the same day?! That's… that's… unbelievable!"

Discord smirked, "Is it? Or perhaps it was fate…"

The unicorn made weary look, "You just love it when you're right, don't you?"

Dash,  Applejack, and Rarity went to the girls expressing their pride in them.  Then everyone else around them expressed their congratulations but the  moment was soon short-lived when King Neighsay made his appearance and  that forced everyone to bow in respect.

Neighsay had a scowl on  his face as Soarin, Dash, and Spitfire went to him with Rainbow  starting, "Your Highness, I know what this looks like…"

"But we had no choice!" Soarin took over, "The Storm King was about to destroy everything! We had to get our friends' help!"

Dash added, "If you would just consider-" but was cut off when he held his hoof up.

Neighsay  proclaimed, "You had broken an important rule in our country. To which I  have to say…" his face soften as he uttered, "Thank you."

The couple went, "Huh?!" as everyone else gawked.

The  king continued as he smiled, "I watched the whole thing unfold from a  safe distance and I saw what you were trying to tell me… Yes, monsters  like the Storm King should never reach our shores but it seems danger  can happen no matter your species… I know that now… So I would like to  humbly apologize for thinking otherwise… And henceforth," his voice grew  louder for all to hear, "From this day now creatures of all kinds shall  be allowed to come and go anywhere they want within Equestria!"

There  was great cheer among the crowd as Rainbow and Soarin were beside  themselves that they had managed to fulfill their duty to the moon  goddess after all!

But suddenly Lightning Dust came out of nowhere  and shouted, "NOOOO!" and she flew to Dash's face, "Every single time!  You just have to get everything you want! It's not fair! Wind Rider and I  spend all that time framing you and making sure you would be out of our  hair only for this to happen! WHY?! JUST WHY?!"

Spitfire came  between them, "I'll tell you why, it's because she was innocent this  whole time and the goddesses were kind enough to make sure she got her  happy ending. You on the other hoof, well let's just say we now know it  was a set-up the entire time and that there was another party involved  too…" she smirked making LD gawk realizing she just confessed in front  of all this people and they did not look happy about it.

Soarin  wrapped a wing around his love and told the now ex-navy officer, "I hope  you and Wind Rider rot together for everything you put my wife  through."

Lightning felt herself being taken by the guards with shame written all over her face.

As they watched her go, Rainbow and Soarin faced each other with smiles and kissed in joy.





That  night a great celebration was thrown in the castle ballroom with  everyone from the battle was partying hard thanks to Pinkie and Cheese's  influence. Neighsay was even getting into the spirit and was dancing  with Queen Novo! No doubt after this was all over, the two rulers will  be discussing a possible alliance and trade agreement in the future.  Discord and Fluttershy were dancing together and so were many other  couples like Big Mac and Sugar Belle, Quibble Pants and Clear Sky, Flash  and Twilight, Gallus and Silverstream, Yona and Sandbar, and even  Rumble and Scootaloo! With Capper and Spike they were taking turns with  Rarity.

Soarin and Rainbow Dash did dance for awhile until Rainbow felt dizzy and had to stop.

Her husband looked in concern, "You okay?"

She just smiled back, "Never better, but I should take a quick break." and she headed toward the balcony and he followed.

On the balcony she leaned against the rail making Soarin even more concern, "Are you sure you're okay?"

"Well I was going to surprise you and Scootaloo tomorrow but I guess now's a good time as any…"

"For what? Honey, what's going on?"

She faced him and outright told him, "I'm pregnant you big goof."

Soarin's jaw dropped before he sputtered, "A-are… are you sure?"

"Yeah…"  she admitted guiltily, "I have been for awhile now, I was going to tell  you back on the island but then," she looked up to the moon, "Luna  showed up and I knew I had to wait to give the news."

Soarin kept gawking as he wrapped his head around it.

"Are you mad?" she asked in worry.

"No!  No of course! Well… I'm a little upset that you kept this to yourself  because you had to, but as long as you and the baby are okay it's fine."

"Yeah," she smirked, "I knew you would make a big fuss over me if I did tell you and then for us to go on this big mission…"

He sighed, "Yeah… it was the right call, even if I don't like it so much…"

She nuzzled close to him, "You wouldn't be the stallion I love if you did…"

His  smile brightened as held her face and they went in for a long and  passionate kiss with their compasses glowing right between them.

In the moon, Luna's face appeared and it smiled at the happy couple.