//------------------------------// // Epilogue // Story: The Horizon Behind Us // by Syke Jr //------------------------------// It's funny how different life on the ground looks for a little while after only a week in the clouds. Silver and I are back from our little holiday. It may have been short but you pay for cloudwalking enchantments by the day, so staying longer just for the hay of it didn't appeal. Now that we're back on the ground walking feels sort of odd. Less springy. For some reason Silver has a spring in his step regardless. "What's got you in such a good mood?" I ask him with a smile and a raised eyebrow. "I dunno," he says, looking around at the buildings outside the train station. "I'm just... in a good mood, I guess." I'm happy to leave it there, but he continues after a couple moments. "It feels like it's finally sunk in. We just arrived home. Newforest is my home now. And it isn't ever going away." A pause. "I'm not... thinking about the outer realm every day any more. Not even every week." "I dunno if that's true. You keep mentioning films and shows you want to watch with me 'eventually'." "That doesn't count." He waves a hoof. "I mean that I think I'm finally getting over it—all the residual nihilism in me. This is forever. We're here forever." He chuckles, putting on a weird voice. "Don't forget! We're here forever!" I don't bite. I know it's just a dumb inside joke. "I just... I can't believe I get to live the rest time here. With you and White and Bullseye and Clover." I give him a sidelong look. "Mostly me, though, yeah?" He bumps me with a laugh. "Mostly you." "I'm really happy to hear you're getting over it, Sil. Can't even really express how much." I try anway, beaming as we walk along towards his house. "Do you think I should take Dusty's offer?" Silver asks me suddenly. "I mean... if you want to live there, then yeah. Obviously. You can't feel guilty about leaving your mum alone at this point. She's got plenty of friends and you've been living here for nearly a year." "Yeah. I know that, really. It's just... a big house for her to live in alone." "How will she ever manage," I say with some sarcasm. "I do really like the apartment," he says, ignoring my comment. "I kind of always did want to live above a pub." "Then I think that's your answer. Just ask her what she thinks." "Yeah. I think it's time." As we start to get near to his house, though, his ear twitches. I hear some bassy music, very faintly. I hear Silver Star draw in breath beside me. "What?" He doesn't answer. He just starts to walk faster, head cocked slightly towards the house, towards the music. As we get closer I can hear it a little better. There's not much of a tune. It sounds almost like dance music. "Oh buck. Oh Luna buck." He's stopped in the road, here where we can hear the music better. It must be playing pretty damn loud. There's a window open, sure, but still. We're not right up close to it yet. I can still make out: —wanna be next to you black and gold black and gold black and gold I step next to him. "Okay, what's the deal?" "He's here." It's a whisper. "It's... time. I told her not to make us ask. It's my Dad, that's his playlist, he's here, Snaps, he's here." He doesn't move. He just stares, barely breathing. This is big. "Okay," I say, "Just... it's fine, yeah? Celestia wouldn't have done it if you weren't ready." "I know," he says, "but... how? How do I even..." ...I look up into the night sky and see a thousand eyes staring back and all around these golden beacons I see nothing but black... He shakes his head. "I don't think I am ready." "You are," I insist. "Look. I know that you need to go in alone. But listen. Listen. I'll be at the studio. With the computer on. Just... just go in. And talk to me when you need to talk to me." I pause. "If you don't talk to me for a while, that's fine too. We just spent a week away; I have stuff to do." He nods mutely. 'cause if you're not really here I don't wanna be either I wanna be next to you.... I push him gently into a walk, and we approach. I swear I can hear Silver's heart, but I might be imagining it. We're there. The song is quieter, now, the singer quietly murmuring to a gentle bass beat. Without a word, Silver walks inside and closes the door with a click. I know I promised to leave, but I anxiously wait a few moments. The song has ended and all is quiet. My heart nearly stops after half a minute when I see the door opening again, but it's just Rose Spark. She sees me and immediately walks over with a mix of expressions on her face. I can see the nerves clear as day, though. "You guys have a good trip?" She asks as she approaches. "Yeah. Was nice. Um, is Silver right? Is his... Dad? In there?" Rose nods. "He arrived the day after you two left." She looks to the house, fluttering her wings with some anxiety. "I'm sure it's gonna be fine. Better than fine. It's gonna be great, I know it." She looks at me. "What do you think?" I think on everything I know about Silver. I think about his worries, his philosophies, his anger, his past, his strange relationship with Celestia... I think about what he said today. I give Rose Spark a small smile. "I think he'll be really, really happy." Rose smiles back and I know it's true. We decide together to walk to my studio for a cup of tea. Silver and Treasure deserve to be alone for at least a while. I can tell Rose about our trip. Maybe bring up the pub apartment so Silver doesn't have to. It really is going to work out fine. I know it, because Celestia knows it. It's like Silver said, if even in anger: she always wins. The great thing is that when she wins, we win. No matter what, things just keep moving forward, always changing for the better, always meandering on towards the next horizon. We're here forever. Together. ⠀ ~end~ ⠀