//------------------------------//
// Epilogue: Give Way to Growth 
// Story: For Want of a Horseshoe 
// by PingZing 
//------------------------------//




Epilogue




Give Way to Growth



She opened her eyes upon a dimly lit room colored by the deep blues and soft violets that heralded a fading twilight. Crowded bookshelves lined the room. The desk groaned under the weight of still more books, stacks of paperwork interspersed chaotically with scribblings of arcane formulae, and densely-packed notes. By contrast, the kitchen area of the small apartment was positively spotless, as was the entry area around the front door. Presumably, her host's bedroom was similar; it was only the living area that displayed any clutter that she could see. She did note that there was exactly one flat surface in the room—the desk—and exactly one chair, save for the sofa she was currently draped across. That was probably for the best, as the bookshelves took up most of the available floorspace, but it was clear that this was not the home of a pony who entertained many guests.

A tentative knock sounded from the front door. "It's me!" came her host's voice.

"Enter!" Luna called, brow furrowing.

Sounds of a key scrabbling in a lock came from the door, shortly followed by the door opening and revealing a young, purple unicorn. Trailing the unicorn in a field of magenta magic, was a paper bag smelling of hot pastry, and a pair of paper cups that gave off the rich smell of fresh coffee. "Um, sorry! I know it's my apartment, but I knocked so I wouldn't surprise you, or startle you, because I know I was gone for a while, and I thought you might have started to worry! Well, not to worry, you don't even know me, why would you worry, ha ha!" She actually pronounced each individual 'ha'. "But after I left I thought, 'Well this is already such an inconvenience'—not that you're an inconvenience, I meant it's an inconvenience for you!—that I'd better get something good to make up for it and—" 

Luna silenced the unicorn with a raised hoof. "I am well acquainted with the practice of a good host. In my youth, the world was wild and untamed; we took hospitality very seriously indeed."

The unicorn stood there, eyes wide, blinking too fast. She adjusted her thick, black-framed glasses with a wisp of telekinesis. "Yes! That! That." A strand of her mane sprung up and away from her tightly-wound bun, seemingly of its own volition. "Um. Coffee?" she said, thrusting one of the cups in Luna's direction.

Luna took the cup into her own magic and inhaled deeply. She savored the scent of the freshly-brewed beverage before taking her first sip. Her eyes widened and she immediately took another, deeper sip. Then, she sighed contentedly and breathed in the aroma again. "Twilight Sparkle, you are a mare of discerning taste."

Twilight Sparkle grinned nervously and trotted over to her desk, where she set down the pastry bag and sat in the desk chair. She retrieved a doughnut and a napkin from the bag and passed them to Luna, while taking a doughnut for herself. Set sat in silence, fidgeting, and nibbling her pastry occasionally. Luna suffered from no such discomfort, and began tucking into her doughnut with enthusiasm.

Once Luna's first sugary treat had been summarily demolished, Twilight finally found the courage to speak up. "So! I. Um. Don't mean to seem rude. But why are you here, exactly? And um, how do you know who I am?"

Luna paused in the act of wiping crumbs from her muzzle. She dabbed at one last spot of icing at the corner of her mouth. "I fear I must make a poor conversationalist, and answer your question with one of my own: when I appeared so suddenly in your home, why did you react as you did?"

Twilight looked away and tapped her hooves together and adjusted her glasses again. "Well. You popped in here with no warning, right after that uh, dramatic speech from that blue pegasus. And you were having a panic attack. And I guess I just sort of... reacted?" she said frowning. "I've had enough of them to recognize them. And to know that they're awful. I didn't even realize who you were at first! I just had a pony in my home having a panic attack! So I just... dealt with it. Then after that, I realized who you were, and freaked out a little bit myself, and I guess that sort of answers your question?"

Luna hummed. "A 'panic attack?' Is that what that was? Most unpleasant."

Twilight nodded. "It was." She stood and began pacing, adopting a matter-of-fact tone. "Panic attacks are characterized by sudden inexplicable fear, followed by a heightened flight-or-fight response, which then results in a variety of related, cascading symptoms, such as nausea, dizziness, hyperventilation, and paresthesia. They can be chronic in those with an anxiety disorder, or appear unprompted after an individual has experienced sufficient stress. Stimulants, such as caffeine can cause, or exacerbate the onset of a panic attack." She paused. "Which is why your coffee is decaf."

Luna stuck her tongue out at her beverage. "Decaffeinated coffee? Hmph. Taste and fury signifying nothing," she muttered.

"It's still good though, isn't it?"

Luna slurped at her coffee and said nothing.

"According to Pleasant Diversion's Small Talk and You: How to Survive a Conversation, I'm pretty sure you're dodging my question," Twilight began hesitantly. "But she also says that if somepony does that, then you should respect their desire for privacy. Unless it's something important. Since I think a former queen of Equestria teleporting into my apartment and having a panic attack is kind of important, I'm going to ask again. But! I'm going to respect your desire for privacy by telling you that you don't have to answer. Um. Why are you in my apartment?" Twilight Sparkle asked, smiling uncertainly and fidgeting with her hooves.

Luna sighed, and set her coffee down, and stared at the bookshelf opposite the sofa. "When I emerged from my connection to the moon—when I ceased to appear as Nightmare Moon—I... there is..." She huffed in frustration. "Transference. The moon is a cold thing, and I became cold to match it. And that chill insulated me from seeing... the obvious. Suddenly emerging from that insulation was..." Luna's eyes clouded over momentarily, then she shuddered. "Difficult. Then came the attempt on my life, and... I had to get away. Somewhere safe."

"Okay, but why here? I don't even know you, except by reputation!" Twilight said, an edge of frustration creeping into her voice.

Luna shrugged. "In my panic, I reached out for the first thing that I could find that felt safe and unthreatening. I suppose that was you."

"But why?" Twilight asked, nearly whining now. "Why me?"

Luna winced. "Harmony works in mysterious ways, perhaps," she lied.

"That doesn't make any sense!"

"Perhaps not," Luna admitted. She turned to Twilight. "But it put me in the home of one of—perhaps even the only—pony who would lend me succor with no thought to turning the situation to her own advantage. True, it was at first because you did not recognize me. But what of afterward, once you realized my identity? Once you had left your home, I was entirely at your mercy. You could have called the guard, or members of the rebellion, or even simply abandoned me. And yet, you did not. Why?"

Her question drew Twilight up short. The younger mare frowned slightly. "Why would I have done that?"

Luna drew back, and turned to look sharply at Twilight Sparkle. "You have ample reason! In a few short years, my rule reduced Equestria to a starving, scorched wasteland. I stole the sun from you! I stole Celestia, most beloved of the kingdom, from you!"

Twilight's expression darkened. "You did, that's true. But..." She softened. "Then you gave her back. She's vouched for you. She says you're trying to change. Trying to make amends. If we can't trust her word, whose can we trust?"

Luna peered at this incarnation of Twilight Sparkle. Reclusive and uncertain, but so painfully earnest and eager. Untested and unrefined in comparison to the fierce young alicorn from that other future, but Luna could see the echoes of one in the other as plainly as the stars in the sky.

"You hold my sister in very high regard," she said eventually. "The criers should have made it clear that she was to make an appearance at the speech earlier today. While I imagine that some might have suspected trickery, you do not seem the sort. Why were you not in attendance?"

"Oh. Um," Twilight said, adjusting her glasses again. "Crowds make me nervous. And my brother and his wife both told me it was probably better to stay inside, 'just in case.'"

"Your brother?" Luna raised an eyebrow.

"He's the captain of the guard. Oh. And I guess he's married to Princess Cadance too."

Luna's eyes bulged, and she was glad she had set her coffee down. "Oh," she said faintly, "Dear."

On cue, there came a heavy knocking at the door. "Open up! We know you're in there!"





"Why would you phrase it like that?!" Twilight Sparkle hissed.

"Habit, okay?! Today has been just the tiniest bit stressful!" Rainbow Dash hissed back.

They were waiting anxiously in front of a nondescript apartment door on the third floor of a cheap, but well-maintained apartment building in Canterlot's Lower District.

"Are you sure she's in here?" whispered Rainbow Dash.

"Well, her signature's in—wait. Shhh, I hear something!"

Muffled hoofsteps approached from behind the door. There was a pause as the apartment's occupant considered their next action. The door had no peephole, so they had no choice but to open it to see what was on the other side. Rainbow Dash schooled her expression into one of professional nonchalance.

The door opened to reveal a second, smaller Twilight Sparkle. This one was wearing glasses, had no wings, and lacked the flowing mane and elegant stature of the one standing at Rainbow Dash's side. 

Their expressions were identical, though. Wide-eyed and flabbergasted, mouths working silently.

"Ponyfeathers," the alicorn whispered explosively.

"Wh... wh... huh?" the unicorn stammered.

"Not again," the alicorn muttered, massaging her nose with a hoof. "Once in a day should be enough for anypony..."

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. "Is Queen N—uh, Princess Luna—inside?" She asked, voice flat.

Luna's voice came drifting from within. "Captain Rainbow Dash? Is that you?"

"That's a yep," Rainbow Dash muttered. "One side, Glasses." She pushed her way past the unresisting unicorn. "And go easy on the big one, she already met your brother earlier."





Luna held her gaze on Rainbow Dash as the pegasus pushed her way into the increasingly-crowded apartment. The still-armored guard's helmet was missing, she held one of her wings gingerly, and she was favoring her rear left leg. She made her way to the sofa, stood before Luna, then settled onto her haunches. She made no effort to hide the way her gaze swept over the alicorn, looking for injuries or any sign of mistreatment. Once satisfied, she snapped off a salute. "Captain Rainbow Dash, reporting for duty ma'am. Are you okay?"

Luna was unable to suppress a smile. "Faithful Rainbow Dash," she murmured. "Yes, captain, I am unhurt," she said.

"That's not what I asked, ma'am. Are you okay?"

Luna's smiled faded by degrees. She looked up, staring at something beyond the bookshelves, at something only she could see. "I fear that is a question that I cannot answer at present," she said slowly. She continued, stare unwavering, "I have restored Equestria to itself. I have returned to myself, and in doing so, have been laid bare. I am..." She paused. "Defenseless." Her gaze returned to the confines of the apartment, and she turned to Rainbow Dash. "Which brings to mind a question. Why have you sought me out, Rainbow Dash?"

Rainbow Dash had maintained her salute throughout the discussion so far and showed no signs of stopping. "That's the job, ma'am. Keeping you safe. Can't do that unless I know where you are."

"Captain, your duty ended the second my sister took this kingdom back. I am no longer your queen, and you owe me nothing."

"With respect ma'am, I swore an oath to you. Not to your position."

Luna looked at Rainbow Dash sadly. "Captain Rainbow Dash. Most loyal of my Night Guard," she said softly, "I release you from my service."

Rainbow Dash's foreleg trembled slightly. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and returned to all fours. After spending a moment composing herself, she sighed. "Okay. All right." She opened her eyes and gazed fiercely at Luna. "But don't think you're getting rid of me that easily."

Luna blinked. "I... am sorry?"

Rainbow Dash jabbed a forehoof under the alicorn's nose. Luna found herself focusing on it, going slightly cross-eyed in the process. "When I gave my oath," she growled, "I meant it. I don't care if you're not my queen. I don't even care if you're a princess or not. Just because I don't have to keep you safe, doesn't mean I plan on stopping."

Luna still stared at the intruding forehoof, hypnotized. "But... why?"

Rainbow Dash withdrew her hoof and replaced it with her face, and glared fiercely into Luna's eyes. "Because I don't just abandon my friends. So," she growled, "Unless you can look me in the eye and tell me to get lost, you're stuck with me."

Luna drew back slightly, unable to look away from Rainbow Dash. "I... I..." she stammered. "I do not... deserve such loyalty, Rainbow Dash."

Rainbow Dash pulled away, and crossed her forelegs, sitting back on her haunches to do so. "Well, sometimes, you don't get what you deserve."

"No," whispered Luna, "You get something better."

Rainbow Dash blushed fiercely but smirked down at her once-sovereign. "Exactly!"





Twilight Sparkle and Luna walked side-by-side across the cobblestone streets away from the apartment building. Without needing to be prompted, Rainbow Dash trailed at a discreet distance. Claiming weariness, Luna had made her excuses to the younger Twilight Sparkle and departed, followed by Rainbow Dash. Before her departure, Luna had left the unicorn with both an apology, and a promise of aid should ever it be required. 

As the elder Twilight Sparkle had trotted toward the door, she pulled the younger unicorn aside. "Though, really," she had said pitching her voice low, "You can probably just call her up for coffee and doughnuts again. She'd probably like that." She had then winked, and trotted out of the apartment.

Night proper had begun to fall, with only a faint tinge of gold visible at the horizon, the sky otherwise dominated by deep blues and violets. Arcane streetlights had begun to hum to life and cast a slowly-brightening warm glow across the aged stones of Canterlot.

"A thousand years ago, this was scarcely more than a mining outpost," Luna said, gazing up the gables and domes and arches of buildings in the Upper District above them.

Twilight followed her gaze. "I've been down in those mines, actually." After a moment's musing, "Never for anything pleasant, now that I think about it." After a moment, she turned to Luna. "So, why teleport there? You haven't met local-me before, have you?"

Luna hummed thoughtfully. "I reached blindly for something that felt safe. In our dealings together, you have been a fair and neutral party—for the most part," she said, glancing at the still-healing wound on Twilight's chest. "So, I found something familiar and unthreatening and... leaped." She shrugged, and said no more.

The sounds of cheering and singing ponies drifted down from somewhere above. The streets down in the Lower District were nearly deserted; most of the city had turned out for the earlier speech. Upon the revelation that their Princess of the Sun had indeed returned, the various gatherings across the city had rapidly morphed into ecstatic, improvised parties. The few stragglers that the three encountered were intoxicated enough on exultation, relief, and simple intoxicants that a pair of slightly larger-than-normal ponies with extra appendages hardly warranted notice, let alone comment.

"My sister has transformed it into a beautiful city." Luna said, looking into the distance. "To be graced with an opportunity to see it return to life gladdens me."

Twilight peered closely at Luna. "You really mean that, don't you?" Luna's only response was to smile sadly. The pair continued their walk down the cobbles, the steady clip-clop of three sets of hooves the only other sounds. Eventually, Twilight broke the silence. "You'll have to sit down and talk to her. Really talk. About everything."

Luna said nothing in response, merely continued walking.

Twilight continued, speaking gently, "Even my Luna struggled with guilt after she returned, and she spent less than a day as Nightmare Moon. She still struggled with feelings of resentment. Still felt unappreciated for her work."

Luna shivered. "What hope have I, then?"

Twilight treated this question with the respect it deserved, and visibly spent several moments considering it. "My Luna," she said slowly, "made the mistake of trying to bear her burdens alone. She suffered in silence, believing that she deserved that suffering. Even when she was finally able to forgive herself, she still felt unappreciated. Forgotten." She stopped, and turned to look at Luna directly. "Talk to your sister, Luna. She loves you, and will support you, but she has a blind spot a mile wide."

Luna began to tremble, and her ears folded back as she looked down in shame. "And when the burdens are too painful? Too personal? My sister and I have shared much, Twilight Sparkle. We know how to hurt each other."

Twilight just smiled, and gently lifted Luna's chin with her hoof. "That's okay too. Sometimes, you have to lean on a friend instead. I can think of at least one who'd be glad to help," she said, looking at Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow had drawn closer to the pair of alicorns. She nodded confidently at Luna's inquiring look. "I'm not so great with words ma'am, but I can definitely listen."

Luna drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I am no stranger to walking the long path toward a distant goal. I must remind myself that this is not over, and every day is a step closer."

"It's a process," Twilight said, nodding. "It'll get harder. I recall that you and your sister agreed to have you stand trial."

Luna shivered, and shook her head. "Enough. I am weary enough to sleep and never wake. I will ask you for what I hope is the final time: Twilight Sparkle, why are you here?"

"Are you asking why I came looking for you? Or are you asking why I'm still here, period?"

"Something of the latter, and something in addition. You have succeeded in removing the primary threat to this particular permutation of Equestria—myself—so why remain? And furthermore, why this permutation? By your own admission, there are multiple possible timelines you had to choose from." Luna sighed. "I suppose, ultimately, my question is a very humble one: why me?"

Twilight gave a rueful smile. "It's a little silly, and a little selfish, actually." Luna raised a curious eyebrow, and Twilight continued, "All of the alternate timelines were somehow unpleasant, but this was the only one that was... stable. There was no active conflict, and things seemed to function, more or less. I thought it might be... easier, I guess, as a place to start. And," she said, turning to Luna and still smiling, "an important factor was that someone I counted as a friend might be lonely and hurting."

There was an anxious fluttering in Luna's belly, and she looked away. "I am fortunate my counterpart is close to you, then. Whatever your reasons, you have my gratitude, Twilight Sparkle."

Luna shifted nervously as Twilight regarded her, then stiffened as Twilight leaned forward and gave her a gentle hug. Undeterred by Luna's discomfort, Twilight held it until, slowly, the tension drained away from Luna, and the elder alicorn tentatively returned the hug.

"You're very welcome," Twilight said, and pulled away. "I don't want to keep you any longer, you do look tired." 

Twilight concentrated for a moment, and with a small pop! of teleportation, a hoof-sized golden oblong was summoned into existence. Thickly inscribed with runic symbols, it resembled a large pocket watch, right down to the glass window on its front. Instead of a clock face, it was home to a small, ever-burning flame of neon green.

"A way to stay in touch," Twilight explained, passing the device into Luna's telekinetic grip. "Just press the button on top to open the glass cover, and touch the flame to any paper. It'll be transported over to my universe, and I can send messages back through it as well. The fire shouldn't run out, but try not to get it wet."

Luna spent a moment examining it, opening and closing the glass cover, before levitating it to the side, then visibly pausing as she realized she had nowhere to put it. Rainbow Dash appeared at her side, and popped open one of the padded pockets attached to her armor's flanks. Luna nodded her thanks, and tucked the device into the pocket, and Rainbow Dash carefully buckled the pocket shut again. "You have my appreciation. I will be certain to make use of it."

Twilight smiled. "Well, only if you want to." She trotted two steps backward and lit her horn. "Okay, I really should get going. Good luck. And talk to your sister! I mean it!" She said with a mock glare. 

Luna responded with a tired glare of her own, and Twilight merely giggled. Motes of purple began to coalesce around the younger alicorn, and swirled into a familiar vortex-like shape above her. "I really would love to know how things turn out," she said earnestly. "Good luck! You'll do great!"

And with a final flash of violet, she was gone.

Luna stared thoughtfully after the vanishing violet vortex. Then, she turned to her pegasus companion. "Rainbow Dash, it has been a trying day, and I find myself in need of something restful. Would you accompany me on a flight back to the castle?"

"Your sister?" Rainbow Dash asked with a frown.

"Can wait."

"Then yeah, I've got a flight back to the Everfree in me."

Luna smiled and spread her wings.





"Hah! I love it! The Princess of Prose, the Bearer of Books, the Arbiter of Order herself causes enough chaos to make me proud! And she starts by placing herself in the local queen's bed. My my, how scandalous!"

"That's hardly what I—"

"Oooh, did you ask her to paint you like one of her Prench girls?"

"Oh, that's a lovely set of petticoats, Discord."

"I knew you would appreciate it, dear Fluttershy. More tea?"

"Of course."

"For your information, she didn't have any Prench girls. ...that I saw, anyway. Though I suppose she did have a small painting kit in her bedchambers. Anyway, don't you want to know what she sent me?"

"Oh, yes please."

"If you must, but I will absolutely spice things up if your story doesn't live up to my expectations."

"Well, just yesterday I got a letter from her. I'm glad the device works as intended, but what's more important is what she said..."





To Her Royal Highness Twilight Sparkle, Bearer of Magic, and Princess of Friendship

It is with some uncertainty that I pen this letter to you. Nevertheless, I feel I must try.

My dispatched Shadowbolts finally returned. While there was significant confusion when they learned of the changes in their absence, they left my service amicably. Of more interest was their findings—notably, nothing. They did report an abandoned cavern complex that seems to match your description of a changeling hive, but there were no signs of habitation. By their estimates, it had been abandoned for months, if not longer. Inconclusive, but troubling. 

As for Equestria, it has begun to heal with remarkable speed and energy. The starving days look to be behind us now. Though it fills me with shame to be able to refer to any period in Equestria's history, much less one in which I ruled, as 'the starving days.' Nevertheless, the populace heals. My sister informs me that Princess Cadenza is mostly recovered, and her foal with her. I have not been able to bring myself to speak with her directly.

My sister and I have agreed upon a date for my trial. Until then, I remain in Canterlot, under watch. As I imagine you are aware, there are challenges in imprisoning a powerful alicorn via means both mundane and merciful. Given the circumstances, it seems quite probable that my sentence will amount to something like glorified community service.

I can only hope that this is enough to appease those that I have wronged. If not, perhaps the labor I contribute to the recovery effort will serve. 

Finally, and most importantly, I write to offer you my thanks. In recent weeks, I have had the dubious gift of time, which I have used to reflect upon my actions. Is it ironic, that as mistress of dreams, I still suffer from nightmares? Scorched wastelands, endless fields of the sick and the starving, worlds empty save for myself... all elements of my slumber now. Rainbow Dash and the Twilight Sparkle of my world have been instrumental in keeping my spirits high. 

Rainbow Dash has insisted upon daily exercise with me in order to, as she puts it, 'stay in awesome shape'. I find myself marveling that a mare once so devoted to following where I lead is now so ardent—and persuasive—in commanding me. And I am well-acquainted with the improvement in mood that a good gallop or a brisk flight brings, so I can hardly gainsay her suggestions.

I have also been meeting with your younger counterpart at least weekly. Following our introduction, she sought me out, ostensibly for my assistance in a research project of a magical nature. As soon as I brought up my firsthand acquaintance of Star Swirl the Bearded however, she dispensed with the pretense, and we spent the next several hours trading tales. She is a fount of knowledge—though hers tends toward the academic—in nearly all things, and a rapt audience for any tale of my past I care to spin.

And so, I thank you.

Before your arrival, I stood upon the precipice of ruin—my own, and Equestria's.

And now? I am reunited with my sister, not in enmity, but in love. I have one companion more loyal than I deserve, and another wiser and more compassionate than she knows.

I have lost a kingdom, but gained a future.

Your friend,
Luna