//------------------------------// // Chapter 17: Finale // Story: Vengeance // by xd77 //------------------------------// "You see Nathan, when you prayed to God for a family, He wanted to test your skills by having creatures instead of humans have you as their child." said Jesus, "So He searched and found this land for you in order to start the test. Your first test was to stand up for what you believed in." "How did Ah' pass that one?" asked Nate. Rachel interfered, "Well you passed that one when you defended Apple Bloom from Diamond Tiara's bullying methods." "How did y'all know about that, and do y'all know mah' name?" asked Apple Bloom stepping up beside her secret true love. "We're angels, we see everything afar and wide, we watch day and night, we are immortal in the presence of God." said Jessica. "So therefore we hear everything." "I am mighty impressed." said Celestia. "Also, you showed bravery and true friendship when you defended me from Thunder Clash." said Zodiac with a smile. "Plus, you helped us defeat a fake version of Neighsay when he tried to shut down Headmare Twilight's school." said Ocellus. "And you let us on a journey to defeat the most evil of them all, Lord Tirek." replied Starswirl. "Yeah, plus you helped my dad and his team put Dallas's top 10 most wanted behind bars." said Kyle. "You are a true hero Nathan." said Jesus, "Therefore, you are now officially the species of the world God chose for you." "Wait, if Ah'm now a pony, when will I get a......" "Cutie Mark?" Apple Bloom bluntly said as she kissed him making him blush. "Uh, thank you?" said Nathan as the others giggled. "Actually Nathan, you don't have to wait for long, it comes even when.....you don't even know it." said Rachel as he pointed to his flank, Nathan turned and saw that he had a cutie mark of the state of Texas with the state flag embedded in it. Everyone was really surprised at this. "Ah' can't believe it, Ah' have a cutie mark of mah' home state!" "Good work Nathan, now you can officially live your life among your pony family, because Equestria is now your permanent home." said Jesus, Nathan quickly figured out what was about to happen. "But, what about Kyle and Luke?" asked Nathan. "What will happen to them, what will become of mah' world?" "Are we not going to see him again?" asked Luke. Jesus frowned, "I'm afraid it will be a long time before you see him, but it will come when you least expect it." Nathan quickly turned to face them as they had tears forming in their faces. "Guys.....look Ah' wish....I.....Ms. Fanning......Ms. Brown" Nathan tried to explain, but Kyle put a warming comforting hand on his shoulder. "They'll be okay Nathan." said Kyle, Nathan could still not see what was really being referred. Luckily, Luke joined in with Kyle. "We...will be okay." he said with a warm smile. "Are ya' sure?" Nathan asked. Officer Welder walked up and knelt down to Nathan, "Hey, listen to your inner voice." Nathan put one of his new hooves up to his chest and closed his eyes, then suddenly, he felt a smile form on his face. He quickly ran back to Cadance and Shining Armor and hugged them as a way of saying thank you for all they had done for him. He then looked back to his human friends and Officer Welder and approached them again. "Ah'm a pony, how will this....." "Nathan, you may be pony on the outside, but inside, you're still human." said Jesus. "And this new life you are about to go through is not going to get in the way of us." said Luke. "No matter what you choose, you will always be our best friend." said Kyle, this made Twilight tear up and smile. She never would've known that even kids from the human world would learn the proper form of friendship like she did. "And to be honest Nate, you do look better as a pony." said Kyle, making the others laugh. Nathan smiled and cried as he hugged both of his human friends, suddenly, a portal of white light opened up signaling Officer Welder, Kyle, and Luke that it was time for them to go back to the human world. "Wait, before we depart, I have something for you Nate." said Officer Welder, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a red bandana. "I've had this bandana since I was your age, I've kept it with me for quite sometime, and now I pass it to you." Welder then got down on one knee and wrapped the bandana around Nathan's neck. To Nathan's surprise, it felt rather warm and snug, plus it was hung around his neck like a typical cowboy would wear it. "Keep it on you, so you always have a way to remember that we are always with you in spirit." said Officer Welder. "Thanks." said Nathan as he was surrounded by comfort from his new friends and his family. Soon, Welder, Kyle, and Luke walked backwards and entered the portal that took them back to Dallas. As they were going through the tunnel, Nathan and the others went outside to watch them fly through the portal. Kyle and Luke saw them watching with smiles. "Does this mean, Nathan's a lost kid?" asked Luke. "No, he's not lost." said Kyle with a warm smile, "not anymore." "To infinity....." said Kyle. "And beyond." said Nathan, suddenly Nathan felt someone forcefully turn him around and saw Apple Bloom with her eyes half-lidded. She then pressed her lips against his and they kissed, proving to him that she really loves him, then they stared back up into the now dark and starry sky as the portal closed up and the stars shined and twinkled.