Epilogue
Three months later...
“He is so handsome.” Applejack said. Lightning nodded, smiling down at his son.
“He looks like you.” he said. Applejack was holding him in her arms, beaming.
“Yes, but he has your eyes.” she said, walking over to look out of the window. Beyond they could see the sun rising over the horizon, lighting up the ocean and the clouds. Lightning wrapped his front leg around her shoulders, pulling her close. They watched the sun slowly rise, cresting the mountain that marked Phoenix’s grave. The only sound was he waves crashing against the cliffside. But that didn’t last for long.
A small knock brought them back to reality. Lightning walked over and pulled it open. Cora was standing there, levitating a book in front of her. She smiled when she saw Applejack.
“Finally, he is asleep.” she said, smiling. “The others are already working outside. They are waiting for you.” she said, gesturing down the hall. Lightning nodded, turning and waving at Applejack, who smiled back. He followed Cora out into the hall. She turned and walked passed the line of doors. Each door led to a separate room. Each one belonging to one of them. It had taken them almost a month to build, but it was worth it.
As they walked, one of the door opened. Out stepped Celia, carrying a small bundle of blankets in her forelegs. Cinder, her bright red fur contrasting with the white of the blankets, was fast asleep. She smiled at them as they passed, then walked down the hall to Applejack and Lightning’s room. At the end of the hall was another door, and Lightning held it open for Cora. Sunlight spilled in, and Lightning could feel the warm morning glow on his fur. It seemed like ages since he had last been in a Bunker, and he hoped her never had to be in one again.
The sun shone down on their house, nestled against the side of the cliff in San Foalsisco. The ruins of the city still stretched out before them, but they didn’t really see it anymore. They just saw each other and their new lives. The sun was just rising over the top of the cliff, and Lightning turned to watch it. Cora stood next to him, watching him just as he watched the sun. He turned and smiled, walking towards the back of the house. The others were waiting for them.
When she saw them, Rainbow called down from the clouds. She was clearing away the polluted clouds and bringing clean ones in from the north. In the past months, she had Cora fabricate a new wing for her. It was still metal, and it still made sound as she flew, but it was less noticeable, and Twilight had conjured up a cyan cloth to cover it. Lightning waved at her, just in time for her to fly off towards the ocean with a cloud. He looked back at the ground, seeing the rest of them standing at the back of the house. Fluttershy and Twilight had been hard at work the first month getting a garden to grow in the wasted soil. But finally, one had grown, and it was Fluttershy’s job to tend to it. She hovered a few feet off the ground, Angel on her back, watering and looking over all the plants that had grown.
Twilight was sitting off to the side, reading one of the scrolls she had taken from Luna’s library. She looked up for a brief moment to wave at them, but then looked back down at the paper. Pinkie was following Fluttershy around, trying to get Angel to chase her. But the temperamental rabbit wasn’t listening to her. Finally, Rarity was sitting off to the side, watching the whole scene. She had gotten much better in the past few months, but she could still fall into a state of depression from time to time. Lightning nodded at Cora, and went to help Fluttershy in the garden. Cora went over to Rarity and sat down next to her. Lightning watched her out of the corner of his eye. And after a few moments, Rarity smiled and stood up, walking over to sit next to Twilight. Cora and Rarity had created some sort of bond, and she was always able to cheer her up when she was depressed. Lightning looked around, noticing one of their number was gone. But he would come back later. He always did.
Minutes passed, and they slowly stopped what they were doing, falling into their own conversations. Lightning turned to see if Rainbow was coming back, but he saw something else instead. Flying towards them, somewhat clumsily, was a pegasus. The sun was behind them, so he couldn’t get a good look. By the time the pegasus reached them, the others had noticed as well. They stood up, already put on the guard. But they didn’t move, waiting to see who it was.
He landed on the ground in front of them, a deep purple coat shining in the sunlight. He looked at them with bright yellow eyes, ove covered by a dark blue mane with a white stripe flowing through it. He smiled at them, a car stretching from his lip to his eyelid standing out against his fur. They could only stare at him.
Fluttershy was the first to move. “SKY!!” she yelled, galloping over and nearly tackling him. She pulled him into a hug that Lightning was sure could crush bones. But as soon as she realized what she was doing, she back away, blushing furiously. Sky was doing the same thing. He cleared his throat several times before he spoke.
“Hi..hi Fluttershy. I am glad to see you are OK.” he said, voice quiet as always. “As with all of you. Glad you found a place to settle down.” Twilight stepped forward, eyes wide.
“How did you...how did you get here? How did you know where to find us?”
“You have been out here a while, so I wouldn’t blame you for not knowing. They are clearing out the Bunkers and rebuilding the towns. The Cure is stable, and ready to be administered to those who need it. The world is falling back into place.”
“As for me, they said that I had to leave. I have no family, I have no home, and I don’t know anypony. So when I stepped outside, I knew where I would have to go. I had to find you.” Lightning noticed that when he said ‘you’, he was looking at Fluttershy. “I asked if the administrators knew where you had taken off to. And they said here. As for the how, I flew. It wasn’t fun, but I did it.”
“Are you completely sure the Cure is stable?” Twilight asked. I remember the first couple tries..” Her voice trailed off. Sky nodded, walking forward and embracing Fluttershy.
“I wouldn’t put her at risk unless I was absolutely sure.” he said, looking into Fluttershy’s eyes. “The cure is stable, and none of the subjects have reverted. I was there to oversee the entire process.”
“That’s fantastic.” Twilight said. “Do you know where all the ponies are going?”
“All I know is that they are going back to the ruins, trying to pick up where they left off. It will be tough for them, but easier without the threat of Hunters or infected. And I guess that brings me to my real question. Will you let me stay with you?” All eyes turned to Lightning. Fluttershy was practically pleading with her stare. He couldn’t turn him away. It wouldn’t be right.
“Of course you can stay.” he said. Sky let out a sigh and smiled.
“Thank you so much.” he said, holding out his hoof. Lightning shook it for the first time, knowing it was a moment he wouldn’t forget. This was a pony who, before the Cure, he would have killed out in the Wastes without a moment’s thought. But now, cleansed and healthy, he was welcoming him into his home.
“We don’t have an extra room, so you will have to bunk with somepony.”
“He can bunk with me!” Fluttershy practically screamed. Sky smiled down at her, wrapping a fore-leg around her shoulders.
“I guess that settles that.” he said. Lightning nodded smiling.
“Lunar should be back in a while” Lightning said. “We will have to introduce you then. But until then, Fluttershy, why don’t you show him around.” She nodded enthusiastically, leading Sky towards the house. Lightning was glad he came. Everypony needs a home.
*****
Lunar indeed showed up, and he welcomed Sky in like a brother. They seemed to like each other well enough, and there was no air of distrust about Sky’s past. The sun was setting in the sky, falling behind the mountain that marked Phoenix’s last resting place. Lightning watched it go, glad to be with his friends, even if one was missing. Fluttershy had her head in Sky’s lap, smiling up at him. Pinkie and Twilight were telling stories from their time in Ponyville, occasionally being interrupted by Rarity or one of the others. Their memories may have deteriorated, but their friendship stayed strong.
“So these two salesponies showed up in town. Singing ponies, mind you, and they brought this giant machine with them.” Pinkie said, talking as fast as she could. “The said that they could make the best cider in Equestria, but of course, that title is held by Applejack, who didn’t like these two busting in on her sales. So what happened next is awesome. Applejack--AHHH!” Her words were cut off with a scream as a blinding, white light filled the room.
When he could see again, Lightning looked around the room. Everything was as they had left it. Except Twilight. She was staring at something on the ground, her mouth open. Lightning followed her gaze, and he saw it. A papyrus scroll, maybe 8 inches in diameter was laying on the ground. A red ribbon and golden seal where the only markings on the outside. Twilight stood up slowly, walking towards it.
“Is that...is that what I think it is?” Rarity whispered. Twilight nodded, levitating the scroll off the floor. Lightning just looked on, not sure what to say. Twilight opened the scroll, her eyes slowing moving down the page. Her expression remained stone cold, but her eyes showed the surprise she was feeling. She finished reading, taking a deep breath at the same time.
“Does somepony want to tell us what’s going on!?” Cora yelled, exasperated. Twilight turned around, her eyes landing on Lightning.
“I never thought I would get one of these again.” she said, her voice quiet. “This is a letter from Princess Celestia. She wants to talk to you immediately. She said she can tell you about your past.”
The End