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// #TheEnd 
// Story: A Vignette of Apples 
// by Draxonos135 
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Princess Twilight looked at the blackened trinket, the gaze of the Pony of Shadows confirming its containment.

"So, Vignette really did it," Twilight smiled. "She found a way to contain the Pony of Shadows."

"According to the Applejack from the other world, she tricked it into lunging at the object for her to seal it," Sunset explained. "Not that it was hard to convince them, they were stuck in a grotesque mix of Pony and Human, and just as disturbed as Starlight over there."

Starlight sat next to a pillar, shivering while hugging herself. "So... Many... Joints..."

Sunset frowned. "Hey, is she gonna be okay?"

"Starlight has bounced off worse experiences than this," Twilight remarked, quickly adding upon seeing her again, "But just to be safe, I'll have her go to therapy."

"What happened after the Pony of Shadows was contained?" Spike asked.

"Vignette collapsed and she was taken to a hospital so she could recover," Sunset turned around. "Which reminds me, I should go back to check up on her, see if she's doing okay."

"Tell her I thank her for capturing the Pony of Shadows."

"Yeah, sure," Sunset paused. "Oh, and Applejack suggested me to tell you to keep a good eye on that thing. Don't let it escape again."

Twilight nodded. "I'll keep this thing locked in maximum security. Trust me, the Pony of Shadows isn't escaping this time."

Sunset raised an eyebrow with hesitation, but she shrugged off her worries and left.

"Well, this is gonna be quiet the story to tell the princesses, huh?" Spike spoke. "A visitor from the other world not only came here, but was instrumental in dealing with the Pony of Shadows."

"Yeah, this does sound like something they should know about," Twilight eyed the trinket and frowned. "You think they're gonna be mad about it?"

"Mad about what?"

"The only reason the Pony of Shadows is sealed in this object is because we failed to properly make sure they weren't in a dimension where they could do harm. Who knows how many other creatures are in the Human world, especially with Equestrian Magic leaking to it?"

"You're in charge of Equestria now, Twilight, you can't really take a moment to visit the human world to fix those problems," Spike remarked. "But, looking at the bright side, Sunset and her friends are there, I'm sure they'll find a way to deal with whatever trouble arises."

Twilight turned to her dragon assistant, and flashed a relieved smile. "Yeah, I should focus on one thing at a time. For now..."

Twilight looked back at the trinket.

"Let's make sure they don't escape again."





Vignette slowly regained consciousness and opened her eyes, her blurry vision only letting her see a rainbow of foggy colors looking at her.

"I think she's wakin' up."

Recognizing Applejack's voice, Vignette smiled and slowly got up, her vision clearing up to reveal the cowgirl staring at her, a relieved smile present on her face.

"Thank goodness you're awake. You had me worried for a second there."

"Sorry about that, Applejack," Vignette said, gently scratching the back of her head. "It's just that I was so mentally exhausted from what I did, that I'm actually surprised I even managed to last for as long as I did."

"You better keep resting for a while, darling," Rarity said. "You took quite the heavy hit when you collapsed."

Vignette winced and laid down while chuckling. "Yup, I just felt it. Is everybody alright?"

"Yeah, we're fine, and the streets were evacuated before anybody could get hurt," the blue-skinned, rainbow-haired girl spoke. "By the way, I don't think we got a chance to meet again. I'm Rainbow Dash."

"Oh yeah, I kinda remember you!" Vignette chirped. "You were the one who dabbed when Rarity introduced you!"

Rainbow Dash laughed and blushed sheepishly. "Yeah, that... That was a thing that happened. Hehe..."

"And I'm Pinkie Pie!" a pink girl chirped, getting all up in Vignette's face. "Applejack told me you've been living with her for a while and that you're friends now!"

"Uh, yeah, Applejack mentioned you."

And then, Sunset opened the door. "I'm here! Am I late?!"

"Nope, just in time, actually," Rarity said. "Vignette just woke up."

"Oh, I'm glad to hear that," Sunset walked to Vignette's bed. "I just delivered the trinket to Princess Twilight. She promised me she'd do her best to keep the Pony of Shadows contained."

Vignette snickered.

"Yeah, I have my doubts too, but I think she's being honest here," Sunset shrugged. "Also, she said she thanked you on behalf of Equestria for what you did."

"Got it," Vignette hummed. "Say, my father and my cousins were freed from the Pony of Shadows' control. Where are they now?"

"They were taken to a different hospital, said somethin' 'bout it being too awkward if you were all in the same place together," Applejack explained as she reached for her pocket. "Also, before they left, your father told me to give you this."

Applejack took out a piece of paper and handed it to Vignette.

"What does it say?!" Pinkie Pie asked, quickly getting on Applejack's side.

"Give her a second to read it, Pinkie Pie."

Vignette unrolled the piece of paper, and read its contents:

"Vignette, this is your father speaking. Sometime after you left home and the news over the Equestrialand fiasco spread, I came to realize the error of my ways. All I wanted was for you to become the best manager for the Crystal Emporium, but instead, I turned you into a bossy brat who thought everything needed to be perfect. I failed both as a mentor, and as a father figure. I don't know where are you now, nor how are you doing, but I want you to know that I'm sorry for what happened, and I'm gonna work to fix my mistakes. It'll be a long time before you can forgive me, I know, and you might never do so, that's fine. I just want you to know I only want what's best for you now, my Little Vignette."

Vignette smiled slightly, but the girls, Rarity in particular, weren't quite impressed.

"That's it? A written apology?" Rarity asked. "I mean, I get he can't apologize in person now, but after all this time, he can only apologize through a letter?!"

"It's fine, Rarity."

The fashionista flinched. "It... It is?"

"I know my old man better than anybody else in this room. He's not the kind of person who gets all emotional and puts a lot of effort into things. He's quick, simple, and to the point." Vignette explained, rolling the paper back to its previous form. "This is a start. Not a very promising start, but a start nonetheless."

Applejack grabbed the paper, and pocketed it. "Could you guys leave Vignette and me alone? There's something I want to discuss with her."

Vignette snickered again. "Can't it wait until we're back home?"

"That's precisely what I wanna talk about. Well, sorta."

Hearing that, the girls besides Applejack left the room, allowing the cowgirl to sit next to Vignette as she asked:

"So, what's the plan now, Vignette?"

Vignette raised an eyebrow. "I don't think I get the question."

"When I invited you to stay in my family's barn, I didn't think things would go this way. I just thought you'd stay until you found a new home, but instead, you spent time with the family, made ammends with Rarity, and of course, helped seal an ancient evil from another dimension."

"You didn't think I was gonna stay around to see that?"

"I thought you'd have found a new home long before the magical mishaps got involved. Which is also why I need to ask," Applejack faced Vignette. "Do you wanna stay with us for a while longer?"

Vignette blinked once, then lowered her head slightly.

"Magical mishaps happen all the time to me and my friends. If you chose to stay with my family, I can't guarantee you won't have to worry about facing magical threats again."

Vignette hummed... Then smiled.

"But, even if that happened... You'd be by my side, right?"

Applejack smiled slightly. "When did I say I wouldn't?"

Vignette grabbed Applejack's hand with a joyful smile.

"I think that alone makes whatever I face next worth it."

Applejack returned the smile, and gave a little nod.

Visiting hours ended soon after, so Applejack had to leave, but Vignette didn't mind. Once she felt better, she'd go back to the Apple Family Barn, to spend however long a time she had remaining with them, either before she found a new home or...

Actually, let's not even mention the alternative. Just until she found a new home. XD

But the most important thing to take of was this: Instead of walking back to an empty apartment with nobody but her lonesome, Vignette would walk back to a farm where she would be welcomed not only by the girl who gave her hope when she was at her lowest, but her family as well.

And that alone, made her content where she was.