//------------------------------//
// Epilogue~Filing the Report 
// Story: What Could've Been 
// by Centurion Pike-Wall 
//------------------------------//

5 days later

In the old Castle of Friendship, Princess Twilight strained under the magical pressure exerted by the spell. Soon, a swirling golden portal appeared in front of the Map Room, the shimmering image on the other side being that of a cliff. Through the swirling mass and misshapen rocks, the Praetor could make out the vague shape of the Creui Castrum. 

The Praetor said, "I'm surprised that you two found my world this quickly."

"Oh, we got lucky", Starlight said. "We managed to find a world almost identical to yours. Except, well... you were a stallion. It was only a slight adjustment from there to find your world."

The Praetor stepped forward, adjusting the helmet under her right wing. She turned back, nodding her head in turn to each of this world's versions of her former friends, herself, Luster Dawn, and Trixie. "Thank you all for your efforts, as well as being so hospitable to me. I won't be forgetting this anytime soon." 

"Neither will we", Fluttershy said. 

"Yeah", Rainbow Dash said. "Hay, me and AJ have been talkin' and... if it's a colt, we'll name our kid Depressi too. It does sound cool, and-"

"Don't substitute your first child's own name for that of mine", the Praetor said. "Besides, he'd probably be bullied for the weird name. Depressi Tonituro means 'Thunderclap', if you still want to use it."

"Thunderclap, huh?", Applejack said. 

"Yeah", the Praetor said. She stepped forward, giving one last look at Luster Dawn. She turned to Princess Twilight, giving her one last, somber look. "Vale, Princeps."

As the Praetor stepped through, Rarity opened the door. "Oh darlings! I just got back from Manehattan, and I have these wonderful new styles I want you all to try-" She ground to a halt as the golden portal swirled slower and slower, before puttering out entirely. Soon, all eyes were on her, to which she could only sputter. "Di-Did I miss something?"


+++++~+++++


"This is... certainly an unusual report", Legatus Salomon said, his eyes running up and down the pages of the small booklet the Praetor had laid on his desk. She had reappeared after having been gone for a week, none the worse for wear, and been found almost immediately by outlying patrols. A few hours later, she was in his office in the Governmental district, having given the compiled report to him. 

"I understand, sir", the Praetor said, still standing before him at attention. "However, I assure you that this is how it happened after my disappearance, sir."

"I understand. Merely noting the obvious. There will be a further inquiry in regards to this incident. However, for the moment, you are dismissed", he said. 

The Praetor snapped to salute, bowing her head. "Vale, Legatus", she said, before turning and leaving. She marched quickly through the halls, returning her helmet to her head. As soon as she had reached the nearest balcony in the Divisional Headquarters building, she took to the air, returning to her Castrum. 

She was greeted by Castus, who pulled her into a tight embrace. "Heh, really? We already did this song-and-dance a few hours ago. With more hugging from Depressi and the others. Even DJ got in on it."

"I know, I know", Castus said, stepping back. "Still, you can't blame me for having missed you."

"Course I can't blame you. You're too handsome", she said. "Anyway, where are the kids?"

"Depressi went with DJ to his monthly check-up and getting his percription", Castus said, following behind her as the two went inside. "The girls are sleeping."

"Ok", Rainbow said, picking up a small letter on the small, low table around the furniture in the main room. An Equestrian stamp was in the corner, and a while the letter it once held was on the desk in her office, the flyer in it was still inside. The flyer about the exchange program of foreign students to her worlds Twilight in Ponyville. "I want to talk to them about something."