Chapter 8: Apology
The skies were empty and void of any clouds, the smoke was removed due to the powerful winds the bomb blew, and all the debris of the majority of cottages and shops that once were Ponyville's greatest attractions, were disintegrated down into dirt and ash.
There was a crystallized dome that hovered above a certain area in Ponyville. It appeared to be coming from Rarity. She unknowingly used her powers from her horn to generate a shield to protect all her friends and Chrysalis from the blast of the bomb. Rarity stood by in shock of how much of a close call it was. She stood idled with her eyes wide open, looking into the distance as she was caught, frozen and stunned. The girls got up, as they all banded together to huddle into one group, protecting each other, including Chrysalis, out cold on the ground. They saw Rarity standing straight. Applejack got up to see her.
"Rarity?" Applejack asked. "Hey, Rarity?" Applejack waved her hoof in the air trying to grab her attention away from staring into emptiness. Rarity did not move a muscle once Applejack got up to see her. Rainbow Dash and Sunset both tried to awaken her out of her trance by bumping her on the head and body. She was stiff like a statue. Princess Twilight with everypony else got up to help with Rarity. Rarity went up to her counterpart to do the same thing to help in waking her up. Princess Twilight asked everyone if she could put her to rest, with a spell so she may wake up later on. The others agreed. Princess Twilight focused and made Rarity fall to the ground, with her eyes closed and the shield around them vanished.
The girl walked around what was left of Ponyville. It was an isolated wasteland of a place that once had colorful and friendly ponies, gathering around together and enjoying their daily lives, doing what they do best. They all traveled while carrying both Rarity and Chrysalis with their magic. They could not see anything beyond the dust and ash that carried on with an after wave of winds coming into their view. There were no sounds or signs of life or survivors. Princess Twilight knelt in tears because she felt like she failed to reach them in time to save everypony from danger. They dropped Rarity and Chrysalis, when Princess Twilight lost focus.
"I-I... it's... all my fault...!" Princess Twilight sniffled. "I-I... I'm not worthy to be... to be... a princess...!" She fell over, with her whole body on the ground, wallowing and hiccuping her moans of despair. The others watched, and their faces planted on the ground, they couldn't see Princess Twilight put herself down so harshly. They all were afraid they were the only ones to have survived a blast like that. That meant that everypony could have been vaporized. Their families, their friends, and their homes. Destroyed, with little to no trace of them left. The others had stars in their eyes as well, they gathered around Princess Twilight, and tried to comfort her, she held out her hoof for somepony to grasp and make herself feel a bit comforted. Sunset held out her hoof to her, and they all sat down with Princess Twilight. Sunset felt something under her and it was Twilight's Element. She held it close, as she was not present with them.
A moment after, Chrysalis grunted and slowly got up from the ground. The others stood up, Princess Twilight and Sunset stayed seated. The girls took a stance against her, readied, if she were to attack.
"What the hell happened here?!" Chrysalis asked.
"You know damn well what happened!" Rainbow Dash yelled. "You caused all of Equestria to be... destroyed!" Rainbow Dash hesitated as she couldn't take in how dreadful it was to say.
"I wish..." Chrysalis said. "I could never pull off anything like that!"
"You're lyin'!" Applejack said, with her eyes filled with tears, but was hesitant to not drop a single tear down her cheek. "This is your fault!"
"Idiots!" Chrysalis yelled. "I don't know what you're all getting at?!" Rainbow Dash fastened her wings to take off, but before she could get up from the ground to attack her, Sunset held her tail with her mouth to stop her.
"What are you doing?!" Rainbow Dash yelled. Sunset spat out her tail.
"She is right, it is not her fault!" Sunset assured. The others looked down at her, as they all were too enraged to feel any kind of sympathy for Chrysalis. "It was Midnight. Remember?"
"If it hadn't been for Twilight as well!" Applejack yelled back at Sunset. "Lying to us, allowing herself to be impersonatin' one of my dearest friends... it is her fault!" Sunset got up to see Applejack eye to eye. Chrysalis watched them tear each other apart, she was slightly enjoying it.
"Stop it! We all concluded it was Midnight who was behind everything!" Sunset responded. "You think I don't know how you feel?!"
"No you don't Sunset!" Applejack cried. "My family is dead, because of her! My life is ruined, all because somepony had to trespass into our world!"
"Stop it guys!" Rarity spoke.
"Please, stop..." Fluttershy added.
"We didn't even know about it, until way later!" Both Pinkie Pie's said, getting in between them. "So stop blaming each other, before we all do something we'll regret!"
"Ah already regret ever letting this go! Ah should have stopped her before this all happened, but ah didn't because ah felt bad for her! What kind of friend are you, for letting her get this bad?!" Applejack yelled at Sunset.
Sunset out of rage, tackled her. In which they both got into a fight with each other. They pulled each other's tail, ruffled their faces by kicking and bucking, head budding like a couple of rams, and punching each other, having at each other's throats when they fell to the ground. The girl watched in horror seeing their two friends fight each other. Princess Twilight still laid on the ground, hearing them fight and argue over whose fault it was, but she already blamed herself for not replying to Sunset in the first place, and for interfering with their personal lives. Rarity stood by her sleeping other self, as she begged for Applejack and Sunset to stop hurting each other. Fluttershy huddled with her other self, trying to avoid being involved in the fight, but was constantly trying to yell at them to stop their fighting, but her voice was blocked with grief and sadness. The Pinkie Pies were standing by. Applejack was watching her other self getting tangled up with Sunset. She would have done the same with Rarity trying to break up the fight, but she was simultaneously keeping an eye out for Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash was ready to join in the fight with the other Rainbow Dash, as they both believed Chrysalis was the cause but Rainbow Dash also thought Applejack was right about Twilight, in which the other Rainbow Dash was going to defend Sunset's stand on the issue. Chrysalis smiled and chuckled of how they're tearing apart their friendship from the inside. She couldn't have planned it better herself.
Applejack and Sunset were both tired and bruised from all their fighting. It was a stalemate. But they still stared each other down like a couple of alphas ready to throw a showdown of who's the authority.
"If we are the last ponies, alive, we have to stay together!" Rarity yelled. "We are all we have left..."
"You're right..." Sunset replied, dropping her guard. Rainbow Dash stood down, and the other Rainbow Dash thought of how Rarity was right.
"Am not spendin' the rest of my life with her!" Applejack yelled.
"Why?!" Applejack's other self questioned. "Twilight is not even here for you to be mad over." Applejack heard herself say something that made her stop looking at Sunset, and plot down a little bit away from Sunset and the group, facing a different direction from them.
Applejack looked away from everypony, and she began to cry. She hated crying in front of anypony. She was silent, when it came to sorrow or grief, not showing anypony any sign of weakness. Only when she was alone, would she be sensitive toward anything, allowing herself to cry and be emotional. The only one who would know about it was Pinkie Pie, but Pinkie promised she would not tell anypony, and would occasionally occupy ponies or steal the spotlight for Applejack to have some time for herself. Applejack laid down her hat over her face to block her tears from anypony seeing. The Applejack that stood by Rarity also did the same thing, she knew why it was hard to let go, even for herself, not being able to go back to their own world.
"A-am... sorry..." Applejack cried. "Am so sorry... a-ah didn't mean it..." Sunset went over to her. Sunset placed a hoof on Applejack. Applejack shook like she was frightened of anyone near her, when she felt Sunset's hoof on her.
"I'm sorry too Applejack... we all lost something... I'm sorry..." Sunset said sincerely. Applejack hugged Sunset. She held onto her tightly, and Sunset let Applejack's pain sink into her as well. "I didn't mean to hurt you or anybody... anypony..." Sunset assured, as she held onto Twilight's Element.
"How?!" Chrysalis questioned herself. "These ponies, sicken me!" The girls gathered together, Rarity and Applejack laid the other Rarity by Princess Twilight, who was still silently laying on the ground.
"We're all here for each other." Rarity said. "Remember?" Sunset looked up at Rarity.
"Yeah... I do..." Sunset replied. Sunset smiled.
"What now?" Princess Twilight said, as she got up. "I'm sorry... I couldn't be there..."
"Twilight..." Rainbow Dash said. "You did everything you possibly could..." Rainbow Dash went over to see her.
"The fact that you have found a way to come back home, without the mirror, was amazing Twilight!" Pinkie Pie enlightened.
"I agree with Rainbow Dash, Pinkie, and Rarity." Fluttershy added.
"But... at what cost..." Princess Twilight commented. "There's no home without everyone..."
"We're here for you Twi." Sunset said.
"We all are." Applejack said, as she was cooling off from being upset. She went over to join Rainbow Dash with Princess Twilight.
"I... I'm glad... I'm at least, not alone..." Princess Twilight said. As she cried and held onto Rainbow Dash and Applejack by her side. "Thank you... everyone... and everypony..."
"Well, I'm leaving!" Chrysalis said, feeling bored of everypony being all apologetic and lovey-dovey.
"Where do you think you're going?!" Rainbow Dash yelled.
"Away!" Chrysalis responded, as she spread her wings out, and flew off. As she was in the air, something struck her down, causing her to crash back down onto the ground. She was knocked unconscious. The girls were frightened and came together.
"Sunset?!" A voice came from the distance. Sunset looked out toward the empty valleys, and the dirt and ash slowly drifted back to the ground. All around them, the girls looked and saw the sun at its peak, and the green pastures and trees were visible out further in the horizon. The girls smiled. "Sunset?!" The voice continued. Sunset walked out of the group.
"Sunset, Princess Twilight, everypony!" Rarity said. "Look!" Rarity pointed with her hoof outward. Sunset, Princess Twilight, and the others looked toward the direction Rarity pointed to. They saw Twilight, she was walking along with everypony that lived in Ponyville. Princess Twilight was so enlightened she teared up. Twilight ran up to Sunset and the others. Twilight hugged both Princess Twilight and Sunset. Sunset gave back Twilight's Element. Twilight smiled.
Applejack ran up to a mare, who had a yellow coat, red mane and red tail with a cutesy pink bow.
"Apple Bloom!" Applejack cried.
"Big sis!" Apple Bloom yelled. They both hugged, Applejack cried along with Apple Bloom. "Ah missed ya big sis!"
"Ah missed ya more!" Applejack responded. While Applejack was holding onto Apple Bloom with love and care, a stallion with a red coat with an orange mane and tail came up with one of the eldest mares in Ponyville. She has a lime green coat and a long faded white and silver mane and tail tied up in a bun, holding onto a cane for support. "Big Mac! Granny Smith!"
"Well, in all my years of living in Ponyville, this has to be one of most devestatin' disasters I've lived through..." Granny Smith said.
"Eeyup!" Big Mac commented.
"Rarity!" A young mare with curly white and light purple mane and tail with a white coat said.
"Oh, Sweetie Belle!" Rarity said, as she gave her a hug. "You're okay!"
"Of course I am!" Sweetie Belle added.
Rarity awakened to see too many ponies surrounding her, causing her to squeal. Applejack was there with her to see her awake.
"Applejack!" Rarity yelled. "The bomb! It's coming!" Rarity held onto Applejack, freaking out with her coat covered in dirt and her hair messy.
"Rarity, calm down." Applejack assured. "We're all safe now!" Afterward, Rarity hugged Applejack, Applejack blushed and did the same.
The mare with an orange coat and purple mane and tail walked over to Rainbow Dash. Although, she stopped once she saw two Rainbow Dashes standing by each other.
"Who is who?" The young mare said.
"Right here, Scootaloo!" Rainbow Dash said.
"Scootaloo?!" Rainbow Dash asked.
"How are there two Rainbow Dashes?!" Scootaloo asked.
"Well... it's kind of a long story...!" Rainbow Dash replied.
"Cool!" Scootaloo said. "Now I have two big sisters!" They both looked at each other, and smiled.
"Hey everypony!" The Pinkie Pies said. "Guess who's got another twin sister!" The crowd went wild over the fact that Pinkie Pie could have possibly gone through the mirror pool again to clone herself another Pinkie Pie. But, they cheered nonetheless.
Fluttershy saw Angel with a few other little critters running towards the Fluttershys. Fluttershy thought of how cute they all were, and the other Fluttershy agreed, and she shared them with her.
Everypony gathered around the Rainbooms and the Elements of Harmony. They all focused on the two Twilights that stood before them all. Twilight came up to both Sunset and Princess Twilight, she hugged them and went over towards the others.
"Twilight?" Sunset asked. "How? I thought everyone was..."
"Gone?" Twilight interrupted. "Well, before you came here, I helped a few ponies to Zecora in the Everfree forest to provide them shelter. She asked me to bring as many I could to her. I went everywhere in Ponyville and gathered them altogether using my new teleportation technique. It was a little difficult to get the others to trust me and help them after all the damage I did, but Scootaloo helped the others to see that I was here to help guide them to safety after previously saving her from a falling building. Afterward, Spike went to Princess Celestia to notify her of everything..."
"And so she did." Princess Celestia interrupted, she came in from a large chariot of white and silver with a couple of pegasi carrying it. She walked onto the ground, and saw that there was much damage done to the central area of Ponyville. Twilight gulped. She was surely afraid of what would come. Spike walked out with the other Spike, as they both came to Twilight.
"Princess Celestia!" Sunset and Princess Twilight said simultaneously. They both kneeled in her presence. All of the ponies surrounding the area did the same.
Twilight stepped forth to Princess Celestia. She kneeled in front of her. Princess Celestia stood proudly. Princess Twilight and Sunset feared Twilight. The other girls and both Spikes gathered where Sunset and Princess Twilight were.
"Princess Celestia..." Twilight said cautiously. "I-I'm sorry for running away... causing so much... chaos in Ponyville." Princess Celestia was listening in. Twilight was scared to be in her presence. "I-I'm sorry for lying to you... and everypony else." Twilight continued, she said it all, before she lost herself in tears. "I'm sorry for trespassing into your world without permission! I'm sorry for trapping Princess Twilight into another world! It is all my fault... I'm so sorry..." Princess Celestia came to her. Twilight flinched and backed up away from her. Twilight had tears running down her face.
"Twilight, from the other world. You have caused such destruction in our world, and for that, you will be punished for it." Princess Celestia requested. "However, for your bravery and selflessness to save and gather all my ponies to safety..." She assured, and slowly came up to Twilight to meet her in her eyes. "I forgive you..."
"Thank you, your highness... but I wasn't the only one..." Twilight said humbly, and she walked on over to Zecora hidden in the crowd. "Zecora helped as well!"
"It is true, it was the right thing to do!" Zecora said as she bowed her head. "We both did what we could to help everypony, making sure we got them to safety!"
"I did help in making sure that blast couldn't have reached any further than the center of Ponyville." Princess Celestia admitted. "There's many places still standing. The Castle of Friendship is one of them. So, the mirror will be fixed, but in the meantime, I will have you, Twilight, under community service as punishment, help in rebuilding the partial of Ponyville that was destroyed."
"Your highness..." Sunset asked, as she walked up to Twilight, Zecora, and Princess Celestia. "Could we be there to help Twilight?"
"Of course!" Princess Celestia responded. "Just let this be a lesson for her. To be honest, and to be careful when entering into our world."
The girls came together, and they rejoiced.
"My little ponies!" Princess Celestia said. "Let us all give thanks to our heroes of Equestria. And the newest members of the Elements of Harmony!" Everyone clopped and cheered. "We will rebuild Ponyville, as they've shown us that together we can accomplish much greater!"
There were some places that still stood, as to anywhere nearby Ponyville, such as the Everfree Forest, Sweet Apple Acres, and a few miles before entering towards the Castle of Friendship, they remained in decent condition.
With the last couple of days, the girls helped all the ponies in Ponyville rebuild the towns' cottages, and shops back to how it was. Replanting a lot of vineyards, grass, and trees. Fluttershys helped the animals build new burrows, nests, and houses, in which they also rebuilt the animal shelters. The girl's got to know each other, and grew to like each other a lot while they were working on construction. They also gave Twilight plenty of time to learn a few tips and tricks for her research, which helped her reconstruct a few shops much quicker.
Within the last day, the mirror was fully repaired and was working as it should. Ponyville was still working in some places, but Twilight had done enough to make the place feel like home again. The girls gathered and asked them to visit again. All but Sunset and Twilight were left, saying their goodbyes to them. The others left Princess Twilight to Sunset and Twilight.
"Twilight?" Sunset asked Princess Twilight.
"Yeah?" Princess Twilight responded.
"As much as I would like to stay. I'm afraid my place is there. We all need each other, but I need them... more..." Sunset replied.
"I understand." Princess Twilight said, as she smiled. "With everything going on, I will have to let you know when the portal will be open, but I should be able to reply in the book like always!"
"Great!" Sunset said. "So, I guess this is goodbye?"
"No, for now, we will visit again soon!" Princess Twilight assured.
"Alright!" Sunset said, as she walked through the mirror. Twilight went over to Princess Twilight.
"I'm sorry for being a bad sister." Twilight said.
"It's okay, I forgive you!" Princess Twilight said. "We are like family. We mess up, cause each other trouble, but in the end, we are here for each other, no matter what!"
"Thank you!" Twilight said. "I guess we'll see you some other time." Twilight said, as she was about to head out.
"Hey, before you go, I want to tell you something!" Princess Twilight asked Twilight. Twilight stopped to listen and went back to Princess Twilight. "Well first maybe, don't do any experiments without letting them know..."
"Yeah, no kidding!" Twilight said, as they both chuckled.
"Secondly... You are a leader, that means you're responsible for the whole team." Princess Twilight added. "But, promise me, you'll take care of them. Especially Sunset. I know you may feel that I'm more special because I'm a princess with numerous gifts, or even because Sunset and I talk a lot to each other, but I don't want you to think that. We may be similar in many ways, but we are different. I don't want you to feel jealous or hateful towards me. I want you to be better than me! Please, will you promise me that you will take care of Sunset and the others? For me?"
"I... I will!" Twilight replied.
"Thank you!" Princess Twilight said. "I know you could be a great leader!" Twilight walked out, and looked back toward Princess Twilight, watching her fade away by diving deeper into the portal.
Twilight arrived at the mirror and stallion statue, in front of Canterlot High, and went back to her bipedal form. She saw the others struggled to get on their feet. All, but Sunset managed to make the first step. Twilight giggled as she saw Applejack holding onto Rarity, as she tried to get up on her high heels.
"Rarity, just take them off!" Applejack said.
"I'm not getting my perfect feet dirty!" Rarity replied. Rainbow Dash was laughing and was able to walk again. She ran across the lot to regain her control and ability. Fluttershy brought Spike with her, as he was mad at being a dog again.
"Spike?" Twilight said, as she got up from the ground. Spike ran up to her, and she hugged him. He was no longer afraid of her. He licked her, and Twilight smiled to have her companion back.
"So, what did Princess Twilight have to say?" Sunset asked.
"Oh, just to be safe!" Twilight said.
"Okay." Sunset said. Twilight got up and everyone met up with her. Twilight was sad, as she held onto Spike.
"I'm sorry everypony..." Twilight shook her head and chuckled. "Everybody! Sorry!"
"It's fine!" Applejack commented. "At least everypony in there is safe and okay!"
"Yeah..." Twilight said. "What about you... I'm sure you're all mad at me for being secretive and conniving?"
"Yeah?" Rainbow Dash said. "What was all that stuff in the living room? By the way, it's a mess!"
"Oh that's alright. But, I've been stupid. I was so worried about passing the test and was curious about everything, that I... awakened something inside me. I regret ever hurting you all." Twilight continued. "I'm sorry!"
"It's all right Twi." Sunset said. "We all make mistakes, but we got through it together, like you said! I should have listened and waited, but I was too eager and afraid that I let it all go!"
"Same!" Rarity said. "We're all sorry we didn't see if anyone had any problems to work out!"
"Yeah..." They all agreed.
"Thank you, so much everyone!" Twilight said. "I guess we should have checked in with everyone, instead of separating again?"
"Agreed!" The girls said. They heard a phone go off. Applejack felt her pocket vibrate.
"Oh shoot!" Applejack yelled.
"Language darling!" Rarity said. "Seriously, have I taught you nothing!"
"No, it's Granny Smith! She left me 50 messages!" Applejack yelled. "Ah better go! Does anyone else need a ride?"
"I'm good! I better stretch my legs out! And run back home!" Rainbow Dash said.
"I do!" Rarity said.
"I'll be with Rainbow Dash!" Fluttershy said.
"Aww man!" Rainbow Dash said, as they both headed out on the sidewalk. "Oh well, I guess I could walk with you!" Fluttershy looked at her with puppy dog eyes and nodded.
"Sunset? Twilight?" Applejack asked.
"No, we're good!" Sunset said after confirming with Twilight.
"Alrighty then, see ya later!" Applejack said, as she headed for her truck, Rarity got in with her and drove off. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy waved and walked on the sidewalk to their house. Leaving Sunset and Twilight with Spike alone.
C'mon...
Sunset was by the mirror, she placed her hand on it, and felt the mirror cold and solid, as her hand was placed flat on the surface. Twilight looked back, and placed Spike on the ground. Twilight walked over to her.
"Hey..." Twilight said, as she placed her hand on Sunset's shoulder.
"Hey." Sunset replied. They both smiled at each other. "I guess, we both have something to hide..."
"What do you mean?" Twilight asked.
"I did like her, but I guess it would be hard, being in two different worlds." Sunset said.
"I suppose so..." Twilight said.
The sun was behind the mirror, it was evening time and the clouds had continually drifted, and the sun was peeking through an opening, shining brightly at the ground.
"Sunset..." Twilight said.
"Yeah?" Sunset said. Twilight hesitated to say anything. She gripped her hands tightly, and gritted her teeth. Looking down at the cemented ground, seeing the sun's light growing closer.
"It's getting late, huh?" Twilight said.
"Oh, it is." Sunset said. "Want to walk back home together?"
"S-sure..." Twilight said. They both walked side by side, and saw their shadows getting even flatter, reaching near the school yard, with the sun at their side. Spike followed. "Thank you..."
"What for?" Sunset asked.
"For... always being there..." Twilight said, as she blushed.
"Of course!" Sunset said, as she smiled. They both arrived at their crossroads, with Sunset heading off towards the town, and Twilight heading to her place near Crystal Prep. They both hugged and waved back at each other, as they walked on their own paths to their homes.
Twilight opened her door, Spike ran inside and was happy to be home. Twilight walked in to see her living room, messy with all her papers laying around and her closet opened. Twilight closed her door and closet, and headed for the kitchen. Twilight got Spike some food ready, she sighed, getting back into her old life again. But, she smiled, as she saw Spike eating and feeling happy having his Twilight back with him. Twilight smiled.
"One day Spike..." Twilight said. "One day..."
Meanwhile, in Ponyville…
There was a celebration going on in Ponyville. The place was lit, and fireworks were going off, the ponies danced in celebration of New Ponyville. They had an endless assortment of cakes, drinks, and party favors. In the center were both Pinkie Pie's singing "The Real Pink Pony" while the crowd got wild and hopped around to the beat! By the end of it:
"Thought you forgot me?!" Pinkie yelled to the crowd, and to the reader. "I'm Pinkie, everypony and everyBODY loves me!" The crowd cheered and went on with the party.
Roll Credits
The ending song of Curiosity.
"Sunset to Sunrise"
Performed by: Sunset Shimmer
[Verse 1]:
As the sun passes by, and the skies will burn away.
As the moon glistens by, with stars of the milky way.
Time is endless, and yet, ages through another day.
I couldn't find a better time to tell you, what I want to say.
[Pre-Chorus]:
Even as the sun sets, and all fall down to sleep.
Another journey awaits now, and it begins with you and me.
Walking through the endless earth, to find the sunrise again.
We'll see the sunrise again.
[Chorus x2]:
If you want in?
Come walk with me.
We'll find it.
Let us be free.
[Verse 2]:
As the moon enlightens the night, and the stars cover the sky.
As the sun peaks with the light, and the darkness fades by.
Time is endless, and yet, years continue to fly.
I couldn't find another time to tell you, what I want to try.
[Verse 3]:
As the sun passes by, and the skies will burn away.
As the moon glistens by, with stars of the milky way.
From sunset, to sunrise. We'll see the sunrise again.
(Chorus)
The End...