//------------------------------//
// Epilogue 
// Story: Misfits 
// by MattTOB 
//------------------------------//

"...and they asked you to not to give them the credit?" Celestia finishes recapping what Luna has just finished telling them.

Celestia, Luna, The Elements, Cadance, Shining Armor, Spike, and Thorax are currently in Celestia's drawing room. The Elements (sans Twilight) are keeping an eye on Thorax while Luna recaps what happened over the last day.

"That is correct," Luna states simply, waiting for their reactions.

Shining is the first to speak up. "I'm sorry, but this isn't funny anymore; you can drop the act."

"I assure you, Shining Armor, that this is no joke."

Princess Cadance frowns. "Pardon my bluntness, but what the hay, Aunt Luna! Siding with a changeling, and rescuing another?!"

Luna eyes the two. "Did I not explain it thoroughly enough? Icarus and Thorax are good changelings."

"How are we expected to believe that?!" Shining blurts out, anger filling his voice. "We just got attacked by them; we were lucky to have survived!"

Cadance added, "I'm likely going to have nightmares about this for years to come! And yet, you sit here, expecting us to just accept that those two changelings are good??"

"What's so unbelievable about it?"

Cadance and Shining Armor gasp, turning towards Spike. "Spike! Do you even realize what you're saying?" Shining accuses.

"Surely they've hurt you, too!" Cadance asks.

He shrugs. "They did, but I still believe Luna."

The couple blinks. "Why?"

"Because that's not how the world works."

Before the two can speak up again, Celestia holds up a hoof to stop them. "Please explain your reasoning, Spike."

He thinks for a moment. "Well... I'm a dragon, right?" Everyone nods. "And we can all agree that there are not-so-good dragons out there, right?" Everyone shudders at the thought, then nods. "Then does that make me bad?"

Shining Armor blinks. "Of course not, Spike, but that's—"

"What about Nightmare Moon?" Twilight interrupts, cathing on to Spike's point. "Luna did some pretty bad things as Nightmare Moon, and she's a pony, so does that make all ponies evil?"

Shining Armor and Cadance exchange glances. They both have a point.

"So, shouldn't the same apply with changelings?" Spike concludes, gesturing to Thorax (who awkwardly waves at the attention).

The bride and groom try to come up with an argument, but after a moment of drawing blanks, they sink down in their seats. "...y-yes, it should," Shining Armor admits.

"Sorry, guys," Cadance apologizes. "With how large the invasion was, and how eager they looked to attack, I guess we just assumed..."

"You are forgiven," Luna held up a hoof. "We've been through a lot — all of us. But you shouldn't let your negative experiences shroud your mind in blind hatred."

"We'll try, but I think it's just too recent; every time I look at him...." Cadance glances at Thorax, the sight causing her to shiver.

The changeling lowers his head at this.

That's when Spike chimes in again: "I'll be friends with him."

Almost everypony else, including Thorax himself, is surprised at this. Spike holds out a claw and says, "I'm Spike, and it's nice to meet you, Thorax."

Thorax blinks, staring at the appendage unknowingly. Spike tilts his head towards the outstretched limb, inviting Thorax to take it. With some hesitation, the changeling does so. "I-it's nice to meet you too, Spike."

Spike then glances at Shining and Cadance. "C'mon, let's get out of here; I'm sure these guys have important things to be discussing, like rescheduling the wedding."

With that, Spike begins leading Thorax out of the room, asking questions to try and get to know him.

As he passes Twilight, she whispers, "I'm proud of you, Spike." He smiles in response, before they disappear through the door.

Pinkie quickly bounces after them, exclaiming, "I wanna be his friend, too!"

Rarity glances around, before following as well. "The poor fellow seemed so miserable just sitting there; maybe I can help cheer him up, too."

AJ soon joins them, saying, "Ah don't even understand why we were guarding him in the first place."

Fluttershy looks indecisive about it, before making up her mind. "I'll go, too; the more friends, the merrier."

Finally, only Rainbow Dash is left. Luna raises an eyebrow, "Aren't you going to join them, too?"

No response. Luna taps the pegasus's shoulder.

To everypony's surprise, Rainbow starts snoring. She's sleeping with her eyes open!

"Rainbow!" Twilight shouts, startling Rainbow awake.

"Huh? What'd I miss?" She looks around. "Where's everypony?"

"They all just left with Thorax," Twilight says.

"Ugh, finally!" Rainbow exclaims. "It was boring, standing there and treating him like a criminal. Wait up, guys!" With that, she zooms off after them.

Celestia chuckles. "Your friends are quite something..."

Twilight huffs, a little irritated. "I wouldn't trade them for the world, but that doesn't mean they aren't... a bit much at times, y'know?"

Luna nods. "Will you be joining them too, Twilight?"

Twilight answers, "After one last question. If they didn't want you to give them the credit for the victory, then why're you telling us about them?"

Luna smirks, "It was part of an agreement we reached. I'm allowed to tell you, but to the public, they'll still be uncredited. In exchange, they agreed to aide again should the need arise."

Celestia smiles at her sister. "Resourceful thinking, Luna. It's certainly better to be safe than sorry."

She nods. "It may not be soon, but I know I shall see them again."

She then remembers something. "Oh, and by the way," she addresses Cadance and Shining Armor, "I got you two something."

The two are surprised when she pulls out a wrapped gift box and gives it to them. When they open it, Shining Armor is confused at the sight the creature inside.

Cadance, however, gushes over it. "Aww, it's so cute!"

Luna smiles simply. "His name is Maxie. I heard about how much you've wanted a pet since you were little, and I thought I'd get you one."

"I love it!" Cadance almost squeals. "Thank you, Auntie!"

"Isn't that...?" Twilight begins to ask, but she catches Luna shaking her head subtly. "Nevermind."

Cadance stands up, the cute little creature perched atop her head. "I've gotta show Blueblood!" With that, she rushes out of the room, Shining Armor not far behind.

Now that the two are gone, Twilight turns to Luna. "Why'd you give her a Winter-chilla?"

Luna smirks, "She stole from the Royal Cookie Jar last month; I am simply 'paying her back', as it were." Catching her sister's concerned glare, she adds, "Oh, relax, sister; Maxie won't hurt them."

Celestia sighs. "Sometimes, I think you're a bit too mischievous..."

"I learned from the best, Tia."





"Have a nice day!" Morning Dream smiles as her last customer for the day walks away, a bouquet of pansies in her mouth's grip.

The afternoon had gone by without much fuss, aside from a few ponies that were curious about what happened; after all, the sun had mysteriously set for a minute while they were off with Luna. Morning Dawn told anypony that asked that Luna simply needed a little help with aiding ponies, and that she set the sun to tell everypony that they were still okay, and that satisfied most ponies.

But as the mare begins to close up shop, her attention is drawn by the tapping of a hoof on her stand. She turns, and smiles when she sees that it's Ollie. "You almost ready for the party?" he asks her.

She nods, "I just need to finish closing up."

"Anything I can help you with?" Ollie offers.

She looks back towards the boxes of flowers. "I could use some help reloading the wagon."

He nods, then moves behind the booth to help with the boxes.

After a few minutes, the wagon is loaded, and they're both on their way.

"So, what's this party about?" Morning Dream asks.

Ollie explains, "We're going to be leaving tomorrow morning, so we wanted to say goodbye."

She smiles, "That's so nice of you. And I'm sure Lavvy will have fun too."

"She's actually already there; I was just sent to get you."

"Well then," Morning corrects herself, "I'm sure she's currently having fun there."





When the two of them arrive at the hotel, the party is in full swing. The only attendees may be the six of them, but they're still having fun thanks to the wonders of alcohol.

"Watch in awe," declares a disguised Icarus, "as the Grrreat and Powerful Trrrixie makes this hors d'oeuvre disappear!" In an instant, Icarus stuffs the food into his mouth, making it 'disappear' from sight — truly the pinnacle of comedy.

Regardless of the quality of the joke, everypony else laughs. "Oh, oh! Do Cheese Sandwich!" Lavender requests.

Icarus nods, then transforms into the wandering stallion. "Oh, you want the wackiest party planner in Equestria, huh? Okay, but I might just have to sing a silly song parody or two while I'm here!"

The group is now in a fit of laughter, while Ollie and Morning Dream, not being as inebriated as the others, merely chuckle.

It is then that Cupcake notices them in the doorway. "Hey," they say, "glad you could make it! C'mon in, take a seat, and grab a beer!"

Both of them shake their heads. "I'll have to decline," Morning Dream says. "I much prefer my tea."

Ollie adds, "I get really irritable when I'm drunk."

Cupcake shrugs, "More for us, then." They then proceed to grab a bottle and try to drink, but they're so drunk that they end up missing and pouring it all over their cheek.

That gets a few laughs from the sober ponies.





So the two join in on the party, and despite not drinking, they also have a good time.

Eventually, the fun settles down, and the group gets to talking.

"So, what do you plan on doing after you leave?" Lavender asks.

Tepid Waters thinks for a moment. "Well, I'm gonna be headed back to Fillydelphia to train. There's going to be a swim tournament next month, and I don't wanna be rusty."

"My family's been wanting me to visit for a while," Ollie admits, "and I thought I'd introduce them to Icarus at the same time."

"Ollie says his dad's got blasting powder from the 9th century, leftover from his grandpa's days as a miner!" Icarus eagerly exclaims, Lite resting on his head. "I wonder if it still works after over 100 years!"

Cupcake shrugs, "I'm just gonna wander for a bit, maybe visit Ponyville again. I'm kinda curious how my cousin's doing."

"What about you, Lavender?" Tepid asks.

She sighs. "I guess I'm just gonna keep traveling in the wagon, selling flowers with Mom, and—"

To her surprise, Morning Dream shakes her head. "Actually, I got you a little something." She pulls out a piece of paper, which Lavender takes in her magic.

The unicorn's eyes widen as she reads it. "A trivia contest in Ponyville?"

"I thought, after all the hard work you've been doing, you should go and do something you enjoy."

She stammers. "B-but the wagon!"

"I can run the stand by myself for a little; I did just fine before you were born, you know." Morning smirks.

Lavender blanks for a second, before getting up and hugging her mother. "Thank you, Mom!"

"Anytime, dear."

Cupcake pipes up: "Hey, since you're headed to Ponyville, could I join you?"

The unicorn's face lights up. "Hey yeah, I'd love that!" They bump hooves as a seal to their agreement.

Ollie then stands up. "Well, this has been fun, but we should really get some shut-eye."

"The party can't end yet!" Icarus worries. "Who knows how long it'll be until we all meet up again?"

Everyone looks at him funnily. "We could always just plan another get together..."

He blushes. "Right.... The 17th of next month sound good?"

The others agree, and they all begin to clean up.





Somewhere in the Badlands...

The dark, dank interior of the Badlands Hive is rather silent. Ever since the invasion, the feeling of failure has permeated the air.

But it wasn't a total loss; the amount of love they'd managed to collect would be enough to feed the hive for about a year. And aside from that, every changeling that was blasted from Canterlot can feel a lingering sense of satiation inside them. It's almost as if the Elements' Magic is trying to leave them no reason to reattempt their invasion, but nobody knows for sure.

Queen Chrysalis, however, has no time to dwell on any of this; she's more upset about something else.

A changeling — one of her own children — helped to defeat her.

And that makes her furious.

"I will have my revenge," she mutters to herself. "Just you wait."