//------------------------------// // Epilogue: All's Well That Ends Well // Story: Chasing Rainbows // by Gallifrey //------------------------------// Chasing Rainbows by Gallifrey Epilogue All's Well That Ends Well My faithful student, It has been a few months since we last corresponded, how fairs your delightful relationship with your pegasus friend, Rainbow Blitz? Still going strong I hope? If you need any advice, you know I'm always here, I perhaps know you better than anypony in the kingdom after all and have had past experience in these matters. Your mentor and friend, Solaris Dusk read the letter slowly and drearily. It was early in the morning and had been rudely awoken by Spines poking him in the rump. After several false starts, Dusk eventually sat up and accepted the royal letter that was being presented to him. After reading the words, he gave his sleep addled brain a minute to digest the information. "Experience in these matters? But that makes him sound like he's..." His mouth formed a perfect O as realisation dawned upon him. "Well, that's... to be expected really, thinking about it. I'll write back later." He fell out of bed and stretched his limbs, his bones cracked and he hummed in satisfaction. Along with falling out of bed he veritably fell down the stairs. His eyes glanced to his front door and he deviated from his date with destiny that was the fridge, to retrieve that day's copy of Equestria Daily. Upon picking it up, he saw there was another piece of mail awaiting his attention. "But I never get other mail through that door," he said curiously, picking up the letter and trotting to his kitchen. He took a few apples and some lettuce out of his fridge and sat himself in his living room, opening the letter as he munched on his breakfast. He unfurled it, flattening it out against his legs, it was written in a rather untidy scrawl, and at times was difficult for Dusk to read. Dusk This letter shouldn't ever have had to be written, but I ask of you to meet with me outside the town hall at midday today. I will explain everything when I see you. Dusk turned the paper over, looking for any more information but that was all there was to it. Eyes furrowed, he chomped on his apple. "Spines!" he called. "We're gonna have to do some serious rescheduling today!" ---------- After miraculously managing to squeeze in most of his day's activities into five hours, he left his house, on his way to the town hall to meet with his mystery letter sender. He meandered his way through the bustling streets of Ponyville and arrived at the town hall with five minutes to spare. As he drew closer he saw a very familiar somepony. "Blitz!" he cried happily, running up to him "it was you?" He suddenly felt fearful, the letter didn't have very promising tones if it were Blitz who had wrote it. "Hey Dusky!" he said, nuzzling his coltfriend affectionately. "What are you talking about? Did you get one too? I thought you got drunk last night or something and wrote it to me. I was a little worried." "Nope, wasn't me." "Then who?" "I think that might be our answer," said the unicorn, looking over the unicorn's shoulder. Blitz turned, and his eyes fell upon the last pony he expected to see. Applejack. Ever since Dusk and Blitz got together and the conflict with Applejack just over five months previous, neither party had seen eye to eye with each other. Dusk was civil with the farm pony but rarely spoke to him anymore, whereas Blitz refused to speak to him at all. But now that all seemed about to change. "Afternoon, Dusk- Blitz," he said, nodding curtly to each of them. "What do you want?" Blitz growled. Applejack paused, considering his words carefully. "There's something ah want to talk about with y'all, if that's okay?" Dusk nodded but Blitz was too busy glaring to answer. The unicorn nudged him lightly and Blitz turned his head, getting a blast of Dusk's best 'please?' eyes. "Okay," he sighed. "'Kay, Dusk, would it be alright for ya to teleport us to mah house? Ah don't wanna talk about this walkin' and I'm sure y'all don't wanna have an awkward walk back." He looked sheepish. Dusk nodded again and his horn blazed; the next moment, they were outside the farmhouse of Sweet Apple Acres. "What do you think this is about?" whispered Blitz as Applejack lead the way into the house. "I'm not sure but a certain thought springs to mind..." "Is there anything ah can get you?" he asked politely, opening a kitchen cupboard. "Please stop this," said Blitz abruptly, "it's freakin' me out." "What is?" asked a confused earth pony. "This being nice business, it's weird." "I'm not a bad pony, Blitz," he said, not quite meeting Blitz's eye and shutting the cupboard. "Yeah, tell that to the scar I have on the back of my head, or even better, the scars inside," he snarled, unconsciously rubbing the back of his head where it had struck the floor when he was being beaten up. Applejack closed his eyes slowly and sighed wearily. "Ah got ya some biscuits, ah know you like biscuits, the both o' yers, please, take a seat, and ah'll explain." He motioned to his living room, and they sat down in the squashy chairs it provided. There was a moment of silence and Applejack took a deep breath. "I'm sorry," he mumbled, looking at the floor. "What?" asked Blitz, not hearing him. "Ah'm sorry," he said a little louder, looking him in the eye. "What?" asked Blitz, now in disbelief. "Ah'm sorry for what ah did to you, to both of yers. I-I've been a terrible friend, no, just a terrible pony, and I really regret everything I said and did to you both." "Woah woah, what's brought this about?" asked Dusk, speaking directly to Applejack for the first time. "Mah sister," said the cowpony evasively. "What did she do, beat some sense into you?" said Blitz shortly. "No, more of a uh, coming out..." "What," both the unicorn and the pegasus deadpanned at the same time, meeting each others eyes and both blushing. "But she-" began Dusk. "Is so hot," concluded Blitz bluntly, vocalising what Dusk was thinking. Dusk and Blitz we both well aware that they both thought Applejack's sister was very attractive. "But does being a lesbian make her more hot or not?" questioned Blitz. "Hmmm, lemme factor in the variables-" "Do you quite mind?" asked Applejack, nose wrinkled. "Ahem, sorry AJ," said Dusk, looking down. "Thank you. As I was meaning to say, yes, she has come out as a lesbian, and that put the whole family on its head to tell the truth, grandpa nearly had a heart attack, and I didn't believe it mahself, it's been hard, but we have adjusted to it." "What are you talking about? You were beyond reason when we tried to explain it to you," said Blitz. "You also had no issue with lesbians." "Yeah, well, it's different when it's family ain't it? I finally decided to take a leaf out of Dusk's book, quite literally in fact; I started reading some books on the subject, add that with livin' with one, and well, you started to make sense. I was particularly shocked when she told me she'd been hiding this away for years an' years, living in fear with what ah and my grandpa would think of it. That cut me deep, that's when ah finally realised what ah had been doing, not just to her, but to you too. Ah may be straight, but ah think I understand y'all a lot better now." "So you understand it's not a choice now?" Applejack nodded. "And that we don't deserve to be victimised?" Nod. "And that we are not hurting anyone with this lifestyle?" "Aye. I still find the thought of two stallions a lil' weird, but I don't hate you no more, you're right, s'none o' my business." "So," said Dusk, "how long have has it been since this rather spectacular u-turn?" "'S'been a few weeks now, but it's taken me this long ter pony up and apologise to be honest. Ah really am sorry guys, I don't expect ya to forgive me, but at least you know ah'm sorry. I made a grave mistake, and feared I'd lost two good friends because of it." Applejack looked up and met Dusk's gaze. The unicorn searched the bright green eyes and saw nothing but sincerity and regret. Dusk didn't say anything, he merely stood up and reared onto his hind legs, opening his hooves as an invitation to hug. The earth pony reciprocated, and they embraced each other. "I'm sorry," the earth pony whispered, a single tear falling down his face, "I'm so sorry." Dusk responded by hugging tighter. Blitz looked on, still maintaining a faint air of skepticism. "Come on Blitz," coaxed Dusk. "I've suffered so much at his hooves" the pegasus said bluntly. "But he's sorry." "Yeah, I know, but... oh c'mere you idiot," he folded, all but jumping on Applejack. The trio fell to the floor, laughing. Applejack's sister walked into the room after hearing the commotion. "You too now, AJ?" she teased in her southern drawl. "No way, no how! But ah do have two of mah good friends back again, so call me gay if you wanna, j-jus' not in that way." Blitz and Dusk fell about laughing, and the earth pony joined them heartily. ------------- Dusk and Blitz were relaxing together in the late summer evening's warmth. Dusk's balcony faced westwards, which made it perfect for basking in the setting Sun's gentle rays. Blitz spread one of his wings over Dusk's back and nuzzled him affectionately. "You better write that letter," Blitz said, "the Sun's setting, you don't wanna be tardy now do you?" he teased. "You're right, and shut up," he said, playfully batting him on the snout. He levitated a scroll, quill and ink over. Dear Prince Solaris, Our relationship is as wonderful as it's ever been. Blitz is planning to sell his house so he can live with me! It's so exciting. Anyway, today, we all learnt an important lesson in friendship, Applejack especially. Today we learnt that if you take a little time to understand and learn about another pony's differences, you might surprise yourself in what you discover, and understanding is the first step towards enlightenment and acceptance. If we all took a little time to see the world from another's opinion and put ourselves in their hooves, the world would undoubtedly be a better place for everyone. I hope you are well. Your faithful student, Dusk Shine "Add me too! Tell the Prince I said hi." P.S Rainbow Blitz says hello. "Thanks, you gonna send it now?" Dusk looked up at his coltfriend. He looked simply gorgeous in the ruddy light of the setting Sun. The unicorn looked into his caring magenta eyes that were shot through with gold. "I... I think it can wait," said Dusk huskily, his eyes half lidded. Blitz felt his heart beat step up a gear as the unicorn leaned towards him. Both stallions hummed as they pressed their lips together, and they sank into a deep and loving kiss under the dying light of the Sun, by the time they broke apart, the pale summer stars were starting to peak out from the abyss. "I love you," murmured Blitz, stroking Dusk's purple bangs out of his eyes. "I love you too," Dusk whispered. "With all my heart." The End