Chapter 12: Last Day in Equestria... Possibly
Morning arose over Ponyville. At the School of Friendship, Aaron was heading towards the table where the Young 6 sat. But Smolder wasn't there. He then went over to the table and sat.
"Where's Smolder?" Aaron asked.
"We don't know," Ocellus said. "We haven't seen her all day."
"I saw her this morning, but she didn't seem all that interested with the day for us," Silverstream said.
Sandbar then looked towards Aaron and said, "I think I know where to find her." Aaron then got up and the others followed. But they left their food on the table, so they went back and got their trays and headed back on out.
They went outside of the school to see Smolder, sitting in front of the pond in the same spot where Spike told her about Sludge's teaching of all things dragon that wasn't true at all. Smolder had some tears coming from the corners of her eyes, hoping for the next day wouldn't be the last time she saw Aaron. Aaron and the rest of Smolder's friends walked up to her.
"Smolder?" Aaron asked, getting Smolder's attention. She then noticed the others with Aaron.
"Oh... hey guys," Smolder said, sadly.
"Is Smolder okay?" Yona asked. "Smolder seem sad."
"I'll be fine..." Smolder said. "It's just... gonna be a lot different without Aaron once he leaves here."
"It might not have to be," Sandbar said. "Besides, Aaron might be leaving, but it doesn't mean we can't visit him."
"I wish I could take you guys with me, but you all belong here in this world," Aaron said. "Besides, how would I explain it to everyone why six cartoon characters from a TV show in my world?"
"That... would be a tough thing to explain," Gallus said. "After all, most of us aren't really real creatures back in your world. Although, your world is probably full of things we have yet to see."
"Well, we should at least prepare for tomorrow," Sandbar said. "It's gonna be a long day, today."
"Yona wishes Aaron good luck when going home," Yona said.
"Yeah," Aaron said. "Thanks Yona." He then looked towards Smolder. "I guess you and I should... you know."
"Yeah," Smolder said, getting up. Aaron also stood up. "But, it won't be the same without you here."
"I know," Aaron said. "How about we fly? To clear some heads?" Smolder nodded and the two of them flew off, Aaron leaving his breakfast.
"Hey, Aaron!" Silverstream called out. "You forgot your breakfast!"
Throughout the day, Aaron and Smolder had been flying over the town of Ponyville, looking down at all the peaceful things happening through town. They then saw the Cutie Mark Crusaders going through town. Aaron and Smolder then went down to land. The Crusaders saw them land and walked up to them.
"Hey! You're that human, ain't ya?" Apple Bloom asked.
"Actually, yes," Aaron said. "I'm... actually surprised I've never got to meet the three of you sooner."
"Oh, right," Scootaloo said. "Rainbow Dash said that this world is a work of fiction to the people of your world. Guess it was a surprise that you ended up in this world."
"You know it," Aaron said.
"So, I'm guessing we're a part of the show?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"Yes, you are," Aaron said.
"In fact, there are some episodes of the show that basically show you three around most of them," Smolder said. "I know. I watched them all." She then thought of something. "Did you three actually wish yourselves to be older?"
"That was a mistake," Apple Bloom said. "We've made pretty bad decisions that day."
"Yeah," Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo said in unison.
"Although, that one pegasus you've met on the way to that fair in Appleloosa almost gave me the chills there," Smolder said.
"What do you mean?" Scootaloo asked.
"Is it the fact that she almost looks like Cozy Glow?" Aaron asked.
"Ohhh!!" the Crusaders said in unison.
"Yeah, we should've seen that," Sweetie Belle said. "Maybe those two are related."
"Who knows," Aaron said. "Well, gotta fly." Before he could take off, he thought of something. "Speaking of which. Scootaloo, you knew that flower was able to grant wishes, so why didn't you add that your wings would be big enough to get you off the ground on your own."
Scootaloo went wide eyed and asked, "I could've done that?!" She then face-hoofed and groaned. That made Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle snicker.
"You didn't think of that as we were makin' that wish?" Apple Bloom asked. "Ya shoulda thought o' that sooner, Scoots."
"Yeah," Scootaloo said. "Still wish I could fly though."
"Maybe when I leave tomorrow, you can ask Princess Twilight to see if there's a spell that would make your wings big enough to carry you off the ground," Aaron said.
"Oh, yeah, I guess I can," Scootaloo said.
"Wait!" Sweetie Belle said. "Did you say you're leaving tomorrow?"
"Yeah," Aaron said. "Tomorrow, I'm going home."
"Aww..." the Crusaders whined in unison.
"Do you have to go?" Sweetie Belle asked. "Can't you stay?"
"No, I'm afraid not," Aaron said. "For two reasons. One, obviously I have a family to get back to. My aunt would be worried if I never came home."
"Oh, that's a good point," Scootaloo said.
"But, what's the second reason?" Apple Bloom asked.
Aaron sighed before he was about to tell them, but Smolder put a hand on his shoulder.
"I'll tell them," Smolder said. She then looked towards the Crusaders and said, "Let's just say there's an evil ancient dragon out there that wants to kill Aaron here."
"What?!" Scootaloo asked. "Why?!"
"That ancient dragon, Ragnarok the Reaper, has heard a legend that he'll be defeated by a jade dragon," Smolder said. "But if Aaron's no longer in this world..."
"He'll be safe from that Rag... Ragni... Rokta..." Apple Bloom said, trying to remember Ragnarok's name.
"Ragnarok," Aaron and Smolder said in unison.
"Yeah, that," Apple Bloom said.
"Well, I hope you make it home safely," Scootaloo said.
"Me, too," Aaron said. He then looked back towards Smolder and said, "How about we keep going on a flight?"
"Okay," Smolder said, sadly. Then the two of them took off.
Apple Bloom looked towards Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo and asked, "Did Smolder seem down?" Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo nodded while looking at the two dragons flying away.
Aaron and Smolder came to a descent at Sugarcube Corner. They walked in and saw the Cake Twins running around the floor.
"Gonna get you!" Pumpkin said, chasing Pound.
"No you're not!" Pound said, running from Pumpkin.
"Are too!"
"Are not!"
"Are too!"
"Are not!"
Then Mrs. Cake walked into the room and said, "Pound, Pumpkin, no more playing tag in the restaurant area!"
"Awww!!" the Cake Twins said in unison. Then they headed up the stairs.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't the two dragons of the School of Friendship," Mrs. Cake said. "Even though one of you is a human from another dimension."
"Well, eventually, I'm gonna go back," Aaron said. He then sighed. "Although, I wish I could've seen more and more of Equestria during my time here."
"I wish I could bring you to all the places here," Smolder said. She then sighed.
"Oh, don't you worry about that, dearie," Mrs. Cake said. She then pulled out two cupcakes with gems on each of them. "Why don't you two enjoy a gem topped snack? On the house."
Aaron and Smolder then took the cupcakes and went to an empty table. As they were sitting down, they saw Lyra and Bon Bon walking in. Lyra then noticed Aaron and Smolder and smiled.
"Look, Bon Bon!" Lyra said. "It's Aaron!" Then the two ponies walked up to Aaron and Smolder. Aaron looked towards the counter to see Mrs. Cake walking back into the kitchen.
Aaron then looked back towards the two ponies and Bon Bon said, "It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Aaron."
"It's a pleasure to meet you as well... Agent Sweetie Drops," Aaron said, making both Bon Bon and Lyra go wide eyed in shock about that. Bon Bon then looked around, hoping nopony else was around.
"How do you know about that?" Bon Bon, really named Sweetie Drops, asked angrily.
"Cranky Doodle Donkey's wedding was on the 100th episode of the show," Aaron said. "Although, I still find it believable that you were the one who captured a bugbear."
"I got lucky when that bugbear just happened to fall into one of my traps by accident," Sweetie Drops responded.
"Anyway, I've been meaning to ask you something Aaron," Lyra said. "I know you don't have a way back to your world yet, but when the time comes, probably during summer break, you can come and live with me and Bon Bon. I'd ask you so many things about your world and people."
"Sorry, Lyra, but that won't be possible," Smolder said.
"And why not?" Lyra asked.
Smolder sighed before Aaron answered her, saying, "I'm actually going home. Tomorrow."
"WHAT!?!" Lyra shouted. "You can't just...! I have so many questions that need answering!" She then reached over and hugged Aaron's torso tight, crying. "Please don't leave!!"
"Oh, boy," Aaron said, rolling his eyes.
Later that night, at the Castle of Friendship, Twilight and Star Swirl were there, preparing the spell needed for sending Aaron back to his world.
"I still say that there has to be another way for Aaron to see his friends here in Equestria again, Star Swirl," Twilight said. "He should be able to see them again, and not from that TV show that's based on our world."
"I'm sorry, Princess," Star Swirl said. "But for his own protection, he must never come back, and nopony, nor creature, must ever see him again."
Twilight sighed and silently said, "This is gonna break Smolder's heart." Just then, Starlight walked in with a piece of parchment.
"Okay," Starlight said. "Hopefully, with a few modifications to this spell, we can send Aaron back to the time he got sucked into the portal in his world."
"As it'll be like he never left," Star Swirl said. "That's actually brilliant. I didn't even think of that." Just then, there was a knocking on the door. The three ponies looked towards the door and saw Smolder there.
"Princess, you might want to help Aaron out," Smolder said. "Lyra's trying to convince Aaron not to leave our world."
Twilight groaned, facehoofed, and said, "This will take just a few moments." She then followed Smolder out the door.
Outside, Lyra was trying to pull Aaron back towards town with her magic, but Aaron's wing power was too strong for her magic to pull him back.
"Let go of my tail!" Aaron shouted.
"Never!" Lyra said. "I'm also never letting you leave!"
"Lyra, stop it!" Bon Bon said. "You keep forgetting he has a family of his own to get back to."
"But I have so many questions that need answering!" Lyra said.
"ENOUGH!!" came Twilight's voice when it was in the Royal Canterlot Voice. The group looked towards Twilight and saw her and Smolder walking towards the group. "Lyra, I know it must be painful, but Aaron has a family. If you were in Aaron's horseshoes, figure of speech, how would you feel if you wanted to go home and something wanted to keep you there?"
Lyra thought about it, sighed, and said, "I... I guess you're right." She then relinquished her hold on Aaron's tail. She then started walking away. Bon Bon followed her.
"Aaron, why don't you go get your stuff packed?" Twilight asked. "It's gonna be a big day tomorrow." Aaron sighed and started walking away.
"I still wish I could've seen more before I leave," Aaron said. He then started flying towards the School of Friendship. Smolder gave a sad look.
"I know it must be hard," Twilight said. "But, at least the two of you made some memories here."
"Yeah, but..." Smolder said. "Something's telling me to... to..." She then let out some tears.
"Smolder... I know it's hard, but..." Twilight said before being cut off.
"SMOLDER!!"
Twilight and Smolder looked towards the sky and saw Garble flying down. He then landed in front of his sister, and pulled her in for a hug.
"I'm so glad I got to you!" Garble said, hugging Smolder.
"G-Garble?" Smolder asked. "How did...? Where have you been?"
"Ragnarok... he's real!" Garble said. "He's taken the entire Dragon Lands hostage and is waiting for the jade dragon to reveal himself! But don't worry. I have a plan. We'll just have to find the jade dragon and bring him to Ragnarok so he can eventually go back to his sleep, how it should be."
"Uh..." Smolder said, blushing. She then chuckled nervously. "About... that."
"Don't worry, Smolder," Garble said. "As soon as Ragnarok is gone, everything should be back to normal." Garble rubbed the back of his head, not seeing Aaron right behind him.
"Oh, boy," Aaron said. Garble then turned around to see Aaron.
"Y-you!" Garble said. He then got angry and started flying towards Aaron, but Aaron jumped out of the way, making Garble tackle nothing. Aaron then landed next to Smolder. "Get away from my sister! You don't know what you'll do to us all!"
"Uh huh," Aaron said. "I know a way to avoid Ragnarok." Garble jumped towards Aaron again, and Aaron started flying above Garble. Just then, he noticed something on Garble's back. "What's that on your back?"
"Huh?" Garble asked. He then reached for what was on his back. Twilight then grabbed that thing from Garble's back and examined it.
"Uh oh," Twilight said. "This... this black scale. It has some sort of tracking spell. Which means..."
"You've led Ragnarok right towards us!" Smolder said. "And with that, Ragnarok will go back to his original plan!" That made Garble go wide eyed. The group then looked towards Aaron.
"You've got to get that portal opened ASAP," Aaron said.