The Sun was slowly sinking past the horizon, painting the hills beyond Ponyville orange and red and the city itself purple and blue. Ponies slowly stepped out the castle's front doors, heading back to their homes or any other place they may choose to go. Interviews had been given, official statements made, excessively inquisitive ponies sent off and in some cases forced away so they would leave those leaving and those staying in peace. It wasn't the first time Equestria had faced similar events, and ponies were a species without tendencies to obsess over the kind. After so many happenings in the recent years, the previous days' wasn't all that special, not for those who had no idea how close things had been. But then, they had been many times before too. Manehattan would remain a somewhat difficult issue to resolve, but there was time, and there were means.
Equestria would heal. Much as the crystal tree castle already was, by itself, surprisingly quickly. Twilight wondered if it would sprout a new branch, maybe a new room. Maybe that was how Harmony chose to communicate with her. Quietly, but still clearly there. Maybe that was okay.
Shining and Cadence would soon leave. The Empire had gone long enough without its rulers, longer than anticipated. Longer than anticipated in the event they would come back, the possibility they wouldn't had been accounted for on some level. Either way they had to go, and so they were among those watching on the castle's balcony, to say their goodbyes. There along them were Celestia, Twilight, their ride back past the Wall, and the stallion who'd helped solve the whole situation. Twilight still wondered exactly what he'd meant when talking to her, but he wouldn't say more on the matter. If not the past, the future then. "Where are you going next?"
"Back home," he said. "I think I'll take the slow way. I like walking. I miss Scarlet. Stella might have done something to her." He tilted his head. "I should have you come with me. If you can. It would be fun. Maybe she'll realise I'm not crazy. Or maybe she was right, she is a doctor after all. Not the whole way through, I like walking. I'll write to you when I'm close enough. It'll be fun."
Twilight smiled to herself. "I'm sure it will." She leaned into Celestia. The Moon rose in the sky, and they both watched quietly. Then Twilight turned her eyes to Canterlot, and the Behemoth.
Shining stepped forward, hugged Twilight, and bowed to Celestia. "Time to go." He stepped back, and as Cadence did as he had he turned to the other stallion. "Say. In all the commotion, I don't think I ever caught your name."
The stallion leaned off the railing, and looked at Shining. "Oh. I do suppose I never introduced myself, yes. I apologise for that." He fidgeted about for a moment, adjusting his ill-fitting clothes once again. "My name is Onyx Thread."