//------------------------------//
// Epilogue 
// Story: Velvet Quill & Sunny Skies 
// by Sledge115 
//------------------------------//


Epilogue







“Will you come in?”

– From The Great Hall of Asterion




* * * * *


“Mom! Dad!”

The loud, shrill voice of Twilight Sparkle was heard even over the buzz of the other children and parents gathered at the school entrance. Velvet only saw the briefest purple blur amidst the crowd before she felt something impact her chest.

“Oof– okay, alright, alright” she said, falling on her haunches. Besides her, Night Light had burst out laughing. “It’s nice to see you too, Twilight. How was your day?”

Twilight, still hugging her tightly, let out a giggle. “It was really fun! Miss Inkwell showed us around and um, um, I really like the library! And– and Moondancer showed me a book! It was a really nice book. Oh, and I met Moondancer, she’s really nice!”

Velvet and Night Light looked at one another, sharing a smile.

“Sounds fun, kiddo,” said Night Light, pulling up Velvet. “Hey, let’s have ourselves some fries today, how about that? Then you can tell us all about your day!”

Twilight’s squeal was almost deafening. “Okay Dad!” she said. “Oh, oh, then there’s show and tell tomorrow and… and…”

She turned to Velvet, eyes wide and pleading.

“Mom, can I show your new book? I promise I’ll take care of it, I promise!”

"Sorry, Twily, but no,” said Velvet, shaking her head. “It’s not ready yet. Besides, it’s not really my book, you know. I just help them get ready.”

Twilight tilted her head. “But what makes a book ready?”

“When you've put so much of your heart into it, then you’ll know it can stand on its own.”

“See, sounds a lot like your book then. But books don't stand, Mom. They don't have hooves.”

"Oh, Twilight,” said Velvet, giving her daughter’s mane a quick tussle. “You're my little book."

“Mooom,” Twilight replied, huffing, pushing her hoof away. “I can stand on my own!”

“Then maybe someday you'll fly,” Velvet said, shrugging. “Tell you what, hon. You can show them my quill. Maybe one of the old drafts, too.”

“Yay!” Twilight replied, hopping and skipping in joy. “Did you hear that Dad? Mom said yes! Can you show me your books, too?”

“Well…” Night Light began, rubbing the back of his head. But Velvet hadn’t heard the rest of it, for her eyes had turned to the alicorn that stood at the school gates, above all others.

She’d been watching them, Velvet could tell, her ever-tranquil gaze fixed upon them. The Princess said nothing then, only directing the faintest of smiles towards her. But she did not have to say anything. Perhaps another book was coming, and perhaps there would be a knock at her office door some time in the coming days.

“Hey, Velv, you coming?” Night Light called out then. “Don’t let Twi’ hog all the fries!”

“I’m not gonna eat all of them!”

“Coming, coming,” Velvet answered, turning away from Celestia. “So, Twilight, what was that about Moondancer’s book?”

“Oh! She was really happy about it, and she wanted to show me, so she did, and it was about this Princess…”

As Twilight’s story went on, of princesses and sorceresses and faraway villages, together they walked home under the afternoon Sun.