//------------------------------// // Epilogue // Story: Of Stones and Roots // by Ignimbrite //------------------------------// Moonlight shined through the windows of the train back to Ponyville, and the wheels rumbled steadily along the track as the scenery outside blurred by. “So, what was it like being a Stone?” Kind Face turned away from the train window to her aunt. “I dunno.  It was fun, when I wasn't worried about getting caught at least, and I'm glad they let me call myself one of them, but I still wish I knew about Mom and Dad.” Masquerade’s ears dropped a little, but she kept a small smile. “Maybe one day we'll find out.” After a moment is silence, Kind Face looked up again.   “Aunt Masquerade?” She looked over to where Feldspar was sleeping on her mom's back and Obsidian was yawning beside his dad. “Do families fight a lot?” She put a hoof on Kind Face's shoulder and smiled again. “No dear, not all the time.  Everypony fights over something at some point, including family members; it's just part of our nature.   I'm embarrassed to admit that I've gotten into fights with your mom more times than I can remember. “A good sign of somepony that's better than their nature is when they forgive, and good families always forgive each other.” “Did Mom forgive you?” “Every time, dear.  Every time.” “Why don't you try using pegasus magic to make stuff fly?” Obsidian sat in his room that night wondering about Rose Quartz's question.  It seemed silly at the time, like the kind of thing a filly her age would say, but he couldn't help wondering about it.  It was like an itch at this point. He already knew his magic was a bit mixed up.  Channeling pegasus magic through one's horn was not a normal ability, after all.  Then again, how many pegasi even had horns in the first place?  On that note, how many unicorns had wings?   Is it possible? He didn't know exactly what he was trying to do, but he mentally reached out towards his pillow, only instead of reaching through his horn, he stretched out one of his wings. Nothing happened.  He tried again, this time stretching out the other wing.  Still no luck. Finally, he tried stretching both wings.  As he did, one of them brushed against one of the records on his bookshelf.  The record immediately stuck to his feathers and launched towards the opposite wall like a frisbee.  A quick burst of magic from his horn just barely prevented one of his favorite Broken Microphone albums from shattering against the closed window.  He carefully put it back, then looked at his wingtips. They didn't look any different from before.  Maybe he just flicked it out of the stand by accident? He reached out to the disk, touching it gently with his wing again.  As he lifted the wing, the disk lifted with it, seemingly weightless. He carefully set it back, then jumped up to his bed and touched a pillow.  It lifted with his wing too. As he dropped the pillow, he examined his wings again to find a faint blue glow at the tips of his feathers, the exact same shade as what would normally be around his horn.  His eyes widened, and he once again tried lifting the pillow with his wing. “...” He grinned. “YEAH!!!” "Alright, get out, and please take it easy on the cider this time. I'm tired of keeping you here." "Well, a-thank you Mr. Donut. Thank you kindly." The officer rolled his eyes as the stallion stumbled out of the holding cell and back into Ponyville. Moon Shine slowly made his way to the outskirts of the town, approaching the Everfree forest as if he had lost his direction again. He may have stumbled on a loose cobblestone once or twice, but he eventually made it to his destination. As soon as he was a short distance into the forest, he straightened up, as sober as if he had never touched the cider in his life. He looked behind him, then around at his surroundings. He then pulled a pen, a piece of paper, and a few bottles of chorus fruit potion from his bags. Location still secure. Cover nearly blown by local and two out-of-towners, but still intact. No apparent hostile intent. Changing identity to ID#8 to avoid suspicion. Requesting reassignment to Canterlot. Agent 219 quaerite iustitiam, diligite misericordiam He then checked the labels on the potion bottles, pulled the cork on the one addressed to the correct recipient, and spilled a drop onto his letter. The letter burst into flames, and he watched as the smoke flew towards its target. After a few seconds of watching the sky where the message had disappeared, he dug a hole in the ground and pulled out a box. From that box, he pulled a wallet, and into it he dropped the one he carried. He then buried the box back in the same place as before. He looked at the picture and name on the ID card in the wallet for several minutes, memorizing every detail he could. In a burst of green fire, Moon Shine disappeared, never to be seen again. “I'm grounded, aren't I?” “Of course.” “For how long?” “Considering the last two times have been for running away from home, I'm inclined to think it should be until you're a full grown mare so I at least won't have to worry when you do it again.” “Aunt Masquerade…” “Kind, I'm worried about you.  I understand the last time was just trying to help out a friend, but this time wasn't.  You didn't just run away either this time; you actually lied just to ensure that you wouldn't be missed.   “Kind Face, what's gotten into you?” “I… I don't know, Aunt Masquerade.  It's like I had to go out in costume.  Maybe I just missed the old days of street acting, but it's like I had to be a different character for a while.” Masquerade sighed.  “Sometimes I think you've got too much of your mother in you.” Kind Face turned to walk up the stairs, but her aunt stopped her. “Kind Face, before you go, there's something I've been meaning to give you.  Just stay here for a moment, okay?” Masquerade stood up and walked away towards her room, leaving Kind face slightly confused.  After a few moments and more than a few sounds of objects being shuffled, she returned. “I was supposed to give this to you on your next birthday, but all things considered, I think it's close enough.  Would you mind closing your eyes?” Hesitantly, she did as requested.  She heard as her aunt stepped closer, then felt something cold and delicate drape across her neck.  It pulled down with a small weight, and it warmed rather quickly against her skin.  The footsteps receded, and her aunt spoke gently. “Go ahead.  Open them.” She opened her eyes and turned to the framed picture on the wall, looking at her reflection in the glass.  Around her neck was a thread of gold, and at the end was a small, heart-shaped locket with a tiny green jewel in the center.  She looked down, picking it up in her hoof, and carefully opened it.   Inside on the left was a photo of two gently smiling earth ponies. On the right was a note, written in delicate cursive. To our daughter, Kind Face. You are a gift to two who could never deserve it, and the warmth you brought into our lives is beyond measure.  No matter what comes, and no matter what you do, never forget who you are: our child, who we love more than we could ever hope to express. We will always be with you. With love, “Eli” Shell and Silk Spinner.