//------------------------------// // Epilogue Part A // Story: Christmas Company // by LightDoinStuff //------------------------------// Five years later… "The only constant in life is change." We're all familiar with the phrase, and at some point or another, we see the fruits of this inevitable principle. For Earth, likely the biggest change of all, one that revolutionized every aspect of daily life, was the return of the ponies. The circumstances were somewhat humorous, with the local congress members having just taken a lunch break. When they returned, they were faced with a "pegacorn" as some referred to it, before being corrected with "Alicorn". The being was named Celestia, specifically Princess Celestia, and was one of four rulers on their home planet. From there, things moved quickly. A press conference was held at the white house. Next, a large-scale meeting with members of each nation alongside the four princesses ruling Equestria. Eventually, the Equestrian rulers decided on a timeline for letting their ponies enter Earth. It was a one-way offer, much to the dismay of men and women of all ages, though the prospect of ponies living on Earth came with its own challenges. There were, of course, those who opposed the idea. Some from each world scoffed at the idea that the two species could co-exist, much less peacefully. This all changed upon the telling of a story from a pegasus by the name of Fluttershy. Her tale resonated with many, causing them to rethink their doubts. While some still did not believe, opinions had settled enough that ponies and humans alike were comfortable with living alongside one another. As time went by, the novelty wore off and many accepted this as the new way of life. There were still some critics, but after seeing the benefits the ponies brought to those living on Earth, most minds were changed. This went on for many years, during which time inhabitants went about their daily lives. For Mark, graduation from High School led to college. He remembered being in class one day when the announcement was made that members of Congress were meeting with ponies from a different world. The professor had stopped everything to pull up the live footage on the news, which silenced the naysayers. Of course, Mark knew better than to disbelieve. Though he hadn't seen or heard Fluttershy in two years up to that point, he was hopeful that their planned reunion would occur soon. After another three years passed, his feelings were confirmed with a letter in the mail. He instantly knew it was from Fluttershy, mostly because of the picture included in the envelope. It showed herself with her five friends, with her clearly holding the camera. It seems the Earthly concept of the "selfie" was already gaining traction over there. The letter detailed in-depth the experiences she'd had over the years, many of which Mark already knew, having watched the show to its completion. Interestingly, the final few episodes where the two princesses retired had played out slightly differently in reality. After the Legion of Evil had been defeated and encased in stone, the princesses were deciding on what the next course of action would be. Having created a school that aided in uniting all kinds of creatures together in friendship, it seemed their work was done, and Twilight was finally ready to begin her ruling as the head princess over Equestria. However, Fluttershy felt there was still a world outside their own that deserved friendship. She felt confident in proposing once more the opportunity to travel to Earth again and meet with the human leaders. To her pleasant surprise, both Luna and Celestia agreed, with plans to travel there being made within the month. She, of course, would be preparing a speech to be delivered in due time if the reception to the ponies was positive. The letter ended off informing Mark that she would be coming by in a few months time, specifically during December of that year. Mark was, or course, very excited, sure the two would have many stories to tell, alongside the pleasant experience of going back to where it had all started. These were Mark's thoughts as his car trip from college was reaching its conclusion. He pulled onto a familiar street, reaching for the garage door opener. Accordingly, the door started rolling up, providing space for him to pull in. He also noticed his family's car was there, knowing they were surely excitedly awaiting his visit as well. He stepped outside of his car, ready for another wonderful Christmas. The garage door going down signaled his parents to greet him at the door. "Welcome home!" His mother exclaimed, pulling him into a hug. "Glad you made it safely." His father added. "Thanks guys," Mark replied with a smile, "So what's been going on here?" "Oh, just preparing for the holiday," His mom explained, "as well as your special guest coming by." "Is she here yet?" Mark wondered aloud. "Not yet," His mother responded, "though she should be here any minute." As if on cue, the doorbell rang only moments later. "I'll get it!" Mark's mom called as she walked down the hallway to the main entrance. Mark heard the familiar sound of a faint, gentle voice, which he eagerly ran to. Upon rounding the bend, he was greeted with a very friendly and excited yellow pegasus. "Fluttershy!" He exclaimed, quickly pulling her into a hug, which she reciprocated. "It's wonderful to see you, Mark." Fluttershy replied. The two broke from their hug, Mark turning to address his parents. "So this is your first time meeting her, isn't it?" Mark remarked. "That it is." His mother confirmed, "I remember when we first heard you'd helped her during that Christmas a few years back." Mark rubbed the back of his head. "Yeah, that was…an interesting discussion." His mother extended a hand and shook Fluttershy's hoof. His father did the same shortly afterwards. "It's very nice to finally meet you, Fluttershy." His mother stated with a kind smile. "Well, we'd best be off if we're going to make it on time." Mark quickly cut in. "You'll see where we're going, 'Shy." The two then quickly walked to his car, pulling out onto the road and beginning a familiar drive. "So I read your note," Mark began, "you and Discord, huh?" "We're just friends." Fluttershy explained, "He's very sweet once you get to know him, though…even if he can be a bit much at first for some ponies." "And some people." Mark added, his mind drifting to an article he'd read only a month prior. Discord had apparently decided to make an impromptu visit to Earth, much to the surprise of localists and the dismay of the Equestrian Diplomacy Agency. The entire ordeal had led to a Discord-specific regulation being made, forbidding him from returning unless he had the crowns' approval first. "What about you?" Fluttershy asked, "You mentioned someone named Emily in your letter." "Ah, Emily." Mark replied with a smile, "She's definitely something. She's studying to become a veterinarian, which works since I'm looking to be a doctor. I guess we'll both be taking care of the living, eh?" Fluttershy lightly chuckled. "I suppose so." "She had to stay back with her family this Christmas," Mark continued, "it was a family issue she didn't want to get into at the time. Aside from that, I think we could really work out well together. You should meet her some time." "I'd love to." Fluttershy responded with a smile. The rest of the trip passed with the two sharing different stories from their time on their respective worlds. Before long, a particular sign came into view. "Is that…" Fluttershy trailed off. "It sure is!" Mark confirmed, "Welcome back to the preserve where it all started!" Parking his car, Mark walked alongside Fluttershy to the main building. The front desk was attended to by a woman with gray hair tied in a bun reading a nature magazine. She looked up when she heard the two enter, accompanied by the electronic door chime. "May I help you?" She asked. "Just an afternoon pass for the two of us." Mark explained, pulling out his wallet. After paying for the passes, the two were led to a doorway leading to a dirt walkway that passed by plenty of wonderful sights. The two quickly took to getting pictures in front of the many habitats, including those for bears, birds, and goats. Even despite reading about the location beforehand, Mark was still very surprised at the variety of animals kept there. The dirt path continued on, leading to a large mountain area. The path branched off, though Mark knew exactly where to go next. Following the middle of three roads, the two began climbing the side of the mountain, each step bringing the two higher and higher. Eventually, they reached their destination: The very top of the mountain. The two took in the scenery surrounding them. Alongside the view of the entire preserve, as well as that of the city housing it, the mountain top provided a carefully nested area for gathering. Arranged in a circle were various logs cut to look like primitive benches, with a fire pit at the center. Mark sat on one of the log benches, inviting Fluttershy to do the same. "Here we are." Mark announced. "It's beautiful up here." Fluttershy whispered in wonder. "I thought you might like to get a better look at the place now that we can walk around freely." Mark explained, "Speaking of, would you like to fly around a bit and see things from way up there?" Fluttershy smiled, nodding before taking off. Mark sat and watched as the pegasus began flying around in the air, enjoying the fresh breeze and smells of nature. For his part, it was also something to see her so happy and free, a stark contrast to the quiet and private stay she'd had only a few years ago. Even though he'd seen ponies flying around from time to time since their arrival on Earth, none could match the enthusiasm and sheer joy of this particular pegasus as she took in nature at its finest. She finally landed after several minutes, a small blush coloring her cheeks as she realized how long she'd spent in the air. "How long was I up there?" She sheepishly asked. "About 10 minutes." Mark replied with a shrug, "Did you see everything you wanted to?" She nodded. "I wish you could see what it's like. You'd never want to leave the sky if you could." "You sound like Rainbow Dash." Mark remarked, turning to walk back down the trail. "...and then Applejack and I managed to convince the other ponies not to buy their terrible product by reminding them what really matters." Fluttershy concluded. "That's a wonderful story, 'Shy." Mark commented with a smile. The two had been sharing holiday stories for the last hour as they walked back to the preserve building, and then to Mark's car. Their timing was perfect, as the location was just closing as they left. "We have one more stop to make." Mark announced to the pegasus. "Where's that?" She inquired. "You'll see." Mark replied. Turning the car on once again, Mark pulled out of the parking lot and began another familiar trip down the road. The foliage began to grow thicker, eventually wrapping itself around a metallic fence that opened at a driveway. Mark began pulling in when he heard a faint gasp, cluing him in that Fluttershy had figured out the mystery. "This is…" she trailed off. "Yep, this is the place." Mark confirmed. The two got out of his car and began approaching the front door. The place as a whole hadn't changed much, save slight wear from the weather. It still looked as cozy as ever, though. Mark knocked on the door, waiting alongside Fluttershy as the sounds of footsteps sounded behind the entrance. Eventually, the door opened, revealing a familiar smiling face. "Mark! Fluttershy! It's wonderful to see you two!" Sheila greeted. "Hey Sheila," Mark returned, "I hope it's still okay if we come in for just a few." "Oh, of course," She replied, "come on in and have a seat, I'll get us all a drink." Mark and Fluttershy took the cue and entered the building, taking their familiar places on the couch. Moments later, Sheila returned with a pitcher full of lemonade and three glasses. "So how was the day for you two?" She asked as she sat down on the opposite couch. "It was wonderful." Fluttershy answered, "We got to see the preserve for the first time, and it was as beautiful as we could've imagined. You all do a perfect job of taking care of the animals." "That's quite high praise coming from a caretaker." Sheila commented, "Thank you for the kind words, we all do our best." The three each poured a drink, taking a sip before Sheila continued the conversation. "So did Mark keep you up to date on what happened over here since your visit a few years ago?" She asked. Fluttershy turned to Mark. "He wrote about the world accepting us from Equestria and told some funny stories about college life. Aside from that though, not much." "Did he tell you about the court case?" Sheila inquired. "I thought the details were being kept private due to the interdimensional nature of the case." Mark responded. "The details were private until just a few days ago." Sheila explained, "State transparency laws and all that." "So what happened?" Mark asked. "Carter was given partial immunity in exchange for his testimony." Sheila explained, "They actually managed to catch the person managing the poaching operation for the whole state. Because of that, the sentence for Carter was a lot less than it could have been." "But he did still face time, didn't he?" Mark asked, then quickly hoped he hadn't overstepped a boundary in doing so. "He did." Sheila confirmed, "He was required to serve a brief sentence, as well as being on probation for a time. Equestrian officials decided not to press charges because of his willingness to testify against his co-conspirators, though he's not allowed to travel there once they open up applications." "Understandable." Mark commented. "Aside from that though," Sheila continued, "he's doing very well. In fact, I think he should be coming home any second now." As if on cue, the sounds of the garage door opening sounded in the background, followed up by the sound of a car door shutting, and then finally someone entering the house. Coming around the bend, Carter was met with the sight of his wife, Mark, and Fluttershy. "Oh, hey everyone." He greeted somewhat nervously, "I didn't know you'd be coming by this late." "They were just checking out the preserve for themselves." Sheila explained, "Apparently we've passed the test from our resident wildlife caretaker." "That's good." Carter carefully commented before walking to the staircase, "Long day today, I'm going to shower. I'll talk to you once I'm out if that's alright." Mark nodded, signaling Carter to begin his climb upstairs. Once she heard a door shut upstairs, Sheila leaned forward and spoke in a whisper. "He's still really nervous about meeting you two after what happened last time." She explained. "It's alright," Fluttershy reassured, "he did the right thing in the end, and we can both forgive him for that." Mark didn't seem as convinced, but still nodded. "Yeah, we can." "Well, if you don't mind I've got something to show you." Sheila stated, standing up from the couch and walking to one of the hallways. "Follow me." Mark and Fluttershy took her lead and walked down the hallway to a brightly lit room. Inside were the familiar sights of different drawings and paintings on the walls, with a covered easel at the center of the room. "I've been improving since I met you both," Sheila explained, "and since you'd told me Fluttershy was going to spend Christmas here, I thought I'd make something as a gift." Sheila pulled the cover off of the easel, revealing a beautifully painted piece of Fluttershy. It depicted her flying through the air with a gentle smile on her face, the mountains beneath her forming the background. "It's wonderful." Fluttershy commented. "Well thank you." Sheila replied humbly, "I'm just glad you like it, and since it's my gift to you, you can even take it with you!" "You're too good to us, Sheila." Mark commented, then a thought pulled at his mind. "Though I am curious: What ever happened to that original painting you did all those years ago?" "Oh, it's right here." Sheila responded, indicating a prominent painting on the wall, "I've definitely gotten better since then, but I still say it's one of the finest pieces I got to paint during that time." The painting was certainly simpler, but it still managed to show the gentle and loving nature of the mare. "A bit of a throwback, isn't it?" Mark commented. "Indeed it is." Sheila agreed, "I definitely still like it despite the years of time and experience." "Well I think you captured the timeless traits of your subject nicely." Mark complimented, "For all the things that have changed since then, her character has remained consistent." "It definitely has." Sheila added, "Now let me help you get this painting in your car." The streets were thankfully free of snow, reducing any dangers of sliding off the road. This made for a very serene drive back home for the duo, accompanied by the sounds of Christmas songs on the radio. Fluttershy was just glad she didn't have to hide under a blanket while he drove. "So you got three more days with us, anything particular you want to do?" Mark asked. "I'll let the official guide decide on that." Fluttershy joked. "Very well." Mark replied with a chuckle. "How do you like the painting?" "It's wonderful." Fluttershy answered, "I'm just glad things worked out with Sheila. After everything that happened…" Mark noticed her trail off. "You thought we'd never be friends?" Fluttershy nodded. "I remember what you'd said about forgiving them - in fact, I still remember it all these years later." "Well it was hard," Mark admitted, "but I eventually had to realize that you were right. She wasn't at fault for her husband's decisions, and he really does seem to be turning over a new leaf. At the rate he's going, maybe he'll join his wife working at the preserve." "You really think that's possible?" Fluttershy asked. Mark turned to the pegasus. "'Shy, in a short few years we had beings we thought were completely fictional travel from another dimension, then open up the opportunity for visits and possibly even travel between the two in the future. Anything is possible." Mark slowed his car down as the two entered a residential area. Lights shone on houses throughout the neighborhood. Inside the windows families spent time together, partying, playing games, and overall enjoying each other's company. It reminded him of how perfect the season had been for him. Even during a time when he thought he'd be completely alone, forces beyond his own ensured a pleasant holiday, as well as new opportunities for the future. And now, he had the opportunity to spend Christmas with his dearest friend. "Happy Hearth's Warming Eve, Fluttershy." He whispered. "Merry Christmas, Mark." She whispered back.