The Minstrel's Coda
Chapter 5: The Bard's Response
I staggered out of the kitchen into the main library, pondering what fate the burnt oatmeal awaited me. Never again would I attempt something as foolish, but I needed to eat, especially with what task I volunteered for. There was no way I'd be up to strength to help Applejack and Pinkie if I hadn't eaten and waited out till my lunch outing with Spike.
"That is the last time I ever... make oatmeal ever. Or try to eat it for that matter." I stated to myself still having a sour face. "Yeeeuck." I muttered as I trotted over to the couch lightly as to not disturb the burnt oatmeal contents that now resided in my stomach. Slowly wiggling my guitar off my back, I set it down beside the couch to rest upright. I slowly turned to the small table that had a wooden horse head adorned on it, to see my letter from Meadow Song there, still slightly curled from being rolled earlier.
The message that I had been eagerly waiting. The reply from the Missing Bard of Midgard, the mysterious pony who nearly took my life and the life of three friends, the bard who I had saved from Discord's control, and the pony who now claimed he was indebted to me. The one I could call my new friend, and the one I could almost now call my closest friend.
We had been exchanging letters almost on a daily basis since he took his leave from Ponyville just a few weeks ago to repay his debt to Equestria. Even though we had not run into each other since that fateful day ,where Twilight and I brought Meadow Song back in control of himself, at Sweet Apple Acres. We had been in constant contact with one another, sharing stories of our past, our being, and how we felt being and adjusting in this land we called Equestria. Admittedly it made transitioning for me easier now that I had someone to talk to even though I had at least a few months on Meadow Song to adjust.
I felt the tension and nervousness as I looked toward the letter that laid on the table. Not because this was any ordinary letter from my dear friend. But because this was to be a reply to a story that he had requested of me. A story of who I was, telling him how I had suffered, how Midgard had become, my biggest fears of being alone, and how I was brought back from the darkness of loathing, hate and distrust, by the protectors of the inhabitants of this world, who I was able to call my friends, the Elements of Harmony. Even to how I became an honorary member to fight along side the guardians of Equestria. But how would he react, is what I wondered. Was this too overwhelming for my new friend? Would I end up pushing him away in the process of spilling my heart and soul to my friend? I sure hoped not, but the anxiousness was there as I stared at the letter.
But nothing would overcome this fear anytime soon, unless I either proved my fear to be right or wrong, by reading the contents of the letter that laid on the table. I slowly began to trot over to the table, still trying to avoid any sudden movements that would disturb the contents of my breakfast.
Upon reaching the table, grabbed the letter with my mouth, and to make my return trip to the couch where my guitar had laid. Feeling the immense dread from the letter that I now carried. It held the answer to what my new friend thought, of who I was, and why I was who I was. I pondered these thoughts until I reached the couch. Slowly I turned myself around and laid down on the couch. With a simple flick I opened the letter from its slightly rolled state and held it open with both front hooves.
I slowly began to read the contents of the letter aloud to myself to better process its information. "My Dear Friend Kiniro, Where to begin... I can not properly describe how it is I feel with your story. I feel a mixture of emotions toward it. One where I can not state over a letter by itself and in a single one. So I have decided that I will take a break from repaying my debt to Equestria, so that I may come see you my friend and tell you face to face. Do not be alarmed though, it is nothing but good news I assure you. I will take the next available train from Baltimare to Ponyville at the delivery of this letter. I have also been happy to state that I am adjusting quite well to being a pony. I believe traveling abroad these past few weeks and bringing smiles to other ponies' faces with my music has served me well. I hope you are doing well, and I can not wait to return to Ponyville to see you and the others. Signed Meadow Song."
I didn't know what it is he felt about the letter or story, but at least he told me not to be worried. Somehow I felt comfort in those words written on the page. As if I felt the emotion on the page. I looked down on the page closer to see small circular wrinkles in various parts of the page. It appeared to be where tears had fallen and altered the paper. I felt reassured that I had nothing to worry about.
"Thank you for coming Meadow Song." I said to myself. "I know that there is something you want to tell me directly, and I can wait until we cross paths again to know what it is."
"So you got another letter from Meadow Song?" Twilight commented as she walked in from the kitchen.
"You're done cooking already Twi?" I asked.
"Yeah I'm done for now, you can only make so many crepes with one egg. Actually you can only make one crepe per egg." Twilight responded.
"So... how did it come out?" I questioned.
"Well... it came out ok, but considering we were out of a lot of everything else we needed to make crepes. It was really just a floury omelet, but I can see where this recipe would shine if I had some syrup or fruit to put with it." Twilight explained.
"So it will be better next time around I'm hoping?" I questioned.
"Of course, I actually just sent Spike out to go run some errands while we go to Applejack's and help out." Twilight answered. "Do you think you'll hold up just fine?"
"I sure hope so... I just hope Applejack has something for us to snack on while we work..." I responded trailing off lightly.
"I'm sure she will. By the way, good job distracting me from the letter." Twilight joked and stuck her tongue out at me.
"Oh! I'm so sorry... I've just been concerned about getting something... well decent in my belly." I explained.
"Well you did choose to eat that burnt oatmeal." Twilight reminded.
"I know... probably not the wisest choice, but I've eaten worse." I reassured.
"So what did Meadow Song write?" Twilight asked.
"Well, he said he'd prefer tell me face to face, nothing bad he assured me, but he's going to be traveling into Ponyville from Baltimare from when he wrote the letter." I explained.
"Ah, so when did he write the letter?" Twilight asked.
"Um... I don't... know?" I answered.
"When did it arrive?"
"It arrived today with the Equestrian Musical Theory book with the Equestrian Postal Service. Derpy delivered it.
"Oh wow... the fact that everything arrived in one piece, that's a shock." Twilight commented. "Perhaps she's getting better at staying coordinated."
"Um...?" I muttered.
"Oh... its a long story, trust me. Just be glad Derpy is becoming a better mailmare." Twilight explained.
"I know she seems a bit quirky by her personality, but nothing seemed off really other than her eyes, but we kinda just expect that really." I answered.
"Well, at least its good news that she's becoming better. Perhaps she's been getting her act together, I know she was very clumsy and what not with her obsessions over muffins and what not. Maybe she's found a way to over come that."
"Well... she did snack on a muffin when she delivered the mail, but didn't seem to bother her much. I just think she's over excitable. At least it appeared that way to me, nothing wrong with that though."
"Hmm... in any case. We can assume since the letter arrived today. Most scrolls and letters that are postmarked with the Equestrian Mail Service usually get delivered within a day or two."
"Ok so?"
"Well you said Meadow Song is coming in via train from Baltimare right?"
"Right."
"Well, the train ride from Baltimare to Ponyville is roughly 16 hours, and consider what times trains run, and Baltimare is a big city." Twilight explained.
"Ok... so how does this..." I began to ask but was interrupted.
"I'm getting to that! Now if Meadow Song's letter was postmarked more than two days ago, he should have already arrived in Ponyville." Twilight commented as she walked over to me on the laying on the couch.
"So it must haven been sent out yesterday then!" I stated.
"Exactly!" Twilight agreed as she levitated the letter out from my hooves with her magic. "Ah, ha! Found it, there is the post mark, right on the opposite side of the page." Twilight commented as she flipped over the letter to show the postmark stamp with the date on it showing yesterday's date.
"So that mean's he's probably still on the train on the way here... right?" I asked.
"Exactly, so maybe we should be expecting him sometime today." Twilight confirmed.
"So... should we cancel with Applejack?" I questioned.
"No not at all, he shouldn't arrive until later today the the evening. So we are ok, so we can still help AJ and you and Spike can still have your outing."
"That's good!" I stated with a yawn. "Oh no... not this again..."
"What again?" Twilight asked.
"I'm just getting really tired all of a sudden."
"Well you haven't really been sleeping well, maybe you should go to bed.
"NO. I mean no. I'll be fine. I'll be fine once I get some rest later tonight." I said trying to cover my problem.
"Kini is something wrong?" Twilight said.
"No... everything is fine." I quickly retorted.
"If you won't tell me... I can find way's to make you talk." Twilight commented.
"Oh yeah?" I challenged her statement.
"Oh yeah, I can make you talk." Twilight commented as she turned around to expose her backside, and wiggled it lightly. Only to turn around, having her mane lightly whip around and wink seductively at me.
"Ugh... I hate when you use that against me..." I commented.
"So... are you going to tell me?" Twilight commented as she brought herself down on her front hooves.
"GAH fine! I'll talk... I hate when you do this to me... that isn't fair. I can't do that back to you." I said with slight frustration, but excited at the concept.
"Well that's because you don't have my charm." Twilight commented lightly singing her words to mock me.
"Ok fine... I've been having a recurring nightmare." I stated as I stared toward Twilight.
"What kind of nightmare?" Twilight stated while continue shook her behind lightly
"It's a nightmare of my old rival Queen Xellie... she's on the moon, and she has a copy of the Heart of Ymir. Which is an illegitimate copy of this relic which is the catch all catalyst for magic. The copy is very dangerous and she has one. She then turns into a pony then disappears from the surface of the moon." I explained.
"Is that all? Worried over a little dream like that?" Twilight lightly backed herself up toward my position seated on the couch.
"Yeah... it just seems so real..." I commented worriedly.
"See was that so hard?" Twilight stated.
"Um..." I hesitated as I stared. "Yes..."
"I still think its very cute that you try to fight back." Twilight stated as she quickly brought herself up from her pose, turned back around to face me, walked over and kissed me on the mouth. For just a brief moment our mouths met and I ran my front right hoof through her mane.
"I love you Twilight." I muttered as I was able to pull myself for just a moment, with my worries of the dream beginning to melt away.
"I love you too Kiniro." She answered back as she slowly pulled away from the kiss only to gaze into my eyes. "I don't know what I'd ever do with out you."
"I don't know where I'd be if I would have never come to Equestria and have met you." I responded. "I would have never opened my heart if not for you."
"I'm glad I did that for you Kini, you opened my eyes to what love could possibly feel like." Twilight commented.
"Twi?" I asked.
"Yes Kini?" She answered.
"Promise me... that no matter what, you'll never forget me. Promise me that I'll always have a place in your heart. Because no matter what. You will always have a place in mine." I stated with tears starting to roll from my eyes and down my face.
A few moments passed with silence. Seeing the tears also roll from Twilight's eyes down her cheeks, attempting to talk, lightly choking up, but she finally got her composure to speak. "Kini... I will never forget you. I know you're worst fear is being alone, but I promise you. You will never be alone, I promise I will always be at your side if I can be."
"Thank you Twi... thank you." I commented as I put my front legs around her neck, holding her tight. I kissed her lightly on her forehead. "Thank you Twi... I will always love you Twilight Sparkle."
"I promise I will always love you Kiniro Tonada." Twilight responded back in kind. "You will never be alone. I promise you, I will never let you be alone, our friends will never let you be alone. Each and every single one of us, will be there for you, when ever you need us. But I will try my hardest to be there for you, when ever I can. Because I love you... I have loved I met you for the first time."
"I don't know what it was Twi... but even though I was afraid at first. But I knew I would have a connection with you when I first set eyes on you, even though it was weird at first, but I'm glad I became a pony. Just so I could be with you." I commented. "Being here with you, reminds me that my biggest fear will never come true. You gave me the chance to quell that fear."
"Kini... You've earned that, to never be forgotten. The whole of Equestria may not know what you've done to defend it, but our friends know, the princesses know... and most importantly you know. Equestria owes you that much to never forget you." Twilight explained as she kissed me heavily again with tears running down her face and then slowly pulled away. "Kini... I want to show you how much I will never forget you, how much you mean to me and how much I love you..." Twilight commented as she backed away from me and headed over toward the staircase, followed by a seductive signal from her front right hoof.
"I love you Twi..." I stated as I brought myself up and trotted over to her by the staircase.
So many thoughts were rushing through my head. The fact that I had a friend returning to tell me how he felt of my past, and I was reassured that it would be not be bad news. The fact that I was truly loved, the fact that I would always be in somepony's thoughts, no matter what happened, and finally that I had a place here in Equestria. That place was as the Honorary Element of Harmony, the Element of Justice, and in Twilight Sparkle's heart.
End of Chapter 5.