Epilogue
Perspective: Tailspin
I don’t know how long it’s been since I started telling the story. When I started I just couldn’t stop. When it was over, I was greeted with applause by everypony. Their smiling faces, some wiping tears away. This just felt so, I don’t know, right.
I heard applause behind me and saw with wide eyes that everypony’s families were there. Private finished applauding and walked to me. His hoof ruffled my electric blue mane as he smiled. “Good story Tailspin, you tell it a billion times better than I did.”
“What are you doing here?” I asked.
“Well, the blizzard let up about half way through your story.” He gestured to the window which showed the snow had stopped falling. “Rainbow and Applejack managed to get us through the snow to you guys.”
“Well it would’ve gone faster if somepony lent a hoof to help,” Applejack said with a knowing look at Rarity.
“Well you were doing such a good job Applejack that I didn’t want to stop you,” Rarity said, trying to detract the blame.
“So anyways,” Rainbow spoke up. “After we managed to dig our way in we went to find you guys. But then we saw you guys listening to Tailspin’s story.”
“Yeah it was amazin!” Applebloom spoke up. “I’ve never heard anypony tell a story like that!”
“Guess this means I gotta step up my game,” Applejack joked. “Can’t have Tailspin comin’ over every night to tell ya a bedtime story.”
Everypony laughed a little, and then Rarity spoke up. “When we heard the charming story we didn’t want Tailspin to stop. So we were outside listening while this all happened.”
“I didn’t know I’d have to speak for such a large audience,” I said, rubbing the back of my head in embarrassment. Then I noticed the lights were still not on. “Where’s Cheerilee?”
“Some of the pipes froze in the basement,” Private explained. “Cheerilee intercepted us and said she was going to find somepony to help repair the pipes before turning on the power. She said you guys are all dismissed for Hearth’s Warming.”
All of us cheered happily at our freedom. Scootaloo tapped my shoulder as the other parents met with their kids. “Hey Tailspin, that was an awesome story.”
I blushed at her praise. “Hey it was nothing, Private just told me that story when I was a kid and I passed it on to you guys.”
“Even still,” she said with a smile. “The way you told it had us totally in it the whole time. It was like it was happening right before our eyes.”
“Yeah!” Applebloom said, leaving her sister. “That Puddinghead character was real funny!”
“I loved the romance with Clover and Inquire,” Sweetie Belle said dreamily.
Scootaloo made a noticeable gag.
Dinky spoke up. “I almost cried when you talked about Muffly.”
Sweetie Belle’s eyes almost teared up as well. “She was so kind, and when Platinum was reunited with her family.” More tears started showing up. Uh oh...
“You may want to scoot over here Tailspin,” Scootaloo warned, moving my chair away as Sweetie Belle broke into tears at the memory. Rarity walked over and comforted her sister.
Rumble rolled his eyes. “It was an okay story I guess.”
“But you were crying too,” Pip pointed out.
“I was not!” exclaimed Rumble, trying to deny it. “I just got something in my eye.”
“Overall though,” Scootaloo said with a smile. “You really put on a good story.”
“Who knew ya could tell an awesome story like that?” Applebloom quipped.
I didn’t know I could do that…
“Tailspin,” I heard Private speak slowly, he didn’t say anything else after that. He just pointed to my flank…
I used my forelegs to lift my lower body so I could see my flank.
There was a cutie mark there!!
“Everypony!” I shouted. “I got my cutie mark!”
Everypony in the room gathered around to see. I stared at my cutie mark with awe. It was an open book with squiggly lines coming out of it. I looked up at my brother who was glowing with pride. “Private! My cutie mark!”
“I can see that.” Private ruffled my mane again. “My little brother, it seems that storytelling is your special talent.”
“That’s awesome!” Scootaloo shouted in glee. “That’s a cool talent to have!”
I blushed as everypony complimented my newfound cutie mark. But then a voice spoke up, it was Silver Spoon. “Hey, has anypony seen Diamond Tiara?”
We looked around. I didn’t see the pink earth pony anywhere. Then I noticed, Pip and Dinky were gone as well.
_________________________________________________________
Perspective: Pip
Okay Pip! You got this! If Inquire can be brave and ask Clover to marry him, then I can give a simple gift to Dinky. She walked towards me in the hallway outside the classroom. I was far enough way to not allow onlookers on us. I held the gift behind me as she approached.
“Okay Pip,” Dinky said with a smile. “What did you want me alone for?”
“Um, it was…” My face was turning red. Come on Pip! You can do this! “I wanted to, give you, I mean, if you want…”
Dinky tilted her head in confusion. “You alright Pip? Your face is so red.”
“Here!” I said quickly, the room felt very warm as I held the present out in front of me. I kept my eyes down so I couldn’t see her reaction. “I wanted to give this to you. Merry Hearth’s Warming!”
I looked up as Dinky tentatively picked up the package. Her yellow eyes looked at the package, then at me, then back at the package. She then used her magic to unlace the bow on top of it. She then opened the box and her eyes grew wide.
“Pip! The ribbon I said I wanted!” Dinky exclaimed, picking up the ribbon in excitement. “Thank you so much!”
“Hey, it’s nothing,” I said, rubbing the back of my head. “its Hearth’s Warming after all, you deserve a present.”
She smiled at me then gave the ribbon to me. She turned around and smiled at me. “Put it on Pip”
“Okay” I replied, I then tied the ribbon in her beautiful blond mane. Gosh her mane was soft…Pip focus!
I finished tying it on and she looked at her reflection in a nearby window. She then looked back at me. “Oh Pip! It’s wonderful! How do I look?”
My jaw was agape for a minute, but then I shook my head. “Just the ribbon or, well all of you, because both are, well um…” Now I was sounding like an idiot.
Then she walked to me and kissed me full on the lips. I felt my entire face turn bright red as she moved her lips off me. She blushed at me. “That’s my present to you.”
I reached a hoof to touch my lips; I could still taste her lips on them. Sweet Luna, was this what Inquire felt?
“You’re welcome Dinky.” I gave a sheepish smile. “You deserve a nice gift.”
Dinky simply smiled and hugged me. I hugged her back. Gosh she was beautiful.
___________________________________________________________
Perspective: Diamond Tiara
That no good Tailspin! I kicked a trash can in frustration. I paced the bathroom floor, absolutely fuming. How dare Tailspin tell a story like that! Did he want to insult me?
But of course, before I can even make fun of him for telling that dumb story he gets his cutie mark! How am I supposed to tease him now? This is stupid beyond belief!
I then heard voices outside; I peeked outside to see Pip talking with Dinky. That pinto gave her a pink ribbon that he tied into her mane. She looked so happy, it was a dumb ribbon! It didn’t even have any sparkles or anything on it! Why was she so happy?
Then she turned and planted her lips on his. For a second there, I imagined a blue colt doing the same with me…
Stop it Diamond! He’s a dumb colt! A goody four hooves! A stupid, no good, useless, and utterly annoying boy!
Yet…
I slumped against a bathroom wall and sighed. Why is it his story touched me so? Is it because he somehow guessed my exact family situation? That mom was gone somewhere and daddy gave me stuff whenever I asked. How did he know?
I hate to say it,
It goes against everything I know as a bully,
But I love him,
He may be a goody four hooves. But he’s just so charming in his own way. Sure he may be a cripple, but he’s the first pony who’s really told me no. Sure Cheerilee or some adult will chastise me or something. But just the way he put his hoof down back at that shed.
This whole thing is stupid! Everypony knows he’s head over hooves for that blank flank Scootaloo!
For now anyways…
Just you wait Scootaloo, Tailspin will be mine!
I’ll find some way to convince him you’re not worth it! Then he’ll be mine! Mine!
Muahahahahaha!!!!
“Oh hey Diamond,” Snails said. “Everypony is looking for you.”
*Whack*
I knocked him unconscious with my saddle bag.
Can’t have any witnesses, nopony will believe him when he wakes up.
_________________________________________________________
Perspective: Private
I shook myself to get the snow off my trench coat. The snow came back with a vengeance as Tailspin and I walked home. We were lucky we weren’t buried completely in snow. Tailspin shook himself to get the snow off himself and smiled. “I almost became a snow pony back there.”
“And you made me into one,” I grumbled as Tailspin realized the snow he shook off landed on me. He laughed as I wiped the snow off myself. “Now you get yourself ready. Dad’s going to be here soon.”
Tailspin nodded and rolled to our living room. He looked up at our now decorated Hearth’s Warming tree. My apartment back in Manehatten was so small I couldn’t hope to have one before this year. The look on Tailspin’s eyes reminded me of when he was a little kid. But he’s grown so much since when he was then.
That Cutie Mark now on his flank showed just how grown up he’s become. Has it really been ten years? Looking back on the years I’ve had with this little colt, I can barely comprehend everything that went into them. But in only a half a year he went from staying in a hospital in Manehatten, to living in a home here.
He also has his dad again.
Our Dad…
_____________________________________________________________
Perspective: Irenius
“I’m going,” I said over the phone for the twentieth time.
“Irenius need I remind you how important this meeting is?” My brother Lazarus said over the phone. “If Father found out you-”
“Adamus is not keeping me away from his grandsons,” I fired back. “I’m heading to Ponyville right now.” I used my magic to pack more of my bags. I didn’t have time to order some servant to do it. They were already busy packing the other items over at the train station. “You can tell him that.”
“Irenius I can’t keep covering for you!” Lazarus fired back. “I have a son; I know what you’re going through. But I don’t openly defy father to run down to Hicksville”
“Your son doesn’t live in Ponyville,” I pointed out. “Just tell father I’m taking responsibility for once, and not in the way he wants me to.”
“You know what he’ll say when he finds out!”
“I know Lazy!”
“It’s Lazarus! Now you get your flank over to this meeting before father throws a fit!”
“Tell Adamus he can kiss my flank!” I hung up the phone, almost breaking it. I shook my head at the sheer stupidity of it all. Asking me to take a meeting when I promised my boys I’d be there? He really thinks of nothing but himself.
Little has changed it seems…
____________________________________________________________
It was evening when I arrived at Preventus’ home. I knocked on the door and my eldest son answered it. His grey eyes gazed at me. “Dad, you made it!”
“Of course I did,” I replied with a smile, and then I gestured to the small pile of presents behind me. “Could you lend me a hoof?”
“Are those presents all for Tailspin?” Preventus asked while picking up the first present and taking it into the house.
I levitated a couple of packages into Preventus’ humble home. “Not all of them, some are indeed for you.”
“Really?” Preventus said, grabbing another present. “Dad, you didn’t have to.”
“I wanted to,” I replied, levitating the last few presents and putting them under the tree. I looked up at it, Preventus sat beside me. “You remember our Hearth’s Warming days in Manehatten?”
“It has been a long time,” Preventus mused. “I always loved spending time together on Hearth’s Warming. You and Mom really got into the season.”
“Where’s Tailspin?” I asked.
“He’s up in his room; I was going to send him to bed soon.”
“May I?” I asked.
“Sure,” Preventus said with a smile. “I still got some presents to wrap for him. You guys have some time together.”
I nodded and followed Preventus’ directions to find Tailspin’s room. When I looked inside I saw it was a small and simple room. It only had a desk, a bed with cloud blankets on it, and several posters of the Wonderbolts. Right now my youngest was sitting in his chair, writing something at his desk.
“Tailspin?” I said slowly.
He looked up from his desk and smiled wide at me. “Dad!” He rolled to me and threw his forelegs around me. I gladly returned the hug, careful to avoid touching his small wings. We broke our hug and I smiled at him. “Have you been a good boy this year Tailspin?”
“Dad I stopped believing in Santa Hooves when I was six,” Tailspin said with a roll of his eyes.
“Well,” I crossed my forelegs in mock offense. “Then I guess I’ll take back all the presents he worked so hard to send me.”
“You got me presents?!” Tailspin said in excitement.
“Yes, but you know the rules,” I gave a slight chuckle. “And also Preventus wants you to head to bed.”
“Alright.” Tailspin’s blue eyes grew wide. “That’s right! I almost forgot! Look what I got today!” He raised his flank to show he now had his cutie mark. “I got it today! My special talent is story telling!”
“That’s wonderful Tailspin!” I smiled proudly, lifting Tailspin in my magic and spinning him around in the air. He laughed as he flew in my magic; he was used to being held in this way it seems. I finally set him down on the bed, lifting the covers onto him.
As he laid his head down on the pillow, I noticed a slight frown on his face. “Dad, you aren’t mad I didn’t get a cutie mark in being a good business pony?”
I knew exactly what he was talking about. Long ago Preventus got his cutie mark in solving mysteries. His passion for detective work ultimately led him to forsake the family business. This is what partially led to this mess in the first place. I looked down at my son and spoke earnestly.
“Tailspin, you’re going to grow older. You’re going to have experiences that define you. How you react to them can change you. But your special talent is only the starting point. The family business is there for you if you want it. But if you don’t want it when you’re old enough to make a decision, then I will honor your wishes.”
“Dad, I don’t want to disappoint you,” He answered solemnly.
“I would be disappointed if you didn’t use that talent of yours,” I said with a slight chuckle, but then I sat beside his bed. “You truly are selfless, like your mother.”
“Thanks dad.” He gave a genuine smile. “What was mom like?”
“She was a wonderful mare,” I said wistfully. “Beautiful, talented and hardworking are simply the basics of her. She was so selfless, taking care of her large family without worrying about herself.”
“I would’ve liked to have met her,” Tailspin said with a smile.
“There’s a way you can sort of…”
“How?”
“Here.” I reached into my trench coat and pulled out an old tape recorder. “Your mother recorded this when you were in her womb. She was going to play it when you came out, sort of as a lullaby. But she never got the chance to play it for you. Consider it an early Hearth’s Warming gift.”
Tailspin watched as I hit the play button…
___________________________________________________________
Hi baby, it’s me, Mommy. You haven’t met me yet, but you’re going to. You and I have been stuck with each other for a while now. I just have a small message for you.
When you come into this world, there’s going to be a lot of bad things. Ponies are going to be mean. They’re going to want you to be hurt. But I want you not to feel like you don’t matter. Because you’re meant to be…
You Were Meant To Be Bringing
The Gifts That You Bring
And Singing The Songs
You’ve Been Given To Sing
You Are Perfectly, Wonderfully,
Beautifully Meant To Be
You Were Meant To Be
Always remember that…my precious child…
__________________________________________________________
“She’s amazing,” Tailspin said when the song was done.
“I know,” I said with a smile. “You really are so much like her.”
“You mean I got the looks,” he joked.
“You got her sense of humor, that’s for sure.” I ruffled his mane affectionately.
“Dad, I’m really glad you could make it.” He gave a yawn and snuggled into his pillows.
I gently tucked him in, watching my son’s eyes close. He had my eyes.
Sparrow, our little boys are growing up.
I can’t wait to start this journey with them.
They are my sons, nopony is ever going to take them away again.
“Dad…” Tailspin said in his sleep.
“Yes Tailspin?” I asked.
“I love you.
“I love you too my son…” I gently nuzzled him to sleep…