Sin

by MemoryLane


Epilogue: Endgame

It's been a week since the Changeling attack, and things seem to be getting...better, I guess.

It was a long journey for all of us. Some more than others. We were all exhausted, the first thing we did when we were given the chance to was sleep. Heh, I guess Ennui rubbed off on us a little bit.

I sat in the middle of the library in my usual manner: lying on my belly, my chest resting on an expertly placed pillow, scanning one of my favorite books, and slowly flipping the pages with my magenta-laced magic. I let out an empty sigh. I didn't feel happy. Not like I used to, anyways.

I felt myself void of something. It didn't feel right. Maybe it's just because I can finally relax for the first time in two weeks. Celestia and other ponies, some of whom I don't know very well, helped clean up Equestria. There was excessive damage to the Canterlot castle, and to my never-ending gratitude, the Princess forgave me. She said that my friends and I did what we had to do, and if that involved a little destruction here and there, although she's not a big fan of it, she had no option. If we didn't, the Changeling's probably would have taken over.

When everything was over, I searched high and low for the Sins. None of which I found. They all seemed to disappear into thin air. I haven't seen them since last week, and I miss them already.

The Changeling's pretty much evaporated into black piles of dust after being hit by the Elements of Harmony, and the Deadly Sins' power at the same time. I was glad about that, we weren't going to have to worry about them for a long time. If not ever again.

I felt a few tears hit the book pages in front of me. I couldn't help but release my emotions as I buried my face in my hooves. I've grown so attached to all of them. I felt like I had just lost family, really. I don't know how my friends are holding up, but I felt dead inside.

Unbeknownst to me, Spike was in the doorway, watching me sadly. I could hear his footsteps as be began to approach me. I think I heard some kind of clanging noise as well.

"Twilight, are you going to be alright?" He asked me, as if a mother as speaking to her child. I lifted my head and wiped my tears, trying to have some dignity. When I was convinced that I got most of the tears off my face, I sniffled a bit before giving him a slow nod. Spike sighed sadly and began to rub my back.

"Things get better, Twilight. Trust me." He soothed, I didn't say anything, I just crossed my fore hooves and rested my chin on them. I didn't know how. If anything, things seemed to be at an all time low.

"You don't know that." I mumbled under my breathe, a little too loudly. I couldn't help being so...depressed. I was just really upset. Spike stood up, and grabbed something heavy that was behind them.

"I found this, and I think you may want it..." Spike said, grinning at me happily. I turned my head, only to see something that made me smile.

The Medallion was in his claws, and it was shining a beautiful pinkish hue.

Some more tears fell from my eyes as I looked at it, and I tried to initially look away. I didn't know whether to be happy, or to be upset with this gift, so I just smiled and wrapped my hooves around him gently. He happily returned the hug. He quickly put Medallion over my head, and I watched as it immediately turned a color resembling the sunset.

"Thank you..."

***

Finally...

I've made it to Ponyville.

It was a long journey, and it took me an extremely long time. I walked most of it, since the Changeling's had made it their damn mission to destroy all of the trains, along with the tracks.

I knew what I wanted to do in Ponyville, I just hoped that I had the guts to do it. After what had happened last week when I gave into my sin, I suddenly woke up in my bed back in Appleloosa. I didn't remember much, but there was one thing that I couldn't get out of my head, one of the most amazing mares I've ever met.

I stood outside of the pegasus' cottage, working over what I'm going to say in my mind. I felt like I was going to have a heart attack. I've never really done this before, and I was crazy nervous. I tried to calm myself down. I didn't want to go inside and she notices that I'm trembling.

"Hi! I'm back! How are you, milady?"

No. Too formal.

"Hey! What's up?"

Eh...

"Hi-"

Dammit!

This is going to be way harder than I would have originally thought. It's easy to make promises to yourself in advance, but when the time comes, no one is ever prepared. I took a deep breathe and knocked on the door and patiently waited, doing a little dance to get over my nerves. When I heard a hoof grasp the door handle, I immediately stopped and looked forward.

Fluttershy opened the door.

"Can I help...you...?" She squeaked upon taking a single look at me, and her cerulean eyes widened. A very large and uncharacteristic smile appeared on her face. "Warble?" I politely smirked at her. "Where have you been?" I shrugged.

I tried to find the words, but I kept finding myself nervously stutter. "Ya know...j-just hanging a-around.." I looked inside of her cottage. "D-Do you mind if I-I came in?" I asked her, reminding her about the fact that I was still outside.

"Oh! Yes. Come in!" She said in a voice barely above a whisper. I'm not sure, but I'm pretty sure I saw her blush just slightly. She opened the door a little farther, allowing me to slip inside of her cottage.

It was very quaint, and it smelled heavenly, really. Everything in the home seemed to have the essence of a duller yellow, and pink. Much like her. Fluttershy sat down on a nearby couch, and I sat next to her.

We sat there, unspeaking, for a good moment, and I was getting nervous. Come on you idiot! Say something! "Uhm...so how's it going?" I mentally face hoofed. Fluttershy kindly smiled.

"It's going fine." She whispered. I felt like I was going to die just sitting next to her. She was so gorgeous, and adorable. Quick! Give her a compliment!

"I like your...mane? Yeah! It's so cool!"

Words cannot describe how much I hate myself after saying that.

Fluttershy giggled cutely, before beginning to nervously hide behind said mane. "Oh, um. Thank you..." Alright! That may or may not have worked! Time to reel her in! If you haven't noticed by now, I watched a few dating advice videos before I actually came over. I'm not sure if the advice is working or not...time to bust out some of Warble's charm!

"Look, the r-real reason I'm here is b-because I missed you." I said to her, looking deep in her eyes. It felt really weird, and I resisted the nagging urge to habitually look away. I was never a fan of eye contact.

"I missed you too, Warble."

"Like...REALLY m-missed you." I repeated, Fluttershy blushed a little bit, but put her hoof in front of her mouth in an attempt to cover it up. I think she know's where I'm going with this. "I just wanted to know...if maybe...you know..."

COME ON! DO IT! SAY IT!

"If y-you'd wanna...hang out or something sometime?" I stuttered terribly. Fluttershy was blushing so massively that her hoof was now no longer able to cover it, and she resorted to simply looking away from me.

She let out a small squeak. After a moment, she took a deep breathe, and turned back to look at me. She gave me a shaky reply:

"I would love to."

***

"Ennui! Are you kidding me!?" Vanity shouted at me from the other room.

I have to admit. Things have gotten pretty nice since the whole "Changeling" fiasco. I made a good friend or two. One of which decided to become my roommate. We rented out a nice apartment in Ponyville, so we could be close to the other sins, along with Twilight and her friends. This is going to be fun.

Vanity's going to love my pranks.

Actually, I'm pretty sure she already has.

I was lying on the couch, eating some of my favorite hay-chips when she stumbled in the living room. I took one look at her and erupted into laughter. It looks like she found that bucket of glue that I had placed beside her bed. She was a mess. Her hair was all over the place, and her left hindleg along with her right foreleg where glued together hilariously. She also had the white substance on her coat as well.

"Someone had a little too much fun with the vibrator, huh?" I joked, laughing hysterically. Vanity gasped at what I had said and fumed at me, turning a little red.

"What the Hell Ennui!? It's our first day here and you're already doing stuff like this!?" She screamed. For the love of God, I was laughing so hard I swear that I started to cry a little bit. Oh my sides...."My perfect coat...and my MANE! It's ruined!"

"Ohh it's all in good fun." I said after I had finally calmed myself down. She gave an irritated grunt and stomped the ground angrily, before hopping towards the bathroom to wash off all of the superglue.

Even though, sure, it was a little mean. I know she doesn't hate me. She cares for me more than any pony ever did. She'll get over it soon, she always does.

Maybe I was right.

A little friendship goes a long way.

***

Well, this turned out better than I expected. After I gave into my sin, things have actually been getting better.

The Changelings are all gone, and that's always a good thing. After things were done and over with, I woke up in my bed, back in my mansion in Canterlot. Oh, I was ecstatic. I was so grateful! Finally I could be back with all my beloved things! It was all fun and games, until the next day came around.

My servants all tried to cheer me up. I felt, different. I didn't care anymore. I felt...lonely. This is the first ever time. Usually, all I need is my things to make me cheer up. But for some reason, I couldn't. I missed everyone. Even Covette.

But I didn't want to leave.

I start to wonder what happened to me. Something inside of me seemed to change. This feeling of greatness and power suddenly doesn't seem to suit me any more.

I wanted more!

So, I carefully packed my things. I knew what I was going to do. I was going to move to Ponyville. I was going to be with everyone else. Especially Rarity. I wanted to see her again. She was the only one who cared for me, even though we've had a few fights every now and then. I just couldn't get her out of my mind. She was so beautiful, and I knew that from the moment where she disrupted my party a while back.

I wanted to go back. I was going to build another mansion there, one that's bigger, and better. One that I can call my own.

But, before I did, I made sure that I did a few things. I told my servants that I will no longer be needing their services, and I payed them off generously for their faithful service over all these years. They seemed disappointed, but in the end, they were accepting of my decision.

One more thing. I had all of my things in a moving truck ready to go before I remembered something. I stood outside of my mansion, looking left and right. I didn't see her, but that's alright. I know that she would be here soon. I took out a cardboard box, and stuffed a few things of mine inside, along with a letter that I had written myself.

Before I left, I made sure to label it and leave it on my doorstep: "Covette".

***

Where is he?

I need to find that greedy bastard. I still don't like him! No, I'm not obsessed with him, I'm not a stalker. I'm just persistent. If he takes one step away from his cash, I'm taking it. The stallion still doesn't deserve a single bit of it.

Ever since I woke up back on the streets of Manehatten, I've made it my mission to get back to Canterlot. I'm still not giving up. I know exactly where he is, now that I think about it. He's probably happy to be back, touching and idolizing his things like usual. Some ponies never change, and it's sickening.

"Gotcha!" I said...wait...what?!

There was a moving truck outside of him mansion, that had just began to pull out. I stared in awe. He's leaving? His beloved mansion? What the Hell!?

Cashmere was nowhere to be seen. Ugh, great, I came all this way for nothing!

Wait, what's that? There appeared to be some sort of box on his doorstep. Well then, time to investigate! I hopped out of the bushes, looking both ways to make sure that no one was watching me, before I sprinted for the box. I swiftly grabbed it and, before I had a chance to even inspect it, I made another beeline back for the bushes, cackling to myself. Haha! Easy nab!

I set the box down on the ground, before I noticed something odd about it. My name was on the side.

"What the..." I muttered to myself. I forcefully tore open the box, not caring about how nice and neatly it should have been done. I was so curious that I didn't want to waste a single second. When I opened the box, I felt my heart leap out of my chest.

The box was filled with cash.

"Oh my God..." I exclaimed, cheering a little bit to myself, and for once, letting myself smile. I inspected the money, just to make sure that it was real, and that this wasn't some kind of cruel trick.

When I was rummaging through to make sure that they were real, I noticed that there was a white paper on the bottom of the box. I pulled it out, and it appeared to be a letter once again addressed to me.

I slowly opened it. This was all so insane...

Dear Covette,

Hello. Greetings. I assume you know who this is from. I knew you couldn't resist the chance to take some of my things. I bet you tried to take this sneakily, didn't you? Well, there are camera's all over the place. You don't think a place as lovely as my home wouldn't have 24 hour security?

Anyways, I would like you to take this. It is 40,000 bits. Enough to get you a new home in Ponyville. That's where I'm going. I'm done living my life this way. I want to be surrounded by others, ponies who actually give a damn about me. And I would like it if you joined us. You don't have to live on the streets anymore. You can have a home, maybe even a family if you wanted. Home's in Ponyville are fairly cheap(I'm building my own mansion, so it's different for me), so this should be enough money for you to at least stay in Ponyville for a few years.

I want to apologize for what happened when we were children. I was a greedy jerk, and I'm very sorry. I just hope that this can make up for it.

Highest Regards,

Cashmere

I sat on my rump, in utter shock. So, he did remember me. This...this is amazing. I...I can't believe he did this for me. I stared at the box of money in front of me. What happened to the Cashmere I thought I knew?

"What a dumbass." I smiled happily before picking up the box and putting it on my back.

I was headed to Ponyville, where I can finally have the opportunity to actually live like I should.

***

I almost died that day.

I think. I found myself in my cabin when I had finally woken up, with a full container of my pills clutched in my hoof. It was amazing. I honestly didn't think I would have survived that. It was insane. I hope, when I gave into my sin, that I didn't hurt anyone.

I felt disappointed, back in my cabin. There was nothing for me here. I had ponies who put up with me back then. It was the best experience of my life. No one ran away from me. No one found me to be a monster. I was...a pony again.

It didn't take me long. I knew what I had to do.

I traveled back to Ponyville, back to the ponies who originally cared for me. I didn't want to lose them, and I wanted to make sure that everything wasn't just some kind of sick joke. It took an awful long time, especially since the trains were broken down. I will admit I had to take a few pills for that...

It took almost a week, but it was all for a good cause.

I wanted to see my new best friend. Good thing I knew exactly where she would probably be.

I walked up the road to Sweet Apple Acres, as determined as ever. Happy that for once, I wasn't stepping on snow, and that there were beautifully colored birds flying besides me.

Applejack was out bucking apple trees, like she had told me she does. With one swift kick, she sent a barrage of apples into a cleverly placed bucket. I walked up behind her, unwittingly.

"Hi Appleja-OOMPH!" I shouted as Applejack jumped and habitually bucked me with her very fine toned hind legs. I flew back at least five feet, and landed in a pile on the floor in a painful blur.

"Kindlin'? What are ya doing here!?" She said as she helped me get to my feet. She rubbed the back of her neck, tipping her Stetson hat up a little bit. "Heh...sorry 'bout that..."

I rubbed my nose, somehow, it wasn't broken. I felt a little anger building up in me, but I kept it at bay. I was starting to get a little better with controlling my anger, but slowly.

"It's fine, and yeah. I thought I should pay a visit!" I muttered, and Applejack gave me an excited smile.

Applejack seemed to be my rock. No, we weren't dating, and I don't plan on dating for a long time. I'm way too old for her anyways. She always kept me in check, whether it was reminding me to take my pills, or getting things done around the farm correctly. She introduced me to her family, and they told me that I could stay as long as I wanted, as long as I helped out on the farm. Which I was more than happy to do, I love apples.

I don't care what I'd have to do anyways. I'm just happy. I actually have a new family: her grandmother, her older brother, and younger sister, who reminded me slightly of Charcoal with her hard-headedness.

It was all I ever wanted, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

***

I stared down at the Medallion in front of me, before I heard a knock at my door. I didn't waste any time going to answer it. It was probably just one of my friends wanting to visit. Although, I did have a small feeling inside of me...

I quickly opened the door, and almost have my jaw hit the floor.

"Hey sexy." She purred, giving me her usual seductive look. She batted her eyes lashes a few times.

"Aphrodite?! You're alive? What!?" I almost shrieked in shock. I couldn't believe it! She was alright, does that mean that the others are alright too? Not that Aphrodite isn't a great sight to see. I'm just curious.

"Better than ever." She said, shaking her rump a little bit before she walked inside. I blinked a few times before I shut the door behind her.

"What happened?" I asked her, not wasting any time. She took a seat on the pillow that I had previously been resting my chest on. She smirked at me sensually.

"Nothing much."

"No I mean after you gave into your sin!" I asked her again. "I couldn't find any of you! You all just disappeared!" I was almost freaking out right now. This is unbelievable! I was dying for answers.

"I woke up back in my home in Las Pegasus." She soothed. "I missed you so much that I thought I'd come visit!" She closed her eyes for just a moment, as if she was thinking of something.

"I can't believe this..." I thought out loud. Aphrodite frowned.

"You're not happy to see me?" Her bottom lip quivered. I knew she was faking though, it was pretty obvious. I put my hooves up in front of me defensively.

"Of course I am!" I shouted, a little louder than usual. True, I've missed her. Along with every other sin. But I'm not going to tell her that. I don't want her to get any wrong messages. I'm still straight, and I know she's still probably into me. I don't know why she came to visit me all the way from Las Pegasus if she didn't.

"Good to hear." She looked around the library before staring into my eyes. Even when she hasn't given into her sin, her eyes are still pretty hypnotizing. "So here's the deal...you remember when I let you and your pink friend stay at my house?"

I smiled at her crudely. "You mean the night were you almost raped me?" Aphrodite reeled back, trying to think of a way to respond without making her seem terrible.

"Sorry about that. Anyways, do you think you could repay the favor?" She asked me. I furrowed my brow at her. "I don't have a place to stay, and I really want to live in Ponyville with you and everyone else!" She begged, giving me some sort of puppy dog eyes. I have a feeling she did this on purpose just so she could have a reason to stay with me.

Sure, I cared about her enough. But, I wasn't sure. This didn't seem like a good idea at all. "Come on Twi! It sounds like a great idea!" Spike piped up. Oh, how wrong he was. Although, I didn't have the heart in me to say no to her. I really don't want her to have to sleep on the streets. So I sighed and gave her a slight nod. Aphrodite cheered loudly and gave me a quick hug.

"Thank you! Trust me! This is going to be just like a sleepover! Except I'm going to be staying the night for...a few nights..." She told me, and I rolled my eyes.

"Fine, but here's the rule. No touching me!" I shouted at her, and she gave me an amused nod.

I had a terrible feeling about this, but I was also kind of ecstatic. If Aphrodite was here, I'm sure that the other sins are out an about. This means that it's not over. I have found a new hope, and so has everyone else on this journey. That is something that I know.

This was only the beginning of something beautiful.

END