//------------------------------// // Epilogue // Story: OTR: The Fall of the Night // by The King of Hearts //------------------------------// //// Fall of the Night – Epilogue //// For the people who haven’t read my other story, that this one continues, Spike is a pony, and since neither, him or Alex have cutie marks, they are members of the CMC. //// “…Are you quite sure?” Luna asked quietly. “We’re positive,” Alex answered, looking to Celestia, “We worked it all out.” Luna turned from everypony, and walked out of the room. Leaving complete silence. “Should we…?” Dash began, looking between Celestia and Alex, “You know… go get her?” “No.” Celestia said, watching the exit Luna had just taken, “I will speak to her.” Alex and Dash both nodded. “We’ll be here, let us know what’s going to happen.” Alex said. Celestia nodded, and then headed after Luna. They hadn’t ever truly spoken of her child. Celestia had found out about her… But hadn’t pursued the topic. It would have been painful for Luna. But this new development meant that they were going to have to talk about it. //// Luna paced around her room quietly, still reeling from this news. Her child survived, and lived on. And while she hadn’t expressed it to the ponies outside, she was overjoyed. Her baby hadn’t died in the Crystal Kingdom… Bolt had died keeping her safe… She truly missed him. Sighing quietly, Luna closed her eyes and smiled, fighting back the urge to cry over this. This was good news. It was the best news she had ever received. So she wasn’t going to cry. She was going to smile! Of course, tears came anyway, but it truly didn’t matter. She was happy right now. “Luna…?” Celestia asked, expecting a long, rather complicated conversation. “Oh, sister…” Luna smiled, at Celestia “I wish for us to go right now!” “Oh!” Celestia said in surprise, “You’re sure you want to go at this moment?” “Of course!” Luna said, wiping her cheek, “Why is this even a question?” “Well… ten minutes ago, she was gone.” Celestia said softly, “This must be huge for you.” “It is, sister.” Luna said, “But I’ve lost enough time with my child. I don’t want to waste another moment.” “Alright,” Celestia said happily, “I was surprised to learn that I had met this pony already.” “Her circumstances are… unfortunate, however.” Luna said, “Perhaps we can change that for her.” “Perhaps we can,” Celestia smiled. //// Luna walked slowly through the streets of Ponyville, followed by her sister, Alex, and Dash, who all kept their distance, wanting her to have this moment for herself. “Are you two sure of this?” Celestia asked, “A singe descendent, after thousands stopped having children?” “We can’t explain it,” Alex said, “Maybe she can fill us in when we get there.” “Her mother died when she was still so young,” Dash said, “There’s a chance that she won’t know.” “Let’s keep out hoofs crossed.” Alex said, realizing that you couldn’t really cross hooves. Luckily, nopony particularly noticed his nonsense words. “Is this the proper location?” Luna asked the three behind her, as they approached a small building. Alex nodded to her. Sighing quietly, Luna turned back to the house, and stopped for a moment. “We’ll wait here,” Celestia said softly, “Please take your time.” Luna nodded, and then silently walked into the building. //// Of course, it isn’t every day that a princess walks into an orphanage. Opening the door, she was greeted with a handful of colts and fillies, immediately looking up at her with panicked, and wide eyes. “A-aah… P-Princess!” An old mare said, quickly standing up, “It’s an honor! To what do we owe your presence?” Luna looked silently around the room, for the filly that had been described to her, ignoring the mare. “Princess…?” The mare asked again. “I wish to see—“ “I’ll be back soon!” A filly called, running down the stairs as she placed a blue helmet on her head, “I’ve got a meeting I need to get to!” “Don’t you want to say hello to the Princess?” The mare asked the girl as she opened the door, and briefly looked back. “Hi Princess Luna!” She shouted, running out and closing the door. “Oh my…” The mare sighed, “My apologized, Princess. That one is quite… rambunctious.” “She… is a Pegasus?” Luna softly, after witnessing the girl. “Why yes!” She answered quickly, “Little thing can’t fly worth a darn though!” //// “Is that…?” Dash asked, seeing the young girl hop on her scooter, and take off into town. “Yes,” Alex laughed, “Do you think Luna even had a chance to talk to her?” “E-excuse me…!” A timid voice called from the front door of the orphanage. The three looked to Luna, as she tried to get the girls attention, however, due to her volume, it was to no avail. She then looked to them, with big, sad eyes. “Oh, Luna,” Celestia giggled, “She reminds me of your friend, Fluttershy sometimes.” “Come on Luna!” Alex called, “I know where she’s heading!” “How do you know?” Dash asked, cocking an eyebrow. “Club meeting!” Alex answered, “I’m supposed to be there, actually.” “What is her destination?” Luna asked quickly, “I must know!” “Uh… Carousel Boutique?” Alex said, thinking to himself, “Yeah! It’s Sweetie Belles turn to host it.” “Host?” Dash asked, “How organized are you guys?” “Pretty organized,” Alex said simply, “Come on, I’ll take us over there!” “Why don’t we fly?” Celestia asked, “It would be much faster.” “Um,” Alex said, scratching his head, “About that…” //// The four arrived outside the Carousel Boutique. Luna, Celestia, And Alex riding on Dash’s back. “There’s her scooter,” Alex said, hopping up and down on Dash, annoying her, “She’ll be in there.” “Thank you,” Luna said earnestly, as everypony started getting ready to go inside with her, “But… I wish to do this alone.” “Oh! Right!” Dash said, backing her and Alex up, followed by Celestia. Luna turned back to the door and exhaled quietly, bracing herself for this. Something she had thought impossible for a thousand years. While she wished that this was her foal… that simply wasn’t possible. Still, she had been saved by Bolt, and had gone on to live a happy life, with a husband, and children. Luna couldn’t have hoped for more. Raising a hoof to the front door, Luna hesitantly knocked on it. “I’m terribly sorry, but we’re closed!” Rarity’s voice called from behind the door, before shouting at somepony inside, “Sweetie Belle! Put that down!” Luna cocked her head, and listened. “Spike!” Rarity said, “Don’t encourage her!” Luna knocked on the door once again. “That might be Alex!” Spike said, “Let him in!” Rarity sighed, and opened the door, still looking at Spike, “There, are you happy?” Spike went wide eyed. “What’s the matter?” Rarity asked, turning to Princess Luna, “Eep—“ “Hello!” Luna bellowed, smiling awkwardly. “P-P-P-Princess Luna!” Rarity stammered, “My dearest apologies for not letting you in! You see, I—“ “You needn’t apologize,” Luna smiled, “I simply wish to speak to one of the girls inside.” “Has Sweetie Belle done something?” Rarity asked, “Because I sincerely apologize! She’s so young, you see! And is on this- this crazy quest to earn her cutie mark!” “I do not wish to use the Royal voice on anypony today,” Luna said happily, “I wish to talk with… Um… Scoot-ah-Loo.” “Oh, well! She’s just in here.” Rarity said, leading the princess into the kitchen, where the girls had decided to see if they were gourmet chefs. “Scootaloo, dear,” Rarity said, walking into the kitchen. However, instead of being greeted by her sister, and her friends, she saw an empty kitchen, “Oh my… where has she gotten to?” “I think they went to get some apples to make some pies!” Spike said, “They wanted to leave the princess and you alone… So they went out the back door.” “But she’s here to see Scootaloo!” Rarity said, “Why do they always do these things…” “They have gone to Sweet Apple Acres then?” Luna asked, “Then I will follow them.” “I’m coming too!” Spike spoke up, “They just up and left me behind!” “Well… I would prefer if you—“ “And I’m coming too!” Rarity said angrily, cutting Luna off, “Sweetie Belle knows that she has to tell me before she goes out!” “Well… if you insist.” Luna said in defeat. “Perfect!” Rarity smiled, levitating a large hat on to her head, “Come, Spike.” Leaning on him, and squishing her hat against him, they walked out, leaving Luna alone in the Boutique. Luna shook her head, and walked back out the door. //// “Why’d y’all need so many apples?” Applejack asked, filling up a paper bag full of apples. “Because, sis!” Apple Bloom whined, “We need to see if we’re bakers!” “Ya’ know Apple Bloom…” Applejack sighed, “I don’ think yer gonna have too much luck with that.” “How do you know?” Scootaloo asked, “I think we’d be great!” “Yeah!” Sweetie squeaked. “Well… good luck to y’all,” Applejack sighed, knowing that the girls weren’t going to be stopped by any words of hers. “Thanks sis!” Apple Bloom called, biting the bag, and hanging it on Sweetie Belles horn. “We’re going to Sugar Cube Corner now!” Scootaloo called as they trotted away. “We’re going to make something delicious!” Sweetie Belle added, from behind the bag that hung from her face. Applejack laughed as she turned back toward the barn. She needed to finish up her work, and then head in for dinner. She had almost been eaten by a hydra today. So she wanted to relax. Hopefully Apple Bloom wouldn’t be bringing anything home for dessert… But then again, maybe they’d turn out great. //// “What do you mean, ‘we just missed her’?” Alex whined, still sitting on Dash’s back, “I’m sleepy!” “Maybe you’ll wake up a little if you stop riding me!” Dash groaned. “You didn’t mind last night!” Alex laughed, before silencing himself. The entire group stared right at him and Dash, as she blushed furiously. “I-It was a joke!” Alex stammered, “Don’t give us that look!” Silence. “I swear!” Alex said, looking to Princess Celestia, as she laughed. “We believe you, Alex.” Celestia said, in a very unconvincing tone, “Besides, Dash seems like the type that would be doing the riding.” Everypony broke out in laughter, as Alex and Dash looked away from them, blushing deeply. “Well, enough ‘bout those two!” Applejack laughed, “The girls headed fer Sugar Cube Corner, so we should probably get goin’” “We?” Luna asked. “Of course!” Applejack said, “I wanna see how their pies come out!” “I’d love to do so, as well!” Rarity spoke up, “As long as Spiky has the first bite…” “But… You made me test Sweetie’s food last time!” Spike complained, “I thought I was going to die!” “Well, you’re still alive, dear!” Rarity smiled, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger!” Spike sighed. “Let us hurry,” Luna said, “I would like to be done before nightfall.” Everypony nodded. “We should hurry, before they move again,” Celestia suggested, “I have a feeling that they don’t stay in one place for too long.” “You can say that again,” Alex said, recalling the several trips they had taken him on. //// “Alright, girls!” Pinkie said, bouncing around the kitchen happily, as each of the young fillies stood at a station at the counter, “Do you want help making all these scrumptious pies?” “No thanks!” Apple Bloom said, “We need to see if we can do this!” “Alrighty girls!” Pinkie said, trotting out of the room, “Let me know how they turn out! I’ll just be in my room with Twilight and Fluttershy!” With that, she left the girls alone. “So! Where should we start?” Scootaloo asked her friends, now that they were alone. “I know!” Sweetie Belle said happily, “We need to bake the apples first!” “Are you sure…?” Apple Bloom asked, “I don’ think I’ve seen mah sister do it that way.” “Trust me!” Sweetie said confidently, “I’m a great cook! Just ask Rarity!” “Okay okay!” Scootaloo said, “Let’s just start already! I’ll put the apples in the oven!” //// The trip had been much longer than Luna had anticipated at first, and she grew more and more anxious as each second passed. This would have been so much easier if she had just seen her at the orphanage. Luna looked among the now sizable group of ponies around her, and noticed Spike looking at the sky, and sniffing. “Do you guys see that?” Spike asked, pointing to the sky ahead of them. Everypony looked upward, and saw black smoke rising into the sky. “Is that coming from Sugar Cube Corner?!” Dash said. “I’ll bet it’s those girls!” Rarity said, as she started running for the smoking building. “I hope it ain’t on fire!” Applejack said running with Rarity, as everypony followed suit. Outside Sugar Cube Corner, stood Pinkie Pie, Twilight, Fluttershy, and the three young fillies. “I can’t believe we listened to Sweetie Belle…” Scootaloo said sadly, knowing that they had done some pretty bad damage. “I could have sworn that was how to make a pie…” Sweetie Belle said, feeling terrible over her choice to bake the apples. “Applejack is gunna kill us.” Apple Bloom sighed. “The Cake’s are gonna kill me!” Pinkie whined. “That’s what you get for leaving the girls alone in the kitchen!” Twilight scolded. Fluttershy was silent throughout the endeavor. “Girls…” Dash said, arriving next to the defeated CMC, “Did you do all this?” They all nodded dejectedly. “Oh no!” Sweetie Belle squeaked, looking back, “The Princesses are here!” Celestia looked for her sister, but was surprised to see her hiding in the back of the group. “Are you here to banish us?” Scootaloo asked, eliciting a sigh from Celestia. “We’re real sorry!” Apple Bloom immediately added. Luna stepped forward, and passed the group of fillies. They all looked at her, wondering what was coming next. Leaning forward, she cast a spell, sending an orb of magic into the house, that quickly disappeared into the smoke. Suddenly, the smoke started being pulled into the house. Every cloud of it was sucked away from the sky, and pulled back into the building. “What is she doing?” Pinkie asked Twilight. “I haven’t seen this kind of spell before…” Twilight said, inspecting the strange effect the magic had. After a few moments, all of the smoke had vanished into the house. Leaving the building just as it had been a few minutes ago. “THE DAMAGE HAS BEEN REPAIRED.” Luna shouted, making everyone recoil. “Oh…” Luna said, suddenly very timid, “I… Any damage done by the smoke is gone.” “Thankyou-thankyou-thankyou!” Pinkie shouted suddenly, bouncing circles around Luna, “Now I won’t be evicted! And won’t have to live on the street! And I won’t have to do icky things in the alley behind Carousel Boutique, just to make money!” “Heavens to Betsy!” Apple Bloom said, overjoyed. “You fixed it!” Sweetie beamed. “Wow…” Scootaloo said breathlessly. The three fillies all continued thanking Luna for saving the day. They were followed by Twilight and Rainbow Dash, as Luna stood in an awkward stance, wanting to speak up, but not wanting to interrupt anypony. *Ahem* Celestia’s powerful voice immediately silenced the group, giving Luna the opportunity she needed. “May I speak with you…?” Luna asked Scootaloo timidly. “Uhm… Sure?” The filly answered, looking nervously back and forth between her friends. “We should leave them alone.” Celestia said, to everypony else, “Pinkie, why don’t you bake us a cake inside?” “Why do we need a cake?” Twilight asked. “Who cares?!” Pinkie laughed, “It’s cake!” So, everypony filed into Sugar Cube corner, leaving only Luna and Scootaloo outside. The young girl was feeling quite nervous, to say the least. Being in the presence of a princess and all… Maybe she was mad at her for not being respectful, back when she left the orphanage! “If this is about me rushing out back at the orphanage, I have a perfectly good explanation!” Scootaloo said quickly. “No…” Luna said, realizing that she had no idea just what she was going to say to this young girl. She suddenly wished her sister was here with her. What was she even going to say to this filly? ‘Congratulations! You’re my great great great granddaughter!’ No… That wouldn’t do. She would have to be much more delicate than that. Perhaps…. She could— “Uh… Princess Luna?” Scootaloo asked, seeing the Princess lost in thought. “Oh… My apologies. Um…” Luna stumbled, trying to find the right words. However, they simply wouldn’t come. And, while she tried to piece together something to say, time was quickly passing, making the situation feel worse and worse. Finally, she came out and said something. It was just the wrong thing to say… “Congratulations! You’re my great great great granddaughter!” Luna said, feeling like a complete idiot. “…What?” //// “She bombed it…” Alex said, peeking his head through the curtains in the living room. Alex wasn’t the only one peeking through at this moment though. In order from the bottom, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Spike, Rarity, Alex, Twilight, Applejack, Princess Celestia, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash, all had their heads between the same curtains. Had somepony seen them from the outside, it would have made them wonder what kind of crazy pony-totem pole was behind the curtains for them to achieve such line of heads like that. Luckily, nopony did walk by. So, there’s no point in even discussing it. “What’s going on, exactly?” Twilight asked, looking down to Alex. “Uh, well, it’s a really long story.” Alex said, “And I’m not totally sure that we have the time right now.” “Luna had a child that she thought died, Alex and Rainbow Dash found out she survived, and Scootaloo is the only living descendent.” Celestia quickly summarized. “What?!” Many of the ponies said together. “I guess it’s not a long story at all.” Alex said, impressed with the shortened version Celestia had improvised. “Woah nelly!” Applejack said. “Luna had a child?” Twilight asked, “W-when did this happen?” “Shh!” Dash said, pointing to the window, “I wanna hear!” //// “We’re… related?” Scootaloo asked in disbelief, “I… I thought I had no family!” Luna frowned. That was a pretty sad thing to hear. “You do,” Luna said softly, suddenly feeling a bit more confident, “My sister and I are both related to you by blood.” “Does that mean that my mom was too? Or was it my dad?” Scootaloo asked, not having much in the way of memories of them. But, was still curious. “I believe Alex said it was your mother,” Luna nodded, not sure what was coming next, conversation, or behavior wise. She just hoped that she didn’t get sad and cry. Because then Luna would lose her composure! “Does that mean you’re going to adopt me?” Scootaloo suddenly asked, clearly uneasy on the prospect. “Oh… Well, would you want that?” Luna asked, realizing that she hadn’t even considered something like that happening “To go to Canterlot with Celestia and myself?” Scootaloo looked troubled. This was so much for her to hear at once. “I’d really like to stay in Ponyville…” She finally said, hoping that this wouldn’t hurt the princesses’ feelings. Luna nodded. That was to be expected, and was perhaps for the best for both Scootaloo, and herself. She didn’t have the time to care for a child full time. Come to think of it, maybe Celestia had been right when she said that Luna should take some time to think this all over. She was standing here with this strange little girl… and she was her grandchild? She should have thought this over first, and made a better approach, instead of dumping this all on a child like this. Often times when Luna was in tough situations, she would try to think about herself a thousand years ago, and what she would have done back then, as she considered herself to be much stronger back then. Unfortunately, spending a thousand years on the moon had a way of messing things up in your head a bit. Still, she knew how to get through to this girl. That old side of her still existed enough for her to know. “How about this…” Luna said, keeling down on her front legs, bringing herself to Scootaloo’s level, “You live here, in the orphanage… But you can come to the castle, and visit with me whenever you want.” “Really?!” Scootaloo said, suddenly very happy with the outcome of this, “I’d be allowed to do that?” “Of course,” Luna said, happy to see the girl smile, “You’re practically a Princess, you know! “…I am?” Scootaloo asked in awe, her eyes expanding to twice their normal size. “Sure you are!” Luna beamed, emulating her old, much friendlier attitude, leaving her awkwardness behind. “You can even bring your friends to the castle with you!” “I can?!” Scootaloo asked, “You’re the coolest, Luna!” Luna wasn’t able to just sit down, and declare herself this filly’s mother, or anything else. So, she was going to build a friendship with this girl, and while it wouldn’t be the relationship she would have had with her baby, she could still make a difference in her life, and hopefully be a role model for her. She may have lost the chance to care for, and love her own daughter… But she had been given this chance, with a pony born of her own child. And it made her happier than anything ever had before. //// “Wow...” Alex and Dash said together. “What?” Sweetie spoke up, from below them. “Luna’s acting like her old self.” Alex explained, “Not like the awkward pony we all know.” “It’s true,” Celestia agreed, “I haven’t seen Luna in this kind of mood since… since before she went to the Crystal Kingdom.” “The ‘what’?” Twilight asked. “Oh, nothing.” Celestia brushed off, “Suffice to say, it was many years ago.” “I can’t believe Scootaloo is related to Princess Luna!” Sweetie said again. “Ah’ know! Apple Bloom agreed, “That means she finally has somepony!” “And that somepony is a princess!” Dash added. “I always felt so bad for the little thing…” Fluttershy spoke up. The group sat in a comfortable silence, and eavesdropped on Luna and Scootaloo. However, after a few seconds of glancing around, Spike spoke up, voicing a concern he had. “Isn’t it a bit rude to be peeping?” Spike asked everypony around him. “It’s okay Spike,” Celestia reassured, “I’m a Princess.” He can’t argue that logic. //// Finally, the day was over. Luna and Scootaloo had talked about all of the things they, and the rest of the CMC were going to do, before being invited inside for cake. It was a strange thing for the Cakes to come home to. All of Pinkies friends, their siblings, and of course, Luna and Celestia, sitting in the dining room eating cake. And, after a few minutes breather for them, they finally accepted that they didn’t need to do anything for the Princesses, besides leave them to their own devices. The sun had finally started to set, so Luna and Celestia decided to head back, so Luna could bring up the moon, and then head back on her diplomatic mission. She also promised that as soon as she came back, she was going to give Scootaloo and her friends a tour of the castle, and even give her her own room. Needless to say, they were excited. Alex and Dash, on the other hand, had gone back to the library early. Today had been massively busy, and they just wanted some sleep. And spending the night together would be nice. Outside of the Library, The Doctor and the TARDIS phased into view, and both he and Derpy stepped out of the phone box. “Mission accomplished?” Alex asked. “Oh yes,” The Doctor agreed, smiling brightly. “What are you gonna do now?” Dash asked, looking from him to Derpy. “I think we’re going to explore time and space a bit,” The Doctor explained, “Lots of stuff I have to do again, since it’s all been undone in this timeline.” “Yeah!” Derpy agreed, “We’re going to help a bunch of ponies!” “Good for you,” Alex smiled, seeing just how happy Derpy’s company made the Doctor. “But who’s gonna deliver the mail?” Dash teased. “Oh right!” Derpy said, “Your mail!” Reaching into the saddle bag she now wore, she pulled out a letter addressed to Alex. “Who would be sending me mail?” Alex said to himself, inspecting the letter. “Well, we’d better be off.” The Doctor said, stepping into the TARDIS. “Wait!” Derpy said suddenly, “I have one more to deliver!” “Oh, right.” The Doctor said, watching Derpy pull out the small bag, and then sighing, “What?” Dash asked, seeing his reaction, “Who is it for?” “It’s a shampoo sample…” The Doctor said flatly, “And it’s addressed to you, Derpy.” “It is?” She asked excitedly, dropping the bag as she spoke. “Mane and Tail…” The Doctor said, inspecting the small bottle, “Not bad, I’ll toss it in the bathroom.” “Don’t want to waste good shampoo,” Alex laughed, “But really, when is the next time we’ll see you?” “Oh, we’ll be around.” The Doctor said, scratching his head, “We’ll come find you next time we pop in.” “Alright,” Alex nodded. “I’ll see you when you get back Derpy!” Dash said, as the two entered the TARDIS once again. Then, after a moment, the familiar groaning began, as the ship slowly started fade out of existence, until nothing was left. Dash sighed happily, “I’m glad that’s over!” “You can say that again,” Alex agreed, levitating the letter back up to his face. “Who’s it from?” Dash asked. “It’s from Ramsley!” Alex said, happy to see his name in the top corner, “Let’s go grab Spike. I’m sure he’d love to hear this!” //// And that’s it! The Fall of the Night is now complete! I hope that a bunch of you who read this first, go back and read the beginning. I always love new readers! Anyway, as for the rest of you, I’ll keep posting in a week or so. I have big plans for Sonic Rainboom.