Epilogue
The blast of Harmony died down, and in place of two battling draconequui, are two statues linked together by a stone chain connecting to each of their ankles and wrists. The more familiar draconequus, whom they have been battling, has both his hands in the air and a smile across his face like he were going down the first hill of a rollercoaster. The second, the one who, with his sacrifice, saved them all and Equestria stood tall and proud. And even though it was finally the end of a nightmare with one of Equestria's greatest threats locked away, no one smiled.
"That boy gave us life," the Diamond Dog Alpha says next to his renewed dragon friend. "If only we could have done the same for him."
"Aye, he was young and full of life. He had an entire future in front of him. We're old, out of our generation. It should have been us." His dragon friend agrees.
"We all wish that it could have been different. But I'm afraid that we were dealing with powers greater than most of us could have come equal to. He knew that this was the only option, the only way to beat Discord." Celestia whispers with a little hollowness in her voice. She knows the pain of what it is like to be separated from someone who you care about, someone important to you. And if it were not for him, Discord would still rule, so why shouldn't she feel gratitude towards her savior, why shouldn't it pain her that he had to have been turned to stone?
"He was a good friend, wasn't he?" Cadence asks trying to comfort her husband.
"Yeah, he was. There were a lot of things that made him a unique person. He saved my life once or twice, always had our backs, knew how to talk to us." Shining Armor tried looking strong, to not show how hurt he was about this. But he knew that even the strongest of shields have a weak point.
"He was the first to not think of me as a monster, to try talking to me before screaming." The harpy says to know one in particular. She did not look like she was sad about the loss of her friend, but that didn't mean she was unaffected by it. "And if I never met him I would never have found out who I am."
"What did he give you?" Sharla asks Celestia regarding the sheet of paper made from the last remaining piece of Willpower. She had tears in her eyes that she failed to keep back.
"A letter:" Everyone listened as the sun princess reads it out loud.
"Dear Princess Celestia,
Back where I come from, I had a single friend. I had trouble making friends not because I couldn't make them, but because I didn't want them. I was the good at everything, too good actually. Because of that it made people jealous and resent me. After a while, I decided that I didn't need friends, and that's what I believed so I began acting the same way towards them as they did to me. But no matter how bad I was, my one friend was always there with me. He didn't care what I was like or how much better I was than him, he was always there. And I never understood why
But since arriving in Equestria, I actually have learned what the value of friendship is actually like. I can be a jerk, a coward, a weakling, a bragger, or simply an annoyance; but even with all those traits I could still have friends. I learned the lessons of caring, looking out for someone else, comforting those in need, and giving a hand for help. In a way, I guess I have to thank Discord for sending me here. If it wasn't for him I would never have learned what friendship was really like.
Flex, you were my first friend here. You taught me quite a bit, I learned how to laugh, fight, and protect from you, you were no doubt the biggest factor of my learning experience. Shining Armor, protect everyone, but do not sacrifice yourself like I did. If you have to protect them by hurting them, do not do it, it will not be worth the price. Flora, I know that socializing is not on the top of your priorities list, but talk to Celestia and Chex. You've been confused as to what or who you are for your entire life, always looking for answers. They can help you, please, find out who you are. Krinox and Corig, I have nothing else to say to the two of you, I'm sure you already know what it would be. But still, your bond with one another was once strong, and then Discord broke it, turning the two of you on one another. Promise to never let that happen again.
Sharla, you could have been my closest friend of all. You taught me the most, you taught me to care about people. Please, take care of the kids and watch over them. Make sure Shantze becomes strong, make sure he will be able to protect his friends next time. And take care of Light Flicker too, she and Shantze are good friends, I'd hate for that to end. And please, say good-bye to them for me. I'm sorry I couldn't help you find your family, I wish I could have, I really do.
And to Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Rarity: thank you. Thank you all. You may not know it, but you six have been a great influence on me, thank you for everything. And please, don't feel bad for what you did, this was my decision, not yours. This was all my doing, all my responsibility, and that comes with consequences. Thank you all, and goodbye.
Your friend, ally, human, and Element bearer,
Jesse Ruesgen.
Crystal clear tears fill the eyes of many of the listeners, and if not then it was a somber look. The paper spontaneously combusted in the corner, reverting back to a flame. The fire consumes the whole note until nothing was left. But it did not burn up and turn to ash, the paper was just being replaced until it was only fire. The fire slips out of Celestia's embrace and flies off, going wherever the wind may take it.
"Was that a... friendship report?" Twilight asks with tear filled eyes, confused as to how a stranger knew about those.
"I believe so." Celestia answers in a strong tone, suppressing her emotions to overtake her.
"What do we do with him? After all he sacrificed, we cannot just leave him like an average garden ornament." Rarity asks.
"I say we break him off from that monster and give him a proper memorial." Sharla directs all her anger towards Discord. Wanting to smash him to pieces if she could.
"You are right about giving him a memorial, he deserves one." Celestia replies. "But I am afraid they must stay together for fear that Discord could be freed in the process. For now, I am afraid we must hold off on that, there are more dire matters I must attend to. There must be confusion all over the country as we speak, and everypony will be overjoyed to know what has happened. Everypony will know what happened, and who saved us. And they will rejoice and praise his name for years to come. Come everypony, there is be work to be done.”