Epilogue
Perspective: Private Eye
After rousing the dragons from their slumber it was a simple matter of explaining everything. Thankfully with Ran’sea there the process went smoothly.
“WHY ARE YOU TAKING ME FOOLS!? KILL THE PONIES! THE LIARS! THE FILTH!” Tru’sent roared as a pair of dragons were shoving him into a nearby cave.
“Yeah, keep your muzzle shut, ugly,” One of them growled.
I looked up at Car’buncle, the mighty dragon looked down at me and said, “Forgive me for not being of better help in stopping him.”
“You aren’t worried about us being liars or trying to kill you?” I asked.
“If you were trying to dismantle the tribe, you could’ve killed me in my sleep,” He replied.
“So what’s going to happen to him?” Twilight asked as she stood beside me.
“We’ll keep a close eye on him,” Car’buncle replied. “he won’t be spouting his insanity anymore.”
“And Ele’sium?” Spike asked.
Car’buncle simply looked over as a pair of dragons were escorting the dragoness.
“Oh, you’re welcome, my dear,” she said not seeing anybody outside of her imagination. “I will always be here for you. I will always take care of you. You will never have to worry…”
“She’ll not be any trouble either,” Li’zael said, walking over. “We’ll put her somewhere where she won’t bother any dragon.”
“Good riddance to bad rubbish in my honest opinion,” Ran said, crossing her arms.
“Now, there’s another matter to attend to,” Li’zael said, and we watched as Smog came walking out from behind her.
“Smog?” Ran’sea said.
The orange dragon walked up to Spike and said, “Look, I’m sorry about what happened. I-I just didn’t want to believe I was wrong. But, I guess all this time I was just parroting Tru’sent. Bad role model in hindsight.”
“If this is an apology speech,” Spike said with a smile, “don’t worry, I don’t blame you. Let’s just say I have personal experience when it comes to latching onto stupid ideas.”
“Just, don’t let me listen to him again okay?” Smog said.
“Don’t worry cuz, I got your back,” Spike said.
“It’s good to see you two getting along now,” Ran’sea said. “All is mended.”
“He’s still grounded for a month, though,” Li’zael said.
Ran then looked up at her uncle, and then to me. “Speaking of mending bridges, Private, Twilight there’s something I want you to do,” she said.
“I think I know what you have in mind,” Twilight said with a smile.
______________________________________________________________
“I must say, this is not what I was expecting when I got up this morning,” Celestia said.
We were standing a few miles away from the main city of the Crystal Empire. Car’buncle had followed the request of Ran’sea. That was, to meet with the pony leaders and see if an agreement can be made.
Celestia, Luna and Cadence were standing before the mighty dragon. Car’buncle looked down at them and said, “Believe me, I feel the same way, pony.”
I looked over at Twilight who was starting to look very nervous. She’s probably freaking out and worrying over the fact that she just plopped a dragon into the Crystal Empire. Luckily Car’buncle didn’t try to dine on any houses.
Celestia smiled and spread her wings. She flew up majestically to meet the dragon at eye level. “I do believe I met your grandfather years ago, back when Sombra was in power,” She said curtly.
“Ah yes, old Fero’sen,” Car’buncle said with a smile. “If it wasn’t for that astronomer I may not be here today.”
“Then you know I harbor no ill intentions towards your tribe,” Celestia said, she looked down at Twilight and winked.
Suddenly Twilight’s notebook appeared out of thin air and she was taking notes furiously.
“The reason I am here is because I owe a favor to these two,” He said, gesturing at Twilight and I. “Plus, my niece asked and you have no idea how hard it is to say no to a little dragoness.”
“Try having a little sister,” Celestia said with a small chuckle.
“Anyways, now that you are aware that my tribe is staying here, I believe business talks are in order.” Car’buncle said.
Cadence flew up alongside her aunt and said, “Don’t worry, since you’re Spike’s family, I’ll make sure my subjects know to give you all some space.”
“Much appreciated,” Car’buncle said. “I think for now a policy of a simple truce is in order.”
“Yes, that much we can hope for,” Celestia said.
“Um, actually…”
We all looked at Ran’sea who was standing next to her brother. Cadence and Celestia flew back down to earth and looked at Ran. Cadence was the first to speak, “You are Spike’s sister right?”
“Ran’sea, your highness.”
“Aren’t you the cutest little thing!” Cadence gushed going down on her knees to look at Ran’sea better. “And so polite. I’m Cadence. Nice to meet you. You were the dragon who tried to eat that house? I wonder why they were so scared,
you’re just so adorable.”
“Thank you most kindly,” Ran’sea said with a smile.
“Not as cute as Spikey Wikey mind you,” I heard Rarity mutter.
“What is it you wish to say, young dragon?” Luna asked.
Ran’sea gulped and said, “I think, instead of being totally isolated from one another, there should be an ‘envoy’ so to speak between our peoples.”
“Ran’sea you’re saying-” Car’buncle began.
“If we don’t understand ponies and they don’t understand us,” Ran began. “Then we’ll only create more dragons like Tru’sent. I want to clear the air, I wish to learn among the ponies, their society, their ways. I think understanding will allow us to one day walk side by side as friends.”
“Ran’sea!” Car’buncle’s jaw dropped.
“That means you’ll come and stay with us!” Spike cried in joy.
“I don’t know if the library will take an extra inhabitant. We already have a big enough family as it is,” Twilight pointed out.
“Actually, Twilight,” Rarity spoke up. “There may still be a solution. Why not have Ran’sea stay here at the Crystal Empire?”
Cadence smiled and said, “I’d love to have you. I promise we’ll teach you as much as we can.”
“You’re sure about this Ran?” Spike asked. “I mean, you’d be leaving behind everything you know.”
“I don’t want to be kept in a cage any longer, Spike,” Ran said, putting a claw on his shoulder. “I want to see this world that you’ve lived in. I want to know these wonderful ponies you know. Above anything, Spike, I want to understand.”
Spike smiled and said, “Alright, and if any dragon tries to hurt you again, you got big brother Spike to come in and kick some tail!”
Ran and all of us laughed at Spike’s enthusiasm and Ran then turned to her uncle. “Uncle Car’buncle, will this be suitable?”
“I don’t know…” Car’buncle said. “I mean, I’d be leaving you among po…”
“Pleeease…?” Ran said, her blue eyes getting big.
Car’buncle sighed and said, “Li’zael is going to have my tail for this. Very well, but do come back when you can.”
“Thank you, Uncle,” Ran said with a smile.
“I believe there is much Car’buncle and I need to discuss,” Celestia added. “I believe Ran’sea deserves a tour of her new home for a while.”
“Gladly, Aunt Tia,” Cadence said, walking over to Ran’sea. “Come on, you’ll love the castle, and I’ll have you meet the cutest filly in the universe!”
Twilight and I rolled our eyes at the same time, but smiled nonetheless.
“Now if you two will excuse me,” Rarity said, lifting Spike in her magic. “I have a hero to thank.”
Spike got this smirk on his face and followed after, not that he had a choice, being held in Rarity’s magic. Car’buncle shook his head and said, “Like father, like son.”
_____________________________________________________
Perspective: Spike
“And here we are. What do you think?” Cadence said opening the door to the room Ran was to stay in, while she was in the Crystal Empire. Crystal made up a lot of the decor, of course, but it was rather well done, in muted blues. Carpets covered the floors, and some paintings of dragons in flight decorated the walls. All in all, it was really rather homey and comfortable. But then Cadence was never a pony who craved opulence.
“It’s amazing!” Ran’sea said. “Oh thank you so much, your highness, I won’t let you down.”
“None of the ‘your highness’ stuff,” Cadence said. “Just Cadence is okay.”
“Very well, Cadence,” Ran said as I walked by. “If I may have some time to get situated?”
“Of course, I’ll introduce you to Skyla later,” Cadence said walking away.
I walked into Ran’s room as she asked, “What on earth is a Skyla?”
“Something that has been known to cause a lot of heart attacks around here,” I joked. She blinked cluelessly and I said, “Eh, you’ll understand later.”
Ran walked out towards the balcony and looked out at the Crystal Empire. “Care to explain why you never told me my brother was a national hero to these ponies?” she asked.
“Eh,” I shrugged and went to stand beside her. “Twilight said it’s never a good idea to get a swelled head.”
“They did seem to be quite excited when they heard I was your sister,” Ran said with a smile. “Why, I would imagine I may be getting calls sooner or later.”
“Calls? As in-” I blinked in realization and said, “Oh no! Don’t even think about it Ran!”
“You’re dating a pony,” Ran said smugly.
“This is different, you’re my sister!” I shouted.
Ran smiled and then simply, walked to me. “I am glad that you are just like I’d imagine you to be. Well, maybe not entirely,” She said.
I smiled in turn and said, “I’m just glad I was able to find you. It, gets lonely being the only dragon among a bunch of ponies.”
Ran put a claw on my shoulder and said, “I cannot imagine what it must’ve been like.”
“Yeah,” I said. “But in the end, I wouldn’t trade the years I spent with Twilight for anything.”
“She did raise you well,” Ran said. “I do hope to get to know her better, as well as Rarity.”
“Yeah well, Rarity was certainly trying to make a good impression today,” I said.
“Maybe she believes that I will one day be an in law…?” She said in a teasing voice.
In law…
__________________________________________________________
Inside Spike’s Overactive imagination…
Do you Spike, take Rarity to be your lawfully wedded wife?
I do…
Do you, Rarity, take Spike to be your lawfully wedded husband?
Oh I do darling…
Then I now pronounce you, mare and drake, you may kiss the bride…
_________________________________________________________
I snapped back in reality to find Ran’sea giggling her butt off.
“That wasn’t funny, Ran’sea!” I yelled.
“Oh my goodness, you’re turning so red, Spike,” Ran’sea said with a laugh.
“Oh it’s on now!” I said, and we began chasing each other around the room.
So...this is what having a real sibling is like…
We chased each other for almost the whole time. We did what any siblings would do. Wrestle, tease, play, it felt like I was a hatchling again, playing with Twilight. But, Ran was much closer to my age so we had more to talk about.
Both of us watched the stars as night fell over the world. I looked over at Ran who was leaning against the balcony and said, “I’m glad to have you here Ran.”
“I’m glad to be here, Spike.” Ran said, smiling, and looking at the stars.
“So, what are you thinking about?” I asked.
“Well, I was hearing this lovely tune on the way here,” Ran said. “I think, it is most appropriate.”
When you're weary
Feeling small
When tears are in your eyes
I will dry them all
I'm on your side
When times get rough
And friends just can't be found
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
When you're down and out
When you're on the street
When evening falls so hard
I will comfort you
I'll take your part
When darkness comes
And pain is all around
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
After that, we both just hugged each other under those stars.
My sister was back, I knew I had a real family alive and well…
We both just sang the whole night…
Sail on Silver Girl
Sail on by
Your time has come to shine
All your dreams are on their way
See how they shine
See how they shine
If you need a friend
If you need a friend
I'm sailing right behind
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind
I will ease your mind....