A year later
The show was terrific. The Wonderbolts were at their top form, performing the most difficult tricks they had in store, complete with a Sonic Rainboom ending the spectacle. Cloudchaser, a new addition to the team, also did well, free falling for over ten seconds, before recovering few feet above the ground to make a low pass above the audience’s heads.
After the show, the audience gathered on a field outside Ponyville to listen to Vinyl Scratch’s first concert after she’d recovered from her wounds.
“Hi, Twilight,” somepony said. She lifted her head to see Scootaloo’s father, Vindaloo, with a tall pegasus mare. Her mane had the same shade as Scootaloo’s, so Twilight assumed that she was her mother.
“Hello, Mr Vindaloo,” she said, “And Mrs…”
“Lightning Dancer,” a mare replied.
“And how about us, Vindy?” an old stallion with a long, gray mane and a beard, wearing a colourful shirt, with peace sign as his cutie mark asked. With his wing, he was embracing an old mare wearing a long dress and lots of bracelets and necklaces, “Why don’t you introduce us to your friend, naughty boy?”
He sighed.
“These are my parents, Magic Mushroom and Summer Love. And this is Twilight Sparkle, a personal student of Princess Celestia.”
“Princess, huh? I’ve met her once,” said Magic Mushroom, “She came to my tent to ask for some of those enchanted muffins my wife used to bake…”
“How many times do I have to remind you that you only hallucinated about Princess Celestia, after eating one muffin too many?” Summer Love asked.
“Really? But it makes such a nice story…”
“Dad, I think I hear Rainy Water calling you,” said Vindaloo quickly, pointing at his brother, who was standing few yards from them, smoking a cigarette.
“Really, boy? Let’s see what he wants…” said Magic Mushroom, and he and his wife trotted to Rainy Waters. Vindaloo sighed with relief.
“So, these are Scootaloo’s grandparents?” Twilight asked, “They seem nice.”
“Yeah, unless you live with them for twenty years…” he looked around to make sure they weren’t within earshot.
“How’s Scootaloo?” Twilight asked, “She still has these dreams?”
“Sometimes,” said Lightning Dancer, “But it got better since she started flight training.”
“Yeah,” said Vindaloo, “Thank Celestia she doesn’t remember the killings, but sometimes, especially for the first few months she was often waking up screaming.”
***
Vinyl stood up behind her turntables, putting her trademark sunglasses on. That was her favourite moment, just before the concert, when she was able to see the excited faces of the ponies before plunging into a trance, letting her stage persona, DJ-Pon3 take control.
“Before we start…” she said, “I want to thank doctors from Detrot for getting me on my hooves again. You did the great work, guys. I also want to thank my friend, Octavia for being there for me…” her voice faltered, “Even if sometimes I wasn’t there for her.”
The ponies cheered. Octavia, standing in the first row next to Lyra and Bon-Bon, blushed, and tried to hide her face in her hooves. Magic Mushroom patted her head, earning a nasty glare from his wife.
***
“I just got a letter,” said Scootaloo to Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle. They were some distance from the stage, near the group of trees, “I got into the Wonderbolts Academy!”
“Great!” they exclaimed, hugging her.
“Really? The Wonderbolts have really gone to the dogs…” said Diamond Tiara, who was passing nearby. She looked pissed, perhaps Silver Spoon chatting happily with Twist on the other side of the crowd had something to do with it. Apple Bloom wanted to charge at her, but Scootaloo stopped her.
“Come on, Tiara, don’t be foalish. We’re not blank flanks anymore, I can fly now, and I don’t point out how lame a talent wearing a diamond tiara is. So, do me a favour and stop whining, before you lose all your friends.”
Diamond Tiara opened her eyes, as if she wanted to say something, but after reconsidering it, she turned back to join Silver Spoon and Twist, a look of disgust on her face.
“Do you think she’ll ever change?” Sweetie asked.
“Not any time soon, but Ah think maybe one day…” said Apple Bloom, watching Twist giving Diamond Tiara a peppermint candy.
***
“Ok, there’s one more thing I want to say before we start,” said Vinyl, “A certain young stallion asked me to say something before the show. Apparently, it’s a matter of life and death,” she shrugged, and dragged Thunderlane to the microphone with her magic.
“Come on, dude.”
“Well…” he blushed, “Cloudchaser… will you marry me?” he asked, trying to stand still and hide under the turntables at the same time.
The crowd went silent. Vinyl grinned at Thunderlane, who was now trying to maintain eye contact with Cloudchaser, who was standing among other Wonderbolts in the middle of the crowd.
“Yes,” she said.