//------------------------------// // A Letter Home (epilogue) // Story: That Which was Lost // by LadyRFC //------------------------------// “It's a work in progress,” Lily said as she walked Twilight outside, where her friends stood waiting for her. The cart they had used to get there wasn't really needed anymore, the desert now safe to walk on, and so each pony had a small pack on their backs. Even Discord was carrying a sack. Twilight decided against asking what might be inside. The world was better off not knowing. “It'll take years for everypony to get used to things,” she agreed with a nod, stopping and turning to look at the new Empress. “But you can do this. And you won't be alone.” Lily gave a brave smile, looking back at the gates where Silverline, Solace and Queen Chrysalis stood waiting. “I know. I just,” she faltered and looked down for a moment. “Sometimes I wish it was easier. He doesn't even see me, Twilight.” The Equestrian princess was silent, her eyes sympathetic though she couldn't fully understand what the other alicorn must have felt. The former Emperor Ero was still stuck in a strange world all his own. Even after awakening for the sleep his daughter had put upon him, he still called Lily by her mother's name. Twilight tried to imagine what it would be like if one of her own parents began to forget her. To mix her up with somepony else. It was terrifying thought. Taking a step forward to place her forehead against Lily's for a second, she repeated softly, “You are not alone.” Lily smiled and nodded, pushing away her fears of the future and focusing on the present. “Your queen expects your return?” Twilight chuckled. “Oh, she's not queen. She's a princess.” She laughed again at Lily's confused look. “To be honest,” Twilight admitted, “I'm not sure why, but that's just how it is.” Lily shook her head, still smiling. “Well, perhaps one day I might ask your Princess Celestia why myself.” “I hope so,” Twilight said wholeheartedly. She looked down at the feeling of claws encircling her legs. “Spike.” The baby dragon looked up at her with watering eyes. “Twilight,” was all he managed to choke out before he jumped up and wrapped his small arms around her neck. “Oh, Spike,” Twilight murmured, her own eyes watering. “I'm so very proud of you. I know that if anypony can give a full and true report on dragons, it's you,” she leaned down for his feet to touch ground and stepped back to look at him. “My number one assistant.” He gave her a tearful grin. She cast one last look towards the gate and gave a wave towards ponies she felt she would miss. Silverline walked towards them halfway, Spike running to meet him. He looked over at Twilight and stood straight. “I'll take good care of him, Princess.” Twilight grinned, forcing her tears to leave. “He might end up taking care of you. You never know!” –------------ Dear Princess Celestia, I not sure where to start except to say that first impressions are so very often... wrong. When I left you, I was convinced Queen Chrysalis was just, well, evil. I thought all changlings were. Since coming to Sheon, I've realized that we really don't know anything about them and most of what we thought we knew was wrong. It's a very long story, but I assure you that changlings can indeed coexist with ponies. In fact, I'm convinced now that they were built to have symbiotic relationships with all ponies and, perhaps, many other creatures. Although they wish to make peace with us as well, they are joining into the Sheon Empire, where Princess Lily is now the current ruler, and thus will be staying here for some time before making any visits to Equestria. I won't lie, princess. I still feel anger towards Queen Chrysalis for all the things she did. But now that I understand why, I can't say for sure I might not have done something similar were I wearing her horseshoes. Since becoming a princess, I've realized that self-sacrifice is not only expected, but necessary. So many depend on you. In some cases, for their very lives! That thought is terrifying to me. How could I possibly live up to keeping everypony safe and happy all the time? If I had been alone, I don't think I could. I would have failed my mission. In fact, I wouldn't even be a princess in the first place. My friends, including the new ones I've made here, be they pony, changling or dragon -I suppose Discord can be thrown in too- have not only helped me to protect those I wish to protect, but also to see others I had judged as evil in a different light. It's so easy to judge somepony based on what you think you know about them. But we shouldn't do that. We have no idea what they've been through or where they're going. I'm sure some ponies judge me. In fact, I know they do. I've heard some ponies say I don't deserve to be a princess. That I wasn't born as one. And, well, I wasn't. And I don't know if I really deserve much of anything either. But no matter what others think of me, I am what I am now, come what may. I'm not what they think I am and they might never come to know me if they allow their judgments to stop them. I shudder to think what my life might have been like if I had assumed that my first impressions of my friends were all there was to them. That Pinkie Pie couldn't even look newcomers in the eye, that Rainbow Dash was too lazy to get a simple job done right away, that Rarity only cared about looks and nothing else, that Applejack was a simple farmer without any brains, and that Fluttershy couldn't function around anypony. I would have missed out on who they really are. The wonderful, fun, and caring friends I know them all to be. Anyway, I'll be headed back to see you with the full story soon, princess. Spike will be staying here with one of Sheon's commanders, Silverline, so as to learn more about his kind from the dragons here (there are dragons living here, too, princess!). I'm sad he's not going to be with me for awhile, but I know he needs this time for himself. And Equestria desperately needs to know more about dragons. We know so little! Queen Chrysalis would like to send her deepest apologies and plans to visit us formally in the future. For now, she and her own are staying here and Sheon is slowly getting used to them and their ways. It will take many years for the prejudices to leave. Both for Sheon and for our own country. But I can't wait to see all the amazing things that will come of us knowing them not as enemies, but as friends. Your faithful student friend, Twilight Sparkle PS – I don't suppose you would know how to safely dispose of large containers of magic, would you? Or perhaps if there are any books on that subject?