//------------------------------// // Chapter 10: Clear skies and a Perfect Garden. // Story: The Return of the Humans // by DaringWizard //------------------------------// Ezra walked with Fluttershy out of Merlin's house and down a dirt road to the local garden, they sat down on a white bench. "This place... it's beautiful..." Fluttershy said. "Yes, it is. I'm a member of the local gardener's club. We're intent on restoring this valley to it's original beauty- before it was overrun by roads and buildings..." A look of disgust was seen on his face. "You've done a good job." Fluttershy said. "Thank you. Our magic has become quite useful to speed things along." Ezra said, a truck pulled by playing some cheerful music, it stopped in front of the garden. "Oh, hold on for just one second." Ezra said, he got up and went over to the truck. Fluttershy sat there for a while, she looked around the garden, it was just as impressive as the countryside back at home, but it was a lot smaller... she wondered if there were any places in this strange new world untouched by human hands, and if there were.... were they like Equestria? "Fluttershy?" Ezra called, he was carrying two sticks of ice cream in either hand, he handed one to her. "Oh- thank you." She said, taking the ice cream bar. They ate at their ice cream for a while, looking at the beautiful scenery, and smelling the autumn air, until Ezra broke the silence. "Y' know... sometimes I wonder why the whole town doesn't join in with us... the whole Earth deserves to look like this... wouldn't you agree?" Ezra asked, Fluttershy opened her mouth as if to say something, but stopped. "Oh my, Ezra- look, on your shoulder." She said, Ezra pointed his eyes to the left to find a monarch butterfly choosing him as her perch. "Ah..." Ezra said, he put is finger next to it, and it climbed on, he brought his finger over to Fluttershy. "Fascinating creatures, butterflies are. To start a creature on the ground, next one that hangs from a tree... until it transforms into these beautiful specimens... just like the soul... always growing, always changing... regardless of the body it lives in." He said, he lifted his finger and the butterfly flew away. "And yet... I wonder why things are the way they are... why is it that we can't we ever be like them- the butterfly- living blissfully?" He asked. "...Because not everyone agrees with everyone..." Fluttershy answered. "Yes... and I think that's the reason Merlin wanted to use that portal spell of his in the first place." Ezra said. "What?" She asked. "Your world is very peaceful... this place is wrought with the scars of war... conflict... and in some places, deep sadness. I think Merlin just wanted to get away from it all. As do I. It's why he acted out the spell to open the gate in the first place." Ezra finished. "You want to run away to Equestria?" Fluttershy asked. "Who wouldn't want to run away to a land held in fairy tales if it meant a perfect life?" Ezra asked. Fluttershy didn't answer, but she did nod her head and smile, Ezra stood up. "Well, let us go. The local gardeners will be here soon- they don't like people getting in their way... and they might faint if they see you." Fluttershy got up and started to walk with him back to the Merlin's house, through the portal- and they were back in Twilight's library. "Oh, Ezra?" Fluttershy asked. "Yes?' "Thank you- for showing me, I mean." Fluttershy said. "Oh, not at all- the honor is mine." He said, he walked over to the couch and sat down, and Fluttershy followed. He opened his book to a page filled with healing spells and enchantments, and began to read. ------------------------------- "Joseph! Slow down!" "Not a chance, Dash!" Joseph yelled, he sped through the clear sky with ease, looking back at Rainbow Dash. "Seriously- watch out for that cliff!" Dash yelled, Joseph curved up and sped over it as if it didn't exist at all. "What cliff?" Joseph answered, he curved sharply upwards into the clear sky and stopped to rest. Rainbow Dash hovered by him, trying to catch her breath. "You...really...know how to...fly..." Rainbow Dash said in between quick breaths. "You haven't seen nothing yet!" Joseph replied, Rainbow Dash slowed her breathing and smiled at him. "How long did you say you've flying?" She asked. "A couple of years." "Well, it shows." Rainbow Dash said, Joseph's face went red, Rainbow Dash giggled silently at the sight. "Hmmm... so... quick question." "What?" Joseph asked. "Why did you give up on magic?" she asked. "Huh?" "Merlin said you left the magical academy, why?" Joseph's eyes shifted left and right, then he spoke. "I left because... well... let me just get something straight: I didn't give up on magical practice... I just wanted a different lifestyle then the one I had." He said, he lowered down to the ground and Rainbow Dash followed. They began to walk towards Twilight's house, which could be seen in the distance. Beyond that was the town. "I wanted to live a less restricting life. I wanted to get out and see places- my home, Babimost, isn't exactly the most exciting place... the kids there don't run around anymore- their addicted to magical studies and nothing else. Guys like me who want to get out and see things- we're outcasts." "But you still have friends, right?" She asked. "Of course... Merlin thinks I can be a maniac at times with me flying all over the place, but... I think he gets why. I can't get enough of flying... And if Mordred would give up the up-tight attitude and try a pair of jet boots on, I bet he would like it as well." "Hmmm... It seems you've thought of this a lot. Are you the only one who can fly?" "Well, actually... no. Ezra doesn't look like it, but he tried these boots on and had the time of his life up in the air." "Ezra? Really?" "Yeah...but he got airsick and came down after ten minutes. It was weird. Normally he's not the type for excitement- quite the opposite actually. I mean, one time he was gazing into a crystal ball, and he fell into such a deep trance state when he finally broke his concentration- four hours had passed by." "F-four hours!?" Rainbow Dash asked, Joseph laughed. "Oh, man! You should've seen the look on his face when I told him how long he had been like that! He almost fainted in surprise when it hit him!" He continued to laugh for a few seconds, then stopped, they walked up to Twilight's door and stepped inside, Ezra was sitting next to Fluttershy, reading a book. He looked up to Joseph. "Ah! Finally back I see. How'd your flight go? Didn't crash into anything, did you?" Ezra asked. "Actually, Dash here kind of-" "Don't tell him what happened." She said, hovering next to him and putting her hoof to his mouth. "Mmmwhaat?" Joseph said, his voice muffled, Ezra exhaled and stood up. Rainbow Dash let go of Joseph's mouth. "Well, all's well that ends well... I guess." He said, and night came as the sun set.