Epilogue - Consequences
*Twilight's P.O.V.*
"Thank you for looking after him for me, Cadance," I said to my sister-in-law.
"You're welcome, Twilight," Cadance replied, "And next time, make sure you have all the facts before you make blind accusations like that."
"I'll be sure to do so," I said. I then turned to Nyx and Joshua. "Come on you two. Let's head back to Ponyville."
"Okay, Mommy," Joshua replied as he got onto Nyx's back. He then turned around and waved to Cadance. "Bye Aunt Cadance! Thank you for everything!"
"You're welcome, Josh," Cadance said waving back.
"Bye-Bye Joshua!" Guard said.
"Bye Guard!" Joshua said back.
A few minutes later after leaving the palace, we all boarded the train back to Ponyville. Once we got rolling, it was time to bring up the issue with Joshua about running away.
"Now, Joshua," I said to him, "You're no longer in trouble for me thinking you messed up my work, but you are still in trouble for running away, right?"
"Yes, ma'am," he said reluctantly.
"When we get back, you'll have to stay in the library for the rest of today and tomorrow. Understood?"
"I understand, Mommy," he said. I then put a hoof around his back and pulled him in for a hug. He wrapped his arms around my neck and nuzzled against me.
"I love you, sweetie," I said to him, "And I promise, I will never outright accuse you again without all the facts or listening to you."
"I love you too, Mommy," Joshua said back with a sniffle, "And I won't run away like that again." The two of us stayed like that for a little bit, not wanting to let the other go. Afterwards, I turned over to Nyx.
"As for you, Nyx," I said to her, "If you had cleaned up that mess you made of my notes, none of this would've happened. I would've understood how they would be out of order like that. Now, I'm afraid you'll have to join Joshua in spending time at the library for the rest of today and tomorrow, okay?"
"Alright," Nyx said with a sad nod. Joshua then hopped down from his seat, walked over to Nyx, sat down next to her, and then hugged her. Nyx returned the hug and nuzzled Josh's cheek warmly.
The three of us soon arrived back in Ponyville in the mid-afternoon and began to head back to the library. After arriving, Joshua opened the door and peeked in. He suddenly gasped.
"Uh oh," he said.
"Hmm? What is it?" I asked. He looked back at me worriedly.
"I don't think you're going to like this," he said.
Oh please don't tell me my notes are messed up again! I said in my head. The door opened up the rest of the way and my suspicions were confirmed: my notes were sprawled about the library. Not only that, but the books had fallen off the shelves too. URRRRRGGGGHHHH!!!! I growled in my head but then remembered what happened recently. Stay calm, Twilight. Don't jump to conclusions. Spike isn't the most likely culprit here. Suddenly, a pretty big pile of books lifted up off the ground and fell back to the floor and revealed Rainbow Dash underneath.
"Dang it," she said, "Why do these new tricks never work the first time."
"RAINBOW!!!" I yelled at her.
"Oh boy," Joshua sighed, "Here we go again."