//------------------------------// // Chapter 11, The Path Home // Story: The Chronicles of Summer Rain, Vol. 2 -- Homecoming // by shysage //------------------------------// Dethwell was Eschate Zumulus' grave. True communion was restored to Princess Twilight's inner circle. Everypony was just so happy... Being able to start over was truly a dream come true for all of them. They almost lost their Princess, again, but true friendship worked a miracle, again, it seemed. Before they started back, Summer asked that they all stand in a circle. It didn't need to be tight, but it was. Summer just closed her eyes, and said softly "Thank you true friend in the sky... We are all back together, and our Princess is safe. I think we will need your help to start over though." Then Summer stopped. Almost imediately, both Rarity's said at the same time "True friend, I just want to thank you for the girls in this circle... I doubt I could ever find such true frien--" Raritys were weeping, and could say no more. It was quiet a little while longer, and Summer just said "Girls, lets go rebuild Ponyville." Both Fluttershys and three huge, purring Panthers led the way through the Everfree as six sets of Twins walked slowly back to Ponyville. Everypony mostly talked with their Twins, there was still a lot of catching up to do. Summer and Shysage were at the back. On the way, Princess Twilight stopped briefly in Zecora's hut to pick up a few things, and the few books she had. Equestria Girls Twilight Sparkle cried on Princess' shoulders for a while, realizing that her Twin, Princess Twilight had spent her last 33 years banished here... Princess used her magic, and gently picked up Vol. 1 of Princess Celestia's commentaries, and asked Summer to open the flap of her coat pocket. "Can you carry this for me Summer?" Princess asked, then used her magic to slip the book down inside the pocket of Summer's coat. Summer just cried, and Princess Twilight hugged her. That day, Princess Twilight walked away from Zecora's hut, from Echate Zumulus' 'doom' for her, and never returned... Friendship is Magic... The Fluttershys led the group on the same path back that they took two days ago, approaching Ponyville from behind the Library. Princess Twilight said they needed to go to Town Square first, so they all did. Princess Twilight then had Summer transform into her Equestria Girls form, then had her gather all the Twins, one at a time, into a circle, standing up as people, holding hands. This left Shysage out, but that was ok. Summer guessed this was something for Princess Twilight's inner circle. She didn't think she belonged here either, but they need her for the 'people' form. In an empty town, sound travels far, and the noise of 14 ponies, happy and talking, filled the vacant streets. Dawn and Camille were quickly standing next to Shysage, weeping softly too. Dawn was watching dim history unfold again before her very eyes... Princess Twilight then said softly "Girls please repeat after me. "We are deeply devoted to each other..." The girls all repeated this. "We are true friends, and committed to true friendship..." The girls all repeated this too, some were weeping quietly. "We are... ...Equestria..." The girls all repeated this, and were all crying now. Princess Twilight then said softly "Girls, we are going to start each day, right here, saying that... Then she said, softly "I love you all very much, I hope you know that..." It was late afternoon now, and this large group of ponies headed to Dawn's for the evening. Well, the Fluttershys walked their cats back to the edge of the Everfree, and then sent them to Flutershy's hut for the night, then rejoined the group. Dawn again spread Oat pies around, and everypony enjoyed them. Dawn didn't mind being busy doing this again. When it was dark, Princess Twilight asked that she be able to talk some. Everypony just stopped where they were, faced her and listened. "I think I owe you all another apology, and this entire nightmare has taught me a valuable lesson. "When I was facing Nightmare Moon, and Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie Pie came running, I realized I needed you. What I was, we all were together that day. "I think that, as time passed, and I was made Princess, I forgot that those characteristics that made me a 'Princess', I only received from, and could have, with you precious ponies around me. "I will never forget the emptiness I felt the first year you all were go--" Princess Twilight stopped here and wept bitterly for a few minutes. Summer guessed this part was even worse than Princess' 'doom'... Pulling herself together, Princess Twilight said softly "Precious girls... I only am what I am, when each of you is here at my side. I desparately need each and every one of you. And it doesn't matter which side of the Portal you are on... I am so glad you are all 'home', back here with me... ...I can only be your Princess with each of you close by." Princess, then everypony was soon crying for a little while. Equestria Girls Twilight spoke up at this point, really to clarify their situation for everypony "Precious Equestria ponies... The Equestria Girls all know this, but when we came through the Portal a few days ago, we all knew it would be the last time we did. "All of our lives there were a wreck, and a nightmare, and each of us simply had nothing left in that world, and at least three of us would have been dead in months, maybe weeks. "Besides, they were in the process of tearing down the school, and the Portal is either moved or destroyed by now. "We all came here for good. We have no-where else to go. "Starting over here with you special ponies is our wildest dream come true. The Portal will separate us no more." Everypony hugged their Twin, and cried some more at this. Shysage just held Summer, hoping Princess Twilight didn't ask. Princess Twilight began again, immediately establishing a much more somber tone. "Summer, this is mainly for you, but this will affect all of us. "Eschate Zumulus is dead, but Phantasma is not. If you don't know, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna have been grafted into Phantasma's body. We probably cannot kill Phantasma without also killing... ...Princess Celestia and Princess Luna..." Princess was crying again, and through her tears she said "Summer I know of no way of avoiding the fact that you will need to accept this painful duty... "It will probably come down to you either killing Phantasma along with our two Princesses, or plunging Equestria back into death... There is only one right path, the hardest one... "I think we should throw every effort into rebuilding Ponyville, and beyond, but I consider it just a matter of time before Phantasma comes here... "Summer that will be a hard day for you..." Summer was crying... This would be terrible... Princess Twilight's 'official business' was done, and everypony just sat around together talking. It was soon late, and dark outside. Summer found Dawn, and asked for the use of she and Camille's room for the night again, and Dawn agreed with a smile. "Anything for you Princess" she said. Summer and Shysage were soon on their bellies next to each other in Dawn's room. Summer had no 'plans', she just felt she needed to be next to her Stallion, alone. She did have a question though, she just wasn't sure quite how to ask it. After a few minutes silence, Summer asked quietly "Shysage, I honestly don't know how much of the pain we saw today was a result of the Intimacy issue you surfaced. But I am really concerned. How are we going to navigate that issue? I don't want us to mess that up too..." Summer knew her voice was betraying how concerned about this she really was. She was soon weeping softly. Shysage noticed immediately. He rolled over on his side, and Summer quickly climbed in between his two front legs, and he hugged her close. Shysage then spoke softly. "I think we should talk to Princess Twilight about marrying us soon. "But Summer you are amazingly beautiful in either form, I doubt I will have much problem responding to you. "Even so, in my bed, your pleasure will ALWAYS be my first pursuit. Always. Don't even try to argue, that is just how it will be. And I will NEVER 'take' from you. "You have no desires now, and that means I will simply wait until you are ready." Shysage sighed at this point, then continued "Besides, we should not do anything that would risk a foal at this point anyway, at least not until after Phantasma is dead." By the time Shysage was done saying all this, Summer was crying tears of joy. "Applying 'putting others first' to even this... Shysage, I really don't deserve you..." she wept. "Nor I you, my precious Mare, but here we are. I love you." Shysage replied. "I love you too" Summer said through tears. They were soon fast asleep. Nothing else happened. Nothing else needed to happen.