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// Epilogue: What was is now 
// Story: The Ancient Heart of the Everwood Dragon 
// by Grey Faerie 
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	The ground crunched underfoot; gravel gave way to the clear toes that pressed upon it. The Crystalline dragon bobbed its head in the pale morning light. How long has he been walking now? Light flickered through the leaves to his coat of prisms. Multicolored rays blinked in and out of sight as the rustling leaves flickered the light even more. He smiled. What did it matter?
Rays of light fell on him without resistance as he walked further from the forest. A path of rocks and gray stone lead to the canyon below. A figure stood in the open area. His smiled beckoned remembrance.
The Crystalline dragon stopped to stare. There stood an old friend of many creatures now and gone. His mouth lifted at the corners as his eyes laid on me. Was he happy? I stopped and stared. He was, and he was an old friend. How odd to remember such a thing. The dragon tilted his head. This creature made his stone heart feel like it sat in the spring sun by the meadow.
"Hello there! Long time, no see." The creature laughed. "How have you been?"
The dragon cracked open his geode mouth. The churning of gravel echoed out.
"Ahh, that's good. I glad to see you're well. Won't be much longer now, will it?" It struck a pose reminisce of thinking. "I've come to do as you've asked. You're currently on the far end of The Everfree Forest right now, but if you leave now, you should be by New Ponyville by winter." He relaxed and smiled again.
The Crystalline dragon nodded his head. He turned around to face away from the canyon. How many times had he passed this road before? Yet, each time was so far in between. 
"You will look perfect next to that ridiculous crystal tree castle. Really! A crystal tree castle? That's just gaudy."





How does one choose to forget all they had known to become something else? To leave and never return?
He had known the answer at one time, but that was all gone now. He felt a warmness in his chest again. It felt like a summer afternoon spent in the fields. The quaint houses of the town sent shock waves throughout his body. The warmth turned to a strong beating of the heart. New Ponyville stood before him.
Little creatures moved to gather around his path. They barked and howled and chattered at each other. The path was familiar to him. Had this not changed from the last time he walked here? No, it had changed. Just not enough for him to forget how it was.
A full afternoon sun shined weakly through the frigid air. A crunch of snow pressed underfoot. The whiteness only seemed to reflect more beauty onto his crystalline form. It became mirrored in the crystal structure ahead of him. Three creatures stood before him. The old friend from before, a tall, the Sun in the form of one of the small creatures, and the Moon in that same form.
He greeted the Sun and the Moon with a nod. The old friend received a smile. He felt sad for an odd reason. The dragon bowed his head to the level of the two false creatures. They smiled weakly.
"Your time has come. It was so wonderful knowing you." The Sun caressed his muzzle and laid her head on it. "We will always remember you and your service to Equestria." Warm sea water fell from her eyes.
The Moon also expelled the salt water and pressed her face to his. "You were the greatest friend we could have asked for. Twilight would have loved to be here to see this. In mere moments, we will see what kind of wonder you will fully become."
The old friend only stood to the side. His head bowed, their goodbyes had been given before. The Sun and the Moon moved away from him to join with the old friend.
The Crystalline dragon raised his head for what seemed like the first time. Has this place always been so bright? Awe inspiring sights crossed his eyes as he looked around. He moved to what had to be his spot. It just felt right. The ground was warm even with snow covering it. Or was that his imagination? Did he still have one even at this state? It didn't matter. He was home now.
"Goodbye, Spike."