I Have Returned: Epilogue
And The World Shall Carry On
Two weeks after the second battle of Requiem…..
Jane strode into the bridge of the UNSC INFINITY. Captain Lasky had requested her presence there, and just like he always was, he was right on time.
“Captain, I heard that you wanted me.”
“Yes Jane, INFINITY is getting a new A.I..”
Just then the avatar of the A.I. appeared on the holographic projection desk. She took the form of a young girl in a dress that looked like it came out of the early 1900’s.
“Hello, my name is Pearl.” The A.I. said.
Lasky continued. “Pearl is an experimental smart A.I., one who isn’t made from a human brain. Thus, in her early life she’ll be only developing her personality slowly. She’ll also be more vulnerable compared to other A.I.’s.”
“Then why have her if she is more vulnerable captain?”
“The UNSC thinks that once she matures, she’ll be stronger than any A.I. humanity has. The only cost will be a short period in which we’ll have to make sure she comes into no enemy contact. So we’ll be fine as long as nobody hacks into her.”
“I don’t see where I fit in all of this?”
“With Pearl in, Roland needs a new home. Due to the success of the Master Chief with his former A.I. Cortana, the UNSC wants to test other Spartans with A.I.’s. Basically, we’re giving you Roland.”
Jane was astonished to say the least.
“Captain, are you sure.”
“I’m positive. You’re one of the best Spartan IV’s we have. I already have a medical staff prepared at a space station in orbit around Earth who are prepared to give you upgrades to your neural implants.”
“I…. I don’t know what to say Captain Lasky. Thank you for trusting me with this.”
“It’s no problem Jane. All that I ask is for you to make me proud, and to take good care of Roland.”
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Ponyville Present Day.
Jane looked up at Golden Oaks Library in Ponyville. She had not stepped foot in that place for over six years now. Luna, and her old friends were standing right next to her staring at it, save for Crimson who was on his com unit talking to someone.
“Do you want to go in it?” Luna asked?
“I’m fine. I wanted to look at it one more time, for closure. I’m probably never going to come back after this. When I left six years ago I never got a chance to say goodbye because I assumed that I was coming back within a few hours. Boy was I wrong.”
Crimson tapped Jane on her shoulder to get her attention.
“I got word from a scouting team investigating the core.” Crimson said. “They found the elements. They still have magic in them. Glassman theorizes that the concentration of magic in them has lead to them being able to self produce their own magic.”
“Really, that’s fantastic.”
“And now they’re asking for permission to retrieve them.”
Jane looked over to Luna wondering what she was going to say about this.
“It’s alright Jane. We don’t need them anymore. Take them.”
“Are you serious Luna? After everything I’ve done?!”
“Your kind needs them far more than Equestria ever will now. With no magic, there is nothing for us to use the elements on. Just promise me that humankind will help rebuild Equestria.”
“We will Luna. We owe you that at the very least.”
“But let me make one thing very clear Jane.” Luna said as a scowl came across her face while she walked up to Jane. “I will never, ever forgive you for what you’ve done to Equestria these past few days. So many innocent lives were lost because of you.”
Then, the scowl on Luna’s face faded, and she held a hoof out towards Jane.
“But you have my thanks, for standing by till the end.”
Jane shook Luna’s hoof, and managed to give a small smile back to the Lunar Princess.
“I’ll never forgive myself either, but I’m glad I came to my senses. I have all of you to thank for that.”
Now Jane moved onto her old friends. The expressions on their faces ranged from neutral, to confused.
Taking a deep breath, Jane started to talk.
“I’ve betrayed the friendship you’ve all given me during my time in ponyville. I know none of you want to forgive me, and I don’t blame you. All that I want right now though is not forgiveness though. I just want a chance to say goodbye one last time. I never gave you all a goodbye six years ago, and I probably won’t get another chance ever. After this I’m probably never going to come back to Equestria unless I’m on duty. Even if I do come back, chances are slim that you’ll want to see me. I desperately hope that one day time will have healed enough wounds for us to at least talk, but that isn’t likely. So to all of you, goodbye.”
All of them just looked at Jane not knowing what to say, until Fluttershy said.
“Goodbye, and good luck for the future.”
Once by one each of her old friends made a small goodbye to her. Just knowing that they still cared enough to say goodbye warmed Jane’s heart.
Suddenly Jane heard the roar of a pelican behind her. Turning around Jane saw that it was just landing.
An ODST came out of it and ran up to Jane.
“Captain, Roland says that the slip space drive is online, and that we can return to Earth. He sent me to come and get you and the leader of Fireteam Crimson.”
Jane looked back at Luna who smiled at her and said. “Well then, goodbye Jane Arimondo. I’m wish you luck in your future endeavours.
“Same here. Goodbye Luna.” Jane said as her and Crimson climbed into the pelican.
Jane strapped herself in as the pelican took off. Outside the window she could see ponyville in all of its glory one last time.
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Ponyville graveyard
Luna looked down on the grave of Princess Twilight Sparkle. It was evening now and Jane and long since went back to her ship the UNSC INFINITY.
This time she could finally say a real goodbye to Twilight. For years she never knew what happened to her purple friend. She had countless sleepless nights wondering about her, where she was, what she was doing.
The being who came back though wasn’t Twilight, but that didn’t matter anymore. What mattered was that she finally had her answers, and that she finally had her chance to say goodbye.
Then there was Sarah Palmer. Luna heard from the element bearers about what she was like before she died. She was a social outcast, not well liked. The element bearers though opened her up to the joys of friendship and made her start to come out of her shell. It was a shame that after that Palmer was murdered at the hoofs of Celestia.
“Goodbye Twilight Sparkle.” Luna said to the grave.
Yes, Twilight Sparkle died six years ago. She was never to be seen again. Her death though marked the birth of someone new. Now in Twilights place there was a new hero soaring through the galaxy, and her name was Jane Arimondo.
_________________________________________________________
UNSC INFINITY Bride.
Jane looked down upon the new Equestria once again. This time though, Crimson was alongside her.
So many lives had been lost in the past few days, from pony soldiers, to Spartan Palmer. Jane didn’t know Palmer very well, and most crew members didn’t even like her, despite that though, Sarah Palmer didn’t deserve to die. Even though Celestia was the one who killed her, Jane still felt that she was partly responsible for her untimely demise.
That was just the beginning though as Jane soon got word that her own Fireteam were found dead in the Everfree forest. Another three deaths added to the casualty list. These Spartans on the other hand were people who she fought alongside, people who she knew personally. No matter what, nothing could ever come close to replacing them. They were…. her friends, her brothers in arms.
“So what’s going to happen to you now Jane.” Crimson asked.
“I don’t know Brennan, but I have ties to ONI, they can get me out of this.”
“So after everything you’ve done, you plan to get away with it scot free?”
“No, it’s not like that. If I get convicted of my crimes I’m going to be in a cell for the rest of my life. What good can I do from there. If ONI protects me though, I’ll be free. With that freedom, I can live everyday trying to make the galaxy a better place so that maybe one day I’ll be able to forgive myself for the atrocities I’ve committed.”
Jane looked towards Crimson who gave her a smile.
“In that case, I’ll do whatever I can to help you along the way!”
Just then Roland’s voice came through on the speakers.
“Everything and everyone has been accounted for including the Elements of Harmony. Just give me the order and we’ll be out of here.”
“Glad to hear it Roland, let’s get back to Earth now. It’s time to go home.”
With that a tear in normal space appeared right in front of the INFINITY. Jane could feel the engines come to life as he ship accelerated into the portal to once again soar through the vastness of slipspace into an uncertain, but hopeful future….
The End.