//------------------------------//
// Man's Road 
// Story: The Last Human 
// by Crooked Djinn 
//------------------------------//

	Agartha. An archadia of the natural beauty of the Earth's subterranean world. The paragon of the human spirit. Agartha claimed host to the world's most delicate arts. Schools lead by the greatest minds, said to have unlocked nearly every secret of nature. Artists who seemed to walk among the heavens. Writers who could inject the every expanding beauty of the universe into the mind. This city once stood as the pride of an almighty civilization. Now it lay in ruins at the center of the earth, forgotten and crumbling.

As you made your way through its streets and explored its walls, you became nostalgic. However, you had nowhere to place the emotion; you were stuck yearning for something that was still far from your grasp. The streets were silent. Empty. The tall buildings cast shadows that seemed to devour everything. Every now and then you could see what you thought were ghosts, lurking around the shadows.

"And this word here. It means wizard, yes?"

Celestia leaned over, her voice echoing in the vast library. She was having a bit of trouble deciphering the strange markings and symbols that made up a lot of your native language. So far, she had managed to learn that the book was a story book. It sounded familiar to you, a story about a young man who pulls a sword from a rock.

"Yes, wizard. Very good. You're learning faster than I thought."

You scratch the top of her head and she smiles. She was having fun learning more about the strange language that was so similar to her own. She tried not to ask too many questions, as you were reading as well. It was a heavy book. A large, finely bound leather tome. The title: "Cults and Superstitions" drew your fancy when you saw it lying on the ground near the many shelves that trailed along the back of the dark and empty library.

Spike had gone off to search for other books that might help your research and Howl stood close by, scanning the shelves for anything he found interesting. You had hoped in coming here, that you would find something relevant to your situation. A hint, a key, any information about the angels or what caused them to appear. So far you have found nothing. Only accounts of different religions and fairy tales. Maybe you should have expected it. This seemed to be a very common library, after all.

"Anon, do you know this story?" Celestia asked.

She once again leaned over and slid the book in front of you. There was a picture of a man in blue robes with a pointy hat and another man wielding a great sword, but you couldn't recall what it was.

"No, sorry. But I'd love to hear it once you've finished."

"Then I'll read as fast as I can." She said enthusiastically.

You returned to reading. You cycled through the many pages, searching for any sort of clue. The quiet library was soon filled with the sound of turning pages and sighs of frustration. Eventually you resign and close the book, leaning back in your chair. Your arms fall to your sides as you stare up into the dark ceiling. Maybe you weren't searching in the right places. Maybe you weren't reading the right books.

"So did you find anything?" Spike asked.

He returned with five heavy looking books in his arms. He brought them to you, placing them on the large table you and Celestia sat at.

"No, I'm afraid not. I'm starting to feel like we're not even close." You answer with a sigh.

Spike looked discouraged at that as he took a seat next to you.

"Well, we just started. You can't give up so soon. Here, I'll help you out."

Spike then grabbed the book closest to him. It was a thin, staple magazine. The title gave it away to be some well known science tabloid so you immediately had doubts that it'd help. Opening the magazine, Spike began to read aloud the first article.

"The grand.....reveal? .....Of P-...Pr-....Prrrrr-"

Spike fumbled over the words, unsure but determined to read them. You thought you'd save him the stress and reached for the magazine. Celestia had put down her story book then, taking interest in the tabloid. Spike leaned in as you found where he left off and continued to read.

"The grand reveal of King Judea and Lord Khalifa's newest project, 'Heaven's Gate', has left us all astonished...."

You pause, trailing off into thought. Heaven's Gate. It was mentioned in Starswirls grimoire.

"Anon, do you think it's the same device Starswirl mentioned?" Celestia asked.

You remained silent. Grabbing the lantern you found just outside the library, you move it closer to the pages so you could read them better.

"Neither His Majesty or Lord Khalifa have given any explanation on what the new machine's purpose is. However, many have speculated that it is connected with the newly constructed Tower of Babel that now serves as the city's entrance."

You stand, almost bursting with excitement. You recognized three things. One being the King. His name sounded familiar, though you figured it was nothing. He was royalty after all and everyone knew the names of the royal family. The other being this Lord Khalifa. The name sounded familiar, but you wrote that off to him just being famous as well. What really took you by surprise was Heaven's Gate.

"I never thought it'd be mentioned in something like this."

"Is that our first lead then?" Celestia asked, sounding almost as excited as you were.

"It may be." You reply.

You picked up the magazine, trying to find out more. The article was very short, only speaking on the topic briefly before going on about another invention made by the same lord. Then you saw a picture, a building. Five men stood in the front, shaking hands with a very important looking individual. The article accompanying it suggested that the building was fairly new and built to house the king's scientific works.

"There. We search for this building."

You point to the building, a large stone construct. The archway in which all the individuals stood under read "Knowledge is Power". Above the arch was a large owl that was stretching its wings.

"You think it is there?"

Celestia asked, resting her head on your shoulder. Spike had to climb onto the table to see the picture. He stared at it, mostly looking at the man dressed in very fancy robes.

"Who knows. Our greatest chance of finding answers would be in that lab."

"You recognize anyone?" Spike asked.

You look over the picture once more. But sadly, none caught you attention save for the man in the center. He looked familiar, you figured he must have been the king that was mentioned before. It felt like you knew him in some way, although you supposed everyone had knew him.

"I can't say I do. But if I remember correctly, capitol buildings besides the palace tended to be in the second district, which is a few districts over. We'll start there."

You close the magazine, slipping it into one of your pockets. Everyone then made ready to leave. Howl had been distant lately, no doubt still sore about your confrontation, but you hardly took notice. But you did notice Celestia hand Spike the book she had been reading. She said she wanted to finish it and asked Spike to hold on to it for her. With everything gathered the four of you set out, once again stepping out into the shadowed city. You raise the lantern up high to light the way. There was a long walk ahead of you but you were now determined to find answers.





The four of you stood close in the dark. As you traversed the dark streets and alleys of Agartha, you started to remember small things about the city. Insignificant things, but all held the same importance to you. These small memories were your connection to the past. Currently you were passing under a bridge that ascended to your left. It loomed over you like a a giant's arm. It wasn't any sort of special bridge; it was crumbling and cracked, but you felt connected to it. You stopped, Celestia and the others taking notice and stopping with you. Your eyes trace along the length of the bridge and you raise the lantern higher to see further into the dark. Though the city was surrounded by the bright fires of inner earth, it was hard for the light to illuminate the inner city. You stare in silence as you mentally travel up the bridge. It lead into the palace, a great black monolith that stood high in the center of the city. 

The center of Agartha was elevated by natural rock that was once an underground volcano.  But the chaotic force of nature was now dormant. A palace built atop a volcano. Humans were very arrogant in their ways. You chuckle to yourself as you thought about the subject. Recalling what Celestia told you in your first week in Equestria, humans seemed larger than life. You hoped you could do them justice in the end. Celestia studied you as you stared off into the distance. To her you looked nostalgic, yet pained. It was a very difficult emotion for her to pinpoint.

"Would you like to see the palace someday?" You ask suddenly.

You weren't really addressing anyone around you, more so directing the question to yourself. Your answer was a mixed feeling of yes and no. You wanted to see it, for you felt you had ties to it. But, for the same reason you never wanted to lay eyes on it again.

"Of course. I want to see how it compares to Canterlot." Celestia said jokingly.

Having enough gazing, you turned from the palace and continued your way under the bridge. The walk was mostly accompanied with silence. There was very little to talk about and that made the air around you stagnate in melancholy. There was nothing wrong with that though. It gave you a chance to reflect. You had finally reached your destination. A place that before now, many doubted to have existed. You've been through so much in your time here. Besides the countless angels and hardships, you had to admit to yourself that it was fun. You enjoyed traveling with the princess and Spike. They were in a way, your family now. Equestria had taken you in as if you were one of its own. Here you saw things that seemed to be pulled from fantasy. Ships that sailed the skies. Vast technologies that made you giddy with excitement. An entire race of centaur folk. But most of all, the thing that had captivated you since your awakening was magic. 

Magic was very strange to you, yet familiar. The aegis, which rested on your left hand once more, was also magical. The centaurs themselves used magic. But as far as you knew, the Badlands restricted any such magic known in Equestria. It opened up an entire novel of questions about the supernatural phenomena. You had spoken with Celestia regarding the topic just once. Not even she knew what sort of magic the centaurs used and how it bypassed the anti-magic field around the Badlands. Magic was completely gone from her. She once described it as a feeling of immense emptiness, as if she wasn't whole. She could no longer feel the warmth of the sun within her. It felt like she was cut off from the cosmos, and that was a terrible feeling for her. The same must have been for all the unicorns that had been among the company.

But there were so many devices that aided you with the power of magic. The weapons that you acquired from Tzipuur were magical, which meant that humans may have been capable of magic. Perhaps they drew their power from a different source. There were so many questions you had. Each day you found yourself wanting to know more and more. You wanted to know everything. Eventually you'd no longer be satisfied with this quest of self-discovery. You would want to keep learning. Keep seeking answers that have never been found. But that was greedy. There was no way for a single man to hold every ounce of knowledge in his palm. Not even Starswirl the Bearded was that wise. Although, Equestria was full of great minds. Princess Twilight Sparkle, for one. She was brilliant. Perhaps one day she would hold the answers. She indeed had the potential and it was easy to see why Celestia loved her so.

Your gaze shifts from the black streets ahead of you and to the mare traveling beside you. What did she know, if she didn't know everything already? At least a thousand years of knowledge swelled within her. She was a great library, waiting to be explored.

"It's very quiet here." said Celestia, breaking your thoughts.

"Aye. It's been that way for a very long time. We're probably the only life to set foot in here since the fall."

".....You think there could be ghosts here?" Spike asked.

He sounded slightly scared, but genuinely curious. You had never considered that before,  and now that you did, it stirred something within you. Perhaps the spirits of the long dead did reside here. Maybe they watched you as you traveled through the once lively streets and roads. After a million years of absence, the last son of Agartha had returned home.

"Who knows. If there are spirits who walk beside us, let's hope they are friendly."

You place your palm over Spike's head, ruffling the spines that trailed down to his tail.

"Friendly or not, I'd rather not see them." Celestia said with a grimace.

"What? Are you afraid of ghosts?"

You tease her lightly over the childish fear. Though you suppose it was a very valid fear.

"No... I just would rather not see the dead after they've passed. It's sad, in a way. Don't you think? Not being able to die happily, clinging to life because you are unable to move on. It must be torture."

Celestia frowned. She sounded like she spoke from experience. Perhaps someone very close to her had died and had trouble moving on. Whoever it was, they were someone very close to her and it hurt to remember them like that.

"I see. Though I suppose if someone were there to help the one trapped in limbo, then the spirit would be grateful to that someone. Such a thing would bind the two together in a friendship that could never be severed. The dead may never live again, but they'll live as long as someone remembers them."

You thought aloud and the others listened. Even Howl, who had remained silent, listened completely. You caught Celestia staring at you as you walked on. You stared back at her, raising an eyebrow.

"What is it?" You ask.

"When did you become so wise?" She asked playfully, giving you a slight shove.

Actually, you weren't very wise, not yet at least. You were just saying what you thought and it just happened to sound good. But you took the bonus points anyway.

"Speaking with someone like you makes a man think a lot. I guess you're starting to rub off on me."

She laughed, thinking to herself how cute the idea was. Then she was silent again. A small gap of time passed before anything more was said.

"Actually, you're right." said Celestia.

You look over, curious to what she had to say. And you just liked being told you were right.

"About?" You ask.

"I once had a friend. You've all heard of him. The magnificent unicorn, Starswirl the Bearded."

Celestia then began to recount her memories of the ancient unicorn as if they were still new. She told you all about how he was a brilliant magician, but never in life knew the importance of friendship. He was never one for social gatherings. Sure he liked the novelty of friends and mingling, but never did he go out of his way to strengthen those bonds. He was was always alone, especially when he grew older. Once he had left Canterlot, to travel the world and complete his magnum opus, he had died alone in a tavern. There were hardly any ponies at his funeral. Save for the princess, a few nobles who were as close as he'd allow them to be, and admires. But no true 'friends'. A hermit to the end.

But one night, he appeared before Celestia. He was trapped between this world and the next. Only in death did he see the importance of friendship. He regretted his way of life, he even tried to beg Celestia to try and bring him back so that he could start over. But such a thing was impossible. His spirit began to grow more and more chaotic over time. He wanted his life back, but could in no way obtain it. It was then that Celestia offered him a deal. A deal to become her friend. Starswirl, who had never known genuine friend in his life, began to value it in death. Her friendship opened his eyes to one of the world's greatest experiences. Eventually, Celestia would wake, and find that he was no longer there. His spirit had moved on, and do to circumstances, they were now tied for eternity.

"That was two hundred years ago. Friendship does indeed transcend life; it is a staple of life and death. Your friends live on in you once they have passed, and vice versa. For this, you should not mourn the dead. So long as you remember them and keep them alive in your heart, they will live forever." Celestia said as she finished her story.

No one said anything. You were all pondering the idea she proposed. It was very similar to what you had concluded the previous day. In the end, all a person came to be was a memory. If you wanted immortality, all you needed were friends to carry on your memory. A very simple concept. You thought of Ro'Jetty, the kind centaur from Tzipuur. Though he was dead, you would keep him alive in your memory. Howl found that the more he thought about it, the more you and Celestia were right. The fifty would live on so long as Howl cherished them. They were immortal.

"This, is the only true form of immortality. Even beings such as myself and my sister. We, are not truly immortal. We are simply undying, thus we cannot live on in the hearts of others." She continued.

You look to Celestia, who you expected to be saddened. But she was not. She held a look of pride on her face. And for a moment you thought you understood why. She and her sister worked hard to create a world where many, if not all, beings could create strong friendships. Friendships that would never break. They guided the world into a utopia based on the grounds that immortality was in the heart of another.

"Of course, this is just an opinion of an old mare. Ponies are free to think what they like about the subject."

She dispelled the atmosphere quickly before it could evolve into a heavy depression. Celestia wanted this journey to be as happy as possible. There would be no frowns, no crying, and no somber thinking. At least, she hoped so. You marveled at the mare that walked beside you. She was a giant among you all. So much more than you all were. Yet, she made you all feel as if you were her closest friends. You only could hope that you could one day become as wise and thoughtful as she. It didn't matter if such a thing were impossible or not. You simply wanted to try, and trying was enough.

By now, a calm silence had descended over you all. A comfortable silence that neither stifled or suffocated you. It was content. Soon, you came to a gate, it lead into the third district. It was much smaller than the gates that lead into the city, but still very large to be impressive. A slab of stone that separated the two districts like a small mountain.

Two statues stood as forgotten protectors that now crumbled away. The massive doors were open, revealing the canal of magma that flowed through the city. Three large capital 'I's were etched into the great doors. The ancient number for three. As you approach the gate, your foot bumps into a large rod resting on the ground. Naturally curious, you hand the lantern to Spike and bend down to pick it up. It was covered in dust and slightly rusted. You held it in your hands and the others leaned in. It was.....a gun, of sorts. It was very large, too large for one to carry in their arms. There was an inscription on the barrel.

"Eden Laboratories..."

You say the name aloud, it sounding like a something of great relevance. Immediately you fish out the rolled up magazine in your pocket and thumb through to find the page with the picture. You stop, searching for any sort of name to put two and two together.

"Is it something you recognize?" Spike asked.

He was held the lantern over you so that you could read better. The light was very helpful and you were now able to read more clearly.

"It sounds familiar. It may be the place we're heading to."

You read the passages surrounding the picture. Eventually you came to a stop when you read that the picture was indeed, Eden. This meant that there was a direct connection with what went down between this lab and humanity's last days. Once again, you roll up the magazine and slip it into your pocket. Taking the lantern from Spike, you lead everyone on.

"Eden was built to house the king's scientific studies. Which means that King Judea constructed Heaven's Gate, and these weapons. I wager that the angels are tied to the gate, and when the king realized this, he constructed these weapons to fight."


Pieces were starting to fall into place. Eden was the source of the problem and most likely the epicenter of the fall.

"So you think this was brought on by humans?" Celestia asked. She was curious as to what the origins of the angels were, but never considered they were a direct link to human science.

"Who knows? It is possible that they found something completely by accident, or they completely knew what they were looking for, and their plan backfired."

A multitude of theories were bursting through your head but you had no time to stop and think on them. You wanted to get to Eden as soon as possible. As you all passed under the gate, you began to feel the familiar heat of the magma down below. A short bridge connected the fourth district to the third, which lead to the second, which lead to the first and so on and so forth all the way back to the fifth. Now that you think about it, the city was almost an exact pentagon in shape, divided into five sectors.

The sudden change in temperature and return of the thick smell of sulfur nearly stopped your advancement. You had to adjust once more to the strong smell and stifling heat, but soon you were able to bring yourself to move and continue. It honestly baffled you that there was an entire civilization that lived in this terrible pit next to Hell. Then again, it was probably human arrogance that made them strive to survive in such a harsh place. Just to be able to say "We can". 

Below you the magma bubbled and undulated over itself like waves of rock and lead. It illuminated the canal between districts four and five so well that the lantern in your hand was hardly noticeable. The light bounced off each of you. Flickering off of you all like two-dimensional fireflies that flew across your skin. The light especially took joy in dancing in Celestia's mane. It gave her a more fiery color that suited her well. You hurried along, the heat being something you no longer wanted anything to deal with.

The bridge was very large. Built so that things like carriages and large crowds of people could travel between districts easily. It was difficult for you all to imagine Agartha being as lively as the towering buildings made it out to believe. You look around, noticing the many different aspects of the architecture. It was very similar to the Tower and Tzipuur. All three had the same engravings, same gates and statues. The arches and pillars that lined the outside of the gates were a perfect match to the Ishtar and other human masonry.

The canal of magma cut through the boarders of the districts perfectly, singeing the bottom stone black like obsidian. Once you made it through the large gate leading into the third district, the heat began to fade and the light shrank to the simple illumination of the lantern. The four of you exit into a very large square. An intricate fountain silently collecting dust in the center. Many different winding streets sprouted from the square, all going different directions and some climbing up hills of rock. There were many buildings, small residential housing that dotted the sides of roads and streets. Fallen lamp posts and split trees were scattered around the square like they had been strewn around by a great storm.

"Trees?" Spike said aloud.

He was examining a very large trunk that was close by. He questioned how any plant life, let alone trees could survive so far beneath the surface. But all you had were theories.

"It may be possible that trees were a source for oxygen. Though I do share your confusion. How could trees grow so far down?" You reply.

It was indeed a great mystery. But many human workings were strange and seemingly unscientific. Perhaps this too was a form of magic. There would be no use in wasting time trying to figure out the answers, so you moved on. Passing through the square, your party fall onto the main road that lead to district two. Or so you hoped.

The plan was to keep heading counter clockwise, so eventually you'd run into district two one way or another. The residential area of the city was once crowding with people during the 'day'. Now it was quiet, the only sounds being four sets of steps on the cracked roads. Around you, buildings had fallen into themselves. Some split entirely in half and others reduced to a pile of rubble. In some areas, the stone was singed black and ash could still be kicked up if you ran your foot across it. There were probably many fires during the fall. An entire city in a panic and engulfed in flame. It was a hellish thought.

"So what is it like?"

The question surprised you. Considering who it was coming from. You looked back to see Howl avoiding eye contact. For why, you did not know.

"What is what like?"

You ask, returning your attention ahead of you. Celestia and Spike noticed how distant the two of you had been lately and found in odd that Howl was the first to break the silence between you.

"Returning to all of this. I'm sure it must eating you up inside."

The captain wasn't wrong. But he wasn't spot on either. You had an infinite amount of mixed feelings about this place.

"Yes and no. What I feel is...indescribable. I'd like to say that I simply feel nothing, but that wouldn't entirely be the truth. I have very little memory of this place, so I think I am unable to completely feel for what is lost. It is too early to know what I feel, but in time, as I remember, i suppose I will feel sadness."

You frowned, frustrated that you couldn't quite get across what you wanted to say. Being unable to express yourself was a taxing thing. You wanted to be sad, to at least feel a shred a grief for the city, but you hardly felt anything other than nostalgia. That feeling of being here once upon a time.

"What about you, Captain? What do you feel?" You asked.

"Tired."

His simple answer evokes a light chuckle from you and you politely agree. You had been walking for about five hours, though you hardly noticed. Time was easy to lose track of in the dark. That and you had been thinking a lot since you had awoke.

"Yes. Maybe it would be best if we took a short break." Celestia said.

She expelled a lady-like yawn after that. She was already looking around for a suitable place to rest. Before you could say anything, she was already wondering off with Spike.

"You shouldn't wander off, you know," you called after her.

"We aren't wondering off. It's your fault for dragging your feet. Keep up."

She blew you off with the wave of her tail as the both of you grew further apart. You sigh, rubbing the ridge of your nose between your fingers. Celestia was so free willed sometimes, you feared that you wouldn't be able to keep up with her. You turn to Howl and noticed the bags under his eyes. His mane was disheveled and a beard was starting to grow in thick, which was a funny thought. A horse with a beard. But besides that, he really needed rest and you figured it couldn't hurt too much to take a quick break. But you were so anxious to get moving again. You wanted to get to Eden as soon as possible, and you didn't like the possibility of an angel attack while you weren't on guard.

You motion Howl to follow as you chase after Celestia who was a few yards away by now. She wasn't really leading you anywhere specific. She was actually just looking for a place that looked nice. Eventually she would settle on a quite large home that seemed to be mostly intact. It was a simple house. The square build with subtle details in the stone. Spike was the first to step inside, immediately tripping in the dark and falling on his face. You sigh again as you step inside, raising the lantern to light the way.

There was what looked to be furniture and other antiquities. Dust hugged the floor and walls like cloud of smoke had blew in through the doors. This room had remained untouched for a million years at least. It was a wonder nothing down here crumbled away long ago. Along the dust covered walls were dust covered torches. Spike now went around the house, lighting each torch so that they would burn with new life. His fire burned on in each torch, giving the house a green tint.

Howl nearly collapsed onto what seemed like a couch, sending dust flying into the air. He exhaled deeply, filling the entire room with a sleepiness. You sat in a stone chair by a wall that seemed to grow from the ground. In front of the immobile chair was a table that sprang from the wall. Dusty relics and artifacts rested on the table, no longer having a purpose. You take your eyes off the table and study Celestia. The princess was taking her time exploring. Observing every piece, every inch of the house. She came to a stop in front of a wooden construct. You watched as she leaned in curiously. She began to prod and examine the wooden frame until she found a console of buttons beneath a layer of dust.

Curious, she pressed one, leaning in to see if it changed anything noticeable. With the press of the button, a spring loaded stick shot out of the wooden frame, hitting Celestia in the head with a loud 'snap'! You laugh out loud, much to the embarrassment of the princess. She looked at you, rubbing her head and poking her tongue out at you. With her attention shifted on you, she didn't notice the other developments taking place in the box. Another protrusion stuck out of the box, like a flatbed.

You stand, hearing the clicking of tiny gears behind the walls and approach Celetia. She turns to see that a large, black disc rested on a device built into the flat bed. You cock your head to the side, not knowing what to make of it. The both of you look to each other and shrug. At this point you figured it wouldn't hurt to press one more button. With a click, you watch the stick that shot out of the box turn into a right angle, an axis placed in the center of its length. On the tip of the stick was a sharp needle of sorts and it lowered onto the black disc. You watch intently as the disc begins rotating. Slowly at first, but eventually picking up speed. You both lean in close, the rotation being slightly hypnotic.

[PLAY]


Then without warning, sound begins to fill the room, catching the attention of Spike and the half asleep captain.

"Oh. It's a record player." Celestia said, backing off.

"A record player?" You ask, turning to her.

She smiled, happy that she could be the one to teach you something again.

"It plays music. You see the many lines circumferencing the disc? They are a series of grooves that when met with the needle, produce sound."

You leaned back in, studying the disc as it went round and round, the needle bobbing up and down as it traced over the grooves. It was a very exciting thing to witness. As for the music, it was strange to you. It seemed to be about a journey. One that meant a great deal to the one on the pilgrimage. It was something that spoke to you like the way one spoke to their diary as the song spoke of the pilgrim's journey through hardship.

Celestia seemed to be enjoying the song, however. She was lulling her head side to side with the melody. Spike and the captain listened to the song as well, reflecting in on themselves. You return to your seat by the wall, thought swallowing you whole. The answers, the conclusion of your journey lay waiting in Eden. You had stopped caring how the answers would affect you, you just wanted to know. The curiosity, the desire to know was becoming so much more unbearable with each passing day. Man's road was a road that you had paved with loss, fond memories, conflicts, and other such things. It was all leading to this.

"Listen, all of you."

You speak, gaining everyone's attention. They all looked to you, weariness in their eyes, but still eager to press on.

"No matter what may come tomorrow, we must get through it without faltering. We've lost so many friends already that I'd rather not lose any others. Over time we have become close to one another, each of us cogs in a great machine. You are my friends, and you mean the world to me. We are a team. Just thought I'd let you know that."

You look each of them in the eye. Spike was beaming with pride. He was ready to get on with the adventure and finish this. He clutched his fist, a fist you had nudged with your own many times. Howl merely huffed and turned over, facing away from you, but he couldn't hide the fact that you were right. You were a team now, and a team needed to set aside differences for the greater cause. Celestia was staring now, the biggest smile you've ever seen plastered on her face. Neither of you needed to say anything. She understood your feelings and accepted them.

Tomorrow you would reach Eden. You, Celestia, and Spike had stayed up a few more hours to listen to the many songs on the disc. Eventually, the three of you would tire and drift off to sleep. That night, all of you had pleasant dreams.