//------------------------------// // Epilogue: Coming Home // Story: The Truth: An alternate-world 'Truth or Dare' tale // by SFC Ponycron //------------------------------// The Truth Epilogue: Coming Home You look to the two unicorns of the Royal Guard, one on either side of you, then over your shoulder to Fancy Pants and Fleur-de-Lis. She nods at you reassuringly and you nod back in reply. With a deep breath, you turn and knock on the door three times. After a brief moment, the door opens, revealing the butler. The only sign of surprise he betrays at your presence is a brief raising of his eyebrows. “Please tell your master that Red Zircon and two members of the Royal Guard are here to see him, and I will not take ‘no’ for an answer,” you say, fighting hard to keep your anger in check. The butler nods once before disappearing into the house. “You still have qualms about doing this, Red Zircon?” Fancy Pants asks. “No, not any more,” you reply with a resolute nod. “I need to do this, otherwise I’m going to go crazy and do something I’ll regret.” You turn to Fancy Pants. “Thank you, by the way, for your support of my relationship with Twilight and the others, and for your help with what I’m about to do.” “No thanks are needed, old boy,” he says. “Recall that this is my idea, though I’ll be saying it’s yours. It’ll be quite the topic of conversation once word gets out in Canterlot, I’m sure.” He huffs once in a brief laugh. You grin and turn back towards the door as you hear hooves stomping towards you, and you put your stoic expression back on as the door whirls open. “What are you doing here?” Filthy Rich hisses as he narrows his eyes. “I thought I had you sent off to the moon!” “Let's just say that the stars aided in my escape,” you reply in a clipped tone. “I came here to give you and your family a chance to make up for your mistake.” His eyes narrow even further. “What mistake?” he asks slowly. “Admitting what you did to me in front of two members of the Royal Guard and two well-known social figures in Canterlot who also happen to be good friends of myself and Rarity,” you snap back, taking a step to one side to reveal Fancy Pants and Fleur-de-Lis to Filthy Rich. You fight with all your might to keep a straight face as you watch the Filthy Rich’s jaw drop in a mixture of surprise and horror. “Rarity and the others don’t know that it was you that had me banished, but that can change easily.” “What do you want?” he asks through clenched teeth. “Nothing,” you reply. “Fancy Pants has offered to send your daughter Diamond Tiara to a prestigious finishing school in Canterlot that he himself owns and occasionally teaches in.” He reels back in surprise, his eyes widening. “...What?” Fancy Pants steps forward, stopping beside you. “I do understand that your daughter is already fourteen years of age and has only four more years of school left. For the next two years after that, my partner Fleur-de-Lis here will take your daughter under her tutelage and will be taught how to conduct herself properly in Canterlot’s high society.” He smiles. “She will attend many of my functions and learn chiefly from myself and Fleur-de-Lis, though my other female partner Cinnamon Hearts may take her under their wing if they are to go a function that I believe your daughter may need to attend.” He maintains his smile as Filthy Rich looks like he was just slapped in the face with a lead horseshoe. “As an added benefit, this may expand your business ventures outside of Ponyville, and your daughter may even become your liaison in Canterlot.” He turns towards one of the armored unicorns and nods. The unicorn summons his magic without even moving a muscle, and a scroll floats from Fancy Pants’ suit pocket to Filthy Rich. “What’s this?” Filthy Rich asks as he unrolls the scroll. “It’s a formal letter, notarized and willingly signed by Princess Luna, stating that during your daughter’s time in Canterlot, you, your family and all of your staff are in no way allowed to maintain any form of contact with her, be it by written letter or personal presence. As well, your daughter is in no way allowed to maintain any form of contact with you, your family and all of your staff,” Fancy Pants replied cheerily, as if nothing was wrong. “Any business proposals or meetings that are gained for you through Diamond Tiara’s time in Canterlot will be sent to you via my personal envoy, and anypony requesting your immediate presence will be sent to you here in Ponyville...at their expense or your own. “Also, any attempt to contact your daughter, or any attempt by your daughter to contact you, any attempt, will be taken as a severe attempt to turn her attention from her required studies. Doing so will result in immediate suspension from her time in Canterlot, her immediate return here to Ponyville, and your admission of your attempt to banish Red Zircon to the moon will be made public immediately, with my dear associate Rarity and her compatriots the first to know.” The tiniest hint of a smile tugs at the corner of your lips as Filthy Rich’s face goes completely ashen. “There is one other thing. I’ve commissioned my most esteemed colleague Red Zircon here to craft something for yourself and your daughter. I would very much appreciate it if she wore it when Fleur-de-Lis and I pick her up at dawn tomorrow when we return to Canterlot.” “What?” he asks with a start. “You’re leaving tomorrow and you’re taking my daughter with you?” “Of course,” Fancy Pants replies matter-of-factly. “I like to think that a proper education is important for every child.” “Of-of course.” Filthy Rich licks his lips, which have gone dry. “...What is it that Red Zircon made?” “Oh, a trifle, really,” Fancy Pants answers dismissively. The other Royal Guard calls forth his magic, and a wheeled pedestal covered in a shimmering purple cloth rolls itself between you and Fancy Pants. “Red Zircon, you may do the honor of presenting your exquisite pieces of craftsmanship to Filthy Rich. I believe dear Diamond Tiara will look quite fashionable with it.” You nod in thanks as one corner of the purple cloth is caught in your magic. You pull away the purple cloth, and it slides off the pedestal, revealing a glass case with two shimmering sterling platinum tiaras on it studded with deep red gems in place of diamonds. You look at Filthy Rich, who stares at the tiaras with horror and rage simmering in his eyes. “Are those...?” “Red zircons, yes,” Fancy Pants replies. “They’re all the rage in Canterlot this season.” His expression darkens and he takes a step closer to Filthy Rich. “You, sir, have caused untold anguish to six children and seven individuals, two of which happen to be some of my closest colleagues. Red Zircon himself suggested this course of action to myself and the Princesses, who believed this be the best course of action for everypony involved. If it were up to me, I’d have you financially ruined and left to six mothers who would delight in dealing nothing less than revenge on whoever had the father of their children taken away. “As it stands, you may gain much in social standing in Canterlot within six years, maybe even much business, but at a cost similar to what my friend has had to endure.” His expression lightens again, as if he hadn’t gotten angry at all. “Well, I suppose we should take our leave so you can have the rest of the day to spend time with your daughter.” He bows, and you and Fleur-de-Lis bow as well. “Have a good afternoon.” Fancy Pants and Fleur-de-Lis turn and begin to walk away, but you take a deep breath and stare him down. He glares right back at you. “You bucking...” He strides forward, but suddenly, a golden shimmering barrier of light separates the two of you. “No,” you say. “This is between him and me.” You look to the guards, both silently questioning your decision. The barrier dissipates, and the two of you continue to stare each other down. “Go on,” you say. “What were you going to say to me?” His chest heaves up and down as he tries his best to control his temper. You feel like a coiled snake ready to strike, your jaw is tight with barely contained rage. “You have a lot of nerve to show up at my door and threaten me, Red Zircon,” he says slowly. “You’ll pay for this.” “No, Filthy Rich. I’ve already paid in full,” you say slowly as you turn and walk away. “It’s nothing compared to what you did to me, but turnabout is fair play.” No sooner do those words escape from your mouth than a blinding pain in the back of your head makes your vision go white, and you find yourself tasting dirt and blood. Your vision clears and you realize you’re on the ground. In that exact moment something within you snaps. The silence and loneliness of your prison for the last six years... Losing track of the days after one year and three months... Unable to run from the unrelenting heat of the sun... Unable to fight off the nerve-shattering cold... Being kept alive by magic alone, just enough to keep you marginally healthy and physically sustained... Seeing the teary faces of six mares that just about gave up hope of ever seeing you again, doubting that you’re actually in front of them... Seeing the awestruck faces of six foals seeing you for the first time, doubting your identity... Seeing the sneering face of the one that suggested you be banished to the moon, and hearing him call out to have you driven away from your own flesh and blood and the mares that loved you... You jump to your feet, whirl around and roar in rage. Your vision goes completely red as you shoulder Filthy Rich, knocking him to the ground. Before he even attempts to get up, you slam a forehoof on the ground just beside his face. “There is nothing I want more than to hand you over to the Princesses and ask that I just let loose on you,” you shout, your breathing heavy. “I just want you to know that there’s not really that much stopping me. If you get between me and my family again, so help me, Filthy Rich, I’ll do just that.” You step away from him, spit some blood from your mouth and walk away. *-----*-----*-----*-----* After making a brief detour at your house to clean yourself up, you make your way towards the schoolhouse. You can’t help but feel a little nervous; it’s the first time you’re picking up your own foals, after all. Their respective mothers made it clear to them that you needed to set some personal and business affairs back in order after six years, though you did promise them that you would pick them up as soon as you were able. That was months ago, you think to yourself. I never thought I’d see this day in all my life. You hear the schoolbell ring, followed immediately by the cacophony of children stampeding out of the schoolhouse. You see some foals chatter energetically about something, but you let them be as you near the school. You see Cheerilee at the doorway, and as she makes eye contact with you, she smiles and nods. You trot up the stairs and through the doorway to see six foals packing their books and pencils. Crystal Prism is the first to finish packing. She puts her saddlebags on and her jaw drops when she looks towards the doorway and locks eyes with you. Jasper, who was talking with her, follows her gaze, and the other four follow suit. “Dad!” The collective scream of recognition and joy registers for the barest of seconds before a blue and white blur slams into you, sending you through the doorway and tumbling end over end down the stairs. “You came! You came!” Silver Streamer and Jonagold shout in unison as they add to the pony pile. Rose Quartz wraps her forelegs around your neck and squeezes as hard as she can. “It’s so good to see you, Dad,” she says as Jasper and Ruby Dawn join in the pile. “Dad,” Crystal Prism says, her voice shaky. You look down at your daughter to see her eyes shut tightly, tears streaming freely down her cheeks. “Don’t ever leave again.” “I won’t,” you say quietly as you kiss her forehead. “Promise,” Dawn commanded, her voice starting to shake as she hugs you tighter. “I promise, kids,” you say gently. “I lost you once. I’ll never lose you again.” *-----*-----[ Fin ]-----*-----*