My Little Pony: The Visitor

by Hopeful Soul


Chapter 16

Chapter 16

        After the deed was done, the skies above them all slowly returned to normal and became completely clear, with absolutely no clouds around at all. Declan and his new friends stared at the spot where the Earth had swallowed up Sibrella and looked a bit surprised and cautious, expecting her to pop out again, but she didn’t.
“Is it over?” Declan asked hesitantly. Upon realizing that it really was, Spike’s face brightened up.
“We did it! We beat her!” Spike said. He turned to them. “Hey guys! We saved the world!”
The others began to realize this as well and started smiling.
“Oh yeah!” Rainbow cheered.
Fluttershy sighed. “Thank goodness…”
“Now that’s what I’m talking about!” Applejack smiled.
“Indeed!” Rarity nodded.
“Yay! Yay! Yay!” Pinkie cheered while jumping up and down, enthusiastically.
“Ha-ha, we’re heroes!” Declan exclaimed.
“Yeah! Superheroes!” Spike added, as the two of them and Pinkie jumped into the air, full of joy.
“Yahoo!” The three of them cheered while their friends laughed in amusement.
“Man, that was the most amazing thing ever!” Declan expressed, practically bursting with excitement. “I can’t believe I helped save the world! We saved the world! Yeah!”
“Yep, and we couldn’t have done it without ya, sport.” Applejack smiled.
“Without your help, I don’t think any of us would have made it out of that,” Fluttershy added.
“Indeed, well done, Declan.” Twilight nodded proudly.
“Yeah, you were awesome!” Rainbow told him.
“Super duper awesome!” Pinkie piped up.
“Ah, I wouldn’t say ‘awesome’, more like… ‘tubular’ or something like that.” Declan shrugged.
“Oh, don’t be so modest dear,” Rarity told him, gently.
“Yeah, Twilight’s already got that covered.” The blue Pegasi smirked.
“Hey!” the purple alicorn protested.
“Hmm, noted.” Declan nodded. “But still, it was mainly just the power of the Emperor’s Gem that made me special.”
“No you made that Gem special, ok?” Applejack stated. “And if it weren’t for you, none of us would have gotten out of this.”
“We owe you everything,” Fluttershy expressed.
“Because you are super-duper cool!” Pinkie Pie added.
“Exactly! To quote my surrogate sister Scootaloo: you may just be a little guy, but you have a heart as strong as a horse!” Rainbow told him, as she touched the area of his heart with her hoof, which made him smile warmly. Then Spike got a thought.
“So… what do you think our name should be?” he asked. Most of the others looked at him confused.
“Yeah, what is our name?” Declan questioned.
“Our name?” Twilight echoed.
“Why would we need a name?” Applejack added.
“Well, we’re like a team, aren’t we? So we should have a name for it,” Declan suggested. “What do you think?”
The others all began to consider Declan’s suggestion.
“Well… I guess it couldn’t hurt,” Fluttershy admitted.
“Yeah, be nice to have a name for our group other than ‘those ponies’,” Applejack added.
“And ‘The Ponyville Six’,” Rainbow Dash said.
“And ‘those six fillies’.” Rarity scoffed in annoyance.
“Not to mention ‘those weirdos’,” Twilight continued sounding hurt.
“You forget ‘and their pet dragon’,” Spike stated, a bit bitter.
“Plus the Mane Six!” Pinkie piped up excitedly; the others all stared at her. “It just came to me.”
                “Ok… so… what’s our name gonna be?” Spike inquired, curiously.
“How about… Rainbow and the Dashers!” Rainbow suggested, excited.
“Yeah… no,” Declan stated, flatly. The others all shook their heads and agreed with him.
“How about The Princess of Friendship and her Loyal Friends?” Twilight suggested.
“Too boring.” Rainbow yawned.
“How about… six girls, a boy, and their lovable dragon?” Pinkie added smiling at Spike, who smiled back gratefully.
“Too generic.” Declan frowned.
“Aw…” Spike whined.
“Come on ya’ll, we need a name that’s… unique and clever!” Applejack said.
“And fits us all,” Fluttershy added.
“Not to mention… it has to have pizazz!” Rarity expressed.
“Well, I think it should have ‘Friendship’ or 'Harmony' in its name,” Twilight voiced.
“It is our specialty and we do guard and spread it all over Equestria so…” Spike started to say before his words suddenly gave Declan an idea.
“I got it! I know what our name should be!” Declan beamed, pleased with himself.
“What?” Twilight asked.
“Yeah, what? What? What?” Pinkie questioned eagerly.
Declan paused before finally saying… “The Guardians of Harmony.”
“Hey! Good name!” Rainbow smirked.
“Yeah, I’m kinda taking a shine to it myself.” Applejack added, tipping her hat.
“It does have a certain flare to it,” Rarity admitted.
“And it fits us perfectly.” Fluttershy smiled.
“I love it!” Pinkie cheered. “Great choice, Declan!”
“Thanks…” the human said, bashfully.
“You know… your Pony form should also have a name,” Twilight pointed out.
“Like?” Declan asked, intrigued.
“Like… Hopeful Soul.” Twilight smiled.
“Hopeful Soul?” Declan echoed.
“Oh yes, it definitely suits you,” Rarity complimented.
“Darn tootin.” Applejack nodded.
“Yeppers!” Pinkie added.
“It could be about… twenty percent cooler… but what the hay? It’s a good name,” Rainbow declared.
“Oh, most definitely,” Fluttershy agreed.
“Well, looks like it’s settled; that’s your new buddy, hope ya like it.” Spike patted him on the arm.
“I sure do,” Declan nodded.
Just then, the Emperor’s Gem started to flash on and off again, almost like it was blinking. Pinkie Pie was the first to notice this.
“Hey! It’s blinking!” Pinkie Pie pointed out. The others all looked and gasped in surprise when they saw the Emperor’s Gem glowing brightly and then dimly.
“Gah! It is blinking!” Declan exclaimed.
“Uh… why is it blinking?” Rainbow Dash wondered.
“It’s… it’s not gonna blow up is it…?” Fluttershy added, scared.
Twilight thought for a minute, then it came to her. “I know! I think it’s close to sending Declan home!”
“What!?” they all said, stunned.
“That gem… used a lot of power to bring you here, it was almost a spell…” Twilight began to explain. “And now… the spell’s power is wearing off, and once it does, it’ll send you back to where you came until it’s fully charged I think…”
“So… how long do you think its power lasts?” Declan inquired.
“The way I see it… forty-eight hours…” Princess Twilight answered.
“But it hasn’t been forty-eight hours yet!” Spike pointed out.
“I know, but Declan’s constant use of it during the final battle against Sibrella must have caused a massive drain on the Gem’s power, speeding up the time limit…” Twilight deduced.
“So it has another flaw…” Declan realized.
Rarity nodded, solemnly. “So it would seem…” she said. “And now… you might be returning home soon.”
The eleven-year old let that sink in for a bit before he realized that he was going to be leaving his friends forever, and that realization hit him like a blow to the gut.
“So… this is goodbye?” Declan realized, sadly.
Twilight looked down sadly, along with all the others, before gazing towards Declan. “I’m afraid so…” she replied.
“But… look on the bright side… you get to see your family again, like you wanted,” Fluttershy pointed out.
 “Yeah…” Declan sighed, depressed.
“What’s the matter?” Spike inquired, concerned. “Aren’t you happy that you’re going home?”
“Well, the thing is… I don’t want to say goodbye…” Declan admitted, sadly. “Can’t… can’t I stay here a little longer?”
“I… don’t think that would be a good idea, Declan…” Twilight admitted, truthfully but sadly.
“And even if it were… you heard Twilight; that thing’s about to lose power and send you home any minute!” Rainbow added.
“Nothing can be done, sport,” Applejack stated, sadly as she took her hat off.
“There must be something we can do!” Declan expressed. “Come on! I’m about to leave forever! Any ideas?”
“No…” Fluttershy replied, close to tears.
“Nuh-uh…” Pinkie added, surprising Declan with her sudden seriousness.
“I’m sorry dear, but nothing can be done…” Rarity shook her head, sounding both sad and serious.
Declan then became upset. “So that’s it then, huh? Nice. You think you can just befriend me, change my life… and then just say ‘goodbye’ like nothing happened!?” he questioned, while rubbing tears out of his eyes.
“No! Of course not!” Fluttershy tried to tell him.
“We’ll always be friends with you, darling,” Rarity assured him. “No matter where you are.”
“That’s right.” Twilight nodded.
“But you gotta face the truth sport; you don’t belong in this world,” Applejack added.
“Yeah, you belong in your world, and we belong in ours,” Rainbow Dash stated. “You following me?”
“I… think so…” Declan said.
“Plus, you already said before that your parents might be worried sick,” Fluttershy reminded him.
“Yeah, and no one wants parents that are worried sick, it’s worse than having them… disappointed in you…” Pinkie whispered with a shudder.
“And besides… you… must be feeling homesick, yes?” Rarity finished.
“I know I would be…” Fluttershy admitted, sympathetically.
“Your parents, teachers, friends… don’t you miss them?” Twilight inquired.
“Yeah… I do… and I do have a lot of great memories of home…” Declan nodded, sadly. “All my teachers, friends and my family… and just thinking about them…”
He put a hand on the left side of his chest, where the heart was.
“It like… hurts inside…”
The six ponies and their dragon companion all stared at him sympathetically and sadly.
Declan tightened his grip around the area of his heart. His next words sounded like someone who has just accepted an undeniable truth. “I guess I really am homesick…”
He then noticed a lollipop rise up in front of him, much to his surprise. Pinkie rose up along with it, holding it in her mouth with a sympathetic smile.
“Lollipop?” she offered, with a cute little ‘squee’. A bit comforted, Declan smiled and took the piece of candy before licking it.
“Thanks,” he said.
“Something to remember us by,” the party pony told him, sadly and sweetly as the others approached.
“And to make sure you remember that even if this is goodbye forever…” Rarity started to say.
“We will always love you, Declan,” Fluttershy added, putting a hoof to her heart before she, the girls and Spike gathered around Declan for a group hug, which he joined in.
 “I love you guys too…” the human cried softly as they continued to embrace.
“Oh, it’s not goodbye forever, my little ponies.”
Surprised, everypony ceased hugging, turned around and saw the Princess’ themselves approaching.
“Princess Celestia! Princess Luna!” Spike said, as he and most of the others bowed.
“What are you guys doing here?” Declan asked, pleasantly surprised as he adjusted his glasses.
“We came to congratulate you on your victory, dear Declan,” Luna told him.
“And also, to explain a little bit more about that gem around your neck,” her older sister added.
“What do you mean?” Twilight inquired.
“Well, we did some more research on it and while it does possess extraordinary power… that power does not last long,” Celestia began.
“And once it does it sends me back home…” Declan cut in, glumly.
“Yes, but once the Emperor’s Gem has recharged itself, it will allow you to return to Equestria whenever you desire to.” Luna smiled.
“Until… it runs out of power again?” Declan guessed.
“Hmm, more or less.” The Princess of the Night shrugged.
“And how long does it take to charge?” Rainbow questioned.
“Seven days I would think.” Celestia answered.
“A week? So… I can only visit you guys once or twice a week and stay until this zaps me back?” Declan inquired.
“Hey, it’s better than never,” Pinkie pointed out with a shrug and a smile.
“Huh, good point,” Declan admitted with a smile.
“Awesome! So we can still see each other!” Spike exclaimed, pleased.
“Looks like it.” Declan beamed. The others all started to cheer and whoop for joy.
“Awesome!”
“Well, alright!”
“Who-hoo!”
The human then turned to the Princesses. “So… when it stops blinking… it’ll just port me home or…” Declan began.
“Not quite,” Celestia answered.
“The ‘blinking’ is its way of telling you that it’s time to go. Simply use it again and it will bring you home and it will not stop blinking until you do,” Luna added. “If it keeps blinking unchecked it will surely destroy itself and then you could be stuck here forever.”
Declan and the others were stunned.
“Ok… gotcha… prolonged blinking; bad.” Declan said as he gave her a thumbs up while smiling an uneasy smile. “Understood… well, better get to using it.”
He began to grip the gem, but Rainbow Dash suddenly spoke up.
“Wait,” she said. “Before you go… we… wanna say goodbye and… stuff…” she admitted, rubbing the back of her head and blushing.
“If we can, anyway,” Twilight added as she and the others stepped forward, looking at the Princesses pleadingly. They responded with a smile.
“But of course, take all the time that you require. Declan Shay is as much a part of Equestria as he is to the Earth, he’s earned a proper send off,” Luna said sincerely.
Celestia nodded. “And so, we’ll leave you to it,” she declared as she her sister turned and began trotting away, leaving the eight of them alone to say goodbye. Declan watched them go before he turned to face the Mane Six and Spike.
“Well guys… I guess this is it.” Declan said to his seven friends, who were all struggling very hard not to cry.
Spike was the first to step forward. “Well… I guess I’ll be seeing you… Declan,”
Declan nodded. “Guess so.”
As they both tearfully shook hands, Declan looked at the others and then at Spike. “Take care of them, ok?”
Spike nodded and saluted. “You got it!” he exclaimed, the next thing he said was in a much sadder tone. “Goodbye, Declan.”
“Later, Spike,” Declan said while hugging Spike. They soon separated and Spike walked back slowly.
Applejack stepped forward next. “Well sugarcube, it sure has been interesting,” she remarked.
“Eh, I’m sure things will be just as interesting here even if I’m gone, trust me, I’ve seen the group’s track record… it ain’t pretty,” Declan quipped.
The farm pony chuckled. “Yeah… your probably right about that one,” she admitted. “I’m just glad this isn’t the last time we’ll be seeing each other.”
“Same here.” Declan nodded. “I really do like it here, it’s like a second home, you know?”
“Yeah, I do.” Applejack nodded. “Just make sure to take care of your folks in your other home, clear?”
Declan saluted. “Yes, ma’am.”
He and Applejack shared a tight hug before she trotted away and Pinkie hopped over to him.
“Aw, it’s too bad you have to leave so soon… I was looking forward to throwing you a ‘So Long, See You in a Week Party’.” Pinkie said, trying to stay positive but her  drooping ears gave her away.
Declan smile comfortingly as he walked closer and rubbed her head. “Oh, don’t worry, it’s ok, Pinkie,” he assured her. “Plus like you said; I’ll be back in a week, and when that happens you can throw me a ‘Welcome Back Party, if you’d like.”
“Ooh! I would love to!” Pinkie beamed.
“Yeah, I figured you would.” Declan smirked.
Pinkie Pie’s face then became very sad and teary eyed before she gave Declan a very tight hug “Oh! I’m going to miss you!”
“Ugh… I’m gonna miss you too… Pinkie…” Declan squeaked as Pinkie Pie continued to squeeze him with her bear hug, “Ok…  I can’t breathe…”
Reluctantly, Pinkie released him, nodded and walked away, wiping away the tears in her eyes.
 Next up, was Rarity.
“Well, darling, I suppose that… this… is it,” Rarity said, trying to hold back her ears.
“Guess it is.” Declan nodded.
“Also… I would like to apologize for calling the color of your clothes ‘difficult’ before…” The fashionista told him sincerely. “I really do think that color suits you nicely.”
“Hey thanks, Rare,” Declan said. “Take care of yourself, ok?”
“Likewise, dear,” Rarity smiled teary eyed as she and Declan hugged, before she left as well.
Finally Rainbow Dash stepped forward, she scratched the back of her head looking a bit uncomfortable and nervous.
Rainbow then turned away slightly, trying not to look him in the eye. “Listen uh… I’m not good at the whole… mushy farewell junk so… later, I guess.”
Declan nodded understandingly. “Yeah, later.”
They both smiled at each other and did a respectful hoof/first bump. Rainbow then turned and began to wipe the tears beginning to form in her eyes like Pinkie, which she tried to hide from her friends. Twilight was the last to approach Declan.
“Well ain’t this funny, I’m the first pony you met when you came here… and I’m the last one you’ll see before you leave,” Twilight remarked.
Declan chuckled at the coincidence. “Yeah, ain’t life funny?” he smirked.
The Alicorn Princess looked at him seriously. “You know this isn’t goodbye, right?”
Declan nodded. “Yeah, I know; it’s goodbye till next time,” he said. “Still… I’m gonna miss you a lot, Twilight… you and Spike were so nice to me when we first met. Me. A complete stranger… and yet… you treated me like family.”
“Well, that’s what we are, aren’t we?” Twilight smiled as she looked to the others. “Family.”
Spike and the rest of the Pony Gang all beamed in agreement.
“Sweet, looks like I got two families now; one on Earth and one in Equestria,” Declan remarked.
“Yeah! You got the best of both worlds!” Pinkie beamed. “Hey! That reminds me…!”
Pinkie prepared to sing but was stopped by Applejack sticking her hoof in her mouth, with a frown.
“Oh, and before you go… I wanna give you something,” Twilight said before she began to concentrate hard and during that time her horn glowed until finally, in a flash, a book appeared and dropped into Declan’s hands.
“Whoa, what’s this?” Declan inquired, surprised.
“Let’s just say it’s a very special journal, if you wrote something here, it would appear in the pages of a book back in the castle library,” Twilight explained. “That way, we can still talk to each other even during the days you can’t come here.”
“Really?” Declan asked, touched.
“Really.” Twilight confirmed. The others all nodded also.
Declan smiled a big, teary eyed smile. “You girls… are the greatest thing to have ever happened to me,” he expressed, as he cried tears of joy. All of them smiled, touched by his words and a bit teary eyed as well.
“Yeah, we know.” Rainbow Dash nodded, proudly.
“Ok, ok, don’t let it go to your head, Skittles,” Declan warned her, amused.
“Yeah, yeah…” Rainbow Dash said before she gave him a smile of respect.
“Well, now that the goodbyes are over, guess I better get to it,” Declan declared as he slowly gripped the Emperor’s Gem and concentrated. A light shined out of the cracks in his clenched hand and soon, his whole body started glowing. The others backed up and gasped in amazement.
“Whoa…” Spike breathed.
“Oh my gosh, what’s happening…?” Fluttershy observed, a little bit worried.
 “Guess that means it’s getting ready to send me home…” Declan observed as his body started to glow even brighter. He started waving. “Thanks for everything! Bye! See ya!”
The others all started waving too. “Bye, Declan!” they said while also crying out their own little goodbyes as well. Declan continued waving until his body glowed bright white before dissipating into green light and rising up into the sky.