We are spinning our own fates, Good or Evil, never to be undone.
-William James
***
A lone draconequus curls up on her old bed, her eyes red and puffy from crying, her mane matted to the side of her head from the damp pillow.Though her eyes were shut, she was not asleep. Her mind kept replaying the scene that had taken place yesterday. At noon today, the portal would be open, and she would be able to go home.
Her heart clenched as she recalled Discord's hurt look. She had taken his heart and ripped it apart. No matter how difficult it was to admit, she truly did love the draconequus. Being torn between the people she deeply cared for, Maria Firestone couldn't decide whom to choose.
A gentle knock sounded on the door of her shack, the same one she had redecorated when she first arrived to Ponyville, though she had redecorated the bedroom to keep the memory of her past life away.
"Maria?" Fluttershy's meek voice called. Maria sat up, using a spell to make herself look decent, though her eyes were still rimmed with red and waiting to spill fresh tears at any moment. She opened the door, seeing that Fluttershy and the rest of her friends were waiting for her.
"It's almost noon," Twilight said quietly. They now knew about Maria's plan to leave, but didn't bother to try to convince her to stay. An unspoken agreement laid between them, and they didn't push the subject.
Maria glanced at her clock, seeing that it was an hour before noon. She heaved a sigh, eyes downcast. Nodding wordlessly, the group started towards the train station.
***
In Discord's castle, he sat on the bed, sulking. He had cried for a little while, but couldn't find the strength to do anything else. His emotions were jumbled.
"Why'd you let her leave?!" his reflection spat at him.
"It was the right thing to do," he said quietly, his voice cracking.
"I told you that she was a lost cause! But nooo, you didn't want to listen to yourself. That's the sad part, you know. You knew this whole time that Maria was going to leave no matter what you did, but you still tried...why would you do that to yourself?"
"Because...I love her,"
***
Maria leaned her head on the cool glass of the window, her eyes closed. She didn't want to talk, in fear that if she tried to speak, her hidden emotions would break her open again.
It seemed that the passengers on board knew that she was upset, for all of the ponies were silent. The only sound was the roar of the train pushing along the tracks. It'd be another fifteen minutes or so before they would arrive at Canterlot, and another ten to get to the castle.
Maria sighed to herself, not knowing what to feel. In reality, she felt numb. No excitement for seeing her family again, no guilt for leaving Discord, just a dull feeling of nothingness. She tried to stir up her excitement with visions of her father, her bedroom, and even her pesky freckles. But she found no comfort in them. She simply couldn't feel anything.
Maybe it was better that way.
***
"Discord, you can't just lay here," his reflection said with genuine worry seeping into his tone. "You tried. You know what they say, 'If you love something, let it go. If it comes back, it was meant to be.'"
"But Maria is not coming back. She's going home, and I can't stop her. I love her, I really do. But I can't keep her here when she doesn't want to be here," Discord said in both sadness and frustration.
"There is one thing you haven't tried..."
Discord glanced at his reflection with both irritation and slight curiosity. "And what's that?"
***
Maria and the mane six, along with Spike, approached the grand entrance to Princess Celestia's castle. The guards looked through her as they passed, not that she minded. If she was invisible in her world, she'd be invisible in this world.
Princess Celestia and Princess Luna waited for them in the throne room. Celestia looked at Maria with what one would assume was a mother-like worry. But she said nothing, for the draconequus looked fragile, like a delicate figurine. With a simple nod, the sun princess and the moon princess lead the group down to the lower levels of the castle, where the mirror sat under a large blanket.
The entire castle was silent, so much that it seemed like they were going a funeral instead of their friend going back to where she belonged.
But the question was, did she really belong there?
The thick, wooden door was opened to reveal a dusty little room, with boxes of old things from the princess's past. A thick, wool blanket was draped over the portal. Celestia used her teeth to remove it, making dust fly everywhere. Every pony but Maria and Luna seemed effected.
Celestia finally spoke. "Maria Firestone," she said quietly, "Are you ready to go back home?"
"No," she wanted to say. "I wanna stay!" Instead, she nodded. The mirror began to glow, almost blinding the ponies with it's intensity. They all sighed and looked to Maria, gathering around her to say their last goodbyes to their friend.
"Girls," Maria spoke, her voice hoarse and raspy from crying. "Please don't make this any harder. If you see Discord, please tell him that I'm sorry, and that...and that I love him."
The silence was overwhelming, and Maria turned to face the portal. Her eyes began to water as she recalled her memories of this world. Being here was an experience she hoped she'd never forget. Her emotions became jumbled, and she had to refrain from breaking down and crying. But she took a deep breath and approached the portal.
"Maria..."
The voice that spoke up caused her to gasp, turning around. Discord stood there, eyes looking down and his hands behind his back. She shook, eyes beginning to water.
"Discord, what are you-"
"I'm sorry," he said quickly. "For everything. I know you want to go back home, but...I need you here. I've found it impossible to live without you. Even before I admitted my feelings, I knew that you were meant for me. I don't care if I have to follow you through that portal; I simply can't stand the thought of you leaving,"
"Discord, please don't-"
"I have something that I wanted to ask you," he interrupted her. He paused for a moment to swallow nervously. When he spoke again, his voice shook noticeably. "It's a simple question, one that needs a simple answer,"
Maria's heart skipped a beat as he knelt down on one knee. The princesses, ponies, and baby dragon watched in total shock as Discord opened his hand to reveal a small box. Opening the small box was a ring, a small diamond attached to the top. Maria's eyes watered, and she wiped them away with the back of her hand.
"Maria Firestone, will...will you marry me?"
Maria stared at the ring. Everypony hheld their breath, and Discord momentarily hated himself for putting her on the spot. She took a few steps towards Discord, kneeling down to look at him. She bit her bottom lip for a second to stop it from quivering, then took his hand in hers. Without warning, she leaned in for a kiss.
When they parted, she whispered, "Yes,"